News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Trump administration halts Harvard's ability to enroll in... by ethbr1 on Thursday May 22, 2025 @05:52PM (#44067532)
Most of Trump's behavior makes sense when you realize his dealmaking strategy is bullying:

1. Exert maximun possible pressure

2. Strike the best deal possible

Reasons only matter in the sense of selecting initial targets. Once into dealmaking, it's anything and everything thrown at an opponent.

You can see this in terms of what stops him: equal counterpressure (China) or consequences (US stocks and treasuries being dumped)

Similarly, once a deal is struck, reasons again don't matter.

Re:Trump administration halts Harvard's ability to enroll in... by anigbrowl on Thursday May 22, 2025 @08:01PM (#44068452)
The problem is that deals made under duress have little lasting value. The bullied party feels little moral compunction to uphold the terms a moment longer than necessary, plus they will naturally be skeptical of the bullying party's commitment to do so in the future.
Re:Trump administration halts Harvard's ability to enroll in... by ethbr1 on Thursday May 22, 2025 @08:23PM (#44068562)
Oh, it's absolutely asinine. Which is why international geopolitics and real estate differ.