Daily brief · Porter Square, Cambridge, MA
Pentagon orders Harvard, MIT to cut foreign ties
August 19, 2026
Top story
Pentagon directs Harvard to sever foreign partnerships
Harvard and MIT are among 30 universities ordered to review their foreign academic partnerships and end any the Pentagon deems a national security risk by Aug. 31, or risk losing federal research funding. The directive is aimed largely at ties to Chinese institutions and follows the release last month of an updated Pentagon list of 130 foreign universities and research institutions it says raise the risk of unauthorized technology transfer. The department said the reviews are meant to protect taxpayer-funded research from intellectual-property theft and exploitation by foreign adversaries; its public release did not name the universities.
The Guardian
Harvard Square Advisory Committee holds public meeting tonight
The Harvard Square Advisory Committee meets virtually at 6 p.m. today to discuss planning, zoning, and development affecting Mid-Cambridge and neighboring districts.
City of Cambridge
Acoustic prodigy Alexandr Misko performs at Club Passim tonight
Fingerstyle guitar virtuoso Alexandr Misko plays Club Passim at 8 p.m. tonight, with a livestream ticket option available.
Club Passim
Chuwi performs free outdoor concert in Kendall Square tonight
Puerto Rican quartet Chuwi plays plena, indie, and Caribbean rhythms tonight from 6-8 p.m. at a free Platform Summer Series concert at 675 West Kendall Street.
Cambridge Office for Tourism
Moëca introduces clam shack-themed summer specials
Neighborhood 9 seafood restaurant Moëca has rolled out an affordable, New England clam shack-themed bar menu available Tuesday through Thursday evenings, Cambridge Day reported Aug. 18.
Cambridge Day
Music Bingo returns to CanalSide at CambridgeSide tonight
CanalSide Food + Drink at CambridgeSide hosts its weekly Music Bingo tonight from 6-8 p.m., with the first round starting at 6:30 p.m.
Cambridge Office for Tourism
Summer-end community block party at O'Neill Library tonight
The O'Neill Branch Library in North Cambridge hosts an outdoor block party tonight from 5-7 p.m. with games, crafts, music, and light refreshments.
City of Cambridge
Intermediate English conversation practice at O'Neill Library today
The O'Neill Branch Library hosts a free, drop-in intermediate-to-high level English conversation practice group for ESOL speakers today from 1-2:30 p.m.
City of Cambridge
Tai Chi Paradigm class for older adults at Valente Branch today
The Valente Branch Library hosts a session of the intermediate Tai Chi Paradigm class today from 10:05-11:05 a.m., focusing on the mind-body connection.
City of Cambridge
Farmer visit and vegetable bed tending at Urban Park Roof Garden today
A farmer from Green City Growers visits the Urban Park Roof Garden (90 Broadway) today at 10 a.m. to tend raised vegetable beds and engage with the community.
Kendall Center
Porter Square's McCarthy's Pub hosts weekly Irish music session tonight
McCarthy's Pub in Porter Square gathers local musicians tonight from 7-10 p.m. for its traditional weekly Irish music session with fiddles and flutes.
The Boston Calendar
Central Square's Roxy's Arcade hosts weekly karaoke night tonight
Roxy's Arcade in Central Square hosts "The People's Karaoke" tonight starting at 7 p.m., with prizes for singing off the staff's secret song list.
The Boston Calendar
Cambridge Election Commission meets today to prepare for state primary
The Cambridge Election Commission holds a public hybrid meeting today at 3 p.m. to finalize logistical preparations for the Sept. 1 state primary.
City of Cambridge
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