The Evening: Campus Unrest, Blinken Presses Hamas, Meters at Jazz Fest, and More

Newsletter - May 1, 2024

Campus Unrest

Confrontations between pro-Palestinian protesters and police are continuing on campuses across the United States, a day after the New York Police Department breached a Columbia University building occupied by demonstrators and arrested about 300 people at Columbia and the City College of New York. On Wednesday, 12 protesters were arrested at the University of Wisconsin in Madison as police cleared an encampment. In Los Angeles, tensions are high after police arrived at UCLA's campus Tuesday night amid clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and counter-protesters, as The Washington Post reports.

Blinken Presses Hamas to Accept Israel's Latest Cease-Fire Proposal

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during meetings with Israeli leaders on Wednesday that Hamas leaders could save Palestinian lives by accepting a proposed deal under which they would free 33 hostages in exchange for a six-week cease-fire and the liberation of many Palestinian prisoners, as the NYT reports.

Fed Holds Steady

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at their highest level in two decades and acknowledged recent inflation setbacks, extending a wait-and-see posture that could last well into the year, as the WSJ reports.

Executive Education

Master the ins and outs of trade policy in just two days with CSIS Trade Guys Scott Miller and Bill Reinsch. Join virtually May 13-14 for Crash Course: Trade Policy with the Trade Guysto gain insights into current international trade dynamics, connect with industry professionals, and look over the horizon to see what may be next for U.S. trade policy. Register hereby May 6.

Audio Briefs

CSIS now offers full audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to James Andrew Lewis' latest commentary, "Innovation and Antitrust in Competition with China."​​​​​​

In That Number

18 Percent

Russia now controls about 18 percent of Ukraine and has been gaining ground since the failure of Kyiv's 2023 counter-offensive to make any serious inroads against Russian troops dug in behind deep minefields.
Source: Reuters

Critical Quote

"We are determined to get a cease-fire that brings the hostages home and to get it now, and the only reason that wouldn't be achieved is because of Hamas."

- Secretary of State Antony Blinken

iDeas Lab

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New CSIS analysis shows the impact of drawn-out congressional debate over the Ukraine Aid Package. From February 2022 to March 2024, military aid announcements declined as funding ran out. Read the full CSIS analysis here.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

Photo: Ken Betancur/AFP/Getty Images

NYPD officers in riot gear forcibly entered a building at Columbia University in New York City late at night on April 30, 2024, where pro-Palestinian students had barricaded inside and set up an encampment.

Recommended Reading

"What Is in the Ukraine Aid Package, and What Does it Mean for the Future of the War?" by CSIS's Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:30 a.m., the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program welcome Michael Kimmage to discuss his new book, Collisions: The Origins of the War in Ukraine and the New Global Instability.

Then, at 2:00 p.m., the CSIS Americas Program in and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce unpack opportunities to strengthen North American economic security, featuring various government officials and policymakers.

Later, at 4:00 p.m., the CSIS Langone Chair in American Leadership holds a conversation with the Honorable John M. Deutch on his newest book, Fifty Years of Energy Policy, 1973-2023: Lessons for the Future.

Video

Today, the CSIS International Security Program hosted ADM Christopher Grady, USN, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and RADM Raymond A. Spicer, USN (Ret.), chief executive officer and publisher, U.S. Naval Institute, to discuss how the Navy is helping to implement Joint Warfighting Concept 3.0. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

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Hans Grundberg, the United Nations' special envoy of the secretary-general for Yemen, joins CSIS's Jon B. Alterman to discuss what a UN mediator does, why successful mediation is about more than just reaching a peace agreement, and how the internationalization of conflicts complicates mediation.

Listen on Spotify& Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

This week I've shared some of the great Jazz Fest performances that have been captured on video over the years. These are rare performances because good Jazz Fest videos are hard to come by. This clip of The Meters from 1992 is one of the very best. I was there and I will never forget it. The first 30 seconds of the clip show festival goers "festing" as they say. Then, The Meters kick in, and I urge you to turn up the volume. Rest in peace Art Neville, Russell Batiste, and Jimmy Buffett who show up on guest vocals.

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz