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Zohran Mamdani, the outspoken anti-Semitic Muslim socialist leading the New York City mayoral race, came under intense fire tonight as his rivals, Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, ripped into him during their final debate. Both opponents mocked his “fantasy” proposals and took aim at his lack of experience, with one quipping that his résumé “could fit on a cocktail napkin.”

The debate quickly devolved into a slugfest, with Cuomo and Sliwa taking turns going after Mamdani’s record and his sweeping promises. Heated exchanges broke out over issues ranging from anti-Semitism and Mamdani’s anti-Israel statements to the question of mayoral authority over the city’s public schools.

President Trump’s name also surfaced repeatedly throughout the night. Mamdani used the opportunity to lash out at Cuomo, branding him the president’s “puppet,” while Cuomo dismissed the claim and accused Mamdani of peddling empty rhetoric and unworkable socialist dreams.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Construction crews began tearing into the East Wing of the White House this week as work officially kicked off on President Donald Trump’s long-anticipated $250 million ballroom project — a massive addition that will nearly double the size of the historic residence.

The new 90,000-square-foot space is expected to host up to 999 guests and, according to Trump, won’t cost the public “a dime.” He said the entire project is being paid for by “many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.”

Initially, Trump and his staff had insisted that the existing structure would remain untouched during construction. “It’ll be near it but not touching it,” the president said earlier this year, while his press secretary Karoline Leavitt added, “Nothing will be torn down.” Those statements didn’t hold up — by Monday, bulldozers were dismantling the East Wing’s façade to make room for the enormous expansion.

The White House later clarified that portions of the East Wing — traditionally home to the first lady’s offices and social staff — are being “modernized” as part of the broader renovation. The East Wing, which faces the Treasury Department across East Executive Avenue, serves as the public entrance for most events and tours.

Trump has long complained that the existing East Room is far too small for major state functions, seating only about 200 guests. “We need a real entertaining space,” he told guests at a recent donor dinner. He has also bristled at past presidents hosting elegant events in temporary outdoor tents on the South Lawn, calling the practice “unbefitting the White House.”

According to renderings released by the administration, the ballroom will reflect the lavish style of Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Palm Beach estate. It will feature bulletproof windows, ornate chandeliers, and gilded details reminiscent of European palaces. The president noted that the original design for 650 guests was expanded to fit 999 — “big enough to hold an inauguration if needed,” he said with a grin.

To fund the project, Trump claims no taxpayer money is being used. Donors from across the country have contributed, and the White House held an East Room dinner last week to thank contributors. Among the sources of funding is $22 million from YouTube, part of a settlement from a 2021 lawsuit Trump filed against the company. Officials have yet to disclose exactly how much Trump himself is investing.

While the president is moving full speed ahead, the National Capital Planning Commission — the federal body responsible for approving major building projects in Washington — has not formally signed off. Trump appointed top aide Will Scharf to lead the commission, and Scharf has argued that demolition doesn’t require review, only new construction.

Trump envisions the existing East Room serving as a reception hall once the ballroom opens, where guests will “mingle, sip cocktails, and enjoy hors d’oeuvres before being called into the ballroom for dinner.” A wall of windows will be removed to connect the two spaces.

The White House expects the ballroom to be finished before Trump’s second term ends in January 2029, an ambitious target for such a sweeping project.

The new addition joins a long list of presidential modifications to the mansion. Trump has already redecorated the Oval Office with portraits and gold accents, turned the Rose Garden into a stone patio, and installed new flagpoles on both lawns. He also renovated the Lincoln Bedroom’s bathroom and replaced flooring in the South Lawn hallway with marble.

Trump’s aides argue that his expansion follows in a centuries-old tradition of presidents reshaping the White House. Jefferson added the colonnades, Monroe the South Portico, and Theodore Roosevelt the West Wing. Franklin D. Roosevelt built the East Wing, while Harry Truman oversaw a complete gut renovation when the structure was deemed unsafe in 1948.

{Matzav.com}

After a push from President Donald Trump earlier this year, Coca-Cola has officially begun selling its iconic cola made with real cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup in select parts of the United States.

A company representative confirmed to CNN that the rollout has started in “select” American cities and retailers, marking the fulfillment of an agreement Trump announced over the summer when he said the beverage giant had “agreed” to use cane sugar in its U.S. cola production.

Coca-Cola’s cane sugar formula is hardly new overseas. Many versions sold abroad—such as in Mexico—already use the ingredient, and several other drinks under the company’s umbrella, including Simply lemonade, Gold Peak iced tea, and Costa canned coffee, are already sweetened with cane sugar domestically.

The shift also aligns with the stance of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has repeatedly condemned high-fructose corn syrup as a harmful additive. The ingredient, long a staple in American sodas due to its lower cost, has faced growing criticism over health concerns and its link to obesity.

While some consumers may welcome the nostalgic taste of sugar-based Coke, nutrition experts have long cautioned that both sweeteners carry health risks. As one previous CNN report noted, soda “isn’t healthy, whether it is made with cane sugar or corn syrup.”

The new rollout comes as Coca-Cola leans into a diversified product lineup emphasizing “better-for-you” drinks, including flavored waters, teas, and low- or zero-sugar options. The company recently relaunched its BodyArmor line and continues to see strong sales from its Smartwater brand.

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar remains one of its biggest success stories. The company said the product’s global volume surged 14% last quarter, driving stock prices up more than 3% in early Tuesday trading.

{Matzav.com}

Tesla is recalling 13,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a battery pack defect that could cause a sudden loss of drive power, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday. The issue affects certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y cars and could prevent drivers from accelerating, raising the risk of a crash. Tesla will reportedly replace the faulty battery pack contactor free of charge.

New York City’s mayoral candidates clashed bitterly during their final debate Wednesday evening, as Democrat Zohran Mamdani tried to maintain his lead and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa cast him as out of his league. While Mamdani began the debate accusing his rivals of being too consumed by fighting — suggesting he would instead focus on his vision for New Yorkers — the state assemblyman repeatedly ended up in the mud with his rivals. Mamdani’s opponents have spent much of the race criticizing the 34-year-old democratic socialist for his relatively thin political resume, his pro-Palestinian advocacy, and President Donald Trump’s threats to take over the city — and even arrest him — if he wins. Cuomo, who is now running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, has spent recent days urging Sliwa to drop his bid, and has been courting conservatives and moderates, casting himself as a more viable candidate than Sliwa. But Sliwa, the swaggering creator of the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, has forcefully maintained he will not exit the race and has in turn ramped up his criticism of the former governor. Here are some key takeaways from the debate: Barbs all around Mamdani entered the debate saying he would try to stay above the fray and keep his focus on voters and issues — like affordability — that have defined his campaign. But the Democratic nominee landed plenty of digs against his rivals, whom he accused of spending more time calling on each other to drop out “than actually proposing their own policies.” Cuomo and Sliwa, he said, “speak only in the past because that is all they know.” “I am the sole candidate running with a vision for the future of this city,” he went on, calling Cuomo “a desperate man, lashing out because he knows that the one thing he cares about, power, is slipping away from him.” Cuomo, meanwhile, touted his experience, and portrayed Mamdani as out of his league. “It’s Bill de Blasio rehash and we know how that turned out,” he said. “I did things. You have never had a job. You’ve never accomplished anything,” he said, insisting Mamdani lacks the merit and qualifications to run the nation’s biggest city or handle an emergency. “Shame on you!” Sliwa accused both men of “fighting like kids in a school yard,” but piled on as well. “Zorhan, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin. And, Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City,” he quipped. He also made frequent references to Cuomo’s decision to resign as governor amid a barrage of sexual harassment allegations, which Cuomo denies. Canal Street raid Candidates were asked within minutes about an immigration enforcement sweep targeting vendors on Manhattan’s famed Canal Street that led to 14 arrests. Cuomo responded by touting his squabbles with Trump during the Republican’s first term. Cuomo said the city does not need Immigration and Customs Enforcement to handle quality-of-life crimes like dealing in counterfeit bags. Mamdani similarly pledged to oppose federal interventions in the city, saying “ICE is a reckless entity that cares little for the law and even less for the people that they’re supposed to serve.” The Trump factor Trump again took center stage, as each of the candidates insisted that they would […]

Just hours before the final mayoral debate, a coalition of over 650 Reform and Conservative “rabbis” from across the United States issued a public letter voicing grave concern about the implications of a Zohran Mamdani victory for New York’s Jewish population.

The letter, distributed by the Jewish Majority, included 121 “rabbis” from New York State, more than half of them based in New York City.

“We are writing in our personal capacities to declare that we cannot remain silent in the face of rising anti-Zionism and its political normalization throughout our nation,” the “rabbis “declared in the statement.

The signatories took aim at Mamdani’s record and rhetoric, charging that his refusal to denounce violent anti-Israel slogans and his repeated delegitimization of the Jewish state have emboldened antisemitism in the public sphere. “When public figures like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani refuse to condemn violent slogans, deny Israel’s legitimacy, and accuse the Jewish state of genocide, they, in the words of New York Board of Rabbis president Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, ‘Delegitimize the Jewish community and encourage and exacerbate hostility toward Judaism and Jews.’”

Among those who signed the document were Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Emanu-El, Rabbi David Gelfand of Temple Israel, Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Kehilath Jeshurun, Rabbi David Ingber of Romemu and 92NY, and Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, who also serves as president of the New York Board of Rabbis.

The letter also highlighted the words of Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue, who warned that the progressive Democrat represents a clear and present danger. The rabbi had recently stated that Mamdani is a “danger to the security of the New York Jewish community.”

In his sermon, Rabbi Cosgrove underscored that Israel and Jewish self-determination are inseparable from Jewish identity. “Zionism, Israel, Jewish self-determination—these are not political preferences or partisan talking points. They are constituent building blocks and inseparable strands of my Jewish identity,” he said. “To accept me as a Jew but to ask me to check my concern for the people and state of Israel at the door is a nonsensical proposition and an offensive one, no different than asking me to reject God, Torah, mitzvot, or any other pillar of my faith.”

The signatories made clear that Jewish pride and safety are not up for debate. “We will not accept a culture that treats Jewish self-determination as a negotiable ideal or Jewish inclusion as something to be ‘granted.’ The safety and dignity of Jews in every city depend on rejecting that false choice,” the letter stated.

Calling for unity, the rabbis urged voters of all backgrounds to take a stand in the upcoming election. “We call on all Americans who value peace and equality to participate fully in the democratic process in order to stand up for candidates who reject antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric, and who affirm Israel’s right to exist in peace and security,” they wrote.

Their message concluded with a plea for solidarity: “Now is the time for everyone to unite across political and moral divides, and to reject the language that seeks to delegitimize our Jewish identity and our community.”

{Matzav.com}

In an interview with YWN following the shocking arrest of a Ateres Shlomo talmid on Wednesday morning, Harav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin shlit”a decried the ongoing persecution of bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel, comparing the situation to the dark days of Soviet oppression. “I came to America to do a job that isn’t easy — to take care of bochurim,” Rav Sorotzkin said. “We have 13,500 talmidim across our mosdos, and every one of them is precious. When I heard this morning that they arrested a choshuve bochur in the yeshiva — an emesdike masmid, whose only ‘crime’ was sitting and learning Torah — I was shaken. We heard such stories from our fathers and grandfathers in Russia, when people were arrested for learning. Now it’s happening again, in Eretz Yisroel.” The bochur, named Ariel Shammai, was sentenced to 20 days in military prison. “He was handed a 20-day prison sentence for one thing,” Rav Sorotzkin said sharply. “For being an oved Hashem and learning Torah.” Following the arrest, a massive atzeres tefillah was held outside the prison Wednesday afternoon. Over 1,200 bnei Torah gathered to show support and solidarity with the imprisoned talmid. The gathering doubled as a psichas zman for the yeshiva, led by Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a. “It was a big maamad of kiddush sheim shamayim in a mechubadike way,” said Rav Sorotzkin. “We began Chezkas Habatim there. It gave the bochur chizuk — he saw that Klal Yisroel is with him.” Rav Sorotzkin said that he will be cutting short his trip to America – he had come to fundraise for his massive network of yeshivos – and returning immediately to Eretz Yisroel to take responsibility for the bochur and advocate on his behalf. “I have no breirah,” he said. “I am going straight back to Eretz Yisroel. We have an achrayus for this bochur.” Rav Sorotzkin urged Jews worldwide to be marbitz in tefillah. “We must daven to Hashem: Kra ro’ah gzar dineinu. Klal Yisroel areivim zeh lazeh — we all have an achrayus for one another. The tzarah in Eretz Yisroel is a tzarah for every ben Torah around the world.” He added that fear is spreading among bnei yeshiva. “Many don’t understand that every bochur nowadays is afraid that he could be arrested at any moment. This cannot continue.” The arrest of Ariel Shammai followed a series of shocking overnight raids by military police targeting yeshiva bochurim who have refused army enlistment on religious grounds. In one case, police stormed a home in Ramat Gan at 1:30 a.m. and dragged away a bochur who was in the midst of sitting shiva for his father. The young man’s mother — a disabled almanah — and six orphaned siblings cried out helplessly as he was taken away. After widespread outrage, he was released hours later through the intervention of attorney Shlomo Haddad. Two other bnei yeshiva were arrested the same night — both now facing prison time. Military police also raided homes in Adam, overturning furniture in a failed attempt to arrest two more talmidim, and attempted an arrest in Neve Yaakov, which was thwarted after hundreds of protesters gathered and forced the police to retreat. In response to the arrests, Degel HaTorah convened an emergency meeting of its Knesset members, while Peleg Yerushalmi leaders […]

Several conservative news outlets said Wednesday they had agreed to a new press policy rejected by virtually all legacy media organizations and will take their place in the Pentagon to cover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the U.S. military. The new Pentagon press corps will include the Gateway Pundit, the National Pulse, Human Events, podcaster Tim Pool, the Just the News website founded by journalist John Solomon, Frontlines by Turning Point USA and LindellTV, run by “MyPillow” CEO Mike Lindell. The Pentagon’s announcement came less than a week after dozens of reporters from outlets like The New York Times, The Associated Press, CNN and the Washington Post turned in their access badges rather than agree to a policy the journalists say will restrict them to covering news approved by Hegseth. Hegseth’s spokesman, Sean Parnell, announced the “next generation” of the Pentagon press corps with more than 60 journalists who had agreed to the new policy. He said 26 journalists who had previously been part of the press corps were among the signees. The department wouldn’t say who any of them were, but several outlets reposted his message on X saying they had signed on. There isn’t even unanimity among organizations that appeal to conservative consumers. Fox News Channel, by far the most popular news source for fans of President Donald Trump, was among the walkouts, as was Newsmax. Accusations of ‘self-righteous media’ In a post on X, Parnell denounced the “self-righteous media who chose to self-deport from the Pentagon.” “Americans have largely abandoned digesting their news through the lens of activists who masquerade as journalists in the mainstream media,” Parnell wrote. “We look forward to beginning a fresh relationship with members of the new Pentagon press corps.” The journalists who left the Pentagon haven’t stopped working covering the U.S. military. Many have been reporting aggressively, for example, on stories about strikes against boats in central America alleged to be part of the drug trade. By not being in the Pentagon, “reporters will have to work harder, there’s no question about it,” said Barbara Starr, a longtime Pentagon reporter retired from CNN. “But the real price is paid by the American people and the American military families,” Starr said. “Military families who have their sons and daughters serving, they want to know everything and they want to know it fast.” Starr wondered about Hegseth: “What is he so afraid of?” New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote a biting piece about the defense secretary over the weekend titled “Fraidy-Cat at the Pentagon.” But Hegseth’s boss, President Trump, has expressed support for the new media policy and Hegseth’s aggressive moves mirror some of those made by the administration. The president has sued outlets like The New York Times and Wall Street Journal for their coverage of him. New outlets must add staff Some of the outlets that accepted Hegseth’s rules will have to staff up for their new roles: Just the News, for example, posted an ad online seeking a Pentagon reporter. The Gateway Pundit’s White House correspondent, Jordan Conradson, posted on Wednesday that he was excited to join the Pentagon press corps “and help restore honest journalism after agreeing to follow basic rules … something the legacy media refuses to do!” Lindell, whose My Pillow ads once blanketed Fox News before he joined the political media, posted a statement that LindellTV was “proud to be part […]

Three months after Israel’s High Court of Justice ordered the Chief Rabbinate to open its rabbinical exams to women, the rabbinate has petitioned the court for a new hearing on the matter, while signaling partial compliance by allowing women to take certain tests, Times of Israel reports.

In a legal document filed Sunday, the rabbinate wrote, “The chief rabbis’ position is that there are relevant differences between men and women regarding the possibility of receiving rabbinical ordination or qualifications, as well as in matters of Torah study.” Still, it acknowledged that “there is no obstacle for women to study certain subjects, including, first and foremost, laws relating to everyday life.” The statement added, “In accordance with this position, the chief rabbis believe that there is also no obstacle for women to be tested by the Chief Rabbinate in some of the aforementioned exams on these laws.”

The rabbinate cited halachic areas such as Shabbos and taharas hamishpachah as examples of topics open to female examinees. It also requested that the court delay implementing the earlier decision until another hearing can be held and new guidelines are established.

That request immediately drew criticism from women’s rights petitioners, who opposed any postponement of the ruling. Such hearings are rarely granted, making the rabbinate’s petition an uphill legal effort.

The Chief Rabbinate’s exams are the gateway to official rabbinic recognition in Israel. Applicants must pass at least six rigorous tests covering the main areas of halacha, including kashrus, Shabbos, and taharas hamishpachah. Those who complete the full series earn the Yoreh Yoreh certification, which can carry economic and professional benefits, including eligibility for certain public-sector jobs and salary enhancements equivalent to an academic degree.

The legal battle over women’s eligibility to take these exams began in 2019, when five female Torah scholars and three advocacy organizations—focused on advancing women’s and religious rights—petitioned the High Court. They argued that the rabbinate’s exams, being publicly funded, must be open to all qualified candidates regardless of gender. Previous attempts to create equivalent state-sanctioned alternatives through the Religious Affairs or Labor ministries had failed.

In July, the High Court ruled in favor of the petitioners, declaring that women must be allowed to register for the rabbinate’s tests. Despite that decision, the rabbinate has not yet opened registration for the next round of exams scheduled for next month and has now asked permission to conduct those tests under the old regulations.

“This is a request that raises shameful arguments regarding the status of women and their ability to study and engage in Torah,” said Rabbi Seth Farber, head of the ITIM religious rights organization, one of the main petitioners. “These claims shame the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and risk setting us back by years, and undermining the revolution in women’s Torah study.”

Among the original petitioners are Farber’s wife, Michelle Cohen Farber; Avital Engelberg, head of Yeshivat Maharat’s Israeli branch; Shlomit Flint, a Talmud teacher at Midreshet Be’er; Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz; and two advocacy groups, the Rackman Center for the Advancement of Women’s Status and the Kolech Religious Women Forum.

Segal-Katz told Ynet that the rabbinate’s new request ignores the spirit of the court’s ruling. “The Chief Rabbinate’s request for an additional hearing pushes us backward,” she said. “Even the attempt to present the distinction based on whether women are exempt from some [Torah] commandments does not justify preventing them from learning the subjects or being tested on them.”

The High Court has yet to decide whether to reopen the case, but the rabbinate’s stance has reignited a debate over women’s access to advanced Torah scholarship—and over how far the state’s religious authorities are willing to go in recognizing it.

{Matzav.com}

In a freewheeling Rose Garden speech, President Donald Trump compared his record to that of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, while boasting about his “Walk of Fame” addition outside the White House.

“Hey, they didn’t put out eight wars, nine coming,” he said. “We put out eight wars, and the ninth is coming, believe it or not.”

Trump, gesturing proudly toward the lineup of presidential portraits stretching from Washington to himself, admitted that even he would have to yield first place to the nation’s founding father. Still, the self-congratulation didn’t stop there.

The president then told the audience about a TV commentator who had once ranked him third behind Washington and Lincoln.

“I got extremely angry at this man,” Trump, 79, admitted.

He didn’t clarify who the commentator was, though Trump made a similar claim earlier this year in a Fox interview with Bret Baier, where he said someone told him that even a Washington-Lincoln ticket couldn’t defeat him.

Looking out over the audience, Trump called to Sen. John Thune, joking about his place in presidential history.

“It’s gonna be, it’s gonna be tough to beat—Mr. Senator—it’s gonna be—John—it’s gonna be tough to beat Washington and Lincoln, but we’re gonna give it a try.“

Trump then returned to one of his favorite boasts — claiming credit for having “ended eight wars,” a point he raised to bolster his self-comparison with America’s most revered leaders.

Despite his claims, historians continue to rate Trump near the bottom of presidential rankings. In C-SPAN’s 2021 survey, he placed fourth from last, while Lincoln and Washington took the top two spots. And in 2024, members of the American Political Science Association ranked Trump dead last.

His assertion of “ending eight wars” has also been widely debunked. Analysts note that many of the conflicts he cites, like those in the Congo or between Israel and Hamas, have continued, while others he names — including Serbia and Kosovo or Egypt and Ethiopia — weren’t wars to begin with.

The Rose Garden event had been billed as a celebration of the East Wing’s demolition to make way for Trump’s new $200 million White House ballroom. But the ceremony quickly turned into a mix of grandstanding and score-settling.

At one point, Trump took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, mocking him for being criticized by “AOC plus 3,” his mocking label for the progressive members of “The Squad.” He then veered into a familiar anecdote about asking Sudan’s president to “take Rep. Ilhan Omar back.”

{Matzav.com}

Amid the government shutdown, TSA workers are turning to part-time jobs and credit cards to cover their expenses.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) delivered a grim warning Tuesday night about what he called a “growing cancer” of antisemitism emerging on the American right — a rare public rebuke from one of the GOP’s most prominent conservatives. Speaking at Hagee Ministries’ 45th annual Night to Honor Israel in San Antonio, Cruz said that while antisemitism had long taken root on the political left, he now sees an alarming rise among conservatives. “In the last six months, I have seen antisemitism rising on the right in a way I have never seen in my entire life,” Cruz said to a packed audience. “This poison of antisemitism on the right — it is spreading with young people. It is gaining traction.” The Texas senator, a longtime ally of Israel, said that when he met recently with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he warned that online hate was no longer just “AstroTurf” from foreign governments but “organic — real people, real voices.” Cruz cited examples of right-wing figures who have downplayed Adolf Hitler’s crimes, calling them “the embodiment of evil,” and denounced the spread of “replacement theology” among some young Christians — the belief that the Christian church has replaced the Jewish people. “They are being taught lies — theological lies,” Cruz said. “The promises God made to Israel are still good. They are still valid.” Cruz’s comments come amid intensifying debates within the Republican Party over support for Israel and rising antisemitic rhetoric online. In recent months, he has clashed with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, both of whom have been criticized for remarks sympathetic to anti-Israel sentiment. “The church is asleep right now,” Cruz told the audience, urging faith leaders to confront the issue directly. “If we don’t root this out, it will rot the moral core of the right — and of America itself.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Led by Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, Democrats seized the Senate floor on Wednesday to protest President Donald Trump’s presidency amid the government shutdown and push for Republicans to negotiate with them on expiring health subsidies. Merkley spoke for more than 22 hours — from 6:21 p.m. Tuesday to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday — pausing for lengthy questions from other Democratic senators. His speech was one of the longest in Senate history, just short of a similar speech in April by Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. Booker, who was also protesting Trump, broke the record for longest continuous Senate speech by going for more than 25 hours, surpassing a 1957 speech by Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. Thurmond was filibustering the advance of the Civil Rights Act. The senator’s talk-a-thon came as Democrats have forced the government shutdown over their demands to extend government health care subsidies, and as Republicans have refused to negotiate over the expiring tax credits until Democrats vote to reopen the government. Democrats have voted 12 times to keep it closed — most recently Wednesday evening — and the two sides have made little progress toward a resolution. Merkley said on the Senate floor that Republicans were the ones shutting down the government “to continue the strategy of slashing Americans’ health care” after passing cuts to Medicaid and other programs over the summer. He used several hours of his speech to describe what he said were Trump’s authoritarian moves, including attacks on the press and policies that Democrats say are enriching billionaires at the expense of regular people. He said that Trump’s plan is to replace a government “by and for the people with a government by and for the powerful.” As he wrapped up his speech, Merkley said that authoritarianism “is not around the corner,” but “here right now.” Merkley gave another lengthy floor speech in 2017, speaking for more than 15 hours to protest Trump’s then-nomination of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Like Booker, Merkley’s speech was not a filibuster, which is meant to halt or delay the advance of a specific piece of legislation. By holding the floor open overnight, Merkley forced Senate floor staff, security and other support workers who are currently unpaid to work overtime hours. The government has been shut down since Oct. 1. “The Democrats are going to make Capitol Police and Capitol support staff — who they refuse to pay — work all night so they can give speeches patting themselves on the back for shutting down the government and hurting the American people,” Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Senate Republican, posted on X Tuesday night. “How ridiculous is that?” Immediately after Merkley’s speech, Barrasso mocked the Democratic senator and called his speech “rubbish.” Merkley appeared tired for much of the day, saying in the early afternoon that he was “starting to feel a little dazed” and later that “my stamina is getting a little shaky.” But he kept going until early evening. He said afterward that he was able to keep going, without a bathroom break or any food, because of “dehydration” and not eating beforehand. At around 2:45 a.m., only a few hours in, Merkley paused to untie his shoelace. He said standing in one place had “made my shoes a little tight.” […]

Los Angeles was transformed this week into a vibrant center of Torah activity, as tens of thousands joined together in tefillah, chizuk, and unity on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah. The multi-day event included tefillos in private homes, shiurim delivered by leading roshei yeshiva, a grand community dinner, and a massive public rally attended by multitudes in the city’s Saban Stadium last night.

The mission of Gedolei Yisroel to strengthen Keren Olam HaTorah began Tuesday morning with tefillos in the homes of generous hosts who had the merit of welcoming the visiting gedolim. Prominent philanthropists and members of the Los Angeles community joined in the uplifting tefillos, setting the tone for a day devoted entirely to the honor of Torah.

Throughout the day, shiurim and divrei chizuk were delivered in the city’s yeshivos and kollelim by the roshei yeshiva. Among those who addressed the gatherings were Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, and Rav Yosef Chevroni, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, whose words inspired deep reflection and renewed commitment to Torah study and support.

At midday, a major fundraising dinner was hosted at the home of Reb Yitzchok Unger. Dozens of leading members of the community took part in the elegant and spiritually charged event. Throughout the evening, divrei chizuk and heartfelt expressions of gratitude were shared by the visiting rabbonim, who praised the donors for their devotion to sustaining Torah learning. Deeply moved by the call to action, participants pledged substantial contributions to Keren Olam HaTorah, driven by a shared sense of mission and partnership with the lomdei Torah in Eretz Yisroel.

The highlight of the day came that evening, when the grand rally was held at Los Angeles’ Saban Stadium. The massive arena was filled to capacity as thousands gathered to hear words of inspiration from Gedolei Yisroel in a scene of awe and unity rarely witnessed in the city.

Presiding over the gathering was Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, joined by other gedolim including Rav Yaakov Hillel, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, and Rav Yosef Chevroni.

The event left an indelible impression on the city’s Jewish community. As the uplifting evening drew to a close, countless attendees came forward to contribute generously toward the continued growth of Keren Olam HaTorah and the strengthening of Torah study across Eretz Yisroel.

PHOTOS:

{Matzav.com}

Yeshiva Tiferes Yisroel (Chofetz Chaim) on East 35 Street in Flatbush released the attached statement tonight. Sources tell Flatbush Scoop that a rumor has recently spread that the Yeshiva was being sold or closing. Those rumors are not true.

Freed twin hostages Gali and Ziv Berman put on tefillin on Wednesday during a visit by Ba’al Chessed Shai Graucher and U.S. donors, including Rabbi Moshe Scheiner of the Palm Beach Synagogue. It was the first time that Ziv had put on tefillin since his bar mitzvah. Gali said that he had put on tefillin at Chabad houses while traveling abroad. Those present at the meeting joyfully danced together to the tune of Am Yisrael Chai.   (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Less than two weeks before New York City voters head to the polls, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is warning that antisemitic incidents across the five boroughs have reached “deeply concerning” levels, heightening pressure on mayoral candidates to address a growing crisis of hate crimes and public safety. In a report released Wednesday, the ADL said hundreds of incidents of harassment, vandalism, and physical violence against Jews have already been documented in 2025 — continuing the record highs seen last year, when New York led the nation with 976 antisemitic cases, more than any other state. “The scope of antisemitic activity in New York this year is deeply concerning,” said Scott Richman, the ADL’s New York and New Jersey regional director. “Antisemitism is no longer hiding — it’s out in the open, and it’s making Jews in New York feel unsafe in one of the world’s most significant centers of Jewish life.” Preliminary 2025 data shows antisemitic activity spreading across all five boroughs, with Orthodox Jews disproportionately targeted. Though they represent about 20 percent of New York’s Jewish population, they accounted for more than half of all physical assaults last year. In one February weekend alone, three separate attacks occurred within 48 hours; in June, a Shabbat observer was beaten unconscious while his assailant shouted about Gaza. Attacks on Jewish institutions remain high as well. In 2024, 157 incidents targeted synagogues and community centers, and this year’s numbers are on track to match or exceed that figure. Among the most chilling cases: a man who claimed to be “the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler” and another who allegedly plotted a “massacre” at a Brooklyn religious site (it wasn’t specified where). The ADL’s Center on Extremism attributed much of the rise to escalating anti-Israel extremism. In 2022, just 5 percent of antisemitic incidents were related to Israel; by 2024, that figure had surged to 58 percent, a trend continuing this year. Demonstrations across the city have featured chants such as “Burn Tel Aviv to the ground” and banners calling to “globalize the intifada.” On college campuses — particularly at Columbia University, which recorded 53 incidents last year, the highest in the nation — Jewish students have reported vandalism of prayer spaces and fliers urging classmates to “crush Zionism.” With a crucial mayoral debate scheduled Wednesday night, the ADL is urging moderators to press candidates on concrete steps to confront the surge. “Right now, the Jewish community needs every elected official to stand up and speak out,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “We need leaders who will treat this as the crisis it is, not a political afterthought.” Greenblatt warned that rhetoric isn’t enough: “What we are seeing in New York is simply shocking. The time for statements has passed — the Jewish community deserves action.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

More than 650 Reform and Conservative “rabbis” from across the United States have signed an open letter warning against the rise of anti-Zionism in American politics — and singling out New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as a troubling example. In the statement, titled “A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future,” they write, “We cannot remain silent in the face of rising anti-Zionism and its political normalization throughout our nation.” The letter condemns Mamdani’s defense of the slogan “Globalize the Intifada” — which he has since said he would “discourage” — along with his refusal to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and repeated accusations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. “We will not accept a culture that treats Jewish self-determination as a negotiable ideal,” the letter says, calling on Americans “to stand up for candidates who reject antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric.” The statement, organized by the Jewish Majority advocacy group, carries the signatures of several of New York’s most Jewish “leaders”, including Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Emanu-El, Rabbi David Gelfand of Temple Israel of the City of New York, Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Kehilath Jeshurun, and Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, president of the New York Board of Rabbis. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Russia has test-fired a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile as part of a nuclear exercise. The missile is capable of striking targets more than 11,000 kilometers away.

FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that his agency is nearing a major breakthrough in uncovering the leadership and funding channels behind Antifa, telling Just the News that investigators are “on the verge” of exposing the network’s “command structure” and its financial backers.

According to a report from The Huckabee Post, Patel said the FBI “is following the money” and noted that “There are indications that support for anti-American radical groups is coming from America’s enemies overseas.” He added that the Bureau has been tracing funds and communications tied to violent anarchist movements operating inside the United States.

Patel said that the ongoing probe into Antifa’s operations involves identifying who is directing and financing its activities, both domestically and abroad. He explained that investigators have found evidence suggesting that foreign adversaries, as well as American nonprofits with IRS exemptions, are funneling resources toward anti-American extremism. “We’re looking at so many different leads on criminal activity by those who are in positions of power,” Patel told Just the News.

He further indicated that the agency’s broader corruption investigations could result in new indictments soon. Patel urged critics to be patient with the process, pointing out that “Trump’s people have had just seven months to investigate corruption that’s been embedded for 20 years or more.”

Praising President Donald Trump’s efforts to classify Antifa as a domestic terror group, Patel said the Bureau’s teams are “mapping out the money,” making use of “social media and the influencers” who participated in an Antifa-focused roundtable event at the White House.

During his discussion with Just the News, Patel emphasized that tracking Antifa’s financial network has become such a high priority that “we’ve created an entire new program and division dedicated to rooting out the money that is funding these operations, whether it’s U.S. based or internationally.”

A White House fact sheet issued in September reiterated the administration’s position on the movement. Trump’s executive order, it said, “notes that Antifa is a militarist, anarchist enterprise that calls for the overthrow of the United States government and law enforcement officials.” The document further stated, “The Order directs the Federal government to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle all illegal operations conducted by Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa. It also calls for investigating, disrupting, and dismantling the funding sources behind such operations.”

At a recent Antifa roundtable, investigative researcher Seamus Bruner, Director of Research at the Government Accountability Institute (GAI), revealed that prominent left-wing funders have been financing the unrest. “We found a network of NGOs, it’s not just the Soros network, the Open Society Network. It’s other funding networks, the Arabella Funding Network, the Tides Funding Network, Neville Roy Singham and his network, foreign cash,” Bruner said. “And, it’s also big left-wing funders — some of them are not citizens of this country.”

Bruner, who spoke alongside journalists Nick Sortor and Jack Posobiec and President Donald Trump, said his team, led by GAI President Peter Schweizer, had “followed” the trail of money and traced it to what they described as the “Protest Industrial Complex,” or “Riot Inc.” The network, he explained, encompasses multiple branches — from public relations and marketing to a “well-funded legal division” — coordinating and financing left-wing street actions.

“We have identified dozens of radical organizations, not just the decentralized Antifa organizations, but dozens of radical organizations that have received more than one hundred million dollars from the Riot Inc. investors,” Bruner stated. “These would be the lawyer groups, these would be the groups that advocate for calling good, honest Americans fascists.”

With the FBI now tightening its focus on these funding streams, Patel suggested that significant developments could be announced soon — marking what may become one of the most consequential counter-extremism operations in decades.

{Matzav.com}