Feed aggregator

President Donald Trump led a wave of tributes Sunday following the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, calling the longtime South Carolina Republican “one of the greatest people and Senators” he had ever known.

Graham, 71, died on Motzoei Shabbos following what his office described as a brief and sudden illness. His passing prompted an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum, with lawmakers, administration officials, and longtime friends remembering his decades of public service, his unwavering commitment to America’s national security, and his steadfast support for Israel.

In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump expressed both personal grief and admiration for one of his closest political allies.

“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!” Trump wrote. “He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!”

The president’s tribute reflected a friendship that extended well beyond politics. Graham was one of Trump’s closest allies in the Senate during his second administration and frequently accompanied the president on golf outings. The two also campaigned together extensively, including during Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign.

Vice President JD Vance also paid tribute, recalling both his policy disagreements and his respect for Graham’s character.

“Lindsey Graham came from humble beginnings and became one of the most powerful lawmakers in the most powerful nation on Earth. His story was a fundamentally American one,” Vance wrote.

He recounted an early clash with Graham over Ukraine funding, only to discover the following day that Graham had quietly helped advance legislation important to him.

“That was Lindsey Graham. He fought like hell for the things he believed in, and he was just as willing to go to bat for you when it counted.”

Vance also praised Graham’s personality and political instincts.

“Lindsey had the best sense of humor in the Senate. He loved the game of politics. He was constantly asking which races were up and down, and how he could help.”

Although the two did not always agree, Vance concluded, “We certainly had our disagreements. But I couldn’t help but like him. A one of a kind figure in our politics. I’ll be praying for him and his family.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Graham’s death a tremendous loss for both the country and the administration.

“America has lost a statesman,” she wrote. “President Trump and the White House have lost a friend. Rest in Peace, Senator Graham.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune remembered Graham as one of the chamber’s most influential voices on national security and foreign affairs.

“My heart is heavy this morning to learn of the passing of my friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham,” Thune said.

“Lindsey’s long and dedicated service in the Air Force and in Congress carried him to far-flung regions of the world. He was a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe. He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause.”

Thune noted that Graham’s influence on the federal judiciary, America’s military, and his home state “will be felt for generations.”

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott called Graham “a true statesman.”

“America’s lost a true statesman. We don’t have many left, but he was a true statesman,” Scott said during an appearance on CNN. “But I’ve lost a friend.”

Scott also recalled that Graham warmly welcomed him when he entered the Senate in 2013.

“He was one of the first folks in the Senate to welcome me in with open arms.”

Republican senators from across the country also honored Graham’s legacy.

Sen. Ted Cruz described him as “a fearless patriot, a devoted public servant, and one of the fiercest advocates for America’s national security.”

“He loved this country deeply, and he dedicated his life to defending it,” Cruz said. “For years, I had the privilege of serving alongside Lindsey in the Senate. We fought shoulder to shoulder for conservative judges, stood together with our allies, and never wavered in confronting America’s adversaries.”

Sen. John Barrasso called Graham “my dear friend” and said he “represented South Carolina and America with pride and determination.”

“All of us in the Senate will miss his quick wit and infectious laughter. The Senate will never again see anyone quite like Senator Lindsey Graham.”

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who entered the Senate alongside Graham more than two decades ago, wrote that “it is hard to convey the loss that I feel knowing that we will no longer have his leadership in the Senate.”

Rep. Michael McCaul called Graham “a giant” in American politics and urged Congress to pass new sanctions on Russia in his memory.

“This is a loss not only for his family and friends like me, but for the entire nation,” McCaul said. “We shared a similar world view that America is strongest at home when we are strong abroad.”

He added that he would introduce House legislation mirroring Graham’s sanctions proposal and said, “Congress should pass it in his honor.”

Even political opponents praised Graham’s commitment to public service.

South Carolina Democrat James Clyburn said that although their relationship was “sometimes partisan and passionate,” it was “always pleasant and productive on behalf of the people of South Carolina.”

“For more than three decades, we served the people of the Palmetto State together in Congress,” Clyburn said. “Throughout that time, we maintained a relationship grounded in mutual respect, even when our political differences were significant.”

Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews likewise urged South Carolinians “to set partisanship aside and offer gratitude to Senator Lindsey Graham for his service to the great state of South Carolina.”

{Matzav.com}

The Ozherover Rebbe was rushed to the hospital on Sunday morning after suffering a heart attack while at his beis medrash in Bnei Brak.

The Rebbe reportedly began feeling severely unwell while in his beis medrash on Rechov Chazon Ish.

Hatzalah volunteers and Magen David Adom emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene, where they provided him with initial medical treatment.

After undergoing a preliminary evaluation, doctors determined that the Rebbe had suffered a heart attack. He was transported by Magen David Adom ambulance to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, where he was taken for an emergency cardiac catheterization procedure.

All are asked to daven for Rav Tanchum Binyamin ben Miriam.

{Matzav.com}

Police arrested several suspects, including minors, during a major anti-crime operation in Beitar Illit targeting juvenile delinquency over the summer vacation. The suspects are under investigation for a range of alleged offenses, including illegal possession of a knife, making threats against a public official, property damage, diesel fuel theft, and drug trafficking.

The operation, dubbed “Breaking the Waves,” was carried out by detectives from the Etzion Police Station in the Judea and Samaria District. As part of the initiative, officers increased patrols and inspections throughout the city in an effort to identify and apprehend young suspects allegedly involved in criminal activity.

During the operation, detectives stopped a 16-year-old Beitar Illit resident who was allegedly carrying a knife in violation of the law. After being taken to the police station for questioning, the teenager allegedly damaged chairs in the station’s waiting area by scratching anti-police graffiti into them with his fingernails while a police officer was present. He was subsequently arrested on additional suspicion of causing damage to public property.

In a separate case, police arrested two suspects, including a minor, following an investigation launched earlier this week into alleged threatening harassment directed at a public official. The investigation also involved suspected property damage after a garbage dumpster near the official’s home was set on fire. Police said the suspects were located with the assistance of station intelligence personnel.

Authorities also reported progress in an ongoing investigation into the theft of diesel fuel from buses and suspected drug trafficking. During an earlier phase of the investigation, detectives seized jerry cans, hoses allegedly used to siphon diesel fuel, and discovered a concealed location containing a large quantity of illegal drugs.

Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, police identified one of the suspects and arrested the minor during Thursday night’s operation. A search of his home allegedly uncovered a quantity of hard drugs that police said was inconsistent with personal use.

Police said all of the investigations remain ongoing at the Etzion Police Station and indicated that additional arrests are expected as the investigations progress.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday announced a sweeping new consumer protection initiative aimed at eliminating subscription traps and hidden fees, introducing what he called the nation’s first municipal “Click to Cancel” rule.

The new regulation will require businesses to make canceling a subscription just as simple as signing up for one. Under the policy, companies will no longer be permitted to bury consumers in lengthy cancellation processes after allowing them to enroll with only a single click.

Mamdani unveiled the proposal alongside New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine and other city officials.

“I think many of us have come to feel this is inevitable,” Levine said. “The feeling like we’re navigating a minefield when we’re shopping is simply the price of modern convenience.”

The regulations are scheduled to take effect in October and are intended to protect consumers from recurring subscription charges—such as those associated with gyms and hotels—as well as so-called junk fees that are not disclosed until the final stages of a purchase.

City officials estimate that the Click-to-Cancel rule alone could save New Yorkers as much as $162.5 million annually.

“For years, companies have built their business model around making it harder for working people to hold onto their money,” Mayor Mamdani said. “Whether it’s hidden fees that suddenly appear at checkout or subscriptions that take one click to sign up for and a dozen steps to cancel, the result is the same: working people pay more while corporations profit. That ends now. If you can sign up with one click, you can cancel with one click.”

Many city residents welcomed the proposal, saying subscription services have become an expensive burden that is often difficult to escape.

“Like we have so many subscriptions that we barely even use or like family plans,” said Financial District resident Paige Southworth.

“I would say Netflix, or honestly all of the above. They definitely never give you a chance, I guess, to catch a break,” said Lower East Side resident Ike Sanchez.

The city initiative mirrors a similar nationwide rule introduced by Lina Khan while serving as chair of the Federal Trade Commission during the Biden administration. That federal regulation was later blocked by the courts during the Trump administration.

Khan now serves as an adviser to Mamdani and has played a leading role in bringing a comparable policy to New York City.

“The Mamdani administration’s work to tackle the affordability crisis and promote economic fairness continues to set a new standard nationwide, modeling effective governance and a relentless focus on using all of the city’s levers to improve life for New Yorkers,” she said.

Businesses found violating the rule could face consumer restitution orders as well as civil penalties beginning at $525 for each violation.

Questions remain, however, about how aggressively the city will enforce the new regulations and what the overall cost of implementing and policing the program will be.

{Matzav.com}