When Politics Turns Radical… What Happens Next? | A Stern Talk with Shabbos Kestenbaum

💸 Fund your Business in 5 minutes - https://cardiff.co/business/apply/?utm_source=Youtube&utm_campaign=BehindTheBusinessAre elite universities producing thinkers… or activists?In this episode of A Stern Talk, William Stern sits down with Harvard graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum to break down what’s actually happening inside America’s top institutions—and why so many young people are walking away from the system they were taught to trust.Shabbos shares his shift from Bernie Sanders supporter to outspoken critic of modern academia, unpacking what he saw firsthand at Harvard—especially in the aftermath of October 7th. The conversation goes deeper than politics. It’s about incentives, ideology, and what happens when institutions stop rewarding truth and start rewarding narratives.They get into the rise of identity politics, the breakdown of assimilation, and why movements on both sides are losing credibility with younger generations. From campus culture to foreign aid to conspiracy thinking, this is a raw look at what’s shaping the next generation—and what it could mean for America moving forward.What You’ll Learn:Why elite universities are shifting away from meritWhat really happened on campus after October 7The rise of ideological alliances on the leftWhy young voters are losing trust in institutionsThe truth about AIPAC, foreign aid, and political influenceHow identity politics is reshaping both partiesWhere the backlash against DEI is headingChapters:0:00 The shift from Bernie Sanders to Trump3:15 Israelis vs the Diaspora mindset6:40 Cultural decline and Europe9:50 Demographics and political shifts13:10 Hungary, Poland, and national identity16:30 The Red-Green Alliance explained19:45 Immigration and assimilation23:15 Welfare data and real-world impacts26:50 Inside Harvard’s culture shift30:20 Victimhood and campus ideology33:45 October 7 reaction on campus37:10 Anti-West activism and vandalism41:00 Fighting dangerous ideologies44:30 Moral responsibility and the left48:15 Identity politics in U.S. elections52:00 Conspiracies and the “grifter right”55:40 Why young people feel lost59:15 The backlash against DEI1:02:50 Education and Jewish identity1:06:30 AIPAC, foreign aid, and influence1:09:24 Final thoughtsA STERN TALK PODCAST - Presented by Cardiff🔔 Subscribe for insightful content on AI transformation, business strategy, and industry disruption. Don’t forget to hit the bell icon for notifications on future episodes.📣 Connect with us:William Stern: https://instagram.com/justwilliamstern📣 Guest:Shabbos Kestenbaum: https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest/Keywords:William Stern, A Stern Talk, Shabbos Kestenbaum, Harvard, elite universities, campus politics, identity politics, DEI, October 7, Israel, US politics, academic culture, political ideology