Latest news with #Democratic-leaning
Mint
9 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Demand for American degrees is sinking
SOME OF AMERICA'S most valuable companies were built by people who came to America as students. Elon Musk was born in South Africa and lived in Canada before studying physics at the University of Pennsylvania. Patrick and John Collison moved from Ireland to attend MIT and Harvard, respectively, before founding Stripe, a digital payments company. All told, more than half of America's billion-dollar start-ups were founded by at least one immigrant; a quarter have a founder who arrived as a student. That pipeline of talent is now under heavy pressure. On May 22nd the Trump administration abruptly stripped Harvard University of its ability to enroll foreign students. A judge blocked the move the following day. But the administration only tightened its squeeze: on May 27th it suspended all new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in America. Officials say the pause is temporary. The damage might not be. Attracting global talent has long been one of American academia's greatest strengths. The country draws more international students than any other; over the past two decades the share of foreign students has nearly doubled, reaching almost 6% in 2023 (see chart 1). Most pursue degrees in fields such as science, engineering and maths. Nearly a third come from India; a quarter from China. America's top private universities attract the lion's share of foreign talent (see chart 2). International students make up 14% of the intake at the country's 158 most selective research institutions—more than double the national average. At the dozen 'Ivy-plus" universities—including the Ivy League and peers such as Stanford and MIT—the share reaches 28%. Columbia and Harvard, two institutions that President Donald Trump has recently targeted in his broader assault on elite universities, rely heavily on international enrolment, at 40% and 28% respectively. Public universities, although less exposed in terms of headcount, face other risks. They tend to depend more on foreign tuition, which is often several times higher than the rates charged to local students, and lack the endowments that cushion private institutions. Prospective students are already looking elsewhere. Studyportals, an online directory for degree programmes around the world, says clicks on American courses are now at their lowest level since the covid-19 pandemic (see chart 3). Weekly page views halved between January 5th and the end of April. First-quarter traffic to American undergraduate and master's degrees was down by more than 20% year on year; traffic to PhD courses fell by a third. The biggest drop was from India, where interest fell by 40%. The data suggest that British universities would be the most likely beneficiaries. The financial stakes are high. In the 2023-24 academic year foreign students added $43.8bn to America's economy, according to the National Association of International Educators, a non-profit—mostly in Democratic-leaning areas (see map). They also supported jobs at universities and in other sectors, such as food services and health care. But the heaviest cost to America will be in talent. Around three-quarters of international PhD students say they intend to stay in America after graduating. Blocking the next generation of students may punish the Ivies. Over time, though, it is America's edge in science, business and innovation that will suffer.
Indianapolis Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Public media isn't partisan — reality just leans left
Deputy Opinion Editor Jacob Stewart's column, "Public media funding cuts create fair competition for local news in Indiana," ignores reality. We need look no further than recent events involving the capitalistic and capitulatory decision by CBS to cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" to see the value of public media. Stewart points out that 87% of people who name NPR as their main source of news are Democrats or Democrat-leaning but fails to understand why this is the case. In the 1980s, President Reagan eliminated the Fairness Doctrine from television and radio and right-wing propagandists like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity capitalized on this. It takes only a few minutes of listening to NPR to understand that it is not the left-wing equivalent of conservative talk radio. Rather, it is a purer form of news and information. Do we also not trust C-SPAN since the government funds it as a public utility? Even Stewart acknowledges that NPR did not deliberately attract a more Democratic-leaning audience. It just happened that way because conservative talk radio and networks like Fox News, OANN, and Newsmax have found a great deal of profit in confirming their viewers' and listeners' biases. Opinion: Critics said Trump would ruin America. Six months in, he's proving them wrong. I, for one, am grateful that we have some media outlets that are focused on informing and educating the public, not turning a profit. As Stephen Colbert said at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner, which aired on C-SPAN, "Reality has a well-known liberal bias."
Mint
6 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Trump's DOJ Sidesteps Norms to Boost Ally Alina Habba as US Attorney
President Donald Trump's administration sidestepped tradition this week and criticized judges who sought to bypass his ally as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey — a pattern that may repeat itself in other Democratic-leaning states. The actions of the Justice Department to shield interim US Attorney Alina Habba, Trump's former personal attorney, could foreshadow other fights over chief federal prosecutors holding temporary posts in blue states like California, New York and Nevada. Federal judges in New Jersey said Tuesday they would not extend Habba's four-month tenure, the longest she could serve without US Senate confirmation. When the judges bypassed Habba to pick her deputy, Attorney General Pam Bondi then slammed 'politically minded judges' for overstepping their authority. She fired the judges' choice, Desiree Grace, hours later. Habba's term is set to expire at the end of the week, and what happens next is anyone's guess. But Trump and his appointees have routinely assailed judges who resist him in court cases, and they've shown a recent willingness to push the boundaries of statutes on appointment to protect their choices. 'It's a little unclear as to how this will all shake out,' said Jennifer Selin, an associate law professor at Arizona State University who researches US attorney appointments. The law on appointing interim US attorneys wouldn't prevent Trump from naming Habba as the interim again, but it's 'definitely on the fringes of law,' Selin said. Spokespersons for the Justice Department and the US Attorney's Office in New Jersey declined to comment. US attorneys typically serve four-year terms after they are approved by the US Senate, and they leave en masse with the change of a presidential administration. Under Senate custom, if a home-state senator opposes a president's US attorney nominee, the full body won't confirm their appointment. More than 20 states have two Democratic senators but disputes may arise soon in Nevada, Illinois and California, where interim appointments are set to expire soon. Trump has nominated Habba for a four-year term, but she's drawn strong opposition from New Jersey's two Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, has also vowed to hold up all Justice Department nominees over Trump receiving a gifted jet from the Qatari government. District judges can appoint a US attorney until a vacancy is filled, but that is prompting pushback from the Trump administration. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused New Jersey's judges of 'a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law' and acting like partisans and activists. Such a posture is not a long-term recipe for success, said Daniel Richman, a law professor at Columbia University. Every US attorney's office investigates and prosecutes criminal cases and represents the US in civil litigation. Its lawyers appear regularly in court before federal judges. 'An office that relies on the cooperation of judges to do its work usually doesn't get ahead by making war on them,' Richman said. In the Northern District of New York, the Trump administration tested the bounds of its appointment authority this month after federal judges declined to extend the 120-day term of John Sarcone, the chief prosecutor. Bondi appointed Sarcone as 'Special Attorney to the Attorney General' and 'First Assistant US Attorney,' making him the acting leader under the federal law governing vacancies. Sarcone is authorized to conduct the same legal proceedings as US attorneys may conduct, according to records that say his appointment is 'indefinite but may be terminated at any time.' He could serve more than 600 days as an acting official under the vacancy statute, effectively bypassing the Senate, said Selin. Acting officials may serve under the vacancy law for up to 210 days, followed by up to two more 210-day stints if nominations for the seat fail in the Senate. Trump's administration also named two successive interim leaders to serve as US attorney in Washington, DC, tapping Jeanine Pirro for a 120-day term after her predecessor, Ed Martin, lacked the Senate votes to advance. 'The Trump administration has been very strategic in using acting positions to navigate difficulties in the Senate,' Selin said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee Republican resigns from House
Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) has resigned from the House amid a tight margin between parties in the lower chamber. 'It's with a heavy heart that I say farewell. To my constituents across Tennessee's 7th District—thank you. The trust you put in me is humbling. I will look back fondly on my years of serving as your voice in Washington,' Green, who started in the House in 2019, said in a post on the social platform X earlier this month. There are now 219 Republicans and 212 Democrats in the lower chamber, only a seven-seat difference amid already high tensions between the two parties and the 2026 midterm races in which Democrats seek to take back the House, beginning to heat up. President Trump's base has also recently been rattled by controversy over files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, creating some strain between Republican lawmakers and the president. Close to three-quarters of Democratic voters were feeling motivated to vote in the next election cycle in a recent CNN poll. Seventy-two percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters in the poll were 'extremely motivated' to vote before next year's midterms, with 50 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters saying the same. Republicans are also tight in the Senate, with 53 seats to Democrats' 45 seats and two independent senators. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US politics: Minnesota senator Nicole Mitchell to resign after burglary conviction; Democrats risk losing one-seat majority
Minnesota state Senator Nicole Mitchell will be stepping down from her post by early August after being convicted on felony burglary charges, her lawyer confirmed on Monday. The Democratic lawmaker, who was found guilty last week of first-degree burglary and possessing burglary tools, will remain in office until 4 August to complete her legislative duties and arrange healthcare cover for her son, ABC news reported. Mitchell, 51, represents a Democratic-leaning district just outside the Twin Cities. Her conviction has intensified political tensions in the narrowly divided Minnesota Senate, where Democrats hold a fragile one-seat majority. She was arrested in April 2024 after breaking into her estranged stepmother's home. Initially, Mitchell told police she had entered the property to retrieve sentimental belongings, including her late father's ashes. However, during her trial, she changed her account, saying she had entered the home to check on her stepmother's wellbeing, citing her Alzheimer's diagnosis. The jury took just three hours to reach a unanimous guilty verdict. Her decision to delay resignation has drawn criticism from Republicans. Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson said Mitchell should leave immediately, accusing Democrats of keeping her in office to secure crucial votes during the legislative session. 'Senator Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesn't get to give the Senate two weeks' notice,' Johnson said. 'The only reason Mitchell is still in office is because Democrats needed her vote to pass their agenda and refused to hold her accountable during session.' Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said Mitchell had previously pledged to resign if convicted. 'I expect her to follow through on that pledge,' Murphy said. Mitchell was elected in 2022 with a comfortable margin and has had a diverse career as a former TV weather presenter, a lawyer, and a member of the Air National Guard. Her departure is expected to trigger a special election in her district. Under Minnesota law, convicted felons are not automatically barred from holding office unless they are imprisoned. However, legal experts say ambiguity in the state constitution could lead to further debate over her eligibility had she chosen to stay, ABC news reported. For now, Mitchell's resignation sets the stage for a potential Senate deadlock, with both parties eyeing the upcoming vacancy in what could become a fiercely contested political battle.
