Welcome to the online version of From the political deskis an evening newsletter from the NBC News political team that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill.
Today’s edition features Nnamdi Egwuongwu’s report embedded by the campaign about tensions at Morehouse College over Joe Biden’s commencement address next week. Additionally, “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker previews Sunday’s interview with Secretary of State Antony Bricken.
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Morehouse faculty will vote next week on whether to award Biden an honorary degree.
by Nnamdi Egwuongwu
ATLANTA — After feeling pressure all spring from college students protesting his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, President Joe Biden will face a new challenge on campus next week.
A group of Morehouse College faculty and staff is calling for the school to be blocked from awarding Biden an honorary doctorate at its May 19 commencement ceremony. Morehouse President David Thomas met virtually with his faculty members on Wednesday to discuss the issue.
“Although the majority of comments were against awarding honorary degrees, there were also some very strong defenses,” said a faculty member who answered the phone.
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Opponents of the decision criticized Biden’s policies on security and mass incarceration, his response to the conflict in Gaza, and recent comments on student protests. Supporters of the honorary degree argued that attacks on Biden’s handling of the Gaza war were “unwarranted,” according to people on the call.
However, it is unclear exactly how widespread the dissatisfaction is. Morehouse announced last month that Mr. Biden would be awarded an honorary doctorate, but procedural requirements still require faculty to vote on the award. The vote will take place Thursday, three days before classes begin, during a regularly scheduled faculty meeting, faculty members said.
In the run-up to Biden’s speech, some faculty members also began circulating a letter expressing “collective opposition” to Biden’s honor.
The dissent underscores dissatisfaction with Biden on many college campuses, which have been dealing with pro-Palestinian protests in recent weeks. Biden will also be the commencement speaker at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Read more →
The biggest news Biden announced this week
Written by Kristen Welker
Biden made a lot of news this week in an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett.
He warned Israel that it would not transfer offensive weapons if Israeli forces proceeded with a full-scale invasion of Rafah. He promised that Donald Trump would not accept the results of the 2024 election. He also said that if Trump were elected, many of Biden’s policy achievements, such as allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, would be “wiped away.”
But perhaps the biggest news Biden announced in that interview was his admission that the United States supplied weapons that killed civilians in Israel’s war against Hamas.
Barnett: Mr. President, I know that you suspended the shipment of 2,000 pounds of U.S. military bombs to Israel over concerns that they could be used in an attack on Rafah. Was that bomb, that powerful 2,000 pound bomb, used to kill civilians in Gaza?
Biden: Civilians have been killed in Gaza by bombs and other means targeting populated areas.
On the one hand, Biden’s admissions are common sense: Israel’s campaign has killed thousands of civilians, and the United States is Israel’s largest arms supplier.
On the other hand, it’s not every day that a U.S. president admits that U.S.-supplied weapons have killed innocent civilians.
And that raises a lot of questions that I hope to explore when I speak to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on “Meet the Press” this Sunday. We will also have interviews with Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vermont) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.).
What are Biden’s red lines?
Is the US complicit in these civilian deaths, as Biden suggests?
If so, why does the Biden administration continue to send both offensive and defensive weapons to Israel, as NBC News reported?
Or did Biden’s comments undermine Israel’s war against Hamas? (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country is prepared to act alone if the US cuts off arms supplies.)
What does it mean for negotiations to reach a ceasefire?
Plus, will the war between Israel and Hamas be a top issue for voters in November?
Be sure to hear the answer on Sunday.
President Trump to face Michael Cohen in court as prosecutors near conclusion of case
Written by Adam Rees, Gary Grumbach, Gillian Frankel, Darle Gregorian
Stormy Daniels has finished testifying, but another popular target of Donald Trump will take the stand in Monday’s criminal trial, his former lawyer Michael Cohen told NBC, multiple sources told CNN. told on the news.
Daniels, an adult film actress, and Cohen, a former Trump fixer, have both been outspoken critics of the Republican presidential candidate and key witness in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s record-tampering case. There is. The former president labeled both of them “scumbags.”
The move to summon Cohen comes after prosecutors said at the end of Friday’s court session that the prosecution had only two witnesses remaining and could halt the case as early as next week. It was conducted. Cohen’s testimony is expected to last several days.
President Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, asked Judge Juan Marchan to bar Cohen from commenting publicly on the case since he will now take the stand. He noted that Cohen appeared on TikTok this week wearing an orange jumpsuit and a T-shirt depicting President Trump in prison.
Blanche had previously complained that Cohen had made social media posts and interviews critical of President Trump during the trial. Cohen’s frequent comments come after Marchand said his commentary could lead to President Trump removing Cohen from a gag order barring him from attacking witnesses in the case. was loosening up.
Steinglass said the prosecutor’s office had previously asked Cohen to stop speaking. The judge directed prosecutors to tell Cohen that the judge wanted him to stop.
President Trump was furious that a gag order against Cohen was not issued after the day’s proceedings. “Everyone can say what they want,” he told reporters in the courthouse hallway, “but I can’t say anything.” “That’s shameful.”
Read more from day 15 of the Trump trial →
🗞️ Today’s Top News
- 🫏 Democrats are divided as follows: Biden is facing fresh criticism from some lawmakers and voters in battleground states where his stance on Israel poses the most political risk to his re-election bid. Read more →
- ⚖️ Petition Trading: Two operatives associated with indicted U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, including a former campaign manager for the Texas Democratic Party, have agreed to plea deals as part of the bribery case against the congressman. Read more →
- ⏱️ Appeal fails: An appeals court has upheld former Trump aide Steve Bannon’s conviction on two counts of contempt of Congress, but he is unlikely to be sent to prison immediately. Read more →
- 🏫 Discussion reignited: The Virginia State Board of Education has approved a plan to reinstate the names of Confederate leaders on two public schools. Read more →
- ✈️ Airplane landing: The Senate passed a bill late Thursday night reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration with measures that would increase staffing, accelerate customer refunds and add more flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Read more →
- ☀️ President Trump’s happy place: In the face of political, legal and financial headwinds, The Washington Post examines how Trump has constructed an “alternative reality” at his Mar-a-Lago club. There is. Read more →
That’s all from the political desk for now. If you have any feedback, whether you like it or not, please email us at: politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com
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