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President Trump said Monday that American energy companies could be active in Venezuela far sooner than many expect, predicting that operations could begin within a year and a half — and possibly even earlier.

“I think we can do it in less time than that, but it’ll be a lot of money,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News.

According to the president, the financial burden would initially fall on the private sector. “A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue,” he said.

Trump’s comments came in the wake of a U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Following that development, the president said the United States would maintain a role in the country “as it pertains to oil.”

He explained that before any large-scale drilling can resume, American firms would first need to overhaul Venezuela’s deteriorated oil infrastructure, which has suffered years of neglect and mismanagement.

At present, Chevron is the only major U.S. oil company still operating in Venezuela.

Other major players exited long ago. ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil pulled out nearly two decades ago after then-president Hugo Chávez nationalized foreign-owned energy assets.

Trump said the scale of investment required would be massive. “It’ll be a very substantial amount of money,” he said. “But they’ll do very well.”

“And the country will do well,” the president added.

He also argued that restoring Venezuela as a major oil producer would have broader economic benefits for the United States. “Having a Venezuela that’s an oil producer is good for the United States because it keeps the price of oil down,” Trump said, adding that expanded drilling would “reduce oil prices.”

Trump said that while his administration did not notify U.S. oil companies in advance of the military operation, discussions had been taking place in more general terms. Officials had been “talking to the concept of, ‘what if we did it?’” he said.

“The oil companies were absolutely aware that we were thinking about doing something,” Trump said. “But we didn’t tell them we were going to do it.”

Looking ahead, Energy Secretary Chris Wright is expected to meet later this week with executives from Exxon and ConocoPhillips to discuss Venezuelan oil, according to Bloomberg News.

NBC News, citing a White House official, reported that Wright has been assigned to lead the administration’s efforts to restore and rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.

{Matzav.com}

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All are asked to be mispallel for Rav Dovid Magid, formerly rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Bayonne, NJ, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim after suffering a medical episode on Motzoei Shabbos.

Rav Magid was transported for medical care following the incident, and family members have since asked that his condition be kept in mind during tefillah.

The rosh yeshiva‘s name for Tehillim is Elchonon Dovid Aryeh Leib ben Itta Faiga.

{Matzav.com}

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani moved Monday to tamp down speculation at City Hall after an executive order he signed prompted talk that New York City’s police commissioner had been sidelined.

The rumors began circulating after Mamdani’s first-day order granted his first deputy mayor, Dean Fuleihan, oversight authority over the New York City Police Department. Some observers read the move as a demotion of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, leading to widespread chatter that her standing in the administration had been reduced.

Mamdani addressed the issue publicly, insisting that the reporting structure at the top of the department remains unchanged.

“My police commissioner will continue to report directly to me,” he said while speaking to reporters at an unrelated event.

The order signed on New Year’s Day placed the New York City Police Department within the first deputy mayor’s portfolio for day-to-day administrative matters, a framework that had been common under earlier city leaders.

That structure was altered under Mayor Eric Adams, who instead created a first deputy mayor for public safety role and had the police commissioner report through that office — a position that had not existed since the 1990s.

Phil Banks, who served in that public safety role under Adams, later came under scrutiny for allegedly interfering in police operations and ultimately stepped down amid a wide-ranging federal corruption investigation.

Although Mamdani’s order largely reverted the NYPD to a previous bureaucratic arrangement, it was interpreted by some as a dramatic shakeup that could weaken the department’s independence. Additional speculation spread that Mamdani had stopped receiving daily intelligence briefings from the police commissioner.

Those concerns led the National Jewish Advocacy Center to send a sharply worded letter to the mayor, particularly in light of its earlier objections to Mamdani rescinding executive orders related to antisemitism.

Tisch has been viewed by many inside and outside City Hall as a stabilizing influence within Mamdani’s democratic socialist administration. Both she and the mayor have acknowledged disagreements on certain policy issues, including matters connected to Israel.

Pressed again about the order, Mamdani emphasized the distinction between administrative supervision and ultimate accountability.

“My police commissioner, just like my schools chancellor, will report directly to me,” he said.

“The executive order is in terms of the question of coordination. This is about the daily minutiae of coordination.”

{Matzav.com}

The federal government has picked two companies to replace 612 radar systems nationwide that date back to the 1980s as part of a multibillion-dollar overhaul of the nation’s air traffic control system. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that contractors RTX and Spanish firm Indra will replace the radar systems […]

Federal officials moved Monday to halt more than $10 billion in social services and child care funding to several Democrat-led states, citing concerns that taxpayer dollars were improperly diverted to non-citizens, according to administration sources, the NY Post reports.

The funding freeze affects California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York, with the Department of Health and Human Services set to pause distributions from three major federal programs: the Child Care Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Social Services Block Grant.

The largest portion of the freeze involves TANF, with approximately $7.35 billion slated to be withheld from the five states. An additional $2.4 billion in CCDF funding will also be blocked, along with roughly $869 million from the Social Services Block Grant program.

Administration officials said the decision would be formally communicated through letters sent Monday to each state, outlining concerns that benefits were fraudulently provided to non–U.S. citizens.

The action follows earlier scrutiny of state-administered programs. More than six years ago, the HHS Office of Inspector General determined that New York City improperly charged the federal government over $24.7 million for child care subsidies.

Minnesota has been a particular focus of federal investigations. In December, HHS sent letters to Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioning whether billions in taxpayer funding had unlawfully helped “fuel illegal and mass migration,” a development first reported by The Post. Those inquiries were followed by investigations launched by the Treasury Department and the House Oversight Committee into a growing fraud scandal involving nonprofits tied to the Somali community in the Twin Cities.

According to the Pew Research Center, Minnesota was home to about 130,000 illegal migrants as of 2023, up roughly 40,000 from 2019 and accounting for about 2% of the state’s population. The state’s Somali diaspora exceeds 100,000 people, most concentrated in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area.

Federal prosecutors have already obtained dozens of convictions connected to a $250 million fraud scheme involving Feeding Our Future, a Somali-linked organization accused of using stolen funds to buy luxury vehicles and real estate. First Assistant Minnesota U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson has alleged the scope of the fraud is far larger, claiming as much as $9 billion may have been skimmed.

“What we see in Minnesota is not a handful of bad actors committing crimes. It’s staggering, industrial-scale fraud,” Thompson told reporters in a Dec. 18 news conference.

Public attention intensified after YouTuber Nick Shirley visited about 10 child care centers that collectively received $111 million in taxpayer funds. Subsequent reporting by the Minnesota Star Tribune found that fewer than half of those facilities appeared to be operating.

Gov. Walz addressed the issue Monday during a press conference in which he also announced he was ending his bid for a third term.

“We cannot effectively deliver programs and services if we can’t earn the public’s trust,” the Minnesota Democrat said, before criticizing President Trump and his “allies in Washington.”

“We’ll win the fight against the fraudsters, but the political gamesmanship we’re seeing from Republicans is only making that fight harder,” he added.

President Trump responded with a Truth Social post later Monday, accusing Walz and others of massive corruption.

“Minnesota’s Corrupt Governor will possibly leave office before his Term is up but, in any event, will not be running again because he was caught, REDHANDED, along with Ilhan Omar, and others of his Somali friends, stealing Tens of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars,” Trump wrote.

“I feel certain the facts will come out, and they will reveal a seriously unscrupulous, and rich, group of ‘SLIMEBALLS,’” the president added.

“Governor Walz has destroyed the State of Minnesota, but others, like Governor Gavin Newscum, JB Pritzker, and Kathy Hochul, have done, in my opinion, an even more dishonest and incompetent job. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!”

Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the funding freeze. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York denounced the move as politically motivated.

“To use the power of the government to harm the neediest Americans is immoral and indefensible,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “This has nothing to do with fraud and everything to do with political retribution that punishes poor children in need of assistance. I demand that President Trump unfreeze this funding and stop this brazen attack on our children.”

Officials in several affected states said they had not yet received formal notification. A spokesperson for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said “the state has not been officially notified of any changes to these funding sources,” adding that if accurate, “it would be awful to see the federal government targeting the most needy families and children this way.”

A representative for California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration likewise said the state had not been given guidance on funding changes, but emphasized that California is “committed to safeguarding the integrity of all child care subsidy payments and takes any potential misuse of funds seriously.”

{Matzav.com}

Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman said his party would oppose a proposed military draft law if it proves to be a political façade, warning that the High Court of Justice should not interfere in legislative matters.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with journalist Yishai Cohen on the Kikar HaShabbat studio program, Rothman addressed his ongoing confrontation with Israel’s judicial system, the judicial overhaul he sought to advance, the so-called “Qatargate” affair, remarks made by former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak, the controversy surrounding the draft law and the status of yeshiva students, and the possibility that the High Court could order the dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Rothman sharply rejected Barak’s recent claim that Israel is no longer a liberal democracy and is instead ruled by a single individual. According to Rothman, “The system really is being run by one person — and that person is Yitzchak Amit, who involves himself in every issue even when he has no authority to do so. But this is coming to an end. I think Yitzchak Amit knows it’s ending, and so does Aharon Barak. Their one-man rule is over, and that’s why we’re hearing these cries of alarm.”

Rothman also said he does not recognize Amit as president of the Supreme Court, stressing that Amit currently serves only as acting president under the law. “He’s sitting there as an acting president, and that’s fine — that’s what the law provides,” Rothman said. “The committee that selected him — who convened it? Was it convened by a lawfully elected chair? These are basic questions.”

Turning to the possibility that the High Court of Justice could order Ben-Gvir removed from office, Rothman urged Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to ignore such a ruling if it is issued. “Under no circumstances,” Rothman said. “If Netanyahu makes it clear from day one that he will not comply with such a delusional, exhausting, and unlawful ruling, that is what matters here. If a court says it doesn’t care about the law and the government obeys it anyway, then the responsibility lies with the government. You must not listen to an illegal ruling like that — it’s a blow to democracy.”

Rothman also launched an attack on Supreme Court justices often described as conservatives, arguing that no such category truly exists on the court. He singled out Justice Noam Sohlberg, saying that while some have labeled him conservative, Rothman always viewed him as merely “less activist.” Rothman criticized Sohlberg’s silence amid recent judicial developments, calling it “shocking” and accusing him of a lack of leadership. “With the level of leadership he is showing today,” Rothman said, “I don’t think he’s suitable to serve as president of the Supreme Court at all.”

Addressing the contentious draft legislation, Rothman emphasized that he would abide by the decision of his party faction. “I was very clear,” he said. “Support or opposition to the law — I will accept whatever decision my faction makes. As Simcha Rothman, I am not demanding anything personally. The same body that made life-and-death decisions, such as hostage releases — I said I will stand with my faction.”

He added that, on a personal level, he would favor a return to the Tal Law framework or treating chareidi yeshiva students similarly to religious women who are exempt from military service on religious grounds. Rothman concluded with a warning that if the draft law turns out to be an “Isra-bluff” — a hollow compromise — his party will not support it.

{Matzav.com}

Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics publicly demonstrated its humanoid robot Atlas for the first time Monday at the CES tech showcase, ratcheting up a competition with Tesla and other rivals to build robots that look like people and do things that people do. “For the first time ever in public, please welcome Atlas to the stage,” said […]

Firefighters responded to a blaze Monday afternoon at an apartment complex under construction on Cedarview Avenue in Lakewood. The fire occurred at one of the new residential buildings being developed for BMG’s talmidim. BMG told Lakewood Alerts the fire occurred at approximately 3:00 p.m. and was related to ongoing construction. The damage was limited to […]

Emotional scenes were recorded this week in Afula, when a special delegation from Hatzalah and the Gilboa regional unit visited the home of a local resident who was seriously injured in last Friday’s deadly terror attack and survived against the odds.

The visit was intended both to strengthen the survivor and to complete a powerful “closing of the circle” with the volunteers who were among the first to arrive at the scene and administer the initial, life-saving medical care.

Among those attending were Afula Mayor Avi Elkabetz, Rav Ben Tzion Kook, Gilboa regional coordinator for Hatzalah Mendy Itzkovitz, and paramedics Moshe Dachs and Yossi Farber. The two medics were among the earliest responders to reach the scene of the attack and, with exceptional presence of mind, provided rapid and professional treatment during the most critical minutes—actions credited with saving the victim’s life.

The survivor, visibly moved as he welcomed the delegation into his home, shared his reflections on the ordeal. “Only afterward did I truly understand how critical every single second was,” he said. “I thank you for being there not only at the scene, but also at the hospital and in supporting my family. I was given my life as a gift.”

Gilboa regional coordinator Mendy Itzkovitz emphasized the mission that drives the organization. “Saving lives is our calling,” he said. “I thank the mayor and the city leadership for the ongoing cooperation and assistance that allow our volunteers to drop everything and respond immediately when lives are on the line.”

Hatzalah Director-General Yaakov Yuzef added that the meeting encapsulated the essence of the organization’s work. “This encounter illustrates the ‘why’ behind everything we do,” he said. “All the logistical investment, the equipment, emergency vehicles, and wide deployment converge into moments like this. It’s not a slogan—it’s the daily reality of saving lives. The direct bond between volunteers and those they rescue is part of our DNA and reflects, in practice, the supreme value of preserving life as a daily mission.”

Mayor Avi Elkabetz concluded the moving gathering by praising the close cooperation between the city and emergency responders. “This event is living proof of how vital rapid response times are,” he said. “The combination of advanced equipment and devoted Hatzalah volunteers is what saved a life here.”

{Matzav.com}

An online entry edited within hours of the Trump administration’s dramatic operation against Venezuela took aim not at the mission’s outcome, but at its framing. A Wikipedia page devoted to Cilia Flores, the wife of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, was quickly updated to characterize the event as an “abduction,” drawing attention for its wording almost as soon as the news broke.

President Trump publicly confirmed that U.S. forces, working alongside American law enforcement agencies, had carried out the operation that removed Maduro from power. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

According to reporting by Breitbart News, the mission came against the backdrop of years of U.S. efforts to bring Maduro to justice. American authorities had placed a $50 million reward on information leading to his arrest or conviction, reflecting the seriousness of the charges leveled against him.

Those charges date back to a 2020 U.S. indictment accusing Maduro of playing a central role in the Cartel of the Suns, an alleged cocaine trafficking network tied to senior Venezuelan officials. Prosecutors said the organization sought to “flood” the United States with cocaine as part of a campaign to harm the country, according to Breitbart News correspondent Christian K. Caruzo.

Breitbart has also reported that Maduro retained control in Venezuela through what it described as a series of sham presidential elections, while remaining a fugitive from U.S. justice on multiple narco-terrorism counts.

The operation itself unfolded dramatically late Saturday, when explosions rocked Caracas. In the aftermath, Maduro and Flores were “captured and flown out of the country,” marking a decisive end to his rule and setting off a fresh political dispute — not only over the strike itself, but over how the episode is being described online.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security accused Hilton Hotels on Monday of refusing service to federal law enforcement officers, alleging that the hotel chain abruptly canceled room reservations made by DHS personnel using official government email addresses. In a statement posted to its official X account, DHS said Hilton had launched what it described as […]

On Motzei Shabbos, I flew to Israel from Newark on an 11:35 p.m. one-way flight. After being expelled from my graduate program in Florida for speaking out against the administration’s lackadaisical response to antisemitism on campus, I made the decision to return to yeshiva. I spent Shabbos with friends in Washington Heights and left around […]

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) voted to dissolve after 58 years, following Congress’ decision last year to eliminate federal funding previously allocated to NPR and PBS. CPB leaders said the loss of funding left them unable to continue operations. The organization said it will distribute its remaining funds before officially closing. The move comes […]

Cuban officials on Monday lowered flags before dawn to mourn 32 security officers they say were killed in the U.S. weekend strike in Venezuela, the island nation’s closest ally, as residents here wonder what the capture of President Nicolás Maduro means for their future. The two governments are so close that Cuban soldiers and security […]

A mystery trader made nearly $410,000 betting on Nicolás Maduro’s fall, placing a final wager on Polymarket at 9:58 p.m. ET on Friday, shortly before President Trump ordered the U.S. military operation. Using a brand-new account, the trader bought about $34,000 worth of contracts that would pay out if Maduro lost power by January 31, […]

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced that the company will begin shipping its new “Vera Rubin” AI chip later this year, saying it can perform more computing with less power and at a lower cost than previous models. The Rubin chip, already being manufactured for customers including Microsoft and Amazon, is designed to handle AI tasks […]

A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration cannot move forward with steep cuts to federal research funding provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to universities. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an injunction won by 22 Democratic state attorneys general, medical groups, and universities, finding that NIH’s February […]

Federal health authorities announced a sweeping change Monday to the nation’s childhood immunization guidance, cutting back the list of vaccines routinely recommended for children and leaving some shots, including those for influenza, to parental discretion without explicit federal direction.

According to the New York Times, “Federal health officials on Monday announced dramatic revisions to the slate of vaccines recommended for American children, reducing the number of diseases prevented by routine shots to 11 from 17.”

Officials involved in the revision stressed that the updated schedule does not eliminate access to any vaccines and will not affect insurance coverage, emphasizing that families can still obtain all recommended immunizations if they choose.

Despite those assurances, medical professionals reacted with alarm, warning that scaling back official recommendations could discourage vaccination, lower immunization rates, and lead to the return of preventable diseases.

“The announcement is a seismic shift in federal vaccine policy, and perhaps the most significant change yet in public health practice by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, who has long sought to reduce the number of shots American children receive.”

The move follows a directive issued in December by President Donald Trump, who asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to study how other countries structure their vaccine recommendations and to explore whether the U.S. schedule should be revised to more closely mirror international approaches.

{Matzav.com}

Aftermath in the city of Sidon in southern Lebanon following additional Israeli airstrikes.