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In a major breakthrough for Orthodox Jewish families across New York, the state has approved the first cholov Yisroel infant formula for purchase through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, ending a long-standing challenge for low-income parents seeking formula that meets their kashrus standards. The change follows a three-year advocacy effort led by the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) in partnership with the Hochul administration.

The issue first came to Met Council’s attention in early 2023 when an Orthodox mother attending one of the organization’s events explained that although she qualified for WIC assistance, she was unable to purchase infant formula that met her family’s cholov Yisroel requirements. While New York’s WIC program offered kosher-certified formulas, none met the stricter cholov Yisroel standard observed by many Chareidi and other Orthodox families.

David Greenfield, Met Council’s CEO and executive director, said the problem represented a significant financial burden for struggling families.

“She just said, ‘Look, I have a problem,’” Greenfield recalled. “‘I qualify for WIC, but I can’t buy formula.’”

Greenfield noted that infant formula is one of the largest expenses facing new parents.

“If you ask anyone who has a baby, the two most expensive items are always formula and diapers,” Greenfield said. “That really was a tremendous pain point, and that’s why we decided to focus on that.”

Following discussions with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, Met Council worked closely with the New York State Department of Health to identify a cholov Yisroel formula that satisfied all federal nutritional requirements for inclusion in the WIC program. State officials approved the formula on Wednesday, and it is expected to be added to New York’s list of WIC-approved formulas later this month.

Greenfield described the approval as a seemingly modest regulatory change that will have a meaningful impact on thousands of families.

“It’s a small technical change, but it’s obviously going to make a very significant difference by opening this up to the lowest-income New Yorkers who struggle to make ends meet,” he said.

According to Greenfield, the change is expected to benefit tens of thousands of Orthodox families annually in communities including Borough Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Crown Heights, Far Rockaway, Monsey, and Kiryas Joel.

Rabbi Moshe Elefant, CEO of the Orthodox Union’s kosher division, welcomed the decision.

“The inclusion of a cholov Yisroel option for infant formula is an achievement that improves the lives of the most vulnerable New Yorkers,” Rabbi Elefant said.

“It’s also an important step in ensuring that the program delivers on its mandate to bring nutritious food to those in need.”

Greenfield explained that one of the biggest hurdles was helping state officials understand that kosher certification alone did not address the needs of families who specifically require cholov Yisroel products.

“If you’re the state department of health, it’s a little bit confusing, because you’re like, ‘Well, we’re already providing kosher,’” he said. “It’s understanding that there are different levels of kosher.”

He added that Met Council emphasized the cultural and religious importance of accommodating those standards.

“The emphasis we really emphasize is that it’s as much a cultural issue as it is a religious issue,” Greenfield said. “One of the things that we try to educate government officials on is that kosher provision has standards as well. There’s a difference between a plain K versus a Triangle K versus an OK.”

“Once they understood it, they embraced this concept and the idea that this is something that is doable,” he added.

An earlier obstacle involved federal nutrition rules. Previously available cholov Yisroel formulas fell just 0.1 milligrams short of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s minimum iron requirement. Rather than seek an exemption, Met Council eventually identified a British-manufactured cholov Yisroel formula that fully met the federal standards, allowing it to qualify for approval.

Greenfield praised Gov. Hochul for her administration’s willingness to work with the Jewish community to resolve the issue.

“I’ve worked with, I don’t know, the last half-dozen governors in New York state,” he said. “I’ve never found a governor who is more personally invested in trying to help her Jewish constituents than Gov. Kathy Hochul.”

He added, “I can’t think of a single Jewish issue that we’ve come to the governor with where she hasn’t worked very hard to try to accommodate the concerns of the community.”

Calling the approval an example of behind-the-scenes advocacy making a tangible difference, Greenfield said the accomplishment may not generate major headlines but will ease a significant burden for many families.

“This isn’t glamorous. It’s not going to get us into Time magazine or the New York Times,” he said. “But this is the kind of work that can only be done with a dedicated team of people who are really looking at the nuances of rules and regulations.”

JNS contributed to this report.

A woman who says she suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a flying bat during a New York Yankees game has filed a $10 million lawsuit, alleging inadequate protective netting at Yankee Stadium left her exposed to a preventable hazard.

Stephanie Duluc, 37, chief of staff at Bronx-based SOMOS Community Care, was seated in the fourth row directly behind home plate during the Yankees’ June 2 game against the Cleveland Guardians when Guardians infielder Jose Ramirez lost control of his bat during a swing, sending it into the stands, according to the lawsuit.

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Duluc was attending the game using season tickets owned by her employer.

According to the complaint, the seats are among the stadium’s most expensive and are located in an area where protective netting is legally required because of the heightened risk posed by foul balls and flying bats.

“It is the one location where the law has long required a stadium operator to provide adequate protective screening,” the lawsuit states.

The complaint alleges that although Ramirez’s bat sailed over the netting, the protective screen in that section was “significantly lower” than those in neighboring areas, leaving what the lawsuit describes as an “unprotected opening.”

According to the filing, the bat struck Duluc “with such force that it knocked her from her seat and violently threw her to the ground, causing her to sustain severe and permanent injuries.”

The frightening incident was captured during the live YES Network broadcast, with announcers reacting as the bat flew into the crowd.

“Bat goes one way, ball goes another,” Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay said. “Bat goes into the stands — over the screen too.”

“There’s a woman who got hit; she’s on her feet now,” he added as cameras showed Duluc holding her head.

Duluc alleges the impact left her with a traumatic brain injury, a concussion, chronic sensitivity to light, and lasting injuries to her neck and hands, rendering her completely “unable to return to her professional duties.”

Despite those claims, Duluc appeared on a PIX11 television program in late July—less than two weeks before filing the lawsuit—where she discussed a recent event sponsored by SOMOS Community Care at Fordham University under studio lighting.

Her attorney, Jon L. Norinsberg, rejected suggestions that the appearance conflicted with the injuries described in the lawsuit.

“Ms. Duluc continues to suffer significant residual deficits from her traumatic brain injury, including persistent headaches, sensitivity to light, balance issues, and other cognitive impairments,” Norinsberg said.

“A brief television appearance does not mean she has recovered or is capable of performing her professional duties on a sustained basis,” he added.

The Yankees declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The case is expected to center on the long-standing legal doctrine known as the “Baseball Rule,” which generally shields teams and stadium owners from liability for injuries caused by foul balls, flying bats, and similar game-related risks.

However, the doctrine includes an important exception requiring stadium operators to provide adequate protective screening in the areas considered most dangerous—particularly behind home plate, where Duluc was seated. Whether she can prove the netting was inadequate may ultimately determine the outcome of the case.

The lawsuit comes years after several high-profile stadium incidents—including a fan seriously injured by a shattered bat at Fenway Park in 2015 and a toddler whose skull was fractured by a 105-mph foul ball at Yankee Stadium in 2017—prompted Major League Baseball teams to significantly expand protective netting throughout their ballparks.

Federal aviation officials have opened an investigation into an air traffic incident involving Marine One after commercial air traffic near Washington, D.C., reportedly was not suspended before President Donald Trump’s helicopter departed the White House on Tuesday. The White House stressed that the President was never in danger during the event.

Responding to the reports, White House spokesman Kush Desai emphasized the professionalism of the presidential flight crew, stating, “Marine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the president in harm’s way.”

The incident took place shortly after 2:30 p.m. EDT as President Trump boarded Marine One for the flight to Joint Base Andrews, where he was scheduled to transfer to Air Force One for a trip to California.

According to published reports, the presidential helicopter came within roughly one mile of an Envoy Air regional aircraft that had just departed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport en route to Pensacola, Florida.

The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged that there was a “momentary loss of separation” between the two aircraft but emphasized that the situation was not considered a dangerous near-collision.

“The air traffic controller was in contact with both the commercial pilot and Marine One pilot during the loss of separation. As the White House has said, the president was never in danger,” an FAA spokesperson said.

FAA guidelines generally call for aircraft to maintain a minimum of 1.5 miles of horizontal separation and 500 feet of vertical separation.

Officials are now reviewing whether those required safety margins were maintained throughout the flight. Both aircraft ultimately continued on their respective routes and landed safely without incident.

Air traffic control recordings indicate that the Marine One crew spotted the departing passenger aircraft, briefly held their departure, and then safely resumed the flight to Joint Base Andrews.

The FAA said investigators are examining why commercial departures were not temporarily halted before Marine One took off and are reviewing communications between controllers and the presidential helicopter crew.

“We are continuing to review the incident and will implement any appropriate corrective actions based on our findings,” the FAA spokesperson said.

The National Transportation Safety Board has also launched its own investigation into the occurrence.

The latest review comes as federal aviation authorities continue closely scrutinizing flight operations around Reagan National Airport following the January 2025 midair collision involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet.

{Matzav.com}

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is urging those attending this year’s 25th anniversary commemoration of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to peacefully turn their backs on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani if he appears at the event, arguing that the mayor should not take part because of his position on anti-Israel rhetoric.

Speaking at a news conference in Albany on Wednesday, the Republican candidate for governor compared the solemn memorial to a funeral service.

“I would equate this to a wake. You don’t go to a wake if you’re not welcome,” Blakeman told reporters.

“I think it’s completely appropriate if family members ask him not to come, but if he does come I think there’s a respectful and peaceful way to protest that and I would suggest that people turn their back on the mayor,” he said.

Blakeman, whose nephew was killed in the South Tower during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said he intends to participate in a peaceful protest if Mamdani attends the annual remembrance ceremony.

Last week, Mamdani announced that he plans to be present at this year’s observance despite an expanding petition from some relatives of 9/11 victims calling for him to stay away.

“I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year’s 9/11 commemoration,” Mamdani said.

Blakeman argued that Mamdani’s refusal to denounce slogans such as “globalize the intifada” disqualifies him from participating in the memorial.

“He’s not welcome there because he has yet to say anything in opposition to the global intifada. As a matter of fact, it seems like he supports that phrase, which is part of the reason why we had the tragedy we had on 9/11,” Blakeman said.

Also appearing in Albany on Wednesday was former New York Gov. George Pataki, who was serving as governor during the Sept. 11 attacks, for the opening of the George E. Pataki Center for Leadership and Conversation.

When asked whether Mamdani should attend the memorial, Pataki acknowledged he had concerns about the mayor’s previous remarks but stopped short of saying he should be excluded.

“It’s my nature to be inclusive, and that is my instinct, but Sept. 11 is different. So, I may have comments on that,” Pataki said after saying he had “grave concerns” about Mamdani’s past comments.

{Matzav.com}

Two Israeli defense companies, including Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, have been removed from a major security project at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport after Italy’s highest administrative court ruled that an Italian company should instead take over the contract for the airport’s counter-drone system, the Jerusalem Post reports.

According to the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, Italy’s Council of State ordered Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), which operates the airport, to replace the Israeli consortium with the Italian electronic warfare company ELT (Elettronica S.p.A.). The decision removes Israeli companies Altintech and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems from one of Italy’s most significant civilian infrastructure security projects.

The ruling reverses a May 2024 decision by the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio, which had upheld the original award of the contract to the Israeli consortium. ADR has been given 60 days to complete a new agreement with ELT.

In addition to overturning the earlier ruling, the court directed that the case be referred to the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether the procurement process warrants a criminal investigation.

At the heart of the dispute was the legal classification of the radar system installed at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport.

Experts from Italy’s Defense Ministry concluded that the radar should be considered military equipment based on its technical capabilities, its classification under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and its inclusion in Italy’s national registry of military equipment. According to the court, the required authorizations for importing and operating military equipment had not been obtained.

ADR disputed that assessment, maintaining that the radar is a dual-use system that has already been deployed at other European airports and for securing major public events.

The airport operator said it will comply with the court’s decision while ensuring that security operations continue without interruption, emphasizing that counter-drone protection at Fiumicino Airport will remain fully operational throughout the transition.

President Donald Trump shared a pair of lighthearted moments with a young child during an event in Nevada on Wednesday, drawing laughs after stopping a toddler from wandering off the stage before joking that he didn’t want the boy to “be Biden and fall off the stage.”

The moments took place at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, where Trump invited Sandra and Brad—a local couple—and their two young children onto the stage while highlighting his administration’s Trump Accounts program and its “no tax on tips” policy.

As Sandra began speaking to the audience, one of the children suddenly started walking toward the edge of the stage. Trump quickly stepped in and gently stopped the toddler before he could wander away.

“I don’t want him to be Biden and fall off the stage,” Trump quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The family’s interaction with the President continued later in the event when Sandra told Trump that her son had something he wanted to say.

“He did want to say a little something to you, Mr. President,” Sandra said.

“Yes, thank you, thank you very much,” Trump replied.

The toddler then spoke a few unintelligible words before his mother quietly encouraged him, “Thank you for my Trump Account.”

“Thank you for my Trump Account,” the little boy repeated into the microphone, prompting enthusiastic applause from those in attendance.

“Good job,” Trump responded with a smile, applauding the child as the audience continued cheering.

Earlier in the program, Trump introduced the family to those gathered, explaining that Sandra works as a waitress at a Las Vegas casino while Brad is an officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The President said the couple had benefited from his administration’s tax policies and had opened Trump Accounts for both of their children.

“It’s a beautiful family,” Trump said as they joined him on stage.

Trump is the father of five children and grandfather to 11 grandchildren.

An Israeli mother and her son escaped what could have been a deadly attack on Thursday after mistakenly driving into the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Jenin, where they were surrounded by an Arab mob that pelted their vehicle with rocks and attempted to drag them from the car.

The pair, residents of Shomron, were traveling to Afula to visit friends when a navigation error directed them into Jenin. Moments after entering the city, they were confronted by Arab terrorists.

According to preliminary reports, the attackers hurled a brick at the vehicle and rushed toward it in an apparent attempt to assault the occupants.

Despite the terrifying encounter, the mother managed to speed away from the scene. She and her son escaped without physical injury and drove to the Jalame Checkpoint, where they met up with IDF troops. Their vehicle sustained damage during the attack.

Describing the ordeal, the mother said, “My eldest son and I wanted to get to Afula to meet friends. While driving, when we were stuck in traffic, I understood that we had misnavigated and that Waze brought us through Jenin. When the traffic cleared, dozens of Arabs started approaching us. They tried to open the doors, threw rocks at us, and attempted to stop us. We drove at full speed, and I managed to get out of there with my son. Thank G-d we survived.”

Following the incident, IDF forces entered Jenin, shut down businesses in the area where the attack occurred, and launched an investigation, including questioning suspects believed to have been involved.

Security officials said the circumstances surrounding the attack remain under investigation as efforts continue to identify and apprehend those responsible.

President Donald Trump is forcefully rejecting reports that the U.S. military is running low on key munitions following the war with Iran, insisting the nation has abundant supplies, production is accelerating, and those responsible for leaking claims of shortages will face serious consequences.

In a Truth Social post early Thursday, Trump dismissed the reports outright.

“The U.S. has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types,” Trump wrote. “Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history. The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought!”

Trump’s comments followed several reports published this week alleging that the United States has depleted much of its inventory of long-range precision weapons during months of combat operations against Iran.

Reuters reported that the Army has used a significant portion of its stockpile of long-range precision missiles—including Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and the newer Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)—during the five-month conflict, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.

According to Reuters, the reduction in available missiles has sparked concern within the Trump administration over America’s preparedness for future military confrontations and its ability to deter adversaries such as Russia and China.

The report noted that these precision weapons have been heavily relied upon because they enable U.S. forces to strike targets from long distances, minimizing the need for more dangerous manned bombing missions.

Reuters also said military officials have warned that inventories of defensive systems, including Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles, have been significantly reduced during the conflict, although the Pentagon has attempted to replenish regional defenses by shifting weapons from other stockpiles.

CBS News similarly reported Tuesday, citing two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, that the United States has expended nearly its entire global inventory of long-range precision missiles during the Iran conflict.

The CBS report added that dwindling supplies of both defensive interceptors and precision strike missiles have become a growing concern within the administration, with officials questioning whether the military can sustain the pace at which those weapons were used during the early stages of the war.

According to U.S. officials who spoke with CBS, the greatest concern centers on Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, which are being consumed faster than defense manufacturers can replace them.

A July analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that before the war, the United States possessed roughly 2,330 Patriot interceptors. By the end of July, that number had fallen to between 759 and 827. The report also estimated that THAAD interceptor inventories had dropped from 452 before the conflict to between 234 and 278 as of July 27.

A separate CSIS study concluded that it may take until at least the middle of 2029 for Patriot and THAAD stockpiles to recover to their pre-war levels.

War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly dismissed reports that the military is facing any critical shortage of munitions.

“That is a manufactured story that the media wants to peddle, and ultimately our stockpiles are great, and they’re only getting stronger,” Hegseth said during a June 14 appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also rejected the reports.

“America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing,” he said in a statement to CBS News. “We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests.”

Late Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also denied a Washington Post report claiming Trump and Hegseth had engaged in a heated dispute during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David over alleged shortages of military munitions.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani received a hostile reception at an NYPD National Night Out Against Crime event on Staten Island, where loud boos and jeers from the crowd cut his appearance short, forcing him to leave the stage after speaking for less than a minute.

The incident unfolded at the Midland Beach boardwalk during the NYPD’s 43rd Patrol Borough National Night Out Against Crime celebration, which drew approximately 3,500 residents and families, according to the Staten Island Advance.

As Mamdani walked toward the podium, attendees erupted in boos and shouted profanities, with some in the crowd repeatedly yelling for him to leave, according to videos posted on social media.

Despite his typically lengthy public appearances, the mayor delivered only a brief greeting, wishing those in attendance a “Happy Night Out Against Crime,” before being escorted away from the stage while smiling.

Many people in the audience expressed their displeasure by giving Mamdani a thumbs-down gesture as they continued booing and heckling him while he exited the area.

Although his appearance on stage ended quickly, Mamdani later stopped to pose for photographs with several attendees, according to the report.

The tense reception stood in sharp contrast to the spirit of the annual National Night Out events, during which the NYPD and city officials hosted more than 70 gatherings across New York City as part of a “community-building campaign” designed to strengthen partnerships between police and local residents and “help make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.”

The newly formed HaTzibur HaCharedi party has issued a formal response to Matzav.com following several reports concerning the party, strongly denying claims that individuals associated with Gadi Eisenkot played any advisory role in its formation or strategy.

In a statement sent to Matzav.com by Menachem Fischer on behalf of the party, HaTzibur HaCharedi rejected reports based on a Kan 11 News report alleging that Ronen Manelis, Ronen Aviani, and Inbar Gitti were involved in advising the party during its early stages.

“We regret that the reporter chose to run with false information,” the statement said. “To be clear: Ronen Manelis, Ronen Aviani, and Inbar Gitti have never advised the HaTzibur HaCharedi faction. Any other claim amounts to serious defamation.”

The party said it was established independently in response to what it described as widespread demand within the Chareidi community for new political representation while remaining aligned with the right-wing bloc.

“The HaTzibur HaCharedi faction arose from the outcry of hundreds of thousands of Charedim seeking representation, while remaining committed to the right-wing bloc and camp,” the statement read.

The party also accused unnamed activists within the established Chareidi political parties of attempting to undermine the new movement.

“A group of panicked Askanim from the Charedi parties, who have staked everything on breaking apart the right-wing bloc and who are now in a state of panic, are busy spreading lies instead of looking the real problems facing Charedi society straight in the eye. We will not be deterred.”

In addition, the party asked Matzav.com to note that Avi Wartelsky has not served as an adviser to HaTzibur HaCharedi for some time.

Matzav.com had previously reported on Kan 11’s claims regarding the alleged involvement of associates of Eisenkot in the party’s early organizational efforts, as well as subsequent political developments involving the new faction. The party’s statement rejects those reports in their entirety.

{Matzav.com}

Dr. Anthony Fauci was voted in contempt of Congress on Thursday after a Senate committee determined that his repeated refusal to answer questions during a hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic warranted a criminal referral. The move comes after Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times while declining to respond to lawmakers’ inquiries.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the contempt resolution by an 8-5 party-line vote, referring the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for possible prosecution. The hearing focused on Fauci’s handling of the pandemic and his previous congressional testimony concerning U.S.-funded “gain of function” research.

Under the resolution, Vice President JD Vance, acting in his role as President of the Senate, is authorized to certify the committee’s report and forward it to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro for possible prosecution.

If convicted of misdemeanor contempt of Congress, Fauci could face a sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of as much as $1,000.

At the July 29 hearing, Fauci criticized committee chairman Sen. Rand Paul, accusing the Kentucky Republican of targeting him personally.

Republican members of the committee had intended to question Fauci about research conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the possibility that COVID-19 originated from a laboratory leak, and the scientific basis for several controversial pandemic policies.

Because Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment, he declined to answer even routine questions, including one from Sen. Josh Hawley asking about the color of his necktie.

Republicans argued that Fauci had forfeited his ability to invoke the Fifth Amendment because of both the opening statement he voluntarily delivered and the sweeping pardon he received from then-President Joe Biden covering potential federal offenses between January 2014 and January 2025.

“The assertion of a Fifth Amendment privilege only adheres to those instances where the witness has a reasonable fear of future prosecution, and it must be tailored to any such fear,” Hawley noted.

“Fauci faced no risk of federal prosecution. All he had to do was tell the truth,” Paul claimed shortly before the vote. “More than 100 times, though, he refused.”

“The chair ruled that Doctor Fauci’s assertion of the Fifth Amendment privilege was unsupported in light of the pardon and the testimony he offered in his opening statement. The chair directed Anthony Fauci to answer. He refused again,” he added.

Democrats attempted to halt the contempt proceedings by offering motions to table the resolution, including a proposal to grant Fauci immunity from federal prosecution if he agreed to testify fully. Republican members voted down each of those efforts.

Democrats argued that Fauci still had legitimate concerns about legal exposure because Paul has repeatedly urged the Justice Department to investigate whether Fauci misled Congress in prior testimony.

They also noted that three state attorneys general have subpoenaed Fauci and argued that any testimony he provided before the Senate could potentially be used in state investigations, despite his federal pardon.

Sen. Gary Peters, the committee’s ranking Democrat, accused Republicans of punishing Fauci for exercising a constitutional right.

“Future witnesses will argue that appearing before Congress exposes them to punishment, regardless of whether they comply with the subpoena and invoke a constitutional protection,” warned Peters, the top Democrat on the committee.

“The chairman has also suggested he may attempt to refer this matter to the Department of Justice without approval of the full Senate,” Peters added. “That would be even more dangerous.”

Earlier Thursday, Sen. Ron Johnson disclosed that the committee had obtained a copy of Fauci’s cellphone from the Department of Health and Human Services and said lawmakers are also seeking an additional transcribed interview with the former NIAID director.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday dismissed reports that he had a contentious exchange with Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu over Iran policy, saying the two leaders had an honest but cordial discussion and insisting there was no confrontation.

The controversy stemmed from Vance’s recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, during which he claimed that certain figures within the Israeli government had supported efforts to undermine negotiations with Iran and prevent a possible ceasefire agreement.

During an interview Wednesday on Fox News with Laura Ingraham, Vance was asked about an Axios report alleging that Netanyahu challenged him over those comments during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Washington, D.C., at Blair House.

“He didn’t confront me. We had a nice and frank conversation,” Vance said, rejecting the characterization of the meeting.

The Vice President emphasized that while the United States and Israel remain close allies, they do not always see every issue the same way.

“As I’ve said repeatedly, Israel has been a great partner. They’re an ally of the United States of America. But like France or Britain or any other ally of the United States of America, we sometimes have differences of opinion,” the Vice President noted.

Vance said his responsibility is to advance American interests above all else, even when disagreements arise with friendly nations.

“And I think that the American media is fascinated by this dynamic, but the simple reality is my job is to pursue the interests of no other nation on Earth except for the United States of America. So when our interests are aligned with Israel, we talk about how to accomplish those shared objectives. When my viewpoint is averse to the Prime Minister of Israel, we have a frank conversation about that.”

Reflecting on the meeting, Vance reiterated that the discussion was respectful despite the differing viewpoints.

“a pleasant but direct conversation. I didn’t feel confronted.”

Netanyahu also addressed the reports during an interview with ABC News while he was in Washington, rejecting the suggestion that Israel had pursued the policy Vance described on the podcast.

“Well, we’re not actually. I had a very good conversation with the vice president this morning, and I think we straightened that out because we’re not. That’s not our policy,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

{Matzav.com}

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Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, delivered powerful words of chizuk at the bar mitzvah of his great-grandson, expressing confidence that the next generation of bnei Torah will safeguard Klal Yisroel. He also shared a moving story illustrating how wisdom and good judgment can prevent conflict and transform anger into harmony.

The simcha, held in Bnei Brak, celebrated the bar mitzvah of the bochur Dovid Segal, son of Rav Yosef Halevi Segal, one of the prominent avreichim in Kollel Ponovezh, and grandson of Rav Avraham Yaakov Zilberstein.

Rav Zilberstein listened attentively and with obvious nachas as the bar mitzvah bochur delivered his drashah. The drashah focused on whether one recites Shehecheyanu upon purchasing a new pair of tefillin. The young bochur concluded by citing his great-grandfather’s psak that the accepted custom is not to recite the berachah directly on the tefillin. Instead, one should take a new fruit, recite Shehecheyanu over it, and have in mind to include the new tefillin as well.

Following the drashah, Rav Zilberstein addressed those gathered with heartfelt words directed to the broader tzibbur.

“Klal Yisroel does not know exactly what tomorrow will bring. We simply do not know. Even our leaders themselves do not know what tomorrow will be. But there is one thing we do know. What do we know? That children like this, who are growing up here, will protect us in every way. That is our foundation—a sweet child standing here and speaking such beautiful divrei Torah. Ashreichem v’ashrei chelkechem.”

Rav Zilberstein then shared a story to illustrate the importance of acting with wisdom and sensitivity.

“As is well known, on Erev Yom Tov many people travel from Bnei Brak to Yerushalayim, each one going to spend Yom Tov with his Rebbe or Rav. A large crowd was waiting at a bus stop when bus after bus passed by completely full. Since they had filled up at earlier stops, none of them stopped at the final station. The people waiting there became extremely angry. They were upset not only because some of the buses had left late, but also because none of them stopped.”

“They said that if another bus came by, they would smash its windows. Then a very wise driver arrived and did something incredibly clever. His bus was actually scheduled to travel from Bnei Brak to Tiveria. He stopped, got off the bus, and asked the crowd, ‘I see there’s a big commotion here. What’s going on?'”

“They explained that every bus was passing without taking on passengers and that everyone was furious. The driver responded, ‘I’ll call my supervisor. Look, there is a tremendous chesed that can be done for the people of Bnei Brak. There simply aren’t enough buses.’ He then requested permission to change his route from Bnei Brak–Tiveria to Bnei Brak–Yerushalayim.”

“And that is exactly what he did. He immediately changed the destination sign so that instead of Tiveria, it read Bnei Brak–Yerushalayim. It is unbelievable. He was a Bnei Brak resident, but more importantly, he had tremendous seichel. The people showered him with blessings, telling him, ‘You saved us. You are a wise man. May Heaven bless you.’ No one cursed him. Instead, everyone blessed him and described how long they had been waiting.”

“What did I learn from this? I learned something truly remarkable. If a person wants to be a proper Jew, he must also be a Jew with seichel! That driver understood that had he arrived from the outset as a Yerushalayim bus, they would have broken his bones because of their anger and frustration. So what did he do? He simply changed the destination and route number. It is unbelievable. What does Tiveria have to do with Yerushalayim? But he had seichel. With that wisdom, he saved everyone from machlokes, lashon hara, and every other negative trait. Instead of curses, there were endless blessings, and everyone wanted to kiss him.”

“That is what it means to be a true oved Hashem. A true oved Hashem is someone who sees anger and tension among people and, through wisdom, transforms it into blessing. Such a person will receive tremendous reward.”

Rav Zilberstein concluded with a call for every Jew to strive to create a Kiddush Hashem through refined conduct and noble character.

“We must know that the greatest mitzvah today is to make a Kiddush Hashem. Proper behavior. Refined behavior. Nobility and gentleness, just as our family knows how to conduct itself, following the example of Rav Elyashiv and our grandparents from every side.”

“HaKadosh Baruch Hu should help that this young boy grow to greatness, and may HaKadosh Baruch Hu help all of Klal Yisroel that we should be blessed with seichel, to know how to conduct ourselves and fulfill the will of the Creator. May HaKadosh Baruch Hu grant us every blessing, and let us say Amen.”

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration dramatically increased the reward for information leading to the capture of Juan Carlos González, also known as “Pelón,” announcing Wednesday that it will now pay up to $25 million for information resulting in the arrest of the U.S. citizen who is believed to be leading Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel.

The reward, previously set at $5 million, is part of a broader crackdown on the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). In total, the administration announced $100 million in rewards targeting top cartel figures while also imposing visa restrictions on relatives and business associates connected to cartel leadership.

Federal officials said the latest actions, combined with newly unsealed criminal charges against five additional senior cartel leaders, are intended to weaken the organization’s command structure as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Mexico and other Latin American countries to strengthen efforts against transnational criminal organizations.

“These sophisticated organizations use violence and fear to maintain control over the importation of deadly narcotics in the United States, including fentanyl, cocaine, meth, and other illegal drugs. Their actions spread violence and death to our communities,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters in Washington.

CJNG is one of eight Mexican cartels the United States has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The cartel suffered a major setback in February when its longtime leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was killed in an operation carried out by the Mexican military with intelligence assistance from the United States. The operation was followed by a surge of violence across the Mexican state of Jalisco.

Authorities believe González, the stepson of Oseguera Cervantes and a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, assumed control of the cartel after his stepfather’s death. Officials say the criminal organization operates across a wide range of industries, from avocado production to international drug trafficking.

Wednesday’s announcement follows sanctions imposed by the United States several weeks ago against 50 individuals and companies allegedly tied to CJNG, including González. Those sanctions froze assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibited financial dealings with the designated individuals and entities.

Officials describe CJNG as Mexico’s largest cartel, with operations spanning 21 of the country’s 32 states and an international footprint that includes significant activity inside the United States.

The Trump administration has continued to increase pressure on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government to intensify its campaign against the cartels, at times warning that military action against the criminal organizations remains an option.

Among those named in the newly unsealed indictments are Julio Alberto Castillo Rodriguez, the former son-in-law of Oseguera Cervantes, and Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytan, whom authorities identified as the slain cartel leader’s godson. Officials said all of the defendants face charges related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses.

“This is a fight against CJNG that we are just beginning, and we will not back down,” Terrance Cole, head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, told reporters.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the nation’s first mRNA-based influenza vaccine for adults age 50 and older, marking a major milestone for Moderna as the company expands the use of its mRNA technology beyond COVID-19 vaccines.

Announcing the approval on Wednesday, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel hailed the decision as an important step forward for older Americans. “Flu remains a significant public health challenge, and mFLUSIVA provides an important new option for America’s seniors,” Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement. “This approval also reflects the ongoing potential of our mRNA platform to help address important public health challenges through continued scientific innovation.”

According to Moderna, clinical trial data involving more than 40,000 participants ages 50 and older showed the vaccine was approximately 27% more effective than conventional flu shots during the 2024–25 respiratory virus season.

The company reported that the most common side effects included pain and tenderness at the injection site, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

Unlike traditional flu vaccines, which require experts to select virus strains months in advance each February for the following flu season, Moderna’s mRNA platform can be updated more quickly. That shorter production timeline could allow vaccines to more closely match the influenza strains circulating each season.

Moderna said it expects the newly approved vaccine to be available for patients this fall.

The approval follows an unusual regulatory process. In February, the FDA initially declined to review Moderna’s application, citing concerns over the adequacy of its clinical trials despite earlier feedback within the agency that appeared to point in a different direction. Roughly two weeks later, however, the agency reversed course and agreed to evaluate the vaccine.

Moderna already employs mRNA technology in its COVID-19 vaccine, while Pfizer is also developing mRNA-based influenza vaccines. Earlier this year, European regulators approved Moderna’s combination vaccine designed to protect against both COVID-19 and influenza.

Although the rapid development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines was widely viewed as one of the major scientific achievements of President Donald Trump’s first administration, the current administration has taken a different approach toward the technology for infectious diseases. In August 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services canceled 22 mRNA vaccine development projects worth approximately $500 million. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argued, without presenting supporting evidence, that “these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.”

Despite that policy shift, the FDA’s independent vaccine advisory committee unanimously concluded in June that the benefits of Moderna’s new flu vaccine outweighed its risks. The panel recommended full approval for adults ages 50 to 64 and accelerated approval for those 65 and older, with additional studies required to confirm long-term clinical benefits for the older age group.

Ordinarily, a newly approved vaccine would next be reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices before any national recommendation is issued. However, that process has been delayed after a federal judge ruled in March that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to follow proper legal procedures when replacing the committee’s members. The advisory panel has not convened since that ruling, though its next meeting is currently scheduled for October.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge in Texas has struck down key federal registration requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns as they apply to plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by Kansas and 14 other states, ruling that the regulations are unconstitutional after Congress eliminated the tax that had served as their legal foundation.

In a decision issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix of the Northern District of Texas concluded that portions of the National Firearms Act requiring registration, reporting, and recordkeeping for those firearms and accessories go beyond the constitutional powers granted to Congress.

The ruling follows passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which reduced the National Firearms Act’s transfer and manufacturing taxes on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and certain other firearms to $0 beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Despite the tax’s elimination, the federal registration and reporting requirements had remained in effect.

Judge Hendrix permanently prohibited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives from enforcing those provisions against the states, organizations, businesses, and individual plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit.

At the same time, Hendrix declined to extend the ruling nationwide, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. CASA, which limits the ability of federal courts to issue universal injunctions affecting parties not involved in the litigation.

“The challenged NFA provisions are unconstitutional,” Hendrix wrote, concluding that once Congress eliminated the transfer and making taxes for the affected firearms, “the regulatory provisions cannot be upheld under the taxing power” because they no longer generate revenue.

The judge also dismissed the Justice Department’s contention that the requirements could be upheld under Congress’ authority to regulate interstate commerce, finding that Congress enacted the National Firearms Act under its taxing authority rather than the Commerce Clause.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach praised the ruling, calling it a significant victory for Second Amendment supporters.

“Today, the state of Kansas and our fellow plaintiffs won a great victory against the U.S. Department of Justice, which had been wrongly defending an unconstitutional law. The federal government has no right to demand that American citizens ask for permission before putting an accessory on their firearm to protect their hearing,” Kobach said.

Kobach said the decision represents an important win for gun owners, arguing that it both reinforces constitutional limits on federal authority and removes what he considers unnecessary restrictions on law-abiding Americans.

“Our Constitution provides for a government of limited powers at the federal level. We must always be vigilant to enforce those constitutional limits, especially when government overreach threatens the right of Americans to keep and bear arms,” he added.

The lawsuit was brought by the attorneys general of Kansas, Texas, Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming, along with firearm manufacturers, retailers, advocacy groups, and private gun owners.

The plaintiffs argued that by eliminating the taxes imposed under the National Firearms Act, Congress also removed the constitutional basis for requiring owners of those firearms and accessories to register them with the federal government.

Rather than addressing the plaintiffs’ Second Amendment claims, Hendrix based his decision entirely on Article I of the Constitution, ruling that once the tax was repealed, Congress no longer had constitutional authority under its taxing power to enforce the registration provisions.

The judge explained that resolving the constitutional challenge under Article I made it unnecessary to rule on the Second Amendment arguments because the plaintiffs had already obtained the relief they sought.

The injunction applies only to the parties involved in the lawsuit, including residents of the 15 participating states, and does not automatically invalidate the National Firearms Act’s registration requirements across the rest of the country.

The Justice Department is expected to have the option of appealing the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump reportedly confronted War Secretary Pete Hegseth during a meeting at Camp David after learning that dwindling U.S. missile stockpiles were limiting military options against Iran, according to a report published Wednesday by The Washington Post. The White House and Pentagon, however, strongly denied that any such confrontation took place.

Citing two individuals familiar with the discussions, The Washington Post reported that tensions surfaced during a Cabinet meeting last Friday, where Trump questioned Hegseth over why he had not been informed sooner about the extent of the nation’s shrinking missile inventory. According to the report, the President expressed frustration, saying he believed the problem “had been fixed.”

The newspaper said shortages of long-range precision-guided munitions and air-defense interceptors played a significant role in Trump’s decision to hold off on launching broader military strikes against Iran. The report follows Trump’s recent remarks that he had been prepared to order “the biggest attack since World War II” before postponing it to allow room for possible diplomatic efforts concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

Although the United States has already entered into preliminary agreements to manufacture additional Patriot air-defense systems and other critical weapons, the report noted that producing the new equipment could take as long as two years, leaving the military without a quick solution to replenish current inventories.

According to The Washington Post, U.S. forces fired more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles during the first month of the conflict, along with over 1,000 Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles. The report also stated that American forces used more than 1,300 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, leaving supplies of that weapon—also in high demand by Ukraine—virtually depleted.

The report further claimed that when Trump challenged Hegseth over the shortages, the War Secretary defended his handling of the situation and placed responsibility on Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, saying Feinberg had failed to adequately brief the White House on the status of the nation’s weapons stockpiles.

The White House flatly rejected the report.

“This is 100% fake news. Literally never happened. And President Trump has the utmost confidence in Secretary Hegseth,” stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The Pentagon also forcefully disputed the account. Chief spokesman Sean Parnell told The Washington Post, “Secretary Hegseth did not mislead anyone about our munitions posture, and he did not blame Deputy Secretary Feinberg. These claims about depleted stockpiles, internal disagreements, the Secretary’s position on Iran … are equally fictional.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Authorities in Ocean County are investigating a series of antisemitic incidents after vandals broke into the new Jackson Township campus of Bais Medrash Govoah set to open later this month, causing extensive damage and scrawling hateful messages throughout the building. Police are also probing separate acts of vandalism directed at Chai Lifeline, the organization that supports children and families facing serious illness and trauma.

According to Jackson Township police, investigators have identified the seven young individuals captured on surveillance cameras entering the new campus of Bais Medrash Govoah, where they allegedly caused significant property damage and wrote antisemitic and racist slurs on classroom chalkboards. Officials said the messages were so offensive that they would not be released publicly.

Police are treating the break-in, which occurred late last week, as a hate crime. Investigators are also examining three additional incidents of vandalism that targeted Chai Lifeline.

“It was heartbreaking,” Jackson Township Council President Mordy Burnstein said. “I had thought that we lived in America in 2026, that things like this shouldn’t be occurring anymore.”

In response to the incidents, Police Chief Mary Nelson said officers have increased their presence around the affected locations as well as other areas considered especially sensitive throughout the township.

“We’ve increased patrols both in the areas of target and also in other sensitive areas within our township,” Nelson said.

Burnstein said the recent vandalism reflects the same antisemitism he has personally encountered while serving in public office.

“I’ve gotten emails from my township email calling me Dirty Jew and other language words I don’t want to use,” he said.

“When hate is left unchecked, every family loses their sense of safety,” Mayor Jennifer Kuhn said. “It is extremely disturbing.”

Although no arrests have yet been announced, Chief Nelson said authorities intend to pursue charges against those responsible, regardless of their age.

“Whenever there’s an active hate, we do take it seriously and we prosecute it,” Nelson said. “We want it to be known that we’re not willing to accept this in our township.”

Investigators do not believe the suspects who vandalized the yeshiva are the same individuals responsible for the separate attacks on Chai Lifeline. Meanwhile, security has been posted at the Bais Medrash Govoah campus around the clock as the investigation continues.

“We may pray differently, we may dress differently, we’re all human beings, we’re all Americans,” Burnstein said.

WATCH:

The IDF on Thursday morning cleared for publication the names of two reserve soldiers who were killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon after a deadly explosion struck an IDF force. Four additional reservists were seriously wounded in the same incident.

The fallen soldiers were identified as Major (Res.) Harel Birenstock, 34, of Nokdim, who served as a company commander in the 2855th Battalion of the 55th Brigade, and Chief Master Sergeant (Res.) Tamir Vaknin, 33, of Eilat, a combat soldier in the same battalion.

The IDF said that four other reserve soldiers sustained serious injuries in the blast. They were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and their families have been informed.

According to the military, the incident took place at approximately 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday in the Majdal Zoun area of southern Lebanon.

The explosion occurred while troops from the brigade combat team were conducting operations to eliminate terrorist infrastructure inside a building. During that mission, a powerful blast killed Birenstock and Vaknin and left four fellow reservists critically injured.

On Wednesday evening, the Gush Etzion Regional Council announced Birenstock’s passing. He was the son of Shlomo and Yonat Birenstock of Neve Daniel and the grandson of Nechama Birenstock of Efrat.

In a statement, the council said, “The Gush Etzion Regional Council announces with deep sorrow the death of Harel Birenstock. We mourn the heavy loss and extend heartfelt condolences to his parents, wife, brothers, sisters, and all the members of the family.”

{Matzav.com}