Today, Jess, Morgan, and Jeffrey unpack the Trump Administration’s pause on student visa interviews and its decision to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll international students—actions that have sparked lawsuits, global reactions, and a debate over the future of U.S. innovation and soft power. As the U.S. steps back, others step in: the EU is investing $500 million to attract top talent, and universities in places like Hong Kong are rolling out red carpets for displaced students.

What are the national security threats at play here? Can we enhance safeguards without undermining our most successful innovation engine—higher education? And what does it mean for America’s global influence when tomorrow’s world leaders are trained in Beijing or Brussels instead of Boston?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Check out the sources that helped shape our experts’ opinions. 

https://fortune.com/article/trump-universities-international-students/

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/18/us/international-students-universities-funding-trump

https://www.csis.org/analysis/innovation-lightbulb-not-just-attracting-retaining-international-stem-students

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/harvard-international-student-ban-trump-china-europe-rcna209044 

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@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

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