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President Trump on Tuesday offered reporters a firsthand look at the massive construction project underway at the White House, explaining that the highly discussed ballroom addition is only one part of a much larger underground military and security complex being built beneath the grounds.

Standing near the active construction site, Trump described the scale and sophistication of the project, encouraging reporters to appreciate the engineering involved.

“You might want to take a look at the complexity,” Trump said as he gestured toward the construction site on the premises.

According to Trump, the ballroom itself serves an additional purpose beyond hosting events. He said the structure is designed to shield a vast network of facilities currently under construction below ground level, including military and research infrastructure.

“These are all different rooms out here,” Trump said. “They’re building a hospital. They’re building a military hospital. They’re building all sorts of research facilities — also meeting rooms and rooms that go hand in hand for the military, using the ballroom, and the ballroom is really a shield and protecting all of the things that are built here.”

Trump said excavation and development have already extended far beneath the White House grounds, reaching multiple underground levels.

“This is down because we’ve already done these floors, but these are already down two floors. That is down about six stories deep. That’s fixed up normally,” he said, walking through other features and complexities of this design.

The president also detailed advanced security measures integrated into the structure, including protection against drone and missile threats, as well as tactical positions for military personnel.

“It’s all knit together between the drone proofing [and] the missile proofing. We have had the drone capacity upstairs. We can have all sorts of military up, whether — I hate to use the word snipers, but we have great sniper capacity,” the president said, revealing that it is “built for our snipers, not the enemy snipers.”

Trump noted that the height and positioning of the project provide sweeping visibility across the nation’s capital.

“And because of the height, we get a very clear view of everything all over Washington,” Trump said.

The president’s remarks came shortly after Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that a Republican proposal allocating $1 billion toward the White House ballroom project failed to comply with Senate reconciliation rules. Republican lawmakers, however, have said they are working on revisions to keep the funding package alive.

The funding proposal is part of a broader reconciliation bill that also includes money for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Because reconciliation bills require only a simple majority in the Senate, Republicans are seeking to advance the measure without Democratic support.

Democrats celebrated the parliamentarian’s ruling as a setback for the administration, though Republican lawmakers insisted a solution is already being prepared.

Reports have since emerged that Trump wants Senate Majority Leader John Thune to remove MacDonough from her position over the ruling.

Opponents of the project have criticized Trump’s vision for what he has repeatedly described as a secure and elegant ballroom complex. Over time, however, the proposal has evolved into a broader underground military and security facility.

Still, renovations and expansions at the White House are hardly unusual. Numerous presidents have altered or rebuilt portions of the executive mansion over the years, and historians note that very little of the original structure from the John Adams era remains intact today.

According to Breitbart News, “The only thing connecting the current structure to the barely ‘habitable’ building that Adams first entered is some of the sandstone exterior walls.”

Supporters of the project have pointed to recent security concerns as justification for the expanded construction effort, particularly following the attempted attack near the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton several weeks ago.

Following that incident, Trump argued on Truth Social that the attempted attack underscored the urgent need for a protected event facility inside the White House grounds.

“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,” Trump said on Truth Social after the foiled shooting attempt.

“This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough!” he added.

{Matzav.com}

The head of the IDF Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, has reduced by 10 days the prison sentence of a Nachal Brigade soldier who was convicted for wearing a “Moshiach” patch on his military uniform.

The decision came after recommendations were submitted by the commanders of both the Nachal Brigade and the 162nd Division requesting leniency in the case.

The sentence reduction followed a personal visit by Nachal Brigade commander Col. Arik Moyal to the military prison where the soldier was being held. During their meeting, the soldier acknowledged wrongdoing and expressed regret over the incident. Following that conversation and the soldier’s acceptance of responsibility, senior commanders approved a lighter punishment.

Earlier reports said the soldier, identified as Cpl. Or, filed an appeal through his attorney to the Military Prosecutor’s Office, arguing that the disciplinary process against him had been improperly conducted and questioning whether the brigade commander had the authority to hand down such a severe sentence.

One day earlier, the commander of the 162nd Division rejected the appeal against the original punishment. After that ruling, the soldier submitted a separate request directly to the Southern Command commander asking that his prison term be shortened.

In his filing to military prosecutors, the soldier’s attorney, Ran Cohen-Rochberger, maintained that wearing an unauthorized patch is classified under violations related to “appearance and uniform,” and that military rules do not allow imprisonment for a first offense of that nature.

According to a report by Galei Tzahal, the appeal also argued that the Nachal Brigade commander exceeded his authority in imposing the sentence and acted contrary to military regulations. The filing therefore called for the disciplinary conviction to be overturned.

{Matzav.com}

Former hostage Romi Gonen revealed in an emotional interview with singer Ishay Ribo that his song “Tocho Ratzuf Ahava” became a source of comfort and strength for her during her time in captivity in Gaza.

The conversation took place on Gonen’s program, “The New Life of Romi Gonen,” which airs on the V1 app. During the interview, she described the powerful emotions she experienced when she finally heard the song after many months in captivity, saying it immediately brought thoughts of her mother to mind.

Gonen explained that throughout the long period she was held hostage, she constantly hoped the song would eventually come on the radio whenever captives were briefly allowed to listen.

“Something in me was always waiting to hear ‘Tocho Ratzuf Ahava’ whenever we listened to the radio,” Gonen told Ribo during their conversation in the studio.

She then recounted the moment the song finally aired, nearly a year after she had been taken captive.

“Then it came, almost a year later, during the week of October 7. By chance they brought us a radio, and suddenly I woke up when Emily shouted to me, ‘Lula, “Tocho Ratzuf Ahava” is on the radio.’”

According to Gonen, she immediately rushed over to listen, placing both headphones on her ears as the music momentarily transported her away from the suffering and fear around her.

She said the song instantly connected her to memories of her mother. “For one moment, just to be inside it, inside the situation, as if I’m not in Gaza and my mother is here with me – that’s her ringtone.”

Ribo appeared deeply emotional after hearing her story and shared what the song represented to him in the context of her ordeal. He said the lyrics reflect Divine compassion and explained how meaningful it was to hear that the music had offered her comfort during such darkness.

“It moves me very much,” Ribo responded. “The words speak about G-d’s infinite mercy toward us. And from your place – anyone who hasn’t experienced this cannot even imagine it, because we have no human ability to truly understand it – that you are there and these words give you strength. Yes, they remind you of your mother, but in essence you feel protected and strengthened by it.”

Ribo concluded by expressing amazement that a song could bring hope and emotional light during such unbearable circumstances.

“If you hadn’t told me this, I could never have imagined that a song like this, at such a difficult and dark moment, could bring light.”

Rep. Thomas Massie, one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken Republican critics in Congress, was defeated Tuesday in Kentucky’s Republican primary by Trump-endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL.

Gallrein will now move on to the November midterm election after securing victory in Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District in what became the most expensive House primary race in American history.

The race had been closely watched nationwide as a major measure of Trump’s continued dominance over the Republican Party more than a decade after first entering national politics.

Throughout the campaign, Trump repeatedly urged Republican voters to back Gallrein and sharply attacked Massie, referring to him as a “major sleazebag” and “the worst Republican congressman in history”.

Massie, who had represented the district since 2012, frequently clashed with Trump in recent years. He opposed Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax-and-spending package last year, citing concerns over the growing national debt. He also voted against certain military actions backed by Trump, including operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

The Kentucky congressman additionally joined Democrats and several Republicans in pushing the Justice Department to release all files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

Addressing supporters after conceding defeat, Massie said he remained proud of the way his campaign had been conducted.

“we’ve been honourable the whole time,” he told supporters.

“It started nine months ago, and they didn’t even have a candidate, and they decided they wanted to take me out,” he added.

On the eve of the primary, Trump intensified his attacks on Massie in a series of social media posts, labeling him “an obstructionist and a fool”.

Gallrein also received campaign support from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who traveled to Kentucky and accused Massie of engaging in “constant obstruction”.

Massie responded by arguing that Hegseth’s appearance in the district actually reflected concern within the Gallrein campaign.

“You don’t send the Secretary of War to Kentucky during a war if you think your candidate is up 10 points. That’s what you do when you realise your whole campaign is imploding,” Massie told CBS News.

Massie defended much of his voting record alongside Trump but said his disagreements came on matters of principle.

“90% of the time,” Massie said he voted with Trump, though he argued that the president and his allies “want 100% compliance”.

“It’s only the 10% of the time they’re mad about – when I won’t vote for a war, when I won’t vote for warrantless spying and when I won’t vote to bankrupt the country,” he said.

“But in those instances, I’m doing what I told the people in Kentucky I would do.”

In another major Kentucky Republican contest, Rep. Andy Barr won the GOP nomination to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is stepping down after serving more than four decades in the Senate.

Barr’s victory followed Trump’s endorsement and came after the president reportedly helped clear the field by offering an ambassadorship to Barr’s leading Republican rival.

Trump has continued to aggressively shape Republican primaries across the country through endorsements, including efforts targeting lawmakers who opposed him or supported his conviction during the 2021 impeachment proceedings.

In Texas, Trump has also backed Attorney General Ken Paxton over longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn.

“John Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough,” Trump said Tuesday while explaining his endorsement of Paxton.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, was involved in a minor traffic accident Tuesday morning while returning home from Shacharis.

A statement issued by the Chief Rabbi’s office said the incident took place shortly after the rabbi completed his morning prayers.

As a precaution, Rav Ber was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation and testing to ensure that he had not suffered any internal injuries in the accident.

Doctors conducted a series of examinations, and after the tests were completed, the rabbi was discharged a short time later after no significant medical concerns were found.

His office stated: “The rabbi was examined at the hospital and released shortly afterward – with no abnormal findings.”

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories who has repeatedly drawn criticism over her anti-Israel rhetoric, is facing renewed backlash after publishing remarks that critics say blend antisemitic themes with a distorted portrayal of Holocaust history.

In a Facebook post, Albanese urged Germans to release themselves from what she described as the continuing burden of guilt and responsibility tied to the crimes committed by Nazi Germany.

According to Albanese, Germany’s strong backing of Israel is not rooted in genuine repentance for the Holocaust, but rather in what she characterized as an unresolved sense of superiority. She argued that Germany’s support for Israel functions as a “convenient mask” designed to help restore its standing and acceptance within the international community.

Her comments went beyond criticism of Germany and included broader remarks about Jews and Israel. “The Western club accepted them because they proved themselves capable of tolerating certain members of the group that were previously ‘undesirable,’ and so they accepted the Jews, but not all of them. They learned that to survive in this world they must be superior. No longer a fragile minority. No longer a people in exile. No longer the people of the book. But the chosen people. ‘Chosen to rule?’ one might wonder when looking at what Israel has become.”

Albanese also alleged that Germany discriminates against Jews who oppose Zionism and accused the country of adopting discriminatory legislation. She further called on Germans to distance themselves from what she described as an imposed obligation toward Israel.

The controversy is the latest in a series of incidents involving Albanese’s public statements. Earlier this year, during an Al Jazeera conference in Doha, Qatar, she referred to Israel as “the common enemy of humanity” — remarks that triggered sharp criticism from officials and political leaders across Europe, with some calling for her dismissal from her UN position.

Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that negotiations with Iran are moving forward positively, while warning that the United States remains fully prepared to renew military operations if diplomatic efforts collapse.

The remarks came only hours after President Trump revealed that he had nearly authorized additional strikes against Iran and warned Tehran it had only “two or three days” left to reach an agreement.

Speaking during a White House briefing, Vance said discussions with Iran continue to show signs of progress, though he cautioned that no final outcome has yet been secured.

“A lot of good progress is being made, but we’re just going to keep on working at it, and eventually we’ll either hit a deal or we won’t,” Vance told a briefing at the White House.

Vance, who has previously expressed skepticism about deeper American military involvement with Iran, led a U.S. delegation to Pakistan in April for negotiations that ultimately did not result in a breakthrough agreement. He stressed Tuesday that the administration’s position remains firm on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“We’re in a pretty good spot here — but there’s an option B, and the option B is that we could restart the military campaign,” said the US vice president.

Vance added that while the administration prefers diplomacy, military action remains fully on the table if negotiations fail.

“We’re locked and loaded. We don’t want to go down that pathway, but the president is willing and able to go down that pathway if we have to.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday night that the Israeli Navy had completed its takeover of the latest flotilla attempting to reach Gaza, with all activists aboard now in Israeli custody and being transported to Israel.

In a statement released by the ministry, officials said the operation had concluded successfully and that the passengers had been transferred off the flotilla vessels.

“Another PR flotilla has come to an end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives,” said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Israeli officials dismissed the effort as a publicity campaign intended to benefit Hamas rather than a genuine humanitarian mission.

“This flotilla has once again proved to be nothing more than a PR stunt at the service of Hamas,” it added.

The ministry also emphasized that Israel intends to continue enforcing its maritime blockade of Gaza in accordance with international law.

“Israel will continue to act in full accordance with international law and will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” the statement stressed.

Earlier Tuesday, the United States announced sanctions against four individuals connected to the flotilla operation. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the move was aimed at cutting off support networks tied to terrorism and advancing American diplomatic efforts in the region.

According to Pigott, the sanctions “disrupt terrorist financing and advance President Trump’s Middle East peace efforts.”

Among those detained aboard the flotilla was the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly. Connolly commented on the matter Monday, saying she was “very proud” of her sister.

Media personality Tucker Carlson engaged in a heated interview with Channel 13 News journalist Udi Segal, sharply criticizing Israel’s leadership, opposing continued American support for Israel, and defending controversial comments he has made about the war in Gaza and the broader Middle East conflict.

During the interview, Segal confronted Carlson over the October 7 Hamas massacre, including the murders and kidnappings carried out by terrorists against Israeli civilians, among them women and infants. The discussion quickly escalated into a tense exchange over Israel’s military response and its right to defend itself.

Carlson directed much of his criticism at Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, accusing him of steering the country in a dangerous direction. He said Netanyahu is “leading Israel toward destruction” and called him “a very bad leader and a very unwise leader”, while also adding that he believes Netanyahu “is acting in what he thinks is his nation’s best interest. So I give him credit for that and always have.”

Carlson argued that the ongoing war has damaged ties between Washington and Jerusalem and said American involvement with Israel is harming the United States. He stated that “because of this war…America’s relationship with Israel, while it may be based on good intentions, is hurting the United States very badly” and urged an immediate halt to American assistance to Israel, saying: “I don’t think the United States owes Israel anything. I don’t think the United States should give Israel anything. I think we should stop all aid to Israel, all special deals for Israel.”

Turning to the conflict with Iran, Carlson criticized American participation in the confrontation and expressed disappointment with President Trump’s handling of the situation. According to Carlson, Trump “turned out to be far weaker than I understood” and had been pushed by Netanyahu “into a war that hurts the United States.”

Segal challenged Carlson over his comparison between Israel and the Iranian regime, noting the difference between a democratic country defending itself and a government known for executing dissidents and suppressing its population. Carlson responded by saying, “As an Israeli, you should pause before using the phrase ‘terror regime’, since you live in a country that just murdered thousands of children in Gaza.”

In other remarks during the interview, Carlson claimed that “Israel is not a democracy in any sense,” asserted that “Israel does not represent all Jews,” and accused the country of treating Arabs “like animals or subhumans.”

{Matzav.com}

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar over possible immigration fraud, Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday, reviving long-standing scrutiny surrounding the Minnesota congresswoman’s immigration history, family relationships, and financial matters.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Vance confirmed that federal authorities are reviewing the allegations.

“I don’t want to prejudge an investigation,” Vance told reporters at the White House. “It certainly seems like something fishy is there, but everybody’s entitled to equal justice under the laws.”

He added that the matter is now under active review by the Justice Department.

“So we’re going to investigate it. We’re going to take a look at it. If we think that there’s a crime, we’re going to prosecute that crime, and that’s something the Department of Justice is looking at right now,” he added.

Vance, who oversees the administration’s efforts targeting fraud involving government benefits, had previously accused Omar earlier this year of wrongdoing related to her immigration status, saying she “definitely committed immigration fraud.”

Omar’s office forcefully rejected the accusation. Her chief of staff, Connor McNutt, dismissed the allegation as “a ridiculous lie.” Still, claims surrounding Omar’s background and personal history have continued to follow her since her first run for Congress in 2018.

Much of the controversy has centered on Omar’s second husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a British citizen whom some reports and online discussions over the years have suggested may be related to her.

Marriage records previously obtained by The Post show that Omar and Elmi were married in a Christian ceremony in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, in February 2009. The marriage ended in divorce in December 2017.

Omar has spoken only sparingly about the relationship over the years, describing it as short-lived and saying the two spent little time together apart from a period between 2009 and 2011. Public records do not show the couple having any children together.

Before marrying Elmi, Omar had entered into an Islamic marriage ceremony with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi in 2002. Although they had three children together, the pair did not legally marry until January 2018.

Questions surrounding Omar and Elmi intensified after an Instagram image reportedly showed Elmi holding Omar’s third child alongside a caption referring to “nieces,” according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The post was later removed.

Claims that Omar and Elmi were siblings first appeared years ago on the Somali political discussion forum SomaliSpot, though those posts were eventually deleted as well, according to prior reporting by City Journal.

Additional allegations surfaced in 2020 when Minneapolis Somali community activist and blogger Abdihakim Osman told the Daily Mail that he had known both Omar and Elmi during their time in Minnesota.

According to Osman, Omar had introduced Elmi to members of the Somali community as her brother from London during the late 2000s.

Osman also alleged that at the time Omar had indicated that her sibling was seeking “papers,” a phrase commonly used to describe immigration documentation such as a green card.

{Matzav.com}

The Binyamin Regional Council announced the death of Major (res.) Itamar Sapir, who was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon. He was 27 years old. His funeral is scheduled to take place tomorrow in Ra’anana.

Sapir, the son of Yehuda and Rivki Sapir of Eli, was raised in the Binyamin region and studied in its local schools before continuing his education at Yeshivat Neve Shmuel in Efrat.

A number of years ago, he married Roi. The couple initially lived in Ra’anana before relocating to Ariel, where they built their home and welcomed their first child, Maayan, who is now approximately a year and a half old.

He joined the IDF in 2019 and served in the elite Maglan unit. By the time he completed his regular military service, he had risen to the position of company commander. During his reserve duty, he continued serving as a company commander in Maglan’s reserve battalion.

Those who knew Sapir described him as a deeply dedicated and principled individual whose loss has left friends and family devastated.

“He was the most upright friend I know,” said Meir, a childhood friend of Itamar. “A cheerful and opinionated friend with a wonderful family. A friend who, when he wanted something, would invest all of himself to achieve his goal.”

Sapir is the 63rd soldier from the Binyamin Regional Council to fall since the beginning of the war. He is survived by his wife, Roi; his young son, Maayan; his parents, Yehuda and Rivki; and his brothers, Tal, Erez, and Yosef.

Binyamin Regional Council chairman Yisrael Ganz mourned Sapir’s death and extended condolences to the bereaved family.

“All of our hearts are broken with the fall of Captain Itamar Sapir, of blessed memory,” Ganz said. “Itamar grew up in Eli, a community that has already sacrificed many of its finest sons since the start of the war. The Eli community sends its sons to the front with faith, responsibility, and endless devotion, and tragically, this time its son did not return.”

Ganz also reflected on the generation of young Israelis currently fighting in the war.

“Itamar was part of a remarkable generation of warriors. A generation that builds homes, raises children, loves life, and at the same time stands up without hesitation to defend the State of Israel. A generation of devotion, mission, and love for the people and the land. On behalf of all the residents of Binyamin, I embrace the dear Sapir family. We will always stand by your side.”

{Matzav.com}

Randi Weingarten allegedly relied on extensive union-funded support while producing her controversial political book, with consultants, attorneys, and other contributors tied to the project receiving more than $1.4 million from the union, according to a new report released by the Freedom Foundation, the NY Post reports.

The report alleges that Weingarten used significant resources connected to the American Federation of Teachers while writing Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy, a book critics accused of promoting a liberal political agenda. According to the analysis, Weingarten also personally retained part of the book’s proceeds.

Among those involved in the project, the report said, was an attorney who allegedly reviewed the manuscript on a pro bono basis even though his law firm received nearly $977,000 from the union for separate legal work. The report also identified a consultant described as a possible ghostwriter who allegedly received more than $400,000 overall from the union.

According to the analysis, the union additionally spent more than $11,000 on individuals who reportedly assisted with fact-checking the book and photographing Weingarten for promotional materials connected to the publication, which the publisher promoted as “a manifesto for our time.”

Maxford Nelsen, the organization’s director of research and government affairs, argued that union members did not sign up to finance such projects through their dues payments.

“Most AFT members pay dues in exchange for workplace representation, not to fund the union president’s literary pursuits,” said Maxford Nelsen, the Freedom Foundation’s director of research and government affairs.

“However, AFT appears to have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in members’ dues on top-tier consultants, lawyers, and agents to get WFFT published,” Nelson went on. “Indeed, the wide range of expenses borne by AFT suggests that Weingarten may not have contributed anything at all financially to the enterprise.”

Weingarten currently earns $469,442 annually from the AFT, which represents approximately 1.8 million members through thousands of local affiliates nationwide. She has publicly acknowledged that royalties from the book are shared with the union and affiliated nonprofit organizations.

The book itself generated controversy after critics claimed Weingarten implied President Donald Trump displayed fascist tendencies. The book also referenced historical dictators including Adolf Hitler.

“Those hell-bent on unraveling democracy, pluralism, and opportunity have always attacked teachers and education,” Weingarten wrote in her book. “It’s a very old playbook. In the 1930s, Hitler and Mussolini persecuted teachers and tried to control the curriculum.”

Weingarten denied accusations that she directly labeled Trump or members of his administration as fascists, insisting she was discussing broader authoritarian behavior rather than making personal comparisons.

The Freedom Foundation based its findings on an LM-2 financial disclosure filed by the union with the federal government covering the period between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

The report highlighted Weingarten’s acknowledgment section, where she described writer Sally Kohn as “indispensable as a day-to-day thought partner and collaborator.” According to union financial records cited in the report, Kohn received $400,270 in consulting payments from the AFT during the relevant period, a figure reportedly far higher than in prior years.

The Freedom Foundation argued those payments may have been tied to ghostwriting or substantial writing assistance for the book, services Kohn advertises professionally. Representatives for Weingarten disputed that characterization, saying Kohn worked on multiple union-related initiatives, including the union’s Reconnecting McDowell newsletter.

The report also noted that Weingarten thanked fact-checker Emily Krieger in the book’s acknowledgments. According to financial disclosures, the AFT paid $6,000 to Emily Krieger Editorial LLC, based in Bozeman, Montana. Krieger’s website reportedly states that she “fact-checked” the book.

In addition, the photograph of Weingarten used inside the book jacket and in promotional materials published by Penguin Random House was credited to photographer Tony Powell. Financial disclosures showed the AFT paid Powell $5,212 under administrative expenses.

Weingarten also thanked attorney Charles Moerdler of Patterson Belknap Webb and Tyler LLP for reviewing the manuscript from a legal standpoint.

At the same time, the union disclosed payments totaling $977,275 to Moerdler’s law firm for legal work and union-related services. The Freedom Foundation suggested some of those payments may have indirectly supported work connected to the book, although Weingarten maintained that Moerdler reviewed the manuscript without compensation.

Representatives for the attorney said his firm separately worked on litigation involving New Hampshire’s “divisive concepts” law and on projects tied to the union’s artificial intelligence education initiatives.

The AFT additionally disclosed $64,090 in publication-related payments to InkWell Management, which represents Weingarten as a client and is connected to Penguin Random House.

Although not individually detailed in financial records, the book’s acknowledgments also credited nearly 30 AFT staff members for contributing to the project.

“Also undisclosed, but potentially substantial, is the amount AFT likely paid in travel expenses and other costs associated with Weingarten’s nationwide tour to promote her book,” Nelson said.

The report also questioned how royalties and proceeds from the book are ultimately being distributed.

Weingarten has publicly stated that portions of the proceeds would benefit the AFT, the AFT Disaster Relief Fund, and the AFT Educational Foundation.

However, the analysis also identified two royalty payments totaling $125,000 made to an entity controlled by Weingarten called Teachers Want What Kids Need, LLC, which the report noted is a Delaware-based corporation rather than a tax-exempt charitable organization.

“It has no website or discernible public-facing presence of any kind,” the Freedom Foundation said in its report.

Weingarten sharply rejected the report’s conclusions, calling the investigation politically motivated and accusing the Freedom Foundation of trying to validate the arguments she made in the book itself.

“This desperate fishing expedition by a far right group that refuses to disclose its donors only proves my book’s point — that Fascists Fear Teachers,” Weingarten told The Post.

“Educators need people making the public case for them, for critical thinking and for public schools. I am glad to have been in full partnership with the union on this project — and any and all proceeds from the book are shared equally.”

The Freedom Foundation describes itself as a conservative organization focused on challenging what it calls the influence of left-wing public-sector union leadership and expanding government power.

Before becoming national president of the AFT, Weingarten previously led the union’s New York affiliate, the United Federation of Teachers.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday accused the Palestinian Authority of waging “war” against the Jewish state, as he confirmed that International Criminal Court prosecutors had submitted a secret request for an arrest warrant against him.

“The prosecutor submitted a request for arrest warrants. Whether they will actually be issued or not, we do not know; they also do not want us to know; this is part of the tactic,” Smotrich told reporters at a press conference in Jerusalem.

“What is certain is that the Palestinian Authority and its people stand behind this entire process,” the senior Cabinet minister said. “They stand behind the legal warfare at the ICC and the International Court of Justice.”

Smotrich described the legal efforts against top Israeli officials at the ICC and ICJ as “not a diplomatic struggle and not a legal struggle,” but rather “a declaration of war by a hostile entity against the State of Israel.”

“This is a declaration of war against the State of Israel, and when war is waged against us, we must respond forcefully,” he declared.

As part of Jerusalem’s response, Smotrich said he would be signing a military order to immediately evacuate Khan al-Ahmar, a Judean Desert site where Palestinian Bedouin have illegally erected buildings and dwellings. Jerusalem has sought for years to relocate the community, which is located in the strategic E1 corridor between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim.

Immediately following the press conference, Smotrich’s office published a letter in which he instructed Hillel Roth, his representative in the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration, to take “all necessary measures” to carry out the evacuation as soon as possible.

“I promise all our enemies: This is only the beginning,” Smotrich said in his remarks at the press conference.

“From today onward, every economic or other target I can act against within my authority as finance minister or as a minister in the Defense Ministry will be targeted—not with words and gimmicks, but with actions,” he added.

Israel’s Channel 12 News broadcaster reported on Monday that in addition to Smotrich, ICC prosecutors were also considering secret arrest warrants against Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The report said Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and his predecessor, Herzi Halevi, were also under scrutiny by the Office of the Prosecutor.

In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant in connection to the war against Hamas in Gaza, which was started by the terrorists’ invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

After U.S. President Donald Trump’s reelection, Washington slapped sanctions on Feb. 6, 2025, against four ICC judges for investigating U.S. citizens and U.S. allies.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s parliament is reportedly preparing to consider legislation that would authorize financial rewards for the assassinations of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid escalating tensions between Tehran, Washington, and Israel.

According to a report published Monday by The Telegraph, Iranian lawmakers are expected to vote on a proposal offering roughly $58 million to anyone who kills Trump following the February joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran that reportedly resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Ebrahim Azizi, who chairs Iran’s national security commission, said the proposed legislation — known as “Reciprocal action by military and security forces of the Islamic Republic” — would formally transform rhetoric and religious decrees previously circulated by regime-linked groups into official state policy.

The legislation would reportedly also target Netanyahu as well as Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, whom Iranian officials blame for the February 28 military operation.

Another member of the national security commission, Mahmoud Nabavian, reportedly said parliament would soon vote on rewards for anyone who “sends Mr. Trump and Netanyahu to hell.”

The latest threats mark another escalation in years of Iranian rhetoric aimed at Trump, dating back to the 2020 American drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran against targeting him or American interests around the world.

Last year, Trump said the United States would “wipe them off the face of the Earth” if Iran attempted to carry out assassination plots against him.

Iranian officials and groups tied to the regime have repeatedly issued similar threats over recent years.

In March, senior Iranian official Ali Larijani warned Trump to “watch out for yourself — lest you be eliminated” after Trump threatened severe retaliation if Iran attempted to interfere with oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier this year, Iranian state television broadcast an image of Trump taken during the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, accompanied by the warning: “This time, the bullet won’t miss.”

Federal prosecutors in the United States have also linked several alleged murder-for-hire plots to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The United States Department of Justice previously announced criminal charges against suspects accused of attempting to recruit assassins to target Trump and other American officials on behalf of Tehran.

Meanwhile, tensions among the United States, Israel, and Iran remain high despite ongoing indirect negotiations reportedly being mediated through Pakistan.

Iranian media outlets claim the talks involve disputes surrounding sanctions relief, nuclear restrictions, frozen Iranian funds, and the future of regional conflicts involving Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups.

According to The Telegraph, Tehran is demanding the lifting of sanctions, compensation for war-related damage, and formal recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, Israeli officials are reportedly preparing for the possibility of renewed military conflict.

Netanyahu was excused Monday from attending proceedings in his criminal trial in order to participate in emergency security discussions following a recent phone conversation with Trump regarding Iran.

Government sources cited by The Telegraph said both the United States and Israel believe Iran could be preparing a preemptive strike, leading to heightened military readiness throughout the region.

Despite the escalating threats, Trump said Monday there remained a “very good chance” of reaching an agreement with Iran to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. His comments came only hours after he announced he had delayed a planned military strike at the request of Gulf allies seeking more time for negotiations.

{Matzav.com}

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is throwing her support behind Connie Chan in the race to succeed her in Congress, signaling that Pelosi’s political influence may continue shaping San Francisco politics long after her own tenure ends.

Pelosi’s endorsement of Chan appears driven by a combination of ideological alignment, political calculation, and long-standing ties to organized labor and progressive Democratic politics in San Francisco.

According to Pelosi, Chan closely reflects the political culture and priorities of the city’s Democratic base.

Pelosi said Chan “understands San Francisco — our values, our diversity, our communities.”

Chan has built strong support among labor unions, an important factor for Pelosi, who has maintained deep relationships with organized labor throughout her political career. Chan’s coalition has focused heavily on working-class voters and union-backed groups across San Francisco.

Politically, Chan is widely viewed as part of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and closely associated with the labor-left faction within San Francisco politics.

Critics have characterized several of her positions as strongly left-wing, including support for a publicly owned city bank in San Francisco.

She has also backed aggressive tenant-organizing efforts and rent protections, including the city’s “Union-at-Home” ordinance, which allows renters to collectively negotiate with landlords.

Chan has additionally pushed for expanded government social programs, including free public transportation and broader food-assistance initiatives.

She opposed efforts to recall former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, even as the recall campaign gained significant support among many city voters.

Her broader campaign platform has focused heavily on labor unions, working families, immigrant protections, and increasing taxes on billionaires.

Chan has also rejected donations from corporate political action committees as well as contributions tied to industries including fossil fuels and pharmaceutical companies.

News coverage has generally portrayed Chan as a progressive Democrat aligned with San Francisco’s political left rather than with the party’s centrist faction.

Still, despite her progressive positions, Pelosi reportedly viewed Chan as a more workable and reliable governing partner than fellow candidate Saikat Chakrabarti.

Chakrabarti previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and co-founded the progressive group Justice Democrats. He entered the race positioning himself as an anti-establishment candidate sharply critical of Democratic leadership.

One Democratic insider told Newsmax that while Chan is unquestionably progressive, Pelosi allies see her as more pragmatic institutionally and easier to work with politically.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump formally endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday in the Republican Senate runoff race, backing the conservative firebrand over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and intensifying one of the GOP’s most closely watched primary battles.

In a lengthy Truth Social statement, Trump praised Paxton as a loyal supporter of the MAGA movement and portrayed the runoff as a defining fight over the future direction of the Republican Party.

“The Highly Respected Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, an America First Patriot, and someone who has always been extremely loyal to me and our AMAZING MAGA MOVEMENT, is running for the United States Senate,” Trump wrote.

The endorsement is widely expected to create major political problems for Cornyn, a longtime establishment Republican who has faced growing criticism from conservative voters over his positions on gun legislation, Ukraine funding, and his past disagreements with Trump.

Trump made clear in his statement that loyalty played a central role in his decision.

“John Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough,” Trump wrote.

The president contrasted Cornyn with Paxton, describing the Texas attorney general as a fighter willing to confront political opponents and challenge the Republican establishment.

“Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to WIN,” Trump wrote.

Trump’s endorsement is expected to significantly reshape the May 26 runoff, where Paxton already enjoyed substantial backing from grassroots conservatives and many within the Republican base.

The president also used the announcement to highlight several major MAGA priorities, including eliminating the Senate filibuster, tightening election laws, strengthening border security, expanding domestic energy production, and defending gun rights under the Second Amendment.

Trump warned that Democrats would move quickly to abolish the filibuster if they regained control in Washington, opening the door to major structural changes in the federal government.

“The Democrats will terminate it on their First Day in Office,” Trump wrote.

Paxton has served as Texas attorney general since 2015 and emerged during the Biden administration as one of the nation’s most prominent conservative legal figures, filing numerous lawsuits challenging federal immigration policies, vaccine mandates, and election-related procedures.

Cornyn, meanwhile, has emphasized his experience and seniority in the Senate, arguing that his influence in Washington positions him to achieve conservative victories at the national level.

But Trump suggested the Republican Party itself has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years.

“MAGA is most of the Republican Party,” Trump said earlier Tuesday while previewing the endorsement during remarks at the White House.

The Texas runoff is now expected to become one of the most consequential Republican primary contests of the 2026 election cycle and another major test of Trump’s influence over the GOP.

Trump concluded the endorsement with a direct message to Republican voters in Texas.

“Ken Paxton has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump wrote. “KEN PAXTON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

{Matzav.com}

Investigators say the two teenagers responsible for the deadly shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego were heavily influenced by extremist online content and carried Nazi imagery and racist messages during the attack that left three people dead.

During a Tuesday press conference, law enforcement officials said the suspects “did not discriminate on who they hated,” adding that authorities recovered more than 30 firearms and a crossbow connected to the pair.

Officials also revealed that the attack was livestreamed and is now part of an ongoing investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to investigators, video from the attack showed suspect Cain Clark wearing a Black Sun emblem on his chest, a symbol tied to Nazi ideology that was famously incorporated into the floor design of Wewelsburg Castle by senior Nazi SS official Heinrich Himmler.

Authorities also identified another symbol displayed on one of the shooters’ shoulders that they said is linked to the neo-Nazi extremist organization Atomwaffen Division. The group’s name comes from the German term for “atomic weapons.”

Investigators said it remains unclear whether the suspects were formally affiliated with the organization.

Police also said one of the firearms used during the attack bore the phrase “race war now” positioned above a swastika. Authorities noted that white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups frequently promote the concept of racial conflict as part of efforts to overthrow governments or establish white nationalist states.

The attackers opened fire Monday outside the Islamic Center, killing three individuals. Among those slain was Amin Abdullah, a security guard and father of eight whom police credited with helping prevent an even greater massacre. The other victims included a local grocery store owner and another man.

Authorities said the livestream footage later showed Clark inside the suspects’ vehicle shooting his accomplice twice in the head before killing himself.

Investigators also discovered anti-Muslim writings inside the suspects’ car, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the case.

At the scene where the bodies were found, police recovered a shotgun and a gasoline can marked with an “SS” sticker believed to reference the Nazi-era Schutzstaffel paramilitary organization.

Clark and the second suspect, identified as Velasquez, were discovered dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds inside a BMW located just blocks away from the Islamic Center.

While investigators say the exact motive remains under investigation, authorities indicated the evidence strongly suggests the shooting specifically targeted the Muslim community.

{Matzav.com}

Breaking Chizuk Alert: In a powerful shmuess delivered to a packed bais medrash of avreichim in Yeshivas Bais Hillel in Bnei Brak runned by Hagaon Rabbi Eliyahu Man shlita, the Gaon Hatzaddik Rav Don Segal shlit”a addressed the current matzav with a major wake-up call for Klal Yisrael.

The Mashgiach made it crystal clear that our ultimate hatzlacha—especially when dealing with our oyvim—hinges entirely on the ribuy of Torah learning. Dismissing the outside pressures and difficulties facing the Olam HaTorah, Rav Don declared: “There will always be misnagdim, that’s just the derech of Torah.

We cannot be from the hardships. Our absolute chiyuv right now is to redouble our koach, le’yaker every single second of learning, and realize the massive chashivus and achrayus that yungerleit carry for the entire world.”

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States had been on the verge of launching military strikes against Iran before several Gulf nations urged him to postpone action and allow negotiations to continue.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said American forces had already been fully positioned for an attack when regional allies intervened and requested more time for diplomacy.

“We were all set to go,” Trump said. “The boats, the ships are all loaded. They’re loaded to the brim.”

According to Trump, leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and other regional governments contacted him directly after learning that military operations appeared imminent.

“They said, ‘Sir, could you wait? We think we’re close to a deal,'” Trump said.

Despite agreeing to pause the attack, Trump warned that the delay would not last indefinitely and argued that Iran poses an extreme danger if it succeeds in obtaining nuclear weapons.

“We can’t let them have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “If they had a nuclear weapon, they would start with Israel. They would blow it up fast.”

During a televised press conference carried live by Newsmax — originally focused on plans for a new White House ballroom — Trump said Iran could eventually threaten Gulf nations and potentially spark catastrophic destruction throughout the region.

“There’s no question in my mind that they’d use it,” Trump said of Iran’s leadership. “These are people that are seriously radicalized.”

Trump also stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him that Beijing is not supplying military equipment to Tehran despite rising tensions in the Middle East.

“President Xi promised me he is not sending any weapons to Iran,” Trump said. “I take him at his word.”

The president additionally accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage for decades and vowed that the United States would guarantee continued freedom of navigation through the critical waterway.

Trump’s remarks came amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following months of stalled diplomacy and ongoing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program.

The president also defended his decision during his first term to withdraw from the nuclear agreement negotiated under President Barack Obama, arguing that abandoning the deal prevented Iran from accelerating its nuclear development.

“Had I not terminated Barack Hussein Obama’s Iran nuclear deal,” Trump said, “that can’t happen.”

Trump acknowledged that confronting Iran could create temporary economic difficulties but insisted the risks are justified in order to prevent a nuclear conflict.

“I’m not going to let the world be blown up on my watch,” Trump said.

The president also brushed aside criticism from both Democrats and Republicans who oppose potential military action, saying most Americans understand the stakes involved.

“When I’m with people and they say, ‘Is it OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon?’ everybody says no,” Trump said. “Then we have nothing further to discuss.”

Throughout the remarks, Trump repeatedly insisted Iran would never be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons and predicted the standoff would soon be resolved either through negotiations or force.

“One way or the other,” Trump said, “it’s not going to happen.”

{Matzav.com}

MK Yitzchok Pindrus of Degel HaTorah said that the proposed draft law supported by the leadership of Degel HaTorah and Shas is intended solely for genuine yeshiva students whose full-time occupation is Torah learning, and not for the broader chareidi public.

Speaking during a Hebrew interview Monday with Kikar HaShabbat, Pindrus addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the proposed legislation regulating the status of bnei yeshiva and military deferments.

Pindrus stressed that the purpose of the law is to allow only serious lomdei Torah to postpone army service, while those who are not actively learning would retain the same legal status as any other Israeli of draft age.

“There is a law that we requested and that also existed in the past,” Pindrus said. “The law is very, very clear — only for someone who is learning and whose Torah is his occupation. The clear demand is a law only for those who are learning.”

According to Pindrus, anyone who is not genuinely engaged in Torah study would not qualify for deferment under the proposed arrangement.

“Someone who is not learning — his legal status is exactly as it was during the time of Rav Shach,” he said. “Only a yeshiva student will be able to defer his military service.”

{Matzav.com}