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A new public opinion survey released ahead of an upcoming Sovereignty Movement conference in Yerushalayim suggests that the chareidi community is among the strongest supporters of Israeli sovereignty and Jewish settlement in disputed territories, revealing levels of support that surpass those found in other religious sectors.

The poll, published amid ongoing political tensions between the chareidi parties and the governing coalition, paints a picture of a community that overwhelmingly favors expanding Israeli sovereignty in Yehudah and Shomron, the Gaza Strip, and southern Lebanon, while also supporting initiatives aimed at encouraging emigration from Gaza.

According to the survey, chareidim expressed the highest level of support for sovereignty in Yehudah and Shomron. A remarkable 96% said they support either immediate or gradual application of Israeli sovereignty in the region. By comparison, support stood at 85% among the religious Zionist public and 82% among traditional Israelis.

The survey also found strong backing among chareidim for policies concerning Gaza. Ninety percent of respondents supported encouraging Gaza residents to relocate to other countries, while 86% favored applying Israeli sovereignty over the territory.

Support was similarly high for renewed Jewish settlement in Gaza. According to the findings, 83% of chareidi respondents backed both the encouragement of emigration from Gaza and the establishment of Jewish communities there.

Perhaps the most unexpected finding involved southern Lebanon. The survey found that 83% of chareidim support extending Israeli sovereignty to that area as well—a figure higher than the level of support recorded among both the religious Zionist and traditional sectors.

Leaders of the Sovereignty Movement, Yehudis Katsover and Nadia Matar, said the results carry a clear message for elected officials. “The chareidi public has sent a clear and unequivocal message to its public leadership. It is not located in the center of the political map but is deeply connected to Eretz Yisroel and to the desire for sovereignty and Jewish settlement in Gaza and Lebanon. This public demands sovereignty now, and we call on its representatives in the Knesset to act in accordance with the wishes of their voters and advance this move even before the elections.”

The survey was conducted for the Sovereignty Movement by Direct Polls, headed by Tzuriel Sharon. It included 489 respondents and was designed to represent Israel’s Jewish population. The poll reported a maximum margin of error of 4.4 percent.

In a dramatic and unprecedented move aimed at protecting children caught in divorce disputes, the Rabbinical Courts Administration has unveiled sweeping new regulations designed to combat parental alienation and safeguard children’s welfare. The new binding directives were signed by the President of the Supreme Rabbinical Court, Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef, and establish uniform procedures for handling urgent cases involving concerns over child safety and parent-child relationships.

The new policy is rooted in the halachic and judicial principle that every child has a fundamental right to maintain a healthy and ongoing relationship with both parents. At the same time, the guidelines recognize that children must be fully protected in situations involving violence or danger. The regulations emphasize that delays in addressing parental alienation can cause severe and lasting emotional harm to children, and therefore require rabbinical judges throughout the regional court system to act quickly and decisively.

Among the most significant changes is a strict timetable for handling urgent cases. Whenever a request is filed seeking immediate or temporary relief to preserve a child’s relationship with a parent or to ensure the child’s safety, the court must either hold a hearing within seven days of the filing or issue a detailed written ruling within 72 hours if the matter can be decided based on the submitted materials.

The regulations also prohibit unnecessary delays once proceedings have begun. Follow-up stages, including responses from the parties, affidavits, and expert reports, must be completed within the shortest possible timeframes. Any deviation from the prescribed schedule will require special justification and a written explanation by the court.

To ensure compliance, the heads of the regional rabbinical courts will personally oversee implementation of the new procedures. Every six months they will be required to submit reports to the President of the Supreme Rabbinical Court and the Director of the Rabbinical Courts detailing any cases that exceeded the mandated timetable and explaining the reasons for the delay.

A major section of the new directive addresses parental alienation directly, defining it as emotional harm and abuse inflicted upon a child. The regulations state that rabbinical courts have a judicial obligation to intervene aggressively when one parent attempts to turn a child against the other.

The new framework authorizes a broad range of enforcement measures against an alienating parent. These include the use of collection proceedings, contempt sanctions, and other administrative restrictions intended to compel compliance with court orders.

The policy also introduces significant financial consequences. Courts will be empowered to impose fines payable either to the state or to the injured parent, following advance warnings issued early in the proceedings. In cases involving deliberate refusal to facilitate contact between a child and a parent, judges will have explicit authority to reduce or even eliminate child-support obligations. The courts may also require the alienating parent to reimburse legal-aid expenses incurred by the state.

Perhaps the most far-reaching provision concerns custody. The regulations state that parental alienation occurs under the supervision and responsibility of the parent with whom the child resides, and that failure to prevent such alienation may reflect a serious deficiency in that parent’s fitness as a custodial guardian. As a result, courts will be authorized to consider immediately transferring the child to the alienated parent or temporarily placing the child with a third party or treatment center to facilitate restoration of the relationship.

The new procedures further clarify that repairing severe parental alienation often requires specialized treatment from private professionals rather than relying solely on public services. In such situations, the alienating parent may be ordered to bear the full cost of the therapeutic intervention.

In addition, the Supreme Rabbinical Court is instructed to exercise caution before granting stays of execution that would delay regional court orders intended to restore or stabilize a child’s relationship with a parent.

Explaining the purpose of the initiative, Rav Dovid Yosef said, “These proposals are intended to eliminate or at least reduce the harm inflicted on the tender souls of children who, unfortunately, experience parental alienation, as well as the severe long-term consequences that result. These children have no one to save them, and their eyes are turned toward us.”

The new regulations will be published in the official registry and on the Rabbinical Courts’ official website and will take effect immediately.

{Matzav.com}

The United Nations’ nuclear monitoring agency says it still cannot determine the status of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile following last June’s war, according to a confidential report distributed to member nations and reviewed by The Associated Press on Thursday.

In the report, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that it “cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran or whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities.”

The agency further warned that it was “unable to discharge its safeguards responsibilities” under the Safeguards Agreement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The report stressed that it is “indispensable and urgent” for Tehran to fulfill the obligations required under that agreement.

According to the document, IAEA inspectors have had extremely limited access to Iranian nuclear sites since the agency’s previous report in February. The only facility visited during that period was the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where inspectors conducted an inspection between June 1 and June 3.

The reactor at Bushehr currently operates using uranium supplied by Russia and enriched to 4.5 percent purity, a level commonly used for civilian electricity production.

The report was released amid renewed instability across the Middle East.

On Wednesday, Iranian drones struck Kuwait’s primary airport, causing extensive damage to a passenger terminal. One person was killed, dozens were injured, and airport operations were temporarily suspended. The attack marked the latest escalation in the ongoing exchange of hostilities between Iran and the United States, despite a fragile ceasefire.

The IAEA estimates that Iran possesses approximately 972 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, a level considered only a short technical step away from the 90 percent enrichment generally associated with nuclear weapons.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently warned in an interview with the Associated Press that the existing stockpile could be sufficient to produce as many as ten nuclear bombs if Iran chose to weaponize the material. He emphasized, however, that such a capability does not mean Iran currently possesses a nuclear weapon.

Under IAEA procedures, material enriched to that level would ordinarily be subject to monthly verification and monitoring.

The report also noted that Grossi continues to support diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities. It stated that he reiterates his “full support to the negotiations underway aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution to issues related to Iran’s nuclear program and his readiness … to support an eventual agreement.”

Negotiations have continued for weeks as international mediators seek a more lasting arrangement to end the conflict, which has now entered its fourth month. Those discussions have become increasingly complicated by Israel’s expanding military campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to control access through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global shipments of oil, natural gas, and related products. At the same time, the United States has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports.

As a result, energy markets remain under pressure, fuel prices continue to stay elevated, and the economic consequences of the conflict are being felt far beyond the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}

The Department of War has dramatically reduced the number of officially recognized religious affiliations available to U.S. servicemembers, eliminating 180 faith designations as part of a broader effort announced earlier this year by War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The move reduces the number of approved faith codes used by the U.S. Military Chaplain Corps from more than 200 to just 31, according to a memorandum issued Thursday by Undersecretary of Defense Anthony Tata and reported by Military.com.

In the memo, Tata said the revised policy is intended to “streamline the DoW collection of religious preferences for service members to enhance the delivery of targeted religious support from the Chaplaincy.”

He further explained the rationale behind the change, writing, “The new list will provide chaplains with clear, readily available information that will better enable them to anticipate the religious support needs of service members and to provide religious support activities that align with service members’ personal faith and practices.”

Under the revised system, the remaining recognized categories include Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, and numerous Christian denominations, including Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists, according to the report.

Hegseth first outlined plans to reduce the number of faith codes several months ago, arguing that the existing system had become unwieldy and ineffective.

“The previous system had ballooned to well over 200 faith codes.… It was impractical and unusable, and many codes were never used at all,” Hegseth said in March.

He also noted at the time that most military personnel identified with only a handful of the available classifications, saying that the overwhelming majority of servicemembers fell within six major faith categories.

The reduction in faith codes is part of a broader set of changes affecting military chaplains.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon directed chaplains serving in the armed forces to display their religious insignia in place of traditional officer rank insignia.

Explaining the decision, Hegseth said, “A chaplain is first and foremost a chaplain, and an officer second. This change is a visual representation of that fact.”

He further emphasized the unique role chaplains occupy within the military, stating, “Specifically unique to the role of a chaplain, they are first and foremost called and ordained by God. And, while they will retain rank as an officer to those they serve, their rank will not be visible.”

Pentagon officials say the changes are designed to better align the chaplaincy with the religious needs of servicemembers while simplifying the administration of faith-related support throughout the armed forces.

{Matzav.com}

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took aim at California’s election system, criticizing the state’s prolonged vote-counting process as officials continued tallying ballots in the closely watched Los Angeles mayoral primary several days after voting concluded.

Posting on X, DeSantis contrasted California’s pace with that of Florida, where election results are typically reported within hours.

“Florida processes more than 10 million votes in a matter of hours. California takes days, or sometimes even weeks, to count the votes,” DeSantis wrote on X.

“It’s pathetic, and it’s corrosive to our civic culture.”

His comments came as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass maintained a narrow lead in the city’s nonpartisan mayoral contest. However, she had not yet secured the majority needed to avoid a runoff election later this year.

The race for the second runoff position also remained unresolved. Republican candidate Spencer Pratt and City Council member Nithya Raman were still battling for a spot in the next round as election officials continued processing outstanding ballots.

California’s extended counting period is largely the result of state election laws that allow mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within seven days. In addition, official results are not finalized until the completion of the canvassing process.

The slow pace has once again become a point of contention for Republicans, who argue that lengthy delays in reporting results can weaken public trust in elections, particularly when major races remain undecided long after polling places have closed.

{Matzav.com}

A new report from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget is sounding the alarm over the future of Social Security, warning that the program’s retirement trust fund is on track to run out of money in 2032. If Congress fails to intervene before then, beneficiaries could face an automatic 24% reduction in payments.

The analysis, released Wednesday, estimates that approximately 63 million Americans would be affected by the cuts, including retirees, surviving family members, spouses, and dependents. The group projects that the average recipient would lose roughly $500 per month in benefits.

According to the report, residents in 29 states would see average monthly reductions exceeding $500. Among the states facing the steepest declines are Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.

The CRFB noted that Social Security’s retirement system has been spending more money than it collects through payroll taxes and other revenue sources for the past 16 years. To make up the difference, the program has relied on its trust fund reserves.

Once those reserves are depleted, however, federal law requires Social Security to limit payments to the amount of revenue it receives, preventing the program from paying full scheduled benefits.

The report estimates that more than 15% of residents in 47 states would be directly impacted by the reduction. The largest concentrations of affected individuals would be found in Maine, West Virginia, Vermont, Delaware, Montana, and New Hampshire.

Researchers also warned that the financial consequences would extend beyond retirees and their families. Nationwide, a 24% cut in Social Security payments would reduce benefit distributions by approximately $345 billion per year, an amount equal to about 1.1% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The report found that 40 states would experience economic losses exceeding 1% of their respective GDPs. West Virginia, Mississippi, Vermont, South Carolina, and Maine are expected to be among the states most heavily affected.

Measured in total dollars lost, California would sustain the largest reduction, with residents collectively losing an estimated $33 billion annually. Florida would follow with roughly $27 billion in reduced benefits, while Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania would see losses of approximately $24 billion, $20 billion, and $16 billion, respectively.

The CRFB emphasized that the effects of insolvency would be felt nationwide, with no state insulated from the impact. The organization urged lawmakers to begin addressing the issue before the trust fund reaches exhaustion.

The report argued that restoring the program’s long-term financial health will likely require difficult policy decisions involving both taxes and benefit levels. However, it warned that postponing action only increases the likelihood of sudden, across-the-board cuts affecting beneficiaries regardless of their age or financial circumstances.

“With less than seven years until Social Security is projected to be insolvent, policymakers need to enact changes to the program as quickly as possible,” the report concluded.

The IDF and Shin Bet carried out an overnight operation in northern Gaza on Thursday, targeting and eliminating several senior members of Hamas’ General Security Apparatus, a key internal arm of the terrorist organization responsible for protecting its leadership and supporting operational activity.

According to the IDF, the General Security Apparatus serves as a secretive and central component within Hamas. The unit is tasked with safeguarding top Hamas officials, maintaining secure communications among leaders, and coordinating their meetings. Senior members also oversee the movement of Hamas leaders between emergency locations and prepare intelligence assessments used by the organization’s leadership in planning operations and directing attacks against Israel.

Among those killed in the strike was Hassan Rabah Hassan Labad, the deputy head of the General Security Apparatus. Israeli officials described Labad as a leading figure within the organization who played a major role in shaping policy, issuing directives, and participating in key decision-making processes.

The operation also eliminated Asim Amin Shalash Shubair, Abdullah Ata Younes Abu Kaloub, and Muhammad Naaman Zaki Abu Mark. The IDF said all three held senior positions within the apparatus and were deeply involved in its leadership and strategic decision-making.

According to Israeli officials, the strike was carried out because the operatives posed an immediate threat. The IDF said the individuals had recently been involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas’ infrastructure and were assisting the organization’s leadership in advancing terrorist operations against both Israeli civilians and IDF forces.

Before carrying out the attack, the military said it implemented a series of measures designed to reduce the risk of civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided weapons and extensive aerial surveillance.

The IDF added that forces operating under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire arrangement and will continue taking action against any emerging threats to Israeli security.

{Matzav.com}

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice believes the recent conflict with Iran has dramatically altered the balance of power in the Middle East, strengthening the United States and Israel while leaving Tehran weakened and increasingly isolated. She argues that the outcome presents President Donald Trump with a rare chance to help shape a more stable regional order.

In an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal, Rice wrote that although neither side achieved a clear-cut battlefield triumph, the campaign nevertheless accomplished several important strategic objectives.

“The three-month military campaign degraded Iran’s ability to project power,” Rice wrote, citing the damage inflicted on Iran’s armed forces, missile arsenal, and network of regional proxies.

According to Rice, Israel emerged as the greatest beneficiary of the conflict.

“In this regard, Israel has never been more secure,” Rice wrote, arguing that Israel’s military actions following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack significantly weakened Iranian-backed organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah.

Rice also maintained that the war strengthened ties among the United States, Israel, and several leading Arab states. She pointed to increased intelligence coordination and joint defense initiatives as evidence of growing regional cooperation.

She noted that many Arab governments that historically viewed Israel as an adversary now see partnership with the Jewish state as advantageous, particularly in areas such as technology, economic development, and modernization.

Rice further argued that the war exposed serious vulnerabilities within the Iranian regime. In her view, Tehran’s leadership was forced to confront the reach of American military power and the effectiveness of intelligence cooperation among the United States and its allies. She also contended that Iran’s ability to influence global energy markets proved less formidable than many analysts had assumed.

Perhaps most significantly, Rice wrote that American and Israeli operations dealt a major setback to Iran’s nuclear program.

“It will be a long time before Iran can build a viable nuclear weapon,” she wrote.

While acknowledging that Iran may still possess significant quantities of highly enriched uranium, Rice argued that crucial elements of its nuclear infrastructure were heavily damaged. She cited destruction to conversion facilities, centrifuge systems, and the loss of key nuclear scientists during the campaign.

Rice urged the Trump administration not to offer Tehran sanctions relief or release frozen assets as part of any future diplomatic arrangement.

“Not a single penny of frozen assets or sanctions relief should go to Tehran,” she wrote, warning that Iran has previously used such resources to rebuild military capabilities and fund terrorist organizations aligned with its interests.

She also advocated maintaining a strong military posture and expanding intelligence-sharing arrangements with regional partners to prevent Iran from reconstituting its missile and nuclear programs.

Although the conflict did not result in the collapse of the Iranian regime, Rice argued that Tehran now finds itself in a far weaker position than it has occupied in years, with diminished influence and fewer strategic options.

“Strategic patience is hard, and it isn’t always satisfying. But time is on the side of the U.S. and its allies,” Rice wrote. “Reaching no deal is fine. Reaching a bad deal isn’t.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced Thursday evening that Capt. Eitan Shmuel Lemberg, 21, of Mishmar HaShiv’a, was killed during combat operations in Lebanon after a terrorist fired an anti-tank missile at Israeli forces.

Lemberg served as an officer in the Armored Corps with the 75th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade, known as the “Sa’ar from Golan” Formation. Military officials notified his family of his death following the incident.

According to the initial investigation, the attack occurred at approximately 4:00 p.m. during an operational mission north of the Litani River. A terrorist launched an anti-tank missile at an Israeli tank that was operating as part of the Golani Brigade combat team’s activities in southern Lebanon.

The missile struck the armored vehicle, killing Lemberg. Following the attack, Israeli forces immediately began a large-scale response operation in the area.

The IDF subsequently targeted Hezbollah infrastructure linked to the attack. Military aircraft and artillery units struck positions in the vicinity from which the missile was launched, as part of a broader effort to neutralize threats and prevent additional attacks on Israeli troops operating in the region.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized four Republican members of Congress on Thursday after they joined Democrats in supporting legislation that would limit his ability to conduct military operations against Iran without congressional authorization.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump condemned the vote as “unpatriotic” and suggested the lawmakers had weakened his administration’s ongoing efforts to bring the conflict with Iran to a close through negotiations.

The House approved the war powers resolution on Wednesday by a narrow 215-208 margin, marking the first successful effort by lawmakers to advance legislation restricting Trump’s authority to continue military action against Iran absent approval from Congress.

Four Republicans crossed party lines and voted with Democrats in favor of the measure: Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan, and Warren Davidson of Ohio.

Reacting to the vote, Trump wrote, “Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He continued by questioning the timing of the move and the motives behind it, writing, “Who would do such an unpatriotic thing. They know where the negotiations stand.”

Trump also accused Democrats of being motivated more by opposition to him than by concern for the country’s interests, invoking what he described as “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

“They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories,” he said.

The president reserved some of his strongest criticism for the Republicans who voted for the measure.

“The four Republicans, that’s a whole other story — They’re GRANDSTANDERS!” Trump wrote. “They should be ashamed of themselves.”

Despite its passage in the House, the resolution faces significant hurdles moving forward and would likely be vetoed by Trump should it ultimately reach his desk.

Trump’s remarks came as his administration continues to pursue a broader diplomatic agreement with Iran after months of military tensions that have had far-reaching effects both in Washington and throughout the Middle East.

Throughout the conflict, Trump has defended his approach, maintaining that his policies have increased American leverage while pressuring Iran to engage in negotiations. He has repeatedly argued that his strategy has strengthened the U.S. position and helped bring Iranian leaders back to the bargaining table.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump charged on Thursday that Democrats are attempting to sway the results of California’s gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral primary contests through the use of late-arriving mail ballots, while also criticizing the state’s vote-counting process.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused Democrats of trying to alter the outcome of both races in favor of their preferred candidates.

“The Dumocrats are at it again! They are trying to STEAL THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA PRIMARY, AND THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, PRIMARY, AWAY FROM TWO GREAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Trump also took aim at the continued tabulation of ballots after Election Day.

“Here we go with the very late and massive numbers of MAIL IN BALLOTS,” he wrote.

In another social media post, Trump went further, alleging widespread misconduct in the election process.

“There’s BIG cheating by the Dumocrats in California. Votes are all tied up. May not be in for weeks. Under investigation by the US Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. Why the vote counting DELAY???” Trump wrote.

The president did not identify which Republican candidates he believed were being affected, nor did he provide evidence to support his claims.

California officials swiftly rejected Trump’s accusations. The office of Gov. Gavin Newsom responded with a sharp statement on social media.

“Trump is lying about California again — time to take the phone away from grandpa and put him to sleep,” the Governor Newsom Press Office wrote on X.

California election law permits mail ballots to be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and received by county election offices no later than June 9, according to The Hill.

The vote-counting process continues during the official canvass period following Election Day. Counties are required to submit certified election results to the Secretary of State by July 3, with statewide certification scheduled for July 10.

In the race for governor, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton currently occupy the top two positions, with Hilton holding a narrow advantage. Under California’s election system, the two candidates receiving the most votes move on to the November general election regardless of party affiliation.

In Los Angeles, Democratic Mayor Karen Bass is facing significant challenges from City Council member Nithya Raman and Republican candidate Spencer Pratt, the reality television personality who entered the race after losing his home in the Palisades wildfire.

If any candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote in the mayoral primary, that candidate wins outright. Otherwise, the leading contenders will advance to a November runoff election.

State law allows election officials to begin processing vote-by-mail ballots as many as 29 days before Election Day. This year, voters were permitted to begin returning completed ballots to official county drop boxes on May 5, according to information from Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office.

California lawmakers have enacted several measures in recent years aimed at shortening the time required to complete vote counts.

One of those measures, Assembly Bill 5, was signed by Gov. Newsom in October and shortened the deadline for counting most ballots from 30 days after an election to 13 days.

The legislation covers provisional ballots as well as ballots requiring signature verification. Counties unable to meet the deadline must notify the Secretary of State and explain the reason for the delay.

Another measure, Assembly Bill 626, became law in 2023 and permits counties to process certain Election Day mail ballots as if they were cast in person.

According to the California Voter Foundation, 31 of the state’s 58 counties currently use that option. Los Angeles County is not among them.

Last month, Newsom sent a letter to election officials throughout the state emphasizing the importance of completing vote counts promptly in order to maintain public confidence.

“We must acknowledge that the longer the voting count takes, the more mis- and disinformation spreads,” Newsom wrote. “That means we must do all that we can to tabulate votes quickly and accurately. Time is of the essence in preventing election lies from taking hold.”

State election records show that as of Monday, more than 4.2 million mail ballots had been returned and accepted across California. More than 23.3 million ballots were distributed to voters statewide, including nearly 6 million in Los Angeles County and more than 2 million in San Diego County.

According to Weber’s office, election officials have accepted over 98.9 percent of all returned vote-by-mail ballots.

{Matzav.com}

John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during President Donald Trump’s first administration, has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge involving the retention of classified information, according to a person familiar with the matter. The agreement with the Justice Department could enable Bolton to avoid serving prison time.

The plea arrangement would bring to a close a criminal prosecution that began in October, when Bolton was charged with 18 counts tied to either keeping or sharing classified material. Prosecutors alleged that the case centered in part on diary-style notes from his government service that he provided to family members while preparing a memoir about his time in office.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bolton would also be required to pay a $2.25 million fine, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been publicly disclosed. While any prison sentence would be limited to a maximum of five years, the agreement leaves open the possibility that he will receive no incarceration at all. The ultimate sentence will be determined by a judge.

The case unfolded amid accusations from critics that the Justice Department was using prosecutorial authority against individuals viewed as adversaries of President Trump. The charges against Bolton were filed just weeks after indictments were secured against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Although the public first learned of the investigation last August, when FBI agents executed search warrants at Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington office, the inquiry had already been underway before Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

A longtime figure in Republican foreign policy circles, Bolton built a reputation as a staunch advocate of aggressive American foreign policy. He served in the Trump administration for a little over a year before being dismissed in 2019. After leaving government, he published a book highly critical of Trump, portraying the president as poorly informed and casting his leadership and decision-making in a negative light.

The Trump administration unsuccessfully sought to prevent the release of Bolton’s memoir, “The Room Where it Happened,” arguing that it contained classified information. The plea agreement, however, concerns notes Bolton allegedly shared with family members rather than anything that appeared in the book.

A rearraignment hearing, often a sign that a plea agreement has been reached, is scheduled for June 26 in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The Justice Department declined to comment on the matter.

Had Bolton been convicted on all 18 counts in the indictment, he could have faced a lengthy prison sentence.

Prosecutors Say Bolton Shared Sensitive Information with Relatives

According to court filings, Bolton provided two family members with “diary-like” documents containing classified information, including material classified at the top-secret level. Prosecutors say the information came from intelligence briefings, meetings with U.S. officials, and conversations with foreign leaders.

After sending one such document, Bolton allegedly warned his relatives, “None of which we talk about!!!” Prosecutors said one family member responded, “Shhhhh.”

The indictment alleges that some of the information involved foreign adversaries and revealed intelligence-gathering methods used by the United States. One document reportedly discussed a planned missile launch by a foreign adversary, while another outlined covert U.S. government operations and included intelligence assessments blaming an adversary for an attack.

Following his indictment, Bolton issued a statement accusing Trump of conducting an “intensive effort” by Trump to intimidate his opponents, to ensure that he alone determines what is said about his conduct.”

Bolton’s government service stretches back decades. He worked in the Justice Department during President Ronald Reagan’s administration and later served as the State Department’s lead official on arms-control matters under President George W. Bush.

Bush nominated Bolton to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, but he failed to secure Senate confirmation. He ultimately served for 17 months through a recess appointment, which allowed him to hold the post temporarily without Senate approval.

Foreign Policy Disputes Led to Split with Trump

Bolton became Trump’s third national security adviser in 2018. His tenure was marked by disagreements with the president on major foreign policy issues, including Iran, North Korea, and Ukraine.

Those clashes eventually brought his time in the administration to an end. In September 2019, Trump announced on social media that he had accepted Bolton’s resignation.

After leaving office, Bolton sharply criticized Trump’s handling of foreign policy and government affairs. In his memoir, he alleged that Trump linked military assistance to Ukraine to the country’s willingness to investigate Joe Biden, then preparing to challenge Trump in the 2020 election, as well as members of the Biden family.

Trump responded by denouncing Bolton as a “washed-up guy” and a “crazy” warmonger who would have led the country into “World War Six.”15

{Matzav.com}

Israel Asheknazi Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Ber, has issued a sharply worded public letter denouncing the extremists who took part in the violent demonstration outside the residence of Deputy Supreme Court President Justice Noam Sohlberg, declaring that such conduct stands in direct opposition to Torah principles.

In his official statement, Rav Ber expressed profound distress over the recent incidents of violence and property damage, emphasizing that these actions cannot be justified in the name of religious or ideological causes. He stressed that the behavior displayed by the protesters represents a distortion of authentic Torah values.

“Lately, we have seen phenomena of violence and vandalism in public and private spaces. The problem is rooted in the fact that certain values are given precedence over others. ‘The freedom to protest’ can not permit harm to others. This policy leads to bad results. A situation has formed where everyone can hide under the cloak of ‘freedom’ and allow themselves, because they think they’re correct, to express their opinion and position while harming others,” Rabbi Ber wrote.

The Chief Rabbi went on to stress that the Torah’s ethical teachings form the foundation of civilized society and are not subject to shifting public sentiment or changing social trends.

He added that “the values of Israel’s Torah are the cornerstone of human existence. They do not change with the atmosphere or people’s moods.”

Rav Ber further explained that even when people believe they are fighting for important and holy causes, they are not granted permission to harm others in the process. He pointed to the teachings of Shlomo Hamelech as guidance for handling disputes with patience and restraint rather than aggression.

According to Rav Ber, “Even a struggle for sacred values does not permit harming others. King Solomon, the wisest of all men, warned against this when he said, ‘A hot-tempered man provokes a quarrel; A patient person calms strife.’ (Mishlei 15). The way in which an argument and a struggle should be conducted must be with forbearance, and only in this way can a quarrel be settled.”

Calling for an immediate reduction in tensions, the Chief Rabbi urged members of the public not to allow personal pain or grievances to lead them into confrontations that violate Torah standards. He stressed that honoring the Torah requires conduct that elevates its reputation rather than causing a chilul Hashem.

The Chief Rabbi called to calm tensions. “We call on everyone from a pained heart not to provoke a quarrel, even if something hurts you, be careful not to violate your honor, and to return the favor. To honor the Torah, fight in a manner that does not desecrate the name of Heaven. And there is no permit, G-d forbid, to lift a hand against someone or harm their property or prevent them from reaching their destination.”

In concluding his remarks, Rav Ber also directed criticism toward those who deliberately seek to deepen divisions within the Jewish people. He urged all sides to focus on unity, avoid needless conflict, and embrace the Torah’s path of peace and mutual respect.

“This is also an opportunity to call on all those troublemakers who try with all their might to split and divide G-d’s nation, avoid disputes and division! We must find what connects everyone and stop the debate and quarrel. We must go in the path of the Torah whose ‘ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths, peaceful,” Rav Ber concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Shas MK Michael Malkieli launched a scathing attack on former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday night, accusing him of hostility toward the chareidi community and warning voters not to trust his promises following Bennett’s pledge to overhaul and defund independent chareidi school networks if he returns to office.

Speaking in an interview with Kikar HaShabbat, Malkieli reacted sharply to Bennett’s recent statements regarding chareidi education.

“I say, understand who is standing before us,” Malkieli said. “But I call on those who are considering voting for Bennett: if you think he can become prime minister and give everyone everything they demand, then you do not understand what kind of swindler you are dealing with.”

Malkieli intensified his criticism, questioning Bennett’s credibility and leadership.

“Don’t believe a word he says, he is hollow. Even people within his own camp understand that. They know this is a person who will sell everything.”

Bennett’s Education Proposal Sparks Outrage

Malkieli’s remarks came in response to comments Bennett made earlier this week outlining his vision for a unified national education system and his intention to end government funding for independent party-affiliated school networks.

Under Bennett’s proposal, networks such as Bnei Yosef and Chinuch Atzmai would no longer receive state funding unless they join a unified national educational framework.

Bennett unveiled the plan as part of an initiative titled “From Tribes to One Nation,” which seeks to create a single education system across Israel and eliminate what he describes as separate educational sectors.

According to the proposal, government funding for independent and party-affiliated educational systems would be halted immediately unless they comply with the new standards.

Bennett: ‘A Separate Chareidi State Has Emerged Within Israel’

Speaking at the Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society hosted by the Israel Democracy Institute, Bennett sharply criticized the current structure of chareidi education.

“A separate, anti-Zionist chareidi state has arisen under our noses within Israel. And we are financing it with our own money,” Bennett said.

He argued that future governments must reverse decades of educational policy.

“In the next government, we are going to correct the historic mistake of creating separate education systems that created separate states,” Bennett declared.

He summarized the principle behind his proposal with the slogan: “If it is not state-run, it will not be funded by me.”

Under the educational framework Bennett presented, at least 60 percent of classroom hours would be devoted to core subjects, including Hebrew, English, mathematics, Tanach, civics, and Zionism. Schools would be permitted to use the remaining instructional hours for additional educational content of their choosing.

{Matzav.com}

The leaders of Israel’s chareidi political parties issued a joint statement after midnight Wednesday night condemning the violent disturbances outside the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Solberg, while also criticizing what they described as the ongoing persecution of Torah learners.

The statement was signed by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, Degel HaTorah leader Moshe Gafni, and Agudas Yisroel chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf following the protest, which resulted in significant property damage and dozens of arrests.

While unequivocally denouncing the violence, the three leaders also took aim at Israel’s judicial system, accusing it of pursuing policies that have intensified tensions surrounding the arrests of yeshiva students.

“We are pained and shocked by the ongoing campaign of persecution and trampling of Torah learners by the judges of the Supreme Court,” the statement said. “We have warned time and again that these measures would lead to extremism and anarchy, and sadly, we are now witnessing those fears become reality.”

The chareidi leaders stressed, however, that violence has no place in the response.

“We strongly condemn any act of violence of any kind. Violence is contrary to the way of the Torah and is completely unacceptable,” they declared.

The statement went on to call upon leaders of Israel’s right-wing parties to condemn what the chareidi parties view as the continued targeting of yeshiva students.

“We demand that the leaders of the right-wing parties, who were quick and correct to condemn this incident, also condemn the ongoing and cruel persecution of Torah learners and yeshiva students,” the statement said. “The blood of Torah learners is not hefker.”

65 Arrested Following Violent Protest

The protest took place Wednesday night when dozens of extremist demonstrators gathered outside Solberg’s home to protest increased enforcement measures against yeshiva students who have not reported for military service.

According to police, demonstrators damaged property at the residence, smashing windows, breaking decorative pots and planters near the entrance, and vandalizing the judge’s vehicle.

Large police forces were dispatched to the scene and restored order within minutes. By the end of the operation, officers had detained 65 individuals suspected of participating in the disturbances.

Police said the suspects were taken in for questioning and would later be brought before a court, where investigators are expected to seek extensions of their detention.

The investigation has been assigned to the Judea and Samaria District Major Crimes Unit. Detectives collected witness statements at the scene, while forensic investigators gathered evidence and documentation related to the incident.

Later that night, senior commanders from the district held a situation assessment meeting to review the violent protest and the damage caused to the home and property of the deputy president of the Supreme Court.

Netanyahu Calls Solberg

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Justice Solberg following the incident.

According to officials, Netanyahu reiterated his strong condemnation of the attack against the judge and his family, inquired about their well-being, and emphasized that he expects law-enforcement authorities to take firm action against those responsible.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also condemned the violence.

“Freedom of protest is a fundamental right, but it does not include the freedom of anarchy. I strongly condemn the small extremist group that threw stones, acted violently, and disturbed the peace outside Justice Solberg’s home,” Ben Gvir said.

Meanwhile, senior figures within the Jerusalem Faction sought to distance themselves from the demonstration, stating that they had no connection to the events outside the judge’s residence.

The incident is the latest in a series of increasingly heated protests that have erupted in recent days following a wave of arrests involving yeshiva students.

{Matzav.com}

Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Solberg became the focus of a violent protest this week after issuing a court ruling that strongly criticized police reluctance to enforce military draft laws against yeshiva students and ordered greater cooperation between civilian police and military authorities.

The ruling, published about six weeks ago, has been cited by extremist protesters as the reason they targeted Solberg’s home and family. The demonstration on Wednesday night drew widespread condemnation from across Israel’s political spectrum.

In his decision, Solberg addressed what he described as the police’s ongoing refusal to play a more active role in locating and detaining draft evaders and military deserters from the chareidi community.

He wrote that the court had been informed, both in written submissions and during oral arguments, that police continue to refrain from detaining draft evaders during routine encounters despite having the authority to do so. The police also maintained that they were unable to assist the military police in planned operations to apprehend draft evaders, even though military authorities require police cooperation to carry out such actions in civilian areas.

Solberg sharply criticized this approach, noting that the police justified their policy by citing concerns that enforcement operations in chareidi neighborhoods often trigger large-scale disturbances and require additional manpower.

The judge acknowledged that police resources are limited and that law enforcement agencies must prioritize among competing responsibilities. However, he argued that a complete refusal to exercise legal authority cannot be justified simply by invoking resource constraints or budgetary limitations.

According to Solberg, police discretion does not extend to abandoning enforcement altogether. He wrote that leaving legal authority unused and effectively dormant cannot be excused by claims of competing priorities.

He concluded that the police were failing to fulfill their legal duty to enforce the law against draft evaders from the chareidi sector and stated that such a situation could not be accepted.

Solberg then directed the Israel Police to assist military enforcement authorities and actively participate in enforcing conscription laws within the chareidi community.

He emphasized that such cooperation is especially necessary because the issue involves what he described as a large-scale, ongoing, and deliberate violation of the law.

In one of the ruling’s most forceful passages, Solberg argued that allowing public disorder to deter enforcement sends a dangerous message and rewards those who seek to obstruct the legal process.

He wrote that it is unacceptable for authorities to avoid enforcement specifically because opponents threaten widespread disturbances, warning that such an approach creates a reality in which lawbreakers benefit from their actions and force determines outcomes.

The judge further stated that a democratic society cannot tolerate a situation where those willing to exert pressure or create unrest effectively dictate whether laws will be enforced.

Concluding his discussion of enforcement, Solberg instructed the state to move quickly and diligently to pursue criminal proceedings against draft evaders from the chareidi community according to the same standards applied to the broader public.

He also specifically rejected any policy under which police officers decline to detain or arrest individuals identified as draft evaders during routine interactions with law enforcement.

The ruling ultimately paved the way for increased police involvement in locating and apprehending yeshiva students classified as draft evaders, including arrests made during traffic stops and other routine encounters, followed by their transfer to military authorities.

Beitar Illit Mayor Meir Rubinstein, who also serves as chairman of the Forum of Chareidi Local Authority Heads, delivered a forceful warning Wednesday night over the arrests of yeshiva students and the ongoing draft crisis, declaring that the chareidi public will not accept efforts to criminalize Torah learners.

Speaking on Kol Chai’s Hamahadura Hamerkazit with host Avi Blum, Rubinstein said the current situation has created fear and anxiety throughout the yeshiva world.

“I haven’t changed—the reality has,” Rubinstein said at the start of the interview. “We are living through a disgraceful situation in which thousands of yeshiva students are walking around in constant fear, even terror. Every yeshiva student feels like a fugitive. This cannot continue, and it cannot simply be accepted.”

Rubinstein noted that since the founding of the State of Israel, prime ministers from across the political spectrum—including David Ben-Gurion, Yitzchak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Yitzchak Shamir, and Menachem Begin—supported arrangements that exempted yeshiva students from military service.

“After 70 years, this is not going to work. It simply will not work,” he said.

Asked whether chareidi municipal leaders should halt cooperation with the police and state authorities, Rubinstein replied that the damage has already been done.

“There is no greater harm than taking our entire community and turning everyone into criminals,” he said.

He stressed that the chareidi public would not resort to violence but would pursue other forms of resistance, including public protest, separation from government institutions, and a broad outcry against the policy.

Rubinstein argued that no democratic country could successfully impose such a dramatic change on such a large segment of its population.

“Maybe that can happen in North Korea, or in the Russia of the czars, in places like that,” he said.

He added that municipal leaders who interact with residents daily witness firsthand the fear and distress affecting yeshiva students and their families.

Addressing the performance of the chareidi political parties, Rubinstein acknowledged that their efforts had fallen short but declined to place blame on individual lawmakers.

“There is not a single chareidi Knesset member who did not work on this issue,” he said. “But in terms of results, the failure has been total.”

At the same time, he insisted that the setback in the Knesset cannot lead the chareidi public to surrender, close their Gemaros, or accept a reality in which yeshiva students are treated as criminals.

Turning to the prospect of a broader public campaign, Rubinstein said the chareidi community should learn from the tactics employed by opponents of judicial reform.

“We were promised judicial reform, and why didn’t judicial reform happen? Because of pressure from the streets,” he said. “We are now going to take to the streets exactly like Kaplan. The entire country will burn, just like Kaplan. They taught us a lesson.”

Rubinstein argued that the issue requires no complicated strategy, only a firm and united public stance.

“You do not touch what is sacred. ‘Do not touch My anointed ones.’ It is not going to happen. Period.”

He vowed that the chareidi community would never accept a situation in which yeshiva students and their families—whom he described as a population of more than one million people—are transformed into fugitives.

“That is not going to happen during wartime, during peacetime, during difficult times, or during times of prosperity,” he said.

Asked whether the draft dispute is affecting the chareidi community’s place within Israel’s right-wing camp, Rubinstein responded that he remains firmly identified with the political right and deeply committed to Eretz Yisroel.

At the same time, he emphasized that the priorities of the chareidi public are clear.

“For us, the right begins first with Toras Yisroel, and only afterward with Eretz Yisroel,” he said.

He concluded by arguing that the real question is no longer whether the chareidi community remains part of the right, but whether the right itself remains true to its principles.

“The chareidi public is still on the right,” Rubinstein said. “But if the right is not protecting yeshiva students, then the question is not whether the chareidim have left the right. The question is whether the right has remained the right.”

{Matzav.com}

Former Vice President Mike Pence is warning that the Republican Party is moving away from its traditional conservative roots, arguing that a growing “populist right” faction poses a significant challenge to the principles that have guided the party for decades.

Speaking Wednesday on CNN’s “News Central,” Pence said many Americans, particularly those in agricultural communities, remain concerned about the economic impact of broad tariff policies and rising costs.

“There’s concern in the heartland, particularly on the farm, for the impact of broad based tariffs, the rising input costs for farmers and, I expect Republicans will take all of that to heart. And, I hope what they do, as I argue in my book, is return our party to the consistent advocacy of the conservative agenda. This define the Republican movement for the last 50 years.”

Pence said he wrote his new book in part to alert Americans to what he sees as an ideological shift within the conservative movement itself.

“I wanted people to know around the country that, a new threat to conservatism has emerged from within our movement. And it’s, I call it the populist right. And essentially advances policies of protectionism, isolationism, marginalizing traditional values. And, and while they’ve had some success prevailing on the second Trump administration, not all, I think the second Trump administration has gotten a lot right. Secured the border, extended all those Trump Pence, tax cuts, stood up to Iran, stood with Israel but when you look at when you look at the stops and starts on Ukraine, by this administration, when you look at, the, you know, voices on the outside that have even questioned our support for Israel and the economic policies, nationalization of businesses, broad based tariffs against friend and foe alike, price controls. I wanted to write a book that it was about what conservatives believe in the hopes that in the midterms and in 2028, we return our party to those founding principles.”

While praising several accomplishments of President Trump’s current administration, Pence expressed concern about policy directions he believes are inconsistent with long-standing Republican views on free markets and limited government.

He specifically pointed to proposals that would involve greater federal participation in private enterprise and said such ideas would have been unthinkable in earlier Republican administrations.

“This new cabinet that, new voices, I mean, the idea of, of literally having the federal government take a percentage share of American businesses, would have, I think, never even been discussed in the first Trump administration. Republicans have always believed in and limited government in free market economics and free enterprise. Those policies, big government policies that have made their way into this administration.”

Pence’s remarks reflect an ongoing debate within Republican circles over the party’s future direction, as competing factions vie for influence ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race.

A personalized mRNA-based cancer vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck has demonstrated encouraging long-term results in patients with advanced melanoma, significantly reducing the chances of the disease returning or leading to death over a five-year period.

The experimental treatment, known as intismeran autogene, is being tested in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), a widely used immunotherapy drug. New findings from the phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 trial were unveiled at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Chicago on May 27.

Researchers reported that patients who received the vaccine-immunotherapy combination experienced a 49% lower risk of melanoma recurrence or death compared with those treated with pembrolizumab alone after nearly five years of follow-up.

The study included 157 individuals with high-risk stage 3 and stage 4 melanoma whose tumors had been surgically removed. Participants were divided into two groups, with one receiving both intismeran autogene and KEYTRUDA, while the other received only KEYTRUDA.

According to investigators, the benefits seen in the combination-treatment group continued over time and remained durable throughout the follow-up period.

The vaccine is tailored to each individual patient. Scientists identify specific mutations within a patient’s tumor and use that information to create a personalized mRNA therapy designed to train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells if they return.

Researchers said the treatment has thus far demonstrated a favorable safety profile and has generally been well tolerated by patients.

Among the most frequently reported side effects were fatigue, pain at the injection site, chills, fever, and headaches. Investigators said they observed no new long-term safety issues and no serious adverse events directly linked to the vaccine.

The treatment has now advanced to a phase 3 clinical trial, the final stage typically required before regulatory approval can be considered.

In comments released by Merck in January, Kyle Holen, MD, Moderna’s senior vice president and head of development, oncology and therapeutics, said the findings underscore the “potential of a prolonged benefit … in patients with resected high-risk melanoma.”

“We continue to invest in our platform in oncology because of encouraging outcomes like these, which illustrate mRNA’s potential in cancer care,” he said.

Dr. Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology, global clinical development at Merck Research Laboratories, noted that many patients with advanced melanoma remain vulnerable to the disease returning even after surgery.

“As such, demonstrating the longer-term potential of intismeran autogene and KEYTRUDA to reduce the risk of recurrence for certain patients with melanoma is a meaningful milestone,” she said.

Merck also highlighted the positive long-term data while pointing to upcoming results from the late-stage INTerpath clinical program being conducted with Moderna in several cancers that have traditionally been difficult to treat.

Elon Musk is on the verge of becoming the first person in history with a net worth exceeding $1 trillion, a development that is already fueling debate in Washington and emerging as a talking point for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The catalyst is SpaceX’s anticipated debut on the Nasdaq on June 12. The rocket and aerospace company is expected to enter public trading with a valuation of approximately $1.75 trillion, a move that could push Musk’s fortune beyond the trillion-dollar mark for the first time.

Democratic lawmakers have quickly seized on the prospect, using it to spotlight concerns about wealth inequality and advocate for higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy.

“Nobody should be a trillionaire. Tax the … rich,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote on X.

Sen. Bernie Sanders echoed that sentiment during a campaign event in Maine last month, calling it “insanity” for a single individual to accumulate such enormous wealth. Meanwhile, Michigan state lawmaker Mallory McMorrow, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, has incorporated the issue into her campaign messaging.

Speaking by phone, McMorrow argued that Musk’s immense fortune helps illustrate broader economic concerns facing American families.

“Elon Musk is somebody who would not be as successful as he is without billions of dollars of government contracts and subsidies,” she said, drawing the line to gas prices, healthcare cuts and federal contracting.

To put the figure in perspective, McMorrow noted that $1 trillion would be enough to fund Michigan’s entire $81 billion state budget for more than a dozen years.

Musk’s approach toward the trillion-dollar threshold stems from two major financial developments.

The first occurred in November 2025, when Tesla shareholders approved a compensation package that could ultimately be worth as much as $1 trillion if Musk achieves a series of business and market-value goals, including raising Tesla’s valuation to $8.5 trillion.

The second is the upcoming SpaceX public offering. The IPO is expected to raise approximately $75 billion under the ticker symbol SPCX. Because Musk owns roughly 42 percent of the company, the offering alone could elevate his net worth beyond $1 trillion.

Musk has repeatedly argued that his wealth is tied to long-term goals involving humanity’s future beyond Earth. His SpaceX compensation package is reportedly linked to progress toward establishing a self-sustaining city of one million residents on Mars.

The billionaire has also defended himself against criticism over taxes. In 2021, Musk stated that he paid more than $11 billion in federal taxes. However, ProPublica reported that he paid no federal income tax in 2018.

Tax experts note that federal tax laws generally apply to income rather than overall wealth, meaning large increases in asset values do not automatically result in income-tax obligations.

Public opinion appears to be largely concerned about growing economic disparities. An Economist/YouGov survey conducted from January 2 through January 5 among 1,646 American adult citizens found that 80 percent view the gap between rich and poor as a major problem, while 59 percent support federal efforts to reduce that disparity. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points, with larger margins for subgroup results.

The debate is also taking on immediate policy significance. California voters are expected to consider a proposal this fall that would impose a 5 percent annual tax on net worth exceeding $1 billion.

Although Musk lives in Texas and would not be subject to the proposed California levy, his potential emergence as the nation’s first trillionaire has already intensified the political battle over wealth, taxation, and economic inequality.

{Matzav.com}