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Podcaster Joe Rogan pushed back Friday against criticism aimed at late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, dismissing the outrage over a recent joke as overblown and only fueled by the attempted attack on President Donald Trump.

The controversy stems from a segment aired on Kimmel’s show days before a gunman allegedly tried to target Trump and other officials at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. During a mock roast, Kimmel joked that first lady Melania Trump had the “glow” of “an expectant widow.” Rogan argued that the remark drew little attention until after the shooting attempt later that same weekend.

“No one cared on Saturday until Saturday night when the assassination attempt, and then all the sudden, everyone’s blaming Kimmel,” he said during a episode of the “Joe Rogan Experience.”

First Lady Melania Trump responded on Monday, accusing Kimmel of promoting “hateful and violent rhetoric” intended to “divide our country,” and urged ABC to “take a stand” by removing him from the air. The president also renewed calls for Kimmel to be dismissed, describing the joke as “very shocking” and suggesting it could incite violence.

“He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to the suspected gunman, identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen, who has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.

“I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale,” he added.

Kimmel addressed the controversy multiple times on his program this week. On Monday, he explained that the remark was intended as a “very light” reference to the age gap between the president, 79, and the first lady, 56.

He revisited the issue on Tuesday after airing footage of the Trumps meeting with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the White House. In the clip, the president joked with his wife of 21 years that they would not match his parents’ 63-year marriage, prompting Kimmel to respond:

“My god, he should be fired for that,” Kimmel reacted on Tuesday. “Only Donald Trump would demand I be fired for making a joke about his old age, and then a day later, go out and make a joke about his own old age.”

The dispute has also drawn attention from federal regulators. The Federal Communications Commission announced an expedited review of broadcast licenses for several Disney-owned local television stations. Disney is the parent company of ABC, which airs Kimmel’s show.

The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, has faced criticism over what some view as efforts to pressure media outlets seen as critical of Trump. Carr said the latest review was not influenced by the White House.

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, a Democrat, strongly criticized the move, calling it “the most egregious action this FCC has taken in violation of the First Amendment to date.”

“As part of its ongoing campaign of censorship and control, the White House called publicly for the silencing of a vocal critic, and this FCC has now answered that call,” Gomez said in a statement. “This is an unprecedented and politically motivated attempt to interfere with how broadcasters operate, and this unlawful overreach will fail.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said last night that he plans to examine a newly submitted proposal from Iran aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, though he expressed doubt that the terms would meet U.S. expectations.

“I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

.@POTUS on restarting military strikes against Iran: "I can't tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad — but right now, we'll see. It's a possibility that could happen, certainly." pic.twitter.com/bf9Jmgf7M8

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 2, 2026

The statement came shortly after Trump was asked by reporters whether the United States might resume military action against Iran.

The President replied, “I can’t tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad – but right now, we’ll see. It’s a possibility that could happen, certainly.”

Reports from Iranian outlets Tasnim and Fars indicated that Tehran submitted a 14-point proposal through Pakistan, responding to an earlier nine-point plan presented by the United States.

According to those reports, the Iranian framework calls for a comprehensive resolution of the conflict within 30 days, rather than the two-month ceasefire previously proposed by Washington. Additional elements reportedly include demands for assurances against future military strikes, a withdrawal of U.S. forces from areas near Iran, lifting of the naval blockade, release of frozen Iranian funds, financial compensation, removal of sanctions, cessation of fighting in Lebanon, and the establishment of a new system governing the Strait of Hormuz.

On Friday, Trump had already dismissed an earlier version of Iran’s proposal, telling reporters he was not satisfied with it and casting doubt on the prospects for a final agreement.

“They want to make a deal,” Trump said, adding, “I’m not satisfied with it.”

He did not specify which aspects of the proposal were unacceptable, but suggested internal divisions within Iran’s leadership could hinder progress.

“They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” Trump said, describing “tremendous discord” among Iran’s leaders.

A report in The Wall Street Journal indicated that Iran had shown some willingness to adjust its position in the version rejected on Friday.

Sources familiar with the discussions said Tehran proposed that negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz could take place simultaneously with U.S. commitments to halt military operations and ease its blockade of Iranian ports.

That approach marked a shift from Iran’s earlier stance, in which it had insisted the United States first end its blockade and reach terms to conclude the conflict before addressing broader issues.

{Matzav.com}

Apple Inc. has agreed to pay a total of NIS 10 million to customers in Israel as part of a court-approved settlement in a class-action lawsuit over allegations that older iPhone models were intentionally slowed down. Eligible users may receive compensation of up to NIS 1,890 per device through a dedicated website that is expected to launch soon.

The Tel Aviv District Court approved the settlement, bringing an end to legal proceedings stemming from the “Batterygate” controversy. The lawsuit alleged that Apple deliberately reduced the performance of certain older iPhones through software updates without adequately informing users.

The issue first surfaced in 2017, when Apple acknowledged that software updates had slowed down devices such as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7. The company said at the time that the changes were implemented for engineering reasons, specifically to prevent unexpected shutdowns caused by aging batteries. However, the lack of transparency drew widespread criticism, with many users claiming the move was intended to push customers to upgrade to newer models. These allegations led to lawsuits in multiple countries, including the case now resolved in Israel.

Under the terms of the settlement, compensation will be available to users who owned the relevant devices prior to December 2017 and were registered with Apple services in Israel. Eligible models include the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, and the first-generation iPhone SE. Customers who experienced performance slowdowns may be entitled to payments of up to NIS 1,890 per device, depending on the circumstances, regardless of where the phone was originally purchased. Claims will be submitted through a designated website expected to go live soon.

In response, Apple said: “We have never—and would never—do anything intended to deliberately shorten the lifespan of Apple products or degrade the user experience in order to encourage customers to upgrade. Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and ensuring the longest possible lifespan for the iPhone is a central part of that. While we strongly disagree with the claims that were made, we agreed to reach a settlement to avoid continued legal proceedings.”

{Matzav.com}

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Airlines across the country are moving quickly to assist travelers left without flights after Spirit Airlines ceased operations overnight, collapsing after failing to secure a federal bailout.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy outlined a series of steps aimed at helping affected passengers rebook travel on other carriers at reduced or capped fares.

“We’ve activated our airline partners to ensure passengers are not stranded, communities maintain route access, fares do not skyrocket, and Spirit’s workforce is connected to new job opportunities,” Duffy said.

Passengers holding Spirit tickets can present proof of purchase to access discounted fares on several major airlines, including JetBlue, Southwest, Delta, and United, though each carrier is offering the relief for a limited window.

JetBlue’s discounted fares will be available for 72 hours. Southwest is offering a similar 72-hour option, but bookings must be made in person at airport counters. Delta’s program will run for five days, while United is extending its offer for up to two weeks.

Allegiant Air, which serves many smaller markets, said it will hold prices steady on overlapping routes and is offering 50 percent off base fares through May 10.

Airlines are also helping displaced crew members, offering “spare jump seats” to Spirit pilots and flight attendants who are stranded away from home.

Duffy also pointed to earlier federal decisions as a contributing factor in Spirit’s collapse, criticizing the Biden administration for blocking a merger between Spirit and JetBlue in 2024. He noted that President Donald Trump had recently suggested the possibility of the government stepping in to purchase the struggling airline. However, Duffy pushed back on the idea of a bailout.

“What we don’t want to do is put good money after bad,” he said.

Spirit’s president and CEO, Dave Davis, pointed to rising fuel costs as the key factor behind the shutdown.

“Everybody burning cash—we just had a smaller pile to start with,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “They’re not that far behind us in the race.”

In a statement posted to X early Saturday morning, the airline informed customers that while it could not assist with rebooking, refunds would be issued automatically for credit card purchases.

“while we are not able to help rebook your flight on another airline, we will automatically process refunds” the company said. “We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry for the last 33 years and had hoped to serve our Guests for many years to come.”

The airline confirmed that its final flight, number 1833, traveled from Detroit to Dallas, landing shortly after midnight on Saturday.

Spirit, which operated for 34 years, becomes the first U.S. airline to collapse due to financial pressures in a quarter century.

The company had been struggling for some time, filing for bankruptcy protection twice, most recently in August, following an earlier Chapter 11 filing in November of the previous year.

As part of the wind-down process, the airline is expected to sell off its remaining aircraft, parts, and other assets in the months ahead. Its 11-acre headquarters campus near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, along with additional real estate holdings, will also be sold to repay creditors.

{Matzav.com}

An Orthodox Jewish mother from Brooklyn has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Department of Motor Vehicles employees of forcing her to remove her religious head covering for a license photo, an experience she says left her deeply shaken and humiliated, Matzav.com has learned.

Sara Fellig claims she felt compelled to comply with what she described as a violation of her religious practice, and says the incident has continued to affect her emotionally. In her complaint filed in Brooklyn Federal Court, she details the distress she experienced during and after the encounter.

“Forcing Ms. Fellig — or any married, ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman who wears a head covering — to remove [their] head covering in public is akin to forcing a secular person to strip naked in front of strangers, carrying all the same shame, humiliation, and abasement,” she said in the court papers filed against the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

According to the filing, Fellig arrived at the Atlantic Avenue DMV office in downtown Brooklyn for a scheduled appointment in November while caring for her young children. Two of her three daughters were unwell at the time, and she brought one of them with her to the office.

As is her regular practice in public, Fellig was wearing a partial shaitel along with a small hat.

When she was called for her photograph, a DMV employee instructed her to remove her head covering. Although state regulations prohibit images that obscure facial features or interfere with identification, Fellig maintains that her hat and wig did not cover her face.

She objected to the request, leading the employee to ask whether the head covering was worn for religious reasons. After she confirmed that it was, the worker allegedly responded, “Well you still can’t wear your hat,” according to the lawsuit.

A second DMV employee did not step in to address the situation, despite provisions in state law allowing exemptions for individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs.

“Ms. Fellig was so disturbed by the prospect of removing her head covering in public that she contemplated calling her rabbi to discuss the unlawful circumstances she was facing,” she said in the legal claim.

The lawsuit notes that Fellig hesitated to seek help at the time due to prior incidents of harassment. In 2020, she was verbally attacked on Empire Boulevard, and in 2023 she encountered another antisemitic outburst in the same area.

With nearly 100 people present at the DMV office, and “mindful of shifting sentiments against the Jewish community due to the war in Gaza . . . Ms. Fellig decided not to call her rabbi, worried that onlookers would believe her to be an angry Jewish person seeking to make trouble.”

She ultimately removed her head covering and posed for the photo, an action she says left her emotionally overwhelmed and filled with regret. In her lawsuit, she is seeking damages, the destruction of the existing license image, and a replacement license at no cost.

“Each time someone views the photograph, Ms. Fellig experiences a renewed desecration of her religious beliefs,” according to the lawsuit.

“Ms. Fellig’s emotional damages will continue and multiply until a new photograph is taken and a new license issued,” she said in the court papers, adding, “she fears condemnation from her Chabad community — and her rabbi — if they discover that her official New York State ID depicts her without appropriate headgear.”

Her attorney, Emma Freeman, argued that the issue stems from a failure to apply existing policy.

“The DMV has the right rule in place — but, for no reason at all, it wasn’t followed in Ms. Fellig’s case,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

During a nichum aveilim visit to the Karadi family following the killing of young Nesia Hy”d in a missile strike, powerful words of emunah and hisorerus were shared first by the grieving father and then by the Yenukah.

The father spoke about the profound spiritual impact his daughter had in the short time since her passing. “I sit and think about what I’ve gained in these three and a half weeks… what merits she brought into the world,” he said. He added that even those distant from Yiddishkeit were moved to change: “Three people who heard her story took upon themselves to keep Shabbos.”

He described how, amid the immense pain, a wave of teshuvah and strengthening had emerged, with Nesia’s story touching hearts across many circles.

The Yenukah then addressed the family with deeply emotional words. “I don’t even know how to begin… how do you begin to thank for what you’ve received,” he said. He described the girl as a “holy soul,” adding: “A holy child. She died sanctifying Hashem’s Name. She brought sanctification of His Name throughout the world.” He also expressed awe at the father’s faith, saying, “I sit with him and tremble from his words—how he praises Hashem.”

At one point, the Yenukah addressed a painful question troubling many: how such a tragedy could happen davka in Bnei Brak, a city of Torah. “Missiles never fell here. The Chazon Ish, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, all the holy ones here gave their lives for Torah—and suddenly we see what happened,” he said.

He stressed that such events are not random. “This is meant to shake us—where have we come to,” he said. He explained that even places of kedusha are not immune when there is a breakdown in achdus: “If there is lashon hara, it breaks down all the walls.” Citing Chazal, he noted that even when Klal Yisroel struggled spiritually, unity protected them, but division brought harm. He added with pain: “Missiles don’t fall for nothing… swords come down into the world, and no one knows who they will strike.”

The Yenukah called on the ציבור to strengthen in ahavas Yisroel. “We need to stop all the disputes… to love one another, to support one another,” he said, emphasizing that the responsibility extends beyond the immediate family. “This is pain for all of us,” he added, urging continued support even after shivah: “Not just now—also afterward, to come, to help, to strengthen the mother and the father.”

He concluded with words of comfort, speaking about the elevated place of pure souls: “Such souls are in the highest places… with tzaddikim and with angels.” He ended with a tefillah: “May Hashem give strength and comfort, and may we merit the complete redemption, the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash, and the resurrection of the dead במהרה.”