logo
A Weaker Harvard Is a Weaker America

A Weaker Harvard Is a Weaker America

Bloomberg28-05-2025
Imagine if China or Russia tried to destroy a US asset that generates tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars of economic value, plays a major role in American leadership in science and technology and turbocharges our prestige and soft power. We'd expect our government to go to war to defend it. But in attacking Harvard University, that's exactly what the Trump administration is trying to do. Despite the school's failures and flaws, it remains a vital national asset — and the administration's actions are far more dangerous to America than they are to Harvard.
When you tour the UK's Cambridge University, your guide will show you empty niches containing stone fragments. They're the remnants of statues smashed by Puritan fanatics during the English Civil War. But Cambridge survived and flourished. Universities are enormously resilient and count time in centuries, not electoral cycles. Long after the Trump administration is gone, there will still be a Harvard. But an America deprived of everything Harvard contributes will be far poorer and weaker.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Nebraska Dems hosting Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, possible 2028 presidential candidate
Nebraska Dems hosting Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, possible 2028 presidential candidate

Yahoo

time21 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Nebraska Dems hosting Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, possible 2028 presidential candidate

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during the Semafor World Economy Summit 2025 at Conrad Washington on April 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. () LINCOLN — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is coming to Nebraska to speak to Democrats for the state party's top annual fundraising event in November. Beshear is a Democratic governor in a deeply red Republican state. He and other 2028 potential presidential hopefuls visited South Carolina in recent weeks, to test the water for their campaign messages. He was picked to lead the Democratic Governors Association into next year's midterm elections and has been touted as 'most popular Democratic governor in America.' Beshear was attorney general of Kentucky before becoming governor in 2019. His father was previously governor. National Democrats have been seeking answers as President Donald Trump made gains among working-class voters, including minority voters, last year. A trend of prominent Democratic figures making their way to the heartland has emerged, and some are crossing the Missouri River from traditionally first-in-the-nation Iowa into Nebraska. Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders launched his 'Fighting Oligarchy' nationwide tour in Omaha. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz hosted a Democratic town hall earlier this year And Former Texas U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke is having a similar town hall in Omaha next month. The events with prominent Democratic figures appear aimed at energizing the Nebraska Democratic base for the midterms and come when two federal races could be competitive. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District has drawn national attention as its single presidential race electoral vote has swung from Republicans to Democrats in recent years, most recently to former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. Nebraska could regain the national spotlight in 2026, with an open seat race in the state's 2nd District for the U.S. House and Dan Osborn's nonpartisan Senate bid against Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts. Both races could determine which party controls what parts of Congress. But Nebraska Democrats face an uphill battle in a state where Republicans outnumber Democrats about 2 to 1, Republicans have gained a legislative supermajority, and the party last held a congressional seat with former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford in 2017. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Columbia University agrees to pay more than $220M in deal with Trump to restore federal funding
Columbia University agrees to pay more than $220M in deal with Trump to restore federal funding

Yahoo

time21 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Columbia University agrees to pay more than $220M in deal with Trump to restore federal funding

NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University has reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore federal research money that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus, the university announced Wednesday. Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay a $200 million settlement over three years, the university said. It will also pay $21 million to settle investigations brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 'This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," acting University President Claire Shipman said. The Trump administration pulled the funding, because of what it described as the university's failure to squelch antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023. Columbia then agreed to a series of demands laid out by the Republican administration, including overhauling the university's student disciplinary process and adopting a new definition of antisemitism. Wednesday's agreement — which does not include an admission of wrongdoing — codifies those reforms while preserving the university's autonomy, Shipman said. The school had been threatened with the potential loss of billions of dollars in government support, including more than $400 million in grants cancelled earlier this year. 'The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track," Shipman said. "Importantly, it safeguards our independence, a critical condition for academic excellence and scholarly exploration, work that is vital to the public interest.' As part of the deal, Columbia agreed to a series of changes previously announced in March, including reviewing its Middle East curriculum to make sure it was 'comprehensive and balanced' and appointing new faculty to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. It also promised to end programs 'that promote unlawful efforts to achieve race-based outcomes, quotes, diversity targets or similar efforts.' The university will also have to issue a report to a monitor assuring that its programs 'do not promote unlawful DEI goals.' The pact comes after months of uncertainty and fraught negotiations at the more than 270-year-old university. It was among the first targets of President Donald Trump's crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus protests and on colleges that he asserts have allowed Jewish students be threatened and harassed. Columbia's own antisemitism task force found last summer that Jewish students had faced verbal abuse, ostracism and classroom humiliation during the spring 2024 demonstrations. Other Jewish students took part in the protests, however, and protest leaders maintain they aren't targeting Jews but rather criticizing the Israeli government and its war in Gaza. Columbia's leadership — a revolving door of three interim presidents in the last year — has declared that the campus climate needs to change. Also in the settlement is an agreement to ask prospective international students 'questions designed to elicit their reasons for wishing to study in the United States,' and establishes processes to make sure all students are committed to 'civil discourse.' Solve the daily Crossword

Tesla says it started building initial versions of an affordable car, posts a steep sales decline
Tesla says it started building initial versions of an affordable car, posts a steep sales decline

Yahoo

time21 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Tesla says it started building initial versions of an affordable car, posts a steep sales decline

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Tesla said on Wednesday it has built initial versions of an affordable car, a move likely meant to stem the steep decline in sales the company has experienced in markets across the world. Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker posted the worst quarterly sales decline in more than a decade and profit that missed Wall Street targets, but its profit margin on making cars was better than many feared. MARKET REACTION: Tesla shares were down nearly 5% in after-hours trading. COMMENTS: JACOB BOURNE, ANALYST, EMARKETER, NEW YORK: "Tesla's disappointing results aren't surprising given the rocky road it's traveled recently. But the company maintains a strong foundation in the key growth sectors of energy storage, robotics, and AI-powered transportation. While traditional automakers like GM are gaining EV market share, we can expect that Tesla will continue pushing the needle on innovation if it can get a better handle on its current leadership distractions. Key challenges that will linger are supply chain risks related to its reliance on China and fierce competition from Chinese EV makers in that market. Tesla doesn't need to choose between cars and future tech. There are technical synergies between EVs, robotaxis, energy systems, and robotics that could accelerate innovation across all fronts. The question is whether leadership can execute on this integrated vision in this fast-moving market." ANDREW ROCCO, STOCK STRATEGIST, ZACKS INVESTMENT RESEARCH, CHICAGO: "Tesla delivered earnings Wednesday night that fell short of top-and-bottom line expectations slightly. Despite the earnings miss, Tesla shares were buoyed early by the fact that the bleeding in gross margins has seemingly come to a halt, with gross margins coming in at 17.2% versus Wall Street estimates of 16.5%. The gross margin beat is especially impressive when investors consider that Tesla has been offering generous incentives and lower prices to its consumers. Coming in to the report, Wall Street expectations were dire amid a slowing core EV business and CEO Elon Musk's reputational damage on both sides of the political aisle. Nevertheless, Tesla has limped over the low bar that was a dramatic earnings miss and delivered earnings that were better than most feared. Additionally, news broke right before the market closed that Tesla is in "early talks" with the state of Nevada to expand its robotaxi service. If Tesla can convince investors that it will scale its robotaxi service rapidly, shareholders will be more forgiving regarding the core EV business, as Musk and his team look to expand into new verticals, transitioning and diversifying the business." THOMAS MONTEIRO, SENIOR ANALYST, "Although still far from what fundamentals would suggest for a trillion-dollar company, Tesla's latest numbers do spark some optimism, indicating that the worst is likely behind it—at least in terms of the core auto business. Given the plethora of headwinds faced during the difficult Q2 - both internally and on the macro front - margin deterioration appears to have come in at the lower end of the curve. When combined with improving cyclical demand dynamics in markets like China and parts of the US, this suggests that full-year results might not be as dire as previously expected following the disastrous first half of the year. This also shows that the company has weathered the tariff storm somewhat better than initially projected, optimizing the production/delivery equation in the US. While it remains unclear how much of a hit regulatory credits will take in Q3, it's evident the company will need to continue refining its production strategy elsewhere to better navigate the second half. From this perspective, recent product announcements are aligned with those strategic needs—particularly around the highly anticipated Model 2. With Tesla entering the Indian market and working to regain ground in China, we view this as a potential game-changer for H2. All things considered—and while we're still a ways off from seeing true fundamental support for the current share price—the outlook for the core business is looking somewhat better. This could continue to support Tesla's long-term transition into a fully AI/robotics-driven company, which appears to be where Musk is placing his bets." (Compiled by Reuters NewsEditing by Matthew Lewis)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store