Part 9/12:
Both Hansen and Kotkin expressed concern that bipartisan inertia, combined with entrenched policies on entitlements and spending, could lead to decline unless there is a concerted political effort.
University and Institutional Reform
A recurring theme was the decline of American higher education’s quality and influence. Hansen and Kotkin warned that universities have become “self-governing cartels,” rife with politicization, politicized admissions, and ideological orthodoxy. The discussion emphasized Trump’s disruptive influence as a catalyst for reform — albeit through controversial methods — calling into question how to revive educational standards and integrity.
Both stressed that meaningful reform must come from within institutions, not merely from external pressure.