The Morning Sixpack - May 23, 2025

Harvard fights Trump foreign student ban, Newark’s airport sucks, El Salvador’s gang czar thrives, Japan’s car parts crumble, and the GOP slaps taxpayers with a truly terrible turd of a budget

Harvard Fights Back After Trump Administration Revokes Its International Student Enrollment

Harvard University is battling to protect its 7,000 international students after the Department of Homeland Security abruptly revoked the school's certification to enroll foreign students.

The revocation, ordered by DHS Secretary Kristi L. Noem, came as part of a broader conflict with the Trump administration, which accuses Harvard of harboring “anti-American, pro-terrorist” individuals and of hosting Chinese Communist Party paramilitary activities.

Harvard President Alan Garber condemned the move as an unlawful attempt to control the university’s academic freedom and vowed to seek a temporary restraining order to block the decision.

The sudden action puts thousands of international students at risk of losing their visas and facing removal proceedings, sparking urgent legal challenges from the university. Harvard argues it complied with government requests for records but was unfairly targeted with demands that violate federal regulations on certification revocations.

In a statement to the affected students, Garber emphasized their importance to the university community and pledged unwavering support amid the ongoing legal fight. This latest clash follows a series of disputes between Harvard and the administration, including frozen federal funding and intensified scrutiny of university governance.

Source: WaPo (gift article)

Look, I HATE that the Trump administration took away their funding; they have every right to (except that it’s one of the dumbest things they can do).

But to make students’ very existence in this country a CRIME without the students doing anything at all to provoke it is the real crime here.

I hope the courts, including the Supreme Court, put their collective feet down on this bullshit.

Kermit the Frog Tells University of Maryland Grads to Dream Big and Keep Pretending

Kermit the Frog delivered an unforgettable commencement speech at the University of Maryland, urging the Class of 2025 to believe in themselves and embrace joy even in tough times.

The beloved Muppet encouraged graduates to appreciate the friends and community around them, calling these connections the true treasure of life. “Seriously, go ahead, look around,” Kermit said. “These are friends you will have for your whole life.”

The ceremony, affectionately nicknamed “Kermencement,” celebrated thousands of graduates with a blend of humor, wisdom, and inspiration. Kermit reminded students that life is like a movie and that they hold the pen to write their own endings:

“Keep believing, keep pretending. You’ve all done just what you set out to do. And you’re just getting started.”

The event also honored Jim Henson, U-Md. alumnus and creator of Kermit, whose legacy lives on at the campus with a statue outside the student union. Kermit’s message was part of a broader wave of commencement speeches across the D.C. region filled with calls for courage, hope, and action.

As the crowd joined in singing “Rainbow Connection,” the mood was pure joy and promise—a perfect sendoff for a new generation stepping boldly into the future.

Source: WaPo

Finally! Some good news. Ask and ye shall receive (Sid).

Trump’s Gang Deportation Plan Hinges on El Salvador’s Controversial Prison Chief Osiris Luna

Osiris Luna, El Salvador’s powerful 36-year-old prison director, is central to President Nayib Bukele’s hardline gang crackdown — but U.S. sanctions accuse him of secretly negotiating with the very criminals he’s supposed to lock up.

Luna has overseen the imprisonment of over 80,000 suspected gang members in a country that now leads the world in incarceration rates. Yet the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Luna in 2021 for arranging clandestine deals with gang leaders, allegedly granting them mobile phones, sex workers, and other privileges in exchange for lower murder rates and political support.

Luna and Bukele’s administration deny these claims. Because of course they do.

Under a Trump administration deal, the U.S. has deported over 250 alleged Salvadoran and Venezuelan gang members — many sent straight to Luna’s massive Terrorism Confinement Center prison (aka CECOT), funded in part by $6 million from the U.S. government. This strategy suspends constitutional rights and shields key gang leaders from testifying in American courts, frustrating justice efforts.

Luna’s close political ties to Bukele run deep — from youth party leader to legislative assembly member and now a top enforcer of Bukele’s anti-gang campaign. Human rights groups blame his policies for hundreds of prison deaths from neglect and mistreatment, though Luna deflects, citing natural causes.

The secret negotiations that Luna allegedly brokered sparked a fragile truce that collapsed in violent outbreaks in 2022, leading Bukele to suspend civil liberties nationwide — a move his supporters praise but critics warn undermines democracy. Meanwhile, El Salvador’s courts, aligned with Bukele, have repeatedly blocked U.S. extradition requests of top gang leaders, leaving many key witnesses beyond reach.

Source: WSJ (gift article)

Flying Out of Newark Airport? Brace Yourself for Delays and Chaos. And Maybe Death.

Newark Liberty International Airport is in the midst of an ongoing travel nightmare, with long lines, cancelations, and runway backups making smooth departures nearly impossible.

Pilot Pete Cappio, known as “Pilot Pete” online, gave his 183,000 TikTok followers a raw look at the chaos, showing a line of 27 planes waiting to take off behind a closed runway under construction. “It took us 57 minutes from pushback to takeoff,” he said, calling the situation “unbelievable.”

The turmoil stems from a mix of air-traffic control outages, FAA employee walk-offs, and extensive construction, forcing the FAA to sharply reduce the number of flights allowed in and out of Newark for months. Despite the headaches, Cappio praised the controllers’ skill in managing the gridlock.

Travelers flying into or out of Newark should prepare for delays, cancellations, and crowded terminals—but Cappio reassured that safety remains top priority. “Crazy, crazy happenings at Newark Airport,” he summed up.

If you’re planning to fly through Newark anytime soon, patience is your best co-pilot.

Source: New York Post

My solution? I never leave the house. Except to get beer. LOTS & LOTS of beer. Why do you think this is called “The Morning Sixpack”?

U.S. Tariffs Throw Japanese Auto Suppliers into Crisis as Industry Faces Uncertainty

Japanese auto parts makers like Kyowa Industrial are caught in the crossfire of sweeping U.S. tariffs that threaten to upend decades of manufacturing stability and innovation.

Kyowa’s president, Hiroko Suzuki, recalls her father’s pivot during the 1980s U.S.-Japan trade battles—now she’s forced to rethink her own company’s future as tariffs hit even her medical device ventures. With automakers Toyota, Nissan, and Ford pressing suppliers for cooperation on cost pressures, smaller firms fear their survival is at stake.

Japan’s renowned “monozukuri” manufacturing culture faces fresh challenges amid a shift to electric vehicles and smart car tech, where software giants like Tesla and BYD pull ahead. Meanwhile, ongoing trade talks aim to ease tensions, but the 25% auto tariff remains a “national crisis” for Japan’s economy.

Analysts warn these tariffs could accelerate industry consolidation and drive up prices for consumers. Regional economies reliant on auto manufacturing face real risks as suppliers scramble to innovate or diversify.

As Prime Minister Ishiba’s envoy heads to Washington for another round of talks, companies like Kyowa explore new markets in Asia and medical devices to weather the storm—hoping U.S.-Japan trade relations find a resolution soon.

Source: Reuters

More on the stupid Trump tariffs: Trump re-escalates trade threats, takes aim at European Union, Apple

House Passes Trump’s Massive Tax and Spending Bill, Reshaping U.S. Economy and Social Programs

House Republicans pushed through a sweeping tax and spending package that delivers major tax cuts, reshapes Medicaid and food aid, and boosts funding for border security and defense.

The 1,000-plus page bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” makes permanent key tax breaks from Trump’s first term and campaign promises, including increased standard deductions and a higher estate tax exemption. It also repeals or accelerates the phase-out of Biden-era clean energy credits to help pay for the tax cuts.

Work requirements tighten for Medicaid and food assistance programs, expanding obligations to more adults and shifting costs to states—moves projected to cut Medicaid coverage by billions over a decade. Republicans also target Planned Parenthood by banning Medicaid funding and removing the $200 tax on gun silencers, pleasing NRA allies. What the fuck?

New “Trump” savings accounts would give parents a $1,000 government contribution for children born during the bill’s window, with funds accessible for education, home purchases, or other uses once holders reach adulthood. That’s $55.55 a year.

The bill also pumps billions into border enforcement, including funds for thousands of new agents and billions to restart construction of Trump’s border wall, while proposing major overhauls to student loans and a tax on some university endowments.

Source: AP News

This is the most corrupt POS “budget” ever. Why did so many people vote for this asshole?