back to article Revenge of the nerds: Teachers, professors sue to undo Trump science funding cuts

Two academic organizations sued the Trump administration Tuesday for the allegedly unlawful withdrawal of $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University and associated demands for policy changes. The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) filed a complaint [PDF …

  1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

    Whoever thought the law would be such an obstacle to a good chainsaw?

    1. sanmigueelbeer Silver badge

      The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

      Before the end of 2025, the US government will be needing more lawyers to defend herself.

      1. abend0c4 Silver badge

        Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

        So far, the Trump administration has been very careful to target lawyers (or firms) individually, not collectively: they're much easier to pick off that way.

        It appears to be tackling its other targets in the same way. The pending appeals to the Supreme Court are inviting the court to make it impossible for judges to make broad rulings on classes of people (for example, the employees of a Government department) and instead limit cases to specific named individuals claiming harm.

        If that argument is accepted, the law will be largely defanged: Trump can turn his guns against specific individuals or institutions who will be forced to defend themselves alone whilst the chilling effect spreads amongst their peers who can only guess which of them will be next.

        We're only in the first few skirmishes of the war - it's probably premature to be claiming victory.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

          What is more chilling is the sheer number of law firms who appear to have the singular mission of 'getting Trump'. This has never been a thing before.

          1. georgezilla

            Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

            " ... of 'getting Trump' ... "

            But it's not about that. It's about upholding the law. It just happens to be Trump that is violating the law and the Constittution. About someone who thinks that he's above the law. And Trump has a long history of breaking them.

          2. abend0c4 Silver badge

            Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

            Law firms can only pursue a case on behalf of a client and obviously bogus or frivolous cases get kicked out of court by judges who have better uses for their time. If you have an example of one of the "sheer number" of law firms filing cases without being instructed by a client, I'd be fascinated to see the evidence.

            However, I suspect what you're complaining about is the sheer number of people negatively affected by potentially illegal actions by the administration who are daring to mount a challenge.

          3. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: law firms who appear to have the singular mission of 'getting Trump'

            to obey the law.

            FTFY

          4. the Jim bloke
            Unhappy

            Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

            This has never been a thing before.

            Probably because all previous presidents were less blatant in violating the law.

            He is exceeding his authority.

            He is doing actual harm to US institutions, relations with allied nations, the american people themselves - the entire perceived value of the USA.

            People are opposing Trump in an attempt to save America.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

              So how come when people are polled that record numbers are saying the US is on the right track?

              Joe Biden harmed relations between the US and its allies as well.

              https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-damaged-usa-europe-relations-more-donald-trump-uk-australia-spat-1631870

              https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1662416/joe-biden-news-uk-relationship-latest-poll

              https://www.politico.eu/article/joe-biden-ira-inflation-reduction-us-ignores-eu/

              https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-charles-michel-biden-disloyalty-allies-aukus/

              As for exceeding his authority let us not forget that the Dems were overjoyed when Biden ignored judges rulings about student loans.

              1. Rafael #872397
                Mushroom

                Re: So how come when people are polled that record numbers are saying the US is on the right track?

                Many people are saying that this is the best government ever and that the president is a very stable genius. They even want the brilliant president's face in a 100 dollar bill! Anyone who disagrees is a loser. SAD!

                /s just in case...

              2. Anonymous Coward
                Anonymous Coward

                Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

                only track US is taking is to bring back fucking nazi bastards.

                Fuck you and your nazi bastards

          5. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

            criminal conman elected as the president, has never been a thing before.

            and the supreme court hasn't been bought like it is now, supreme court needs jailing.

            Some honest judges need putting in place, then they need to jail the orange criminal for good.

        2. georgezilla

          Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

          " ... it's probably premature to be claiming victory ... "

          But winning a "skirmish" is a victory.

      2. Andrew Scott Bronze badge

        Re: The gavel is mightier than a chainsaw?

        no, they just need to find some good ones, though some of them may be finding themselves in no win situations. Unlike the rest of the trump administration who can lie like rugs, the lawyers are constrained in court with what they can say if they want to keep practicing law.

      3. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge

        Re: needing more lawyers

        Well... Elongated Muskrat can afford to hire every lawyer in the USA (and beyond) but that won't be needed.

        Trump will sign an executive order dictating that all court orders are to be ignored and that all judges are to be sent to Gitmo. No one talks back to Trump. The supreme leader must be obeyed.

    2. HuBo Silver badge
      Alien

      If only that chainsaw wasn't wielded by an hallucinating TeflonDon™ psychopath, going off the rails on a crazy train, cheered by a posse of insane clowns and chihuahuas! (then the law might have an actual fighting chance ...)

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        A demand for sensible sober responsible chain-saw wielders in government

    3. Groo The Wanderer - A Canuck

      Anything that slows down the Pumpkin Hitler and his buddy, Muscolini, is a good thing. I'd rather the impeachment and charges of treason came sooner rather than later, but these two psychotic toddlers might be on stage until the midterms unless more Republicans remember what actual patriotic behavior is, and sprout spines.

  2. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

    2025-03-26 06:12 CET

    Heandline changed from: Revenge of the nerds: Boffins sue to undo Trump science funding cuts

    To: Revenge of the nerds: Teachers, professors sue to undo Trump science funding cuts

    Soon: Will include Scientists and so on, and then as fourth change, switch to a "most-non-offensive-but-most-including" term. What was that about TheRegister biting anything with British humour and directness?

    Maybe Herr David Kreisel (a German) need to redo his "Spiegel Mining" for TheRegister. (Info: On 33C3 he showed what internal statistics you can deduct from he news-website Spiegel. Yes, that is THE David Kreisel who uncovered the Xerox JBIG2 encoder problem, which is even visible on Obamas scan of his birth certificate)

    (English translation of his "Spiegel Mining", made by humans not AI so it is correct and not weird HERE)

    1. Filippo Silver badge

      Re: 2025-03-26 06:12 CET

      I've always been under the impression that "boffin" conveyed the idea of a researcher, more than a teacher. Am I wrong about that? I'm not a native speaker.

      Universities fulfill both roles, of course, but the lawsuit is being brought by teacher organizations.

      1. blu3b3rry
        Boffin

        Re: 2025-03-26 06:12 CET

        "Boffin" would have made me think university researcher too, and British English is my first language.

        1. Ian Johnston Silver badge

          Re: 2025-03-26 06:12 CET

          A "boffin" is usually a scientist in a military context. I used to get interviewed regularly by British Forces Radio on scientific matters, and they always introduced me as a boffin, which I rather enjoyed.

      2. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

        Re: 2025-03-26 06:12 CET

        I'm no native speaker as well, but boffin is a British non-offensive expression as I have learned, so I don't get why they changed it...

      3. Tron Silver badge

        Re: 2025-03-26 06:12 CET

        Boffin is an inoffensive term used by the UK tabloids when describing anyone with university level research expertise to their ignorant readership.

        Boffins work in the academic sector or industry.

        In the UK, lecturers teach in universities and may be considered boffins, whilst teachers work in schools teaching children and are not regarded as or termed boffins.

    2. Dan 55 Silver badge
      Holmes

      Re: 2025-03-26 06:12 CET

      The BlueSky post used the original headline 5 minutes after publishing here.

      Perhaps there is an overnight Perl script to merkinize articles before the UK wakes up so the UK commentariat doesn't notice and make vexatious complaints, or maybe the Australians have already capitulated to US demands (so much for El Reg targetting the lucrative US market, in 4 years time they'll be banging rocks together).

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: 2025-03-26 06:12 CET

        Maybe they changed it because the news changed from just "professors" to "teachers and professors", so "boffin" no longer fit?

      2. diodesign (Written by Reg staff) Silver badge

        Re: Re: 2025-03-26 06:12 CET

        Nah, we're not that organized or cynical. It's as simple as this: I wrote boffins as the headline at the office. I got home, went to the gym, had dinner, relaxed a little, and looked at the site to make sure things were ticking over OK.

        And it just felt on reflection that teachers and professors would work better there, because we already have a revenge of the nerds reference, and teachers (and a lot of professors) aren't boffins. Plus it's educators v the White House. That seemed more striking to me than wrapping it all up in boffins.

        I wouldn't read into tweaks and editorial choices too much; we're regular joes who are lucky enough to get paid to poke fun at the tech world, get people to lighten up, and explain stuff along the way. We make decisions and change our minds on gut feeling a lot.

        C.

    3. HuBo Silver badge
      Windows

      Re: 2025-03-26 06:12 CET

      That Xerox JBIG2 business is rather interesting imho.

      It seems they successfully introduced AI pattern matching into the phtocopy process, right down to the production of hallucinations, resulting in what are essentially genAI "creative" outputs from the machines -- though I guess that's not what their original intended use was ...

      As for the headline change, that could be what the (very long) 33c3 refers to as headline testing (or click testing?) ... which seems par for the course for News websites (eg. Der Spiegel, ElReg, ...) -- should we worry about this practice? (asking for a friend)

    4. diodesign (Written by Reg staff) Silver badge

      Boffins to teachers

      Hi - it's pretty simple. We love the word boffins and we use it every week, but sometimes we over-use it and it loses its impact. We try to reserve it to specifically to scientists, particularly those in traditional sciences such as physics and chemistry as well as strong computer science.

      Also this is a story that ought to appeal to a wider tech-interested audience, and hitting them with our boffin slang right out of the gate along with a Revenge of the Nerds reference seemed like it would be off-putting for some for such an important issue.

      We bite the hand that feeds us, but we don't hack our own wings off either. Sometimes we have to balance humor with audience accessibility in order to maintain or grow our reach, influence and impact. That means headline tweaks from time to time on reflection. This is online, it's not print. It's also all a long battle, not short skirmishes.

      More analogies as they come.

      C.

      1. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

        Re: Boffins to teachers

        Whoa, now I feel honored! I never thought such a harmless remark of mine would be worth a Reg hack response! ( let alone three thumbs down by whoever felt offended :D )

        1. sabroni Silver badge
          Happy

          Re: let alone three thumbs down by whoever felt offended :D

          I thumbed you down, I wasn't offended, your comment was so badly constructed I couldn't understand it.

          Just read it again to make sure. Still looks like bollocks to me. What was the point you were trying to make?

          1. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

            Re: let alone three thumbs down by whoever felt offended :D

            The point? The headline was changed, similar to The Spiegel does corrections. Watch the English version or AI-subtitled German version of the youtube link, it is fun to watch, informative, but harmless as well. But if the Chaos Computer Club does not ring any bell with you, why are you on IT news centered The Reg anyway?

        2. diodesign (Written by Reg staff) Silver badge

          You're welcome!

          Thanks for reading and taking an interest :-)

  3. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Unhappy

    From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

    As reported by that bastion of woke, lefty liberalism Forbes 12/3/25 @1:52

    Some context. The FOCF is in a meeting with the Taoisearch of Ireland (one of the few nations that formally recognises Gaza and the Palestinians) and plays his "girls killed by migrants" script, then pivots to Chuck Schumer (who helped prevent a govt shutdown, stopping Leon from making even more free with the USG budget).

    In case you're wondering the right to decide who is (or is not) a member of any kind of racial or religious group is a sign of a fascist.

    Any normal person who had an aged relative who rambled s**t like this to a relative stranger would be begging them to go to a doctor and be looking at assisted living places.

    Just a reminder America, by your actions (like voting for weak, thin-skinned, needy and easily manipulated man-child because "They're eating the DOGS!" or voting third-parties with zero chance of winning the Electoral College) and your inactions (like staying home, or not voting for the only actual functioning human being on the ballot) you did this to yourselves

    But hey it was worth it wasn't it? Now the price of eggs has dropped soooo much, and you're purging your country of all those immigrants who you don't think do anything of importance and just cause more crime. Not to mention that smaller, more efficient government you all wanted.

    How's that working out for you?

    1. UnknownUnknown

      Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

      Need to get these folks in.

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Care_a_Lot

      1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        WTF?

        "https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Care_a_Lot"

        WTF is that ".m" doing there?

        I smell trouble.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

      "girls killed by migrants"

      ILLEGAL migrants who had prior convictions and had been released by the previous admin.

      "who helped prevent a govt shutdown"

      LOL! The dems wanted a shutdown to cause a crisis so they could attack Trump. Chuckie's party is really upset that he caved in like he did. What is even funnier is the dems screech and wail about how awful a shutdown would be when they are in power.

      "voting third-parties" "and your inactions"

      Ah, blame the voter! Don't blame the dems for putting forward the most toxic candidate in history and faking her campaign at every level. Don't blame the party that has no policies except being anti-trump. Don't blame the party with an all time low popularity. Don't blame the party that votes against women's rights.

      1. georgezilla

        Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

        " ... been released by the previous admin. ... "

        So you mean like the "previous" Administration that released 5000 Taliban in Afghanistan?

        " ... The dems wanted a shutdown ... "

        Or when the Republicans wanted to do it several times and actually DID shut it down? To fuck with Biden and blamed Democrats for it?

        " ... Don't blame the party that has no policies ... "

        So unspecified "concepts" are better? And there were policies. You just weren't paying attention.

        " ... Don't blame the party that votes against women's rights. ... "

        < furrows brow confused look > We did. We blamed Republicans, because they are the ones that took away a woman's right to decide their own reproductive healthcare. In Texas, in the 2 years fallowing the over turning of Roe, infant mortality rates rose 25%, and maternal mortality rates rose 50%. And I forget where it was, that 200+ women were being investigated for having miscarriages because they were suspected for purposely causing them. So yea, we know who to blame for that.

        1. Jedit Silver badge
          Flame

          "In Texas, in the 2 years fallowing the over turning of Roe..."

          You missed out the most telling statistic: in the 18 months following the repeal of Roe, of roughly 588,000 pregnancies recorded in Texas, 26,813 were the result of rape. So, one in every 22 babies born in Texas was conceived by rape. Every pre-natal or ante-natal class in the state will on average contain a minimum of one victim.

          1. Ken Hagan Gold badge

            Re: "In Texas, in the 2 years fallowing the over turning of Roe..."

            source?

            I'm not disputing it. I'm just following the rule that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and "1 in 22" is a pretty extraordinary claim for any society outside of wartime.

            1. Jedit Silver badge
              Thumb Up

              "I'm not disputing it. I'm just following the rule"

              Perfectly reasonable. The source for the number of rape-induced pregnancies in Texas is an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on 24th January 2024 and quoted by Scientific American the following day. The number of pregnancies is extrapolated from the Texas state health board's own statistics for 2022 and 2023.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

          "Taliban in Afghanistan?"

          If they'd been released into the US that would have been an issue.

          "You just weren't paying attention"

          32 days! ha-ha-ha-ha! 32 days! They had nothing except populist claptrap and drunken cackling.

          "reproductive healthcare"

          Killing a baby is not healthcare.

          "rates rose 25%"

          Citation needed, a quick search says 10-12%.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Killing a baby is not healthcare.

            The rise in deaths during pregnancy since Roe was struck makes it pretty fucking clear that abortion is health care.

            Killing babies my arse. Grow up.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: Killing a baby is not healthcare.

              If it had been kept as 'safe and rare' rather than idiotic people posting on social media about how many abortions they've had and people wanting it up until birth for any reason then it would never have been an issue.

              I'm sure that most USA-ians would have been happy with European limits. But the 'progressives' had to push the limit again and again and unsurprisingly there was a kickback.

              1. Ian Johnston Silver badge

                Re: Killing a baby is not healthcare.

                people wanting it up until birth for any reason

                Straw fetus reasoning detected.

                1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
                  Unhappy

                  "people wanting it up until birth for any reason"

                  Actually I have heard a person (and only one person) advocate this position.

                  Step forward former Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jnr originally during something called the Sage Steel show on YT.

                  Other than this SEL I've found no other US politician advocating this position but boy was he a gift to the FOCF, who duly rewarded him.

          2. Ian Johnston Silver badge

            Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

            Killing a baby is not healthcare.

            Nobody is killing babies.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

              That is what an abortion does.

      2. Casca Silver badge

        Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

        Try posting without AC...

        To coward to do it? Never mind your moronic post then

        1. ICL1900-G3 Silver badge

          Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

          How does one 'coward' something? Just curious.

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: the most toxic candidate in history

        A black woman.

        Admittedly they fucked up bad thinking you rednecks would vote for a Black person again, never mind one with ovaries. But that doesn't make her toxic.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: the most toxic candidate in history

          No, the colour of someone's skin or what type of underwear they wear or what they have for breakfast doesn't make someone toxic. However Harris is a California 'progressive' Democrat and they ARE toxic. The political left always focus on things like skin colour and race and ignore the contents of a person's character. HRC was also toxic due to her 'its my turn' entitlement and pandering to her donor class.

          Let us not forget that the UK Tory party has had 4 female leaders in the last 50 years.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: the most toxic candidate in history

            "ignore the contents of a person's character"

            fucking hell, do you fuckwit's forget you voted for a fucking rapist conman felon.

    3. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

      Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

      > price of eggs has dropped soooo much

      Huh? The last news I had was that US imported a lot of eggs from Germany due to shortage. Is the rebound already rollin'?

      1. codejunky Silver badge

        Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

        @Jou (Mxyzptlk)

        "Huh? The last news I had was that US imported a lot of eggs from Germany due to shortage. Is the rebound already rollin'?"

        I suspect the drop in prices is due to importing what the US cannot provide itself. This is a fair problem with the tariffs idea where importing these things would end up more expensive than it needs to be.

        1. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

          Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

          From my point of view: Why did they import anyway? I mean, it's not like anyone is dying if there is a shortage of eggs for a few weeks. Importing eggs from Germany is a 110% 1st world luxury-convenience problem. I simply saw that news, shaked my head, then face-palmed, and moved on to the next news.

          1. codejunky Silver badge

            Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

            @Jou (Mxyzptlk)

            "From my point of view: Why did they import anyway? I mean, it's not like anyone is dying if there is a shortage of eggs for a few weeks. Importing eggs from Germany is a 110% 1st world luxury-convenience problem. I simply saw that news, shaked my head, then face-palmed, and moved on to the next news."

            It is a first world problem that became a political football as the symbol of inflation. Such is the way with politics. I am assuming importing was actually just private business getting on which is fine, hopefully not government going out of its way to buy them.

        2. ChodeMonkey Silver badge
          Joke

          Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

          Madam, you are a literal eggspert!!!

      2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

        Eggs must be very cheap in Germany if they can be exported across the Atlantic to the USA, have a 20% tariff applied on arrival and STILL be cheaper than local ones. On the other hand, US style capitalism where the suppliers are price gouging due to a reduction in local supply is probably the prime reason for the price rises.

      3. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Unhappy

        "price of eggs has dropped soooo much"

        The elongated use of oooo (not a conventional structure in the English language, although somewhat used in Dutch to denote a long vowel sound) should have suggested exaggeration.

        IOW I was being sarcastic.

        No, they haven't got cheaper.

        1. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

          Re: "price of eggs has dropped soooo much"

          Sarcasm and irony must be marked as such since, for the last ten years, way too many stupid funny weird strange predictions, which were never expected to come true, came true. So my irony and sarcasm detectors are seriously broken. And given the current situation in west-pondian, I see no way they could heal in the next four years. I simply enjoy being on the other side of the pond, and watch the strangest comedy show ever.

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

      Yes but mommy, isn't the trans woke muslim jew migrant fentanyl tunnel burrowing pet dog-and-cat BBQ cabal, and its illegal professor friends, out using its scary magics again to keep the Gulf of Ameristan out of Orangeland's very large and manly hands!?!?!? We can't have that mommy, something's gotta be done! We'll send 'em all to GITMO, to build a great big wall, and Mexico will pay for it ...

    5. Ian Johnston Silver badge

      Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

      In case you're wondering the right to decide who is (or is not) a member of any kind of racial or religious group is a sign of a fascist.

      Generally I think it's up to members of groups to decide who else is a member. So Jews get to decide who is Jewish (and different groups of Jews may have different views), Muslims get to decide who is Muslim (same caveat), Scots get to decide who is Scottish (ditto) and so on. The one exception seems to be women, who are no longer permitted to decide for themselves who counts as a woman.

      1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Coat

        "Generally I think it's up to members of groups to decide who else is a member."

        Yes.

        That's sort of my point.

        1. Ian Johnston Silver badge

          Re: "Generally I think it's up to members of groups to decide who else is a member."

          Sorry. I thought you were saying that only fascists get to decide who is a member of particular groups whereas I was saying that existing members have that right. Quite different, I think.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: From the man who brought you "He's not a Jew anymore."

        down vote for ya

        "who are no longer permitted to decide for themselves who counts as a woman"

        please fuck off with that right wing drivel

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    POTUS

    He doesn't believe in science, a man of God he think this will serve him enough to get the world by, oh and of course he has "common sense" as he put it

    Science has given us much greater understanding of the almost everything today and this Piece Of Totally Useless Shit is going backwards with these and other draconian measures. The US Universities are well respected around the world for Science and many other areas of research and has an excellent reputation with innovations etc and this is a severe dumbing down.

    The people in the US voted for improved standards of living and less (or none at all) migrations but it looks like what you're getting is something radically extreme and along with tariffs and recent remarks regarding freeloading europeans, Canada 51st state ? Greenland, Panama Canal. it may not be long before the US will start alienating itself from almost everyone else. Who know's they might even end up with the commies/north koreans. Governed by idiocracy, greed and control of , and abuse of power.

    This is what happens when you put children in charge of a nation, maybe cruel, yeah , should be even a group of school kids could do a better job

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: POTUS

      "freeloading europeans"

      So here is the thing, we ARE freeloading off the US for defence.

      The red sea and suez affects Europe far more than the US yet who has the most warships there? Who has an aircraft carrier group there? Does the UK even have a working aircraft carrier right now with working aircraft? Where is the French carrier?

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge

        Re: POTUS

        The quid pro quo for the freeloading was stability, trade with the US dollar as the currency of trade, the European nations didn't ramp up their defence industries (which just after WW2 was seen as a bad thing) and what they did buy they bought from the US, and in the main support for the US' jollies around the world as European nations didn't want to scupper their trade or defence.

        If that's not good enough now and the US wants to throw its relationship with western European countries away and instead tie its future to one country with the GDP of Italy and its leader which is openly taking the piss but POTUS and the cabinet are too dumb to see it, so be it.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: POTUS

          "European nations didn't ramp up their defence industries"

          The UK and France both did. Both nations developed the bomb, built supersonic aircraft, nuclear subs, missiles, long range bombers (ok, not the French).

          "what they did buy they bought from the US"

          France doesn't. The UK did eventually as it was a lot cheaper but now we are buying more French missiles.

          1. Dan 55 Silver badge

            Re: POTUS

            France did develop their own defence tech but Trident was developed by Lockheed.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: POTUS

              Yes, and? The UK trident missiles have UK designed and built warheads and sit in UK designed and built subs.

              I never said we didn't buy anything, I said that we DID ramp our defence industry post WW2, which lasted quite some time, rather than simply going straight to buying from the US.

              1. georgezilla

                Re: POTUS

                " ... buying from the US. ... "

                And countries like Canada, and others, are now think about not doing that, or actually aren't doing that. And are now looking at buying elsewhere. Tanks/artillery from Germany. Aircraft from elsewhere. Etc.

              2. Dan 55 Silver badge

                Re: POTUS

                Now the UK has built aircraft carriers designed to carry the F35B. If you wanted to build things yourself to obtain independence, this wouldn't be the way to go about it.

                1. Anonymous Coward
                  Anonymous Coward

                  Re: POTUS

                  Well we sold off the harrier to Boeing and decided to cheap out on our carriers. Picking the F35 was one of the worst decisions the UK govt has made since binning the TSR2.

                  We HAD a world leading defence industry and successive govts killed it.

                  1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
                    Unhappy

                    "We HAD a world leading defence industry and successive govts killed it."

                    Actually starting with Duncan Sandys, a Conservative Minister of Defence in 1957, in which he predicted the airforce would be missiles all the way, no aircraft at all.

                    Backed up by civil servants who force merged virtually every UK military aircraft company into what would eventually be BAE as the UK needed a "National champion."

                    Fu**wits the lot of them.

                    1. Ian Johnston Silver badge

                      Re: "We HAD a world leading defence industry and successive govts killed it."

                      So when did fighter aircraft actually do anything useful? Launching missiles doesn't really count.

                      Having fighter aircraft is a bit like having paratroopers ... who have not jumped into action since Suez, almost seventy years ago.

                2. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

                  Re: POTUS

                  >Now the UK has built aircraft carriers designed to carry the F35B

                  BAe built carriers for the BAe F35B program.

                  They have every right to do this, it's their government after all

                  1. Anonymous Coward
                    Anonymous Coward

                    Re: POTUS

                    BAe are a supplier into the F35 programme. And from previous experience working with BAe they are absolutely useless. They have an attitude that no matter how slow and late they are the govt will cough up some more cash for them.

                    1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
                      Unhappy

                      BAe

                      Haven't been BAe for a long time.

                      But they have been (and IMHO will always be) Billions Above Estimate.

        2. OldGeezer
          WTF?

          Re: POTUS

          It is also a bit rich that for the last 70+ years the US has been telling the rest of the world (at least europe / pacific) "Don't worry about defence capabilities - leave that to us." So we did and now the US is complaining that we did exactly as we were told to do.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: POTUS

            One of the reasons was the cold war. The US wanted its missiles as close to the USSR as possible and the fact that Europe would nuked to oblivion really didn't matter. The US has only ever cared about its own interests.

      2. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

        Re: POTUS

        Europe in full: No, but not as much as it could. Germany: We were not allowed to since USA, France and England didn't like Germany getting big in military again after 1945. Anything we do we are one of the most closely watched nations in that regard.

        1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Re: POTUS

          Ditto Japan. Trump and Co are denigrating Japan because of their "lack" of defence. Except it was the US administration that ran Japan that made sure Japans military was (rightfully at the time) severely hobbled and wrote into Japanese law that they could ONLY use their military for their own immediate defence if actually directly attacked.

      3. Casca Silver badge

        Re: POTUS

        And whos fault is it that they are shooting? Yea...

      4. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: POTUS

        "The red sea and suez affects Europe far more than the US"

        And yet, in the "leaked" Signal conversation, the US seemed especially careful to make sure nothing happened to any Saudi oil facilities. Would the US simply pull out and not care about Saudi oil any more? I think not. They have enough at stake to justify being there, It's definitely NOT just a "European problem". If they want to withdraw a percentage of their forces to match the percentage of trade passing the Suez Canal with no thought for the value or importance of that trade, then let them do so. I'm sure the various European navies will take almost as much care to the defend US cargo ships as they do for everyone else.

        The only reason the US has a smaller volume of traffic through the Suez Canal is because they get their cheap Chinese crap via the Panama Canal. And we know what Trumps attitude is to that canal.

      5. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: POTUS

        please just fuck off to your russian utopia.

        and I hope they conscript you and you get droned.

        your worthless

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: POTUS is Pro Censorship

      It was so predictable:

      The Radical Free Speech Activists would install Censorship the moment they were in power.

      What you are seeing is the current administration in the process of installing complete censorship.

      Even foreigners who criticized the Great Leader in their private posts are expelled.

    3. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

      Re: POTUS

      "it may not be long before the US will start alienating itself from almost everyone else"

      This already sounds like a message from the past. Surely it's government policy to do just that.

  5. codejunky Silver badge

    Ha

    From what I have read the sciences are rightfully complaining and not wanting the funding cut. The arts and insanities are demanding the University should take a harder line against Trump and why wont other universities join them in their rebellion. Appeasing these protesters, some who are not even students, that have taken some illegal actions even has not worked. Apologising to them and promising not to call the cops if they will just behave please also isnt working.

    Hopefully the University will start remedying the issue

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Ha

      the state is c(o/u)ming under totalitarian control, if they take it to the courts & justice systems and win, the dude will chuck his toys out of the pram, because there's one thing he does't like and that's losing. Instead he will take this personally and do what he can to replace the legal service with his assailants.

    2. ArrZarr Silver badge
      FAIL

      Re: Ha

      "From what I have read"

      Would you care to list your sources, or are we working on the "Trust me, sis" school of thought here?

      1. codejunky Silver badge

        Re: Ha

        @ArrZarr

        "Would you care to list your sources"

        Fair question-

        Same event cross reference for those who cry about sources-

        https://freebeacon.com/campus/manhattan-da-drops-charges-against-30-columbia-protesters-arrested-over-campus-building-occupation/

        https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/manhattan-da-drops-charges-against-most-of-the-columbia-university-protesters/ar-BB1oBfsI

        https://nypost.com/2024/06/20/us-news/outrage-as-manhattan-da-braggs-office-drops-nearly-all-cases-from-columbia-universitys-anti-israel-protest/

        The crackdown-

        https://president.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/03.21.2025%20Columbia%20-%20FINAL.pdf

        https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14525195/columbia-university-trump-policy-changes-federal-funds-anti-israel-protests.html

        Apologise to the protesters-

        https://nypost.com/2024/09/19/us-news/columbia-universitys-interim-president-katrina-armstrong/

        Science vs arts-

        https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/columbia-trump-faculty-meetings-38a65fff

        https://x.com/Columbia_psc/status/1903991017868575131

        https://www.thefp.com/p/columbia-president-says-one-thing

        Of course this is only a few select bits, the issue has been much larger for some time.

        *Edit-

        Another one. Its funny how Columbia agrees to the terms and these groups try to undermine her (two faced) acceptance-

        https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5212566-aft-aaup-sues-trump-administration-columbia/

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Devil

          Re: Ha

          Showing off those rad html coding skillz, 'junky? How's the job hunt going BTW?

        2. sabroni Silver badge

          Re: Ha

          It allows you to post html links, make those actually clickable.

          1. codejunky Silver badge
            Devil

            Re: Ha

            @sabroni

            "It allows you to post html links, make those actually clickable."

            I am very happy to filter out the people too stupid to understand how to copy and paste or highlight, right click and open in new tab. What impresses me about your comment is such stupid people normally post as coward so people cant see who is so stupid.

            I appreciate you standing up and owning it!

            1. ChodeMonkey Silver badge
              FAIL

              Re: Ha

              Hiding one's laziness and/or inability to use a markup language with faux indignation and bluster. Poor show.

            2. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: Ha

              Well that's a enjoyable past-time on mobile, just to entertain your millionth treatise on How US And Tufton-Street Neoliberalism Is Right And Everything And Everyone Else Is Wrong.

              You're going to have to meet people half-way or you won't win any converts.

              1. codejunky Silver badge

                Re: Ha

                @AC

                "Well that's a enjoyable past-time on mobile, just to entertain your millionth treatise on How US And Tufton-Street Neoliberalism Is Right And Everything And Everyone Else Is Wrong."

                You dont seem to realise but I consider you to be one of those I am happy to exclude though your own inability, you may be a coward but your usual garbage identifies you as one of my pet trolls.

                "You're going to have to meet people half-way or you won't win any converts."

                Convert what? Is that why you troll so hard.

              2. ChodeMonkey Silver badge
                Black Helicopters

                Re: Ha

                "millionth treatise on How US And Tufton-Street Neoliberalism Is Right And Everything And Everyone Else Is Wrong."

                How very unfair. Just because someone is in the thrall of dark-money funded, shadowy organisations it may not be their fault. Perhaps thay are the real victims of fraud having been sold a tissue of lies?

                We should not blame these victims of confidence tricksters.

    3. georgezilla

      Re: Ha

      " ... join them in their rebellion ... "

      It's not a rebellion. <shakes head > They have a long history of being places that are known for protests. Viet Nam, a little place called Kent State. Pick a social or political issue, and these places have had protests. Something which is protected by the Constitution. Free Speech, also protected. Both sides have done it for decades.

      Just this time it hurts the fee fees of a thin-skined, petty, hateful little man-child that thinks that he knows everything and has all the answers. So he throws a tantrum and tries to bully those that disagree with him.

      1. DoctorPaul Bronze badge

        Re: Ha

        Thanks for remembering Kent State.

        Quick summary for those who weren't around at the time. Student protests on campus and they end up sending in the National Guard. Fleeing students shot in the back. Four dead. Check out Ohio by Neil Young to get a flavour of the times. My first year at University of Sussex (1970) I made friends with an exchange student from California, his school buddies were coming back from Vietnam in body bags.

    4. ChodeMonkey Silver badge
      Headmaster

      Re: Ha

      "Hopefully the University will start remedying the issue "

      "and why wont other universities join them"

      "behave please also isnt working."

      Hear, hear.

      These educational establishments should concentrate on basic education. (Such as punctuation.)

      1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

        Re: Ha

        You mean the universities should become primary schools?

        Universities are the place for advanced education and basic research, exactly what the Make America Grate idiots are trying to stop.

        1. codejunky Silver badge

          Re: Ha

          @Doctor Syntax

          "You mean the universities should become primary schools?"

          He is a pet troll. His output isnt of much value but I am trying to train him basic tricks. I got him to get a name and form sentences so it seems to be going well

          1. ChodeMonkey Silver badge

            Re: Ha

            "His output isnt of much value "

            Denigrating education while simultaneously exposing one's own shortcomings in that very area. Masterful.

            ChodeMonkey see, ChodeMonkey do.

            1. codejunky Silver badge

              Re: Ha

              @ChodeMonkey

              "Denigrating education"

              Did I? Where?

              "ChodeMonkey see, ChodeMonkey do."

              Imitation is a fine form of flattery. But you will need a lot more practice before you write something of value I suspect.

              1. ChodeMonkey Silver badge
                Pint

                Re: Ha

                "Did I? Where?"

                Are you on the morning gin, again? How disreputable.

              2. Anonymous Coward
                Anonymous Coward

                Re: Ha

                "Imitation is a fine form of flattery. But you will need a lot more practice before you write something of value I suspect."

                But if ChodeMonkey posts something of value then ChodeMonkey won't be imitating codejunky.

                1. ChodeMonkey Silver badge
                  Happy

                  Re: Ha

                  I like the cut of your jib, AC person.

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Smart people

    Obsessed with facts!

    What’s up with that?

    /sarcasm

  7. Andrew Scott Bronze badge

    research

    For his own good he should really reinstate funding for Alzheimer's research, though it may be too late.

  8. s. pam
    Black Helicopters

    Orange Manbaby couldn't give a fsck

    Between Pres. MuskySmell and his Veep Orange Manbaby they are only interested in building the 4th Reich and preparing for the future when JD "Goebbels" Vance take over and make Gilead (was: USA) look identical to Putting's Russia.

    1. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

      Re: Orange Manbaby couldn't give a fsck

      As German I HAD to give you that upvote. Let's hope you are wrong.

  9. Bbuckley

    These are not nerds. They are far-left wokies. This is an example of a death bounce before they disappear forever. Welcome to the New World Order.

    1. Jou (Mxyzptlk) Silver badge

      Oh, it was only a matter of time until the extremists would show up. The world is not binary, and is way more interwoven than you currently see. Go to Europe, China, India and so on to open your mind. You should have watched IShowSpeed 's 6+hour (lag free, 4k) China livestreams, non staged. Open your mind, and listen to USA people which live OUTSIDE USA, there are tons of other channels, some at professionaly level, other at personal level. The last example channel I mentioned also shows how the people develop from being outside USA, can be measured by how often he says "And I'm guilty of it too, I said some unbelievable dumb things in the past" in his videos, for example the "Posts That PROVE Americans Think Only THEY Exist..." video.

  10. J.G.Harston Silver badge

    Werrlll, when the universities stop using government funding, then the government can stop telling them what to do.

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