Feed aggregator

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell: “Today the Federal Open Market Committee decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged.”

Federal authorities have placed the Border Patrol agents involved in the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti on administrative leave, according to information obtained by The Post, as investigations into the incident continue.

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security said the decision follows standard procedure whenever officers discharge their weapons during a deadly encounter.

According to a preliminary review released Tuesday by DHS, two federal immigration officers fired their weapons during a confrontation in Minneapolis over the weekend that ended with the death of Pretti, 37, after a struggle involving multiple agents.

Authorities have not publicly identified either of the officers involved in the shooting.

The review states that Customs and Border Protection officers attempted to arrest Pretti after he refused repeated orders to move out of the street. Pretti, who was carrying a loaded Sig Sauer pistol, “resisted,” and during the ensuing struggle a Border Patrol agent could be heard shouting, “He’s got a gun!”

Moments later, one Border Patrol agent opened fire on Pretti, followed shortly by a second CBP officer. Officials said video footage shows at least 10 shots being fired in total, though it remains unclear whether Pretti’s own firearm discharged during the incident.

Despite immediate medical assistance provided by the federal officers at the scene, Pretti was pronounced dead within about 30 minutes of the confrontation.

An autopsy is being conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office as part of the ongoing investigation.

DHS officials said the preliminary findings, which were compiled using body-worn camera footage and other CBP records, have been forwarded to congressional committees responsible for overseeing the department.

{Matzav.com}

The Federal Reserve pushed the pause button on its interest rate cuts Wednesday, leaving its key rate unchanged at about 3.6% after lowering it three times last year. The central bank said in a statement that there are signs the job market has stabilized while it also said growth was “solid,” an upgrade from last […]

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday her government has at least temporarily stopped oil shipments to Cuba, but struck an ambiguous tone, saying the pause was part of general fluctuations in oil supplies and that it was a “sovereign decision” not made under pressure from the United States. Sheinbaum was responding to inquiries on whether […]

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Wednesday after the mayor publicly rejected Trump’s call for the city to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, escalating tensions between the White House and Democratic-led sanctuary jurisdictions.

“Surprisingly, Mayor Jacob Frey just stated that, ‘Minneapolis does not, and will not, enforce Federal Immigration Laws,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This is after having had a very good conversation with him. ‘Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!’”

Frey responded about an hour later, defending Minneapolis’ policies and arguing that immigration enforcement should not be the responsibility of local police. “The job of our police is to keep people safe, not enforce fed immigration laws. I want them preventing homicides, not hunting down a working dad who contributes to MPLS & is from Ecuador. It’s similar to the policy your guy Rudy [Giuliani] had in NYC. Everyone should feel safe calling 911,” Frey wrote on X.

Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 in response to jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. So far, he has not taken that step in Minnesota or Minneapolis, which are governed by Democrats including Gov. Tim Walz, Mayor Frey, and Attorney General Keith Ellison.

The president’s latest comments followed Frey’s public rejection of several issues discussed during recent conversations with border czar Tom Homan regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the city. In a thread posted Tuesday night, Frey reiterated his stance while saying city officials would continue to engage with federal authorities. “I also made it clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe,” Frey wrote. “City leaders will continue to stay in conversation with Mr. Homan and his team.”

Earlier in that thread, Frey struck a more measured tone, describing meetings with federal officials as constructive while still pushing back on enforcement actions taking place in the city. “Today, Chief [Brian] O’Hara and I met with Border Czar Homan and had a productive conversation,” Frey wrote. “I reiterated that my main ask is for Operation Metro Surge to end as quickly as possible.”

He went on to argue that aggressive immigration tactics undermine public safety. “Public safety works best when it’s built on community trust, not tactics that create fear or division,” Frey wrote, adding that he conveyed to Homan “the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers.”

The clash between Frey and the Trump administration could eventually land before the Supreme Court, with broader implications for how immigration laws are enforced nationwide. As Minneapolis and other sanctuary jurisdictions maintain that ICE operations are solely a federal responsibility, and Trump suggests that refusal to assist may violate federal law, the dispute raises fundamental constitutional questions.

Legal analysts caution that the standoff could intensify into a major test of states’ rights versus presidential authority, potentially reshaping the boundaries of immigration enforcement in cities and states that openly resist cooperating with ICE.

{Matzav.com}

A powerful Shabbos experience focused on strengthening emunah and bitachon is set to take place this winter in New Jersey, bringing together leading rabbonim, gifted speakers, and families from across the region for an immersive, uplifting weekend.

The 5th Annual Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon will be held February 6–8 at The Westin Princeton, NJ, offering participants a rare opportunity to step away from the pressures of daily life and reconnect with clarity, purpose, and inner strength through Torah, tefillah, and meaningful human connection.

At the heart of the Shabbos is Rabbi Sholom M. Rubashkin, whose personal journey and teachings on faith and trust have inspired tens of thousands around the world. Throughout the Shabbos, Rabbi Rubashkin will deliver powerful addresses, lead spirited seud­os and oneg Shabbos, and engage in personal conversations with attendees. Special sessions for women will be presented by Rabbi Rubashkin together with Mrs. Rubashkin, offering depth, chizuk, and practical guidance.

The program features an exceptional lineup of singers and speakers, each bringing a unique voice and perspective to the themes of emunah and bitachon, including Avraham Fried, Rabbi Joey Haber, Rav Aharon Weinberg, Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Rabbi Shloime Taussig, and Rabbi Getzel Rubashkin. Together, they will create an atmosphere of inspiration that speaks to the heart and resonates long after Shabbos ends.

Beyond the powerful content, the Shabbos is designed as a complete experience. Guests will enjoy luxury accommodations and a five-star menu, creating an environment of menuchas hanefesh that allows participants to fully absorb the message of the weekend. Inspiring tefillos, warm communal moments, and carefully curated programming ensure that every aspect of Shabbos contributes to spiritual elevation.

The event is truly for the entire family. Alongside adult programming, there will be special sessions for teens, an exciting and meaningful kids’ program led by Rabbi Motty Zeiger, and babysitting for infants—making it possible for parents to participate fully while knowing their children are engaged and cared for.

Over the years, the Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon has earned a reputation as a life-changing experience for individuals and families alike. Many attendees describe leaving recharged, refocused, and better equipped to face life’s challenges with calm, confidence, and trust in Hashem.

Registration information and additional details are available at bitachonshabbos.com and alephbeisgimmel.com, or by calling or texting (732) 354-1496.

{Matzav.com}

In two separate incidents on Tuesday evening, IDF and police forces were deployed to the Yehudah Brigade area after an Israeli civilian was attacked in one area and clashes between Jews and Arabs broke out in another area. According to an IDF statement, a report was received in the evening about several Palestinians who attacked […]

The Palestinian Authority is still paying $2,000 a month to Ahlam Tamimi, the mastermind behind the Sbarro suicide bombing in Jerusalem in 2001 that killed 15 people, including eight children, Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday. “THIS IS PAY-FOR-SLAY,” the statement said. “The PA is still paying $2,000 a month to Ahlam Tamimi, the terrorist […]

BREAKING: The Federal Reserve on Wednesday kept interest rates unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75%, seeking to signal stability as the U.S. financial picture diverges sharply between a record-setting stock market and a weakening currency.

The acting head of the nation’s cyber defense agency uploaded sensitive government contracting materials into the public version of ChatGPT last summer, setting off multiple automated security alerts designed to prevent the loss or improper release of federal information, according to four officials at the Department of Homeland Security familiar with the matter. The incident was first reported by Politico.

The episode drew particular attention because Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala, who serves as acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, had personally sought and received special approval from CISA’s Office of the Chief Information Officer to access the AI tool shortly after he arrived at the agency in May, three of the officials said. At the time, the application remained blocked for other DHS employees.

The four officials said none of the materials uploaded were classified. However, they included CISA contracting records labeled “for official use only,” a designation applied to information considered sensitive and not intended for public dissemination. All four sources spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern for possible retaliation.

According to the officials, CISA’s cybersecurity monitoring systems detected the uploads in August. One source said there were several alerts during the first week of that month alone. Senior DHS leadership then launched an internal review to determine whether the disclosures posed any risk to government security, two of the officials said.

The outcome of that review has not been made public.

In a written statement, CISA Director of Public Affairs Marci McCarthy said Gottumukkala “was granted permission to use ChatGPT with DHS controls in place,” adding that “this use was short-term and limited.” McCarthy said the agency remains committed to “harnessing AI and other cutting-edge technologies to drive government modernization and deliver on” President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at removing barriers to American leadership in artificial intelligence.

Her statement also appeared to challenge the timeline cited by Politico, saying: “Acting Director Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala last used ChatGPT in mid-July 2025 under an authorized temporary exception granted to some employees. CISA’s security posture remains to block access to ChatGPT by default unless granted an exception.”

Gottumukkala is currently the highest-ranking political official at CISA, an agency responsible for defending federal networks from advanced cyber threats posed by hostile nation-states, including Russia and China.

Any information entered into the public version of ChatGPT is shared with its owner, OpenAI, meaning it can be used to help generate responses for other users. OpenAI has said the platform has more than 700 million active users worldwide.

By contrast, AI tools approved for DHS employees, including the department’s internally developed chatbot known as DHSChat, are configured to ensure that queries and documents remain within government systems and do not leave federal networks.

Gottumukkala “forced CISA’s hand into making them give him ChatGPT, and then he abused it,” said one of the officials.

Federal employees receive training on how to properly handle sensitive materials. DHS policy also requires security officials to examine the “cause and affect” of any exposure involving documents marked for official use and to determine the “appropriateness” of administrative or disciplinary steps. Depending on the findings, consequences can range from mandatory retraining or written warnings to more severe actions such as suspending or revoking a security clearance, one official said.

After the activity was detected, Gottumukkala met with senior DHS officials to review the materials he had uploaded to ChatGPT, according to two of the officials. DHS’s then-acting general counsel, Joseph Mazzara, participated in evaluating any potential harm to the department, one source said. DHS Chief Information Officer Antoine McCord was also involved, another official said.

The officials added that Gottumukkala also met in August with CISA’s chief information officer, Robert Costello, and its chief counsel, Spencer Fisher, to discuss the incident and proper handling of “for official use only” information.

Mazzara and Costello did not respond to requests for comment. McCord and Fisher could not be reached.

Gottumukkala has led CISA in an acting role since May, when DHS Secretary Kristi Noem appointed him deputy director. President Trump’s nominee to permanently head the agency, DHS special adviser Sean Plankey, was blocked last year by Sen. Rick Scott of Florida over a Coast Guard shipbuilding contract, and a new confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled.

His tenure has been marked by controversy, including prior security-related issues. Earlier this summer, at least six career employees were placed on leave after Gottumukkala failed a counterintelligence polygraph exam that he had requested, as Politico previously reported. DHS later described the test as “unsanctioned.” During congressional testimony last week, when asked by Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi whether he was “aware” of the failed exam, Gottumukkala twice responded that he did not “accept the premise of that characterization.”

Separately, Gottumukkala attempted last week to remove Costello from his post as CISA’s chief information officer, a move that was halted after other political appointees intervened.

{Matzav.com}

Democrats ran into a setback on Tuesday in Virginia to fight back against President Donald Trump’s congressional redistricting efforts, but they took a step forward in Maryland, though obstacles remain for enacting a new congressional map there. A Virginia judge ruled that a proposed constitutional amendment letting Democrats redraw the state’s Congressional maps was illegal, […]

Conservative media personality Megyn Kelly said she does not feel sympathy for Alex Pretti, the Minnesota man who was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent during a protest, arguing that his actions put him in danger.

“I know I’m supposed to feel sorry for Alex Pretti, but I don’t. I don’t. Do you know why I wasn’t shot by Border Patrol this weekend? Because I kept my …. inside and out of their operations.”

Kelly made the remarks while discussing the incident on her program, emphasizing that the situation could have been avoided.

“It’s very simple,” Kelly said during an episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show.”

She explained that even when people feel strongly about government actions, protests should not cross certain lines. “If I felt strongly enough about something the government was doing, that I would go out and protest, I would do it peacefully on the sidewalk without interfering via a whistle, via shouting, via my body, via any other way,” she added.

The shooting has drawn bipartisan concern, with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers calling for an independent review of the incident. The death marked the second fatal shooting involving a federal officer in Minneapolis this month.

Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino said Pretti approached officers while carrying a 9-millimeter handgun. However, video recorded by bystanders appears to challenge that account, showing the 37-year-old intensive care nurse holding a cellphone and assisting a woman who had been pepper-sprayed by a federal officer before Pretti himself was sprayed and forced to the ground.

None of the publicly released footage so far shows Pretti removing his legally carried firearm, for which he held a valid Minnesota permit. One video appears to show an officer removing the gun and walking away with it moments before shots were fired.

“If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli wrote in a statement on the social platform X.

That assertion was criticized by the National Rifle Association, which pushed back strongly.

“This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong,” the NRA wrote in a post addressing Essayli.

“Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens,” the group added.

Gun Owners of America also weighed in, saying the “Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting—a right the federal government must not infringe upon.”

Essayli later responded that GOA had misrepresented the intent of his remarks.

Kelly returned to the issue on Monday, cautioning protesters in Minnesota to avoid any actions that could be perceived as resistance during demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement. She warned that “if you do anything, anything that resembles resisting, you’re in serious trouble.”

{Matzav.com}

A young baal teshuva in Sunnyvale, California, was miraculously spared when a car crashed directly into his living room — just feet from where he had been sitting and bentching. The young man had recently become a baal teshuva and works at Google. He rents a townhouse in Sunnyvale and frequently comes to nearby Palo […]

BREAKING: The FBI is conducting a raid at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operations Center in Georgia.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that “many plates of poison” are coming from Iran, and that it is best to “burn the kitchen down” than simply “changing the menu,” amid the possibility of a looming US military strike on the Iranian regime.

His comments come as the United States is increasing its military presence in the region amid threats to attack Iran in the wake of the violent repression of anti-government protests there.

“Many plates of poison—Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis—are being served all out of the same kitchen, Tehran,” Huckabee said in conversation with JNS CEO Alex Traiman at the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem. “You can change the menu; better to burn the kitchen down and not let them serve those plates anymore.”

He said that Christians need to understand that they will be the next target of the Islamists.

“You have been the appetizer; we are the entrée,” he said.

Trump as the ‘ultimate pragmatist’

Huckabee said that he sees U.S. President Donald Trump as the “ultimate pragmatist,” who is “always thinking ‘will it work?’ ‘Will it make things better?’”

“He has been the most effective president in my lifetime and the most consequential when it comes to foreign policy,” he said.

Antisemitism on the left

The staunchly pro-Israel Baptist minister-turned ambassador said that the root of Jew hatred was spiritual at its core.

“If you don’t believe there is a God, or that you are your own God, or that the environment is your God, then your first target is naturally Jews,” said Huckabee. “When people hate God, they’re naturally going to hate the people who, throughout history, from the time on Mount Moriah right here in Jerusalem, represented those whom God first spoke to in a very personal and real way.”

“The root of Jew hatred is not political, not economic, but spiritual,” he said.

Antisemitism on the right

Huckabee, who has not shied away from denouncing antisemites on his own side of the political spectrum, such as conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, said that antisemitism on the right has “grown very rapidly because it is profitable.”

“It doesn’t make sense that a man in his 50s, whom I’ve known for years with a completely different worldview and base, suddenly flipped,” Huckabee said of Carlson. “What happened? I don’t know. Is it more profitable for him to do what he’s doing now than what he was doing when he was at Fox News? He wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t.”

Unique focus on antisemitism

No single president, either Democrat or Republican, has focused on antisemitism the way Trump has, said Huckabee, citing both Trump’s Jewish daughter and grandchildren and unflinching support for the State of Israel from his first term in office until today.

“Deep down, Trump believes if you bless Israel, you will be blessed; if you curse Israel, you will be cursed,” said Huckabee. JNS

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: Fox News reports that the FBI is executing a search warrant at a Fulton County election office in Georgia related to the 2020 election.

BREAKING: Federal agents involved in shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis placed on administrative leave.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced approval Tuesday for demonstrators who occupied the lobby of a Hilton hotel in Manhattan to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement, applauding both the protesters’ actions and the police response.

“Mayor Mamdani commends the protestors who exercised their right to protest against ICE today. As he has said, ICE is a rogue agency that has repeatedly carried out cruel, inhumane, and lawless raids and arrests of American citizens,” his spokesperson said. “The Mayor is also pleased with the NYPD’s response to the protest and that today’s demonstration concluded without violence.”

According to a local immigration advocacy group, roughly 70 people were arrested after protesters remained inside the Hilton hotel in Tribeca for close to an hour. Activists believe the hotel is currently housing ICE agents.

Police have not yet released an official tally of arrests from the demonstration.

The protest is part of a broader wave of activism, with organizers announcing additional “No Kings” demonstrations planned for March 28, fueled by anger over recent deadly encounters involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.

The Department of Homeland Security has previously criticized the Hilton brand after owners of a Minneapolis hotel canceled reservations for ICE personnel. Hilton later issued a statement saying such decisions were “not reflective of Hilton values of being welcoming to all.”

Authorities have not disclosed what charges, if any, the detained protesters may face. The NYPD told Nexstar’s WPIX that officers were first determining whether any of those arrested had outstanding warrants before proceeding with formal charges.

Tuesday’s protest followed the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents over the weekend. Pretti is the second person to be shot and killed by immigration officers in Minneapolis in recent days.

{Matzav.com}

Delivery platforms like Uber, DoorDash, and Grubhub must now display a tip option for customers before or at checkout, including a suggested tip of at least 10% or a custom amount option.

Sen. Chuck Schumer: “For the good of the country, Donald trump needs to fire Kristi Noem at once. Noem is a liar. Noem is incompetent at her job and she must go.”