Today, Explained: Episode Summary – "Why Harvard is Fighting Back"

Release Date: April 16, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Today, Explained, hosts Sean Ramsdell and Noel King delve into the escalating conflict between Harvard University and the Trump administration, highlighting it as a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle over higher education in the United States. The discussion contrasts Harvard's staunch resistance to federal pressures with the cooperative stance of several Florida State universities, illustrating the polarized responses among elite institutions.

Harvard’s Struggle Against the Trump Administration

Sean Ramsdell opens the conversation by framing Harvard University's current predicament as a battleground against President Trump's attempts to exert control over higher education. Initially, Harvard appeared to comply with Trump’s demands, as Ramsdell mentions:

“Harvard University. Birthplace of napalm. Setting of Legally Blonde. Currently fighting back against the President in his war on higher education.” [00:02]

Andrew Jack, Global Education Editor at the Financial Times, provides an insider perspective on Harvard's evolving stance. He explains that while Harvard initially remained silent, recent actions signify a deliberate pushback:

“After the demands escalated from the Trump administration at the end of last week, it switched and decided that it wouldn't accept the conditions that were sought from the government and that instead, it would defend academic integrity and free speech.” [02:10]

This shift included significant administrative changes, such as the removal of senior leadership at the Middle Eastern Studies Center and the initiation of a comprehensive report on antisemitism on campus. Harvard's refusal to comply marked a clear stand in defense of its institutional values.

Columbia’s Concessions Under Pressure

The discussion shifts to Columbia University, which has taken a markedly different approach by conceding to several of Trump's demands. Andrew Jack elaborates on the circumstances leading to Columbia's decision:

“Columbia was the test case. It was one that no doubt the Trump administration considered would be the easiest to go after.” [06:06]

Following intense student protests and public pressure, Columbia agreed to implement measures such as a campus mask ban, granting arrest powers to campus officers, and appointing a senior vice provost to oversee Middle Eastern studies:

“The Trump administration had something like 10 demands for Harvard, including the elimination of DEI programs and the restriction of acceptance of international students who are, and I'm quoting here, hostile to American values and institutions.” [03:39]

This capitulation resulted in the resignation of two university presidents within a few months, signaling the administration's effective pressure on elite institutions.

Financial Strategies of Elite Universities

A critical aspect of the episode examines how universities like Harvard and Columbia manage their substantial endowments to navigate financial pressures from the Trump administration. Andrew Jack discusses the complexities of utilizing endowment funds:

“Taking some of that endowment money to cover the additional risks of some loss of federal funding and indeed the litigation and uncertainty around it... would totally justify them dipping into their endowment.” [09:30]

Despite Harvard’s impressive $50 billion endowment, the administration’s financial sanctions, such as the freezing of $2.2 billion in assets, compels the university to explore various financial avenues, including issuing bonds to raise immediate funds without depleting endowment reserves:

“If you can borrow relatively cheaply with a reputation that's still out there of a great institution like Harvard, get some money in order to prepare for all sorts of uncertainties and short term demands on cash, that's probably a rational approach to take.” [11:04]

Contrasting Response: Florida State Universities' Cooperation with ICE

In stark contrast to the Ivy League’s resistance, the episode highlights the cooperation of at least ten Florida State universities with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Josh Moody explains that Governor Ron DeSantis has mandated that these institutions enter memorandums of agreement with ICE to bolster immigration enforcement on campuses:

“These agreements, he called them force multipliers for ICE... it's a way for Florida to expand its immigration enforcement capabilities.” [18:19]

Institutions like Florida International University and the University of Florida have already seen visa revocations for international students, with over 1,200 students across 180 colleges losing their visa statuses:

“We have counted at least 1200 students at 180 colleges who have lost visas.” [21:32]

DeSantis' aggressive stance on immigration aims to align state and local universities with federal enforcement goals, marking a significant departure from the resistance seen in elite Northeastern institutions.

Impact on Students and Academic Freedom

The contrasting approaches have profound implications for students and the broader academic community. At Harvard and Columbia, students and faculty express fears over academic freedom and the integrity of educational institutions. Meanwhile, at Florida State universities, international students face the tangible threat of deportation and visa revocation, often without clear explanations:

“In some cases they're being targeted for their speech... in some cases they've had visas revoked for crimes committed years, years ago.” [20:17]

Protests at Florida International University attest to the growing unrest among students who oppose the collaboration with ICE, highlighting a national debate on the role of universities in federal policy enforcement.

Broader Implications and Future Prospects

The episode underscores that the responses from higher education institutions are deeply influenced by their public or private status and geographical location. Public universities in Republican-leaning states like Florida and Texas are more likely to comply with state and federal mandates, whereas private institutions in more liberal states may resist such pressures.

Josh Moody speculates on the potential for nationwide enforcement, suggesting that the Trump administration might extend its tactics beyond targeted elite universities:

“I think it is entirely possible that the Trump administration looks at something like this and says, why don't we do this nationwide?” [26:15]

This possibility raises concerns about the future landscape of higher education, academic freedom, and the autonomy of universities across the country.

Conclusion

"Why Harvard is Fighting Back" offers a comprehensive exploration of the current culture war within American higher education, contrasting the resistance of elite institutions like Harvard with the compliance of certain Florida State universities. The episode highlights the intricate interplay between financial strategies, political pressures, and the fundamental values of academic integrity and freedom. As the conflict continues to evolve, the episode leaves listeners contemplating the future trajectory of universities amidst mounting political and social challenges.

Notable Quotes

• Sean Ramsdell: “Fight fiercely, Harvard.” [01:44]

• Andrew Jack: “They’ve got a robust attempt to respond to the Trump administration.” [05:15]

• Ron DeSantis: “We have worked hard to get woke out of our institutions of higher education and to make sure they're focused on the classical mission of what a university should be.” [23:11]

Sources

• Hosts: Sean Ramsdell, Noel King
• Guests and Contributors: Andrew Jack (Financial Times), Josh Moody (Inside Higher Ed), Ron DeSantis (Governor of Florida)