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Trump Media & Technology Group announced Thursday that it plans to introduce a premium data service offering hedge funds and institutional investors near-instant access to President Donald Trump’s Truth Social posts, seeking to capitalize on the growing demand for faster access to market-moving information.

The new service, called Truth API, is scheduled to launch next month and will be available to hedge funds, high-frequency trading firms, and other institutional clients.

While the company said several customers have already enrolled, it declined to specify exactly how much faster the premium feed will be compared to the publicly available version.

Since President Trump returned to the White House, his Truth Social account has become a major source of breaking news capable of moving financial markets. His posts on tariffs, international trade, foreign policy, and the war with Iran have frequently triggered sharp swings in stocks, bonds, and energy prices.

Many professional trading firms already subscribe to premium data services from platforms such as X and Reddit, where even fractions of a second can provide a competitive edge in reacting to breaking news.

According to Trump Media, the new Truth API is intended to eliminate the delay between the moment a post is published and the moment it reaches institutional subscribers.

Interim CEO Kevin McGurn said the company expects the new service to become an important source of recurring revenue as Trump Media continues expanding beyond social media into cryptocurrency, streaming services, and nuclear fusion technology.

As part of that diversification strategy, Trump Media is pursuing a merger with California-based nuclear fusion startup TAE Technologies.

Last December, the company announced a $6 billion all-stock merger agreement with TAE, marking a significant move into the fusion energy sector. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026, or earlier, pending regulatory approval and shareholder consent.

Trump Media has not revealed pricing for the Truth API, and company officials have not disclosed how much they expect institutional subscribers will ultimately pay for the service.

McGurn said he believes financial firms will see enough value in receiving Truth Social posts more quickly than they could obtain them through web scraping or other public methods to justify paying for the premium service.

Axios has reported that the platform could eventually introduce multiple subscription tiers, allowing customers to pay higher fees for access to a broader selection of monitored Truth Social accounts.

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) fell about 3% on Thursday, closing at $9.28. The stock has declined roughly 77% since President Trump returned to office in 2025.

{Matzav.com}

A 4-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital Thursday evening after choking on a coin at his home in Bnei Brak.

United Hatzalah emergency medical teams were dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of a child who was choking. First responders provided emergency treatment after determining that the boy had swallowed a coin that became lodged in his airway.

Yisrael Horowitz, a United Hatzalah EMT and ambulance driver, together with HOD Unit volunteers Shaya Fischer and Meny Streicher, described the emergency response.

“We performed a series of maneuvers and attempts to dislodge the coin that had become stuck in his airway,” they said. “He was then transported quickly to Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petach Tikva suffering from mild respiratory distress. His condition is stable.”

United Hatzalah urged parents to keep small objects, toys, and other items that could pose choking hazards out of the reach of young children. The organization emphasized that taking basic safety precautions can help prevent unnecessary accidents and tragedies.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) issued a stark warning Thursday that the Democratic Party is steadily distancing itself from Israel and failing to stand with the American Jewish community, arguing that the shift is becoming increasingly evident and is likely to intensify.

Appearing on Newsmax TV’s The Record, Fetterman said he has long cautioned fellow Democrats that the party was moving in that direction. Referring to Wednesday’s House vote on aid to Israel, he said, “are going to back, back, back, back away from Israel and not defend the Jewish community in our nation. And that’s where we are. We have that manifestation with that vote yesterday” and warned that the trend “won’t stop. In fact, if anything, it’s going to accelerate.”

Host Greta Van Susteren noted what she described as a steady rise in antisemitism across the country, pointing to incidents on college campuses, in public demonstrations, and what she called a dramatic shift among House Democrats.

“Senator, it’s been drip, drip, drip, drip of antisemitism in this country. We’ve seen it grow on college campuses, on streets. And now we have this, what I would describe as almost a seismic shift inside the House of Representatives, where 104 Democrats want to cut the funding from Israel. Your thought about this.”

Fetterman responded by citing the anti-Israel protests that swept college campuses, where demonstrators occupied buildings and Jewish students reported feeling intimidated. He said he supported the Trump administration’s efforts to hold universities accountable for their handling of those incidents, including Harvard University, his alma mater.

“Yeah, well, without a doubt, look at the kinds of chaos that happened on the college campuses all across our nation. And you had students taking over buildings and terrorizing Jewish students. As a Democrat, I absolutely supported when the Trump administration held a lot of these universities fully accountable, including my own alma mater, too, at Harvard, too. So, to be clear, that’s not something I’m surprised to witness, but it’s something I’ve been warning within the Democratic Party, we, in the Democratic Party are going to back, back, back, back away from Israel and not defend the Jewish community in our nation. And that’s where we are. We have that manifestation with that vote yesterday.”

Van Susteren later asked whether the political shift could still be reversed, noting the growing number of House Democrats opposing aid to Israel.

“How do we reverse this trend? Because, as I started this interview, I pointed out how everything is drip, drip, drip, and now we’re taking this huge leap within the Democratic members of the House of Representatives, 104 of them. How do we stop — how do we arrest this trend?”

Fetterman replied that he does not believe the movement is slowing down and expects it to become even more pronounced.

“It won’t stop. In fact, if anything, it’s going to accelerate. Look at the people that have won. They’ve — anti-Israel, anti-American, anti-Western Civilization overall.”

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is moving to reinstate stricter financial requirements for immigrants seeking permanent legal residency by reversing a Biden-era policy that largely disregarded an applicant’s use of government assistance programs when evaluating eligibility for a green card.

According to CBS News, the Department of Homeland Security is preparing to rescind the Biden administration’s regulations and restore the longstanding “public charge” standard used to determine whether an immigrant is likely to become financially dependent on taxpayer-funded benefits.

The public charge test is designed to assess whether an applicant is capable of supporting himself financially or is likely to rely on government assistance after receiving lawful permanent resident status.

Under federal law, immigration officials may determine that an applicant is inadmissible if he or she is expected to become a “public charge” supported by public funds. In 2022, the Biden administration narrowed the policy, allowing many applicants who received certain forms of public assistance to remain eligible for green cards.

The revised policy being prepared by DHS would return to the broader standards that were implemented during President Trump’s first administration in 2016. Under those guidelines, immigration officers may consider factors including an applicant’s age, health, family circumstances, assets, financial resources, education, job skills, and use of means-tested government assistance programs.

As part of the change, the administration also plans to once again include benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid, and housing assistance among the programs considered when determining whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge.

DHS estimates that the revised policy could affect as many as 588,000 individuals applying for green cards from within the United States. According to reports, the rule could take effect as early as October.

Although the Trump administration is restoring the policy, the public charge standard itself predates both the Trump and Biden administrations. The modern version of the rule was first adopted in 1999 during President Bill Clinton’s administration.

The public charge proposal is one of several immigration policy changes currently under consideration. The administration is also weighing additional financial requirements for immigrants applying for green cards from outside the United States.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the State Department is evaluating a proposal that would require certain overseas green card applicants to post a $100,000 bond before being permitted to immigrate.

If adopted on a broad scale, the bond requirement could make permanent residency unattainable for many applicants who lack substantial financial resources.

The Journal reported that “applicants would likely pay the bond and receive the money back only after becoming U.S. citizens, a process that takes at least five years. That way, the bond would serve as collateral if a green-card holder moved to the country and proved unable to support themselves.”

“President Trump has made clear that those who wish to immigrate to the United States must be financially self-sufficient,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, and added that the administration is exploring the bond idea “as a way to demonstrate they have access to the funds needed to support themselves.”

{Matzav.com}

Andy Burnham officially became leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party on Friday, paving the way for him to become the country’s next prime minister when he takes office next week following Keir Starmer’s resignation.

Labour confirmed the outcome of its leadership race, which was held to choose a successor to Starmer. Burnham ran unopposed, making Friday’s announcement largely ceremonial after he had already secured overwhelming backing from Labour lawmakers.

His victory had effectively been guaranteed after receiving the nominations of 379 out of Labour’s 403 members of Parliament in the House of Commons by Thursday evening.

“We’re going to give them hope back,” Burnham said in his first speech as leader. “This is a proud moment you have given me and my family today, and an emotional one, but it is one for which I am ready.”

Starmer’s departure followed weeks of mounting calls for him to step down after Labour suffered heavy losses in local elections earlier this year. His resignation was ultimately triggered by a leadership challenge from within his own party. He will remain prime minister through Monday, when he is scheduled to formally submit his resignation to King Charles III, who will then invite Burnham to form a new government.

Burnham, who previously served as mayor of Greater Manchester, has spent recent weeks preparing to assume the country’s highest office, though he has offered only a limited preview of his policy agenda. After winning a parliamentary by-election last month, he pledged to pursue a style of politics “based on unity and hope” while promoting economic growth that benefits every region of Britain.

Despite his lengthy public career, Burnham remains relatively unfamiliar to many voters outside Greater Manchester. He has largely stayed out of the national spotlight, holding few media appearances and avoiding major press conferences since emerging as Labour’s leader-in-waiting.

When he moves into 10 Downing Street, Burnham will become Britain’s seventh national leader since 2016. Widely regarded as one of Labour’s strongest communicators, he is known for a more approachable and informal style than Starmer. Nevertheless, he inherits many of the same challenges, including sluggish economic growth, persistent cost-of-living pressures fueled by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and increasing strain on Britain’s public services.

During his first address as Labour leader, Burnham began outlining the priorities of his incoming government. According to his office, he intends to demonstrate that he has the “courage to fix the big things that politics has neglected.”

Among his stated goals are rebuilding the British economy, expanding public oversight of key industries, and creating a new generation of modern manufacturing jobs. He argued that Britain made “a series of wrong turns in the 1980s” when “political power was centralized and economic power privatized.”

The comments were a reference to the reforms introduced under Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whose policies of privatization, industrial restructuring, and centralized government reshaped Britain’s economy during that decade.

Burnham also identified social care as one of his top priorities. In a video posted to social media on Thursday evening, he said his government would seek to improve inconsistent access to care for elderly people and those living with illness or disabilities, an issue that has challenged successive Labour and Conservative governments as Britain’s population continues to age.

Burnham has also been openly critical of President Donald Trump in the past, arguing that the president’s leadership has contributed to global instability.

“The path we’re on, if we are not careful, is a path towards the politics of the United States of America,” Burnham warned during a campaign appearance in June. While he didn’t attribute it directly to Mr. Trump, he said Americans were grappling with “a polarized, poisonous politics where people in communities don’t work together anymore.”

In an interview last year with The London Economic, Burnham discussed President Trump’s reelection alongside the rise of right-wing populist movements across Europe, saying, “I think we now have to have a real debate about what that means and the instability that [former prime minister] Liz Truss brought to Britain, I think Trump is bringing to the U.S. and the world.”

{Matzav.com}

China forcefully denied interfering in U.S. elections Thursday night after President Donald Trump announced the release of newly declassified intelligence documents that he said detail years of Chinese efforts to influence American elections and undermine confidence in the nation’s electoral system.

During his nationally televised address, Trump said one of the central categories of declassified material focuses on what he described as extensive efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to interfere in U.S. elections over the past decade. According to the president, the intelligence files allege that China amassed a vast database of American voter information and concluded that Beijing strongly opposed his reelection ahead of the 2020 election because of concerns over his approach to the presidency.

Following the speech, the Chinese Embassy in Washington responded in a statement provided to CBS News, rejecting the allegations. The statement came after Trump’s address also discussed alleged election-related activities involving other foreign countries and broader concerns about election security.

“China has all along adhered to the principle of non-interference in others’ internal affairs,” the statement reportedly read. “The U.S. election is an internal matter of the U.S. Its outcome is determined by the votes of the American people. China has never and will never interfere in the presidential elections of the U.S.”

China has previously faced accusations from several democratic nations of attempting to influence their political systems. In Canada, the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) task force announced in 2025 that it had uncovered “coordinated and malicious activity” tied to accounts linked to the Chinese government during the federal election that brought longtime China business associate Mark Carney to the office of prime minister. Australia has also experienced similar concerns, including a 2017 scandal involving a senior senator who accepted money from a billionaire connected to the Chinese regime before publicly adopting positions viewed as favorable to Beijing.

In his remarks Thursday, Trump alleged that “the People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history — resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220 million U.S. voter files.”

Although the president’s address covered a range of election security concerns, including vulnerabilities in voting systems and alleged intelligence failures, he singled out China as the most significant foreign threat outlined in the newly released records.

Trump said the intelligence documents indicate that China’s access to election-related data extended into approximately 18 states, giving Beijing access to “sensitive data that would be needed to register to vote, and engage in other nefarious activities.”

“This data loss presents an unprecedented election security nightmare,” he observed. “The intelligence even shows that China assigned a data exploitation unit specifically to this new project.”

The president also referenced another intelligence document released by the White House that he said concluded China’s leadership actively sought to prevent his return to office.

“They did not want and they just didn’t want it, they fought like hell not to have it, Donald Trump to win,” he said, stating that CIA documents recorded that China would “leverage all domestic and foreign elements that were opposed to the U.S. president in an effort to reduce the U.S. president’s votes and make him resign or lose the election.”

Trump further alleged that some of the declassified records show “intelligence agencies worked to actively suppress and downplay information about the extent of China’s sinister election meddling.” He said he would direct senior intelligence and law enforcement officials to “investigate how and why such crucial info was hidden, to fire those involved in the cover-up and to press charges.”

Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri made it clear on Thursday that his party will not join forces with Gadi Eisenkot or his newly formed Yashar party after the upcoming elections, reaffirming that Shas remains firmly committed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the national camp.

“We support Netanyahu, period. Eisenkot is leading a camp of hatred against everything Judaism stands for. We are with Netanyahu all the way, backing him to lead the camp and serve as Prime Minister. The faith-based bloc is our bloc,” Deri said in an interview with Yishai Cohen on the Kikar HaShabbat news website.

While acknowledging that there is disappointment within the Chareidi camp over the conduct of Likud and other parties in the right-wing coalition, Deri stressed that Shas sees no viable alternative. “Netanyahu is the most experienced figure. The faith-based bloc is our home. We have our grievances with them, but there is simply no alternative.”

Deri also said that if Netanyahu wins another term, he would urge him to pursue the formation of a broad-based national coalition rather than limiting the government to right-wing parties alone. “I strongly support the Prime Minister’s intention to make every effort to form a broad government. We have always striven for a coalition like that because it fosters greater consensus and reduces division. While a ‘fully right-wing’ government gave us a majority, it also deepened polarization and hostility. If we can expand the government with our bloc as its foundation, that would be the ideal outcome.”

{Matzav.com}

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declared that any Israeli citizens found in the country would be expelled immediately as authorities investigate reports that Israelis may have participated in an international technology retreat in the Muslim-majority nation.

“If we find any Israeli, we will deport them immediately because we do not recognize Israel,” Ibrahim said during an interview with the English-language news outlet Free Malaysia Today, according to JNS.

Responding to allegations that Israeli citizens with dual nationality had entered Malaysia, Ibrahim said anyone holding an Israeli passport “will be deported if the allegations are proven true.” He added that “all relevant agencies are already conducting investigations.”

The controversy centers on reports that Israeli nationals may have attended Network School, a residential technology community located in Forest City near the Singapore border. The project was launched in 2024 by American technology investor Balaji Srinivasan and markets itself as a destination for self-described “techno-optimists,” offering accommodations, meals, workspaces, fitness facilities, and other shared amenities for a monthly fee of $1,500.

Malaysia’s Immigration Department said Thursday that investigators have not yet uncovered evidence confirming that Israeli citizens took part in the program.

“So far, we have not found any evidence to verify the allegations regarding the presence of Israelis in the Network School program,” Immigration Department Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban told the New Straits Times. “Preliminary checks found that all those inspected possessed valid immigration documents based on current records.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately issue a response Thursday after being asked to comment on the Malaysian investigation.

Malaysia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and has long taken a hardline stance toward the Jewish state. In December 2023, Malaysian authorities arrested one of their own citizens after he posted a social media video calling for peace with Israel.

That same month, the Malaysian government barred Israeli-flagged cargo vessels from entering the country’s ports, citing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which it said disregarded “basic humanitarian principles”.

In another high-profile incident, Malaysian officials announced in 2022 that they had arrested individuals they identified as suspected Mossad operatives accused of attempting to abduct a Palestinian man in Kuala Lumpur whom authorities said was working on behalf of Hamas.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized ABC and NBC during his nationally televised address Thursday night, accusing the networks of deliberately refusing to broadcast his speech because it focused on election security and newly declassified intelligence that he said exposes serious flaws in the nation’s election system.

Speaking from the White House, Trump said the networks chose not to carry his address after learning it would center on recently declassified intelligence concerning election vulnerabilities and alleged foreign interference.

“In a rare move, NBC and ABC Fake News have both said that they would not cover this speech,” Trump said during the address, which was broadcast live on Newsmax and the free Newsmax2 streaming platform. “They knew what it was about because of the fact that they don’t like the topic, because they know how corrupt our system is, and they don’t want to reveal it.”

The president expanded his criticism beyond the two broadcast networks, accusing other major media outlets of working to keep information about election-related issues from the American public.

“They and others in the media are part of a plot,” Trump said. “They want to continue this fraud for whatever reason. They want to keep it going. They want to protect the radical left.”

Trump also argued that television networks should face serious penalties for what he described as their failure to honestly report on election integrity issues.

“Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses,” Trump said. “They use our public multibillion-dollar-in-value airways for absolutely no money. They pay nothing. All we want is honesty in our elections and honesty in reporting.”

Neither ABC nor NBC aired the president’s speech live. CNN likewise declined to broadcast the address, instead making a live feed available through its website and streaming platform.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., also condemned the decision by the television networks not to carry the speech on their primary channels.

“Some of the facts that will be revealed in President Trump’s speech tonight are truly shocking,” Schmitt, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, wrote on X. “If the networks were truly serving the public interest they would air it and as a country we would collectively resolve to take action.”

Trump’s address coincided with his announcement that his administration was releasing newly declassified intelligence records that he said document foreign attempts to influence American elections, expose weaknesses in election infrastructure, and reveal alleged misconduct by intelligence officials.

The president maintained that the newly released material demonstrates the urgent need to strengthen election safeguards and renewed his call for Congress to approve the SAVE America Act.

{Matzav.com}

Israel officially entered election season early Friday morning after the Knesset voted to dissolve itself, bringing the 25th Knesset to an end following hours of political drama, frantic efforts to locate missing lawmakers, and intense last-minute pressure by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to secure the votes needed for passage.

The final vote marked the conclusion of a turbulent overnight session in which coalition leaders scrambled to assemble the required majority. Several coalition members were absent from the plenum and unreachable by phone, prompting an urgent search to bring them back for the decisive vote. Netanyahu and senior coalition officials became personally involved in the effort to ensure the bill’s approval.

In the final moments before the vote, the coalition secured the crucial 61st vote needed to pass the dissolution measure. MKs Galit Distel Atbaryan and Avi Maoz were summoned to the Knesset late at night and arrived in time to cast their votes in favor of dissolving the legislature.

Behind the scenes, the coalition also had to overcome a dispute with Shas. After direct appeals from Prime Minister Netanyahu, the party ultimately agreed to support dissolving the Knesset, providing the votes necessary to complete the process.

Earlier in the evening, Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri had walked out of the plenum along with his party’s lawmakers after learning that opposition parties would not support legislation to increase public funding for political parties. Explaining his decision, Deri said, “I will teach the opposition a lesson. They are always saying the Chareidim only want money. We don’t need this money.”

He continued, “Shas is the most organized party and has no debts. They want this law more than we do, but they want us to pass it, take all the criticism, and then they will receive the money. That is not going to happen.”

Despite the internal disagreements and dramatic final hours, the coalition ultimately succeeded in completing the legislative process to dissolve the Knesset. Israel’s political system has now officially entered the next election campaign, which will conclude with the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset.

In this episode, Rabbi Reinman discusses the events that led up to the Roman conquest of Judea and the establishment of the Herodian dynasty.

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Chapter Forty-Six: The Roman Conquest

Concerned for the stability of her country after her passing, Salome left specific instructions. The Pharisees were to remain in control of the religious and legal life of the country. Hyrcanus, her elder son, who was already serving as high priest, would ascend to the throne as her rightful heir. Aristobulus, her fiery and ambitious younger son, would be given military responsibilities.

Salome had hoped to prevent  a civil war, but even as she lay on her deathbed in 67 b.c.e., fighting had already broken out. With support from the army, and from the Sadducees who had been sidelined by Salome, Aristobulus seized twenty fortresses and declared his claims to the throne.  Within months, Aristobulus defeated Hyrcanus.

The brothers met in the Holy Temple to settle their dispute and swore an oath to abide by the agreement. Aristobulus replaced Hyrcanus on the throne. He also insisted that Hyrcanus resign as high priest, because by Hasmonean tradition, the king was also high priest. In exchange, he allowed Hyrcanus to live in Jerusalem and keep his wealth. They also exchanged houses. Aristobulus moved into the royal palace, and Hyrcanus moved into the palatial home vacated by Aristobulus.

During the decade of Salome’s reign, one of her closest advisors had been Antipater, the governor of Idumea, the country Yochanan Hyrcanus had conquered and annexed during the previous century. According to Josephus, Yochanan Hyrcanus had forcibly converted all the Idumeans to Judaism and appointed a wealthy Idumean named Antipas as governor. Antipater inherited the position from his father. His wife was related to the royal Nabatean family east of the Jordan River.

The Talmud views the descendants of Antipater as slaves ineligible to sit on the throne of Israel. It would appear, therefore, that Hyrcanus actually enslaved the Idumeans and that the reported conversion was the result of the enslavement.

It was not uncommon in ancient times for conquerors to enslave entire populations. The conquered people became the property of the king, who either sold them or kept them for his own use. The king’s slaves did not necessarily work in his fields. They worked as craftsmen, ran businesses, occupied government positions or even became royal advisors. Antipas, although a slave, was allowed to keep his wealth and was appointed governor of Idumea. Antipater, his son, inherited his wealth and his office…

Read full chapter and earlier chapters at www.rabbireinman.com.

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President Donald Trump used a nationally televised primetime address Thursday night to announce the immediate declassification of intelligence files that he said reveal extensive vulnerabilities in America’s election system, while directing multiple federal agencies to investigate what he described as years of concealed security failures and foreign interference.

Trump began his speech by contrasting the current state of the country with what he described as an “economic and social disaster” inherited by his administration. He pointed to what he called a booming economy, declaring that “more Americans are working today than ever before” and noting that “inflation saw the largest monthly decline in more than six years.”

The president also highlighted key provisions of his signature tax package, emphasizing the elimination of taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits. He further cited declining prescription drug prices and the creation of tax-free investment accounts for children as major accomplishments.

Shifting to national security, Trump said illegal border crossings had effectively fallen to zero over the past 14 months. He also referenced developments involving Venezuela and Iran, declaring, “We are winning big in Iran. You will see the fruits of that labor very, very shortly”.

Trump then argued that none of the administration’s accomplishments would matter without public confidence in the electoral process, warning, “If there can be no trust, there can be no greatness. And that’s very simple: no trust, no greatness.”

Announcing what he described as a major transparency initiative, Trump said, “Tonight I’m announcing the immediate declassification and release of critical intelligence revealing shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure,” explaining that the material—compiled by the White House Government Transparency Task Force together with intelligence advisers—had been posted on the White House website.

According to the president, the newly released records contain five major findings concerning election security.

Trump asserted that intelligence reports indicate the Chinese government obtained approximately 220 million American voter records beginning during the 2020 election cycle, including names, addresses, and party affiliations. He characterized the alleged breach as an “unprecedented election security nightmare.”

The president also accused elements within the intelligence community of concealing information about Chinese election-related activities from both the White House and Congress. Referring to CIA documents from 2018 and 2019, Trump claimed Beijing sought to influence the political landscape by exploiting American business relationships and financing unfavorable media coverage, saying, “The Chinese government wanted US president to lose the next election, and the reason they wanted me to lose is because they knew I was wise to them.”

Trump went on to cite FBI records that he said detail Chinese efforts to produce fraudulent ballots. He alleged intelligence analysts “deliberately massaged the presidential daily briefing to withhold information regarding Chinese activities” and pointed to one FBI official who allegedly wrote that she was operating “a shadow government” to keep the intelligence from being disclosed.

The president further claimed intelligence assessments compiled between January 2020 and June 2026 found that centralized election databases and voting machines remain “extremely exposed to attack” by foreign governments. He specifically referenced reported electronic vote manipulation methods allegedly developed in Venezuela.

Trump also discussed FBI files relating to a 2020 Michigan State Police raid involving a voter registration operation in Muskegon. He alleged evidence of fraudulent voter registration applications purchased with gift cards was “slow walked” and later suppressed by the Biden Justice Department.

Turning to voter registration rolls, Trump cited a Department of Homeland Security review that he said identified roughly 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote in federal elections. He further asserted that the actual total is likely much higher because, according to the administration, some states have declined to provide complete voter registration data.

The president also criticized major television networks that chose not to air the speech live. “In a rare move, NBC and ABC fake news have both said that they would not cover this speech,” Trump said, adding that “fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses” for utilizing public airwaves while concealing election vulnerabilities.

As part of the administration’s response, Trump announced that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the CIA have been instructed to investigate the alleged intelligence cover-ups, dismiss any officials found responsible, and pursue criminal charges where warranted.

He also said the Department of Homeland Security would notify states about noncitizens identified on voter rolls and provide technical briefings on election system security updates before the upcoming midterm elections.

Concluding his address, Trump criticized California’s lengthy vote-counting process, calling the state’s month-long tabulation period “worse than any third world country.” He also argued that “mail-in ballots are inherently corrupt” and urged Americans to press Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require photo identification and proof of citizenship for voter registration while limiting mail-in voting to cases involving illness, disability, military service, or travel.

“These reforms are urgently needed to stop the vulnerabilities that I’ve mentioned,” Trump concluded. “Together we will restore faith and confidence in our country, and we will be bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”

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The Baltimore Jewish community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of a one-year-old child who died Thursday after being accidentally left inside a hot vehicle. The toddler was a member of a respected and well-known family in the community.

In the wake of the tragedy, local rabbanim organized a special gathering for women in the community to offer words of chizuk and support. Rabbinic leaders were joined by representatives of Chai Lifeline, who are providing emotional assistance to the grieving family and helping them cope with the devastating loss.

The incident is the latest in a series of fatal hot-car tragedies that claim the lives of young children across the United States each year, particularly during the summer months. Community leaders are urging parents, drivers, and those involved in carpools to adopt preventive safety measures, including placing a personal item in the back seat as a reminder, confirming that every child has exited the vehicle upon arrival, and using child safety seat alarm systems designed to prevent such heartbreaking incidents.

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic standoff unfolded in the Knesset Thursday evening after Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri ordered his party’s lawmakers to walk out of the plenum, declaring that the party would not support a controversial campaign finance bill unless opposition factions also backed the legislation.

The bill, which would increase public funding for political parties ahead of the upcoming elections, requires the support of at least 61 Knesset members to pass. After learning that opposition parties did not intend to vote in favor of the measure, Deri instructed all Shas MKs to leave the chamber, effectively jeopardizing the bill’s chances of securing the necessary majority.

Explaining his decision, Deri accused the opposition of attempting to benefit from the legislation while allowing the coalition—and particularly the Chareidi parties—to absorb the political criticism.

“I will teach the opposition a lesson. They are always saying the Chareidim only want money. We don’t need this money. Shas is the most organized party and has no debts,” Deri said during conversations in the Knesset. “They want this law more than we do, but they want us to pass it, take all the criticism, and then they will receive the money.”

Officials in Shas said they view the opposition’s position as an attempt to reap the financial benefits of the legislation without publicly supporting it. As a result, the party has made clear that it will not provide the votes needed to pass the bill unless opposition lawmakers are also willing to vote in favor.

With the Knesset’s 25th term rapidly drawing to a close ahead of new elections, it remains uncertain whether supporters of the measure will be able to assemble the 61-vote majority required to approve the legislation before the current session ends.

{Matzav.com}

A heated dispute over Chareidi education is unfolding in Netanya after local authorities reportedly sought to move girls’ Chareidi preschools into the state-run Chareidi school system. In response, leading rabbinic figures in the city, joined by Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, have issued a strongly worded letter urging parents not to enroll their daughters in the new framework.

The letter was signed by Rav Moshe Dov Broida, the rabbinic leader of the central Chareidi community in Netanya, and Rav Aharon Aryeh Waldenberg, rabbi of the city’s Minyan Avreichim synagogue. The two rabbanim warned parents against what they described as the dangers of the state-run Chareidi preschool system.

In their letter, the rabbanim wrote, “There must be no surrender and no temptation whatsoever to send our daughters to this framework under any circumstances.”

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch added his signature to the letter and personally wrote an additional handwritten message stating, “The public, G-d forbid, should not be enticed by their words, and they should stand firm—very firm—in continuing pure Torah education.”

The letter has sparked considerable discussion throughout Netanya’s Chareidi community and beyond. It comes in addition to a separate, detailed letter sent by Rav Moshe Dov Broida to parents of preschool children, in which he warned that unless the situation changes, the upcoming school year will not open under the proposed arrangement.

The controversy marks the latest chapter in the ongoing debate over the expansion of the state-run Chareidi education system, a move that has faced strong opposition from many leading Torah authorities, who have repeatedly called on parents to preserve the traditional model of Torah-based education.

{Matzav.com}

Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen personally apologized Thursday to a Chareidi man who was allegedly attacked because of his appearance while waiting at a city bus stop. In addition to sending a letter expressing regret over the incident, the mayor also delivered a cake to the victim as a gesture of support.

The apology followed a report by Kol Berama Radio detailing the assault. In his letter, Shama-Hacohen wrote that he was “deeply shocked to hear about the display of violence and threats that were made at you in the streets of our city. Such an incident is in complete contradiction to Ramat Gan’s fundamental values. There is and will not be any place for expressions of hatred or discrimination in the city.”

The mayor added that “the fact that you are a resident of the neighboring city of Bnei Brak who visited our city, makes the incident even more painful and upsetting.”

According to the victim, the attack took place Wednesday afternoon on Herzl Street in Ramat Gan as he waited for a bus back home. He told Kol Berama that while speaking with his brother-in-law by phone, he stepped to the side of the bus stop so as not to disturb the other passengers waiting there.

It was then, he said, that a man riding a bicycle while holding a beer bottle approached him and began shouting, “Haredi, what are you doing on this street? Go to Bnei Brak.”

The victim said he tried to walk away and avoid any confrontation, but the attacker got off his bicycle and allegedly began striking him repeatedly with the beer bottle. He said he was hit in the face and stomach before the assailant allegedly attempted to smash the bottle while threatening him, saying, “If I see you here in another 10 minutes, I will come back and murder you.”

Before the attacker fled, the victim said he was able to record him on his cellphone.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the victim said the physical assault was not the most painful part of the encounter. Rather, he said, the anti-Chareidi abuse directed at him because of his appearance left the deepest emotional scars.

“The hardest moment was hearing the shout, ‘Haredi, don’t step on this street, go to Bnei Brak. If you stay here, I’ll murder you,'” he said.

The victim also expressed disappointment that, despite the attack taking place on a busy street near a bus stop filled with people, no one stepped forward to intervene or attempt to stop the assault.

He further criticized the way police handled his complaint, saying investigators refused to immediately accept the photograph he had taken of the suspect on his phone. Instead, he said, they insisted he upload it through a designated online portal—a process he explained was especially difficult because he uses a kosher cellphone.

The victim said he hopes Israel Police will conduct a thorough investigation and use security camera footage from the area, along with any other available evidence, to identify and arrest the suspect.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has ordered the National Guard mission in Washington, D.C., to remain in place through the conclusion of his presidency, extending the deployment for more than two additional years as the administration argues the operation continues to play a key role in reducing crime in the nation’s capital.

The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that the mission has officially been extended until Jan. 20, 2029, stating in an email that the deployment will remain active until that date, “or until terminated by the President.” The operation had previously been scheduled to conclude at the end of this year following an earlier extension.

The deployment has remained a source of political debate ever since Trump signed an executive order in August 2025 declaring a crime emergency in Washington and authorizing the activation of approximately 2,500 National Guard troops alongside additional federal law enforcement personnel. Administration officials maintain the initiative has contributed to a sharp decline in crime, while city leaders contend crime rates were already trending downward before the federal operation began.

Since arriving in the capital, National Guard personnel have taken part in a variety of public safety and community support efforts, including responding to medical calls, assisting law enforcement during arrests, clearing snow, and participating in neighborhood beautification projects.

“Taxpayers are paying more than a million dollars a day to have them walk around,” Phil Mendelson, chairman of the District of Columbia Council, said in April, adding that “the presence of armed soldiers on American streets is not a good look.”

While similar National Guard deployments have been halted or limited through court action in states such as California and Illinois, smaller federal missions continue in several cities, including New Orleans. In Washington, however, Guard members remain highly visible, patrolling Metro stations, tourist destinations, public parks, neighborhoods, and other areas throughout the city.

The mission has also carried significant risks. In November, a National Guard soldier was killed and another injured when authorities say a gunman traveled from Washington state to the nation’s capital and opened fire outside a Metro station just three blocks from the White House. The victims were identified as Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, both of whom had been deployed from West Virginia.

Because Washington, D.C., is a federally created district rather than a state, Trump has direct authority over both the city’s National Guard and significant aspects of its law enforcement structure. That unique arrangement has allowed the administration to continue the mission without encountering many of the legal obstacles that have challenged similar deployments elsewhere.

Although Guard troops themselves do not have arrest powers, administration officials insist their presence has strengthened broader law enforcement efforts by allowing police agencies to focus more resources on fighting crime.

According to the White House, a joint federal task force has made roughly 12,000 arrests since the operation began. Officials also said those arrests included 62 identified gang members and led to the seizure of thousands of illegally possessed firearms.

Despite those figures, disagreement continues over how much of Washington’s improving public safety can be credited to the Guard deployment. Critics argue crime had already been declining before the federal intervention, though those statistics later became the subject of an investigation following allegations that local police data may have been manipulated.

{Matzav.com}