This story appeared in the Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.
Welcome to The Logoff: Today I’m focusing on the Trump administration’s battle with Harvard University, in which a powerful university targeted by the president is pushing back.
What was Trump’s team demanding Harvard do?
What’s next? Trump posted about revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, though there’s no public evidence his administration has taken any steps in that direction.
Why is the administration doing this? The Trump team’s stated goal is fighting antisemitism on campus, but it’s clear this is a broader effort to exert control over an elite institution whose membership is overwhelmingly hostile to the MAGA right.
What’s the big picture? Columbia University, one of many elite schools the administration has targeted, protected its federal funding by acceding to a far more limited list of demands. But Harvard is exploring the viability of a different path: resistance. How Harvard fares against Trump — and specifically whether it can keep both its federal funding and its self-governance — will be a critical test of powerful civil institutions’ ability to resist Trump’s takeover.
And with that, it’s time to log off…
I really enjoy xkcd, a few-times-a-week online comic strip that describes itself as “a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.” Sometimes it goes squarely over my head, but those days are an opportunity to learn something new. Above all, I find it to be a good alternative to scrolling — and sometimes it’s downright inspiring. I hope you enjoy it, and if there’s a comic that speaks to you, I’d love to hear about it. Thanks so much for reading, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow.
