Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. openly discussed his history of substance abuse this week, acknowledging that at one point he would “snort cocaine off of toilet seats” and crediting daily recovery meetings with helping him remain sober for more than four decades.
Kennedy, 72, made the remarks during Thursday’s episode of “This Past Weekend with Theo Von.” He shared that he and the comedian first met at recovery meetings in Los Angeles prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recalling those days, Kennedy said he was “not scared of a germ — I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.”
Speaking about the discipline required to maintain sobriety, he emphasized the importance of consistent effort. “Like, if I don’t, if I don’t treat it — which means for me going to meetings every day — it’s just bad for my life,” Kennedy said of his addiction and recovery journey.
Both Von and Kennedy were living in the Los Angeles area at the time they were introduced at a 7 a.m. recovery meeting, which later shut down during the pandemic.
Describing his mindset when he first sought help, Kennedy said, “I mean for me, I said this when I came in, ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m going to a meeting everyday,’” adding that he’s been in recovery for 43 years. “I know this disease will kill me.”
The Cabinet secretary has repeatedly spoken about his long battle with narcotics, including a 14-year heroin addiction.
In a June 2024 interview with podcast host Shawn Ryan, Kennedy made the striking claim that drugs once appeared to boost his academic performance.
“I did very, very poorly in school, until I started doing narcotics,” he said at the time. “I was at the bottom of my class. I started doing heroin, and I went to the top of my class. Suddenly, I could sit still, and I could read.”
“It worked for me,” he added. “And if it still worked, I’d still be doing it.”
Kennedy has also described how his struggle with addiction began in the aftermath of the 1968 assassination of his father, Robert F. Kennedy.
In 1983, he was arrested in South Dakota and charged with heroin possession. The following year, he pleaded guilty to a felony drug possession charge and was sentenced to two years of probation along with community service.
Looking back, Kennedy has described the arrest as “the best thing that could have happened to me,” saying it ultimately pushed him toward sobriety.
President Donald Trump declared Friday that voter identification rules will be enforced in the upcoming November midterm elections, regardless of whether Congress approves pending legislation on the issue.
In a message posted to Truth Social, Trump indicated he is ready to act on his own if the SAVE America Act fails to clear the Senate, suggesting he would rely on executive authority to advance the policy.
“The Democrats refuse to vote for Voter I.D., or Citizenship. The reason is very simple — They want to continue to cheat in Elections. This was not what our Founders desired. I have searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be presenting an irrefutable one in the very near future,” Trump wrote.
He added, “There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not! Also, the People of our Country are insisting on Citizenship, and No Mail-In Ballots, with exceptions for Military, Disability, Illness, or Travel.”
Earlier in the week, the House approved legislation requiring voter identification. However, the proposal now faces significant hurdles in the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster — a threshold it is widely viewed as unlikely to reach.
In another post, Trump reiterated that he would pursue executive action should lawmakers fail to deliver the bill to him for signature.
“If we can’t get it through Congress, there are Legal reasons why this SCAM is not permitted. I will be presenting them shortly, in the form of an Executive Order,” he wrote.
Trump sharply rebuked critics of voter ID laws, accusing Democrats of acting in bad faith and working to undermine election integrity. He referred to them as “horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS,” and added, “We cannot let the Democrats get away with NO VOTER I.D. any longer.”
He also asserted that Democratic leaders publicly object to voter ID measures while privately treating the issue dismissively.
“They have all sorts of reasons why it shouldn’t be passed, and then boldly laugh in the backrooms after their ridiculous presentations. If it weren’t such a serious matter, it would be considered a TOTAL JOKE!” he wrote.
Continuing his criticism, Trump compared the absence of voter ID requirements to other policies he opposes.
“No Voter I.D. is even crazier, and more ridiculous, than Men playing in Women’s Sports, Open Borders, or Transgender for Everyone. Republicans must put this at the top of every speech — It is a CAN’T MISS FOR RE-ELECTION IN THE MIDTERMS, AND BEYOND! Even Democrat Voters agree, 85%, that there should be Voter I.D.”
Trump also directed criticism at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
“It’s only the Political ‘Leaders,’ Crooked Losers like Schumer and Jeffries, that have no shame, and explain why it’s ‘racist,’ and every other thing that they can think of. This is an issue that must be fought, and must be fought, NOW!”
President Donald Trump said Friday that replacing Iran’s ruling government “would be the best thing that could happen,” as he renewed warnings that the United States could carry out military strikes if Tehran refuses to agree to a nuclear deal.
Trump has insisted that Iran must fully dismantle its uranium enrichment program, a demand Iranian leaders have rejected, maintaining that their nuclear activities are intended for civilian energy production rather than weapons development.
When asked directly whether he supports the fall of Iran’s theocratic regime, Trump replied: “Well, it seems like that would be the best thing that could happen.”
Speaking to reporters after visiting Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Trump expressed frustration with Iran’s leadership. “For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking,” he said.
“And in the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk. Legs blown off, arms blown off, faces blown off — this has been going on for a long time,” he added, referring to Iran’s support for anti-American insurgents during the Iraq War.
“So let’s see what happens. In the meantime … tremendous power has arrived and additional power — as you know, another carrier is going out.”
Trump did not outline how a regime change might unfold. Last month, he publicly encouraged demonstrators in Iran before authorities moved to suppress the protests.
The president has also declined to answer whether he would consider targeting senior Iranian officials. At the same time, he has brushed aside suggestions that exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi could lead the country, indicating that any political transition would have to be determined by Iranians themselves.
In recent weeks, Trump ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its strike group to the Arabian Sea, positioning forces for potential action. He has also directed the USS George H.W. Bush to prepare for deployment.
Diplomatic efforts are continuing in parallel. A U.S. delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met on February 6 with Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. Araghchi said the indirect talks focused exclusively on Iran’s nuclear program, which was struck by Israel and the United States last June.
Washington is also seeking commitments from Iran related to human rights and an end to its support for regional proxy groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Tehran, however, has so far declined to engage on those issues.
On Thursday, Trump warned that Iran could face a “traumatic” outcome if it refuses to reach an agreement. His remarks followed a meeting Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to review possible military scenarios.
Netanyahu has reportedly pressed Trump to target Iran’s long-range ballistic missile capabilities if the U.S. launches an attack, after previously urging caution amid concerns about Israel’s preparedness.
Several U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have cautioned against efforts to remove Iran’s leadership, warning that such a move could destabilize the region.
Trump’s comments in favor of regime change mark a departure from positions he has taken in the past. Over the years, he criticized leaders from both parties for toppling dictators in the Middle East, including Iraq’s Saddam Hussein.
During his 2016 campaign, Trump said: “The war in Iraq started the whole destabilization of the Middle East. It started ISIS. It started Libya. It started Syria. That was one of the worst decisions ever made by any government at any time.”
More recently, on January 2, Trump wrote on social media that the United States was “locked and loaded and ready to go” if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters.” Reports later indicated that Iranian authorities carried out a sweeping crackdown, with death toll estimates reaching into the thousands.
On January 13, Trump urged demonstrators to “TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” and declared that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY” before stepping back from immediate military action after Iran delayed the executions of hundreds of protesters.
{Matzav.com}
A whistleblower filing against Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, has sparked debate in Washington over how classified material referencing Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, was managed within the intelligence community.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the dispute centers on an intercepted exchange between two foreign nationals who discussed Kushner. The conversation was gathered by a foreign intelligence service and subsequently shared with the National Security Agency. The material reportedly referenced Kushner’s influence on U.S. foreign policy, particularly in matters related to Iran.
The intercepted discussion, which occurred last year, included commentary about Kushner’s role in Middle East peace negotiations and Iran policy. However, U.S. officials from the Trump administration characterized the claims as largely unsubstantiated and dismissed them as inaccurate.
The whistleblower alleges that Gabbard’s office limited access to the intelligence assessment and delayed its circulation for several months. According to the Journal, the complaint contends that Gabbard narrowed the group permitted to review the report after a meeting with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Some officials involved reportedly believe that broader distribution might have led to the material being quickly deemed insignificant. The whistleblower, however, maintains that relevant agencies should have received the information and suggests that the restriction was politically driven.
Gabbard’s office has rejected the accusations, stating that the material was handled appropriately and in accordance with national security protocols. Still, the timing of the report’s limited release has prompted questions from members of Congress. A heavily redacted version of the complaint was eventually provided to select lawmakers, and several Democrats have called for additional scrutiny into why the complaint was not addressed sooner. The Journal noted that Gabbard’s team has defended her conduct, asserting that she adhered to established legal and procedural requirements.
The New York Times reported additional details about the contents of the intercepted conversation. According to the newspaper, the intelligence, which originated with a foreign partner, primarily focused on Iran but also mentioned Kushner, whose name was initially redacted in the report. The individuals in the conversation reportedly speculated about Kushner’s sway over U.S. policy during a period when his involvement in Middle East diplomacy was increasing. U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence said portions of the discussion amounted to unverified gossip, including claims that were demonstrably false.
The Times also pointed out that the reference to Kushner drew attention because U.S. officials, particularly those connected to the Trump administration, are typically masked in such intercepts. While Gabbard’s office restricted wider distribution of the material, some officials believe the move reflected caution, given the risk that disclosure could expose sensitive intelligence sources and methods.
Although the allegations tied to Kushner were speculative and unsupported by corroborating intelligence, the decision to limit access to the report has fueled controversy. Critics argue that Gabbard may have sought to shield an ally of President Trump from political fallout, while others contend that her approach was a pragmatic effort to avoid unnecessary controversy over dubious information.
The complaint and related inquiries remain classified. However, some lawmakers, including Senator Mark Warner, have called for comprehensive access to the underlying intelligence, which has not yet been fully disclosed.
Israel’s Health Ministry reported Friday that a nine-year-old boy who had not been vaccinated died after contracting measles, as officials continue to warn the public amid an ongoing outbreak.
According to the ministry, the child was admitted to the hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced dead despite resuscitation efforts.
Since the start of the current outbreak, 14 people have died from measles. Most of the fatalities have involved unvaccinated infants who were previously healthy and had no underlying medical conditions.
The Health Ministry emphasized that measles is a preventable illness and stressed the importance of immunization. Officials stated that the measles vaccine is both safe and effective and that it saves lives.
Under routine guidelines, all children are advised to receive the first dose of the measles vaccine at age one and a second dose at age six as part of the standard immunization schedule.
In areas experiencing outbreaks, the ministry recommends administering the second dose earlier, at age one and a half.
In addition, health officials advise giving an extra vaccine dose to infants between the ages of six and eleven months in outbreak zones and for those traveling to locations where measles cases are rising.
The ministry also urged individuals who are not vaccinated, as well as parents of infants who received a single dose between six and eleven months of age, to avoid large public gatherings in outbreak areas due to the heightened risk of infection.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is proposing $10 million in state funds to assist small businesses affected by recent federal immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis, arguing that Washington should compensate local companies for economic losses tied to ICE operations.
Walz made the remarks after White House advisor Tom Homan announced Thursday that most ICE officers would be withdrawn from Minneapolis following the arrest of more than 4,000 illegal migrants. Reacting to the enforcement effort, Walz said, “They left us with economic ruin.”
The governor said his administration is prioritizing financial relief for businesses impacted by the raids, particularly immigrant-owned enterprises. “One of the first things we can do, and what we’re focusing on today, is: What can we start doing on the economic recovery, the damage that has been done to our economy, specifically to small business owners, and even more specifically, to immigrant small business owners … The federal government needs to pay for what they broke here.”
Matt Varilek, an economic development official in Walz’s administration, said many local companies are struggling due to the enforcement actions. “Many Minnesota businesses – especially small businesses — are facing economic hardships that may prove insurmountable” as a result of federal activity, he said.
He added that the impact has been widespread. “The massive negative economic impact that is resulting from the fact that a lot of [company] workers don’t feel comfortable showing up, a lot of customers don’t feel comfortable showing up, and so we’re seeing massive reductions in that foot traffic, massive reductions in revenue.”
Henry Garcia, a Colombian migrant who manages a grocery store in St. Paul, said his business has been severely affected. “My customers are afraid to go shopping,” Garcia said, explaining that his sales have fallen by roughly half, even though some white Minneapolis residents have begun shopping at his store.
He described the shift in business conditions following increased ICE activity. “Since federal ICE activity increased late last year, everything changed .. My customers are afraid to go in shopping. … Sales dropped by half, and goodwill doesn’t cover rent … We need more [grants].”
Throughout his public comments, Walz praised immigrants broadly, without distinguishing between those in the country legally and those who entered illegally.
He framed immigration as central to American identity. “Immigrant small business owners, which … for most of our history, [are] the epitome of the American Dream: ‘Come to this country with nothing and build something to be proud!’”
Addressing immigrant communities directly, Walz said, “I want to speak directly to Minnesota’s immigrant community, by extension, America’s immigrant community. We see you, we hear you, we value everything that you bring … We believe in those words. ‘Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to be breathe free.’”
Walz also emphasized the broader role of immigration in shaping the state and nation. “There is no Minnesota without our immigrant community,” he said, adding that “immigration is the core of who we are.”
The debate comes amid broader disputes over so-called “Sanctuary City” policies, which critics argue create economic systems dependent on migrant labor and consumer bases. Supporters counter that immigrant communities fuel local business growth and contribute to cultural and economic vitality.
In Minneapolis, supporters of the governor point to the growth of immigrant-owned restaurants and retail establishments. Walz highlighted what he described as “a food scene across this state that is second to none.”
The New York Times recently profiled Oscar Murcia, who arrived in St. Paul from El Salvador in 2000 and later opened a restaurant and bakery called El Guanaco. As federal enforcement increased in December, customer traffic at his Minneapolis location reportedly fell 80 percent, prompting its closure. He has reduced hours and staff at other locations and sought relief from landlords and lenders. According to the report, four of his 64 employees were detained, despite having work permits and pending asylum cases.
Critics argue that enforcement of immigration laws is restoring federal authority in cities that had previously limited cooperation with ICE. They contend that tighter enforcement is reshaping local labor markets and housing dynamics in cities such as Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
In Minneapolis, median income stood at approximately $52,000 in 2024, while annual rent costs climbed to around $16,500. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, three full-time minimum-wage jobs are needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the city. In 2023, Minnesota ranked fortieth among states in median household income growth.
Meanwhile, Walz on Thursday said his administration wants to participate in a federal investigation into alleged fraud involving Somali-operated programs that received federal funds. The probe is expected to examine whether large sums of taxpayer money were misused, and several individuals reportedly face potential criminal charges.
President Donald Trump, for his part, has promoted a different economic approach focused on productivity and technology. Speaking to Breitbart News in August, Trump said, “We’re going to need robots … to make our economy run because we do not have enough people,” adding, “So we have to get efficient … we’ll probably add to [the existing workforce] through robotically—it’s going to be robotically … It’s going to be big. Then, somebody is going to have to make the robots. The whole thing, it feeds on itself … we’re going to streamline things. We need efficiency.”
Supporters of Trump’s immigration enforcement say it is part of a broader strategy aimed at tightening labor markets and raising wages for American workers. RestaurantBusinessOnline.com reported January 23: “Fewer workers mean restaurants will once again have to compete for employees the only way they can, by paying higher wages. Wages over the next two years are expected to accelerate, according to Oxford Economics, from 3.7% this year to 5.6% by 2027.”
The clash between the two approaches reflects a deeper divide over immigration policy and economic priorities, with Walz and other Democrats favoring expanded protections and benefits for immigrant communities, and Trump emphasizing enforcement, reduced migration, and productivity-driven growth.
