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Recently disclosed text messages show that Dr. Anthony Fauci privately discussed the possibility that COVID-19 vaccination could “theoretically” be associated with miscarriages during early pregnancy, even as he publicly maintained that there were “no red flags” for pregnant women receiving the vaccine.

In a Jan. 25, 2021, text conversation with then-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Fauci said additional discussions had raised an issue he believed deserved attention.

“I asked around a bit more and another issue came up that you need to be aware of,” wrote Fauci.

“Since many people have significant cytokines storm and fever after the 2nd dose, this theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester,” added the then-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director.

The exchange took place as Fauci, Walensky, and Murthy were evaluating whether the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine regimen might present different risks depending on the stage of pregnancy.

Walensky responded by agreeing that the concern Fauci raised warranted consideration.

She replied that the first trimester issues he mentioned were “definitely a good point, [especially] after dose two.”

Just over a week later, on Feb. 3, Fauci addressed the issue publicly during a question-and-answer livestream hosted by the Journal of the American Medical Association, saying the Food and Drug Administration had not identified evidence suggesting a danger for pregnant women.

During the event, Fauci said the FDA “found thus far, and we have to be careful, but thus far no red flags about that, about pregnant women.”

Several months afterward, while serving as President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, Fauci again publicly encouraged vaccination during pregnancy, citing federal monitoring data.

He stated that “tens and tens and tens of thousands of women who have been followed by the CDC, who have been vaccinated when they were pregnant, there’s no indication whatsoever that there’s any increase of any adverse issues in a pregnant woman who was vaccinated compared to a pregnant woman who wasn’t vaccinated … it’s pretty clear that pregnant women should get vaccinated.”

Additional communications among Fauci, Murthy, and Walensky also show the officials weighing the potential risks of vaccination against the dangers posed by SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

In one exchange, Murthy expressed concern after the World Health Organization issued guidance regarding the Moderna vaccine and pregnancy.

Murthy wrote that he was “surprised to see WHO [World Health Organization] put out a strong like saying they do not recommend moderna [sic] in pregnant women.”

He added, “That’s a strong statement to make and potentially quite damaging to public confidence among pregnant women,” in a Jan. 26, 2021, text sent to Fauci and Walensky.

The messages were released by Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin after the Senate Homeland Security Committee obtained more than 34,000 text messages and 522 voicemail recordings from Fauci’s government-issued cellphone last week.

According to the two Republican senators, only three contacts were listed on the phone, although they cautioned that it is “too early to determine whether any data has been deleted.”

{Matzav.com}

At least 111 people were dead and scores of buildings collapsed after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, authorities said.

The temblor, which struck near San José del Palmar on Colombia’s Pacific coast shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time, was the strongest to hit the country in a decade, according to the Colombian Geological Service. It was felt in Bogotá, some 150 miles away, and in neighboring Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela, where twin earthquakes in June killed thousands.

Rescue workers were searching for survivors in the rubble of fallen buildings in several cities. At midday, 111 people were reported dead, 61 buildings collapsed, and 52 schools, 18 health centers, 17 community centers and six airports affected, President Abelardo de la Espriella told reporters.

The dead included at least 40 people in the Risaralda department and 27 in Valle del Cauca, their governors told local news outlets.

The Risaralda deaths included three at Matecaña International Airport in Pereira, where a section of the passenger terminal roof collapsed. Videos showed plumes of gray dust rising above the city of about 470,000 people, the commercial center of Colombia’s coffee region.

Chocó Gov. Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi reported nine deaths in Quibdó, the capital. The department, home to a large Afro-Colombian community, is one of the country’s poorest. Videos on social media showed buildings in several areas partially or fully collapsed.

Jorge Eduardo Rojas, mayor of Manizales in Caldas department, reported three deaths, 12 buildings damaged or collapsed and many gas leaks. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said at least 30 buildings in Colombia’s third-largest city had collapsed, with people trapped inside. Antioquia’s governor said one person had been killed in that department.

The quake reached a depth of nearly 70 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. There was no tsunami threat, Colombia’s General Maritime Directorate said.

The disaster is an early challenge for de la Espriella, who was inaugurated Friday. De la Espriella said Monday that he would establish a unified command post to respond and would travel to the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration “stands ready to support the people of Colombia” and the de la Espriella administration. The right-wing president is expected to be a key partner to President Donald Trump, who endorsed him before the second round of Colombia’s election, held in June.

Trump sent a delegation on Friday, led by then-acting attorney general Todd Blanche, to attend de la Espriella’s inauguration in Cali. The city was the largest to report significant earthquake damage on Monday.

Colombia’s Pacific coast lies along the Ring of Fire, a belt of frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Videos from Manizales, a university city built along steep, landslide-prone Andean ridges, showed serious damage to the city’s Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica, the tallest cathedral in Colombia.

The country’s civil aviation authority suspended operations at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.

In Bogotá, thousands of people evacuated buildings. Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said buildings suffered superficial cracks but no structural damage. The city was ready to help the hardest-hit communities, he said; 100 rescuers prepared to deploy to areas prioritized by the national government.

The earthquake struck a region with a searing memory of seismic catastrophe. In 1999, a 6.1-magnitude quake devastated Armenia, a city of about 300,000 in the heart of the UNESCO-listed Coffee Cultural Landscape, killing an estimated 1,100 to 1,200 people. About 60 percent of Armenia’s poorly engineered structures collapsed.

The event reshaped Colombian disaster policy, spurring a national reconstruction fund and stricter enforcement of the country’s seismic building code.

The twin earthquakes, of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, that struck Venezuela 39 seconds apart on June 24 killed more than 6,000 people.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Samantha Schmidt, Helena Carpio, Joshua Yang 

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s $300 million superyacht has come under criticism after reports claimed it did not respond to requests to assist a disabled boat off the coast of Alaska, leaving another vessel to carry out the rescue.

According to the Alaska Beacon, the 387-foot yacht Launchpad did not respond after a 21-foot skiff ran out of fuel Monday night while traveling between Petersburg and Juneau. Instead, the nearby cruise ship Wilderness Legacy altered course and came to the stranded boat’s aid.

During the rescue operation, the captain of the Wilderness Legacy reportedly informed passengers that Zuckerberg’s yacht had been closer to the disabled vessel but had “refused” to assist, according to one passenger aboard the cruise.

The announcement reportedly drew a strong reaction from those on board.

“There was near unanimous booing when the captain announced this,” according to a Bluesky post by vacationer Michael Love.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it received the skiff’s call for assistance at approximately 9:30 p.m. Monday.

After evaluating the situation, the Coast Guard concluded that the vessel was not in immediate distress but issued a marine assistance broadcast roughly 30 minutes later requesting help from nearby boats.

Marine tracking data cited by the Alaska Beacon indicated that the Wilderness Legacy, operated by UnCruise Adventures, was actually farther from the stranded skiff than Launchpad when the assistance request was issued.

The same tracking information reportedly showed the cruise ship passing Zuckerberg’s yacht on its way to assist the disabled vessel while the superyacht remained in place.

The Wilderness Legacy ultimately towed the skiff to the safety of protected waters in Farragut Bay.

A spokesperson for Zuckerberg disputed any suggestion that he or his family were involved, emphasizing that neither was aboard the yacht at the time and explaining that the crew did not immediately receive the Coast Guard’s communication.

“Mark and his family were not on board at the time of the incident,” the statement provided to the Beacon said.

“As the Coast Guard noted, the boat was not in distress, and by the time the crew reviewed the Coast Guard contact on a different radio channel from the one they were operating on, the assist was already underway. We’re grateful all parties are safe.”

{Matzav.com}

Hillary Clinton is cautioning Democrats that Republicans’ efforts to brand progressive candidates as “communist” or “socialist” could become a potent campaign weapon in the 2026 midterm elections, urging her party to unify behind its nominees and broaden its appeal to independent voters.

Speaking Friday on the “Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway” podcast, Clinton reflected on Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, where Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated moderate Rep. Haley Stevens. She said Democrats now face the challenge of bringing the party together ahead of the general election.

“The real fight will be, How do we make sure that people who voted for Haley feel comfortable voting for Abdul El-Sayed? And, How do we get independents to feel comfortable?” Clinton said.

She argued that Republicans are likely to center their campaign strategy on portraying Democratic candidates as extremists.

“It’s not just about Michigan, but the Republican messaging is ‘communist, socialist.’ It’s going to be a very effective attack.

“And so people on the left have to be prepared to answer that and be effective in answering that.”

When podcast host Kara Swisher questioned whether branding candidates as “communist” would still be an effective tactic in 2026, Clinton pointed to President Donald Trump’s campaign strategy as evidence that Republicans believe the message resonates with voters.

“All I know is that’s the attack that Trump is leading with and I assume they’ve tested it and I assume that they have reason to believe that it’s effective or they wouldn’t be beating the drum on it,” Clinton said, noting that Vice President JD Vance and other Republicans also have adopted the message.

Clinton described the Republican approach as an effort to revive “scare tactics,” while acknowledging that Democrats must also overcome internal divisions between the party’s moderate and progressive factions.

El-Sayed, who earned the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during the primary campaign, is now set to face Republican Mike Rogers in November in a race widely viewed as critical to determining which party controls the Senate.

Clinton said Democrats encompass a broader range of political viewpoints than Republicans but stressed that electoral success ultimately depends on winning statewide general elections.

She also criticized some progressive activists for failing to fully support Democratic nominees after contested primaries.

“There was a lot of reluctance to support Kamala Harris. There was a lot of reluctance to support me when I got the nomination,” Clinton said. “So, it can’t be a one-way street.”

With Michigan expected to be one of the nation’s marquee Senate contests, Clinton said El-Sayed will need to unite Democratic voters—including those who backed Haley Stevens—and attract independents if he hopes to defeat Rogers.

“We’re not going to beat Republicans by being divided,” Clinton said.

{Matzav.com}

A newly released Channel 14 News poll indicates renewed momentum for Israel’s right-wing camp, projecting a 62-seat Knesset majority while showing Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s Likud party gaining additional support since the survey’s previous edition.

The poll, published Monday evening, projects the right-wing bloc winning 62 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Netanyahu’s Likud emerges as the largest party with 33 seats, reflecting a gain of two mandates compared to the previous Channel 14 survey.

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party is projected to finish in second place with 23 seats. Shas and the Democrats are each forecast to secure 10 seats, while Yisrael Beytenu is expected to win eight.

The Beyachad party and United Torah Judaism are each projected to receive seven seats. Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism are each forecast to capture six mandates, while Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am are each expected to win five seats.

According to the survey, the overall balance of power would give the right-wing bloc 62 seats, compared to 48 seats for the center-left bloc and 10 seats for the Arab parties.

Several parties would fail to cross the electoral threshold under the poll’s findings, including Balad with 2.3%, Zehut with 1.3%, the Reservists’ Zionist Home party with 1.2%, Gilad Erdan’s party with 0.9%, Ofer Winter’s party with 0.6%, and Blue and White with 0.4%.

The survey also asked respondents who they believe is best suited to serve as prime minister. Netanyahu led the field with 54% support, followed by Gadi Eisenkot at 34%. Naftali Bennett received 6%, Avigdor Liberman drew 5%, and Benny Gantz finished with 1%.

{Matzav.com}

Gaza’s tunnel network could take more than a decade to dismantle under a proposed postwar plan being advanced by the Board of Peace, the body tasked with shaping the territory’s future, its high representative for Gaza said in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12.

Nikolai Mladenov told journalist Amit Segal that the 15-point roadmap, negotiated between the Board of Peace led by U.S. President Donald Trump and Hamas, is designed to ensure Gaza “is never again a threat to Israeli security” and hinges on three elements: full decommissioning of all weapons in Gaza, Board of Peace governance through a national committee, and large-scale reconstruction, backed by an international security force to oversee the process.

Mladenov said Israel would not be required to withdraw forces “before we actually have verified steps on the ground,” explaining that IDF troops are currently positioned along the Yellow Line inside Gaza and that any pullback toward the border fence would proceed sector by sector only after weapons are collected, stored and rendered unusable by the national committee and international forces.

He stressed that the plan does not limit Israel’s ability to respond to imminent threats or evidence of Hamas rearming, saying that if commitments are not met, the process would freeze and “we do not progress to the next stage,” while adding that personal weapons in Gaza under the envisioned arrangement would not include Kalashnikov rifles or be held in large quantities.

The interview aired hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Jerusalem rejects the 15-point roadmap announced by the Board of Peace on July 30.

Disarming the Iranian-backed terrorist group means that Hamas gives up its “heavy weapons, the less heavy weapons, all the weapons,” the prime minister reiterated, saying there had to be “real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament.”

Jerusalem is discussing the matter with the Trump administration, the premier said, adding that the Americans “have ideas, some of them acceptable to us and some not acceptable to us.”

The IDF will continue to thwart threats against Israeli forces and civilians, he vowed.

Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen told JNS on Monday that the IDF will not redeploy in the Gaza Strip until Hamas terrorists lay down their weapons.

“Until Hamas disarms, we will not move a millimeter,” said Cohen, a member of the Security Cabinet.

“I do not believe Hamas will disarm, but I am willing to give the Board of Peace the opportunity to do so,” the minister said, referencing the body chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump that oversees ceasefire efforts.

“If they do not succeed, we will return to war and dismantle Hamas ourselves at a time we deem appropriate,” Cohen warned.

“We will not return to an Oct. 6 mentality, and we will not allow Hamas to become stronger,” he said. JNS

Sen. Bernie Sanders is intensifying his campaign against the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, urging the leaders of the industry’s biggest companies to suspend development of increasingly powerful AI systems until the technology can be more fully understood and safely managed.

According to Axios, Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, sent letters to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, calling on them to voluntarily stop advancing cutting-edge AI models.

“Mr. Altman, Mr. Amodei and Mr. Zuckerberg: In the interest of humanity, stand by your words,” Sanders wrote, according to Axios. “Pause AI development. It is not too late to avoid disaster.”

The senator also warned that if the technology companies fail to act on their own, lawmakers will pursue legislative action to force the issue.

“Let me be very clear: If you do not take appropriate action now, my colleagues and I in the U.S. Senate will,” he wrote.

The latest appeal represents another step in Sanders’ increasingly forceful effort to challenge the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and the massive data centers required to support it.

Earlier, Sanders joined Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York in introducing legislation that would impose a nationwide pause on the construction of new AI data centers until Congress establishes protections for workers, consumers, civil rights, and the environment.

That proposal has not been universally embraced, even among Democrats.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner dismissed the idea of freezing data center construction, calling such a moratorium “idiocy” in March and arguing that slowing American AI development could hand communist China a strategic advantage in the global race for artificial intelligence.

Despite that criticism, Sanders has continued to make regulating AI a central part of his broader economic agenda, arguing that the technology’s growth should not outpace public safeguards.

Axios previously reported in May that Sanders has advocated for a moratorium on new AI data centers, stronger protections for workers whose jobs could be displaced by automation, greater cooperation with China on AI safety issues, and tighter scrutiny of the political influence wielded by AI-related super PACs.

On July 31, Sanders wrote on X that more than 500 communities across the country had approved laws limiting or blocking the rapid expansion of AI data centers, saying Americans were “standing up to the Big Tech oligarchs.”

In his newest letter, Sanders pointed to reports of artificial intelligence systems behaving in unexpected ways, as well as research showing AI being used to develop new viruses.

He argued that technology companies continue pouring tens of billions of dollars into AI systems that, in his view, remain insufficiently understood and cannot yet be reliably controlled.

Although Sanders has threatened congressional action if the industry refuses to slow its pace, Axios reported that legislation reflecting his proposals currently appears unlikely to secure enough support in Congress, making public advocacy and messaging efforts the most immediate path available to progressives.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is stepping into one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races, announcing plans to meet with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan as Democrats ramp up efforts to capture a pivotal Senate seat.

Newsom confirmed Sunday that he would sit down with El-Sayed after being asked about the candidate during a C-SPAN interview.

“I’ll be meeting with him tomorrow,” the governor said, according to the New York Post.

Highlighting the national importance of the Michigan contest, Newsom argued that the race could ultimately determine which party controls the U.S. Senate and said Democrats across the country should rally behind El-Sayed.

“The Senate is in play, and it will go through this state,” he said. “Getting behind him is going to be important. That’s going to require not just the party here, but support outside of Michigan.”

The California governor also commended El-Sayed’s campaign following his victory in the Democratic primary, saying the candidate has continued to build momentum despite facing political headwinds.

“My observation is he seems to be moving at a pretty impressive clip,” Newsom said. “It’s about unity, and these larger/smaller events, including the ones we’ll have tomorrow, are indicative of someone who gets it.”

Newsom’s visit places him squarely in the middle of a fiercely contested Senate campaign as both parties battle for control of Congress in the November elections.

The trip also reflects Newsom’s growing political presence beyond California as he continues to raise his national profile while openly weighing a possible 2028 presidential bid. His political team has said the Michigan visit is designed to boost Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections.

Republicans, meanwhile, have intensified their criticism of El-Sayed as the general election campaign gets underway.

Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized the Democratic nominee during an appearance on Fox News Saturday, arguing that El-Sayed would be a poor choice for Michigan voters.

“I think the guy’s crazy and would be a terrible senator for the people of Michigan,” Vance told Fox News’ “Saturday in America.”

Vance’s remarks came shortly after El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination and followed the candidate’s accusation that the vice president, who has been outspoken in support of Israel, was “sucking up to power.”

“We’re going to make that case, and obviously, the people of Michigan are going to make their vote,” Vance added, also describing El-Sayed as an “odd guy.”

In November, El-Sayed will face former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in what is expected to be one of the country’s most competitive Senate races.

Rogers narrowly fell short in Michigan’s 2024 Senate contest by approximately 20,000 votes, setting the stage for another closely fought election that could play a decisive role in determining which party controls the Senate.

President Donald Trump has escalated the standoff with Iran by declaring a new condition for future negotiations, insisting Tehran must compensate victims of its decades of violence after Iranian officials demanded payment from the United States before reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest exchange comes after Iran indicated that the strategically vital waterway would remain closed unless the U.S. compensates the Islamic Republic for damage sustained during the recent five-month war. In response, Trump unveiled a list of demands of his own, drawing a sharp new line in the ongoing negotiations.

“I see that Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are asking for compensation for the damage done to them during the last five month Military Conflict (started because, THEY WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON), even though it was never mentioned in any of our negotiations or meetings!” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump went on to argue that if compensation is now part of the discussion, Iran should be the one paying for decades of bloodshed carried out through its military operations and proxy forces.

“But it is an interesting idea because now I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts, for which they are famous, as led initially by General Soleimani, including the families of those killed on the USS Cole, and thousands of others killed in combat,” the president added.

The president also broadened his demands to include compensation for Iranian civilians whom he said were killed by their own government over the past half-century, particularly during the recent conflict.

“Additionally, compensation should be paid to the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protestors that Iran has killed over the last 50 years, not to mention the 52,000 that have been killed in the last five months.

“I have instructed my representatives to put this firmly into any, and all, future negotiations,” Trump concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of yeshiva bochurim participated in recent days in the “Bnei Hayeshivos Conference” held in Chafetz Chaim, culminating in the annual gathering attended by leading roshei yeshiva and headed by Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

As Rav Hirsch entered the gathering, the bochurim broke into powerful singing that accompanied him to the front of the hall, where an extraordinary group of senior Torah leaders awaited him. Among those present were Rav Yitzchok Ezrachi of the Mir Yeshiva; Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Chevron; Rav Shimon Galei; Rav Chaim Peretz Berman of Ponevezh Yeshiva; Rav Issamar Garbuz, rosh yeshiva of Orchos Torah; Rav Chizkiyahu Mishkovsky; Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, rosh yeshiva of Mir; Rav Tzvi Drabkin, rosh yeshiva of Grodno Be’er Yaakov; and Rav Yisroel Bunim Schreiber, rosh yeshiva of Nesiv Hadaas.

A lengthy question-and-answer session with Rav Hirsch followed, addressing both the larger challenges confronting the Torah world and deeply personal questions faced by individual yeshiva bochurim in their learning, tefillah, and spiritual growth.

The following is the full interview, translated into English.

Rav Moshe Fish: With great reverence, we would like to present questions to the rosh yeshiva, upon whose shoulders rest the burdens of the generation in general and of the Torah world in particular, both in Eretz Yisroel and throughout the world. There are weighty questions on the public agenda and on the personal agenda of every ben Torah and every person striving to grow. The public thirsts to hear clear daas Torah and words of Torah from this great and elevated gathering.

Our first question is this: Right now, the Torah world as a whole, and every individual bochur, is being pursued with every means available to the authorities. Unfortunately, we are being relentlessly persecuted. The most basic question is: How should we daven to Hashem about this difficult period? Where should we have this in mind, and what precisely should we daven for?

We know that Chazal interpret the verse “Let sins cease from the earth” to mean sins rather than sinners. On the other hand, we have the bracha against informers, which was instituted regarding wicked Jews. What should we daven for? Should we hope that they do teshuvah? Should we ask that they be destroyed, uprooted, broken, and subdued? Where should we have them in mind, and what should we ask for?

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch: I think that certainly, when we say, “May all wickedness disappear,” that can certainly apply. Likewise, “May the brazen sinners be speedily uprooted, broken, crushed and subdued” can also be said with this in mind.

Regarding “May all the enemies of Your people be speedily cut down,” that requires consideration. But what I mentioned certainly applies. We are speaking about their being subdued, completely subdued, and the elimination of wickedness. Certainly, one may have the present situation in mind when saying those words.

Rav Fish: Another question for the rosh yeshiva concerns something that troubles some bochurim on the fringes of the yeshiva world: the question of earning a livelihood.

There is a concern that if these government decrees continue and intensify, there will be major financial challenges. People need to purchase homes and support families. A bochur who is somewhat weaker emotionally may begin wondering whether, after marriage, instead of planning to devote himself to Torah day and night, he should begin thinking now about a source of income.

Is it correct to think this way? Should a bochur be concerned about this issue? And if he should not be concerned, why not?

Rav Hirsch: I think part of the question is based on the assumption that this is what people do outside Eretz Yisroel. But that is not correct. Today, people outside Eretz Yisroel do not do that either.

What he is describing was indeed the reality when I was a bochur. At that time, almost every person—even virtually every excellent bochur—would pursue some form of university education.

A university degree could ordinarily be completed in four years. But if someone attended classes three nights a week for several hours, he could finish in approximately eight years. At the time, someone who learned the entire day and went to university three evenings a week was still considered an outstanding bochur.

At a lower level, someone might attend four evenings a week and learn only until six in the evening. There were many different levels. But the concept of learning Torah the entire day with no secular studies whatsoever was almost nonexistent.

Then Rav Aharon Kotler entered the picture and changed all of America.

And I will tell you what happened with the earlier system: Not a single talmid chochom emerged from it.

The opposite approach produced results. There were bochurim who learned and learned and learned in Lakewood for years, and then remained in kollel for additional years.

I knew one person who was in kollel for 12 years. When he could no longer remain in kollel, he became an attorney after those 12 years. Another person spent six years in kollel before moving on.

Today, it is different. Today, every serious bochur goes to kollel and remains there as long as possible. Afterward, he finds some way to earn a livelihood.

But if you reverse the order and plan in advance to leave Torah study for work, I do not know how much benefit there is financially, but there is certainly, certainly an enormous spiritual loss.

Therefore, certainly not.

Rav Fish: With the rosh yeshiva’s permission, I would like to return to the first subject. The audience asks: Suppose the army could establish a framework that was completely pure according to Torah standards, hypothetically speaking, without any spiritual questions whatsoever. Would it then be permissible to join such a framework?

Rav Hirsch: It is absolutely clear that this question has nothing whatsoever to do with a yeshiva bochur.

Regarding a yeshiva bochur, there is nothing to discuss at all. He has no connection whatsoever to the army.

The question is relevant only to someone who is not learning. Someone who is working—if there were a framework that was completely pure according to Torah standards, would that be permissible?

The problem with the claim that something is completely pure is very simple: Today it may be pure, and tomorrow it is not.

What does that mean? The moment you are in the army, there is nothing preventing the head of the army or a commander from saying that all of these people must now go somewhere else.

We have seen this explicitly. In every place where they create frameworks that are supposedly completely appropriate for chareidim, those arrangements can easily be eliminated.

Rav Fish: Another question. We often read and hear about the tremendous desire for Torah possessed by the great Torah leaders and talmidei chachomim—the attraction expressed in the verse, “Draw me after You; let us run.”

A bochur asks: Right now, I do not possess that level of yearning for Torah. How can I develop the desire and thirst for Torah that characterized the talmidei chachomim of previous generations?

Rav Hirsch: We have discussed this many times.

For a person to experience joy in Torah, to genuinely enjoy Torah—the verse says, “The commandments of Hashem are upright, gladdening the heart.”

To reach the level where Torah truly gladdens the heart, Rabbeinu Yonah explains that three conditions are necessary.

The first is good middos.

The principle is that the more physical and materialistic a person is, the more that contradicts the joy of Torah. To experience the joy of Torah, a person must become more spiritual.

What diminishes spirituality?

First, poor middos. Rabbeinu Yonah says that a person must first develop good middos, and then he can truly enter the world of Torah.

Second, one must reduce materialism. I am not talking about complete abstinence from physical things. But there is a level of excessive materialism, of being deeply attached to physical pleasures, that directly contradicts Torah. A person who is strongly attached to that kind of materialism cannot experience the sweetness of Torah.

The third requirement, Rabbeinu Yonah says, is yiras Shomayim.

Without yiras Shomayim, Torah does not possess sufficient importance in a person’s eyes.

A person must understand what Torah means. The entire purpose of my life is to become close to Hashem. That is my purpose. I have no other ultimate purpose. And the best way—almost the only way available to us—to accomplish that is through learning Torah.

When a person understands that, Torah becomes immensely important to him. And when Torah is important to him, he experiences joy while learning because he is doing the most important thing in the world. That itself creates joy in Torah.

But without yiras Shomayim, Rabbeinu Yonah says, Torah does not possess sufficient importance. And without recognizing the importance of Torah, there cannot be joy in Torah.

So the three things are good middos, distancing oneself from excessive materialism, and yiras Shomayim, which produces an appreciation for the importance of Torah. Then a bochur will develop genuine enjoyment in his learning.

Rav Fish: There is another question. We live in a generation with enormous spiritual challenges, particularly involving technology. There have been very good and outstanding bochurim who were excellent for a period of time but later fell, Heaven forbid, because of this form of idolatry.

A bochur says: Right now, I am doing very well. I am learning properly, davening properly, and learning mussar. But I have seen friends who fell. How can I guarantee that this will not happen to me?

Rav Hirsch: “Fortunate is the person who is always afraid.”

Indeed, that is exactly the point. A person must constantly work and continue working. He must learn mussar, remain immersed in Torah, and daven properly.

But there can never be a situation in which a person says, “Ah, I have reached the point where I am fine.”

There is no such thing. This is the work of an entire lifetime.

Rav Fish: Regarding tefillah, there are people for whom tefillah feels like a burden. As the seforim describe it, they simply want to rid themselves of the obligation.

Others reach a level where they look forward to davening. They yearn for it and miss it.

How does a person reach that level? How can I acquire a taste for tefillah?

Rav Hirsch: One issue is very practical. Even if everyone more or less understands the words, most people do not truly understand the meaning of the tefillos and what is contained within them.

If a person would learn all of the chapters of Tehillim that appear in davening together with the commentary of the Malbim, and he would know what he is actually saying, then certainly his tefillah would be entirely different.

But the primary issue is something else.

The main problem is that, while davening, a person does not actually feel that he is speaking to Hashem.

If he does not feel that he is talking to Hashem, then obviously it is like someone simply saying words without speaking to anyone. Naturally, he has no desire for it.

I saw something quoted in the name of the Kuzari. The Kuzari says that the emunah generated by one tefillah should sustain a person until the next tefillah.

In other words, tefillah itself produces emunah.

Why?

Because when a person speaks to Hashem, when he feels that he is talking to Him and asking Him for things, he feels the presence of Hashem. And when he feels Hashem, that is tangible, emotional emunah.

What could possibly be more enjoyable than speaking to Hashem?

The only reason tefillah lacks taste is because people do not feel that they are speaking with Hashem.

A person must arouse himself and think: I am speaking to Hashem.

That is tefillah.

Rav Fish: There is a difficult question that requires some courage to ask, but with the rosh yeshiva’s permission, I will ask it.

The rosh yeshiva of Mir is sitting here. In the Mir kollel, there are many different learning programs: in-depth learning, breadth of knowledge, Daf Yomi, groups devoted to particular topics, Choshen Mishpat, Yoreh Deah, and more.

Many avreichim discover for the first time after marriage that they truly enjoy learning because they find a learning program suited to their particular abilities and nature.

The question is: Perhaps, at least in the older levels of the major yeshivos—and perhaps at least for average and weaker bochurim—we should arrange specialized Torah learning tracks suited to different types of people, such as studying a sugya through its practical halachic conclusion and other styles of learning.

Perhaps some bochurim would come alive through that approach. Why is the yeshiva world so conservative in this area?

Rav Hirsch: First of all, there are certain portions of Shas—particularly Nashim and Nezikin—that must be learned during a bochur’s yeshiva years.

The particular kinds of reasoning, analysis, precision, innovation, and differentiation required to understand a subject deeply are acquired most effectively through learning Nashim and Nezikin.

That is essentially why those masechtos were established as the standard yeshiva curriculum.

Before someone begins specializing in halachah or another particular field, he first needs the foundation of what people used to describe by saying that in yeshiva, a bochur “learns how to learn.”

That foundation is indispensable.

However, even within that system there are differences between people.

There are bochurim who naturally possess a tremendous capacity for depth and can immediately develop profound new insights. Other bochurim simply do not possess that particular ability.

The problem sometimes arises when a bochur sees that his friend has that strength and thinks, “I also have that ability.” He then attempts to produce the same kinds of insights even though it does not suit him.

His friend emerges with two beautifully clarified approaches, while he emerges confused.

But even someone who does not possess the ability to enter into extreme depth has many seforim available to him. One has to know which seforim to learn.

The works of Rav Elchonon Wasserman and the Steipler, for example, are accessible to everyone. Anyone can acquire a broad knowledge of the conceptual foundations of Torah learning and enter the world of lomdus in a manner suited to his abilities.

The same is true regarding earlier acharonim. A person may not be capable of learning the Machaneh Ephraim, while he may indeed be able to learn the Shaar Hamelech.

It depends on the particular acharon and on the individual.

In our generation, the two examples I gave—the works of Rav Elchonon and the Steipler—illustrate what I mean.

Rav Fish: A bochur asks the following question: He learns in a yeshiva of 500, 700, or 1,000 bochurim. He feels like just one more person among a thousand, another number on a list.

He thinks, “What value do I have? What am I contributing? What am I really doing? What makes me special or unique?”

For some bochurim, this causes tremendous discouragement.

Rav Hirsch: I genuinely do not understand the question.

Every person learns because he himself has an obligation and a purpose. His purpose in this world is to become close to Hashem. That is his purpose.

Therefore, what difference does it make if there are a million other people here?

But if we assume that the question nevertheless requires an answer, there is another answer as well.

The Ramak teaches a principle regarding the joining together of souls. One person’s neshamah strengthens another person’s neshamah.

In fact, this concept appears in several places in Chazal.

Hillel was worthy of reaching an extraordinarily high spiritual level, but he did not attain it because of the level of his generation. When there are people in a generation who are not good, it affects everyone, and the generation as a whole cannot reach as high a level because everyone is connected to everyone else.

So you may think, “I am one person among a million,” but in reality, everyone needs everyone else. Every individual who is present affects everyone else.

Chazal also say that Moshe Rabbeinu was capable of receiving the Torah on his own, while Klal Yisroel required 600,000 people to receive the Torah.

What does that mean? Each individual seemingly receives Torah independently. Why should the number of people make a difference?

The answer is that Klal Yisroel could achieve the level necessary for each individual to receive the Torah only through the combined strength of all 600,000. Without that collective combination, it could not have happened.

That means that every bochur who learns well places something into the generation. The entire generation receives strength from what he contributes.

That is the answer—if there really is a question. But in truth, there is no question to begin with.

Rav Fish: With the rosh yeshiva’s permission, one final question.

A bochur asks: We know that ours is a generation of abundance, luxuries, tremendous materialism, and many physical comforts.

Where is the boundary?

At what point can I feel confident that I am not becoming someone who indulges excessively while technically remaining within the boundaries of Torah? How do I know that I am not becoming overly materialistic?

On the other hand, there are things that are considered normal today. This can apply to entertainment, the quality of one’s home, clothing, or food.

How can a person determine what falls within normal, reasonable standards appropriate for our generation and what has crossed the line into excessive materialism? Is there some way to measure it?

Rav Hirsch: First of all, someone who genuinely learns mussar and learns Torah with consistency and diligence will begin to sense the answer himself.

And if he still is not certain, he should look at what the serious, outstanding bochurim and avreichim are doing and follow their example.

That is the answer.

Rav Fish: We want to thank the rosh yeshiva. May he continue to flourish in old age, full of vitality and strength. We daven and bless ourselves that the rosh yeshiva should continue to lead us until the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our days, amen.

{Matzav.com}

The Satmar Rebbe sharply criticized recent demonstrations by members of New York’s Jewish community against New York City’s Muslim and anti-Semitic mayor, socialist Zohran Mamdani, saying such protests contradict the Torah’s approach during golus and amount to dangerous “hisgarus b’umos – provocation against the nations.”

The Rebbe made the remarks during the central tish marking the yahrtzeit of his uncle, the author of Vayoel Moshe, the Satmar Rebbe zt”l, who rebuilt the Satmar Chassidus after the Holocaust and established its well-known philosophy of separation from Zionism. The annual gathering, attended by thousands of chassidim, is one of the movement’s most significant events of the year.

Addressing the recent public backlash against Mayor Mamdani, who has faced boos and demonstrations from Jewish organizations over his anti-Israel positions, the Rebbe declared: “Recently we have witnessed terrible provocation against the nations by chareidi Jews—the provocation directed against the Mayor of New York. We know that we are living in golus, and the novi Yirmiyahu instructed the Jewish people, ‘Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you.’ Torah-observant Jews must conduct themselves according to the ways of the Torah and accept the decrees of exile. By shouting against him and labeling him an antisemite, people are engaging in genuine provocation. It is not enough that there is provocation against the nations in Eretz Yisroel, but now they are bringing that same provocation here to America as well.”

The Rebbe’s comments come as tensions between Mayor Mamdani and large segments of New York’s mainstream Jewish and pro-Israel communities have reached unprecedented levels. Relations have deteriorated sharply following a series of controversial actions and statements by the mayor, prompting large demonstrations outside his official residence and public calls for his removal from office.

Among the incidents that fueled the backlash was the release of an official city video in which Mamdani referred to Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu as a “war criminal,” urged the federal government to arrest him, and described IDF operations as “genocide.” Jewish community leaders have also accused him of contributing to rising antisemitism through what they viewed as a weak response to antisemitic violence and criticized his decision to establish a judicial advisory committee without including any Jewish representatives.

Those developments have led numerous Jewish organizations and public figures to launch an aggressive campaign against the mayor, with some demanding that he resign or be removed from office.

The Satmar Chassidus, however, has taken a markedly different approach. The relationship between the chassidus and Mayor Mamdani has remained cordial. During the annual Yom Hatzalah celebration on 21 Kislev, the mayor was received with great honor at Satmar’s central gathering, warmly blessed by the Rebbe, who also publicly supported him during his election campaign.

Now, amid the political storm, the Satmar Rebbe has reaffirmed that, in his view, the obligation of Torah-observant Jews during golus is to avoid public confrontation and political provocation, even under highly contentious circumstances.

{Matzav.com}

Passengers heading to Ben Gurion Airport are encountering growing frustration even before entering the terminal, as parking lots near Terminal 3 are repeatedly filling to capacity and closing during peak travel periods. Despite efforts by the Israel Airports Authority to ease congestion, soaring demand continues to overwhelm the airport’s parking system.

Last week, the Israel Airports Authority reported a record-breaking day at Ben Gurion Airport, with approximately 101,000 travelers passing through the facility. The unusually high volume of passengers caused the short-term parking lots adjacent to Terminal 3 to reach full capacity and temporarily close. According to a Ynet report, this has become an almost daily occurrence as demand for convenient parking consistently exceeds available spaces.

The overcrowding is not simply the result of limited parking capacity. Many drivers specifically choose the lots closest to the terminal because they allow direct access without relying on shuttle buses and also offer covered parking. By comparison, long-term parking areas include many uncovered spaces and require shuttle transportation, even though parking fees differ between the options.

One of the main issues contributing to the shortage is that many drivers are using short-term parking lots for extended stays. The Israel Airports Authority’s website states that vehicles left in short-term parking for more than 24 hours are subject to towing at the owner’s expense. In practice, however, the policy is not consistently enforced, allowing many motorists to leave their vehicles well beyond the intended time limit.

For many travelers, remaining in the more convenient short-term lots is still worthwhile despite the rules. Drivers simply pay the parking fee, with the daily maximum reaching 135 shekels during peak periods and 100 shekels during regular periods. Many view that cost as a reasonable tradeoff for the convenience, particularly during the busy vacation season.

The Airports Authority also faces legal limitations because leaving a vehicle in a short-term lot beyond 24 hours is not a violation of Israeli law. Although it breaches airport parking regulations, drivers are generally not fined, unlike in some other parking facilities throughout the country where overstaying may result in penalties.

When the short-term lots fill up and close, drivers are redirected to long-term parking areas or to a designated waiting lot, where they can remain for up to one hour free of charge. For those making brief visits to pick up or drop off passengers, this often means taking airport shuttle buses, increasing inconvenience while adding pressure to both the shuttle system and airport traffic.

Another challenge involves the pricing structure of the long-term lots. Drivers entering those facilities are charged for an entire day, with a daily rate of 50 shekels and no discounted option for parking just a few hours. As a result, even motorists simply dropping off or collecting passengers often use the main parking system, adding to congestion.

Parking shortages are only one part of the heavy congestion currently affecting Ben Gurion Airport. Flight delays are averaging roughly an hour, while passengers are experiencing lengthy waits for check-in, baggage drop-off, and security screening. After arriving in Israel, baggage claim can also take nearly 90 minutes.

Ben Gurion Airport operates several parking facilities offering approximately 20,000 parking spaces in total. However, only about 2,000 of those are designated as short-term spaces located adjacent to Terminal 3. An additional parking facility serving both short-term and long-term needs is located near Terminal 1.

In an effort to ease congestion, the Airports Authority introduced a new service this year at the parking area near Terminal 3 that allows drivers to wait for up to one hour free of charge. The goal is to encourage those picking up passengers to avoid occupying spaces in the premium parking lots.

The system is designed so drivers remain in their vehicles until they receive confirmation that the arriving passenger has landed, then proceed directly to the designated pickup zone. In practice, however, many drivers still prefer to park and personally accompany travelers into or out of the terminal.

That limited interest in the waiting lot was evident during last weekend’s record-setting travel day, when occupancy at the facility reached only about 30% despite the airport’s exceptionally high passenger traffic.

Drivers who choose the waiting lot can access Terminal 1 directly, but those heading to Terminal 3 must use a shuttle bus. The Airports Authority continues encouraging the public to take advantage of the service, saying it can help reduce congestion while lowering transportation costs.

Short-term parking is priced at half a shekel per minute, with the first 15 minutes free. The daily maximum is 135 shekels during peak periods and 100 shekels during normal periods. Vehicles remaining in the waiting lot for more than one hour are charged 30 shekels for the first hour beyond the free period, followed by half a shekel for each additional minute.

Meanwhile, the Israel Airports Authority has issued a new tender for the management and operation of Ben Gurion Airport’s parking system. The project is intended to improve the efficiency of existing parking facilities rather than construct new ones.

Responding to the growing complaints, the Airports Authority said it currently offers three parking options tailored to different needs: long-term parking for travelers leaving vehicles for several days at a cost of 50 shekels per day, with complimentary shuttle service every 15 minutes; short-term parking adjacent to the terminals with hourly rates up to a daily maximum of 135 shekels; and a new waiting lot offering one hour of free parking for those picking up arriving passengers.

The authority added that the pricing structure is designed to encourage extended stays in the less expensive long-term lots while preserving short-term spaces for brief visits. It acknowledged that demand for parking near the terminals is especially high during the summer travel season and said that when those lots reach capacity, drivers are directed to alternative parking areas where spaces remain available. The Airports Authority also urged travelers and those accompanying them to use Israel Railways and other public transportation whenever possible, while recommending that drivers collecting passengers take advantage of the dedicated free waiting lot.

{Matzav.com}

The expected departure of Likud lawmakers Yuli Edelstein and Dan Illouz to rival political parties is set to trigger a major reshuffle within the party, paving the way for commentator Erez Tadmor and Likud’s chareidi activist Shabtai Katz to enter the Knesset.

The political shake-up comes as Edelstein prepares to join the new party led by Gilad Erdan, while Illouz is set to move to Yisrael Beiteinu. Their anticipated resignations from the Knesset will create two vacancies on the Likud list, setting off a chain reaction that will bring new lawmakers into parliament.

Following Tzachi Hanegbi’s departure from the Likud and his position as head of the National Security Council, the next candidates in line for seats in the 25th Knesset are Shabtai Katz, who would replace Illouz, and journalist and political commentator Erez Tadmor, who would take Edelstein’s seat.

At the same time, Likud MK Avichai Boaron called on Edelstein and Illouz to resign within 24 hours, warning that if they refuse, he will seek to have them formally declared defectors from the party.

“Dan Illouz and Yuli Edelstein are acting in an immoral manner. A person can change his opinion, but making a political switch while trading on the votes of the public and the mandate they received from Likud voters is unacceptable, ugly, and a betrayal of the public’s trust. They must resign immediately. If they do not do so within the next 24 hours, I will work to convene the faction and advance proceedings to have them declared ‘defectors.’”

Illouz responded with a sharp jab at Boaron, saying, “Boaron is apparently in a difficult position ahead of the primaries and needs public attention at any price. As I already announced, I intend to resign from the Knesset after I finish packing up my office, tomorrow or Tuesday—and that is despite the fact that I represented the Likud’s declared values more than anyone else during this term.”

Illouz is expected to leave the Knesset before the Likud primaries scheduled for August 17, while Edelstein has not yet decided whether he will step down before or after the party vote.

The planned resignations have also raised a legal question within Likud. Both Katz and Tadmor are candidates in the upcoming primaries for the large Jerusalem-Judea and Samaria-Shfela district. Some questioned whether becoming sitting Knesset members before the primaries would disqualify them under party rules.

Legal sources within Likud have reportedly said that will not be the case. Because their service in the current Knesset would last less than six months, it would not provide the advantages or institutional benefits associated with longer-term incumbency, leaving their candidacies fully valid.

Shabtai Katz is an attorney and businessman from Lod, a Chabad chossid, and serves as chairman of Likud’s chareidi headquarters. He is considered to have a broad base of support within the party.

Erez Tadmor is a co-founder of the Im Tirtzu movement, a columnist, media personality, and longtime ally of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu. He previously served as one of Netanyahu’s speechwriters and managed several political campaigns.

If another Likud seat becomes vacant during the current Knesset, the next candidate on the party list would be Gilad Sharon, son of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Sharon previously sought to run in the Likud but was blocked by Netanyahu after refusing to meet the party’s required waiting period. He is currently running independently within the party’s internal institutions.

An unusual incident disrupted an Arkia flight from Amsterdam to Israel over the weekend after a passenger mistakenly boarded the aircraft with a ticket for a different flight. The plane was forced to return to its parking stand before takeoff, and a separate technical malfunction later caused an additional delay.

The incident occurred after the aircraft had already begun taxiing toward the runway. During final pre-departure procedures, it was discovered that one of the passengers on board did not have a ticket for that flight, prompting the crew to return the aircraft to the gate.

Eran, a passenger aboard the flight, told Mako that the pilot informed travelers they would be returning to the stand before takeoff. According to him, flight attendants later explained that the delay was due to a security-related incident involving a passenger who had boarded the wrong flight.

“The flight attendants told us there was a security incident and that we were returning because a passenger had boarded the flight without the proper ticket,” Eran said.

He said security personnel arrived within minutes and escorted the passenger off the aircraft.

“Within a few minutes, security personnel arrived and removed him. How is it possible for someone without the correct ticket to reach the boarding gate, pass the final inspection by the gate agents, and take a seat on a plane that is about to depart for Israel? This isn’t an ordinary delay—it’s a serious security failure that requires an investigation and clear explanations.”

Eran added that passengers were given little information as the situation unfolded.

“We weren’t given organized information, and no one provided clear answers to our questions,” he said. “People were under a lot of stress. It felt like some of those involved didn’t fully understand the seriousness of the incident or the distress of the hundreds of passengers who were confined to the aircraft for such a long time.”

Even after the passenger was removed, the flight did not depart immediately. A separate technical issue with the aircraft was later discovered, causing another delay before takeoff.

Arkia said in a statement: “During preparations for the departure of an Arkia flight from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv, while conducting the passenger count prior to takeoff, it was discovered that one passenger had mistakenly boarded the aircraft while holding a boarding pass for a different flight.

“The passenger, who was not traveling with checked baggage, had successfully completed all airport security and screening procedures in Amsterdam. As soon as the mistake was identified, he was removed from the aircraft and transferred to the flight on which he was actually booked.

“We emphasize that the technical malfunction discovered later on the aircraft, which required the plane to return to the stand before resuming its journey after repairs, was completely unrelated to the passenger incident. These were two entirely separate events.”

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Sunday that his office is aggressively investigating Dr. Anthony Fauci, promising to use every legal avenue available under state law to determine whether any wrongdoing occurred during or after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Uthmeier discussed the ongoing Florida investigation with host Maria Bartiromo, focusing on Fauci’s tenure as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and his role in shaping the nation’s pandemic response.

When asked whether he believes Fauci may have committed criminal acts, Uthmeier sharply criticized the former public health official, calling his conduct during the pandemic “horrific” and asserting that many Americans suffered because of his decisions.

“People couldn’t be there for the birth of their first child or the loss of a loved one because of him,” Uthmeier said. “And if he is making money on the side while perpetuating this fraud, there could very well be criminal liability … We’re going to look at every aspect of Florida law and do everything in our power to seek truth and accountability.”

Uthmeier also praised Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) for continuing congressional scrutiny of Fauci following last month’s contentious Senate hearing on the federal government’s pandemic response. During that hearing, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than 100 times.

“Dr. Fauci clearly doesn’t want to answer questions, but the American people still have a lot of questions,” Uthmeier said, adding that Fauci “did not believe a lot of the mandates and protocols that he was pushing.”

The attorney general further alleged that Fauci privately questioned many of the policies he publicly promoted during the pandemic.

“He doubted safety and efficacy of the so-called medical treatments yet, nevertheless, forced them on the American people,” the Sunshine State’s attorney general continued.

According to Uthmeier, Florida’s investigation is also examining whether Fauci personally profited from the pandemic through outside financial opportunities. He said investigators are “using every tool under Florida law to figure out what kind of self-dealing was going on.”

While acknowledging the legal challenges involved in pursuing claims against government officials, Uthmeier suggested that financial gain outside official government duties could raise serious legal concerns.

“Government officials, they have a lot of immunities under the law,” he said. “We’ve got an uphill battle, but where there’s monetary value increases, and somebody’s going aside from their state job or their government job to do book deals, to seek awards to the tune of millions of dollars, that’s a problem.”

During last month’s nearly three-hour Senate hearing, Fauci declined to answer questions posed by Republican lawmakers, repeatedly invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination. Last week, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Paul, voted to recommend that Fauci be held in contempt, arguing that his 111 invocations of the Fifth Amendment constituted contempt of Congress.

Paul said he intends to forward the committee’s contempt referral to the Justice Department without delay.

The legal dispute has also sparked disagreement over whether Fauci can continue asserting Fifth Amendment protections after receiving a sweeping presidential pardon from Joe Biden. The pardon covers any federal offenses Fauci may have committed between Jan. 1, 2014, and Jan. 19, 2025.

Committee Democrats rejected the contempt effort, arguing that the pardon does not eliminate Fauci’s constitutional rights. Ranking member Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) told colleagues that a federal pardon “does not eliminate an individual’s Fifth Amendment protection if they still face a ‘real and appreciable’ risk of federal or state prosecution.”

Peters also criticized the committee’s handling of the investigation, saying, “Following a one-sided investigation and a rushed process that has repeatedly excluded the minority and other members of this committee, the chairman is now asking the committee to take a vote that could harm our ability to conduct future investigations and disregards constitutional protections long recognized by the U.S. Senate,” Peters said Thursday.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Sunday that a small portion of the renovation work at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was affected by contractor mistakes, while continuing to insist that vandalism also played a role in the damage despite prosecutors dropping the criminal case against an Olympic canoeist.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said repairs to the Reflecting Pool are nearing completion and emphasized that the construction issues were limited in scope.

“There was substantial damage to the Reflecting Pool, also but, unfortunately, there is no video or proof, other than the damage, itself,” he wrote on Truth Social. “We are working on the Pool, and it will reopen shortly. As with many jobs, there was also some contractor error done by rushing the job for a July 4th opening, but it was a very small area of this massive Pool, and was relatively inconsequential.”

Trump also reiterated his allegation that former Olympic canoeist David Hearn damaged the pool. According to the president, a longtime National Park Service employee witnessed Hearn allegedly pulling on the pool’s protective surface and later relayed that account to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.

Trump claimed that a National Park Service “career employee, a highly credible witness,” saw Olympian David Hearn “in broad daylight vandalize the Reflecting Pool by ‘violently’ ripping and tugging at the Pool’s somewhat delicate coating.” He added that this employee’s testimony was provided to U.S. Attorney of the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.

The president concluded by announcing that surveillance cameras have been installed at the site and that additional security measures are being implemented.

The latest statement came a day after Trump shared photographs on Truth Social that he identified as evidence of vandalism while urging Pirro to reconsider the Justice Department’s decision to dismiss charges against several individuals accused of damaging the landmark.

Those images showed what appeared to be graffiti and sections where the pool’s protective coating had peeled away. Trump labeled both photographs simply as “Vandalism.”

The president has continued pressing the Justice Department to reverse its decision to drop the criminal case. On Friday, he publicly called on Pirro to reconsider what he described as “her hastily made decision.”

Meanwhile, D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman officially dismissed the charges against Hearn. The court is expected to decide at a later date whether prosecutors may file charges against him again in the future.

Last week, Trump criticized Pirro over the outcome of the case, saying she had “choked” in handling the matter.

The dispute stems from problems that surfaced after the Reflecting Pool underwent renovations ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. Pieces of “American flag blue” paint were seen floating on the water, while green algae blooms also appeared. Trump has maintained that vandals were responsible for both issues.

After the charges against Hearn were dropped, Pirro’s office instead pointed to problems with the renovation work itself, blaming the contractor for excessive paint overspray and delamination of the pool’s protective coating.

“The rush to complete the project led to hasty and botched work that was not remediated before the project was finished and the fencing removed,” prosecutors wrote.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Sunday that he believes Israel’s current government is no longer acting in a manner consistent with American national security interests, pointing to its conduct in Gaza and its rhetoric during the conflict with Iran as reasons for his growing opposition.

Speaking during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Murphy reaffirmed his support for the U.S.-Israel relationship while drawing a distinction between Israel as an ally and the policies of its current leadership.

“I want there to be a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. I support Israel. I cannot support this government’s actions. They are not aligned with U.S. national security objectives,” Murphy said during a Sunday appearance on NBC News’s “Meet the Press.”

Murphy said his concerns have made it increasingly difficult for him to back continued U.S. arms transfers to Israel under the present government. He added that he favors a two-state solution and believes a change in Israeli leadership and policy would be necessary before lawmakers with similar views could support ongoing military assistance.

“And so I think that until we have a different government and a different policy in Israel, it’s going to be hard for people like me that want a Palestinian state, side by side with a Jewish state in the region, to support continuing to send arms to Israel,” he added.

Murphy’s remarks came shortly after Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu stated during Sunday’s Cabinet meeting that, as long as he remains in office, no Palestinian state will be established “neither in Gaza nor in Judea and Samaria.”

The senator’s comments also follow a recent House vote on an amendment that sought to end unconditional U.S. aid to Israel. The proposal was defeated by a vote of 314-104, with 103 Democrats supporting the measure and 98 Democrats voting against it, highlighting divisions within the party over U.S. policy toward Israel.

Addressing those internal disagreements, Murphy argued that differing views within the Democratic Party reflect healthy debate rather than weakness.

“We have disagreements inside the Democratic Party,” Murphy said regarding Democrats’ message on Israel.

“And that’s the sign of a healthy party. What’s the alternative? Well, the alternative is the Republican Party, in which they are not allowed to have disagreements. The only thing they can think is what Donald Trump thinks. That’s not a healthy party. I want to be a part of a party that occasionally actually has disagreements inside it,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Friday that the Department of Transportation is moving to permanently require commercial truck drivers to demonstrate the ability to read, write, and speak English, saying the change is intended to prevent future administrations from weakening the standard.

In a post on X, Duffy said the administration is taking steps to make English-language proficiency a permanent part of federal regulations governing commercial drivers.

“Today, I am proposing to lock English proficiency rules into federal regulations FOR GOOD — so no future administration can ever undo them,” Duffy wrote on X.

Duffy sharply criticized changes made during the Obama administration, arguing they weakened long-standing safety standards for truck drivers.

“Barack Obama weakened this rule and allowed illegal truckers onto our highways, but THAT IS NOT HAPPENING AGAIN,” he adamantly continued.

Pointing to the administration’s enforcement efforts, Duffy added, “Over 26,000 unqualified drivers have already been pulled off the road. GET READY FOR MANY, MANY MORE,” Duffy concluded.

The social media post also included video footage showing a transportation official asking a commercial truck driver to identify U.S. highway signs. The driver was reportedly unable to do so because he could not read English.

The Department of Transportation also issued a statement Friday announcing that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is beginning the formal rulemaking process to permanently incorporate English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements into federal regulations governing commercial motor vehicle drivers.

According to the department, codifying the policy would prevent future administrations from rolling back the standards, as officials say occurred in 2016, when the Obama administration changed enforcement policies in a way that allowed “unqualified drivers to remain on U.S. roads.”

The DOT said English-language requirements had existed since 1937 but were weakened under the Obama administration, preventing inspectors from placing drivers out of service solely because they could not speak or read English. Department officials said those changes opened the trucking industry to more foreign drivers who did not meet the previous standard.

The department explained that under the proposed rule, any commercial driver who cannot adequately read or speak English or understand highway signs and traffic signals will be placed out of service. The agency added that Secretary Duffy’s enforcement initiative has already removed more than 26,000 drivers from American highways after they failed English proficiency tests.

“Federal law is clear, drivers who can’t read or speak English — our national language — or understand road signs are unqualified to operate 80,000-pound big rigs on America’s highways. By making these commonsense English proficiency standards permanent, we are closing a dangerous loophole that has cost Americans their lives. The Trump Administration is committed to putting American families first and ensuring the safety of our roads,” Duffy said in a statement.

The proposal builds on President Donald Trump’s executive order signed in April 2025, titled “Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers,” which declared that English proficiency “should be a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers.”

“They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,” the president’s order stated. “Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English. This is common sense.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel reportedly used the latest round of U.S.-mediated negotiations with Lebanon to seek information about long-missing Israeli navigator Ron Arad and other Jews who disappeared during Lebanon’s civil war, while Lebanon pressed Israel for details on Lebanese detainees believed to be in Israeli custody, according to Lebanese media reports.

According to the Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar, during the seventh round of talks the Lebanese delegation asked Israel to provide information on the number of Lebanese prisoners being held as well as their condition.

Israeli representatives responded by requesting information about 11 Jews who either disappeared or were killed in Lebanon beginning in the 1980s and called for the return of their remains. The request also included renewed demands for information about Ron Arad, the Israeli Air Force navigator who was captured in 1986 and whose fate remains unknown.

An-Nahar, one of Lebanon’s leading newspapers and a publication known for its opposition to Hezbollah, reported that Israel argued its request was based on provisions in the negotiations that call for efforts to locate and return missing individuals. Lebanese officials reportedly countered that the state lacks the ability to provide the requested information.

Sources quoted by Asharq Al-Awsat said the Israeli delegation “demanded the return of the remains of Lebanese Jews killed during the civil war and information on the fate of Lebanese Jews who disappeared during the Lebanese civil war, particularly in the 1980s,” alongside information on Ron Arad “or the handover of his remains.”

The same sources claimed the Lebanese government “knows nothing about the remains of the Jews in the first place, nor does it know anything about Ron Arad,” and accused Israel of raising the issue to “justify refusing to cooperate on the Lebanese detainees file and also embarrass the Lebanese state, which has no information” on the matter.

Lebanese officials further alleged that Israel was pursuing what they described as a “deliberate diversion policy,” arguing that Jerusalem was attempting to avoid discussions about 34 Lebanese detainees they claim are being held by Israel while diverting attention from alleged Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon, including operations near Lebanese Army positions.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat, 10 of the detainees are Hezbollah terrorists, three were previously imprisoned in Israel, two are nurses who disappeared while accompanying Hezbollah operatives, and the remaining 21 are civilians. The report also cited a list claiming that nine were detained during the conflict that began in March, while another 22 were taken into custody between October 2024 and February 2026.

The Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar reported separately that Israel also raised the issue of numerous deceased Jews buried in Jewish cemeteries in Beirut and Sidon. Before the Six-Day War, Lebanon was home to a thriving Jewish community that numbered between 12,000 and 20,000 at its peak, according to Ynet.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese diplomatic source told the Hezbollah-affiliated network Al Mayadeen that no additional round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon is currently scheduled for next month.

Despite that report, Asharq Al-Awsat said both sides have agreed to continue the negotiations, indicating that discussions are expected to move forward.

{Matzav.com}

A new security assessment is warning that Israel can no longer view its border with Jordan as a stable and quiet frontier, cautioning that the eastern border could one day face an attack resembling the October 7 massacre, Arutz Sheva reports. The report urges Israel to strengthen defenses along the border while maintaining close strategic cooperation with Jordan.

The study, authored by Col. (res.) Prof. Gabi Siboni and Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Winner, argues that a combination of mounting instability inside Jordan, Iran’s expanding regional influence, and increasing weapons and drug smuggling demands a fundamental reassessment of Israel’s security posture along its eastern boundary.

According to the report, Israel should prepare for the possibility of a coordinated cross-border assault in which terrorists or armed vehicles infiltrate through multiple locations simultaneously before advancing quickly toward Jordan Valley communities and Route 90, creating a scenario similar to the October 7 attacks.

The researchers warn that vulnerabilities along the current border could make such an operation possible. They argue that without a continuous and effective security barrier, together with adequately sized rapid-response forces, Israel could face a devastating attack resulting in unprecedented casualties.

Despite the concerns, the study emphasizes that Jordan remains one of Israel’s most important strategic partners and says preserving the stability of the Hashemite Kingdom is a vital Israeli security interest.

However, the authors stress that Israel cannot depend solely on its security coordination with Amman. They say Israel must also develop the ability to independently defend the border in the event the Jordanian government loses control over portions of its territory or experiences significant instability.

The report identifies several domestic pressures weighing on Jordan, including a prolonged economic downturn, widespread unemployment, water shortages, a heavy national debt, and demographic challenges stemming from the country’s large Palestinian population.

It also points to what the researchers describe as the growing influence of extremist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood and jihadist organizations, which they say are placing increasing pressure on the Hashemite monarchy.

Siboni and Winner further warn that Iran and its regional proxies are attempting to establish Jordan as another operational front against Israel.

Among the threats highlighted are intensified weapons and narcotics smuggling across the Syria-Jordan border, the use of drones to transport weapons, and the possible emergence of pro-Iranian militias operating near Israel’s eastern frontier.

The report says these developments could fundamentally transform what has long been regarded as one of Israel’s quietest borders into an active security hotspot.

To address those risks, the researchers recommend rapidly completing the security barrier along the Jordanian border while expanding and reinforcing the IDF’s Eastern Division, which is responsible for the sector.

They also call for enhanced intelligence collection, stronger surveillance capabilities, advanced drone detection and interception systems, and a significant increase in rapid-response units stationed throughout the region.

In addition, the study urges Israel to invest further in strengthening communities, agricultural settlements, and farms throughout the Jordan Valley, describing them as a key component of the area’s overall defensive network.

On the diplomatic front, the authors recommend continuing to deepen cooperation with Jordan in areas such as water resources, energy, and economic development while also pressing the kingdom to take stronger action against weapons smuggling, drug trafficking, and anti-Israel incitement.

The report concludes that while Jordan’s continued stability remains a strategic priority for Israel, Jerusalem must simultaneously prepare for the possibility that conditions across the border could deteriorate quickly.

“Let us not return to an event similar to October 7,” Siboni and Winner write, warning that what now appears to be Israel’s quietest border could become the country’s next major security challenge.

{Matzav.com}