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After more than forty years on Capitol Hill, Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer plans to step away from Congress, a decision he is set to make public on Thursday. His departure ends one of the longest tenures in the House, marked by leadership roles at the highest levels of the Democratic caucus and involvement in landmark legislation such as the Affordable Care Act.

Hoyer confirmed his plans in a conversation with The Washington Post, explaining that he did not want to remain in office beyond the point where he felt fully effective. “I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,” he told the Post.

At 86, Hoyer has been guarded in recent months about whether he would seek another term. His decision comes amid a broader generational shift among Democrats, with several long-serving lawmakers either drawing primary challenges from younger candidates or opting not to run again. Nancy Pelosi announced in October that she intends to retire when her current term ends.

Hoyer entered Congress in 1981 and steadily climbed the leadership ladder, ultimately becoming the second-ranking Democrat in the House under Speaker Nancy Pelosi. His district spans from suburbs east of Washington, D.C., down into southern Maryland, and has long been considered safely Democratic.

Although Hoyer and Pelosi are now closely associated as a leadership team, their relationship was not always smooth. The two first crossed paths as congressional interns in the 1960s and later became rivals within the party. After Pelosi defeated Hoyer in a 2001 contest for a top leadership slot, the pair eventually forged a durable partnership that guided House Democrats for years.

Within that partnership, the two leaders were seen as complementary figures. Pelosi was widely viewed as an ideological standard-bearer and prolific fundraiser, while Hoyer built a reputation for cultivating relationships, both within his party and with Republicans, skills that made him an effective manager of floor strategy.

Following Democrats’ loss of the House in the 2022 midterms, Hoyer relinquished his leadership post as part of a wider reshuffling but chose to remain in Congress. He later returned to prominence by securing a senior position on the House Appropriations Committee.

In terms of longevity, only two current House members — Republicans Hal Rogers of Kentucky and Chris Smith of New Jersey — have slightly longer records of service, and even they exceed Hoyer’s tenure by only a matter of months.

Reflecting on his career and his rivalry-turned-alliance with Pelosi, Hoyer offered high praise for his longtime colleague, describing her as “tough-as-nails.” He also addressed the leadership ambitions he once held, saying, “Sure, I would have loved to have been speaker. Who wouldn’t love to be speaker? But they’re not deep regrets.”

With Hoyer’s exit, his solidly Democratic seat is expected to draw intense interest. One contender, Harry Jarin, has already entered the race after launching a primary challenge in May that explicitly focused on Hoyer’s age, a sign of the competitive contest likely to unfold once the seat opens.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of angry farmers demonstrated in France and Greece Thursday, halting traffic and blocking key roads with tractors to protest European Union plans to move forward with a free trade deal with five South American nations. Farmers drove about a hundred tractors into Paris and gathered in front of France’s powerful lower house of parliament, the National […]

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Chen Zhi boasted of pulling in $30 million a day, prosecutors in the United States said — a suspected criminal mastermind and onetime internet cafe manager who authorities say presented himself as a legitimate businessman. But in reality, they say, he ran online gambling sites, scams and other illegal businesses from a sprawling headquarters along the […]

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum ordering the withdrawal of U.S. support for 66 organizations, agencies, and commissions, including 31 UN organizations. Many of the organizations are designated to “woke” or “diversity-related” issues, such as the UN Forum on People of African Descent and the UN treaty that establishes international climate negotiations “The […]

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Undercover officers from the Yaffo police district overnight Wednesday arrested an illegal infiltrator from Chevron who posed as a Walt delivery courier and tore down and stole dozens of mezuzahs from many buildings in the Yaffo and Bat Yam area. Over the past month, the police emergency center received numerous reports of the theft of […]

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Shas MK Yoni Mashriki sent a letter to Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Wednesday decrying the conditions that some Chareidi detainees are being held in at Prison 10, with their most basic nutritional needs and religious rights neglected. MK Mashriki visited the prison on Tuesday and met with three yeshiva bochurim who raised serious complaints […]

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced that his government will establish a royal commission into the Bondi Beach massacre that will also examine antisemitism in the country. Albanese, who initially expressed strong opposition to the establishment of a royal commission, caved into heavy pressure and scathing criticism of his lack of response to […]

A disturbing investigative report has revealed that a Jewish infant from Israel is currently living among ISIS terrorists in Syria after his mother was allegedly drawn into radical Islamist circles, converted to Islam, and left Israel with her husband, who later became involved with the terror organization.

According to the investigation, the woman—an Israeli Jew whose identity has not been released due to privacy concerns—underwent a conversion to Islam in 2013. The process reportedly took place at an office connected to radical Islamic figures on the Har Habayis and was facilitated by Sheikh Rassan Atamneh, one of the founders of the Dar al-Salam Islamic Center in Kafr Qara, who has since passed away.

Following her conversion, the woman married Salah al-Din Mahamid, a young schoolteacher from Kafr Qara. In 2014, shortly after their wedding and while his wife was nearing childbirth, Mahamid was arrested by Israeli authorities on suspicion of involvement with ISIS. At the time, his attorney claimed he was a normative individual from a respected family who had only recently begun working in education. After several days in detention, he was released.

Sometime later, the couple left Israel, traveling through Turkey and eventually entering Syria. According to materials uncovered in the investigation, Mahamid joined ISIS after arriving in Syria. Documents and communications sent from the region reportedly indicated his active involvement with the terror group, along with chilling references to the fate of his family—including the child born to the couple, who is considered fully Jewish according to halacha.

Investigators also located the woman’s certificate of conversion to Islam. Rumors circulating in the Wadi Ara area suggest that Mahamid was killed during fighting in Syria, but repeated efforts to verify these claims and to determine the current status of the woman and her child have so far yielded no definitive information.

“This is one of the most extreme and painful cases we have encountered,” said Elchanan Groner, an activist and reporter for Hakol Hayehudi. “It demonstrates how an ideological process that may begin on the margins can end with joining a murderous terror organization and the complete disappearance of a family.”

The affair was exposed in an investigative report recently broadcast on Channel 14. Additional details are expected to be published regarding the activities of the Islamic center involved and other individuals connected to the case.

The revelations raise serious questions about oversight, responsibility, and the devastating human cost of religious and ideological radicalization—particularly when it places Jewish lives, including that of an innocent child, in grave danger within ISIS-controlled territory in Syria.

{Matzav.com}

Following a recent phone conversation with Colombia’s president, President Trump said preparations are underway for an in-person meeting at the White House, signaling a possible reset in talks after a period of sharp public criticism.

Trump disclosed the call on Wednesday, saying Colombian President Gustavo Petro reached out to discuss ongoing tensions, including disputes related to narcotics trafficking. According to Trump, the exchange struck a constructive tone and opened the door to further dialogue in Washington.

“It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said the discussion left him optimistic about next steps and confirmed that diplomatic channels are already coordinating the visit. “I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future,” the president added. “Arrangements are being made between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Foreign Minister of Colombia.

“The meeting will take place in the White House in Washington, D.C.”

The planned meeting comes against the backdrop of Trump’s longstanding and blunt accusations against Petro. Trump has previously claimed that the Colombian leader is tied to cocaine production and export operations that funnel drugs into the United States.

Those allegations were reiterated earlier this month following a Jan. 3 military operation aimed at capturing and removing Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro, after which Trump warned that Petro could face scrutiny as well.

“He has cocaine mills, he has factories where he makes cocaine. And yeah, I think I stick by my first statement: He’s making cocaine,” Trump said of Petro, during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump went on to claim that drugs originating in Colombia are being trafficked northward. “They’re sending it to the United States. So he does have to watch [him]…,” the president added.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Trump’s latest remarks suggest that both sides are now moving toward direct engagement, with the White House meeting expected to address the disputes that have fueled tensions between Washington and Bogotá.

{Matzav.com}

A tense incident unfolded Wednesday afternoon at a shopping mall in Beit Shemesh, when a three-year-old girl’s leg became trapped in an escalator at the Kenyon Hashedra.

Emergency crews from the Beit Shemesh fire and rescue station were dispatched after reports that the child’s leg had been caught in the escalator’s mechanical system. Firefighters worked carefully using specialized tools, carrying out a delicate and complex rescue operation.

Within a short time, the teams succeeded in freeing the child safely. Medical personnel examined her at the scene, and authorities confirmed that she was not in any danger.

Fire and rescue officials noted that this was the second such incident at the same mall and on the same escalator within the past month. In light of the recurring accidents, they again emphasized safety guidelines, urging parents not to allow children to use escalators without close adult supervision.

{Matzav.com}

A new analysis of airline water systems is raising concerns about what passengers may be drinking in the air, with researchers advising travelers to avoid tap water on planes and opt instead for sealed bottled beverages.

The review, conducted by the nonprofit Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity, examined more than 35,000 water samples collected over a three-year period from 10 major airlines and 11 regional carriers. Based on its findings, the group also recommends skipping coffee and tea made onboard and avoiding washing hands with aircraft sink water, suggesting the use of hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol instead.

While water quality is not typically top of mind for most travelers, the organization said it remains an “important public health consideration.” The group warned that consuming contaminated aircraft water can expose passengers to pathogens and lead to gastrointestinal illness.

Among the largest U.S. airlines reviewed, Delta and Frontier received the highest marks, each earning an “A” grade. At the other end of the spectrum, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit were all assigned “D” ratings based on the study’s scoring system.

The findings showed that 2.7% of the samples tested positive for total coliform bacteria, a category of microorganisms commonly found in the digestive systems of humans and animals, as well as in soil and vegetation. According to the researchers, such results are used as an indicator of broader contamination risks.

“Testing for coliform bacteria is important because their presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the water system,” the Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity said in its report.

The study also detected E. coli on 32 occasions across the 21 airlines evaluated.

U.S. carriers with onboard drinking water systems are subject to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, known as the ADWR, which has been in place since 2011. The regulation requires airlines to routinely test for coliform bacteria and potential E. coli contamination, as well as to disinfect and flush each aircraft’s water tanks four times annually. The researchers noted, however, that the EPA rarely issues civil penalties to airlines found to be out of compliance.

Several airlines responded to the report. American Airlines said it is reviewing the findings and emphasized that its water program meets federal standards.

“American’s potable water program is fully in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR),” the airline told CBS News. “A recent EPA audit showed there were no significant findings with our program, and we have not received any violations for any potable water cabinets or trucks that we use.”

JetBlue said it follows guidance from multiple federal agencies, including the EPA, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration, and noted that it provides bottled water to passengers. Spirit said it maintains a testing and maintenance program that complies with EPA requirements.

“The well-being and comfort of our guests is very important to us,” the company told CBS News in a statement. “Our data shows we have made progress in this area in recent years, and we continue to evaluate and refine our procedures as necessary.”

Southwest Airlines, which received a “C” grade, said it regularly inspects onboard water quality, adheres to EPA standards, and sources water from local municipal systems that already meet public health requirements.

On its website, the Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity describes its mission as “creating a more equitable food system that will improve health outcomes.”

The study ranked airlines using a five-point scale, with deductions for violations such as contaminated water samples.

Major airlines, ranked best to worst:

1. Delta Air Lines Incorporated (5.00, Grade A)

2. Frontier Airlines Incorporated (4.80, Grade A)

3. Alaska Airlines Incorporated (3.85, Grade B)

4. Allegiant Air Limited Liability Company (3.65, Grade B)

5. Southwest Airlines Company (3.30, Grade C)

6. Hawaiian Airlines Incorporated (3.15, Grade C)

7. United Airlines Incorporated (2.70, Grade C)

8. Spirit Airlines Incorporated (2.05, Grade D)

9. JetBlue Airways Corporation (1.80, Grade D)

10. American Airlines Incorporated (1.75, Grade D)

Regional airlines, ranked best to worst:

1. GoJet Airlines Limited Liability Company (3.85, Grade B)

2. Piedmont Airlines Incorporated (3.05, Grade C)

3. Sun Country Airlines (3.00, Grade C)

4. Endeavor Air Incorporated (2.95, Grade C)

5. SkyWest Airlines Incorporated (2.40, Grade D)

6. Envoy Air Incorporated (2.30, Grade D)

7. PSA Airlines Incorporated (2.25, Grade D)

8. Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation (2.15, Grade D)

9. Republic Airways Incorporated (2.05, Grade D)

10. CommuteAir Limited Liability Company (1.60, Grade D)

11. Mesa Airlines Incorporated (1.35, Grade F)

Airlines for America, the industry trade group, said U.S. carriers comply with federal requirements governing onboard water systems.

“The top priority of the airline industry is the safety of all passengers and crew members,” the group said in a statement to CBS News. “U.S. airlines follow the guidelines of several government agencies — the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocols for testing drinking water, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements to routinely check water systems and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements applicable to water systems — to ensure the water onboard an aircraft is safe and reliable for consumption.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky made clear Wednesday that he intends to oppose any effort by the Trump administration to use force in connection with Greenland, saying such a step would not be acceptable under any circumstances. Speaking on CBS Mornings, Paul said he would actively work to prevent a military scenario involving the territory.

During the interview, CBS Mornings co-host Vladimir Duthiers pressed Paul on comments coming from the White House. Duthiers said, “Senator, the president of the United States has said that the United States needs to acquire Greenland for national security reasons.The president’s press secretary says that the president and his team are discussing a range of options. And I’m quoting her here. Caroline Leavitt to CBS news. Utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal. That is a close quote from Caroline Leavitt. My question to you, sir, is do you imagine a scenario where young American soldiers, airmen, Guardsmen, Marines are actually training a weapon on a NATO ally of the United States?”

Paul responded by saying that such a situation would be unprecedented and unacceptable. “We’ve never been in a position, to my recollection, or to my knowledge of something like that. What would you say to the president’s team, when they talk about acquiring Greenland, even though Marco Rubio has told, other members of the Gang of Eight that, the president wants to buy Greenland. But using military forces, Caroline Leavitt says, is clearly an option on the table and won’t happen under my watch.”

The senator went on to argue that if the United States were to pursue Greenland at all, it would have to be done through diplomacy and consent, not force. “I will do everything to stop any kind of military takeover of Greenland. What I can tell you, though, is if you want to purchase Greenland, the best way would be to try to have goodwill with the people. So first, it would probably require a vote of the people to be independent of Denmark, which I think the people of Greenland are inclined to do. And then it would have to be some sort of offer of something that makes it better to be part of the United States. We have acquired territory. I mean, half the United States came to us through the Louisiana Purchase. Alaska came to us through a purchase. But you didn’t get to those purchases. Like any deal or diplomacy, by insulting your opponent, you get there by actually, trying to please and get your opponent to agree to this because it would have to be done voluntarily. So I see no scenario in which militarily I or really for that matter, any of my colleagues in the Senate would support a military takeover of Greenland.”

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A federal inquiry is now underway into the movement of hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. currency that for years passed through Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport packed inside passenger luggage on outbound international flights.

According to accounts from airport personnel, travelers departing Minnesota legally transported enormous sums of cash—often totaling $1 million or more per bag—to Somalia and other destinations in Africa and the Middle East. Transportation Security Administration agents reportedly documented the discoveries and escalated them internally after encountering the money during routine screening.

Despite repeated alerts by TSA staff, officials during Joe Biden’s administration took no action to examine or halt the transfers, witnesses say, even as the scale of the cash shipments continued to grow.

A former TSA agent, now acting as a whistleblower, said she personally observed numerous suitcases crammed with U.S. currency moving through the Minneapolis airport without obstruction. “I saw suitcases filled with millions of dollars of cash and the couriers were always Somali men traveling in pairs and they got through the checkpoint. And it just — it just really absolutely blew my mind,” she said.

Concern over the reports has drawn congressional attention. Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane reacted sharply after TSA warnings about cash-filled bags were highlighted in a social media post by Libs of TikTok. Crane said Congress must scrutinize how such vast sums were able to leave the country unchecked.

Crane has also pressed Minnesota officials in recent hearings, questioning them about money flows from Somali migrant communities in the state to the Africa-based terrorist organization Al Shabab.

Reporting by Just the News indicates that the appearance of these cash-laden bags at U.S. airports began after Democrat Tim Walz took office as Minnesota’s governor in 2018. The outlet detailed the scale of the transfers, noting, “Minneapolis travelers alone had $342.37 million in their luggage in 2024 and $349.4 million in 2025, and the totals nationwide are likely to be much higher,” Just the News reported.

Sources familiar with the matter say TSA agents consistently flagged the unusual cash loads, but no investigation was opened at the time, allowing the shipments to continue uninterrupted until federal officials recently moved to examine the long-standing practice.

A new push from President Donald Trump aims to curb the growing role of large corporate investors in the U.S. housing market, with the stated goal of preserving homeownership opportunities for American families.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said he is taking steps to stop corporations and large institutional investors from purchasing additional single-family homes, a practice that has expanded rapidly in recent years and has been blamed by many analysts for worsening affordability and straining neighborhoods.

Trump also urged lawmakers to turn the policy into permanent law, arguing that congressional action is needed to ensure future administrations cannot reverse the restriction and reopen the market to large-scale investors.

“For a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream. It was the reward for working hard, and doing the right thing,” Trump wrote in the post, “but now, because of the Record High Inflation caused by Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, that American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans.”

He expanded on that position in the same post, writing:
“It is for that reason, and much more, that I am immediately taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes, and I will be calling on Congress to codify it. People live in homes, not corporations. I will discuss this topic, including further Housing and Affordability proposals, and more, at my speech in Davos in two weeks.”

Recent data highlight the scale of investor activity in the housing market. In one quarter last year alone, investors bought more than 345,000 homes nationwide, accounting for roughly one-third of all residential purchases during that period.

In certain regions, the concentration is even higher. Following last year’s wildfires in parts of Los Angeles County, California, real estate figures show that investors are purchasing close to 40 percent of available properties, as many homeowners struggle to afford rebuilding costs.

Academic research has also pointed to long-term community effects. A study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business examined property and neighborhood records in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and found that institutional investors acquired nearly seven percent of all single-family homes sold there between 2011 and 2021.

According to the researchers, the trend carries broad negative consequences for neighborhoods, from stability to overall quality of life.

“When institutional investors start purchasing at this scale, the effects really start to compound, leading to broader declines in these neighborhoods. As these areas grow and become more concentrated with investor-owned properties, the overall decline becomes even more noticeable,” said Stephen Billings, the study’s lead author.

He added that frequent turnover and absentee ownership alter the fabric of communities. “It’s not surprising that the character of the community changes,” Billings said. “When people are constantly moving in and out, it’s hard to expect anyone to truly invest in the long-term well-being of the neighborhood.”

{Matzav.com}

A healthy two-month-old infant has died of influenza, the Israel Ministry of Health reported Wednesday, marking the sixth pediatric death linked to the flu this year. The infant, a resident of northern Israel, was too young to receive a flu vaccination. “Even though at this age a child cannot be vaccinated, vaccination of the people […]

An anti-Zionist activist group that has previously drawn condemnation for protests outside shuls abruptly canceled a planned demonstration Wednesday evening targeting an Israel-related immigration event in New York City. The group, Pal-Awda, announced earlier this week that it intended to protest a Nefesh B’Nefesh event scheduled for Wednesday night, but did not disclose the location. […]