Feed aggregator

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will put import taxes of 100% on pharmaceutical drugs, 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture and 25% on heavy trucks starting on Oct. 1. The posts on his social media site showed that Trump’s devotion to tariffs did not end with the trade frameworks and import taxes that were launched in August, a reflection of the president’s confidence that taxes will help to reduce the government’s budget deficit while increasing domestic manufacturing. But the additional tariffs risk intensifying inflation that is already elevated, as well as slowing economic growth, as employers getting acclimated to Trump’s previous import taxes grapple with new levels of uncertainty. “We have begun to see goods prices showing through into higher inflation,” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned in a recent news conference, adding that higher costs for goods account for “most” or potentially “all” of the increase in inflation levels this year. Trump said on Truth Social that the pharmaceutical tariffs would not apply to companies that are building manufacturing plants in the United States, which he defined as either “breaking ground” or being “under construction.” It was unclear how the tariffs would apply to companies that already have factories in the U.S. In 2024, America imported nearly $233 billion in pharmaceutical and medicinal products, according to the Census Bureau. The prospect of prices doubling for some medicines could send shock waves to voters as health care expenses, as well as the costs of Medicare and Medicaid, potentially increase. Trump said that foreign manufacturers of furniture and cabinetry were flooding the United States with their products and that tariffs must be applied “for National Security and other reasons.” The new tariffs on cabinetry could further increase the costs for homebuilders at a time when many people seeking to buy a house feel priced out by the mix of housing shortages and high mortgage rates. Trump said that foreign-made heavy trucks and parts are hurting domestic producers. “Large Truck Company Manufacturers, such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Mack Trucks, and others, will be protected from the onslaught of outside interruptions,” Trump posted. Trump has long maintained that tariffs are the key to forcing companies to invest more in domestic factories. He has dismissed fears that importers would simply pass along much of the cost of the taxes to consumers and businesses in the form of higher prices. The president continues to claim that inflation is no longer a challenge for the U.S. economy, despite evidence to the contrary. The consumer price index has increased 2.9% over the past 12 months, up from an annual pace of 2.3% in April, when Trump first launched a sweeping set of import taxes. Nor is there evidence that the tariffs are creating factory jobs or more construction of manufacturing facilities. Since April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that manufacturers cut 42,000 jobs and builders have downsized by 8,000. “There’s no inflation,” Trump told reporters Thursday. “We’re having unbelievable success.” (AP)

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1601-Chikuy-Part-01-Wait.mp3

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

 

 

 

 

 

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Tefila4Life-Shiur-999-Need-Halelukah-Ki-Toiv-Zamrah.mp3

For the first time, the city of Lod has issued a special order prohibiting the use of electric scooters, e-bikes, and motorized or electric ATVs during Yom Kippur. The directive, signed by Mayor Yair Revivo, is intended to safeguard the sanctity of the holiest day of the Jewish calendar and to prevent disturbances, noise, and disruptions for the tens of thousands of residents who fast and daven in more than 100 shuls throughout the city.

The order applies citywide and will remain in force for the full 25 hours of Yom Kippur, from the beginning of the Yom Tov until it ends. Under the directive, only traditional bicycles will be permitted, and even then, they may not be equipped with speakers or any type of sound system, so as not to disturb mispallelim or detract from the solemnity of the day.

According to the municipality, anyone caught violating the order will face fines, and their vehicle may be confiscated. Mayor Revivo appealed to residents, saying, “Let us together preserve the sanctity of the chag,” while also extending his wishes for a good inscription and sealing for the year ahead.

In recent years, complaints from Lod residents have risen significantly, with many citing noise, disturbances, and tensions near shuls and in public areas on Yom Kippur. City officials hope that this new order will substantially reduce such conflicts and allow the holiness of the day to be properly observed.

Mayor Revivo noted that in previous years, the rides caused serious confrontations and disrespect among residents. “In recent years, these rides led to severe friction and a lack of respect between residents – and now we will preserve the Yom Kippur status quo in the city,” he said.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Starbucks said Thursday it’s closing hundreds of U.S. and Canadian stores and laying off 900 nonretail employees as it focuses more of its resources on a turnaround. The Seattle coffee giant said store closures would start immediately. The company wouldn’t give a number of stores that are closing, but it said it expects to have 18,300 North American locations when its fiscal year ends on Sunday, which is 124 fewer than it had at the end of its 2024 fiscal year. As of June 29, the company had 18,734 locations. Starbucks said workers in its stores will be offered transfers to other locations where possible and severance packages. Starbucks said it will notify nonretail employees whose positions are being eliminated early Friday. Starbucks asked employees who can work from home to do so on Thursday and Friday. In a letter sent to employees Thursday, Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said a review of the company’s stores identified locations where the company doesn’t see a path to financial stability or isn’t able to create the physical environment customers expect. Those stores are being closed. “Each year, we open and close coffeehouses for a variety of reasons, from financial performance to lease expirations,” Niccol wrote. “This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers. Our coffeehouses are centers of the community, and closing any location is difficult.” Starbucks said it expects to spend $1 billion on the restructuring, including $150 million on employee separation benefits and $850 million related to the physical store closing and the cost of exiting leases. Starbucks shares were down less than 1% in morning trading Thursday. It was not immediately clear how many of the stores that are closing are unionized. Workers at 650 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since 2021, but they have yet to reach a contract agreement with the company. Starbucks Workers United, the labor group organizing workers, said Thursday that the closures were made without input from Starbucks’ baristas. The union said it intends to engage in bargaining at every union-represented store that is closing to ensure workers can be placed at another store they prefer. “Fixing what’s broken at Starbucks isn’t possible without centering the people who engage with the company’s customers day in and day out,” the union said. News of the store closures came just over a week after unionized employees in three states sued Starbucks over its new dress code, saying the company refused to reimburse workers who had to buy new clothes. Starbucks said it used a consistent set of criteria to determine the stores that are closing and union representation wasn’t a factor. It’s rare for Starbucks to shrink its store count during a fiscal year. Niccol said Starbucks plans to increase its North American store count in its next fiscal year. The company said it also plans to redesign more than 1,000 locations in the next 12 months to give them a warmer, more welcoming feel. This is the second big round of layoffs at Starbucks this year. In February, Niccol announced the layoffs of 1,100 corporate employees globally and eliminated several hundred open positions. At the time, Niccol said Starbucks needed to operate more efficiently and increase accountability for decisions. Niccol is a turnaround specialist who […]

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, in an exclusive conversation with Breitbart News during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said that the Arab world views President Donald Trump as the “only one” who can bring peace to Gaza.

“I believe that the meeting with the Arab and Muslim leaders that took place with President Trump was a very important meeting,” Al Thani told Breitbart News. “It was a very important event during the UNGA. Basically, the main purpose of that is to highlight for the president the danger for the region and that we need to put a stop to what Israel is doing. Basically, it’s not only jeopardizing the security of the region, it’s jeopardizing even the U.S. interests in the region and jeopardizing the partnerships that the U.S. has built throughout decades in that region. The president was very receptive. He listened to all the leaders and he wants to work together with them to find a solution to this and put an end to it. We believe that everything should start with Gaza — stopping the war in Gaza and build out from there — because if you look at it today Israel and Netanyahu, it’s not the entire country but it’s Netanyahu, is setting the stage for the region that he has no boundaries and no red lines. He will do whatever he wants wherever he wants.”

Al Thani spoke at length with Breitbart News at Qatar’s UN mission on Thursday, just days after Trump met with Arab leaders following his UNGA speech, and shortly after Israel launched a military strike on Doha, apparently aiming to target Hamas negotiators. The attack left many wounded, killed a Qatari security official, and triggered outrage throughout the Arab world. Trump responded publicly, criticizing the move.

“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” Trump wrote on Truth Social immediately following the incident.

Some reports suggested Netanyahu gave Trump advance notice of the attack, but Trump rejected those claims. Instead, he convened talks with Al Thani at Trump Tower and met with other Arab leaders in New York. He also hosted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House, where the subject was expected to come up.

According to Al Thani, Trump personally confirmed in their meeting that he intends to pursue peace in Gaza. “The president reiterated his commitment to put an end for the war in Gaza,” Al Thani said. “He mentioned that he is working with his team on a plan for peace in Gaza and we are trying to help and assist his team in making the plan more acceptable and supported by the region as well.”

The Israeli strike on Doha drew sharp condemnation across the Arab world, with leaders — including Jordan’s King Abdullah II in his UN address — openly rebuking Netanyahu. Al Thani stressed to Breitbart News that Trump is “the only one” capable of stopping Netanyahu and preventing further escalation.

“We’ve been working with the president and the administration on multiple conflicts not just in the Middle East but even outside the Middle East and we see that President Trump, his policies since he came to office, is about how to end wars and how to start a new era of prosperity and development,” Al Thani said. “Basically, when we are working together with him on these files, it is basically to help and to bring peace and stability to — our region is of course our priority — but also beyond that. I believe, watching the president’s commitment to bring peace in the Middle East is very important. It’s very important also to highlight for the president that it’s not necessarily everything that Netanyahu is doing now is helping the U.S. interest. For example, the attack that happened that took place in Doha while negotiating teams were discussing a proposal submitted by President Trump was a total undermining of the U.S. and its efforts. We know that President Trump is the only one who can stop him from acting this way, because this is putting everything that the U.S. has done in the region in jeopardy. The president himself said what happened in Doha is against U.S. interests.”

Al Thani added that Arab leaders remain optimistic about Trump’s potential to achieve progress. He recalled Trump’s earlier visit to the Middle East at the start of his second term — including stops in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar — as a moment that inspired confidence. Asked whether that hope still exists, Al Thani was emphatic.

“We are still hopeful,” Al Thani said. “What we heard from the president two days ago was very encouraging, on Tuesday in the meeting with the Arab leaders was very encouraging, and we hope to get back on the right track and we hope that Netanyahu at the end listens and stops what he’s doing. All the energy of the visits and the deals that are being signed are now put into question after what he did with Qatar, striking a strong U.S. ally in the region. Basically, this has raised a lot of questions not among the Qataris only but among others and other partners in the region.”

He reiterated that only Trump has the influence to resolve the situation. “We are hopeful that if there is someone who can bring the stability to the Middle East, they need to restore order,” Al Thani told Breitbart News. “What’s happening right now is disorder by Netanyahu and the way he is conducting himself in the Middle East. Someone needs to stop him, and we don’t see anyone as able to stop him except President Trump.”

When asked directly if he believed Trump has the unique ability to succeed in this effort, Al Thani gave a simple reply: “Yes. He’s the President of the United States.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, now a Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey, was not permitted to march with her classmates at the US Naval Academy graduation after she became entangled in a widespread cheating incident, according to a newly surfaced report.

Her name did not appear in the official program for the May 25, 1994, commencement exercises, records obtained by the New Jersey Globe confirmed.

The congresswoman explained that she was kept from participating because she refused to identify classmates who were implicated in the scandal, which affected 130 midshipmen in her year.

“I didn’t turn in some of my classmates, so I didn’t walk, but graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving for nearly ten years with the highest level of distinction and honor,” Sherrill (D-NJ) told the outlet.

She would not authorize the release of sealed disciplinary records that could have provided further insight into why she was barred from the graduation ceremony.

The disclosure comes just as a new poll revealed a statistical tie between Sherrill and Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli, a sharp shift from earlier surveys that consistently showed her leading.

Despite the ceremony issue, Sherrill does appear in the Naval Academy’s 1994 yearbook.

The Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill poll placed both Sherrill and Ciattarelli at 43%, marking the first major survey that failed to show her ahead.

Previous polls generally had Sherrill enjoying a comfortable lead, though Ciattarelli also defied polling expectations in the 2021 race when his support was underestimated.

Sherrill’s naval service — particularly her time as a helicopter pilot — has long been a central theme of her political identity. While whispers of her involvement in the academy cheating scandal surfaced during her first congressional run in 2018, solid confirmation had been lacking until now.

The cheating episode itself was a major national story in the early 1990s. In 1992, some midshipmen acquired advance copies of an electrical engineering exam and circulated the answers. Around two dozen cadets were expelled.

CBS News reported that some participants in the probe estimated nearly 60% of the class had seen the test questions before sitting for the exam.

The fallout triggered a congressional investigation and led to the resignation of Rear Adm. Thomas Lynch, who was superintendent at the time.

The revelation about Sherrill not being allowed to walk at graduation emerged after the National Archives and Records Administration handed over some of her military records to Nicholas De Gregorio, an ally of Ciattarelli.

“The Trump administration blatantly violated federal law by releasing Mikie Sherrill’s unredacted personal military records to an agent of the Ciattarelli campaign — which were then distributed and weaponized by Jack Ciattarelli,” said Sean Higgins, communications director for Sherrill’s campaign.

“We are calling on Jack Ciattarelli and the Trump administration to immediately stop illegally distributing Mikie Sherrill’s military files, with protected personal information like her Social Security Number, and we will explore appropriate legal action.”

CBS first reported that the materials included unredacted details such as Sherrill’s Social Security number.

A National Archives spokesperson conceded that “the technician should NOT have released the entire record” and said an internal review is underway.

“I support a criminal investigation into the unauthorized and illegal release of Mikie Sherrill’s record,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Thursday. “Mikie Sherrill is a patriot and a hero who has served this country.”

“It’s outrageous that Donald Trump and his administration and political hacks connected to them continue to violate the law, and they will be held accountable.”

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin also condemned the incident.

“The Trump administration’s decision to release her unredacted military personnel files to her opponent’s campaign, including her Social Security number, is yet another example of Donald Trump and the Republicans illegally weaponizing the federal government for political purposes,” he said.

Sherrill served in the Navy from 1994 until 2003 before transitioning into a career as a prosecutor. Earlier, in 1991, she was awarded an Achievement Medal for saving the life of a fellow Naval Academy student.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told global leaders Wednesday that the world is in “the most destructive arms race in human history” and urged the international community to act against Russia now, asserting that Vladimir Putin wants to expand his war in Europe. In a bleak view of today’s world, he told the annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly that weak international institutions including the United Nations haven’t been able to stop wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere, and international law can’t help nations survive. “Weapons decide who survives,” the Ukrainian leader said. “There are no security guarantees except friends and weapons.” Zelenskyy spoke from the podium of the vast assembly chamber a day after he met with President Donald Trump, who expressed support for Ukraine’s efforts and criticized Russia. Trump said Tuesday that he believed Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia, a dramatic shift from the U.S. leader’s repeated calls for Kyiv to make concessions to end the war sparked by President Vladimir Putin’s February 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbor. Zelenskyy did not comment on the surprise U.S. pivot, saying only that he had “a good meeting” with Trump and with many other “strong leaders.” “Together, we can change a lot,” he said, expressing appreciation for support from the United States. and Europe and urging all U.N. member nations to condemn Russia while it “keeps dragging this war on.” If Putin isn’t stopped now, the Ukrainian president warned the assembly that he will keep driving the war forward, “wider and deeper.” “Ukraine is only the first, and now Russian drones are already flying across Europe, and Russian operations are already spreading across countries,” he said. Worries about Moldova Zelenskyy said neighboring Moldova is defending itself again from Russian interference and should not be allowed to move toward dependency on Russia as Georgia and Belarus are. “Europe cannot afford to lose Moldova, too,” he said, stressing that the country needs funding and energy support, not just “political gestures.” Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, weapons and especially drones “are evolving faster than our ability to defend ourselves.” While drones previously were used by major countries, he said, “Now, there are tens of thousands of people who know how to professionally kill using drones.” Recently, European airports had to shut down because of drones, Zelenskyy said, and last week North Korea announced the test of “a tactical drone” which means even countries with limited resources can build dangerous weapons. “We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history, because this time it includes artificial intelligence,” he said. “Companies are already working on drones that can shoot down other drones, and it’s only a matter of time — not much — before drones are fighting drones, attacking critical infrastructure and attacking people all by themselves – fully autonomous and no human involved except the few who control AI system.” Zelenskyy echoed U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in calling for global rules on how AI can be used in weapons, stressing that “this is just as urgent as preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.” Stopping Putin now is cheaper than trying to protect every port and airport and every ship from drone attacks, and having to build underground schools and health centers as Ukraine has been forced to […]

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin shared an update on the military campaign in Gaza, stating that forces under the Southern Command are steadily applying more pressure on Hamas, with a heavy emphasis on Gaza City. He noted that the army is carrying out its mission in an organized, deliberate manner aimed at fulfilling the objectives of the war.

In his statement, Defrin reported that two soldiers who fell in battle over Rosh Hashanah were brought to their final rest: MAJ Shahar Netanal Bozaglo, a company commander in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade, and SSGT Chalachew Shimon Demalash, who served in the 932nd Battalion of the Nahal Brigade. He extended condolences on behalf of the IDF to their families.

Defrin explained that five divisions are currently operating inside Gaza, with three concentrating their efforts in Gaza City. Overnight, troops from the 401st Brigade Combat Team stormed a Hamas facility, where they discovered weapons stockpiles and tunnel infrastructure.

He went on to confirm that the IDF, in cooperation with the ISA, killed the terrorist Wael Mutrieh in the Shati neighborhood. Mutrieh was a Nukhba platoon commander in Hamas’ Shati Battalion who had been involved in the October 7th, 2023, infiltration of the Nahal Oz Outpost bomb shelter. Since then, he had overseen attacks against Israeli forces throughout the Strip.

Defrin said that under the second stage of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, the army has already struck more than 2,000 terrorist positions across Gaza. He also noted that the Chief of the General Staff toured Gaza yesterday, underlining that the IDF is employing its full range of ground combat capabilities, while the Air Force is conducting around 200 strikes each day in support.

Alongside the military campaign, Defrin pointed out that humanitarian measures are ongoing, with approximately 700,000 civilians relocated to southern Gaza to ensure their safety.

Looking beyond Gaza, Defrin stated that multiple Israeli aircraft struck military targets in Sana’a, Yemen, including Houthi command and intelligence centers. These strikes came in response to a drone attack on Eilat the day before, which injured civilians. He stressed that more than 98% of drones launched from Yemen toward Israel have been intercepted since the fighting began, and reassured that Eilat remains protected, while adding the warning that “no defense is absolute.” He urged Israelis to continue adhering to Home Front Command guidelines.

Defrin also addressed the hostage crisis, saying that 48 captives are still held inside Hamas tunnels. He recalled that the Chief of the General Staff had met with hostage families before the holiday, reaffirming the military’s dedication to their return.

“The hostages are always at the forefront of our thoughts and at the heart of every operation we conduct,” Defrin concluded. “The IDF will continue to act with strength and responsibility until the war’s objectives are achieved: the return of the hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’ regime.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Sara Heiman-Nadav a”h, a woman whose very life was a beacon of devotion to Torah education and to Klal Yisroel. Her presence illuminated classrooms, hallways, and homes across three continents, and her influence will reverberate for generations to come.

Rebbetzin Nadav was not merely an educator; she was a builder of neshamos. For decades she stood at the helm of T.A.G. (Torah Academy for Girls) in Far Rockaway, serving as menaheles with grace, strength, and unshakable principles. In that role, she shepherded thousands of girls through the formative years of their lives, guiding them with wisdom and warmth, teaching them not only knowledge but also values, resilience, and a love of Torah that would anchor them for life.

Her journey continued in Yerushalayim, where she became a beloved mechaneches at BJJ. There, she imbued her talmidos with depth and passion, instilling clarity in avodas Hashem and pride in their mission as bnos Torah. Each shiur, each conversation, was another seed planted — seeds that grew into homes of strength and generations who carry her teachings forward.

At Bais Yaakov Intensive Seminary in Brooklyn, she trained future teachers. With patience, foresight, and a rare gift for mentoring, she shaped an entire cadre of mechanchos and menahalos. These women, who themselves went on to impact thousands, carry within them her imprint — her vision, her dedication, her unwavering belief in the koach of a bas Yisroel.

Her reach was limitless. To her students, she was a guide; to her colleagues, she was a source of counsel and strength; to her family, she was an anchor of love and faith. Her words of encouragement, her unwavering standards, and her boundless heart touched all who encountered her. Her life was one long lesson in dignity, perseverance, and loyalty to Klal Yisroel.

The Torah world is richer because she walked among us, and poorer now for her absence.

The levayah will take place tomorrow, Friday, at 10 a.m. in Lakewood. Kevurah will follow in Eretz Yisroel on Sunday. Shivah will be observed at 21 Nolan Place in Lakewood.

She leaves behind her children, the Heiman, Frand, Kohn, Zeilingold, Price, and Klein families, who carry her torch forward with pride.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Despite years of congressional hearings, lawsuits, academic research, whistleblowers and testimony from parents and teenagers about the dangers of Instagram, Meta’s wildly popular app has failed to protect children from harm, with “woefully ineffective” safety measures, according to a new report from former employee and whistleblower Arturo Bejar and four nonprofit groups. Meta’s efforts at addressing teen safety and mental health on its platforms have long been met with criticism that the changes don’t go far enough. Now, the report’s authors claim Meta has chosen not to take “real steps” to address safety concerns, “opting instead for splashy headlines about new tools for parents and Instagram Teen Accounts for underage users.” The report Thursday came from Bejar and the Cybersecurity For Democracy at New York University and Northeastern University, as well as the Molly Rose Foundation, Fairplay and ParentsSOS. Meta said the report misrepresents its efforts on teen safety. The report evaluated 47 of Meta’s 53 safety features for teens on Instagram, and found that the majority of them are either no longer available or ineffective. Others reduced harm, but came with some “notable limitations,” while only eight tools worked as intended with no limitations. The report’s focus was on Instagram’s design, not content moderation. “This distinction is critical because social media platforms and their defenders often conflate efforts to improve platform design with censorship,” the report says. “However, assessing safety tools and calling out Meta when these tools do not work as promised, has nothing to do with free speech. Holding Meta accountable for deceiving young people and parents about how safe Instagram really is, is not a free speech issue.” Meta called the report “misleading, dangerously speculative” and said it undermines “the important conversation about teen safety. “This report repeatedly misrepresents our efforts to empower parents and protect teens, misstating how our safety tools work and how millions of parents and teens are using them today. Teen Accounts lead the industry because they provide automatic safety protections and straightforward parental controls,” Meta said. “The reality is teens who were placed into these protections saw less sensitive content, experienced less unwanted contact, and spent less time on Instagram at night. Parents also have robust tools at their fingertips, from limiting usage to monitoring interactions. We’ll continue improving our tools, and we welcome constructive feedback — but this report is not that.” Meta has not disclosed what percentage of parents use its parental control tools. Such features can be useful for families in which parents are already involved in their child’s online life and activities, but experts say that’s not the reality for many people. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez — who has filed a lawsuit against Meta claiming it fails to protect children from predators — said it is unfortunate that Meta is “doubling down on its efforts to persuade parents and children that Meta’s platforms are safe — rather than making sure that its platforms are actually safe.” The authors created teen test accounts as well as malicious adult and teen accounts that would attempt to interact with these accounts in order to evaluate Instagram’s safeguards. For instance, while Meta has sought to limit adult strangers from contacting underage users on its app, adults can still communicate with minors “through many features that are inherent in Instagram’s […]

Barack Obama slammed the Trump administration’s recent focus on autism research, calling the exploration of possible causes — including potential links between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism — “violence against the truth.”

“We have the spectacle of my successor in the Oval Office making broad claims around certain drugs and autism that have been continuously disproved,” Obama said, referring to Monday’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) event. That announcement, led by President Donald Trump and health officials, raised alarms over a possible connection between pregnant women taking Tylenol and a higher likelihood of autism in their children.

Although many liberal commentators claimed they would “trust the science,” the announcement was not without research support. Trump’s remarks were backed by findings published in a Harvard study outlining potential risks associated with acetaminophen use during pregnancy.

Obama, however, pushed back strongly, arguing that such claims could harm both public health and families. He said the discussion “undermines public health, the degree to which that can do harm to women who are pregnant, the degree to which that creates anxiety for parents who do have children who are autistic, which, by the way, itself, is subject to a spectrum and a lot of what is being trumpeted as these massive increases actually have to do with a broadening of the criteria across that spectrum so that people can actually get services and help.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 31 American children is diagnosed with autism, a figure that has risen sharply. For that reason, Trump administration officials said from the outset that they intended to investigate what factors may be driving the surge. Obama nonetheless dismissed the effort, repeating that it was a “violence against the truth.”

Critics noted that Obama never applied the same phrase when Joe Biden assured Americans that the COVID-19 vaccines prevented infection and transmission, claims later proven false.

Adding fuel to the debate, resurfaced posts from Tylenol’s own X account showed the brand advising against use of its products by pregnant women. A March 7, 2017, post read, “We actually don’t recommend using any of our products while pregnant. Thank you for taking the time to voice your concerns today.” Another message to an expectant mother said, “Congrats on your upcoming addition! SO exciting! It’d be great to touch base real quick since we haven’t tested Tylenol to be used during pregnancy (and see what coupons we have for baby!).”

At the MAHA event, Trump explained that the FDA would soon issue guidance: “notifying physicians that the use of acetaminophen… during pregnancy can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.”

Some women responded by defiantly filming themselves consuming Tylenol in protest, though this trend has already led to tragic outcomes. Nurse Nicole Sirotek of American Frontline Nurses recounted one emergency call from a frantic husband whose pregnant wife overdosed on Tylenol. She was placed on a ventilator and suffered liver failure.

“She’s going to die,” Sirotek said.

She went on to describe the family’s devastating situation: “And it’s just so sad because he has to make the choice of them going and trying to emergency deliver this baby, and the baby may not survive. Baby’s gonna spend a long time in the NICU. Hopefully the baby will survive. And remember, guys, preemies have complications, even if they do survive,” she said, adding, “Did they have more children? They lost their mother. Baby’s not going to grow up with mom. He lost his whole life. If this baby dies too, all because of TikTok challenges.”

Sirotek concluded with a sharp rebuke: “Everybody wants like, well, not everybody, but maybe these crazy liberal women, they like, literally hate Trump so bad that she killed herself and her baby potentially.”

{Matzav.com}

Super Typhoon Ragasa — dubbed the “King of Storms” — left destruction across Asia, killing at least 14 in Taiwan and injuring over 100 across the region. In Hong Kong, dramatic video shows a wall of seawater shattering the glass doors of the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel, flooding the lobby as staff and guests scrambled for safety. Ragasa, the strongest storm of 2025 with peak winds of 168 mph, has since made landfall in southern China’s Guangdong province, home to tens of millions.

BREAKING: James Comey, who once hinted at the assassination of President Trump, speaks after being indicted by grand jury: “I’m not afraid.” “I’m innocent.” “Let’s have a trial.”