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Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Harvard commencement speaker decries Trump administration's 'draconian government measures'
Stanford professor Abraham Verghese spoke out against the Trump administration's "cascade of draconian government measures" at Harvard Thursday as the White House continues to battle the elite university. The physician and novelist was Harvard's 2025 commencement speaker, where he also received an honorary degree from the university. During his address, Verghese acknowledged that he was speaking at an "unprecedented moment" in the school's history amid President Donald Trump's attempts to cut the school's federal funding and terminate its student visa program due to reports of rampant antisemitism on campus. "A cascade of draconian government measures has already led to so much uncertainty, so much pain and suffering in this country and across the globe, and more has been threatened," Verghese said. "The outrage you must feel, the outrage so many feel, must surely lead us to a new appreciation for the rule of law and due process, which 'til now we took for granted, because this is America." Verghese added that he agreed to be the commencement speaker to promote the value of immigrants like himself as Trump cracks down on illegal immigration. "What made me eventually say yes to President Garber had everything to do with where we all find ourselves in 2025, when legal immigrants and others who are lawfully in this country, including so many of your international students, worry about being wrongly detained and even deported," Verghese said. "When legal immigrants and others who are lawfully in this country worry about being wrongly detained and even deported, perhaps it's fitting that you hear from an immigrant like me." "Part of what makes America great, if I may use that phrase, is that it allows an immigrant like me to blossom here, just as generations of other immigrants and their children have flourished and contributed in every walk of life, working to keep America great." He later related his experiences caring for HIV patients in a small town in Tennessee at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, saying the experience taught him that "love trumps all bigotry. Love trumps ideology." Verghese also celebrated the school pushing back against the Trump administration as an inspiration. "More people than you realize are grateful for Harvard for the example it has set," he said. "By your clarity in affirming and courageously defending the essential values of this university, and indeed of this nation." Verghese's speech came after Harvard President Alan Garber addressed conservative viewpoints being seen as unwelcome on campus. He called it a "problem" that needs to be solved. Fox News Digital reached out to Harvard for comment.
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Trump says Harvard has been given money 'like gravy'
The university has been standing up to the administration after it slashed federal funding when the university refused to cede to a series of policy demands.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Homeland Security labels Maryland, several counties and cities, sanctuary jurisdictions
Federal officials say Maryland is too welcoming to undocumented immigrants, listing the state and several of its counties and cities among more than 500 "sanctuary jurisdictions" nationwide. (Maryland Matters file photo) The Trump administration on Thursday said Maryland and several of its counties and cities are sanctuary jurisdictions for immigrants, a designation that will bring a warning from federal officials along with a vague threat of the loss of unspecified federal funds. The Maryland governments were among more than 500 jurisdictions nationwide, including states and local governments, labeled sanctuary jurisdictions by the Department of Homeland Security, in response to an April 28 executive order by President Donald Trump (R). Sanctuary jurisdictions come in many forms, but they are generally governments with policies that limit the ability of local authorities to cooperate with federal immigration agencies. Supporters say the policies make local communities safer by increasing immigrant trust in local police agencies and making them more willing to work with police. But Trump, in his executive order, said sanctuary policies 'violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws' in a 'lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law.' The order directs the attorney general and the secretary of Homeland Security to contact jurisdictions on the list, and it further requires federal agency heads to identify grants, contracts and other funds that could be withheld from the jurisdictions 'as appropriate.' The Homeland Security list tagged the state of Maryland, eight counties and 10 municipalities. The department said it determined whether a government was a sanctuary jurisdiction 'by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens.' The department labeled Maryland as a 'Self-Identification as a State Sanctuary Jurisdiction,' but doesn't summarize what that entails. D.C. area food industry shaken after DHS visits more than 100 businesses 'DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens,' the department's statement said. Despite the administration's repeated claim that sanctuary policies violate federal law or obstruct federal immigration enforcement, the policies do neigher. And local officials were already pushing back Thursday against threats from federal officials. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D) released a statement Thursday that mentions the possibility of suing the administration, after his city was listed as a sanctuary jurisdiction. 'To be clear: by definition, Baltimore is not a sanctuary city, because we do not have jurisdiction over our jails. We follow our limited obligations as defined under federal immigration law,' Scott said. 'But we are a welcoming city, and we make no apologies for that,' his statement said. 'We are better because of our immigrant neighbors, and we are not about to sell them out to this administration.' Six of the 10 Maryland municipalities the department designated as sanctuary cities are in Prince George's County: the towns of Cheverly and Edmonston, and the cities of College Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville and Mount Rainier. Del. Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince George's), chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus, said in a text message Thursday night that labels such as 'sanctuary jurisdiction' oversimplify work done to serve and protect residents. 'Maryland, Prince George's County and our municipalities have long embraced policies that create welcoming, inclusive communities where all residents – regardless of immigration status – can live with dignity and safety,' Martinez said. 'These local approaches are rooted in public trust, safety and effective governance, not political defiance.' In addition to Baltimore City, the other Maryland cities on the list are Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, and Rockville and Takoma Park in Montgomery County. Maryland counties on the DHS list were Anne Arundel, Baltimore County, Charles, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, Queen Anne's and Talbot. Maryland does offer limited benefits to undocumented immigrants in the state, including the ability to get a driver's license and to be able to buy health insurance in the state marketplace under some circumstances. But state lawmakers also approved a watered-down version of an immigration bill last month, in the final minutes of the 2025 legislative session, That bill was originally going to prohibit so-called 287(g) agreements, which allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to delegate some federal enforcement authorities to local officers. But the Senate stripped that language out and the House relented. The final version of the bill, which becomes law Sunday, gives limited protection against immigration actions in 'sensitive locations,' such as churches, schools or hospitals. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Fast Company
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
The ‘Daniel Tiger' effect: How quality kids' TV impacts teen mental health—and why cuts to PBS could be disastrous
Parents used to be freaked out when kids were reading romance novels or Horatio Alger books. It seems quaint now, when so many parents (and teens!) are concerned about the effects of social media and screen time. But it speaks to a universal truth: The stories we learn have the power to shape our lives. Stories are among the oldest forms of teaching. They don't just shape our thinking, they actually affect us at a neural level. This is especially true for kids: The entertainment that children consume during their most formative years plays an important role in shaping who they become and how they relate to the world around them. Now, however, some of the most reliable sources for high-quality children's media are on the chopping block with the administration's threat to cut federal funding of PBS, accounting for 15% of its funding, which will only limit access to valuable programming that can impact future generations. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education recently notified the Corporation for Public Broadcasting about the immediate termination of its Ready to Learn grant, taking away the remaining $23 million of a grant that was set to end on September 30. PBS has received this grant every five years for the past 30 years, and it accounts for one-third of PBS Kids' annual budget. There have been many studies on the immediate effects of media on children, from specific learning goals to impacts on self-esteem. But one thing that hadn't been measured extensively was how much those learnings persist over time. That's why my colleagues and I at the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at the University of California, Los Angeles, studied the long-term impact of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, a modern-day Mister Rogers-inspired program. The show, which we weren't involved with, was developed in close collaboration with child-development experts to purposefully and thoughtfully model social skills and emotional regulation tools for young kids. The final deadline for Fast Company's Brands That Matter Awards is this Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Harvard holds commencement while facing pressure from Trump administration
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Harvard University held its commencement Thursday at a pivotal moment, when its place as one of the world's leading higher education institutions is under threat by a Trump administration that wants to slash the school's federal funding and bar international students. Harvard's battles with the Trump administration brought a sober tone and another layer of uncertainty to the ceremonies for the thousands of graduates who have endured their share of challenges since arriving at the school. They started college as the world was emerging from the pandemic and grappled with student-led protests over the war in Gaza. Other schools face the loss of federal funding and their ability to enroll international students if they don't agree to the Trump administration's shifting demands. But Harvard, which was founded more than a century before the nation itself, is taking the lead on defying the White House in court — and paying a significant price. A school under threat The Trump administration's latest salvos include asking federal agencies to cancel about $100 million in contracts with the Ivy League school. The government already canceled more than $2.6 billion in federal research grants, moved to cut off Harvard's enrollment of international students and threatened its tax-exempt status. Visa interviews for international students admitted to schools nationwide were halted on Tuesday, and Trump said Wednesday that Harvard should reduce its international enrollment from 25 per cent to about 15 per cent. Sustained by a $53 billion endowment, the nation's wealthiest university is testing whether it can be a bulwark against Trump's efforts to limit what his administration calls antisemitic activism on campus, which Harvard sees as an affront to the freedom to teach and learn nationwide. The Trump administration has demanded that Harvard make broad leadership changes, revise its admissions policies and audit its faculty and student body to ensure the campus is home to many viewpoints. In response to the administration's threats, Harvard has sued to block the funding freeze and persuaded a federal judge to temporarily halt the enrollment ban. It is going to court in Boston on Thursday just as the commencement is wrapping up, hoping for a ruling that allows it to continue enrolling international students. Speakers address the graduates Harvard President Alan Garber, who has repeatedly defended Harvard's actions, didn't directly address the Trump administration threats when he spoke to the graduates Thursday. But he did get a rousing applause when he referenced the university's global reach, noting that it is 'just as it should be.' Several of the graduating speakers on Thursday touched on the challenges facing the school, education and other aspects of American society. 'Now, our university is certainly imperfect, but I am proud to stand today alongside our graduating class, our faculty, our president, with the shared conviction that this ongoing project of veritas is one that is worth defending,' Thor Reimann told his fellow graduates. Yurong Luanna Jiang, a Chinese graduate who studied international development, said she grew up believing that the 'world was becoming a small village' and that she would be part of the generation that would 'end hunger and poverty for humankind.' She said coming to Harvard, she found a global community that included classmates from more than 30 countries, but that she now wonders whether her worldview is under threat. 'The promise of a connected world is giving way to division, fear and conflict,' she told graduates. 'We're starting to believe those who think differently, vote differently or pray differently, whether they are across the ocean or sitting right next to us, are not just wrong — we mistakenly see them as evil," she said. 'But it doesn't have to be this way.' Dr. Abraham Verghese, the bestselling author and Stanford University expert on infectious diseases, will be the principal speaker at Harvard's 374th commencement. On Wednesday, basketball Hall of Famer and activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the 'Class Day' speaker, and journalist Christiane Amanpour addressed graduates of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Both praised Harvard for standing up to the Trump administration, with Abdul-Jabbar specifically calling out the actions of Garber. 'When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard, to revoke their academic freedom and to destroy free speech, Dr. Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures,' Abdul-Jabbar said to wide applause as he compared Garber's response to Rosa Parks' stand against racist segregation. 'After seeing so many cowering billionaires, media moguls, law firms, politicians and other universities bend their knee to an administration that is systematically strip-mining the U.S. Constitution, it is inspiring to me to see Harvard University take a stand for freedom,' he continued. Earlier in the week Garber said in an interview with a university publication, that 'government overreach and devastating attacks on scientific and medical research are unwarranted and unlawful, and so we have taken legal action to defend the institution.' 'We should all be concerned that colleges and universities have increasingly come under attack. But we should not dismiss the criticisms even when they are based on distortions or inaccuracies — we need to look for the underlying concerns that can be embedded in them,' said Garber, who commissioned internal reports last year on antisemitism and anti-Arab prejudice at the school. The Trump administration has said it wants 'to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment.' It cites campus protests against Israel. Like many college students around the country, Harvard students set up tents called on the university to divest from companies supporting Israel's military, which has leveled Gaza in response to attacks by Hamas. Last year, hundreds of graduating students walked out of commencement chanting 'Free, free Palestine' after weeks of campus protests. Harvard also said some protesters would not receive diplomas alongside their classmates, although it eventually allowed most to get them. This year, the anti-war demonstrations have largely faded from view, but protesters held a silent vigil a few hours before Thursday's ceremony. Holding signs that read 'Ceasefire Now' and 'Not Another Bomb,' protesters stood silently along the walls of Harvard. Among those who came out was Carole Rein, a Harvard graduate from Beverly, Massachusetts, who has been an activist for 50 years and wants the university to speak out against the Gaza situation. 'As a U.S. citizen, my money is supporting the genocide that's happening in Gaza and I've got to stand out against it,' Rein said. 'I have to stand out against it, and there's many of us who are standing out against it.' Michael Casey and Leah Willingham, The Associated Press
