David Bernstein

The Contrarian with David Bernstein

Education EN ↓ 40 episodes

Welcome to "The Contrarian." This podcast is all about diving into the world of liberal values, radical ideologies and engaging in truly open conversations. In the next few months, we will take a close look at what in god’s name is going on in American and Western universities and what, if anything, we can do about it.

Author

David Bernstein

Category

Education

Latest episode

May 8, 2026

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Episodes

A Sociology of Antizionism w/ Prof Shaul Kelner 08.05.2026

00:00 – Introduction & Framing the Debate  00:58 – Understanding Antizionism Politically  03:34 – Antizionism on the Left and Right  05:06 – Systemic Antizionism Explained  07:01 – Antizionism vs. Antisemitism  09:00 – Why Labels Matter Less Than Actions  13:17 – The Institutional Rise of Antizionism  18:09 – How Extremists Rebrand Narratives  30:47 – Activism, Mobilization & Motivation  35:14 – H...

The Antisemitism versus Antizionism debate w/ Prof. David Hirsh 23.04.2026

00:00 – Intro: Anti-Antizionism Explained 01:27 – Is This Really “New”? 02:59 – How Antisemitism Evolves 05:20 – Why the Hyphen Matters 06:57 – Antizionism’s Constructed Reality 09:57 – Labeling Jews & Zionists 11:27 – Conspiracy Thinking Patterns 13:51 – Separate or Same Debate 14:39 – Defining Antisemitism Today 16:59 – Why Antizionism Matters 19:11 – History vs. Modern Forms 23:26 – Culture & J...

Should American Jews Carry Guns? w/ Dr. Adam Fuller 09.04.2026

00:00 Introduction to The Armed Jew 03:01 The Psychological Shift Post-October 7th 06:14 The Debate on Gun Ownership and Safety 09:08 Cultural Disconnect and Gun Ownership 11:59 The Jewish Condition and Security 15:11 Historical Context of Jewish Gun Ownership 17:57 Gun Control and Legislation Perspectives 20:54 The Role of Anti-Zionism in Contemporary Antisemitism 23:57 Conclusion and Reflections...

Antizionism's Legal Fight w/ Prof. Rona Kaufman 13.03.2026

00:00 Antisemitism’s Legal Fight – Episode Intro  01:36 Antizionism Origins in Western Academia  03:01 Ideological Influence in Universities  07:13 Campus Antisemitism and Law Schools  09:35 Rona Kaufman’s Zionist Identity  14:01 Antisemitism in U.S. Civil Rights Law  19:25 MIT Antisemitism Lawsuit Explained  21:51 Center for Jewish Legal Studies  29:49 Antizionism as a Legal Discrimination Issue ...

How Antizionism Evolved into a Separate Ideology w/ Prof Andrew Pessin 26.02.2026

00:00 Opening & Series Introduction  01:20 Meet Prof. Andrew Pessin  03:10 What “Anti-Anti-Zionism” Means  06:45 Campus Climate & Academic Pressures  10:30 How Antizionism Enters Intellectual Frameworks  15:05 Progressive Ideology & Jewish Identity Tensions  19:20 The Connecticut College Controversy  23:55 Free Speech, Fear & Faculty Silence  28:40 Moral Clarity vs Academic Conformity  33:15 The W...

Is Antizionism the New Antisemitism? w/ Dr. Naya Lekht 12.02.2026

00:00 Introduction to Antizionism and Its Importance 01:56 Naya Lekht's Personal Journey and Insights 05:25 Distinguishing Antizionism from Antisemitism 09:10 The Three Eras of Jew Hatred 12:50 Debating Antizionism: A Strategic Conversation 17:02 The Role of Free Speech in Discussing Antizionism 20:17 Understanding Misinformation vs. Disinformation 23:35 The Nature of Disinformation 26:54 Shifting...

The New Anti Anti-Zionism w/ Adam Louis-Klein 29.01.2026

00:00 Introduction to Anti-Anti-Zionism 02:09 Personal Journey and Ideological Shift 05:55 Understanding Anti-Zionism vs. Anti-Semitism 09:44 Critique of Indigeneity Discourse 15:23 The Paradox of Tolerance in Discourse 21:56 Structure of the Anti-Zionism Movement 24:28 The Power of Libel and Belief 27:56 Defining Anti-Zionism and Its Implications 29:29 The Challenge of Anti-Zionist Jews 32:54 Und...

How Teachers Unions became Platforms for Political Activists w/ Paul Zimmerman 23.12.2025

Chapters 00:00 Defense of Freedom Institute: Mission & Focus 02:48 Ideological Capture of Teachers Unions 06:16 How Teachers Unions Shifted Ideologically 09:03 Strategic Control of Education Systems 11:59 Ideology Inside School Districts 15:08 Unions and the Push for Radical Agendas 18:34 Democratic Socialists’ Influence in Unions 22:50 NEA vs. AFT: Comparing Union Radicalism 26:21 How Union Ideol...

Christian Zionism, Christian Nationalism and the Jews w/ Ty Perry 13.11.2025

00:00 – Welcome & who is Ty Perry? 01:02 – A Christian Zionist in a shifting Christian world 03:36 – What is Christian nationalism, really? 05:22 – Dispensationalism explained (and misunderstood) 09:20 – Competing stories: Christian Zionism vs Christian nationalism 12:03 – Law, society, and the limits of imposed Christianity 14:51 – Rethinking Charlie Kirk 18:53 – Listening in on the Charlie Kirk...

Orthodoxy and the Academy w/ Prof Suzanna Sherry - S2 Ep 14 31.10.2025

00:00 The Origins of Critical Race Theory and Antisemitism  02:58 The Resurgence of Critical Race Theory and DEI  05:58 The Impact of Social Movements on Racial Discourse  08:59 The Orthodoxy of DEI and Its Implications  11:57 The Conflict Between Free Speech and Campus Culture  14:59 The Role of Political Climate in Academic Freedom  17:58 The Dangers of Blunt Political Interventions  20:53 Navig...

The Future of Universities: Ideological Balance and New Institutions 16.10.2025

00:00 Introduction to Higher Education Reform 02:49 The Impact of the Trump Administration on Universities 05:47 Civil Rights and Funding in Higher Education 09:13 The Debate on Ideological Balance 11:47 The Beachhead Strategy in Higher Education 14:48 The Role of New Universities 17:56 The Collapse of DEI Bureaucracies 21:12 The Future of Teacher Education 24:05 Conclusion and Future Perspectives

How K-12 Schools Politicized COVID--19 w/ Natalya Murakhver 02.10.2025

Natalya Murakhver discusses her documentary '15 Days,' which explores the impact of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. She reflects on her personal experiences during the pandemic, the shifting narratives around public health, and the political dynamics that influenced school policies. The conversation delves into the role of teachers unions, the transformation of education, and the imp...

A Congressman's Role in Countering Radical Ideology in Schools w/ Rep Michael Baumgartner 18.09.2025

00:00 Introduction to Congressman Baumgartner 01:53 Political Landscape of Eastern Washington 04:06 Ideological Paradigms: 1776 vs. 1619 08:03 Challenges in Higher Education 11:45 K-12 Education and Local Control 15:53 Federal Influence on State Education 19:56 Foreign Influence in American Education 23:50 The Role of Qatar in U.S. Politics 27:55 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Teaching Agency in K-12 Schools w/ Ian Rowe 05.09.2025

00:00 Introduction to Agency and Education  02:53 The Role of Charter Schools in Empowering Communities  05:53 Navigating Ideology and Competence in Education  08:46 The Impact of Institutional Politics on Education  11:50 Cultural Influences on Education and Success  14:56 The Importance of Family Structure in Education  18:01 Agency and the Power of Choice in Education  20:52 Personal Stories of...

Ideology or Incompetence? What Ails Education w/ Robert Pondiscio 21.08.2025

Robert Pondisio explores the complex landscape of education in America, focusing on the ideological battles, the role of competence in teaching, and the impact of curriculum on student outcomes. They discuss the politicization of education, the ongoing reading wars between phonics and whole language approaches, and the influence of socioeconomic factors on learning. The dialogue emphasizes the nee...

Enlightened Patriotism & Liberal Education w/ Prof Steven Smith 08.08.2025

Prof Steven Smith explores the concept of 'Enlightenment Patriotism', contrasting it with other forms of nationalism. He discusses the discomfort surrounding patriotism in contemporary society, the bifurcation of American identity into narratives of return and progress, and the challenges of political polarization. The discussion also touches on the idea of 'brokenism' in institutions and the need...

Defending Ed: A New Era in Education Advocacy w/ Nicole Neily 23.07.2025

In this episode of the Contrarian Podcast, host David Bernstein speaks with Nicole Neily, founder and CEO of Defending Ed, about the organization's mission to counter radicalism in K-12 education and its recent expansion into higher education. They discuss the challenges facing both educational systems, the interconnectedness of K-12 and higher education, and the importance of parental engagement...

Neutralizing the Political Power of Teachers' Unions w/ Mailee Smith 08.07.2025

In this conversation, David Bernstein and Mailee Smith discuss the alarming rise of radicalism within teachers unions, particularly focusing on the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and its influence on education policy. They explore how a small faction of ideologically driven leaders has taken control of these unions, leading to significant political spending and a shift in educational priorities. The...

Powerful Insights on Right-wing Politics and Antisemitism w/ Dr Christopher Schorr 20.06.2025

Dr Christopher Schorr, Director of Higher Education at the America First Policy Institute discusses the intersection of antisemitism and woke ideology, the role of higher education in addressing these issues, and the complexities of Christian nationalism in American politics. The conversation highlights the need for a unified front against antisemitism and the implications of free speech on campus...

Did Ed Schools turn Teachers into Political Activists? w/ Prof Lyell Asher - S2 Ep 4 30.05.2025

Professor Lyell Asher joins the podcast to explore the evolution of education schools and their far-reaching impact on both higher education and the K–12 system. He traces the origins of ed schools in the early 20th century, the ideological shifts of the 1960s, and how these changes contributed to a growing disconnect between educational institutions and mainstream societal values. Professor Asher...

Christianity & Liberalism : A Broken Bargain? 16.05.2025

Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at Brookings and author of 'Cross-Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy.' discusses the intricate relationship between Christianity and liberal democracy, exploring how both have influenced each other over time. Rauch argues that Christianity has strayed from its foundational role in supporting democratic values. The conversation delves into the con...

The Federal Role in Local Education Policy w/ Ginny Gentles - S2 Ep 2 02.05.2025

Ginny Gentles, discusses the current landscape of education reform, the influence of federal policies, and the implications of executive orders on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs in schools. Gentles emphasizes the importance of local and state-level engagement in education policy and the challenges posed by teachers unions and bureaucratic systems. The conversation highlights the o...

Democracy and Political Ignorance with Prof Ilya Somin 16.04.2025

Prof Ilya Somin discusses the current state of antisemitism, exploring its salience in both left-wing and right-wing ideologies. He analyzes the historical roots of anti-Zionism, the influence of foreign money on campus protests, and the ideological underpinnings of antisemitism across the political spectrum. The discussion also touches on the role of government in academia and the implications of...

Unmasking Campus Censorship with Eugene Volokh 04.07.2024

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Protecting Intellectual Diversity in Academia with Yuval Levin 27.06.2024

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