Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought to ease economic anxieties on Tuesday, dismissing concerns about an impending recession while taking aim at media narratives that he says underplay the economy’s strengths. Speaking on Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria, Bessent addressed comments he made over the weekend on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he had said that “there are no guarantees” against a recession. When asked to clarify, he called the original question “silly,” saying that while he can’t predict the future, there’s “no reason” the U.S. economy needs to enter a downturn. Bessent pointed to positive economic indicators, including strong consumer spending data from credit card companies and banks, arguing that “the economy in the first quarter is doing better than the media is reporting.” He also downplayed recent weak airline travel numbers, attributing them to a decline in federal employee travel rather than broader economic struggles. He reiterated that any economic slowdown would stem from rolling back excessive government spending, a move he says the Trump administration is prioritizing to prevent a financial crisis. “We are going to get this spending under control, bring manufacturing back home, and make the country more affordable for working Americans,” Bessent said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Top Democrats on the House Judiciary and House Oversight committees have filed a lengthy Freedom of Information Act request questioning whether the Trump administration’s DOGE Service is operating “outside the bounds of federal law,” The Associated Press has learned. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia are seeking detailed information about the authority of the Department of Government Efficiency Service, including billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and some 40 other people, to carry out firings of federal workers and dismantling of federal agencies. They also are requesting detailed information about DOGE’s access to sensitive data, its use of artificial intelligence, the resumes and training of its staff and its communications related to Musk-held entities including SpaceX, Starlink and Tesla. “The Administration and Mr. Musk have hidden behind a veil of secrecy as they systematically dismantle the federal government of the United States,” the Democrats wrote in a letter to DOGE administrator Amy Gleason accompanying the FOIA request, which was obtained by the AP. “The American people deserve answers, and we are committed to using every tool at our disposal to expose the truth about DOGE’s operations.” They are seeking expedited review of the request, with a response within 20 days. The FOIA request is the latest in an escalating confrontation between Congress and the executive branch as President Donald Trump is rapidly slashing routine aspects of the federal government by doing away with thousands of workers and unwinding various longstanding agencies and services. The Oversight Committee Democrats have already issued a formal request for information from the Republican president’s administration on Musk’s potential conflicts of interest, which is pending. Their attempt to subpoena Musk was rejected by committee Republicans, who hold the majority in Congress. While generally anyone can file a FOIA request, the Democrats on the panels are utilizing the avenues at their disposal as the minority party to press for oversight of the Republican administration any way they can. It’s also a potential step toward more binding measures, including legal action. In the FOIA request, Raskin and Connolly, who are the ranking Democrats on the committees, wrote that the information is necessary “to provide answers to the many open questions and an explanation to the public.” They said, “There exist possible questions concerning the government’s integrity regarding DOGE’s operations, formation, and activity, which form the basis of this request, as many of DOGE’s actions may be outside the bounds of federal law.” It’s unclear if the Trump administration will respond. Trump and Musk have shown little regard for the protests coming from Democrats — and some Republicans — in Congress as their teams march across the federal government. Musk has vowed transparency, but the Democrats noted he has met privately with House and Senate Republicans. The Trump administration is purging employees, shuttering federal agencies and otherwise disrupting operations in the name of rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. Some 100 lawsuits have been filed, with judges slowing and stopping some actions, while allowing others. In the sweeping request, the Democrats seek four main types of information about the authority involved with DOGE’s activity: its access to sensitive data; the guidance and decision-making around its firings of federal employees; the potential conflicts of interest around its leadership; and its internal communications. They seek the names, […]
The Trump administration fired back on Monday after a French politician suggested that the United States should return the Statue of Liberty to France, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivering a scathing response. “Absolutely not,” Leavitt said during a press briefing. “My advice to that unnamed low-level French politician would be to remind them that it’s only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now. They should be grateful.” Leavitt’s remarks were a clear reference to America’s role in liberating France from Nazi Germany during World War II—a pointed reminder of the historical debt that France owes the U.S. “The United States has been a beacon of freedom for the world, and we will not entertain such nonsense,” she added. The White House’s comments came in response to Raphaël Glucksmann, a French member of the European Parliament, who, during a political convention over the weekend, launched a dramatic call for the return of Lady Liberty. “America has chosen to side with the tyrants,” Glucksmann declared, attacking Trump’s hardline stance on scientific research, funding cuts, and the dismissal of public health officials. He accused the U.S. of betraying the ideals of liberty and progress that the statue represents, arguing that if America no longer upholds those values, France should take it back. Glucksmann went further, mocking America’s recent policies on research and innovation, suggesting that if Washington no longer wants to support scientific freedom, France would gladly absorb its top researchers and institutions. The Statue of Liberty, gifted to the U.S. by France in 1886, was meant to celebrate the shared values of democracy, independence, and the abolition of slavery. But Glucksmann’s remarks signal a growing frustration among European leaders who believe Trump’s policies undermine those principles. Despite the rhetorical fireworks, France has no legal right to reclaim the statue—it is U.S. government property, and any attempt to do so would trigger a major diplomatic crisis. The controversy also comes at a sensitive time for French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been working to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine—a diplomatic effort that could be jeopardized by escalating tensions with Washington. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Sarepta Therapeutics said Tuesday that a patient died while taking its closely watched gene therapy for muscular dystrophy, sending company shares plummeting in morning trading. The young man died of acute liver injury, a known side effect, Sarepta said in a statement. But the company said the “severity” of the patient’s case had not previously been seen with the therapy, called Elevidys. It’s the first known patient death with the therapy, which has been used in more than 800 patients, the company said. In 2023, Elevidys received expedited U.S. approval despite concerns from some Food and Drug Administration scientists about its effectiveness in treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It’s the first gene therapy approved in the U.S. for the rare muscle-wasting condition, which causes weakness, loss of mobility and early death in males. The FDA granted full approval last year for Duchenne’s patients with a particular genetic mutation, expanding its use to patients 4 and older, regardless of whether they are still able to walk. Previously it was only available for younger patients who were still mobile. Sarepta said in a statement the patient who died had a recent infection that could have contributed to the liver injury. The company said it plans to update the prescribing information for Elevidys to reflect the case. Shares of the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company fell more than 23% to about $78 per share in morning trading. Elevidys uses a disabled virus to insert a replacement gene for producing dystrophin into patient cells. It costs $3.2 million for a one-time treatment. Sarepta has received FDA accelerated approval for threeother Duchenne’s drugs since 2016. None has yet been confirmed to work; studies designed to secure full FDA approval are ongoing. (AP)
Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has reached a deal to acquire Israeli-founded cybersecurity firm Wiz for a record-breaking $32 billion, according to a report by the Financial Times. The deal marks the largest acquisition in Israel’s tech history, surpassing Intel’s $15.3 billion purchase of Mobileye in 2017. It is also Google’s biggest acquisition to date, more than doubling its previous record purchase of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in 2012. Founded in early 2020, Wiz has rapidly emerged as a leader in cloud security, offering AI-driven solutions to protect businesses from cyber threats. The company last secured a $12 billion valuation in May 2024 after raising $1 billion in its latest funding round. The acquisition comes amid growing concerns over cybersecurity as businesses increasingly migrate to cloud-based infrastructure. Wiz’s technology is designed to secure digital environments by detecting vulnerabilities and threats before they can be exploited. The shift to hybrid work models and cloud-based operations has made cybersecurity a top priority for enterprises, fueling demand for Wiz’s solutions. This strategic acquisition is expected to bolster Google’s cloud security offerings, positioning it more competitively against rivals such as Microsoft and Amazon in the rapidly expanding cloud computing market. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
FBI Director Kash Patel applauded Mexican authorities Tuesday for the arrest and handover of one of the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” suspects, an alleged gang leader from El Salvador. Francisco Javier Román Bardales is allegedly a senior leader of the Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13 gang. He was arrested Monday in the mountains of the Gulf coast state of Veracruz by soldiers and federal agents. “This is a major victory both for our law enforcement partners and for a safer America,” Patel wrote. Mexico’s security chief Omar García Harfuch applauded the arrest Monday, which his agency said was the result of international cooperation. The agency referred to his handover as a deportation to the United States. Román Bardales faces charges related to violent crime, drug distribution and extortion in the Eastern District of New York. The Mara Salvatrucha was one of eight Latin American criminal organizations declared foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government last month. FBI Director Kash Patel said via X Tuesday that Roman Bardales was being transported within the U.S. He thanked Mexican authorities for their support. The arrest and swift handover came just weeks after Mexico handed over 29 drug cartel figures, including drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985. Mexico has also stepped up operations against the Sinaloa cartel, a main trafficker of fentanyl to the United States. President Claudia Sheinbaum has worked to show U.S. President Donald Trump that Mexico is a reliable partner on security and immigration. The results have so far kept most of Trump’s tariffs at bay. The Trump administration sent two other top members of MS-13 to El Salvador over the weekend, along with hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants. (AP)
“Telling your wife your needs and wants” is a complete waste of time for married men who want happiness and I’ll tell you why. So many marriage experts claim they have the secret to a happy marriage and that it all comes down to communication, boundaries and bringing in more money. They tell you to help out more at home, talk about the past, go together to a marriage professional but never stop to take inventory of whether ANY of these methods are actually WORKING in creating happiness and joy! I am not saying those strategies don’t work at all, but they are the long… slow… painful way of having a happy home. And for the few that make it with these strategies, they’ve done it while he doesn’t get what he needs, and she doesn’t get what she needs. Meanwhile, we’re helping our clients connect with their wives on the highest level, living lives full of happiness and excitement and it gets more and more joyful by the day where both husband and wife feel happiness and excitement… … all without needing their wife to meet them halfway! To check out how they do this, click below to watch my free presentation where I share all the details … you’re going to thank me for it! 3 Steps Married Men Use to Get Rid of Friction and Create Happiness and Excitement… Without Needing Their Wife to Meet Them Halfway!
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening released the following statement: “Hamas is responsible for this war. It invaded our towns, murdered our people, raped our women and kidnapped our loved ones. Hamas refused offer after offer to release our hostages. In the past two weeks, Israel did not initiate any military action in the hope that Hamas would change course. Well, that didn’t happen. While Israel accepted the offer of President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Hamas flatly refused to do so. This is why I authorized yesterday the renewal of military action against Hamas. Israel does not target Palestinian civilians. We target Hamas terrorists. And when these terrorists embed themselves in civilian areas, when they use civilians as human shields, they are the ones who are responsible for all unintended casualties. Palestinian civilians should avoid any contact with Hamas terrorists, and I call on the people of Gaza, get out of harm’s way. Move to safer areas. Because every civilian casualty is a tragedy and every civilian casualty is the fault of Hamas. I thank President Trump for his unwavering support for Israel. Our alliance with the United States has never been stronger. To those who criticize Israel, I ask, what would you do if terrorists murdered and kidnapped your children? You would do what we are doing. In the face of pure evil, free societies have no choice but to fight. So, I want to assure all our friends around the world, Israel will fight and Israel will win. We will bring our people home and we will destroy Hamas. We will not relent until we achieve all these vital goals and we will not rest until we give our country a future of peace, prosperity and hope.”
Tragedy has struck the Lakewood community, as a young child has tragically lost their life after being left in a vehicle near 5th Street and Princeton Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. Read the full story on Lakewood Alerts.
WATCH: Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Hamas is responsible for this war. It invaded our towns, murdered our people, raped our women and kidnapped our loved ones. Hamas refused offer after offer to release our hostages. In the past two weeks, Israel did not initiate any military action in the hope that Hamas would change course. Well, that didn’t happen….”
A heartbreaking tragedy has shaken the Lakewood community, as a 4-month-old infant was niftar after being accidentally left in a vehicle near 5th Street and Princeton Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, leaving residents in shock and mourning. Hatzolah of Central Jersey responded swiftly to the scene shortly before 1:30 PM, where paramedics worked tirelessly to save the child’s life. The infant was urgently transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, but despite all efforts, the child was tragically Niftar. Details surrounding the incident remain limited at this time. Additional information, including levaya arrangements, will be shared with the tzibbur as soon as they are made available. Baruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A federal judge orders Elon Musk and DOGE officials to reinstate basically all of USAID’s functionality, stating that DOGE’s efforts likely violated the Constitution in multiple ways.
Measles outbreaks in West Texas and New Mexico are now up to nearly 320 cases, and two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. As of Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said its count of confirmed measles cases in the U.S. surpassed 2024. Here’s what else you need to know about measles in the U.S. How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico? Texas state health officials said Tuesday there were 20 new cases of measles since last week, bringing the total to 279 across 11 counties — most in West Texas. Two more people were hospitalized, for a total of 36. New Mexico health officials announced three new cases Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 38. Most of the cases are in Lea County, where two people have been hospitalized, and the other cases are in Eddy County. Oklahoma’s state health department reported two probable cases of measles last week, saying they are “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks. A school-age child died of measles in Texas last month, and New Mexico reported its first measles-related death in an adult last week. Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.? Measles cases have been reported in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an outbreak as three or more related cases — and there have been three clusters that qualified as outbreaks in 2025. In the U.S., cases and outbreaks are generally traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. It can then spread, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles. Do you need an MMR booster? The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old. People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions. Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally. A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don’t always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary. Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles […]
Attorney General Pam Bondi: “If you’re gonna touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out ’cause we’re coming after you and if you are funding this, we’re coming after you.”
