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MCKINNEY, Texas — Karmelo Anthony was convicted Tuesday of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a confrontation at a high school track meet, bringing a closely watched Texas trial to a dramatic conclusion after jurors deliberated for roughly three hours.

Anthony, now 19, was found guilty in connection with the April 2025 killing of Metcalf at a track and field competition in the Dallas area. The case attracted nationwide attention and included testimony from more than 20 witnesses called by prosecutors.

Jurors were instructed to weigh a single count of first-degree murder. Following the guilty verdict, the same jury immediately began the punishment phase of the trial to determine Anthony’s sentence.

Under Texas law, Anthony faces a prison term ranging from five years to life after the murder conviction.

Because he was under 18 when the incident occurred, prosecutors were barred from seeking the death penalty.

Judge John Roach Jr. had previously instructed jurors that they could consider the lesser offense of manslaughter if they concluded the killing was the result of reckless conduct rather than an intentional act. A manslaughter conviction would have carried a maximum punishment of 20 years behind bars.

During closing arguments, prosecutors forcefully rejected the defense’s claim that Anthony acted to protect himself.

Lead prosecutor Bill Wirskye argued that the circumstances did not justify the use of deadly force and told jurors that the evidence clearly pointed to murder.

“This is not self-defense, folks. It’s murder,” Wirskye said.

The prosecutor also questioned why Anthony had brought a knife to a school athletic event and characterized the stabbing as an unjustified escalation of a physical dispute.

“You do not get to meet a shove with a stab, especially if you provoke the shove,” he told jurors.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors described the attack as a sudden and unprovoked assault.

Defense attorneys countered that Anthony acted out of fear and responded instinctively during a rapidly unfolding confrontation. They argued that he believed he was in danger after Metcalf made physical contact with him.

Seeking to bolster the self-defense argument, the defense called several witnesses, including a former teammate who was present at the meet when the confrontation occurred.

The witness testified that Anthony appeared emotionally shaken immediately after the incident.

“I was hearing him say, ‘I told him not to touch me,’” the teammate told the court.

Evidence presented during the trial included the folding knife authorities say was used in the stabbing, photographs of the weapon, images from the scene, and Anthony’s backpack.

A responding police officer testified that another witness directed investigators to the knife, which was recovered from the bleachers shortly after the stabbing.

Jurors also viewed police body-camera footage recorded at the scene. Prosecutors additionally demonstrated how quickly the knife could be opened and deployed.

According to investigators, the confrontation began when Metcalf approached Anthony and told him he needed to leave an area beneath a team tent.

Police allege Anthony then picked up his bag, reached inside, and warned Metcalf, “Touch me and see what happens.”

Authorities say Metcalf then grabbed Anthony while attempting to move him from the area. Anthony allegedly responded by pulling out a knife and stabbing Metcalf once in the chest before fleeing.

Metcalf collapsed from the wound and later died, leading to the murder charge that culminated in Tuesday’s conviction.

{Matzav.com}

British authorities have filed charges against an 18-year-old man in connection with the March attack that destroyed four ambulances belonging to Hatzolah, marking the latest development in a case that has heightened security concerns within London’s Jewish community.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced Tuesday that Subhan Ahmed, a British citizen, was charged Monday with “assisting an offender” in relation to the arson attack.

The incident occurred during the early hours of March 23, when four Hatzolah  ambulances were deliberately set on fire in Golders Green, one of London’s largest Jewish neighborhoods. In the aftermath, police increased patrols and security measures in Jewish areas across the city.

The investigation is being handled by the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command, which has continued to pursue multiple suspects connected to the attack.

Authorities have already brought charges against four other individuals in the case.

Those charged in April include British citizens Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and Judex Atshatshi, 18, as well as a 17-year-old dual British-Pakistani national. Prosecutors accused them of “committing arson, destroying or damaging property, and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.”

All four suspects remain behind bars while awaiting a trial scheduled for January. Ahmed, by contrast, was released and is expected to appear in court on June 16.

The destruction of the ambulances was one of the first in a series of alarming incidents that have unsettled Jewish residents throughout London and prompted a heightened police presence in Jewish neighborhoods. Since then, authorities have responded to several cases involving incendiary devices placed near synagogues, as well as the April stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green. Last week, Metropolitan Police data showed that antisemitic hate crimes across London increased by 72 percent in May.

After news of Ahmed’s charge was made public, the Community Security Trust, which works to protect Britain’s Jewish community, expressed appreciation to investigators and prosecutors “for their ongoing work investigating this attack and other arson incidents targeting the Jewish community.”

The organization added, “These are very serious allegations, and it is right that those responsible are being held accountable.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Iran was responsible for shooting down a U.S. Apache attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that America will respond to what he described as a direct act of aggression.

The president revealed the development in a post on Truth Social, saying he had been briefed by military officials about the incident involving one of the U.S. military’s advanced aircraft.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said the aircraft’s crew survived the incident without injury, but stressed that the attack would not go unanswered.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he added.

The reported shoot-down comes amid escalating tensions throughout the Middle East, where hostilities between Iran and Israel have intensified with continued exchanges of missile fire.

Despite the growing instability in the region, Trump has continued to express optimism that a broader diplomatic agreement remains within reach and has maintained that efforts toward a long-term peace arrangement are still progressing.

{Matzav.com}

A unique and educational shiur is scheduled to take place tonight, Tuesday night, June 9, when the Agudath Israel of America Torah Projects Commission presents a special shiur in Flatbush, Brooklyn, featuring Rav Amitai Ben David, acclaimed author of Sichas Chulin and a noted expert in the practical and halachic aspects of shechitah.

The event, which will begin at 8:00 p.m. at Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin in Flatbush, is expected to draw Daf Yomi participants, bnei Torah, rabbanim, and members of the wider community interested in gaining a deeper understanding of one of the most fascinating and practical areas of halachah.

What will make the evening particularly noteworthy is that the shiur will be accompanied by a live shechitah and treifos demonstration, providing attendees with a rare opportunity to see firsthand many of the concepts discussed in Maseches Chulin and other related areas of Torah study. Through practical illustrations and real-world examples, participants will be able to better appreciate the intricate halachos governing kosher slaughter and the examination of animals.

Organizers say the program is designed not only for Daf Yomi learners currently studying or reviewing the sugyos of Chulin, but also for anyone seeking a clearer understanding of the halachic foundations behind the kosher food that appears on Jewish tables every day.

Rav Amitai Ben David has earned widespread recognition for his ability to present complex halachic topics in a clear and engaging manner. His work, Sichas Chulin, has become a classic for those learning about shechitah and treifos.

The shiur will take place at at Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin, located at 2913 Avenue L, at the corner of Nostrand Avenue, in Flatbush.

The event is being sponsored by Meal Mart.

{Matzav.com}

A growing dispute between the chareidi parties and the Religious Zionism faction has led to the postponement of a major government vote on a proposed NIS 1.5 billion development package for communities in Yehuda and Shomron, after United Torah Judaism objected to the plan over what it called unequal budget priorities.

The proposed initiative, which was scheduled for approval at the next cabinet meeting, includes extensive funding for construction, infrastructure, security, and community development projects throughout Yehuda and Shomron. The package is considered one of the largest government investments in the region in recent years.

However, according to a report by Ames, senior figures in United Torah Judaism strongly opposed the proposal, arguing that the government was willing to allocate massive sums for one sector while failing to address the ongoing daycare subsidy crisis affecting thousands of chareidi families.

Party officials reportedly described the situation as “blatant discrimination.” They noted that while the Treasury has resisted advancing a solution for the daycare subsidy crisis, which would require approximately NIS 300 million, significantly larger sums were quickly found for other priorities. Chareidi representatives argued that the government’s budgetary priorities have become increasingly unbalanced and are unfairly harming the chareidi public.

Amid the escalating tensions, Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni held an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu.

During the meeting, Gafni reportedly demanded immediate clarification regarding the government’s budget policy and pressed for a resolution to the daycare subsidy issue, which coalition representatives say is affecting thousands of families.

According to the report, the confrontation raised concerns about a broader coalition crisis, prompting Netanyahu’s office to intervene.

As a result of the disagreement and fears of further coalition instability, the government meeting that was expected to approve the package was postponed. The session, originally scheduled for this week, has now been pushed off until Thursday to allow additional negotiations between the parties.

Documents prepared for the cabinet discussion outline major investments across Yehuda and Shomron, including transportation and utility infrastructure, public buildings, educational facilities, employment centers, security enhancements, neighborhood expansion projects, and the construction of temporary sites and residential housing.

Coalition leaders are now expected to spend the coming days attempting to reach a compromise that would allow the development package to move forward while also addressing the demands of the chareidi parties regarding daycare subsidies and other budgetary concerns.

The latest dispute highlights ongoing tensions within the coalition as competing factions continue to battle over funding priorities, even as government leaders work to preserve unity and avoid a deeper political crisis.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset is expected to give preliminary approval on Wednesday to the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study, but coalition officials are reportedly working behind the scenes to revise the legislation by removing a controversial provision that critics said equated Torah learners with IDF soldiers.

According to coalition sources, senior figures in Likud are advancing a softened version of the bill that they believe will reduce public opposition and broaden support among coalition partners. Discussions are already underway regarding the language that will be promoted following the bill’s initial approval.

Among the expected changes is the removal of a clause that many interpreted as placing full-time Torah study on the same footing as military service. The disputed provision stated that individuals who dedicate themselves to Torah learning for a significant period would be regarded as performing meaningful service to the State of Israel and the Jewish people, with implications for their rights and obligations.

The effort to modify the legislation follows a week of intense political pressure from the chareidi parties, which demanded that the coalition move forward with the bill.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri issued a firm ultimatum, warning coalition leaders that if the Basic Law: Torah Study was not advanced this week, his party would refuse to support any other legislation.

“Especially during these days, when the people of Israel need additional merits for success in the campaign against our enemies, we demand that the Basic Law: Torah Study be brought for a vote already this week as a condition for supporting any other legislation,” Deri declared during a Shas faction meeting.

Deri was the first coalition leader to publicly insist on advancing the proposal last week. Following his demand, other chareidi factions also intensified efforts to move the legislation forward, although the bill is formally sponsored by Degel HaTorah.

Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni said the legislation had already been placed on the agenda of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

“On the agenda of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation is the Basic Law: Torah Study, which, under the instruction of our revered Torah leaders, I was called upon to submit and advance,” Gafni said.

Coalition officials believe that removing the disputed language could also help secure support from members of the Religious Zionism party, some of whom had reservations about the original wording.

According to coalition sources, the revised version is intended to strengthen recognition of the value of Torah study without creating a direct comparison between Torah learners and military personnel. Likud officials reportedly believe such a change will lessen criticism while preserving the bill’s central objective.

Supporters of the legislation say its primary purpose is to grant constitutional status to Torah study and the role of Torah scholars in Israeli society. They also argue that the measure would help shield the issue from intervention by the High Court of Justice, particularly in cases involving chareidi military service and arguments based on the principle of equality.

{Matzav.com}

A judge has sharply criticized authorities after a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation was not carried out for Guy Echtlinger, the suspect accused of murdering Reb Yishai Por z”l inside a Bnei Brak kollel last month.

According to a report by military radio correspondent Tuvia Yagelnik, Echtlinger was never transferred to the district psychiatrist as ordered by the court and did not undergo the inpatient psychiatric examination that had been mandated.

During a recent court hearing, the judge expressed strong frustration over the failure to implement the order.

“The decision was not carried out. I would appreciate an immediate response from the Prison Service explaining why the court’s decision was not implemented,” the judge said.

The controversy follows developments from last week, when the district psychiatrist reportedly expressed reservations about conducting the examination. In response, the judge quickly issued an additional ruling, directing that Echtlinger be transferred to the district psychiatrist before the onset of Shabbos. Despite that clear instruction, the transfer never took place.

In the meantime, the court extended Echtlinger’s detention until Wednesday and again ordered that he be transferred for psychiatric evaluation as soon as possible.

During the hearing, Echtlinger also claimed that fellow inmates were threatening him. Addressing the court, he said, “They are saying they are going to kill me here in prison.”

The shocking killing took place on May 20, 2026, inside the Chazon Ish kollel on Rechov HaAri in Bnei Brak. Authorities allege that Reb Yishai Por z”l, a 52-year-old avreich known for his diligence and dedication to Torah learning, was fatally stabbed during the regular learning seder.

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the tragedy was that the victim’s 13-year-old son was reportedly seated next to his father at the time and witnessed the attack.

Following reports of the stabbing, large numbers of police officers and emergency responders rushed to the scene. Reb Yishai was initially transported to the hospital in critical condition, but doctors were ultimately unable to save him and pronounced him dead shortly afterward.

{Matzav.com}

Violent disturbances broke out Monday evening near Yerushalayim’s Bar-Ilan Junction, where protesters opposing ongoing light rail construction blocked major roads, set fires, and damaged infrastructure at the work site before police moved in to disperse the demonstration and make arrests.

The unrest centered around the busy intersection, where demonstrators disrupted traffic and engaged in confrontations with police officers attempting to restore order.

According to police, rioters obstructed roadways in the area, ignited fires within the light rail construction zone, and caused significant disruptions to public order. Following the escalation, a police commander formally declared the gathering an unlawful disturbance and instructed participants to leave the area.

Police said that when protesters refused to comply with orders to disperse, officers and Border Police personnel began clearing the streets and intersections, using force where necessary to reopen traffic lanes and reestablish public order.

Authorities later reported that most demonstrators had been pushed back onto nearby sidewalks and that all major roads in the area had been reopened to traffic. Police forces remained on scene afterward to prevent further disturbances.

Amid the unrest, detectives from Yerushalayim’s Lev Habira police station arrested two suspects accused of vandalizing the light rail construction compound.

According to police, the suspects were caught in the act while allegedly damaging equipment and infrastructure at the site. They were subsequently taken into custody and transported to a police station for questioning.

Video from the scene showed one of the arrests being carried out by an undercover detective disguised as a chareidi man, a tactic police occasionally employ during demonstrations to identify and apprehend suspects.

Police characterized the incident as a “serious disturbance of public order” and vowed to pursue criminal charges against those responsible for the vandalism and destruction.

Officials emphasized that the damage was not limited to the construction project itself, describing the actions as an attack on critical public infrastructure and major transportation routes serving the city.

{Matzav.com}

At least two American citizens, including an Iranian Jewish businessman, have been officially designated by the United States as being wrongfully detained in Iran, a classification that triggers additional legal and diplomatic mechanisms aimed at securing their release.

The issue gained renewed attention after President Donald Trump was asked during an NBC interview aired Sunday whether any future agreement with Iran would include provisions for the release of detained Americans.

“Not everybody really has an accurate list of who they are, what they are, or whether they are being held,” Trump said.

Despite Trump’s comments, the cases of two Americans whom the State Department has formally identified as wrongfully detained have received significant attention in recent months.

One of them is 71-year-old Kamran Hekmati, an Iranian Jewish dual citizen who traveled to Israel 14 years ago to celebrate his son’s bar mitzvah. Hekmati, who holds both American and Iranian citizenship, returned to Iran about a year ago for a brief family visit and was subsequently arrested and sentenced to two years in prison.

A jeweler and business owner in Manhattan’s Diamond District, Hekmati was detained in July 2025 and has remained incarcerated in Tehran’s Evin Prison ever since. Iranian authorities arrested him at the airport, alleging that he violated a law prohibiting Iranian citizens from visiting Israel. Although he emigrated to the United States at age 13, he entered Iran using an Iranian passport, as required under Iranian law, which does not recognize dual citizenship.

The second detainee is Reza Valizadeh, a 50-year-old journalist who also holds dual Iranian-American citizenship. After leaving Iran in 2009, Valizadeh returned in March 2024 to visit his elderly parents. According to reports, a senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had assured him that he would not encounter problems if he returned. Nevertheless, he was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards in September 2024.

Since his detention, Valizadeh has reportedly been interrogated and held in solitary confinement. He was later sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of “collaboration with a hostile government,” a broadly defined accusation frequently used by Iranian authorities against dual nationals and critics of the regime. His family and supporters contend that he was denied due process. In May 2025, the U.S. Secretary of State officially designated him as wrongfully detained.

Both men have now spent more than a year behind bars, and concerns regarding their health and welfare continue to mount. Family members told CNN that Hekmati is suffering from bladder cancer.

Attorneys representing the families said they were informed earlier this year that American negotiators are aware of the detainees’ cases. Another source involved in the matter reportedly said the names of the prisoners had already been provided to members of the U.S. negotiating team.

Valizadeh recently succeeded in sending an audio recording from Evin Prison to CBS News. In the recording, he referred to three additional American citizens being held at the notorious Tehran facility and claimed that all of them suffer from “various illnesses” while being denied adequate medical treatment.

When asked about detained Americans during Sunday’s NBC interview, Trump expressed a willingness to become involved in efforts to bring them home.

“If you give me their names, I’ll do my best to bring them home,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

[Videos below.] LAKEWOOD, NJ — Thousands of lomdim packed the main dining room of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood on Monday as Rav Yisroel Bunim Schreiber, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Nesiv Hadaas, delivered a highly anticipated shiur klali that sparked an intense and spirited Torah discussion.

Rav Schreiber, who is currently visiting the United States on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah, arrived at BMG’s main campus in Lakewood, where he addressed the large gathering of bnei hayeshiva.

Rav Schreiber focused his presentation on the sugya of tavra v’shasya in Maseches Bava Kamma. As the shiur progressed, it developed into a powerful display of rischa d’Oraisa, with vigorous discussion and debate filling the room.

“The tzibbur drank in Reb Bunim’s words with thirst, and the roshei yeshiva joined the spirited discussion, which was entirely geshmak,” one attendee said.

Among those actively participating in the back-and-forth discussion was Rav Avrohom Birnbaum, son of the late Mirrer rosh yeshiva Rav Shmuel Birnbaum zt”l, who, characteristically, engaged Rav Schreiber in a lively exchange on the sugya.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

The Department of Justice has initiated legal proceedings against 17 naturalized citizens in an effort to revoke their U.S. citizenship, alleging they obtained it through fraud, deception, or the concealment of serious criminal conduct during the immigration process.

Announcing the actions, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration is taking a hard line against abuse of the naturalization system.

“Gaining U.S. citizenship is a privilege and under the steadfast leadership of President Trump, this Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse of this process,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a department statement.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin echoed that message, arguing that citizenship must be earned through honesty and compliance with the law.

“American citizenship is a privilege, and it must be earned honestly,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “If you come here break our laws, and lie in your immigration proceedings, you forfeit that privilege,” he added.

Federal law permits the government to seek denaturalization and removal of individuals who obtained citizenship through fraud or material misrepresentations during the immigration process. However, citizenship generally cannot be revoked solely because of crimes committed after a person has already become a U.S. citizen. In many cases, immigrants become eligible for citizenship approximately five years after receiving permanent residency.

While the new initiative has attracted attention, immigration advocates note that the number of cases remains relatively small compared with the overall naturalized population in the United States and the broader effects of decades of large-scale immigration policies.

“The expansion of denaturalization remains very small in scale,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a pro-migration advocate with the American Immigration Council. “17 people is a significant increase from historical efforts, true, but represents around 0.00006% of the total naturalized population.”

Even so, observers note that the latest cases extend beyond the types of denaturalization actions traditionally associated with war criminals or individuals involved in major human rights abuses.

According to the Justice Department, the current cases largely involve individuals accused of hiding criminal activity during the lengthy, multi-step path to citizenship.

“This Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse of this process,” said Blanche.

Some analysts argue that if the government aggressively pursues such cases, many more naturalized citizens could potentially face scrutiny if evidence emerges that they concealed criminal conduct before becoming citizens. Such a possibility is expected to fuel political opposition to expanded denaturalization efforts.

The Justice Department released details of the 17 cases, several of which involve allegations of fraud, immoral crimes, immigration deception, financial crimes, or other offenses that officials say were concealed during the naturalization process.

One case involves Leidys Delmas Garcia, a Cuban-born woman accused of participating in a healthcare fraud conspiracy that allegedly billed insurers more than $36 million for unnecessary or nonexistent physical therapy services. Prosecutors allege she falsely stated during her citizenship process that she had not committed crimes for which she had not been arrested and had never provided false information to immigration authorities.

Another case targets Jean Claude Alfred, a Haitian immigrant who became a U.S. citizen in 1994. The government alleges that he repeatedly abused his minor daughter beginning shortly before filing for naturalization and continued the conduct while his citizenship application was pending. Officials say he failed to disclose the criminal behavior during the process.

Andrea Marroquin, originally from Colombia, is accused of obtaining permanent residency by concealing a bigamous marriage and later participating in wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering schemes involving funds inherited from her father, whom authorities describe as a major Colombian drug trafficker.

Talman Harris, a Jamaican national, is accused of participating in a long-running stock manipulation scheme that allegedly caused tens of millions of dollars in investor losses. According to the government, portions of the conspiracy overlapped with his naturalization proceedings.

In another case, New Jersey businessman Neeraj Sharma, originally from India, is accused of filing multiple fraudulent H-1B visa petitions while serving as owner and chief executive of a staffing company.

The Justice Department also filed a complaint against Abdikadir Ali Kadiye, a Somali immigrant whom authorities allege sought admission to the United States using two different identities.

Ronnie Price, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, is accused of concealing conduct that later resulted in a guilty plea. Prosecutors allege he falsely denied having committed crimes during his citizenship application process.

Rodger George Gurdon, originally from Jamaica, is accused of participating in a conspiracy involving the theft and resale of medical supplies from military hospitals before becoming a U.S. citizen.

Another case involves Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres of Cuba, whom prosecutors allege participated in a scheme that defrauded a tribal casino in Florida of millions of dollars through fraudulent credit vouchers before her naturalization.

Alongside the denaturalization effort, Trump administration officials have also moved to tighten citizenship requirements by increasing expectations regarding applicants’ conduct and making the naturalization examination more demanding.

{Matzav.com}

Republican officials in New Jersey say they have identified hundreds of noncitizens listed in the state’s voter registration records, including some individuals who appear to have participated in elections, raising fresh questions about voter roll maintenance and election security.

According to a report released Monday, the discoveries were made after the New Jersey Republican Party and the Republican National Committee obtained voter registration records from all 21 counties across the state and reviewed the data.

Many of the individuals reportedly came forward while pursuing U.S. citizenship and requested that their names be removed from voter rolls. According to the report, a significant number were registered as Democrats but said they were unaware they had been registered and feared the issue could negatively affect their naturalization applications.

The findings come several weeks after New Jersey Republican Party Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon announced the creation of a statewide Election Integrity Task Force.

“Like many New Jerseyans, election integrity is of utmost importance to me. All Americans want free, fair, and secure elections and a system that maintains the public trust. The NJGOP Election Integrity Task Force will work to help ensure that New Jersey’s elections are securely and fairly administered and help safeguard the integrity of the process,” Hanlon said.

According to the report, some of the noncitizens identified during the review had documented voting histories. One individual who was removed from the voter rolls in 2015 reportedly cast ballots in 2000, 2001, and the 2008 general election.

Fox News reported that RNC Chairman Joe Gruters believes the individuals discovered so far may represent only a fraction of the overall problem and argued that election officials in New Jersey and other Democrat-led states have not provided sufficient transparency regarding voter list maintenance procedures. The RNC has reportedly requested similar information from 48 states.

“I mean, it’s really incredible because here the Democrats are saying that, you know, noncitizens never vote, this is a non-issue, but every county we’re finding people that are self-reporting now, and I’m glad we’re doing these records request because it’s really eye-opening, because this is just the people that have self-reported,” Gruters told Fox News Digital.

Gruters said maintaining confidence in the electoral process should remain a priority.

“You want a democracy that’s secure and elections that are free and safe and that people can depend upon, and people have full confidence in.”

Questions surrounding New Jersey’s voter rolls have surfaced before. In 2022, the Public Interest Legal Foundation reviewed state voter registration records and reported that nearly 2,400 registered voters were listed as being at least 105 years old.

The latest report comes as President Donald Trump continues urging Congress to approve the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require proof of citizenship before an individual could register to vote.

According to Breitbart News, support for the proposal extends beyond Republican voters.

“The Save Act has support from 91 percent of Republicans, 50 percent of Democrats, and 69 percent of independents,” the outlet said in March.

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) recently criticized Congress for failing to enact the measure and contrasted the American voting process with election procedures in Colombia.

“It’s kind of embarrassing from the perspective of Congress, that we can’t even pass a SAVE America Act. Let me lay out how Colombian elections are run. First of all, no mail-in balloting. Single day election, you have to have your proof of national citizenship with you to vote. So, it’s not only voter ID, but 100 percent strict proof of citizenship. If you don’t have it with you, they don’t even let you into the hall where you vote,” Moreno said. “All paper ballots, the ballots are counted by hand, and the results are delivered after an hour and a half, after polls close. They have election watchers there that are vigilant, they have judges there that are disputing any claims that are made.”

The restoration of the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., is drawing positive reviews from visitors and social media users, despite months of criticism from left-wing activists and media outlets who questioned the Trump administration’s renovation efforts.

Administration officials have continued defending the project against attacks from critics, many of whom focused on aesthetic details of the restoration. Several media organizations scrutinized the work, including the decision to repaint the pool’s bottom in a new shade of blue. The Washington Post even consulted a color expert who predicted the color would appear “very dismal,” while The New York Times also published criticism of the renovation project.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum contrasted the current effort with an earlier renovation undertaken during the Obama administration. According to Burgum, the Reflecting Pool was shut down for two years while $38 million was spent on repairs that ultimately failed to solve its underlying problems. He said the Trump administration’s overhaul was far more extensive, involving the draining of the pool, sandblasting surfaces, repairing pipes and bubblers, and restoring the pool’s appearance. Burgum noted that the bottom had faded to gray over time and said President Trump selected an American flag-inspired blue color for the restoration.

As the project nears completion, photos and videos of the renovated pool have spread widely online, generating favorable reactions from many observers.

“I’d heard so much about the newly renovated Reflection Pool, so I decided to come see it for myself. It’s absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Donald Trump, for helping restore our nation’s capital!” one X user wrote, sharing a video showing the partially filled pool reflecting the Washington Monument.

I’d heard so much about the newly renovated Reflection Pool, so I decided to come see it for myself. It’s absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Donald Trump, for helping restore our nation’s capital! pic.twitter.com/j1V7cO4PeP

— Xi Van Fleet (@XVanFleet) June 8, 2026

A Democrat in DC says she hates she’s forced to admit the Reflecting Pool now looks good.

“I thought it was a stupid idea to paint the Reflecting Pool, but it looks really good. It makes the reflection look extraordinarily prominent in a way it did not before, and I hate that.” pic.twitter.com/yVTHm4rHUh

— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) June 5, 2026

https://twitter.com/i/status/2063965325922619455

https://twitter.com/i/status/2062890406002504105

Another video circulating online featured a woman who had previously expressed doubts about the project but later acknowledged that she was impressed by the final result.

The White House also celebrated the progress of the renovation.

“The water is ON, the Reflecting Pool is reflecting, and D.C. is looking better than ever,” the White House declared. “We are so back. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP. ”

In an interview with Breitbart News Daily, Burgum said the project involved much more than cosmetic improvements and credited Trump’s background in large-scale development projects for helping bring the renovation to completion.

Highlighting the pool’s previous condition, Burgum said it had been losing approximately 45,000 gallons of water each day before repairs began.

“We had to have water continuously running into it just to keep even. All of that’s going to be taken care of, because we’ve got the master builder,” Burgum said. “We’ve got President Trump. You know, he’s the only guy that’s ever occupied that office that’s done the level of complex construction projects. And he loves construction workers. He loves construction, and he knows exactly what he’s talking about on these projects.”

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that would have imposed a one-time $100,000 charge on companies seeking to hire foreign workers through the H-1B visa program, ruling that the fee exceeded the authority granted by Congress.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, who serves on the federal bench in Massachusetts, invalidated the administration’s effort to require employers to pay the substantial fee when sponsoring foreign H-1B workers. Sorokin concluded that the measure effectively functioned as a tax and therefore could not be imposed without explicit congressional approval.

In his ruling, the judge wrote, “… the Court finds that the Policy imposes a tax on H-1B petitions without the requisite delegation by Congress,” Sorokin wrote:

Accordingly, the Court VACATES the Policy materials implementing the Proclamation’s $100,000 payment requirement. In addition to vacatur, Plaintiffs seek a “judicial declaration that the Policy is unlawful in violation of the APA and the Constitution.” Defendants’ only objection to this requested relief is that “declaratory judgment alone would not redress Plaintiffs’ alleged injuries because . . . that judgment would not affect the Proclamation nor would it enjoin any future action.” But this concern is not applicable here, where the Court has also ordered vacatur of the challenged agency action. Therefore, the Court issues declaratory judgment. [Emphasis added]

The H-1B program permits American employers to recruit foreign professionals, most of them from India, for skilled white-collar positions in the United States. Each year, hundreds of thousands of such workers are employed through the visa category.

Critics of the program have long argued that major corporations use H-1B visas to reduce labor costs by replacing American workers with lower-paid foreign employees. Various studies have pointed to the program as a significant cost-saving mechanism for large companies.

For years, Breitbart News has reported on cases involving American professionals who lost their jobs and were subsequently required to train foreign workers brought in through the H-1B system before leaving their positions.

At any given time, approximately 650,000 H-1B visa holders are employed in the United States, according to estimates cited in the report.

President Trump announced the $100,000 fee last year as part of an effort to discourage businesses from relying heavily on foreign labor. The proposal immediately drew legal challenges from business groups and corporate organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Supporters of the fee argued that it would make it more expensive for companies to replace American workers with lower-cost foreign labor. However, some corporate executives and visa recipients reportedly believed the policy contained loopholes that could have reduced its impact and allowed employers to continue utilizing the program with limited disruption.

{Matzav.com}

Former Obama adviser and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Monday, arguing that repeated claims of election fraud undermine public confidence in the American electoral system and raise concerns ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

During an appearance on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” Axelrod was asked about Trump’s latest allegations that elections are being manipulated and what those remarks could signal politically moving forward.

Cooper said, “Obviously, the not surprising the president’s making baseless claims, again, about voter fraud of rigged elections. What do you think this signals for the midterms?

Axelrod responded by saying that the central issue is not the claims themselves, which he said have become familiar, but the motivation behind them.

“Well, listen, I think this is the important question. We’ve heard this now for years and years and years. So it isn’t surprising. The question is why? Why is he saying it? First of all, let’s say it’s absurd to suggest that this was rigged in order to kick out the Republicans, the frontrunners both in the mayor and the governor’s race would love to run against the Republicans. It is a very Democratic state. It’s an even more Democratic city.”

Axelrod argued that Democratic candidates in California would likely prefer Republican opponents in statewide and local races, particularly because of Trump’s standing in the state.

“Their chances are much greater running against Republicans, partly because they’re endorsed by Donald Trump, who is so unpopular in California.”

The longtime Democratic strategist then defended the integrity of the U.S. electoral process, pointing to extensive scrutiny of recent elections and rejecting claims that widespread fraud has been uncovered.

“The election system of the United States isn’t among the most corrupt in the world, it is a model for the world. It is. We had the most scrutinized election ever in 2020, and no, no appreciable fraud was found. That should be a source of pride. And for him to run down the system and implant this notion in his followers that somehow, if you lose that the system must be rigged is a sin on the 250th year of our Declaration of Independence, that is a sin on our country.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced Monday that they are imposing what they described as a complete ban on Israeli-linked maritime traffic in the Red Sea, while warning that further military action against them or their allies would be met with intensified attacks.

In a statement released by the group, the Houthis declared that any vessels associated with Israel would now be considered potential targets.

“We consider all enemy movements to be legitimate military targets for our armed forces,” the Houthis warned.

The threat was accompanied by a pledge to increase military operations throughout the region if tensions continue to rise.

“Escalation will be met with escalation, and our operations will intensify in accordance with developments,” said Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, vowing to act “in coordination with the axis of jihad and resistance,” meaning Iran’s network of terrorist proxies across the Middle East.

Saree further stated that the group has no intention of ending its military campaign.

“Our operations will continue as long as the aggression and siege continue against us and against the axis of struggle and resistance,” he said.

The spokesman also claimed responsibility for missile attacks directed at central Israel, describing them as retaliation for Israeli military operations on multiple fronts.

Saree also stated that Houthi forces attacked central Israel with missiles, “in response to Israeli aggression against Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza.”

“The Yemeni armed forces have launched missiles at important targets of the Israeli enemy in the occupied Jaffa area, which were precisely hit,” he said. By “occupied Jaffa,” he meant the area around Tel Aviv.

The announcement mirrored actions taken by Iran, which launched missiles toward Israel following Israeli strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. Houthi missile launches triggered the first warning sirens heard in Israel on Monday morning, with additional barrages later arriving from Iran.

The Houthis previously targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea during the Gaza conflict between 2023 and 2025, forcing many vessels to abandon the route and travel around southern Africa instead, dramatically increasing shipping costs and transit times. Since the launch of Operation Epic Fury by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February, the group has repeatedly threatened to resume those attacks but had not acted until now.

In March, the Houthis also threatened to disrupt maritime traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important shipping corridors connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

The waterway has become increasingly important for global energy markets since Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Oil tankers, particularly those carrying Saudi crude, have increasingly relied on the Bab el-Mandeb route because Saudi Arabia can redirect much of its oil exports to the Red Sea through an existing pipeline network.

Data from shipping analytics firm Kpler indicates that oil shipments passing through the Bab el-Mandeb rose sharply between February and April, climbing from 3.9 million barrels per day to 7.2 million barrels per day.

Farea al-Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House, told The New York Times that the Houthis would not need a sustained campaign to disrupt the route.

“They can just send a signal and only one attack has to happen – and that will send a shock across insurance companies,” he said.

Looking ahead, al-Muslimi suggested that both major regional shipping chokepoints could face simultaneous disruption.

“I won’t be surprised now if you have a joint lockdown of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab,” he predicted.

{Matzav.com}

A massive new bridge linking the United States and Canada is expected to open within days, moving forward despite earlier warnings from President Donald Trump that he might prevent the project from entering service.

Officials overseeing the project said Monday that the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge remains on schedule for its long-awaited debut. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony is anticipated later this week, according to a source familiar with the plans, while media reports in Detroit indicate traffic could begin crossing the bridge as soon as June 15.

The project attracted political attention earlier this year when Trump suggested he could block its opening. In February, he pointed to several disputes with Canada — including restrictions on certain American alcoholic products, Canadian dairy tariffs, and Ottawa’s trade discussions with China — as reasons he might withhold approval.

Neither the Canadian Embassy in Washington nor representatives for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer offered comment on the latest developments. The White House also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said work is advancing smoothly toward an opening by June 21, describing the crossing as “which will be a vital economic link between the two countries.”

Construction on the bridge began in 2018. Canada financed the project after the United States declined to contribute funding, with the investment expected to be recouped through toll revenue collected over the next three decades.

At a Senate hearing last week, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin indicated that federal preparations are complete, telling lawmakers the department was “good to go” when it comes to staffing the new crossing.

The bridge is expected to reduce congestion at the nearby Ambassador Bridge, currently the busiest commercial crossing between the United States and Canada. As of 2023, trucks moving through that corridor transported approximately $126 billion worth of goods.

According to a study conducted by the University of Windsor, the new crossing could shorten border transit times by roughly 20 minutes and generate an estimated $2.3 billion in savings for the trucking industry over a 30-year period.

Trump has repeatedly clashed with Canada during his second term, threatening a variety of trade and economic measures against America’s northern neighbor while imposing significantly higher tariffs.

In January, Trump warned that Canada could face a 100% tariff if it proceeded with a trade agreement involving China.

That same month, he also threatened action against Canada’s aerospace sector, saying the United States would decertify certain Bombardier aircraft and impose 50% tariffs on all Canadian-made planes unless Ottawa approved several aircraft produced by Gulfstream, an American competitor. The dispute was later resolved after Canada certified some of the U.S.-manufactured planes, prompting Trump to withdraw the threat.

{Matzav.com}

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