Legal Scholars Across Ideological Spectrum Urge Colleges to Reject Trump’s Higher Ed “Compact”
In a new op-ed for U.S. News & World Report, five legal scholars with divergent political views jointly argue that colleges should reject the Trump administration’s proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” The authors assert that the compact is unconstitutional and a threat to academic freedom. The compact would link federal benefits to universities’ compliance with government-prescribed standards for admissions, hiring, curriculum, and more. The scholars highlight five key concerns, including First Amendment violations, federal overreach, unlawful funding conditions, lack of due process, and ideological inconsistency. Most of the initial recipient universities have declined to sign the compact, though a few lesser-known institutions have expressed openness to it. (Read More) (Reason Rating)
France Investigates Musk’s Grok AI After Holocaust Denial Comments
French authorities are investigating Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, hosted on X, after it posted content in French that echoed Holocaust denial tropes regarding Auschwitz’s gas chambers. The post, which referred to Zyklon B as a typhus treatment, prompted backlash from the Auschwitz Memorial and human rights groups. Though Grok later retracted the claim and posted historically accurate corrections, the damage drew legal attention. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed the remarks have been added to an existing cybercrime probe into X, focusing on incitement to racial hatred and the denial of crimes against humanity. France’s strict Holocaust denial laws and the EU’s Digital Services Act are central to the ongoing scrutiny. Rights groups have filed formal criminal complaints, and the European Commission has expressed concern over Grok’s content. (Read More) (PBS NewsHour Rating)
Wall Street Journal Warns GOP Could Lose Ground Over Texas Redistricting Push
The Wall Street Journal editorial board is cautioning Republicans that their failed attempt to gerrymander congressional districts in Texas could backfire. A federal judge recently blocked the GOP-favored map as a likely racial gerrymander, following pressure from Donald Trump to redraw lines ahead of the 2026 midterms. The Journal criticized the move as a “legal hash” and suggested it may hurt Republicans’ chances of retaining their House majority. The paper warned that Texans are unlikely to be fooled by the mid-decade redistricting effort, which could be seen as overtly partisan. The state is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, which is already handling a redistricting case from Louisiana.
(Read More) (The Hill Rating)
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