The fights over Hasan Piker's campus speeches at Washington, Cornell and Texas

Active · last development Oct 1: “Only 300 Attend Hasan Piker Event at UT-Austin After Thousands Sign Up”

Hasan Piker's invitations to speak at universities in 2026 were contested each time: the University of Washington canceled his lecture,[1] student groups at Cornell condemned his invitation,[2] and his event at the University of Texas at Austin drew criticism from officials of both parties.[3]

Hasan Piker
What this arc covers

The disputes over Hasan Piker's appearances at universities in 2026: the University of Washington's cancellation of his lecture in its speaker series and his claim that his views on Israel were the reason, the objections from Jewish and pro-Israel student groups to his September speech at Cornell's Sage Chapel, where he joined a 'from the river to the sea' chant, and the criticism from Texas officials of both parties before his event with the University Democrats at the University of Texas at Austin, which drew a smaller crowd than expected.

Earliest story we hold Aug 8, 2026 · 6 stories · 14 independent sources (counted once each) · 54 days

Part ofHasan PikerCornell UniversityIsraelTexasUniversity of Texas at AustinHamasAustin

Background

The University of Washington had scheduled Piker for January as part of its 2026-27 Speaker Series.[1] It canceled the appearance in August, saying the process for organizing the event had not met the level of rigor required for university-hosted events in the series.[1] The free-speech group FIRE questioned whether public backlash had driven the decision.[1]

Piker said the university canceled because of his views on Israel.[4] At least two state lawmakers had contacted the university with concerns after he was announced as a speaker, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal said she was working with the university after the cancellation.[4]

At Cornell, the Students Not Bombs Campaign, a student-led coalition demanding that the university cut its ties to Israel, announced that Piker would speak at Sage Chapel on September 24.[2] Two Jewish and pro-Israel student groups condemned the invitation, and the campus Hillel group called his rhetoric "repulsive".[2] At the event Piker joined in the chant "From the river to the sea".[5]

In Texas, Ted Cruz, Greg Abbott and Henry Cuellar criticized the planned appearance over Piker's past remarks on 9/11 and Hamas, and the university sought to distance itself from the event, which the University Democrats hosted.[3] Piker spoke on campus as planned, and a former Hamas hostage, Maya Regev, spoke at the university the same night.[6] Accounts of the turnout differed: Fox News described a packed venue of cheering students, while The Texas Observer reported an auditorium three-quarters full, with more law enforcement than protesters.[6]

Supporting stories (6)
  1. Major university axes Hasan Piker’s lecture and vows to tighten standards
  2. Backlash erupts over Hasan Piker’s upcoming speaking engagement at Cornell
  3. Hasan Piker’s University of Texas visit causes chaos as school tries to distance itself from event
  4. WA lawmakers urged UW to cancel ‘An Evening with Hasan Piker’
  5. From ‘America Deserved 9/11’ to Sage Chapel: Cornell Gives Hasan Piker a Prestigious Stage Amid Antisemitism Controversy
  6. Only 300 Attend Hasan Piker Event at UT-Austin After Thousands Sign Up

Overview updated Oct 11, 2026

Part of Hasan Piker

  1. Federal scrutiny of Hasan Piker, from an airport detention to the Cuba inquiryMay 13, 2025 – Aug 1, 2026
  2. Hasan Piker's rise in Democratic politics and the backlash to his rhetoricApr 8 – Oct 10, 2026
  3. Britain's entry ban on Hasan Piker and Cenk UygurJun 1, 2026
  4. The fights over Hasan Piker's campus speeches at Washington, Cornell and TexasThis arcAug 8 – Oct 1, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Oct 1– 8Only 300 Attend Hasan Piker Event at UT-Austin After Thousands Sign Up5 articles · 4 independent sources
1 left, 0 center, 3 right
Sep 24– 29From ‘America Deserved 9/11’ to Sage Chapel: Cornell Gives Hasan Piker a Prestigious Stage Amid Antisemitism Controversy4 articles · 4 independent sources
0 left, 0 center, 4 right
Sep 19– 24Backlash erupts over Hasan Piker’s upcoming speaking engagement at Cornell4 articles · 4 independent sources
0 left, 0 center, 4 right

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Aug 3Aug 24Sep 14Oct 5

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Aug 3, 20260046
Aug 10, 20261136
Aug 17, 20260101
Sep 14, 20260033
Sep 21, 20260055
Sep 28, 20260044
Oct 5, 20261023

14% left · 14% center · 72% right of 14 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 6 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. August 2026

    Aug 8– 9Major university axes Hasan Piker’s lecture and vows to tighten standards6 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 4 right
  2. Aug 12– 20WA lawmakers urged UW to cancel ‘An Evening with Hasan Piker’7 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 3 right

  3. September 2026

    Sep 18– 28Hasan Piker’s University of Texas visit causes chaos as school tries to distance itself from event2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 2 right
  4. Sep 19– 24Backlash erupts over Hasan Piker’s upcoming speaking engagement at Cornell4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 4 right

  6. October 2026

    Oct 1– 8Only 300 Attend Hasan Piker Event at UT-Austin After Thousands Sign Up5 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 3 right