
The Truth with Lisa Boothe The Truth with Lisa Boothe: Elise Stefanik on Iran War, Campus Radicalism & Why Americans Are Leaving Blue States
Mar 26, 2026
Elise Stefanik, U.S. Congresswoman and author of Poisoned Ivies, is a national security and higher education reform advocate. She discusses viewing Iran through a long-term security lens. She highlights campus radicalism, foreign funding, DEI influence, and rising antisemitism. She also talks about why Americans are leaving high-tax blue states and her book on elite university failures.
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Prioritize Security Over Polling
- National security decisions shouldn't be driven by short-term polls but by long-term threats like Iran's terrorism support and nuclear ambitions.
- Elise Stefanik cites Iranian-backed militias targeting U.S. troops and ballistic missile pursuit as enduring security risks informing action.
Ivy Presidents' Hesitation Sparked Public Backlash
- The viral hearing revealed university leaders were out of touch when asked whether calls for Jewish genocide violate campus rules.
- Stefanik notes presidents answered "it depends on the context," triggering public outrage and resignations.
Academic Monoculture Fueled By Ideology And Foreign Money
- Faculty ideological homogeneity and foreign financial ties created an academic monoculture drifting far left.
- Stefanik cites an 80:1 liberal-to-conservative ratio in humanities and $1.2B from Qatar last year as drivers.


