Columbia University&#8217;s new interim president referred to Congressional hearings over antisemitism on college campuses as “Capitol Hill nonsense.”
Claire Shipman, a former CNN correspondent, co-chaired Columbia’s board of trustees before she stepped into the role of interim president on Friday. The previous interim president, Katrina Armstrong, stepped down amid a struggle with the Trump administration over the college’s handling of antisemitism on campus.
The new university head takes over as the school negotiates for $400 million in taxpayer funding rescinded by the Trump administration. While her effectiveness remains to be seen, Shipman appears to have been at odds with Republicans on Congressional hearings on antisemitism in December 2023.
On December 28, 2023, Shipman sent a message to then-university president Minouche Shafik calling the congressional hearings “Capitol Hill nonsense,” according to <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/29/us-news/columbias-new-prez-called-congressional-hearings-nonsense/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Post</a>. The hearings focused on pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas protests and antisemitism that had broken out on college campuses after the October 7 terror attack on Israel. The presidents of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT testified.
Shipman told Shafik that she believed Columbia would be spared from the scandal that erupted over the hearings and preceded the exit of both Harvard’s and Penn’s presidents. Shipman also encouraged Shafik to show leniency to student groups banned during the raucous protests, which included illegal actions such as vandalism and taking over campus buildings.
“I do think we should think about unsuspending the groups before semester starts to take the wind out of that,” Shipman said.
Shipman’s sentiments at the time were revealed in an October <a href="https://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/10.30.24_committee_on_education_and_the_workforce_republican_staff_report_-_antisemitism_on_college_campuses_exposed.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Republican House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
The Trump administration has stripped Columbia University of hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funding over its policies and practices regarding antisemitism on campus. Under Armstrong, Columbia agreed to reform its policies, reportedly sparking blowback from faculty and staff that the university had conceded too much.
The university <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/columbia-president-steps-down-amid-turmoil-with-trump-admin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Armstrong’s replacement last week.
“I assume this role with a clear understanding of the serious challenges before us and a steadfast commitment to act with urgency, integrity, and work with our faculty to advance our mission, implement needed reforms, protect our students, and uphold academic freedom and open inquiry,” Shipman said in a statement. “Columbia’s new permanent president, when that individual is selected, will conduct an appropriate review of the University’s leadership team and structure to ensure we are best positioned for the future.”

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Columbia’s New Prez Doesn’t Appear To Be Much Better Than The Last One

CONTINUE READING

Trump Says Netflix Should Fire ‘Racist, Trump Deranged’ Susan Rice

Trump Orders Release Of ‘Any And All’ Info On Aliens And UFOs

Man Targets DHS Building With Stolen Ambulance In Attempted Arson Attack

Bill Gates Drops Out Of Keynote Speech Last Minute As Epstein Rumors Swirl

Trump Left The World Health Org Last Year. Now, He’s Replacing It.

One Of The CDC’s Biggest Critics Is Now In Charge Of The Whole Thing

News

Columbia University

Trump Administration

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Menu

— News —

Columbia’s New Prez Doesn’t Appear To Be Much Better Than The Last One