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President Donald Trump addressed reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, offering pointed remarks about ongoing US engagement with Iran and emphasizing that diplomacy is unfolding alongside a significant show of force.

Trump said the United States is deploying major naval assets to the region even as discussions proceed. “We have big ships heading to Iran right now. The biggest and the best. We have talks going on with Iran, we will see how it all works out,” he said.

He declined to outline any next steps, stressing that the administration intends to keep its options close. “I can’t tell you what I’m going to do, because right now we have a tremendous force going there, just like we did in Venezuela – even bigger. And they’ll be there soon,” Trump continued.

Trump:

We have big ships heading to Iran right now.

We have talks going on with Iran, we will see how it all works out. pic.twitter.com/NcdvNjFXdW

— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 2, 2026

At the same time, Trump reiterated that he would prefer a negotiated outcome, while warning of consequences if talks fail. “I’d like to see a deal negotiated. I don’t know that that’s going to happen. But if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you. I’d be very foolish if I were to tell you. But right now we’re talking to them. We’re talking to Iran. And if we could work something out, that’d be great. And if we can’t, probably bad things will happen.”

The comments come amid reports that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are set to meet Friday in Istanbul to explore the possibility of a renewed nuclear agreement.

Trump has repeatedly urged Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program, while making clear that military action remains an option if diplomacy does not succeed.

On Sunday, the president responded to recent warnings from Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who cautioned that if “they start a war, this time it will be a regional war.”

“We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there… hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right,” Trump told reporters.

Trump also said on Motzoei Shabbos that Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States, adding that he hopes Tehran ultimately agrees to a deal that involves giving up its nuclear weapons.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of the prominent Satmar philanthropist and supporter of Torah and chessed, Rabbi Yisroel Dov Goldberger z”l. A leading figure among the Satmar community in Kiryas Yoel, he was 86 years old.

Rabbi Goldberger was born to his father, Rabbi Yitzchak Goldberger, and was the eldest grandson of Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Goldberger, who survived the Holocaust together with all of his children. From a young age, he was deeply connected to the rebuilding of Torah life after the devastation of Europe.

Throughout his lifetime, Rabbi Goldberger played a central role in constructing and expanding Satmar mosdos in Kiryas Yoel, contributing sums totaling millions of dollars. Most recently, he financed the construction of a massive new building for the Bais Rochel girls’ school in Kiryas Yoel, continuing his lifelong commitment to chinuch.

Over the past 15 years, Rabbi Goldberger donated an estimated $40 million toward the building and expansion of Satmar mosdos. His most recent contribution, made just one month ago, was a donation of $3.5 million toward the renovation and enlargement of the Satmar Bais Medrash on Rodney Street in Williamsburg. The expanded bais medrash was named in his honor, Heichal Yisroel Dov.

His generosity extended beyond the United States. At the Satmar girls’ school in Yerushalayim, he funded an entire floor of the building, which bears his name as Komat Rav Yisroel Dov.

Rabbi Goldberger amassed his wealth through real estate ventures, but those close to him said his heart was as open as a great hall when it came to supporting tzedakah and building places of Torah and chassidus. His philanthropy was quiet, consistent, and driven by a deep sense of responsibility to Klal Yisroel.

He was closely attached to the leaders of the Satmar dynasty, maintaining a lifelong bond with the Satmar Rebbes, the Vayoel Moshe, the Berach Moshe, and the current Satmar Rebbe.

In recent weeks, Rabbi Goldberger’s health deteriorated and he was hospitalized in Florida. During that time, the Satmar Rebbe traveled specially for a 24-hour visit to be at his bedside.

Rabbi Goldberger is survived by his devoted family and by his wife, Hendel Miriam.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday that 16 people have been discovered dead outdoors across New York City since a severe cold spell set in more than a week ago.

According to the mayor, initial assessments show that most of the deaths were linked directly to the extreme temperatures. Of the 16 fatalities recorded since Jan. 24, 13 appear to have resulted from hypothermia, while three were attributed to drug overdoses.

City officials said none of the individuals were found inside homeless encampments, even as some advocates and critics have urged the city to dismantle such sites, arguing they pose safety risks for people reluctant to enter shelters.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Mamdani said the city has intensified its outreach efforts, deploying teams around the clock to locate people living outdoors and persuade them to seek shelter indoors.

“We’ve expanded more mobile warming units to a fleet of 20, which are moving throughout the city equipped with clinical staff to treat New Yorkers’ needs and get them off the street,” the mayor said.

Mamdani added that since the cold snap began, outreach workers have succeeded in bringing roughly 1,000 people indoors.

Beyond the humanitarian response, city agencies continue to work on clearing snow and ice. Mamdani said multiple departments are assisting sanitation crews as they clear streets, sidewalks, curbs, and corners throughout the city.

Although temperatures are expected to inch slightly higher this week — with daytime highs hovering around 32 degrees on Monday and Tuesday — conditions are forecast to remain near freezing for the rest of the week. Officials noted that if the pattern continues, the city could be experiencing its longest stretch of freezing weather in 65 years.

{Matzav.com}

Pesach 2026 offers a rare opportunity to experience Yom Tov in a setting that blends serenity, elegance, and spiritual uplift, as Greenwald Caterers and Elegant Essen Retreats present a premier Pesach program at the renowned Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.

Set on more than 400 pristine acres, the Wigwam Resort is a two-story luxury property known for its expansive grounds, refined accommodations, and tranquil desert beauty. With palm-lined walkways, resort-style pools, and wide open spaces, the setting provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxed yet elevated Pesach atmosphere—one that allows guests to truly feel the cheirus of the Yom Tov.

The program features Glatt kosher catering by Greenwald Caterers, celebrated for its exceptional cuisine, attention to detail, and uncompromising standards. Guests can expect thoughtfully prepared Yom Tov meals, beautifully presented, in an environment that reflects true Pesach dignity and warmth.

Spiritual enrichment and engaging programming will be led by a distinguished lineup, including Rabbi Bezalel Rudinsky, Rabbi Eli Mansour, Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Rabbi Dovid Newman, Dr. David Lieberman, and Rabbi Kalman Topp. Musical highlights will include Beri Weber, Yumi Lowy, and Gershon Freishtat and Orchestra.

With direct flights available to Phoenix, travel is simple and convenient, making this destination easily accessible for families and guests from across the country. For those wishing to extend the experience, an optional post-Pesach Shabbos offers the chance to unwind further and savor the atmosphere beyond Yom Tov.

Arizona’s famously beautiful weather, combined with luxury amenities and a carefully curated Pesach program, creates an experience that is both restful and inspiring—ideal for families seeking a meaningful Yom Tov without compromise.

For additional information and reservations, please visit wigwampesach.com, email info@wigwampesach.com, or call 636-2-PESACH. WhatsApp inquiries are welcome at 973-780-6900 or via https://wa.me/7183540281.

Pesach 2026 at the Wigwam Resort promises to be Pesach as it’s meant to be—elegant, uplifting, and truly unforgettable.

TRUMP: “For years, American businesses have risked running out of critical minerals during market disruptions. Today, we’re launching what will be known as Project Vault to ensure that American businesses and workers are never harmed by any shortage.”

Naftali Bennett said Monday night at a closed-door gathering of activists that he does not regret forming a coalition government with Mansour Abbas and the Ra’am party, despite the controversy it generated.

Bennett acknowledged that the move hurt many people but said he remains convinced it was the correct choice under the circumstances at the time. “I regret that I caused pain to people, but I stand behind my considerations. I stand behind the decision. At the time, we went to elections and I truly did not know Mansour Abbas; like all the parties, I said I would not sit with them,” he said.

At the same time, Bennett made clear that his current position is fundamentally different in light of the October 7 attacks. He said that the political reality in Israel has changed and ruled out any future reliance on Arab parties. “Since October 7, there is no mandate in the State of Israel to form a government based on Arab parties. We will establish a unity government under my leadership, a Zionist government based on an alliance of those who serve, and that is what will happen. We are going to win and we are going to form it,” Bennett declared.

While Bennett was speaking inside the venue, Likud activists gathered outside to protest. Addressing the demonstration, Bennett accused Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of avoiding a direct confrontation and instead encouraging disruption.

“Instead of doing a debate, which he is afraid to do, he sends activists to disrupt. Be a man, face me, don’t send activists. Whenever you want-name a place, name a time-I am ready to face Bibi on any issue. But not through paid activists; that’s not being a man,” Bennett said.

{Matzav.com}

Reuters reports that Iranian officials fear a U.S. strike could trigger widespread protests inside Iran, threatening regime stability. •⁠ ⁠Officials warn that public anger fueled by economic hardship and existing unrest could rapidly escalate if Iran is attacked. •⁠ ⁠Iranian leaders are described as more concerned about internal upheaval than physical damage from a strike, […]

A long-standing Wall Street belief that the global obesity-drug market would climb to about $150 billion over the next decade is now being called into question, as U.S. prices for GLP-1 medications from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly begin to decline.

A 328-foot cargo ship ran aground in Istanbul’s Sariyer district on the Black Sea coast during heavy seas and stormy weather.

SpaceX Falcon 9 launched Starlink satellites on Monday.

A whistleblower complaint targeting Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has been quietly sitting in bureaucratic limbo for months, and its unresolved status is now triggering fresh questions inside Washington about transparency, oversight and executive privilege. The existence of the complaint was first reported Monday by The Wall Street Journal, which described an unusually sensitive […]

Sec. Burgum on Cuba: “With President Trump, you know that whatever deal he strikes is going to be good for the American people, and this is just another example of President Trump understanding that energy dominance leads to peace abroad, it leads to prosperity at home.”

Lee Zeldin on rebuilding homes in L.A.: To be here one year later, and people still haven’t been able to rebuild their lives, President Trumps’ patience has been worn thin… he’s ready to blaze through whatever obstacles are left on the ground locally.

Russia would not accept any proposal by European countries to deploy NATO-member troops in Ukraine as part of a security guarantee or peace agreement, according to Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.

January closed out with two billion-dollar disasters: a massive winter storm that spread snow and ice from the Rockies to Maine, followed by a bomb cyclone and brutal cold.

Senior Israeli officials believe the United States is increasingly moving toward a direct confrontation with Iran, as negotiations between Washington and Tehran once again appear to be approaching a dead end. Israeli leadership is concerned that an American strike could weaken the grip of the ayatollah regime, potentially triggering mass public unrest and bringing angry […]

The Trump administration is restricting cities from using road safety grants for automated cameras that enforce speed limits or other traffic laws, part of a shift away from safety measures that might slow or otherwise inconvenience car travel.

The letters to city officials went out in December, saying that “for consistency with Administration priorities,” traffic cameras outside of school or work zones will not get approval under the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The program was created by the 2021 infrastructure law and funds projects aimed at eliminating traffic deaths.

“This Administration will not allow critical safety dollars to subsidize the purchase of speed cameras so governments can pursue unfair revenue schemes,” U.S. Department of Transportation spokesman Nathaniel Sizemore said in a statement.

Proposals to extend sidewalk curbs farther into a roadway are also barred, although the number of exceptions is greater: transit stops, roundabouts, school zones, on-street parking and curb extensions that don’t take away lanes of traffic, according to the letters from the U.S. Department of Transportation. As with other administration grants, the language also says any “equity analysis” is disqualifying.

The cities had been awarded grants but did not yet have a signed agreement with the White House for their implementation. Until that happens, funds can be clawed back. The Trump administration has previously said grants that include “reducing lane capacity for vehicles” with bike lanes or pedestrian infrastructure are “hostile” to cars and “counter to DOT’s priority of preserving or increasing roadway capacity for motor vehicles.”

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has signaled his enthusiasm for driving in various ways. He has tried to stop congestion pricing in New York, has encouraged Americans to take road trips and on Friday announced plans to host an IndyCar street race around the capital in August, saying, “Freedom doesn’t ring, it revs!”

Alex Engel, a spokesman for the National Association of City Transportation Officials, a nonprofit coalition, said the change is an unwarranted restriction on “proven, lifesaving tools,” and that “limiting speed and red-light enforcement to construction and school zones leaves many of the most dangerous city streets unaddressed.”

Research indicates that speed, red-light and stop sign cameras are effective at reducing crashes and fatalities and popular with the public. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls them a “proven safety countermeasure” in a 2023 report and noted that “support appears highest in jurisdictions that have implemented red-light or speed cameras.”

Advocates say merely cutting federal funding is unlikely to slow the growth of camera programs because they generally pay for themselves with fines.

“I don’t see it as a huge barrier, given that that’s not usually where the funding comes from,” said Leah Shahum, who leads a Vision Zero Network that offers support to cities and counties trying to end road deaths. “It’s still consequential for those that have applied, and I would worry a little bit that it may send a message, that in some places it would slow enthusiasm.”

In-person traffic enforcement has collapsed across the country in the past six years, and more communities are turning to cameras to fill the gap. But there are vocal opponents who argue that it isn’t fair to enforce traffic laws without the discretion of a human officer and that cameras are used to fine people for speed limits that are too low.

Last month, Politico reported that the administration suggested stripping funding for the District of Columbia unless the city eliminates its many traffic cameras. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) pushed back, saying doing so “would endanger people in our community” and “mean cuts to everyday services.” Cameras bring in more than $100 million a year through ticket revenue.

Several House Republicans are adamantly opposed to traffic cameras and have pushed for legislation banning them both in D.C. and nationwide. According to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, officials at the Federal Highway Administration have also been gathering information on the city’s bike lanes and whether they took space away from cars and caused congestion.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

{Matzav.com}