I have no idea what I would have done if this had happened while I was on my Fulbright. I was 22, had no savings, was on the other side of the world, with a visa that IIRC didn't allow local paid work. I think my credit card limit was $800. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/u... - ThreadSky

jacobtlevy.bsky.social • 1 day ago

I have no idea what I would have done if this had happened while I was on my Fulbright. I was 22, had no savings, was on the other side of the world, with a visa that IIRC didn't allow local paid work. I think my credit card limit was $800.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/us/study-abroad-programs-funding-trump-fulbright-gilman.html

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marxinhell.bsky.social•1 day ago

Same -- but I didn't even have a credit card!!

chrisbrooke.bsky.social•1 day ago

Yes: I was a Fulbright Scholar, 1995-7, and it never crossed my mind, not even for a moment, that the money might not actually be paid.

cranberryhorn.bsky.social•1 day ago

Trump/Musk are anti-education, anti-life science and anti-liberal arts.

chiefstin1987.bsky.social•1 day ago

We need to get them out of there. It takes a village.

vagabending.bsky.social•1 day ago

Destroying the Fulbright program is so insidious and yet so stupid at the same time. The US is powerful due to our military might but just as much due to our cultural and educational capital... and Fulbright is part of that cultural/educational capital. Lighting the program on fire is just asinine.

vagabending.bsky.social•1 day ago

It boggles the mind the way that the Trump administration is destroying everything that quietly gives the US power on the global stage. If we destroy our universities, we destroy the bastion of soft power that brings the smartest people in the world straight to America to build us up stronger.

etretatelephant.bsky.social•1 day ago

The ironic thing is that none of these things is thought through. It will result in a surge of Consular cases at US Embassies overseas as destitute and traumatized young kids turn to their representatives overseas for assistance.

poettreevines.bsky.social•1 day ago

He’s closing those offices.

cherylm56588591.bsky.social•1 day ago

That is horrible. One of my worst fears while studying abroad. Homeless in a foreign country, barely able to navigate the language some days. Just horrific.

darosenthal.bsky.social•1 day ago

were you an orphan?

ckjohnsonbk.bsky.social•1 day ago

WTF is wrong with you? Not everybody is from money or supportive families.

menaganey.bsky.social•1 day ago

Are you for real?

jacobtlevy.bsky.social•1 day ago

wow, you seem nice.

My family was in absolutely no position to subsidize my study abroad— or my trip home if I'd decided to cut the year short and Fulbright reneged on buying the plane ticket.

Nor, in 1993, was it easy to quickly send money to the other side of the world.

darosenthal.bsky.social•1 day ago

at 22 I was an orphan. I had done a year abroad at 18, while my dad was still alive, but at 22 with him dead it would've been MUCH harder.

parents will do anything for us, if they can.

queeniebr15.bsky.social•1 day ago

They want America to become dumb!

etretatelephant.bsky.social•1 day ago

The dumb are easier to manipulate and brainwash into
Voting against their own interests.

mithos343.bsky.social•1 day ago

What the fuck is wrong with these sadistic monsters?

aurelius2k5.bsky.social•1 day ago

Musk seems devoid of empathy. A true sociopath. Trump also, with a healthy side of stupidity.

ckjohnsonbk.bsky.social•1 day ago

They are, in fact, sadists.

pseudonymble.bsky.social•1 day ago

They don't care that data points are only representations of living human beings. They consider us various forms of inferior subspecies unworthy of regard, much less respect. Apartheid logic.

jphendo.bsky.social•1 day ago

These are very rich people from affluent backgrounds who have no idea what it's like for those who live from pay day to pay day with no savings to fall back on. They'd probably say you've only got yourself to blame if you go abroad when your credit card limit won't pay for a 1st class flight home.

simulacrandrew.bsky.social•1 day ago

Honestly do not understand the point of doing this to these students. Let's say you do think the Fulbright is a waste - which it's not, but for the sake of argument - why not wait to let them finish their awards? Why not have transition planning for the program? What is the purpose of the shock?

mapchick.bsky.social•1 day ago

It’s sick. My sister was on a Fulbright in Budapest in 2002, we could have helped, but not even sure how we could have gotten money to her back then. The message this sends to those in the program and the other countries is beyond my understanding.

ckjohnsonbk.bsky.social•1 day ago

I think liberals really struggle with this fact, so I’m going to say it straight: the fascist techbros running the government truly, sincerely and with all their shrivelled hearts HATE you and me and enjoy the thought of our suffering. Young smartypants stranded and starving? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

bassgardener.bsky.social•1 day ago

I never had a Fulbright, nor even a half-bright. I can, however, sympathize with the plight of students studying abroad having their funds yanked by cruel despot-wannabes.

mmaatman.bsky.social•1 day ago

Why did they stop Fulbrights? I can think of so many benefits of US students studying abroad! What is the point of stopping these payments (and possibly stranding students)?

freestatefemale.bsky.social•1 day ago

Because Maga cannot qualify so nobody gets to do it.

dogsartandme.bsky.social•1 day ago

They have been trying to limit education since Reagan. An educated public won’t vote for them in high enough numbers to win and they can control them through propaganda

othybear.bsky.social•1 day ago

It’s also one thing to discontinue future scholarships under the guise of efficiency but an entirely different (and cruel) thing mid program year. This admin is punishing scholars.

fresh72.bsky.social•1 day ago

Yea there's a close link between college education & political affiliation. It's one of the reasons why Reagan attacked higher education as well

drgeophysics.bsky.social•1 day ago

I believe that is one of the goals and points. To show the best and brightest that they mean less than nothing to America: Clear as day isn’t it? One dimensional chess is not complicated.

etretatelephant.bsky.social•1 day ago

The UK and Europe should open their doors to these bright, young people full of potential. Leave the US to stew in its MAGA mediocrity.

drgeophysics.bsky.social•1 day ago

The contempt for youth by the Republican Party is notable eh,

schadenfreude666.bsky.social•1 day ago

i'm stuck in paris with emily...help!...

jmwillis.bsky.social•1 day ago

I was on a Fulbright in Yemen in 2001--program was cancelled after 9/11, though they'd paid me half the amount already. I could relocate to London for 9 months only because a. i lived cheaply and b. it paid double for Yemen ($27k). Otherwise, I would have been lost.

pugmahm.bsky.social•1 day ago

Despicable, mr. ...Sheesh. What do I call him? "president" hardly seems appropriate.

jacobtlevy.bsky.social•1 day ago

Could've paid for groceries on the credit card for a while, but I couldn't possibly have paid rent.

cacaobyproduct.bsky.social•1 day ago

This is life altering shit, will cause so many students to drop out and leave, if they even can afford to

grandvic.bsky.social•1 day ago

Republicans would condescendingly tell you to use AI to figure it out

jackdaw687.bsky.social•1 day ago

My finances were tight when I was on my grant, and I recall being thankful that the Greek economy was impacting the value of the Euro and the local currency, because it meant I got more bang for my buck with my US cash I brought. This sounds like a nightmare.

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