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Trump admin cuts funding of Australian universities that promote gender ideology

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From LifeSiteNews

By Jonathon Van Maren

Many researchers appear to feel that they are entitled to American funding regardless of whether the research being funded is in the American or, indeed, even the public interest.

According to theĀ Guardian, the U.S. government has cut off research funding at six Australian universities, including Monash University, Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the University of South Wales, and the University of Western Australia. The reason? The Trump administration has informed researchers that the ā€œtemporaryā€ funding pause was due to the new U.S. policy of avoiding ā€œDEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.ā€Ā 

These details emerged from a memo sent to one of the universities, which was viewed by theĀ Guardian. ItĀ reads:Ā 

Financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing Administration priorities, focusing taxpayer dollars to advance a stronger and safer America, eliminating the financial burden of inflation for citizens, unleashing American energy and manufacturing, ending ā€˜wokeness’ and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again. The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.Ā 

The funding pause comes while each project is vetted via a ā€œcomprehensive analysisā€ to ensure that the president’s executive orders – including those on gender ideology – are being complied with.Ā Ā 

ā€œIn the interim, to the extent permissible under applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal,ā€ the memo stated.Ā Ā 

According to Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy, the funding pause indicates a ā€œworrying trendā€ from the ā€œbiggest foreign partner we haveā€ and that the U.S. ā€œis looking like its becoming unreliable.ā€ American funding for research projects amounted to over $400 million in 2024, which is ā€œequivalent to around half the funding the federal [Australian] government provided in research grants via the Australian Research Council.ā€Ā 

Ironically, theĀ GuardianĀ reported that earlier this month, ā€œthe Trump administration wasĀ accused of ā€œblatant foreign interferenceā€Ā in Australia’s universities after researchers who receive US funding were sent a questionnaire asking to confirm they aligned with US government interests.ā€ In short, many researchers appear to feel that they are entitled to American funding regardless of whether the research being funded is in the American or, indeed, even the public interest. Some of the research, particularly medical research, clearly qualifies. But the idea that it is ā€œforeign interferenceā€ for funders to ask for details on how those funds are being used exposes the extent to which the U.S. taxpayer has been viewed as a cash cow by international institutions.Ā 

The funding cuts aren’t just happening abroad. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated over 500 research grants related to DEI and transgender ideology. Hundreds of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants, worth over $350 million, have been canceled, including,Ā according to Fox News, projects focusing on ā€œmultilevel and multidimensional structural racism,ā€ ā€œgender-affirming therapy in mice,ā€ and ā€œmicroaggressions.ā€ Other transgender research projects were cancelled as well.Ā 

The criticisms of these cuts, it must be noted, only flow in one direction. When Democrats appoint ideologically aligned personnel to essential posts and ensure that federal funding is directed towards their priorities, this is considered normal. Conversely, when Republicans do so, it is considered a violation of ā€œnorms.ā€ In short, ā€œnormsā€ means that regardless of who holds office, progressive priorities continue unabated. The Trump administration appears to have had enough of this double standard.

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Jonathon’s writings have been translated into more than six languages and in addition to LifeSiteNews, has been published in theĀ National Post,Ā National Review,Ā First Things, The Federalist, The American Conservative, The Stream, theĀ Jewish Independent,Ā theĀ Hamilton Spectator,Ā Reformed Perspective Magazine, and LifeNews, among others. He is a contributing editor to The European Conservative.

His insights have been featured on CTV, Global News, and the CBC, as well as over twenty radio stations. He regularly speaks on a variety of social issues at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

He is the author ofĀ The Culture War,Ā Seeing is Believing: Why Our Culture Must Face the Victims of Abortion,Ā Patriots: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Pro-Life Movement,Ā Prairie Lion: The Life and Times of Ted Byfield, and co-author ofĀ A Guide to Discussing Assisted SuicideĀ with Blaise Alleyne.

Jonathon serves as the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform.

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Trump confirms 35% tariff on Canada, warns more could come

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Quick Hit:

President Trump on Thursday confirmed a sweeping new 35% tariff on Canadian imports starting August 1, citing Canada’s failure to curb fentanyl trafficking and retaliatory trade actions.

Key Details:

  • In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said the new 35% levy is in response to Canada’s ā€œfinancial retaliationā€ and its inability to stop fentanyl from reaching the U.S.
  • Trump emphasized that Canadian businesses that relocate manufacturing to the U.S. will be exempt and promised expedited approvals for such moves.
  • The administration has already notified 23 countries of impending tariffs following the expiration of a 90-day negotiation window under Trump’s ā€œLiberation Dayā€ trade policy.

Diving Deeper:

President Trump escalated his tariff strategy on Thursday, formally announcing a 35% duty on all Canadian imports effective August 1. The move follows what Trump described as a breakdown in trade cooperation and a failure by Canada to address its role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis.

ā€œIt is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship,ā€ Trump wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney. He added that the tariff response comes after Canada “financially retaliated” against the U.S. rather than working to resolve the flow of fentanyl across the northern border.

Trump’sĀ letterĀ made clear the tariff will apply broadly, separate from any existing sector-specific levies, and included a warning that ā€œgoods transshipped to evade this higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.ā€ The president also hinted that further retaliation from Canada could push rates even higher.

However, Trump left the door open for possible revisions. ā€œIf Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,ā€ he said, adding that tariffs ā€œmay be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship.ā€

Canadian companies that move operations to the U.S. would be exempt, Trump said, noting his administration ā€œwill do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — In other words, in a matter of weeks.ā€

The U.S. traded over $762 billion in goods with Canada in 2024, with a trade deficit of $63.3 billion, a figure Trump called a ā€œmajor threatā€ to both the economy and national security.

Speaking with NBC News on Thursday, Trump suggested evenĀ broaderĀ tariff hikes are coming, floating the idea of a 15% or 20% blanket rate on all imports. ā€œWe’re just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay,ā€ he told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker, adding that ā€œthe tariffs have been very well-receivedā€ and noting that the stock market had hit new highs that day.

The Canadian announcement is part of a broader global tariff rollout. In recent days, Trump has notified at least 23 countries of new levies and revealed a separate 50% tariff on copper imports.

ā€œNot everybody has to get a letter,ā€ Trump said when asked if other leaders would be formally notified. ā€œYou know that. We’re just setting our tariffs.ā€

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Trump slaps Brazil with tariffs over social media censorship

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From LifeSiteNews

By Dan Frieth

In his letter dated July 9, 2025, addressed to President Luiz InƔcio Lula da Silva, Trump ties new U.S. trade measures directly to Brazilian censorship.

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a fierce rebuke of Brazil’s moves to silence American-run social media platforms, particularly Rumble and X.

In his letter dated July 9, 2025, addressed to President Luiz InƔcio Lula da Silva, Trump ties new U.S. trade measures directly to Brazilian censorship.

He calls attention to ā€œSECRET and UNLAWFUL Censorship Orders to U.S. Social Media platforms,ā€ pointing out that Brazil’s Supreme Court has been ā€œthreatening them with Millions of Dollars in Fines and Eviction from the Brazilian Social Media market.ā€

A formal letter dated July 9, 2025, from The White House addressed to His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, discussing opposition to the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro and announcing a 50% tariff on Brazilian products entering the United States due to alleged unfair trade practices and censorship issues, with a note on efforts to ease trade restrictions if Brazil changes certain policies.

A typed letter from Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, discussing tariffs related to Brazil, digital trade issues, and a Section 301 investigation, signed with his signature.

Trump warns that these actions are ā€œdue in part to Brazil’s insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans,ā€ and states: ā€œstarting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil a Tariff of 50% on any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.ā€ He also adds that ā€œGoods transshipped to evade this 50% Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.ā€

Brazil’s crackdown has targeted Rumble after it refused to comply with orders to block the account of Allan dos Santos, a Brazilian streamer living in the United States.

On February 21, 2025,Ā Justice Alexandre de MoraesĀ ordered Rumble’sĀ suspensionĀ for non‑compliance, saying it failed ā€œto comply with court orders.ā€

Earlier, from August to October 2024, Moraes had similarly orderedĀ a nationwide block on X.

The court directed ISPs to suspend access and imposed fines after the platform refused to designate a legal representative and remove certain accounts.

Elon Musk responded: ā€œFree speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo‑judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.ā€

By linking censorship actions, particularly those targeting Rumble and X, to U.S. trade policy, Trump’s letter asserts that Brazil’s judiciary has moved into the arena of foreign policy and economic consequences.

The tariffs, he makes clear, are meant, at least in part, as a response to Brazil’s suppression of American free speech.

Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Brazil for censoring American platforms may also serve as a clear signal to the European Union, which is advancing similar regulatory efforts under the guise of ā€œdisinformationā€ and ā€œonline safety.ā€

With the EU’sĀ Digital Services ActĀ and proposedĀ ā€œhate speechā€ legislationĀ expanding government authority over content moderation, American companies face mounting pressure to comply with vague and sweeping takedown demands.

By framing censorship as a violation of U.S. free speech rights and linking it to trade consequences, Trump is effectively warning that any foreign attempt to suppress American voices or platforms could trigger similar economic retaliation.

Reprinted with permission fromĀ Reclaim The Net.

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