People on the left speak of the overarching importance of participating in “mass movements.” I hope that is the case this year, this fall especially. After all, between now and election day, the broadest, deepest, and best resourced “mass movement” will soon be the “movement” to elect Joe Biden to a second term and a Democratic majority to the Senate and House. Even now, there is no shortage of things to do.

I wish I could say that the left, or, at least parts of it, will do the out of the spotlight, but absolutely critical work — voter registration, phone banking, door to door work, delivering and collecting absentee ballots, etc. — that wins elections. But for now the jury is out.

To make matters worse, the left (or more accurately a part of it) seems to be gravitating in a sectarian direction. And the genocidal war in Gaza only accelerates this process. What might change this dynamic to a degree is if President Biden demands a permanent ceasefire and a weapons freeze. It’s long overdue. Even Jill, reportedly, thinks so.

The sounds of silence coming from the White House in the midst of a national debate over student encampments and the legitimacy of protest are deafening. It’s a messy debate for sure, but one that the president should join immediately as well as declare his support for a permanent ceasefire. A President should lead in moments of conflict and crisis.

Hanging on the belief that Netanyahu and the IDF will invade Rafa in a “measured way” is worse than self deception. It is to become an accessory to a crime.

Watching Morning Joe. It’s coverage of the protesting students at Columbia and elsewhere is awful. So one sided. So distorted. So dishonest. So sanctimonious. The worst is Joe Scarborough. And close behind him — maybe ahead — is Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.

University administrators, as I see, couldn’t have handled the student protests any worse. Talk about heavy handed and tin ears. They would do better listening to the students than bending to the demands of some alumni and the threats of MAGA Republicans in Washington. At Columbia, the student demands are “divestment, financial transparency, and amnesty.” Why shouldn’t the administration agree with them. Or, at least, sit down and talk with and listen to the protesting students.