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President Donald Trump said that political commentator Tucker Carlson has “lost his way,” sharply criticizing the former Fox News host in remarks made to ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl.

Karl reported Thursday in a post on X that Trump told him he had long reached that conclusion about Carlson and no longer considers him aligned with the MAGA movement.

According to Karl, the president said Carlson “knew that a long time ago, and he’s not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that.”

Trump also told Karl that the United States intends to have a role in determining Iran’s leadership following the elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“We don’t want them to put anybody in there unless it is approved by us.”

The president’s comments come amid renewed controversy surrounding Carlson after remarks he made about Israel’s war with Iran. Critics said Carlson crossed the line from political criticism into openly antisemitic rhetoric.

During an episode of the “Tucker Carlson Show,” Carlson suggested that Israel’s war against Iran may be tied to a supposed effort to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and construct the Third Temple in its place.

He asked, “How did all these guys wind up wearing patches suggesting the point of this war was the destruction of one of the holiest places in Islam and the rebuilding of a temple that is totally anathema to Christianity?”

Carlson then added, “This has been going on a long time in public through, in part, the efforts of a group called Chabad, C-H-A-B-A-D.”

{Matzav.com}

Following the fall of missile fragments in the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak on Purim, the neighborhood’s rov and renowned posek, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, addressed the incident on Thursday morning and called on residents to recognize the great miracles that occurred.

Speaking briefly in the central shul of Ramat Elchanan after Shacharis at neitz, Rav Zilberstein reflected on the events and shared words of perspective relevant to the current situation.

At the beginning of his remarks, Rav Zilberstein spoke about the broader miracles being witnessed in recent days.

“We have such a great illumination of favor from Hakadosh Baruch Hu—it is impossible to describe how great this illumination is. Today we clearly see the finger of Hashem in a very great way. The very fact that we remain alive after so many bombs that occurred during this night…”

In an unusual moment, the rov also shared a personal experience from the night of the attack.

“I sleep in Ramat Gan. What sirens there were during the night, without end… Now we come to the shul and say to Hakadosh Baruch Hu: even if there will be sirens from today until tomorrow, we are not shaken—we continue to do Your service.”

His talmid and close associate, the writer Rabbi Moshe Michael Tzoran, then raised a question that many residents had been asking: What should people do in response to what happened with the missile that fell in the neighborhood, even though clear miracles took place?

Rav Zilberstein responded directly.

“First of all: it is an enormous miracle that we all remained alive… Secondly: what happened here, simply speaking, must have been some sin that caused it.”

Talmidim of Rav Zilberstein later noted that at the moment the missile debris fell, the rov cited the words of Rashi on the verse in Bereishis (32:11). Although Hakadosh Baruch Hu promised Yaakov Avinu, “I will guard you wherever you go,” Yaakov still feared that a sin might cause the promise not to be fulfilled and that he might fall into the hands of Eisav. A similar idea is mentioned in the Mishnah Berurah (siman 158:38), which explains that even someone who is careful about netilas yadayim yet does not become wealthy—despite the promise of Chazal—may be prevented by his own negative actions.

Rav Zilberstein then surprised the kehillah with a remarkable display of humility. Standing before the community of Ramat Elchanan, he said: “We do not know whose sin it is… perhaps I am to blame… most likely I am to blame!”

Members of the shul immediately protested out of respect and affection for their rov and for the honor of Torah. Several people responded, “Chas v’shalom,” and one individual even raised his voice and declared, “I protest… I protest.”

Rav Zilberstein smiled and replied: “I will receive reward for what I said, and you will receive double the reward from me.”

He then continued: “What happened here is something that requires explanation. If we had someone today with ruach hakodesh, he would tell us what we must do—but we do not have that today.”

Rav Zilberstein went on to describe the remarkable miracles that occurred during the incident on Purim.

“But we must remember that there were miracles here that were beyond the natural order… As I heard, the gas pipe exploded and could have caused a massive fire. Immediately afterward the water pipe also burst, and the water extinguished the fire.”

This, he said, reminded him of an incident involving his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.

“It reminded me of something that happened with my father-in-law, Maran Rav Elyashiv zt”l. During the time when the Jordanians were shelling Yerushalayim, a shell fell on the roof of his home and a large fire broke out. Rav Elyashiv simply stood there and said: ‘Hakadosh Baruch Hu, help me.’ Immediately afterward another shell fell and struck the water boiler, which exploded, and the water spilled out and extinguished the entire fire. So we have a possibility—how can there be a fire that does not require firefighters? Rav Elyashiv…”

In closing, Rav Zilberstein urged the public to strengthen efforts to draw Jews closer to Torah, especially during this period.

“We must now see that the greatest thing is for anyone who interacts with secular Jews to speak with them pleasantly, and it is possible to accomplish wonders. Simply speak nicely and with proper respect, and ask for siyata d’Shmaya. Today we can do a great deal with our brothers, because this is a time of awakening—truly extraordinary. But what is required is a great deal of siyata d’Shmaya.”

He concluded his remarks with a brocha: “All the best to my dear friends. May we merit to sanctify the name of Heaven, and may we merit to see salvations and consolations.”

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

In recent weeks, as our hearts remain focused on the matzav in Eretz Yisroel, many have asked whether the upcoming Shuvu Dinner should be postponed.

After consulting with our Daas Torah, the answer was clear: now more than ever.

When times are difficult, the thousands of Shuvu children learning in our schools need stability, strength, and emunah. Chazal teach that the world stands in the merit of Hevel Pihem Shel Tinokos Shel Beis Rabban. Strengthening their Torah is not a distraction from the moment—it is part of the response.

For this reason, Shuvu will be moving forward with its 35th Annual Dinner, Be’H, on Sunday, March 15 at Bell Works in NJ. Please join our dinner campaign at by visting shuvusa.org/dinner or calling 718-692-3434.                                                                                                                                                                               

Many members of our team in Eretz Yisroel must remain there with their families and may not be able to travel to assist with fundraising. We therefore turn to you—our friends and supporters—to help ensure that Shuvu’s schools and the thousands of children who depend on them remain strong.

Please join us at the dinner and show the children of Eretz Yisroel that they are not alone. In this zechus, may we be zoche to see yeshuos and nechamos for Klal Yisroel. Please help us at shuvusa.org/dinner

President Donald Trump said the United States must play a role in determining who becomes Iran’s next supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, arguing that the country needs a new direction after years of confrontation with Washington.

Speaking in an interview with Axios published Thursday, Trump said he intends to personally participate in the process of deciding Iran’s next leader and compared the situation to what he described as American involvement in Venezuela’s political leadership.

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela,” Trump told Axios.

Trump said Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain Iranian leader and a cleric closely tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, currently appears to be the leading contender to succeed his father. However, the president said he strongly opposes that possibility.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he said.

Trump warned that if Iran’s leadership selects another figure who follows the hardline policies associated with the elder Khamenei, tensions between Tehran and Washington could escalate again in the near future.

“If they put someone like that in, we’ll be back at war in five years,” he said.

The comments come as Iran’s ruling clerical establishment considers its next steps after Khamenei was killed amid the escalating U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Tehran.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the body tasked with choosing the country’s supreme leader, has not yet named a successor, though officials have indicated that an announcement could come soon.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is widely seen as a leading candidate despite never having held elected office, and his potential appointment has raised concerns about the possibility of a hereditary-style succession within Iran’s political system.

{Matzav.com}

John Bolton: I think the strategic thinker here is Bibi Netanyahu. Beyond a doubt.

Since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, 14 families in Bnei Brak—about 60 residents in total—were evacuated after their homes were damaged by missile shrapnel and required immediate evacuation. Most of the evacuations took place on Tuesday (Purim), when 11 families, numbering about 45 people, were forced to leave their homes. All of the families […]

Outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announces she has been appointed by President Trump as Special Envoy for the “Shield of the Americas.” Noem thanked Trump for the appointment and said she will work with senior U.S. officials to dismantle drug cartels responsible for flooding the United States with narcotics. She also highlighted accomplishments during her […]

Reporter: Is there any learning lesson you have picked up from Noem in the way in which you want to lead the agency differently? Sen. Markwayne Mullin: Kristi is a friend. And I haven’t had time to call Kristi yet or Secretary Noem. Our families are friends. She was tasked with a very difficult job. […]

Sec Kennedy announces that 53 medical schools have voluntarily pledged to require students to complete 40 hours of comprehensive nutrition education or a competency equivalent before graduating.

Footage shows a large explosion in Dubai following a reported drone attack.

WATCH: “Tucker Carlson is an important person, we need to follow him…this guy is the strongest guy in the media”

Senior advisers to President Donald Trump are exploring options to reduce gasoline prices after military strikes on Iran set off sharp swings in global oil markets and pushed fuel costs higher for American drivers.

According to Politico, Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has instructed administration officials to develop proposals that could ease energy costs and present them to the president in the Oval Office. Energy industry executives familiar with the discussions said the White House is actively seeking ideas to bring relief at the pump.

The White House is “looking under every rock for ideas on improving energy prices, especially gasoline prices,” one executive said.

The effort follows U.S. military strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Tehran targeting energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, developments that have fueled a surge in oil prices worldwide.

Crude oil climbed by more than $10 per barrel in the days after the attacks, a spike that pushed gasoline prices in the United States to their highest point since Trump returned to office last year.

Officials involved in shaping energy policy, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, are now under significant pressure to identify measures that could steady the market and reassure consumers, according to people familiar with internal administration discussions.

The administration has already rolled out several actions intended to safeguard global oil shipments and stabilize supply.

President Trump recently announced that the U.S. military will escort and protect commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran threatened oil tankers traveling through the vital maritime passage.

In addition, the White House directed the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. to step in with insurance coverage for ships whose policies were withdrawn as the fighting in the region intensified.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration believes the president’s moves against Iran will ultimately strengthen the stability of energy markets by preventing Tehran from threatening one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.

“I think it speaks to why this action was so necessary,” Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday. “Ultimately, the energy industry is going to benefit from the president’s actions with respect to Iran.”

One proposal currently being examined is a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax. However, such a measure would require approval from Congress and might not immediately reduce prices if retailers do not pass the savings on to consumers.

Despite the recent jump in fuel costs, Trump has dismissed concerns about the short-term impact, arguing that prices will eventually fall once the conflict subsides.

“If we have a little high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, lower than even before,” Trump said earlier this week.

Energy analysts say fuel prices have climbed quickly since hostilities began.

According to AAA and industry analysts, the nationwide average price for regular gasoline rose above $3.25 per gallon this week, increasing by more than 28 cents within just a few days.

Oil markets have surged as traders respond to the possibility that supply could be disrupted across the Middle East.

Iran’s location near the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow maritime chokepoint through which more than one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — has intensified fears of further instability in global energy flows.

The ongoing violence has already slowed tanker traffic and temporarily shut down some oil production in neighboring Gulf states.

Analysts caution that prices could continue rising if the conflict widens, though they note that current fuel costs remain well below the historic highs reached in 2022, when gasoline prices nationwide climbed past $5 per gallon.

{Matzav.com}

Chaim V’Chessed continues to receive a high volume of inquiries from Israeli residents stranded abroad – who wish to return home – and from those urgently seeking to leave Israel. Below is the most current information available.

Returning to Israel

Close to 100,000 residents of Israel are believed to be stranded abroad due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. This morning, the first two so-called “repatriation flights” landed in Israel – one from Athens and one from Rome, bringing Israelis home.

At present, these flights are extremely limited. There are flights by El Al, Israir and Arkia from select destinations, on which passengers who already held tickets are being placed – or offered seats – at the airlines’ discretion. Airlines will reach out to their passengers to place them on flights. It is extremely difficult – if not impossible – for passengers to reach the airlines on their own.

There are very limited spaces available for travelers who do not hold tickets or who held tickets on other airlines.

During the previous round of conflict, repatriation flights were initially limited to Israeli citizens only. Chaim V’Chessed advocated strongly on behalf of Israeli residents who do not hold Israeli citizenship, and will do so again if this arises again. At this time, we do not yet know whether citizenship restrictions will again become an issue.

For those unable to secure space on these very limited flights, the only current alternative is to enter Israel via Egypt – essentially reversing the route being used by those exiting the country.

In addition to the option of flying into Sharm el-Sheikh Airport on regularly scheduled commercial flights, Israir is operating flights to Taba Airport from various destinations. Passengers can then enter Israel at the Taba Broder Crossing.

Leaving Israel

Currently, no outbound flights are permitted to depart from Israel. The Israeli government has announced that limited outbound flights are expected to begin departing Israel on Sunday.

However, several critical points must be emphasized:

• It remains to be seen how this plan will actually unfold.
• Based on what has been announced – mirroring the previous conflict – flights may be limited to 50 passengers per flight.
• Passengers may be permitted only a very limited amount of time inside the terminal.

Full operational details have not yet been released.

It is likely – though not yet confirmed – that available seats will again be offered primarily to those who previously held reservations. Even if these flights begin as announced, they will certainly not provide a solution for the huge number of people currently seeking to leave.

Ongoing Options

At present, the best functioning route out of Israel remains travel through Egypt, departing from:

• Taba Airport
• Sharm el-Sheikh Airport

Israir is operating a significant number of flights out of Taba Airport to various destinations.

Various agencies are offering complete packages for departing Israel via Egypt, including transportation to the airports in Egypt. These include Lalechet and Emes Travel.

As with all current developments, this remains subject to change.

Travel Through Egypt – What You Need to Know

Many have asked whether it is safe or recommended to travel via Egypt.

It is important to note:

• Israel maintains a standing travel advisory against travel to Egypt, which has been in effect for some time.
• At the same time, thousands of travelers have successfully transited Egypt in recent days, both entering and exiting Israel.

Without offering any recommendation, we can report the following practical realities:

The journey is arduous.

• 3-4 hour drive to Eilat
• Up to 2 hours at the border crossing
• Approximately 3 additional hours if continuing to Sharm el-Sheikh
• Those departing from Sharm or Taba must generally connect through Europe before continuing to their final destinations.

These itineraries are long, complex, and often grueling. Nevertheless, many have completed them successfully, and for now, this remains the most viable mass option.

Travel Through Jordan – What You Need to Know

It is possible to exit Israel via Jordan and continue onward to other international destinations. However, during the June conflict with Iran, many travelers reported experiencing greater hostility and difficulty from Jordanian authorities than from Egyptian authorities.

It remains to be seen how this route will function in the current situation.

Option 1 – Amman (Queen Alia International Airport)

Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport offers numerous global connections, including nonstop flights to the United States.

Under normal circumstances, this airport is most easily accessed via the Allenby Bridge Crossing. However, this border crossing crossing is largely closed due to the ongoing conflict, making travel to Amman much more difficult at this time.

Option 2 – Via Eilat to Aqaba

Travelers may instead travel south to Eilat and cross into Jordan via the Yitzhak Rabin Crossing.

• The crossing is currently open, though it does not operate 24 hours a day.
• After entering Jordan, travelers can:
  • Travel north to Amman and depart from Queen Alia International Airport
  • Remain in the south and fly from Aqaba

Arkia is scheduled to begin operating special flights from Aqaba as of Sunday, providing an additional departure option for those seeking to leave the region.

{Matzav.com}

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel has destroyed roughly 80% of Iran’s air defense systems and has achieved near-total air superiority over Iranian airspace. According to Zamir, the Israeli Air Force has carried out about 2,500 strikes and deployed more than 6,000 munitions, while also neutralizing over 60% of Iran’s ballistic […]

President Trump announced that he has removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her post, marking the first cabinet-level change of his second term.

The decision came shortly after Noem’s appearance before Congress earlier this week, during which she testified that Trump had authorized $220 million in advertising campaigns featuring the former South Dakota governor, a revelation that reportedly angered the president.

Trump revealed the personnel change in a post on Truth Social, where he also named the official who will take over leadership of the Department of Homeland Security.

“I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

In the same statement, Trump said that Noem would not be leaving the administration entirely but would instead transition into a different role focused on security issues in the Western Hemisphere.

“The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland.’”

Trump devoted the rest of his statement to commending Mullin and highlighting his qualifications for the position.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ending a tumultuous year-long tenure defined by a government shutdown and a series of fatal enforcement incidents that triggered a national firestorm. The President announced he will nominate Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to lead the department. The move marks the first major Cabinet shakeup of […]

Footage shows an Iranian missile flying over northern Israel during the latest barrage from Iran.

The conspiracy theory pushed yesterday by antisemite Tucker Carlson linking Chabad-Lubavitch to the war with Iran has quickly spread across fringe corners of social media, with another antisemitic commentator, Candace Owens, now escalating the rhetoric even further. In a series of posts on X, Owens repeated and expanded on the claims Carlson aired on his […]