Israel’s military is continuing
to pound the Gaza Strip in violation of the October 10 ceasefire agreement. Al
Jazeera reports Israeli ships opened fire toward the coast of Khan Younis,
while air raids struck the city of Rafah. There are reports of explosions and
Israeli artillery fire around Gaza City, including airstrikes near the Maghazi
refugee camp.
Meanwhile, a CNN investigation
has found the Israeli military fired indiscriminately at starving Palestinians
collecting sacks of flour near an aid distribution site near the Zikim crossing
in June, then bulldozed their bodies into shallow, unmarked graves, with some
bodies left to decompose or be partially eaten by dogs. Gaza officials and the
United Nations estimate about 10,000 Palestinians remain missing from Israel’s
more than two-year assault, while the official death toll recently passed
70,000.
“One of the Most Troubling Things I’ve Seen”: Lawmakers React to U.S. “Double-Tap” Boat Strike
The Pentagon has announced the U.S. blew up another boat in the
eastern Pacific, killing four people. The Pentagon claimed the boat was
carrying drugs but once again offered no proof. The U.S. has now killed at
least 87 people in 22 strikes on boats since September. This comes as
controversy continues to grow over a September 2 strike, when the U.S. targeted
and killed two men who had survived an initial attack. Nine people were killed
in the first strike. On Thursday, members of Congress were shown video of two
men being killed at a time when they were clinging to the side of their
overturned boat. Democratic Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut spoke after
watching the video.
Rep. Jim Himes: “What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I’ve
seen in my time in public service. You have two individuals in clear distress
without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, who are killed by the
United States.”
Lawmakers also questioned Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the
operation’s commanding officer. Many questions remain over Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth’s role. The Washington Post recently reported Hegseth had ordered
Pentagon officials to “kill everybody” on the boat.
Pentagon Watchdog Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal App “Created a Risk to Operational Security”
The Pentagon’s inspector general
has released its report examining Hegseth’s sharing of sensitive information
about U.S. strikes in Yemen on a Signal group chat earlier this year. The
report found Hegseth’s actions “created a risk to operational security that
could have resulted in failed U.S. mission objectives and potential harm to
U.S. pilots.” The report also criticized Hegseth’s use of a personal cellphone
to conduct official business. Hegseth himself refused to cooperate with the
investigation, refusing to hand over his phone or sit for an interview.
Ireland, Slovenia, Spain and the Netherlands to Boycott Eurovision over Israel’s Participation
Public broadcasters in Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Spain
said Thursday they will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, after the
European Broadcasting Union refused to hold a vote on whether to exclude
Israel. This is José Pablo López, president of Spain’s national broadcaster.
José Pablo López: “We maintain the same position we had months ago when we said
Israel’s participation in the Eurovision festival was untenable for two main
reasons, firstly because the genocide it has perpetuated in Gaza. As president
of the corporation, I keep thinking that Eurovision is a contest, but human
rights are not a contest.”
Eurovision is among the most popular TV and online events in the
world; last year, viewers from 156 countries cast votes for their favorite
contestants.
Protesters Picket New Jersey Warehouse, Seeking to Block Arms Shipments to Israel
In New Jersey, protesters
picketed this morning outside a Jersey City warehouse that is used to transport
military cargo to Israel. A recent report by the Palestinian Youth Movement and
Progressive International found the warehouse handles over 1,000 tons of
Israel-bound military cargo every week, including thousands of MK-84
2,000-pound bombs that have been used to level Gaza.
Supreme Court Allows Texas to Use Racially Gerrymandered Congressional Map Favoring Republicans
The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for Texas to use a new
congressional map designed to help Republicans pick up as many as five seats
next year. A lower court had previously ruled the redistricting plan was
unconstitutional because it would likely dilute the political power of Black
and Latino voters. Liberal Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan wrote in her
dissent, “This court’s stay ensures that many Texas citizens, for no good
reason, will be placed in electoral districts because of their race. And that
result, as this court has pronounced year in and year out, is a violation of
the constitution.”
FBI Arrests Suspect for Allegedly Planting Pipe Bombs on Capitol Hill Ahead of Jan. 6 Insurrection
The FBI has arrested a
30-year-old man from Virginia for allegedly planting pipe bombs near the
Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters in January 2021 — on
the night before the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The suspect, Brian
Cole, is expected to appear in court today.
DOJ Asks Judge to Rejail Jan. 6 Rioter Pardoned by Trump, After Threats to Rep. Jamie Raskin
The Justice Department has asked a judge to rejail a participant in
the January 6 insurrection who had been pardoned by President Trump. The
Justice Department made the request after the man, Taylor Taranto, showed up
near the home of Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin, who served on the
January 6 House Select Committee. Security has been increased for Raskin. In
October, Taranto was sentenced to time served for making a threat near the home
of former President Obama.
Grand Jury Refuses to Reindict Letitia James After Judge Throws Out First Indictment
A federal grand jury in Virginia
has declined a second attempt by the Justice Department to indict New York
Attorney General Letitia James on charges that she lied in her mortgage
application. In a statement, Letitia James wrote, “As I have said from the
start, the charges against me are baseless. It is time for this unchecked
weaponization of our justice system to stop.” It’s the latest defeat to
President Trump’s campaign of retribution against his political enemies. The
Trump administration is reportedly considering a third attempt to obtain an
indictment against James.
Protesters Ejected from New Orleans City Council Meeting After Demanding ”ICE-Free Zones”
In New Orleans, about 30 activists were ejected from a City Council
meeting Thursday after calling for ”ICE-free zones” and asking local leaders to
do more to protect immigrants. During a public comment period, members of the
public went to the microphone one by one and were cut off when it became clear
they wanted to speak on immigration, which wasn’t on the formal agenda.
Brittany Cary: “And I’m asking City Council for ICE-free zones. Make all
city-owned property ICE-free zones, and prohibit ICE and DHS from using city
property to stage their operations. No collaboration with ICE. City Council
must pass ordinances that codify noncollaboration” —
Chair: “Ma’am?”
Brittany Cary: — “between the city of New Orleans and ICE, including all of its
offices and” —
Chair: “As I stated previously, that is not germane. Thank you for your
comments.”
The protests came as the Border Patrol announced a surge of more
than 200 federal immigration agents into New Orleans, which the agency is
calling “Operation Catahoula Crunch.” They aim to make 5,000 arrests over two
months. We’ll go to New Orleans later in the broadcast.
Honduran Presidential Candidate Nasralla Blames Trump’s Interference as Opponent Takes Lead
Honduran presidential candidate
Salvador Nasralla has alleged fraud after his conservative rival Nasry Asfura
regained the lead, as election officials continue to tally up votes from
Sunday’s election. Nasralla also accused President Trump of interfering in the
race by publicly backing Asfura. Some election officials have also publicly
criticized the election process. On Thursday, Marlon Ochoa, who serves on
Honduras’s National Electoral Council, decried what she called an electoral
“coup.” She said, “I believe there is unanimity among the Honduran people that
we are perhaps in the least transparent election in our democratic history.”
Trump Hosts Leaders of DRC and Rwanda in D.C. as U.S. Signs Bilateral Deals on Minerals
President Trump welcomed the leaders of the Democratic Republic of
Congo and Rwanda to Washington, D.C., Thursday for the signing of an agreement
aimed at ending decades of conflict in the eastern DRC. Trump also announced
the U.S. had agreed to bilateral deals that will open the African nations’
reserves of rare earth elements and other minerals to U.S. companies. The
signing ceremony was held in the newly renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of
Peace.
Trump Struggles to Stay Awake in Another Public Event, Adding to Speculation over His Health
During Thursday’s event, Trump
struggled to keep his eyes open. This follows other recent public appearances
where Trump appeared to fall asleep at times. And once again, Trump was spotted
wearing bandages on his right hand, which appeared bruised and swollen. That
fueled further speculation about the president’s health. On Monday, the White
House said the results from Trump’s recent MRI exam were “perfectly normal,”
after Trump was unable to tell reporters aboard Air Force One what part of his
body was scanned.
Reporter: “What part of your body was the
MRI looking at?”
President
Donald Trump: “I
have no idea. It was just an MRI. What part of the body? It wasn’t the brain,
because I took a cognitive test, and I aced it. I got a perfect mark, which you
would be incapable of doing. Goodbye, everybody. You. too.”
Netflix Announces $72 Billion Deal to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery
In business news, Netflix has announced it will buy Warner Bros. in
a deal worth at least $72 billion. The deal could reshape the entertainment and
media industry, as it will give Netflix control of Warner’s movie and TV
studios, as well as the HBO Max streaming service.
12 Arrested as Striking Starbucks Workers Hold Sit-In Protest at Empire State Building
In labor news, a dozen striking
Starbucks workers were arrested in New York City Thursday as they blocked the
doors to the Empire State Building, where Starbucks has a corporate office.
Starbucks workers at over 100 stores are on strike.
Democratic Socialists Win Two Jersey City Council Seats in Groundbreaking Victories
In New Jersey, democratic socialists Joel Brooks and Jake Ephros
have made history after winning election to the Jersey City Council. They’re
the first socialists elected to public office in New Jersey in over a century.
This follows the historic election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as
New York City’s next mayor.
Judge Sentences California Animal Rights Activist to 90 Days in Jail for Freeing Abused Chickens
A University of California
student has been ordered to serve 90 days in jail for breaking into a Sonoma
County poultry slaughterhouse and freeing four chickens. Twenty-three-year-old
Zoe Rosenberg of Berkeley received the sentence on Wednesday, after a jury
convicted her in October of felony conspiracy and three misdemeanor counts. She
was ordered to pay more than $100,000 to Petaluma Poultry, which is owned by
the agribusiness giant Perdue Farms. Rosenberg’s supporters with the group
Direct Action Everywhere say the chickens she rescued were worth $24; they’re
reportedly alive and well at a sanctuary for rescued farm animals. Rosenberg
told supporters her action was prompted by investigations that found routine
violations of California’s animal cruelty laws at Petaluma Poultry
slaughterhouses.
Zoe
Rosenberg: “We
found that there were dead birds among the living, that the air quality was so
poor that chickens were struggling to breathe. I myself was struggling to
breathe even with a KN95 mask as I investigated this facility. … And we have
been calling on the California attorney general to take action, because the
Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office has made it abundantly clear that they
do not care about these animals whatsoever, that they care far more about the
profits of Perdue, a company that makes over $10 billion a year on the backs of
these animals.”
National Parks Service Prioritizes Free Entry on Trump’s Birthday Over Juneteenth and MLK Holidays
The Trump administration has ended a policy granting visitors free
access to national parks on the Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day
holidays. Instead, the 116 parks that charge entrance fees will now waive
admission charges on June 14 — President Trump’s birthday.
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