PragerU facts for kids
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| Formation | 2009 |
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| Founders |
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| Type | 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization |
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Area served
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United States, United Kingdom |
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CEO
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Marissa Streit |
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Revenue (2021)
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$56,600,000 |
| Expenses (2021) | $32,900,000 |
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Staff (2021)
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97 |
Prager University, also known as PragerU, is an American media organization that creates videos and other content. It is a nonprofit organization, which means its main goal is not to make money but to promote a cause. PragerU's content supports conservative and capitalist ideas on political, economic, and social topics.
The group was started in 2009 by talk show host Dennis Prager and screenwriter Allen Estrin. Even though it has "university" in its name, PragerU is not a college or university. It does not offer classes for credit or give out degrees.
Some people and groups have criticized PragerU's videos. They say the videos sometimes contain misleading or incorrect information on topics like history, science, and social issues. Critics have also accused PragerU of promoting racism, sexism, and politics that are against LGBT rights.
Contents
History of PragerU
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PragerU was created in 2009 by Dennis Prager and Allen Estrin. They wanted to share conservative ideas, which they felt were not being taught enough in colleges. Marissa Streit, a former school headmistress, joined the organization and became its chief executive officer (CEO) in 2011.
At first, the founders thought about opening a real, physical university. However, they decided to create a digital media company instead to save money. PragerU is based in Los Angeles, California.
To spread its message, PragerU encourages students to join "PragerFORCE." This is a group for high school and college students who promote PragerU's videos and ideas. By 2018, PragerU's videos had been viewed over a billion times online.
In 2019, a PragerU representative attended a Social Media Summit at the White House with then-President Donald Trump. Other conservative groups and individuals were also there.
Conflicts with Social Media Companies
PragerU has had disagreements with social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
YouTube
In 2016, PragerU said that YouTube had placed some of its videos in "restricted mode." This setting is meant to hide content that may not be appropriate for all ages. YouTube said that it applies the same rules to all videos and does not censor anyone.
In 2017, PragerU sued YouTube's parent company, Google. PragerU argued that by restricting or taking advertising off its videos, Google was violating its right to free speech. In 2018, a judge dismissed the case. The judge ruled that because YouTube is a private company, not a public space, it has the right to control the content on its own platform. A higher court agreed with this decision in 2020.
In 2018, YouTube began adding fact-checking information to some of PragerU's videos about climate change. In 2020, YouTube also removed two videos about transgender issues, stating they violated the platform's policy on hate speech.
In 2018, Facebook took down two of PragerU's videos. The company later put the videos back up, saying they were removed by mistake. PragerU believed this was deliberate censorship.
How PragerU is Funded
PragerU is a nonprofit, so it runs on donations. A large part of its early funding came from Dan and Farris Wilks, who made their money in the oil and gas industry. Other major donors include foundations like the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and the family foundation of Betsy DeVos.
In 2019, PragerU raised a lot of money from many small online donations. The organization spends a large part of its budget on advertising, especially on Facebook. In 2019, it was one of the top 10 biggest political spenders on the platform.
In 2020, PragerU received a loan of over $700,000 from the U.S. government's Paycheck Protection Program, which was created to help organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This loan was later forgiven, meaning it did not have to be paid back.
What is in PragerU's Content?
PragerU creates short videos, usually about five minutes long, that explain topics from a conservative point of view. The videos often discuss subjects like economics, politics, and history. Dennis Prager, one of the founders, says he approves every script before it is made into a video.
Presenters in the videos have included well-known conservative figures like Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens, and Tucker Carlson.
Topics Covered in Videos
PragerU videos have covered many different subjects.
- They have argued against raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
- They have argued against more gun control laws.
- They support the Electoral College, saying it prevents problems in elections.
- They are supportive of the country of Israel.
Some videos have been criticized by historians and political scientists. These critics say that PragerU's content about the history of slavery, racism, and fascism can be misleading.
Climate Change
Many PragerU videos talk about climate change. They often support the use of fossil fuels like oil and gas and criticize renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Some videos question the scientific agreement that humans are causing climate change.
Groups that fact-check information, like Climate Feedback and Reuters, have said that PragerU's videos on this topic contain inaccurate and misleading claims.
School Programs
PragerU has created programs for schools called PragerU K-12. This program offers videos, lesson plans, and other materials for teachers to use in their classrooms.
In 2023, Florida became the first state to approve PragerU as an official education vendor. This means public school teachers in Florida can use PragerU's materials in their lessons. Since then, other states like Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Montana, Arizona, and Louisiana have also approved PragerU's content for schools.
This decision has been criticized by some people. They worry that students might be exposed to extreme views and incorrect information.
In July 2025, Oklahoma announced it was working with PragerU to create a test for teachers from other states to check their views before they could get a teaching license.
Founders Museum
On June 25, 2025, PragerU opened a "Founders Museum" exhibit at the White House. This was done for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and was a partnership with the Department of Education. The exhibit used AI to create videos of people from the time of the American Revolution.
See also
In Spanish: PragerU para niños
