Feed aggregator

Sen. Tim Sheehy announced Sunday that he plans to push forward legislation aimed at expediting the construction of a proposed ballroom at the White House, citing security concerns highlighted by a recent shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Writing on X, the Montana Republican said he intends to introduce the measure and seek unanimous consent in the Senate to move it quickly. “This week I will introduce and seek unanimous consent for legislation providing express approval for construction of a presidential ballroom.

He pointed to the broader implications of the incident, arguing that it reflects poorly on the country’s ability to safely host major events in the capital. “It is an embarrassment to the strongest nation on earth that we cannot host gatherings in our nation’s capital, including ones attended by our president, without the threat of violence and attempted assassinations.”

Sheehy also addressed the issue of political violence more broadly, emphasizing that such behavior has no place in American society. “there is no place for political violence in America. Unfortunately, it seems, too many people believe trying to kill our president and members of our government is acceptable.”

He concluded by stressing that ensuring the safety of national leaders and event attendees should not be a partisan matter, calling for swift action on the proposal. “a president of any party should be able to host events in a secure area without attendees worrying about their safety. This is common sense. Let’s get it done.”

{Matzav.com}

LISTEN:

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

LISTEN:

The suspect accused in Saturday night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner navigated through the Washington Hilton using a deliberate path designed to avoid security checkpoints and crowded areas, according to a report from CBS News.

Cole Tomas Allen was reportedly observed leaving his room on the hotel’s 10th floor dressed in black and carrying multiple weapons. Authorities said he had a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives, all packed in a black bag.

Instead of taking the main hallways, Allen allegedly chose an internal stairwell, descending roughly 10 floors. Investigators believe this route allowed him to steer clear of heavily monitored sections of the hotel where guests and security personnel were concentrated.

Law enforcement sources told CBS News that by using this path, Allen was able to move toward the event without being noticed, despite the presence of President Donald Trump and other senior officials inside.

Allen eventually reached the terrace level of the hotel, which connects to the foyer leading to the red carpet entrance of the dinner. This positioned him only a short distance from a key entry point into the ballroom.

At that stage, Allen reportedly ran toward the area, rapidly closing the gap before security intervened.

Officers assigned to the event responded within seconds. Members of the Secret Service Uniformed Division quickly moved in and subdued Allen shortly after he appeared near the entrance.

Authorities said that after detaining him, officers followed established procedures, removing his outer garments and inspecting his bag to confirm that he did not have additional weapons or explosive materials.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:36 p.m., while the event was already in progress. The dinner was attended by thousands, including the president, first lady Melania Trump, Cabinet members, and journalists.

Officials noted that security screening was beginning to wind down at the time. Metal detectors that had been used to check incoming guests were already being taken apart, and no further attendees were being admitted into the ballroom.

Iran has put forward a revised diplomatic framework to the United States through Pakistani mediators, proposing that efforts focus first on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the current conflict, while postponing negotiations over its nuclear program, according to a report Sunday night.

Sources familiar with the discussions told Axios that the Iranian proposal aims to prioritize maritime access and de-escalation before addressing the nuclear issue. A U.S. official and two individuals briefed on the matter said Tehran is attempting to break the current stalemate while navigating internal disagreements over how far it is willing to go in limiting its nuclear activities.

American officials, however, are wary of such sequencing. They believe that resolving the Hormuz situation first, particularly if it involves easing the U.S. blockade, would weaken Washington’s negotiating position. Without that leverage, they fear it would be more difficult to compel Iran to give up its enriched uranium stockpile or commit to long-term restrictions on enrichment.

President Donald Trump has made curbing Iran’s nuclear capabilities a central pillar of his administration’s strategy, whether through diplomatic engagement or increased pressure.

According to three U.S. officials cited in the report, Trump is expected to gather senior national security and foreign policy advisers in the Situation Room on Monday to review the impasse and consider possible paths forward. One official said the meeting would center on the collapse of recent talks and the options available going forward.

Over the weekend, Trump called off a planned round of negotiations that had been set to take place in Islamabad. Senior envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had been slated to travel there for discussions with Iranian representatives.

“I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership,’” he continued. “Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!”

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a visit to Pakistan without any significant breakthroughs after meeting with local intermediaries.

Following those talks, Araghchi traveled to Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, where discussions reportedly focused on the Strait of Hormuz, before returning to Islamabad for additional meetings.

He is expected to continue on to Moscow on Monday for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Behind the scenes, officials involved in the talks say Araghchi and Pakistani mediators explored a phased approach designed to move past the current deadlock over Iran’s nuclear program.

One source said Araghchi told mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar that Iran’s leadership remains divided over U.S. demands for a long-term halt to uranium enrichment and the removal of enriched material from the country.

Under the revised framework being circulated, the immediate priority would be resolving the Hormuz crisis and lifting the U.S. blockade. This would be followed by either a prolonged ceasefire or a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Only after those steps, according to the proposal, would negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program begin.

Pakistani officials have already relayed the plan to the White House, though it remains unclear whether the U.S. is willing to entertain the proposal.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said: “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press. As the president has said, the United States holds the cards and will only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said Sunday that security officials should reevaluate whether President Trump and Vice President JD Vance should appear together at major public events following Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, McCaul, who attended the event in Washington, said the incident raised serious concerns about the concentration of leadership in one place.

“The takeaway I got was that the line of succession,” McCaul said during the interview.

He pointed out that multiple top officials were seated together at the same table during the event, increasing the potential risk in the event of a coordinated attack.

“You had the president and the vice president at the head table, both of them together, and [House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La)]. Had an explosive device gone off, you would have knocked out the president, vice president, Speaker. The three in line of succession,” the Texas Republican noted.

When asked directly whether those leaders should avoid appearing together in public settings, McCaul reiterated his concern.

“I think the Secret Service needs to reconsider having both the president and vice president together.”

Under the current line of succession, if a president is unable to serve, the vice president and then the House Speaker would assume the role. McCaul also referenced the next official in line.

The next in succession would be the president pro tempore of the Senate, currently 92-year-old Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

Meanwhile, the investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Several news organizations have reported that the suspect is 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California, though that identification has not been independently confirmed.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Saturday that the suspect is expected to appear in federal court Monday to face charges, including using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated earlier Sunday that additional charges could be forthcoming, depending on the findings of the investigation.

He said the suspect “absolutely” could be charged with attempting to assassinate Trump depending on his “motive, his premeditation [and] what he wanted to do.”

According to a CBS News report citing law enforcement and White House officials, the suspect authored a manifesto outlining his intentions. The document reportedly described a plan to target administration officials in order of rank.

The manifesto stated he aimed to target Trump administration officials “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.” A White House official confirmed to The Hill that such a document exists.

Blanche said he remains confident in the level of security at the event and emphasized that the administration will not change its approach in response to the attack.

He said he is “very comfortable” that Trump, Vance and Johnson were present and stressed that the shooting “is not the kind of thing that will deter” the administration.

“This is not the kind of thing that will cause us to go down in a bunker and not come out. … We are going to continue to do our jobs,” Blanche added.

He also underscored the importance of continuing normal operations, including engagement with the press, while maintaining strong security measures.

“And our jobs include interacting with the press, which we do, which I’m doing now, which we did last night, and so very comfortable, because what you do when you have an environment like that, when you have the leaders of the free world in one room, is you make sure that you have security that will stop anybody from getting anywhere near any of those individuals,” he continued.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply rebuked 60 Minutes host Norah O’Donnell during an interview after she read aloud a passage from the manifesto of the suspect accused in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.

During the exchange, O’Donnell quoted directly from the document, including language that appeared to accuse the president or members of his administration of serious crimes. After reading the excerpt, she asked Trump to respond.

“I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would…you’re horrible people,” Trump told O’Donnell.

He pushed back strongly against the content being read on air, rejecting any connection to the accusations.

“You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me,” he continued, adding he was exonerated.

Trump then directed his criticism squarely at O’Donnell herself.

“I’m not any of those things,” he said. “You should be ashamed of yourself reading that. You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes. You’re a disgrace, but, go ahead, let’s finish the interview.”

In a dramatic and painful decision, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered early Monday morning that the traditional Lag Ba’Omer celebrations in Meron be canceled in their usual form due to the fragile ceasefire situation with Lebanon. The move followed a series of high-level security discussions convened by the Prime Minister.

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs sent a formal letter to government ministers explaining that the decision was based on updated guidelines issued by the Home Front Command. Under the new directives, gatherings are limited to no more than 1,500 participants in communities situated along the Confrontation Line, including Meron, Bar Yochai, Or HaGanuz, and Safsufa.

The communication further clarified that the annual hilula of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai at Meron will not take place this year in its usual large-scale format. Instead, the observances will be conducted in a limited and symbolic manner, in accordance with current civil defense requirements.

Officials emphasized that the directive stems from “concerns over a potential mass-casualty event due to the fragility of the ceasefire with Lebanon, the site’s proximity to the Lebanese border, the possibility of rocket fire toward the area, and the difficulty of carrying out a large-scale evacuation of participants within the necessary timeframe.”

According to the letter, additional details regarding how the scaled-down hilula will be conducted are expected to be released closer to Lag Ba’Omer by the appropriate authorities.

President Trump details his experience at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where a gunman charged toward the ballroom. He says he wasn’t worried and praised the actions of law enforcement.

WATCH:

Buckingham Palace confirmed Sunday that King Charles III’s planned visit to the United States will move forward as scheduled, despite a shooting at a Washington media event just days before his arrival.

The incident occurred late Saturday during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, less than 48 hours before Charles and Queen Camilla are set to begin their four-day state visit.

Palace officials said the king was “greatly relieved” that President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other attendees were not harmed. A later statement emphasized that the trip would continue as planned.

“The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the Visit getting underway tomorrow,” the palace said.

Earlier in the day, U.K. minister Darren Jones told broadcasters that British and American security officials were coordinating closely ahead of the visit.

He said teams were “working closely to ensure the security arrangements are put appropriately in place” for the trip.

According to reports, the king and queen privately contacted the Trumps to express sympathy for those affected by the shooting and to thank the security personnel who prevented additional casualties.

President Trump said one law enforcement officer was shot at close range but did not appear to suffer life-threatening injuries.

The visit, which will include stops in Washington and New York, is meant to highlight the longstanding alliance between the United States and Britain as America marks 250 years of independence.

During the trip, King Charles is expected to address Congress, becoming the first British monarch to do so since Queen Elizabeth II spoke there in 1991. The itinerary also includes tea with President Trump and Melania Trump, as well as a formal state dinner.

The visit comes at a time of friction between the two allies, with disputes over the war with Iran and ongoing attention surrounding the Epstein scandal casting a shadow over the occasion.

President Trump has repeatedly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his stance opposing the war, along with disagreements over immigration and energy policies.

The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday, during which Starmer “extended his best wishes … following the shocking scenes at last night’s White House Correspondents Dinner,” according to Downing Street.

“He expressed his relief that the President and First Lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured,” the statement added.

They also addressed broader economic concerns, including “the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” Starmer’s office said.

{Matzav.com}

Ehud Olmert on Sunday publicly criticized Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu following reports about Netanyahu’s prostate cancer diagnosis, drawing on his own experience and arguing that the situation should be handled with immediate transparency.

Speaking in an interview on 103FM, Olmert recalled the moment in 2007 when he was informed that he had cancer, describing how he chose to go public without delay and suggesting that failing to do so invites speculation and rumors.

“I was in the car on my way to a memorial for Yitzhak Rabin,” Olmert recounted. “The secretary from my office called and said that Dr. Shegev wanted to speak with me urgently. I assumed he was telling me the test was positive, meaning that I had cancer.”

Olmert described a meeting later that evening at his home with Dr. Kobi Ramon and Dr. Shegev, during which they confirmed the diagnosis.

“They told me the test came back positive and that I had prostate cancer. The size of the tumor was something like less than a centimeter. I said okay, but in any case this has to be reported to the public.”

According to Olmert, the decision to disclose the diagnosis was immediate and based on his understanding that information would inevitably leak.

“I took it as obvious that this is the kind of sensitive matter that a number of people already knew about. The doctors who treated me, the lab workers, the nurses—everyone knows. Within a few days, rumors would start that the prime minister has cancer in his head and that his days are numbered. All kinds of rumors that circulate in situations like this.”

He argued that the best course of action was to present the facts openly and without delay.

“I said that the most correct thing to do is to inform the public exactly what there is and what the course of treatment is. On Monday morning we announced a press conference that would take place within an hour. We didn’t want to announce it a day or two in advance because that would have created the panic we wanted to avoid, as if we were about to announce something dramatic. It was within an hour—there was no time to create panic.”

Olmert concluded by noting that stepping down was never under consideration at the time.

“I didn’t consider resigning. The tumor was found in the center of the prostate capsule and not on the edges, which is usually more dangerous. They said there was nothing that needed to be done immediately.”

{Matzav.com}