Harvard Newstalk

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy joins Newstalk to discuss Harvard’s political climate, defend his stance on the 2020 election, and weigh in on congressional ethics — while addressing the University’s treatment of Rep. Elise M. Stefanik '06 (R-NY) and raising questions about the role of the Harvard Corporation.

Legendary documentarian Ken Burns joins Newstalk to discuss truth in a polarized media landscape, the enduring value of long-form storytelling, and why history offers perspective in moments of national division.

When everyone gets an A, what does an A mean? Associate Editorial Editor Benjamin Isaac ‘27 discusses the merits of the recent faculty grading proposal with Crimson Editorial editor Allison P. Farrell ‘26.

The European Union's Ambassador to the United States, Jovita Neliupšienė, comes on Newstalk to discuss President Trump's evolving relationship with our European allies. 

The Harvard Crimson's podcast Newstalk  returns with special guest Jason Furman, who speaks on the Federal Reserve and President Trump's new nominee for Fed Chair Kevin Warsh.

Harvard students awoke to a somber campus following Donald Trump’s reelection to the presidency early Wednesday morning. “My heart dropped a little bit,” one student said. Some Harvard professors canceled classes. Others tweaked their lesson plans and asked students to care for their mental health. This week on Newstalk, Harvard reacts to Trump's return to the White House.

When you think about election organizing at Harvard, a few words might come to mind. Privilege. Access. Money.  The Harvard College Democrats are backed by a federally recognized PAC. Student leaders at the Harvard Republican Club have dined with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and pulled off speaking events with multi-billionaire Peter Thiel.  Talk to them, and you’ll find that the name-dropp...

As we neared the one-year anniversary of October 7 earlier this month, the Harvard Institute of Politics — the largest student organization on Harvard’s campus and its flagship platform for political discourse — saw a high-profile shakeup in its student leadership.  Citing the Palestinian exception to free speech, a vocal pro-Palestine activist resigned as the chair of one of the IOP’s popular pro...

If you've been a student at Harvard at any point over the past three years, there’s one thing you’ve probably heard over and over again: intellectual vitality.  You’ll see it in emails, in videos, from students, from our deans — it’s everywhere.  And, overwhelmingly, you’ll get the sense that Harvard’s concerned about the state of discourse on campus. So what is intellectual vitality? A Harvard we...

In 2022, Harvard earmarked $100 Million dollars for an initiative focused on making amends for Harvard’s ties to slavery. Now, that same initiative has faced infighting, a series of resignations, and allegations of attempts to limit the project’s scope. So how exactly did we get here? This week on Newstalk, inside Harvard's Legacy of Slavery Initiative. Newstalk is co-hosted and co-produced by Yae...

Harvard released its admissions demographic data for the Class of 2028 last week. This year more so than many years past, those numbers were a big deal. Few things at Harvard are as tightly kept a secret as its admissions process. Every year, tens of thousands of applicants around the world hit submit, hope for the best. And then… it’s sort of a black box. The applications get sent off through the...

It’s Harvard’s second week back in class and campus tensions are already back in the headlines. Two Harvard graduate students charged with assault and battery during a pro-Palestine protest last May face yet another delay in their arraignment date. A September 5th statement from the University provided updated guidance for those affected by doxing attacks, following months of criticism of its fail...

Alan M. Garber ’76, Harvard’s longtime provost who suddenly became the interim leader as he sought to steer the University through its worst leadership crisis in decades, was officially confirmed as the 31st president, the Harvard Corporation announced on Friday. Eight months after Garber was appointed interim president, the Corporation — the University’s highest governing body — announced it will...

For than 100 hours and counting, dozens of Pro-Palestine students and protesters have camped overnight in Harvard Yard, calling on the university to divest from Israel‘s war in Gaza. The encampment has now expanded to 50+ tents stretching across Harvard Yard, some a stone's throw away from Harvard president Alan Garber's office.  On Newstalk, host Frank S. Zhou '26 and reporters Ellie P. Cassidy '...

As skepticism of Harvard's governance mounts amid a year of turmoil, a group of prominent Harvard professors is seeking to revive a body that hasn’t existed at Harvard in living memory: a University-wide faculty senate. Less than 20 years ago, Harvard faculty speaking with a collective voice helped oust a university president. But this proposal marks the first time Harvard's faculties have made a...

On Friday morning, March 29th, the Harvard Law School Student Government passed a resolution calling on the Harvard Management Corporation to divest from Israel. On Tuesday, April 2nd, a truck displaying the faces of the HLS Student Government co-presidents made its way around campus.  The “Doxxing” truck, as it’s known, has been a familiar presence on campus since October 7th. As the Harvard Unde...

Harvard emerged mostly unscathed from its first application cycle since the fall of affirmative action, silencing critics who speculated the University’s recent controversies would deter students from applying to the College.  This week on Newstalk, reporters Elyse C. Goncalves '27 and Matan H. Josephy '27 join host Yael S. Goldstein '26 to discuss the state of Harvard admissions and what the data...

As Harvard navigates its way out of a historic leadership crisis, DEI has come under heavy fire. Supporters point to DEI's capacity to support student wellbeing. Critics say it can get in the way of free speech. Today on Newstalk, two members of The Crimson’s Editorial Board, Tommy Barone ‘25 and Allison P. Farrell ‘26, join host Frank S. Zhou '26 to discuss what critics tend to get wrong, how stu...

Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino — who came under fire for allegations of data manipulation — suggested that Boston University professor and co-author Nina Mažar tampered with her data, according to an internal HBS report . This week on Newstalk, reporters Benjamin Isaac '27 and Kyle Baek '26 join host Yael S. Goldstein '26 to break down the Gino saga. 

Earlier this month, Interim Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 announced that Harvard Law School Dean John F. Manning ’82 will serve as the University’s second highest administrator: the University provost. Unlike most top administrators, however, Manning has declined to schedule regular interviews with The Crimson and has proven to be one of Harvard's most media-shy deans. So who is John Mannin...

Many Harvard students describe a social scene where besides a handful of bright spots — such as Housing Day and the Harvard-Yale game — traditional college revelry characterized by roaring parties, vibrant and frequent tailgates, and school spirit in abundance has been missing at Harvard. While administrators cite a hands-off approach to social life — and a lack of available funding for College-or...

Harvard will release regular decisions for the Class of 2028 later this month. But as tens of thousands of students around the world brace themselves to hear Harvard’s answer on whether they got in, one question remains: will Harvard continue to keep standardized test scores optional in its application?  After Yale University and Dartmouth College announced they would return to standardized testin...

House Republicans subpoenaed three top Harvard officials last Friday, demanding internal documents and communications for an investigation into the University’s handling of antisemitism on campus. This week on Newstalk, reporters Emma H. Haidar '26 and Cam E. Kettles '26 join host Frank S. Zhou '26 to discuss the threats the subpoena poses to Harvard; Editorial Board members Saul I.M. Arnow '26 an...

The tenure of interim Harvard President Alan M. Garber '76 will likely be one of the most consequential for the University in recent history as he looks to heal a deeply divided campus. The longtime administrator has insisted that he is up for the challenge. This week on Newstalk, reporters Cam E. Kettles '26 and Emma H. Haidar '26 join host Frank S. Zhou '26 to discuss Garber's rocky path ahead a...

The MBTA Red Line is closed maintenance from Feb. 5 to Feb. 14 as part of a project to reduce slowdowns and increase safety by upgrading track infrastructure. This week on Newstalk, reporters Aisling A. McLaughlin and Madeline E. Proctor join Nyla Nasir '27 to discuss their effect on Boston-area commuters.  Music in this episode comes from freesound.org.