Luke Vargas

And a storm of uncertainty makes the fence job a whole lot harder as policymakers meet today. It's Tuesday, May 6th. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal, and here is the AM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today.

And a storm of uncertainty makes the fence job a whole lot harder as policymakers meet today. It's Tuesday, May 6th. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal, and here is the AM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today.

We begin with the Trump administration's battle with leading American universities, as the Education Department has informed Harvard that it's been cut off from any new federal grants, with Secretary Linda McMahon accusing the school in a scathing letter of violating federal law and losing its privilege of partnering with the federal government, adding that it could instead draw on its $53 billion endowment and tap wealthy alumni.

We begin with the Trump administration's battle with leading American universities, as the Education Department has informed Harvard that it's been cut off from any new federal grants, with Secretary Linda McMahon accusing the school in a scathing letter of violating federal law and losing its privilege of partnering with the federal government, adding that it could instead draw on its $53 billion endowment and tap wealthy alumni.

As a part of the funding fight, the government has demanded oversight of Harvard's admissions, faculty hiring, and governance in order to address what it said was the school's failure to stop harassment of Jewish students on campus. A Harvard spokesperson said those demands would have chilling implications for higher education.

As a part of the funding fight, the government has demanded oversight of Harvard's admissions, faculty hiring, and governance in order to address what it said was the school's failure to stop harassment of Jewish students on campus. A Harvard spokesperson said those demands would have chilling implications for higher education.

And in an interview with the journal, University President Alan Garber said the administration's attack on fellow Ivy League school Columbia had in part informed his decision to fight.

And in an interview with the journal, University President Alan Garber said the administration's attack on fellow Ivy League school Columbia had in part informed his decision to fight.

Well, speaking of Columbia, we are reporting that the Trump administration has proposed terms for federal oversight of the university, which could see a judge ensure that the school has viewpoint diversity among its faculty and does not consider race in admissions.

Well, speaking of Columbia, we are reporting that the Trump administration has proposed terms for federal oversight of the university, which could see a judge ensure that the school has viewpoint diversity among its faculty and does not consider race in admissions.

A Columbia spokesman said the journal's story didn't hold merit and pointed to prior comments from the university's president that the school would reject any agreement requiring it to relinquish its independence. We are exclusively reporting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the messaging app Signal for official Pentagon business was more extensive than previously disclosed.

A Columbia spokesman said the journal's story didn't hold merit and pointed to prior comments from the university's president that the school would reject any agreement requiring it to relinquish its independence. We are exclusively reporting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the messaging app Signal for official Pentagon business was more extensive than previously disclosed.

According to people familiar with his management practices, that included engaging in at least a dozen separate chats and in one case telling aides to inform foreign governments about an unfolding military operation. We report that Hegseth also set up many of the chats himself, sending texts from an unsecured line in his Pentagon office, as well as from his personal phone.

According to people familiar with his management practices, that included engaging in at least a dozen separate chats and in one case telling aides to inform foreign governments about an unfolding military operation. We report that Hegseth also set up many of the chats himself, sending texts from an unsecured line in his Pentagon office, as well as from his personal phone.

Hegseth didn't respond to requests for comment. The Pentagon's acting inspector general is currently investigating Hegseth's use of Signal, and while previous administrations have used non-government message apps, a 2023 Pentagon directive restricted the use of Signal for official business. Experts say that using Signal could put sensitive information at risk of landing in the wrong hands.

Hegseth didn't respond to requests for comment. The Pentagon's acting inspector general is currently investigating Hegseth's use of Signal, and while previous administrations have used non-government message apps, a 2023 Pentagon directive restricted the use of Signal for official business. Experts say that using Signal could put sensitive information at risk of landing in the wrong hands.

And given that, as we report, Hegseth's messages in some cases disappeared without being properly recorded, it could potentially violate laws requiring the preservation of official records. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Washington today to meet with President Trump at the White House.

And given that, as we report, Hegseth's messages in some cases disappeared without being properly recorded, it could potentially violate laws requiring the preservation of official records. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Washington today to meet with President Trump at the White House.

It's the first meeting between the leaders since Carney won election last week by convincing voters he was best qualified to take on Trump and avert a punishing trade war with the US. On top of slapping tariffs on Canadian goods, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st US state, but yesterday told reporters he didn't know what the leaders would discuss.

It's the first meeting between the leaders since Carney won election last week by convincing voters he was best qualified to take on Trump and avert a punishing trade war with the US. On top of slapping tariffs on Canadian goods, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st US state, but yesterday told reporters he didn't know what the leaders would discuss.