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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is demanding an immediate classified briefing from the Trump administration after reports revealed that the Secret Service secretly transferred President Trump to a different military aircraft during his return from last month’s NATO summit in Turkey because of an alleged Iranian assassination threat.

In a post on X, the New York Democrat said lawmakers deserve a full explanation of the security concerns that prompted the extraordinary operation and any broader risks facing the United States.

“The Senate should be immediately briefed on the Iranian threats against the president, the extraordinary measures taken to get him out of Turkey, any risks posed to U.S. personnel, and any threat to the homeland,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, wrote on X.

According to a report by The Washington Post, President Trump initially boarded the older Air Force One for his flight from Turkey to the United Kingdom before being quietly moved to a smaller Air Force C-32A after intelligence raised concerns about a possible Iranian plot to assassinate him.

The report said the transfer was carried out without the knowledge of the traveling press corps. After boarding Air Force One, Trump reportedly exited the aircraft undetected by using a catering truck before boarding the smaller military jet, while reporters believed he had remained aboard the original aircraft.

Schumer sharply criticized the administration over the secrecy surrounding the operation, calling the lack of communication with Congress unacceptable and accusing the White House of withholding critical information about threats against the president and the wider conflict with Iran.

“Trump has put America’s sons and daughters in harm’s way by getting into an unnecessary and reckless war, and this administration has repeatedly refused to provide Congress and the public with the transparency they deserve,” Schumer said.

Schumer’s demand comes as the military confrontation between the United States and Iran enters its sixth month, with both sides continuing to exchange threats while diplomatic negotiations remain difficult, according to The Hill.

“Congress must reassert its constitutional authority and bring this war to an end,” Schumer said.

Both chambers of Congress have approved bipartisan War Powers resolutions urging the administration to scale back the conflict. President Trump and senior administration officials have rejected those measures, arguing that the War Powers Act is unconstitutional.

The reported aircraft switch has intensified scrutiny of how the administration is responding to Iranian threats against the president, while prompting lawmakers to seek more information about the intelligence that led to such extraordinary security measures and whether Congress should have been informed sooner.

Schumer’s call for an immediate briefing is also expected to deepen the ongoing dispute between the administration and Congress over presidential war powers, access to classified intelligence, and how much information lawmakers should receive regarding threats against the president and U.S. military personnel.

{Matzav.com}

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by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE
your OWN SIYUM on the ENTIRE
Shas, Rashi & Tosfos
IN JUST ONE YEAR!

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact – Beyond the Grave

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Maran Hagaon Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

The Board of Peace on Wednesday forcefully denied reports that it had struck a financial arrangement with Hamas, rejecting claims that a proposed $400 million fund would be used to pay off the terror group’s debts as part of a disarmament agreement.

In a Hebrew-language statement posted on X, Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov said the money described in the organization’s 15-point Gaza roadmap is intended solely for approved contractors and severance payments for Gaza civil servants—not for Hamas.

Calling the reports inaccurate, Mladenov said allegations of a financial agreement with Hamas are “false,” emphasizing that no such proposal had ever been discussed, negotiated, or considered. He also stressed that Hamas “will have no role” in governing Gaza and no access to Board of Peace funds.

The controversy focuses on Clause 5 of the proposed roadmap, which directs the future Palestinian technocratic governing body, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), to evaluate legitimate financial obligations owed to suppliers, contractors, and other entities, with payments capped at $400 million.

Kan interpreted that provision as effectively providing debt relief for Hamas. Board of Peace officials, however, insist that interpretation is completely incorrect.

According to an Arab diplomat from one of the mediating countries who spoke with The Times of Israel, the NCAG would conduct a comprehensive audit of Hamas’ financial records after assuming responsibility for governing Gaza.

The diplomat said money from the proposed fund would be paid only to contractors whose claims are verified as legitimate, with extensive background checks ensuring that no payments are made to anyone connected to terrorist activity.

Another portion of the fund would be designated for severance packages for Hamas-employed civil servants who are not retained by the incoming administration. The diplomat described those payments as both a legal obligation and a means of preventing even greater poverty in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

Mladenov added that every proposed payment would undergo a review and approval process before funds are distributed, with all financial records remaining subject to audits by donor nations.

The disagreement comes at a critical moment for the 15-point roadmap, which is designed to implement the Gaza peace framework approved under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803 and is facing significant political resistance.

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu rejected the proposal on Sunday, declaring that Israeli forces would remain in Gaza until Hamas is “genuinely disarmed.”

A Board of Peace official told Reuters the following day that discussions with Israel were still ongoing despite Netanyahu’s public objections.

Mladenov appealed to Israel to back the initiative, arguing that the alternatives—allowing Hamas to rebuild its military capabilities or requiring Israel to reoccupy Gaza—would impose “an enormous human, military and economic cost.”

He said the proposal calls for Hamas’ complete disarmament, the establishment of civilian rule, and deployment of an international security force operating under American leadership.

According to officials familiar with the planning who spoke with The Times of Israel, the International Stabilization Force is expected to receive its first troops from Morocco, while Albania, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo have also pledged personnel. The plan envisions creating an initial humanitarian zone in Rafah, where Israeli forces would withdraw and ISF troops would take over, allowing screened Gazan civilians to relocate from areas controlled by Hamas.

Mladenov also announced that a monitoring system to oversee ceasefire violations is already operational.

The current ceasefire began last October under President Donald Trump’s broader Gaza initiative, which outlined a phased Israeli withdrawal, the surrender of weapons, and the transfer of governing authority to the technocratic committee.

Although Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly opposed the roadmap, IDF soldiers told Channel 12 this week that their rules of engagement inside Gaza have become considerably more restrictive since the disarmament plan was unveiled, raising the possibility that some level of coordination with the Board of Peace is already taking place even as political disagreements continue.

{Matzav.com}

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Today the Jewish community of Moldova celebrated the inauguration of its newly elected Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod, chosen in an election of the country’s Jewish community representing all its institutions.

The inauguration was led by the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Kalman Ber, who came to Chișinău for it — joined by chief rabbis and community leaders from across the Jewish world.

The chain:

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Tsirelson, Chief Rabbi of Bessarabia from 1908, killed in Chișinău in 1941.

Rabbi Zalman Abelsky, sent by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1989 under Soviet rule, who rebuilt Jewish life in Moldova.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod, his grandson, inaugurated today.

Rabbi Ber told the hall: “From today, Chișinău will be remembered not for the Kishinev pogroms, but for Rabbi Axelrod.”

President Trump’s administration returned to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking the justices to clear the way for full enforcement of his executive order tightening mail-in voting rules ahead of November’s midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress.

The Justice Department filed an emergency request seeking to halt a ruling issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston. That decision prevents the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing nationwide provisions of the executive order that impose stricter requirements on voting by mail.

President Trump signed the executive order in March after repeatedly advocating for tighter limits on mail-in voting. He has maintained for years that widespread voter fraud influenced the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Judge Talwani’s latest ruling broadened an earlier injunction she issued in June, which had blocked enforcement of the executive order in 23 mostly Democrat-led states and Washington, D.C. Those states had challenged the order, arguing that it violates the Constitution.

The administration has already asked the Supreme Court to overturn the June injunction. In Wednesday’s filing, the Justice Department requested that the justices also clarify that any ruling in the administration’s favor would apply to Talwani’s more recent nationwide order.

Government attorneys argued that the lawsuits should not have been allowed to proceed because federal agencies have not yet taken any final actions directly affecting the plaintiffs. As a result, they contend that the alleged injuries are hypothetical rather than actual.

Among other provisions, President Trump’s executive order instructs the Department of Homeland Security to compile and provide states with lists of U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote. It also directs the Justice Department to prioritize investigations and prosecutions of state and local election officials who issue ballots to individuals considered “not eligible” to vote in federal elections.

The order further requires the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail-in ballots only to voters who appear on each state’s approved absentee ballot list. The Postal Service recently began taking steps to implement those directives.

In explaining her decision to block enforcement, Judge Talwani wrote Tuesday that the executive branch lacks the constitutional authority to regulate elections, emphasizing that responsibility rests with the individual states under the U.S. Constitution.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz has instructed the IDF to prepare for an extended deployment in southern Lebanon, making clear that Israel has no intention of abandoning its security zones in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza as it continues operations against Hezbollah.

On Wednesday, Katz toured IDF positions in Lebanese villages along Israel’s northern border, where he met with commanders overseeing both overt and covert military operations. During the visit, he received briefings on ongoing activities, reviewed plans for the next phase of the campaign against Hezbollah, and thanked troops for their efforts and battlefield successes.

Katz directed the military to begin both operational and logistical preparations for a prolonged presence in the area while continuing efforts to eliminate terrorist infrastructure, including underground tunnel networks.

“We see here the Beaufort Ridge after the tunnels there were destroyed. The IDF conducted a maneuver here through the Litani in a heroic operation and, with great skill, defeated Hezbollah and took the Beaufort, which defends Metula and the communities of the north and on IDF soldiers and threatens all Hezbollah areas on the horizon,” Katz stated.

Reaffirming Israel’s policy, Katz stressed that the country will not relinquish control of the security buffer. “As the Prime Minister and I clarified unequivocally, we are not withdrawing from this security zone. I am standing here in the heart of the security zone, from the sea in the west until the Beaufort area and the slopes of Mount Hermon in the east. The IDF is here to defend the northern communities and its forces; we will clear out this entire area, and we will ensure security for the residents of the north. Under no circumstances will we withdraw from the security zones: not in Lebanon, not in Syria, and not in Gaza. The lesson learned from October 7th is that we are protecting the residents by the IDF being here, in these places, and protecting them from invasions, shooting, and everything else. This is our chance; this is our policy; this is our approach.”

Katz said the strategic importance of the Beaufort fortress reflects Israel’s broader security doctrine, emphasizing the military’s control of high ground and its campaign to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities. “The Beaufort fortress illustrates more than anything else the significance of this policy: we are up here, they are down there; the residents are protected, the IDF is inside, and 200,000 residents are outside. We are destroying the underground infrastructure and all the terrorist infrastructure they built with Iranian backing to invade the Galilee, and we are destroying all the homes in the area. This is our policy. We will continue it and will in no way allow jihadist enemies of this kind to threaten our residents or our borders. We are up here, they are down there, the residents are outside, the soldiers are inside, and the homes are destroyed.”

Joining Katz on the visit were Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, 36th Division commander Brig. Gen. Yiftah Norkin, Defense Minister’s Military Secretary Brig. Gen. Hisham Ibrahim, along with other senior military commanders.

{Matzav.com}

Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman alleged on Wednesday that dozens of Hamas Nukhba terrorists recently conducted a simulated assault on an Israeli community in Gaza, claiming military commanders sought authorization to eliminate the operatives but were blocked by Israel’s political leadership.

According to Lieberman, roughly 50 members of Hamas’ elite Nukhba force participated in a training drill inside the Gaza Strip earlier this week, rehearsing the invasion and capture of a Jewish town.

He said commanders on the ground requested immediate approval to attack the terrorists during the exercise, but were instructed not to take any action.

Lieberman’s remarks followed a Channel 12 News report Tuesday night stating that the IDF detected unusual terrorist activity near the Gaza border that sparked concerns militants were preparing to cross the Yellow Line. The report said the military increased its level of readiness and deployed additional forces to the border area but refrained from striking after receiving instructions from the political echelon.

“The night before last, IDF forces identified a training exercise by approximately 50 Nukhba Force terrorists who were practicing a raid and takeover of a Jewish community,” he revealed. “IDF commanders in the field requested immediate action to carry out a targeted elimination of all the terrorists, but the political echelon’s instruction was: ‘You don’t touch a single one of them. You don’t even fire a single blank.'”

“This is surrender to terrorism and a return to the policy of containment and the conception that led to October 7,” he warned.

Lieberman said he toured communities surrounding Gaza on Wednesday, including Kerem Shalom, the site of what he described as a newly established American base near the crossing, as well as Kibbutz Be’eri, where he met with local security officials.

“What I saw and heard is extremely concerning, and I want to inform members of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet of several details that the Prime Minister is hiding from them and from the public,” he wrote.

Lieberman also alleged that Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu approved an arrangement negotiated between Board of Peace Director-General Nikolay Mladenov and Hamas under which the Board of Peace would distribute $400 million to suppliers and service providers using lists supplied by Hamas.

He further claimed that the agreement calls for approximately 40 percent of those funds—about $160 million—to be funneled back in cash to Hamas’ military wing.

Lieberman additionally asserted that the IDF has effectively completed its withdrawal from forward positions in Gaza, with troops now stationed only along a line of military outposts. “In the entire area between the line of posts – the Purple Line – and the yellow concrete barriers – the Yellow Line – not a single soldier remains.”

He also argued that the government’s decision to leave the yellow concrete barriers in place is merely a political distraction, claiming that despite their presence, Israeli forces no longer maintain any operational presence between the military outposts and the Yellow Line.

Turning to the role of the United States, Lieberman contended that the recent visit by the commander of CENTCOM to the American base in southern Israel illustrates how Israeli military decision-making has become dependent on Washington. “To move even a pin, American approval is required,” he blasted.

{Matzav.com}

A mysterious report suggesting that one Arab leader urged another to sign an agreement that would “lull Israel to sleep” is likely part of a sophisticated Mossad psychological warfare campaign that has left Arab leaders deeply unsettled, according to Dr. Ron Schleifer, an expert in psychological warfare.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, Schleifer said the leaked account should be viewed as a calculated intelligence operation rather than an ordinary media report. Although the identities of the two leaders remain undisclosed, he argued that revealing their names is not the primary objective. “Israel is probably eavesdropping on Arab leaders and decided to spread this report. Amit Segal is the one who received the report; he’s the ideal choice since he has right-wing views and works for Channel 12, which is still the most popular channel in Israel; that way, you get maximum exposure.”

Schleifer explained that the operation serves several strategic purposes. He believes the two unidentified leaders are now under tremendous personal strain, fearing that their identities could eventually be exposed. According to him, the uncertainty itself weakens them. The two “aren’t eating, not drinking, out of worry, pressure, and fear of the huge embarrassment they’ll have when their identities are revealed; and they will be revealed at some point to the Western audience. They have an enormous amount of worry that prevents them from directing energy towards advancing their goals.”

Beyond the impact on the two individuals, Schleifer said the leak sends a chilling message to governments throughout the Arab world. Leaders are now forced to wonder whether Israeli intelligence services are intercepting even their most confidential conversations and other closely guarded secrets, creating widespread unease and suspicion.

He added that the incident also reinforces Israel’s technological and intelligence superiority without requiring any public demonstrations of its capabilities. “You don’t need military and technology fairs to hint at this. One line to a journalist does the job. Another gain is the increase in the level of anxiety in the Arab world, where everyone is asking who these two leaders are.” Schleifer said the resulting atmosphere of paranoia ultimately benefits Israel.

Schleifer also argued that many Israelis recognize that attempts to deceive Israel are a legitimate tactic employed by Arab governments, pointing to Egypt as an example. “We have a peace treaty with Egypt, but it violated it in the first week after it was signed, and now the entire Sinai Peninsula has become a platform for military equipment rather than a means of fighting ISIS. This is clear to us, but it is still not clear to the Western world.”

Concluding his analysis, Schleifer praised what he sees as a growing emphasis on psychological warfare within Israel’s security establishment. “It is very encouraging to see that the Israeli security establishment is moving toward psychological warfare. I understand that the technical aspect is carried out by Unit 8200, and from there it moves throughout the security establishment. The Shin Bet deals with matters within Israel, the IDF operates in Gaza, Lebanon, and Judea and Samaria, and that leaves the Mossad.” He believes the Mossad, under the leadership of Roman Gofman, decided to launch the operation because of the strategic advantages it offers.

“The entire Arab world is boiling because of two lines leaked to a journalist. All of this followed a phone call to a journalist who can be trusted. This is a good sign. We are in a region where military activity is different, and we are finally adapting ourselves to these challenges. It is a very positive sign.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared that Tehran is prepared to keep its conflict with the United States going for years, even suggesting the fighting could continue until President Trump completes his current term in office in 2029.

Speaking in an interview with PBS, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior adviser to the commander of the IRGC, said Iran could deliberately prolong the war as part of its broader military strategy. According to Naqdi, extending the conflict would help discourage future attacks by demonstrating the high cost of confronting Iran.

“We must achieve deterrence so that the enemy will never dare attack us, so that we can live in security. One way is to prolong this war until we reach the next presidential term and cause attrition, so that if someone else wants to attack Iran, they will know that there is a price to pay,” Naqdi said.

Naqdi previously served as the IRGC’s deputy coordinator from 2019 through 2025, one of the organization’s senior leadership positions overseeing coordination across the force. He now serves as a senior adviser to the commander of the Revolutionary Guards.

During the interview, Naqdi also insisted that Iran had emerged victorious in the conflict, ridiculed President Trump, and asserted that “the American military is weaker than we thought.”

“Definitely, victory is on our side,” Naqdi said. “Washington is waging a war without a strategy. Every two or three days, they announced a new objective, including invading Kharg Island and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The longer this war continues, the more experience we will gain. We had never experienced a real war in which we could gain real experience and learn how to fight against America. In these five months, we have learned how. We have also seen how the American military is weaker than we thought.”

Naqdi further claimed that Iran’s missile production is exceeding the number of missiles it launches each day, suggesting the country continues to replenish its arsenal despite the ongoing war.

“If the day comes when Iran has no missiles left, that is when we will become even more dangerous to the United States. Because the United States has thousands of economic interests around the world, and all of them can easily be destroyed,” the senior Iranian adviser said.

{Matzav.com}

Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani has disclosed new details about the missile attack that reportedly struck the residence of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at the outset of the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign against the Iranian regime, claiming the blast left Khamenei wounded and killed his wife.

In an interview with the Iranian Student News Network (SNN), Zakani said the attack took place at about 9:30 a.m., just as Khamenei and his wife were preparing to leave their home. According to him, the missile “directly hit the upper floor of the building,” where the couple was located at the time.

Zakani identified Khamenei’s wife as Zahra Haddad-Adel and said she had remained at the residence after typically seeing the couple’s children off to school around 7:30 each morning. He stated that she was killed in the strike, while Mojtaba Khamenei sustained injuries.

Describing what followed the attack, Zakani said those who were with Khamenei recounted that he remained intent on completing his prayers even as doctors worked to treat him and close his wounds with stitches. “At the height of his pain and injuries, he continuously remained concerned with performing the prayer,” Zakani said. He added that Khamenei displayed compassion, unwavering faith in God, and remarkable composure despite the severity of the situation.

Zakani also addressed the appointment of Major General Mohsen Rezaei, saying the move was intended to send a clear signal to the United States. He argued that Iran had entered a new era in which earlier political phases had concluded and the Islamic Republic, together with the “axis of resistance,” had emerged with greater regional and international influence. Speaking about Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership, Zakani predicted that the Islamic Revolution would become “more mature, more distinctive and broader” during this new period.

The Tehran mayor also reflected on a previous conversation with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike during the conflict. Zakani said he had praised Larijani’s contribution to the Secretariat of the Islamic Cooperation Organization, recalling, “I told the late Larijani that the Secretariat gained value because of you,” Zakani said. He credited Larijani’s leadership, determination, and steadfast approach to confronting challenges with strengthening the organization’s stature.

{Matzav.com}

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August to focus on raising her young family, President Trump announced Tuesday, while revealing that she will continue serving as one of his closest outside advisers ahead of the midterm elections.

Leavitt, 28, became the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary. A mother of two, she welcomed her daughter, Viviana, in May and returned to work from maternity leave only last month.

President Trump praised Leavitt as “one of my most trusted aides.”

Announcing her transition on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections.”

He also commended her years of service, writing, “Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024.”

Trump concluded his tribute by declaring, “Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”

Leavitt first joined the Trump administration as a White House intern before launching an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in New Hampshire during the 2022 midterm elections. She later became a key spokeswoman during President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.

During that campaign, Leavitt gave birth to her first child, Niko. Just three days later, President Trump survived an assassination attempt after being shot during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

She also made history as the first White House press secretary to have a child while serving in the role. The demanding position has traditionally been associated with rapid turnover, with most recent press secretaries serving between roughly 18 months and nearly three years. During President Trump’s first administration, four different individuals held the post.

Reflecting on her tenure, Leavitt described serving as press secretary as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime” and thanked President Trump for the opportunity.

“I have spoken with great pride about the many historic accomplishments of this Administration, and I have relished holding the liberal media accountable and ensuring the American people hear the truth about President Trump’s successes,” she said in a statement.

She explained that her decision was driven by family priorities, saying, “The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart.”

Leavitt emphasized that she plans to remain active in conservative politics, pledging to “always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party” while warning that the “country is facing an existential threat from an increasingly extremist Democrat Party.”

Throughout her tenure, Leavitt adopted a more confrontational approach toward the media than many of her predecessors, frequently challenging news organizations over their reporting on President Trump and his administration.

She also introduced a new rotating seat in the White House briefing room reserved for independent reporters, podcasters, and online content creators, expanding opportunities for nontraditional media outlets to participate in daily press briefings.

President Trump has repeatedly praised Leavitt throughout her time in office, previously calling her a “star” and remarking, “I don’t think anybody has ever had a better press secretary than Karoline.”

Federal prosecutors have charged 11 New Yorkers in what Attorney General Todd Blanche described as one of the largest marriage fraud cases ever brought in the United States, accusing the group of orchestrating more than 1,000 fake marriages over the past decade to fraudulently secure green cards for foreign nationals.

According to Blanche, the defendants allegedly created a lucrative operation that paired foreign nationals—primarily from China—with American citizens in sham marriages designed solely to bypass U.S. immigration laws. He said the enterprise generated millions of dollars while helping applicants unlawfully obtain lawful permanent resident status.

Although the indictment was filed in the Southern District of New York, prosecutors contend the operation reached far beyond the state, arranging fraudulent marriages in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

Authorities allege that several of the defendants served as organizers who coordinated the overall operation, while others recruited Americans willing to enter fake marriages or acted as officiants to solemnize the fraudulent unions.

Investigators say the organizers promoted illegal immigration services through social media platforms and other advertising channels, targeting foreign nationals seeking a path to permanent residency.

Blanche said Chinese nationals allegedly paid as much as $100,000 to secure a fraudulent marriage that would allow them to apply for a green card.

The Americans who agreed to participate in the sham marriages were reportedly paid up to $30,000 for their involvement.

To make the marriages appear authentic, prosecutors allege the defendants staged photographs and established shared bank accounts, mobile phone plans, and other joint financial arrangements intended to convince immigration authorities the relationships were genuine.

The indictment further claims participants were coached on how to mislead immigration officials and conceal the fact that their marriages existed only on paper.

Blanche said many of the couples also signed prenuptial agreements that stripped away the normal legal rights associated with marriage, including inheritance rights, child support obligations, and claims to marital property. Prosecutors said one agreement explicitly acknowledged that although the individuals would be husband and wife in name, they would continue living separate lives and avoid interfering with one another.

The Justice Department estimates the alleged scheme brought in tens of millions of dollars from foreign nationals seeking permanent legal status in the United States.

“These charges, and the indictments now unsealed, they show how far people will go to cheat our immigration system,” Blanche said at a news conference Wednesday. “Gaining American citizenship and legal status to reside in this great nation is a sacred privilege, and we will ensure it is always done in accordance with the law protecting our communities and national security.”

The announcement comes shortly after President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at curbing birth tourism, another practice his administration says exploits weaknesses in the nation’s immigration system.

“Our efforts to protect our immigration system and our country’s borders are aggressive and exhaustive,” Blanche said. “No matter how complicated the scam, we will do everything in our power to stop it.”

The newly unsealed indictment contains two conspiracy charges: conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, and conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States.

Those charged are Amy Cheng, 72; Xiao Mei Chan, 64; Christine Lu, 52; Jing Yan Ye, 43; Xiao Yan Chen, 48; Gang Zheng, 61; Anthony Cheng, 47; Michelle Duenas, 35; Angela Duenas, 26; Sigrid Cetino, 32; and Erika Johnson, 43.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to equip officers with electrically charged gloves designed to deliver painful shocks to individuals who physically resist arrest, with the agency planning to spend as much as $20 million on the technology in the coming months.

According to a Department of Homeland Security procurement notice released Monday, ICE intends to acquire thousands of what are described as “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for officers and agents by March. The purchase would be made through a sole-source contract.

The equipment, known as the G.L.O.V.E.—short for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter—is produced by Compliant Technologies LLC, based in Lexington, Kentucky. The gloves have already been introduced by several correctional facilities and law enforcement agencies in recent years.

When contacted about the planned purchase, DHS said Tuesday it was preparing a response to questions from The Associated Press but did not immediately comment. Jeff Niklaus, founder and CEO of Compliant Technologies, also declined to discuss the matter, writing in an email, “Unfortunately, we are unable to speak on this subject.”

The procurement notice indicates that the formal request for the no-bid contract could be issued as early as Friday.

The proposal has drawn immediate criticism from civil liberties groups, which argue that ICE has already faced repeated scrutiny over its use of force while carrying out President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies and that additional force options raise further concerns about accountability.

According to Compliant Technologies, the gloves function like standard patrol gloves until an officer activates an electrical mode by pressing a switch. Once activated, direct contact with a person’s skin delivers a painful electrical stimulus intended to quickly gain compliance.

“It’s immediate and sharp, and it will distract you. I call it like a bee sting,” said John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, who is studying how the device has been used. “If the officer is getting any type of resistance from the person, this is certainly an effective tool.”

Peters said the planned ICE acquisition would likely represent the company’s largest order to date. He said he expects the gloves could be used during arrests at homes or vehicles, as well as while transporting detainees or managing individuals inside detention centers.

“For smaller officers or weaker officers or older officers, I think it has a great advantage” because it can produce faster takedowns and shorten confrontations, he said.

The manufacturer cautions that the gloves are not intended as a form of punishment and should not be used against individuals displaying only “verbal defiance or belligerence.” It also advises against using the device on higher-risk groups, including children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities.

Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy project director on policing at the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that the public has little reason to trust ICE will exercise appropriate restraint. She questioned why such technology is necessary in civil immigration enforcement and noted that those subjected to the shocks may receive no warning beforehand.

“ICE spent the last year showing this country they are too quick to use force. Now they will be able to deploy electric shocks with the slight push of a button that maybe nobody else can see them do,” she said. “Introducing gloves that can so easily be used to deliver terrible pain in encounters is a recipe for harm to the public.”

Backers of the technology say its use has generally been confined to controlled settings such as jails and prisoner transport operations rather than routine street patrols. According to Compliant Technologies, the gloves have helped officers subdue violent suspects refusing to enter police vehicles and inmates who were harming themselves or threatening correctional staff.

Peters acknowledged that, like other law enforcement equipment, the gloves could be abused by a small number of officers. However, he said he does not believe the devices are likely to cause significant injuries if used properly, stressing that comprehensive training and clear operational policies will be essential.

The manufacturer says officers are required to complete specialized instruction before being authorized to use the gloves and must undergo recertification every two years to remain qualified.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox, 

I recently viewed a video clip showing campers at a popular boys’ camp expressing significant distress and crying as they prepared to depart for the end of the season. While I completely understand that camp is a place where wonderful bonds are formed and that it is natural for children to feel a touch of sadness when leaving a cherished environment, I found myself deeply troubled by the intensity of the emotions on display and the role the staff played in shaping them.

It is difficult to escape the conclusion that these precious boys were actively encouraged and perhaps even choreographed by staff members to engage in these heavy, public displays of grief. From a chinuch perspective, I have been reflecting on whether this is truly the message we want to nurture in our children.

Wouldn’t proper chinuch be to gently guide the boys, reminding them that while we had an inspiring and joyful time at camp, it is now time to transition with excitement, grace, and maturity back to their primary focus: their year-round Torah study and their comforting obligations at home?

When we place such heavy, dramatic emphasis on the “loss” of camp, we risk inadvertently framing the rest of the year—and our daily responsibilities—as a disappointing “waiting period” rather than the true, beautiful arena of personal and spiritual growth. Our educational approach should foster emotional resilience, helping children take the warmth and inspiration they found in the summer and channel it lovingly directly into their winter routines, rather than leaving them overwhelmed by unnecessary separation anxiety.

Sincerely,

A Grandmother in Lakewood

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A newly released Siena College poll suggests Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is performing better at this stage of the campaign than Lee Zeldin did four years ago, fueling hopes among Republicans that New York’s race for governor could become one of the nation’s most closely watched contests.

The survey, conducted in early August among likely voters, shows Gov. Kathy Hochul holding a 10-point advantage over Blakeman, leading 49% to 39%. While the incumbent remains ahead, the poll places Blakeman in a stronger position than Zeldin occupied at the same point during the 2022 campaign.

In August 2022, Siena polling found Hochul leading then-Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin—now administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—by 14 points, 53% to 39%, among likely voters.

Although Hochul enjoyed that larger lead heading into the final months of the campaign, she ultimately defeated Zeldin by just six percentage points, 53% to 47%.

“With less than three months till Election Day, Hochul holds a 10-point lead over Blakeman, 49-39%, not crossing the magic 50% mark,” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg.

“The race is already competitive,” he added.

New Yorkers are scheduled to vote for governor on Nov. 3.

The poll also found that Hochul’s margin is narrower than those enjoyed by other Democratic incumbents seeking statewide office.

Attorney General Letitia James, who is seeking a third term, leads Republican challenger and former federal prosecutor Saritha Komatireddy by 18 points, 54% to 36%, among likely voters.

Meanwhile, four-term State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli holds a commanding 55% to 32% advantage over Republican challenger Joseph Hernandez.

According to the survey, Hochul’s strongest support continues to come from women and Black voters.

Among female voters, the governor leads Blakeman by 19 percentage points, 56% to 37%, while the race among men is essentially even.

The poll also shows Hochul holding a 60-point advantage among Black voters.

In New York City, the Democratic governor enjoys an overwhelming lead, outpacing Blakeman by 45 points, 64% to 19%.

Blakeman’s strongest performance comes in the suburbs, where he leads Hochul 49% to 41%, while voters in upstate New York are evenly divided between the two candidates.

The survey also found that Blakeman performs relatively well among religious voters, holding an advantage among Catholics and receiving support from 42% of Jewish voters, a voting bloc that has traditionally leaned Democratic. Blakeman is Jewish.

Despite the encouraging numbers for Republicans, the poll indicates Hochul continues to hold an advantage on several key issues.

When asked who would do a better job increasing affordable housing, 51% of likely voters chose Hochul, compared to 35% who selected Blakeman.

On the issue of lowering the cost of living, respondents also gave Hochul a modest edge, with 48% saying she would do a better job compared to 41% for Blakeman.

Public safety remains one of the closest issues in the race, with 47% of voters saying Hochul would do a better job keeping New Yorkers safe, while 44% favored Blakeman.

Other recent surveys commissioned by Republican-aligned organizations have suggested an even tighter contest.

A poll conducted last month for the pro-Blakeman “Strong and Safe” Super PAC showed Hochul leading by just four points, 47% to 43%.

Another survey, conducted by the polling firm co/efficient for the conservative-leaning Coalition to Protect Nassau Taxpayers, found Hochul ahead by six points, 47% to 41%.

The Siena College survey interviewed 811 likely voters between Aug. 3 and Aug. 6 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

A large-scale rescue operation unfolded in the Austrian Alps after 36 tourists from three chareidi families—including Belgian, Austrian, American, and British citizens—became stranded in dangerous mountain terrain at an elevation of approximately 2,300 meters (7,500 feet) near Sölden, Austria.

According to Austrian police, the group set out without essential hiking equipment, wearing neither proper mountain boots nor carrying basic safety gear. Instead, they brought baby strollers and young children on the trek.

The families had planned to descend along a broad forest trail but accidentally wandered off the marked path and entered an exposed, steep mountainside where there was a serious risk of falling. Local rescue commander Jakob Fiegl described the incident as “a very common mistake” made by inexperienced hikers. The terrain became increasingly hazardous for families with strollers, and at one point a young child reportedly had to cling to rocks to avoid slipping down the slope.

At approximately 5:15 p.m., two members of the group contacted emergency rescue services. Authorities dispatched two rescue helicopters along with ground crews to the scene. Fourteen people, including the youngest children, were airlifted to safety using helicopter hoists, while the remaining 22 hikers were escorted on foot down the mountain by rescue personnel.

No one was injured during the ordeal. However, the families are expected to bear the full cost of the extensive rescue operation, which is estimated to total several thousand euros.

{Matzav.com}

A 16-year-old boy in India has become the focus of widespread attention after reportedly spending nearly all of his time submerged in ponds and lakes, claiming that remaining in the water is the only way to relieve an intense burning sensation that affects his entire body whenever he comes out. While the teenager believes a supernatural force is responsible, medical experts say a rare skin disorder could potentially explain his symptoms.

According to India Today, Iqbal Sheikh, who lives in the Beldanga area of Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal, regularly moves from one pond or lake to another, sometimes remaining in the water for days at a time, including overnight.

The teenager says that as soon as he leaves the water, he experiences severe burning throughout his body. He claims the discomfort subsides quickly once he returns to the water, making it impossible for him to remain on dry land for long periods.

Iqbal believes the mysterious condition is caused by a “jinn,” a supernatural being recognized in local traditions. However, no medical diagnosis has been made to support that belief.

His prolonged stays in the water have already taken a visible toll on his health. Local residents say the skin on his hands, feet, and other parts of his body has turned pale after spending so much time submerged. Reports also indicate that he has developed cold-like symptoms, including coughing.

The teenager says he sought treatment at a nearby medical center but did not receive the help he was hoping for. According to the report, his family cannot afford treatment at a private hospital, leaving him without a comprehensive medical evaluation.

The unusual case has drawn large crowds from the surrounding community. Villagers and students reportedly gather along the banks of the ponds each day to watch him, with some bringing him food, including flattened rice, biscuits, and snacks. Despite repeated attempts by relatives and others to persuade him to return home, he has reportedly refused to leave the water.

Although Iqbal attributes his condition to supernatural causes, the report notes that one possible medical explanation is a rare disorder known as aquagenic pruritus. The condition, described in medical literature, can cause severe itching, tingling, or burning sensations after contact with water, even when no visible skin abnormalities are present.

However, the report emphasizes that Iqbal has not been diagnosed with aquagenic pruritus, and the condition is mentioned only as one possible explanation for the symptoms he says he experiences.

President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that the United States has established complete dominance over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, insisting America intends to maintain that position as tensions with Iran continue and commercial shipping remains sharply reduced.

Trump said the United States “has total control over the Strait of Hormuz,” adding, “I think we will keep it.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised the effectiveness of the U.S. naval blockade, saying it has prevented Iran from regaining influence over one of the world’s most critical maritime energy corridors despite Tehran’s ongoing attempts to restrict traffic through the passage.

“Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, ‘A WALL OF STEEL,’ and there is nothing Iran can do about it,” Trump wrote.

The president also argued that months of fighting have left Iran’s military in a severely weakened state. He said the country effectively has “no Navy” and “Air Force” remaining and claimed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been “decimated.” Trump further highlighted Iran’s mounting financial troubles and soaring inflation as additional signs of the regime’s decline.

“Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer,” Trump wrote.

Trump’s comments came as shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz continued to operate at a fraction of its normal pace. Data from Kpler showed that just eight ships passed through the waterway on Tuesday, marking the lightest daily traffic since Aug. 5.

Before Iran moved to shut down the strait following the launch of U.S.-Israeli military operations on Feb. 28, roughly 130 to 140 vessels traveled through the channel each day. Of the eight ships recorded Tuesday, seven entered the strait using the Iranian shipping lane, while only a single vessel—a coal carrier—departed.

Separate figures compiled by LSEG showed 11 vessel transits on Tuesday, a decline from 14 recorded the previous day.

Trump’s assertion that the United States controls the waterway stands in direct contrast to repeated statements from Iranian officials, who insist Tehran alone will decide when normal maritime traffic can resume.

Mohsen Rezaei, who was recently appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed unless the United States altered its policies and agreed to Iran’s conditions for ending the conflict.

Iran has demanded that Washington bring the war to an end, release frozen Iranian assets, and halt military operations elsewhere in the region, including in Lebanon and Gaza.

The latest exchange of warnings comes as the United States intensifies its campaign against Iranian maritime activity. Washington initially imposed a naval blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports in April, then reinstated it in July after a ceasefire reached in June collapsed.

According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. forces this week fired on a Panama-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after its crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings while attempting to violate the blockade.

Although Iran continues to insist it controls the fate of the Strait of Hormuz and commercial traffic remains well below normal levels, Trump’s message left little doubt about his administration’s position: the United States believes it has seized the advantage in the struggle over one of the world’s most important waterways.

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Barack Obama took a swipe at President Donald Trump’s gold-themed White House renovations in a behind-the-scenes video released Monday to promote HBO’s comedy miniseries Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, joking about one of the administration’s most noticeable design changes.

The promotional footage shows Obama walking through a recreation of the Oval Office as it looked during his presidency. After looking around the set, he complimented the production team for its attention to detail, even noting the bowl of apples that had sat on his coffee table during his time in office.

“Nice job on the recreation,” Obama said. “You even have the apples. It’s fantastic.”

Obama then joked that one modern feature was missing from the replica.

“Although I do want to point out there’s no gold sign on the outside that says ‘Oval Office,'” Obama said as members of the production crew laughed. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”

His remark referenced the gold cursive “Oval Office” lettering installed outside the entrance to the office on the West Wing late last year. The permanent sign, visible from the Rose Garden, replaced a temporary paper version and matches the style of the lettering used along President Trump’s Presidential Walk of Fame on the West Colonnade.

The sign is one of several decorative changes made to the White House during Trump’s second term. The president also added gold trim around the Oval Office doors, above the fireplace mantel, and along portions of the ceiling. During a March 2025 tour of the White House with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump defended the redesign.

“It needed a little life,” Trump said.

Other changes to the White House grounds include replacing the Rose Garden lawn with stone paving and creating the Presidential Walk of Fame, featuring gold-framed portraits and inscriptions honoring America’s presidents along the West Wing colonnade.

The administration’s most ambitious renovation plan is the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site formerly occupied by the East Wing, which was demolished last October. According to The Associated Press, the estimated price tag for the project has climbed to approximately $400 million.

Last Friday, a divided federal appeals court upheld a preliminary injunction preventing above-ground construction on the ballroom while a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation continues.

In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court concluded that the administration likely lacks the legal authority to proceed with the project without congressional approval. The ruling permits underground work related to security to continue and temporarily stayed the injunction for 14 days to allow the administration to seek review from the U.S. Supreme Court.

President Trump has said he intends to appeal the ruling.

Obama appears as himself in HBO’s seven-episode comedy series, which uses Larry David’s signature style of humor to parody moments from American history. After making a brief appearance in the premiere, Obama returned in the season finale for a sketch offering a fictional explanation for the tan suit he famously wore during a 2014 White House news conference.

In the comedy sketch, Larry David portrays a presidential aide who accidentally spills a smoothie on Obama’s navy suit, leaving him with no choice but to wear the tan suit instead.

According to HBO, the series was written by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer, who also served as executive producers, with Schaffer directing the project. Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, Ethan Lewis, and Vinnie Malhotra also served as executive producers through Higher Ground. All seven episodes are now available for streaming on HBO.

{Matzav.com}