Team Trump Targets Courts, Fed, Ivies—and Allies
The assault on universities is strikingly Kremlin-esque—mirroring Orbán-style tactics used to muzzle academic freedom in Hungary.
My comment
The side-by-side screenshots I posted on Twitter this morning should send a chill down the spine of anyone who values academic freedom—a cornerstone of democracy.
One, from CNN: “DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host foreign students amid broader battle over universities’ autonomy.” The other, from The New York Times: “IRS said to be considering whether to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status.” The piece added: “The move would be a major escalation [of the] Trump administration’s attempts to choke off federal money and support for the leading research university.”
CNN reported that DHS “has significantly dialled up its pressure on Harvard University, not only freezing $2 billion in federal funding but now threatening its eligibility to host international students after school leaders refused to make key policy changes the White House also is demanding of other elite US colleges.”
Which begs the question: what happened to the America we once knew—the global champion of academic freedom and the rules-based international order?
Trump’s apparent disdain for elite institutions may be rooted in his own failure to earn credibility in academia—recall the sham that was Trump University, which handed out fake diplomas and ended in a $25 million settlement for victims.
As I said in the Tweet, the administration’s actions grow more Kremlinesque by the day. And the assault on academia echoes Viktor Orbán’s clampdown in Hungary—where George Soros’ Central European University was ultimately forced to shut down (The Hungarian leader is a huge fan of Trump, saying his return to office return would usher in Hungary's own “golden age” and mark the “collapse” of liberal democracy).
I’ve included the cited news stories below….
The Internal Revenue Service is weighing whether to revoke Harvard’s tax exemption, according to three people familiar with the matter, which would be a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s attempts to choke off federal money and support for the leading research university. President Trump on Tuesday publicly called for Harvard to pay taxes, continuing a standoff in which the administration has demanded the university revamp its hiring and admissions practices and its curriculum. Some I.R.S. officials have told colleagues that the Treasury Department on Wednesday asked the agency to consider revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, according to two of the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal conversations - NYT
The Trump administration has significantly dialed up its pressure on Harvard University, not only freezing $2 billion in federal funding but now threatening its eligibility to host international students after school leaders refused to make key policy changes the White House also is demanding of other elite US colleges. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent Harvard “a scathing letter demanding detailed records on Harvard’s foreign student visa holders’ illegal and violent activities by April 30, 2025, or face immediate loss of Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification,” her agency said Wednesday in a news release that refers to antisemitism but does not detail specific incidents. It accuses Harvard of creating a “hostile learning environment” for Jewish students. “It is a privilege to have foreign students attend Harvard University, not a guarantee,” reads the letter, which a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson gave CNN after some of its details first were reported by the student-run Harvard Crimson. - CNN
President Donald Trump on Thursday ratcheted up his criticism against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling for his “termination” for not cutting interest rates quickly enough. His comments come one day after the central bank chief delivered a stark warning about the effect of Trump’s sweeping tariffs on the economy. Early Thursday morning, Trump lashed out at the Fed leader in a social media post, saying the US central bank is lagging behind its European counterpart. The European Central Bank later Thursday morning announced it is cutting interest rates for the seventh time in the past year. “Jerome Powell of the Fed, who is always TOO LATE AND WRONG, yesterday issued a report which was another, and typical, complete ‘mess!’ Trump wrote. “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” Powell on Wednesday said at an economic event in Chicago that the Trump administration has brought “very fundamental policy changes,” including sweeping tariffs that are “significantly larger than anticipated.” He said such changes are unlike anything seen in modern history, putting the Fed in uncharted waters and on a path to confront a challenge it hasn’t seen in decades.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Paris for talks with European leaders about Ukraine and its future security. Rubio is joined by Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy. Witkoff and Rubio are meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy is also taking part in the discussions, along with the German government's foreign policy adviser. A Ukrainian delegation made up of presidential adviser Andrii Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will also participate in the discussions. Yermak described them as "a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings with representatives of the states of the coalition of the willing that are able to guarantee security." The Ukrainian delegation will also to meet with US officials, Yermak said - Euronews
Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia ruled Wednesday that there is "probable cause" to find the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his order last month to immediately pause any deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. President Trump on March 15 invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to target members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison gang that Trump says is invading the United States. The government sent several planeloads of alleged gang members to El Salvador immediately after invoking the act, including 137 people under the statute, the White House said at the time. The flights happened just after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Democracy Forward sued the Trump administration over its use of the Alien Enemies Act. They said the administration removed people without due process. Boasberg imposed a temporary restraining order barring deportations that evening — but the planes still arrived in El Salvador. The Justice Department argued that Boasberg had overstepped his authority by inserting himself into questions of foreign policy. But Boasberg wasn't convinced - NPR
The posts of Chinese nationals on social media suggest that as many as 170 have either signed contracts to fight alongside the Russian army in Ukraine or are currently undergoing recruiting procedures. The findings were reported by the state-linked Ukrainian media outlet, Suspilne. Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that at least 155 Chinese nationals are fighting in Ukraine, while unnamed US officials have cited US intelligence indicating that roughly 100 to 200 Chinese nationals are fighting are fighting for Russia as “mercenaries” independent from the Chinese government. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman recently stated Beijing is unaware of Chinese nationals fighting in Ukraine, however it certainly is not inhibiting efforts by people to sign up.
Amendments to Hong Kong’s trade union laws proposing jail terms of up to three years for national security infractions will go to the city’s legislature later this month. The amendments to the Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill 2025, which was gazetted on Thursday, will be introduced to the “patriots only” Legislative Council (LegCo) on April 30, according to a government statement. In February, the government proposed legislative amendments to permanently bar those convicted of national security offences from serving in labour unions and to require all foreign funding to be vetted by the authorities. A spokesperson for the Labour Department said in the Thursday statement that “the proposed amendments will strengthen the statutory powers of the Registrar of Trade Unions” to safeguard national security. The amendments will take effect six months after their publication in the gazette, subject to the passage of the bill, the statement read - HKFP
The journals…
