Sunday shows preview: College protests over war in Gaza take center stage

The rise of pro-Palestinian protests that have sprung up at college campuses across the nation will likely be the focus of this week’s Sunday news shows.

The protests, focused on aversion to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and abating the humanitarian crisis in the region, have highlighted major divisions in American politics and drawn the ire and support of politicians themselves. One of the most notable of the ongoing protests has taken place at Columbia University.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who will appear on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday” this week, has called on Columbia’s president to do her “job or resign” as alongside the protests, there have been concerns raised about the safety of Jewish students on campus. In a post on social media platform X last week, he compared the protests to the deadly rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017.

“I fully agree with the White House — these ‘protests’ are antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous. Add some tiki torches and it’s Charlottesville for these Jewish students,” Fetterman wrote in a statement Sunday night.

“To @Columbia President Minouche Shafik: do your job or resign so Columbia can find someone who will,” he added on

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance (R), who will appear on “Fox News Sunday” this week, has also weighed in on the student demonstrations.

“My view on the campus protests is very simple: I don’t care what your cause is, whether you’re pro or anti Israel or anything else,” Vance said Friday in a thread on X. “You don’t get to turn our public places into a garbage dump. No civilization should tolerate these encampments. Get rid of them.”

“If you want to protest peacefully fine. It’s your right. But go home and take a shower at the end of the day,” he continued. “These encampments are just gross. Wanting to participate in this is a mental illness.”

Vance was also a critic of sending more aid to Ukraine, but his opposition to the extra assistance did not matter in the end. Earlier this week, President Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package that includes aid for Ukraine and Israel.

“It’s a good day for America, it’s a good day for Europe, and it’s a good day for world peace,” Biden said as he announced he signed the legislation. “It’s going to make America safer, it’s going to make the world safer, and it continues America’s leadership in the world and everyone knows it.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who will appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and CBS’ “Face the Nation” this week, said Tuesday the long delay in giving more aid to Ukraine has resulted in a lowering of the possibility it could defeat Russia on the battlefield. 

“So much of the hesitation and shortsightedness that has delayed this moment is premised on sheer fiction. And I take no pleasure in rebutting misguided fantasies,” McConnell said in a floor speech in response to lawmakers in both the upper and lower chambers who have protracted consideration of military aid for the Eastern European country.

“Make no mistake: Delay in providing Ukraine the weapons to defend itself has strained the prospects of defeating Russian aggression. Dithering and hesitation have compounded the challenges we face,” he said.

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday” — Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.). 

ABC’s “This Week” — White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — McConnell; Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.); UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

CNN’s “State of the Union” —  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R); Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D).

“Fox News Sunday” — Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” — Trump Organization Executive Vice President Eric Trump; Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.); law professor Alan Dershowitz.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.