Summary of "The Tudor Dixon Podcast: Why DEI Won't D-I-E"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Episode: The Tudor Dixon Podcast: Why DEI Won't D-I-E
• Release Date: July 25, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "Why DEI Won't D-I-E," hosts Tutor Dixon and Kyle Olson delve into the persistent presence and evolution of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within American universities. Despite executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI programs, the conversation reveals how these initiatives are being rebranded and continue to influence academic environments and policies.

DEI Rebranding Efforts in Universities

Tutor Dixon initiates the discussion by highlighting the resurgence of DEI-related activities under different names across various educational institutions:

“Now suddenly all these videos are coming out and they are sneaking DEI, but they're calling it something else. And they are so brazenly telling people that they're just continuing with DEI. They just call it… or DUI DEI. They're just calling it something else.”
— Tutor Dixon [03:07]

Kyle Olson explains that following the Trump administration's executive order banning DEI in January or February, universities have been covertly maintaining DEI efforts by rebranding them under new terminologies such as "access and engagement" or "belonging."

“They're not actually getting rid of it. All they're doing is just rebranding, renaming. And what these videos are showing is that the work continues, and nothing is really changing.”
— Kyle Olson [03:42]

Federal Response and Senate Hearings

The hosts discuss the swift federal response to the newfound evidence of DEI rebranding. A Senate hearing was convened immediately after the release of incriminating videos showing universities continuing DEI practices despite the executive ban.

“In this Senate hearing, they're immediately saying, what are you going to do to stop this? And I think they were talking to Harmeet Dhillon.”
— Tutor Dixon [07:37]

Harmy Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General, draws parallels between the current situation and the era of Brown v. Board of Education, emphasizing the difficulty in uprooting deeply ingrained discriminatory practices.

“We have data crunchers in the DOJ who are helping us analyze the data, but we're also relying on whistleblowers… It took decades to root that out [Brown v. Board].”
— Harmeet Dhillon [07:57]

Impact on Students and Traditional Values

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on how DEI policies and their covert continuation are affecting students and undermining traditional American and Christian values. Tutor Dixon shares a personal anecdote about his daughter expressing fears that attending certain universities could lead to the loss of her Christian identity and traditional values.

“This DEI that we're looking at has really eliminated the ability to have traditional values… if you don't fall into a certain category, then you're not welcome.”
— Tutor Dixon [09:10]

Cases and Examples

The discussion highlights specific instances where DEI initiatives continue despite federal bans:

• University of Michigan & Western Michigan University: Both institutions have been reported to provide scholarships to illegal immigrant students, diverting funds from in-state students.

  “They're giving scholarship dollars to a student that's in the country illegally, they're not giving scholarship… That's taking dollars away from someone.”
  — Kyle Olson [04:36]

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte: A video surfaced showing university officials encouraging DEI work to continue under different guises.

  “They've renamed, reorganized, recalibrated… if you're interested in doing work that is covert, there are opportunities.”
  — Kyle Olson [20:12]

• Columbia University: Faced a substantial fine of $250 million for violating federal DEI mandates, setting a precedent for other institutions.

  “It was 250. Was it 200… $250 million… it should set the precedent that if these universities are not going to follow the federal law.”
  — Tutor Dixon [25:42]

Challenges in Enforcement

Both hosts emphasize the challenges in enforcing the executive orders against DEI, noting that universities often attempt to downplay violations or label non-compliance as rogue behavior by individual employees. This strategy allows institutions to maintain DEI objectives while evading direct accountability.

“They're scrambling because they want to keep the federal money… They want to continue the work.”
— Kyle Olson [31:15]

Additionally, the conversation touches on the broader ideological battle, with DEI representing what the hosts describe as a "progressive ideology" that is deeply entrenched in academic institutions.

Conclusion

Tutor Dixon and Kyle Olson conclude by stressing the importance of continuous vigilance and federal oversight to eradicate the covert continuation of DEI initiatives. They highlight the need for accountability and express hope that the current administration will effectively dismantle these practices to restore traditional values in education.

“This ideology is still ingrained in the university… we need the administration and the Congress to get serious about this.”
— Kyle Olson [26:22]

They also underscore the significance of upcoming elections in shaping the future of DEI policies, urging listeners to remain engaged in the political process to safeguard traditional American values.

Notable Quotes:

• Tutor Dixon [03:07]: “Now suddenly all these videos are coming out and they are sneaking DEI, but they're calling it something else… just continuing with DEI… something else.”

• Harmeet Dhillon [07:57]: “It's not unusual compared to what we saw in the Brown v. Board of Education era… it took decades to root that out.”

• Tutor Dixon [09:10]: “This DEI… eliminated the ability to have traditional values… if you don't fall into a certain category, then you're not welcome.”

• Kyle Olson [04:36]: “They're giving scholarship dollars to a student that's in the country illegally… taking dollars away from someone.”

• Tutor Dixon [25:42]: “$250 million… should set the precedent that if these universities are not going to follow the federal law.”

• Kyle Olson [31:15]: “They're scrambling because they want to keep the federal money… They want to continue the work.”

This comprehensive discussion on "The Tudor Dixon Podcast: Why DEI Won't D-I-E" provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of the ongoing battle against DEI initiatives in higher education, highlighting both the strategies employed by institutions to circumvent bans and the federal response aimed at enforcing compliance.