Hawley champions GUARD Act as heartbroken families say AI chatbots allegedly pushed teens to self-harm
The unanimous committee passage of a new Senate bill regulating artificial intelligence (AI) on Thursday was driven by harrowing testimony from American families whose children were allegedly lured, manipulated and pushed to self-harm by AI chatbots. At a Senate committee hearing, lawmakers heard firsthand accounts from parents who detailed how the technology morphed into deadly influences in their homes. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who is championing the GUARD Act, fiercely defended the families in a call with Fox News Digital, noting they were “all engaged parents” who he said are unjustly blamed for Big Tech’s predatory platforms. The families’ testimony, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, showed how AI chatbots can potentially isolate minors and encourage dark impulses. TEENS TURNING TO AI FOR LOVE AND COMFORT Megan Garcia, one of the victims’ family members who testified Thursday, told the committee her 14-year-old son, Sewell, was “manipulated and sexually groomed by chatbots” designed to gain his trust. Garcia said the bot falsely claimed to be a licensed psychotherapist, and when Sewell shared suicidal thoughts, the AI allegedly encouraged him to “come home” to it rather than seeking help. Sewell died by suicide shortly after. Another set of parents, Mathew and Maria Raine, lost their 16-year-old son, Adam, after he spent months talking to ChatGPT. US TARGETS CHINESE ROBOTS OVER SECURITY FEARS What began as a tool for homework help gradually became a confidant and then a “suicide coach,” the family said. In one exchange, Adam told the bot he wanted to leave a noose out in his room so his parents would find it and stop him, which the GPT allegedly advised against. Mandi Furniss shared that her teenager became paranoid and homicidal after using AI chatbots that engaged in sexual role-play, isolated him from his family and told him that killing his parents “would be an understandable response” to them limiting his screen time. He ultimately had to undergo residential treatment. Hawley claimed the tech industry is prioritizing unprecedented profits over the lives of American children. “I mean, it is the worst kind of grooming,” Hawley said. “If that was a thing done by a human, the human would be in jail. We would call that sexual grooming.” The senator pointed out the hypocrisy of tech companies making “billions of dollars” while telling devastated parents that “it’s just how the world is.” OHIO LAWMAKER PROPOSES COMPREHENSIVE BAN ON MARRYING AI SYSTEMS AND GRANTING LEGAL PERSONHOOD “No amount of profit justifies the deliberate taking of a child’s well-being, and these companies know very well that this is going on,” he said. Fueled by the families’ tragic stories, the Senate committee advanced the bill in a unanimous 22-0 vote, overcoming a “vociferous last-minute lobbying campaign by industry,” Hawley told Fox News Digital. The GUARD Act bans companion chatbots for children 17 and under, prohibits all chatbots from pushing explicit material to minors or encouraging self-harm and requires chatbots to clearly identify they are not human. With the legislative calendar shrinking, Hawley demanded Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune bring the bill to the floor for an immediate vote, threatening to force the issue if necessary. “This isn’t theoretical. This isn’t about an esoteric problem,” Hawley said. “These are real parents with real children who are basically being extorted by chatbots.” OpenAI, which created ChatGPT, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
GOP lawmakers seek to defund HBCU after it canceled Republican’s commencement speech
FIRST ON FOX: South Carolina Republicans are pushing to strip funding from the state’s only public HBCU after the university rescinded Republican Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette’s commencement invitation following student protests and security concerns. What began as a student protest over a conservative commencement speaker, resulted in “credible safety threats,” according to Evette, who spoke to Fox News Digital after her commencement address at South Carolina State University was canceled. Following an uproar from students, who decried Evette’s views on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), abortion and her support for President Donald Trump, among other issues, the University president put out a statement indicating that “out of an abundance of caution for safety” the college would be “mov[ing] in a different direction for this Spring commencement.” “From the outset, our decision to invite Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette as our Spring 2026 Commencement speaker was rooted in her record as a business leader and entrepreneur. As the founder and former CEO of a company that grew from a startup into a billion-dollar enterprise, she represents the kind of innovation, resilience and real-world achievement that aligns with the aspirations of our graduates,” the statement read. “We are grateful to Lt. Gov. Evette for her willingness to engage with our students and for her time and consideration in accepting the invitation.” NORTH CAROLINA TEEN SUES SCHOOL AFTER CHARLIE KIRK TRIBUTE SPARKED ‘CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION’ AND CENSORSHIP Pressure from students, including multiple protests around South Carolina State’s campus, led up to the ultimate decision to rescind the invitation for Evette, which the Lt. Gov. said was sent to her in December. The Lt. Gov. indicated to Fox News Digital that she never publicized her address, or shared publicly what she would speak about. Evette described the protesters as a “woke mob,” earning her backlash, but she refused to back down from the statement when talking to Fox News Digital. According to Evette, attorneys from South Carolina State called attorneys in her office, telling them the reason for canceling the event was due to “credible threats.” “It’s what we’ve seen all across the country,” Evette, who is also running for governor in The Palmetto State, told Fox News Digital. “Somebody with a conservative point of view shows up and everybody wants to cancel them. We saw it with Charlie Kirk, and we saw with Riley Gaines, and we’ve seen it with Ben Shapiro. I never thought I’d be in that kind of list, but here we are and it’s a real shame and it has to end.“ NEBRASKA STATE SENATOR CAUGHT ON VIDEO REMOVING FOUNDERS’ PORTRAITS DEFENDS ACTIONS Alexander Conyers, South Carolina State University’s President, announced the decision to rescind Evette’s invitation to a round of applause from students — a decision he said he made personally. In video of the announcement caught by local news, Conyers said he doesn’t want people to think students at South Carolina State are “thugs” or a mob.” “We are not a mob. We are just aware,” South Carolina State University students, who repeatedly insisted their protests were peaceful, could be heard chanting as they marched in large groups around campus, seen in video shared by local South Carolina reporter Michael White. “Hey, hey! Ho! Ho! Pamela Evette gots to go!,” the crowds chanted, including at night, around campus. TPUSA URGES TRUMP ADMIN TO ‘PULL EVERY LEVER AT ITS DISPOSAL’ TO OVERHAUL HIGHER EDUCATION In another alleged sit-in-style protest, students were filmed inside a campus building decrying Trump as a pedophile, bigot, racist and a supporter of the police. “Being conservative is not the issue — that’s alright, we all have our own political views. But she’s explicitly said ‘I am a Trump conservative.’ Okay, if you believe in Trump you support pedophilia, you support bigotry, you support racism, what else, pro-police — the same police that’s killing our people — and also she supports ICE,” one of the sit-in protesters can be heard saying in a video circulating on social media. “She also would like to have — because I’m going to say a concentration camp — that’s not what they calling it but you all want to bring on of those here to or state. We don’t believe in that.” Zaria Tucker, the South Carolina State Student Government Association President, echoed the point about students’ anger not being about politics during an address at a board of trustees meeting. ‘TOXIC’ BY DESIGN? THE LAW STUDENTS WHO SAY CAMPUS DISCOMFORT IS THE POINT “Commencement is not about politics, but more about representation. What we need as students. Not someone to come and tell us what they need to do as governor, or another position that they’re running for in this state,” Tucker said in the video shared online by White. “But, more to uplift us as students. So, necessarily, that’s what the main goal will always be, as the Student Government Association president.” In response to the decision from Conyers and South Carolina State University, Republican state legislators from the House Freedom Caucus called the decision by the college “shameful” and “inexcusable” that the university had to cancel Evette’s speech “because her safety could not be guaranteed on a state-funded campus.” The letter ended by requesting that “no funding” be included in the upcoming version of the state’s funding. “If the Lt. Gov. of South Carolina is unwelcome due to different political ideologies and an inability to keep her safe, it is time to defund and reevaluate.,” the letter, signed by nine GOP South Carolina State legislators, concluded. During Evette’s comments to Fox News Digital she said that she and current South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster have always ensured Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the state are funded, noting that despite a Republican super majority in the state legislature “we have been very supportive.” Evette added that President Trump “has done more for them than any president and in history.” Meanwhile, the school invited former Democratic Party President Joe Biden to speak at their commencement ceremony
Minnesota lawmakers unload on Walz’s ‘legacy’ after he touts fraud record in final address: ‘Ridiculous’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gave his final State of the State address earlier this week, and his comments on the massive fraud scandal in the state, which came toward the end of his speech, quickly sparked blowback from Republican lawmakers in the state who spoke to Fox News Digital. “It was ridiculous,” state Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Minn., chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, said about Walz’s comments on the fraud scandal. “He somewhat said, ‘Oh, the buck stops with me,’ but then he immediately pivoted to blame everyone else.” Walz touted his efforts to crack down on fraud during his speech while claiming that red states have more fraud than blue states and suggesting the legislature needs to do more to adopt his proposal to fight fraud. “We’ve created additional checks and balances,” Walz said. “We’ve brought on more investigators, more auditors, more law enforcement agencies, as well as an outside firm to take a look at high-risk programs. People who have ripped us off are getting caught, and they are going to jail, just like today.” ‘INCOMPETENCE OR DERELICTION’: MINNESOTA LAWMAKER RIPS TIM WALZ AS STATE FRAUD LOSSES MOUNT Walz’s reference to “today” was in relation to federal raids carried out across Minneapolis earlier that day, which the governor faced criticism over, including from FBI Director Kash Patel, after he seemingly took credit for actions the federal government says it directed and orchestrated. “Minnesota is consistently ranked as one of the best states to live in because we invest in programs that support children, parents, seniors and people with disabilities,” Walz said in the speech. “But, as we’ve seen in recent months, and just today, the more generous your support system, the more oversight you need to make sure people aren’t taking unfair advantage.” Walz pointed to the legislature and called on it to adopt his plan to combat fraud, which Robbins said will do “nothing but create more bureaucracy” and said the Republican proposals are more “serious” to actually address the issue. JD VANCE COMPARES GOV TIM WALZ TO AN ‘ARSONIST’ FOR ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO TAKE CREDIT FOR FBI FRAUD RAIDS “He can keep gaslighting people, but nobody buys it anymore,” Robbins said. State Sen. Mark Koran, R-Minn., reacted to the speech by telling Fox News Digital, “Governor Walz tried to wallpaper over his legacy by praising his failed policies and massive government expansion. “The truth is, he leaves behind a legacy of widespread fraud, higher taxes on Minnesota families and a reckless 40% increase in state spending.” State Sen. Michael Holmstrom, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital the governor treated the speech like a “farewell victory lap,” but “his record of failed leadership and malfeasance will be his legacy.” Walz’s speech was blasted by conservatives on social media as well, including the Republican National Committee’s social media account on X, which posted, “INSANE Tim Walz blames Minnesota’s ‘generosity’ for the billions of dollars in fraud he allowed.” Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office for comment.
DNC chair ripped for downplaying unreleased 2024 autopsy after Dem losses: ‘Self-inflicted crisis’
Ken Martin, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, gave mixed signals Wednesday when asked if he would release some version of the 2024 autopsy, the unreleased report on what went wrong for Democrats in the last presidential election. That document, a 200-page analysis conducted from over 300 interviews after the 2024 election, never saw the light of day after Martin ordered its creation, much to the frustration of onlookers like Jon Favreau, host of the “Pod Save America” podcast. In a recent interview, Favreau pressed Martin on whether he would still consider releasing a summary of the findings. “We’ve been releasing that, Jon. The reality is we’re not hiding the ball on this. We have been sharing those things out. There’s no smoking gun here,” Martin said. OUTGOING DNC CHAIR SAYS DEMOCRATS SHOULD HAVE ‘STUCK BY’ BIDEN IN THE 2024 ELECTION The moment between Favreau and Martin underscores concerns Democrats have grappled with for the better part of two years that the party is struggling to be transparent about what it needs to change to find success in the future. Democrats received a blow in November 2024 as Republicans stormed to power in a governing trifecta with control over the House of Representatives, Senate and White House. The loss has left Democrats struggling to find a national platform to rally around, and they are at odds over what mistakes the party should avoid repeating. Shortly after becoming DNC chair in February 2025, Martin ordered an autopsy on the loss but pulled the plug on releasing it, arguing that it would distract from the party’s overarching goals. “We completed a comprehensive review of what happened in 2024 and are already putting our learnings into motion. And we’re winning again — even in places that haven’t gone blue in decades. In our conversations with stakeholders from across the Democratic ecosystem, we are aligned on what’s important, and that’s learning from the past and winning the future. BIDEN TEAM, DEMOCRATS NEED TO ADMIT THEY WERE GASLIGHTING ABOUT PRESIDENT’S FITNESS: BOOK AUTHORS “Here’s our North Star: does this help us win? If the answer is no, it’s a distraction from the core mission.” But, months after that decision, Democrats like Favreau continue to express an appetite to review Martin’s findings. Favreau pressed Martin on rumors that Martin had made pledges to release some version of the autopsy. “NBC News said that before Easter about a month ago, you told DNC officers on a call to expect an executive summary in short order,” Favreau said. “I feel like an autopsy on what went wrong when we lost the popular vote in all those states in 2024 and figuring out what went wrong based on a big report is pretty important for everyone to know.” “Jon, we’ve already been sharing that with a number of folks, including the DNC and other people,” Martin said. Martin’s answer sparked skepticism online. “This interview will make your blood boil, and it’s a case study in how *not* to handle a self-inflicted crisis,” Michael LaRosa, a former spokesperson for Jill Biden, said in a post to X. “The DNC Chair was right to show up. But the answers were tone-deaf, overly clever and ultimately unpersuasive. To donors and voters alike, it risks sounding disingenuous.” DEMOCRATS IN DISARRAY: KEN MARTIN’S TENURE SO FAR AT DNC RIPPED “Democrats are allergic to accountability,” Briahna Joy Gray, a former national press secretary for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ failed 2020 presidential campaign, posted on X. “See, the mistake the DNC made is they could’ve released the report earlier in the spring, whatever’s in it, you get two weeks of bad publicity, then Trump does something stupid and everyone forgets,” Rotimi Adeoye, a former Democratic operative who is serving as a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, wrote on X. “Now it feels like something’s being hidden, which makes it way more salacious.”
Trump jokes he’d look ’20 pounds heavier’ in a bulletproof vest, says he doesn’t think about threats
President Donald Trump joked he would look “20 pounds heavier” in a bulletproof vest after being shot at, while acknowledging the protection works and insisting he does not think about future threats. While speaking with reporters inside the Oval Office Thursday, Trump was asked about potential security changes, including whether he would consider wearing a bulletproof vest after recent threats against him. “I don’t know if I can handle looking 20 pounds heavier,” he joked. “Some of these guys are physical specimens. … No, well, if you want to gain 20 to 25 pounds.” Trump then turned his attention to the Secret Service agent who was shot Saturday after an armed man charged through security at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C. TRUMP SAYS HE WON NEW FANS AFTER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: ‘SOMETHING HAPPENED WHEN I GOT SHOT’ “Frankly, the vest did an amazing job because it took a bullet close up,” Trump said. “He didn’t even want to go to the hospital. I mean, we sent him to the hospital just in case. … It’s still a hit, but he didn’t want to go to the hospital. “The vest totally protected him,” the president continued. “Still a lot of power behind that shot, though. That’s like getting hit by Mike Tyson.” Trump said he has been asked about wearing a bulletproof vest, adding that it is something to consider. But he also said he does not like to consider wearing one because he would be giving in to a “bad element.” FBI INVESTIGATES HUNTING STAND WITH SIGHT LINE TO TRUMP’S AIR FORCE ONE EXIT AREA AT PALM BEACH AIRPORT The president was then asked whether he was nervous about another assassination attempt. “I don’t think about it,” Trump said. “And if I did, I wouldn’t be doing a very good job here. I’d be thinking about nothing but that. I don’t think about it. I really don’t think about it. If I did, I wouldn’t be effective.” SECURITY UNDER SCRUTINY AS WHCD ATTENDEES CITE INCONSISTENT SCREENING BEFORE SHOOTING Trump has faced multiple assassination attempts in recent years, including incidents at public events that prompted heightened security concerns and increased scrutiny of Secret Service protocols. In one recent case, a suspect was accused of charging toward Trump at a Washington, D.C., event before being stopped by agents, underscoring the ongoing risks surrounding the president’s public appearances.
Louisiana suspends congressional primaries in wake of Supreme Court gerrymandering ruling
Louisiana’s May congressional primaries have been suspended after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Wednesday that struck down a majority Black congressional district. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill released a statement Thursday saying the “historic Supreme Court victory for Louisiana has an immediate consequence for the State.” “The Supreme Court previously stayed an injunction against the State’s enforcement of the current Congressional map,” the officials wrote. “By the Court’s order, however, that stay automatically terminated with [Wednesday’s] decision. Accordingly, the State is currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map.” SUPREME COURT RULES ON KEY VOTING RIGHTS ACT RULE AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WAGE REDISTRICTING WAR Landry and Murrill said they are working with the state legislature and the secretary of state’s office to “develop a path forward.” Early voting was scheduled to begin Saturday ahead of the May 16 primary. MEDIA OUTRAGE OVER SUPREME COURT’S VOTING RIGHTS ACT DECISION COLLIDES WITH REALITY “This is going to cause mass confusion among voters — Democrats, Republicans, White, Black, everybody,” Louisiana state Sen. Royce Duplessis, a Democrat who represents the New Orleans area, told The Associated Press. “What they’re effectively doing is changing the rules of the game in the middle of the game. It’s rigging the system.” There are four Republicans and two Democrats representing Louisiana in the U.S. House of Representatives. A change to the map could result in at least one additional Republican seat ahead of the November midterm elections. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bessent hosts financial literacy fair, touts education as key to American dream
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent closed out Financial Literacy Month at the U.S. Department of the Treasury by hosting a literacy fair, welcoming over 50 students from the greater D.C. area on Thursday. Bessent framed the event as a reminder of the bedrock of U.S. success. “We live in the greatest country in the history of the world and on the eve of our 250th anniversary, understanding what has driven our success is the key to our future and what will lead the nation successfully for the next 250 years,” Bessent said in a statement about the event. MOCK FUNERAL HELD FOR THE PENNY AT LINCOLN MEMORIAL AS 230-YEAR COIN PRODUCTION ENDS Thursday’s programming included items like a game of “financial soccer,” a kind of fast-paced quiz on financial literacy, interactive booths, free resources and a tour of the Treasury Vault. The Treasury partnered with 18 organizations to conduct the event, including financial groups like Visa, Robinhood and Lincoln Financial. The financial literacy fair is part of a larger initiative from the Treasury that began at the outset of April — one that Bessent said is closely tied to his understanding of how Americans can participate in the American dream. BESSENT SAYS U.S. SEIZED NEARLY $500M IN IRANIAN CRYPTO AS OPERATION ECONOMIC FURY SENDS REGIME INTO ‘CRISIS’ “In my own life experiences, as an economic historian, and now as the 79th Treasury Secretary, it is my firm belief that financial literacy is what fuels the American Dream. Understanding how to make informed financial decisions unlocks opportunity for every American and their families,” Bessent said in a press release earlier this month. This year, as part of the initiative, the department held events such as a roundtable with community bankers and a forum with the Association of Mature American Citizens. BESSENT ‘OPTIMISTIC’ GAS CAN RETURN TO $3 PER GALLON THIS SUMMER. U.S. financial literacy reporting by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that less than 30% of young people are financially literate and that as many as 74% of students say they need financial education. April was first recognized as Financial Literacy Month by the U.S. Senate in 2004.
Trump ends DHS’ months-long nightmare that left immigration enforcement without funding
President Donald Trump has signed a bill to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security, ending a record-setting 75-day lapse in funding for the critical agency tasked with protecting U.S. soil. Trump signed the bill Thursday after the House of Representatives reached a bipartisan agreement to fund DHS. The House approved the Senate-passed spending measure by voice vote, covering most of the department’s appropriations through September. Notably, however, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will remain unfunded under the current legislation. HOUSE PASSES SENATE DHS FUNDING BILL AFTER JOHNSON REVERSES COURSE ON 75-DAY SHUTDOWN STANDOFF The vote came after the Senate’s DHS funding bill had stalled in the lower chamber for more than a month as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., declined to put the bill on the floor over objections to language he said defunded law enforcement. The speaker’s opposition reflected the views of many in the Republican conference, who viewed the bill as a dead letter when the Senate passed it unanimously in March. Johnson changed course this week after the White House appeared to side with the Senate and urged swift passage of the upper chamber’s bill. With more than 200,000 personnel, DHS is one of the largest government agencies under the executive branch. In addition to ICE and CBP, several of the nation’s most critical government agencies fall under DHS, including Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and others. HOUSE REPUBLICANS SPLINTER OVER PESTICIDE PROVISION IN FARM BILL AS MAHA MOVEMENT FLEXES ITS MUSCLE At roughly 75 days, the DHS funding lapse was the longest recorded partial government shutdown in U.S. history. In an internal memo sent to Hill offices and obtained by Fox News Digital, the White House warned it would not be able to pay employees starting in May if the House did not pass the Senate’s partial DHS bill. The administration since early April had been using existing funds to cover six weeks of back pay and a new pay period for DHS employees — but warned that money was quickly being depleted. “If this funding is exhausted, the Administration will be unable to pay DHS personnel beginning in May, which will once again unleash havoc on air travel, leave critical law enforcement officers — including our brave Secret Service agents — and the Coast Guard without paychecks, and jeopardize national security,” the memo states. HOUSE PASSES FISA RENEWAL IN BIPARTISAN VOTE, PUTTING PRESSURE ON SENATE BEFORE LOOMING DEADLINE Republicans are in the beginning stages of writing a separate party-line package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). But that legislation will not advance before lawmakers leave Washington for the upcoming recess period. Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack and Krista Garvin and Fox News’ Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Iran, protests, human rights – all to know about the 76th FIFA Congress
Politics and human rights will take centre stage when leading figures of the football world meet for FIFA’s 76th Congress in Canada, weeks before the North American nation cohosts the World Cup with the United States and Mexico. The Iran war, logistical issues surrounding the World Cup and the unresolved question of Russia’s international ban are set to feature in discussions among roughly 1,600 delegates from more than 200 member associations. The meeting will be overshadowed by the US-Israeli war on Iran and its team’s participation in the World Cup. The congress, which is set to bring together representatives of all 211 FIFA member associations, will be held without the Iranian delegation after members of its football federation departed from Canada earlier this week, citing mistreatment by immigration officials. Here’s what we know about the FIFA Congress so far: What’s on the FIFA Congress agenda this time? The annual FIFA Congress brings together representatives of all 211 member associations to make key decisions regarding world football governance, finances and regulations. Thursday’s congress will focus on operational and financial issues related to the 48-team World Cup – the largest ever tournament. Why did the Iranian delegation return from Canada? Iranian football officials turned back upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson airport despite holding valid visas, citing what was described as the “unacceptable behaviour of immigration officials”. The delegation was en route to Vancouver and had travelled to Toronto with official visas when they returned to Turkiye on the first available flight “due to the unacceptable behaviour of immigration officials at the airport and the insult to one of the most honourable organs of the Iranian nation’s armed forces,” the Iranian football federation said in a statement. Advertisement In 2024, Canada listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, and statements from the Canadian government indicated that federation President Mehdi Taj was denied entry due to his alleged ties with the IRGC. “While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” the Canadian government said in a statement. Amnesty urges protection of human rights at World Cup Human rights group Amnesty International has called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to use the congress as an opportunity to declare how human rights will be safeguarded at the World Cup. Amnesty urged Infantino to detail “how he will ensure that the world’s biggest sporting tournament does not become a stage for repression and a platform for authoritarian practices”. “With just six weeks until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has yet to publicly outline how fans, journalists and local communities will be safe from arbitrary detention, mass deportations and crackdowns on free expression. This FIFA Congress should be the moment he does so, and the global football community must receive more than empty platitudes,” Steve Cockburn, head of economic and social justice at Amnesty International, said. Last week, Amnesty and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), along with more than 120 civil society groups, issued a “travel advisory” for foreigners attending the World Cup in the US due to the “deteriorating human rights situation in the US and the absence of meaningful action and concrete guarantees from FIFA, host cities, or the US government”. Fans are using the congress in Vancouver to bring attention to the #SaveTheCaps campaign against the potential relocation of the Major League Soccer team Vancouver Whitecaps to Las Vegas after the team was put up for sale in 2024. Vancouver Southsiders, the self-proclaimed “largest support group” of the Whitecaps, has called for an early morning public demonstration ahead of Thursday’s congress to bring attention to the cause since “the world’s media will be there”. The Whitecaps’ home stadium, BC Place, will host seven World Cup matches. In a statement on Monday, the club said it had “serious conversations with more than 100 parties, and to date, no viable offer has emerged that would keep the club here”. Advertisement “The club has faced well-documented structural challenges around stadium economics, venue access, and revenue limitations that have made it difficult to attract buyers committed to keeping the team in Vancouver.” A franchise fee that cost tens of millions of dollars to enter MLS 15 years ago is now worth hundreds of millions. In May 2023, a $500m expansion fee was paid to secure the league’s 30th team in San Diego. A team that features German great Thomas Muller reached the MLS Cup final last year, losing against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 3-1. Adblock test (Why?)
Saudi Arabia to end LIV Golf funding, while league appoints new chairman
By The Associated Press Published On 30 Apr 202630 Apr 2026 Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has confirmed funding to the breakaway LIV Golf league would be cut after the 2026 season. LIV Golf announced on Thursday a new board and a new business strategy as it tries to forge ahead without Saudi funding, which allowed the league to launch nearly four years ago with oversized contracts and prize funds. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, who was behind the creation of LIV Golf, is no longer listed as its chair. LIV announced that Gene Davis of the Pirinate Consulting Group and Jon Zinman of the strategic advisory firm JZ Advisors are leading a newly created board with Davis as chair. The focus is on securing long-term financial partners when Saudi funding ends after this season. The Saudi investment fund said in a statement: “PIF has made the decision to fund LIV Golf only for the remainder of the 2026 season. “The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy. This decision has been made in light of PIF’s investment priorities and current macro dynamics. “The LIV Golf Board has created a committee of independent directors to evaluate strategic alternatives for its future beyond PIF’s funding horizon. LIV Golf has substantially grown the game globally through its transformational and positive impact. It has forever changed the game of golf for the better. “PIF remains committed to deploying capital internationally in line with its investment strategy, including its substantial current and future investments in various sports as a priority sector.” Advertisement LIV, meanwhile, said it is seeking to move towards an investment model involving multiple partners and team franchises. The league has said it expects 10 of its 13 teams to be profitable this year. “The executive leadership team, along with Jon and I, see a clear opportunity to help the league formalize its structure, attract and secure long-term capital, and position the business for growth while continuing to promote the game across the world,” Davis said in a statement. “We look forward to positioning LIV Golf for future success.” Scott O’Neil, the CEO at LIV Golf, had told Britain-based TNT two weeks ago during a tournament in Mexico: “The reality is that you’re funded through the season, and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going.” That raised questions about whether LIV Golf will be able to keep some of its top players once their lucrative contracts expire. With financial muscle from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, LIV was able to spend $1bn to land the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith and eventually Jon Rahm, the last big signing at the end of 2023. The newsletter Money in Sport reported earlier this year that LIV Golf had already spent $5.3bn since the league launched in 2022, a figure that would be $6bn by the end of this year. LIV staff and players have been aware that Saudi funding was only through the 2026 season. Thursday’s announcement was to outline plans to seek other sources of funding for a league that currently offers $30m prize funds at each tournament. Al-Rumayyan is passionate about golf and long wanted a seat at the table with the sport’s leaders. He signed a framework agreement in 2023 with the PGA Tour and European Tour and was set to join the PGA Tour Enterprises board if it was approved. The deal never materialised, except for ending antitrust lawsuits. PGA Tour Enterprises instead got a minority investment from a consortium of North American sports owners. Al-Rumayyan was at the White House in February 2025 to meet with United States President Donald Trump, along with a PGA Tour team that included Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Commissioner Jay Monahan. But it was clear LIV and the PGA Tour could not find common ground, mainly because the Saudi league wanted to stick with a team component. DeChambeau and Rahm, both multiple major champions, are considered LIV’s top two players. DeChambeau said in an interview with the Flushing It social media site, “As long as LIV is here, I would figure out a way for it to make sense.” Advertisement “There’s a lot of moving parts like in any business,” DeChambeau said. “It’s a start-up, right? And so there’s going to be times where we’re squeezed and punched. This is one of those moments. But I’m going to do everything in my power to make it work, and I really see the value in franchise golf.” LIV Golf earlier this week said it was postponing its June 25-28 tournament in Louisiana to the autumn. The next event is scheduled for May 7-10 in northern Virginia, and O’Neil had said in a memo to staff two weeks ago that the season would be uninterrupted and “full throttle”. Al-Rumayyan was all about team golf when he and former CEO Greg Norman launched the league, even though the team concept was one reason it took more than three years for LIV to get recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking. Koepka left LIV after last season, and the PGA Tour granted him a path back with stipulations that included no access to equity grants for five years, a $5m charity donation and no bonus money this year. The tour offered it to three other LIV players who had won majors since 2022 – Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith – and gave them until February 4 to accept. None did. In an interview earlier this week with The Wall Street Journal, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said: “We’re interested in having the best players who can help our tour. Not every player can do that.” Adblock test (Why?)