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In this episode of Scheer Intelligence, Robert Scheer speaks with Professor Steve Macek about what he calls an unprecedented assault on academic freedom in the United States. From federal investigations into Columbia and UCLA to state‑level crackdowns in Florida and Texas, Macek argues that the country is witnessing a new form of political interference — one that targets universities, scholars, and even entire fields of study.
Scheer and Macek trace the historical lineage from McCarthyism to the present, examining how both major political parties have contributed to a climate of fear, surveillance, and self‑censorship on campus. They discuss the weaponization of antisemitism accusations, the precariousness of adjunct faculty, the chilling effect on student activism, and the broader erosion of institutions that produce knowledge.
This conversation is essential for anyone concerned about free inquiry, democratic debate, and the future of higher education.
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Key Themes & Highlights
- Academic freedom is distinct from free speech — it protects scholars’ ability to research, teach, and publish without political interference.
- Trump’s administration has escalated federal pressure on universities, freezing funding and demanding oversight of curricula.
- Entire universities — not just individuals — are now targeted, which Macek argues is worse than McCarthyism.
- Democrats have also contributed, including investigations that began under Biden and state bills signed by Gavin Newsom.
- Antisemitism accusations are being weaponized to silence criticism of Israel and Palestine.
- Adjunctification has created a fearful, precarious academic workforce, accelerating self‑censorship.
- Students have gone silent after harsh crackdowns on Gaza‑related protests.
- Surveillance technology amplifies fear, making self‑censorship the dominant mode of control.
Academic Freedom on Life Support — Edited Transcript
Introduction
Robert Scheer: Hi, this is Robert Scheer with another edition of Scheer Intelligence, where the intelligence comes from my guest — in this case, Steve Macek. He’s a professor at North Central College in Illinois, very involved with the American Association of University Professors. He’s written an important article for Project Censored on the climate of intimidation. It has a fancy title I’m stumbling on.
Robert Scheer: Give me the title again — it’s about epistemology.
Steve Macek: Trump’s Attack on Epistemic Institutions.
Robert Scheer: Right. For people who don’t know, epistemology is about how we get information and knowledge.
What Academic Freedom Is — and Why It Matters
Steve Macek: Every society, especially industrialized democracies like ours, depends on institutions that produce scientific insight and knowledge. My contention is that Donald Trump, in his second administration, has declared war on our epistemic institutions.
Academic freedom is not the same as general free expression. Everyone has First Amendment rights — from neo‑Nazis to communists. Academic freedom is the freedom of scholars to investigate, research, and teach without partisan interference from administrators, politicians, or pressure groups.
Without that freedom, we wouldn’t have the truth about evolution, biology, the solar system — Galileo’s work wouldn’t have seen the light of day. Academic freedom is essential for discovering truth in the natural world, the social world, and the political world.
The Current Assault on Academic Freedom
Steve Macek: We’re seeing an unprecedented assault on universities’ independence and on scholars’ freedom to pursue research. Yes, there were attacks in the McCarthy era, but the leading historian of McCarthyism, Ellen Schrecker, says what’s happening now is worse.
Under McCarthy, individual scholars were blacklisted. Now entire universities are being investigated.
Robert Scheer: And that’s key — when the executive branch does it, it’s different. McCarthy was an outlier attacking the president. Now the president is attacking universities.
The Columbia Case
Steve Macek: Columbia is a shocking example. The Trump administration froze research funding and launched a DOJ investigation into alleged antisemitism. Columbia settled by paying over $200 million and agreeing to government oversight of teaching on Middle East studies and Israel. That level of federal interference in curriculum is unprecedented.
They’ve done similar things at Northwestern and UCLA. ProPublica reported DOJ lawyers were pressured to “gin up” a case against UCLA over Gaza protests.
A judge intervened, but it’s unclear if that protection will last.
Is It Only Trump?
Robert Scheer: I want to push this. It’s convenient to blame only Trump and MAGA. But Democrats have also participated. At the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fish — a popular artist — was forced out over accusations of antisemitism. That happened in a blue state, with a blue governor.
In California, Gavin Newsom signed a bill defining antisemitism so broadly that serious criticism of Israel can be treated as hate speech. That invites surveillance of professors.
Steve Macek: You’re right. The investigations into UCLA and Columbia began under Biden. Democrats have long supported Israel and have authorized billions in arms. This isn’t exclusively a MAGA phenomenon.
Weaponizing Antisemitism Accusations
Robert Scheer: Historically, the Jewish community opposed censorship because they knew what totalitarianism looked like. Now antisemitism is being weaponized to silence criticism of Israel. People are being fired based on classroom comments or even student recordings.
Steve Macek: Absolutely. People are being fired for speech about Palestine and Gaza. And also for comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a McCarthyite organization. It was a tragedy he was killed — but academics have been suspended or fired simply for describing his politics accurately.
A law professor in Arkansas was fired. A cancer researcher at Emory was fired. Three professors at Florida Atlantic were suspended. Their speech was clearly First Amendment protected.
Trump even issued an executive order declaring “Antifa” terrorists — without defining what Antifa is. It’s a vague smear used to target critics.
The Bipartisan Crackdown
Steve Macek: Corporate leaders also play a role. They don’t care about ideology — only profit. They’ll support Newsom or Trump if it benefits them.
Robert Scheer: So the war on academic freedom is not just MAGA. It’s systemic.
Self‑Censorship: The Silent Collapse
Robert Scheer: Let’s talk about self‑censorship. That’s how totalitarian societies actually function. In the Soviet Union, brilliant scientists simply avoided forbidden topics. Same in religious authoritarian states.
Now with digital surveillance, every email, every post, every classroom comment can be monitored. Students and faculty know this — so they shut up.
Campuses have gone silent. The crackdown worked.
Steve Macek: Rising self‑censorship is a serious problem. It began even before 2016. Part of it is the economic war on higher education — defunding, austerity, neoliberal administrators.
Adjunctification is a huge factor. Adjuncts teach one or two courses, have no job security, and are terrified of offending anyone. They self‑censor constantly. If most teaching is done by precarious workers, students won’t be challenged intellectually.
Some adjuncts are brave, but most are afraid.
Tenure No Longer Protects Faculty
Robert Scheer: Even tenured faculty are being targeted. Tenure doesn’t mean anything now. People are being fired or investigated despite tenure protections.
Steve Macek: In certain states and institutions, that’s absolutely true.
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