Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote a letter to Harvard University on Friday barring it from enrolling international students and ordering current international students to transfer elsewhere. The letter comes as an escalation of the current conflict between President Donald Trump and Harvard, which started when Harvard first refused to comply with a list of demands sent by the Trump administration, resulting in a $2 billion cut in funding. The administration’s goals were to root out...

 A federal judge on Thursday extended an order blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to bar Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs extended the block she imposed last week with a temporary restraining order, which allows the Ivy League school to continue enrolling international students as a lawsuit proceeds. Harvard sued the Department of Homeland Security on Friday after Secretary Kristi Noem revoked its ability to host...

Critics used to howl that President Donald Trump was selling out to Big Tech. Figures such as Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg quickly went from MAGA-world archvillains to sympathetic figures who posed for photos with Trump, congratulated him on his victory, and even turned up and applauded at his inauguration.  For Democrats, and more than a few Never Trump holdouts, this was proof that Trump was in their pocket and that his tough talk on Big Tech would...

As of now, the $5 million Trump Gold Card visa—which would give wealthy investors U.S. residency and an expedited path to citizenship—is still just a concept of a marketing plan without nearly enough potential buyers, experts told Forbes, despite a ballyhooed announcement by Trump in February and repeated promises of an imminent launch. “The challenges are daunting to be able to actually pull this off,” Nuri Katz, founder of Apex Capital Partners, who has a 34-year career providing...

We live in an age of conflict. Sharp political and social divides are everywhere, and while it's easy to theoretically write off people who disagree with us on fundamental core issues and values, the reality is that we often must co-exist with them and learn to manage our conflicts in a healthy way. Sometimes that means putting aside our differences and "agreeing to disagree." Something it means hashing them out.The quickest way to stop having a constructive dialog with someone is when they become defensive. This usually results in them digging in their heels and making you defensive. This can result in a vicious cycle of back-and-forth defensive behavior that can feel impossible to break. Once that happens, the walls go up, the gloves come off and resolving the situation becomes tough.Amanda Ripley, author of “High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out,” says in her book that you can prevent someone you disagree with from becoming defensive by being curious about their opinion. Ripley is a bestselling author and the co-founder of Good Conflict, a media and training company that helps people reimagine conflict. Not surprisingly, she's in high demand on news programs, conferences, and media summits these days. - YouTube www.youtube.com How to have a constructive conversationLet’s say you believe the room should be painted red and your spouse says it should be blue. Instead of saying, “I think blue is ugly,” you can say, “It’s interesting that you say that…” and ask them to explain why they chose blue.The key phrase is: “It’s interesting that you say that…”It shows genuine curiosity in their point of view. That's critical to avoid someone shutting down on you. People coming to an agreement. Canva/Photos When you show the other person that you genuinely care about their thoughts and appreciate their reasoning, they let down their guard. This makes them feel heard and encourages them to hear your side as well. This approach also encourages the person you disagree with to consider coming up with a collaborative solution instead of arguing to defend their position.It’s important to assume the other person has the best intentions while listening to them make their case. “To be genuinely curious, we need to refrain from judgment and making negative assumptions about others. Assume the other person didn’t intend to annoy you. Assume they are doing the best they can. Assume the very best about them. You’ll appreciate it when others do it for you,” Kaitlyn Skelly at The Ripple Effect Education writes.Look out for signs of defensiveness like blaming, criticizing, making excuses, or being passive-aggressive. These are warning signals that your conversation is veering off the rails.Phrases you can use to avoid an argumentThe curiosity approach can also involve affirming the other person’s perspective while adding your own, using a phrase like, “On the one hand, I see what you’re saying. On the other hand…”Here are some other phrases you can use:“I wonder if…”“It’s interesting that you say that because I see it differently…”“I might be wrong, but…”“How funny! I had a different reaction…”“I hadn’t thought of it like that! For me, though, it seems…”“I think I understand your point, though I look at it a little differently…” Two men high-fiving one another. \u200bvia Canva/Photos What's the best way to disagree with people?A 2016 study from Yale University supports Ripley’s ideas. The study found that when people argue to “win,” they take a hard line and only see one correct answer in the conflict. Whereas those who want to “learn” are more likely to see that there is more than one solution to the problem. At that point, competition magically turns into collaboration.“Being willing to hear out other perspectives and engage in dialogue that isn’t simply meant to convince the other person you’re right can lead to all sorts of unexpected insights,” psychologist and marketing Professor at Southern Methodist University tells CNBC.The key words are "willing" and "genuine." These phrases aren't magic bullets designed to help you level your opponents. You have to actually, truly be willing to learn about their perspective and be open to changing your mind. @danbharris Let me know in the comments if this data rings true to you and your experience of conflict. And check out danharris.com for more from Amanda Ripley including what she has to say about “conflict entrepreneurs,”people who inflame turmoil to benefit themselves. #conflict #healthyconflict #communication #tenpercenthappier #10percenthappier Another common tip that usually comes from the world of couple's counseling is to stop seeing the other person as your adversary. If you can imagine the two of you on the same team versus the problem, your conversations will be more productive.In a world of strong opinions and differing perspectives, curiosity can be a superpower that helps you have more constructive conversations with those with whom you disagree. All it takes is a little humility and an open mind, and you can turn conflict into collaboration, building bridges instead of walls.This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.

One thing you learn in marriage is that different people have different definitions of "clean." To one person, clean means your home is decluttered, everything in its proper place. Others might be OK with a few neat stacks of stuff or an odd pile or two. Others aren't happy until the baseboards are wiped down and the floor's sparkling. Some people are just content if there are no roaches or rats scurrying around.Partnership is all about navigating these different expectations and coming together to make and keep your home. But that doesn't mean it's always easy to communicate about this stuff with your partner, or to meet their expectations. Throw in the fact that men and women are socialized from birth to have completely different ideas of their role in a household, and things can get complicated fast.One guy recently took to social media with a conundrum. His wife had asked him to clean the house while she was out, the only problem was...it was already clean."My wife asked me to pick up the house while she was out. [Here's] the condition of house before she left," he wrote on Reddit along with a few pictures showcasing a pretty spotless (and quite beautiful) home. Now if you're nitpicking, you could spot a few clean cups in the dish drying rack and a small pile of papers on the kitchen table. But honestly, most people would be thrilled if their house looked like this!What do you think, can you spot the mess? The man needed the Internet's help in translating his wife's expectations. from pics Experienced married people didn't fall for the trap, and laid some incredible wisdom on the man that can only be gained through many years of partnership. The easy answer might be, "She's nuts, the house is already clean!" But people who have been with their partner for a long time know better.Some theorized that the husband might have a reputation for not cleaning up after himself:"She's asking him to not mess it up while she gone. I.e. Clean up after himself.""maybe that was a nice way of her asking you to clean up after yourself...""And to also get his cup that has been sitting on that nightstand for a week. Wife doesn't want to put it in the sink because it feels disrespectful to her that he would leave it there so long when the rest of the house is clean. She's cleaned up literally all his other trash and cups, but this is THE ONE he needs to do himself. She's wondering if he even has eyes or self awareness."They gleaned all of that from just three photos! This is what years of marital intuition can do. We love a guy who remembers to clean the inside of the oven.Canva PhotosOthers with a keen eye were adamant that, upon closer inspection, there are tons of signs in the photos that certain people might not be pulling their weight:"I can see that some of the fruit isn't in the fruit basket, just near it, and there is paperwork and a stapler on the table, and little things on the island. ... It seems like the wife is giving him the easiest possible clean up task. He just has to put a few items away. If he wanted, he could also wipe down the counters, vacuum, clean the dog bed, spray some air freshener and put fresh flowers out. But I'm guessing he won't even put the few items and pieces of fruit away. Clearly his wife is doing a lot to keep the place clean, but he'll act like putting a few things away isn't worth his time and leave it for her to do when she gets back.""There's probably grit on the floors, dirt on the baseboards, stains on the carpets and upholstery, dust on every horizontal surface, window smudges, etc. so the house looks tidy, but a detail-oriented person will notice and be bothered by all those less visible things""I’m seeing a used paper towel roll right next to the fresh one that is also almost out. I’m guessing there are other instances of that around the house, too.""Definitely the items on the dining table..""Clear all the surfaces and put away the clutter. My woman brain doesn't understand why her request was confusing."Others insisted the request wasn't really about the current state of the house, but more a general plea to start taking some ownership."When my house is in this condition, and I asked the same thing of my husband, I think it’s sort of coming from a place of resentment. I’ll notice that he spends his free time doing a hobby or something for himself, whereas I feel like even all my free time is still spent keeping up with chores. My love language is acts of service, so when I come home and he has tackled a project without me asking or something like that, it means a lot that he spent his free time doing something for the betterment of the household unit."The OP responded to this one: "So far I think your response is the most nuanced and accurate. Thanks for giving me something to consider!"The photos serve as a fascinating Rorschach test. It's incredibly easy for some to see someone nitpicking a clean and beautiful home. It's also easy to see the usually-invisible mental load one partner carries. Wiping down surfaces: Someone's gotta remember to do it.Canva PhotosNo one knows the history of this guy and this couple, but there is a well-known story lurking in these photos if you're willing to interpret and read into things a little bit. It goes by many names including the Invisible Load and Emotional Labor, etc. in reference to one partner (usually the woman) being the Project Manager of the house.Couples Therapy Inc. lists out some of the responsibilities of the house Project Manager:Anticipating needs before they become problemsManaging social relationships and obligationsCoordinating schedules and appointmentsRemembering important dates and detailsSacrificing personal needs for family harmonyAnd that also includes making sure the house is tidy and cleaned, and enlisting help in doing so by explicitly telling other people in the household exactly what needs to be done, what supplies and groceries need to be purchase, etc. As others in the thread pointed out, maybe the exhausted wife is really saying, "Dude, can you just figure it out for yourself for once?"

America’s Got Talent is back, baby. With twenty seasons under its belt, you’d think that we’ve seen it all, but then there always seems to be at least one act so fresh that it instantly raises the bar once more. This time, that honor belongs to Lightwire Theater, a Brazilian-based company that incorporates dance and technology to create what they call “immersive art content.” And honestly…that description doesn’t even begin to cover it. During their AGT audition, audiences were transported to the Amazon rainforest with slinking jaguars, dancing monkeys, colorful birds, and even a giant boa constrictor. Four human performers donning black suits with LED lights, transformed into these jungle creatures as giant animations on screens provided a lush backdrop. All the while, a powerful soundtrack of drums and animal sounds played in the background, really driving it all home. Watch: - YouTube www.youtube.com The routine was immediately met with uproarious applause from the audience and judges. But perhaps no one was as moved as Simon Cowell, who called it “magic.”“This is one of the most beautiful, stunning acts that I have seen across all the Got Talents. You were so emotional. I don’t know why you were nervous, because you were always going to get one of — you know what’s coming…” he said, just before pressing the Golden Buzzer button.Clearly, winning wasn’t the only motive for Lightwire. The company also wanted to (literally) illuminate the role rainforests play in all of our lives.As one of the team members from Light Wire pointed out, “The Amazon is really important. The Amazon really matters [to the world].”We hear a lot about the threat technology poses to making art, but here is a beautiful example that it can just as easily enhance art when used thoughtfully and intentionally. Time will tell as to whether or not Lightwire will win the whole enchilada (although, couldn't you see this show happening in Vegas, like yesterday?) but regardless, it has already won over many, many hearts and shown us what innovation really looks like.

Rediscovering their love for music.