Can college survive Trump?

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Vox Media Podcast Network

Careers, Business, Entrepreneurship

4.4 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 4 September 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is an episode we think you’d enjoy of The Gray Area with Sean Illing. American higher education is under attack. Project 2025 laid out the battle plan pretty clearly: Get rid of the Department of Education, shut off federal funding, take control of the accreditation system, and take down diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. And in the end, change what students are encouraged to study and what professors are allowed to teach. The questions we’re left with is why? And is it working? Today’s guest is Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University. He’s a vocal defender of higher education. But he’s also honest about where things have gone wrong and what needs to change. Michael and Sean discuss the Trump administration’s efforts to change universities and colleges, the potential societal effects of that effort, political biases on campus, the dangers of ideological conformity, and the value of a college education (what is even the point of going to college any more?). You can listen to more of this podcast by searching for The Gray Area with Sean Illing in your podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:28.8	So, if you're like me and you need shopping to be personalized and easy,
0:32.7	head to Sacks Fifth Avenue for the best follow rivals and style inspiration.
0:37.4	Here is a big existential question for every media company today.
0:42.4	Do they fight the AI tech overlords or do they just take their money?
0:47.1	So far, most of them are taking the money, but a few are fighting.
0:51.3	One of them is Zip Davis.
0:53.8	This is Peter Kafka, the host of channels.
0:56.5	And on this week's episode, I'm talking to Ziff Davis, CEO of Vek Shah, who tells me he's kind
1:00.8	optimistic about the media business and why he's taking on the people behind ChatGBT. That's this
1:06.8	week on channels, wherever you listen to your favorite podcast.
1:11.9	Hey, everyone, Scott here.
1:13.2	I'm just getting back from vacation.
1:14.6	And while our team ramps production back up, we're bringing you an episode from the gray area.
1:19.9	This one's about growing attacks on higher education.
1:22.8	Project 2025 laid out a plan to shut down the Department of Education and cut off federal funding,
1:27.8	basically to reshape what college looks like in America.
1:31.5	Host Sean Elling talks with Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University,
1:34.8	about what's behind all this, what's happening, and whether college is still worth it.
1:38.4	Hope you enjoy. We'll be back with our usual programming next week.
	...

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