The Tudor Dixon Podcast: The Apology Women Deserved: Title IX Set Right with Linda McMahon

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Tudor Dixon Podcast – "The Apology Women Deserved: Title IX Set Right with Linda McMahon"

Introduction

In the July 6, 2025 episode of The Tudor Dixon Podcast, hosted by Tudor Dixon and produced by iHeartPodcasts, former United States Secretary of Education Linda McMahon joins to discuss a pivotal advancement in Title IX enforcement. The episode, titled "The Apology Women Deserved: Title IX Set Right with Linda McMahon," delves into recent actions taken by the Department of Education to uphold gender equality in collegiate sports, specifically addressing violations at the University of Pennsylvania.

Announcement of Landmark Resolution

The episode kicks off with Tudor Dixon welcoming Secretary McMahon back to the podcast, highlighting her significant announcement regarding the University of Pennsylvania. At [00:38], McMahon reveals the successful outcome of an investigation into the university's compliance with Title IX:

"I'm very excited and happy to announce what I think is really a landmark case and a victory for the president, for the Trump administration..." ([00:38])

She elaborates on President Trump's executive order signed in early February, which prohibits men from competing in women's sports, a move aligned with his campaign promises to ensure fairness in athletics.

Investigation and Violations

McMahon details the specific case involving University of Pennsylvania swimmers Riley Gaines and Leah Thomas. Gaines, who competed against Leah Thomas and tied her in a race, was denied a trophy because she competed against a male athlete, which, according to McMahon, would not have occurred had the competitor been female ([01:50]). Additionally, Paula Scanlon, another female swimmer, testified that female athletes were subjected to psychological counseling aimed at altering their behavior in mixed locker rooms, a clear violation of Title IX ([02:23]).

"That was shocking. It is clearly unfair. It flies in the face of common sense, and it is a clear violation of Title IX." – Linda McMahon ([02:24])

Resolution and University Compliance

Following their investigation, McMahon discusses the negotiated settlement with the University of Pennsylvania. The university agreed to several key concessions:

1. Prohibition of Men in Women’s Sports: Men will no longer compete in women’s sports programs at the university.
2. Restoration of Records and Honors: All records, titles, and recognitions previously stripped from female athletes will be reinstated.
3. Apology Letters: The university will send personalized apology letters to each affected female athlete.
4. Adoption of Biology-Based Definitions: The institution will adopt biology-based definitions for "male" and "female."
5. Compliance Notification: The university will inform all associated parties, including contractors, about these compliance measures ([02:23], [10:11]).

"They have agreed to send a letter of apology to the women who were on the sports teams that men played against." – Linda McMahon ([02:24])

Federal Funding as Leverage

A critical aspect of the resolution was the threat of withholding federal funding. McMahon explains that approximately $175 million in federal funds was contingent upon the university's compliance with Title IX ([05:56]). This financial leverage ensured the university adhered to the settlement terms.

"Federal funding does have the right to withhold funding if you're not in compliance." – Linda McMahon ([06:32])

Impact on Women's Athletics and Title IX

The discussion emphasizes the broader implications for women's sports and Title IX. McMahon asserts that this agreement serves as a prototype for other universities to follow, ensuring nationwide adherence to gender equality in athletics.

"Women and girls fought so hard for Title IX to be able to have access to sports and to be able to have access to comparable training rooms..." – Linda McMahon ([02:23])

She underscores the importance of a level playing field, highlighting instances where female athletes felt unsafe or disadvantaged competing against male counterparts, such as Stephanie Turner, who opted out of a fencing competition ([07:00], [07:30]).

Reactions from Female Athletes

McMahon shares insights into the reactions of athletes like Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlon, who expressed overwhelming approval of the settlement. Their persistent advocacy and the Department of Education's actions have validated their efforts and provided them with the recognition they deserved.

"They certainly have been confirmed that they were on the right track and that their motives and their actions are justified." – Linda McMahon ([09:37])

Future Implications and Enforcement

Looking ahead, McMahon assures listeners that the Department of Education remains committed to enforcing Title IX. She hints at ongoing investigations into other institutions to ensure compliance, leveraging the success at the University of Pennsylvania as a benchmark.

"We will continue investigating other universities just like we did Pennsylvania." – Linda McMahon ([04:38])

Closing Remarks

Tudor Dixon wraps up the episode by reiterating the significance of the settlement. He highlights the restoration of athletes' records, the public apology, and the shift to biology-based gender definitions as monumental steps forward for women's sports. Dixon commends both McMahon and President Trump for their dedication to upholding Title IX and ensuring fairness in collegiate athletics.

"This is a huge moment for women across the country, but it's a huge moment for this administration." – Tudor Dixon ([10:11])

McMahon responds with pride in the Department of Education's efforts and the administration's commitment to fulfilling campaign promises related to gender equality in sports ([11:18]).

Conclusion

This episode of The Tudor Dixon Podcast provides an in-depth look at significant strides being made to enforce Title IX and protect women's rights in collegiate sports. Linda McMahon's comprehensive discussion highlights the successful strategy of leveraging federal funding to ensure compliance, the emotional and practical impacts on female athletes, and the broader implications for gender equality in athletics across the United States. The resolution with the University of Pennsylvania stands as a landmark achievement, setting a strong precedent for future enforcement and reaffirming the commitment to fair play and equal opportunities for women in sports.

Notable Quotes

• Linda McMahon ([02:24]): "That was shocking. It is clearly unfair. It flies in the face of common sense, and it is a clear violation of Title IX."

• Linda McMahon ([05:56]): "Federal funding does have the right to withhold funding if you're not in compliance."

• Linda McMahon ([07:00]): "Stephanie Turner took a knee rather than participate in her fencing competition because she was going to be competing against a boy."

• Tudor Dixon ([10:11]): "This is a huge moment for women across the country, but it's a huge moment for this administration."

Key Takeaways

• The Department of Education, under Secretary Linda McMahon, successfully enforced Title IX at the University of Pennsylvania, prohibiting men from competing in women's sports.
• The settlement included restoring athletes' records, issuing public apologies, and adopting biology-based gender definitions.
• Federal funding was used as leverage to ensure compliance, highlighting the government's commitment to upholding gender equality in athletics.
• This case serves as a model for other institutions, reinforcing the importance of Title IX and setting a precedent for future enforcement actions.
• The actions taken validate the advocacy efforts of female athletes and signify a significant victory for women's sports nationwide.

This episode serves as an informative and empowering discussion for listeners interested in gender equality, sports law, and the enforcement of educational policies.

Transcript

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast. Welcome to the Tudor Dixon Podcast. We have heard for so long, promises made, promises kept. And I am so proud to say that I have the United States Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, back with me today to talk about one of those promises made, promises kept. Secretary, welcome back.

[B]

Thank you, Tudor. It's a pleasure to be with you again today.

[A]

Well, I am so excited about why you're here, because you have a big announcement. Just last night, you announced that you have something happening with the University of Pennsylvania, and I'm going to let you talk about it.

[B]

Well, I'm very excited and happy to announce what I think is really a landmark case and a victory for the president, for the Trump administration, because he announced, you know, or he talked about, even when he was campaigning, how unfair he thought it was that men participated in women's sports. So one of the first things he did early February when he came into office, it was to sign this executive order about men not being able to play in women's sports. And shortly thereafter, a day or two, I can say that the Office of Civil Rights here at the Department of Education took up that mantle and investigated the University of Pennsylvania. Now, that had been, you know, on the docket, if you will, during the Biden administration, but the Biden administration didn't do anything about it. They just kind of ignored it. But we decided this was something we absolutely should take up. This was the case, if you recall, where Riley Gaines was competing against Leah Thomas in swimming at the University of Pennsylvania and tied with Leah in their race. And Riley left without a trophy, but she competed against a man that she should have gotten. If it had been a woman, she would have been far ahead in that race. So that really became a landmark case for discussion in the country. It's one that we focused in on with the University of Pennsylvania. And then Paula Scanlon, who also was on the swimming team, had testified before Congress, you know, that the women on the team were actually given psychological counseling on how to change in their intimate spaces in locker rooms in front of men.

[A]

That is shocking.

[B]

That was shocking. It is clearly unfair. It flies in the face of common sense, and it is a clear violation of Title ix. And so our investigation and through our negotiations back and forth with the University of Pennsylvania, they signed the resolution. And now men will not compete in women's sports at the University of Pennsylvania. They have also agreed to send a letter of apology to the women who were on the sports teams that men played against. They've also agreed that they're going to send notification to any of the people that they deal with, contractors or whatever, that this is how the University of Pennsylvania is going to do business. So I am really very, very pleased with this outcome. And it's a great victory for women to compete against women in their sports. You know, women and girls fought so hard for Title IX to be able to have access to sports and to be able to have access to comparable training rooms, et cetera, and then to have it kind of yanked out from under them by this interpretation of Title IX was just wrong. And I'm very happy where we are today.

[A]

Well, and Madam Secretary, I just want to say that as we saw Donald Trump building his cabinet, I knew that he had picked the right person when he put you in charge of the Department of Ed because I knew you would be a champion for girls. I know what sports mean to you, and I know what fairness means to you. And as you were just talking about this, and you're saying these girls underwent psychological testing, I mean, really, what we're talking about is a university behind the scenes that was using psychological techniques to almost brainwash these women into saying this is acceptable. You need to accept this and put yourself aside. This is a clear violation of Title 9, and this is just the beginning. But I am so impressed that here we are just really a few months into this administration and you have already been able to accomplish this. This announcement to me is very big. I'm a mother of four girls. To me, this is a huge announcement coming out of the Department of ed.

[B]

Well, it certainly is. And if Donald Trump had not been elected president, you would not see this action being taken. But as I said, he campaigned on this. He was true to his word. And when he had the signing of this executive order in the East Room in the White House, he was surrounded by girls and women of all ages, and he was very proud to sign this executive order. And I'm really pleased with the investigations that we have undertaken and that University of Pennsylvania, hopefully this settlement and this agreement will become kind of the prototype for other universities to come on board and to make sure that they are adhering or, you know, we will continue investigating other universities just like we did Pennsylvania.

[A]

Is this connected to federal funding? Why? Why have they agreed to this? Because to me, when I look at this and I say they're going to restore all records, titles and any recognition to female at that were taken from them by male athletes. That is something I think all of us thought, no matter what happens, the records are permanently damaged. And how can any Woman compete against the past when the past is not accurate. And yet you have accomplished this. You will restore that in this agreement. How did you get them to agree to this?

[B]

Well, certainly the, the big club is federal funding. And there was approximately $175 million at stake. And so now that funding, which came from a couple of different agencies other than the Department of Education, will be restored. Predominant amount of it was from hhs. So we're happy that funding will be restored, but also we are saying we mean business and the federal government does have the right to withhold funding if you're not in compliance. And we will not take any of those tools off the table.

[A]

I think that's something that we need to make sure people understand because there will be criticism. Oh, this is some sort of extortion. You only get this money if you do this. This is protecting women. I mean, Title 9 has been in effect since the 70s, and yet we are still here today in 2025 fighting for it. And I want to be clear. This is if you cannot comply with law, you cannot have the taxpayer's money. Isn't that correct?

[B]

We definitely are very serious about enforcing Title ix. It is the law. And girls shouldn't have to be competing in sports in which they are afraid they're going to be hurt or they know that it's not a level playing field. Boys are bigger and stronger and faster and they have an unfair advantage. And also, you know, they need to feel safe in the sports that they're competing against. Not worried are they going to get their face smashed by volleyball or, you know, that other things are going to be happening to them. I mean, Stephanie Turner took a knee rather than participate in her fencing competition because she was going to be competing against a boy. And she knew that was not fair and she was afraid and she took a knee. Women and girls should not be put in those positions. We fought so hard with Title ix, you know, to gain access to women's sports and a fair playing field and, and equal training facilities. And now to just have that kind of yanked away. Where this interpretation is wrong, the courts have ruled that it's wrong and the Title IX should be interpreted as written, that women have access to their sports facilities, et cetera. And it's based on sex.

[A]

So this is kind of a landmark agreement that you have with the University of Pennsylvania. I mean, we're even talking about they now have to accept biology based definitions for the words male and female. To me, that groundbreaking. And, and I say that knowing that 10 years ago that would be a ridiculous statement, but that's where we are today. But I, I say that also knowing that this is one school of many. So how does the Department of Ed tackle the entire country that has gone woke and has taken away sports from so many women and, and trophies from so many women?

[B]

Well, hopefully this landmark case with the University of Pennsylvania is going to be the roadmap for other universities to follow and they'll know we're serious because there is a fair amount of federal money for many of these universities. And if they are receiving federal funding, then they have to know that that funding can be frozen or taken away if they are not in compliance with the law.

[A]

What was it like when you were able to sit down with some of these female athletes like Riley Gaines and say, this is what's going to happen. You're going to be there alongside us when we make this announce. Riley has fought so hard for this. I know that the other women that were there as well, Paula has also fought so hard for this. What was their reaction to this?

[B]

Well, I know that they are thrilled to know that finally action has been taken and that their messaging has not gone in vain. All of the miles they've traveled, all the interviews that they have done, all of the counseling that they have done to young women and to girls has not been in vain and that they now have some, not just wind at their back. They certainly have been confirmed that they were on the right track and that their motives and their actions are justified.

[A]

Absolutely. So I just want to reiterate, this is a landmark agreement that we're announcing today. This is just fresh off the press, really. This is just happening. Breaking news. University of Pennsylvania will restore records, titles and recognitions to female athletes. They will issue a public statement that says they will comply with Title 9 and that it will be specifically to. They won't allow men to compete in women's sports. They will also adopt biology based definitions for the words male and female. They will rescind all guidance that violates our or is inconsistent with Title nine. And they will send personalized apology letters to each swimmer, each female swimmer who was impacted by this. Secretary McMahon, you did this. You and President Trump. I know you will keep fighting. This is a huge moment for women across the country, but it's a huge moment for this administration. I just want to close getting your feelings on what it's like to be a part of this and stand next to the President in such an important moment.

[B]

Well, it's incredibly exciting to be able to do exactly what he said he was going to do. And I want to commend the Department of Education and our Office of Civil Rights for working so hard on this investigation and for developing this agreement with the University of Pennsylvania.

[A]

Absolutely. We cannot be more thrilled. I'm so glad that you came on today to share it with us. Thank you so much, Secretary Linda McMahon.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

It was so nice to have Secretary Linda McMahon joining us today to share this important information. But I want to thank you all for joining us on the Tudor Dix podcast too. For this episode and others, go to tutor dixon podcast.com you can subscribe right there or go over to the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And be sure to check out the full video on Rumble and YouTube @Tutor Dixon. Join us next time on the Tutor Dixon Podcast. Have a blessed day. This is an I heart podcast.