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A shooting on a subway train outside Chicago on Labor Day morning left four people dead, police said. Three people were pronounced dead at the Forest Park station, an above-ground stop on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line. The fourth victim died at a hospital. The suspect got away but was subsequently arrested on a train on a different route, Forest Park police said. “A weapon was recovered,” Forest Park Deputy Chief Chris Chin told reporters. “There is no immediate threat. This appears to be an isolated incident on this unfortunate day.” Police were called around 5:30 a.m. Chin said he had no immediate information to disclose about the victims. He called the shooting “shocking” and “horrible.” “This heinous and egregious act of violence should never have occurred, nonetheless on a public transit train,” the Chicago Transit Authority, known as CTA, said. CTA said security camera video “proved to be vital” in helping investigators. Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins said his community, population 14,000, is the only Chicago suburb in Cook County where two major train lines end. “It’s a horrible tragedy that four people are dead on Labor Day weekend,” Hoskins said. “Our police department and our fire department respond to this location probably more than any other location in our jurisdiction.” (AP)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the third-party presidential candidate who suspended his campaign and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump, is suing the North Carolina State Board of Elections to get his name taken off the state’s November ballot.

Kennedy, who fought legal battles to remain on the North Carolina ballot, said last month that he would remove his name from battleground state ballots so as not to swing the election in Vice President Kamala Harris’s favor. But last week, the North Carolina State Board of Elections rejected Kennedy’s request to be taken off the ballot, saying it would “not be practical” to reprint ballots in time for the start of absentee voting on Sept. 6.

Kennedy’s lawsuit, filed Friday in Wake County Superior Court, alleged that the elections board was violating North Carolina law in denying his request. He accused the board of applying a “subjective ‘practicality’ standard” in the decision and added that he had followed the proper protocols in his request to remove his name. Kennedy requested an immediate judgment in the case, citing the November election date and upcoming ballot deadlines.

Kennedy’s attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday evening. A spokesperson for the North Carolina State Board of Elections directed The Washington Post to the state attorney general’s office, which said it was reviewing the complaint.

On Aug. 23, Kennedy said despite suspending his campaign, he would keep his name on ballots in solidly red and blue states, but would remove it in critical states.

“Our polling consistently showed that by staying on the ballot in the battleground states, I would likely hand the election over to the Democrats, with whom I disagree on the most existential issues – censorship, war and chronic disease,” he said.

On the campaign trail this year, Kennedy – the nephew of former president John F. Kennedy and the son of former attorney general Robert F. Kennedy – positioned himself to voters as a viable third-party option opposed to both Trump and President Joe Biden.

During his remarks to suspend his campaign, just over one month after Biden’s exit and endorsement of Harris, Kennedy urged supporters to vote for him in states where he planned to keep himself on the ballot. He added that he had already started the process of removing his name from the ballots of 10 battleground states, where he did not want to swing the election toward Harris. Polling has shown that a majority of Kennedy’s independent supporters lean Republican.

But Kennedy still remains on three battleground ballots: Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina. In Michigan and Wisconsin, a nominated and qualified candidate cannot be removed from the ballot unless they die.

In North Carolina, Kennedy landed on the ballot in mid-July after the state elections board officially recognized the “We The People” party, which he created for greater ballot access. The North Carolina Democratic Party then sued to block Kennedy’s name on the general election ballot, accusing him of using the We The People party as a vehicle to avoid the ballot requirements for independent candidates. Ultimately, a judge ruled in Kennedy’s favor.

That ruling was a victory for Kennedy until he suspended his campaign and began submitting requests to withdraw his name.

Arizona, which will begin mailing its absentee ballots to voters on Sept. 21, granted Kennedy’s request and Florida, which had an Aug. 24 deadline for minor parties to submit their nominees, granted Kennedy’s requests. Nevada and Pennsylvania, where Kennedy faced legal battles against his candidacy, also took him off the general election ballot.

But on Thursday, the North Carolina elections board denied his request in a 3-2 vote along party lines.

The board said in a news release following the vote that 1,730,000 ballots had already been printed with Kennedy’s name. The board plans to send those ballots to voters, including residents in the military and living overseas, starting Sept. 6. Printing new ballots would “leave most North Carolina counties without ballots until mid-September at the earliest and lead to significant additional costs,” the board said.

North Carolina state law does not stipulate a deadline for presidential nominees to request removal from the ballot, the board said in its release. But a separate state provision allows the elections board to “determine whether it is practical to reprint ballots” after removal requests are received, according to the release.

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(c) Washington Post

Vice President Kamala Harris holds a slight edge over former President Donald Trump, though the Democratic National Convention appears to have done little to bolster her popularity, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by ABC News/Ipsos and released on Sunday, shows Harris leading Trump 50 percent to 46 percent among registered voters nationwide. Among likely voters, Harris’s lead increases slightly to 52 percent to 46 percent. Despite these numbers, the poll indicates that Harris did not experience a significant boost in support following the Democratic Party’s four-day convention in Chicago. This lack of momentum suggests that the convention had little impact on swaying undecided voters or solidifying her base. The poll also highlighted that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent endorsement of Trump, following his departure from the independent presidential race, had no substantial effect on voter opinions. According to the findings, most Americans were unaffected by Kennedy’s endorsement. When it comes to campaign performance, a majority of voters feel that Harris is running her campaign effectively, while fewer express the same confidence in Trump’s efforts. However, the poll reveals that Americans continue to trust Trump more than Harris on key issues such as the economy, inflation, and immigration. Conversely, Harris is viewed as more qualified and physically and mentally fit to serve as president. Looking ahead to the upcoming debate between Harris and Trump, 43 percent of voters expect Harris to emerge as the winner, while 37 percent believe Trump will come out on top. Another 18 percent anticipate a tie or no clear winner. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Watch the full press conference with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu after the murder of 6 hostages by Hamas, and the widespread protests in Israel.

The IDF has confirmed that its fighter jets conducted airstrikes on approximately 10 Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon earlier this evening. The targeted launchers, located in Zibqin and Chihine, were deemed a threat to Israeli civilian populations. In response to the Israeli strike, several rockets were fired from launchers near the border community of Arab al-Aramshe. According to the IDF, some of the incoming rockets were intercepted, while others impacted open areas, causing no injuries. In a separate operation, the IDF also targeted a Hezbollah observation post in southern Lebanon’s Houla region. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A bronze statue from the Titanic — not seen in decades and feared to be lost for good — is among the discoveries made by the company with salvage rights to the wreck site on its first expedition there in many years. RMS Titanic Inc., a Georgia-based company that holds the legal rights to the 112-year-old wreck, has completed its first trip since 2010 and released images from the expedition on Monday. The pictures show a site that continues to change more than a century later. The trip to the remote corner of the North Atlantic Ocean where the Titanic sank happened as the U.S. Coast Guard investigates the June 2023 implosion of the Titan, an experimental submersible owned by a different company. The Titan submersible disaster killed all five people on board, including Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was director of underwater research for RMS Titanic. The findings from this summer’s trip “showcase a bittersweet mix of preservation and loss,” RMS Titanic said in a statement. A highlight was the rediscovery of the statue “Diana of Versaille,” last seen in 1986, and the statue now has a clear and updated image, the company said. On a sadder note, a significant section of the railing that surrounds the ship bow’s forecastle deck has fallen, RMS Titanic said. The railing still stood as recently as 2022, the company said. “The discovery of the statue of Diana was an exciting moment. But we are saddened by the loss of the iconic Bow railing and other evidence of decay which has only strengthened our commitment to preserving Titanic’s legacy,” said Tomasina Ray, director of collections for RMS Titanic. The crew spent 20 days at the site and returned to Providence, Rhode Island, on Aug. 9. They captured more than 2 million of the highest resolution pictures of the site ever to exist, the company said. The team also fully mapped the wreck and its debris field with equipment that should improve understanding of the site, RMS Titanic said. The next step is to process the data so it can be shared with the scientific community, and so “historically significant and at-risk artifacts can be identified for safe recovery in future expeditions,” the company said in a statement. The company said prior to the expedition that it had an especially important mission in the wake of Nargeolet’s death. The Coast Guard’s investigation will be the subject of a public hearing later in September. Nargeolet’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Titan sub’s operator OceanGate, which suspended operations after the implosion. OceanGate has not commented publicly on the lawsuit, which was filed in a Washington state court. (AP)

In a decisive and precise operation, the IDF, in collaboration with the Shin Bet and the Israel Border Police, have successfully eliminated 14 terrorists and neutralized approximately 30 explosives in Jenin, targeting Hamas and other terror groups operating in the area. The ongoing operation, focused on dismantling the terror infrastructure, has also led to the apprehension of 25 terrorists and the confiscation of around 20 weapons. One of the most alarming discoveries during the operation was an underground weapons cache and explosives strategically buried under roads, posing a significant threat to both Israeli forces and civilians. The operation also exposed the deplorable tactics used by terrorists, including the use of civilian infrastructure, such as mosques, to carry out their deadly missions. In one instance, terrorists were seen hurling explosives at IDF forces from the roof of a mosque, further demonstrating their disregard for civilian life. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Behind closed doors, former president Donald Trump and his advisers have been talking for months about forming a commission led by prominent business executives to comb through the government books to identify thousands of programs to cut.

Lately, one particularly famous candidate has made clear he’d be up for it: Elon Musk. And he may have much to gain personally from the endeavor.

On several occasions, including on X, the social media platform he owns, the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive has expressed interest in being part of a “government efficiency commission” aimed at eliminating wasteful regulations and spending. Musk in August posted an apparently artificial intelligence-generated image of himself behind a lectern labeled “Department of Government Efficiency,” with the acronym DOGE – a meme-based cryptocurrency Musk has previously embraced.

Musk’s potential involvement in a government regulatory and spending commission has sparked concerns from ethics experts who point to conflicts of interest that could emerge between such a post and his business empire. But Trump advisers are eager to bring in prominent corporate leaders to compile a high-profile list of federal excess, reprising efforts similar to those led by President Ronald Reagan and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who once published an annual “Waste Book” on allegedly frivolous spending.

Trump last week downplayed the idea that Musk would join his Cabinet – but also said Musk might be a helpful consultant to the federal government.

“He wants to be involved, but look, he’s running big businesses and all that … so he can’t really” be in the Cabinet, Trump said on the Shawn Ryan Show. “He can sort of, as the expression goes, consult with the country and give you some very good ideas.”

Musk did not respond to a request for comment.

Musk has increasingly used X as a megaphone to support Trump and bash his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. But as the two billionaires have moved into a closer political alliance, scrutiny is mounting over the potential financial benefits a potential second Trump administration could deliver to Musk.

After favoring Joe Biden in 2020, Musk has now fully embraced Trump. He helped create a SuperPAC, America PAC, in support of the Republican candidate, which has raised at least $8.7 million from wealthy donors – including former Tesla board member Antonio Gracias, Palantir co-founder and Austin-based tech investor Joe Lonsdale, and Sequoia Capital investor Shaun Maguire – as of June 30, the most recent date for which public filings are available.

Although Tesla has benefited from Biden’s electric vehicle subsidies, Musk’s companies have also faced greater regulatory scrutiny than they did under Trump’s administration, as the White House has embarked upon more pro-union policies and a crackdown on alleged corporate malfeasance.

Over the past few years, for example, the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission have advanced investigations into Tesla’s marketing of its driver-assistance technologies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a recall of almost every Tesla after a widespread investigation concluded that the company had done too little to ensure that drivers pay attention to the road while using its Autopilot driver-assistance system.

Meanwhile, the SEC has opened a separate investigation into X, formerly Twitter, which Musk purchased in 2022, and the National Labor Relations Board is investigating allegations of harassment at SpaceX. Both SpaceX and Starlink, Musk’s satellite business, would likely benefit from fresh federal contracts, as the GOP platform calls for increased satellite investment and accelerating space exploration toward Mars.

Musk has also praised Trump’s desire to do away with EV tax credits, even as he acknowledged such a policy could hurt his company in the short term. The billionaire, who has called for the removal of subsidies “from all industries,” said canceling those incentives would be “devastating for our competitors” and only “hurt Tesla slightly.”

Trump has previously railed against electric vehicles, but has been vocal about how Musk’s support has influenced his view: “I’m for electric cars,” Trump said at a rally last month. “I have to be because Elon endorsed me very strongly.”

Some Trump advisers downplayed how much clout Musk would have in a second administration. Among the other names that could be considered for the commission are Fred Smith, the former CEO of FedEx, and Robert Nardelli, the former CEO of Home Depot, said two people familiar with the idea, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Musk’s businesses are closely intertwined with federal spending already.

Tesla has been paid $36 million in federal funds to install at least 328 EV charging plugs, according to policy and data research firm Atlas Public Policy. SpaceX won a NASA contract in 2021 worth up to $4.4 billion to build a human landing system for the Artemis moon missions. The company has already received $2.2 billion under the agreement in taxpayer money.

“It raises questions that the commission’s focus is on saving taxpayer dollars, but you have someone potentially involved whose company is one of the biggest recipients of federal spending,” said Anna Massoglia, a money in politics expert at the nonprofit organization OpenSecrets. “Cracking down on government waste and abuse is important, but we also need to have accountability mechanisms so private sector actors involved in this kind of program can’t manipulate it for personal gain.”

Samuel Hammond, a policy expert at the center-right Foundation for American Innovation, pointed out that Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris also has numerous large Silicon Valley boosters and other donors with extensive business in front of the federal government.

“Do Kamala Harris backers want to get subsidies for clean energy projects?” Hammond said. “In the case of Musk, I think his main demand is to be left alone.”

Trump’s interest in the commission is partly a response to a political and substantive problem facing his campaign – the GOP presidential nominee’s plans might inflate the national debt. He has pushed several trillions of dollars in additional tax cuts for his second term, and proposed nowhere near that amount in new revenue.

Trump has for months expressed interest in establishing a “blue ribbon” commission of top executives to eliminate wasteful federal spending, said Steve Moore, who pitched the former president on the idea. Moore said the plan was modeled after the Grace Commission, a Reagan-era panel that recommended billions of dollars in spending cuts. Most of its recommendations were never implemented, but they helped provide rhetorical fuel to anti-spending arguments by conservatives.

“It should be a high priority. We have a lot of spending and waste to cut if we’re going to extend the Trump tax cuts or do these other things he wants to do,” Moore said. “You’ll have to find redundancies and inefficiencies and obsolescence, but the good news is we haven’t done this in a couple decades.”

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Art Laffer – who have sometimes advised Trump on economic policy – strongly favor the plan, they said in interviews. Nonpartisan budget hawks also expressed support for the idea.

Moore said he was unsure if Musk would be interested in chairing the commission, but said he would be “absolutely perfect to run it.”

Some critics, however, say this effort could amount to a mostly symbolic attempt to arrest government spending. Increased costs for Social Security and Medicare are the primary drivers of the nation’s long-term fiscal imbalance, and many budget experts are skeptical that such a commission – which would still need approval in Congress – could translate into meaningful deficit reduction. Trump’s plans are projected to add an additional $2 trillion to the debt at least, although precise estimates are difficult because of the vagueness of his promises.

A commission that involves Musk to identify spending cuts could help distract from Trump’s plans to increase the deficit – but also seal their political alliance.

Toward the end of a meandering, two-hour plus conversation on X between Trump and Musk last month, the Republican candidate fawned over how many people tuned into the conversation and said Musk’s endorsement meant more than most.

“That endorsement meant a lot to me,” Trump said of Musk’s July endorsement. “Not all endorsements mean that much, to be honest. Your endorsement meant a lot.”

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(c) Washington Post

Hamas has issued a stark warning, stating that Israeli hostages held in Gaza will return “inside coffins” if Israel attempts to free them through military action rather than negotiating a deal. In a statement released by the militant group, which controls Gaza, Hamas claimed its fighters guarding the hostages in the Palestinian enclave have received “new instructions” on how to handle the situation if Israeli forces approach. The group also released an illustrated poster apparently depicting hostages being threatened with a gun. “Netanyahu’s insistence on liberating the prisoners through military pressure instead of concluding a deal will mean that they will return to their families inside coffins and their families will have to choose whether they are dead or alive,” said Abu Obaida, spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, on Monday. This warning comes in the wake of Israeli forces recovering the bodies of six hostages from Gaza over the weekend. An Israeli spokesperson stated on Sunday that the hostages had been “brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists” shortly before soldiers reached them. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged a “strong reaction” to the deaths of six hostages whose bodies were found in Gaza over the weekend, stating that Israel plans “to hurt Hamas in a way Israel hasn’t done before,” according to an Israeli official. “The intention of the PM now is to hurt Hamas in a way Israel hasn’t done before,” the official told CNN. Meanwhile, at a press conference on Monday evening, Netanyahu said “We’re going to exact a heavy price from Hamas; I’m not going to tell you what the price is going to be and what we’re going to do, there’s going to be an element of surprise here,” Netanyahu said at a news conference on Monday night.” The official also addressed the Israeli cabinet’s decision on Thursday, which mandates that the IDF remain in the Philadelphi corridor – a critical 14-kilometer strip along the Gaza-Egypt border -during the initial phase of a proposed hostage and ceasefire deal. The corridor is currently controlled by the IDF, and its continued presence there has been a significant point of contention between Israel and Hamas, with Hamas demanding the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area. In a cabinet meeting on Monday, Netanyahu emphasized the strategic importance of the Philadelphi corridor, stating, “Everyone who says that we can leave (the) Philadelphi Axis for 42 days knows very well that it will be for 42 years. The world will not allow us to return. Everyone understands the importance of Philadelphi and (Hamas leader Yahya) Sinwar understands it best. That’s why he insists. All the arms smuggling to Gaza is through the Philadelphi corridor. If we change the cabinet’s decision, it will be a terror award, you will not bring back the hostages.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The British government suspended some arms sales to the Israel Defense Forces on Monday, claiming there is a “clear risk” the weapons could be used by the Jewish state’s military to “commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy informed lawmakers that London would cancel 30 out of 350 licenses, banning the export of aircraft, drones, helicopters and ground targeting equipment.

“It is with regret that I inform the House today the assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain U.K. arms exports to Israel,” he told the House of Commons.

“There does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” London’s top diplomat added.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday night he was “deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions placed by the U.K. Government on export licenses to Israel’s defense establishment.”

“This comes at a time when we fight a war on 7 different fronts—a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organization, unprovoked. At a time when we mourn 6 hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. At a time when we fight to bring 101 hostages home,” Gallant wrote in a post on X.

“I stand by our troops and security agencies working with immense courage, professionalism and moral values. We remain committed to defending the State of Israel and her people,” he added.

Last month, the British Department for Business and Trade froze all weapons export licenses to the IDF pending a government review.

Sources in Yerushalayim told Israel Hayom that while officials in the Israeli Foreign Ministry were engaged in behind-the-scenes diplomacy to avert an arms embargo, these efforts had been unsuccessful.

The move is viewed as a direct extension of the Labour government’s reported decision to abandon an effort to challenge the International Criminal Court over attempts to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The previous government, under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, joined Israel in fighting ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan after he applied to have the court issue warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for alleged war crimes.

Lammy said on July 6 that he would seek a “balanced position” on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

“I hope, too, that we see a ceasefire soon, and we bring an alleviation to the suffering and the intolerable loss of life that we’re now seeing also in Gaza,” he said during a visit to Yerushalayim on July 15.

At least 14 British nationals were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 cross-border terrorist attacks, according to the BBC. Several others were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists during the invasion.

(JNS)

An ultra swimmer said he again will try to cross Lake Michigan, from Michigan to Wisconsin, just a few weeks after trouble with a GPS device forced him to give up after 60 miles (96 kilometers). Jim Dreyer said he would set off early Monday evening in Grand Haven. He said the journey to Milwaukee would cover at least 80 miles (128 kilometers) in the water and last 72 hours or more. Dreyer, 61, will also be towing a small inflatable boat with supplies. “Sorry for the last-minute notice, but chaos is often part of this open water swimming game,” he said on Facebook while also posting “Here I Go Again,” a 1987 power ballad video by Whitesnake. His progress can be tracked online. Dreyer, whose calls himself The Shark, crossed Lake Michigan in 1998, starting in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, and finishing in Ludington, Michigan. But three attempts to do it again have been unsuccessful since 2023. His last effort began on Aug. 6. The next day, he paused to get fresh AA batteries to keep a GPS device working. But during the process, Dreyer said he somehow lost the bag in the lake. He had only a compass and nature to help him try to keep moving west. But Dreyer ended up swimming north instead, burning precious time and adding more miles as risky weather approached. A support crew pulled him out of Lake Michigan on Aug. 8. “What a blow!” Dreyer said at the time. (AP)

The Israel Defense Forces will stay on Gaza’s border with Egypt to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its strength by smuggling in arms, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said on Monday night. He also vowed to exact a “very heavy price” from the terrorist group for its recent execution of six captives.

“We are in the midst of an existential war against Iran’s axis of evil, and the first condition of victory is unity among us,” the Israeli leader said in an address to the nation. “We must stand united against a brutal enemy seeking to destroy us all—left or right, religious or secular, Jews and non-Jews. We have seen that not only on October 7, but throughout the war.”

Netanyahu said that, in conversations with the families of hostages Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, Carmel Gat and IDF Master Sgt. Ori Danino—who were executed by Hamas terrorists last week and whose bodies were retrieved for burial in the Jewish state over the weekend—he asked for forgiveness that Israel’s government and security forces failed to bring them back home alive.

“We were very close, but we were not able to do so,” Netanyahu said, warning that Hamas “will pay a very heavy price” for the six murders.

The premier continued by saying that all of the government’s war goals in the Gaza Strip, including the return of the 101 remaining hostages, “go through one gate, the Philadelphi Corridor. It’s the oxygen of Hamas.

“The axis of evil needs the Philadelphi Corridor; for this reason, we need the Philadelphi Corridor,” Netanyahu said, using the IDF’s name for the 8.5-mile-long belt of land along Gaza’s border with Sinai. “This corridor determines our entire future.”

If Israel gives up control of the border area, as Hamas has demanded during the ongoing hostages-for-ceasefire talks, the remaining captives could be smuggled out to Egypt and from there to Iran or Yemen, he said.

The premier noted during his address that Israel controlled all other entry points to the Gaza Strip, by land and by sea, and that leaving the Sinai border open since the 2005 disengagement was what had enabled Hamas to arm its forces and fight three previous wars against Israel.

Pivoting to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire negotiations, Netanyahu noted that Hamas did not budge for months. “The first crack came when we went into Rafah and took over the Philadelphi Corridor, when we took over the passage; that’s when they started talking differently,” he said.

“As soon as they think there is weakness on our side, or pressure, they’ll go right back,” warned the premier, adding that he was “absolutely shocked” that some Cabinet members, most notably Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, have suggested that Israel leave the Philadelphi Corridor.

Pointing to a document that was reportedly discovered by forces in a Gaza tunnel earlier this year, he said that shifting all blame towards Netanyahu was a key component of Hamas’s psychological warfare.

“We have agreed to the outline presented by President Biden on May 31; we have agreed to what they called the final bridging proposal on August 18, but Hamas said no to the first and no to the second,” the prime minister noted, in an apparent reference to Monday’s criticism from the American president.

Netanyahu concluded, “Together we stand, together we fight, and together, with God’s help, we will overcome.”

One hundred and one hostages—alive and dead—are still held captive in Gaza after more than 300 days. Off-and-on negotiations have continued for months with the United States, Egypt and Qatar acting as mediators.

(JNS)

A man drove his car through a restaurant patio where a group of medical workers were celebrating in a Minneapolis suburb on Sunday, killing two of them and injuring at least four, police and hospital officials said. Surveillance footage captured a man, whom police did not name, driving into the outdoor patio of the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, a city immediately west of Minneapolis. The footage shows the man entering the restaurant parking lot on Sunday evening but not going inside. He attempted to park, then drove into the outdoor patio, police said. The driver was arrested for criminal vehicular homicide. Police did not offer additional details on a potential motive. They also did not identify the victims. But in a written statement on Monday, Annelise Heitkamp, a spokesperson for Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, said one of the people who died and the four who were injured worked at the facility. “Following the tragic incident at Park Tavern, we’re grieving the loss of a loved and respected colleague and friend to many here at Methodist Hospital and HealthPartners,” Heitkamp said. “Our thoughts are with our colleague’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.” The statement did not disclose the deceased people’s names. It said all four of the injured hospital workers were nurses. Dr. Thomas Stark, who works at Methodist Hospital, told KSTP-TV that the group of colleagues went to Park Tavern, which is near the hospital, on Sunday night to celebrate with one of the nurses, who was leaving her role for a new position. “On to the next chapter of her life and everyone was out celebrating, having a good time and saying good-bye,” Stark said. That nurse is now hospitalized with severe injuries, according to the news station. One person who witnessed the episode told KARE-TV that the driver struck the back of his vehicle before mowing directly into a crowd of about 30 people on the patio, the news station reported. The Park Tavern is a “family-friendly destination offers bowling lanes and arcade games, plus a restaurant and bar,” according to its website. In a written statement published online, the restaurant said it would remain closed until further notice. “Thank you for your understanding and kindness during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement said. The Minnesota State Patrol conducted an accident reconstruction, and a law enforcement investigation into the episode is ongoing, authorities said. (AP)

[COMMUNICATED]

In a community known for its exponential growth and vibrant Jewish life, Shlomo Schorr succeeded Avi Schnall in the role of legislative advocacy, quietly navigating the complexities of New Jersey’s political landscape. From his unique vantage point—shaped by years in the media, where he reported on and built relationships with the very people he now collaborates with—Rabbi Schorr offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes efforts that keep the wheels of progress turning for the state’s frum community.

In this candid conversation, Rabbi Schorr reflects on the high-stakes battles and subtle negotiations that have come to define his work at The Agudah’s New Jersey office. He recounts the profound impact of landmark cases, like the Jackson Township lawsuit, and the far-reaching effects of securing crucial legislation for busing and school lunch programs. Balancing advocacy with diplomacy, Rabbi Schorr’s experience in the press corps has proven invaluable, allowing him to bridge gaps with local officials and reporters across the state and temper the sometimes contentious narrative surrounding Jewish communal growth.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
“The Director of Legislative Affairs for Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey office.” Quite the title you’ve got there! You’ve been in this position for how long now?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
About a year and a half. I joined The Agudah in January 2023, and when Rabbi Schnall was elected to the Assembly and sworn in to office this past January, I was asked to help fill the role position he previously occupied.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
You’ve taken on a lot of responsibilities! How’s it been going so far?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
It’s been incredible. The support from everyone in the organization has been tremendous. Stepping into Avi’s shoes was no small task—he’s been doing this for ten years, and he’s built something remarkable. But he left behind a solid foundation and infrastructure, which has made the transition much smoother. Plus, having Rabbi AD Motzen, who is the National Director of Government Affairs, and the 11 other regional directors to collaborate with on a daily basis has been invaluable. And by working under Avi for the first twelve months since I joined the Agudah I have learnt a tremendous amount from, his experience, expertise and the knowledge which he’s gathered over the last decade. I am also fortunate enough to learn from many others here in town, who are both older and wiser than me.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
If I may say, and I don’t mean to sound patronizing, but as a fellow Lakewood resident, I’m truly proud of how seamlessly you’ve stepped into this role. I see the way you eloquently represent our community, whether speaking to the public, engaging with the press, or through your writing. Your ability to articulate the community’s message and advocate on their behalf is exceptional. The Agudah couldn’t have chosen a better person for this role. Lakewood, and really the entire New Jersey region, is fortunate to have someone like you representing us in the halls of Trenton. 

And speaking of Trenton, we were chatting last week, just before the passage of the state budget, where you were deeply involved. You almost ended up spending Shabbos at the State House. Can you talk about that for a moment? I bring it up not just for the sake of the story, but because it’s such a clear example of the dedication and commitment that a good representative like yourself brings to the table—and how it impacts your life, your schedule, and even your family. I’d love to hear more about that.

For the layperson, they might understand why Assemblymen Schaer and Schnall, as state legislators, would need to be there. But you’re not a politician—you’re a representative of a nonprofit, Agudath Israel. Why was it so crucial for someone like you to be so hands-on when the budget was being finalized?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
That’s a great question. As someone who works with many coalition partners to address our needs, we often team up with other groups. For example, we’ll partner with the Catholic community on funding for nonpublic schools, which includes various issues like nursing, technology, and school lunches. To effectively achieve our shared goals, we all need to be present.

There are 120 legislators, and we’re a relatively small team. We’re all engaging with different legislators, coordinating our efforts, and keeping everything aligned as the budget is finalized and changes are being made on the fly. To maintain a united front and ensure that we’re all on the same page, it’s essential that we’re all there, in person, to avoid any gaps or misunderstandings. So while Avi might be advocating for specific priorities, we’re fighting for a broad range of items that benefit our entire coalition. It’s a collaborative effort, and being present is crucial while all of this is unfolding in real time.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
So is this an annual thing that you deal with every year? Around May or June, right? Because of the July 1st deadline to pass the budget for the following fiscal year…

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
Exactly. For example, the fiscal year 2025 budget must be passed by July 1st, 2024, which marks the start of the 2025 fiscal year. It’s a one-year budget, and every year brings a new, but similar, process. The governor presents the budget in February, and from there it goes to the legislature. That’s where we step in, spending February through June fighting, advocating, and lobbying to ensure our priorities are included and properly funded.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
And how often do you find yourself going to Trenton and spending significant time at the State House?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
There are two main phases during the budget season. The first is when the governor is formulating and introducing his budget, usually around January and February. During that time, we meet with the governor’s office and the administration, as well as various departments, to ensure that the initial proposal includes our key items. But even if we don’t get everything we want at that stage, we then shift our focus to the legislature. From there, we meet with legislators to discuss what can be added to the governor’s budget, since they are the ones who ultimately pass it. They have the ability to include additional items, and we work hard to make sure our priorities are among them.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
I don’t think I’ve ever actually been inside the State House. When someone like you goes there, do you have a workspace or office space available?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
Actually, I don’t have an office there. Many lobbyists do have offices nearby, but there are some spaces within the State House where people can sit. 

There is a cafeteria where many lobbyists meet and work, although they don’t serve food there anymore—it’s more of a workspace now. You can set up a laptop, make calls, and handle things of that sort.

And speaking of Trenton, I find myself there quite often. In fact, I’ve been there twice in one day recently. This is something that makes our situation in New Jersey quite unique compared to other Jewish communities across the country. For instance, Albany is a long trip from New York City, where the frum community is based, and Springfield is hours away from Chicago. I consider myself lucky that I can drive to Trenton for a committee meeting in the morning, be back for lunch, and sometimes even head back later for a vote. It’s usually around a 45-minute drive, depending on where you’re coming from. If you’re in Lakewood or Jackson, it can vary slightly—maybe 30 to 45 minutes.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
Outside of the budget, what are the issues you’re currently advocating for on behalf of the community? What are the hot-button topics right now?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
There are many issues that are always included in the budget, and then there are new ones that come up each year, bills we want to get passed now. The Jewish community in New Jersey has a significant presence, with 75,000 children in nonpublic and yeshiva schools throughout the state—over 50,000 of them in Lakewood alone. And then you have other sizable communities around Passaic, Deal, Edison, Highland Park, Teaneck, Englewood and many, many more. Then there are smaller communities like Cherry Hill, Morristown, and beyond. I have a list of about 25 municipalities throughout the state with at least some Jewish community presence..

So, because of the number of children in these communities, anything related to nonpublic schools is always a big focus. We’re constantly looking for ways to make things easier or secure more funding to help parents. Tuition is a significant topic—many people talk about school choice and tuition relief, and we certainly hope to achieve something significant related to that here in New Jersey.

But, as I see it, I would also add that tuition relief isn’t just about directly lowering tuition costs. If we can secure funding in other areas, it can still relieve the financial burden on families. Whether it’s for busing, school lunches, or supplies, any savings, even if not labeled as “tuition relief,” still come out of the same pocket. So, while the state hasn’t funded direct tuition relief yet, we try to achieve financial relief in other ways that impact the family’s overall expenses.

And I would note that, partly because of the success we have when it comes to obtaining funding for many school related programs, tuition in Lakewood area schools are significantly lower than in many other Jewish communities.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
Do you feel that tuition relief isn’t a realistic ask at this time? I imagine you get asked this question all the time: “So, Rabbi Schorr, when is tuition relief coming to New Jersey residents?”

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
There’s no doubt that tuition is the number one concern for Jewish parents, not just in New Jersey, but across the country. We’ve seen some success in other states, but here in New Jersey, it’s a multi-year plan that we just kicked into high gear this past year. We hope that, be’ezras Hashem, we’ll see some progress on this front. How significant and how soon? That remains to be seen, but we’re optimistic.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
Is there a chance that even if they don’t pass a full voucher system, we might see some sort of compromise, like a tax credit or a similar measure?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
Absolutely. The focus here is more on a tax credit, which is different from a voucher. A tax credit is something that many politicians, including Democrats in the state, have been more open to discussing.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
And just to clarify, a tax credit means that when you file your taxes at the end of the year, it directly reduces your taxable income by the amount of tuition paid?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
Not exactly. That’s a different version. What we’re trying to achieve in New Jersey is a system where an individual or corporation could make a charitable donation, and that donation would then grant a tax credit—typically 75 to 85% of the donated amount—on their tax bill. This donation would go directly towards a scholarship foundation set up to provide tuition grants.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
So I guess time will tell if that comes to fruition. I know Assemblyman Schnall has been getting these questions as well. With the financial realities facing frum families today, we keep saying it—it’s never been more expensive to raise a frum family, whether it’s housing prices, groceries, tuition, insurance, and everything else.

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
Across the board, things are getting tougher. So if we can provide any form of meaningful assistance, it would be incredibly helpful right now.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
There are so many communities on the periphery, where Jews are moving in, and they’ve faced various incidents and expressions of antisemitism. People are understandably hesitant about the expansion of communities and what they perceive as overdevelopment. I’m sure these issues come to your desk often. From your standpoint, how do you address this in a politically sensitive way—balancing legislative work while also engaging with the local residents to make them more accepting of the frum community’s growth?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
That’s an excellent question, and it’s something I deal with regularly. I get calls about it almost weekly from places like Manchester, Jackson, Howell, Brick, and Toms River—basically all the municipalities surrounding Lakewood. There are a few things to consider here. Sometimes, it’s simply a lack of understanding on the part of local officials. That’s relatively easy to address because they’re not looking to be antagonistic; they just don’t know or are a bit apprehensive. So, I make it a point to sit down with them, and lately, I’ve started meeting with zoning and planning board officials who may have little to no familiarity with the Jewish community. They might have seen some stories in the media and feel uncertain or scared what may happen in their quiet town.

And as you see yeshivas and Jewish communities open up across the state in areas where there previously were none, they often face similar reactions. We advocate for smart planning and development that respects how all communities live. Jews, like everyone else, want to live in safe neighborhoods without traffic accidents or issues that can affect their peacefulness and quality of life.

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
Jews also want a good quality of life when they move to these neighborhoods. We advocate for smart planning in these areas. For example, you may have heard about the recently concluded lawsuit against Jackson Township, which we won in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice. One of the key points was that there should be a reasonable amount of acreage required for a shul, mikvah, and other areas of Jewish observance. We can’t have unreasonable demands like requiring ten acres or even five acres just to build a shul—that’s simply not feasible.

At the same time, we’re not saying that it should be built on a quarter of an acre, either. The idea is to find a reasonable middle ground—maybe two acres, two and a half, or one and a half, depending on the zoning area. That was a significant part of our lawsuit, and I think it’s something everyone can appreciate—a smart, balanced approach that respects religious practices while avoiding discrimination.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
You have work experience in the media as a writer. You’ve worked for the press. Unfortunately, a lot of the hostility we see toward the community is actually fueled by the media, which can sow antisemitism among a population that might not otherwise have those sentiments. People read what they read, and often believe it, even when it’s at best a misrepresentation and at worst outright falsehoods about the frum community. Given your background, having worked with some of these writers and understanding the media from the inside, have you been able to use that experience to make inroads, perhaps helping them to better understand our perspective—without naming any particular publication, of course?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
That’s a great question. Absolutely. New Jersey has a relatively small press corps, influenced in parts by the Philly and New York City media markets, but it remains its own entity. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know most of the reporters who cover state-level news and many of those in the larger cities who focus on our area. I’ve had opportunities to discuss and explain some of our issues, and I’ve seen quite a few of them come a long way since I first met them five, six, or seven years ago. No question about that.

Even before I joined The Agudah, I have often got questions from reporters who had no previous exposure to the Orthodox way of life. They’d ask about “languages” or other unfamiliar aspects of our community. I’ve worked with many of them over the years, some more than others. Generally, most of them want to get the story right—they’re not out to be antagonistic. However, there are always a few who seem set in their ways, and I’ve learned that with some, it’s just not worth trying to engage. Fortunately, many of those have left the industry, particularly as the media landscape has contracted in recent years.

Most reporters, I find, are quite open to working with us. I know many of them personally now and see them regularly at the State House. They often reach out to me for background on stories. And, importantly, there are times when a story never makes it to print because we were able to discourage them or explain why it wasn’t really newsworthy, and then suggest a different angle or story. Reporters have quotas to fill, and they’re not necessarily out to attack us. They’re often just following assignments. If I can help redirect their focus to something less inflammatory, that’s a tactic that has proven successful to varying degrees over the years.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
Have you noticed a shift in how the media treats Lakewood—or really, the greater frum community of central Jersey? Are we getting a fairer shake than in the past?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
I pay very close attention to these stories, and I know almost every reporter in the state personally. I track how each one writes, and over the years, I’ve noticed that some of them have definitely come around. It’s not just me, of course. There are many people in our community and across the state who are working on this. It’s very much a team effort. Others in our community engage with the media, build relationships, and explain things in a positive, approachable way. I do think there’s been a shift.

Part of that shift, like I mentioned, is that some of the more antagonistic reporters are no longer employed in this area. Those individuals who were consistently writing negative articles are simply not around anymore. So, naturally, we’re seeing fewer of those types of stories as well.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
In closing, is there any final story or anecdote that comes to mind where you’ve seen Agudath Israel of America and its services really make a profound impact on the New Jersey community?

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
Certainly. The Jackson lawsuit, which The Agudah brought in conjunction with the Department of Justice, is a major one. It’s something that will shape the future for Jackson. Jackson has over 15,000 Orthodox Jewish residents and growing faster than Lakewood right now percentage wise. It’s one of the largest frum communities in the country outside of New York, and it’s continuing to grow rapidly. But beyond that, there are other impactful initiatives. Just a few months ago, there was the busing bill, which allows for more flexible busing options for children in the communities surrounding Lakewood. This will enable thousands of children in Jackson, Toms River, and even Lakewood schools to have better busing services, which will significantly affect many families.

There’s also the lunch bill. A perfect example of a bill that without our efforts, this would never have happened. We managed to expand the eligibility for free lunches to income-eligible children in nonpublic schools, raising the income threshold and including our schools as well. This expansion will have a substantial impact on families across the state.

Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger:
Rabbi Schorr, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you. You’ve been a dignified voice, and we’re incredibly proud—not just at The Agudah, but throughout the frum community—to have you representing us with such respect and dignity. You’ve earned well-deserved respect, and we thank you for everything you’ve done. We wish you continued hatzlacha in all your endeavors.

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr:
Thank you so much. Our success is a shared success, and having a great team makes it all possible. Working together as a klal and the support we get from the tzibbur allows us to achieve many more accomplishments, be’ezras Hashem.

Please support our campaign and help us continue doing for you and for all of Klal Yisroel. 
Www.charidy.com/wedo

As of Sunday it is, once again, illegal to possess small amounts of hard drugs in Oregon. A first-in-the-nation law decriminalizing drugs expired, as communities across America struggle to curb fentanyl use and overdose deaths.

Sunday marks the end of an experiment that drug-reform advocates called a pioneering and progressive measure to better help people. Oregon legislators reassessed Measure 110 this year and decided to again make it a misdemeanor to possess a minor amount of drugs – essentially anything besides marijuana. Selling and manufacturing illicit drugs was and is still illegal in Oregon.

Those who supported the measure said it sought to help instead of simply handcuff, by offering services as opposed to the stigma of an arrest, which can make it harder to find a job or place to live. The most vocal advocate was the Drug Policy Alliance, which spent more than $4 million on the campaign.

The measure required officers to hand out $100 citations instead of jail time, and that citation could be waived if the person called a state-funded hotline and enrolled in an assessment for treatment. Those services were funded by hundreds of millions of dollars in marijuana tax revenue. (Marijuana has been legal in Oregon since 2015.)

The alliance and others used Portugal, which decriminalized certain hard drugs in 2001, as a model – despite Portugal mulling changes of its own to the law.

The Oregon campaign emphasized a study showing that Black and Native American people were more likely to be convicted of drug crimes than White people and must deal with the consequences for decades.

The vote came in November 2020 during a wave of calls for criminal justice reform that crested after the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by police in Minnesota.

The measure passed with support from 60 percent of voters.

“We have been criminalizing people for at least 50 years, and what we know is that it hasn’t gotten us any closer to having our loved ones get the care that they need at the scale that it requires,” Kassandra Frederique, the alliance’s executive director, told The Washington Post at the time.

But the program’s problems were clear right away.

Because of decades of underinvestment in behavioral health services, there weren’t enough providers to care for drug users, experts said. The health-care system was already stretched thin by the covid-19 pandemic. When the measure passed, state officials said Oregon ranked last in the nation for providing access to substance-use disorder treatment. Then state auditors raised concerns about the way the Oregon Health Authority managed grants meant for substance-abuse programs.

Then there was fentanyl. Up to 50 times stronger than heroin, fentanyl in 2021 was just hitting its peak on the West Coast after wreaking havoc elsewhere in the nation. This past January, the soaring number of fentanyl overdoses prompted state and local leaders to declare a 90-day state of emergency in downtown Portland.

Supported by polling that showed citizens no longer backed decriminalization, The Post reported, politicians and business leaders filed initiatives to let voters to “fix and improve” the law.

Soon after, Oregon legislators convened.

On Feb. 29, the Oregon House of Representatives voted 51-7 to recriminalize drugs, with bipartisan support. The Oregon Senate did the same by a vote of 21-8 the next day. Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed recriminalization into law April 1.

Data shows how the law was used in practice. The Oregonian reported that circuit court data collected by the Oregon Judicial Department from when the law went into effect Feb. 1, 2021, to Aug. 26, 2024, showed that the state’s circuit courts imposed just under $900,000 in fines under the measure but collected only $78,000 of those fines.

The conviction rate for the 7,227 people cited was 89 percent, with most of those because people didn’t show up to court, the Oregonian reported. Data showed that 85 people completed the substance-abuse screening in lieu of a conviction.

The most commonly cited drug was methamphetamine, accounting for 54 percent of citations. Fentanyl and other Schedule II drugs, the Oregonian reported, ranked second at 31 percent.

Advocates of the measure were saddened by what they viewed as a backward move from lawmakers.

“It’s easier for the legislature to blame and stigmatize and disappear people into jails than to fix the problem they had a hand in creating,” Emily Kaltenbach, the Drug Policy Alliance’s senior director of state advocacy, previously told The Post.

The last day the measure was in effect was Saturday, which was Overdose Awareness Day.

(c) Washington Post

Italo Medelius was leading a volunteer drive to put Cornel West on North Carolina’s presidential ballot last spring when he received an unexpected call from a man named Paul who said he wanted to help. Though Medelius, co-chairman of West’s “Justice for All Party,” welcomed the assistance, the offer would complicate his life, provoking threats and drawing him into a state election board investigation of the motivations, backgrounds and suspect tactics of his new allies. His is not an isolated case. Across the country, a network of Republican political operatives, lawyers and their allies is trying to shape November’s election in ways that favor former President Donald Trump. Their goal is to prop up third-party candidates such as West who offer liberal voters an alternative that could siphon away support from Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. It is not clear who is paying for the effort, but it could be impactful in states that were decided by miniscule margins in the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden. This is money West’s campaign does not have, and he has encouraged the effort. Last month the academic told The Associated Press that “American politics is highly gangster-like activity” and he “just wanted to get on that ballot.” Trump has offered praise for West, calling him “one of my favorite candidates.” Another is Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Trump favors both for the same reason. “I like her very much. You know why? She takes 100% from them. He takes 100%.” Democrats are exploring ways to lift Randall Terry, an anti-abortion presidential candidate for the Constitution Party, believing he could draw voters from Trump. But the GOP effort appears to be more far-reaching. After years of Trump accusing Democrats of “rigging” elections, it is his allies who are now mounting a sprawling and at times deceptive campaign to tilt the vote in his favor. “The fact that either of the two major parties would attempt financially and otherwise to support a third-party spoiler candidate as part of its effort to win is an unfortunate byproduct” of current election laws “that facilitate spoilers,” said Edward B. Foley, a law professor who leads Ohio State University’s election law program. “This phenomenon is equally problematic whichever of the two major party engages in it.” One key figure in the push is Paul Hamrick, the man on the other end of the call with Medelius in North Carolina. Hamrick serves as counsel for the Virginia-based nonprofit People Over Party, which has pushed to get West on the ballot in Arizona, Maine, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as North Carolina, records show. In an interview, Hamrick declined to say who else besides him was orchestrating the effort and he would not divulge who was funding it. He vigorously disputed any suggestion that he was a Republican, but acknowledged that he was not a Democrat, either. His history is complex. Hamrick was chief of staff to former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, a one-term Democrat who was booted from office in 2003 and later was convicted and sentenced to prison on federal bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud charges. Hamrick was charged alongside his former boss in two separate cases. One was dismissed and he was acquitted in the other. Though he insists he is not a […]

Projections in Germany’s closely watched elections Sunday showed the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leading in one state and running a close second in another, a result that, if confirmed by official tallies, would see a far-right party win a state for the first time in the country’s postwar history.

The projections, based on early vote counts and commissioned by public broadcaster ARD, showed the AfD well ahead with 32.8 percent in the state of Thuringia, and claiming 30.8 percent in Saxony – 1 percentage point behind the center-right Christian Democrats. A second forecast by broadcaster ZDF showed an even tighter race in Saxony.

In both states in eastern Germany – which has become a stronghold of the far right – other parties have refused to cooperate with the AfD, meaning it is unlikely to form part of any new state governments. Nevertheless, the victory in Thuringia in particular would be seen as highly symbolic.

Deemed an extremist organization by domestic intelligence in three German states, and under investigation by national authorities for Islamophobia and its radical anti-migrant stances, the AfD has managed to overcome deep-seated taboos over nationalist politics.

“For the first time since World War II, we have a far-right party coming in first place in an election here in Germany,” said Sudha David-Wilp, director of the German Marshall Fund’s Berlin office. “So that is quite significant. The mainstream parties have to realize that the [AfD] is here to stay.”

Projections showed the centrist parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s national governing coalition – the center-left Social Democrats, the Green Party and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP)- struggling with single-digit backing in both states, although none of the three parties has traditionally performed well there. In Thuringia, polls showed the Greens and the FDP were both failing to muster the 5 percent required to enter the state parliament.

Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), a pro-Russian populist party of the far left, also made significant inroads, posting double digits in both states just eight months after the party was founded. That outcome could hint at new challenges for Scholz, whose coalition partners have languished in national polls amid a slew of crises.

Although the ruling parties were expecting a drubbing, David-Wilp said the issues driving sentiment in the two states – frustrations over migration, the war in Ukraine and the high costs of living – were nationwide problems.

The initial exit polls are based on samples at representative polling stations throughout election day; official vote counts and provisional results expected overnight will be a factor in subsequent projections.

The AfD’s projected strong showing on Sunday amounted to the latest in a string of political gains, including a second-place finish in June’s vote for the European Parliament.

“We are the number one people’s party in Thuringia,” Björn Höcke, the AfD’s regional leader in Thuringia and a designated extremist by German’s domestic intelligence agency, told ARD. This year, he was fined twice after being found guilty for using Nazi slogans that are banned in modern Germany, charges he has labeled as political persecution.

“We have achieved a historic result,” he said.

Asked how he planned to build a coalition and become state premier, Höcke said the “dumb firewall talk” had to stop, referring to the other parties’ refusal to work with the AfD.

If it is unable to woo a coalition partner, the AfD will be unable to govern in either state. The party, however, could still gain significant rights in the two regional parliaments. Initial forecasts suggest that the AfD could win more than one-third of seats, granting the party special rights of a “blocking minority,” which would allow it to veto certain decision such as the appointment of judges and amendments to the regional state constitution.

Its victory will be felt far beyond the two eastern states.

Julia Reuschenbach, a political scientist at Berlin’s Free University, said the question people will be asking from outside is, “Is it really possible that in the country of National Socialism, where the Holocaust took place, that a right-wing extremist party or at least a right-wing extremist regional association can win an election again or become the strongest force?”

While the AfD’s political power is limited without governing, the party’s strength in numbers will make the democratic process of coalition building – a standard practice in Germany’s state and federal government, which uses a proportional representation system – no easy feat for the other parties.

The election results also mirrored the trend in the West of a shrinking middle, with polarized voters moving further toward political extremes. The additional success of the far-left BSW, only founded in January, could reshape German politics, with the party having the potential to scoop up voters from across the political spectrum in next year’s national vote.

AfD, founded in 2013 on skepticism of the European Union and euro zone, has grown more radical in recent years – and found new success in the process. The first boost came in 2015, at the height of Europe’s Syrian migrant crisis, which helped the party win its first seats in Germany’s federal lower house of parliament, the Bundestag.

As the AfD grew in popularity, analysts say the party rapidly radicalized. Observers point to the covid-19 pandemic as a turning point, during which parts of the AfD mingled with conspiracy theorists and far-right extremists, both online and at demonstrations against pandemic measures.

The party continues to lead its campaigns with anti-migration policy and moved quickly to capitalize on the fatal stabbing of three people in Solingen on Aug. 23, for which the Islamic State has claimed responsibility. The 26-year-old Syrian suspect arrived in Germany in 2022 and, under the E.U. immigration rules, was supposed to be deported to Bulgaria, the country where he first entered the 27-nation bloc.

Observers fear that the AfD’s success in Sunday’s elections could also empower party supporters in Brandenburg – another eastern AfD stronghold – where voters head to the polls for a state election on Sept. 22. The far-right party there is currently polling in first position with 24 percent.

(c) Washington Post

The family of murdered hostage Eden Yerushalmi HY’D has authorized the release of a portion of the sick terror video that Hamas published earlier today. The Yerushalmi family released this statement: “Our Eden, we love you too and we miss you like crazy. You are forever in our hearts.”