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John Brennan, who led the CIA, and James Comey, the former FBI director, are currently subjects of a criminal investigation over potential misconduct tied to the Trump–Russia investigation, according to news reports. The probe includes possible false statements they may have made to Congress.

Sources within the Justice Department revealed that CIA Director John Ratcliffe forwarded evidence implicating Brennan to FBI official Kash Patel, prompting a criminal review of Brennan’s actions. Officials confirmed that a formal investigation into Brennan has begun, although they declined to elaborate further on its precise scope. It remains uncertain whether the inquiry extends beyond his possible misleading of lawmakers.

Regarding Comey, officials confirmed that he too is under investigation, but provided no details about what specific actions are being scrutinized.

While the precise boundaries of the criminal probes remain vague, two individuals familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that federal agents view Brennan and Comey’s actions as potentially constituting a “conspiracy,” a characterization that could broaden the range of possible legal charges.

The probe into Brennan follows the recent declassification by Ratcliffe of a review examining the process behind the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). That report had claimed Russian efforts were aimed at boosting Donald Trump in the 2016 election. The newly released analysis criticized the ICA process for being rushed and riddled with “procedural anomalies,” asserting that intelligence norms had been compromised.

The review also concluded that top officials’ choice to incorporate the Steele Dossier into the ICA conflicted with fundamental intelligence tradecraft and ended up undermining a critical assessment in the report.

The Steele Dossier, a collection of now-debunked allegations about Trump, was funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee via Fusion GPS. The dossier’s credibility has been widely discredited. The review’s findings represent the first time that career CIA personnel formally acknowledged that political bias from Obama administration appointees may have tainted the drafting of the ICA.

Documents released as part of the review indicate Brennan played a key role in advocating for the dossier’s inclusion in the assessment.

Despite this, Brennan told the House Judiciary Committee during testimony in May 2023 that he opposed including the dossier in the ICA.

Ratcliffe, a longtime critic of Brennan, reportedly wasn’t surprised by the findings of the review, a source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital. However, the seriousness of Brennan’s conduct compelled Ratcliffe to refer the matter to the FBI to assess for possible criminal violations.

The source, while unable to divulge the specific contents of the referral, said Brennan “violated the public’s trust and should be held accountable for it.”

One part of the investigation into false statements reportedly stems from a newly declassified December 2016 email sent to Brennan from the then-deputy CIA director. That message expressed concern that incorporating the dossier into the ICA in any form would jeopardize the credibility of the entire document.

“Despite these objections, Brennan showed a preference for narrative consistency over analytical soundness,” the new CIA review says. “When confronted with specific flaws in the Dossier by the two mission center leaders – one with extensive operational experience and the other with a strong analytic background – he appeared more swayed by the Dossier’s general conformity with existing theories than by legitimate tradecraft concerns.”

The review went on to note: “Brennan ultimately formalized his position in writing, stating that ‘my bottomline is that I believe that the information warrants inclusion in the report.’”

Still, Brennan gave contradictory testimony before Congress.

“The CIA was very much opposed to having any reference or inclusion of the Steele dossier in the Intelligence Community Assessment,” Brennan testified before the House committee, according to the transcript of his deposition reviewed by Fox News Digital. “And so they sent over a copy of the dossier to say that this was going to be separate from the rest of that assessment.”

At the time of the ICA’s preparation, CIA analysts resisted efforts by the FBI to include the Steele Dossier, arguing that it lacked substantiation and dismissing it as “internet rumor.”

While the final ICA given to then-President Barack Obama did not incorporate the Steele reporting in the main body of the document, a footnote referencing it was added “largely at the insistence of FBI’s senior leadership,” as stated by both the Justice Department inspector general and the Senate Intelligence Committee.

In June 2020, Ratcliffe declassified a key footnote of the 2017 ICA, shedding more light on concerns about the Steele reporting. That declassified note acknowledged that Steele’s claims had “limited corroboration,” particularly in regards to allegations that Trump knowingly cooperated with Russian agents to win the election.

The footnote, dubbed “Annex A,” which Fox News Digital obtained exclusively in June 2020, was less than two pages long and outlined Steele’s findings. Steele, a former British intelligence officer, had been hired by Fusion GPS, which was paid by Clinton’s campaign and the DNC through law firm Perkins Coie.

The footnote spelled out that officials had internal reservations about the Steele material.

“An FBI source (Steele) using both identified and unidentified subsources, volunteered highly politically sensitive information from the summer to the fall of 2016 on Russian influence efforts aimed at the US presidential election,” the annex read. “We have only limited corroboration of the source’s reporting in this case and did not use it to reach the analytic conclusions of the CIA/FBI/NSA assessment.”

“The source collected this information on behalf of private clients and was not compensated for it by the FBI,” it added.

The annex clarified that the report was “not developed by the layered subsource network.”

“The FBI source caveated that, although similar to previously provided reporting in terms of content, the source was unable to vouch for the additional information’s sourcing and accuracy,” the annex states. “Hence this information is not included in this product.”

Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz also examined the dossier’s inclusion in the ICA during his broader probe into the FBI’s FISA warrant practices.

His December 2019 report identified “significant inaccuracies and omissions” in the FISA applications for surveillance of Trump campaign aide Carter Page. The FBI leaned heavily on the Steele dossier, despite lacking corroborating evidence for its claims about Page.

In October 2020, Fox News Digital reported that Brennan had informed President Obama and other senior officials about intelligence that Hillary Clinton planned to create a political scandal tying Trump to Russia.

That briefing was memorialized in Brennan’s handwritten notes, later declassified by Ratcliffe and published by Fox News Digital.

On July 28, 2016, Brennan briefed Obama on intelligence about a proposal by one of Clinton’s foreign policy advisers “to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security service.”

Attending that briefing were James Comey, then-Vice President Joe Biden, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Following that meeting, the CIA formally transmitted the intelligence to the FBI through a Counterintelligence Operational Lead (CIOL) directed to Comey and then-Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok. The subject line of the memo was “Crossfire Hurricane.”

Fox News Digital later obtained that CIOL memo in October 2020. It stated: “The following information is provided for the exclusive use of your bureau for background investigative action or lead purposes as appropriate.”

“Per FBI verbal request, CIA provides the below examples of information the CROSSFIRE HURRICANE fusion cell has gleaned to date,” the memo said. “An exchange (REDACTED) discussing US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s approval of a plan concerning US presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian hackers hampering US elections as a means of distracting the public from her use of a private email server.”

Just days later, on July 31, 2016, the FBI formally opened its counterintelligence investigation into potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia — code-named “Crossfire Hurricane.”

That investigation was eventually handed over to Special Counsel Robert Mueller. After an exhaustive probe lasting nearly two years, Mueller concluded in March 2019 that there was no evidence of coordination or conspiracy between the Trump team and the Russian government.

Subsequently, John Durham was appointed to dig deeper into how the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation originated.

Durham found that the FBI “failed to act” on an obvious warning sign that the Clinton campaign was attempting to “manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes” in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

“The aforementioned facts reflect a rather startling and inexplicable failure to adequately consider and incorporate the Clinton Plan intelligence into the FBI’s investigative decision-making in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation,” Durham’s report states.

“Indeed, had the FBI opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation as an assessment and, in turn, gathered and analyzed data in concert with the information from the Clinton Plan intelligence, it is likely that the information received would have been examined, at a minimum, with a more critical eye,” the report continued.

Durham emphasized in his findings that the FBI missed what should have been “a clear warning sign that the FBI might then be the target of an effort to manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes during the 2016 presidential election.”

The Trump White House made clear that it expects accountability.

“President Trump was right — again,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Those who engaged in this political scandal must be held accountable for the fraud they committed against President Trump and the lies they told to the American people.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli police have opened a criminal investigation into far-left journalist Yisrael Frey following a social media post in which he celebrated the deaths of five IDF soldiers and called on Israeli mothers to oppose the war in Gaza. “The world is a better place this morning, without five young men who partook in one of the most brutal crimes against humanity,” Frey wrote on X early Monday. He went on to reference suffering in Gaza, writing: “Unfortunately, for the boy in Gaza now being operated on without anesthesia; the girl starving to death and the family huddling in a tent under bombardment — this is not enough.” In a message to Israeli mothers, Frey added: “Do not be the next to receive your son in a coffin as a war criminal. Refuse.” The post drew widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum. While right-wing lawmakers and activists denounced Frey’s comments as incitement and treasonous, even left-wing critics of the war distanced themselves from his remarks, with some accusing him of glorifying death and undermining legitimate anti-war advocacy. By Monday afternoon, police had formally requested authorization from the State Attorney’s Office to open a criminal probe into Frey on suspicion of incitement. The request was approved, and a joint investigation is now underway by the police’s Investigations and Intelligence Division and an anti-incitement unit operating under the National Security Ministry. In a joint statement, police and the ministry vowed to take a hard line. “We will continue to act in accordance with the policy of Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Police Commissioner Danny Levy, and take a firm and uncompromising approach against anyone who gives voice to incitement or support for the enemy,” the statement read. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Images of King Charles III sparked health concerns after the 76-year-old monarch sported a severely bloodshot eye during a visit with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte.

King Charles, who revealed an unspecified cancer diagnosis in 2024, displayed a bright red right eye while greeting the pair at Windsor Castle on July 8, prompting public worry over the septuagenarian’s well-being. A palace source spoke to People to address the rumors, citing a burst blood vessel as the culprit. Medically known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage, the condition is typically benign and, despite its startling appearance, relatively common. It is the ocular equivalent to “having a bruise on your skin,” according to the Mayo Clinic, and can be the result of heavy coughing, sneezing, or even certain yoga positions. It usually resolves on its own in a week or two, and has no impact on vision, meaning the king’s visit with the French president was able to go as planned, including a carriage procession and lunch in the State Dining Room.

While there is no official word on whether headstands were behind King Charles’s eye woes, we can rest assured that this monarch probably won’t go monocular anytime soon. Read more at PEOPLE.

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The U.S. Army’s history is closely tied to its cavalry units, those soldiers who rode into battle on horseback. But the service announced Tuesday that it’s moving toward a future without the ceremonial horses and will put most of them up for adoption. The Army, however, will keep operating the Old Guard ceremonial caisson units at Joint Base San Antonio and Arlington National Cemetery for burial honors. Ceremonial cavalry units will be closed down at bases including Fort Cavazos in Texas, whose horses were showcased during the military parade in Washington on June 14, which was the Army’s 250th anniversary and also President Donald Trump’s birthday. Army spokesperson Steve Warren said other ceremonial units will close at Fort Carson in Colorado, Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Fort Irwin in California, Fort Riley in Kansas and Fort Huachuca in Arizona. The Army estimates that closing down the units will save about $2 million a year, and the changes are being made as part of its overall warfighting realignment, Warren said. The Trump administration has moved to cut costs across the federal government and directed changes at the Pentagon like reducing top military leadership positions that it says will promote efficiency. Pentagon leaders have faced pushback from Democratic lawmakers for spending on the deployment of troops to protests in Los Angeles and expected costs to turn a Qatari jet into Air Force One. The Army is giving the affected bases 12 months to shutter the ceremonial cavalry units, and 141 horses will be adopted outside the military, Warren said. Some horses may be donated to organizations, but none will be sold, he said. The horses “are part of the Army family, we’re going to treat them with compassion,” Warren said. The Army has just recently resumed caisson operations at Arlington National Cemetery after an investigation found the horses in those units were mistreated, left to graze in lots with little grass, leading them to consume sand and gravel. Two horses died in 2022, and caisson operations were suspended until earlier this year. The Arlington National Cemetery horses are part of the caisson platoon of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, which is best known for guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the cemetery, located just across the river from Washington. (AP)

A resurfaced video has sparked more controversy for Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani after it showed one of his former interns berating a Muslim police officer during a pro-Palestinian protest earlier this year. The video, originally posted on February 28, shows Hadeeqa Arzoo Malik — a student at City College and former intern in Mamdani’s Assembly district office — confronting a line of NYPD officers at what appears to be a protest on the CUNY campus. “Let’s read the badges of the pigs,” Malik is seen shouting before rattling off a list of traditionally Muslim names. “To the Rahmans and the Muhammads, to the Alis and the Abdullahs… to the Rafids!” she exclaims, appearing to target one visibly uncomfortable officer. “To the pigs who can call themselves by the name of Islam — put some respect on their names!” she continues. The officer is later relieved by another cop as the crowd looks on. Malik served as president of the City College chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and previously interned in Mamdani’s office during the summer of 2024, where she worked in communications, outreach, policy, and constituent services, according to her LinkedIn profile. Mamdani himself co-founded the SJP chapter at his alma mater, Bowdoin College. The footage was reposted to X by a student-run Columbia University account titled “Documenting Jew Hatred on Campus at Columbia U,” which alleged that Malik has a profile on the anti-hate watchdog Canary Mission. “New Yorkers take note,” the post warned. “You’ll be getting a lot more very empowered Maliks if Mamdani wins the election.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A senior source from Syria, with ties to President Al-Sharaa, has informed i24NEWS that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Syrian President Al-Sharaa plan to sign a security accord, which would serve as the initial move toward full diplomatic normalization.

According to the Syrian official, Netanyahu and Al-Sharaa are scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C., prior to the United Nations General Assembly in September. The meeting will reportedly be held at the White House.

The source further revealed that this encounter will include the signing of a security-focused agreement, overseen by U.S. President Trump.

The deal is intended to mark the beginning of broader peace talks and formal normalization of relations between Israel and Syria, the source added.

Meanwhile, insiders from the Gulf region told i24NEWS that the United Arab Emirates is playing an active role in mediating between Syria and Israel. These efforts are being carried out with the full awareness of Saudi Arabia.

Despite these efforts, Gulf officials noted that progress is being hampered by Israel’s refusal to pledge to pull out of the Syrian Golan Heights within the near future. Israeli concerns reportedly stem from the belief that Al-Sharaa still lacks complete authority over various armed groups operating in Syria, particularly in the country’s southern region.

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The recent arrest of R’ Binyomin Kubani — a father of seven, accused without evidence while simply trying to hire help at a car wash — has deeply shaken the Lakewood community. While his release is a relief, the incident raises troubling questions with implications far beyond one man’s story. What’s most concerning isn’t just the false accusation, but how quickly and unquestioningly the system responded. A 15-year-old made a claim with no evidence, and within minutes, a visibly Orthodox man was in handcuffs. No real investigation. No due process. Just a quick arrest — one that seemed all too easy. Now, those watching — including some in immigrant communities — are taking note. I’ve heard it directly: “Say a Jew tried to take you — they’ll arrest him right away.” “That’s how you get a U visa.” The risk is real. U visas are granted to individuals who claim to be victims of serious crimes — and an arrest, not a conviction, is often enough to get the process started. It creates a dangerous incentive: just say the right thing to the right person, and the system will do the rest. This is not paranoia. It’s a conversation already happening on the ground — people sharing what to say, who to accuse, and how to benefit. And in today’s climate, with heightened sensitivity and fear of backlash, a visibly Orthodox man makes an easy target.This is not just about one man. It’s about safeguarding the integrity of our justice system and ensuring that no group — especially a religious minority — becomes vulnerable to exploitation. We owe it to our community, and to the truth, to speak up before these troubling whispers become a dangerous norm. Sincerely, Worried Sick Lakewood, NJ The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review. 

Controversial left-wing activist Yisrael Frey ignited widespread condemnation on Tuesday after posting a tweet in which he expressed approval over the deaths of five IDF soldiers who were killed the previous night during fighting in Gaza.

In his tweet, Frey wrote, “The world is better this morning, without the five young men who participated in one of the most brutal crimes against humanity. Unfortunately, for the child in Gaza who is now being operated on without anesthetics; for the girl starving to death and the family crammed into a tent under the bombs, it is not enough. This is a call to every Israeli mother: don’t be the next to receive your son in a coffin as a war criminal. Refuse this.”

The post triggered a storm of outrage from Israelis across all political lines. Both left-wing and right-wing figures slammed Frey’s remarks, accusing him of incitement and disrespect toward fallen soldiers. Multiple complaints have been filed with law enforcement for incitement and encouraging military insubordination.

Haaretz journalist Anat Kam responded critically, writing, “You can speak out against the war without celebrating the death of young men whose bodies have literally not yet cooled. You are not more righteous when you are cruel.”

The father of Ella Hamoui, who was killed at the Nova music festival massacre on October 7, issued a scathing statement, questioning Frey’s loyalty to the country: “Is a person like Yisrael Frey, who publicly celebrates the deaths of IDF soldiers, fighters who fell defending the lives of Israeli citizens, still worthy of holding an Israeli identity card? And isn’t there a provision in the law, particularly in cases of incitement, support for a terrorist organization, or desecration of the dead, that will allow him to be prosecuted, not in the name of revenge, but in the name of maintaining the boundaries of sanity, law, and society?”

He went on to say: “It is unacceptable for the State of Israel to continue granting civil rights to a person who has, in effect, chosen the enemy camp, curses the defenders of the Jewish people, and is concerned about the fate of those who massacred families, young people, and the elderly indiscriminately on October 7 and are still holding hostages.”

The organization “Torat Lechima” also took action, filing a police complaint against Frey. Authorities have since confirmed that an investigation is underway, citing suspicions of glorifying terrorism.

The group is also calling on Interior Minister Moshe Arbel to revoke Frey’s Israeli citizenship. “It is unacceptable for a supporter of Hamas to enjoy civil rights and journalistic privileges in the State of Israel,” the organization stated.

{Matzav.com}

Senior Israeli officials say most components of a hostage release and temporary ceasefire deal with Hamas are now agreed upon, though the broader question of ending the war in Gaza remains unresolved. “We are coordinated,” said Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who participated in the White House meeting. “We hoped Hamas would say yes to the Qatari proposal. They essentially said no. But the gaps are small enough to engage in talks.” A third round of indirect negotiations kicked off Tuesday morning in Doha. According to a senior Israeli official, between 80 and 90 percent of the deal’s terms have been finalized. Still, implementation could stretch beyond the coming days. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said both delegations are in Doha but that formal negotiations have yet to begin, with mediators still working to establish a framework. Negotiators are reportedly close to agreement on a clause covering humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. According to the Qatari outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Hamas is seeking United Nations oversight of aid during any ceasefire, instead of the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is expected to travel to Qatar this week, told reporters ahead of the dinner that “we have an opportunity to finally get a peace deal.” After the meeting, a senior Israeli official emphasized the “total coordination” between the U.S. and Israel, describing the bilateral trust as deeper than at any previous stage of the conflict. Mediators involved in the negotiations have been informed that the White House expects a deal to be finalized within the week, according to an Arab diplomat and another individual familiar with the talks. In parallel with the aid discussions, negotiators are addressing the contours of a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza during the proposed 60-day ceasefire. An Arab diplomat said Israeli officials brought a map outlining their envisioned pullback. While Hamas initially demanded a return to IDF positions from before the March 2 collapse of the prior truce, the group has shown some flexibility, the diplomat said. Still, the core disagreement remains. Israel continues to frame the deal as a temporary pause in hostilities. Hamas, by contrast, is demanding an agreement that would amount to a permanent end to the war. Speaking Tuesday in Washington, a senior Israeli official outlined Israel’s endgame: Hamas must be dismantled, its leadership exiled or defeated, and an alternative governance structure established in Gaza. “There has to be a system there that manages life,” the official said, acknowledging the possibility of Israeli oversight in the interim. “Maybe for a certain amount of time, it is us.” The official added that Israel is now convinced Trump is committed to supporting emigration efforts from Gaza. “After tonight, I am [convinced],” the official said. “The plan is alive. What is needed is operational coordination, not only the aims, but how we achieve it.” Senior Israeli officials also pointed to close U.S.-Israel coordination on Iran. According to one official, the two countries were aligned diplomatically and militarily before, during, and after Israel’s 12-day aerial campaign last month targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites — an operation the U.S. ultimately joined. “We had diplomatic coordination before the attack, military coordination during the attack, and now once again diplomatic coordination,” the official said. “I measure my words — there has never […]

Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air announced it will restart flights to Israel earlier than initially planned.

The airline confirmed it will resume operations from Ben Gurion Airport on August 8, with its first routes set to Larnaca and Budapest. Tickets for these flights will become available for purchase starting Wednesday. Additional destinations are expected to be added shortly after.

Wizz Air, like other international carriers, halted all service to Israel after the country’s airspace was shut down on June 13, when open conflict erupted between Israel and Iran.

Although the fighting lasted less than two weeks and concluded with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, many foreign airlines had opted to delay the return of service to Israeli airports until mid-September.

However, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced yesterday that it has lifted all prior flight restrictions to and from Israel. These measures had originally been imposed in April due to security threats, including Iranian missile attacks and the impact of a Houthi missile near Ben Gurion Airport.

Germany’s Lufthansa Group is expected to restart flights to Israel as early as August 1. British Airways and Italy’s ITA Airways are also planning to restore service after a lengthy suspension.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered remarks Tuesday from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where he spoke about the tragic loss of five Israeli soldiers in Gaza and expressed optimism about bringing the war to an end.

“These are momentous days, but they’re also touched by tragedy. We lost five of our brave soldiers in Gaza. The people of America, well Texas, have profoundly lost their colleagues. We stand with the people of Texas and the people of America as the people of America stand with us. We send our condolences to the bereaved families,” Netanyahu said at the start of his address.

He went on to emphasize the broader geopolitical picture and the alliance between the United States and Israel. “I said these are momentous times, and they are. The President and I believe in a doctrine called peace through strength. First comes strength, then comes the peace. Our resolute action, the resolute decision of President Trump to act with us against those who seek to destroy Israel and threaten the peace of the world has made a remarkable change in the Middle East.”

Reflecting on the recent military conflict with Iran that lasted nearly two weeks, Netanyahu praised the joint efforts of American and Israeli forces. “The remarkable American B2 pilots showed remarkable perseverance, persistence and power. The soldiers of Israel fought like lions, our pilots struck like lightning and our common alliance roared like thunder. And this is having a great change in our region. There are opportunities for peace that we intend to realize. We’re working together on this.”

Netanyahu stressed that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is not over. “We have still to finish the job in Gaza, release all our hostages, eliminate and destroy Hamas’s military and governance capabilities because Gaza must have a different future, for our sake, for everyone’s sake. And no country will settle for less. We certainly will not,” he declared.

In closing, Netanyahu praised the ongoing cooperation between the Israeli and American governments and their leaders. “These are all things that I discussed with President Trump. I may discuss further with him later in this visit. But I have to say that the coordination between our two countries, the coordination between an American president and an Israeli prime minister has been unmatched. It offers great promise for Israel, for America, for our region and for the world,” he concluded.

WATCH:

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MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber pushed back forcefully on Tuesday after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy once again criticized the MTA for what he described as a failure to tackle the rise in subway crime.

“MTA giving USDOT the runaround when New York City grapples with a dramatic uptick in subway assaults is unacceptable. The innocent victims of these horrific crimes and the daily commuters who live in fear of violence deserve better,” Duffy said. “It’s time we restore order on New York’s transit systems—lives are at stake.”

In a letter sent Monday, the Department of Transportation formally asked the MTA to provide further documentation to help them identify what they called flaws in the agency’s safety procedures and enforcement efforts.

Lieber insists that the agency already complied with that request months ago. According to him, the MTA shared a 20-page document at the time, providing a detailed breakdown of what he described as significant progress on the security front. “On the good news that crime is down in every significant way,” he added.

“We talked about all the MTA efforts, cameras and otherwise, more police presence, to get it done,” Lieber said. “I don’t get why Secretary Duffy continues to assail the NYPD, that’s his own problem, I don’t get it.”

The most recent crime statistics from the NYPD, released in April, indicate a major improvement in subway safety, including an 18.1% reduction in serious offenses during the first three months of 2025. Police also reported that not a single murder occurred on the transit system in that time—the first such quarter in seven years.

Officials attribute the reduction in subway violence to an increased law enforcement presence across subway stations and trains throughout the city.

But on Fox News Tuesday, Duffy cast doubt on those numbers, arguing that they fail to reflect the growing problem of violent attacks underground.

“If you include the pickpocketers in those stats, yes, pickpocketers might have gone down. But assaults have gone up, to your point Emily, by 66% since 2019. It’s dangerous to ride the subway in New York,” he said. “And again, if you’re Kathy Hochul the governor, or if you’re MTA, you don’t ride the subway. This is a war on middle Americans, working Americans, who have to ride the subway, and these people don’t want to seem to make it safe.”

Duffy’s latest criticism comes amid escalating tensions between federal and local officials over New York’s controversial congestion pricing initiative, which launched on January 5.

The Department of Transportation has tried to block the tolling plan, revoking its prior approval and warning of consequences if it continues. However, after the MTA secured a legal ruling in May preventing the federal government from cutting off infrastructure funding over the dispute, the toll remains in effect.

Marking the program’s half-year milestone this past weekend, Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated its results, claiming it was improving life in the city and on track to bring in $500 million in 2025.

“Six months in, it’s clear: congestion pricing has been a huge success, making life in New York better,” the governor said. “In New York, we dare to do big things, and this program represents just that—traffic is down throughout the region, business is booming, transit ridership is up, and we are making historic upgrades to our transit system.”

Duffy scoffed at the administration’s praise of the program and questioned whether it was actually accomplishing anything beyond raising money.

“When they say it’s working, it’s working because they’re raising money. That’s why they say it’s working. But congestion is horrible still in the city. That’s because they’re taking roads for buses and for cars and they’re making them bike lanes, so you take away lanes, you get more congestion,” he said. “And then they complain about congestion. It’s just stupid liberals with stupid policies that impact the lives of New Yorkers.”

In the face of ongoing criticism, Lieber maintained that the data and the public response tell a different story.

“The bottom line is, as we said yesterday, crime is way down, ridership is up, and congestion pricing is an amazing success,” he said. “Everybody recognizes it, eventually they’ll figure it out in Washington.”

{Matzav.com}

NISSIM IN WURTSBORO: A group of bochurim visiting the Wurtsboro Airport in Sullivan County for a gliding experience were involved in a frightening incident when a glider, whose pilot reportedly did not see them, slammed into the golf cart transporting them from the terminal to the glider area. Bechasdei Hashem, the crash occurred at an angle that prevented serious injuries, and all the bochurim suffered only minor injuries. Only one of them required transport by Catskills Hatzolah to Ellenville Hospital for evaluation.

At least 109 confirmed deaths in Central Texas due to devastating floods, with over 160 people still missing in Kerr County.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Jerome Powell should step down as Federal Reserve chairman if it turns out he misled lawmakers in his testimony to Congress. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Trump voiced his approval for a congressional inquiry into Powell’s conduct. Trump has long pressed Powell to cut interest rates and has repeatedly demanded his resignation over the Fed’s monetary policy.

Last week, during a Senate Banking Committee session, Powell rejected suggestions that the Fed had spent excessively on upgrading its D.C. headquarters. He was responding to remarks by Senator Tim Scott, who characterized the renovations as akin to building the “Palace of Versailles.” Powell dismissed those claims outright. “There’s no VIP dining room; there’s no new marble. There are no special elevators,” Powell said. “There are no new water features, there’s no beehives, and there’s no roof terrace gardens.”

Despite Powell’s assurances, the price tag for the headquarters overhaul has already surged by 30% beyond the initial projection of $1.9 billion, according to a report by the New York Post.

Trump, using his Truth Social platform last week, reiterated his call for Powell to resign and shared a link to a Bloomberg article titled, “Fed Chair Should Be Investigated by Congress, FHSA Head Says.”

Powell was originally appointed to the Fed chairmanship by Trump. His current term is scheduled to conclude in May 2026.

Trump has not held back in his criticism of Powell and the Federal Reserve. “They have one of the easiest, yet most prestigious, jobs in America, and they have failed — and continue to do so,” Trump wrote. “If they were doing their job properly, our country would be saving trillions of dollars in interest cost. The board just sits there and watches, so they are equally to blame. We should be paying 1% interest, or better!”

{Matzav.com}

Illegal alien at Alligator Alcatraz says “the mosquitoes are the size of elephants” & “the tents are freezing”

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Reb Aron Dovid Rubinstein Z”L, a beloved and devoted longtime member of Hatzolah in both Kiryas Joel and the Catskills. He was 51 years old. A dedicated responder for many years, Reb Aron Dovid Z”L, a resident of Kiryas Joel, answered hundreds of emergency calls throughout his service, earning the respect and admiration of his peers and community. He was known for his calm demeanor, reliability, and wholehearted commitment to helping others in times of need. He was known in Hatzolah as KY45 and C88. He had been battling illness in recent years, and his condition significantly worsened in the past few weeks. Levaya details will be published when available. Boruch Dayan Ha’Emes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Trump issued a sharp warning Tuesday, saying he would consider using executive authority to take control of New York City if Zohran Mamdani, whom he labeled a “communist,” were to win the mayoral race.

“If a communist gets elected to run New York, it can never be the same. But we have tremendous power at the White House to run places where we have to,” Trump told The Post during a Cabinet meeting.

Declaring his deep connection to the city, Trump said he was determined to restore order and leadership in New York.

“New York City will run properly. I’m going to bring New York back. I love New York,” the president added.

“We’re going to straighten out New York. It’s going to — maybe we’re going to have to straighten it out from Washington.”

While Trump has previously pushed to cut federal funding from New York over what he described as its embrace of chaos, this time he refrained from specifying which legal tools he might use to intervene directly.

“We’re going to do something for New York. I can’t tell you what yet, but we’re going to make New York great again. Also, we’re going to make it great again with the country,” he said.

Asked about Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, Trump distanced himself from any endorsement or interference.

“I’m not getting involved,” he said when questioned about whether Sliwa should withdraw from the race.

Trump then weighed in on the crowded field, remarking, “[Andrew] Cuomo does have capability. He’s running, but he got knocked out [of the Democratic primary]. You have Eric Adams, the current mayor, you have Cuomo, and you have Curtis Silwa? And Curtis runs every, every four years. He seems to be a fixture on the running scale,” before dismissing Mamdani’s qualifications entirely.

“He’s a disaster … He’s got the Democrat nomination because that shows you where the Democrats have gone. He actually wants to take over the grocery stores of John Catsimatidis,” Trump said, referencing the longtime supermarket mogul.

“[Catsimatidis] actually called me the other day, he’s concerned, his stores are going to be taken from him.”

{Matzav.com}

As trash and tempers heat up across Philadelphia on Day 8 of a strike by blue-collar city workers Tuesday, some residents and small business owners are hiring pop-up hauling services to clear their blocks of garbage, even as they broadly support the union’s quest for higher pay. Mayor Cherelle Parker, a Democrat, is standing firm in her offer of raises of about 3% per year over a three-year contract, which comes on top of a 5% raise she gave as an olive branch to all four major city unions after taking office last year. “I do believe that the mayor has made a gross mistake,” said Jody Sweitzer, who has watched her East Passyunk neighborhood in South Philadelphia gentrify in her 26 years there, leading to higher rents and less diversity. Sweitzer owns a popular downtown bar called Dirty Frank’s. “Forty thousand dollars cannot cut it in Philadelphia, you know,” she said, referring to striking workers’ pay. “You can barely rent an apartment with that kind of money. So I feel as a resident of Philadelphia that she’s doing injustice to those (workers) who actually live here.” The strike by District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees involves nearly 10,000 workers, although judges have sided with the city in ordering some critical employees back to work at the city’s 911 centers, water department and airport. Judges have also decreed a temporary halt on evictions. The two sides have met only intermittently since the strike began, but there was hope they would return to the bargaining table on Tuesday. In the summer of 1986, a citywide trash strike went on for three weeks, leaving 45,000 tons of rotting garbage in the streets. Terrill Haigler, 35, a former sanitation worker who now does private hauling under the handle “Ya Fav Trashman,” said stress was on the rise Tuesday along with the 94-degree (34.4-degree Celsius) temperature. “It’s like Gotham City with water ice,” he said, referencing a local treat that is famously mispronounced “wooder ice” by natives. “We support District Council 33 100%,” Haigler said. “They deserve everything that they’re asking for, but we also have to think about the residents on the other side. There are some people — elderly, mothers who have children — who can’t let the trash sit for five, six, seven and eight days.” A shop owner on Sweitzer’s street hired Haigler to clear the block Tuesday. In turn, he hired two teenagers to help him while he drove a rental truck down the narrow, one-way street that ends at Pat’s King of Steaks. ”Our goal is to hopefully relieve some of that tension by cleaning as many blocks as we can, picking up as much trash as we can for customers, just to give some ease and some peace,” Haigler said. The city has designated about 60 sites as drop-off centers for residential trash, but some are overflowing, while striking workers on hand ask residents not to cross the picket line. Most libraries across the city are also closed, with support workers and security guards off the job. While Sweitzer hoped the strike would encourage more people to cut down on their trash through composting, city officials said other residents were taking advantage of the situation and discarding mattresses and other […]

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