Biden faces his next campus test over Gaza: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill.

In today’s edition, campaign embed Nnamdi Egwuonwu reports on the tension at Morehouse College over Joe Biden's commencement address next week. Plus, "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker previews her interview Sunday with Secretary of State Antony Bliken.

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Morehouse faculty set to vote next week whether to award Biden an honorary degree

By Nnamdi Egwuonwu

ATLANTA — After feeling pressure for much of the spring from college students protesting his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, President Joe Biden will face a new test on campus next week.

A group of Morehouse College faculty members are pushing to stop the school from conferring an honorary doctorate on Biden at its commencement ceremony on May 19. Morehouse President David Thomas met virtually with faculty members Wednesday to discuss the issue.

“A majority of the comments were opposed to an honorary degree, but there were a couple of very strong defenses,” a faculty member who was on the call said.

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Those against the decision criticized Biden’s policies on policing and mass incarceration, his handling of the conflict in Gaza and his more recent comments around student protests. Those in favor of the honorary degree called attacks against Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza “unwarranted,” according to the person on the call.

Still, it’s unclear exactly how widespread the dissatisfaction is. Though Morehouse announced last month that Biden would be