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Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

reuters.com

31–40 of 738 posts

Re: Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

#31
While mostly framed as a matter of clarity and formality in presentation, Mr. Rubio’s directive to all diplomatic posts around the world blamed “radical” diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs for what he said was a misguided and ineffective switch from the serif typeface Times New Roman to sans serif Calibri in official department paperwork.

In an “Action Request” memo obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Rubio said that switching back to the use of Times New Roman would “restore decorum and professionalism to the department’s written work.” Calibri is “informal” when compared to serif typefaces like Times New Roman, the order said, and “clashes” with the department’s official letterhead.

As far back as I can recall, this is a politician who has railed against 'political correctness'.

Re: Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

#32

His boss' posts on Truth Social should be in Comic Sans.

Just remember that when the CERN announced they finally could prove the existence of the Higgs boson, they did it using Comic Sans

https://blog.scottlogic.com/2012/07/05/the-higgs-boson-comic...

Re: Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

#33
post #24

Butterick on TNR: ( https://practicaltypography.com/times-new-roman-alternatives... ) > When Times New Roman appears in a book, document, or advertisement, it connotes apathy. It says, “I submitted to the font of least resistance.” Times New Roman is not a font choice so much as the absence of a font choice, like the blackness of deep space is not a color. To look at Times New Roman is to gaze into the void. > If you…

The Times New Roman commentary could have been true back when it was written, but now Calibri is the default for Microsoft Word, and has been for a long while (almost 20 years). So choosing Calibri is the path of least resistance.

Aptos has been the default font for Microsoft Word since 2023.

Re: Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

#35

> Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Biden-era move to the sans serif typeface “wasteful,” casting the return to Times New Roman as part of a push to stamp out diversity efforts. https://archive.ph/2025.12.10-001235/https://www.nytimes.com...

To actually reduce waste, they could have switched to a narrower typeface, such as Roboto Condensed. At least it would save some paper occasionally.

Re: Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

#36

Butterick on TNR: ( https://practicaltypography.com/times-new-roman-alternatives... ) > When Times New Roman appears in a book, document, or advertisement, it connotes apathy. It says, “I submitted to the font of least resistance.” Times New Roman is not a font choice so much as the absence of a font choice, like the blackness of deep space is not a color. To look at Times New Roman is to gaze into the void. > If you…

>Still, I would have gone with Comic Sans.

I don't often genuinely laugh out loud at comments on HN, but that one was good! Subtle, classy, and a gentle yet effective dig.

Re: Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

#37

As documented at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_Easter_eggs google search for "times new roman font" and the results are returned in that font. ( https://www.google.com/search?q=Times+New+Roman+Font for the lazy). Looks terrible on my screen.

Nice! Also works with Courier and Comic Sans, but, sadly, not with Helvetica.

Re: Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

#38
post #18

I love how people are passionate about fonts. Search for the 2017 Saturday Night Live skit with Ryan Gosling "Papyrus". It captures the obsession! "It’s like they spent $300 million on the movie, and then.. They just used Papyrus."

Sadly, in this particular case, it's not the font that they are obsessed about.

Re: Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

#39

His boss' posts on Truth Social should be in Comic Sans.

Just remember that when the CERN announced they finally could prove the existence of the Higgs boson, they did it using Comic Sans https://blog.scottlogic.com/2012/07/05/the-higgs-boson-comic...

If Trump finds out he'll start "truthing" in Comic Sans and expecting a Nobel Prize in Physics.

Re: Rubio stages font coup: Times New Roman ousts Calibri

#40
> The department under Blinken in early January 2023 had switched to Calibri, a modern sans-serif font, saying this was a more accessible font for people with disabilities

That's interesting because I've long been under the impression that serif fonts promoted easier reading. As such, serif fonts could / should be considered more accessible.

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