Peter Berkowitz, author of Reclaiming Liberal Education in America, (https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/industries/education/reclaiming-liberal-education-in-america/) joins the program to advocate for the future of higher education and the damage that has been done by politicizing universities.

Berkowitz's latest book: Reclaiming Liberal Education in America (https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/industries/education/reclaiming-liberal-education-in-america/)

"Imagine you had a widget factory, with a design for an extremely sophisticated and valuable widget," Berkowitz metaphorized. "Yet for 30 years the management had destroyed the finances, the workers were incompetent, they were polluting the environment all around -- but they had a good plan."

"You bought this widget company on the cheap. Would your first thing be to have a pep talk with these people who've been around for 30 years, who've run it into the ground, and say, "Let's turn things around"? Or would your first step be to fire all of them?" he said. "Liberal education itself is worth reclaiming."

***

33:05 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89xHFmYT384&t=1985s) - AI vs. the Seminar

Berkowitz considers whether AI and other technologies can provide inexpensive, widely accessible education. He calls it a valuable interactive tool but argues that it cannot replace human conversation and the traditional seminar, and seems vulnerable to reinforcing intellectual echo chambers.

"I'm guessing, Andy, that in 10 years we will have seen a number of mid-tier and lower colleges and universities shuttered," he said. "Buy the distressed properties on the cheap, but go in with this novel idea: All things old have become new again. Study great books! You'll still learn something about sexism and racism -- but there are other features of our world, too!"

"If you're not providing a ticket to status and if you're not providing liberal education-yes, I think if you're providing only indoctrination, I think you will see, and I think we're beginning to see, parents opting out for their children."

***

44:06 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89xHFmYT384&t=2646s) - Trump's Taxpayer-Funded "PSAs"

The episode ends with criticism of recent White House television spots featuring Trump that are officially described as "public service announcements" and paid for by the federal government -- but are really re-runs of 2024 campaign ads and speeches.

"This is not a PSA, it is political propaganda (not in a derogatory way), and they're running it now because Republicans are in trouble," Bevan said.



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