State Department in Podcasts

A senior State Department official told me that the trip is part of the department's effort to fight back against violations of basic natural rights in Europe, especially freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to privacy. In France, they'll be pushing officials on the recent arrest of French politician Marine Le Pen

We begin with the Trump administration moving to curb Beijing's influence on US campuses, announcing a sweeping plan to revoke student visas for Chinese nationals linked to the Chinese Communist Party, the CCP, or involved in sensitive research fields. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the crackdown on Wednesday, framing it as a national security measure.

In a cable seen by NPR, he directs consular officers to maintain extra vigilance and to comprehensively review all applicants planning to go to Harvard for any reason. The State Department wouldn't comment on the leaked cable or say why he's singling out Harvard, which is suing the Trump administration over a decision to bar international students from the university.