If you’re politically aware, a college student or an avid internet user, there’s a chance you’ve heard of PragerU or Turning Point USA. These conservative-led nonprofit organizations create educational content, report on political news and host conventions for high school and college students.
Their strategy for recruiting members? Convincing students that their schools are lying to them.
This tradition of anti-intellectualism is far from new, but PragerU and Turning Point have given new life to the art of discrediting and devaluing the knowledge creation that happens in higher education.
Founded in 2009, PragerU was originally meant to be a physical university, but its founding members discovered the power of the internet in spreading Judeo-Christian values and social conservatism. Their goal is to make conservative ideas accessible to young people, and they do so through short videos and podcasts.
6,500 high school and college students consider themselves members of “PragerForce” and attend conventions on college campuses. The New York Times reported on Will Witt, a former University of Colorado at Boulder student who dropped out of school after watching PragerU’s videos and became a spokesperson for the brand. He felt as if his education up to that point had been disingenuous.
Similarly, Turning Point USA was founded as a campus group in 2012 with the mission to “identify, educate, train and organize students to promote the principles of free markets and limited government.” Freedom is an idea everyone can get behind, right?
With provocative and inflammatory headlines, Turning Point publishes stories like "Liberalism is a Disease! The Only Cure Is A Red Pill” and “How To Have The Ultimate Cuteservative Summer.”
Beyond perpetuating a politically motivated culture war, they ran the headline “UPS Is Now Hosting Woke Webinars” — which refers to diversity and inclusion seminars for employees.
It’s easy to see how PragerU and Turning Point have sparked controversy, but the issues with their messaging extend far beyond the woes of partisan politics.