Brad Lander, New York City’s comptroller and current mayoral hopeful, was taken into custody by masked federal agents while accompanying an individual out of an immigration courtroom.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed the arrest to the Guardian, stating Lander was taken in for “assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.”
“Our heroic Ice law enforcement officers face a 413% increase in assaults against them – it is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment,” said McLaughlin. “No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences.”
Lander had been at 26 Federal Plaza on Tuesday to observe immigration proceedings for individuals facing deportation.
Speaking with an Associated Press journalist, Lander explained that his purpose was to “accompany” certain immigrants exiting the building. This was his third visit to the courthouse in recent weeks.
According to AMNY, video from the incident shows Lander walking with an immigrant whose case had been dismissed earlier that day but remained under appeal. The individual was also arrested alongside him.
In the footage, Lander can be seen confronting federal agents, stating: “I’m not obstructing. I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant.”
“You don‘t have the authority to arrest US citizens asking for a judicial warrant,” Lander can be heard saying.
Agents, some with their faces covered, restrained Lander against a wall before placing him in handcuffs. The exact justification for his arrest remains unclear.
Shortly after the arrest, Lander’s wife, Meg Barnette, posted from his X account.
“Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad’s wife,” she wrote. “While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE. This is still developing, and our team is monitoring the situation closely.”
His campaign team issued a similar statement to the Guardian, reiterating the events as described by Barnette.
ICE has yet to respond to the Guardian’s inquiry for comment.
Later, at a press conference, Barnette expressed outrage at her husband’s arrest and praised his commitment.
“What I saw was shocking and unacceptable. What I saw today was not the rule of law,” she told reporters.
“This is a place where the rule of law is supposed to work. I was able to call our attorney and retain him immediately for Brad,” she said.
“Because we have the connections and the means to do so. Nobody else in those courtrooms has that. I am confident that Brad’s going to be out soon … This is just one more example of Brad’s values in actions. He doesn’t just talk the talk. He walks the walk. He cares about what happens to people.”
Reporters at the scene noted the presence of federal officers from ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations, the FBI, and the Treasury Department throughout 26 Federal Plaza on Tuesday morning.
Footage of Lander being detained rapidly spread online, triggering a wave of backlash.
Zohran Mamdani, another mayoral candidate who has endorsed Lander, condemned the arrest on X: “This is fascism and all New Yorkers must speak in one voice. Release him now.”
Mehdi Hasan, founder of Zeteo and a contributor to the Guardian, echoed that sentiment: “Yet another elected Democratic official violently arrested and detained by Trump’s ICE Gestapo. This isn’t frog in boiling water. This fascism is happening quickly, clearly, brazenly.”
Texas Congressman Greg Casar issued a strong rebuke: “Masked federal agents just illegally arrested New York City’s elected Comptroller. Outrageous. The Trump Administration went after Brad Lander for asking this simple question: ‘Do you have a warrant?’ By asking this question, Brad was standing up for the basic rights of all Americans. Brad should be released immediately, and we should all follow his heroic example.”
New York State Senator Julia Salazar said the incident was “more evidence that Ice agents are flagrantly breaking the law.”
“[Lander] knows his rights, and he was speaking up for the rights of others. Ice agents responded by unlawfully arresting him and refusing to answer basic questions,” she said.
Speaking at the same press event as Barnette, Mamdani told the crowd: “We have to be clear that, in [Lander’s] ask and in their response, we saw that Ice has no interest in the law, it has no interest in order.”
“[Ice] only has an interest in terrorizing people across this country. In this exact moment, New Yorkers and Americans are looking to leaders to meet this moment, to showcase the courage that is necessary … He showed us what leadership can look like and for that he was arrested.”
He continued: “We have to be clear about this. This is not about an election. This is about ensuring that we protect the city and the country that we love. This is about ensuring that immigrant New Yorkers who come here for regular check-ins do not need to fear being separated from their families in the most brutal and cruel ways imaginable. We know that today’s arrest is but one example of what Ice is doing every single day across this country.”
The arrest happened amid a sharp uptick in federal apprehensions of undocumented individuals outside immigration courts. As the Guardian previously reported, there has been an 807% spike in arrests of immigrants with no criminal background since early January.
Lander’s arrest mirrors a recent incident involving Senator Alex Padilla of California, who was forcibly detained while attempting to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a press conference in Los Angeles.
The Padilla incident, like Lander’s, drew widespread condemnation. Kamala Harris, the former vice president, labeled it “a shameful and stunning abuse of power.”
This latest development arrives just one week before the Democratic mayoral primary. Lander is competing against Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani, and other challengers for the nomination.
{Matzav.com}
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump declared that the United States has precise intelligence on the whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning that the regime’s time to halt uranium enrichment is running out fast.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”
He followed up with a sharp message directed at Iran’s recent provocations. “But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Not long afterward, Trump took his stance a step further by issuing an unambiguous demand. In all caps, he declared on Truth Social: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Although Trump reportedly blocked an Israeli proposal over the weekend to strike Khamenei directly, both he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have made it clear that Tehran’s time to abandon its nuclear efforts is nearly up.
Speaking to ABC News on Monday night, Netanyahu did not dismiss the possibility of targeting Khamenei directly if the situation escalates. “We are doing what we need to do,” the prime minister said.
On Monday, Israel established full aerial dominance over Tehran, and Trump confirmed on Tuesday that both countries now control the skies above Iran, highlighting the tight military coordination between Washington and Jerusalem.
“We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured ‘stuff.’”
“Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA.”
{Matzav.com}President Donald Trump declared in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday that the United States and Israel now dominate Iranian airspace.
“We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured ‘stuff.’ Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA,” Trump wrote.
In a follow-up message, Trump issued a stark warning to Iranian leadership. “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump continued his flurry of posts by calling for the complete capitulation of the Iranian regime. In all caps, he demanded: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Meanwhile, Israeli leaders echoed Trump’s sentiments. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu asserted that Israel now commands Iran’s skies without resistance.
In a press conference on Monday night, Netanyahu said, “We’ve paved an aerial highway to Iran, struck their surface-to-air missiles and neutralized them. We are operating in western and northern Iran—and this is just the beginning. We’ve taken out half of their UAVs; 1,000 drones never made it to Israel.”
Trump reiterated his stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions earlier today while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. He was returning to Washington, DC, after cutting his G7 Summit attendance short due to the escalating situation.
Trump insisted that his goal remains a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program. “I want a real end,” he declared, before clarifying his intentions. “I didn’t say I was looking for a ceasefire. I want a real end, with Iran giving up entirely on nuclear weapons.”
{Matzav.com}Amid growing alarm over Iran’s missile attacks, hundreds of Americans participating in Birthright trips to Israel were evacuated by sea, setting sail on a cruise ship bound for Cyprus.
The Israeli Navy accompanied the vessel, which carried 1,500 passengers, during its 10-hour journey on Tuesday to ensure their safety along the route.
To complete the evacuation effort, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis arranged for four planes to retrieve the travelers in Cyprus and bring them to Tampa, allowing the Americans to continue their journey back to the United States.
According to the nonprofit organization Birthright Israel, there are approximately 2,800 participants currently on trips in Israel—most of whom are young Americans.
One passenger from New York shared that reactions among the group were varied following the Iranian missile launches that prematurely ended their visit.
“Some are like me and calm while others are scared,” Jaxon Zemachson, 20, of Scarsdale, told The Post.
“For me the whole experience has made for a great story to tell my kids. I have honestly been pretty calm about the whole thing, like the Israelis,” he added.
“The first missile attack was a bit scary but from there it was much calmer.”
{Matzav.com}
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The past few days in Israel have been nothing short of devastating. A barrage of hypersonic missiles, explosive-laden drones, and relentless rocket fire launched by Iran and its proxies has rained down on cities across the country, leaving destruction, trauma, and heartbreak in its wake.
From the northern border to the heart of Tel Aviv, no community has been spared. In one of the most heartbreaking incidents, an entire Arab Israeli family — including young children — was killed in the north. In central Israel, direct hits on residential buildings and public spaces left over 100 injured and at least 9 civilians dead, among them three children aged just 10, 13, and 18. More than 300 homes and buildings have been reported damaged or destroyed. Sirens have sounded in dozens of municipalities, and millions of Israelis have spent nights in bomb shelters, many without electricity or access to proper care.
And yet, amid the chaos and fear, there is light — the unmistakable light of courage, compassion, and unity.
At every site of impact, United Hatzalah’s volunteers have been among the first to respond. With zero hesitation, these brave medics — Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze — leave their own families, often sheltering in safe rooms, and race directly toward danger. On ambucycles, in ambulances, or on foot, they weave through debris and sirens to reach those in need.
They have pulled children from under rubble, stabilized the elderly suffering from cardiac arrest, treated burns, trauma, and shock, and responded to over 6,000 emergency calls unrelated to the conflict — showing up for every life, every need, regardless of background or location. Many of these volunteers are working on little or no sleep, and yet their devotion does not waver.
This is more than just a time of crisis — it is a time of national and human urgency.
United Hatzalah is not funded by the government. Every piece of equipment, every life-saving device, every emergency response is made possible through your donations. As Israel faces one of its darkest and most dangerous hours in recent memory, we ask you: stand with us.
Support the work. Stand with the volunteers. Help us save lives.
We do not have the luxury to wait. We must act now — together.
Concerns are growing among Western leaders that Iran could deploy a radioactive “dirty bomb” in its confrontation with Israel, a move that might trigger direct U.S. military involvement, according to the chief foreign affairs commentator at the Financial Times.
Israel launched a sweeping aerial assault on Iranian territory early Friday, targeting senior military personnel and key sites tied to Iran’s missile and nuclear infrastructure. Israeli officials described the campaign as merely a first step, raising fears of a broader regional war between the longtime foes.
Since the initial strikes, Israel and Iran have continued to trade aerial attacks.
American and Israeli intelligence sources are increasingly concerned about Iran’s next steps, particularly if its leadership comes to believe they are losing a conventional battle. While Iran is not yet believed to possess a functioning nuclear bomb, it has amassed enough enriched uranium to cause catastrophic harm.
“Iran could choose to demonstrate a crude nuclear weapon to try to shock Israel into ending the war,” Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman wrote in a piece published Tuesday.
“Another possibility is that it could actually set off a ‘dirty bomb’ — which uses conventional explosives to scatter radioactive material. The kind of scenario that experts worry about would be the use of a ship to detonate a device near the Israeli port of Haifa.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran possesses a significant quantity of uranium enriched to the 60% level.
Although 90% enrichment is typically necessary to build a nuclear warhead — a process Tehran could potentially accomplish in a matter of days — Rachman noted that the process of weaponization itself takes more time.
Even so, 60% enrichment could be sufficient for assembling a rudimentary nuclear device.
“That kind of weapon would be suitable for ‘delivery by a crude delivery system such as an aircraft, shipping container, or truck, sufficient to establish Iran as a nuclear power,’” Rachman noted. He added that some American officials expect the U.S. to escalate its involvement by participating in a follow-up bombing campaign aimed at Iran’s deeply buried Fordow enrichment facility to permanently cripple the regime’s nuclear capabilities.
Executing that mission would likely require specialized American munitions.
Ehud Barak, the former Israeli prime minister, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of any airstrike strategy, saying even U.S. efforts “cannot delay Iran’s arrival at nuclear weapons by more than a few months.”
He further argued that the only surefire way to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear arms is for the U.S. and Israel “to declare war against the regime itself until it is brought down.”
{Matzav.com}Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro launched a furious tirade against Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, labeling him “the Hitler of the 21st Century” over Israel’s military response to Iran. Maduro, who maintains a close alliance with the Iranian regime, made the comments during a session of his government’s “Seven Transformations” workshop, part of his regime’s blueprint for Venezuela through 2031, Breitbart reports.
Speaking at the event, Maduro accused Israel and Netanyahu of executing what he claimed was a Western-backed scheme similar to Nazi-era domination. “For those who like to talk about religions, this is not a religious conflict. The conflict that has existed since the founding of the State of Israel is a geopolitical conflict,” Maduro claimed — disregarding the decades of openly antisemitic bigotry out of Tehran — “because that State was created to conquer the entire Middle East and Central Asia, and to take away their wealth and colonize those peoples.”
He continued to draw parallels between Israel’s geopolitical actions and Nazi ideology. “It is the Zionist project, which they say goes from the Jordan River to the Euphrates and beyond. Europe did to Hitler what the West is doing to Netanyahu,” he continued. “From Venezuela we say it and nobody is going to prevent our voice from sounding here and there, and the peoples of the world to wake up in a conscience.”
Maduro then questioned Netanyahu’s Jewish lineage and bizarrely suggested that he himself carries true Jewish ancestry. “I am a Christian, but Jewish blood runs through my veins, Sephardic blood, from the authentic Jews of the twelve tribes, those of Moses. Those Jews of the twelve tribes, who are not the ones in charge today in the State of Israel, those who govern today under Netanyahu, are not authentic Jews. He is a hodgepodge who comes from Poland,” Maduro said.
Condemning Israel’s military operation against Iran, Maduro claimed the action was a blatant breach of international law. He argued that the United Nations has lost credibility, likening today’s situation to the period leading up to World War II. “The U.N. is dying, as nations died before the passing of Hitler, who ended the mechanism of nations that was created, before the UN, Hitler was fed and armed by the British empire,” he claimed.
He further accused the Western powers of enabling Hitler in the 20th century and drew a direct comparison to what he claims is their current backing of Netanyahu. “They encouraged him [Hitler] to destroy the Soviet Union, that beautiful project of socialism that unified all the peoples of Eurasia and that had achieved a historical miracle in educational, cultural, technological, industrial, agricultural development,” Maduro said. “Today, eighty years later, when we celebrate the victory over Nazi-fascism, over the fascist militarism of Japan that invaded all the peoples of Asia, history is repeating itself again.”
Maduro concluded his diatribe with a direct challenge to the global community: “Are they going to continue to encourage the Hitler of the 21st century [Netanyahu] now against the noble and peaceful people of the Islamic Republic of Iran?” he continued.
After issuing his accusations, Maduro described the current global instability as the beginning of a transformative global conflict. “With Ukraine’s war against Russia and with the massacre of the Palestinian people, they want to frighten the peoples who want development, peace, dignity, justice and equality.” He then turned to Jews in Israel with a direct appeal: “Where is this warlike attitude going to lead? Where is so much racism, intolerance, hatred and violence going to lead? Do you think that with missiles and bombs you are going to subdue the will of the peoples of the world? Stop the aggression and the war against the Palestinian people, the people of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran,” Maduro said.
Maduro’s government has become increasingly reliant on Iran in recent years to help cushion the collapse of Venezuela’s socialist economy. The regime has consistently aligned itself with Iran in its opposition to Israel and the United States. Following Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, Venezuela was among the first nations to denounce the operation, labeling it an “illegitimate, unjustified military aggression in violation of international law.”
In April 2024, after Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel, Maduro’s regime defended the attack and blamed Israel for provoking it. Venezuela has had no formal diplomatic relations with Israel since 2009, when Hugo Chávez, Maduro’s predecessor and political mentor, severed ties and expelled Israeli diplomats from the country.
Back in 2013, shortly after Chávez’s death, Maduro first stated that his grandparents were Sephardic Jews who converted to Catholicism. He has since occasionally repeated this assertion as a way to deflect allegations of antisemitism. Those allegations came into the spotlight after Claudio Epelman, head of the Jewish Latin-American Congress, expressed concern that growing Iranian influence in Venezuela was contributing to a rise in antisemitic sentiment across Latin America.
“I’m sorry to hear about the statements made by Claudio Epelman, director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, who I know and have received many times, saying that there’s anti-Semitism in Venezuela and implicating Chávez and me in it,” Maduro told the far-left outlet Aporrea in 2013. “He can accuse me, but he should leave Chávez out of it.”
A 2023 report by Australia’s Jewish Independent described the massive exodus of Jews from Venezuela over the past two decades of Chávez and Maduro’s rule. Many members of the Jewish community fled to Israel, the United States, Panama, Colombia, and elsewhere, even as currency control laws made emigration extremely difficult. While Maduro has loosened some of those controls since 2018, most restrictions remain in place.
The Jewish Independent also highlighted that Chávez had promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories, including the claim that Mossad agents and Jews were behind the 2004 car bombing that killed public prosecutor Danilo Anderson. After the bombing, Chávez infamously declared that “the descendants of those who killed Christ had taken possession of all the wealth in the world.” Anderson’s murder has never been solved, but in 2018, his sister, Marisela Caraballo Anderson, said that the “murderer is among those who carried the casket” and implied that members of the regime may have been involved.
{Matzav.com}
In the wake of the Iranian missile that struck Bnei Brak, severely damaging a school for special-needs children, Gerer Rosh Yeshiva Rav Shaul Alter delivered a powerful and emotional reflection on the tragedy, questioning why such a vulnerable institution was targeted.
Speaking on the “Hi Sichasi” call-in line, where he regularly discusses Torah topics with the talmidei chachamim of his kehillah, Rav Shaul veered from his usual format to comment on current events. Referring to the heartbreaking strike that hit a facility for children with special needs, he remarked, “The Ribbono Shel Olam is awaiting the tefillos of those children in particular.”
In a poignant statement, Rav Shaul pointed out that these children, more than others, are shaken when their routines are disrupted. “They experience the change most acutely,” he explained, “and their cries in tefillah—emanating from such sincere, broken hearts—may pierce the heavens.”
The Rosh Yeshiva recalled a recent moment he witnessed at the wedding of a daughter of the gabbai of Rav Yechezkel Halpern. There, an autistic child suddenly began calling out loudly. “I saw it not as a disruption,” Rav Shaul said, “but as that child’s personal way of speaking to the Borei Olam.”
He concluded with conviction, “There is no doubt in my mind that the tefillos of such children can open gates and bring yeshuah.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
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Millions of Israelis remain exposed to missile threats due to insufficient protective infrastructure, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman warned on Monday after surveying missile strike sites in Ramat Gan and Bat Yam, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Engelman recalled that “In 2020, we published an extremely severe report about the protection gaps in the State of Israel. At that time, it was found that close to 2.6 million residents were living without adequate protection. Moreover, budgets allocated to the issue were not utilized, and government plans were left unfunded.”
He revealed that an updated audit, recently finalized and already circulated to key figures including the Prime Minister, the Home Front Command, and the Minister of National Security, indicates the situation has barely improved. “According to another report we recently completed, regarding sheltering and protection in local authorities (a draft of which has already been submitted to the Prime Minister, Home Front Command, and the Minister of National Security), the gaps remain extremely significant. This includes millions of Israeli citizens still without protection, malfunctioning public shelters, a lack of mapping for the population without access to protected spaces, and insufficient preparedness to support civilians once they are harmed,” Engelman said.
Engelman emphasized the urgent need for immediate intervention. “I call upon the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Security, the Minister of Defense, the Home Front Command, and all relevant parties: we are in the midst of a war against Iran. It is crucial to ensure the home front is addressed. A strong home front is essential for the State of Israel,” he concluded.
Saturday’s missile strike on the Arab city of Tamra in the Lower Galilee intensified public scrutiny of the state’s preparedness in Arab communities. The attack took the lives of Manar al-Qasem Abu al-Heija Khatib, her daughters Hala and Shada (ages 13 and 20), as well as their relative Manar Diab Katib. Around 20 more people suffered injuries of varying severity.
In response, Hadash-Ta’al MK Ofer Cassif urged the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee to reconvene and address the vulnerability of low-income populations, particularly in Arab municipalities. “Millions of citizens in Israel live in homes that are not fortified and without access to public shelters—particularly in south Tel Aviv, the Negev, and in Arab towns and villages—placing them in real and immediate danger in the face of the growing threat of rocket fire,” Cassif wrote.
Cassif noted that a similar discussion was held back in September. He stated that following that meeting, the committee pushed for the formation of an inter-ministerial group to tackle the issue and demanded the Ministry of Defense provide a comprehensive overview of protection deficiencies. “However, no real progress has been recorded to date,” Cassif wrote.
He stressed the necessity of launching a fortification initiative in both central and peripheral urban neighborhoods, regardless of economic incentives. “The state must take action to implement a fortification plan in older neighborhoods at the centers of cities, both in the central region and the periphery. Even when there is no economic profitability, the state must reach into its pockets, fund, and support these projects,” Cassif wrote.
In November, the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee held a hearing focused on the lack of defense infrastructure in northern Arab localities. Ahead of that session, three organizations—Injaz Center for Professional Arab Local Governance, The National Committee for Heads of Arab Local Authorities, and Sikkuy-Aufoq For a Shared and Equal Society—submitted a joint policy paper to the committee.
Their paper highlighted the particularly precarious conditions in Arab towns in the north. “The issue of fortification is especially urgent in the northern communities, where residents are living unprotected in the face of mounting war threats. In many Arab communities in the north, there are no secure rooms or public shelters at all. Out of 39 settlements surveyed, 23 are Arab communities lacking proper shelter. A recent report by the Knesset’s Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee found that 59% of casualties in the north since the war broke out were Arab citizens.”
The document further highlighted the stark disparity in access to public shelters. Cities such as Tamra, Saknin, Jadeidi-Maker, Majd al-Krum, Deir al-Asad, Rameh, and Nahf—home to a combined population of about 150,000—had zero public shelters. In contrast, nearby Jewish-majority cities like Nahariya, Acre, Tzefas, and Karmiel, with a collective population of around 200,000, were equipped with approximately 600 public shelters.
{Matzav.com Israel}