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The Pentagon has ordered U.S. defense manufacturers to come up with plans within three weeks to dramatically increase weapons production, as the ongoing conflict with Iran takes a heavy toll on American missile and ammunition reserves.

An internal Department of Defense memorandum obtained by The Washington Post directs weapons companies to rapidly boost manufacturing capacity and shorten delivery timelines for critical munitions being consumed in the war with Iran.

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg sent the directive to defense industry executives on Wednesday, giving contractors no more than 21 days to submit detailed proposals for creating “significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities.”

The Pentagon made clear in the memo that the lengthy procurement and manufacturing schedules traditionally associated with major weapons programs are considered inadequate while the United States is engaged in active military operations.

“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg stated, emphasizing, “We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.”

The order comes amid increasing concern inside the administration and the Pentagon over the pace at which U.S. ammunition reserves are being consumed. It also points to tensions between President Donald Trump and Defense Department officials over the condition of the nation’s weapons stockpiles. Defense industry specialists say replenishing those reserves on the scale envisioned by the Pentagon could ultimately hinge on whether a politically divided Congress approves additional emergency military funding.

President Trump, however, pushed back Thursday against suggestions that the United States is dangerously short of weaponry. In a Truth Social post, Trump said the country possesses “massive amounts” of munitions and maintained that “large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed.”

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is attempting to address more immediate shortages through nonbinding legal arrangements known as “framework agreements.” Those agreements involve both major defense contractors and newer technology companies and are intended to accelerate production of inexpensive strike weapons as well as sophisticated air-defense systems, including Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell acknowledged that the memorandum obtained by The Washington Post was authentic and said the Defense Department’s effort to push manufacturers toward faster production has been an administration priority.

“Working directly with industry leaders to accelerate production is not new. It has been the clear intent of the President and this Secretary from the start.”

Parnell further confirmed that the document “is real” and said it “will inform the fiscal year 2028 budget submitted to Congress for funding, and it is entirely consistent with our ongoing push to rebuild the defense industrial base.”

[Video below.] An alleged antisemitic confrontation at Manila’s international airport erupted into a physical altercation after an American traveler reportedly directed hateful remarks at an Israeli passenger, including praise for Adolf Hitler. Authorities intervened, detained both men, and launched a legal investigation into the incident.

The confrontation unfolded at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in the Philippine capital, where an American passenger allegedly hurled antisemitic insults at an Israeli traveler while both were waiting to board separate domestic flights. The exchange escalated into a fight before airport police arrived to restore order.

Philippine media reported that the incident took place in the airport’s domestic departure terminal. The Israeli, 37, and the American, 54, were each preparing to fly to Cebu when the dispute broke out.

According to the Israeli passenger, the American repeatedly directed antisemitic abuse toward him, referring to him as a “Jewish baby killer.” He also alleged that the man declared, “Hitler was right. It’s a shame Hitler didn’t finish killing the Jews.”

What began as a verbal exchange quickly turned physical. During the struggle, a marble table near one of the terminal’s food vendors was reportedly damaged.

The American passenger disputed that account, claiming the Israeli interrupted what had been a private conversation before attacking him without any justification.

Airport police officers responded to the disturbance, separated the two individuals, and took both into custody for questioning. They were later transported to Pasay City General Hospital to undergo medical evaluations.

The following day, the matter was forwarded to the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office, where legal proceedings began over allegations that both men were involved in disturbing the peace.

WATCH:

VIDEO-2026-08-08-21-45-53

{Matzav.com}

A devastating tragedy struck when four-year-old Sholom Seginer tragically drowned while vacationing with his family in Mexico.

Sholom was a son of Rav Assaf and Mrs. Rivka Seginer, and a grandson of Rav Shalom Arush, rosh mosdos Chut Shel Chessed.

According to reports received from Mexico following Shabbos, the young child drowned in a swimming pool while the family was on a vacation. Local emergency personnel rushed to the scene and performed prolonged resuscitation efforts, but despite their desperate attempts, they were forced to pronounce his passing.

In a statement released by the grieving family, they wrote: “Baruch Dayan HaEmes. Death has entered our window with the bitter news of the passing of the pure child Sholom Seginer, son of Rabbi Assaf and Rivka, grandson of ybl”cht”a HaGaon Rabbi Shalom Arush. Only 4 years old, a pure and spotless soul has ascended. May Hashem comfort us and heal our broken hearts.”

Details regarding the levayah and arrangements to bring the aron to Eretz Yisroel will be announced as they become available.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

Todd Blanche won Senate confirmation as attorney general in a razor-thin vote early today, officially placing President Donald Trump’s longtime attorney at the helm of the Justice Department after months of political infighting and a contentious confirmation battle that divided even Republicans.

The Republican-controlled Senate approved Blanche by a 50-49 vote, making him the second attorney general confirmed since President Trump returned to office last year. Blanche, who had already been serving as acting attorney general, now assumes the role permanently as the administration continues pursuing its law enforcement priorities, including investigations involving Trump’s political adversaries.

Following the vote, Blanche wrote on social media that he was “deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me,” adding that he was “grateful” to senators for working late to confirm him.

His confirmation followed weeks of intense debate that underscored bipartisan concerns about placing one of Trump’s closest confidants in charge of a department that has traditionally operated with independence from the White House.

Despite Republican control of the chamber, Blanche prevailed by the slimmest possible margin after Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska broke with their party to oppose him, joining every Democratic senator in voting against his nomination.

Blanche’s path to confirmation became unusually complicated after several Republicans objected to a controversial agreement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.

To ease those concerns, Blanche formally pledged in writing that the Justice Department would scrap Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund benefiting the president’s allies—including individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack—and would also eliminate provisions designed to protect Trump and his family from future IRS tax audits.

Those assurances ultimately persuaded Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy to cast the decisive vote in Blanche’s favor. Cassidy argued that no other nominee would be better positioned to lead the department under Trump and suggested Blanche’s experience defending the president could actually strengthen his ability to resist inappropriate pressure from the White House.

“This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances,” said Cassidy, who lost his primary this year to a Trump-backed challenger.

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged lawmakers to reject the nomination, warning that confirming Blanche would be a “serious mistake.” He appealed to senators not to place themselves on what he called the “wrong side” of history.

“If there is ever a moment in history when we need an Attorney General above reproach, who is clearly dedicated to ending corruption, even at the highest level of our government, it’s right now,” Durbin said.

The confirmation battle revolved largely around Blanche’s close relationship with President Trump, a connection critics repeatedly argued could compromise the Justice Department’s independence.

Blanche assumed leadership of the department on an acting basis after Trump dismissed Pam Bondi in April. He quickly moved to implement several administration priorities, including accelerating investigations involving Trump’s perceived political opponents and unveiling a settlement that established a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” for individuals claiming mistreatment by the criminal justice system while also providing Trump and certain family members protection from IRS audits.

That settlement nearly derailed Blanche’s nomination before he formally withdrew the compensation fund in writing following pressure from Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Their agreement with the Justice Department cleared the way for the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance Blanche’s nomination earlier this week.

Even after the revised agreement, several Republicans remained uneasy over both the proposed compensation fund and the tax audit protections that had been included in the original settlement.

Murkowski announced shortly before the vote that she would oppose Blanche alongside Collins, saying the nation requires an attorney general “who will check the worst impulses of this administration.”

A former federal prosecutor in New York, Blanche gained national attention as one of President Trump’s lead defense attorneys, including during the New York hush money case. He also represented Trump in the federal criminal prosecutions brought during the Biden administration, experiences Blanche has cited as firsthand evidence of what he believes was the weaponization of the justice system against the president.

Blanche joined the Justice Department last year as deputy attorney general under Bondi, overseeing daily operations while serving as the department’s public face on several major initiatives, including the release of millions of investigative documents tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrats contend Blanche has consistently placed loyalty to President Trump above institutional independence, pointing to investigations involving Trump critics such as former FBI Director James Comey and sweeping personnel changes that have resulted in thousands of employees leaving the department through firings, resignations, and voluntary departures during the Bondi-Blanche tenure.

Supporters counter that Blanche’s background as a federal prosecutor, combined with the trust he developed with Trump during years of legal representation, makes him especially qualified to explain legal limits to the president while advancing administration priorities. Republicans have also credited him with efforts targeting violent crime, illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and transnational criminal cartels.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley strongly endorsed the nomination before the vote, declaring that Blanche has led the department effectively as acting attorney general. “Mr. Blanche is the right choice,” he said.

Whether Blanche will succeed where Bondi struggled remains uncertain. Trump removed Bondi after repeated resistance from judges, grand juries, and career Justice Department officials complicated efforts to pursue criminal cases against several of the president’s political opponents.

Soon after taking over the department, Blanche authorized an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of threatening the 47th president by posting a photograph of seashells arranged to display the numbers “86 47” on social media. Comey’s legal team has asked the court to dismiss the charges, alleging prosecutors misled the court, submitted inaccurate information, and concealed important evidence.

Blanche has also selected Joseph diGenova, a former Reagan-era Justice Department prosecutor, to oversee a Florida-based investigation examining whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials coordinated over the past decade to undermine President Trump. However, it remains unclear whether that investigation will ultimately produce criminal charges.