Feed aggregator

Sen. John Fetterman reacted Monday to the announcement that Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht is leaving the Democratic Party over concerns about antisemitism, saying Democrats must directly address what he described as a growing problem within the party.

In a post on X, Fetterman referenced a Politico report detailing Wecht’s decision to change his voter registration to independent status. While making clear that he himself is remaining a Democrat, Fetterman said he understands why Wecht chose to leave the party.

“I know David and his legendary father, Cyril,” Fetterman said. “As I’ve affirmed, I’m not changing my party—but I fully understand David’s personal choice. The Democratic Party must confront its own rising antisemitism problem.”

Wecht explained in a public statement that he no longer identifies with any political party and sharply criticized what he sees as increasing tolerance of anti-Jewish hatred among Democratic activists and officials.

“From 1998 to 2001, years that preceded my judicial career, I served as Vice-Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. In the quarter century that has passed since then, the Democratic Party has changed,” Wecht shared. “Nazi tattoos, jihadist chants, intimidation and attacks at synagogues, and other hateful anti-Jewish invective and actions are minimized, ignored, and even coddled. Acquiescence to Jew-hatred is now disturbingly common among activists, leaders and even many elected officials in the Democratic Party.”

Wecht also reflected on the connection his family has to Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history.

“Wecht also shared that he and his wife had been ‘married at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Congregation,’ and added that ‘twenty years later, in the very same sanctuary’ where they were married, ‘the worst massacre of Jews in American history’ took place.”

He noted that while the Tree of Life massacre was carried out by a right-wing extremist, antisemitism has increasingly spread on the political left as well.

“That terror came from the right,” Wecht continued. “Jew-hatred has always festered on the fringe of that sector. In the years that have followed, that same hatred has grown on the left. Increasingly, it has moved from the fringe to the mainstream.”

According to Politico, Wecht’s switch to independent registration is not expected to significantly alter the ideological makeup or balance of power on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court.

Fetterman has repeatedly spoken publicly in recent months about antisemitism and Democratic attitudes toward Israel. During an appearance on CNN in April, he said that support for Israel has eroded significantly among Democrats.

“while he is ‘proud to stand with Israel,’ roughly 80 percent of Democrats ‘view Israel in a negative way.’”

In the same interview, Fetterman also criticized anti-Israel activist behavior and referenced reports concerning an individual he identified as Platner.

“You know, you have, like, Platner has a Nazi tattoo on his chest,” Fetterman said. “And now, it’s just released that he was praising and celebrating a video online where Hamas was beating and torturing Israeli soldiers to death.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran has executed a 29-year-old aerospace engineering graduate who was convicted of allegedly passing classified information to the CIA and Israel’s Mossad, according to reports from Iranian state media.

Iran’s judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency identified the man as Erfan Shakourzadeh and claimed he had been employed at a scientific institution connected to the country’s satellite and aerospace programs. Authorities accused him of transferring sensitive intelligence to foreign spy agencies.

Shakourzadeh, who studied at the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran, was arrested in February 2025 on charges of espionage and alleged collaboration with hostile foreign governments.

Human rights organizations strongly challenged the legitimacy of the case and accused Iranian authorities of extracting a confession through abuse and coercion. The Iran Human Rights Society stated that Shakourzadeh’s admissions were forced, while the Norway-based rights group Hengaw alleged that he spent nine months in solitary confinement undergoing severe physical and psychological torture.

According to Hengaw, Shakourzadeh maintained his innocence before his execution and wrote that he had been “arrested on fabricated espionage charges.”

The execution took place amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington over the ongoing conflict and stalled diplomatic negotiations.

On Sunday, Iran formally rejected an American proposal intended to end the war, with Iranian media portraying the offer as “Tehran’s submission to Trump’s excessive demands.”

Iranian leaders have continued refusing demands to relinquish enriched uranium stockpiles, while President Donald Trump dismissed Tehran’s latest response as “totally unacceptable.”

The collapse in negotiations contributed to rising oil prices and renewed declines in stock markets as fears of further regional escalation intensified.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sharply criticized the European Union on Monday night after EU foreign ministers approved sanctions targeting Israeli individuals and organizations accused of involvement in violence against Palestinian Arabs, while simultaneously sanctioning senior Hamas operatives.

In a forceful statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu accused European leaders of creating an immoral comparison between Israeli civilians and Hamas terrorists at a time when Israel and the United States are battling radical Islamist forces.

“As Israel and the US are ‘doing Europe’s dirty work’ by fighting for civilization against Jihadist lunatics in Iran and elsewhere, the European Union exposed its moral bankruptcy by drawing a false symmetry between Israeli citizens and Hamas terrorists,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The statement further defended Jewish communities in Yehuda and Shomron and rejected any attempt to punish Israelis living there.

“European politicians are coerced by their radical constituencies but sanctioning Jews for living in Judea and Samaria is unacceptable. Judea is where Jews come from and Israel will always protect the rights of Jews to live in the heart of our ancestral homeland,” the statement added.

“The European Union’s attempts to sanction Israeli civilians is a further sign of weakness and will not succeed,” it concluded.

The European Union’s decision was announced following a meeting of EU foreign ministers by Kaja Kallas, the bloc’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Kallas said the European Union had approved penalties against what she described as violent Israeli settlers, alongside measures targeting Hamas leadership.

“gave the go-ahead to sanction Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians.”

“They also agreed on new sanctions on leading Hamas figures,” Kallas stated.

“It was high time we moved from deadlock to delivery. Extremism and violence carry consequences,” she added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also denounced the EU action, arguing that the sanctions were politically motivated and lacked justification.

“Israel firmly rejects the decision to impose sanctions on Israeli citizens and organizations,” Sa’ar stated, adding, “The European Union has chosen, in an arbitrary and political manner, to impose sanctions on Israeli citizens and entities because of their political views and without any basis.”

Sa’ar also objected strongly to what he called an outrageous comparison between Israeli citizens and Hamas terrorists.

“Equally outrageous is the unacceptable comparison the European Union has chosen to make between Israeli citizens and Hamas terrorists. This is a completely distorted moral equivalence,” he stated.

He reaffirmed Israel’s longstanding position regarding Jewish communities in Yehuda and Shomron.

“Israel has stood, stands, and will continue to stand for the right of Jews to settle in the heart of our homeland.”

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset on Monday night overwhelmingly approved final passage of legislation establishing a legal framework to prosecute Hamas terrorists and collaborators involved in the October 7 massacre, including the possibility of capital punishment for those convicted.

The bill passed its second and third readings with broad support across the political spectrum, receiving 93 votes in favor. The legislation is designed to enable Israeli courts to try perpetrators of the October 7 atrocities for crimes committed during the Hamas-led assault.

Under the new law, the harshest sentence available to the courts will be the death penalty.

Lawmakers also approved a significant amendment introduced by MK Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionist Party and MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beytenu. The provision states that terrorists convicted under the law will never be eligible for release, including במסגרת future hostage or prisoner exchange agreements.

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin praised the legislation following its passage, saying it fulfills Israel’s obligation to pursue justice for the victims of the massacre.

“This law ensures that the terrorists and their accomplices will stand trial and face justice, including the imposition of death sentences. From the depths of the horrific massacre we have risen – for the memory of the murdered, for their families, for those wounded in body and soul, for those who were taken hostage, and for the entire nation – to fulfill our supreme moral obligation: to bring the perpetrators of this ghastly slaughter to justice. I thank Constitution Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman, MK Yulia Malinovsky, and all those involved in the vital work of advancing this legislation.”

Rothman described the vote as a historic moment for the State of Israel and said the law sends a direct message to Israel’s enemies.

“Tonight, the State of Israel took a historic step toward justice and national remembrance. The law to prosecute Nukhba terrorists has passed, sending a sharp and clear message to our enemies: anyone who slaughtered, murdered, raped, and kidnapped Israeli citizens will be tried and will pay the ultimate price. The State of Israel will neither forget nor forgive. This is a moral debt to the victims, the bereaved families, the hostages, and the entire people of Israel. The whole world will see, hear, and know exactly what cruel evil the State of Israel faced on October 7, and how it is holding that evil accountable.”

MK Yulia Malinovsky said the legislation marks a turning point nearly three years after the massacre and compared the future proceedings to the historic trials of Nazi war criminals.

“Nearly three years later, the path to justice has finally been paved. The law to prosecute the October 7 terrorists passed its final readings in the plenum with an unprecedented level of consensus. The clock is ticking for those who harmed the State of Israel, and these modern-day Eichmann trials will take place in Israel’s capital, Jerusalem. This law is a matter of history and national legacy. I dedicate this legislation to the victims, the hostages, their families, and every citizen living in this land. Am Yisrael Chai!”

{Matzav.com}

Authorities are investigating a series of antisemitic vandalism incidents in Queens after nearly a dozen swastikas were discovered spray-painted in two public parks on Sunday, continuing a troubling pattern of anti-Jewish hate crimes in New York City.

Officers from the NYPD’s 104th Precinct responded to a bias complaint near Highland Boulevard and Vermont Place in Ridgewood, according to amNewYork. Police arriving at Highland Park and the Ridgewood Reservoir located five swastikas painted on signs, pavement, and other public property throughout the area.

The discovery came just hours after a separate incident was reported within the confines of the 102nd Precinct in Richmond Hill. Around midday, officers were called to the area near 72nd Road and Union Turnpike, where six more swastikas had been painted along the walls of an underpass adjacent to the Forest Park Playground.

Police said the incidents remain under active investigation, though no suspects have yet been taken into custody. The latest acts of vandalism come one week after antisemitic graffiti was found on two shuls and two private homes elsewhere in Queens.

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin sharply denounced the incidents and posted photos of the graffiti online, calling the acts an attempt to frighten Jewish residents.

“Highland Park and Forest Park in Queens were vandalized with at least 11 swastikas. Just a week ago today, similar antisemitic graffiti was found at two synagogues and two private homes in the borough. This is yet another hateful incident meant to intimidate Jewish New Yorkers and divide our city. And we want to be clear: We cannot and will not accept this as normal,” she wrote.

Menin pointed to the City Council’s ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism, referencing the body’s Five-Point Action Plan aimed at addressing hate and increasing accountability and education throughout the city.

The city’s Parks Department has been alerted and is expected to remove the graffiti while detectives continue searching for those responsible.

The incidents come amid continued concern over the high number of antisemitic hate crimes in New York City. NYPD statistics released last week showed that Jews were targeted in 30 of the city’s 50 confirmed hate crimes in April — approximately 60% of all reported incidents — despite Jews making up roughly one-tenth of the city’s population.

Police data showed that nine hate crimes targeted Black individuals, three targeted Hispanics, five involved sexual orientation, two were religion-based, and one was tied to gender. No incidents were reported against Muslims, Asians, or white individuals during that period.

Although antisemitic incidents declined from 43 reported cases during the same month last year, officials still recorded 21 such incidents in February and 32 in March.

Between February and April, authorities documented 83 confirmed antisemitic hate crimes out of 143 total hate crime incidents citywide, meaning anti-Jewish attacks accounted for roughly 58% of all cases during that stretch. The incidents ranged from graffiti and threats to physical assaults and harassment.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1770-Semichah-Part-70-Menuchah.mp3

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

 

 

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Stories4Life-Shiur-571-Shiur-R-Chaim-Shmuelevitz.mp3

The historic Keren Olam HaTorah mission to South America officially began Monday morning with the arrival of a delegation of leading gedolei Yisroel in Sao Paulo, Brazil, ahead of a series of major dinner events and maamadei chizuk on behalf of lomdei Torah in Eretz Yisroel.

Participating in the delegation are Rav Yaakov Hillel, Rav Avrohom Salim, Rav Shimon Galei, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rav Malkiel Kotler, and Rav Yosef Chevroni, rosh yeshiva of Chevron.

On their way from Eretz Yisroel, the rabbonim made a stopover in Paris, where they were hosted at the home of philanthropist Reb Johaquim Cohen. During the visit, the delegation davened Shacharis and was served breakfast before continuing on to Brazil.

Upon arriving in Sao Paulo, the gedolim immediately began a packed schedule of visits and fundraising events within the local Jewish community. The central gathering was held at the home of philanthropist Reb Yaakov Stern and was attended by prominent supporters of Torah, local roshei mosdos, and guests who traveled specially from Deal, New Jersey.

During the dinner, Rav Yaakov Hillel spoke passionately about the urgent need to strengthen support for the olam haTorah during this difficult period. “If we make efforts and push ourselves beyond our natural abilities, Hakadosh Boruch Hu will repay us many times over,” he said.

Rav Shimon Galei followed with emotional remarks describing the amal haTorah and mesirus nefesh displayed by bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel. He called upon the assembled nedivim to answer the call of “Mi LaHashem Eilai” and partner in sustaining the world of Torah.

Philanthropist Reb Ezra Irani also addressed the gathering and outlined the background and purpose behind the establishment of Keren Olam HaTorah. He emphasized that the gedolei Yisroel view the work of the fund as a matter of literal hatzolas nefashos.

Later, the delegation paid a special visit to the Talmud Torah Hamaor in Sao Paulo, where the gedolim were welcomed enthusiastically by the children with singing and dancing in honor of the rare visit.

Rav Chaim Peretz Berman addressed the students and expressed amazement at the flourishing growth of Torah around the globe. “One can clearly see how Hakadosh Boruch Hu ensures that in every corner of the world, Torah continues to thrive and blossom,” he said.

At the conclusion of the event, the gedolei Yisroel signed special certificates of recognition for students who completed Maseches Kiddushin and successfully passed examinations on the masechta.

The Keren Olam HaTorah mission is expected to continue in the coming days as the delegation travels onward to Argentina for additional dinners and meetings aimed at strengthening support for the olam haTorah in Eretz Yisroel.

Video, Photos: At a Dinner for Keren Olam Hatorah at the Home of Alberto Safra In Brazil https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/VIDEO-2026-05-11-23-02-18.mp4

[Videos below.] Heavy police presence and street closures surrounded the area outside the Young Israel of Midwood in Flatbush, Brooklyn, tonight, as demonstrators and police clashed outside a real estate event promoting property purchases in Israel.

Hundreds of people arrived on both sides of the issue, with pro-Palestinian activists protesting the sale of properties they claim are located on land taken from Palestinians, including homes in communities in Yehuda and Shomron.

Organizers of the protest said the gathering was intended to pressure city officials and challenge the legitimacy of such events taking place in New York.

“We’re here today to send a message to the city and to send a message to the organizers that these kinds of events cannot and will not stand in New York City,” Taher Dahleh, the organizer with the Palestinian Youth movement, said.

The event itself featured Israeli real estate listings and agents offering assistance to prospective buyers interested in purchasing homes and navigating the buying process in Israel.

Some protesters waved Hezbollah flags overhead and chanted, “Globalize the intifada.”

The anti-Semites chanted, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Israel will fall,” “Baby killers,” and, “Death to the IDF.” They held orange banners that read, “Israel is killing children.

Handful of protesters leaving scene of rally in Midwood pic.twitter.com/T41FtelfUp

— Luke Tress (@luketress) May 11, 2026

Those who came to support the event or oppose the protests argued that the pro-Hamas demonstrators were unfairly targeting a Jewish neighborhood and disrupting a community trying to go about daily life.

“There’s a synagogue here. This is clearly a [predominantly] Jewish neighborhood, and they deserve the right to worship in peace,” counterprotester Kasondra Watkins said.

The demonstrations unfolded as the New York City Council continues debating legislation related to protest “buffer zones.” Council members are currently considering whether to override Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s veto of a bill involving educational institutions.

Another measure creating buffer zones around houses of worship, however, was allowed to stand and was not vetoed by the mayor.

Local residents expressed concern that bringing the conflict into the center of Midwood has heightened anxiety and created tension in the neighborhood.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is increasingly losing confidence in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict with Iran and is now weighing a renewed military response, according to officials familiar with internal White House discussions.

Sources within the administration told CNN on Monday that frustration has mounted sharply in recent days as Iranian negotiators continue rejecting key American demands and offering what Trump views as unserious counteroffers. As a result, military planning has reportedly once again become a major focus inside the administration.

The latest escalation comes amid continued instability surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively closed despite a fragile ceasefire that has held for more than a month. The ongoing disruption to global shipping lanes, combined with divisions inside Iran’s leadership, has contributed to growing skepticism in Washington that a diplomatic breakthrough is possible.

Officials quoted in the report said Trump sees Tehran’s current posture not as strength, but as hesitation and internal confusion.

“They think I’ll get tired, or get bored, or I’ll have some pressure,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “There’s no pressure at all. We’re going to have a complete victory.”

According to the report, senior advisers remain divided over how aggressively to proceed. Some administration officials are pushing for a renewed wave of airstrikes under “Operation Epic Fury,” arguing that hitting the remaining strategic Iranian targets could force Tehran into accepting American terms.

Others inside the administration continue urging restraint and want additional time given to diplomacy. Still, doubts are reportedly growing over the effectiveness of Pakistani intermediaries involved in the negotiations. Some Trump advisers believe the Pakistanis may not be fully communicating the President’s anger and dissatisfaction to Iranian officials, instead softening the American position in discussions with the State Department.

CNN reported that Trump convened a high-level national security meeting on Monday to examine possible next steps if diplomacy collapses entirely. Among the options reportedly discussed were restarting “Project Freedom,” the naval operation designed to escort commercial vessels through the Persian Gulf, as well as potential special operations missions targeting Iran’s enriched uranium reserves.

Despite the increasingly hawkish tone, administration officials indicated that no final decision is expected before Trump departs Tuesday afternoon for his trip to China.

The CNN report followed an earlier report by Israel’s Channel 12 News stating that Trump is leaning toward authorizing some form of renewed military action because of mounting dissatisfaction with Iran’s conduct during negotiations.

Trump further escalated his rhetoric Monday after reviewing Tehran’s latest response to the American proposal aimed at ending the war.

“Iran’s proposal is stupid. I didn’t even finish reading it. I had an amazing plan after Iran was defeated. They must understand that they will not have nuclear weapons. They are dangerous,” Trump declared during an event at the White House.

He added that “the ceasefire is very weak after the piece of garbage they sent us.”

Iranian officials responded forcefully. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned Monday that Tehran stands prepared for any escalation.

“Mistaken strategy and mistaken decisions will always lead to mistaken results. The whole world has already figured this out,” he wrote in a post on social media.

“We are prepared for all options; they will be surprised,” added Ghalibaf.

In a subsequent statement, Ghalibaf insisted that Tehran’s proposal remains the only realistic framework for ending the conflict.

“There is no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal. Any other approach will be completely inconclusive; nothing but one failure after another,” he wrote.

“The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it,” stated Ghalibaf.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Avrohom Yosef, son of Rav Ovadia Yosef, delivered sharp words regarding the growing trend of haircuts that remove the peyos entirely, warning that such practices are a serious breach of halacha.

Speaking on Kol Chai radio, Rav Yosef described the pain he feels witnessing what has become common practice in many barber shops. “I look to the right and to the left at all the barbers of various kinds and my heart aches,” Rav Yosef said.

At the same time, he made clear that the blame cannot be placed solely on the barbers themselves, stressing that those getting the haircuts bear responsibility as well. “They put everything on the barber, and that’s not correct,” he said.

Rav Yosef went on to stress the severity of the matter, comparing it to eating maachalos assuros, forbidden foods. “A person who goes this way transgressed two prohibitions, as if he ate two portions of pork.” He explained that failing to leave kedei achiza—enough hair to grasp—in the peyos constitutes a serious violation of a lav in Vayikra 19:27: “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”

He further clarified the distinction between the prohibition of removing the beard and that of cutting the peyos. In the case of the beard, the issur is dependent on an act of “hashchasa,” destruction, which is why “misparayim k’ein taar – scissors like a razor” may be permitted. By contrast, the prohibition regarding the hair on the head relates to “hakafah,” rounding the corners. “If there is not hair left to grasp, he has transgressed ‘do not round off the corners of your heads.’”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Yosef called on parents and the broader tzibbur to take a more active role in addressing the issue and ensuring that standards are upheld. “Parents should insist that their children present a Jewish appearance. Every God-fearing person should try to admonish, not to be silent, not to tolerate. Wake up, pay attention and urge people to walk in the way of the Torah.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Rabbi Liraz Zeira, a Chabad shliach working with college students in Yerushalayim, celebrated the birth of his sixth child on Monday, less than a year after he was critically injured by a landmine explosion during reserve duty in southern Syria.

As a result of those injuries, Rabbi Zeira lost both of his legs. On Monday morning, however, he stood upright on prosthetic limbs and held his newborn son, his arms trembling with emotion as he embraced the child.

In a video he shared on Instagram, Rabbi Zeira is seen cradling the baby while reciting a brachah of thanks.

“In good time, we had a son, a little brother for our five sweet sons,” he wrote.

“There is no better rehabilitation and no better healing than this. May we merit to raise him to Torah, chupah, and maasim tovim with happiness and good-heartedness. May he bring healing to all people of Israel and our heroic soldiers.”

Shaare Zedek Medical Center also marked the occasion with a message posted on Facebook: “Great excitement in our delivery room: Mazel tov to Rabbi Liraz and Anat Zeira on the birth of their sixth son at Shaare Zedek. Rabbi Maj. Liraz Zeira, a reservist fighter and military rabbi, was seriously wounded and lost both his legs in a grenade explosion in October 2025. Rabbi Liraz underwent a long rehabilitation process and continues to encourage students and spread joy. Yesterday, Rabbi Liraz had the privilege of embracing a wonderful baby boy born weighing 3.600 kilograms. The sweet baby joins four other children whom Rabbi Liraz and his wife, Anat, chose to deliver with us.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sharply criticized members of his own party on Monday after polling data showed that a significant share of Democrats believe the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was staged.

“Assassinations + political violence are real. My party can’t be the tin foil hat brigade,” Fetterman wrote in a post on X.

“I was there a table away and I promise you, this was not staged,” he added.

The comments followed the release of a survey conducted by NewsGuard, which found that 34 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans said they believe the WHCA dinner shooting was staged.

The same poll indicated that 56 percent of respondents overall believe the Washington Hilton shooting was staged, while 45 percent said they do not.

In total, 30 percent of those surveyed said they believe at least one of the assassination attempts targeting President Trump was staged.

NewsGuard commissioned the poll in partnership with YouGov, surveying 1,000 Americans aged 18 and older between April 28 and May 4.

According to NewsGuard, the findings were so unexpected that the firm asked YouGov to review the data again, after which the results were reaffirmed.

The WHCA dinner shooting last month came amid a string of politically motivated violent incidents, including the public killing of Charlie Kirk, the fatal shooting of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortmann (D), and an attempted arson attack at the Pennsylvania governor’s residence where Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) lives.

In response to the rise in such incidents, lawmakers have urged a reduction in heated political rhetoric, even as both parties have continued to fault one another for the escalation in violence.

President Trump has said that repeated attempts on his life are tied to the major policy decisions being carried out during his time in office.

Meanwhile, Cole Allen, who is accused of carrying out the WHCA dinner shooting, entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday to four federal charges, including attempting to assassinate Trump.

{Matzav.com}

The price tag for renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has risen sharply, increasing by $11.3 million since President Donald Trump first introduced the project, which is being carried out ahead of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations.

When the work was initially announced, Trump estimated the effort would cost about $1.8 million to repaint the pool, seal its base, and fix leaking joints.

New filings released Friday show the projected cost has now reached $13.1 million, according to a report by the New York Times.

The Interior Department last week added $6.2 million to the contract, bringing the total from its earlier value of $6.9 million.

The project is being handled by Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia-based company that received the contract in April without a competitive bidding process.

The firm has previously worked on swimming pools at Trump National Golf Club Washington DC in Sterling, Virginia, and was selected for the reflecting pool project after the government cited an urgent need to proceed. Officials said that delaying the work would result in “serious injury,” according to the Times.

No further details were provided about the nature of that potential harm, though the project’s target completion date has been set for July 4.

“The contract price reflects the effort necessary to expedite the timeline of completing the leak prevention coating project—more people, more materials, more equipment and longer hours ahead of our 250th,” an Interior Department spokesperson told The Hill.

The spokesperson also said that the National Park Service is investing in an ozone nanobubbler filtration system and will assign a dedicated crew to maintain the site moving forward.

The renovation effort has drawn criticism from preservation advocates and a local nonprofit group concerned about changes to the historic landmark.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation and its founder, Charles Birnbaum, filed a lawsuit last week arguing that the application of a blue coating to the pool is “altering the historic character” without proper authorization.

According to the lawsuit, the National Historic Preservation Act requires government agencies to consult before making changes to historic properties, and the complaint also alleges the project fails to meet obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Trump administration has defended the initiative, saying the upgrades will enhance the experience for visitors to the National Mall while reducing long-term maintenance costs tied to significant water loss, with the pool currently leaking an estimated 16 million gallons each year.

“You’re going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful Reflecting Pool, the way it’s supposed to be,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval last month.

“Much better than it ever was, actually,” he continued.

The reflecting pool, first completed in 1922, has undergone multiple restoration efforts over the years.

{Matzav.com}

A senior White House official said the prolonged conflict with Iran is the result of U.S. effectiveness on the battlefield, pushing back on questions about why the war has lasted far longer than President Donald Trump initially projected.

Sebastian Gorka, the National Security Council’s senior counterterrorism director, addressed the issue during a Sunday appearance on News Nation, responding to concerns about the gap between the administration’s early estimate of a four-to-five-week campaign and the current reality of an eleven-week war.

“There’s a very simple answer to your question — we’ve just been too effective,” Gorka said on News Nation on Sunday.

Gorka attributed the extended timeline to complications arising from the weakening of Iran’s leadership, arguing that the collapse at the top has made it more difficult to finalize a surrender agreement.

“This is a regime in ultimate collapse at the top. As a result, it makes communicating and getting that final deal, that acquiesces, that surrender a little bit more complicated. But rest assured, it is coming imminently,” he said.

The United States and Iran are currently observing a ceasefire as the administration seeks a negotiated end to the conflict, which began Feb. 28 and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.

Despite the temporary halt in hostilities, Trump said Monday that the ceasefire is fragile, describing it as being on “life support” after rejecting Iran’s latest proposal in nuclear negotiations.

“It’s unbelievably weak,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if the ceasefire remains in place for the time being.

Negotiators on both sides are continuing efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement, though Trump on Sunday dismissed Tehran’s demands, which reportedly include financial compensation, recognition of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of U.S. sanctions, and the release of frozen assets.

Trump on Monday called the counteroffer a “piece of garbage” and that he did not even finish reading.

Iran has so far resisted committing to dismantle its nuclear program as part of the talks, creating a significant obstacle to any potential agreement.

As the conflict drags on, the administration has faced mounting criticism over rising fuel costs and broader economic fallout. Critics have also questioned the shifting justifications for entering the war, arguing that the extended timeline reflects a failure to anticipate the Strait of Hormuz shutdown and overestimates about how quickly the U.S. could neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities or bring about a regime collapse.

Gorka dismissed those claims, reiterating his defense of the administration’s strategy.

“This action has been planned for decades by the president. Now he is in the chair,” he said. “Everything you see has been planned out to the last scintilla. . . . Everything is happening exactly to plan.”

{Matzav.com}

The United Arab Emirates carried out undisclosed military operations inside Iran during the recent conflict, including a strike on a refinery located on Lavan Island in early April, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The airstrike, which has not been publicly confirmed by Abu Dhabi, is said to have occurred around the same time President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire. The attack reportedly ignited a major fire at the site and significantly disrupted the refinery’s output.

Iranian officials said at the time that the facility had been struck by hostile forces. In response, Tehran launched a wave of missiles and drones targeting the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

A source cited by the Journal said U.S. officials were not concerned by the Emirati action, noting that the ceasefire had not yet formally gone into effect. The same source said the White House privately viewed the UAE’s involvement favorably, along with any other Gulf nation willing to take part in the conflict.

The UAE Foreign Ministry did not directly address the reported operation, instead referring to earlier statements asserting the country’s right to respond to threats, including through military means, according to the Journal.

If confirmed, the reported strike would represent a notable broadening of the regional conflict. The UAE has historically attempted to maintain a balance between its security partnerships with the United States and Israel and its economic and diplomatic ties with Iran. Direct action on Iranian territory would mark a significant escalation, even if not officially acknowledged.

The development follows reports that Israel, facing repeated attacks from Iran, has deployed defensive systems within the UAE, including an Iron Dome battery and the Iron Beam laser system.

Since the conflict began, the UAE has reportedly tracked more than 550 ballistic missiles, dozens of cruise missiles, and over 2,260 drones launched from Iran.

The strike on the Lavan Island refinery also underscores the increasing focus on energy infrastructure in the war. Attacks on refineries, ports, and shipping lanes have intensified pressure on global energy supplies and heightened concerns that the conflict could spread further throughout the Gulf, a region where oil production and transportation are deeply interconnected.

From Washington’s perspective, the reported Emirati action may have served both strategic and political purposes, demonstrating that regional allies were willing to engage Iran while allowing the UAE to avoid publicly claiming responsibility for a move that could trigger a stronger retaliation.

For Iran, the implications were significant. The conflict appeared to be expanding beyond direct involvement by the United States, Israel, and Iran, suggesting that at least one key Gulf neighbor may have quietly entered the fight.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday that U.S. authorities have the hantavirus situation “under control” following the outbreak linked to a cruise ship carrying American passengers.

The remarks came during an Oval Office press conference focused on mental health, where a reporter asked President Donald Trump whether he regretted withdrawing from the World Health Organization in light of the incident involving a hantavirus-stricken vessel with more than a dozen Americans on board.

Trump responded that he was “glad” the United States had exited the WHO and reiterated his position that the country had been contributing excessive funding to the organization.

When pressed on whether U.S. health agencies are equipped to respond to a potential hantavirus outbreak despite staffing and budget reductions during Trump’s second term, Kennedy pointed to an immediate federal response.

“We’ve had CDC teams on it from day one.”

“I was speaking with the University of Nebraska since the second day of the outbreak. I was speaking with Gov. Pillen of Nebraska. We had a CDC team at Tenerife. We had airplanes ready to take the patients, the 17 patients off the vessel and transport,” Kennedy continued. “Two of them went to Atlanta. One of those was symptomatic. They’re in a biocontainment lab in Atlanta. The other 16 are now in Nebraska. One of them is symptomatic.”

“We have this under control, and we’re not worried about it,” he added.

Kennedy’s comments align with assessments from other public health officials regarding the hantavirus cases connected to the MV Hondius, a deadly outbreak that has so far been contained. Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have indicated that the broader public remains at low risk.

During a separate briefing Monday, WHO officials said all remaining passengers and crew from the MV Hondius are expected to disembark by the end of the day.

“They are departing Canary Islands by specially arranged flights,” WHO Manager of Health Emergencies Communication Nyka Alexander said in the briefing. “Nobody is traveling on commercial flights.”

Oliver le Polain, who leads the WHO’s Epidemiology and Analytics for Response unit, said there have been nine confirmed hantavirus cases tied to the cruise ship, including three fatalities. The latest case involves a French passenger who left the vessel Sunday and is currently in isolation, while one additional case remains inconclusive.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Monday introduced a new nickname for congressional Democrats, referring to them as “Dumbocrats” as he criticized their opposition to his administration’s policies.

The remarks came during an Oval Office event where Trump outlined a new initiative aimed at reducing the cost of in vitro fertilization. Over the course of the nearly hour-long appearance, the president repeatedly faulted Democrats for what he described as their refusal to back proposals coming from the White House.

“You can say that we’re going to reduce drug prices by 80% and we won’t get one Democrat vote,” Trump said. “I don’t know how they get away with it. That’s why we call them the Dumbocrats. We have the new name, the Dumbocrats, because they’re dumb.”

“They’re dumb people, and they just can’t do it,” Trump said. “I’ve been waiting so long for them to change, but they just keep losing, and they’ve got to keep losing with their policies.”

Earlier in the event, Trump also made light of what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” describing it as “actually a disease” while discussing Democratic opposition to a major healthcare funding measure included in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

“Every Democrat in Congress voted against this historic funding,” Trump said. “Well, they suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome. They don’t even know what they’re looking at. They can’t even see straight.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is expected to be accompanied by several leading American business figures, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, during his upcoming visit to China, according to a Monday report by Bloomberg News citing a White House official.

Also slated to be part of the delegation are David Solomon, Stephen Schwarzman, Larry Fink, Jane Fraser, and Dina Powell McCormick, among more than a dozen high-ranking corporate leaders expected to participate in meetings alongside Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The trip is being framed as an effort to secure a range of commercial agreements and investment deals between the United States and China, with the presence of top executives intended to facilitate negotiations and strengthen economic ties, the report said.

The companies involved did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

Chinese officials have confirmed that Trump’s state visit is scheduled to take place from May 13 through May 15, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.

{Matzav.com}