Nicolas Michiels

Practicing law in the nation's capital @PowersLawFirm, focusing on higher education and the regulatory environment. (Opinions are my own.)

[Elliot Steinmetz @elliotsteinmetz]

The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend. The basketball world lost a beloved star. Our Jewish community lost an ally and someone who knew exactly how to show up.

Mike Sweetney wasn’t just a friend. He was family. When you needed him, he was there. Always. You didn’t even have to ask.

The very first message I got after October 7th, 2023 was from Mike checking if I was ok. He knew I was in Israel.

A couple of years later, when Iran attacked Israel with ballistic missiles, the first message I got was from Mike. He knew my son, Noah was there and wanted to make sure he was ok.

When we would run a charity event for troubled teens, Mike would show up.

He was there for our student-athletes at Yeshiva University day in and day out, regardless of his other responsibilities and jobs. His dedication to mental health awareness and his willingness to share his story for the benefit of others was the work of a selfless human being with a huge heart.

Mike - we love you and we will miss you. Thanks for everything.

If you would like to assist the family, please feel free to reach out directly and I will give instructions.

[Theo Francken @FranckenTheo]

Without his shadow fleet Poetin can’t wage war against innocent Ukranians. So we take these vessels out. One by one. Till his war of agression stops.

Belgium maybe a small country. But we are founding father of NATO and the EU and we take our responsability serious.

After years of decline and abdication, Belgium is finaly back.

When it matters, we don’t hide. We show up.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Belgium's decisive decision to seize a tanker from Russia's shadow fleet last night. This particular vessel has long been under US, EU, and UK sanctions, but nonetheless continued to illegally transport Russian oil using a false flag and forged documents. We welcome this strong action against Moscow’s floating purse and thank France for supporting the operation.

It is also important to modernize European legislation so that tankers carrying Russian oil are not just stopped but seized, with their oil repurposed for Europe's security. We must be resolute. Russia operates like a mafia organization, and the response must match that reality. If they reject the rules for the sake of war, the rules must foresee a clear and firm answer.

[Alex Tabarrok @ATabarrok]

From Gorsuch concurrence.

[Nicolas Michiels @Nick__Michiels]

@justin_fenton DC United?

[Evan A. Feigenbaum @EvanFeigenbaum]

The @WashPost has now laid off its Asia editor, its New Delhi bureau chief, its Sydney bureau chief, its Cairo bureau chief, the entire Middle East reporting team, China correspondents, Iran correspondents, Turkey correspondents, and many more. The world is becoming less America-centric by the minute while the United States is becoming more America-centric than ever. It is just a depressing yet somehow perfect summation of our current moment that one of the most important newspapers in the history of the country - one that has actually shaped the history of the United States - doesn't think reporting on the world is of any use anymore. What an utterly perfect encapsulation of where we have arrived.

[Lizzie Johnson @lizziejohnsonnn]

I was just laid off by The Washington Post in the middle of a warzone. I have no words. I'm devastated.

[Steven Goff @SoccerInsider]

Crestfallen and f$&@ furious about closure as we know it of @PostSports by an indifferent, compromised owner and a failing publisher — a dept of Povich and Boswell, Wilbon and Kornheiser, Gildea and Sheinin, of poets, authors, Hall of Famers and Pulitzer finalists. Terrible day.

[Neal McCluskey @NealMcCluskey]

This ruling for the University of California is correct.

The Trump admin has shown that it's attacking far more than antisemitism and is side-stepping legally required procedures.
https://t.co/U0KSrIhsoa

Universities deserve criticism.

This makes them look sympathetic.

[Zach Schermele @ZachSchermele]

NEW: These are all the Education Dept. offices that staffers and managers say have been impacted by layoffs since Friday, according to the union for the agency’s employees.

They include workers that supported HBCUs, tribal colleges, charter schools, civil rights reviews & more.

[Frederick M. Hess @rickhess99]

I can’t see even a hint of legal justification for the Trump admin’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Ed.”

Is there any attempt (even a feeble one) to justify conditioning taxpayer funds on these particular priorities in this fashion?

I mean, I remember that, even when Congress had *empowered* Arne Duncan to do this kind of conditional funding with Race to the Top and (sorta) with NCLB “waivers”, Republicans were STILL lit.

So, can anyone point to anything that’s been proffered as a possible justification?

[Nicolas Michiels @Nick__Michiels]

Institutions deserve due process before being placed on HCM or having to post financial protection. This should be the case whether the institution is for-profit or non-profit; a mom and pop barber school or an elite institution. #TitleIV #HigherEducation

[U.S. Department of Education @usedgov]

Today, @FAFSA is placing Harvard on Heightened Cash Monitoring (HCM) status, which requires Harvard to use its own funds to disburse federal student aid before drawing down funds from the Department. https://t.co/B10hVdy2z2

[Ezra Klein @ezraklein]

In the last few years we've seen:

- The plot to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer
- The Storming of the Capitol and pipe bombs left at the RNC and DNC
- The break-in to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and the brutal on Paul Pelosi
- Multiple assassination attempts against Trump
- The assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shooting of on State Senator John Hoffman and his wife
- Luigi Mangione's assassination of Brian Thompson
- The assassination of Charlie Kirk

Political violence is contagious. It is spreading. It is not confined to one side or belief system. It should terrify us all.

The foundation of a free society is the ability to participate in it without fear of violence. Political violence is always an attack against us all. You have to be so blind not to see that.

[Neal McCluskey @NealMcCluskey]

🚨Breaking: Court gets it right in Harvard case.

The feds cannot use $ to dictate terms to colleges.

[ED Under Secretary @EDUnderSecKent]

We are taking a major step to transform how @usedgov supports students & families navigating federal student aid. By providing clear guidance & improved tools, we’re empowering students to make more informed decisions, leading to lower debt burdens & stronger repayment outcomes.

[AEI Education @AEIeducation]

In Nicholas Kent, the Department of Education lands a tremendous asset, writes @PrestonCooper93

Read the full post at @AEIdeas:

[ED Under Secretary @EDUnderSecKent]

I'm honored to be on @EdSecMcMahon's team!

Read my letter on restoring American greatness in postsecondary education here: https://t.co/XDD67b4MjU

[Zach Schermele @ZachSchermele]

NEW: Penny Schwinn, the former TN commissioner of education & Trump's pick to serve as deputy education secretary, just withdrew her nomination (she did not give a specific reason).

She will instead serve as a senior advisor/chief strategist at the Education Department.

[William Baude @WilliamBaude]

One of the stranger concurring opinions I've seen in a while (concurring in a 146-page opinion by Judge Holmes).

[Senate Press Gallery @SenatePress]

#Senate floor update: Reading of the substitute amendment to H.R. 1 began at 11:08 p.m. Saturday evening.

At 5:38 a.m., after 6 hours and 30 minutes of reading, we are at page 355 of 940.