Trump has escalated a feud with Harvard University, freezing $2.2 billion in funding and threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status. The fight between the Trump administration and the nation’s oldest and most elite university is heading towards a showdown that could affect other U.S. institutions. Harvard has rejected the administration’s demands regarding diversity hiring and tolerance of anti-Israel protests. Details show that Harvard, with an endowment of $50 billion, is uniquely positioned to withstand the funding freeze. Its refusal of Trump’s demands has injected energy into other universities fearful of the president’s wrath.

Ripple effects are seen in Columbia University, which is adopting a tougher tone in response to Trump’s actions. Columbia’s new acting president has vowed not to allow the government to require the university to relinquish its independence and autonomy. Critics say that Trump’s demands are an attack on academic freedom.

The attack in Sumy, Ukraine, has become an argument that peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv are failing. In Sumy, the attack has triggered preparations for a possible Russian ground assault in the region. Autopsies from an Israeli shooting in Gaza last month showed that paramedics and rescue workers mainly died from gunshots. Israel’s military is investigating the incident.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/briefing/harvard-trump-ukraine-gaza-medics.html