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President Trump announced Thursday that he has directed the U.S. Navy to use lethal force against any Iranian vessels attempting to deploy naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a sharper military stance even as a fragile cease-fire remains in place.

“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat — small boats though they may be — that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “There is to be no hesitation.”

“Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now,” he added. “I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled-up level!”

The announcement followed confirmation earlier in the day from the War Department that U.S. forces had seized a tanker in the Indian Ocean carrying Iranian oil in violation of sanctions, marking the second such interception in recent days.

These developments place additional strain on a cease-fire that has already been extended multiple times in an effort to stop weeks of hostilities between the United States and Iran, including military strikes and disruptions to key shipping routes.

Trump most recently renewed the truce on Tuesday, stating that it would remain in effect while Iran prepares a “unified” proposal ahead of a planned second round of negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Despite the extension, tensions have remained high.

Vessels linked to Iran and its proxy forces have repeatedly posed threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil transport, using naval mines and fast attack boats to harass and damage passing tankers.

Separately, a report on Thursday indicated that British military divers are preparing to carry out mine-clearing operations in the strait as part of a possible multinational initiative. According to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense, Royal Navy personnel trained in explosive ordnance disposal are ready to deploy alongside advanced unmanned mine-detection systems.

European nations, including the United Kingdom, have been discussing a broader coalition effort for weeks aimed at securing the waterway and ensuring safe passage for commercial vessels, though those plans have yet to be fully implemented.

In the meantime, the United States has intensified its maritime enforcement operations, targeting vessels suspected of helping Iran evade sanctions as part of a wider effort to cut off financial support for its military activities.

Diplomatic efforts remain uncertain, with negotiations aimed at reducing tensions encountering setbacks, as Iranian officials have at times declined to engage even as U.S. representatives continue to press for renewed talks.

Trump’s latest directive underscores a more aggressive approach at sea, one that could either push Iran toward negotiations or further strain the already delicate cease-fire.

Speaking to The New York Post on Wednesday, the president said that “it’s possible” new developments regarding talks with Iran could emerge as soon as Friday.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has privately told associates that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing for a position in his administration, including the possibility of serving as attorney general, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversations, Axios reports.

Sources said DeSantis has also shown interest in other high-level roles, including secretary of defense and even a future nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, based on discussions relayed by several individuals briefed on the matter.

With his second term as governor set to end in January, DeSantis has been exploring his next move, one source said, noting that Trump appears open to assisting the former rival who has since rebuilt ties with him.

The topic of DeSantis’ future reportedly came up during a recent lunch between the two at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami.

“Ron was begging me to be AG,” Trump told one confidant, who relayed the remark to Axios.

Another source described the exchange more cautiously, saying, “There was a conversation at that lunch. I don’t think AG is real. But he’s gonna be looking for work and Trump likes him.”

Talks between Trump and DeSantis have intensified in recent weeks following changes within the administration, including the removal of Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary and Pam Bondi as attorney general.

In the interim, Todd Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney and held the No. 2 position at the Justice Department under Bondi, has taken over as acting attorney general.

One adviser said Trump is looking for Blanche to pursue charges against several political opponents as part of a case referred to as the “Grand Conspiracy,” which is being handled by the Justice Department’s Southern District of Florida.

“Todd has about 90 days to show what he can do,” that adviser said.

The White House declined to comment on the reports. A spokesperson for DeSantis, Alex Lanfranconi, responded by emphasizing the governor’s relationship with Trump, saying he “enjoys a great relationship with President Trump.”

“Some in the media prefer to focus on fake rumors rather than the many accomplishments of Florida’s partnership with the Trump administration,” he added.

“The governor looks forward to continuing to work with President Trump on enforcing immigration laws, restoring the Everglades, and helping to reform college athletics.”

According to sources, DeSantis first raised the idea of a future appointment with Trump last year after the election.

At that time, Trump was considering naming DeSantis as defense secretary but ultimately selected Pete Hegseth, who had been a commentator on Fox News.

Even so, sources indicated that DeSantis could still be a strong candidate for the role if it becomes vacant, though Hegseth currently remains in good standing with the president.

“DeSantis is 100% not interested in the AG job, but he would be interested in two things: War secretary or Supreme Court, which would be his dream job,” said another source familiar with the discussions.

That same source added that DeSantis has a close relationship with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, saying the two “almost have a father-son relationship and would be a hell of a legacy for Trump.”

DeSantis previously ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, in a contest that was marked by sharp exchanges, even as many figures in Trump’s orbit remain skeptical of the Florida governor.

“Bygones are bygones,” said one Trump adviser. “But that doesn’t mean people forget.”

Another adviser was more blunt, saying, “There’s a big reason the president wouldn’t pick Ron to be his attorney general: There’s a way-too-high chance he would try to f*ck the president over.”

“Trump needs someone at Justice he absolutely trusts. But the Defense Department or Supreme Court or something else? Sure.”

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that California cannot enforce a law requiring federal immigration agents to reveal their identities while on duty, preventing the measure from taking effect.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals determined that a key provision of California’s No Vigilantes Act—mandating visible identification for federal officers, including those with Immigration and Customs Enforcement—conflicts with the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. The legislation had cleared both houses of the state legislature and was signed into law by Gavin Newsom in September 2025.

In its opinion, the court stated, “We conclude that § 10 of the No Vigilantes Act attempts to directly regulate the United States in its performance of governmental functions,” The court’s opinion, authored by Trump-appointed Judge Mark Bennett, read in part. “The Supremacy Clause forbids the State from enforcing such legislation.”

The disputed section of the law required officers to display identification indicating their agency affiliation along with either their name or badge number. It excluded undercover personnel and those operating under specific conditions, and classified noncompliance as a misdemeanor.

Expanding on its reasoning, the court added, “Section 10 of the No Vigilantes Act attempts to directly regulate the federal government in its performance of law enforcement operations. It expressly applies to federal officers,” the ruling continued. “It seeks to control their conduct in performing law enforcement operations.”

Reacting to the decision, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli praised the outcome, writing on X, “Huge legal victory this morning in the Ninth Circuit, where the court permanently enjoined California’s unconstitutional mask law targeting federal agents.”

California has been a focal point of efforts to restrict ICE enforcement activity, as well as large-scale protests, including demonstrations that swept Los Angeles last summer. In October 2025, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of ten individuals accused of assaulting law enforcement during a chaotic anti-ICE protest at a marijuana farm in the state.

At the federal level, Democratic lawmakers have also sought broader reforms. In July 2025, legislation was introduced to require federal agents nationwide to operate without masks, led by Sens. Cory Booker and Alex Padilla. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security remains shut down amid ongoing disputes in the Senate over proposed changes to ICE operations, including mandates for body cameras and restrictions on face coverings.

Yarden Bibas, whose wife and two young sons were murdered while in Hamas captivity, published a deeply emotional message on Wednesday night addressed to his family, expressing grief and longing following his return from captivity without them.

In the post, Bibas turned directly to his wife Shiri and their children Ariel and Kfir, who were killed during their time in captivity. The message, shared on social media, reflects the anguish of a father and husband grappling with devastating loss after months of isolation under harsh conditions.

“We moved to the Golan like we wanted… but you are missing every second. I feel so alone without you,” Bibas wrote, describing the painful reality of returning to a life without his family.

He continued with a line that captured the depth of his sorrow: “I also died that day, but only you stopped breathing. The fact that I am here and you are not – that is what hurts me the most.”

Bibas went on to describe how, in his darkest moments, he looks upward in search of connection to his loved ones. “I look to the sky and search for my three stars – Shiri, Ariel and Kfir,” he concluded.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Iran’s seizure of two vessels does not constitute a violation of the ceasefire, emphasizing that the ships were neither American nor Israeli.

Speaking during an appearance on The Story on Fox News, Leavitt addressed questions raised by host Martha MacCallum regarding the incident.

MacCallum asked, “I want to ask you about these ships that Iran seized. We’re continuing to get reporting on this. Does the seizure of two ships — as we said, they were Greek and Mediterranean-owned ships with cargo on them, and the reports are that Iran basically seized them and then moved them into Iranian waters. We don’t know what’s going to happen to these crews. We’re not sure where all of this is going. Does the president view that as a violation of the ceasefire?”

Leavitt responded by rejecting that characterization, stating, “No, because these were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels. And for the American media, who [are] sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president’s facts that he has completely obliterated Iran’s conventional Navy, these two ships were taken by speedy gunboats. Iran has gone from having the most lethal Navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates. They don’t have control over the strait. This is piracy that we are seeing on display. And the naval blockade that the United States has imposed continues to be incredibly effective. And, to be clear, the blockade is on ships going to and from Iranian ports. And the point of this is the economic leverage that we maintain over Iran now. While there’s a ceasefire with respect to the military and kinetic strikes, Operation Economic Fury continues, and the crux of that is this naval blockade.”

A report showing the efficacy of the covid-19 vaccine that was previously delayed by the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been blocked from being published in the agency’s flagship scientific journal, according to three people familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. The report showed that the vaccine reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by about half this past winter.

The move, which has not been previously reported, has raised concerns among current and former officials that information about the vaccine’s benefits is being downplayed because it conflicts with the views of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been an outspoken critic of the shots. Kennedy’s vaccine agenda has received pointed questioning from lawmakers during budget hearings that began last week and conclude Wednesday.

The Washington Post reported two weeks ago that Jay Bhattacharya, who is temporarily overseeing the CDC, delayed publication of the report over concerns about methodology. The report had been scheduled for publication March 19 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

In recent days, a decision was made that the report would not be published, according to two of the people who spoke to The Post.

Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, confirmed the delay two weeks ago. At that time, he said it was “routine for CDC leadership to review and flag concerns about MMWR papers, especially relating to their methodology, leading up to planned publication.” Nixon said that Bhattacharya had raised concerns about “the observational method used in the study to calculate vaccine effectiveness” and that the scientific team was working to address them.

Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, is leading the CDC while Erica Schwartz, a top health official during President Donald Trump’s first term, awaits Senate confirmation.

On Tuesday, Nixon described the decision differently: “The MMWR’s editorial assessment identified concerns regarding the methodological approach to estimating vaccine effectiveness and the manuscript was not accepted for publication,” a characterization that differs from accounts by people familiar with the report’s review.

The report is gaining attention at a delicate political moment: The Trump administration has sought to soften its public posture on controversial vaccine actions ahead of the midterm elections. GOP pollsters have warned of the political risks of vaccine skepticism, and many voters oppose Kennedy’s efforts to roll back vaccine policies. Publishing findings showing the vaccine’s effectiveness would be at odds with the administration’s moves to restrict its use, particularly for children, former CDC officials say.

The report had cleared the agency’s scientific-review process, which includes dozens of scientists, according to two of the three people who spoke to The Post. Stopping an MMWR report at that stage is highly unusual, former CDC officials say.

“I cannot recall CDC stopping an MMWR report in the publication phase after scientific clearance and editorial review. On rare occasions we shifted the timing slightly to better align communications plans with competing or reinforcing pieces,” said Michael Iademarco, who was the director of the CDC center with oversight of the MMWR from 2014 to 2022.

Bhattacharya had concerns about a methodology that has long been used by the CDC to evaluate vaccine effectiveness for respiratory viruses, including influenza. A report about flu vaccine effectiveness this past winter – using the same methodology – was published in the MMWR a week earlier. An HHS official had previously said Bhattacharya was not in a position to review the earlier study and would have raised the same concerns.

A report using this methodology to gauge covid vaccine effectiveness in children was published in MMWR in December.

The methodology was also used in a 2021 study on covid vaccine effectiveness in clinics and hospitals published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Vaccine effectiveness estimates using the same methodology have also been published in other peer-reviewed journals, including JAMA Network Open, the Lancet and Pediatrics.

An HHS official said that Bhattacharya met with scientific staff and that the report’s authors did not want to adjust their methodology.

Kennedy, founder of a prominent anti-vaccine group, once referred to covid-19 shots as the “deadliest vaccine ever made.” Last year, he posted a video on X directing the CDC to stop recommending the vaccine for healthy pregnant women and children – an unprecedented move that bypassed the agency’s long-standing process of relying on its federal vaccine advisory panel. The decision drew widespread criticism from medical and public health experts.

Kennedy has said he is not anti-vaccine but is seeking to give Americans transparency and medical choice.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Lena H. Sun 

Just two days after chassidim were informed that the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak Rav Yisroel Hager, had returned to his home, a new update from his household reports that he is suffering from an infection and weakness, leading to the cancellation of scheduled kabbolas kahal for the evening marking his 81st birthday.

Earlier this week, the Vizhnitzer chassidus had shared uplifting news that the Rebbe had returned to his residence in Bnei Brak after an extended period away for rest and medical recovery in Netanya and Moshav Ora.

The announcement at the time noted that in recent days the Rebbe had been spending much of his time at the home of his father, the Yeshuos Moshe, and receiving people at the residence of his grandfather, the Imrei Chaim.

It was also reported that the previous evening, the Rebbe participated in a simcha marking the engagement of his great-granddaughter, a granddaughter of his son-in-law Rav Yitzchok Twersky, son of the Skverer Rebbe. The Rebbe sat at a tish for an extended period, encouraging singing with visible strength.

However, on Wednesday, chassidim received a more troubling update stating that the Rebbe is currently experiencing inflammation and weakness, and that all public receptions planned for the day have been called off.

“Since our master is feeling weak due to an infection, the public reception schedule this evening, as well as Maariv in the main beis medrash, will not take place. An update regarding the coming days will, with Hashem’s help, be issued separately.”

The message also called on anshei shlomeinu and all of Klal Yisroel to use the occasion of the Rebbe’s birthday on the 6th of Iyar to strengthen themselves and offer tefillos on his behalf for renewed strength and complete recovery.

{Matzav.com}

The New York Times has published an extensive feature on Rabbi Shalom Landau, portraying the Williamsburg-based speaker as an unlikely online figure whose Torah-based messages have reached far beyond the walls of his beis medrash, even as he himself remains detached from the digital world.

The article opens by contrasting the rabbi’s modest surroundings with the reach of his influence, describing his headquarters as “a humble wood and brick structure in the shadow of Woodhull Medical Center,” where “the facade is cracked and peeling, and the blinds are drawn.” Inside, it notes, “young men spend their days hunched over dense texts,” while “a tiny pool is hidden away in the basement.”

Despite being characterized as a kind of influencer, the piece stresses that Rabbi Landau himself has little connection to technology, writing that he “doesn’t use social media and favors a flip phone — and no phone at all from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.” The explanation is simple: “On Shabbos, it’s strictly forbidden.”

The Times identifies Rabbi Landau as “a 48-year-old Hasidic rabbi in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn,” explaining that “the young men are his yeshiva students; the pool a ritual bath called a mikvah.” It adds that “he’s the spiritual leader of Rivnitz,” a group following the teachings of the Ribnitzer Rebbe, who emphasized spreading divine light even in hostile environments.

At the same time, the article highlights the unusual nature of his recent visibility, stating that he is “of late, an unlikely star on Instagram and TikTok for videos offering pearls of Torah-based wisdom.” These clips, it explains, “marry self-help and ‘seichel,’ Yiddish for ‘common sense,’” often beginning with bold statements like “Wealth is in your wiring, not in your wallet” and “A child is not a second chance at your past,” before linking them to traditional sources.

According to the report, “his 250,000 followers on Instagram may not put him in the social media big leagues,” but they “greatly outnumber the several hundred men who come to study and pray at his shul.” The article underscores the contrast, noting that this is “an awful lot for a guy who speaks in Yiddish-inflected English and appears on video in front of bookshelves of Hasidic philosophy.”

The piece describes the rabbi’s online reach as spanning widely different audiences, stating that “from his digital pulpit, Rabbi Landau wields a particular kind of influence,” reaching “a mosaic of overlapping audiences, each of whom interprets him differently.” These include “practicing Jews who share his content earnestly over WhatsApp,” “secular internet addicts who take his videos with a heavy dose of irony,” “curious non-Jews seeking a pure form of religious authenticity,” and “young conservatives attracted to the traditional gender roles he preaches.”

It also notes that some responses are less positive, pointing out that certain commenters “make antisemitic jokes about Jews holding the secret to attaining material wealth,” reflecting the complexities of exposure to a broad online audience.

Tracing how the videos began, the article recounts that a talmid once asked Rabbi Landau, “Why are we keeping your light just closed into this small building?” That suggestion led to the recording and distribution of his talks. Rabbi Landau acknowledged his unfamiliarity with the medium, saying, “I was not so much understanding what social media is.”

The effort has largely been managed by his assistant, Shragi Kalmanowitz, who began uploading clips and later expanded production. Rabbi Landau, however, does not watch the videos, explaining, “I think when you see yourself, you can see too much.”

He also expressed concern that his message is being reduced in the editing process. “When you take all of this, you have to be a Torah-learning Jew to understand,” he said. “A lot of statements they take out, they cut it. So I’m questioning, Why do you take out my point?”

Kalmanowitz responded by explaining the reasoning: “We cut it out. Why do we cut it? Because we have to make applicable to everyone.”

The article reports that the videos have generated unexpected interest from people seeking conversion, with Kalmanowitz stating, “The answer is, Judaism doesn’t encourage conversion,” and adding, “No, Hashem likes it the way you are.”

Rabbi Landau himself appeared uncertain how to frame this level of exposure historically, recalling a recent question posed to him: “Has this ever been in the Jewish history that a Jewish rabbi can speak to so much non-Jewish people?” He responded, “I don’t know, we got to look it up.”

The Times places him within a broader landscape of religious figures gaining traction online, noting that “he seems to be the only rabbinical social media star from the patriarchal ultra-Orthodox world.” It also observes that much of his advice is directed toward men and has found an audience in spaces that emphasize “male authority and initiative.”

Addressing the presence of antisemitic followers, Kalmanowitz described one such idea, saying, “It means, basically, that you created the game, like us Jews rule the world, like you create the system and you’re leaking information about how to cheat the system,” and added, “A lot of our fans are actually big antisemites.”

Despite this, the approach remains unchanged. “Some of them end up turning into big fans of the rabbi,” Kalmanowitz said. “You just shine your light, and eventually they will learn to enjoy it.”

In closing, the profile presents Rabbi Landau as aware of the limitations of the medium he has entered. “The way the world is heading to is, basically, punchlines are taking it over,” he said. “And from the punchline becomes the next punchline.”

Senate Republicans on Wednesday voted to shut down a Democratic proposal aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to continue military action against Iran, marking the latest failed attempt to force a congressional check on the ongoing conflict.

The measure, introduced under the War Powers framework, sought to prevent further U.S. military involvement, but it was defeated as Republicans again stood together to oppose it. According to The Hill, this is the fifth time GOP lawmakers have rejected similar efforts to halt or restrict the administration’s actions in the weeks-long confrontation.

The chamber voted 46-51 against advancing the resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rand Paul was the only Republican to break with his party and support moving the measure forward, while John Fetterman stood alone among Democrats in opposing it.

Leading the push for the resolution, Tammy Baldwin reiterated Democratic concerns during debate, arguing that Trump had campaigned on avoiding new overseas conflicts. Drawing parallels to past wars, she said, “In both wars, we had zero plans for the days to come and failed to outline our specific goals. In both wars, we had zero strategy to get out. And in both wars, we had servicemembers dying overseas for a cause that Americans did not support,” Baldwin said, comparing the current conflict to the Iraq war.

Lawmakers also pointed to public opinion data discussed during the debate. A Reuters/Ipsos poll cited in the proceedings indicated that just 36 percent of Americans support the strikes on Iran, according to The Hill.

Opposition to the resolution was led by Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who argued that repeated votes on the issue have already settled the matter. He told colleagues, “We’ve been through these votes before. We’ve been through these votes recently and nothing has occurred in the makeup of this body or in the situation in Iran or the Middle East to materially change since the last time we voted on this matter,” Wicker said.

He further warned that approving the proposal would be “unwise,” according to The Hill.

The outcome highlights the sharp divide in Washington over the president’s authority to carry out military operations in Iran, with Republicans largely supporting the administration’s approach and Democrats cautioning against a prolonged engagement without explicit approval from Congress.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. defense officials have told lawmakers that removing Iranian naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz could require up to six months, raising concerns that disruptions to global energy markets may persist well into the year, according to a report published Wednesday.

The update was delivered during a classified briefing to Congress, as reported by The Washington Post, which cited individuals familiar with the session. The projected timeline suggests that the financial consequences of the conflict could stretch on through the end of the year or beyond.

According to three officials, members of the House Armed Services Committee received the briefing on Tuesday. Lawmakers from both parties were said to be dissatisfied with the assessment.

Military officials indicated that Iran may have deployed at least 20 naval mines in and around the critical shipping corridor, a key route for a significant portion of the world’s oil supply. Some of the devices were reportedly positioned using GPS-guided methods, making them harder for U.S. forces to locate, while others were believed to have been placed by small Iranian vessels.

The Pentagon declined to elaborate on the details publicly. Spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the topic had been addressed in a classified setting but dismissed the reported conclusions as “inaccurate.”

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a focal point in the ongoing confrontation. Iran has asserted that the waterway is closed and has carried out attacks on certain vessels, while both Washington and Tehran continue to press their respective conditions for ending the conflict.

Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments passed through the strait, with major Asian economies such as Japan, South Korea, and China relying heavily on that route.

President Donald Trump has insisted that Iran dismantle its nuclear program, relinquish its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and fully reopen the waterway, warning that failure to comply could lead to additional military action. Iranian officials, for their part, have said they will not return to negotiations unless the United States first removes the naval blockade imposed in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, Trump said he was extending a two-week ceasefire indefinitely, adding Iran’s leadership is “seriously fractured” and must “come up with a unified proposal.”

He later stated if the US lifts its naval blockade of Iran, a deal between the two countries would be possible if the US renews its strikes on the Islamic Republic.

“Iran doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!). They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to ‘save face,’” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

“People approached me four days ago, saying, ‘Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately.’ But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!” he added.