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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Duke in the crosshairs: Trump's federal probe sparks a reckoning over race and academic power
US investigates Duke University over alleged Title VI violations in law journal selection. (Getty Images) The Trump administration has reignited one of the most contentious debates in American education, whether the pursuit of racial equity in universities amounts to unlawful discrimination. Duke University, long celebrated for its academic prestige, now finds itself at the centre of a federal civil rights investigation over allegations that race played a role in selecting editors for its esteemed Duke Law Journal. The investigation, announced Monday by the Department of Education, will examine whether Duke's editorial practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded educational institutions. At the heart of the inquiry is the claim that the law journal gives preference to candidates from minority communities during its editorial selection process. 'This investigation is based on recent reporting alleging that Duke University discriminates on the basis of race, color, and/or national origin by using these factors to select law journal members,' the department said in an official statement, as reported by Reuters . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Retirees Unaware Of No Deposit Car Insurance Based On Their Age OTTO Insurance Learn More Undo A broader pattern emerges The probe at Duke is not an isolated case. It comes amid a wave of federal scrutiny targeting DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs at top-tier universities, including Harvard, Columbia, and Brown. The Trump administration has increasingly positioned itself against institutional efforts that acknowledge race as a factor in hiring, admissions, scholarships, or editorial decisions, arguing that such policies unfairly disadvantage others. In a joint letter to Duke's leadership, Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged the university to conduct an internal review and form a special panel 'with delegated authority from Duke's Board of Trustees to enable Duke and the federal government to move quickly toward a mutual resolution of Duke's alleged civil rights violations.' Duke University has not publicly responded to the allegations or the federal request for cooperation. Elite institutions in the crosshairs The intensifying pressure from Washington has put some of the nation's most prominent institutions on the defensive. According to The New York Times , Harvard University is negotiating a settlement with the federal government that could cost as much as $500 million, more than double what Columbia University agreed to pay just last week, to resolve similar civil rights inquiries. While Harvard appears willing to meet the government's financial demands, it is reportedly resisting calls to allow external oversight of its internal operations, considering such a move a breach of academic independence. Meanwhile, Brown University has already taken preemptive financial measures. Following news that the Trump administration planned to freeze over $510 million in research and student aid grants, the university secured a $500 million loan, as revealed in recent regulatory filings. DEI in the crossfire What began as isolated legal disputes has evolved into a full-scale political campaign to dismantle DEI structures in American education. The administration has threatened to cut federal funding not just over race-conscious policies, but also in response to climate-related initiatives, transgender rights, and pro-Palestinian campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza. President Donald Trump has claimed, without evidence, that DEI practices result in discrimination against white students and men. Civil rights groups have consistently rejected such assertions, arguing that DEI efforts are corrective mechanisms designed to confront longstanding inequities that have historically excluded marginalized communities from academic opportunity. Fears over academic freedom For many faculty members and civil liberties advocates, the federal campaign against DEI is seen not as a fight for fairness, but as an intrusion into academic freedom. 'This is not about fairness—this is about power,' said a spokesperson for a national civil rights coalition, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity. 'These federal investigations are a thinly veiled attempt to dismantle the very frameworks that have enabled underrepresented voices to gain a foothold in elite institutions.' Legal scholars warn that the outcome of these cases could have far-reaching implications, not just for the future of DEI but for how much autonomy universities will be allowed to exercise in shaping their intellectual and editorial communities. At a national crossroads The federal government's expanding push into campus policy marks a critical moment for higher education in the United States. With lawsuits, investigations, and negotiations unfolding across the Ivy League and beyond, the Duke case reflects more than a single institutional dispute; it represents a broader reckoning with how the country defines fairness, opportunity, and inclusion. As Duke braces for what could become a landmark legal and cultural confrontation, the outcome may well determine how freely American universities can pursue diversity in the years to come, or whether such efforts will now be viewed through the lens of civil rights violations. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. 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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
David Letterman blasts CBS and Paramount for canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: ‘Pure cowardice'
David Letterman has slammed CBS and Paramount for canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Letterman, who created the late night show over three decades ago, accused CBS of 'pure cowardice,' Fox News reported. David Letterman created The Late Show nearly 32 years ago(AP) Appearing on The Barbara Gaines Show, a podcast hosted by his former executive producer, David Letterman said he did not believe the claim that Stephen Colbert's was canceled for financial reasons. The comedian also talked about Paramount's $16 million settlement with US President Donald Trump and theorized that the deal was linked to The Late Show's cancellation. This is not the first time the television host has slammed CBS' decision. The 78-year-old posted a montage of him roasting CBS throughout the years after The Late Show's cancellation was announced. David Letterman slams CBS and Paramount "This is pure cowardice," Letterman said about CBS and Paramount's decision. "They did not do the correct thing. They did not handle Stephen Colbert — the face of that network — in the way he deserves to have been handled," he explained. Also Read: David Letterman takes a dig at CBS after cancellation of Stephen Colbert's Late Show He questioned the claims of the financial losses that Colbert's show was reportedly facing. "I'll bet they were losing this kind of money a month ago. I'll bet they were losing this kind of money six weeks ago. Or they have never been losing money," the television host claimed. David Letterman on Paramount's settlement with Donald Trump Letterman also spoke his mind on Paramount's decision to settle with Trump over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. The move came ahead of Paramount's merger with Skydance. On Thursday, federal regulators stated that they had voted to approve the merger, valued at $8 billion. Furthermore, Skydance CEO David Ellison has promised to eliminate all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Paramount, NPR reported. Skydance has not denied Trump's claims that the network will run public service announcements worth $20 million that were consistent with his ideological beliefs. David Letterman said that Skydance Media, which would soon be the new owners of Paramount, wanted to avoid any trouble with Trump, which is why they got rid of Colbert, who is an outspoken critic of the president, before the acquisition. As per Fox News, the chat show host David Ellison, as "the Oracle twins" on the podcast. Also Read: Joaquin Phoenix regrets his infamous David Letterman interview: 'It was horrible and uncomfortable' "The Ellison twins, the Oracle boys, they don't want any trouble along the lines of freedom of the press or free speech or freedom of expression," David Letterman claimed. "They don't want to get their hands dirty. They don't want the government going after them, because that concept of freedom of the press and freedom of speech — that's so old-fashioned," he explained. FAQs What did David Letterman say about the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show? He called it an act of 'pure cowardice.' Was David Letterman part of The Late Show? Yes, he was the creator of the series. When will the last episode of Stephen Colbert's show air? The show will end in 2026.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'It's Un-American': John Kennedy BURSTS At Harvard's DEI Agenda With Harmeet Dhillon
Senator John Kennedy strongly criticized Harvard University's DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies during a conversation with attorney Harmeet Dhillon, calling them 'un-American.' Kennedy argued that DEI initiatives promote quotas and racial obsession, which he claims do not reflect the views of most Americans. He emphasized that while diversity is a positive concept, the current DEI agenda distorts its meaning and alienates people. Kennedy likened being against true diversity to being against golden retrievers—suggesting the issue lies in how the concept is being applied, not in diversity itself.#JohnKennedy #HarmeetDhillon #DEIDebate #HarvardDEI #DEIControversy #AmericanValues#AntiQuota #DiversityDebate #DEICriticism #PoliticalCommentary #SenateVoices #EducationPolicy
The Hill
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
FCC approves Paramount, Skydance merger
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday approved an $8 billion merger agreement between media behemoths Paramount and Skydance, a deal that has been overshadowed for months by President Trump's lawsuit against CBS News and allegations of bribery by critics of the massive conglomerate. The FCC announced its approval of the mega merger late Thursday, with chairman Brendan Carr saying he welcomed 'Skydance's commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network.' 'Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly,' Carr said. 'It is time for a change.' Carr praised Skydance for its written commitment to 'ensure that the new company's programming embodies a diversity of viewpoints from across the political and ideological spectrum.' 'Skydance will also adopt measures that can root out the bias that has undermined trust in the national news media,' the chairman said. 'These commitments, if implemented, would enable CBS to operate in the public interest and focus on fair, unbiased, and fact-based coverage.' Carr has been sharply critical of broadcast news outlets since taking over as Trump's FCC chair when the president took office and has mocked Democrats and other critics who say the president is attempting to crack down on news coverage of his administration. The merger's approval comes just days after Paramount agreed to pay the president's foundation $16 million to settle a lawsuit he brought against CBS News last year stemming from an interview '60 Minutes' published with former Vice President Harris, which the president argued was edited to cast her in a positive light. Carr had previously indicated the Harris interview could have constituted a legitimate 'news distortion complaint' and had held up the planned Paramount/Skydance merger. CBS also canceled 'The Late Show' with host Stephen Colbert last week, just days after the comedian accused Paramount on the air of paying Trump a 'big fat bribe.' As part of its promise to the FCC, the new company, which will be known as 'New Paramount,' has vowed to 'promote transparency and increased accountability' through an ombudsman for a period of at least two years who will report to the president of the company and evaluate complaints of bias, the FCC said. Skydance, which has no Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in place today, has committed that it will not establish any such initiatives at the new company and confirms that New Paramount will also be committed to equal opportunity employment and nondiscrimination, the commission added. And finally, 'New Paramount' reaffirmed to the FCC 'its commitment to localism as a core component of the public interest standard, and emphasizes that it will work closely with its affiliated broadcast stations to ensure a productive partnership that will strengthen its affiliates' ability to serve their local communities.' 'New Paramount' will be led by David Ellison, the son of tech tycoon and Oracle founder Larry Ellison, an ally of Trump and one of the richest people in the world.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Comply with Prez's order': Blackburn slams Tennessee colleges for hiding DEI behind coded language
During a Senate Judiciary hearing focused on ending DEI, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) accused Tennessee universities of disguising their DEI programs by using coded or rebranded language. Her remarks came as President Donald Trump has vowed to bring the country together by eliminating DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives across all institutions, from federal agencies to college campuses. Show more Show less
