Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to declare that he is ‘immediately withdrawing’ the personal security detail and security clearance from retired General Mark Milley. Additionally, Hegseth has instructed the acting Inspector General to establish a review board to assess whether there is sufficient evidence to demote Milley by removing one of his stars
Calling Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a “predator” who is addicted to power, Caroline Kennedy urged the U.S. Senate in a Tuesday letter to reject the nomination of her cousin to be President Donald Trump’s health secretary. In a letter to Senators, Ms. Kennedy, who previously served as a U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan and is the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, etched a damning sketch of her cousin, the latest condemnation Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has received from members of his own, prominent Democratic family. Several denounced her cousin’s bid for the presidency last year. The letter, obtained by The Associated Press, was first reported by The Washington Post. Ms. Kennedy said in the letter that her cousin’s views on vaccines are disqualifying. She offered senators personal details from their lives growing up together that she said pose an even greater concern. She described her cousin’s basement, garage and dorm as being an epicenter for drug use, where he would also put baby chickens and mice in blenders to feed to his hawks. “It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence,” she wrote. She also read the letter in a video recording, sharing it on social media. Attempts to reach Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for comment were not immediately successful. He has openly talked about his heroin use and he pleaded guilty for bringing it on an airplane in 1984. Kennedy now “preys on the desperation of parents of sick children,” she told senators, noting that he has vaccinated his own children while discouraging others from vaccinating theirs. She also pointed out that Kennedy plans to still profit off a lawsuit against pharmaceutical company Merck over Gardasil, its human papillomavirus vaccine that prevents cervical cancer. Last year, he made over $850,000 from the arrangement. “In other words, he is willing to enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer and which has been safely administered to millions of boys and girls,” she wrote. She had previously not spoken about his candidacy or nomination for health secretary. Her father was assassinated in 1963 when she was a young girl. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s father, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968 during his presidential campaign event. “Unlike Bobby, I try not to speak for my father – but I am certain that he and my uncle Bobby, who gave their lives in public services, and my uncle Teddy, who devoted his Senate career to improving health care, would be disgusted,” Ms. Kennedy wrote. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday in his bid to become Trump’s health secretary. Another hearing for his nomination will be held on Wednesday in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee, the panel his uncle, Ted Kennedy, once chaired. (AP)
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has issued a stark ultimatum to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatening to bring down the government if a conscription law exempting yeshiva bochurim from military service is not passed within two months. Speaking on Charedi radio station Kol Baramah, Deri declared, “If the status of lomdei torah isn’t regulated, we’ll go to elections in two months.” Deri expressed outrage at the current discourse surrounding yeshiva bochurim, lamenting, “Who would have dreamed that Torah scholars would be called criminals?” He also accused members of the national-religious camp of joining what he called a “hate campaign” and warned that their actions could lead to the collapse of the right-wing government. Deri’s threat comes as Netanyahu’s coalition faces mounting instability. Shas’ support for the 2025 state budget—required by the end of March to prevent early elections—is now in question. This follows the recent resignation of Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir over the hostage ceasefire deal with Hamas and similar threats from Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich, who demands a return to fighting in Gaza. The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is currently debating legislation on Charedi enlistment, with pressure mounting from both Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ). However, committee chairman Yuli Edelstein (Likud) has indicated that any bill must significantly increase IDF enlistment, which runs counter to Charedi parties’ demands. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has proposed a gradual plan to draft 50% of the eligible Charedi cohort by 2032, but Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon has stated that this fails to meet the High Court’s mandate for fair enlistment. Shas MK Erez Malul criticized the committee discussions, calling them “unserious and full of incitement.” Meanwhile, opposition leader Avigdor Liberman took to social media, urging immediate elections: “There’s no point in waiting two months—we need to go to the polls now.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that the “Mona Lisa” will get its own dedicated room inside the Louvre museum under a major renovation and expansion of the Paris landmark that will take up to 10 years. The renovation project, branded “Louvre New Renaissance,” will include a new entrance near the River Seine, to be opened by 2031, and the creation of underground rooms, Macron said in a speech from the Louvre room where Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is displayed. Macron did not disclose an exact amount budgeted for the project to modernize the most visited museum in the world, plagued with overcrowding and outdated facilities. But it is estimated to reach up to 800 million euros ($834 million). The Louvre’s latest overhaul dates back to the 1980s, when the iconic glass pyramid was unveiled. Now, the museum is not up to international standards anymore. A look at what’s at stake: Mona Lisa to get its own room? Macron said the expansion of the museum will allow the “Mona Lisa” to be moved to a new, dedicated room accessible to visitors through a special ticket. That will make the visit simpler for those who want to see the painting and ease the life of other visitors in the rest of the museum, he said. The “Mona Lisa” is now being shown behind protective glass in the museum’s largest room, overcrowded with long, noisy queues of visitors eager to take a selfie with Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece. That makes some other paintings in the room by the greatest Venetian painters like Titian and Veronese go unnoticed by many. The museum’s latest big renovation in the 1980s was designed to receive 4 million annual visitors. Last year, the Louvre received 8.7 million visitors, over three-quarters being foreigners mostly from the United States, China and neighboring countries Italy, the UK, Germany and Spain. A costly and complex overhaul Macron said a new entrance for the Louvre will be created near the River Seine by 2031, to be financed by ticket sales, patronage and licensing money from the museum’s Abu Dhabi branch. A design competition is to be staged in the coming months, he said. In addition, some new underground rooms will be created to expand the museum. A French top official said the cost of the renovation is estimated at 700 to 800 million euros ($730 to 834 million) over the next ten years, including half for the creation of the new entrance. The official could not be named in line with the French presidency’s customary practices. Macron said ticket prices will be raised for foreign visitors from outside the European Union, up from 22 euros ($23) now. He promised the museum will be safer and more comfortable for both the public and the staff. Half the Louvre’s budget is currently being financed by the French state, including the wages of the 2,200 employees. The other half is provided by private funds including ticket sales, earnings from restaurants, shops and bookings for special events, as well as patrons and other partners. Water leaks and other damage The renovation announcement comes after Louvre Director Laurence des Cars expressed her concerns in a note to Culture Minister Rachida Dati earlier this month saying the museum is threatened by “obsolescence.” According to the document first released by French […]
Channel 13 journalist Guy Lerer shared on Monday that he decided to recite Mizmor L’Todah every morning. He wrote that he made the decision “after conversations with the mother of a hostage who is close to my heart” and despite the fact that he’s “a complete atheist.” He added: “I’ll close my eyes tightly and act for a moment as if I am the most devout believer. Emunah, love, and intention are from the same family. Even one of them is enough to move worlds.” He published a photo from his conversation with the mother – but didn’t identify her. She wrote to him: “This is what I decided. Say Mizmor L’Todah every morning.” She asked him to start saying it when her son returns, b’ezrat Hashem. After a few minutes, she added: “You can even start from now because it really just takes a second.” Lerer said to his followers: “You are welcome to join me. She’ll be happy to hear.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
English left Massachusetts on January 26th, intending to assassinate Defense Secretary Hegseth, Speaker Johnson, or burn the Heritage Foundation to “depose” them. En route, he stopped at a Maryland library, saw Reddit posts about Treasury Secretary Bessent’s hearings, and altered his target.
MILLER: “There’s 2M employees in the federal government. Overwhelmingly, the career federal service in this country is far left.” CNN’s TAPPER: “You’re demonizing an entire workforce!”
Dep. Chief of Staff Stephen Miller corrects the record on President Trump’s directive to pause wasteful government spending: “It does not affect any service the government is required to provide… Bureaucrats were still trying to funnel unapproved discretionary grants of funds.”
In a dramatic and chilling incident, U.S. Capitol Police arrested a Massachusetts man near the Capitol on Monday, alleging he planned to assassinate House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The suspect, Ryan English, reportedly traveled from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C., with the intent to carry out his plot. Court documents reveal that English turned himself in to a Capitol Police officer near the south door of the Capitol building. Upon searching English, officers found a folding knife and two Molotov cocktails made from 50-milliliter Absolut vodka bottles with gray cloth affixed to the tops. A green lighter was also discovered in his pocket. A subsequent search of his vehicle uncovered a larger bottle of Smirnoff 100-proof vodka and a sweatshirt with its sleeves cut off. Investigators noted the cloth matched the material used on the Molotov cocktails. Prosecutors say English initially targeted Hegseth, Speaker Johnson, and the Heritage Foundation but altered his plans en route, focusing on Bessent after learning his confirmation vote was scheduled for Monday. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, blocked a Republican-led bill on Tuesday that would sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) for targeting Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over alleged war crimes. The legislation, which passed the House earlier this year with the support of 42 Democrats, fell short of the 60 votes needed in the Senate to advance, with only Sen. John Fetterman breaking party ranks to vote alongside Republicans. Schumer, who has often referred to himself as a “Shomer Yisroel,” drew sharp criticism for his opposition to the bill and acting more like a “Shomer Yishmoel,” prioritizing those who seek to undermine Israel over the Jewish state itself. Schumer lousily defended the move, claiming the bill was “poorly drafted” and would “undermine its primary goal.” The proposed sanctions would target ICC officials involved in investigations or prosecutions of U.S. or allied officials, including revoking visas, blocking entry to the U.S., and freezing financial transactions. Republicans, including sponsors Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), argued the ICC’s actions against Israel are illegitimate and pose a significant threat to U.S. sovereignty and allied nations. Despite the measure’s narrow focus on protecting U.S. and Israeli officials, Senate Democrats claimed the bill’s language was overly broad and could unintentionally harm American companies providing services to the ICC. Critics countered that these objections were baseless and a thinly veiled excuse to avoid supporting Israel during a critical time in the Gaza conflict. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, argued that the bill could “harden the court’s position” and damage U.S. interests. However, her attempts to negotiate changes with Cotton were reportedly dismissed, with the Republican senator maintaining that the bill’s scope was appropriate. The vote has exposed deep divisions within the Democratic Party on issues related to Israel. While 45 House Democrats supported the legislation when it was reintroduced earlier this month, Senate Democrats have taken a markedly different stance, signaling growing tension over the party’s approach to Israel and the ongoing Gaza conflict. Republicans blasted the decision, with many accusing Democrats of abandoning Israel. “This isn’t about protecting American or Israeli officials; it’s about Democrats pandering to their extreme left base while turning their backs on one of our greatest allies,” Rep. Roy said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the military’s top weapons buyer is an official who directed the Pentagon to withhold aid from Ukraine in 2019 as Trump sought a commitment from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate the Biden family — a key component of the impeachment of Trump in his first term. That relationship is raising questions among some senators about whether the nominee will follow the law if confirmed for a powerful new position that oversees a budget of $311 billion. Michael Duffey, Trump’s nominee to be undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, served as the associate director at the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term. In that job, he directed the Pentagon in July 2019 to place the hold on $391 million in security assistance for Ukraine. It continued until mid-September as Trump tried to secure an announcement from Zelenskyy about investigating Trump’s 2020 election rival Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden on corruption charges tied to the younger Biden’s role with the Ukrainian gas company Burisma. Withholding money for a policy reason is a violation of the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which prohibits the executive branch from freezing funds appropriated by Congress, the branch controlling the power of the purse. The hold on Ukraine aid became a key factor in lawmakers’ party-line vote to impeach Trump in December 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate later acquitted him. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren told Duffey that his role in withholding aid “raises concerns” about whether he will follow the law if approved for the powerful Pentagon position that oversees a large weapons-buying budget. It has been a gatekeeper for generating more than $66 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. Kori Schake, a senior fellow and director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, said Duffey’s budget-office experience was valuable and should make him an effective weapons buyer for the Pentagon. But “he and others who favor presidential impoundment of congressionally appropriated funds should be made to commit in confirmation hearings to expending what Congress appropriates,” Schake said. Warren sent Duffey more than 40 questions in advance of his Senate confirmation hearing that not only seek more information about his part in the 2019 aid pause but ask whether he would be responsive to congressional oversight because he did not comply with a subpoena to testify during Congress’ impeachment investigation. That refusal “bodes poorly for your plans to be honest and open with Congress and the American people when overseeing acquisitions and contracts for programs that uphold our national security,” Warren said in her letter to Duffey. The White House did not respond to a request for comment Monday about Duffey’s nomination or whether his nomination signaled a change in direction for weapons support to Ukraine. Trump was impeached a second time in 2021 following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. (AP)
Chinese tech startup DeepSeek ’s new artificial intelligence chatbot has sparked discussions about the competition between China and the U.S. in AI development, with many users flocking to test the rival of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. DeepSeek’s AI assistant was the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apple’s iPhone store on Tuesday afternoon and its launch made Wall Street tech superstars’ stocks tumble. Observers are eager to see whether the Chinese company has matched America’s leading AI companies at a fraction of the cost. The chatbot’s ultimate impact on the AI industry is still unclear, but it appears to censor answers on sensitive Chinese topics, a practice commonly seen on China’s internet. In 2023, China issued regulations requiring companies to conduct a security review and obtain approvals before their products can be publicly launched. Here are some answers The Associated Press received from DeepSeek’s new chatbot and ChatGPT: What does Winnie the Pooh mean in China? For many Chinese, the Winnie the Pooh character is a playful taunt of President Xi Jinping. Chinese censors in the past briefly banned social media searches for the bear in mainland China. ChatGPT got that idea right. It said Winnie the Pooh had become a symbol of political satire and resistance, often used to mock or criticize Xi. It explained that internet users compared Xi to the bear because of perceived similarities in their physical appearance. DeepSeek’s chatbot said the bear is a beloved cartoon character that is adored by countless children and families in China, symbolizing joy and friendship. Then, abruptly, it said the Chinese government is “dedicated to providing a wholesome cyberspace for its citizens.” It added that all online content is managed under Chinese laws and socialist core values, with the aim of protecting national security and social stability. Who is the current US president? It might be easy for many people to answer, but both AI chatbots mistakenly said Joe Biden, whose term ended last week, because they said their data was last updated in October 2023. But they both tried to be responsible by reminding users to verify with updated sources. What happened during the military crackdown in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in June 1989? The 1989 crackdown saw government troops open fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths. The event remains a taboo subject in mainland China. DeepSeek’s chatbot answered, “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.” But ChatGPT gave a detailed answer on what it called “one of the most significant and tragic events” in modern Chinese history. The chatbot talked about the background of the massive protests, the estimated casualties and their legacy. What is the state of US-China relations? DeepSeek’s chatbot’s answer echoed China’s official statements, saying the relationship between the world’s two largest economies is one of the most important bilateral relationships globally. It said China is committed to developing ties with the U.S. based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. “We hope that the United States will work with China to meet each other halfway, properly manage differences, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and push forward the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations,” it said. Some of these phrases — “meet … halfway,” “mutual respect” and “win-win cooperation” — mirror language used by a Chinese Foreign Ministry official in a 2021 news […]
Mr. Ralph Herzka, along with many prominent real estate executives, are currently in Las Vegas for the largest multifamily conference of the year. Today also marks the yahrzeit of Harav Hagaon R’ Shmuel Berenbaum zt”l, Ralph’s revered rebbi. To honor his memory, Ralph visited local Torah institutions to deliver divrei zikaron, reflecting on his rebbi’s legacy and sharing his personal experiences with the revered Mir rosh yeshiva. For bnei torah like Ralph Hertzka, even amidst the demands of business, Torah remains the ultimate priority. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Emergency services, including police and specialized response teams, are responding to an unspecified threat at the Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C. Evacuations are underway as authorities assess the situation.
Ministers from the Charedi Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) parties are urging Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to honor and advance all phases of the ongoing hostage-ceasefire agreement with Hamas, pledging full political support amid calls from other government ministers to halt the deal after its first phase. “Go for the next deal, move on to the second phase, don’t stop,” declared Labor and Welfare Minister Yoav Ben-Tzur at the Histadrut Labor Federation’s economic conference in Eilat. “Our sons and daughters are suffering there. I promise you — all six Shas ministers, led by Aryeh Deri, will support you. Bringing them back is the most sacred goal.” Housing Minister and UTJ leader Yitzhak Goldknopf echoed Ben-Tzur, affirming that his party stands firmly behind Netanyahu’s efforts to secure the release of all hostages. “We will support you through each stage of the deal until the last hostage is home,” Goldknopf vowed. The hostage-ceasefire deal, currently in its initial phase, has faced criticism from some government ministers who argue for its termination. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who led the Democrats’ Senate campaign efforts the past two election cycles, has announced he will not seek a third term in 2026, creating a highly contested battleground seat expected to be coveted by both major political parties. The 66-year-old’s unexpected decision Tuesday to step aside after just two terms comes as a surprise and poses a challenge for Democrats in Michigan during a turbulent period, likely dividing their strong bench between the gubernatorial and Senate races in 2026. “After three terms in the House and two terms in the Senate, I believe now is time for me to write a few more paragraphs in my current chapter and then turn over the reins,” Peters said in a YouTube video. “I will therefore not seek reelection in 2026.” Having lost Michigan in the presidential race, Peters’ decision forces Democrats to defend a critical Senate seat in Michigan without the advantage of an incumbent, complicating their efforts to regain control of the chamber, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. Expected to be among the names most circulated for the position is Pete Buttigieg, the former U.S. transportation secretary, who moved to Michigan in recent years. This is the second consecutive cycle in which Democrats must navigate the challenge of defending an open Senate seat in Michigan, a state won by Republican Donald Trump in the presidential contest in 2024. Longtime Sen. Debbie Stabenow shocked many observers by announcing she would not seek a fifth term in 2024. Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin held that seat for the party by a narrow margin. First elected to the Senate in 2014 after serving three terms in the U.S. House, Peters has earned a reputation as a mild-mannered and moderate politician. Besides leading the Senate Democrats’ campaign efforts from 2021 until earlier this year, he also chaired the Senate Homeland Security Committee from 2021 to 2025 and is currently the ranking member on the committee. Peters earned praise from many Democrats for aiding the party’s strong performance in the 2022 midterms by winning a number of hotly contested races to hold control of the Senate. But two years later, Republicans flipped several highly competitive seats, costing Democrats their majority in the upper chamber. Peters’ decision sets up a major midterm election in the state. Second term Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, and the field for her successor is already taking shape. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced after the 2024 election that he is running for governor as an independent. Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican leader of the state Senate Aric Nesbitt have launched campaigns as well. Buttigieg, who has been weighing a run for governor, is also considering running for the Senate in Michigan. Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, moved to Michigan shortly after his unsuccessful campaign for president in 2020. The news of the open Senate seat quickly drew interest from many public officials eying higher office. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat whose profile has risen thanks to a viral floor speech she gave in 2022, and second term Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II are potential candidates. The Detroit News first reported Peters’ decision. (AP)
Shas MK Yossi Taieb, the chairman of the Knesset’s Education Committee, said on Tuesday morning that his son received a draft order but he won’t be reporting to the recruitment center. Speaking during an interview with Kol B’Ramah, Taieb said: “My son received a draft order and he asked me what to do.” “I told him: ‘You have Roshei Yeshivah, you have the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah – do what they say.” “I’m not worried,” Taieb added. “He sits and learns seriously, he loves to learn. We’ll do what [the Rabbanim] instruct. If they say he needs to be arrested, then he’ll be arrested and learn Torah in prison.” The Rabbanim of the Sephardi Moetzet have instructed bochurim to ignore their draft orders. The IDF recently began implementing criminal sanctions against bnei yeshivos who failed to respond to their draft orders. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
