DSA congressional hopeful cuts interview short after being challenged on Israel genocide claim

Oliver Larkin, a Democratic Socialists of America candidate seeking to unseat incumbent Jared Moskowitz in Florida's newly drawn 25th Congressional District, appeared on a local television program and claimed that Israel was committing genocide, referencing the United Nations, Amnesty International and Israeli human-rights organizations. Host Glenna Milberg of "This Week in South Florida" challenged the statement, explaining that the UN definition of genocide does not apply to the situation and labeling the claim factually incorrect.

The two exchanged remarks before Milberg announced she was being told to wrap up, effectively ending the interview. Larkin also accused the Israeli Defense Forces of deliberately targeting women and children in Gaza, a point Milberg disputed. The interview highlighted the district's sizable Jewish electorate and Larkin’s broader platform, which includes cutting aid to Israel, abolishing ICE and supporting Medicare for All.

The primary, scheduled for Tuesday, is seen as a test of far-left viability in a competitive swing district, with the Cook Political Report rating the race a toss-up. Larkin’s campaign has not yet commented on why the interview was cut short.