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Transcript

FIRE Reacts: Harvard’s bold reply to the Trump administration

We analyze Harvard University's stand against the Trump administration's unlawful demand letter that threatens the university's free speech and academic freedom rights.

Timestamps:

00:29 Latest updates on Harvard and the Trump administration

05:07 Why Harvard doesn’t have clean hands

06:11 Is Harvard committed to free speech reform?

10:34 FIRE’s past efforts against the weaponization of Title IX

14:07 Can the Trump administration condition Harvard’s federal funding on the termination of DEI practices that violate civil rights law?

15:39 Why is FIRE objecting to the government’s speech against Harvard?

22:24 Will Harvard file a lawsuit against the administration?

23:30 How can the government protect free speech but take discriminatory harassment seriously on campuses?

25:57 Would Harvard reopening inquiries into alleged policy violations be improper?

27:10 FIRE’s stance on segregation within campuses

28:37 Will Harvard’s situation end up at the Supreme Court?

29:39 What are the White House’s next steps?

30:36 Hillsdale’s approach to federal funding

31:40 FIRE’s principled approach

32:52 Can elite universities make real reforms?

37:26 Which of the Trump administration’s demands does FIRE approve of if done correctly?

39:16 Jim Crow segregation analogy

41:04 Would FIRE support a requirement that federal funding can only go to universities that achieve a score of 50+ in FIRE’s College Free Speech Rankings?

42:26 How can people tell which schools are making substantive change?

43:35 If an NIH grant experimental subject patient dies because funds were cut off, who does the patient’s family sue?

45:52 How does the First Amendment and Title VI affect Harvard and the federal government?

46:39 Why should the federal government give Harvard money?

48:27 Have the Chicago principles protected the University of Chicago from the Trump administration?

51:18 Are universities promoting open debates between supporters of Palestinian and Israeli positions?

Joining us:

  • Lindsie Rank, director of campus rights advocacy

  • Will Creeley, legal director