NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight’s 7 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.  

Hope isn’t a policy, but it is a necessity — and to be fair, hope of a better tomorrow is why we wake up every day. It’s the promise of America and it’s the promise of scripture: Joy cometh in the morning. We didn’t cover President Biden’s commencement speech at Morehouse College, but sufficient to say it offered little hope — actually none. 

He spoke mostly about a racist America and the threats of former President Donald Trump — there is no hope there.  

• “You started college just as George Floyd was murdered and there was a reckoning on race. It’s natural to wonder if democracy you hear about actually works for you.
• “What is democracy if Black men are being killed in the street?
• “What is democracy if a trail of broken promises still leave Black—Black communities behind?
• “What is democracy if you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot?
• “And most of all, what does it mean, as we’ve heard before, to be a Black man who loves his country even if it doesn’t love him back in equal measure?” 

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board summed it up in their editorial, “Biden to Morehouse Graduates: America Hates You.”

There also isn’t any hope in the president of the United States making so many errors in a speech  the White House press office had to issue nine corrections (which you can see in strikethroughs).

So we went in search of hope and found it in another commencement address that received no coverage. The president of Notre Dame University delivered his address a few days ago, saying, “My message to you today is very simple: Don’t succumb! Don’t be seduced by hatred. Rather show the world that your commitment to your convictions does not require that you show contempt for those who do not share them.”

That’s the spirit that will make America better. 

Reverend John Jenkins spoke about his mother, his father and his hopes for the class of 2024.

Just yesterday, we told you about surveys showing Gen Z (a generation that encompasses the graduating class of 2024) prefer socialism over capitalism by a 4-point margin. Only 33% believe patriotism is an important value … This list goes on. 

Professor Jean Twenge told us last night that part of the problem is kids these days get told over and over how bad things are.

• She said, “Gen Z’s a lot more likely to be depressed than previous generations of the same age…When you’re sad, when you’re depressed, you see the world in a negative light.”

Yes, we all know there is a problem, but to paraphrase from my favorite president — that is Andrew Shepherd from “The American President” — a leader who makes you afraid of a problem or tells you who to blame for it, doesn’t care about the problem. 

Reverend Jenkins did neither. Instead, he provided hope. 

Reverend Jenkins said, “My second piece of advice is this: Find ways to engage and build relationships beyond work and narrow social groups. Be an active member of your parish or Church; work at a homeless center or a food bank; serve on your school board; be a big brother or big sister; coach a youth soccer team. Most of all, get off your phones!” 

The fighting Irish graduated 2,275 undergrads Sunday. If half of them follow that advice, there is hope; not just for them, but for all of us. 

BONUS: Click here to read or watch Reverend Jenkins’ whole speech.

Both Parties Agree … And They Still Can’t Agree

Republicans continue to screw up their messaging on all things women — I say “messaging” because we don’t pass judgment on policies — that’s for you, the reader, viewer and voter, to do. 

Political quicksand: Reasonable people can agree Trump jumped headfirst into another unforced error yesterday by saying he would consider restrictions on contraception.

• In an interview, he responded to the question of contraceptive restrictions by saying, “Well, we’re looking at that and we’re going to have a policy on that very shortly…And I think it’s something you’ll find interesting.”

Damage done: He quickly reversed himself but the ads will soon be cut with his own unedited words and the fundraising emails undoubtedly already went out. 

More importantly: Trump played into one of Democrat’s most effective attacks on Republicans. Republicans got crushed in the 2022 midterms because of women’s issues. But now the same group that helped win those elections with devastatingly effective ads wants to extend the success by pitting Republicans against IVF. 

• Watch it: Here is the new ad from Project Action Fund, “Republicans Stealing Your Baby.” 
• They were the same group that did the “Keep Republicans Out of Your Bedroom” ad that worked to great success in Ohio. We had Joe Jacobson on to talk about it, and later their subsequent ad, “Republicans Watching Your Daughter.” 

Clean up: Enter Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., with the “IVF Protection Act.” 

• Credit for trying: Republicans are months late. Remember when Alabama’s Supreme Court banned IVF? And the bill won’t make anybody happy.
  • The bill doesn’t require medical facilities to provide the services nor would it prevent states from implementing their own “safety measures”
    • “Safety measures” were how red-state legislatures got around Roe v. Wade before it was overturned and created big obstacles to abortion procedures. 

Bottom line: Democrats have defined the field of battle on abortion, IVF and all things women. Redefining it will require more than a bare minimum IVF protection bill that swing state Republican senators can say they voted for. 

The Palestinians Have a State

Norway, Ireland and Spain just recognized the state of “Palestine” — very slow clap. 

• Never mind the obvious questions:
  • What is the state of Palestine’s border?
  • Who is Palestine’s leader?
  • What is their currency? 

Congratulations, you just recognized a state where 71% of the population support the Oct. 7 attacks. 

To be clear: These countries that fashion themselves as protectors of human rights champion statehood for a group of people led by terrorists and rapists. 

• New video shows Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7 picking women to be raped based on those most likely to get pregnant. 

Charitable view: The International Criminal Court indictments and European statehood recognition, however well-intentioned, only create a moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas. 

The reality: Europe is siding with terrorists who show no desire to live in peace with their neighbors. If Finland didn’t recognize Norway’s right to exist, would Norway recognize Finland? Would Spain recognize France? 
Final note: Watch my appearance on Bill O’Reilly’s “No Spin News” — evil exists and you need moral clarity to fight it.

Tune into “On Balance with Leland Vittert” weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here. 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.