Williamsburg, NY – A lively Purim gathering took place on Sunday at the home of Satmar community leader Rabbi Moshe Indig (of the WJCC), attracting dozens of high-ranking NYPD officials, law enforcement personnel, and prominent elected officials. Among the notable attendees were New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Manhattan Boro President, Brooklyn Boro President, NYC Controller, County Party Chair Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte as well as other assemblymembers and local elected officials. Major organizations were in attendance including Hatzolah, Shomrim, Chaveirim, as well as community activists Joel Friedman, Joel Eisdorfer, Yanky Itzkowitz, Yidel Perlstein, Pinny Ringel and many others. Many different Kehillas had representatives at the event, Satmar, Vishnitz, Pupa, Vien, Belz and others. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A staggering decline in the Democratic Party’s favorability rating has raised alarm bells among party leaders, as a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS reveals historic lows in public perception and deep fractures within the party itself. According to the poll, only 29% of Americans view the Democratic Party favorably—the lowest rating recorded in CNN polling since 1992. It also marks a 20-point drop since January 2021, when Democrats regained control of the White House following Donald Trump’s first term. A key driver of this dissatisfaction stems from growing frustration among Democratic voters who believe their party is failing to take a strong enough stand against Trump and the GOP agenda. When asked whether Democrats should prioritize working with Republicans to pass bipartisan legislation or focus on stopping the GOP’s policies, 57% of Democrats and left-leaning independents said their party should fight the Republican agenda, while only 42% favored collaboration. This marks a dramatic shift from September 2017, when 74% of Democrats supported working with Republicans to push forward Democratic priorities. For the first time in nearly a decade, a majority of Democratic-aligned voters believe their party is heading in the wrong direction. According to the poll, 52% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents disapprove of their party’s leadership, a stark contrast to eight years ago when Democrats overwhelmingly supported their leadership. The numbers underscore a growing divide between Democratic voters and their party establishment. Among self-identified Democrats, 72% still hold a favorable view of the party, but among independents who lean Democratic, that number plummets to just 37%. Adding to the party’s woes is the lack of a clear leader to rally behind. When Democratic-aligned respondents were asked to name the leader who best reflects the core values of the party, no single figure dominated the field. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was the most frequently mentioned name, cited by 10% of respondents, followed closely by Vice President Kamala Harris at 9% and Sen. Bernie Sanders at 8%. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was named by 6%, while former President Barack Obama and Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett each received 4%. Schumer barely registered at 2%, joining a handful of other low-profile mentions. Most strikingly, more than 30% of respondents could not name a single Democratic leader they believed embodied the party’s values. One respondent summed up the sentiment bluntly: “No one. That’s the problem.” This vacuum contrasts sharply with the Republican Party’s consolidation around Trump, despite internal tensions. The poll found that 79% of Republicans and right-leaning independents hold a favorable view of the GOP, compared to just 63% of Democrats who view their own party positively. Additionally, for the first time in CNN’s polling, Democrats are no longer widely seen as the mainstream political party. In 2022, 56% of Americans considered the Democratic Party’s policies to be mainstream. Now, a majority believe both the Democratic and Republican parties are too extreme, with 50% and 51% respectively saying the two parties have moved away from the center. While political independents still view Republicans as more extreme than Democrats, with 57% saying the GOP is too far right compared to 48% who say the same about the Democrats, this marks a significant image shift for a party that has traditionally positioned itself as the moderate alternative to Republican policies. The cracks in the […]
Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a fiery defense of the U.S. government’s decision to revoke the visa of a Columbia University student who helped organize anti-Israel protests, insisting that the United States will not tolerate foreign nationals engaging in activities that support terrorism or disrupt national security. Appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation, Rubio faced off against host Margaret Brennan, who questioned whether there was evidence linking the student, Mahmoud Khalil, to Hamas. Rubio wasted no time in making his position clear. “If you had told us that you were coming to the U.S. to participate in pro-Hamas events, you wouldn’t have gotten a visa in the first place,” Rubio stated. “Now, you’re here, you did it, and you lied to us. You’re out. It’s that simple.” When Brennan pressed Rubio on whether there was concrete evidence of material support for terrorism, the Secretary of State snapped back with a blunt retort: “You should watch the news.” He pointed out that the protests, which Khalil helped lead, were not peaceful demonstrations but violent takeovers of campus buildings, acts of vandalism, and intimidation of Jewish students. “These guys take over entire buildings. They vandalize colleges. They shut down colleges,” Rubio said, calling out the media for downplaying the severity of the campus riots. When Brennan insisted that CBS had covered the issue extensively, Rubio fired back: “Well then you should know.” Rubio dismissed the argument that Khalil was simply expressing a political viewpoint, stating that the student was more than just a participant—he was a spokesperson and negotiator for a movement that turned a prestigious university into chaos. Rubio made it clear that Khalil’s visa revocation was just the beginning. “We’re going to do more,” he said. “Every day now, we are approving visa revocations. And if that visa led to a green card, that process will be revoked as well.” Dismissing concerns raised by media and progressive activists that the government was unfairly targeting pro-Palestinian voices, Rubio pointed out that the Biden administration had no hesitation in pressuring social media companies to censor conservative speech. He called out the hypocrisy of those now defending Khalil, stating: “They had no problem pressuring social media to censor American political speech. Now, suddenly, they’re defenders of free speech?” Rubio stressed that the policy applies broadly, not just to Hamas supporters. “We don’t want terrorists in America,” he said. “I don’t know how hard that is to understand.” The visa revocation is part of a broader push by the administration to root out individuals who undermine U.S. foreign policy and national security. Rubio dismissed the idea that a visa is a right, calling it a privilege granted to those who abide by the laws and interests of the United States. “We don’t want people in our country who are committing crimes and undermining our national security,” Rubio said. “Especially people who are here as guests. A visa is not a birthright.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A yeshiva bochur was arrested on Sunday evening by military police for desertion from the IDF and sentenced to 14 days in a military prison. The incident began when the 21-year-old bochur was stopped by traffic police on Purim for a routine check. His name came up as an army deserter and he was summoned on the spot to an immediate court hearing. When he arrived at the court, the military police were waiting for him and he was immediately sent to a military trial and sentenced. Kikar H’Shabbat reported that the bochur is a “mitchazeik” [someone growing closer to Yiddishkeit] and comes from a family who became frum in recent years. He is a talmid of the Maorot HaTorah Yeshiva in Telzstone, a yeshiva for bochurim from non-yeshivish backgrounds. The Agudas Bnei Hayeshivos hired a lawyer for the bochur and issued a statement saying: “This is a mitzchazeik talmid yeshivah, who moved to a yeshiva framework where he began to learn Torah for most of the day.” Someone involved in the Chareidi recruitment issue told Kikar: “The case of this bochur is the classic case that the Rabbanim spoke about. He is not a standard yeshivah bochur, he is a ‘mitchazeik’ who moved to a yeshiva framework from a family that was growing close to Yiddishket.” “In the coming hours, we will see what happens with the bochur and it will then be decided whether to go out to the streets for stormy protests throughout the country. The Sephardi Chachmei HaTorah and the Roshei Yeshivos of Maorot HaTorah have announced that they intend to wage a battle for the bochur’s full release from military prison so he can swiftly return to the benches of the Beit Midrash.” He continued by saying that “the Sephardi Rabbanim will put all their weight behind this bochur, who was only mitchazeik in recent years and can easily succumb to the IDF’s threats and leave yeshivah for the army.” “The Sephardic Chachmei HaTorah who spoke with Agudas Bnei HaYeshivos emphasized that the main struggle against the recruitment decree is being waged over this case and similar ones. Even those who are not classic talmudei yeshivah must not fall into the framework of the destructive army.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar responded to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s announcement on Sunday of his intention to dismiss him this week by saying he has no intention of leaving his position. Bar claimed that Netanyahu’s decision to remove him is not based on his failures regarding the October 7 massacre and that he intends to remain in his position until the return of all the hostages and the completion of several investigations. However, after a backlash, the Shin Bet later issued a statement saying that if the government decides to fire Bar, he will “respect the law.” As expected, following Netanyahu’s announcement, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara sent a letter to the Prime Minister saying that he is not permitted to fire Bar unless she determines that the dismissal is “legal.” The responses of Bar and Baharav-Miara were widely slammed by government officials, with one political official saying that Bar “has become confused as to who is subordinate to whom. The Prime Minister’s lack of confidence in the Shin Bet chief is not a personal matter but a distinctly public matter and his attempt to cling to his position harms the Shin Bet and the security of the state.” The official continued by saying that Bar’s insistence that he will determine when he will end his position is “how he decided on the night of October whom not to wake up and whom not to alert [a reference to his failure to wake up Netanyahu]. The Shin Bet chief repeats the lie that he warned the political echelon about the Hamas attack, while the protocols prove the exact opposite: on October 1, 2023, seven days before the massacre, the Shin Bet chief said that Hamas was deterred and that it should be granted economic benefits to maintain calm. The Shin Bet chief even repeated these claims three days before the massacre.” Justice Minister Yariv Levin slammed Baharav-Miara’s letter, stating: “The Shin Bet Law explicitly states that the government is authorized to terminate the tenure of the head of the service before the end of his term. The Attorney General should also be familiar with this law. In case anyone is confused, Israel is a democracy, and everyone in it, including the Attorney General, is subject to the law.” Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich responded by stating that Bar should have gone home on October 8, 2023. “In what normal country would you even need a special reason to fire the head of an intelligence organization who is personally responsible for a terrible intelligence failure that led to the greatest disaster in the history of the State of Israel? Maybe if Bar had guarded Gaza’s threshold instead of some illusory political threshold, the October 7 massacre would have been thwarted.” Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir stated: “Since the Attorney General herself is in the midst of an impeachment process, perhaps it is important to remind her that ‘conflict of interest’ also applies to her adversarial actions against the government and its head. The time has come to put an end to the rule of the deep state, and first and foremost, to expedite the dismissal of the Attorney General.” The Torat Lechima organization responded: “The Attorney General opposes the dismissal of the Shin Bet chief and the Shin Bet chief will […]
The Israeli Air Force has raised its air defense systems to the highest alert levels amid concerns that the Houthis will strike Israel in response to the US strikes on Yemen over the weekend, Channel 12 News reported on Monday. According to the report, the alert level was raised after a Houthi missile exploded in the Sinai in Egypt on Sunday – an attack that is estimated to have been aimed at Israel. The Houthis overnight Motzei Shabbos and Sunday launched dozens of explosive drones and at least one missile at the USS Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea in retaliation for the US strikes. The drones were all intercepted before reaching the ship. On Monday morning, the Houthis claimed that they carried out a second strike on the USS Truman overnight, launching additional missiles and drones. At least 53 people in Yemen were killed in the US strikes, including Abed al-Rab Jafraan, the head of the security detail for Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. White House national security adviser Mike Waltz told ABC News on Sunday night that the US strikes eliminated several Houthi leaders. The US has vowed to continue attacking Yemen until the Houthis halt their attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The US airstrikes were carried out several days after the Houthis announced they intend to resume attacks on “Israeli” ships in the Red Sea area due to the halt of humanitarian aid into Gaza. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Vice President JD Vance said Friday that he was hopeful a deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. will be wrapped up by the early April deadline. “There will almost certainly be a high-level agreement that I think satisfies our national security concerns, allows there to be a distinct American TikTok enterprise,” Vance said in an interview with NBC News abroad Air Force Two. Questions about the future of the popular video sharing app have continued to linger since a law requiring its China-based parent company to divest or face a ban took effect on Jan. 19. After taking office, President Donald Trump gave TikTok a 75-day reprieve by signing an executive order that delayed enforcement of the statute until April 5. Vance, along with National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, were tapped by Trump to find an approved buyer. On Sunday, Trump told reporters aboad Air Force One the administration was in talks with “four different groups” about TikTok and that a deal could come soon. TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have not publicly commented on the talks. It’s also unclear if ByteDance has changed its position on selling TikTok, which it said early last year it does not plan to do. After it made those comments, ByteDance and TikTok launched a legal challenge against the federal law, which was passed with bipartisan support in Congress and signed by then-President Joe Biden. In January, the two companies lost their case at the U.S. Supreme Court. NBC News reported that Vance did not offer details on who the potential buyers could be but noted that some issues could push a final agreement past the April 5 deadline. “We’d like to get it done without the extension,” Vance told the news outlet. “I think the question is, what is the equity ownership of the new joint venture? How do you do the contracts for all the investors, the customers, the service providers? … The deal itself will be very clear, but actually creating those thousands and thousands of pages of legal documents, that’s the one thing that I worry could slip.” Trump has previously said the deadline on a TikTok deal could be extended further if needed. He has also proposed terms in which the U.S. would have a 50% stake in a joint venture. The administration hasn’t provided details on what that type of deal would entail. (AP)
A group of House Republicans on Friday put forward legislation seeking to prevent Chinese students from studying in American schools, as some U.S. lawmakers are targeting China over national security concerns. Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., introduced the bill that could bar Chinese nationals from receiving visas that allow foreigners to travel to the U.S. to study or participate in exchange visitor programs. Five other Republicans co-sponsored the measure. By granting Chinese nationals such visas, the U.S. has “invited” the Chinese Communist Party “to spy on our military, steal our intellectual property, and threaten national security,” Moore said in a statement. “It’s time we turn off the spigot and immediately ban all student visas going to Chinese nationals.” The measure is unlikely to pass, and it has drawn criticism from organizations and scholars over concerns that hostile policies and rhetoric toward Chinese students could hurt U.S. interests. “No policy should target individuals solely on the basis of their national origin,” Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators, said in a statement. “Making international students — the most vetted and tracked nonimmigrants in the United States — a scapegoat for xenophobic and anti-Chinese sentiment is misguided and antithetical to our national interest,” Aw said. Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said China “expresses strong concern and firmly opposes such practices.” He said education exchange and cooperation has long served as a pillar for the stable development of China-U.S. relations. The Asian American Scholars Forum said such legislation would harm the talent pipeline of Asian American scientists, scholars and researchers, undermining U.S. leadership in science and innovation. Despite the bill’s slim chance of getting approved, Yangyang Cheng, research scholar at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center, said the bill “should be seen as part of a broader effort to restrict academic freedom and hurt higher education in this country, to control what can be taught, which research projects can be pursued, and who have access to the classrooms and laboratories.” In the 2023-24 school year, more than 277,000 Chinese students were studying in U.S. universities, or a quarter of the total number of international students, according to an annual report on international students from the Institute of International Education. The number of Chinese students in the U.S., however, has been declining for years. Last year, China lost its status to India as the top feeder country of international students. In 2023, Florida passed a law prohibiting state universities from hiring students from China and six other countries for graduate assistant and postdoc positions., and it’s been challenged in court. Several U.S. universities have ended academic partnerships with Chinese schools amid mounting pressure from Republican lawmakers over national security concerns. Reactions on China’s social media to the new legislation were varied. Some who said they had recently received offers from American schools expressed concerns, some dismissed it as “a political show,” and some called it “another Chinese Exclusion Act.” (AP)
President Donald Trump said Friday that he was “being a little bit sarcastic” when he repeatedly claimed as a candidate that he would have the Russia-Ukraine war solved within 24 hours — and even before he even took office. Trump was asked about the vow he repeatedly made on the campaign trail during an interview for the “Full Measure” television program as his administration is still trying to broker a solution 54 days into his second term. “Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that,” Trump said in a clip released ahead of the episode airing Sunday. “What I really mean is I’d like to get it settled and, I’ll, I think, I think I’ll be successful.” It was a rare admission from Trump, who has a long record of making exaggerated claims. Trump said at a CNN town hall in May 2023, “They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I’ll have that done — I’ll have that done in 24 hours.” “That is a war that’s dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president,” Trump said during his September debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. “If I win, when I’m president-elect, and what I’ll do is I’ll speak to one, I’ll speak to the other. I’ll get them together.” The Republican repeated the claim frequently on the campaign trail. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow this week for talks on a U.S.-proposed ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted. In the interview, Trump was also asked what the plan would be if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire to the war he started three years ago. “Bad news for this world because so many people are dying,” Trump said. But I think, I think he’s going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think he’s going to agree.” (AP)
A high-ranking IDF officer from the Southern Command is under investigation after losing highly classified documents in a parking lot outside an office tower in Ramat Gan. According to reports, the brigadier general was on his way to a civilian meeting when the sensitive documents fell from his possession. A civilian passerby discovered them and promptly handed them over to a security guard in the building, who then alerted both the police and the IDF. The IDF has confirmed that the documents should never have left the military base, raising concerns over protocol breaches and potential security risks. The officer is now the subject of an internal probe by the Information Security Department. Despite the severity of the incident, military sources said that the brigadier general has not been suspended at this stage. The IDF stated that a full investigation is underway, with officials vowing to take “appropriate steps” once the probe is concluded. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Israeli forces uncovered a significant weapons cache during an anti-terrorism operation in the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem, the IDF announced. Among the recovered items were several bags of weapons, with one particularly alarming discovery—a vest labeled “UNRWA”, the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees. The find comes amid longstanding Israeli accusations that terrorist groups exploit UNRWA as cover for their activities. Following the discovery, the confiscated weapons were transferred to Israeli security forces for further analysis. The IDF did not specify the types of weapons found or which terror group they are believed to belong to. The military noted that it will continue its counterterrorism operations across the West Bank to prevent attacks and ensure the safety of Israeli citizens. The Nur Shams camp has been a frequent flashpoint for clashes between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces, with the IDF ramping up operations in response to recent terror threats. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A high-stakes diplomatic mission turned into a heated television showdown on Sunday, as CNN’s Jake Tapper confronted Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, over his three-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. Appearing on State of the Union, Witkoff defended his visit to Moscow on Friday, a meeting that reportedly came after Putin left him waiting for eight hours—a power move reminiscent of the Russian leader’s past diplomatic tactics. Trump himself vehemently denied the delay in a Truth Social post on Saturday, slamming the report as “fake news.” Despite the tense optics surrounding the meeting, Witkoff characterized the discussions as “positive” and “solution-based”, claiming that progress had been made. Tapper, however, was quick to challenge that optimism, pressing Witkoff on reports that Russia’s ceasefire conditions included “international recognition” of Ukrainian territory that Moscow has seized. “Jake, I would not call your description entirely accurate,” Witkoff responded, pushing back on the characterization of Russia’s demands. He acknowledged that the two sides had started the negotiation “miles apart” but insisted that “they are today a lot closer.” One of the most striking moments of the interview came when Tapper asked whether Putin himself was the primary obstacle to peace. The CNN host cited Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently stated that if Russia refuses to agree to the terms Ukraine has already accepted, then “we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.” “So as Secretary Rubio puts it, is it now clear that Putin is the impediment to peace right now?” Tapper pressed. Witkoff sidestepped the question, refusing to directly blame the Russian leader. Instead, he emphasized that Putin, Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky all “want to see an end to this” and that negotiations remain ongoing. “I don’t want to put words in President Putin’s mouth,” Witkoff said carefully. “But I think he’s indicated that he accepts the philosophy of President Trump. President Trump wants to see an end to this. I think President Putin wants to see an end to this. I think President Zelensky wants to see an end to this … there are all details that have to get worked out at the table.” When asked for a timeline on a potential agreement, Witkoff echoed Trump’s belief that progress could be seen in “weeks.” Witkoff also underscored that Trump is deeply involved in the talks, revealing that the former president is likely to speak with Putin by phone later this week. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In a powerful display of Israel’s advancing defense capabilities, Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Israel’s enemies, vowing that any aggression would be met with overwhelming force. During a visit to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Katz confirmed that the Iron Beam laser interception system—hailed as a revolutionary leap in missile defense—will soon be operational. “Our enemies should know and understand clearly—we have many means to deliver a decisive blow. If they raise a hand against Israel again, that hand will be severed,” Katz declared, standing alongside military leaders and top defense officials. The Iron Beam, set to be deployed later this year, represents a game-changing breakthrough in modern warfare. Unlike the Iron Dome, which relies on expensive interceptor missiles, the Iron Beam uses high-powered lasers to neutralize incoming rockets and drones at a fraction of the cost. The system, developed by Rafael, is designed to complement Israel’s layered air defense network, working alongside the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile systems to protect Israeli cities from relentless aerial threats. “The laser system is the weapon of the future, capable of neutralizing an entire layer of threats… with outstanding and continuously improving results. Israeli citizens need this protection,” Katz asserted, underscoring the necessity of Iron Beam’s rapid deployment. Unlike traditional missile defense systems, the Iron Beam never runs out of ammunition—as long as there’s an energy source, the lasers can keep firing. This unlimited capability provides a critical advantage in sustained conflicts, reducing the financial and logistical burden of replenishing costly interceptor missiles. Since Hamas’s brutal October 7 attack, which saw the massacre of over 1,200 Israelis, Israel has faced a relentless bombardment from multiple fronts. In just over five months, more than 26,000 rockets, missiles, and drones have been fired at Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Israeli air defenses, particularly the Iron Dome, have intercepted thousands of incoming projectiles, saving untold lives. But with enemies adapting their tactics—using massive barrages, drones, and long-range precision strikes—the demand for a next-generation, cost-effective defense system has never been greater. Rafael, the defense firm behind the Iron Dome and David’s Sling, has worked tirelessly to refine the Iron Beam’s accuracy, range, and reliability. Once fully integrated into Israel’s air defense network, it will provide an unprecedented multi-layered shield, ensuring that threats—whether from Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran—are met with instant, surgical elimination. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The Democratic Party is facing a deepening internal divide as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer comes under fire from within his own ranks for backing a Republican-led government funding bill. The decision, framed by critics as a capitulation to Donald Trump and the GOP, has sparked open rebellion among Democratic pundits, lawmakers, and party loyalists. Schumer’s support for the continuing resolution to fund the government drew immediate backlash. MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend ripped into the New York senator over the weekend, accusing him of folding “like a paper napkin” to Republican demands. On The Weekend Saturday, Sanders-Townsend expressed outrage over the bill’s impact on funding for Washington, D.C., where she resides, and even suggested she was considering changing her party registration to independent in response. “There’s actually little that the Senate minority leader can say, and the ten Democrats that voted with the Republicans can say, to appease somebody like me,” she said, before sarcastically praising House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whom she referred to as the “High King.” The backlash wasn’t limited to television commentators. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries notably refused to defend Schumer’s leadership when asked directly on Friday whether it was time for the Senate Democrats to find new leadership. His silence spoke volumes about the growing frustration among House Democrats, who largely opposed the bill. Meanwhile, CNN’s Van Jones slammed Schumer for what he called a “radical misreading of the room.” Jones argued that Democratic voters expected their leaders to stand firm against Republican priorities—particularly after campaigning in 2024 on the existential threat Trump poses to democracy—but instead, they watched as Schumer and Senate Democrats handed Republicans a major win. The controversy highlights a growing progressive insurgency within the Democratic Party, reminiscent of the GOP’s Tea Party revolt in the early 2010s. Disillusionment among left-leaning Democrats, who see their leaders as weak in the face of Trump’s resurgence, is reaching a boiling point. As Sanders-Townsend put it bluntly: “They blew it! The Democratic Tea Party was born the same day that Chuck Schumer took to that podium.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
