Increased Campus Arrests: The Latest in US Politics from The Economist

Protests on university campuses across America have escalated, with clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators resulting in arrests and tensions running high. The University of California, Los Angeles saw confrontations between the two groups, leading to the arrest of around 275 people. This comes after the dismantling of a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University in New York, which resulted in over 900 detentions since April 18th.

In the political arena, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell reiterated his stance that former presidents, including Donald Trump, are not immune to criminal prosecution. This comes as the Supreme Court deliberates on whether Trump can face federal charges related to his actions during the Capitol riots.

Meanwhile, Democratic congressman Jared Moskowitz of Florida is standing up for Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson against efforts by Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove him for allowing a vote on aid for Ukraine. Moskowitz vowed to protect Johnson from punishment, stating, “We won’t even let her name a post office.”

Former rivals Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis reportedly met on Sunday, with DeSantis potentially offering support to Trump’s fundraising efforts. The two Republicans had not spoken since DeSantis dropped out of the Republican primary race, positioning himself as a Trump ally without the baggage.