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The Contrarian with David Bernstein

The Contrarian with David Bernstein

Written by: David Bernstein
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About this listen

Welcome to "The Contrarian." This podcast is all about diving into the world of liberal values, radical ideologies and engaging in truly open conversations. 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.2024 - JILV Social Sciences
Episodes
  • How Teachers Unions became Platforms for Political Activists w/ Paul Zimmerman
    Dec 23 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 Ideology Continues to Evolve

    27:33 Why Countering Union Power Is So Difficult

    30:36 Paths to Transparency and Accountability

    32:41 Research, Data, and Oversight in Education

    34:39 Teacher Colleges and Ideological Training

    37:09 Political Money and Education Policy

    39:01 Cultural Transformation in Schools

    45:32 Confronting Antisemitism in Education

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    52 mins
  • Christian Zionism, Christian Nationalism and the Jews w/ Ty Perry
    Nov 13 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 memorial

    24:19 – Tucker Carlson, weaponized Christianity, and antisemitism

    26:06 – Groypers, Nick Fuentes, and the ‘Hitler Youth’ analogy

    32:56 – The ‘woke right’ and cancel culture on the right

    35:38 – Liberal values and classical liberalism under strain

    38:28 – Can we rebuild a shared American ‘unum’?

    43:13 – Jewish anxiety and a potential American dystopia

    45:56 – Is there still a philosemitic America? Ty’s view from the churches

    47:55 – Mobilizing the quiet majority & closing thoughts

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    50 mins
  • Orthodoxy and the Academy w/ Prof Suzanna Sherry - S2 Ep 14
    Oct 31 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 Navigating the Future of University Discourse

    25:32 The Impact of Educational Policies on Racism and History

    28:12 Navigating Free Speech in Universities

    29:08 The Role of Universities in Promoting Free Speech

    31:43 Challenges of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives

    34:34 The Complexity of Teaching Civic Values in K-12 Education

    36:22 Institutional Neutrality and Ideological Bias in Education

    39:09 Balancing Free Expression and Academic Freedom

    42:00 Addressing Academic Malpractice and Orthodoxy

    45:51 The Dangers of Imposing Orthodoxy in Antisemitism Education

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    48 mins
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