Pundit-at-large emeritus Stephen Macaulay hardly has kinder things to say about former President Trump’s appearance in a CNN Town Hall last week than left-column contributor Ken Zino, in his right-column commentary, “That’s Entertainment.” The column reflects a never-Trumper conservative viewpoint. 

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Also up for discussion, from the center column:

•The Consumer Price Index was up 4.9% in April, still too high for the Federal Reserve, but reflecting a slow and continuing improvement over last year. Meanwhile, the Labor Department reported a week earlier that the U.S. economy added 253,000 jobs in April, higher than most economists had predicted. This comes after the Fed indicated its latest quarter-point interest rate hike might be its last for a while. All these high numbers could be fond memories of our 2023 economy if Congress fails to pass a debt ceiling increase in coming weeks.

•Rep. George Santos (R-NY) pleaded not guilty last week to federal fraud charges. The judge in the case set bail at $500,000 and confiscated his passport. Santos will be able to cast House votes, though he will not hold any committee memberships. He plans to run for re-election in 2024.

•A Manhattan court awarded E. Jean Carroll $5 million in her sexual abuse and defamation case against Donald J. Trump, who of course, will appeal.