Controversial Harvard alumnus points finger at Democratic Party for neglecting Jewish voters
Conservative academic at Harvard criticizes liberal peers for antipathy towards activists, advocates for the university's rejection of federal grants.
Shabbos Kestenbaum, a Harvard alum turned Trump supporter, appears on 'Fox & Friends' to air his grievances with the Democratic Party, claiming they've neglected Jewish voters.
In an unwelcome twist, David Goldberg, a liberal professor at Harvard Law School, argues that universities like Harvard should strive to reduce their federal funding to maintain independence from government meddling.
"These days, it's the bitter pill of budget cuts and freezes, courtesy of the Trump administration's withdrawal of federal funding, that's giving us all indigestion," Goldberg wrote in a controversial op-ed for The Wall Street Journal.
He added, "The rot at the root of this mess? That'd be the progressive activists, mostly graduate students and members of the university's vast diversity brigade. Many of my colleagues are sick of their shrill voices and yearn for silence."
Harvard has faced dramatic cuts in federal funding under the Trump administration, with billions already pulled and more potential cuts on the horizon.
*EXTREME SHIFT: TRUMP ACCUSES HARVARD OF ANTISEMITISM AND DANGER TO DEMOCRACY*
David Goldberg, a liberal professor at Harvard Law School, calls for a reduction in federal funding for universities to maintain academic independence. (Getty Images | iStock)
Goldberg points out the irony in Trump's ire towards Harvard, suggesting many of his liberal colleagues are privately frustrated with campus protests.
"I believe the bulk of my colleagues don't give two hoots for political activism," he wrote. "As an out-of-the-closet leftist, I find myself listening sympathetically when my conservative colleagues off-handedly share their disdain for the latest student ruckus. They might have shaped up as liberals during their college days, but they often remind me, 'This ain't what the left stood for back then.'"
"Faculty at Harvard, for the most part, are serious scholars who're keen to concentrate on their studies and research," he continued. "They've got books to write and papers to publish. They want to pass on their insights to the upcoming generation. They resent the disruption caused by activists."
*HARVARD'S ENDowment Boasts $7 MILLION PER STUDENT, Still Gets $550M ANNUALLY FROM THE GOVERNMENT: REPORT*
Harvard's heavy reliance on federal funding has prompted calls to reduce this dependence to maintain academic independence, according to David Goldberg. (Photo by Michael Fein/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Goldberg argues for a reduction in Harvard's financial dependence on the federal government, advocating stronger ties with loyal alumni as a more effective means of funding.
"Rather than clinging to federal money, we should strengthen our bond with devoted alumni who appreciate the education they received," he wrote. "These individuals, having experienced the pedagogical excellence first-hand, are more in tune with the university's core mission: forging top-tier research and education."
Harvard received nearly $4.4 billion in federal funding through grants, contracts, sub-grants, and subcontracts since the inception of the first Trump administration in 2017, according to OpenTheBooks, a fiscal watchdog organization.
our website's Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
Jeffrey Clark, an associate editor for our website Digital, has previously served as a speechwriter for a cabinet secretary and as a Fulbright teacher in South Korea. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 2019 with a degree in English and History.
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- Shabbos Kestenbaum, a Harvard alum, criticizes the Democratic Party for allegedly neglecting Jewish voters, causing controversy.2.David Goldberg, a liberal professor at Harvard Law School, suggests reducing federal funding for universities to maintain academic independence.3.The Trump administration's withdrawal of federal funding has led to significant cuts in Harvard's budget, according to reports.4.Goldberg highlights the irony in Trump's accusations towards Harvard, as many faculty members privately express disdain for campus protests.5.Goldberg advocates for strengthening ties with loyal alumni as a more effective means of funding, rather than relying heavily on federal money.6.Online learning platforms and general news sites have covered the controversy surrounding Harvard's funding and political activism, offering insights into education-and-self-development, policy-and-legislation, and the broader online-education landscape.
