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Oregon’s Democratic governor firmly tells President Trump not to send troops to Portland.

VP Vance on Kamala Harris: “I listen to Kamala Harris for 90 seconds and I actually feel like I’ve gotten dumber in the process.”

The FBI has fired the agents who were photographed kneeling at a 2020 George Floyd protest.

Emirati media released footage of last night’s meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Yisrael Porush, son of United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush, was arrested by police on Motzei Shabbos during a protest outside Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in Tel Aviv. Porush, a member of the Elad city council for the Shlomei Emunim movement, a former mayor of the Chareidi city, and leader of the Magen u-Moshi’a anti-enlistment group, was protesting against the detention of Chareidim for refusing to report to IDF draft notices. A video posted on an official Shlomei Emunim WhatsApp group shows Porush, wearing a Tallis, entering a police vehicle. He states, “I am being arrested for blowing the shofar in the Land of Israel while there are a hundred young men in detention.” There are around 100 Chareidim in military prison as of last week. In a statement, Shlomei Emunim called the arrest “an outrageous violation of the right to protest,” while MK Porush stated that his son’s detention reveals the “hypocrisy” of those protesting the government. “That cannot be considered democracy,” he said, adding, “when people demonstrate against the attorney general, who demands mass arrests with governmental violence and the denial of the right to study Torah…that is forbidden, and the demonstrator must be arrested.” Porush strongly criticized authorities, saying, “Rabbi Porush exposed this hypocrisy tonight. Thanks to him, everyone now knows that the State of Israel is not a nation of law, but a dictatorship hostile to democracy. There are unelected rulers in the legal system against whom it is forbidden to protest.”

TRUMP: “I am pleased to report that we are having very inspired and productive discussions with the Middle Eastern Community concerning Gaza. Intense negotiations have been going on for four days, and will continue for as long as necessary.”

Ukraine has reportedly received a U.S.-made Patriot air-defense system from Israel, which officials say has been operational for a month.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed President Donald Trump for attending Ryder Cup golf matches just days before a possible government shutdown, as Republicans push for a “clean” stopgap funding bill while Democrats demand it also extend ACA tax credits set to expire before 2026.

The Shin Bet and IDF say an airstrike in Gaza killed Hamas terrorist Muhammad Ahmad Yousef al-Jamal, who shot and killed Israeli officer Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora during the June 8, 2024, Nuseirat hostage rescue. Also killed in the strike was Sari Idris Muhammad al-Aqrab, another Hamas terrorist linked to the October 7 attacks.

The IDF says its troops demolished the home of one of the two Palestinian terrorists behind the Yerushalayim shooting attack earlier this month that left six people dead.

Federal prosecutors at the Department of Justice may be looking for more evidence against James Comey, as legal analysts warn the case accusing the former FBI director of lying to Congress is too fragile to guarantee a conviction.

Mike Davis, who previously served as chief counsel to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and is a Trump ally, told The Post on Friday that he expects prosecutors to expand the charges. Comey was indicted Thursday on counts of making false statements to Congress and obstruction of justice.

“I imagine there will be a superseding indictment on this case, and I’m pushing very hard for the Crossfire Hurricane investigation to get moving,” Davis said.

The indictment was filed just before the five-year statute of limitations expired for Comey’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020.

The charges, brought by acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan, center on testimony from Comey’s former deputy Andrew McCabe. McCabe told the Justice Department inspector general that Comey said it was “good” that he had passed information to The Wall Street Journal for an October 30, 2016 story about the Clinton Foundation probe.

“The case was strong enough for the grand jury to indict,” said Davis, who worked at DOJ during the George W. Bush years.

“Comey clearly lied twice. He lied in 2017 to Grassley. He lied again in 2020 to Ted Cruz, and this is just the beginning of Comey’s legal troubles.”

Still, Davis conceded the prosecution faces an uphill battle in Virginia, a Democratic stronghold, where Biden-appointed Judge Michael Nachmanoff is presiding.

Skeptics argue that while evidence may exist showing Comey misled lawmakers, the case has serious weaknesses. Among them is a memo written by former U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert opposing charges against Comey, which could be introduced to support claims of political or vindictive prosecution, especially when paired with Trump’s repeated criticisms of the ex-FBI chief.

McCabe also testified that Comey approved the leak only after the fact, rather than authorizing it beforehand. McCabe himself was fired in 2018 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions after an inspector general report concluded he “lacked candor” with both Comey and other senior officials.

“Andrew McCabe, if it goes to trial and he testifies for the government, he will be eviscerated,” said Gene Rossi, a longtime federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia.

“If they go to trial — if it gets that far and it’s not killed or dismissed because of vindictive and selective prosecution, facts for which are abundant — they have got a proof problem at trial,” Rossi added. Rossi worked alongside Comey in Virginia between 1996 and 2001.

Former prosecutor Neama Rahmani predicted a similar outcome: “I think they lose this case,” he said of the Trump DOJ’s effort, noting, “If the DOJ cared about this leak, they would have prosecuted it during the first Trump administration.”

Comey testified to Congress in 2017 that he “never” served as an anonymous source about investigations into President Trump or Hillary Clinton and that “no,” he had not allowed subordinates to act as anonymous sources for reporters on those matters.

At a September 2020 Judiciary Committee hearing, Comey reaffirmed his earlier testimony, telling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), “I stand by the [2017] testimony.” That reaffirmation extended the five-year statute of limitations, setting September 30, 2025, as the deadline for possible charges.

McCabe, however, told investigators in 2018 that he “did not recall discussing the disclosure with Comey in advance of authorizing it, although it was possible that he did.” Comey, on the other hand, told the inspector general that McCabe “definitely” had not informed him of the leak.

“The director and the deputy director of the FBI are the only two FBI officials who have the authority and the responsibility to authorize the release of information to the media,” McCabe later testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in November 2020.

{Matzav.com

The IDF released footage of a drone strike in Gaza City targeting Hamas terrorists who were spotted attempting to plant bombs. The terrorists, seen digging while trying to conceal themselves under blankets, were identified by troops of the 188th Armored Brigade, who then called in the Israeli Air Force to carry out the strike, killing them, according to the military.

On the one-year anniversary of his assassination by Israel, the Hezbollah-affiliated al-Mayadeen network broadcast what it claims is the final image of the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Thousands of travelers returning from Uman after spending Rosh Hashanah there are facing a chaotic ordeal, with many forced to spend Shabbos in makeshift tents across Romania.

Passengers who had hoped to be back in Israel in time for the weekend were instead stranded due to widespread delays at border crossings and airports, leaving them with no option but to rely on emergency accommodations.

Travel agencies announced that buses would pick up stranded passengers from Tulcea Airport, the waiting hall near the Orlivka border, and from Iasi, transporting them to temporary lodging sites prepared for Shabbos. Organizers promised that Shabbos meals would also be provided at these locations.

Many accused the chareidi Knesset representatives of neglecting the plight of Breslover chassidim, saying: “לחברי הכנסת החרדים לא איכפת כי זה חסידי ברסלב — The chareidi MKs don’t care because we’re Breslov.”

Since Rosh Hashanah, heavy congestion at Ukraine’s borders has caused significant hold-ups, leading to missed flights and confusion at airports across Europe. Countless passengers reported distressing experiences and blamed their representatives for failing to intervene.

The chaos resulted in the cancellation of four flights from Tulcea and Iasi after airline crews exceeded their permitted working hours under international aviation regulations, making it impossible for them to fly.

Two major agencies, Nativim Tours and Derech Tzaddikim, said they had tried to add extra flights immediately but were unable to do so. “In the meantime, we have been working since this afternoon to arrange sleeping areas and Shabbos meals for our clients who are stuck in Romania,” the agencies said. “Our buses will transport passengers from Tulcea Airport (including the waiting hall), from Orlivka, and from Iasi, and bring them to the designated lodging points, where we will provide Shabbos meals. Passengers making their own Shabbos arrangements should follow our updates regarding the new flights we have secured.”

Those left in Romania will be flown home on special flights organized for Motzoei Shabbos and Sunday morning, departing from several airports simultaneously.

Earlier reports described the return journey from Uman as a grueling and drawn-out saga. With long backups at crossings between Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Moldova, many travelers attempted to find alternate routes to Israel. Some, however, chose to remain in place until after Shabbos to avoid being stranded on the road without a safe place to stay.

{Matzav.com}

Federal prosecutors are moving ahead with charges against James Comey, who led the FBI during President Donald Trump’s first term, but the case lacks real strength, according to retired Judge Andrew Napolitano. Speaking Friday on Newsmax, Napolitano said the government is essentially “striking back” at Comey over his actions involving Trump.

Napolitano, who serves as Newsmax’s chief judicial analyst, said on National Report that Comey’s treatment of Trump while he was in office was “illegal, reprehensible, and politically motivated,” but added, “It’s too late to prosecute him for that.”

“Many of the things he did in the first term, and then he was fired in the beginning of the first term,” said Napolitano. “Many of the things he did in the tail end of President [Barack] Obama’s presidency could have formed the basis for criminal prosecutions in the first Trump term. They didn’t do that. The statute of limitations has expired.”

Comey had overseen high-profile inquiries into Trump and his circle — cases the president has frequently slammed as “lawfare.” These included the investigations into alleged Russian election interference, questions about campaign contacts with Moscow, and surveillance matters tied to Trump associates. Most of these probes ultimately collapsed without convictions.

Napolitano noted that prosecutors are now on their third attempt to bring charges against Comey after two earlier grand juries rejected indictments. The current case involves two separate counts.

The first charge claims Comey gave false testimony when Senator Ted Cruz asked him if he had authorized another FBI official to disclose details of the Trump-Russia probe to the media. Comey replied simply, “No.” But former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has testified that Comey did, in fact, give that go-ahead.

Comey is “being prosecuted for this one-word answer as a way of striking back at him for the other things that he did,” Napolitano explained. “That’s not really permissible under the law, but prosecutors do it.”

He pointed out that the evidence is shaky, essentially boiling down to conflicting statements. The Justice Department’s inspector general had previously determined that McCabe was dishonest while Comey had told the truth. That conclusion, Napolitano said, is why past prosecutors and grand juries declined to pursue charges.

The second count stems from the first, accusing Comey of obstructing justice by hindering Congress’ investigation through his supposed false statement.

Napolitano cast doubt on that allegation too, saying, “If he’s found not guilty on the lie, or if the lie part is dismissed by a federal judge, then the obstruction of justice part goes away as well.”

He underscored that the government faces an uphill battle. “I think it’s a very weak case, and I think it’s a very difficult one to prove,” Napolitano said, noting that McCabe presents a serious hurdle. “He’s Jim Comey’s friend and former colleague who does not want to see him convicted. I don’t think the government is going to get out of him what they want, other than what he already told Congress.”

In the end, Napolitano said, jurors will have to wrestle with one basic issue: “Did he or didn’t he lie?”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sat down with New York City Mayor Eric Adams following Netanyahu’s address at the United Nations General Assembly.

“For decades, world leaders have convened in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly to pursue diplomacy and peace,” Adams says in a statement. “Allowing everyone to speak freely is who we are as a city and as a nation — and while many may try to reject that notion today, I will continue to embrace it.”

“That is why, of all the world leaders we have greeted this week, I was particularly proud to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his address to the United Nations, to thank him for defending the Western world and our way of life,” Adams says. “Prime Minister Netanyahu laid out a clear case that those who call for the death of Jews across the globe are also calling for the death of Americans.”

“At a time when much of the world is turning its back on the Jewish State of Israel, the mayor of the largest Jewish community outside of Israel must remain steadfast in our support for Israel, its right to defend itself, eliminate Hamas, and bring every single one of their hostages home,” Adams says.

Adams, who has long aligned himself with pro-Israel causes, is also in the middle of his reelection campaign with the mayoral vote approaching in November.

Current polling shows Adams holding third place in the race, trailing Zohran Mamdani, the far-left candidate who is sharply critical of Israel, and Andrew Cuomo, the former governor who has backed Israel while also expressing some disapproval of the military campaign in Gaza in recent weeks.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu began his United Nations General Assembly speech on Friday with a distinctive pin clipped to his jacket. The pin, worn not only by Netanyahu but also by members of the Israeli delegation, carried a QR code leading viewers to a website showcasing the atrocities carried out by Hamas on October 7, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The scannable pin was part of a much larger Israeli information campaign launched in New York this week. A fleet of mobile billboards and numerous digital screens in the vicinity of UN headquarters and Times Square were emblazoned with the words “Remember October 7,” each paired with a QR code leading to the same site. Several reports pointed out that the link only works outside Israel, a restriction Israel has implemented before when focusing on international messaging.

The effort was designed to keep global attention fixed on the Hamas assault as world leaders gathered in New York. The trucks and digital displays mirrored the very same emblem Netanyahu wore onstage, urging pedestrians to scan and access curated material documenting the killings and kidnappings.

Fox News and other outlets also covered the large-scale presence of the “Remember October 7” campaign, confirming that the QR codes led users abroad to a site with graphic evidence from the attacks.

Israel has already created an official English-language platform presenting detailed accounts of the October 7 massacre, part of its strategy to consolidate and verify materials used in advocacy around the world.

According to the PMO, both the pin and the widespread signage were aimed at keeping the issue of the hostages and the October 7 massacre at the forefront as Netanyahu delivered his remarks. The imagery rolled out across midtown Manhattan in the hours before he took the podium.

{Matzav.com}

The Prime Minister’s Office rejected accusations that setting up loudspeakers to broadcast Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly poses a threat to Israeli troops operating in Gaza.

“As part of the public diplomacy effort, the Prime Minister’s Office has directed civilian elements, in cooperation with the IDF, to place loudspeakers on the backs of trucks on the Israeli side of the Gaza border so that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s historic UN General Assembly speech will be heard in the Gaza Strip,” the PMO said in a statement.

The office also stressed that Netanyahu personally instructed that no action be taken which could put soldiers’ safety at risk.

The IDF also responded, explaining: “The loudspeaker mission in Gaza is, from our perspective, a legitimate mission intended to apply pressure on Hamas and influence the population of the Strip.”

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According to military details, the loudspeakers were positioned in protected areas and fixed onto trucks. Four were placed inside Israel, and another four in advanced positions within Gaza — among them the Sabra area in the north, the Netzarim Corridor sewage treatment site, a coastal point in Rafah, and other strategic spots.

Despite these assurances, parents of many soldiers currently deployed in Gaza sent a formal letter to the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff, demanding that the initiative be canceled. Their concern centers on the risk that the placement of the sound equipment exposes their sons to unnecessary danger.

The letter was issued after reports surfaced that Netanyahu had asked for the loudspeakers to be set up in Gaza itself for his speech to be heard. Parents argue that the plan is reckless and should be halted immediately.

They contend in the letter that carrying out such a task will inevitably require interaction with Gazan civilians and put soldiers directly in harm’s way. The families are calling on top defense officials to stop any efforts involving equipment that brings forces closer to the local population.

“This is an action that requires friction with the population and clearly endangers the lives of our fighting children. Never in the history of the State of Israel has there been such disregard for the lives of fighters. The war that is taking place in Gaza must end and has no justification,” the parents wrote. They appealed to military commanders to act swiftly to prevent exposing soldiers to further risks.

Along with the letter, the families also announced they will be organizing a march on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. The protest will begin at Rabin Gate outside IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv and continue to Metzudat Ze’ev, Likud’s central offices. Parents added that more families are joining their campaign to bring the soldiers home and to stop what they describe as a dangerous and unnecessary operation.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The New York City Council gave strong backing on Thursday to new regulations for installing gas-powered appliances, though opponents warned the move would drive up costs for property owners and ultimately renters.

The measure, which passed in a 47-1 vote, would require New Yorkers to use licensed master plumbers or specially certified workers for the installation of gas stoves, dryers, and other similar appliances.

Dissenters cautioned that the rule could tack on as much as $500 to each installation for homeowners or landlords, with those expenses likely to be passed down to tenants.

Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez of the Bronx, who authored the legislation, said the need for the bill stems from the deadly East Village gas explosion in 2015, an incident that killed two people and destroyed three buildings. The disaster was linked to an illegal gas hookup.

“Y’all, public, in the city of New York, should not be installing a gas range yourself,” Sanchez said before the council vote. “It’s not safe.”

The New York Apartment Association, which advocates for landlords in rent-regulated housing, said the council’s action was unnecessary.

Kenny Burgos, head of the group, argued that specialized plumbers could demand up to $500 per installation.

“The law will add hundreds of dollars to every installation because it will require licensed master plumbers to perform a job [that] store technicians, building supers, contractors and handy homeowners have been doing safely for decades,” he wrote this week in a Post op-ed.

Burgos further raised concerns about whether there would be enough qualified plumbers available to keep up with demand.

“But on top of that, there’s a real logistics problem when you have a small number of master plumbers and so many appliances that are being teased out on a regular basis just around here city,” Burgos told Fox News Business.

Sanchez pushed back, arguing that the change would not create a financial burden since such practices were already in place.

“Anyone who is making complaints with respect to that change, it’s not really a change, it’s just a clarification,” she said.

Sanchez, who leads the Housing and Buildings Committee, acknowledged, however, that the legislation could increase demand for master plumbers. A Fox Business report estimated there are only about 1,100 such licensed professionals.

“In terms of the shortage of master plumbers and anyone else who is certified to do this work, that’s a conversation that I certainly want to have as chair of housing and buildings, is, how do we get more folks into the trades?” Sanchez said. “And is there a conversation about other individuals who could be certified to do this work safely?”

The only member to oppose the bill was Bronx Councilman Kevin Riley. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mayor Eric Adams’ office stopped short of endorsing the bill outright.

“Every step the City Council takes must be guided by the same lens we use: how to make this more affordable for working-class New Yorkers,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. “As with all legislation the council votes on, we are reviewing this bill.”

If Adams signs the measure, it would take effect in 120 days.

{Matzav.com}

‘America’s Newsroom’ panelists Trey Yingst, Jennifer Griffin, Gen. Jack Keane (Ret.), and John Roberts discuss Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly.

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