April 22, 2025

Tuesday, April 22,2025. Annette’s Roundup for Democracy.

Pope Francis has died.

His values live on.

Biden Shared Grief With Pope Francis. Trump Harbored Grievances Toward Him.

Then-President Joe Biden greets Pope Francis at the G7 summit in Italy on June 14, 2024.

Aboard Air Force One back in January, Joe Biden must have wondered if the cosmos was conspiring against him. With just a few days left in office, Biden had hoped to fulfill a personal wish: one last presidential meeting with Pope Francis.

But factors beyond his control were making one final pilgrimage to the Vatican look increasingly unlikely.

Biden, who considered the priesthood as a younger man and prides himself on his Catholicism, met three Popes during his half-century in politics, starting with Pope John Paul II in 1980. But it was Pope Francis with whom he has likely forged the deepest connection. After Beau Biden died in 2015, Pope Francis counseled the Biden clan working through their very public grief about the golden child of the family. Over six days that summer during the Pope’s tour of the United States, Biden was often just an arm’s length away. A year later, Biden was again with the Pope, speaking at a cancer conference at the Vatican. In the Oval Office, a photo of Francis was mixed in with those of family members on Biden’s desk. They spoke by phone from time to time, just to check in with a friendly voice.

As Biden flew back from a California besieged by a fast-growing series of wildfires, he dialed into a meeting underway with aides huddled around a conference table back in the West Wing. The trip out West went about as off-schedule as any presidential trip could, with detours and delays plaguing their plans. Now, they were discussing his upcoming three-day trip to Europe, which was set to include time for Biden to surprise Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

But the crisis situation on the West Coast had now made the notion of Biden leaving the country politically untenable. When he returned to the White House that evening, he told aides to scrap the planned trip, which was due to start the next day. Biden personally called Pope Francis to explain the situation and inform him that he would be receiving an unexpected honor by way of the Vatican’s diplomatic reps in Washington. It was that last conversation, on Jan. 11, that stung the President particularly hard, according to two people who were involved in that decision.

The Pope is now back on Biden’s agenda, but in a very different way. The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics died Monday, less than a month after a lengthy hospital stay for pneumonia. Biden—only the second Catholic to serve as President and one who still celebrates Mass most weekends—will likely want to attend Francis’ funeral, according to those in his inner circle. The politics of that might get tricky, as it’s not at all clear whether the current President has any interest in paying respects to a spiritual leader with whom he repeatedly clashed.

The funeral of a Pope—especially the first from the Americas, not to mention the first Jesuit—tends to be one of those events that dominates the diplomatic calendar. Its significance is up there with the deaths of icons like Nelson Mandela or a British monarch. It’s a moment that demands delicacy, and that is not exactly a skillset radiating from those in power in Official Washington.

In the early days of Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign, Trump seemed to relish picking a fight with Francis—who was on his way to visit the United States with Biden as his de facto chaperone—suggesting the pontiff was weak and was offering an opening for ISIS to take over the Vatican. During the 2016 South Carolina primary, Trump and the Pope got into a full-blown skirmish from afar, with Francis questioning if Trump was even Christian and the real estate tycoon suggesting the pontiff was a tool of the Mexican government. (Trump’s aides eventually convinced him the fight was not a net gain as he tried to convince voters of faith to take a chance on the thrice-married billionaire.)

The rift continued through Trump’s first term, although the pair’s meeting during Trump’s first foreign trip in office went pleasantly enough. Pope Francis, born in Buenos Aires to an Italian family fleeing fascism in Mussolini’s era, had little regard to Trump’s hard-line immigration views and never shied from criticizing his plans for a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border. “Builders of walls sow fear,” Pope Francis said during a visit to Panama. On a flight back from another trip, he told reporters that border walls were not the answer: “Those who build walls will become prisoners of the walls they put up.”

The enmity did not fade. Earlier this year, Trump’s top enforcer on border issues, Tom Homan, suggested the Pope was a hypocrite. "They have a wall around the Vatican. If you illegally enter the Vatican, the crime is serious. You'll be charged with a serious crime and jailed," Homan said.

Trump’s nominee to be his Ambassador to the Vatican, Brian Burch, has been a partisan operative and vocal papal critic, making it an awkward fit if he is confirmed as expected.

On another timeline, the White House might have made better use of Vice President J.D. Vance, who was baptized as a Catholic in 2019, to smooth things over with one of the world’s top religious leaders. But Vance’s aggressive cheerleading of Trump’s policies complicated that approach, so much so that Pope Francis dressed-down U.S. Bishops in a letter in February for not doing more to object to Vance’s defense of the deportation program on theological grounds. The skirmish continued, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan denouncing Vance’s suggestions that financial incentives were behind Catholic bishops’ defense of migrants as “nasty.” On Sunday, the day before Francis’ passing, Vance exchanged Easter greetings with an ailing Pope. Vance’s motorcade, according to the Associated Press, was on Vatican territory for just 17 minutes.

Contrast all that to Biden, who met three times with Francis while Biden spent eight years as Vice President and twice when he became President. During a 2021 visit, the pair spent an astonishing 90 minutes together as aides from both delegations kept looking at each other, as if to ask which side wanted to interrupt the bosses. Those close to Biden say his humility toward Francis is genuine, with Biden often reminding his priest pals here in the United States that the Pope himself referred to him as a “good Catholic.” The last trip to the Vatican was meant as a reward for both men, who recognize they are often out-of-step with those around them and too often counted out.

Biden advisers say the boss and the Pope would occasionally trade phone calls, often with informal gut-checks and spiritual check-ins. In a December call, the Pope lobbied Biden to soften death-row sentences for convicts. Biden ultimately commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, tampering Trump’s plans to resume executions once back in office.

There were no immediate details about Trump’s plans around the funeral. (Francis revised his funeral plans last year to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, not in the grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica where most Popes find their final resting place.)

State affairs like a papal funeral typically bring even warring political rivals together. When Mandela passed away in 2013, then-President Barack Obama invited former President George W. Bush to join him on a whirlwind trip to South Africa where they were on the ground for just 13 hours. Even though Obama spent much of his 2008 presidential campaign eviscerating Bush, the two men were professional enough to bury the hatchet; Bush even showed off some of his post-White House paintings from his iPad, and Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton all made pleasant conversations in the Air Force One conference room.

Trump is no Obama, to put it mildly. Trump’s capacity for grievance knows no limit, throwing uncertainty over whether he is willing to travel to attend Francis’ funeral. The prospect of him viewing Biden’s possible effort to attend in a positive light seems improbable.

So, in an unexpected way, Pope Francis one last time is holding a mirror up to this world and forcing us to take a look at two very different Presidents who represent vastly different approaches to the job. In the incumbent, there is a figure who has little regard for anyone who dares question his infallibility. In the former, there lies a sorrowed soul who thought of the Pope as the ultimate counselor to a President who wanted advice on what doing the right thing looked like in practice. In those two pews, America’s civic religion shows itself, with Biden and Trump clearly sitting on different sides of the chapel. (Time).

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The President of Harvard sent alumni, students, faculty and staff this letter yesterday.👇

Upholding Our Values, Defending Our University.

Dear Members of the Harvard Community,

Over the course of the past week, the federal government has taken several actions following Harvard’s refusal to comply with its illegal demands. Although some members of the administration have said their April 11 letter was sent by mistake, other statements and their actions suggest otherwise.

Doubling down on the letter’s sweeping and intrusive demands—which would impose unprecedented and improper control over the University—the government has, in addition to the initial freeze of $2.2 billion in funding, considered taking steps to freeze an additional $1 billion in grants, initiated numerous investigations of Harvard’s operations, threatened the education of international students, and announced that it is considering a revocation of Harvard’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. These actions have stark real-life consequences for patients, students, faculty, staff, researchers, and the standing of American higher education in the world.

Moments ago, we filed a lawsuit to halt the funding freeze because it is unlawful and beyond the government’s authority. I encourage you to read our complaint.

The consequences of the government’s overreach will be severe and long-lasting. Research that the government has put in jeopardy includes efforts to improve the prospects of children who survive cancer, to understand at the molecular level how cancer spreads throughout the body, to predict the spread of infectious disease outbreaks, and to ease the pain of soldiers wounded on the battlefield. As opportunities to reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson's disease are on the horizon, the government is slamming on the brakes. The victims will be future patients and their loved ones who will suffer the heartbreak of illnesses that might have been prevented or treated more effectively. Indiscriminately slashing medical, scientific, and technological research undermines the nation’s ability to save American lives, foster American success, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation.

The government has cited the University’s response to antisemitism as a justification for its unlawful action. As a Jew and as an American, I know very well that there are valid concerns about rising antisemitism. To address it effectively requires understanding, intention, and vigilance. Harvard takes that work seriously. We will continue to fight hate with the urgency it demands as we fully comply with our obligations under the law. That is not only our legal responsibility. It is our moral imperative.

Before taking punitive action, the law requires that the federal government engage with us about the ways we are fighting and will continue to fight antisemitism. Instead, the government’s April 11 demands seek to control whom we hire and what we teach. Today, we stand for the values that have made American higher education a beacon for the world.

We stand for the truth that colleges and universities across the country can embrace and honor their legal obligations and best fulfill their essential role in society without improper government intrusion. That is how we achieve academic excellence, safeguard open inquiry and freedom of speech, and conduct pioneering research—and how we advance the boundless exploration that propels our nation and its people into a better future.

We acknowledge that we have unfinished business. We need to ensure that the University lives up to its ideals by taking concrete steps to reaffirm a culture of free inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and academic exploration; making changes to our disciplinary systems so they will be more consistent and more effective in ensuring that our students, faculty, and staff take responsibility for their actions; implementing measures to ensure that all members of our community are safe and respected; and adopting important adjustments to the ways we build community—continuing to focus on individuals and their unique characteristics rather than their race. In the days ahead, I will say more about our progress in each of these areas.

We will also soon release the reports of the Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias and the Task Force on Combating Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab, and Anti-Palestinian Bias. I established these groups last year as part of our efforts to address intolerance in our community. The reports are hard-hitting and painful. They also include recommendations with concrete plans for implementation, which we welcome and embrace. No one in our community should experience bias, intolerance, or bigotry. We believe adoption of the recommendations and other measures will go far toward eradicating those evils on our campus.

The time ahead will demand much from each of us, but I am as confident as ever in our ability to meet our challenges with integrity and resolve, our minds set on the work before us and our hearts committed to the future of our beloved University.

Sincerely,
Alan M. Garber

Below is Harvard’s lawsuit against Defendants, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES;
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH;
ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., in his official
capacity as Secretary of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services;
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE; PAMELA J. BONDI, in her
official capacity as Attorney General of the
United States; UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; LINDA
M. MCMAHON, in her official capacity as
Secretary of the United States Department of
Education; UNITED STATES GENERAL
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION;
STEPHEN EHIKIAN, in his official capacity
as Acting Administrator of the United States
General Services Administration; UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY;
CHRISTOPHER A. WRIGHT, in his official
capacity as Secretary of the United States
Department of Energy; UNITED STATES
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION;
SETHURAMAN PANCHANATHAN, in his
official capacity as Director of the United
States National Science Foundation; UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE;
PETER B. HEGSETH, in his official capacity
as Secretary of the United States Department
of Defense; NATIONAL AERONAUTICS
AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION; and
JANET E. PETRO, in her official capacity as
Acting Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Read it. 👇

Harvard’s lawsuit against the Government.

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All New England is endangered by Trump.

Boston at Risk of ‘Wealth Spiral’ as Harvard Fight Ripples Through Economy

Far beyond Harvard Yard, school is a major economic engine for the region.

President Trump’s financial fight with Harvard University risks economic fallout far beyond the ornate gates surrounding Harvard Yard.

The Ivy League school is a major local presence in its own right, with more than 20,000 employees and campuses that spill onto both sides of the Charles River in Boston and Cambridge, Mass. Harvard also has deep ties to almost every major economic sector in the Boston area, from biotechnology and real estate to the array of shops and restaurants that fill Harvard Square.

The cuts there threaten a “wealth spiral effect” as people tied to the university pull back on spending, said Evan Horowitz, executive director for Tufts University’s Center for State Policy Analysis. “These aren’t distributed jobs—they’re concentrated, so we could see strong local effects.”

The Boston area is one of the wealthiest in the U.S., fed in part by vital industries such as higher education and biotechnology. But the Trump administration’s financial threats to Harvard this week—freezing $2.26 billion in grants and contracts, and threatening to strip the school’s tax-exempt status—come at a vulnerable and uncertain time.

The biotechnology sector, clustered in Cambridge, and fed by research and expertise at both Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was already struggling with layoffs and a downturn in venture-capital investment following a frenzied expansion during and right after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vacancy rates for life-sciences buildings in the Boston region reached 30% at the end of 2024, according to brokerage firm Cushman & Wakefield. While there have been some bright spots for leasing activity, overall demand for lab space has come down as some life sciences firms downsize and consolidate.

The economic turmoil on and off campus has spilled into Cambridge’s pricey housing market too. High-end home buyers there are pulling out of deals, and some would-be sellers are holding off on listings, said Lauren Holleran, a vice president at Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Cambridge.

“They’re saying, let’s see how things shake out,” she said.

Harvard’s big showdown with the Trump administration kicked into high gear on Monday, when the school rebuffed demands to overhaul how it operates and admits students. The administration responded with funding and tax-status threats.

Harvard, like nearby MIT, had already enacted a hiring freeze as earlier Trump administration moves raised threats to higher-education funding. On Wednesday, Harvard Medical School leaders said the school was preparing to cut employees and programs, according to the Harvard Crimson. The school had already been facing budget challenges before Trump’s recent moves.

It will take time for the impact of new cuts to filter through the local economy, but there was quick fallout on campus as a number of health and science projects were put on hold.

Kelsey Tyssowski, a research associate in neuroscience at Harvard, said the grant from the National Institutes of Health that pays for her salary and research has been delayed. She is now wondering whether the money will come at all. Tyssowski studies the evolution of skilled movement, and hopes that her work will make it easier to treat neurological diseases in the future.

“The mood in general is dour,” said Gregory Given, who teaches writing courses at Harvard and is a member of the bargaining committee for the Harvard Academic Workers union. The union represents around 3,200 nontenure-track university employees. The majority are scientific researchers, and most of them depend on federal money, according to Given.

There is “uncertainty as to whether the next paycheck is going to come,” he said.

The risk also reaches into the region’s biotech industry, since academic research feeds the pipeline for successful startups that grow into bigger businesses. Cambridge-based biotech firm Moderna, founded in 2010 and rooted in groundbreaking mRNA research by Harvard scientists, quickly became a multibillion-dollar company. 

“This all has a trickle-down effect,” said Maggie O’Toole, incoming CEO of LabCentral, a Boston-based nonprofit that has provided lab space to hundreds of startups. “Universities foster entrepreneurism and develop the intellectual capital that many companies are based on.” (Wall Street Journal)

One more thing.

Blows against Harvard threaten to reverberate throughout New England.

As the article from the Wall Street Journal posted above says, as Trump works to destroy Harvard, Boston is in real trouble.

But so too is New Hampshire. The employable age population in New Hampshire is approximately 1,148,000, out of which 750,000 people are actually employed. Roughly 13.2% of those employed work out of state, mainly in the Boston metro area. Looking at these numbers another way, 100,000 New Hampshire residents commute to Massachusetts for work each day.

How many from New Hampshire will lose their jobs if Boston goes into economic decline?

There re no Republican members of the Congress or Senate from either Massachusetts or New Hampshire. That means there is no Elected Officials who we can hope might be persuaded to reason with Trump or we can hope he would listen to.

What other damage is Trump causing in New England?

Shall we talk about Maine, another New England state that Trump has voiced his grievances against?

Trump publicly confronted Maine Governor Janet Mills on February 21, 2025, during a White House meeting with governors. He threatened to withhold all federal funding from Maine unless the state complied with his executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. Mills responded, “See you in court.”

The Federal cuts the petty tyrant has proposed against Maine could create a $649 million shortfall in Maine’s budget, risking $861 million in lost economic output, 4,900 jobs, and $46.7 million in state tax revenue. Key areas affected include Medicaid, SNAP, and education.
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Canadian tourism, a major part of Maine’s economy, has already been badly hurt by Trump’s insulting determination to make our neighbor to the north our 51st State. As a result, Canadian tourism is expected to drop by 25% this year, largely due to new tariffs and economic insecurity. This is a significant concern for a state heavily reliant on out-of-state visitors.

As to Longer-Term Risks, Maine’s close economic ties with Canada mean it is particularly vulnerable to Trump’s trade policies. His reckless tariffs could hurt sectors of Maine’s economy like energy imports, exports, and tourism.

His autocratic bullying, his childish vendettas, and the damage that this brings should shake us all to the core. Think of scenarios comparable to the damage Trump’s attacks on Harvard are inflicting to the communities around the university whenever you hear Trump has threatened a school or a state.

Weird Easter Egg Roll for children at the White House.

What else did the occupant of the White House do on Easter Sunday?

I asked the AI search app Perplexity, Did Trump Go to Church Yesterday?

Answer.
Multiple sources indicate that Donald Trump did not attend a church service yesterday, Easter Sunday. Instead, he spent the day posting extensively on Truth Social and visited his Virginia golf club after attending an Easter prayer service at the White House.

Here is the Sad Easter greeting the White House occupant shared with America on Easter Sunday.👇

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