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An astronaut who missed out on the first all-female spacewalk because of a spacesuit sizing issue got her chance six years later on Thursday. NASA’s Anne McClain emerged from the International Space Station alongside Nichole Ayers. Both military officers and pilots, they launched to the orbiting lab in March to replace NASA’s two stuck astronauts, who are now back home. Minutes before floating out, McClain noticed strands of string on the index finger of her right glove. Mission Control briefly delayed the start of the spacewalk to make sure her glove was safe. During their spacewalk, the pair will prepare the space station for another new set of solar panels and move an antenna on the 260-mile-high (420-kilometer-high) complex. The space station had to be raised into a slightly higher orbit Wednesday evening to avoid space junk: part of a 20-year-old Chinese rocket. McClain, an Army colonel and helicopter pilot, should have taken part in the first all-female spacewalk in 2019, but there weren’t enough medium-size suits. The first women-only spacewalk was by Christina Koch and Jessica Meir. The latest was the fifth all-female spacewalk in 60 years of spacewalking. Koch soon will become the first woman to fly to the moon. She and three male astronauts will fly around the moon without landing next year under NASA’s Artemis program, the successor to Apollo. Men still outnumber women in NASA’s astronaut corps. Of NASA’s 47 active astronauts, 20 are women. And of the seven astronauts currently living at the space station, McClain and Ayers are the only women. It was the first spacewalk for Ayers, an Air Force major and former fighter pilot, and the third for McClain. (AP)

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HAPPENING RIGHT NOW! HURRY! YAD L’ACHIM’S MESSENGERS ARE IN KERESTIR TO DAVEN FOR YOU AND PLACE YOUR FREE KVITTEL BY REB SHAYALE!
As a token of our deep appreciation towards our Yad L’Achim supporters, (that means you), we have arranged for a free special tefillah in Kerestir on Thursday, (plus free kvittel)the Yahrtzeit of the tzaddik
 Reb Shayele of Kerestir zt”l
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HAPPENING RIGHT NOW! HURRY! YAD L’ACHIM’S MESSENGERS ARE IN KERESTIR TO DAVEN FOR YOU AND PLACE YOUR FREE KVITTEL BY REB SHAYALE!As a token of our deep appreciation towards our Yad L’Achim supporters, (that means you), we have arranged for a free special tefillah in Kerestir on Thursday, (plus free kvittel)the Yahrtzeit of the tzaddik Reb Shayele of Kerestir zt”l(100th yahrtzeit!) to daven for all our supporters. Submit your names for tefillah (for free) by CLICKING HERE , visit www.YadLAchim.org or calling 1-718-690-2944. Thank you once again for your past and future kindness in helping us rescue trapped Jewish women and children.  👉 Submit Names Now SHARE THIS VIA WHATSAPP Know someone who can benefit from this free tefillah? You can also try our informative (and fun) trivia about Reb Shayele 👉 CLICK HERE TO TRY THE TRIVIA VIDEO: Time-Lapse Drawing Story of R’ Shayele of Kerestir zt”l – WATCH HERE Watch the whole story Submit your names (no minimum donation required) for the tefillah at the resting place of “Reb Shayele” of Kerestir zt”l in Kerestir, Hungary on his Yahrtzeit  CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT NAMES or visit www.YadLAchim.org or call us at 1-718-690-2944 Messengers of Yad L’Achim will be in Kerestir to daven and place a kvittel for all names submitted. TEFILLOS CAN BE FOR HEALTH, SHIDDUCHIM, PARNASSAH,  CHILDREN & ALL PERSONAL REQUESTS Submit Names Now Free Photo of Reb Shayele with Your Donation , CLICK HERE (To submit names without a donation, simply enter 0 for amount) Yad L’Achim – Pidyon Shvuyim 4018 18 Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11218 1-718-690-2944   www.YadLAchim.org  

The Trump administration threatened Iran with military action over its support of the Houthis in Yemen amid ongoing negotiations between the two countries over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth conveyed a message to Iran on X on Wednesday night. “Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis,” he wrote. “We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Kohl’s has terminated CEO Ashley Buchanan, who just started the department store chain’s helm in January, after an investigation determined that he directed the retailer to engage in vendor transactions that involved undisclosed conflicts of interest. Kohl’s named Chairman Michael Bender as interim CEO, effective immediately. Kohl’s said Thursday that Buchanan’s firing is unrelated to its performance, financial reporting, results of operations and did not involve any of its other employees. Kohl’s will conduct a search for a permanent CEO and said it will name a new chair in due course. The company couldn’t be immediately be reached for comments. The news comes nearly four months after Buchanan, who had been the CEO of arts and crafts chain Michaels, took over the job in January. Buchanan had succeeded Tom Kingsbury, who stayed on as an adviser and is retaining his position on Kohl’s board until his retirement next month. Kingsbury served as Kohl’s interim CEO in December 2022 and was named its permanent leader in February 2023. The firing comes at a time when Kohl’s, which operates 1,600 stores across the country, is wrestling with sluggish sales. Its middle income shoppers have pulled back on discretionary spending in the face of still-high prices for necessities. Like other department stores, it’s also faced stiff competition from Walmart and Amazon, which have been improving their fashion offerings at affordable prices. And like other retailers, it is facing uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s expansive tariffs. On Thursday, the company offered a preliminary look at sales and profits for the current quarter that showed continued weakness. It said that it expects to report a decline in comparable sales in the range of 4.3% to 4%, and a loss of 24 cents to 20 cents per share. It expects to report final first-quarter results on May 29. (AP)

Yeshivas Ponevezh on Thursday upheld its mesorah of hanging an Israeli flag on the yeshivah’s roof on Yom Ha’atzmaut. The minhag began after the establishment of the state at the instructions of the Ponevezher Rav, HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, z’tl, to fly the flag on the roof of the yeshivah for eight hours. Since then, the flag is hung from the yeshivah’s roof every year on Yom Ha’atzmaut from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Apart from the flag, there is no indication of Yom Ha’atzmaut at the yeshivah, with tefillos, shiurim, and sedarim taking place as usual. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The U.S. and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraine’s vast mineral resources, finalizing a deal months in the making that could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns that President Donald Trump might scale back support in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. The two sides offered only barbones details about the structure of the deal, which they called the United States-Ukraine Reinvestment Fund. But it is expected to give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s valuable rare earth minerals while providing Kyiv a measure of assurance about continued American support in its grinding war with Russia. “This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine.” The announcement comes at a critical moment in the three-year war as Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with both sides. The signing comes two months after a different but similar agreement was nearly signed before being derailed in a tense Oval Office meeting involving President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump has long criticized Zelenskyy, saying he didn’t “have the cards” to win the war and blaming him for prolonging the killing by not giving up Crimea, but in recent days has rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin as well, saying he was complicating negotiations with “very bad timing” in launching deadly strikes on Kyiv. Trump said Wednesday night on NewsNation that the deal, “in theory,” means that the U.S. will get more from Ukraine than it contributed. “I wanted to be protected,” he said, adding that he didn’t want to be looking “foolish” by not getting money back for the investment. Ukraine praises signing as an ‘equal and good international deal’ For Ukraine, the agreement is seen as key to ensuring its access to future U.S. military aid. “Truly, this is a strategic deal for the creation of an investment partner fund,” said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. “This is truly an equal and good international deal on joint investment in the development and restoration of Ukraine between the governments of the United States and Ukraine.” Ukraine’s economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, flew to Washington on Wednesday to help finalize the deal. “Together with the United States, we are creating the Fund that will attract global investment to our country,” she said in a post on X after the signing. White House had raised doubts that agreement was ready Earlier Wednesday, Bessent said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House — hours after Ukrainian officials indicated a deal was nearly finalized — that there was still work to do. “The Ukrainians decided last night to make some last-minute changes,” Bessent said when asked about reports that Ukraine was ready to agree to the pact. “We’re sure that they will reconsider that. And we are ready to sign this afternoon if they are.” He didn’t elaborate as to the late changes he said Ukraine made. The U.S. has been seeking access to more than 20 raw materials deemed strategically critical to its interests, including […]

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The explosion that rocked an Iranian port, killing at least 70 people and injuring more than 1,000 others, had its epicenter at a facility ultimately owned by a “charitable foundation” overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office. That foundation, known as Bonyad Mostazafan, faces American sanctions over it helping the 86-year-old Khamenei “to enrich his office, reward his political allies and persecute the regime’s enemies,” the U.S. Treasury has said. Its top personnel also have direct ties to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which oversees Tehran’s ballistic missile arsenal and operations abroad targeting the Islamic Republic’s enemies. Those associations come as authorities still haven’t offered a cause for the blast Saturday at the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas. The port reportedly took in a chemical component needed for solid fuel for ballistic missiles — something denied by authorities though local reports now increasingly point toward a mysterious, highly explosive cargo being delivered there. “It’s known that Iran has been doing all kinds of sanctions busting and so on in order to supply their weapons program,” said Andrea Sella, a professor of chemistry at the University College London. “The surprising thing is the fact that this cargo, given that it’s a highly energetic material … was sitting right in the middle of the port warehousing area.” He added: “That strikes me as nuts.” Bonyads hold vast economic power in Iran A bonyad, the Farsi word for “foundation,” wields tremendous power in Iran. The bonyads take their root in foundations set up by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi during his rule. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution toppled the shah, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini set up the bonyads to manage those assets, as well as companies seized from supporters of the shah and religious minorities, like the Baha’i and Jews. Bonyad Mostazafan, or the “Foundation of the Oppressed,” is believed to be the largest in the country by assets, with a 2008 U.S. Congressional Research Service report suggesting it represented 10% of Iran’s entire gross domestic product at the time. The Treasury in 2020 put its worth into the billions of dollars. Its network includes interests in mining, railroads, energy, steel and shipping through its Sina Port and Marine Services Development Co. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show the epicenter of Saturday’s explosion struck just next to Sina’s terminal at the port, shredding the facility and the containers stacked nearby. Mostazafan has direct ties to the Guard, security forces Since its creation, Bonyard Mostazafan has been linked to the Guard. Its current president, Hossein Dehghan, reached the rank of general in the Guard and serves as a military adviser to Khamenei. Other leaders in the foundation’s history have had direct and indirect ties back to the Guard. The U.S. Treasury separately describes the foundation as having business relationships or cash transactions with the country’s police, the Defense Ministry and the Guard as well. “Mostazafan has de-facto been functioning as the IRGC’s ‘money box,’ whereby its financial assets and resources are made available to senior IRGC commanders, not least to fund terrorist activities,” alleges United Against Nuclear Iran, a New York-based pressure group, using an acronym for the Guard. In sanctioning Bonyad Mostazafan in 2020, the first Trump administration described the foundation as being used by Khamenei to “line the pockets of […]

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Two IDF reservists were injured, one seriously, by an explosive device placed on the side of the road in the Shomron on Wednesday. The incident occurred while IDF forces from the Ephraim Regional Brigade’s 9221st Reserve Battalion were carrying out an operational activity in the village of Beita. The soldiers were evacuated to the hospital for treatment. IDF forces imposed a siege on the village and launched a manhunt for the terrorists. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

A Fire and Rescue Authority spokesperson said on Thursday morning that the wildfires that began in the Jerusalem hills on Wednesday are not yet under control after 163 firefighting teams battled the flames overnight. “Over 150 firefighting teams are still working at full capacity in all the fire hotspots in the Judean Plain area,” a spokesperson said. About 23 firefighting teams are operating in the Beit Meir and Shoresh area, and 10 firefighting planes are assisting the forces in the field. Firefighters are still battling flames at 11 locations on the outskirts of Jerusalem and seven yishuvim are still evacuated of their residents. The winds have weakened, and until 2 p.m., the weather, which includes a chance of rain, is in favor of the firefighters. However, powerful winds are forecast to resume from 4 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The police announced on Thursday morning that Highway 1 and all other blocked highways have been reopened to traffic, including Highways 3 and 38. Overnight,  over 100 abandoned vehicles from Highway 1 were towed to the Latrun parking lot, after drivers were forced to abandon their cars on Wednesday and flee for their lives, including mothers holding babies in their arms. The Fire and Rescue Services announced that lighting fires in open areas is forbidden throughout the country, except in designated places. Israel Police announced that a ban on lighting fires and barbecues in public areas will be enforced throughout Yom Ha’atzmaut. Planes from foreign countries, including Greece, Croatia, Romania, France, Spain and Italy, are expected to arrive on Thursday afternoon. About 10,000 residents were evacuated due to the massive fires from the yishuvim of Eshtaol, Mesilat Tzion, Beit Meir, Neve Shalom, Nachshon, Mevo Horon, Shoresh, Yad Hashmona, Neve Ilan and Nataf. The residents of Eshtaol, Neve Shalom and Nachshon and Mevo Choron have been allowed to return to their homes. The fire caused immense damage to the forests in the area, and Canada Park was severely damaged. According to an initial assessment yesterday by the KKL, about 20,000 dunams were burned yesterday in the fires in the Jerusalem hills. “This is an event of unprecedented magnitude,” said Anat Gold, director of KKL’s central region. “This is one of the largest fires in the country,” she added, noting that half of the areas that caught fire are forested areas, including Canada Park and Eshtaol Forest. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In a heartfelt interview with Arutz Sheva during their Yom HaZikaron broadcast, Rabbi Yoram Eliyahu, father of Sergeant First Class (res.) Yedidya Eliyahu Hy”d of Karnei Shomron, who fell in battle in Gaza, shared his perspective on loss and resilience.

Rabbi Eliyahu expressed his discomfort with the term “bereavement,” stating, “We are not the families of bereavement, but the families of heroism. If you call it bereavement, it already has a negative effect on you, and this is not the right message that we should be conveying to the people of Israel. I say this both personally and nationally, the purpose of the Heroism Forum is to bring life back to the people of Israel, until we achieve our military victory and the collapse of Hamas.”​

Reflecting on his son’s dedication, Rabbi Eliyahu recounted Yedidya’s guiding principle in combat: ‘I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till I destroyed them.’ He emphasized the importance of destroying the enemy, stating, “We are not experiencing in some case of cot death or in an accident. We have set out to avenge the blood of our Jewish brothers and sisters that has been shed, to avenge the humiliation of Simchat Torah.”​

Despite the profound pain of losing his son, Rabbi Eliyahu encouraged his daughter-in-law to remarry and continue her life. He shared, “The fact that my daughter-in-law remarried shows that ‘with their death they commanded us to live.’ They want us to live and that is for their benefit and honor. From the first moment we supported her and told her that after a year we would begin the journey. We see the children with someone to be there for them and it gives us great joy. These are our grandchildren and we truly feel that she has ‘chosen life.'”​

Addressing the process of coping with their loss, Rabbi Eliyahu said, “From the first moment we cried a lot. It is a natural human emotion and there is not a day that we do not see his image before us. My wife and I talk about it a lot. At our daughter-in-law’s wedding we cried, but it was not a cry of pain but a cry of purification. Every heartbreak has a purpose.” He concluded, “Yom Hazikaron is a day of brokenness, meriting Independence Day.”​

{Matzav.com Israel}

Shas party leader MK Aryeh Deri delivered a forceful message Wednesday evening, urging Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to take immediate and forceful action in response to what he described as deliberate acts of arson across the country over the past day.

“The arsonists in times of war are terrorists in every sense of the word,” Deri said. “I call on the Prime Minister to instruct the IDF to eliminate from the air any terrorist identified as starting fires.”

Deri stressed that these acts of arson—taking place amid sweltering heat and the ongoing military operation in Gaza—must be seen as acts of terror that threaten national security. “Anyone who starts a fire during a conflict and war – their blood is on their heads. This is a ticking bomb, just like someone who shoots. Whoever comes to kill you – rise up quickly and kill him.”

His comments followed a day marked by widespread fires that forced the evacuation of several towns in the hills surrounding Jerusalem. Emergency crews, IDF personnel, and even international firefighting teams have been mobilized to contain the blazes, as authorities investigate suspicions of coordinated arson.

{Matzav.com}

As devastating fires continue to rage across Israel, many were reminded of the massive blaze that swept through Los Angeles just a few months ago. At the time, numerous Jewish communities in California reached out to their spiritual authority, the Raavad of Yerushalayim, Rav Gideon Ben Moshe, with a pressing question: Why had such destructive fires struck their city?

The response they received was nothing short of remarkable.

In a detailed letter addressed to Rabbi Ezra Dwek, the rav of Kehillas Torah Ohr in Los Angeles, Rav ben Moshe offered two spiritual reasons for the fires—and a call to action.

The first reason, he wrote, relates to the mitzvah of remembering the churban, the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. Citing the Gemara (Bava Basra 60b) and the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 560), Rav Ben Moshe explained that Chazal instituted the practice of leaving a square amah of unfinished wall—opposite the entrance of every Jewish home—as a visible reminder of the loss of the Beis Hamikdash.

This practice, he noted, is not merely symbolic. Rav Chaim Palagi writes in Mo’ed Lechol Chai that it is a segulah bedukah u’menuseh—a tried and tested protection—against fires and other calamities. He recounted how his father would insist that any house with an amah al amah left exposed opposite the door would be protected for generations. Rav Ben Moshe urged Rabbi Dwek to encourage his community members to adopt this practice in their homes, leaving an unfinished patch without paint or plaster in accordance with halacha.

The second reason for the fires, he continued, is rooted in the Gemara in Sanhedrin (92a) and quoted in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah (246:24): “Any home in which words of Torah are not heard at night will be consumed by fire.” Rav Ben Moshe explained that a home where Torah is learned—even a small amount—especially at night, is safeguarded from destruction. The Gemara in Eiruvin (18b) adds that such a home will never be destroyed.

He called on every member of the community to commit to a fixed time of Torah learning in the home—be it Chumash with Rashi, Gemara (such as Daf Yomi), halacha, or any area of Torah—insisting that the key lies in the consistency, not the quantity.

Concluding his letter, Rav Ben Moshe offered a heartfelt brocha: “May the Almighty, in His mercy, seal the breaches of His people, Yisroel, and protect all of our brethren from distress, anguish, illness, and suffering. And may the future bring only goodness and blessing. Amein.”

The letter, which has since been widely circulated among Rav Ben Moshe’s talmidim and followers, has sparked renewed efforts to strengthen both these areas of observance, as a shield against tragedy and a merit for Klal Yisroel.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk has for years made Texas a business home and playground, launching rockets, building cars, and dreaming about creating a utopian enclave for his workers on the rural outskirts of the state capital. Now, a new Musk project is on the brink of victory: an election Saturday to officially turn a small patch of coastal South Texas — home to his rocket company SpaceX — into a city known as Starbase. If Musk prevails — which appears likely, since the small number of residents eligible to vote include his employees — it will be a victory for the mega-billionaire whose popularity has waned since he became the chain-saw-wielding public face of President Donald Trump’s federal job and spending cuts, and sunk more than $20 million into a failed effort to tip Wisconsin Supreme Court elections. Profits at his Tesla car company have plummeted. As of Tuesday, nearly 200 of 283 eligible voters had already cast an early ballot, according to county election records. The list of names so far does not include Musk, who voted in the county in the November elections. The cosmic dateline sounds like a billionaire’s vanity project in an area where the man and his galactic dreams already enjoy broad support from residents and state and local officials. But there are creeping concerns that the city vote and companion efforts at the state Legislature will give Musk and his company town too much control over access to a popular swimming and camping area known for generations as the “poor people’s beach.” Setting up a company town Saturday’s vote to establish Starbase is seen as a done deal. The proposed city at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexico border is only about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers), crisscrossed by a few roads and dappled with airstream trailers and modest mid-century homes. The polling site is in a building on Memes St., a cheeky nod to Musk’s social media company X. Musk first floated the idea of a Starbase city in 2021. SpaceX officials have said little about exactly why they want a company town, and did not respond to messages seeking comment this week. But a fight over beach access highlights at least part of what could be at stake. SpaceX rocket launches and engine tests, and even just moving certain equipment around the launch base, requires closing a local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach. Closure currently requires collaboration with surrounding Cameron County. Two bills being considered by state lawmakers would move most of that responsibility to the the new city, just as the company seeks permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to increase the number of launches from five to 25 a year. SpaceX officials say the bills would streamline beach closures and operations at a company that has contracts with the Department of Defense and NASA for use of its heavy rocket Starship, including a goal to send astronauts back to the moon and eventually Mars. “This fully reusable rocket system keeps the U.S. ahead of global competitors like China, and its being developed right here in South Texas,” SpaceX Vice President of Starship Legal and Regulatory Sheila McCorkle wrote to state lawmakers. She noted the company’s $4 billion investments and thousands of jobs […]

The Trump Organization is teaming up with Qatari Diar and Dar Global to bring a major Trump-branded development to Qatar, marking the debut of the brand in the country. On Wednesday, the partners announced plans for the $5.5 billion Trump International Hotel & Tower, Dubai — a towering 80-story complex.

Designed to draw inspiration from the well-known Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, this waterfront project will be located about 40 minutes from Doha. In addition to the luxury hotel and residences, the development will also include a Trump-branded 18-hole golf course, a series of high-end villas, and a Land of Legends amusement park.

The massive venture is spearheaded by Qatari Diar and will serve as a 4.4-mile-long entertainment and hospitality hub along Sheikh Zayed Road, right at the gateway to Downtown Dubai and within close proximity to the Financial Metro Station.

Eric Trump, who holds an executive position at The Trump Organization and is the son of President Donald Trump, arrived in the Gulf on Wednesday to promote the project. Speaking to Reuters the day before, Eric Trump emphasized the region’s reliance on American strength and stability.

“Trump International Hotel & Tower, Dubai is a project that reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, luxury and innovation,” he said in a statement, also describing the tower on X as an “ultra-luxury landmark tower.”

This isn’t the first partnership between The Trump Organization and Dar Global — in fact, it’s their fifth. Other joint ventures include projects in the Saudi cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, as well as in Oman.

Dar Global’s CEO, Ziad EL Chaar, praised Dubai’s economic momentum and international appeal. “Dubai’s vibrant economy and strategic location make it a prime destination for global investment, and Dar Global recognizes this potential,” he said.

While no official launch date has been disclosed for the Trump-Dar Global project, the announcement aligns with the city’s continued success in attracting global investors and tourists, thanks to its sleek architecture, waterfront developments, and investor-friendly environment.

President Trump is expected to travel to Qatar in the near future, making his first major trip abroad since reentering office. He has hinted that he may ink significant investment deals with all three of the countries involved in this initiative.

{Matzav.com}

During a lively phone interview on Wednesday, President Trump expressed enthusiasm at the idea of Stephen A. Smith entering the political arena — even suggesting he could see the well-known sports commentator as a future presidential candidate.

“I’ve been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates, and I will tell you I’d love to see him run,” Trump, 78, said during his appearance on NewsNation.

The segment featured an unusual trio: Smith, former CNN host Chris Cuomo, and ex-Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly. It was O’Reilly who floated the notion of Smith tossing his hat in the ring, though it wasn’t immediately clear whether he was serious.

Responding to O’Reilly’s suggestion, Trump spoke admiringly of Smith: “Stephen A, he’s a good guy. He’s a smart guy. I love watching him.”

Trump went on to praise Smith’s charisma and media savvy, noting that such qualities are often lacking in the current crop of Democratic hopefuls. “He’s got great entertainment skills, which is very important. People watch him. You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch, I say they have no chance.”

The conversation took a more serious turn when Smith, who is black, questioned Trump about his administration’s approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs — pressing him on moves that appeared to weaken civil rights protections.

“Your administration has issued executive orders dismantling DEI initiative across federal agencies, including revoking equal opportunity mandates and slashing funding for minority owned businesses,” Smith told the president.

“Critics argue these actions reverse decades of civil rights progress. So how do you justify these measures, and what message do they send to the marginalized communities?”

In response, Trump pushed back, defending the philosophy behind his policy decisions.

“What we’re doing is we have a country that’s based solely on merit now, and that’s the way it is. If somebody’s out there doing a great job — and this includes getting into colleges if you’ve worked really hard — and we don’t look at race,” Trump said.

“We don’t look at color, we don’t look at height or shortness or weight. If somebody is doing a good job and they worked and they got great marks, and they got great board numbers, and they get rejected at Harvard, which has been so disgusting, so horribly. I mean, so think of it.”

{Matzav.com}

A new survey conducted by Emerson College gauging opinions from voters in the 2024 presidential election found that the overwhelming majority would stick with their original choices if the election were held again today.

The poll, released to mark the 100th day of President Donald Trump’s second term, revealed that 94% of Trump voters would cast their ballots for him again. Among those who voted for Democrat Kamala Harris, 93% said they’d repeat their decision. Overall, Trump had a slim edge over Harris, 48% to 47%, according to the report summary.

One major issue highlighted by the poll was economic dissatisfaction. Just 37% of respondents said they approve of Trump’s economic policies, while nearly half—49%—said they disapprove.

A separate Emerson poll taken halfway through Trump’s first 100 days in office showed mixed opinions: 39% of voters felt Trump was outperforming expectations, 36% believed he was underperforming, and 24% said his performance was in line with what they had anticipated.

The most recent results indicate a slight dip in Trump’s overall approval rating, which has fallen two points over the past 50 days to 45%. Meanwhile, his disapproval rating remains unchanged at 49%, with 10% of respondents saying they neither approve nor disapprove.

“Despite several unpopular domestic and foreign policies, President Trump still holds an entrenched base of voters who, if given the chance, say they would vote for him again,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

Kimball added that beyond the economy, other issues weighing on voters include foreign relations, trade policies, and Trump’s response to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The poll also found that Trump’s backers were not entirely unified on issues such as immigration and deportation.

The national survey was carried out between April 25 and 28, and it reflects responses from U.S. voters who are currently registered and active. The results have a credibility interval of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

The major wildfire that broke out early Wednesday in the Judean Foothills and has been spreading rapidly throughout the day has prompted authorities to evacuate multiple nearby communities for safety.

At present, five main areas are actively burning: Highway 3, which has been shut down, as well as Canada Park, Neve Shalom, Mesilat Zion, and Mitzpe Harel. The situation has become critical enough to demand a full-scale deployment of firefighting resources.

Given the expanding scope of the blaze and its intensity—part of a pattern of recent fires in the region—fire officials called for a countrywide mobilization of ground firefighting units. On-site operations involve 119 firefighting teams, assisted by 10 planes and a helicopter. A central coordination hub was set up at the Eshtaol IKEA branch, with an additional response center near Latrun.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff has directed the Home Front Command, the Air Force, and all relevant IDF divisions to offer their complete backing to the Fire and Rescue Services and police forces tackling the disaster.

Search and rescue units from the IDF, alongside emergency responders from the Jerusalem and Central Districts, have joined the mission. Ground and air teams—including those providing real-time aerial surveillance—have worked together to suppress flames and assist in evacuations across the Jerusalem Hills.

For the first time during this crisis, the IDF deployed its “Shimshon” aircraft on Wednesday night. The plane, retrofitted to help in emergencies, released flame-retardant chemicals over the fire zone.

In parallel with local efforts, Israel has turned to the international community for backup. Several nations are expected to send firefighting aircraft, which are likely to land by Thursday morning due to current flight limitations.

Meanwhile, authorities have taken a suspect into custody in connection with the fire’s ignition. He is now undergoing interrogation.

Highway 1 has also been blocked off in both directions between Sha’ar HaGai and the Anava Interchange. Flames engulfed four vehicles along the route. Emergency responders rescued nine people from the burning cars, while others fled the smoke-filled area. A total of twelve individuals were treated for light injuries caused by smoke inhalation.

Traffic has been stopped on Highway 3 in the direction of Nachshon, and train service between Yerushalayim and Ben Gurion Airport has been suspended.

Evacuations have been ordered for the following communities: Shoresh, Neve Ilan, Yad HaShmona, Nataf, Neve Shalom, Beka’ot, Mitzpe Harel, Mesilat Zion, Tarum, Ta’oz, Eshtaol, Beit Meir, Nachshon, Canada Park, and the Latrun vicinity. In Binyamin, Mevo Horon residents were also told to evacuate as a precaution.

Nature and Parks Authority officials began clearing hikers from areas at risk. Those in the affected regions, including the Harei Yehuda National Park, were instructed to leave immediately. The Khan Sha’ar HaGai heritage site was closed to the public.

Jerusalem District Fire Commander Shmulik Friedman said, “The fire is extremely intense, one of the largest in Israel in recent years, perhaps ever. We are positioning at key points to contain the fire, but this is a complex event, and we are preparing defensively.” He also declared that this could potentially be “the largest fire in Israel’s history.”

{Matzav.com}