It's been a tough year for American universities.
The Trump administration has taken aim at elite institutions across the country, threatening their funding to force ideological change. And while the administration claims its objective is to punish antisemitic activities, and prevent universities from “promoting divisive ideologies,” the cuts have gone straight for the jugular: impounding money meant for the sciences to insist on changes in the humanities. And at the same time, this administration has demanded huge cuts to the research funding that is the life blood of American academia.
Some universities, like Columbia, have come to a settlement with the government. Others, like Harvard, where this week' s episode was recorded, are choosing to fight back in court.
In September, our Health Editor, Natasha Loder went to Boston for a fellowship run by Harvard University. While she was there, she met with people who’ve been affected by the government’s actions. People like Alberto Ascherio, who just seven months ago won the Breakthrough Prize for his discovery that a virus is one of the main causes of multiple sclerosis. And John Quackenbush, one of the world’s top cancer researchers.
Natasha’s reporting shows that, like many of the policies to have come out of the White House recently, this doesn’t just affect American universities, or American scientists—its impact will be far reaching and long lasting.
Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+
For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
Music by bluedot and epidemic.