Megan Basham

On NPR on Sunday, he called the funding halt a threat to academic freedom and said it's the greatest threat to American universities since the Red Scare. And he also said that while he's not judging other university presidents, Princeton isn't going to be making concessions. So overall right now, every Ivy League school, with the exception of Dartmouth, has had some funding frozen.

On NPR on Sunday, he called the funding halt a threat to academic freedom and said it's the greatest threat to American universities since the Red Scare. And he also said that while he's not judging other university presidents, Princeton isn't going to be making concessions. So overall right now, every Ivy League school, with the exception of Dartmouth, has had some funding frozen.

Yeah, so Le Pen is the prominent leader of the right-wing National Rally Party. She's a very Trump-like figure in France, very much feared by the political establishment who characterize her as an extremist, but she's also very popular with the French public. Recent polls and elections show that nearly 40% of French voters back her and her party, and no other candidate comes close to that.

Yeah, so Le Pen is the prominent leader of the right-wing National Rally Party. She's a very Trump-like figure in France, very much feared by the political establishment who characterize her as an extremist, but she's also very popular with the French public. Recent polls and elections show that nearly 40% of French voters back her and her party, and no other candidate comes close to that.

So she was found guilty of misappropriating several million euros in European Union funds. Essentially, her party was entitled to a certain amount of European funding for things like paying staff to work on general European political operations. Well, the court found that she used that money to the benefit of her national party, essentially a co-mingling of funds.

So she was found guilty of misappropriating several million euros in European Union funds. Essentially, her party was entitled to a certain amount of European funding for things like paying staff to work on general European political operations. Well, the court found that she used that money to the benefit of her national party, essentially a co-mingling of funds.

But Ellen Fantini, managing editor of the European Conservative, told me that virtually every major party in Europe does this same kind of thing. She says that the way this conviction is being carried out makes it very clear that this is about sidelining Le Pen as a candidate.

But Ellen Fantini, managing editor of the European Conservative, told me that virtually every major party in Europe does this same kind of thing. She says that the way this conviction is being carried out makes it very clear that this is about sidelining Le Pen as a candidate.

Fantini compared it to the same kind of lawfare that Donald Trump experienced.

Fantini compared it to the same kind of lawfare that Donald Trump experienced.

Well, I'd say it's hard to overstate just how seismic this shift is. It's a huge setback for National Rally, which has been gaining ground as France's largest parliamentary party after last year's legislative elections. Now, Le Pen was poised to win the presidency as well. Fantini says she expects to see serious pushback from Le Pen supporters now.

Well, I'd say it's hard to overstate just how seismic this shift is. It's a huge setback for National Rally, which has been gaining ground as France's largest parliamentary party after last year's legislative elections. Now, Le Pen was poised to win the presidency as well. Fantini says she expects to see serious pushback from Le Pen supporters now.

And I'll add, you're even hearing some saying that French authorities are inviting civil war here.

And I'll add, you're even hearing some saying that French authorities are inviting civil war here.

Not much from those on the left, but those on the right are speaking out loudly. So on Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted, «Je suis Marine. I am Marine». Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League Party, called the ruling a «declaration of war by Brussels», meaning the European Union establishment.

Not much from those on the left, but those on the right are speaking out loudly. So on Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted, «Je suis Marine. I am Marine». Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League Party, called the ruling a «declaration of war by Brussels», meaning the European Union establishment.

Populist party leaders in the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, all of them are characterizing this as an attempt to stymie the success that the right has been experiencing across Europe. Many are comparing it to Colin Georgescu of Romania. He's another popular right-wing presidential candidate who a court just banned from running.

Populist party leaders in the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, all of them are characterizing this as an attempt to stymie the success that the right has been experiencing across Europe. Many are comparing it to Colin Georgescu of Romania. He's another popular right-wing presidential candidate who a court just banned from running.

Piantini also expects the Trump administration to weigh in here in support of Le Pen.

Piantini also expects the Trump administration to weigh in here in support of Le Pen.