Navigating the Next Four Years with Janet Napolitano

Send us Fan MailThe drumbeat against higher education continues to grow louder. In this revealing conversation with Janet Napolitano—former Arizona Governor, Secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama, and President of the University of California—we explore the existential threats facing America's great research universities.Janet pulls no punches when discussing the political headwinds threatening higher education. With potential cuts that could strip "billions of dollars" from research universities like UC, we're witnessing what she describes as "eating our seed corn"—jeopardizing the very innovation pipeline that has powered America's global leadership. Graduate students, who become tomorrow's researchers and innovators, are already feeling the impact as professors hesitate to hire them amid funding uncertainty.Equally concerning is the assault on First Amendment rights on campus. While Janet clearly disagrees with many of the protest positions on issues like Gaza, she warns that universities have historically been strongholds of free speech—and current efforts to punish institutions and students for protected expression marks a dangerous shift in American values.Perhaps most illuminating is Janet's description of public universities as "the secret sauce for how the United States has become the top performing economy in the world." This isn't just rhetoric—it's backed by decades of evidence showing how accessible higher education creates social mobility and economic prosperity. Yet this story isn't reaching enough Americans, as costs rise and communication failures allow stereotypes to flourish.For those feeling overwhelmed by today's political polarization, Janet offers practical wisdom: limit social media consumption, contact your representatives, and organize around issues you care about. "Democracy takes work," she reminds us. "You can't just be a passive recipient of democracy." In these challenging times for higher education and democratic institutions alike, her experienced voice provides both warning and hope.