Sen. Schumer Disrupted at D.C. Event over His Support of Israel

In Washington, Senator Chuck Schumer spoke at the National Press Club on Thursday at an event focused on corruption. The journalist Sam Husseini interrupted Schumer’s remarks and called him a genocidal maniac for supporting Israel. Sam Husseini: “You were put on notice, and you backed it. And you backed the genocide to the hilt for years on end. How dare you talk about corruption? How dare you talk about corruption?” Sen. Chuck Schumer: “Thank you for your diatribe. Now let’s continue. Let’s continue and let the people” — Sam Husseini: “Hypocritical [inaudible]” — Sen. Chuck Schumer: “The people didn’t come to hear you.” Sam Husseini: “You should be questioned about your diabolical record. It’s amazing that you can show your genocidal face in public, Mr. Senator! Mr. Senator!” www.democracynow.org

Father of Georgia School Shooter Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

In Georgia, the father of an accused school shooter has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for giving his teenage son an AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas gift. Colin Gray was sentenced Thursday after being convicted of second-degree murder. Colin Gray’s son, who was 14 at the time, is accused of using the gun to kill two students and two teachers at a high school in Winder, Georgia, in 2024. Prosecutors accused the father of ignoring his son’s emotional problems, including his obsession with school shooters. www.democracynow.org

Outrage Grows over FIFA Plan to Sell Stake in World Cup to Kushner-Linked Private Equity Firm

In sports news, opposition is growing to a proposal by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in the World Cup to a private equity group run by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is President Trump’s son-in-law. On Thursday, European soccer associations agreed to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions if the deal goes through. Earlier today, a top FIFA adviser resigned in protest over the proposal. The FIFA plan is being pushed by Infantino, who is close to Donald Trump. Last year, Infantino created a new award, the ”FIFA Peace Prize,” and gave it to Trump. www.democracynow.org

U.S Displays Wildly Inaccurate Map of Africa, Misplacing Nigeria & Other Nations

The U.S. State Department has apologized after the agency displayed a wildly inaccurate map of Africa at a major AIDS conference. The map showed Nigeria to be a landlocked nation in the Sahara desert. Mozambique was moved to the Horn of Africa. Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon appeared on the other side of the continent. Uganda and Malawi were also misplaced. Reuters reports the map was likely made using OpenAI technology. www.democracynow.org

Trump Thanks Morocco’s King for Naming Highway in Occupied Western Sahara After Him

In other news from Morocco, President Trump has thanked Morocco’s king for naming a 650-mile highway after President Trump. Much of the highway runs along the coast of Western Sahara, which has been occupied by Morocco since 1975. Six years ago, Trump recognized Morocco’s unilateral annexation of Western Sahara, making the United States the first country to do so. www.democracynow.org

Climate Change Has Sparked “Major Intensification” of Fires in Europe: Report

Parts of Europe are in the midst of another heat wave while firefighters battle blazes across the continent, including in France, Spain, Greece, Britain and Germany. Three firefighters died in Greece on Tuesday. The Guardian reports new figures show more than 1 million acres of land have burned this year — more than triple the recent historical average. A new report in the Scientific Reports journal has found climate change has sparked a “major intensification” of fires. In Britain, a large fire broke out in Suffolk just miles from a nuclear power station. This is Jude Bayly, who was forced to evacuate due to the fires. Jude Bayly: “The devastation of this area, which is a natural beauty, and the wildlife is just awful, and I understand that this area may take, after this fire, decades to recover. And this is obviously going to be a repeating cycle with climate change the way it is.” www.democracynow.org

Trump May Temporarily Withdraw Blanche Nomination to Be AG

President Trump said Thursday he may temporarily withdraw his nomination of Todd Blanche for attorney general after two Republican senators, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, demanded that Blanche provide written modifications to the controversial settlement reached between Trump and the IRS over Trump’s unprecedented lawsuit against the agency. One part of the settlement gave Trump and his family broad immunity from IRS audits, potentially saving the family $100 million in penalties. The settlement also created a $1.776 billion fund for Trump’s allies, including January 6 insurrectionists. Blanche has said the fund will not be formed, but has not put that in writing. Trump wrote, “I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office.” www.democracynow.org