
David Bromwich on Why Americans Have Lost Faith in Universities
From The Good Fight by New America
April 28, 2026 · 58 min
About this episode
Yascha Mounk and David Bromwich discuss the crisis of trust in higher education, focusing on grade inflation and political conformity.
Yascha Mounk and David Bromwich discuss grade inflation, political conformity, and the crisis of trust in higher education. David Bromwich has taught literature at Yale University since 1988. His books include Hazlitt: the Mind of a Critic, The Intellectual Life of Edmund Burke, How Words Make Things Happen, and Politics by Other Means: Higher Education and Group Thinking. In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and David Bromwich discuss why Americans have lost faith in universities, how grade inflation and political conformity undermine academic credibility, and whether the opacity of elite admissions processes can be reformed. Note: David Bromwich asked us to be clear that the views he expresses are his own and not those of any institution or group within an institution. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: leonora.barclay@persuasion.community Podcast production by Mickey Freeland and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google X: @Yascha_Mounk & @JoinPersuasion YouTube: Yascha Mounk, Persuasion LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
People in this episode
Host: Yascha Mounk
Guest: David Bromwich
Topics covered
- higher education
- grade inflation
- political conformity
- trust in universities
- academic credibility
- elite admissions processes
Keywords
- universities
- trust
- education
- grade inflation
- political conformity
- academic credibility
- admissions
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Yale University
Books & works: Hazlitt: the Mind of a Critic, The Intellectual Life of Edmund Burke, How Words Make Things Happen, Politics by Other Means: Higher Education and Group Thinking
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