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A record heat wave that spread across the East Coast of the United States during the first week of summer has child advocates warning parents and caretakers about the risks of heatstroke to children left inside hot vehicles. So far this year, nine children have died after being left unattended in vehicles in California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, New Jersey and North Carolina, according to Kids and Car Safety, which collects data on hot car deaths. Five died in June. And last year, 39 children in the U.S. died after being left in hot cars. Why hot cars are so dangerous for children Human-caused climate change keeps dialing up temperatures and extreme weather, scientists say. But the temperature outside doesn’t have to be super hot for a child left in a vehicle to be affected by the heat, said Kathy Wall, director of Safe Kids Palm Beach County. “Inside, the vehicle can heat up 20 degrees in just 20 minutes,” Wall said. “So if you imagine it’s an 80 degree day, which in South Florida is a cool day, it could be over 100 degrees within 10 minutes inside the car.” Hot car deaths can happen any time of year, and since 1998, every state but Alaska has reported a hot car death, according to the National Safety Council. In both 2018 and 2019, a record 53 children died after being left in hot cars. About 80% of the heat rise in vehicles happens in the first 30 minutes of a child being left inside, when maximum temperatures can exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius), according to data compiled by Jan Null, a certified consulting meteorologist at San Jose State University. “Children sweat a lot less than adults do and their internal temperature can increase three to five times faster than an adult. So that’s why it’s just as important to make sure that your child isn’t left in the vehicle, especially during these rising temperatures,” said Capt. Karen Derogatis of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. It can happen to anyone While it’s easy to place blame for leaving a child in a vehicle, even people trained to know the dangers have made that tragic mistake, Wall said. “It’s not a socioeconomic group, it’s not a cultural group,” she said. “This sadly has happened to doctors, it’s happened to dentists, it happened to school teachers, it’s happened to child care workers. Nobody is exempt from this.” Distraction often leads to forgetting about a child in the backseat, which is why it is important to create routines and reminders, she said. “It sounds crazy, but sometimes people get out of routines or are distracted, especially in today’s world. There’s lots going on in the news, lots going with families,” she said. A parent who normally doesn’t drop a child off at a day care facility might become distracted and forget that the child is in the vehicle, she said. Create a reminder that a child is in the backseat She encourages parents and caregivers to establish routines. “We have an acronym, ACT,” Wall said. A stands for avoiding leaving a child unattended in a vehicle. C stands for creating a reminder that works best for you. Authorities suggest leaving a personal item such as a purse or briefcase in the backseat so you’ll have to open the back door […]

An Israeli Air Force husband-and-wife team revealed they took part in high-risk bombing missions over Iranian skies, targeting the Islamic Republic’s nuclear infrastructure and military assets. The wife, known only by the alias “Yud” in accordance with strict security protocols, is the first woman to serve as deputy commander of a fighter squadron in Israel’s history. Her husband, “Bet,” commands an air squadron and is slated to take command of a fighter squadron. The couple, who share two young children, described to Channel 12 how they balanced family life with the pressures of a full-scale air campaign. During the conflict, they did not see their children for two weeks, relying on family and friends to care for them. Reflecting on what it meant to leave for war as a mother, Yud told Channel 12: “It was a different hug, toward an unknown place. We didn’t know how these two weeks would end. We prepared, we got ready, we knew it would be difficult. And as we saw, unfortunately, we experienced losses on the home front of civilians being killed, civilians who were under rocket fire.” Iran’s missile salvos killed 28 people and wounded thousands more, devastating residential areas, universities, and a hospital, according to Israeli health authorities. Still, Yud said she believed in the mission: “On the one hand, it was not simple — knowing the home front was under fire. On the other hand, there is the thought and knowledge that what we’re doing is so that they will have a better future, without an Iranian threat.” Both pilots acknowledged compartmentalizing their emotions to remain focused. Yud explained that while she worries for Bet when he flies, she draws confidence from firsthand knowledge of their shared mission: “I know what he’s fighting for. I was there yesterday; I know the threat picture, and I’m not worried. On the other hand, I looked at the plane monitors and made sure our jets crossed the line back safely — and then I stayed for another five minutes to watch and make sure he came back safely too.” For the pilots in the skies, the mission was as personal as it was national. Yud concluded: “We’re doing this so that our children — and all of Israel’s children — can have a safer future.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel and Syria are on track to sign a landmark peace agreement before the end of 2025, according to a Syrian source speaking to i24NEWS. Under the reported framework, Israel would gradually withdraw from all Syrian territory it seized during its incursion into the buffer zone on December 8, including the strategic peak of Mount Hermon. The deal, if finalized, would fully normalize ties between the two longtime adversaries, with one source describing the Golan Heights as being transformed into “a garden for peace.” The potential breakthrough comes as the region experiences a wave of dramatic diplomatic movement. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff revealed Wednesday that additional countries are expected to join the Abraham Accords soon. Speaking to CNBC, Witkoff expressed optimism about broader regional normalization, and confirmed ongoing negotiations with Iran centered on a civilian nuclear program that strictly prohibits uranium enrichment. “It is a red line if Iran tries nuclear enrichment again,” he warned. Meanwhile, in the wake of the massive U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a late-night call described by officials as “euphoric.” According to a Yisrael Hayom report, the two leaders agreed to push for an end to the Gaza war within two weeks, with plans to replace Hamas rule with a coalition of Arab states, exile Hamas leaders, release all hostages, and expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia and Syria. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In the wake of Naftali Bennett’s recent interview, in which he claimed credit for Israel’s strike on Iran and blamed MK Idit Silman for the failure to eliminate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, two of Bennett’s former allies—Silman and Amichai Shikli—fired back with strongly worded public statements, accusing him of shameless self-aggrandizement and distortion of history.

Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman began her blistering response by noting the timing of the interview. “It’s amazing that Bennett chose to speak out during Parshas Korach,” she wrote. “It suits him perfectly—his style, his political path. No remorse, no apology to the voters he betrayed—just blind arrogance and a burning envy of Netanyahu’s historic achievements. Unlike him, I apologized for my role in that fraudulent coalition. But he? He carries on as if nothing happened. Not a single word of regret to the people he deceived.”

Silman continued: “What value do the words of a man hold when the entire nation and the whole world saw that he keeps no commitments, not even to his own signature? The sad truth is plain: a man who has no integrity, who outright says he won’t even promise things to his own children. When there’s no truth, there are no limits, no values, no red lines.”

She accused Bennett of rewriting the facts: “None of what he said is true. This is the same man who subordinated Israel to the Shura Council, funneled billions to the Muslim Brotherhood—funds that were later found to have reached Hamas-affiliated organizations. This is the man who built a government on the votes of Ra’am, a party that on Israel’s most vulnerable day accused it of war crimes. And he has the audacity to claim he would have taken out Sinwar? That government bent over backwards to appease the Muslim Brotherhood. It nearly collapsed over tree-planting in the Negev—so now he wants us to believe it would have ordered a strike in Gaza or Iran?”

Silman then pointed out the flaw in Bennett’s narrative: “Let’s not forget: the government remained in power for nine months after I resigned. Why didn’t it act then? His talk of ‘unity’ is a pathetic mask. A man who declares he will boycott a Netanyahu-led government, but happily sits with terror supporters, shows who he really is. His attempt to grab credit for the Iran strike is beyond absurd. Like a fly on an elephant’s back shouting, ‘We won!’ This is a man who couldn’t even manage his own office. Not a week went by without infighting and accusations.”

She concluded: “It was an honor for me to bring down the left-wing-Arab coalition and save the State of Israel from the dangerous hands that were steering it toward disaster. Yes, the polls always showed him as strong. And yet we all know how that ended.”

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Shikli followed up with a fact-based rebuttal titled “A Quick Fact Check for Mr. Bennett.”

“A. The Hamas attack was planned during the tenure of the ‘government of change.’ While it’s possible that the exact timing was influenced by protests or mass refusal to serve, the plan would have been executed regardless—months before or after.

B. During that government’s term, several dangerous precedents were set:

1. Increasing the quota of Gaza work permits to 20,000. Then-Minister of Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej said at the time that ‘economic prosperity promotes security stability.’

2. For the first time, an Israeli government entirely refrained from action against Hamas. The Bennett-Lapid administration only targeted Islamic Jihad, under the mistaken belief that Hamas was interested in ‘stability and economic growth.’

3. Bennett served as foreign minister in the Lapid-led transitional government. When Hezbollah launched three drones toward the Karish gas rig just days after he took office, Lapid panicked and launched hasty negotiations to redraw the maritime border with Lebanon, ultimately conceding key Israeli assets. Signing that deal days before Israel’s elections portrayed Israel as weak and fearful and severely damaged our deterrence.

C. The ‘government of change’ had a year and a half to carry out targeted assassinations of Hamas leadership. Blaming Silman’s resignation as the reason they didn’t is a pitiful excuse.

D. Had the Hamas massacre occurred under Bennett and Lapid:

1. It’s doubtful a large-scale ground operation would have been launched—certainly not in Rafah—due to the Biden administration’s staunch opposition.

2. Bennett and Lapid would have insisted on receiving prior American approval for any strike on Hezbollah leadership, which likely would have meant the operation never materialized.

3. As for Iran, Bennett himself recently said that his approach to neutralizing the Iranian threat was not through military strikes on nuclear facilities, but rather through ‘weakening the regime—not necessarily kinetic (military) action…’”

Shikli concluded his statement by saying, “The attempt to rewrite history and claim victory where there was failure is not only misleading. It is dangerous.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli authorities have revealed that a 24-year-old Israeli man charged with aiding the enemy was directly involved in a plot to assassinate Defense Minister Yisrael Katz. According to explosive new details aired by Channel 12, Roy Mizrachi allegedly planted powerful explosives near Katz’s home in Kfar Achim as part of an Iranian-directed conspiracy. The bombs were reportedly intended to detonate as Katz passed by, with sources suggesting the plot was perilously close to being carried out. Although the report did not specify how near the explosives were to the minister’s home, or whether they were primed to explode, officials confirmed Mizrachi had advanced the scheme well beyond mere surveillance. Prosecutors say Mizrahi acted “knowingly and deliberately” for Iran at a time of war. Mizrachi’s alleged espionage activities began after he was recruited via a Telegram channel by an Iranian handler using the alias “Alex.” Together with a friend, 24-year-old Almog Atias, Mizrahi reportedly filmed sensitive sites including the Shin Bet security agency headquarters and the Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv. The pair also attempted to place surveillance cameras in Katz’s hometown but aborted after noticing a police vehicle nearby. Their mission, however, did not stop there. Investigators say Mizrachi was later approached by another Iranian agent, “Getz,” who instructed him to plant explosives near Katz’s residence. Mizrachi picked up a blue bag containing the devices and placed it in the vicinity of the defense minister’s home. Astonishingly, he allegedly kept a brick of the explosive at his own home as well. The suspect, who was paid in cryptocurrency, also turned down a separate $1 million offer to assassinate a scientist at the Weizmann Institute, reportedly because the Iranians refused to pay half the sum upfront. Mizrachi’s attorney described his client as a naive young man who “caused no actual harm,” but security officials reject that portrayal. Investigators assert he was fully aware he was working under Iranian direction and carried out several missions in coordination with Tehran. The new revelations come against the backdrop of a dramatic rise in Iranian espionage operations on Israeli soil. Authorities have reported a disturbing trend of local recruits being used to gather intelligence and even lay the groundwork for attacks on senior public figures. During the recent 12-day war with Iran, Superintendent Maor Goren told Channel 12, multiple Israeli targets were bombed based on footage gathered by domestic spies working for Tehran. Just last week, three more Israelis were arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran — including one alleged to have tracked the future daughter-in-law of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and another believed to have photographed military bases and senior officials’ homes. In May, prosecutors charged 18-year-old Moshe Attias of Yavne with gathering intelligence on former prime minister Naftali Bennett while he was hospitalized. Earlier this year, two IDF reservists — Yuri Eliasfov and Georgi Andreyev, both 21 — were arrested for allegedly leaking details about the Iron Dome missile defense system to Iran in exchange for payments as low as $50. Israeli intelligence officials warn the arrests are only the tip of the iceberg in what they say is a sophisticated, ongoing Iranian effort to destabilize the country from within. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Shin Bet has uncovered an extensive Hamas terror infrastructure in Chevron, arresting more than 60 operatives who were allegedly preparing to carry out imminent attacks against Israeli targets. According to officials, the network was divided into approximately ten separate cells, each engaged in advanced planning for shooting and bombing attacks. Many of those arrested were previously convicted terrorists who had been released. The suspects reportedly underwent weapons training, gathered intelligence on Israeli targets, produced explosives, and assembled explosive devices in preparation for coordinated terror operations. During interrogations and subsequent raids, security forces seized 22 firearms of various types, 11 fragmentation grenades, and large amounts of ammunition. Authorities also discovered an underground hideout used to conceal wanted individuals and store weapons. The Shin Bet revealed that several of the detainees had taken part in past terror attacks, including one individual responsible for murdering four Israelis in 2010. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A high-ranking Palestinian Arab source speaking to the Arabic-language Sky News outlet revealed that Hamas has submitted a series of conditions as part of the ongoing discussions aimed at securing a truce in Gaza.

As per the report, Hamas has requested several key guarantees, including protection from targeted strikes on its political bureau and top exiled leadership. The group is also seeking assurance that its financial assets will remain untouched and that no limitations will be imposed on its external operations beyond Gaza.

The same report notes that Hamas is pushing for its members and affiliated individuals to be incorporated into a newly established civil and security infrastructure that would govern the Gaza Strip in the future.

According to the official cited by Sky News, the United States has conditionally backed a cessation of hostilities. However, this endorsement comes with a stipulation: if a comprehensive deal is not signed within 70 days of the ceasefire, Israel would retain the right to resume full-scale military operations.

In reaction to the report, senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri issued a sharp denial, rejecting the details entirely. He referred to the claims as “baseless accusations” and said they “serve Israel and undermine Hamas’ legitimacy.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking at a moment when threats against judges are on the rise, warned on Saturday that elected officials’ heated words about judges can lead to threats or acts of violence by others. Without identifying anyone by name, Roberts clearly referenced Republican President Donald Trump and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York when he said he has felt compelled to issue public rebukes of figures in both parties in recent years. “It becomes wrapped up in the political dispute that a judge who’s doing his or her job is part of the problem,” Roberts said at a gathering of lawyers and judges in Charlotte, North Carolina. “And the danger, of course, is somebody might pick up on that. And we have had, of course, serious threats of violence and murder of judges just simply for doing their work. So I think the political people on both sides of the aisle need to keep that in mind.” Roberts appeared at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judicial conference on the day after the Supreme Court issued the final decisions of its term, including a major victory for Trump that limits judges’ ability to use court orders with nationwide reach to block his agenda. C-Span carried Roberts’ conversation with Judge Albert Diaz, the 4th Circuit’s chief judge. Roberts first took issue with Trump’s comments in 2018, when Roberts responded to Trump’s description of a judge who rejected his migrant asylum policy as an “Obama judge.” In March, Roberts rejected calls for impeaching judges, shortly after Trump demanded the removal of one who ruled against his deportation plans. In 2020, Roberts called out Schumer for remarks that Roberts termed inappropriate and threatening after the senator said Trump-nominated Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch “will pay the price” for votes in a then-pending Louisiana abortion case. Schumer later said he should not have used those words. Two years later, with the court on the verge of overturning Roe v. Wade’s constitutional protections for abortion, police arrested an armed man outside Kavanaugh’s home in suburban Washington. In April, Nicholas John Roske pleaded guilty to trying to kill Kavanaugh. (AP)

President Trump fired back at media claims that his administration was contemplating a $30 billion nuclear agreement with Iran, slamming the reports as false and inflammatory — just days after hinting that a deal with Tehran might not even be needed.

“Who in the Fake News Media is the SleazeBag saying that ‘President Trump wants to give Iran $30 Billion to build non-military Nuclear facilities.’ Never heard of this ridiculous idea,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“It’s just another HOAX put out by the Fake News in order to demean. These people are SICK!!!” he added, rejecting the report outright.

CNN was the first to break the story, citing sources familiar with the alleged back-channel proposal. According to the outlet, details of the initiative were worked out during a confidential and extended meeting last week between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and regional Gulf partners.

CNN also reported that the proposal was finalized just a day before the U.S. launched coordinated strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

On Friday, prior to the report’s release, Trump had already suggested that sanctions on Iran might be lifted — especially in light of U.S. claims that recent airstrikes had severely crippled Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. His remarks came alongside harsh criticism of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had publicly declared that Iran emerged “victorious.”

“During the last few days, I was working on the possible removal of sanctions, and other things, which would have given a much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery — The sanctions are BITING!” Trump posted. “But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust.”

He went further in the same post, accusing Khamenei of ingratitude and referencing Israel’s previous intentions to pursue regime change.

“His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life,” Trump wrote. “I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!’”

In the days since the airstrikes, conflicting assessments have surfaced over their long-term effectiveness. Several intelligence-based analyses claim Iran’s nuclear ambitions have only been temporarily delayed. However, both Israel and the Trump administration maintain that the sites were effectively “destroyed” and have criticized media outlets for downplaying the damage.

Despite the conflicting evaluations, Trump has pointed to the tenuous ceasefire currently in place between Iran and Israel as evidence of progress. He expressed confidence that the strikes succeeded in dissuading Iran from further developing its nuclear arsenal.

“The way I look at it, they fought the war is done. I could get a statement that they’re not going to go nuclear. We’re probably going to ask for that,” Trump said on Wednesday after the NATO Summit in the Netherlands. “But they’re not going to be doing it.”

He also mentioned that discussions with Iran were expected to continue, though he downplayed the importance of formalizing an agreement.

“We’re going to talk to them next week with Iran, we may sign an agreement. To me, I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said.

Nevertheless, Trump made it clear that if Iran again poses a threat, he would not hesitate to authorize additional military action.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump took to social media late at night to call on both Israel and Hamas to finalize an agreement in Gaza that would bring about the release of hostages taken during the October 7 attacks.

“MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!! DJT,” he posted on his Truth Social platform, delivering a clear message that appeared directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move forward with the ceasefire deal. Trump had previously predicted that an agreement would be finalized within the week.

The post lacked additional context or explanation, but it followed an earlier statement from Trump in which he again urged Israeli authorities to drop legal proceedings against Netanyahu. “He is right now in the process of negotiating a Deal with Hamas, which will include getting the Hostages back,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk on Saturday doubled down on his distaste for President Donald Trump’s sprawling tax and spending cuts bill, arguing the legislation that Republican senators are scrambling to pass would kill jobs and bog down burgeoning industries. “The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country,” Musk wrote on X on Saturday ahead of a procedural Senate vote to open debate on the nearly 1,000-page bill. “It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.” The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, whose birthday is also Saturday, later posted that the bill would be “political suicide for the Republican Party.” The criticisms reopen a recent fiery conflict between the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency and the administration he recently left. They also represent yet another headache for Republican Senate leaders who have spent the weekend working overtime to get the legislation through their chamber so it can pass by Trump’s Fourth of July deadline. Musk has previously made his opinions about Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” clear. Days after he left the federal government last month with a laudatory celebration in the Oval Office, he blasted the bill as “pork-filled” and a “disgusting abomination.” “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” he wrote on X earlier this month. In another post, the wealthy GOP donor who had recently forecasted that he’d step back from political donations threatened to fire lawmakers who “betrayed the American people.” When Trump clapped back to say he was disappointed with Musk, back-and-forth fighting erupted and quickly escalated. Musk suggested without evidence that Trump, who spent the first part of the year as one of his closest allies, was mentioned in files related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein. Musk ultimately tried to make nice with the administration, saying he regretted some of his posts that “went too far.” Trump responded in kind in an interview with The New York Post, saying, “Things like that happen. I don’t blame him for anything.” It’s unclear how Musk’s latest broadsides will influence the fragile peace he and the president had enjoyed in recent weeks. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk has spent recent weeks focused on his businesses, and his political influence has waned since he left the administration. Still, the wealthy businessman poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Trump’s campaign in 2024, demonstrating the impact his money can have if he’s passionate enough about an issue or candidate to restart his political spending. Though he was silent on Musk, Trump laid on pressure and lashed out strongly at Republican holdouts in the Senate as lawmakers spent hours taking a procedural vote during a rare Saturday evening session. He accused Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina of seeking publicity with his no vote and threatened to campaign against the senator’s reelection. The legislation narrowly cleared its test vote in the Senate late Saturday evening, allowing senators to begin debate. (AP)

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Zohran Mamdani spoke at a rally in Harlem on Saturday as he sought to build on momentum from New York City’s Democratic primary, telling the crowd that people struggling to pay for housing, groceries and bus fare are hungry for change. Mamdani appeared at a National Action Network rally days after declaring victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the presumed favorite in the primary. Results will be finalized after the city’s ranked choice vote-counting resumes Tuesday. “What our victory showed on election night was less a victory between one man and another, but a victory for a city that New Yorkers can afford,” Mamdani said at a rally attended by Black clergy and filmmaker Spike Lee The Rev. Al Sharpton, the influential leader of the network, praised Mamdani for coming to the rally, despite reports that he lost some of the city’s most solidly Black neighborhoods in the primary. “He could have went the other way and said, ‘It’s me against them.’ But he came this morning and he proclaimed something. And I gave him a lot of credit for that,” Sharpton said. The winner of the Democratic primary advances to November’s election. Mayor Eric Adams is running for reelection as an independent candidate. Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the crime-fighting Guardian Angels, is running as a Republican. Cuomo, who has conceded defeat in the primary, also could run as an independent candidate. In Harlem, the 33-year-old state lawmaker stuck to a cost-of-living theme that skyrocketed him to political stardom, weaving in quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., the Bible and the city’s first Black mayor, David Dinkins. He said people question whether the city will become “a museum” of a place where working people could once thrive. “What we have seen in the last two weeks is a hunger from New Yorkers to move beyond the days of museums and relics and make this city a living, breathing testament to what is possible.” (AP)

Senate Republicans voting in a dramatic late Saturday session narrowly cleared a key procedural step as they race to advance President Donald Trump’s package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds by his July Fourth deadline. The tally, 51-49, came after a tumultuous night with Vice President JD Vance at the Capitol to break a potential tie. Tense scenes played out in the chamber as voting came to a standstill, dragging for more than three hours as holdout senators huddled for negotiations, and took private meetings off the floor. In the end, two Republicans opposed the motion to proceed, joining all Democrats. It’s still a long weekend of work to come. Republicans are using their majorities in Congress to push aside Democratic opposition, but they have run into a series of political and policy setbacks. Not all GOP lawmakers are on board with proposals to reduce spending on Medicaid, food stamps and other programs as a way to help cover the cost of extending some $3.8 trillion in Trump tax breaks. “It’s time to get this legislation across the finish line,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. Ahead of the expected roll call, the White House released a statement of administrative policy saying it “strongly supports passage” of the bill. Trump himself was at his golf course in Virginia on Saturday with GOP senators posting about the visit on social media. But by nightfall, Trump was lashing out against holdouts, threatening to campaign against one Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had announced he could not support the bill because of grave Medicaid cuts that he worried would leave many without health care in his state. Tillis and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against. Pressure was mounting from all sides — billionaire Elon Musk criticized the package as “utterly insane and destructive.” The 940-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act was released shortly before midnight Friday, and senators are expected to grind through all-night debate and amendments in the days ahead. If the Senate is able to pass it, the bill would go back to the House for a final round of votes before it could reach the White House. With the narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate, leaders need almost every lawmaker on board in the face of essentially unified opposition from Democrats. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Republicans unveiled the bill “in the dead of night” and are rushing to finish the bill before the public fully knows what’s in it. He immediately forced a full reading of the text in the Senate, which would take hours. Make-or-break moment for GOP The weekend session could be a make-or-break moment for Trump’s party, which has invested much of its political capital on his signature domestic policy plan. Trump is pushing Congress to wrap it up and has admonished the “grandstanders” among GOP holdouts to fall in line. The legislation is an ambitious but complicated series of GOP priorities. At its core, it would make permanent many of the tax breaks from Trump’s first term that would otherwise expire by year’s end if Congress fails to act, resulting in a potential tax increase on Americans. The bill would add new breaks, including no taxes on tips, and commit $350 billion to national security, including for Trump’s mass deportation agenda. But […]

Zohran Mamdani, who recently won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, has vowed to increase property taxes in what he calls “whiter neighbourhoods” as part of his broader economic plan.

The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in Tuesday’s primary, securing the party’s nomination for the November general election. Following his upset victory, new information has emerged highlighting the more radical aspects of his platform — including a pledge to “shift the tax burden” toward wealthier, predominantly white areas of the city.

On his campaign website, a housing policy memo titled “Supporting homeowners and ending deed theft” outlines his proposed tax overhaul. It states that, if elected, Mamdani plans to “shift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighbourhoods.”

The memo criticizes the current structure of the city’s property tax system, calling it unfair and outdated. “The property tax system is unbalanced because assessment levels are artificially capped, so homeowners in expensive neighbourhoods pay less than their fair share,” the document says.

According to the proposal, Black and Latino neighborhoods — including Jamaica, Brownsville, and Tremont — bear a heavier tax load than affluent areas, due to a decades-old law passed in 1981. That law allows property taxes to be based on imputed rental income instead of market value, which benefits high-value properties in wealthier areas.

As a result, properties of significantly higher value in upscale neighborhoods often pay far less in property tax than modest homes in lower-income communities. For example, Bloomberg reports that a $2.15 million home in Williamsburg could carry a $157 annual tax bill, while a $234,840 home in the Bronx might owe $3,917 each year.

Mamdani, who identifies as “anti-Zionist” and strongly supports the Palestinian cause, recently faced criticism for refusing to condemn the slogan “globalise the intifada,” a move that led to backlash within his own party. Democratic Congresswoman Laura Gillen called his stance part of a “deeply disturbing pattern of unacceptable anti-Semitic comments.”

Beyond his tax proposals, Mamdani has put forward a slate of progressive policy ideas, including the creation of municipally run grocery stores, universal free childcare, and tax increases on all individuals earning more than $1 million annually. These proposals have stirred alarm among members of New York’s business community.

Kathryn Wylde, president of the Partnership for New York City — an organization representing major employers and industries — said the corporate sector is “terrified” by Mamdani’s rapid political ascent.

Mamdani has also made headlines for calling capitalism “theft” and for expressing support for efforts to “defund the police” following the Black Lives Matter protests.

Since his primary win, the race for City Hall has grown increasingly contentious. Republicans have circulated inflammatory messages targeting Mamdani’s Muslim identity and immigration background.

“Zohran ‘little Muhammad’ Mamdani is an anti-Semitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great city of New York,” posted Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles on X. “He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalisation proceedings.”

{Matzav.com}

Senate Republicans took a major step late tonight by advancing President Trump’s sweeping legislative package, dubbed his “big, beautiful bill,” putting the chamber on track for a marathon weekend session aimed at pushing it through.

Despite ongoing disputes and behind-the-scenes negotiations, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) pressed ahead with efforts to secure passage of the bill—which includes provisions on taxes, border policy, military support, and raising the debt ceiling—by Independence Day.

A handful of GOP lawmakers initially resisted, holding up the process for more than three hours while discussions continued with party leaders. In the end, only Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) voted against moving forward.

The motion to proceed passed narrowly with a 51-49 vote, moving the bill into the formal debate and amendment phase.

Vice President JD Vance arrived on Capitol Hill in case a tie-breaking vote was necessary, but his services were ultimately not required.

Now that the procedural vote is complete, the Senate will enter a lengthy debate period followed by a series of amendment votes—commonly referred to as a “vote-a-rama”—before the final vote on the bill.

Democratic lawmakers have vowed to slow the process by insisting that all 940 pages of the legislation be read aloud on the Senate floor before any amendments are considered, which could take over ten hours.

Among the proposed changes, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is planning to introduce an amendment that would eliminate a temporary block on states enacting their own artificial intelligence laws.

That proposal appears to have momentum, with other Republicans, including Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), also critical of the restriction.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who had introduced a controversial provision to sell public lands to private developers for housing, announced during the vote that he would retract the plan.

Several GOP members—among them Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)—had voiced strong opposition to Lee’s proposal.

Earlier in the day, President Trump increased the urgency, distributing a formal statement from his administration emphasizing the importance of passing the legislation.

“President Trump is committed to keeping his promises, and failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal,” the statement read.

{Matzav.com}

A New Jersey state senator is pushing for a bold renaming of the Delaware Bay, proposing that the iconic body of water be officially dubbed “The Bay of New Jersey,” in a move reminiscent of President Donald Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”

The legislation, introduced on Thursday by Republican State Senator Michael Testa, would require all state agencies to begin using the term “The Bay of New Jersey” across official platforms, including signage, state publications, websites, and public communications, according to NJ.com. It also mandates that federal authorities be notified of the change.

“I look at the robust fishing industry — commercial fishing industry and recreational industry of the State of New Jersey,” Testa told the outlet. “I think that the fact that we have to call the bay that we fish in the Delaware Bay – they’ve had a claim to that long enough.”

The bay, which plays a crucial role in New Jersey’s economy through tourism, shipping, and fishing, has carried the name “Delaware Bay” since 1610. The designation honors Thomas West, the third Baron De La Warr, who served as governor of the Virginia colony. That history is noted on Delaware’s official government website.

Testa, a longtime backer of President Trump, promoted his renaming effort on social media with a nod to Trump’s campaign slogan, posting, “Make New Jersey Great Again!” on X.

His proposal follows a headline-grabbing move by Trump about six months ago, when he declared the Gulf of Mexico should now be referred to as the “Gulf of America.” That announcement drew both support and satire, including a playful response from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, who suggested renaming the Long Island Sound.

“While the maps are changing, here’s an idea,” Lamont posted on X, sharing an edited map renaming the waterway the “Connecticut Sound” and tagging New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

In addition to the renaming measure, Testa introduced a second bill this week proposing that New Jersey reclaim a piece of land along the Salem County coastline that had been ceded to Delaware under a decades-old border agreement.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump launched a sharp rebuke of Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina on Saturday night, slamming the Republican lawmaker for opposing his sweeping tax-and-spending proposal, as a crucial procedural vote in the Senate stalled and GOP leadership scrambled to lock down support.

“Looks like Senator Thom Tillis, as usual, wants to tell the Nation that he’s giving them a 68% Tax Increase, as opposed to the Biggest Tax Cut in American History!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, as Senate leaders struggled for hours without concluding a vote to advance the massive bill.

Trump touted the bill’s benefits in his post, writing, “America wants Reduced Taxes, including NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, AND NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY, Interest Deductions on Cars, Border Security, a Strong Military, and a Bill which is GREAT for our Farmers, Manufacturers and, Employment, in general.”

He continued by singling out Tillis: “Thom Tillis is making a BIG MISTAKE for America, and the Wonderful People of North Carolina!”

The post came shortly after Tillis officially voted no on the Senate floor, casting a blow to the bill that Trump has urged Republicans in both chambers to fast-track before his self-imposed July 4 deadline.

While the vote remains open and unresolved, two other GOP senators—Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky—have also withheld support during the rare Saturday night session. Still, Trump chose to direct his fury solely at the North Carolina senator.

With a narrow 53-47 majority, Republicans have very little room for defections. Losing more than three votes would tank the bill unless Vice President JD Vance steps in with a tie-breaking vote. Vance arrived on Capitol Hill at approximately 8:30 p.m. and has remained on standby, ready to act if necessary.

Should the bill clear this hurdle, it would head into the debate phase—a potentially lengthy process, as Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer has vowed to demand a full reading of the nearly 1,000-page legislation before any final vote is taken.

Earlier in the day, Trump warned Republicans that a vote against the bill would amount to the “ultimate betrayal.”

The proposed legislation seeks to lock in Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanently, eliminate federal taxes on tips and overtime pay, significantly boost funding for border enforcement, and repeal clean-energy tax breaks enacted under the Biden administration. To accommodate all its provisions, the bill would require raising the debt ceiling by an estimated $5 trillion.

Tillis had previously signaled his opposition to the current draft, citing concerns over the Medicaid provisions. He has insisted that unless revisions are made to align with what he called a more “commonsense” version from the House, he could not support the package. “We can and must do better than this,” Tillis said in a statement.

In a follow-up Truth Social post, Trump warned that he may back a primary challenger to Tillis in response to his defiance.

“Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” Trump wrote.

“I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

{Matzav.com}

A terrible tragedy struck the Crown Heights community on Shabbos with the petirah of 8-year-old Mordechai Keller.

Mordechai, a young boy from Crown Heights, lost his life in a devastating car accident that occurred on Eastern Parkway near Albany Avenue on Shabbos afternoon.

According to sources, Mordechai was crossing the street with his sister when he was fatally hit by an SUV. The driver remained at the scene and was not arrested. Police are investigating.

He leaves behind his grieving parents, Avraham and Nechama Dina Keller, and his siblings.

Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.

{Matzav.com}