Despite claiming to be defenders of free speech, the government is using control over research funding and ICE as tools to attack the practice. Its treatment of Columbia University and the students there who protested against Israel’s war against Gaza is a clear sign of how far the administration will go to punish those who say things they dislike and why universities should resist those efforts rather than trying to fight free speech on campus.
Trump is following Putin’s, Xi’s, and Orban’s playbook. First, take over military and intelligence operations by purging career officers and substituting ones personally loyal to you.
Next, subdue the courts by ignoring or threatening to ignore court rulings you disagree with.
Intimidate legislators by warning that if they don’t bend to your wishes, you’ll run loyalists against them. (Make sure they also worry about what your violent supporters could do to them and their families.)
Then focus on independent sources of information: the media and the universities. Sue media that publish critical stories and block their access to news conferences and interviews.
Then go after the universities.
Last week, Trump threatened in a social media post to punish any university that permits “illegal” protests. On Friday he cancelled hundreds of millions in grants and contracts with Columbia University.
Robert Reich
The universities are next (Robert Reich)
Again and again, Columbia has shown a willingness to throw students, faculty, free speech, and academic freedom under the bus in acquiescence to a right-wing, pro-Israel narrative that treats support for Palestinians as an affront to Jewish safety.
For all Columbia’s appeasement, President Donald Trump’s Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced last week that it would cancel $400 million in federal grants and contracts to the university.
Natasha Lennard
Columbia Bent Over Backward to Appease Right-Wing, Pro-Israel Attacks – And Trump Still Cut Federal Funding (The Intercept)
This is exactly what happened to Mahmoud Khalil on Saturday night. Khalil, who graduated from Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs in December, has a green card. His wife, who is eight months pregnant, is an American citizen.
Immigration agents appeared at his apartment building and told him he was being detained. He now appears to be in a detention facility in Louisiana.
Khalil did nothing illegal. He has not been charged with a crime. He expressed his political point of view — peacefully, non-violently, non-threateningly. That’s supposed to be permitted — dare I say even encouraged? — in a democracy.
Robert Reich
The Trump regime will arrest some of you in the middle of the night because you spoke your mind (Robert Reich)
Scott Boehmer 