Shumita Basu

He's a Trump loyalist who The Wall Street Journal reports has been working to turn his office into a pipeline for political allies to get their cases in front of the president. Yesterday, news of high profile pardons continued. This time it was Michael Grimm, the former Republican congressman who was convicted of tax fraud in 2014 and served an eight month sentence.

He's a Trump loyalist who The Wall Street Journal reports has been working to turn his office into a pipeline for political allies to get their cases in front of the president. Yesterday, news of high profile pardons continued. This time it was Michael Grimm, the former Republican congressman who was convicted of tax fraud in 2014 and served an eight month sentence.

He's a Trump loyalist who The Wall Street Journal reports has been working to turn his office into a pipeline for political allies to get their cases in front of the president. Yesterday, news of high profile pardons continued. This time it was Michael Grimm, the former Republican congressman who was convicted of tax fraud in 2014 and served an eight month sentence.

Let's turn to higher education, and specifically to Harvard, which has its commencement ceremony later today.

Let's turn to higher education, and specifically to Harvard, which has its commencement ceremony later today.

Let's turn to higher education, and specifically to Harvard, which has its commencement ceremony later today.

Crowds of students and supporters filled Harvard's Science Center Plaza on Tuesday to protest the Trump administration's attempt to ban international students. The same day, the administration announced its plans to cancel another $100 million in federal funding to the university.

Crowds of students and supporters filled Harvard's Science Center Plaza on Tuesday to protest the Trump administration's attempt to ban international students. The same day, the administration announced its plans to cancel another $100 million in federal funding to the university.

Crowds of students and supporters filled Harvard's Science Center Plaza on Tuesday to protest the Trump administration's attempt to ban international students. The same day, the administration announced its plans to cancel another $100 million in federal funding to the university.

Yesterday, CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour delivered an address to students at Harvard's Kennedy School of Business and urged the audience to champion public service and defend the free expression of ideas.

Yesterday, CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour delivered an address to students at Harvard's Kennedy School of Business and urged the audience to champion public service and defend the free expression of ideas.

Yesterday, CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour delivered an address to students at Harvard's Kennedy School of Business and urged the audience to champion public service and defend the free expression of ideas.

Before the latest funding cut, Trump had already cut $450 million in grants, frozen $2 billion in federal funding pending a lawsuit, and threatened to scrap the university's tax-exempt status. A judge has temporarily halted the attempt to block international students from attending the institution, but current and incoming students are left feeling confused and worried about what that means.

Before the latest funding cut, Trump had already cut $450 million in grants, frozen $2 billion in federal funding pending a lawsuit, and threatened to scrap the university's tax-exempt status. A judge has temporarily halted the attempt to block international students from attending the institution, but current and incoming students are left feeling confused and worried about what that means.

Before the latest funding cut, Trump had already cut $450 million in grants, frozen $2 billion in federal funding pending a lawsuit, and threatened to scrap the university's tax-exempt status. A judge has temporarily halted the attempt to block international students from attending the institution, but current and incoming students are left feeling confused and worried about what that means.

The administration wants Harvard to agree to a list of demands, including admission policy overhauls and what they describe as audits of academic programs and staff. With an endowment of $53 billion, Harvard can afford to absorb some of these blows as the price for continued independence, but it remains a difficult position for Harvard's president, Alan Garber.

The administration wants Harvard to agree to a list of demands, including admission policy overhauls and what they describe as audits of academic programs and staff. With an endowment of $53 billion, Harvard can afford to absorb some of these blows as the price for continued independence, but it remains a difficult position for Harvard's president, Alan Garber.

The administration wants Harvard to agree to a list of demands, including admission policy overhauls and what they describe as audits of academic programs and staff. With an endowment of $53 billion, Harvard can afford to absorb some of these blows as the price for continued independence, but it remains a difficult position for Harvard's president, Alan Garber.

He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition, which aired on Tuesday.

He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition, which aired on Tuesday.