Feed aggregator

California Governor Gavin Newsom has openly acknowledged what many suspected — that he’s eyeing a 2028 run for president — though he stopped short of saying he’s made up his mind.

“Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise,” Newsom admitted during a pre-taped interview with CBS News Sunday Morning when asked if a White House bid was on his mind. “I’d just be lying. And I’m not — I can’t do that.”

Over the past few months, the California leader has been making moves that look every bit like early campaign groundwork. He’s been crisscrossing key battleground states and using his new podcast to fine-tune his debating skills — often by sparring with conservative guests on hot-button issues.

At the same time, Newsom has taken to social media as a full-blown provocateur, firing off flamboyant and sometimes odd posts aimed squarely at Republican opponents. His online antics have become a hallmark of his political style, mixing showmanship with sharp partisanship.

Barred by term limits from running for a third term as California’s governor, Newsom’s next step seems obvious to political observers. Multiple polls have already placed him among the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination should he enter the race.

Still, the governor insists he’s not rushing into anything. “Fate will determine that,” he said when pressed about whether he’s edging closer to a presidential campaign.

Newsom’s national profile surged during speculation over the 2024 race, but at the time, he put his full backing behind President Joe Biden, choosing loyalty over personal ambition — at least for now.

{Matzav.com}

U.S.-China trade tensions appeared to cool Sunday before an upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with each side saying a deal was nearing between the world’s two largest economies. Any agreement would be a relief to international markets even it does not address underlying issues involving manufacturing imbalances and access to state-of-the-art computer chips. Beijing recently limited exports of rare […]

U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio met in Yerushalayim yesterday with the families of the two Israeli-American hostages whose remains Hamas has not yet transferred to Israel as required by the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

“We will not forget the lives of the hostages who died in the captivity of Hamas,” tweeted Rubio, who is on a visit to the Jewish state.

“Today I met with the families of American citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. We will not rest until their—and all—remains are returned,” he vowed.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee could also be seen in a photo posted on X, sitting opposite Rubio.

On Friday, Rubio told reporters that there is no viable alternative to President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan, expressing “healthy optimism” that it will be fully implemented.

“There is no Plan B,” Rubio said during what was termed “a press gaggle” at the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat. “This is the best plan. It’s the only plan. It’s one that we think can succeed. It’s one that we believe is the way to success, as impossible and unimaginable as it may have been.”

He continued, “Remember a month ago, six weeks ago? No one would have thought it possible that you were going to get all the hostages out. And I know that we still have the remains of hostages [set to be returned]. That has to happen. That’s part of this. And we’re very committed to making sure that happens.”

JNS

Arnold Schwarzenegger calls out the “extreme gerrymandering” in blue states. SCHWARZENEGGER: “In a state like Massachusetts, 40% voted for Trump… the Republican party has 0 representatives sent to the House. In New Mexico, 45% of the people voted for Trump… and 0 is sent to the House.”

The IDF confirmed that two Hezbollah terrorists were killed in separate drone strikes in Lebanon earlier today. Abd a-Sayed, Hezbollah’s representative in Ras al-Bayada, was killed near Naqoura; he was responsible for coordinating between the terror group and local residents on economic and military matters and helping rebuild its capabilities. A second strike near Nabi […]

The forum where actions will speak loudest.

Get in on the Action!

Join us for two dynamic days where doers gather to share knowledge, forge connections, and take action on Klal Yisroel’s most pressing challenges. Across two engaging days, community doers from every corner of Klal Yisroel will convene for frank dialogue, valuable perspectives, and actionable insight.

From rabbonim, attorneys, kallah teachers, shadchanim, and mental-health professionals to caregivers, advocates, educators, and engaged community members — those who shape and serve our community daily are the ones invited to conversation.

Participants can choose to follow structured tracks or mix and match targeted breakout sessions on the topics closest to their hearts, alongside general discussions addressing devarim ha’omdim al haperek — the issues currently shaping Klal Yisroel’s wellbeing.

Tailored sessions explore the complexities of the shidduchim crisis, special-needs support, mental wellbeing, elder care, community growth, legal and ethical concerns, and the guiding voice of Torah leadership in today’s world.

Guests may also opt to stay overnight, enjoying on-site hospitality and amenities while continuing the conversations that matter.

The event will feature a grand gala dinner with keynote addresses from leading Gedolei Torah of the Moetzes, offering daas Torah, chizuk, and hadrachah.

MONDAY & TUESDAY · DECEMBER 1–2, 2025

Newark Marriott Hotel

1 Hotel Rd, Newark, NJ 07114

212-363-8941 | convention@agudah.org

Residents of Kfar Saba line the street leading to the home of released hostage Evyatar David as he arrives home from the hospital.

Military prosecutors in Israel on Sunday said they’d indicted a Palestinian man for leading a failed plot to blow up passengers on buses near Tel Aviv in February.

Abed Alkarim Snobar conspired with several other defendants, who are also standing trial in Israel for their alleged actions, to plant explosive devices on buses in Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, according to a statement released by the Israel Defense Forces’ Spokesperson’s Unit. Snobar is the main defendant, according to the IDF prosecution.

Snobar “made several high-powered explosive charges featuring nails and screws to maximize the harm” to victims, according to the statement. Snobar entered Israel on Feb. 20 and placed five charges in four buses in the Tel Aviv and Bat Yam area, timing them to go off at different times, according to the Spokesperson’s Unit.

However, some of the charges went off at night when the buses were parked and empty, resulting in no injuries. This alerted security forces to the plot. The remaining charges were located and neutralized. Snobar was caught in July after evading security forces in Judea and Samaria for months. He was preparing a new terrorist attack in Tel Aviv at the time of his arrest, and had contacted others to carry it out, according to the statement.

At least one of the bombs bore a note, in Arabic and Hebrew, that stated “revenge from the Tulkarem refugee camp,” a reference to the terrorist hotbed in Judea and Samaria where Israeli security forces have been conducting counter-terror operations, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported at the time. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday announced the “successful completion” of tests for the 9M730 Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile that Moscow claims can fly indefinitely and evade all known missile defenses — a dramatic display of military ambition that underscores the Kremlin’s intent to reassert nuclear dominance amid the grinding war in Ukraine. Speaking […]

Israel has granted permission for joint teams consisting of Hamas operatives and Red Cross representatives to enter IDF-controlled regions of Gaza, including areas beyond the so-called “yellow line.” Their mission is to search for and recover the bodies of hostages who were killed in captivity.

Reports from Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera, both Qatar-based networks, indicate that these search groups are already active in Rafah and will soon expand their operations to Gaza City. According to the outlets, the unusual collaboration is part of ongoing humanitarian efforts connected to the hostage crisis.

Al Jazeera further disclosed that Hamas has provided the Red Cross with detailed maps pinpointing several locations believed to hold the remains of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin. Goldin fell in combat during the 2014 war, and his body was seized by Hamas. Current recovery efforts are concentrating in the Rafah region, where intelligence suggests his body may be located.

The same report noted that large construction and engineering vehicles entered Gaza on Saturday night to assist in the intensive searches for the remains of hostages in the Hamad neighborhood of northern Khan Yunis. These machines are being used to clear debris and dig through collapsed areas believed to conceal burial sites.

According to Israeli officials, Hamas is still in possession of the bodies of 13 hostages. Intelligence assessments indicate that the group has the ability to return at least eight of them without delay, yet no transfers have taken place. “Five days have passed since the terror group returned any bodies,” a source said, underscoring the ongoing tension surrounding the recovery efforts.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH: The hostage recovery unit at Beilinson Hospital closes as Evyatar David, the last survivor, is discharged and symbolically turns off the lights.

A heartbreaking case has emerged from Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim, where a two-year-old girl passed away from severe complications linked to measles. Her death brings the toll of the current outbreak to eight — all children younger than two and a half.

Hospital officials reported that the child had been admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit about ten days earlier in critical condition. She was placed on an ECMO machine as doctors fought to stabilize her, but despite their efforts, she succumbed to the illness.

The Health Ministry has confirmed that more than 1,880 people across the country have contracted measles since the outbreak began in April, a number that continues to climb as new cases are identified.

“We know that the illness is being underdiagnosed, and there are a few thousand additional patients with the disease,” explained Sharon Alroy-Preis, Israel’s chief epidemiologist. She added that 562 individuals have required hospitalization so far, with 90% of them being children — most of whom were not vaccinated. “It is clear to us that the morbidity continues and will continue. We hope that we won’t see an additional increase in scope, but we need to remember that there are still thousands of unvaccinated children in Jerusalem and other localities.”

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: Twelve IDF soldiers were wounded, two moderately and ten lightly, in a military-related car crash involving two Humvees on the Gaza border earlier today, the army said, adding that the troops were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Social media footage shows the arrival of Red Cross vehicles after a meeting with Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, to guide them to a location of a body of an Israeli hostage in southern Rafah.  

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DUFFY: “I’m about to pull $160M from California — and as we pull more money, we also have the option of pulling California’s ability to issue commercial driver’s licenses. “Newsom cares more about illegals getting CDLs than he does the citizens of his own state.”

Find a shady spot under a tree, take a breath of fresh air and call me in the morning. Health care providers have long suggested stressed-out patients spend time outdoors. Now hundreds of providers are going a step further and issuing formal prescriptions to get outside. The tactic is gaining momentum as social media, political strife […]

Amid rising tensions with Hezbollah, U.S. Envoy Morgan Ortagus visited the Israel-Lebanon border today alongside Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter, and IDF’s Northern Command Major Gen. Rafi Milo.

Sec. Scott Bessent: “The President had given me maximum leverage when he threatened 100% tariffs if the Chinese imposed their rare earth global export controls, so I think we have averted that.”

BNEI BRAK: United Hatzalah volunteers are accompanying freed hostage Bar Kuperstein, the son of United Hatzalah volunteer Tal Kuperstein, as he travels through the city. וּפְדוּיֵי ה’ יְשֻׁבוּן וּבָאוּ צִיּון בְּרִנָּה