How Trump's Policies Are Impacting Universities & Is Anti-Semitism Justifying the Policies? | CUNY Professor Kenneth Gold
Wed Feb 04 2026
How are federal funding freezes and campus unrest impacting the future of academic research and student wellness?
In this episode of Cut to the Chase: Podcast, host Gregg Goldfarb is joined by longtime CUNY professor and former dean, Ken Gold, to unpack how changes to federal research funding, campus governance, and rising tensions around free speech and antisemitism are reshaping higher education.
Drawing on decades of academic leadership, Ken offers a candid, firsthand look at what happens when research dollars are delayed, faculty morale fractures, and universities are forced to navigate political pressure, protest, and constitutional limits.
This discussion goes beyond headlines to reveal how today's campus battles are quietly redefining institutional risk, innovation, and the future workforce.
What to expect in this episode: How frozen and delayed federal research funding is disrupting universities nationwide Why deprioritizing basic research could hurt innovation and much more The impact of long-term budget pressure on faculty hiring, recruitment, and institutional risk How universities are responding to antisemitism, campus protests, and free speech disputes The difference between anti-Zionism and antisemitism (and why it matters) The role of faculty governance, public statements, and "no confidence" votes during crises Constitutional and regulatory challenges emerging from conflicting federal and local policies Why institutional memory and leadership experience matter more than ever in turbulent times
Stay tuned for more updates, and don't miss our next deep dive on Cut to the Chase: Podcast with Gregg Goldfarb!
Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode of the Cut to the Chase: Podcast!
Resources:
Buy Ken's book, "The Forgotten Borough" by Kenneth Gold: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-forgotten-borough/9780231208611
This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.
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How are federal funding freezes and campus unrest impacting the future of academic research and student wellness? In this episode of Cut to the Chase: Podcast, host Gregg Goldfarb is joined by longtime CUNY professor and former dean, Ken Gold, to unpack how changes to federal research funding, campus governance, and rising tensions around free speech and antisemitism are reshaping higher education. Drawing on decades of academic leadership, Ken offers a candid, firsthand look at what happens when research dollars are delayed, faculty morale fractures, and universities are forced to navigate political pressure, protest, and constitutional limits. This discussion goes beyond headlines to reveal how today's campus battles are quietly redefining institutional risk, innovation, and the future workforce. What to expect in this episode: How frozen and delayed federal research funding is disrupting universities nationwide Why deprioritizing basic research could hurt innovation and much more The impact of long-term budget pressure on faculty hiring, recruitment, and institutional risk How universities are responding to antisemitism, campus protests, and free speech disputes The difference between anti-Zionism and antisemitism (and why it matters) The role of faculty governance, public statements, and "no confidence" votes during crises Constitutional and regulatory challenges emerging from conflicting federal and local policies Why institutional memory and leadership experience matter more than ever in turbulent times Stay tuned for more updates, and don't miss our next deep dive on Cut to the Chase: Podcast with Gregg Goldfarb! Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode of the Cut to the Chase: Podcast! Resources: Buy Ken's book, "The Forgotten Borough" by Kenneth Gold: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-forgotten-borough/9780231208611 This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.