Feed aggregator

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced approval Tuesday for demonstrators who occupied the lobby of a Hilton hotel in Manhattan to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement, applauding both the protesters’ actions and the police response.

“Mayor Mamdani commends the protestors who exercised their right to protest against ICE today. As he has said, ICE is a rogue agency that has repeatedly carried out cruel, inhumane, and lawless raids and arrests of American citizens,” his spokesperson said. “The Mayor is also pleased with the NYPD’s response to the protest and that today’s demonstration concluded without violence.”

According to a local immigration advocacy group, roughly 70 people were arrested after protesters remained inside the Hilton hotel in Tribeca for close to an hour. Activists believe the hotel is currently housing ICE agents.

Police have not yet released an official tally of arrests from the demonstration.

The protest is part of a broader wave of activism, with organizers announcing additional “No Kings” demonstrations planned for March 28, fueled by anger over recent deadly encounters involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.

The Department of Homeland Security has previously criticized the Hilton brand after owners of a Minneapolis hotel canceled reservations for ICE personnel. Hilton later issued a statement saying such decisions were “not reflective of Hilton values of being welcoming to all.”

Authorities have not disclosed what charges, if any, the detained protesters may face. The NYPD told Nexstar’s WPIX that officers were first determining whether any of those arrested had outstanding warrants before proceeding with formal charges.

Tuesday’s protest followed the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents over the weekend. Pretti is the second person to be shot and killed by immigration officers in Minneapolis in recent days.

{Matzav.com}

Delivery platforms like Uber, DoorDash, and Grubhub must now display a tip option for customers before or at checkout, including a suggested tip of at least 10% or a custom amount option.

Sen. Chuck Schumer: “For the good of the country, Donald trump needs to fire Kristi Noem at once. Noem is a liar. Noem is incompetent at her job and she must go.”

Michael Dell on Trump Accounts: “In a few years, essentially every child in America will have savings invested in the greatest companies in this country, and that will change the face of this country over the next 10, 20, 30 years.”

“Itzik, Talik, Omri, Shira, the wonderful Gvili family. I will say this in the language of the Bible, on behalf of my wife Sara and myself: Our souls are bound with yours. We have spoken many times. We have met many times. We crossed oceans and continents together, including recently, in a heart-stirring meeting with […]

Sen. Tim Kaine on Trump’s Davos speech: “[The] President repeatedly mistook Iceland for Greenland, right?” Sec. Rubio: “He meant to say Greenland. But I think we’re all familiar with presidents that have verbal stumbles. We’ve had presidents like that before. Some made a lot more than this one.”

TRUMP: “Trump Accounts should reach at least $50k in value by the time a child turns 18… with slightly greater contributions, the typical account will grow to $100k, $200k, and can even grow up to past $300k per child.”

Trump on Trump Accounts: “Every President in modern history has left our children with nothing but debt — but under this Administration, we’re going to leave every child with real assets and a shot at financial freedom.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz sharply condemned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, arguing that her remaining in office after two deadly encounters involving immigration officers in the state is indefensible and demanding accountability at the highest levels.

Pressure on the administration has mounted from lawmakers in both parties, who have urged President Trump to remove Noem after she publicly supported immigration agents involved in the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and labeled the victims “domestic terrorist” before any investigation was completed.

Speaking during an appearance on CNN, Walz urged national attention on the situation and called for decisive action. “It‘s insane. And I appreciate all the news media here telling it and tell the rest of the country, ‘Stand with us on this.’ This is a stand we have to hold on. They have to leave here,” he said on CNN’s “AC360.”

Walz went on to argue that responsibility does not stop with the shooters themselves. “They have to bring these folks to justice. And there has to be some accountability to the top levels. Kristi Noem still having a job today is absolutely outrageous,” he added.

Despite the growing backlash, the president has stood firmly behind his homeland security secretary, praising her performance and pointing to changes at the southern border.

“I think she’s doing a very good job. The border is totally secure. You know, you forget we had a border that I inherited where millions of people were coming through. Now we have a border where no one is coming through. They come into our country only legally,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

He also suggested that accomplishments at the border have gone underappreciated. “As soon as you accomplish something, it goes into history and nobody ever wants to talk about it,” he continued.

Walz rejected that assessment in his interview with Anderson Cooper, saying Trump’s comments were deeply troubling. “it’s very disheartening to me to see the president say Kristi Noem is doing a great job,” he said.

He then delivered a blistering personal critique of the secretary. “I‘m not sure there’s been anybody more incompetent or cruel that’s ever served in a cabinet position than her, and this is on her,” he added.

The Minnesota governor warned that the administration’s approach is destabilizing the situation on the ground, accusing it of “undermining order” and spreading “chaos” across affected communities.

Walz said those responsible for the deaths of Good and Pretti must be identified and prosecuted. “We need to know who these people were. We need these guys brought back here,” he said.

“We have to keep order and its very difficult when they are undermining order. They create this chaos and we have to come in and clean it up.

As tensions have risen, Walz authorized the deployment of the Minnesota National Guard to assist local law enforcement in Minneapolis. He emphasized that troops are clearly identifiable, stressing the importance of soldiers wearing “uniforms on with their names and no masks,” a pointed contrast to his earlier criticism of federal immigration officers who concealed their identities.

{Matzav.com}

Amazon announced plans to terminate about 16,000 corporate employees, only a few months after announcing it was cutting 14,000 roles. The company will offer US-based employees 90 days to search for a new role internally.

A man who authorities say was involved in a human smuggling operation was shot Tuesday in an exchange of gunfire with the U.S. Border Patrol and after firing at a federal helicopter near the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said. Federal agents were attempting to apprehend the 34-year-old Arizona man during a traffic stop near Arivaca, Arizona, […]

UPDATE – BORO PARK: The FDNY tells Boro Park Scoop that seven civilians were injured in the fire at the multiple dwelling on 13th Avenue near 62nd Street; two victims are in critical condition, one sustained serious injuries, and four others suffered minor injuries, as firefighters continue operating at the scene.

Senior chareidi political figures said this morning that announcements declaring the end of committee deliberations on Israel’s controversial draft bill are meaningless, stressing that the decisive factor will be the position of the Knesset’s legal advisers, not procedural milestones in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

The remarks came after MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, announced that discussions on the new draft law had concluded and that votes would soon begin. Chareidi officials dismissed the statement, saying it was an attempt to soften the stance of leading rabbinic authorities while ignoring the real obstacle facing the legislation.

According to senior figures in Shas and Degel HaTorah, “Who will decide whether there is a law we can support are the Knesset’s legal advisers. Bismuth can end the discussions, but it has no meaning as long as the legal counsel does not approve the wording of the law.”

They added that they would not support legislation opposed by the Knesset’s legal advisers, warning that such a move would almost certainly result in an interim ruling by the High Court of Justice. “That would cause more damage than benefit,” the officials said, explaining that current talks are focused entirely on negotiations with the Knesset’s legal advisers. They accused Bismuth of misleading them by promising backing from the committee’s legal adviser, Miri Frenkel-Shor, throughout the process.

Later today, Shas and Degel HaTorah are expected to decide whether to vote in favor of the state budget. While party officials believe the budget will ultimately pass with their support, they indicated that budget legislation could be halted until the draft law is approved in its second and third readings.

In recent days, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has held discussions with chareidi party leaders, warning them against bringing down the government amid what he described as a sensitive security period. The issue is also expected to be presented to senior rabbinic leaders.

Netanyahu addressed the matter publicly on Tuesday evening, saying, “The last thing Israel needs in the current situation is elections. I hope everyone understands the national responsibility required at this time.”

Bismuth, in his announcement a day earlier, said, “I am excited to announce that the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has completed the reading of all sections of the draft law. We are reaching the finish line, and soon we will vote on the law in the committee for second and third readings.”

He added, “What dragged on for years, what got stuck again and again in endless discussions, moved forward on my watch because there was a clear goal: a law. Not discussions for the sake of discussions, but a genuine desire to reach a solution. Brick by brick. Through dialogue, cooperation, and determination.”

Bismuth concluded by citing the prime minister, saying, “As the prime minister said this evening, ‘We are on the verge of completing the passage of the draft law.’ The torch now passes to the next stage. It is now the role of the entire Knesset to continue the process until the law is approved in the plenum—a historic draft law that will strengthen the IDF and Israeli society as a whole.”

{Matzav.com}

TRUMP: “We’re going to put $3T-$4T of wealth into the hands of young Americans who otherwise would have really started out with nothing… I believe that Trump Accounts will be remembered as one of the most transformative policy innovations of all time.”

Trump on Trump Accounts: “For the first time ever, we’re going to give every newborn American child a financial stake in the future, a head start at life, and a fair shot at the American Dream.”

MI KI’AMCHA YISROEL: Hatzalah volunteer (B-64) Nussy Josephy, coordinator of the citywide plowing division, seen making sure that the Chesed of Flatbush response vehicles were able to get out of the snow today to continue servicing the Flatbush community with vital medical equipment and other medical services.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Iran: A regime that can only stay in power through sheer violence and terror against its own population has its days numbered. It may take weeks, but this regime has no legitimacy to govern the country.

President Trump accused Rep. Ilhan Omar of orchestrating a confrontation at her Tuesday night town hall, asserting without evidence that the Minnesota Democrat arranged for a man to spray her with an unknown substance during the event.

“I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud,” Trump said in an interview with ABC News. “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”

Pressed on whether he had watched footage of the incident, the president responded, “I haven’t seen it. No, no. I hope I don’t have to bother.”

Video from a livestream of the town hall captured a man rising from the audience and shouting at Omar as she demanded that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem step down or face impeachment following two fatal shootings tied to immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis. The man then sprayed the congresswoman before being tackled and taken into custody.

Despite the disruption, Omar resumed the event and addressed the crowd, declaring, “These [profanity] are not going to get away with it.”

She later sharpened her message after the town hall concluded.

“I’ve survived war and I’m definitely going to survive intimidation or whatever these people think they can throw at me, because I’m built that way,” Omar said.

The lawmaker later updated supporters on social media, writing on X, “I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work.”

“I don’t let bullies win,” she added. “Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”

Trump has repeatedly attacked Omar in harsh terms. Earlier on Tuesday, before the town hall incident, he criticized her again while speaking in Iowa.

“She comes from a country that’s a disaster,” the president told the audience. “It’s considered, I think, the worst [country]. It’s not even a country.”

Minneapolis police said officers witnessed the suspect, identified as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, using a syringe to spray an unidentified liquid on the congresswoman.

“The man was immediately arrested by MPD officers and booked into Hennepin County Jail for 3rd degree assault. Representative Omar was uninjured and resumed speaking at the event. Minneapolis Forensic Scientists responded to process the scene,” a police spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill.

The U.S. Capitol Police condemned the attack, calling it “an unacceptable decision that will be met with swift justice.”

“We are grateful for the rapid response of onsite security and our local law enforcement partners,” the agency said. “We are now working with our federal partners to see this man faces the most serious charges possible to deter this kind of violence in our society.”

Several Republican lawmakers also spoke out against the incident, including Reps. Mark Alford, Mike Lawler, and Nancy Mace.

“What happened at Rep. Ilhan Omar’s town hall — where she was sprayed with a substance during the event — is completely unacceptable,” Lawler wrote on X. “Regardless of political views, we should all agree this behavior crosses a line and cannot be tolerated.”

Capitol Police also reported that threats against lawmakers remain widespread, saying the department has investigated nearly 15,000 “concerning statements behaviors, and communications” aimed at members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol complex. In 2024 alone, nearly 9,500 such cases were reviewed.

{Matzav.com}