[JustTheNews] More than $1 billion in foreign funding has flowed to the University of Michigan and Michigan State University over the past decade, according to newly-released federal disclosure data.
The reports, released last week by the Department of Education, include updated 2025 disclosures from 555 American colleges and universities.
The University of Michigan–Ann Arbor ranked 27th nationally for total foreign funding since 2015, while the University of Michigan ranked 56th and Michigan State University ranked 73rd.
The release is part of a broader transparency push by the Trump administration aimed at strengthening oversight of foreign financial ties in higher education.
“President Trump and Secretary [Linda] McMahon are demanding full transparency around the foreign dollars flowing into America’s colleges and universities,” White House spokeswoman Liz Huston told TCS. “Exposing these foreign ties protects the integrity of academic research and safeguards our national security.”
In 2025, U.S. institutions reported more than $5.2 billion in foreign funding across more than 8,300 transactions. Since 2015, colleges and universities have disclosed $67.6 billion in foreign gifts and contracts, with Harvard University reporting the highest total. The funding originates from 220 countries, led by Qatar, China and Germany.
Under federal law, institutions must disclose foreign gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or more. The federal government estimates, however, that only about 60% of foreign transactions are reported accurately and on time.
McMahon said the new public reporting portal is intended to improve transparency.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we remain firmly committed to ensuring that universities uphold their legal and ethical obligations to disclose the true origins of their foreign relationships,” McMahon said. “This transparency is essential not only to preserving the integrity of academic research but also to ensure the security and resilience of our nation.”
Across Michigan, 16 higher education institutions reported a combined $1.3 billion in foreign funding since 2015. Among the state’s largest universities, China was the most notable funding source also identified as a country of concern.
Since 2015:
• The University of Michigan–Ann Arbor reported $618.5 million in foreign funding, including $66.7 million from China.
• The University of Michigan reported $240.3 million, including $11.3 million from China.
• Michigan State University reported $191.7 million, including $12.8 million from China.
None of the institutions responded to requests for comment.
These disclosures follow the 2025 arrests of multiple foreign students with ties to the University of Michigan on various federal charges, including smuggling and agroterrorism. Those charges only heightened both national and state concerns about foreign influence and potential security risks connected to overseas funding and research partnerships at U.S. universities.
#2
What was the money for?
It matters. Some things are pretty general--everybody benefits; e.g. earthquake prediction research. Some are a bit more dual-use.
In some fields you get a lot more than just a bit of influence.
Posted by: James the lesser ||
02/15/2026 15:27 Comments ||
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#3
In some fields ...
Foreign Students in Michigan:
Michigan universities hosted **38,000 international students** in the 2023–24 academic year, according to the Open Doors report, placing the state ninth in the nation for the number of foreign students.
**University of Michigan–Ann Arbor** is a leading institution for international enrollment, with **8,091 international students** enrolled for Fall 2025—ranking it #6 among U.S. public research institutions in hosting international students.
Other major contributors include:
- **Michigan State University**, with approximately 4,540 international students (based on 2020 data).
- **University of Michigan–Dearborn**, which saw 783 international students in 2023 and is preparing for potential enrollment drops.
- **Central Michigan University (CMU)**, where officials anticipate a 70% decline in international student enrollment due to recent visa and immigration policy concerns.
[MalayMail] With the festive season and long holidays approaching, MOH advised the public to remain vigilant by practising proper cough and sneeze etiquette and wearing face masks in crowded areas.
A total of 503 new tuberculosis (TB) cases were detected nationwide up to Epidemiological Week 5 this year (EW 5/2026), bringing the cumulative total to 2,571 cases.
In a statement today, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said Sabah recorded the highest number at 614, followed by Selangor (476), Sarawak (257), Johor (233) as well as Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (202).
Penang reported 148 cases, Kedah (144), Perak (127), Kelantan (96), Pahang (81), Terengganu (60), Negeri Sembilan (58), Melaka (42), Perlis (17) and Labuan (16).
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] Tourists found themselves just meters from lava fountains during a sudden volcanic eruption on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. This was reported on February 13 by the French television channel La 1ere.
The Piton de la Fournaise eruption began in the morning after a series of tremors. Dozens of tourists and hikers were in the caldera—the bowl-shaped volcanic depression at the summit—at the time. Thick smoke appeared first, then fountains of hot lava began erupting from the resulting fissure.
Some visitors found themselves very close to the hot rock outcrop and were forced to quickly abandon the slope. Some were evacuated by helicopter from the inaccessible Enclos-Fouqué area, while others descended independently along tourist routes.
After the activity began, authorities closed access to the dangerous sector. Piton de la Fournaise is considered one of the most active volcanoes in the world and erupts regularly.
[Townhall] President Donald Trump has suggested that one of the American service members who took part in the daring raid to capture former Venezuelan head-of-state Nicolas Maduro would be receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroics during the operation.
President Trump: "We're also purchasing 30 new and modified Abrams tanks. Still the best tank, right? It was named in honor of Stacey Abrams."
*Crowd Laughs*
"Congratulations, thank you very much for a great name, Stacey."
#6
To what mt friend Skid said, and Skid has experience working with these guys. When the teams go in things are executed to +-30 seconds. It is always on the edge of a bad day. Its what they do. But to skids point, when it does go wrong, it goes really bad, Mogadishu bad. They have second and third order crap plans, but a hit as clean as this one was very well executed. Now at the team level I am certain, after the back slapping, the AAR for the mission was brutal and probably more emotional for the teams than the actual hit.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
02/15/2026 12:54 Comments ||
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#7
It would be nice if a Night Stalker was put up for it. A good day for the regiment...
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
02/15/2026 12:58 Comments ||
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#8
/\ Sometimes the awards are classified and never seen or published.
{Epoch Times] The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing a new mandatory rule that requires all commercial airlines in the country to formally commit to merit-based hiring for pilots, according to a Feb. 13 statement from the DOT.
Under the new mandate, all U.S. carriers must certify that the practice of airlines hiring based on race and sex has ended or face a federal investigation.
"When families board their aircraft, they should fly with confidence knowing the pilot behind the controls is the best of the best," DOT Secretary Sean P. Duffy said. "The American people don’t care what their pilot looks like or their gender—they just care that they are [the] most qualified man or woman for the job."
DOT said that even though the FAA has raised performance standards while eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) based positions within the agency and terminating related contracts, "allegations of airlines hiring based on race and sex remain."
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/15/2026 02:12 ||
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Link ||
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#2
Great start, but how about a re-test of the last 5 years hires? Confidence and Trust don't re-build after they are lost by just saying the right things. That you had to say it means you know you have a problem, and you know the audience knows ...
#3
Retesting definitely will be necessary. Make it everyone, then they can fuss about the point when the score average fell off a cliff because they stopped making ability the sole criterion.
The situation in northern Ethiopia 🇪🇹 is rapidly worsening, with ENDF mobilizing massive reinforcements to Tigray, while Amhara Fano soldiers are taking over their region.
2 weeks after fighting erupted between federal forces and TPLF/TDF in Tigray, the Ethiopian government is… pic.twitter.com/v3LbdCewAS
The situation in northern Ethiopia 🇪🇹 is rapidly worsening, with ENDF mobilizing massive reinforcements to Tigray, while Amhara Fano soldiers are taking over their region.
2 weeks after fighting erupted between federal forces and TPLF/TDF in Tigray, the Ethiopian government is in the process of mobilizing thousands of soldiers in the north. Abiy Ahmed has been preparing for war with Tigray and Eritrea for months, while part of his army is stuck fighting in the vast Amhara region, as you can see on the map
[DW] Thousands of local fishermen were making waves again at the UNESCO-listed fishing festival in Kebbi state. The annual event has not been held for the past 6 years due to regional insecurity.
Nigeria's Argungu Fishing Festival was officially back in action for its 61st iteration on Saturday in Argungu town in northwestern Kebbi state.
The UNESCO-listed festival has not taken place for the past six years due to regional insecurity and funding shortages.
Parts of Kebbi state have experienced jihadist attacks in recent years, with analysts blaming the Lakurawa terror group for the deadly violence.
It started as self defense against bandits, but over time has morphed into a branch of ISIS in the Sahel. Their AO is primarily in five local government areas of Sokoto state, namely: Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, Binji, and Silame.
TENS OF THOUSANDS GATHER FOR DRAWCARD FESTIVAL
But, the festival was again making waves as thousands of people descended on the area to attend the event.
Local media reported that some 40,000 participants defied the scorching 39 degree Celsius heat (102 Fahrenheit) to take part in the festival that was first staged in 1934.
Since then, it has grown into one of Nigeria's biggest cultural events, bringing in visitors from around the world.
Nigeria's Punch newspaper reported that just minutes after noon, excited fishermen plunged into the murky waters of the Matan Fadan river, even before the formal opening ceremony and the arrival of President Bola Tinubu.
The president arrived more than two hours later, after which the contest was restarted.
Amid the sound of chanting and drumbeats, fishermen began hunting for the biggest fish. Using traditional methods and aided by hand-woven nets and large calabash gourds, they were buoyed by the cheers of thousands of onlookers.
[DW] Cuba has been grappeling with worsening fuel shortages as the US prevents oil shipments to the island nation. Organizers did not immediately set a new date for the Habanos Festival.
Cuba's annual Habanos cigar fair has been postponed, organizers said on Saturday.
It comes as the Caribbean island struggles severe fuel shortages and power blackouts amid a US oil embargo.
The iconic Habanos Festival is held yearly in the Cuban capital, Havana, and features an auction of luxury cigars and containers, with proceeds from it being donated to the Cuban health system.
Last year, the auction generated over $18 million (€15 million).
CUBA CRISIS DEEPENS AS US BLOCKADE STARVES IT OF OIL
Habanos has a global monopoly on Cuban cigar sales. It is jointly owned by Cuban state tobacco company Cubatabaco and the Spain-based multinational Altadis.
Last year, Habanos registered record sales of $827 million (€697 million).
Several other cultural events have been postponed in Cuba this month due to fuel shortages.
US OIL BLOCKADE THREATENS CUBA
Cuba, which imports some 60% of its energy, has been increasingly struggling to import fuel as the United States has been working to cut it off from its traditional suppliers in recent months in an effort to bring about the collapse of the island's communist-run government.
Oil deliveries from Cuba's main supplier, Venezuela, halted in December after US troops kidnapped Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and US President Donald Trump announced Washington would "run" the country's oil industry.
On Monday, its second-biggest supplier, Mexico, announced it would stop sending oil to Cuba after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any country to do so.
Also this week, three Canadian airlines suspended flights to Cuba due to a lack of guaranteed fuel supply.
Cuba has been under a US economic embargo since 1962. Washington also held sway over what countries Cuba could trade with for three decades prior.
#1
Cuba is like Rabaul or Truk in the island hopping campaign. My question is why we have not seen a Greta flotilla or significant leftist outrage. There is something that they want. O part of. Sean Penn was very interested in Cuba at one time.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
02/15/2026 9:35 Comments ||
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[Reuters] China will implement zero‑tariff treatment for imports from the 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, starting May 1, 2026, state media reported on Saturday.
China will also continue to push for the negotiation and signing of joint economic partnership pacts, and further expand market access for African exports to China through upgraded mechanisms such as its “green channel”, according to the state television report.
#1
However, any vessel carrying African cargo will be subject to a three-year inspection at the Port of Shanghai.
Posted by: Matt ||
02/15/2026 8:50 Comments ||
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#2
All they are importing is natural resources that they need badly. I’m pretty sure that Japan was not tariffing oil, iron and mineral imports prior to WWII.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
02/15/2026 9:38 Comments ||
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[DW] The annual Munich Security Conference brings together security experts and politicians, military leaders and the defense industry from around the world.
BigGretch makes an appearance
During a "foreign policy" panel in Munich, Gretchen Whitmer said AOC knew more about foreign policy than her. She struggled to answer about Ukraine and even looked to a Trump ambassador for an answer.
While in Germany for the Munich Security Conference, Hillary Clinton participated in a panel titled, "The West-West Divide: What Remains of Common Values."
"There is a legitimate reason to have a debate about things like migration," Clinton said.
"It went too far, it's been disruptive and destabilizing, and it needs to be fixed in a humane way with secure borders that don't torture and kill people and how we're going to have a strong family structure because it is at the base of civilization," she added.
Clinton acknowledged that there are places where a physical barrier is appropriate but opposed large-scale expansion of a border wall during her 2016 presidential campaign.
#4
Why'd I get deleted?
The Cloward-Piven strategy is to flood the USA with incompatible immigrants, breaking our welfare system and bankrupting us. What do you think importing Somalians to Minnesota was?
Richard Andrew Cloward (1926–2001) was a sociologist and professor at Columbia University's School of Social Work for nearly 50 years. He co-authored key works on juvenile delinquency (including the influential Delinquency and Opportunity with Lloyd Ohlin) and was active in anti-poverty efforts.
Frances Fox Piven (born 1932) is a Canadian-born American professor of political science and sociology at the City University of New York's Graduate Center. She is still active as of 2026. Piven has written extensively on grassroots movements, voter suppression, and welfare policy. She and Cloward were longtime partners (they married and collaborated until his death in 2001).
They are best known for the Cloward-Piven strategy, outlined in their May 1966 article "The Weight of the Poor: A Strategy to End Poverty" in the progressive magazine The Nation.
Tey argued that the existing U.S. welfare system (like Aid to Families with Dependent Children) was underused due to bureaucratic barriers, stigma, and low application rates—even though many poor people were legally eligible. Their proposed strategy was straightforward:Organize "militant anti-poverty groups" to aggressively inform and enroll as many eligible people as possible onto welfare rolls.
Encourage full claims of all entitled benefits to overwhelm local and state agencies.
This would create a fiscal and bureaucratic crisis at the local level, straining budgets and exposing the system's failures.
#6
No idea why your comment was Spamcopped, Jairong, but we know about Cloward-Piven.
In this case their purposes included flooding the welfare system and bankrupting the normies — plus government funding fraud for back channel political donations, vote fraud, and census fraud to set in concrete Democrat political control for the future.
But this is where we stand now despite their best efforts:
Democrats have never been as desperate as they are now.
Trump is chipping away at the Democrat power source from so many angles it is hard to to recall them all.
-Deporting 3mil (on pace for 10-12mil by end of term). -Redistricting war likely adds a net 3-5 GOP seats in the…
[TukiyeToday] In a statement to Türkiye Today, the Ministry of National Defense has denied reports of a joint naval shipbuilding venture with the United States.
While acknowledging that "many cooperation activities" are underway with its NATO ally, the ministry clarified that "there is no work in the field of joint shipbuilding," cooling speculation that Turkish yards might help resolve Washington's current frigate production crisis.
Okay.
Posted by: Skidmark ||
02/15/2026 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1765 views]
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#2
Until the Navy fires 'managers' who keep changing specs during the process, I wouldn't take a contract to build either. There is never an end to the 'next best thing'. Perfect is the enemy of good enough.
Alinsky said to make it fun for your people, and they’ll do it more.
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Republicans are gleefully embracing an unlikely ally in their quest to derail Gavin Newsom's widely anticipated 2028 presidential ambitions - his own wife.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom has become a lightning rod for criticism after a string of interviews and public appearances that conservatives say perfectly capture what they view as the out-of-touch elitism surrounding the Democratic governor.
Siebel Newsom has had string of public appearances in which she criticized wealthy elites, scolded reporters, and delivered remarks that GOP critics say perfectly encapsulate what they view as the smug detachment of the Democratic political class.
GOP operatives, activists, and conservative commentators are now openly urging her to step in front of cameras more often, convinced that every unscripted remark is political gold.
Their delight reached new heights this week after Siebel Newsom delivered a withering critique of wealthy tech leaders who have gravitated toward Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
Her remarks that quickly spread across social media as critics pointed to her own life of immense privilege.
'It's incredibly disheartening and disturbing. It's very confusing,' she said when asked about what some observers have described as tech's political shift to the right.
'When you spend too much time in your bubble of wealth and perhaps in your limited perspective where you only interact at the same economic ilk until they're actually employed by you, I think that's a really dangerous place.'
A judge gave permission on Monday for the email to be presented by the defense in Weinstein’s Los Angeles sex crimes trial, but said it was forbidden from discussing the email’s topic.
Siebel Newsom — known in the trial as Jane Doe 4 — emailed Weinstein in 2007 asking for advice on how to navigate the “bad press” that began when her then-boyfriend Gavin Newsom admitted to having an affair with his campaign manager’s wife.
Weinstein’s attorney, Mark Werksman, argued for the inclusion of the email’s details.
“Of all things you’d think a woman that is raped by Harvey Weinstein wouldn’t do, it’s [ask him] how to deal with a sex scandal,” Werksman said.
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/15/2026 11:25 Comments ||
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#3
We should pray that Newsom gets the nomination or J.D. Pritzker who has a record of governing awfully.
Otherwise the Ds can pretend they are moderates, tax cutters, etc.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
02/15/2026 12:35 Comments ||
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#4
But if you don't use it...
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
02/15/2026 12:37 Comments ||
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[Fox] Japanese researchers say flavanols in cocoa, berries and red wine may stimulate the brain through sensory nerves
The dry, puckering sensation you get from dark chocolate, red wine, tea or berries could actually be activating your brain in a way similar to exercise, according to a new study.
New research from Japan suggests that flavanols — plant compounds found in these foods — may stimulate the brain not by being absorbed into the bloodstream, but by triggering a sensory response tied to their bitter taste.
"The key finding of this experiment is that it first demonstrated how flavanol intake stimulation — likely the bitter taste — is transmitted to the central nervous system, triggering a stress response reaction that enhances short-term memory and produces beneficial effects on the circulatory system," professor Naomi Osakabe of Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan told Fox News Digital.
In experiments on mice, a single dose of flavanols increased spontaneous activity and improved performance on memory tests, according to the study published in Current Research in Food Science.
Researchers also observed rapid activation of brain regions involved in attention, arousal and stress regulation.
Because very little of the flavanols people consume actually enter the bloodstream, researchers believe they may instead influence the brain and heart by stimulating sensory nerves.
The researchers describe the concept as part of an emerging field known as sensory nutrition, the idea that the taste and physical sensations of food may directly regulate biological functions. This could eventually lead to new types of foods that combine appealing taste and beneficial physiological effects.
The response resembles what happens during mild exercise, which is a temporary activation of the sympathetic nervous system sometimes described as a fight-or-flight response. This type of short-term stress can sharpen focus and alertness.
"While it is clear that healthy foods contribute to maintaining and enhancing homeostasis, the mechanisms remain largely unclear," Osakabe said. "Notably, this study identified the potential for the taste of food components to regulate biological functions."
The study does have limitations because the research was conducted on animals, and foods are complex mixtures of many compounds that may interact with one another.
Larger, human studies are needed to determine whether the effects seen in mice also occur in people.
"I do not believe people, including most doctors, are aware that a taste of a specific molecule or compound can rapidly trigger major changes in the brain," Dr. Johnson Moon, a neurologist at Providence St. Jude Medical Center in California, previously told Fox News Digital regarding sensory nutrition.
More data is needed before foods like dark chocolate can be recommended, especially because calories, sugar and fat could outweigh the benefits, Moon said.
Still, Osakabe noted that previous long-term human studies on cocoa flavanols have suggested cardiovascular and cognitive benefits. For now, she recommends a balanced, plant-forward diet.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Townhall] President Donald Trump has suggested that one of the American service members who took part in the daring raid to capture former Venezuelan head-of-state Nicolas Maduro would be receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroics during the operation.
"When families board their aircraft, they should fly with confidence knowing the pilot behind the controls is the best of the best," DOT Secretary Sean P. Duffy said. "The American people don’t care what their pilot looks like or their gender—they just care that they are [the] most qualified man or woman for the job." 
