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New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing new legislation that would limit cooperation between local law enforcement and US immigration officials, casting the measure as a message to the Trump administration in the wake of violent incidents involving federal agents in other parts of the country.

The new bills would overturn prior state provisions that enabled federal agencies to deputize local police resources for operations involving immigration operations. The proposal would also bar municipal jails from being used for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention.

“We’re sending a strong message to ICE,” Hochul said in a press conference Friday alongside New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and several district attorneys from around the state. The governor said the goal is to “fortify ourselves” as New York prepares for a potential increase in federal immigration activity in the state.

“You will not weaponize local police officers against their own communities in the state of New York,” she said. “You will not use our police tech to track people who have done nothing wrong. You will not throw innocent people into our jails and you will do everything only with a judicial order.”

Hochul emphasized that New York would continue cooperating with federal authorities on cases involving violent crimes. The legislation would allow information-sharing and custody transfers when a judge issues a warrant or when a person has been convicted of serious violent offenses.

President Donald Trump said this week that New York and other Democratic-led cities were “heading in the wrong direction.”

Hochul’s proposal comes less than a week after Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse who was protesting their operations in Minneapolis. Pretti was the second US citizen killed by federal agents in Minnesota, following the shooting death of Renee Good earlier in January.

The killings set off nationwide protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. On Friday, demonstrators have called for a nationwide strike, asking Americans to skip school and work and avoid spending at businesses.

In New York, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican expected to challenge Hochul in this year’s gubernatorial race, assailed her plan to bar local cooperation with ICE and said it would endanger public safety.

“These critical agreements have long helped remove violent offenders — including murderers, … traffickers, gang members, and other dangerous criminals — from our streets, and assisted police in keeping them in custody when Hochul’s bail law would otherwise force their release,” Blakeman said in a statement. “Now, local law enforcement’s hands are tied, and these criminals will be released back into our communities.”

But Democrats are pushing measures to curtail the White House efforts, arguing the efforts are necessary to protect the public from agents that they say have engaged in illegal actions toward civilians.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced Wednesday that the state was setting up a portal for residents to upload cell phone video of ICE agents in the streets.

“Get your phone out, we want to know,” she said in an appearance on the late-night television program The Daily Show. “They have not been forthcoming. They will not tell us who they are.”

In New York, Hochul pledged to work with state lawmakers to pass her legislation “as quickly as possible” even as the state maintains a policy of cooperating with the federal government to apprehend violent criminals.

“Public safety must be pursued lawfully, transparently and with humanity,” Hochul said. “These very principles have been abandoned by our federal government and our immigration officers.”

{Matzav.com}

Border Czar Tom Homan dismissed reports suggesting that the Trump administration is easing up on deportations of illegal aliens, calling those claims “untrue.”

Speaking in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Homan said that since President Trump entered office, immigration authorities have carried out “over 700,000 deportations between Border Patrol and ICE.” He stressed that enforcement efforts are being directed first toward “the arrests of criminals and public safety threats.”

“The President wants to de-escalate the situation and to set the record straight — because my staff said they’ve seen a lot of people saying President Trump’s backing off on his promise of mass deportation,” Homan said. “That’s just untrue. My message up there was the same message it’s been since January 20, when President Trump took the Oval Office.”

Homan reiterated that large-scale deportations remain a goal, while emphasizing the administration’s focus. “We’re going to have a mass deportation, but we’re going to prioritize the arrests of criminals and public safety threats,” he said. “I said from day one, if you’re in the country illegally, you’re not off the table. I looked at the numbers just about 15 minutes ago, Sean. President Trump’s been in office just over a year. We got over 700,000 deportations between Border Patrol and ICE.”

The remarks followed a fatal shooting involving a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis last weekend that left 37-year-old Alex Pretti dead, after which President Trump said he would dispatch Homan to Minnesota.

Pretti’s death came weeks after another fatal incident, in which Renee Good was shot by an ICE agent. Authorities alleged that Good had attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon against ICE officers who were trying to free their vehicle from snow.

In explaining his decision, Trump said that although Homan “has not been involved in that area,” he was familiar with and respected “many of the people there.”

“Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me,” Trump clarified in a post on Truth Social.

On Tuesday, Homan said he met with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and “top law enforcement officials to discuss the issues on the ground in Minnesota.”

“We all agree that we need to support our law enforcement officers and get criminals off the streets,” Homan added.

Homan’s comments came after Trump said in a Fox News interview that his administration would “de-escalate” in Minnesota, according to BBC News.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Minnesota’s Democratic leadership on Saturday, asserting that fraud in the state far exceeds earlier estimates and accusing top officials of failing to act.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump singled out Rep. Ilhan Omar and Gov. Tim Walz, writing, “The Theft and Fraud in Minnesota is far greater than the 19 Billion Dollars originally projected. The Biden Administration knew this FRAUD was happening, and did absolutely nothing about it.”

Trump escalated his rhetoric in the same post, adding, “‘Scammer’ Illhan Omar and her absolutely terrible friends from Somalia should all be in jail right now or, far worse, send them back to Somalia,” and continued, ” ‘Governor’ Waltz is either the most CORRUPT government official in history, or the most INCOMPETENT. Even a very low IQ person, of which there are many, should have known what was going on in Minnesota!!! President DJT.”

According to a recent New York Times report, the U.S. Department of Justice during the Biden administration opened an inquiry into Omar’s finances after reports indicated her net worth increased by as much as $30 million following her election to Congress.

Breitbart News reported additional scrutiny surrounding Omar’s household finances, citing Rep. James Comer, who said he would seek to subpoena Omar’s husband, Tim Mynett, over questions tied to the couple’s wealth. “Most recently, Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said he would subpoena Omar’s husband, Tim Mynett, over the couple’s suspicious net worth. As Breitbart News reported last year, Omar and Mynett’s financial documents indicate that by the end of 2024, the pair had a net worth of anywhere from $6 million to $30 million.”

The outlet has also reported that large-scale welfare fraud cases linked to Minnesota’s Somali community have intensified scrutiny over Omar’s possible knowledge of the alleged schemes. “Reports say that Omar has many close ties to organizations, businesses, and individuals named in the various cases that have uncovered massive fraud of Minnesota’s overly generous welfare schemes, cases that total up to more than a billion dollars in stolen taxpayer money,” the article stated.

Omar has denied claims that she is worth millions and has said she is being unfairly targeted by conservatives. Trump, however, has continued to accuse Omar and Walz of using ICE enforcement actions and the protests and riots aimed at federal agents as a diversion from the fraud allegations, according to Breitbart News.

“Omar, who is Somalia-born, represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District and is already the subject of a House Oversight Committee investigation into her and husband Tim Mynett’s finances,” the outlet reported on January 23.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian media outlets aligned with the Tehran regime reported that opposition activists circulated a photograph of David Bennett, the son of Israeli political figure Naftali Bennett, falsely presenting it as an image of a child purportedly killed during the recent protests in Iran.

According to those reports, the photograph was incorporated into online montages and lists that identified supposed victims of the unrest and was disseminated on social media by accounts associated with opposition groups. Regime-linked platforms asserted that the image was intentionally repurposed to deceive the public and promote a fabricated account of protest-related deaths.

The Fars News Agency alleged that the image was part of a broader campaign of disinformation, writing: “We are exposing the major lie of the MKO organization regarding the alleged killing on Pirouzi Street. Media outlets affiliated with the MKO published an image of a child named Kourosh Shirini, claiming he was shot dead on a street in Tehran during the riots. It has now been revealed that the image actually belongs to the son of Naftali Bennett and was used with the aim of deception and incitement.”

Additional regime-affiliated outlets released screenshots of the disputed posts. An examination of the claims shows that social media content does exist in which David Bennett’s image appears without attribution, displayed in posts that reference alleged fatalities connected to the protests.

{Matzav.com}

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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Tzvi Lercher zt”l.

Rav Lercher was known for his lifelong attachment to Torah learning and for the deep impression left upon him by his years studying under Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l. Those who knew him describe a steady presence whose life reflected dedication to Torah and avodas Hashem and commitment to his family.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Miriam Lercher; his sons, Rav Shmuel Yosef Lercher, Reb Yaakov Lercher, and Reb Mordechai Lercher; and his daughters, Mrs. Chaykie Adler, Mrs. Peppy Klugman, and Mrs. Etty Kotler; and grandchildren.

The levayah will take place on Sunday morning at Shomer Hadas Chapels in Boro Park at 9:15 a.m.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Retired Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch, who until recently served as Israel’s coordinator for captives and missing persons, delivered disturbing testimony in a television interview, saying he endured severe verbal abuse and repeated death threats during his tenure — including threats he attributed to Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker.

Speaking on Channel 14’s program The Patriots, Hirsch described what he called shocking conduct toward him while carrying out his duties, saying the atmosphere crossed lines that cannot be ignored indefinitely.

“I understood the pain of the hostage families — it was completely justified, and I absorbed everything,” Hirsch said. “But that immunity cannot remain forever.”

Hirsch stated that he received multiple death threats, including from Zangauker, and stressed that it was not an isolated incident. “I received death threats from Einav Zangauker as well, and it didn’t happen just once,” he said. According to Hirsch, she also physically assaulted a female IDF officer in his office, though the officer chose, “out of her own nobility,” not to file a complaint.

The former coordinator also alleged that Zangauker asked him not to make public her requests for personal meetings with the prime minister. “After that, she took things outside, including recordings,” Hirsch said. “It shocks me how meetings between hostage families and the prime minister were recorded constantly.”

Hirsch emphasized that while his empathy for the families remains unchanged, boundaries must exist. “I want to make it clear that my heart is always with the hostage families — they went through something horrific — but there will no longer be immunity for those who say things that are out of place,” he said.

He further revealed that he filed a lawsuit last week against one individual who accused him of being a murderer, and said that another lawsuit would be filed in the coming days against a person who threatened him and his family. “I have another list, and it will be carried out,” Hirsch added.

{Matzav.com}

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman cautioned during a closed-door briefing in Washington on Friday that failing to act on U.S. threats against Iran would leave Tehran more confident and politically strengthened, according to people familiar with the discussion.

In remarks cited by Axios, Prince Khalid, the brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, told think tank analysts and representatives of Jewish organizations, “At this point, if this doesn’t happen, it will only embolden the regime.”

The warning comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate, with President Donald Trump publicly raising the possibility of military action to pressure Iran back into nuclear negotiations following recent American and Israeli operations targeting Iranian-linked sites. During the briefing, Prince Khalid underscored the importance of limiting the risk of wider regional escalation should any strike be carried out.

The message appeared to contrast with more conciliatory signals from Riyadh in recent days, including a call between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in which Saudi Arabia reportedly assured Iran that its airspace would not be used for attacks and emphasized the need for regional stability. The briefing was part of Prince Khalid’s broader visit to the United States, which included meetings at the Pentagon, the State Department, and the White House focused largely on Iran.

While no U.S. strike has yet taken place, the situation remains highly volatile following recent U.S. and Israeli actions against Iranian targets. Iran has threatened immediate retaliation in response to any direct attack, leaving the Trump administration weighing the risks of military action against the prospect of the “emboldened” Iran that Prince Khalid warned could emerge from continued inaction.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Inspire 2.0

Taking the Next Step; Reaching the next Level

Project Inspire’s Convention all about “Turning Inspiration into Action”

What makes a Project Inspire convention unforgettable, a can’t miss event?

 What encourages attendees to register well in advance, with a filled-to-capacity crowd year after year? Why is it arguably the most ‘sold out’ event of the season?

Is it the stellar lineup of speakers, the ‘cream of the crop’ flown in from across the globe? The dazzling, impeccable melava malka program, where magical surprises and tear-jerking reunions are carefully choreographed, where stories of longing, of making a 180, bring us to laughter and tears? Is it the incredible ruach, the camaraderie, the depth of connection? Or is it simply the caliber of the crowd, who are not just looking for yet another weekend of canned sound bites?

Perhaps it is the so-called ‘regular people,’ who have transformed the lives of their brothers and sisters, with a smile, a kind word, a caring gesture.

Because being part of the Project Inspire is a badge of honor, a symbol of something greater than ourselves and our routines. It’s about igniting a revolution, turning inspiration into action, and action into a movement.

It’s the burning desire, deep within our souls, to reach out to our unaffiliated fellow Jews, to make a difference and stem the tide of apathy and disinterest. It’s the searing pain we feel when we realize that the level of assimilation has reached shocking levels.

Welcome to Project Inspire 2.0: Not just an ordinary convention. Where the crowd is handpicked, more connected, and more invested. Where ‘regular’ people who don’t consider themselves the kiruv ‘type’ are empowered to do amazing things.

This year, especially, with a trendy new venue at the Tarrytown House Estates in Westchester County, the program at Project Inspire is carefully curated– not just to entertain and inspire, but to spur lasting action.  

With an impressive lineup of Torah and kiruv personalities, including Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Aish Kodesh; Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Schapiro; Rabbi Menachem Nissel; Rabbi Aaron Kotler; Rabbi Shlomo Farhi, and Charlie Hararay, and a unique women’s program, including Mrs. Dina Schoonmaker, Mrs. Debbie Greenblatt, and Rebetzin Estie Hamilton, the focus will be on ‘depth you can feel.’ Yehuda Green and Shulem Lemmer will add a melodious accompaniment to the tefillos and Shabbos meals.

 It’s not just another convention. It’s a launch pad for action, giving every attendee the tools, partnership, and direction they need to take things one step further.

This is your convention, your story, and our shared mission. Welcome to Project Inspire 2.0, where we laugh together, cry together, and be inspired together. More meaning. More connection. More impact.

Be a part of the movement, and be forever changed. Rooms are going fast. Don’t miss it!
Click here for more info

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al‑Thani met in Tehran with Iran’s Ali Larijani to discuss efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.

Bill Clinton delivers a message through a recorded video for the US Conference of Mayors, and talks about freedom, democracy, and the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including the deaths of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.

A breathtaking winter scene unfolds at Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee, with snow-covered trees framing the rushing waterfall.

Boeing Defense reports that the first operational MQ-25A Stingray completed its initial autonomous taxi test; the carrier-based drone, designed to refuel Navy jets and extend F-35C range, is expected to make its first flight in early 2026.

By John McLaughlin and Jim McLaughlin

Despite a barrage of hostile media coverage and relentless attacks from the left, President Donald Trump’s standing with voters remains remarkably steady — especially on the issue of border security.

Our latest national survey shows Trump’s job approval is unchanged from last month: 50% approve, including 36% who approve of both his persona and his policies, and another 14% who approve of his policies. Forty-seven percent disapprove. [Poll: 1,000 likely voters, plus or minus 3.1%, 95% confidence interval, conducted January 21–27]

The reason Trump’s approval remains firm is simple: His base is rock solid.

Among Trump 2024 voters, his approval stands at 89% to 9%. Among Republicans, it is 88% to 11%.

Among conservatives, 85% approve and just 14% disapprove.

That kind of loyalty is rare in modern American politics — and it is driven largely by Trump’s unwavering stance on immigration enforcement.

During a stretch of frigid, snowy weather, the biggest national political story became ICE operations in Minneapolis.

Watching the legacy left-wing media’s slanted coverage of these enforcement actions made one thing clear: The press is actively trying to help anti-Trump Democrats weaken the federal government’s ability to enforce immigration law.

If federal immigration enforcement is neutered, the result is de facto open borders.

Millions of illegal immigrants will continue to pour into the United States — whether they are criminals, terrorists, or individuals who will drain billions of dollars in public assistance from American taxpayers.

Our polling explains exactly why the left is losing this argument.

When voters were asked whether they favor or oppose “deporting known criminal and terrorist migrants who have entered the country illegally,” an overwhelming 87% support deportation, including 67% who strongly support it. Only 10% opposed.

Interestingly, Hispanic voters supported deportation by a strong 79% to 19% margin. These numbers are virtually unchanged from December, when support stood at 86% to 8%.

Despite nonstop messaging from the open-borders media, Democrats, and left-wing nonprofits, the American people have not budged: foreign criminals must go.

Support remains strong even when the question expands beyond criminals.

Asked whether they favor or oppose “deporting migrants who have entered the country illegally,” 62% of voters support deportation, including 39% who strongly support it. Thirty-two percent oppose.

Hispanic voters are divided — 46% support deportation, while 49% oppose. Again, these numbers show only modest movement from December (66% support, 27% oppose).

In short, the left has failed to change public opinion on the goal: Americans want illegal immigration stopped.

Where the left has made progress is not on the ends, but on the means — specifically, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

ICE is the federal law enforcement agency tasked with arresting and deporting illegal immigrants.

Without ICE, the United States reverts to the Biden-Harris open borders policy that allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter the country unchecked.

ICE’s image has taken a hit. Its favorable rating now stands at 42%, with 50% unfavorable. Among Hispanic voters, ICE is viewed unfavorably by a 58% to 31% margin.

That polarization is reflected in attitudes toward abolishing the agency altogether.

When voters were asked whether they favor or oppose defunding and abolishing ICE, the electorate was split: 46% support, 48% oppose.

Republicans oppose abolition by a decisive 66% to 31%. Democrats favor it 65% to 30%. Independents lean against it, 47% to 41%. Hispanic voters support defunding ICE 56% to 40%.

Ironically, voters are less divided when it comes to punishing sanctuary cities.

Nearly half of voters (48%) support cutting off federal funding to sanctuary cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement in deporting criminal illegal aliens. Forty-two percent oppose.

Trump 2024 voters support defunding sanctuary cities by a commanding 75% to 17%. Harris 2024 voters oppose it 70% to 20%. Hispanic voters are evenly split.

Voters are also rejecting radical state-level defiance of federal immigration law.

A majority (51%) oppose Minnesota Democrat Gov. Tim Walz’s effort to turn his state into an open-borders sanctuary that shields criminal illegal immigrants from deportation. Only 36% support Walz’s position.

Perhaps most striking, voters strongly back decisive action against the international drug trade.

A solid 58% approve of President Trump using the U.S. military to stop the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl from Venezuela, including capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was indicted in 2020 for drug trafficking.

Only 36% oppose. Majorities of Hispanics (52%), independents (54%), and moderates (53%) all support Trump’s approach.

The conclusion is clear.

Deporting criminal illegal immigrants remains overwhelmingly popular. Deporting illegal immigrants more broadly is also supported by a majority of Americans. What has become polarized is the mechanism — ICE — and the enforcement tools required to get the job done.

Republicans must refocus the debate on outcomes and expose Democratic opposition to ICE for what it truly is: a strategy to reopen the borders and invite millions more illegal immigrants into the country. President Trump understands this—and voters are standing firmly with him.

(c) Newsmax

President Donald Trump said today that alleged fraud in Minnesota far surpasses earlier estimates, writing on Truth Social that “the theft and fraud in Minnesota is far greater than the $19 billion originally projected.”

Trump’s remarks came as House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer of Kentucky announced that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison will testify under oath on March 4 as part of a congressional probe.

The upcoming testimony is tied to a federal investigation examining alleged fraud and misuse of funds within Minnesota-administered social services programs.

In his Truth Social post, Trump sharply criticized Minnesota officials and Rep. Ilhan Omar, writing:

“The Biden Administration knew this FRAUD was happening, and did absolutely nothing about it.
“Scammer” Illhan Omar and her absolutely terrible friends from Somalia should all be in jail right now or, far worse, send them back to Somalia.
“Governor” Waltz is either the most CORRUPT government official in history, or the most INCOMPETENT.
“Even a very low IQ person, of which there are many, should have known what was going on in Minnesota!!! President DJT.”

Comer said Friday that Walz and Ellison are scheduled to appear at a hearing titled “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II,” set for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

In announcing the hearing, the committee said its investigation began in December 2025 after federal prosecutors outlined what lawmakers described as widespread fraud and money laundering within the state’s social services framework.

At the outset of the inquiry, committee officials said criminal networks “have stolen an estimated $9 billion” in taxpayer dollars intended for programs such as child nutrition assistance, services for children with autism, housing aid, and Medicaid.

Investigators and prosecutors have publicly cited varying figures when describing the scope of the suspected losses.

No court has yet established a final statewide total.

In December, a federal prosecutor said that half or more of approximately $18 billion in federal funding distributed to 14 Minnesota-run programs since 2018 may have been stolen.

The investigations trace back to the COVID-19 pandemic and include the Feeding Our Future case, which federal prosecutors have characterized as a large-scale scheme involving federal child nutrition funds.

Last month, 57 individuals linked to Feeding Our Future were convicted.

{Matzav.com}

A senior Gaza physician whose anguished New York Times op-eds became widely cited touchstones of the war is now at the center of a sharp credibility fight over media vetting, after Israeli officials and a watchdog group exposed that he also held a senior role in Hamas. The IDF and the Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor say […]

TOM HOMAN: “I looked at the numbers just 15 minutes ago —President Trump has been in office just over a year, and we’ve had over 700,000 deportations between Border Patrol and ICE. That’s a record.”

Congressman Brandon Gill on partial government shutdown: “Democrats are willing to do whatever they can to thwart ICE and stop the President from deporting illegals which is what he was elected to do. They want to turn every city into Minneapolis.”