PragerU

Despite its name, Prager University, more commonly known as PragerU, is not an accredited academic institution in any sense. Instead, it specializes in promoting far-right propaganda through professionally produced media. The organization, which claims it “promotes the American values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” perpetrates far-right ideology vilifying the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants and people of color.

In their own words

“What has happened to American schools and children’s entertainment? Woke agendas are infiltrating classrooms, culture, and social media. Is there anywhere that’s still safe for our children? Yes! It’s called PragerU Kids. [Emphasis in original.] With kids shows that teach classic American values, we offer content that parents trust and children love. PragerU Kids is the leading network with educational, entertaining, pro-American kids shows for every grade.” — PragerU Kids landing page on the PragerU website

“Why did the International Olympic Committee allow biological men to box women? … The reason is that the IOC is a woke organization. And given that the Olympics took place in a particularly woke locale — Paris — the games featured almost everything that the word ‘woke’ represents. The games opened with a drag queen mockery of Christianity. And true to its wokeness, the IOC forced women boxers to fight biological males.” — Dennis Prager website, “The Woke 2024 Olympics: Where Men Were Allowed to Punch Women,” Aug. 13, 2024

“Students across our nation are being cheated from attaining a quality education by misguided bureaucrats, corrupt teachers unions, and anti-American activists infiltrating our schools. While political leaders promote ‘gender fluid’ restrooms and abandon academic standards, our communities continue to fall apart. Parents and educators must reverse this dangerous trajectory.” — PragerU website, “Stop Woke Education” petition

“Elites are turning a blind eye to this crisis because they believe it strengthens their political grip, all while ordinary Americans are left to suffer the devastating consequences. But we’ve had enough. This unchecked illegal immigration is not just a policy failure—it’s a deliberate erosion of our nation’s stability.” — PragerU website, “Demand an End to Illegal Immigration” petition

“We have a masculinity crisis in our country. Is this the type of soldier that is best equipped to fight against Russia or be deployed to the Middle East?” — PragerU website, “Drag Queens in the Military,” Dec. 6, 2023

“There is little mystery as to what happened to the Native Americans as a culture. They were certainly not exterminated at the behest of any concerted ideology of hatred or grand plan. … Only a minority stayed ‘native’ enough to be placed on reservations. Even after that, many enterprising people left the reservation for a better life elsewhere. This was done on an individual basis, for the most part willingly, leaving little trace in the historical record. … The only way any native societies could have survived intact would be if no one ever came to where they lived. And that would require human nature to be something other than what it is. It’s time to stop the apology parade.” — PragerU website, “Did Europe Destroy Native American Culture?”, Nov. 20, 2023

“If someone told you that they advocate for the chemical castration, sterilization, and physical mutilation of children and young adults, you’d probably think they were a monster. So why do progressives who push for ‘gender-affirming care’ get a free pass?” — PragerU website, “The Truth About Gender-Affirming Care,” Dec. 19, 2022

“When you try to make men more like women, you don’t get less toxic masculinity. You get more. Why? Because bad men don’t become good when they stop being men. They become good when they stop being bad. Aggression, violence and unbridled ambition can’t be eliminated from the male psyche. They can only be harnessed. And when they are harnessed, they are tools for good, not for harm. The same masculine traits that bring destruction also defeat tyranny. The traits that foster greed also build economies. The traits that drive men to take foolish risks also drive men to take heroic risks.

“When men embrace their masculinity in a way that is healthy and productive, they are leaders, warriors and heroes. … Yet the current trend is to feminize young men in the hopes of achieving some utopian notion of equality and peace, and it starts at the earliest ages. … It has created millions of tentative men, unhappy women and confused boys and girls. Here’s a secret that every woman knows: Women want real men, men they can count on and yes, look up to. No amount of feminist theory will change that. I don’t know any woman at any age who is attracted to a passive man who looks to her to be his provider, protector and leader. Every woman I know wants a strong, responsible man. That’s not a consequence of a social construct or cultural pressure. It’s innate.

“The devaluation of masculinity won’t end well, because feminine, passive men don’t stop evil. Passive men don’t defend, protect or provide. Passive men don’t lead. Passive men don’t do the things we have always needed men to do for society to thrive.” — PragerU website, “Make Men Masculine Again,” Aug. 5, 2018

Background

PragerU was founded in 2009 by Allen Estrin and conservative radio host Dennis Prager. The organization was conceived as a digital media project presenting viewpoints in a succinct and engaging format as “a free alternative to the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media, and education,” according to the PragerU website.

Since its founding, PragerU has expanded its activities well beyond its initial video series. The organization now produces a broad range of media content including short educational videos, articles, podcasts and social media posts. PragerU’s goal is to indoctrinate and mobilize a conservative audience by framing issues in a way that is both accessible and compelling. This approach has allowed the organization to build a substantial following and influence public discourse on a variety of issues. According to the organization’s own metrics, 30 million unique viewers watch PragerU videos on YouTube every quarter. The PragerU site notes that 60% of YouTube viewers are under the age of 35. Additionally, the organization claims that 55% of its viewers say their civic actions were influenced by PragerU videos, and 85% say they reference PragerU videos during ideological discussions.

Despite its popularity among many conservative viewers, PragerU has attracted significant criticism. Detractors argue that the organization often simplifies complex topics and presents selective information to promote a distinctly conservative narrative. Critics have linked PragerU content to far-right propaganda, asserting that the organization’s messaging sometimes aligns with extreme viewpoints and fosters divisiveness in political debate. Prominent media outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian have scrutinized PragerU for its ideological bias and its role in disseminating messages that resonate with far-right movements. These critiques suggest that, while PragerU positions itself as an educational resource, its content is deeply embedded in contemporary political controversies and is used to shape political opinions in a polarized media environment.

The videos offered by PragerU include various presenters who are pegged as experts on specific topics. It has faced criticism for its associations with individuals identified as part of far-right and extremist movements with content that aligns with far-right ideologies. For instance, a video titled “The Suicide of Europe” by Douglas Murray argues that Europe is “committing suicide” by allowing mass immigration, a narrative that the SPLC described as a “dog whistle to the extreme right.” The video was also promoted by the anti-immigrant hate website VDARE.com.

Other presenters include anti-Indigenous writer Jeff Fynn-Paul, who wrote a book that downplays European colonialism and the genocide against Indigenous people, and anti-gender affirming care activist Chloe Cole, as well as far-right commentators Tim Pool, Jordan Peterson, Jack Posobiec, Corey DeAngelis, James Lindsay and Allie Stuckey.

Through its PragerU Kids programming, the organization produces videos, reading material and curricula designed for grades K-12. Although it markets that content as “educational, entertaining, [and] pro-American kids,” PragerU admittedly indoctrinates children with far-right messages. In 2023 while speaking at a Moms for Liberty conference, Dennis Prager affirmed claims that his organization indoctrinates kids, describing an incident where he was confronted by protesters:

In 2023, PragerU Kids programming extended beyond the organization’s platforms and into public schools, with several states approving use of the materials in classrooms. The 2024 PragerU Annual Report highlights the organization’s expansion into so-called educational content, particularly through PragerU Kids and its integration into public schools. It emphasizes opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and critiques public education.

PragerU’s position in the anti-student inclusion movement

Through its PragerU Kids platform and advocacy, the organization has positioned itself as a significant player in the movement opposing certain educational approaches to diversity and inclusion.

In public statements, PragerU’s leadership has been candid about the organization’s intentions to influence educational content. CEO Marissa Streit has described the U.S. education system as a “left-wing propaganda machine” and positions PragerU Kids as a corrective measure.

This framing suggests an explicit aim to reshape educational narratives in a manner that critics argue may diminish emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

Although the books, videos and lesson plans offered as part of PragerU Kids are not new, PragerU recently began partnering with state boards of education to allow educators in public schools to incorporate PragerU Kids materials into curricula as they personally see fit. Within one year of initiating these partnerships in Florida, PragerU Kids made its content also available to public schools in Arizona, Louisiana, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Texas. The organization’s biannual report states that it has a goal to add 10 new states to this program in 2024-25.

The integration of PragerU Kids materials into public school curricula has been a point of contention, leading to debates about the appropriateness of the content and concerns over potential indoctrination. Historians and researchers have expressed apprehension, suggesting that the videos may spread misinformation and differ significantly from other educational materials. For instance, some videos have been noted to downplay slavery and insert opinion on what otherwise appears to be educational content for children.

Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of the history of education at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, stressed that PragerU is not an educational institution, telling Education Week, “It is a political propaganda machine, and it promotes mistruths about climate change, slavery, and a whole host of other things.” In a review of PragerU Kids videos, the Texas Freedom Network called out several pieces for misconstruing Black history, including one featuring a cartoon version of Frederick Douglass that distorts the abolitionist’s words in a way that makes “disgusting claims that slavery was ‘a compromise’ while admonishing movements to remedy systemic oppression today,” according to the group.

PragerU has actively engaged in efforts to reshape public education by challenging existing diversity and inclusion initiatives, producing content that challenges the implementation of such programs within educational institutions. In a video titled “What Is the University Diversity Scam?” the organization argues that American universities, especially in California, allocate substantial funds to address such issues as sexism, homophobia and racism. The video mentions the prevalence of these issues on campuses and suggests that the diversity bureaucracy may be an unnecessary expenditure.

In addition to PragerU’s anti-LGBTQ+, anti-diversity and hard-right content, the narratives offered in PragerU Kids videos often present a skewed version of history and downplay significant historical issues.

For example, in an animated video titled “Christopher Columbus: Explorer of the New World,” two siblings travel back in time to ask Columbus why he is so hated today. Columbus tells them that the Native Americans were savages and justifies their enslavement, saying: “Being taken as a slave is better than being killed, no? I don’t see the problem.”

The Texas Freedom Network also took issue with a PragerU Kids video featuring a cartoon version of Martin Luther King Jr. that presents a revisionist version of the civil rights leader whose “belief in nonviolence never changed.” This video also features the animated King addressing the children he’s talking to as “Mr. Leo” and “Miss Layla,” in a seeming nod to Jim Crow-era tradition when Black people were made to address White people, even children, with courtesy titles.

PragerU has become a key resource for organizations that oppose inclusive education policies, particularly anti-student inclusion groups like Moms for Liberty and Moms for America. These organizations advocate for increased parental control over school curricula and have frequently used PragerU’s videos and educational materials to challenge discussions on race, gender and LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools.

Moms for Liberty has promoted PragerU content as an alternative to what it calls “woke” or “leftist” indoctrination in education. The organization has supported efforts to remove lessons on systemic racism, gender identity and LGBTQ+ rights from classrooms. Moms for Liberty has offered PragerU content on its social media, referring to PragerU as its partner. In turn, PragerU featured Moms for Liberty cofounder Tiffany Justice at its Make Education Great Again event in Washington, D.C., just one day before the inauguration of President Trump’s second term.

Similarly, Moms for America, which promotes “faith-based” and “patriotic” education, has aligned with PragerU’s mission by encouraging parents to introduce its materials in homeschooling environments and as an alternative to public school curricula. The group has actively pushed against diversity and inclusion initiatives in schools, framing them as threats to traditional American values, and shares PragerU content with its members as alternatives to school curriculum.

By positioning itself as an educational platform, PragerU provides ideological support to the anti-student inclusion movement, reinforcing narratives that oppose inclusive curricula under the banner of free speech and “parental rights.”

Attacks on the LBGTQ+ community

With videos including “Trans Kids: The Medical Scandal” and “Why Girls Become Boys,” PragerU has actively produced content attacking the LGBTQ+ community, especially on transgender issues.

In 2023, PragerU released a 21-minute film titled DETRANS: The Dangers of Gender-Affirming Care, which features interviews with individuals who transitioned and later detransitioned, highlighting their experiences and expressing concerns about gender-affirming treatments. The documentary was launched with a $1 million marketing campaign, including a “timeline takeover” on X (formerly Twitter), which is a paid advertising strategy to ensure widespread visibility by paying to have content appear as one of the first ads seen on a user’s timeline. In a statement, PragerU’s chief marketing officer identified hard-right actor, Elon Musk, as part of the reason the organization chose X for its campaign, adding, “This will give millions of people the opportunity to hear important stories from detransitioners themselves, many of whom have been censored and even ostracized because their lived experiences do not affirm the mainstream media’s narrative.”

In November 2023, reports emerged that PragerU had used images of transgender individuals without their consent in promotional material for the documentary. One individual discovered her image was utilized in an ad campaign on X for the film, leading to accusations against PragerU of spreading transphobic propaganda.

The film presented detransitioning as a widespread and inevitable consequence of gender-affirming medical treatment. However, research consistently shows that detransitioning is relatively rare, and, when it does occur, it is often due to external pressures rather than personal regret. Because there is no universally accepted definition of “detransitioning,” rates of its occurrence reportedly range from 8% to less than 1%. Furthermore, a U.S. Transgender Survey, conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, reported that the majority of individuals who detransitioned cited external factors such as family rejection, discrimination or lack of access to care as their reasons.

PragerU has also initiated petitions aimed at protecting children from what it describes as “harmful transgender ideology.” One such petition urges the media, education systems and medical establishments to stop promoting “radical ideas” about gender to young children. The organization claims that children, even as young as kindergarteners, are being exposed to these concepts and that parents who object are often labeled as child abusers.

Attacks on women and women’s rights

PragerU has consistently produced content that challenges modern feminism and various aspects of women’s rights advocacy. It has produced content disputing the existence of the gender wage gap. In “There Is No Gender Wage Gap!” Christina Hoff Sommers argues that the commonly cited wage disparity between men and women is a myth, attributing differences in earning to individual choices rather than systemic discrimination.

Dennis Prager, in “Fireside Chat Ep. 252 — Has Feminism Ruined Work?” discusses the negative effects he believes modern feminism has had on the workplace and societal perceptions of gender roles.

In “Make Men Masculine Again,” Allie Stuckey says that “toxic masculinity” is not the issue today. The world is trying to make men more feminine when the goal should be to make them more masculine, she claims. In the video, Stuckey states:

Through these and other productions, PragerU articulates a perspective that often challenges mainstream feminist positions, advocating for traditional gender roles and questioning the current trajectory of the women’s rights movement