Public Money, Political Strings: How the Right is Buying Silence

For the last few years, public education has been caught in the crosshairs of a right-wing political project. Not just random culture war skirmishes—a coordinated, well-funded effort to defund, defang, and ultimately control public institutions, from kindergarten classrooms to universities. Book bans. DEI purges. Curriculum crackdowns. Rewriting history with a Sharpie all under the guise of “parental rights” and “restoring balance,” when really, it’s about building a future where education only serves power—not the people.

But this week, something shifted. Harvard—yes, that Harvard—said enough.

And let’s be clear: that line has been waiting to be drawn. What’s happening in Florida, Texas, and across GOP-led states isn’t just policy—it’s a political strategy built on fear. Fear of history. Fear of equity. And most of all, fear of an educated public.

It’s not a coincidence that the people pushing to dismantle public education are the same ones pushing to restrict voting rights. It’s not a coincidence that college-educated voters consistently lean Democratic, while Republicans gain strength among those who are less likely to hold a degree. When you look at electoral maps and educational attainment maps, the overlap isn’t just striking—it’s intentional. The less educated the population, the easier it is to manipulate with fear, disinformation, and vibes over facts.

The right knows this. That’s why they’re so hellbent on gutting higher education. They don’t want students to learn about systemic racism, the realities of climate change, or the fact that America has never been a perfect union. They want future voters who’ve never heard the word “intersectionality,” don’t know what redlining is, and can’t name a single labor movement outside of a “right to work” pamphlet. They want control over the minds that will shape our democracy—or what’s left of it.

What makes the Harvard situation important is the fact that public institutions like FAU don’t have the luxury of boldness. They rely on state funding, gubernatorial appointments, and politically sensitive donors. DeSantis knows this, and he’s weaponizing it. Public colleges are being told—explicitly or implicitly—that if they don’t fall in line, their budgets, their leadership, and their futures are at risk. It’s hostage governance. And it works.

Harvard, with its $50 billion endowment and elite status, had the freedom to fight back. But what about the institutions that can’t afford to take that hit? What happens when every university that serves working-class students, first-gen scholars, and communities of color is too scared to partner, publish, or even speak truthfully? We’re already watching it happen. Faculty are self-censoring. DEI offices are closing. History and sociology departments are shrinking. And all the while, the right gets to frame it as “cleaning house,” when really, they’re erasing the infrastructure of democracy one syllabus at a time.

This is about more than Florida. It’s about whether education in this country is going to serve the public or the powerful. Whether it’s going to be about critical thinking or controlled messaging. Whether students will be encouraged to ask hard questions—or punished for doing so.

The truth is, the right doesn’t just hate Harvard – they hate higher education in general because it teaches people to think independently. Because it produces graduates who challenge capitalism, critique white supremacy, and demand rights instead of begging for scraps. They don’t hate elite institutions because they’re elite—they hate them because they're not under GOP control.

This isn’t just a culture war—it’s a class war. It’s about whether knowledge stays in the hands of the few, or becomes a tool for collective liberation. And for the first time in a long time, an institution with power finally fought back.

Now the question is: Who’s next? Will other universities join Harvard in calling this out? Will public institutions stand up for their faculty and students even when it’s hard? Will donors support resistance instead of “neutrality”? Will students organize not just protests, but full-blown defense strategies for academic freedom?

We’re running out of time to ask nicely. Because while we debate how political education should be, the right is already governing with that assumption in mind—and acting accordingly.

Harvard threw the first punch. More institutions need to follow. Because if we don’t fight back now, we won’t have any schools left that are even allowed to.