In this eye-opening episode of "The Vivek Show," host Vivek Ramaswamy is joined by political scientist and writer Richard Hanania. They delve deep into the origins, history, and consequences of affirmative action in America. By examining the political motivations behind these policies, Richard and Vivek discuss how affirmative action has shaped institutions, influenced the education system, and affected the current cultural climate. Through their thought-provoking conversation, they explore the challenges in addressing affirmative action and its impact on meritocracy, race, and society.Richard Hanania is a Research Fellow at the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University. Richard's academic interests include nuclear policy, American grand strategy, political psychology, the politics of the Middle East, and international law. He also uses statistical modeling and text analysis in order to investigate the behavior of international organizations. Among other journals, his work has appeared in International Studies Quarterly and the Journal of Cold War Studies.Time-codes:00:12 - Introduction and connecting through mutual friend, Chris.00:45 - Richard's role in Vivek's first TV appearance.01:06 - The thoughtful criticism that sparked their friendship.03:17 - Richard's journey from academia to writing.05:25 - The courage to change one's mind in political discourse.09:50 - Decline of traditional values and rise of mental health issues.11:13 - Impact of social media and negative ideas on mental health.12:45 - Affirmative action in America and Republican candidates.17:05 - Nixon's strategy and expansion of racial quotas.17:32 - Nixon's labor department extends quotas.19:33 - Goals and timetables under Nixon.20:03 - Nixon's manipulation of the political landscape.21:00 - Shift in civil rights movement rhetoric.23:50 - Tower Amendment in the Civil Rights Act.25:14 - Gail Harriot's perspective on disparate impact.25:58 - Disparate impact as the "skeleton key of the left."27:15 - Disparate impact in civil rights law.32:29 - The OFCCP's impact on corporate America.34:15 - Texas Governor Greg Abbott's memo.36:05 - Columbia University's transformation.39:52 - Education polarization in the US.40:33 - Threats to liberty in society.42:10 - Rescinding and replacing Executive Order 11246.52:50 - Supreme Court decision on affirmative action.56:09 - New wave of anti-black racism.