The anti-conservative activists should be seen as what they are: defenders of a worldview of privilege. I’ve never known a poor or working class person to be concerned with ‘social justice.’ The reality that modern leftism is mostly about status and class disconnection offers insights into how it can effectively be countered.
Very good news, Mr Rufo, thank you. Here again we see the rage spiral of the American Left: the future, that is, the realization of Obama’s Fundamental Transformation, was theirs, they were sure. They controlled all the words and institutions needed to guarantee it. They did not expect a resurgent American Right. Still, no time to relax our vigilance: we have much restoration to do.
Not an Iowan, but from what I've seen of her Governor Kim Reynolds is an excellent conservative politician. Sound economic and cultural views without a lot of drama. May she continue to have a leadership role in Republican politics.
Mr. Rufo, I have never posted in comments anywhere before. All I want to say is that we are lucky to have you. Thank you for what you are doing (so well).
Prouder today to have earned my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Hawkeye U. The psychology department was apolitical when I was there (1979-1982), but given the leftist leanings of most psychologists, I hope the department has not drifted in that misguided direction. Kudos for Rufo’s tireless work.
Excellent article - I am sure that these same people would like to see the Constitution & the Bill of Rights burned!!! Can you imagine if this book burning came from the mouth of a conservative? This would make the National Liberal Media machine. I see that Fahrenheit 451 is alive & well in all the liberal minds. It's a shame it isn't required reading in high school like it was when I was there. This is a fight that will be ongoing - reversing this madness is going to be extremely difficult. Thank you for this.
Very good news indeed. My only connection to Iowa over the years was a college student who worked a few years in my laboratory. He was a good biochemical technician and a wonderfully informed and kind young man, but a third generation Communist from Minneapolis. He got his degree from Grinnell.
I am very glad to see the Center for Intellectual Freedom and it is remarkable that it came to fruition. But as a former academic and academic administrator, I need to temper enthusiasm.
"...the hiring pipelines for conservative-leaning faculty are better than they have ever been, and the rise of conservative academic centers could lead to the hiring of hundreds, if not thousands, of academics with commitments to American principles."
Hiring is the first step, and it is necessary, but not sufficient. Sufficiency will only be achieved when conservative professors are granted tenure. Herein lies the ongoing problem.
Let me remind you of how a persons record (dossier) is reviewed and by whome. A dossier is reviewed first by a departmental committee, then by the chair of head of the department, next it goes to a college committee, then to the dean; then it is reviewed by a university committee and then it goes to the provost before it ends with to the President/Chancellor and the Board for approval. Those are all steps wherein a teacher/scholar with conservative proclivities may (indeed most likely will) have their case for tenure denied. In fact, given the make up of faculty in general, far left, those committees and many of the administrators (all also faculty members) are likely not to look with favor on a conservative candidate.
The second problem is this. Centers like the Center for Intellectual Freedom exist outside of the tenure-granting system. THEY DO NOT GRANT TENURE. So, they are usually the domiciles of faculty who have managed to get through the tenure system and are protected by tenure. There will be very few untenured assistant professors in these Centers because affiliation marks them for denial of tenure.
How does one get tenure as a conservative? With great difficulty and/or with subterfuge. By posing as a died-in-the-wool leftist, one can achieve tenure and, then, move to the right. That is to say, the person's scholarly outlook may "change" and "evolve". If they do this before promotion to full professor, they will probably never go beyond associate professor. Being a permanent associate professor is a dishonorable circumstance that invites being loaded with lots of extra "service" work and teaching. The permanent associate professor is permanently discredited as a "failed" scholar. The point is that is difficult for a conservative faculty member to achieve tenure.
I don't mean to seem to be pessimistic; I am just being realistic. If real change is the goal and a more fair and more balanced professoriate in the humanities is to be achieved, all that I have said must be acknowledged and overcome. Creating a few isolas of conservative thought as centers is a step in the right direction, but it is one step at the bottom of a high and steep staircase.
Good points. These issues are real and need to be addressed. Reminds me of the "bi-partisan" oversight of districting in CA. The only republicans allowed on the oversight group voted dem. This is a tough nut to crack.
I read this article grateful this is happening there and in other Universities but it still leaves me incredulous that a university actively has to develop conservative efforts. Universities (I suppose theoretically) should be the Petri dish of original thought, of debate, exchange of ideas and development of new ideas (at least to the students). As with any articles dealing with this topic I am glad I was in college in the late 70’s and despondent with the current status of the halls of higher education.
Is this an example of conservatives not caring? Ir is it that conservatives do care, do not like to spend $ on non-essentials and it may help keep some healthy? 🥤” States Move to Restrict SNAP Purchases Under MAHA Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved waivers for 18 states to restrict SNAP benefits from being used to purchase soda, candy, and other ultra-processed foods beginning in 2026.
Newly added states include Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, joining earlier participants such as Texas and Florida. The policy is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative backed by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Supporters say the move reduces taxpayer subsidies for products linked to obesity and chronic disease. Critics argue it limits personal choice and does not address food access challenges. The waivers operate as two-year pilot programs covering more than 14 million SNAP recipients.” Second part: “SNAP Reform Is About Long-Term Costs, Not Short-Term Comfort
The SNAP debate is not about micromanaging grocery carts. It is about ending a self-defeating policy loop.
Right now, taxpayers subsidize the purchase of ultra-processed foods that are directly linked to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Then taxpayers fund Medicaid to treat the very conditions those policies help create.
That is not compassion. It is institutionalized contradiction. Haha, it’s pretty wild when you think about it!
The MAHA waivers introduce a basic principle: public assistance should not subsidize habits that predictably increase long-term public costs. The goal is not punishment. It is alignment.
Programs that ignore downstream consequences eventually collapse under their own expense. Reducing that burden is not cruel. It is fiscally and morally responsible.” From Jeffery Mead Morning brief.
Let’s see, Conservatives/GOP are cruel and heartless b/c the SNAP funds they will be withholding are from able-bodied persons that’s can work and choose not to, the ACA benefits, the $24B approved by BIden and a Democratic Congress given directly to insurance companies had a sundown date set by the Dems. OBBB moved forward as did the CR without directly subsidizing insurance companies. I really believe you need to study the effects the ACA has had on healthcare costs…it is not pretty. Further can I assume you would berate insurance companies for making billions of dollars? THE ACA did a number of things: 1) created exchanges that insurance companies participated in, by state, to provide benefits, 2) the federal Government prohibited cross-state marketing so the participant pools were small (for spreading risk) and 3) that eliminated inter-state insurance rate competition. Further you state that “the more liberal side tend to be empathetic”. Is that why illegal aliens receive free housing, ~$3500/month and a cell phone? Please I wish on many of your comment you would add, “IMO” after your belief. I believe that the liberal left would try to fund everything for everyone without consideration where the money comes from to pay for it. It becomes “emotional suicide”. This country has $38T (that is 12 ’s). We are a very generous country and giving away money money is not going to solve the structural budget issues of US debt nor will more subsidies given directly to to insurance companies change the multitude of structural, money grab and government regulation ill of our healthcare system. ( Purchased healthcare for large corporations for many years and the entire HC system is racked with issues) Considering I am a conservative, I do not claim MAGA (whatever that is) I look around at my friends, both parties, and evaluate if one group is more empathetic than another, more generous than another, more free of their time and giving than another and my conclusion is not really….within both groups there is wide variation of all those traits. I do recognize more emotional (high/low and anger) responses to issues with my liberal friends and more consternation by conservative friends. I, myself, do not find myself emotionally wrought over issues but try to find the mechanics, the issues, what makes the gears turn that causes (d) the issue in the first place. As Nancy Pelosi said about the ACA when it was to be voted in, (I am paraphrasing) “Let’s vote it in to see what we have”. That to me is a liberal, as a conservative I definitely want to know what I am voting in. I will part with a couple of thoughts: 1) Thank you for responding, greatly appreciated as I enjoy trying to understand and learn, 2) I believe if we met we would have much more in common than not and I firmly believe that is where our Congress (both parties) are failing the American public and 3) I used Grok to let me know how much the American public gives each year. We are a generous country and sending more money at an issue, IMHO, is not the correct course of action. Take care.
I wish people would stop sweeping 'all' professors into the same pot. Universities are filled with professors who are simply teaching and researching their field and these fields are often fairly apolitical. Engineering, Agriculture, most all the sciences, Business, Economics, and on. It is certain fields in the Humanities that are causing the concern.
No doubt. On the other hand do these professors bring forth, debate and defend freedom of speech to their (assumed) liberal democrats? Or is the University hierarchy so imbedded with social liberals that keeping your head down and going about your job is the safe route. too many articles have been published that identify and discuss that a majority of professors are left leaning and many very liberal. Please, let’s hear from the conservative professors that have taken a stand and have actively protested, demonstrated or debated against the liberal take over of colleges.
I will guess that many professors are left leaning because they care about others including people not like themselves, people from other religious traditions, people with variant lifestyles. They also are intelligent, thoughtful, and aware of America's many warts, and how many minorities have been very mistreated. Probably too empathetic as some solutions end up being more of a problem, but at least they care enough to try. Do the Conservatives care about others? Or just want to return to some mythical time? Maybe if Conservatives actually tried to solve America's problems more would be interested in their ideas. Still, I will guess that most professors at a large State University are pretty moderate in their views.
Whoa, are you really saying that you believe conservatives do not care about others, have no compassion, are not intelligent, thoughtful and aware, and do not care about others? Do you really believe that and not only write it for effect? If you believe it you are on the highest pile of self-righteous BS I have heard.
Oh, and I said professors tend to be empathetic, intelligent, thoughtful. I did not say Conservatives were not. I did ask you if Conservatives actually care about others as, well, it's not very obvious.
I think that those on the more liberal side tend to be empathic and want everyone to have enough to live on and to be left alone to live their lives without the culture wars. That we recognize America has and still has flaws, and that a full accounting is important. Currently, Trump and gang want to whitewash everything. If Conservatives want to be college professors then nothing is stopping them from numerous fields. Currently, many on the farther right are acting pretty ignorant when it comes to anything scientific so is that what is 'stopping' them? There is some reason why most college professors in numerous fields tend to be more liberal thinkers, open to new ideas, scientific, etc. but that does not make them wildly liberal, just not magaville.
Many of the actions taken or wanted by Conservatives, Republicans, MAGA world people are cruel and heartless. Deliberately withholding SNAP funds, cancelling Grants because the Grant dared to mention aiming to help marginalized groups and thereby taking away the money used in Wisconsin to support blind/deaf children ( who does things like that?), taking away ACA subsidies without having a plan in place ( and 14 years to come up with one), forcing girls/women to stay pregnant completely disrupting or damaging or even killing them (Idaho actually argued in front of the US SC that it wasn't their responsibility if a woman lost an organ because they refused to do an abortion, completely sick bastards). And on and on.
Is this an example of conservatives not caring? Ir is it that conservatives do care, do not like to spend $ on non-essentials and it may help keep some healthy? 🥤” States Move to Restrict SNAP Purchases Under MAHA Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved waivers for 18 states to restrict SNAP benefits from being used to purchase soda, candy, and other ultra-processed foods beginning in 2026.
Newly added states include Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, joining earlier participants such as Texas and Florida. The policy is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative backed by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Supporters say the move reduces taxpayer subsidies for products linked to obesity and chronic disease. Critics argue it limits personal choice and does not address food access challenges. The waivers operate as two-year pilot programs covering more than 14 million SNAP recipients.” From Jeffery Mead Morning brief.
The anti-conservative activists should be seen as what they are: defenders of a worldview of privilege. I’ve never known a poor or working class person to be concerned with ‘social justice.’ The reality that modern leftism is mostly about status and class disconnection offers insights into how it can effectively be countered.
https://jmpolemic.substack.com/p/the-progressive-agenda-as-pure-class
Yes
Very good news, Mr Rufo, thank you. Here again we see the rage spiral of the American Left: the future, that is, the realization of Obama’s Fundamental Transformation, was theirs, they were sure. They controlled all the words and institutions needed to guarantee it. They did not expect a resurgent American Right. Still, no time to relax our vigilance: we have much restoration to do.
Not an Iowan, but from what I've seen of her Governor Kim Reynolds is an excellent conservative politician. Sound economic and cultural views without a lot of drama. May she continue to have a leadership role in Republican politics.
I hope she does
Thanks for all your diligent and tireless work!!! Keep the faith. Praying the momentum continues! 🙏🙏
Mr. Rufo, I have never posted in comments anywhere before. All I want to say is that we are lucky to have you. Thank you for what you are doing (so well).
Thanks!
Prouder today to have earned my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Hawkeye U. The psychology department was apolitical when I was there (1979-1982), but given the leftist leanings of most psychologists, I hope the department has not drifted in that misguided direction. Kudos for Rufo’s tireless work.
Ooh, I bet it has drifted.
Excellent article - I am sure that these same people would like to see the Constitution & the Bill of Rights burned!!! Can you imagine if this book burning came from the mouth of a conservative? This would make the National Liberal Media machine. I see that Fahrenheit 451 is alive & well in all the liberal minds. It's a shame it isn't required reading in high school like it was when I was there. This is a fight that will be ongoing - reversing this madness is going to be extremely difficult. Thank you for this.
Very good news indeed. My only connection to Iowa over the years was a college student who worked a few years in my laboratory. He was a good biochemical technician and a wonderfully informed and kind young man, but a third generation Communist from Minneapolis. He got his degree from Grinnell.
I am very glad to see the Center for Intellectual Freedom and it is remarkable that it came to fruition. But as a former academic and academic administrator, I need to temper enthusiasm.
"...the hiring pipelines for conservative-leaning faculty are better than they have ever been, and the rise of conservative academic centers could lead to the hiring of hundreds, if not thousands, of academics with commitments to American principles."
Hiring is the first step, and it is necessary, but not sufficient. Sufficiency will only be achieved when conservative professors are granted tenure. Herein lies the ongoing problem.
Let me remind you of how a persons record (dossier) is reviewed and by whome. A dossier is reviewed first by a departmental committee, then by the chair of head of the department, next it goes to a college committee, then to the dean; then it is reviewed by a university committee and then it goes to the provost before it ends with to the President/Chancellor and the Board for approval. Those are all steps wherein a teacher/scholar with conservative proclivities may (indeed most likely will) have their case for tenure denied. In fact, given the make up of faculty in general, far left, those committees and many of the administrators (all also faculty members) are likely not to look with favor on a conservative candidate.
The second problem is this. Centers like the Center for Intellectual Freedom exist outside of the tenure-granting system. THEY DO NOT GRANT TENURE. So, they are usually the domiciles of faculty who have managed to get through the tenure system and are protected by tenure. There will be very few untenured assistant professors in these Centers because affiliation marks them for denial of tenure.
How does one get tenure as a conservative? With great difficulty and/or with subterfuge. By posing as a died-in-the-wool leftist, one can achieve tenure and, then, move to the right. That is to say, the person's scholarly outlook may "change" and "evolve". If they do this before promotion to full professor, they will probably never go beyond associate professor. Being a permanent associate professor is a dishonorable circumstance that invites being loaded with lots of extra "service" work and teaching. The permanent associate professor is permanently discredited as a "failed" scholar. The point is that is difficult for a conservative faculty member to achieve tenure.
I don't mean to seem to be pessimistic; I am just being realistic. If real change is the goal and a more fair and more balanced professoriate in the humanities is to be achieved, all that I have said must be acknowledged and overcome. Creating a few isolas of conservative thought as centers is a step in the right direction, but it is one step at the bottom of a high and steep staircase.
Excellent points
We need to know what we are up against...it is a huge challenge and the "other side" is absolutely ruthless.
Good points. These issues are real and need to be addressed. Reminds me of the "bi-partisan" oversight of districting in CA. The only republicans allowed on the oversight group voted dem. This is a tough nut to crack.
I had Professor de Castro in my MBA program several years back. Outstanding.
Awesome
I read this article grateful this is happening there and in other Universities but it still leaves me incredulous that a university actively has to develop conservative efforts. Universities (I suppose theoretically) should be the Petri dish of original thought, of debate, exchange of ideas and development of new ideas (at least to the students). As with any articles dealing with this topic I am glad I was in college in the late 70’s and despondent with the current status of the halls of higher education.
Yes it’s gotten much worse since the 1970s
Is this an example of conservatives not caring? Ir is it that conservatives do care, do not like to spend $ on non-essentials and it may help keep some healthy? 🥤” States Move to Restrict SNAP Purchases Under MAHA Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved waivers for 18 states to restrict SNAP benefits from being used to purchase soda, candy, and other ultra-processed foods beginning in 2026.
Newly added states include Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, joining earlier participants such as Texas and Florida. The policy is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative backed by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Supporters say the move reduces taxpayer subsidies for products linked to obesity and chronic disease. Critics argue it limits personal choice and does not address food access challenges. The waivers operate as two-year pilot programs covering more than 14 million SNAP recipients.” Second part: “SNAP Reform Is About Long-Term Costs, Not Short-Term Comfort
The SNAP debate is not about micromanaging grocery carts. It is about ending a self-defeating policy loop.
Right now, taxpayers subsidize the purchase of ultra-processed foods that are directly linked to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Then taxpayers fund Medicaid to treat the very conditions those policies help create.
That is not compassion. It is institutionalized contradiction. Haha, it’s pretty wild when you think about it!
The MAHA waivers introduce a basic principle: public assistance should not subsidize habits that predictably increase long-term public costs. The goal is not punishment. It is alignment.
Programs that ignore downstream consequences eventually collapse under their own expense. Reducing that burden is not cruel. It is fiscally and morally responsible.” From Jeffery Mead Morning brief.
Let’s see, Conservatives/GOP are cruel and heartless b/c the SNAP funds they will be withholding are from able-bodied persons that’s can work and choose not to, the ACA benefits, the $24B approved by BIden and a Democratic Congress given directly to insurance companies had a sundown date set by the Dems. OBBB moved forward as did the CR without directly subsidizing insurance companies. I really believe you need to study the effects the ACA has had on healthcare costs…it is not pretty. Further can I assume you would berate insurance companies for making billions of dollars? THE ACA did a number of things: 1) created exchanges that insurance companies participated in, by state, to provide benefits, 2) the federal Government prohibited cross-state marketing so the participant pools were small (for spreading risk) and 3) that eliminated inter-state insurance rate competition. Further you state that “the more liberal side tend to be empathetic”. Is that why illegal aliens receive free housing, ~$3500/month and a cell phone? Please I wish on many of your comment you would add, “IMO” after your belief. I believe that the liberal left would try to fund everything for everyone without consideration where the money comes from to pay for it. It becomes “emotional suicide”. This country has $38T (that is 12 ’s). We are a very generous country and giving away money money is not going to solve the structural budget issues of US debt nor will more subsidies given directly to to insurance companies change the multitude of structural, money grab and government regulation ill of our healthcare system. ( Purchased healthcare for large corporations for many years and the entire HC system is racked with issues) Considering I am a conservative, I do not claim MAGA (whatever that is) I look around at my friends, both parties, and evaluate if one group is more empathetic than another, more generous than another, more free of their time and giving than another and my conclusion is not really….within both groups there is wide variation of all those traits. I do recognize more emotional (high/low and anger) responses to issues with my liberal friends and more consternation by conservative friends. I, myself, do not find myself emotionally wrought over issues but try to find the mechanics, the issues, what makes the gears turn that causes (d) the issue in the first place. As Nancy Pelosi said about the ACA when it was to be voted in, (I am paraphrasing) “Let’s vote it in to see what we have”. That to me is a liberal, as a conservative I definitely want to know what I am voting in. I will part with a couple of thoughts: 1) Thank you for responding, greatly appreciated as I enjoy trying to understand and learn, 2) I believe if we met we would have much more in common than not and I firmly believe that is where our Congress (both parties) are failing the American public and 3) I used Grok to let me know how much the American public gives each year. We are a generous country and sending more money at an issue, IMHO, is not the correct course of action. Take care.
I wish people would stop sweeping 'all' professors into the same pot. Universities are filled with professors who are simply teaching and researching their field and these fields are often fairly apolitical. Engineering, Agriculture, most all the sciences, Business, Economics, and on. It is certain fields in the Humanities that are causing the concern.
No doubt. On the other hand do these professors bring forth, debate and defend freedom of speech to their (assumed) liberal democrats? Or is the University hierarchy so imbedded with social liberals that keeping your head down and going about your job is the safe route. too many articles have been published that identify and discuss that a majority of professors are left leaning and many very liberal. Please, let’s hear from the conservative professors that have taken a stand and have actively protested, demonstrated or debated against the liberal take over of colleges.
I will guess that many professors are left leaning because they care about others including people not like themselves, people from other religious traditions, people with variant lifestyles. They also are intelligent, thoughtful, and aware of America's many warts, and how many minorities have been very mistreated. Probably too empathetic as some solutions end up being more of a problem, but at least they care enough to try. Do the Conservatives care about others? Or just want to return to some mythical time? Maybe if Conservatives actually tried to solve America's problems more would be interested in their ideas. Still, I will guess that most professors at a large State University are pretty moderate in their views.
Whoa, are you really saying that you believe conservatives do not care about others, have no compassion, are not intelligent, thoughtful and aware, and do not care about others? Do you really believe that and not only write it for effect? If you believe it you are on the highest pile of self-righteous BS I have heard.
Oh, and I said professors tend to be empathetic, intelligent, thoughtful. I did not say Conservatives were not. I did ask you if Conservatives actually care about others as, well, it's not very obvious.
I think that those on the more liberal side tend to be empathic and want everyone to have enough to live on and to be left alone to live their lives without the culture wars. That we recognize America has and still has flaws, and that a full accounting is important. Currently, Trump and gang want to whitewash everything. If Conservatives want to be college professors then nothing is stopping them from numerous fields. Currently, many on the farther right are acting pretty ignorant when it comes to anything scientific so is that what is 'stopping' them? There is some reason why most college professors in numerous fields tend to be more liberal thinkers, open to new ideas, scientific, etc. but that does not make them wildly liberal, just not magaville.
Many of the actions taken or wanted by Conservatives, Republicans, MAGA world people are cruel and heartless. Deliberately withholding SNAP funds, cancelling Grants because the Grant dared to mention aiming to help marginalized groups and thereby taking away the money used in Wisconsin to support blind/deaf children ( who does things like that?), taking away ACA subsidies without having a plan in place ( and 14 years to come up with one), forcing girls/women to stay pregnant completely disrupting or damaging or even killing them (Idaho actually argued in front of the US SC that it wasn't their responsibility if a woman lost an organ because they refused to do an abortion, completely sick bastards). And on and on.
Is this an example of conservatives not caring? Ir is it that conservatives do care, do not like to spend $ on non-essentials and it may help keep some healthy? 🥤” States Move to Restrict SNAP Purchases Under MAHA Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved waivers for 18 states to restrict SNAP benefits from being used to purchase soda, candy, and other ultra-processed foods beginning in 2026.
Newly added states include Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, joining earlier participants such as Texas and Florida. The policy is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative backed by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Supporters say the move reduces taxpayer subsidies for products linked to obesity and chronic disease. Critics argue it limits personal choice and does not address food access challenges. The waivers operate as two-year pilot programs covering more than 14 million SNAP recipients.” From Jeffery Mead Morning brief.
More universities need d ad much centers to be truly centers of higher education as opposed to offering courses on bookbinding
Qwouldn't bookbinding be in a Votech school?
It should be
Agreed
How is it possible this is an academic study?! For more than a handful of researchers in the world?
I will guess that if there is an actual class in bookbinding, then it would be part of Library Science.
Excellent. I learned something.
Keep up the great work !
Hopefully, we will be seeing more of Gov Reynolds.
Only elections matter. Without winning, these conservative programs are doomed.