Antisemitism and Free Speech Collide on Campuses

<p><i>Warning: this episode contains strong language.</i></p><p>Universities across the country strained under pressure to take a public position on the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.</p><p>Nicholas Confessore, a political and investigative reporter for The Times, explains the story behind a congressional hearing that ended the career of one university president, jeopardized the jobs of two others, and kicked off an emotional debate about antisemitism and free speech on college campuses.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/nicholas-confessore?smid=pc-thedaily">Nicholas Confessore</a>, a political and investigative reporter for The New York Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Harvard’s governing body said it<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/us/harvard-president-claudine-gay.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> stood firmly behind Claudine Gay as the university’s president</a>, a stance both praised and condemned by students, faculty and alumni.</li><li>As fury erupts over campus antisemitism,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/us/universities-antisemitism-conservatives-liberals.html"> conservatives have seized the moment</a>.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>