Michael Barbaro

Correct. It's like it would be like if you and I were negotiating and you said to me, Mike, I'll give you 25 cents. And I said, what about 75 cents? And we're going back and forth in good faith. And then all of a sudden I walk in and I'm like, Give me $20. And you're like, what the heck, Mike? You know I only have, like, maybe 50 cents, 75 cents. Like, there's no way I could give you $20.

Sorry, there's no way I can make a deal with you if that's what you want. And that's sort of what happened here.

Sorry, there's no way I can make a deal with you if that's what you want. And that's sort of what happened here.

Correct. But at that point, the war had already begun. Harvard had already declared that it was going to rebuff Trump. And by the end of that day, the White House announces that Harvard will start to lose major portions of federal funding that it receives for research the school does.

Correct. But at that point, the war had already begun. Harvard had already declared that it was going to rebuff Trump. And by the end of that day, the White House announces that Harvard will start to lose major portions of federal funding that it receives for research the school does.

And just days later, Harvard goes to court and sues the administration to get back the money Trump has stripped away from them for their refusal to go along with what he wants.

And just days later, Harvard goes to court and sues the administration to get back the money Trump has stripped away from them for their refusal to go along with what he wants.

Well, Harvard goes to court with two of the top conservative lawyers in the country at the head of their legal team. They had Robert Herr, who had been the special counsel who investigated whether Joe Biden had mishandled classified documents.

Well, Harvard goes to court with two of the top conservative lawyers in the country at the head of their legal team. They had Robert Herr, who had been the special counsel who investigated whether Joe Biden had mishandled classified documents.

Correct. And then they had Bill Burke, who is a well-known lawyer in Trump's orbit, who even at the time was the outside ethics advisor to the Trump Organization.

Correct. And then they had Bill Burke, who is a well-known lawyer in Trump's orbit, who even at the time was the outside ethics advisor to the Trump Organization.

People who could bridge the gap between what the administration wants and those that are targeted by it who could potentially make a deal.

People who could bridge the gap between what the administration wants and those that are targeted by it who could potentially make a deal.

What Harvard's essentially saying is that you have unfairly taken away our money without any process, without even investigating us. And you've done it in a way that actually violates our First Amendment rights because you're trying to infringe here on what happens inside of our classrooms.

What Harvard's essentially saying is that you have unfairly taken away our money without any process, without even investigating us. And you've done it in a way that actually violates our First Amendment rights because you're trying to infringe here on what happens inside of our classrooms.

And Harvard's also saying, look, if you're saying this about how antisemitism is on campus, what does funding for cancer research have to do with antisemitism? And as this court case is proceeding, Harvard looks like it really has the wind at its back. Legal experts are saying that they have a very valid case and could quickly win in court and get their money back.

And Harvard's also saying, look, if you're saying this about how antisemitism is on campus, what does funding for cancer research have to do with antisemitism? And as this court case is proceeding, Harvard looks like it really has the wind at its back. Legal experts are saying that they have a very valid case and could quickly win in court and get their money back.

Harvard is also being widely praised for its willingness to fight back. There's a feeling that not only is Harvard taking a stand, but like Harvard has to take a stand because they are uniquely positioned to fight back. They have an enormous amount of resources and abilities. And if they're not going to fight back, then who is?

Harvard is also being widely praised for its willingness to fight back. There's a feeling that not only is Harvard taking a stand, but like Harvard has to take a stand because they are uniquely positioned to fight back. They have an enormous amount of resources and abilities. And if they're not going to fight back, then who is?

But at the same time, as it appears like all the momentum is heading in Harvard's way, I start to hear from folks that I'm talking to that Harvard's problems may be much bigger than just winning this legal case.