Want a COVID-19 vaccination this fall? For many Americans, it’s not clear how easy it will be to get one – or if they’ve lost the choice. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was a longtime anti-vaccine activist, said this week that the shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, usurping a decision normally made by scientific experts, not political appointees. The announcement follows an earlier Trump administration step to limit COVID-19 vaccinations among healthy people under age 65. Until now, the U.S. – following guidance from independent experts who advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – has recommended yearly COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone age 6 months and older. Together, the moves have left health experts, vaccine makers and insurers uncertain about what to advise and what comes next. “It’s going to add a lot of confusion overall,” said Ajay Sethi, an epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. How can I get a COVID-19 shot for myself or my healthy child? Some of this season’s vaccine is still available. Insurance industry experts say if people had insurance coverage before Kennedy’s announcement, it’s highly unlikely that would have ended instantly based on the secretary’s video announcement. That means if someone could find a shot, they’d likely be able to get one for now. Will I still be able to choose a shot in the fall for myself or my child? Who will be able to get what vaccines this fall is still unclear. Vaccine manufacturers plan to issue updated COVID-19 shots in the late summer or fall. But the Food and Drug Administration has said it plans to limit approval of seasonal shots to seniors and others at high risk, pending more studies of everyone else. Even if the U.S. approves vaccines only for certain groups, it still may be possible for others to get the shot depending on the outcome of upcoming advisory meetings, regulatory moves and decisions from insurers and employers. Will my insurance still pay? Insurers base coverage decisions on the recommendations of that CDC panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. It’s not clear what role that panel now will play. Paying out of pocket could cost about $200. But some insurers and employers may decide to still cover the shots regardless of the new recommendations, said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the non-profit KFF, which studies health care issues. She noted that they may view the expense as worthwhile if it avoids a higher bill from someone hospitalized by the coronavirus. What’s considered increased risk? The FDA published a list of health conditions it said would qualify, including asthma, cancer, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity. The CDC has a more extensive list. But, again, it isn’t yet known how this will play out. For example, it could be hard for people to prove they’re qualified. If they’re vaccinated at a drugstore, for instance, the pharmacist wouldn’t normally know about underlying health problems or even ask. Kates said it’s unclear whether Kennedy’s move would affect whether doctors recommend the shot. And Sethi, the UW-Madison expert, said “this elephant in the room” is that blocking vaccination to the healthy may mean people who have a risk factor and simply don’t know it will miss out. Adding to the confusion, the FDA included pregnancy and recent pregnancy […]
A healthy marriage is the bedrock of a stable home, and stable homes are the bedrock of a healthy society. Research consistently shows that children thrive in environments where parents have positive, stable relationships, while exposure to marital conflict can lead to various emotional and behavioral challenges, such as increased anxiety and depression and impaired social and academic functioning. To make matters worse, statistics on both secular and frum communities indicate that marital discord is highest in the child-rearing years. Unfortunately, you don’t have to be a therapist to know that so many people are struggling in the most important area of their lives. Many never saw positive relationships modeled, and the life experiences they have gone through make effective relational practices far from intuitive. The good news is that there are methods of couples counseling that are evidence based and have high success rates, especially if done early on in the marriage. Participating in premarital counseling can reduce divorce rates by approximately 30% and is associated with higher marital satisfaction. This proactive approach helps couples develop skills for conflict resolution and communication before issues become severe. Couples who go to therapy early, in the first two years of experiencing distress, report success rates of 70% to 80% in counseling. On average, however, couples wait about six years before seeking therapy, often after problems have escalated. This delay can make resolving issues more challenging and therapy less successful. Despite the fact that many couples are suffering and can benefit from therapy, couples therapy seems to have more barriers to entry than individual therapy. Whereas 70% of therapists in the United States provide individual therapy, only about 20% provide couples counseling, making it less accessible and potentially more costly. Couples therapy also appears to carry more stigma. Whereas many seem to have accepted that individuals may benefit from therapeutic support, attending therapy with your spouse is often seen as a last resort for couples experiencing severe issues. There is also the fear, particularly in our communities, that couples counseling may make marriages worse and this is not entirely unfounded. Some studies suggest that up to 25% of couples report being worse off after undergoing marriage counseling, which is enough of a reason to make someone pause and reconsider. It’s important to recognize, though, that this is not happening arbitrarily. As in any field, some couples therapists may lack the necessary training or experience and it is necessary to do adequate research to make sure that you are getting someone qualified and skilled. Even the best therapist is not always going to be able to save a marriage, but if someone is consistently having bad outcomes then it should make someone wary of the practitioner, but not throw the idea of getting help out the window. The most evidence-based modalities for couples counseling are those that have been rigorously studied and shown to improve relationship satisfaction, communication, and emotional connection. Here’s a breakdown of several of the most effective ones: 1. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Success Rate: 90% report improvement. Focus: Building secure emotional bonds and improving emotional intimacy. Best For: Couples dealing with emotional distance, betrayal, or persistent conflict. Developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, EFT helps couples recognize negative patterns and fosters secure attachment through vulnerability and responsiveness. 2. The Gottman […]
The United States is increasingly worried that Israel could launch a sudden military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities without prior warning, with American intelligence estimating that such an attack could be executed within just seven hours of an order from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The New York Times reported, citing official American sources briefed on the matter. The concern comes as the Trump administration pursues delicate nuclear negotiations with Tehran, raising fears that an Israeli strike could sabotage diplomatic efforts and ignite a broader regional conflict. According to U.S. intelligence, Israel has the capability to rapidly mobilize its air forces to target Iran’s key uranium enrichment facilities, including Natanz and Fordow, which are central to Tehran’s nuclear program. The speed of such an operation—potentially launched with only seven hours’ notice—has sparked anxiety in Washington, where officials worry that Israel could act unilaterally to disrupt ongoing talks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The Trump administration, which has been engaged in negotiations with Iran mediated by Oman since April, is pushing for a deal to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord in 2018, has expressed optimism about the talks, suggesting on Sunday that a breakthrough could be imminent. However, Netanyahu’s threats to strike Iran’s nuclear sites, which he views as an existential threat to Israel, have complicated these efforts. Sources say the Israeli leader has repeatedly pressed for military action, arguing that Iran’s weakened military position—following Israeli strikes in October 2024 that crippled its air defenses—makes now an opportune moment. American officials are particularly concerned about the lack of advance notice for a potential Israeli strike. “Seven hours is barely enough time to coordinate a response or mitigate fallout,” one U.S. official told The New York Times, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue. The Biden administration previously blocked an Israeli plan for a large-scale attack last April, which would have required U.S. logistical support, but intelligence reports indicate Israel is preparing for a unilateral operation, with recent military exercises and movements of air munitions signaling readiness. Netanyahu’s push for a strike is driven by skepticism of diplomacy and fears that any deal short of dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure will fail to neutralize the threat. He has advocated for a Libya-style agreement, involving the complete destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities under U.S. supervision, a demand Tehran has rejected outright. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called such conditions “unrealistic,” while Iran continues to enrich uranium to near-weapons-grade levels. The U.S. has warned Israel that an unapproved strike could strain bilateral relations and risk a wider war, particularly as Arab allies like Saudi Arabia favor diplomacy over military action. Trump has emphasized his preference for a negotiated deal but has set a tight timeline, with some reports suggesting he could pivot to military options if talks collapse. The expiration of U.N. “snapback” sanctions on Iran in October adds further urgency to the negotiations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A federal trade court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law. The ruling from a three-judge panel at the New York-based Court of International Trade came after several lawsuits arguing Trump has exceeded his authority, left U.S. trade policy dependent on his whims and unleashed economic chaos. “The Worldwide and Retaliatory Tariff Orders exceed any authority granted to the President by IEEPA to regulate importation by means of tariffs,” the court wrote, referring to the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The Trump administration is expected to appeal. At least seven lawsuits are challenging the levies, the centerpiece of Trump’s trade policy. Tariffs must typically be approved by Congress, but Trump says he has the power to act because the country’s trade deficits amount to a national emergency. He imposed tariffs on most of the countries in the world at one point, sending markets reeling. The plaintiffs argued that the emergency powers law does not authorize the use of tariffs, and even if it did, the trade deficit does not meet the law’s requirement that an emergency be triggered only by an “unusual and extraordinary threat.” The U.S. has run a trade deficit with the rest of the world for 49 consecutive years. Trump imposed tariffs on most of the countries in the world in an effort to reverse America’s massive and longstanding trade deficits. He earlier plastered levies on imports from Canada, China and Mexico to combat the illegal flow of immigrants and the synthetic opioids across the U.S. border. His administration argues that courts approved then-President Richard Nixon’s emergency use of tariffs in 1971, and that only Congress, and not the courts, can determine the “political” question of whether the president’s rationale for declaring an emergency complies with the law. Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs shook global financial markets and led many economists to downgrade the outlook for U.S. economic growth. So far, though, the tariffs appear to have had little impact on the world’s largest economy. The lawsuit was filed by a group of small businesses, including a wine importer, V.O.S. Selections, whose owner has said the tariffs are having a major impact and his company may not survive. A dozen states also filed suit, led by Oregon. “This ruling reaffirms that our laws matter, and that trade decisions can’t be made on the president’s whim,” Attorney General Dan Rayfield said. (AP)
Iran’s Channel 2 published a report on D.C. terrorist Elias Rodriquez, praising him as an “American Yahya Sinwar” who “sent two Zionist dogs to hell in a martyrdom operation.” The newscaster lauded the murders on American soil as “a new axis of resistance that has been born.” The broadcast also showed UP President Trump in the crosshairs, claiming that he ordered that “anyone who as much as whispered a word about Israel would be choked silent.” “The American police were ordered to choke all American youth,” the narrator said. “But Rodriguez was already choked by the world’s silence about the murder of people, by the world’s stifling.” It’s intriguing that Iran dares to post a video with Trump in the crosshairs while simultaneously holding “talks” with the US. The video was translated by MEMRI, the Middle East Media Research Institute. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The problems that disrupted flights at New Jersey’s largest airport this spring could be repeated anywhere across the country, so Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is trying to sell Congress on his plan to overhaul the nation’s air traffic control system that will cost “tens of billions.” Duffy provided an update Wednesday on the repairs and staffing efforts that are underway to help eliminate the problems affecting Newark Liberty International Airport, which has been running more smoothly in the past few weeks since the airlines started to cut the number of flights they operate there. And Duffy emphasized that the Newark radar outages and air traffic control shortage are a prime example of why the antiquated system needs to be improved. “I’m concerned that we could have more Newarks. And again, why it’s so important that we actually begin this build with the money that Congress is going to send us,” he said. Duffy still wouldn’t give a price tag of his expansive overhaul of the air traffic control system that he said is clearly needed after the deadly midair collision over Washington, D.C., in January that killed 67 people and all the problems affecting Newark this spring. But he said the $12.5 billion the House included President Donald Trump’s massive bill won’t be enough because “it’s going to be tens of billions of dollars.” Duffy has been meeting privately with lawmakers since he unveiled the plan. But he said he wants to let Congress “do the dance the way the Congress dances” to develop a plan to pay for the program. Problems ease at Newark airport The problems that led to hundreds of cancellations and delays at Newark do seem to have improved since the Federal Aviation Administration limited the number of flights at the airport so they could handle it with the number of controllers available. The already short-staffed air traffic control facility in Philadelphia that directs planes in and out of Newark lost five controllers to trauma leave after the first radar and communications outage on April 28 and another one is out on medical leave. That left the facility with only 16 certified controllers and five supervisors. But Duffy said there are another 16 experienced controllers in training that he hopes will start to get certified between now and October. That is an example of how the FAA remains about 3,000 short on the number of air traffic controllers it wants, so Duffy has also tried to speed up the hiring and training process while offering incentives to keep experienced controllers from retiring early. The FAA has said that it expects to be able to bump up the number of flights daily in Newark to 34 arrivals and 34 departures once a runway construction project is completed in mid-June. That is also about the time that some of the controllers on a 45-day trauma leave might be scheduled to return. The FAA will revisit the limits in October because it hopes to have more controllers trained by then. The government also upgraded the software at the air traffic control facility after a second radar outage on May 9. That helped prevent a repeat problem on May 11. FAA addresses telecommunications problems The FAA is also working on the telecommunications problems. Duffy said Verizon worked quickly to install a new fiber optic line between Philadelphia and New York over the past […]
FBI Director Kash Patel announces they are officially in the process of leaving the J. Edgar Hoover Building and moving to the new location: “We are moving to our new location in the D.C. area. That process has already started.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces that the U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.
FBI Director Kash Patel on James Comey’s call to have Pres. Trump assassinated: “Do you know how many copycats we’ve had to investigate as a result of that beachside venture from the former director? He thought it was funny.”
Elon Musk is not happy with President Donald Trump’s signature spending bill, distancing himself from the legislation that narrowly passed the House last week and is now headed to the Senate. The measure, which Trump has hailed as a “big, beautiful bill,” would extend the 2017 tax cuts while enacting deep cuts to Medicaid in an effort to partially offset the costs. However, a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that the legislation will increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion over the next decade, largely due to the extended tax breaks. “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not decreases it,” Musk told correspondent David Pogue in an interview for CBS Sunday Morning. “It undermines the work the DOGE team is doing.” Musk was tapped by Trump early in his term to helm the DOGE initiative, which the president promised would root out government inefficiency and find up to $2 trillion in savings. DOGE claims it has already saved $175 billion, although that number is disputed by watchdog groups who cite a lack of transparency and detail in the agency’s reporting. Much of DOGE’s cost-cutting has come from mass layoffs of federal workers and the freezing of congressionally-approved spending—moves that have triggered numerous legal challenges. The tension between Musk’s fiscal mission and the Trump administration’s latest legislative push has further strained a relationship that was once highly visible. Musk made frequent visits to the White House during the early months of Trump’s presidency, but his appearances have dwindled amid growing disagreements. Reports suggest Musk has clashed privately with key Trump advisors over spending and regulatory policy. Asked if he believed the new bill had undone his agency’s work, Musk offered a characteristically sardonic critique: “I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both. My personal opinion.” The criticism from Musk echoes concerns voiced by other influential Trump-world figures. Steve Bannon, former White House strategist and conservative media personality, said last week he was “very upset” by the bill, warning it could dampen enthusiasm among fiscal conservatives ahead of the November elections. Despite the pushback from some allies, Trump has continued to tout the bill as essential to boosting economic growth and helping middle-class families. The White House maintains that the extended tax cuts will stimulate investment and job creation, and that the Medicaid trims will encourage more efficient state-level management of health programs. Still, the growing divide between Trump and some of his most prominent backers may complicate efforts to shepherd the bill through the Senate, where even a slim margin of opposition could derail the legislation. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
NYC Mayor Eric Adams calls out the installation of bike lanes in dangerous areas – pointing to an incident in Williamsburg this week where a child was struck.
Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy on congestion pricing in New York City: “You’re taxing the average Joe out of driving the streets of New York, and the streets aren’t just made for the rich. They’re made for everybody… We’re pushing back on it.”
JD Vance tells bitcoin conference that stablecoins don’t threaten the dollar U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivered a keynote at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Vance told the audience that stablecoin legislation called the GENIUS Act could bolster the economy. “In this administration, we do not think that stablecoins threaten the integrity of the U.S. dollar. Quite the opposite,” said Vance. “We view them as a force multiplier of our economic might.”
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is nominating his former criminal defense lawyer Emil Bove, who as a high-ranking Justice Department official was behind the controversial move to drop the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, to become a federal appeals court judge. As acting deputy attorney general, Bove has been at the center of some of the department’s most scrutinized actions since Trump’s return to the White House in January. Bove ordered the dismissal of charges against the Democratic leader of America’s biggest city, accused FBI officials of “insubordination” for refusing to hand over the names of agents who investigated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, and ordered the firings of a group of prosecutors involved in the Jan. 6 criminal cases. He also moved aggressively to align the department with Trump’s agenda around immigration and other matters, ordering federal prosecutors to investigate for potential criminal prosecution state or local officials who are believed to be interfering with the Republican administration’s immigration crackdown. Trump picked Bove to fill a vacancy on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears cases from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The nomination, which is subject to Senate confirmation, comes just months into Bove’s contentious tenure at the department. “Emil is SMART, TOUGH, and respected by everyone,” Trump said in a social media post announcing the nomination. “He will end the Weaponization of Justice, restore the Rule of Law, and do anything else that is necessary to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Emil Bove will never let you down!” When Todd Blanche, another former criminal defense attorney for Trump, was sworn in as deputy attorney general, Bove became Blanche’s top adviser, serving as the principal associate deputy attorney general. Bove, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, was on the defense team during Trump’s New York hush money trial and defended Trump in the federal criminal cases brought by the Justice Department. The Justice Department abandoned Trump’s federal 2020 election interference case and the classified documents case after Trump won the election in November. Bove’s order to dismiss the Adams case roiled the department. Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon, and several high-ranking department officials resigned rather than carrying out Bove’s order. In remarkable departure from long-standing department norms, Bove said the case should be dropped because it was interfering with the mayor’s ability to aid the president’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Bove clerked for two federal judges appointed by President George W. Bush, a Republican. He then spent nine years at the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan where he specialized in prosecuting drug kingpins and alleged terrorists. He was involved in multiple high-profile prosecutions, including a drug-trafficking case against the former Honduran president’s brother, a man who set off a pressure cooker device in Manhattan and a man who sent dozens of mail bombs to prominent targets across the country. Bove’s actions at the New York office, however, rankled some fellow prosecutors and defense attorneys. In 2018, the federal public defender’s office compiled complaints about his behavior from defense attorneys and sent them to two top officials in the U.S. attorney’s office. About 18 months after the email was sent, Bove was promoted to be co-chief of the office’s national security and international narcotics unit. […]
The Knesset’s Committee on Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs on Wednesday held its ninth follow-up discussion on the involvement of the Israeli government in the rescue of children from the Lev Tahor cult in Guatemala. The Welfare Ministry has appointed an employee to the position of field director who will be responsible for Lev Tahor child victims when they arrive in Israel. During the meeting, the committee requested to receive an official document detailing the preparations of welfare authorities for the absorption of Lev Tahor cult survivors in Israel. Orit Cohen Amir, a representative of the families of Lev Tahor victims, said: “You can see that things are moving in the Guatemalan government and judicial system. I feel that there is more hope today for the children and their family members. However, many children and survivors have nowhere to go in Israel. Every cult survivor needs to know that they have a home to live in. It is very important to bring the survivors to Israel, but it is even more important to ensure their rehabilitation when they arrive in the country.” Attorney Meirav Marx from the Foreign Ministry said, “We are in the final stretch of signing an agreement with the Jewish Agency. We are making great efforts to recruit suitable people for the dedicated positions to manage the project of returning the cult survivors to Israel.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
