The Contrarian with David Bernstein

The Contrarian with David Bernstein

Welcome to "The Contrarian." This podcast is all about diving into the world of liberal values, radical ideologies and engaging in truly open conversations. We will take a close look at what in god’s name is going on in American and Western universities and what, if anything, we can do about it.

Episodes

June 20, 2025 57 mins
Dr Christopher Schorr, Director of Higher Education at the America First Policy Institute discusses the intersection of antisemitism and woke ideology, the role of higher education in addressing these issues, and the complexities of Christian nationalism in American politics. The conversation highlights the need for a unified front against antisemitism and the implications of free speech on campus. Dr Schorr shares insights from hi...
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Professor Lyell Asher joins the podcast to explore the evolution of education schools and their far-reaching impact on both higher education and the K–12 system. He traces the origins of ed schools in the early 20th century, the ideological shifts of the 1960s, and how these changes contributed to a growing disconnect between educational institutions and mainstream societal values. Professor Asher examines the influence of educatio...
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Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at Brookings and author of 'Cross-Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy.' discusses the intricate relationship between Christianity and liberal democracy, exploring how both have influenced each other over time. Rauch argues that Christianity has strayed from its foundational role in supporting democratic values. The conversation delves into the concepts of thin and thick Christiani...
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Ginny Gentles, discusses the current landscape of education reform, the influence of federal policies, and the implications of executive orders on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs in schools. Gentles emphasizes the importance of local and state-level engagement in education policy and the challenges posed by teachers unions and bureaucratic systems. The conversation highlights the ongoing battle against DEI ideologie...
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Prof Ilya Somin discusses the current state of antisemitism, exploring its salience in both left-wing and right-wing ideologies. He analyzes the historical roots of anti-Zionism, the influence of foreign money on campus protests, and the ideological underpinnings of antisemitism across the political spectrum. The discussion also touches on the role of government in academia and the implications of political interventions in educati...
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In this episode, they discuss: The application of Enlightenment principles to politics and governance. The rise of identity-based critiques of classical liberalism and the Enlightenment. The current cultural landscape and its impact on free speech and academic freedom. Strategies for defending the marketplace of ideas against increasingly powerful ideological forces. Heather Mac Donald provides her insights into how these trends ar...

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Follow David on:

 

Twitter: https://shorturl.at/lqDJX

Facebook:https://shorturl.at/yNSY1

Instagram:https://shorturl.at/lJTX9

 

Listen to the podcast on:

 

Apple: https://shorturl.at/gouW8

Spotify:https://shorturl.at/ouY03

YouTube Music:https://rb.gy/u4xfd3

Pandora:https://rb.gy/o4p072

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Join us in this thought-provoking episode of the Contrarian Podcast as David Bernstein sits down with Michael Poliakoff, a leading advocate for educational reform and the preservation of liberal values. In this deep dive, they discuss the challenges facing higher education today, the importance of fostering diverse viewpoints on campus, and the urgent need for informed patriotism. Poliakoff shares his insights on the decline of fre...
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Follow David on: 

Twitter: https://shorturl.at/lqDJX 

Facebook:https://shorturl.at/yNSY1 

Instagram:https://shorturl.at/lJTX9 

Listen to the podcast on: 

Apple: https://shorturl.at/gouW8 

Spotify:https://shorturl.at/ouY03 

YouTube Music:https://rb.gy/u4xfd3 

Pandora:https://rb.gy/o4p072

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Join David Bernstein and Eric Kaufmann in an enlightening conversation about political bias in academia. Kaufmann shares data revealing a left-leaning bias in various fields, prompting discussions on its impact on academic freedom. Bernstein raises concerns about self-censorship among conservative academics, highlighting the challenges they encounter.

Later, the duo explores the influence of social pressure on free speech in countri...

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Follow Gil Troy on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/giltroy?lang=en

Website: https://giltroy.com/

Follow David on:

Twitter: https://shorturl.at/lqDJX

Facebook:https://shorturl.at/yNSY1

Instagram:https://shorturl.at/lJTX9

Listen to the podcast on:

Apple: https://shorturl.at/gouW8

Spotify:https://shorturl.at/ouY03

YouTube Music:https://rb.gy/u4xfd3

Pandora:https://rb.gy/o4p072

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Follow Yascha on:

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/yascha_mounk?lang=en  

 

Follow David on:

 

Twitter: https://shorturl.at/lqDJX

Facebook:https://shorturl.at/yNSY1

Instagram:https://shorturl.at/lJTX9

 

Listen to the podcast on:

 

Apple: https://shorturl.at/gouW8

Spotify:https://shorturl.at/ouY03

YouTube Music:https://rb.gy/u4xfd3

Pandora:https://rb.gy/o4p072

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Follow Jay Schalin on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AcademicRenewal

Follow David on:

Twitter: https://shorturl.at/lqDJX

Facebook:https://shorturl.at/yNSY1

Instagram:https://shorturl.at/lJTX9

Listen to the podcast on:

Apple: https://shorturl.at/gouW8

Spotify:https://shorturl.at/ouY03

YouTube Music:https://rb.gy/u4xfd3

Pandora:https://rb.gy/o4p072

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In this gripping episode of The Contrarian, renowned legal scholar Randy Barnett joins host David Bernstein to unravel the complexities of free speech, academic reform, and the battle against radical social justice ideology on college campuses. Barnett shares insights from his upcoming book, "A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist," detailing his journey from a conservative Goldwater Republican to a leading figur...

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Follow Greg Lukianoff on: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/glukianoff?lang=en 

Substack: https://t.co/cwXCTUouR0 

Follow David on: 

Twitter: https://shorturl.at/lqDJX 

Facebook:https://shorturl.at/yNSY1 

Instagram:https://shorturl.at/lJTX9 

Listen to the podcast on: 

Apple: https://shorturl.at/gouW8 

Spotify:https://shorturl.at/ouY03 

YouTube Music:https://rb.gy/u4xfd3 

Pandora:https://rb.gy/o4p072

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In this compelling episode of The Contrarian, host David Bernstein engages in a deep dive with legal expert Ilya Shapiro to unravel the complexities of academic freedom and the crisis facing higher education. With insights from his upcoming book, "Lawless: The Miseducation of America's Future Leaders," Shapiro sheds light on the erosion of intellectual diversity and the pervasive influence of cancel culture on college campuses. Fro...

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