The Briefing with Albert Mohler: May 29, 2025

Host: R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Description: Cultural Commentary from a Biblical Perspective
Release Date: May 29, 2025

1. President Trump's Assault on Harvard University

Albert Mohler opens the episode by addressing a significant development in American higher education: President Donald J. Trump's decisive move against Harvard University. Mohler outlines how Harvard, emblematic of elite academic institutions perceived to harbor leftist ideologies, is now under direct federal scrutiny.

• Federal Funding Cuts: President Trump has directed federal agencies to halt funding for discretionary programs at Harvard, threatening a substantial $3 billion withdrawal. Mohler emphasizes the severity of this action, noting, “[00:04]... even an institution like Harvard is going to have a very hard time dealing with a $3 billion shutoff in funding” (Mohler).

• Strategic Targeting: While other institutions may exhibit similar ideological leanings, Harvard's prominent brand makes it a symbolic target. “He is using the federal budget, or at least federal monies, as a blunt instrument to try to get the attention of those very elite academic institutions” (Mohler).

• Implications of Funding Cuts: Mohler discusses the potential repercussions of such a massive withdrawal, including the impact on personnel, programs, and critical research initiatives. He highlights, “[00:04]... the loss of all the research capacity at an institution like Harvard will come with effects” (Mohler).

2. Academic Backlash Against Trump's Policies

The episode transitions to the academic community's response to President Trump's actions. Mohler critiques a letter published in the Financial Times by four prominent political scientists from Stanford, Cornell, and Harvard.

• Contention Over Academic Freedom: The letter condemns the Trump administration’s interference, asserting that “no government, regardless of which party is in power, should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire” (Mohler).

• Critique of the Letter’s Tone: Mohler argues that the letter exemplifies academic condescension, pointing out the authors' emphasis on their accolades: “...these academics claiming that as political scientists they are in a position to define reality and the rest of us are in no position to do so” (Mohler).

3. Shifts in America's Political Landscape

Mohler delves into a New York Times article by Shane Goldmacher, which analyzes the profound shifts in American politics under Trump's influence.

• Geographical Realignment: The article presents an “intensity map” showing a significant tilt towards the Republican Party across 2,678 counties, compared to only 435 shifting Democratic since 2012. “Mr. Trump has reordered America's political divide both geographically and demographically” (Goldmacher, as cited by Mohler).

• Democratic Struggles: The Democratic Party faces deep-rooted challenges, particularly among the working class and less-educated populations. Ken Martin, DNC Chairman, is quoted saying, “the majority of Americans now believe that the Republican Party best represents the interests of the working class and the poor” (Mohler).

• Two-Party Dominance: Mohler highlights the transformation into a predominantly two-party system, where cultural and economic issues overshadow ethnic and demographic considerations. “We are moving into a two-party country” (Mohler).

4. Democratic Party’s Messaging Crisis

Addressing internal party challenges, Mohler references a Telegraph article discussing the Democratic Party's shift away from "woke" jargon in an attempt to reclaim lost voters.

• Abandoning Activist Language: Democrats are reportedly moving away from terms like “Latinx” and “pronouns” to appear more relatable to the average voter. In the words of Ruben Gallego, “Why do we say that? Why don't we say, we want you to have an even chance?” (Mohler).

• Impact of Language Choices: Mohler criticizes the party’s reliance on complex terminology, arguing it alienates ordinary voters. “They have won the Johann Scheit Prize in Political Science... rearrange our societies with their dictates” (Mohler).

• Political Figures’ Perspectives: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear emphasizes the need for normalcy in Democratic messaging: “What the Democratic Party needs to do is be normal and sound normal” (Mohler). Similarly, Rahm Emanuel addresses the confusion surrounding pronouns, stating, “...the rest of the class doesn't know what a pronoun is” (Mohler).

5. The Rise of 'Woke' Education in America

Mohler examines Daniel Buck’s Wall Street Journal article on the persistence of "woke" education practices in American schools, even in traditionally conservative areas like Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

• Curriculum Changes: Schools are incorporating national sex education standards that introduce complex topics at increasingly younger ages. For instance, “sixth graders to define different types of sexual intercourse” and “kindergarteners... may feel like another gender” (Buck, as cited by Mohler).

• Restorative Justice Policies: These alternative discipline methods prioritize dialogue over punishment, which Mohler suggests undermines traditional educational structures. “...this is an alternative to traditional discipline structures that emphasizes dialogue over punishment” (Buck, as cited by Mohler).

• Long-Term Educational Impact: Mohler warns that such educational reforms hinder academic advancement, particularly in AP and STEM programs. “...they may want children to learn, but they don't want any children to learn more quickly than other children” (Buck, as cited by Mohler).

• Metaphorical Description: Buck describes these educational trends as “degenerative disorders that leave schools hunched and limping toward failure” (Mohler).

6. Conclusion: The Battle for America's Future

Albert Mohler concludes by reiterating the critical nature of these cultural and political battles. He underscores the urgency of addressing ideological shifts in higher education and the broader societal implications of political realignments. Mohler emphasizes the importance of maintaining traditional educational values and fostering genuine dialogue over politically charged rhetoric.

Notable Quotes:

• “[00:04]... even an institution like Harvard is going to have a very hard time dealing with a $3 billion shutoff in funding” – Albert Mohler

• “He is using the federal budget, or at least federal monies, as a blunt instrument to try to get the attention of those very elite academic institutions” – Albert Mohler

• “As political scientists, we have learned how easily voters can be swayed to support anti democratic candidates” – Letter from Political Scientists (as cited by Mohler)

• “The Democratic Party is the party of the wealthy and the elites” – Ken Martin, DNC Chairman (as cited by Mohler)

• “The Democratic Party needs to be normal and sound normal” – Andy Beshear, Kentucky Governor (as cited by Mohler)

• “...these consultants from the left, they may want children to learn, but they don't want any children to learn more quickly than other children” – Daniel Buck, WSJ (as cited by Mohler)

Resources and Further Information:

• Website: albertmohler.com
• Twitter: twitter.com/AlbertMohler
• Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: sbts.edu
• Boyce College: boycecollege.com

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from Albert Mohler's May 29, 2025 episode of "The Briefing," providing a comprehensive overview for listeners and those interested in the intersection of culture, politics, and education from a Christian worldview.