Donald Trump, citing Harvard’s high percentage of international students (27.2%), demanded the university disclose their identities and home countries, questioning why those nations don’t contribute financially to their education. This follows the Trump administration’s attempts to block Harvard from enrolling foreign students and revoke its federal funding, actions a federal court temporarily halted. The administration’s actions stem from a broader effort to review universities’ federal funds and have been criticized as a politically motivated attack on higher education. Harvard has countered these accusations, emphasizing the significant contributions international students make to the university and the nation.
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Federal agents are conducting mass arrests of immigrants outside immigration courtrooms across the US, immediately following hearings. These arrests, part of the Trump administration’s accelerated deportation agenda, target individuals with minimal or no criminal history, even those legally present or granted asylum. The American Immigration Lawyers Association condemns these actions as a violation of due process and basic fairness, arguing that the courts are being weaponized to expedite deportations. This strategy utilizes expedited removal processes, bypassing judicial hearings for those in the country less than two years, causing widespread concern about the erosion of legal protections.
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Despite criticizing European leaders for their delayed response to Russia’s actions, the author acknowledges President Trump’s prescient warnings regarding European defense spending and energy dependence on Russia, dating back to 2016. While acknowledging the likelihood of US withdrawal from Ukraine, the author suggests that increased European unity and leveraging relationships with major trading partners like China, India, and Iran, could yield significant results through sanctions. This coordinated approach could create substantial leverage, even without US participation, and requires greater cooperation between the UK and Europe. Ultimately, the author believes a unified European response to the crisis holds potential, despite the current grim outlook.
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Scores of White House National Security Council (NSC) staffers, including career officials and political appointees, were dismissed Friday under new National Security Advisor Marco Rubio. This downsizing, delivered via email on a Friday afternoon, reflects an administration effort to reduce the NSC’s size, mirroring models advocated by former advisors like Brent Scowcroft. Two new deputy advisors, Andy Baker and Robert Gabriel, have been appointed. The cuts, while intended to streamline operations, have raised concerns among former officials about the impact on the NSC’s ability to effectively advise the President on complex national security issues.
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Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) asserts that the Republican tax bill does not cut federal health or food benefits, despite projected cuts of $1 trillion from related programs. This assertion contradicts analyses showing millions would lose health insurance and food assistance, including thousands in Van Orden’s own district. The bill, if enacted, would drastically reduce funding for Medicaid and SNAP, impacting millions of low-income Americans. Van Orden’s claims are refuted by independent analyses from organizations such as the Urban Institute and the Congressional Budget Office.
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A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of OCG, a Guatemalan asylum seeker deported to Mexico despite facing threats of harm in both countries. The judge found OCG’s deportation lacked due process, citing his past experiences of homophobic violence in Guatemala and kidnapping and rape in Mexico. The ruling follows other recent court findings against the Trump administration for unlawful deportations to third countries, including a case involving seven immigrants sent to South Sudan with insufficient notice. The judge emphasized the simplicity of returning OCG, contrasting it with previous legal disputes over the definition of “facilitate.” This order adds to a growing body of legal challenges against the Trump administration’s deportation practices.
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Despite over $531 billion in government spending since 1962, resulting in largely ineffective missile defense systems, the current program boasts a budget exceeding $30 billion annually. The existing 44 ground-based interceptors are deemed insufficient, leading to an $18 billion contract for a replacement system. Claims of near-perfect protection against various missile threats, including hypersonic missiles, are made despite the historical lack of success in creating a truly reliable defense against long-range nuclear missiles. The substantial financial investment underscores the significant profit potential within the missile defense industry.
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During his West Point commencement speech, President Trump again asserted his belief that stealth fighter jets are invisible, reiterating a claim he’s made since at least 2017. This misconception, despite years as Commander in Chief, highlights his repeated inaccurate statements regarding the capabilities of military aircraft. The president’s comments have prompted questions about whether his statements stem from ignorance or a deliberate disregard for facts, leading to ongoing debate and criticism.
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GD Culture Group, a small Chinese-linked technology company, plans to purchase up to $300 million in Bitcoin and $TRUMP, President Trump’s memecoin, funding the purchase through a mysterious stock sale to an entity in the British Virgin Islands. This raises ethical concerns, as Trump stands to profit from policies impacting cryptocurrency while his family controls a significant portion of $TRUMP’s supply. The purchase comes amidst Trump’s efforts to influence TikTok’s U.S. operations, further highlighting potential conflicts of interest. The deal marks the first known instance of a China-linked firm investing in Trump’s memecoin.
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A new State Department style guide bans the term “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism” (REMVE), raising concerns about the administration’s commitment to combating the far-right threat. Simultaneously, significant budget cuts are eliminating offices and personnel focused on countering violent extremism, including those specializing in white supremacist terrorism. This follows a pattern of resource redirection away from far-right threat mitigation across various agencies. Critics fear this prioritizes politically advantageous threats while downplaying the persistent danger of far-right extremism, both domestically and internationally.
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John Q. Hosedrinker