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A Method to the Madness

The other March Madness, Ignoring the Courts

Dave Pell

Mar 17

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Millions of Americans woke up this morning to fill out their March Madness brackets, choosing who will survive among more than 60 universities. But this March also features another challenge to more than 60 universities—one that would have been considered pure madness in any other era. These challenges to universities have the appearances of being about the defense of Jews against antisemitism, the defense of the nation against illegal immigration, or the defense of America against so-called wokeism. But as Anne Applebaum explains, they're really about a defense of the current administration. "The attacks on Columbia, along with the assault on other universities, have an even broader purpose: They are designed to intimidate hundreds of other academic institutions in America. The point is to make every university afraid to offend the administration; to make academics self-censor; to make students wary too, concsious that something they might say on campus could trigger a MAGA social media campaign or cuts to their university’s funding."

+ As Franklin Foer explains in The Atlantic, the point is not to deny that antisemitic acts happened at Columbia. The point is to address that reality while also being fully aware that it's being used as a pretext for a broader plan. The Atlantic (Gift Article): Columbia University’s Anti-Semitism Problem. "Now that Donald Trump and his allies control the federal government, they have used anti-Semitism as a pretext for damaging an institution that they abhor. In the name of rescuing the Jews of Columbia, the Trump administration cut off $400 million in federal contracts and grants to the university ... The Trump administration’s war on Columbia stands to wreck research, further inflame tensions on campus, and destroy careers—including, in a supreme irony, those of many Jewish academics, scientists, physicians, and graduate students whom the administration ostensibly wants to protect." (As a Jew and the son of two Holocaust survivors, let me offer this piece of advice. Don't trust groups that heil and want to give Mel Gibson his guns back when they say they've come to protect you.)

+ "A kidney transplant specialist and professor at Brown University’s medical school has been deported from the United States, even though she had a valid visa and a court order temporarily blocking her expulsion, according to her lawyer and court papers." (Remember how they were going to target the criminals first?)

+ "Autocrats — both left-wing and right-wing — always attack universities. The public rationale varies. Some, like Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, reportedly accuse universities or students of supporting terrorism; others, like pro-government outlets in Viktor Orban’s Hungary, accuse them of working for foreign interests; still others, like Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico, accused universities of supporting “neoliberalism” and corruption. But these are pretexts. Universities are independent centers of ideas and often prominent centers of dissent. Autocrats are allergic to sources of dissent, so they almost invariably seek to silence, weaken, or control them." Harvard Crimson: First They Came for Columbia. The big question right now is how universities, especially the most powerful and deep-pocketed ones, respond to the challenge. So far, the reaction has been muted. "Not only is silence in the face of mounting authoritarianism morally objectionable, but, as the Columbia case suggests, it’s not working. Columbia’s leadership made repeated concessions to right-wing critics, only to be the first to come under attack. Remaining silent will not protect us."

Maybe the real madness this March will be if no one marches at all.

2

Full Court Press

"The Trump administration has transferred hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador even as a federal judge issued an order temporarily barring the deportations under an 18th century wartime declaration targeting Venezuelan gang members, officials said Sunday. Flights were in the air at the time of the ruling." Like the story above, it's important to distinguish the pretext (Getting rid of gang members seems like a good idea) from the broader story: ignoring the courts. Trump administration deports hundreds of immigrants even as a judge orders their removals be stopped.

+ "The crown jewel of El Salvador's aggressive anti-crime strategy — a mega-prison where visitation, recreation and education are not allowed — became the latest tool in U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration on Sunday, when hundreds of immigrants facing deportation were transferred there." What to know about CECOT, El Salvador's mega-prison for gang members.

+ How the White House ignored a judge's order to turn back deportation flights.

+ Trump's border czar: "I don't care what the judges think."

3

The Bull Pen

I don't want violent gang members coming to America. I don't want campuses to let antisemitism flourish in the name of free speech. These are easy positions to adopt. But that's exactly why the administration picked them. You can't ignore our values, our laws, and our courts in some areas without destroying the foundation of those laws. Once you chip away enough of the foundation, there is no bottom. And you get this: "President Donald Trump claimed without evidence early Monday that his predecessor’s pardons for members of the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the Capitol are invalid because then-President Joe Biden didn’t use a real pen. 'The ‘Pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social online platform." (The truth, of course, is that it's sickening that Biden even had to issue these preemptive pardons in the first place. Sickening, but not unwarranted.)

4

Powder Keg

"Since 2022 content creators Jasmine and Freya Smith in Tokyo have been posting on TikTok about Japanese food and travel, including all things matcha. Dozens of the sisters’ videos feature them at cafes and restaurants stirring matcha lattes, drizzling matcha-flavored syrups and showing off pastries and pancakes tinted the telltale shade of leafy green. But one of their most recent videos came with a warning: 'Unfortunately,' Jasmine told their 47,000 followers in January, 'there is a matcha shortage in Tokyo right now.' She was correct." Social media influencers and an increase in tourism to Japan has created a green tea powder boom (and shortage). Bloomberg (Gift Article): The Global Matcha Boom Is Driving a Shortage in Japan.

+ As I covered last week, Japan has more pressing shortages: Rice. And people to serve rice.

5

Extra, Extra

What, When, Why, and Houthi: "Dozens of people have been reported killed after US President Donald Trump ordered 'decisive' military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen, opening a new salvo against the Iran-backed group that has targeted shipping lanes in the Red Sea."

+ Money Shot: One way universities are trying to maintain diversity on campus during the Trump era: Making tuition free for some students. Harvard Will Make Tuition Free for More Students.

+ Tariff Push Comes to Shove: "China has targeted corn farmers and carmakers. Canada has put tariffs on poultry plants and air-conditioning manufacturers, while Europe will hit American steel mills and slaughter houses. The retaliatory tariffs are an attempt to put pressure on the president to relent. And they have been carefully designed to hit Mr. Trump where it hurts." NYT (Gift Article): Trade War Retaliation Will Hit Trump Voters Hardest. (This is a pretty predictable move. Thus, there's not much evidence Trump cares about it.)

+ Dem Bones to Pick: "Many Democratic activists, desperate for their leaders to stand up to President Trump, have been staging protests outside of Senator Chuck Schumer’s home and calling for his resignation." Schumer Postpones Book Tour Amid Backlash to Voting With Republicans. (I've wondered why the Dems stick with the same old leadership and continually seem to bring a face to a fistfight. But if you're out protesting something or someone, and Schumer is at the top of your list, you may need to rethink your strategy.)

+ Whale Wail: "A hungry whale is a quiet whale. A new first-of-its kind study found the marine mammals vocalized less after a marine heat wave decimated their prey, making whale songs a barometer of the effects of climate change on ocean ecosystems." Bloomberg (Gift Article): Why We Should Worry When Whales Stop Singing.

6

Bottom of the News

All right, enough of the bad news and the political March madness. Let's get to the actual March Madness. The 2025 NCAA Men’s Tournament Bracket Breakdown. And your preview for the Women's March Madness. Sports may be at the bottom of the news in NextDraft, but it's top of mind for me. These days, every second I'm not drowning in the news I'm watching sports. Opening day can't come soon enough.

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