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A New York City Department of Education social worker who serves as her school’s anti-bullying liaison is facing accusations of antisemitism after allegedly posting insect images beneath a social media video showing Orthodox Jews celebrating Lag Ba’omer, according to a report by the New York Post.

The employee, Lauren Camiolo, works at Landmark High School in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Critics said her repeated posting of beetle images in response to footage of Orthodox Jewish men dancing and celebrating echoed imagery historically used in Nazi propaganda.

Jewish advocacy figures sharply condemned the comparison of Jews to insects and warned that the imagery carried deeply antisemitic historical associations.

“That’s a very dangerous and antisemitic trope coming from Nazi Germany, where Hitler would categorize Jews as subhuman and insects. He said to restore Germany’s greatness, they had to exterminate the insects,” Karen Feldman said.

According to Department of Education records, Camiolo has worked for the DOE since at least 2020. Ironically, the DOE website lists her as the school’s “Respect for All” liaison, a role intended to combat bullying and discrimination.

Public salary records show she earned $115,665 in 2025.

The DOE’s Respect for All initiative is designed to combat harassment and help schools “foster and maintain safe learning environments that are supportive, inclusive, and free from discrimination, harassment, and intimidation of any kind,” according to the agency’s website.

“When a Jewish student faces discrimination or bias, they have no one to go to if their Respect for All liaison traffics in antisemitism… a lot of kids are hurting,” Feldman added.

Moshe Spern also condemned the posts.

“Hitler often called Jewish people insects and pests… This is a direct act of antisemitism. Too many educators use their political beliefs to hurt Jewish students and fellow educators,” Spern said.

David Bernstein, whose organization monitors issues in education, said the controversy raises broader concerns about school leadership and student safety.

“When the person responsible for ‘Respect for All’ expresses hostility toward Jews or white students, it raises serious concerns about both the educator and the school system in which she works,” Bernstein said.

The DOE’s official anti-bullying policy states: “Bullying and harassment have no place in any of NYC’s 1,800+ schools, regardless of anyone’s perceived race, color, age, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or weight.”

The report also highlighted numerous social media posts allegedly made by Camiolo criticizing Israel and making inflammatory comments regarding white people.

“Genocide bloodshed of women & children on holy land by colonizers in the name of God that they will never know,” she posted on Facebook March 18, 2025, over an image appearing to depict the Ten Commandments.

“Chosen people do not steal & harvest they create,” she posted on Facebook July 30, 2025.

“Zionism is cult a group of people incapable of thinking for themselves,” she wrote on Facebook on Oct. 20, 2025.

“Victim syndrome of white colonizers is an art how do you rationalize the blood of children,” she posted two days later.

“Three key success of #whitemediocracy colonization, genocide, & culture appropriation #Blackwomeninwhitefields,” she posted on Facebook in November 2024.

“Never trust a white woman,” she captioned a photograph showing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Never forget white women owned slaves & had them raise their children.. don’t be fooled by white women fragility,” she posted on Facebook June 10, 2025.

When contacted by the New York Post, Camiolo allegedly threatened to involve law enforcement and accused the paper of harassment.

“I’m Jewish… I’m also biracial I’m going to the police now and showing them these messages for stalking and harassment… I fear for me and my sons [sic] safety,” she wrote.

Landmark High School currently enrolls only 294 students. Founded in 1994, the school allows students to graduate through written or oral project-based assessments rather than New York Regents examinations.

A source at the school described Camiolo as “unhinged.”

“Kids don’t want to talk to her, they say ‘she’s crazy,’ she’s very strident and self righteous and tells teachers they’re doing things wrong… a lot of people have issues with her conduct as a social worker,” the source said.

A Department of Education spokesperson condemned antisemitism and said the matter would be investigated.

“Hate has absolutely no place in our schools or our city, and we unequivocally condemn any behaviors that represent antisemitism, and any forms of intolerance and prejudice. Any staff members who exhibit these behaviors will be investigated and will be subject to discipline as appropriate,” the spokesperson said.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli officials are increasingly concerned that President Donald Trump may ultimately agree to a limited arrangement with Iran that would allow Tehran to preserve key elements of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities while maintaining support for its proxy forces across the Middle East.

According to a report in Yisroel Hayom, senior Israeli officials view such a scenario as the “worst possible outcome” because it would fail to provide a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear threat.

Israeli assessments reportedly conclude that any partial agreement reached between Washington and Tehran would not guarantee the removal of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles or prevent the regime from resuming uranium enrichment activities in the future.

Officials also fear that any monitoring mechanism imposed on Iranian nuclear facilities would likely be only partial and limited, falling short of the full guarantees Israel believes are necessary to ensure Iran cannot continue advancing its nuclear program.

The concerns come after Trump stated Saturday that he expects to receive an Iranian response “very soon” and said Tehran “still very much wants to reach a deal.”

The United States recently presented a revised proposal intended to secure a temporary and limited arrangement aimed primarily at halting the fighting through a framework agreement rather than a comprehensive peace accord.

According to Reuters, sources familiar with the negotiations said the new American initiative is based on a short-term memorandum of understanding rather than a final diplomatic settlement, underscoring the deep divisions that remain between the parties and suggesting that any agreement reached at this stage would likely be temporary.

The sources added that the proposed framework would unfold in three phases.

The first stage would involve a formal end to the war. The second would focus on resolving the crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the American blockade. The third stage would open a 30-day window for broader negotiations over a more comprehensive agreement dealing with Iran’s nuclear program and related issues.

Whichever of the 13 candidates wins the free-for-all seeking the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, following the decision of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) to retire after 12 years on Capitol Hill, becomes the overwhelming favorite to go to Washington.

That includes Dr. Brad J. Cohen, mayor of East Brunswick and a gynecologist, who is not shy about his support for Israel, as he faces a well-funded Egyptian American doctor, who has accused the Jewish state of genocide.

“I am a proud Jew,” Cohen told JNS. “I believe very much in the state of Israel and its right to exist. It’s critical to me that it remains a Jewish state in the Middle East.”

According to his mayoral biography, Cohen is “an active member of Congregation B’nai Tikvah, North Brunswick and East Brunswick Jewish Center.”

He has raised $424,371 for his campaign through March 31, second highest among the candidates, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

The top fundraiser is another doctor, Adam Hamawy, an Egyptian American, who has brought in $546,965. Hamawy treated injured Gazans in the war against Hamas after Oct. 7 and has accused Israel of “genocide.”

Sue Altman, a former state director for Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), has brought in $406,374. She lost the 2024 congressional election to Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) in the nearby 7th District.

Hamawy has the endorsements of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of Israel’s sharpest critics on Capitol Hill, and former New York Democratic congressman Jamaal Bowman, who was ousted in 2024 after AIPAC spent $14.6 million to defeat him.

Another anti-Israel politician, Analilia Mejia won the Democratic nomination with only 29% of the vote in New Jersey’s 11th District and went on to win the House seat vacated by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill. Hamawy might be able to do the same with a small percentage of the vote in the June 2 primary.

“You don’t need to get to 50 plus 1 to win the nomination,” Ben Dworkin. director of Rowan University’s Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship, told JNS. “A well-organized group can emerge victorious in that kind of political situation.”

Cohen doesn’t mention Israel on his campaign website. But Hamawy does.

“In 2024 and 2025, I went on medical missions to Gaza,” Hamawy’s site states. “What I witnessed was a genocide, paid for with American tax dollars and propped up by our foreign policy.”

He told the Washington Post that if candidates want “to get elected or re-elected this coming cycle, you’ll see more and more people being critical of Israel than in the past.”

Hanawy, who was a combat trauma surgeon in Iraq and treated Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), is being supported by a pro-Palestinian super PAC, American Priorities, which has said it would spend $2 million on the race, the New Jersey Globe reported.

“The fact that even a place like New Jersey with a strong, well-organized Jewish community is facing candidates who are openly criticizing mainstream Jewish organizations and Israeli policies in a different way than candidates used to is reflective of how much the ground has shifted,” Dworkin told JNS.

Cohe didn’t list Israel among his top issues in an interview with JNS. What’s most important, he said, was protecting democracy, affordability and affordable health care.

“It doesn’t say, ‘I don’t care about Israel.’ I told you, ‘I absolutely do,’” he told JNS. “But the focus should be on the United States and the issues that face voters in the 12th Congressional District.”

“This is an issue for a good number of people, but I don’t think it’s the central issue,” he said.

His name does not appear on a list of AIPAC-endorsed candidates, even though the pro-Israel group spent $2.3 million against former Democratic congressman Tom Malinowski, whom it previously endorsed, reportedly helping to elect Mejia.

Dworkin said that opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has helped upend the traditional U.S. constituency for Israel.

“It’s a very challenging time for traditional, strong, pro-Israel Democrats right now,” he told JNS. “In the year 2000, it was totally different. And it’s 2026. You can’t can run campaigns from a Jewish community pro-Israel perspective like it was 25 years ago. You just can’t.”

Watson Coleman did not endorse a successor but said it shouldn’t be Cohen.

“I was disappointed when Brad Cohen called me ‘antisemitic,’ because that suggested to me that he had not really gotten to know who I was,” Watson Coleman told JNS.

“I’m very concerned that his feelings about Netanyahu and Israel are not consistent with what the 12th Congressional District believes is a fair attitude, that both Israelis and Palestinians should be able to live in peace and in prosperity and side by side,” she said.

“I don’t want to belabor that point, but that was what I was thinking, and I haven’t changed it,” the congresswoman told JNS.

Cohen told JNS that he never called Watson Coleman “antisemitic.”

“I didn’t say that,” he said. “I would never say that. I knew there have been people who’ve said that about her. But I didn’t call her ‘antisemitic.’”

Nor is he a Netanyahu hardliner, he said. In fact, he said, he supports a two-state solution in the Middle East.

“I’m a supporter of Israel,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean that I always agree with everything that Benjamin Netanyahu does, or any other prime minister.”

On April 13, Cohen posted about Yom Hashoah, Holocaust remembrance day, on social media.

“This day is deeply personal for me and my family,” he wrote. “My father-in-law was a Holocaust survivor. His strength, resilience and courage in the face of unimaginable evil are something I carry with me every day. His story is a reminder not only of the horrors of the past but of the responsibility we all share to stand up against hate in all its forms.”

“Remembering is not enough. We must act,” Cohen added. “That means calling out antisemitism and hate wherever we see it, supporting our communities, educating the next generation and refusing to be silent in the face of extremism.” JNS

Russia reportedly proposed supplying Iran with thousands of sophisticated drones capable of bypassing electronic jamming systems, along with operational training intended for use against American forces in the Middle East, according to a confidential intelligence document reviewed by The Economist.

The report suggests that Moscow may have considered expanding its support for Tehran beyond intelligence cooperation into more direct military assistance that could pose a serious threat to U.S. and allied assets in the Gulf region.

According to The Economist, Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency drafted a detailed 10-page proposal offering Iran 5,000 short-range fiber-optic drones, additional longer-range drones guided through satellite systems, and specialized training programs for drone operators.

The publication said the proposal included maps and operational diagrams highlighting strategic coastal regions and islands near the Strait of Hormuz.

Although there is no evidence confirming the proposal was ultimately implemented, intelligence officials in the region reportedly described the document as authentic and consistent with the increasingly close military relationship between Moscow and Tehran.

The revelations come amid growing concerns over the expanding alliance among Russia, Iran, and other anti-Western actors operating throughout the region.

Unlike traditional drones controlled through radio frequencies, fiber-optic drones are guided using ultra-thin cables trailing behind them, making them extremely resistant to electronic interference and jamming attempts. The technology has become a major component of the war in Ukraine, where Russian forces have reportedly used the systems with significant success.

The drones are capable of conducting precise attacks from distances exceeding 25 miles while providing operators with enhanced video feeds and remaining extremely difficult to detect electronically.

The report further stated that Russia proposed providing Iran with longer-range drones equipped with Starlink satellite terminals, technology Moscow has allegedly employed in Ukraine to bypass or target enemy air-defense systems.

According to The Economist, the proposal acknowledged that Starlink access in the Middle East could eventually be restricted or disabled, but argued the drones could still generate “disorder” among American military forces before such limitations took effect.

The document also reportedly included plans to recruit drone operators from among Iranian students studying in Russia, as well as Tajik nationals and members of Syria’s Alawite minority associated with the former Assad regime.

According to the report, the GRU assessed that American amphibious units and landing craft would be especially vulnerable to large-scale drone swarm attacks because of their relatively slow movement.

The proposal was reportedly written during the early stages of the conflict, when Russian and Iranian officials feared President Donald Trump might authorize ground operations against Iran, including a possible attempt to seize Kharg Island, one of Tehran’s most strategically important oil export terminals.

Even while recognizing the strain placed on Russia’s military resources by the war in Ukraine, the GRU reportedly argued that limited and deniable assistance to Iran could complicate any future American military operation without provoking a direct military confrontation between Washington and Moscow.

{Matzav.com}

Mahmoud Al-Habbash, a senior adviser to Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, delivered an unusually harsh public condemnation of Hamas, accusing the terror group of placing its grip on power above the welfare and lives of Gaza civilians.

During an appearance on Al-Arabiya’s Mazeej Podcast on April 29, Al-Habbash sharply criticized Hamas’s behavior throughout the ongoing war. His comments were translated and published by the Middle East Media Research Institute.

“I am worried that Hamas’s top priority is to continue to rule Gaza, even over the skulls of children. I am worried that this is the case,” he said.

When asked whether there was evidence supporting that accusation, Al-Habbash pointed to what he described as Hamas’s continued abuse and intimidation of Gaza residents even amid widespread destruction and humanitarian suffering.

“Of course. Everything in Gaza indicates this. To this day, Hamas persecutes people, shoots people, beats people up, collects taxes from people, extorts money from people, arrests people and forces them to pay money… To this day! 70,000-100,000 martyrs, 200,000-300,000 injured people, and 80% of Gaza destroyed, and nobody [in Hamas] cares.”

Al-Habbash also blamed the October 7 Hamas massacre in southern Israel for triggering the devastation that followed in Gaza. Referring to the attack, he described the date itself as cursed.

“It is the accursed October 7 that brought us to this point.”

The senior Palestinian Authority official further argued that Hamas’s creation as an armed faction in Gaza helped pave the way for the rise of competing militant groups and the broader instability that has plagued the territory for years.

“The first militia that was formed in the Gaza Strip was Hamas. Therefore, it is only natural that there will be opposing militias and groups.”

Al-Habbash has previously called for a united Palestinian position demanding that Hamas relinquish control of Gaza.

At the same time, despite his recent criticism of Hamas, Al-Habbash has repeatedly made inflammatory statements against Israel over the years.

In 2017, he denounced Israeli security measures implemented after a terror attack on the Har Habayis, claiming the actions violated international agreements regarding Yerushalayim and its holy sites.

That same year, during a sermon attended by Abbas, Al-Habbash warned the United States against relocating its embassy from Tel Aviv to Yerushalayim, saying such a move would amount to a “declaration of war.”

In 2018, he compared Israeli restrictions surrounding access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque to tactics used by the Nazis.

Four years later, after Abbas accused Israel of carrying out “50 holocausts” against Palestinian Arabs, Al-Habbash defended the remarks and claimed that “all the leaders of the [Israeli] occupation joined together in attacking Abbas, because he is defending his people and he wants to remind the world of the massacres against them.”

In May 2024, Al-Habbash also warned that attacks similar to October 7 could happen again if the Palestinian issue is not resolved according to what he described as international legitimacy and United Nations resolutions.

“If the Palestinian cause will not be justly, comprehensively, and permanently resolved, at least on the basis of international legitimacy, at least on the basis of the UN resolutions, then October 7 can repeat itself 100 times, and perhaps even more seriously.”

{Matzav.com}

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In this episode, Rabbi Reinman discusses the continuing war with the Greeks and the diplomatic maneuvers of the Maccabees.

WATCH:

 Chapter Forty-Four: Enemies and Allies

Even as the Maccabees cleansed and purified the Bais Hamikdash, the decrees of Antiochus banning the practice of Judaism remained in place. Before embarking on his campaign against the Parthians, Antiochus had not seen fit to fulfill his promise to rescind them. Perhaps he wanted to keep his options open until the results of the campaign became clear. They became clear quickly enough. Antiochus died, and the Parthians soundly defeated the Syrian army. Nonetheless, as long as the Jewish people were in control of their own land, the decrees were irrelevant.

Instability in the Seleucid Empire gave Judea a short period of respite. After the death of Antiochus IV, his ten-year-old son Antiochus V inherited the throne. Lysias, one of the generals who had fought against the Maccabees, was appointed regent. There were other pretenders to the throne, and Lysias had his hands full protecting the life of the young Antiochus and preserving the throne for him.

In 163 b.c.e., Lysias returned to Judea with a massive army of 20,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and dozens of war elephants. The Maccabee forces were defeated. Judah’s brother Elazar mistakenly thought he saw Lysias in a tower atop a huge elephant. He ran under it and plunged his  sword into its belly. The elephant collapsed on top of Elazar and killed him. The rest of the Maccabees did not fare much better. They withdrew in defeat and barricaded themselves in Jerusalem.

The Greeks besieged Jerusalem, but shortly afterward, Lysias received word that Philip, a rival for the throne, was attempting to seize power in the capital of Antioch. Alarmed, he informed Yehuda that, by his power as royal regent, he was rescinding the restrictions on Jewish religious practice. Then he took most of his army and hurried home. After returning to Antioch, Lysias ordered the execution of Menelaus, the extreme Hellenizer who had bought the office of Kohein Gadol from Antiochus IV, even though he was not a Kohein, and tyrannized the Hasidim. In effect, Lysias was granting the Jewish rebels the religious victory they were seeking in the hopes that Judea would thus be pacified, that it would remain a tax-paying part of the Seleucid Empire …..

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

{Matzav.com}

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A sharply worded post published by Tuvia Smotrich, brother of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, succeeded in putting into words a fear that has been quietly circulating within Israel’s right-wing camp for quite some time: the possibility that the chareidi parties, after the current crisis surrounding the draft law, may seriously begin considering cooperation with the left.

Smotrich warned of a scenario in which the chareidim would receive exemptions from military service, financial benefits, and continued autonomy regarding core curriculum studies, while in exchange allowing the left to advance diplomatic, judicial, and cultural policies far removed from traditional right-wing positions.

That concern deserves serious attention. But precisely for that reason, the full truth also needs to be acknowledged: the chareidim would not align with the left because of ideological affection for the left. They have not suddenly adopted left-wing values, joined the leftist camp, or forgotten the long political and cultural battles they fought against it for decades. If such a shift ever occurs, it would emerge not from ideological enthusiasm but from political frustration — after years in which the right grew accustomed to receiving chareidi support while repeatedly struggling to deliver on promises when it mattered most.

For years, leaders in Bibi Netanyahu’s Likud party, the Religious Zionist camp, and much of the broader right viewed the chareidi public as an automatic political partner. The chareidim would vote. The chareidim would help secure a governing majority. The chareidim would absorb public backlash. But when decisive moments arrived regarding the issues most important to them, they were often told to wait patiently, to show restraint, to understand the pressures of the courts, the military establishment, the media, and public opinion polls. Political loyalty, however, cannot remain one-sided forever.

The draft issue is not merely another coalition dispute or budgetary disagreement. For the chareidi public, the status of yeshiva students is a foundational question tied directly to the identity and survival of the Torah world. One may disagree with the chareidi position or criticize it, but it is unrealistic to expect chareidim to continue guaranteeing right-wing governments while parts of that same right increasingly speak about them as though they are a political burden to be embarrassed by.

That is precisely where the right’s greatest weakness lies. On one hand, the right demands unwavering loyalty from the chareidim and constantly reminds them that no right-wing government can survive without them. On the other hand, when the political cost arrives, many on the right recoil from media criticism, legal pressure, polling concerns, and opposition within parts of the Religious Zionist and Likud camps. The result is an impossible situation: the chareidim are expected to put the right in power, but they are not always given the feeling that the right is prepared to fight for them when necessary.

For that reason, Tuvia Smotrich’s warning should not be viewed solely as a threat about possible “betrayal” by the chareidim. It should also be understood as an internal indictment of a right-wing camp that does not always understand its own partners. If the chareidim eventually conclude that the left can provide clearer results on the draft issue while the right continues offering slogans without solutions, responsibility for that shift would not rest only with the chareidim. It would also fall on those who demanded their loyalty for years without always returning that loyalty with meaningful commitment.

The chareidi public is not searching for a home on the left. It does not naturally belong there, does not feel culturally comfortable there, and does not share many of the values promoted by that camp. But politics is not built solely on ideological identity; it is also built on practical results. If the right wants to preserve its alliance with the chareidim, it must stop treating them as guaranteed votes and begin treating them as partners whose concerns deserve respect, understanding, and protection.

The chareidim are not permanently owned by the right. They remained loyal for many years because the alliance was rooted in shared traditional, political, and cultural interests. But even natural alliances can weaken when one side feels it provides the majority, absorbs the criticism, and ultimately finds itself standing alone against the system. Political camps that fail to defend their partners should not be surprised when those partners begin searching for another address.

{Matzav.com}

A secret late-night meeting intended to explore a possible arrangement surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s trial reportedly devolved into a tense and emotional confrontation between Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Netanyahu ally Yaakov Berdugo.

According to a report by Channel 12 News, the meeting took place in an apartment in Shoham and lasted approximately two and a half hours. The discussion reportedly included shouting matches, banging on the table, and sharp exchanges over the possibility of a presidential pardon for Netanyahu and the political fallout surrounding the ongoing legal proceedings.

The report said Berdugo urged Herzog to move forward with a pardon for Netanyahu and told him: “Give a pardon, stop being a coward.” Herzog reportedly responded: “How can I give Netanyahu a pardon when he hasn’t even submitted a request?”

During the meeting, Herzog reportedly expressed frustration over criticism directed at him from across Israel’s political spectrum.

“You don’t understand that everyone hates me now, and partly because of you?” Herzog allegedly told Berdugo. “The left thinks I’m going to grant a pardon no matter what, I’m already considered suspect there, and you keep inciting the right against me nonstop on your program. What you brought us was not a request, and it has no chance of passing.”

Berdugo reportedly continued pressing Herzog, arguing that such a move was necessary to help heal divisions within Israeli society. At one point, he also raised concerns about the international and diplomatic consequences of continued political turmoil.

“Stop being afraid. Think about what will happen when you come to greet President Trump after he lands in Israel, and he doesn’t even shake your hand or say hello to you? Will that feel pleasant for you?” Berdugo reportedly told the president.

According to the report, the meeting was arranged after Berdugo launched a series of harsh media attacks against Herzog. The purpose of the discussion was reportedly to examine whether a plea agreement in Netanyahu’s trial could be advanced, but the atmosphere quickly turned into a fierce political and personal dispute.

Despite the tense exchange, Herzog later publicly called for efforts to advance a plea arrangement in Netanyahu’s legal cases. According to the report, the president told Berdugo at the end of the meeting that he intended to take active steps to move the process forward and even suggested bringing the relevant parties to the President’s Residence in an effort to quickly reach agreements.

As previously reported Thursday, Herzog and Berdugo held a secret nighttime meeting in an apartment in Shoham. Following the discussion, Herzog reportedly informed Berdugo that he planned to actively promote a plea agreement in Netanyahu’s trial and proposed inviting all relevant parties to the President’s Residence to attempt to finalize understandings.

The President’s Residence issued a statement afterward saying: “The president will meet with any party and do everything in his power to lower the flames within Israeli society. The president is determined to bring about a dialogue of agreements regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cases.”

{Matzav.com}

White House border czar Tom Homan said federal immigration agents may occasionally detain American citizens for short periods during enforcement operations if officers suspect they are connected to immigration violations, while emphasizing that citizens are not deported once their identities are verified.

Speaking outside the White House about ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, Homan defended ICE procedures and said temporary detentions can happen during fast-moving investigations.

“We deport people that are going to be deportable,” Homan said, according to The Hill. “We arrest people that will be deportable based on suspicion.”

Homan acknowledged that some American citizens may briefly end up in custody while officers attempt to determine who they are during field operations.

“Have U.S. citizens ever been shortly detained based on suspicion? I’m sure. I’m sure,” he said.

The remarks come as immigrant advocacy organizations and civil liberties groups continue raising concerns about ICE tactics, especially during major raids and enforcement sweeps targeting undocumented immigrants and individuals facing deportation orders.

Earlier this year, Rep. Pramila Jayapal accused the Department of Homeland Security of infringing on the rights of American citizens through detention practices.

“DHS is supposed to be protecting our residents and upholding constitutional protections, but you’ve turned that on the head,” Jayapal told then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a March 4 hearing. “You have actually turned the United States government against its own residents.”

Homan insisted that ICE officers release people once authorities determine they are not subject to immigration enforcement.

“If ICE officers determine that someone is not the guy we’re looking for, you are released,” Homan said. “But we don’t deport U.S. citizens.”

Homan has emerged as one of the most visible defenders of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and has repeatedly advocated for tougher border enforcement and expanded interior immigration operations.

The Trump administration has pledged to sharply increase deportation efforts and boost arrests of undocumented immigrants across the country, arguing that stricter enforcement is necessary for public safety and border security.

Immigrant-rights organizations, however, have warned that broader enforcement actions increase the risk of mistaken detentions and racial profiling.

Federal immigration law generally requires officers to establish probable cause before making immigration-related arrests, although agents are permitted to briefly detain individuals for questioning while confirming identity and immigration status during enforcement operations.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have largely repaired their once-strained relationship following the bruising 2024 Republican presidential primary, even as tensions remain between DeSantis and some of Trump’s closest advisers, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

With DeSantis approaching the end of his second gubernatorial term next January, speculation is growing about his next political step. The Florida governor has not ruled out another White House bid in 2028, while rumors have also circulated about a possible role in the Trump administration, including a potential appointment as attorney general.

According to the Journal, some allies of DeSantis have even floated the possibility of him eventually being nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court if another vacancy opens on the bench.

“Who knows? Like, you never know,” he said during a roundtable interview at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles on May 4 when asked about a future presidential run.

“Who took a state that had more Democrats than Republicans by 300,000 when he got elected, and now has 1.5 million more Republicans? Who had a state that had a trillion-dollar economy and now has $1.8 trillion? Who has a state that had some school choice, now universal? A 50-year low in the crime rate?

“So, we’ve got a good story to tell,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis launched a campaign for president during the 2024 election cycle but withdrew after finishing well behind Trump in the Iowa caucuses.

Following the heated primary battle, however, relations between the two Republicans improved significantly. Trump has publicly referred to DeSantis as a friend and said the two men have “blood that seems to match pretty well.”

Despite the reconciliation between Trump and DeSantis, the governor’s relationship with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles reportedly remains badly damaged following a political split dating back to 2019.

Wiles, a veteran Republican strategist in Florida, had overseen DeSantis’ successful 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Their relationship later collapsed after DeSantis removed her from his political operation amid disputes tied to media leaks and negative stories concerning his administration.

Longtime Trump ally Roger Stone has also continued criticizing DeSantis, reportedly describing him as someone who cannot be trusted politically.

According to the Journal, Trump recently told an associate that he personally likes DeSantis and believes the governor has delivered politically for him in Florida.

Florida state Rep. Juan Carlos Porras characterized DeSantis’ recent activity as “political theater for a possible 2028 presidential run.”

DeSantis acknowledged to the newspaper that political fortunes can quickly shift, saying politics “is fickle” and that “things change.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani amid ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching an agreement to end the war involving Iran, according to the State Department.

In a statement released after the meeting, the State Department said Rubio thanked Qatar for its cooperation and partnership on multiple regional matters.

“The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed US support for Qatar’s defense, and the importance of continued close coordination to deter threats and promote stability and security across the Middle East.”

The State Department’s announcement came shortly after an Axios report revealed that Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff met with the Qatari premier in Miami as negotiations continue over a possible framework to end the conflict with Iran.

Axios, citing two sources familiar with the talks, reported that Qatar has emerged as a major intermediary between Washington and Tehran as both sides negotiate over a one-page memorandum intended to halt the fighting and open the door to more comprehensive negotiations.

As of Saturday afternoon, according to Axios, American officials were still waiting for Iran’s latest reply to the proposal.

The report added that although Pakistan has officially served as the mediator between the United States and Iran since the war began, Qatari officials have been heavily involved behind the scenes. U.S. officials reportedly view Doha as particularly effective in communicating with Iranian leaders.

Sources familiar with the discussions said Saturday’s meeting centered largely on efforts to finalize a memorandum of understanding that could formally end the war.

One source told Axios that Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are all coordinating diplomatic pressure in support of an agreement, saying, “The mediators are urging both parties to de-escalate and focus on getting a deal.”

Rubio said Friday that Washington was expecting a response from Tehran regarding the proposed negotiations and warned that any Iranian effort to interfere with shipping through a major international waterway would be considered “unacceptable.”

Later Friday, President Donald Trump told reporters that the administration was still awaiting Iran’s answer to the American proposal aimed at ending the war.

When asked whether he believed Iran was deliberately dragging out the process, Trump responded, “We’ll find out soon enough.”

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was still reviewing the American proposal and would announce its official position once internal deliberations were complete. He added that Iran would not allow outside deadlines or ultimatums to influence its decision-making process.

{Matzav.com}

Authorities investigating the deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to a South American cruise have identified the first known victim as Dutch ornithologist Leo Schilperoord, whose lifelong passion for birdwatching may have exposed him to the fatal virus.

Schilperoord, 70, and his wife, Mirjam Schilperoord, 69, had been traveling throughout South America for roughly five months before both became ill and died. The couple began their trip in Argentina on Nov. 27 before continuing through Chile and Uruguay and eventually returning to Argentina in late March for what became their final birdwatching excursion.

The Schilperoords, residents of the Dutch village of Haulerwijk, were identified through memorial notices published in their local community magazine.

The pair shared a longstanding interest in ornithology and had written together about pink-footed geese for the Dutch birding publication Het Vogeljaar in 1984. Over the years, they traveled extensively in pursuit of rare species, including what was described as an “unforgettable” private wildlife and birdwatching trip to Sri Lanka in 2013, during which they enthusiastically documented spotting the elusive Serendib Scops Owl.

After returning to Argentina on March 27, the couple visited a massive landfill located several miles outside the southern city of Ushuaia.

Though local residents largely avoid the garbage-strewn site, it has become a destination for international birdwatchers seeking sightings of the white-throated caracara, also known as Darwin’s caracara after Charles Darwin, who first collected the species.

Investigators in Argentina believe the couple may have contracted the virus there after inhaling contaminated particles from the droppings of long-tailed pygmy rice rats, known carriers of the Andes strain of hantavirus. That strain is considered especially dangerous because it is the only known form capable of spreading from person to person.

“It is common for birdwatchers to visit landfills because there are many birds there,” Gastón Bretti, a photographer and local guide told Ansa Latina.

“It’s a mountain of waste that today far exceeds the limit initially established by the authorities,” he said of the unsightly place.

On April 1, just days after the landfill visit, the couple boarded the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius in Ushuaia along with 112 other passengers, many of whom were scientists or birdwatchers.

Leo Schilperoord reportedly developed symptoms including fever, headaches, stomach pain, and diarrhea on April 6. He died aboard the vessel five days later.

Mirjam later disembarked from the ship together with her husband’s body during a scheduled stop at the Atlantic island of Saint Helena on April 24. She then traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa, where she attempted to board a KLM flight back to the Netherlands.

According to reports, airline personnel determined she was too ill to continue traveling and removed her from the flight. She collapsed at the airport and died the following day.

“Like birds in flight,” read one of the obituaries published in Dutch in the April issue of the Haulerwijk magazine. “We will miss you and the stories.”

Health officials are continuing to monitor potential exposure cases connected to the cruise. At least seven Americans who had traveled aboard the MV Hondius were reportedly on Mirjam Schilperoord’s April 25 Airlink flight to Johannesburg before returning to the United States, including two residents of New Jersey.

{Matzav.com}

Iran raised fresh doubts Saturday about the credibility of American diplomatic efforts following renewed naval confrontations in the Persian Gulf, while continuing to withhold a formal response to Washington’s latest ceasefire and negotiation proposal.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he expected Tehran’s answer to the latest American proposal for extending the fragile truce and beginning broader peace negotiations, saying the response was expected “supposedly tonight.”

As of Saturday, however, no public indication had emerged that Iran had delivered a reply through Pakistani mediators, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi openly questioned Washington’s commitment to diplomacy during a conversation with Turkey’s foreign minister.

“The recent escalation of tensions by American forces in the Persian Gulf and their numerous actions in violating the ceasefire have added to suspicions about the motivation and seriousness of the American side in the path of diplomacy,” he said, according to an Iranian account of the call published by the ISNA news agency.

The comments followed a confrontation Friday in which a U.S. warplane fired upon and disabled two Iranian-flagged oil tankers that American officials accused of violating the naval blockade surrounding Iranian ports.

An Iranian military official later told domestic media outlets that Iran’s navy had answered “to American terrorism with strikes” and that “the clashes have now ceased”.

The latest exchange came after another escalation overnight Thursday into Friday near the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic shipping route that Iran has sought to dominate in order to impose fees on foreign vessels and gain economic leverage over the United States and allied countries.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Friday that it was “unacceptable” for Tehran to control the vital oil corridor.

The United States has delivered a proposal to Iran through Pakistani intermediaries seeking to prolong the Gulf ceasefire and create space for negotiations aimed at ending the conflict that began 10 weeks ago following joint American-Israeli strikes against Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Friday that Tehran was still reviewing the proposal, according to ISNA.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also met Friday in Washington with Vice President JD Vance, where the two discussed Pakistan-led mediation efforts aimed at securing a long-term settlement.

Iran has targeted locations inside Qatar during the conflict, citing the country’s hosting of a major American military air base.

Meanwhile, satellite imagery revealed a growing oil slick near Iran’s Kharg Island, one of the Islamic Republic’s main oil export hubs.

The cause of the spill was not immediately known. Monitoring organization Orbital EOS estimated that the slick, located off the island’s western shoreline, stretched across more than 20 square miles.

A British-based environmental monitoring group, the Conflict and Environment Observatory, told AFP that by Saturday the spill had significantly diminished and may have originated from damaged oil infrastructure.

Kharg Island serves as a central pillar of Iran’s oil export economy and is located in the Persian Gulf north of the Strait of Hormuz.

After the war erupted on February 28, Iran largely shut down traffic through the strait, sending global energy markets into turmoil and sharply increasing oil prices. In response, the United States later established its own naval blockade targeting Iranian ports.

Trump announced Sunday that the U.S. military would launch a naval mission intended to reopen the waterway for commercial shipping, though he reversed course two days later and instead opted to pursue renewed diplomatic negotiations.

Sources in Saudi Arabia told AFP that Riyadh refused to allow American forces to use Saudi bases or airspace for the planned Hormuz operation. One source said Saudi leaders “felt it would just escalate the situation and would not work”.

At the same time, tensions are also resurfacing in Lebanon despite a recent ceasefire there.

Lebanese state media reported that three strikes hit areas south of Beirut on Saturday even though a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah has technically been in effect for three weeks.

An AFP journalist at the scene reported seeing two damaged vehicles along a highway connecting Beirut to southern Lebanon, about 20 kilometers from the capital, while emergency personnel responded nearby.

The attacks came ahead of planned direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon scheduled to take place next week in Washington. Hezbollah has strongly opposed the upcoming talks between the two countries, which have officially remained at war since 1948.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance held talks Friday in Washington with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani as Qatar intensifies its quiet diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran amid the ongoing regional conflict.

According to two sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to Axios, Qatar has been maintaining communication with senior commanders in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who are directly involved in Tehran’s wartime decision-making and negotiations with Washington.

While Pakistan has officially served as the primary intermediary between the United States and Iran since fighting erupted on February 28, Qatar has simultaneously continued its own behind-the-scenes mediation campaign.

American officials told Axios that the White House sees Qatar as particularly valuable and effective in communicating with Iranian leadership during the negotiations.

Qatari state media reported that Sheikh Mohammed told Vance of “the need for all parties to engage with the ongoing mediation efforts, to pave the way for addressing the root causes of the crisis through peaceful means and dialogue, leading to a comprehensive agreement that achieves lasting peace in the region.”

Axios reported that the Qatari prime minister traveled to Washington solely for the meeting with Vance before immediately returning to Doha afterward.

The White House is currently waiting for Tehran’s reply to a one-page memorandum of understanding that would formally end the current conflict and establish the basis for broader nuclear negotiations moving forward.

Qatar had also played a role in earlier diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran prior to the 12-day conflict in June 2025, when the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as well as before the latest round of fighting.

Although Oman officially hosted and mediated those negotiations, Axios reported that senior Qatari officials quietly participated in most sessions and assisted with the talks behind closed doors. Qatari representatives were also present during the final round of negotiations in Geneva shortly before the outbreak of hostilities.

Doha was similarly involved in diplomatic attempts to end the June fighting after Iran launched attacks against Qatar.

Qatar again came under attack during the current conflict. U.S. officials told Axios that Qatari forces intercepted Iranian fighter jets and later responded with strikes targeting Iranian positions.

At one stage, Qatar informed the United States that it intended to suspend its mediation role because of the Iranian attacks, according to a regional source cited by Axios. The source said Washington strongly encouraged Qatar to continue its involvement.

President Donald Trump also personally discussed the issue with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the source said.

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin projected confidence in Russia’s war effort in Ukraine today as he presided over the country’s annual Victory Day parade in Moscow, though this year’s event notably lacked the tanks and other heavy military hardware traditionally featured in the display.

The ceremony on Red Square marked the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and was held under heightened security amid fears that Ukraine could attempt to target the celebrations. Those concerns were eased somewhat by a temporary ceasefire brokered with U.S. involvement that reduced hostilities during the holiday period.

Putin, who has ruled Russia for more than 25 years, has long used Victory Day celebrations as both a patriotic rallying point and a showcase of Russian military strength. With the war in Ukraine now entering its fifth year, the Kremlin again tied the symbolism of World War II to the current conflict.

Addressing the crowd from Red Square, Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying they “face an aggressive force that is armed and supported by the entire bloc of NATO,” and are fighting for a “just cause.”

“Victory has always been and will be ours,” Putin said, as columns of troops lined up on Red Square. “The key to success is our moral strength, courage and valor, our unity and ability to endure anything and overcome any challenge.”

Unlike previous years, however, the parade did not feature the usual procession of tanks, missile launchers, and other large weapons systems. Aside from the customary military jet flyover, heavy equipment was absent from the event for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Russian officials attributed the change to the “current operational situation” and said the government had implemented expanded security precautions because of the possibility of Ukrainian attacks. Russian state television commentators also argued that military equipment was needed more urgently on the battlefield.

For the first time, soldiers from North Korea participated in the Victory Day festivities, reflecting Moscow’s appreciation for Pyongyang’s assistance during fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, where North Korean forces reportedly helped Russian troops repel a Ukrainian incursion.

Russia announced a unilateral ceasefire covering Friday and Saturday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had separately declared a truce beginning May 6. Both sides later accused one another of violating the ceasefire through continued attacks.

President Donald Trump said Friday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to his request for a temporary ceasefire lasting through Monday, along with a prisoner exchange. Trump suggested the pause in fighting could represent the “beginning of the end” of the war.

Earlier in the week, Zelenskyy remarked that Russian officials “fear drones may buzz over Red Square” during the Victory Day ceremonies. Following Trump’s announcement, the Ukrainian leader mockingly issued a decree formally allowing Russia to proceed with the May 9 celebration and temporarily exempting Red Square from Ukrainian strikes.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Zelenskyy’s move as a “silly joke.” “We don’t need anyone’s permission to be proud of our Victory Day,” Peskov told reporters.

Russia’s larger and better-armed military has continued to make gradual territorial advances along the sprawling front line stretching more than 1,000 kilometers. Ukraine, meanwhile, has intensified its long-range drone campaign against Russian targets, striking energy infrastructure, factories, and military depots deep inside Russian territory.

Kyiv has developed drones capable of traveling more than 1,000 kilometers into Russia, significantly expanding its strike capabilities compared to the early stages of the war.

Russian officials warned that any Ukrainian attempt to attack Saturday’s ceremonies would prompt severe retaliation. Moscow threatened a “massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv” if the festivities were disrupted.

The Russian Defense Ministry also urged civilians and foreign diplomatic staff in Kyiv to leave the city, warning of possible escalation. European Union officials responded by saying their diplomats would remain in the Ukrainian capital despite the threat.

Victory Day remains one of the most emotionally significant commemorations in Russia. The Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people during World War II — known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War — and the memory of that sacrifice continues to play a central role in Russian national identity.

“We celebrate it with feelings of pride and love for our country, with understanding of our shared duty to defend the interests and future of our Motherland,” Putin said at the parade.

“Our soldiers suffered colossal losses, made a colossal sacrifice in the name of freedom and dignity of the peoples of Europe, became the embodiment of courage and nobility, fortitude, and humanity, and crowned themselves with the great glory of a grandiose victory.”

Since 2008, Moscow’s Victory Day parades have regularly featured extensive displays of armored vehicles, missile systems, and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles. This year, however, many regional parades across Russia were reduced in size or canceled altogether because of security concerns.

Authorities also imposed broad restrictions on mobile internet access and text messaging services throughout Moscow on Saturday, citing public safety concerns. The measures come as the Russian government continues tightening online censorship and expanding control over digital communications.

Among the foreign dignitaries attending the event were Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin walls but did not attend the main military parade. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the trip, stating, “I deeply regret this, and we will discuss his visit to Moscow with him.”

During a Kremlin meeting with Putin, Fico criticized what he described as a new “Iron Curtain” across Europe that has disrupted trade and stressed Slovakia’s reliance on Russian energy resources. Putin praised Fico for pursuing what he described as a “sovereign” foreign policy and for honoring Soviet soldiers killed during World War II.

{Matzav.com}

Concerns are mounting among New York business leaders that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s aggressive rhetoric toward wealthy residents and major corporations could drive companies and jobs out of the city, potentially putting billions of dollars in economic activity at risk.

New figures obtained by The Post from the Partnership for New York City show that the organization’s 300 member firms in the corporate and financial sectors support nearly one million jobs across the city, contribute $13.5 billion annually in taxes, and generate roughly $370 billion in yearly economic output.

The analysis warns that even modest slowdowns in business growth could have severe financial consequences for the city, especially if wealthy residents and major employers begin relocating operations elsewhere amid fears of higher taxes and an increasingly hostile political climate.

“The numbers don’t lie,” said Steve Fulop, the business group’s president and CEO.

“New York’s private sector has invested billions and created hundreds of thousands of jobs. You can only treat job creators like the enemy for so long before they stop creating jobs here. The far left can run on socialism all day, but cities run on tax revenue — and tax revenue requires businesses that actually want to be here.”

Anxieties within the financial world intensified this week after billionaire hedge fund executive Ken Griffin announced that his firm, Citadel, would expand staffing in Miami instead of New York.

Griffin reportedly blamed the decision on Mamdani’s recent social media campaign promoting a tax on luxury second homes, during which the mayor highlighted Griffin’s $238 million penthouse apartment as an example of extreme wealth.

The backlash from Wall Street extended beyond Griffin. Financial executive Marc Rowan is also reportedly moving ahead with plans to establish a new major office hub for Apollo Global Management in either Florida or Texas, two states that have increasingly attracted businesses leaving New York.

Citadel and Apollo are both major players in New York’s financial industry, which according to the Partnership’s figures supports nearly 10% of all private-sector jobs in the city.

The report found that financial services led all industries in employment growth during 2025, posting a 3% increase.

If that pace continues, the Partnership estimates that its member firms alone could account for approximately 10,000 additional jobs, $8.4 billion in tax revenue, and $247 billion in GDP annually by 2030.

The study also warned that a relatively small reduction in growth — just 10% — could still result in the loss of about 3,000 jobs, a decline of $168 million in tax revenue, and a $4.8 billion reduction in GDP.

A more substantial business departure similar to Citadel’s widely publicized move out of Chicago could prove far more damaging, according to the analysis. Under a 30% contraction scenario, the city would lose more than 6,300 jobs, nearly $397 million in tax revenue, and roughly $11.7 billion in GDP.

The concerns come as New York faces growing pressure from a rapidly expanding municipal budget.

Mamdani has proposed a $127 billion city budget for the coming fiscal year and has advocated raising taxes on millionaires to help address a projected $5.4 billion deficit.

A former budget official who served during the administration of Michael Bloomberg said the city’s spending growth has significantly outpaced inflation, making New York especially vulnerable during economic downturns.

“If you are just raising taxes to fill a gap and doing nothing to close the gap, you are just going to raise taxes,” the official said.

The former official warned that higher taxes could encourage additional wealthy residents and companies to relocate operations outside New York.

“It’s a real death spiral,” the official said.

“Business leaders are just going to reallocate their workforce to Florida. That’s not a loss of a billionaire and their tax bill — it’s the workers and tens of millions of dollars.”

Tax Foundation senior fellow Jared Walczak said companies today are far less tied to one geographic location than they once were.

“It used to be that if you were finance, you had to be New York City, and that is not the case anymore,” he said.

“If they feel unwelcome or they are going to be an ongoing topic, that can easily push them elsewhere. They do not want to fight new proposals every year and be the solution to every revenue problem that can drive them elsewhere.”

Some political observers noted that fears surrounding progressive mayors have not always materialized. During his 2013 campaign, Bill de Blasio alarmed many business leaders with his “tale of two cities” messaging focused on income inequality.

Once in office, however, de Blasio often pursued policies aimed at encouraging economic development and maintaining relationships with the business community.

Political strategist Evan Roth Smith argued that Mamdani’s political rise was fueled more directly by criticism of wealthy individuals and corporations.

The mayor has mostly avoided public confrontations with wealthy New Yorkers during the current budget negotiations, Smith said, though he noted Mamdani’s clash with Griffin stood out.

“He should have picked someone who has a penthouse that doesn’t employ thousands of people,” the strategist said.

“I think the target was ill-advised. I think when it’s Zohran versus a rich guy who employs tens of thousands of people during a budget fight it’s a problem, but I think it goes to a draw.”

Smith predicted Mamdani would likely resume stronger anti-wealth rhetoric once budget negotiations conclude.

“Stuff like this is a winner for him and he’ll go back to it,” he said.

“I think the voters exist and they hate rich people.”

Representatives for the mayor’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Responding to the Partnership’s findings, a spokeswoman for Kathy Hochul emphasized the governor’s support for businesses of all sizes throughout New York.

“From local businesses to global corporations, every employer plays a crucial role in making New York City the best place for business, and Governor Hochul is proud to support them all,” spokeswoman Jen Goodman said in a statement.

“The Governor has held the line on income and corporate taxes while delivering unprecedented job growth, including doubling the national rate of private sector job creation in New York City, and remains committed to ensuring New York’s businesses continue to succeed.”

{Matzav.com}