Bonus episode: Re-evaluating American Higher-Ed – with Reihan Salam and Kevin Wallsten

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Nov 30, 2025

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ADVICE

Prioritize Core Requirements

Require core courses like history, government, math, and science to ensure foundational knowledge.
Reward institutions that create civic curricula and reduce mandatory DEI trainings that replace core learning.

INSIGHT

Civic Programs Promote Viewpoint Balance

New civic thought programs combine humanities and social sciences to teach self-governance.
These centers boost viewpoint diversity and train students in civil discourse and historical context.

INSIGHT

Ideology Replaced Pedagogy In Some Departments

Many departments shifted from pedagogy to ideological activism, harming student learning.
Grade inflation and faculty activism undermine rigor and the university's civic mission.

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City Journal's college ranking: https://collegerankings.city-journal.org/

The Wall St. Journal on rethinking higher ed: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/college-rankings-manhattan-institute-universities-free-speech-d9df60e2?mod=opinion_lead_pos1

City Journal's announcement: https://www.city-journal.org/article/2025-college-rankings

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Today’s episode:

Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a deterioration within elite, higher education. From the explosion in antisemitism, to the entrenchment of wrongheaded DEI policies, many Americans have begun to doubt the real value of an elite college degree.

Last month, the Manhattan Institute – a public policy thinktank in New York City – launched its inaugural college rankings list that takes into account various factors that other popular rankings lists often don’t, such as the rigor of a school’s curriculum as well as the ideological balance of the school’s student body and professors. To discuss this new rankings system, Dan was joined by Reihan Salam, president of the Manhattan Institute, and Kevin Wallstein, Professor of Political Science at California State University and an Adjunct Fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer