Campus protests over Gaza: Now what?

Campus protests over Gaza: Now what? | GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

Something is happening here—on college campuses, that is. But what do we make of protests that turn violent, like what we saw at UCLA or even some of the Columbia conflicts? In a wide-ranging interview with Ian Bremmer on GZERO World, Eboo Patel, founder of the nonprofit Interfaith America, talks about his work on hundreds of college campuses to find common ground. His core message is simple: "Cooperation is better than division."

Patel advocates for a shift in focus from confrontation to cooperation on campuses, suggesting that universities should foster environments of civil discourse. He proposes initiatives like teach-ins and dialogues to explore constructive solutions to complex issues. "I think the problem here, the thing that universities could control, which I think that they have gotten wrong in many cases over the course of the past five years, is the default mode has been set to confrontation, not cooperation."

It's true that finding common ground can be easier said than done when tensions are high. But as Patel points out, the majority of college campuses have been able to debate the Israel-Gaza war without the kind of chaos or violence we've seen on certain campuses. "The media, for good reasons, covers planes that crash and not planes that land," Patel explains.

Catch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week on US public television (check local listings) and online.

More from GZERO Media

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025. Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson applaud behind him.
Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS

Six weeks into Donald Trump’s second presidency, he delivered his first major address. Speaking before a joint session of Congress late Tuesday, he highlighted some of the nearly 100 executive orders he has signed, touted cuts to the federal government, and outlined his bold vision for reshaping the US over the next four years.

Staff remove bottles of US alcohol from the shelves of a Liquor Control Board of Ontario store as part of retaliatory moves against tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, in Toronto, Canada, on March 4, 2025.
REUTERS/Arlyn McAdorey

On Tuesday, Washington imposed tariffs of 10% on energy and 25% on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico and doubled its existing tariffs on Chinese imports from 10 to 20%. All three countries responded with harsh words and retaliatory measures. Will Donald Trump stay the course or backtrack in the days ahead?

A high-stakes race is underway to determine which country will supply the technology that powers the world’s emerging AI economy. While the US has the opportunity to lead, a last-minute Biden administration regulation – the AI DiffusionRule – risks undermining America’s ability to compete. By capping the export of essential AI components to key allies and partners, the rule could unintentionally push countries toward China’s rapidly expanding AI sector. @Microsoft supports strong national security protections, including ensuring AI technology is deployed in secure, trusted data centers. But the rule’s broad restrictions put vital markets – including Switzerland, Poland, Singapore, India, and Israel – at a disadvantage, limiting their access to American AI infrastructure and stalling economic growth. The Trump administration now has an opportunity to refine the rule – simplifying it, strengthening enforcement, and eliminating restrictions that hurt American innovation and exports. The race for AI dominance starts at home, and the US must empower its tech sector to compete on the global stage. Read the full blog to learn more here.

- YouTube

Does Trump's relationship with Putin isolate or concern China? What does the resignation of Iran's Vice President Zarif signal about tensions in the country? What's next for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire as the first phase comes to an end? Ian Bremmer shares his insights on global politics this week on World In :60.

Midjourney

Microsoft has joined a growing revolt against Biden-era chip export controls that tech companies claim will hurt American competitiveness. On Feb. 27, Microsoft publicly urged the Trump administration to roll back one specific set of restrictions on advanced AI chips imposed during Biden’s final days in office.

Viewpoint: China’s annual NPC meeting to address lackluster economy and Trump threat
VCG via Reuters Connect

Beijing is warning top artificial intelligence leaders – including researchers and corporate leaders – to avoid traveling to the United States owing to security concerns, according to a report published Saturday by the Wall Street Journal.