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New York City Mayor Eric Adams dissects his Democratic socialist opponent’s ‘free’ promises on ‘The Story.’

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{Matzav.com}

To our esteemed Gevirim and Community Leaders of Brooklyn,

I write to you with great admiration and respect, aware of the many ways in which you have supported and sustained our kehilla with generosity, leadership, and vision. Your dedication to Klal Yisroel — in Torah, chesed, and communal growth — has built institutions, supported families, and shaped the future of generations.

Recently, a remarkable initiative was launched in Lakewood: two new wedding halls, Ateres Blima and Ateres Esther, were established to directly address the crushing financial burden so many families face when marrying off children. These halls offer an elegant, all-inclusive simcha package — hall, catering, music, photography, flowers, and more — for just $13,000. The vision is not simply affordability, but a shift in expectations, a reset that prioritizes simcha, dignity, and achrayus over pressure and excess.

The results speak for themselves. Seventy-five weddings have already been booked. The halls are beautiful, efficient, and designed with the community in mind. More than that — they represent hope. They say to a struggling family: “You can make a chasunah without debt. You can celebrate without shame.”

And here is the question we must now ask:

If such a project is possible in Lakewood — and if it is being led, funded, and driven by gevirim from Brooklyn — why can’t we build the same in Brooklyn itself?

Why should Brooklyn families continue to face overwhelming simcha costs, while the very solution being praised in Lakewood remains out of reach for us here? The need is no less urgent in Brooklyn. The numbers are no less staggering. The impact would be just as powerful — and perhaps even more so, given the size and diversity of our neighborhoods.

The community respectfully urges our community leaders and donors to come together and bring this vision to life in Brooklyn. We already have the model. We already have the people. What we need now is the will.

Let us be the generation that changed the trajectory — that made weddings manageable, beautiful, and filled with real simcha. Let us act with foresight, with compassion, and with responsibility.

With heartfelt hope,

Y.R.B

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President Donald Trump said he plans to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the White House next week, where the two will cover a number of key topics, including the recently concluded military confrontation with Iran and the continuing conflict in Gaza.

Trump mentioned that he anticipates a ceasefire in Gaza will be reached in the coming days and emphasized his continued desire to see all hostages freed.

“He’s coming here. We’re gonna talk about a lot of things. We’re going to talk about the great success we had [in Iran]. I mean, we had an incredible success, like nobody’s had in many years. That was a precision warstrike — and the word ‘obliteration’ can now be used, because the Atomic Energy Commission said you can’t even get into the place. It was demolished,” Trump said.

He continued, “We’re also going to talk about Gaza. We want to get the rest – we got a lot of hostages back, but we’re going to talk about Gaza.”

Netanyahu confirmed the visit during the opening of his Cabinet session on Tuesday, saying he will be heading to Washington to hold strategic talks in light of Israel’s achievements in Operation Rising Lion.

“I am due to leave next week for meetings in the US with US President Donald Trump,” Netanyahu said, noting that his itinerary also includes meetings with Vice President Vance, Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and the President’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Additional meetings are expected with the Commerce Secretary, key figures from Congress and the Senate, and other high-level security officials.

Trump had already indicated days earlier that negotiations for a truce in Gaza were progressing. During a press interaction on Friday, he remarked, “I think it’s close. I just spoke with some of the people involved. It’s a terrible situation that’s going on in Gaza, and we think within the next week, we’re going to get a ceasefire.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said he would look into deporting billionaire Elon Musk in response to a question about the ally-turned-critic of his signature tax and spending legislation.

“I don’t know,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday when asked if he would deport the South African-born entrepreneur and US citizen, before adding that “we’ll have to take a look.”

The president’s comments are the latest salvo in a renewed feud between Trump and the world’s richest person, who has ramped up his criticism of a Republican tax bill that expedites the end of a consumer credit for electric vehicle purchases. Musk is the CEO of electric carmaker Tesla Inc., whose shares weaken more than 4% in premarket trading.

Trump has attributed Musk’s opposition to the bill to elimination of subsidies that his many business ventures benefit from. Earlier Tuesday, Trump took to social media, threatening to withdraw subsidies from Musk’s companies, a warning he reiterated to reporters.

The president said Musk was “losing his EV mandate” and added that “Elon could lose a lot more than that.”

The EV mandate generally is a reference to a suite of fuel economy standards and tailpipe-pollution limits that effectively compel automakers to sell an increasing number of electric models.

The administration has moved to unwind those policies, which are untouched by the measure pending in the Senate. However, the tax-and-spending measure would end a tax credit for individual electric vehicle purchases that has helped boost EV sales.

Musk has lambasted the Republican legislation, calling it an “insane spending bill” and threatened to help create a third political party in the US. He has denied, however, that his opposition is based on preserving government subsidies for his companies.

Musk threw his support behind Trump in the 2024 election and went on to serve as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency effort that worked to slash the federal government’s workforce and responsibilities before departing in late May.

The two had a public falling out over Musk’s criticisms of the tax bill, trading insults on social media. While that fight appeared to have cooled, Musk in recent days has posted repeated attacks on the legislation, reigniting their fight.

“We might have to put DOGE on Elon,” Trump said about the federal cost-cutting effort. “DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible?”

(c) 2025 , Bloomberg · Skylar Woodhouse and Akayla Gardner 

{Matzav.com}

Senate Republicans are struggling to pass President Donald Trump’s massive tax and immigration bill, with GOP leaders still scrambling to secure 50 votes after a marathon overnight voting session that, by Tuesday morning, appeared to bring the bill no closer to final passage.

Trump has demanded that Congress send the bill – his top legislative priority – to his desk by July 4, but that deadline seemed to be slipping from reach Tuesday. Even if the Senate passes the $3.3 trillion bill, House Republicans would still need to overcome their divisions and pass it again before Trump can sign it.

The bill would raise the debt limit, which Congress must do in the coming weeks to avoid default. It would also extend tax cuts from Trump’s first term, cut more than $1.1 trillion from Medicaid and other health-care programs, and infuse billions of dollars into immigration enforcement and defense.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) conceded early Tuesday that he did not know if he had the votes yet to pass the measure. He huddled with Republican holdouts in his office and on the Senate floor in an attempt to persuade them to back the bill.

“They don’t have a bill. They’re delaying. They’re stalling,” Senate Minority Leader Charles. E Schumer (D-New York) told reporters Monday night. “They’re cutting a lot of backroom deals. They got a lot of members who were promised things that they may not be able to deliver on.”

Republicans can lose only three GOP votes and still pass the measure. One holdout, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), abruptly announced Sunday that he would not seek another term next year after Trump torched him for opposing the bill’s Medicaid cuts. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is also up for reelection next year, has said she is also deeply concerned about the bill’s impact on health-care coverage. And Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) has said for weeks that he will not support the measure because it lifts the nation’s borrowing limit by too much without cutting spending adequately.

Eager to avoid any more defections, Republicans loaded the bill up with benefits for Alaska to appease Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a moderate who has said she is concerned about the measure’s potential impact on her state.

The legislation appeared tailored to win her vote, including special carveouts for Alaska on Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the anti-hunger program formerly known as food stamps. It also included tax benefits for whaling captains and Alaskan fishermen. But the Senate parliamentarian excised the Alaska-focused Medicaid measure from the bill on Monday, determining that it violates the rules of the special Senate process that Republicans are using to pass the bill with a simple majority and dodge a Democratic filibuster.

“Radio silence,” Murkowski told reporters when asked early Tuesday whether she would support the bill.

Thune and Sen. John Barrasso (Wyoming), the No. 2 Senate Republican, spent hours talking with her Monday night and Tuesday morning on the Senate floor.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Thune spent more than half an hour in deep conversation with Murkowski standing on the Senate floor near one of the doors shortly after 5 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday. Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and two aides joined at times.

“I can’t vote for this,” Murkowski said one point, although it was unclear whether she was referring to the bill or a proposed change to it.

Thune and other leaders also met with Paul in Thune’s office to gauge whether his vote might be movable. Paul has said he would support the legislation if the debt ceiling were raised by $500 billion instead of $5 trillion, which he hopes would force Republicans to find more spending cuts when the federal government hit its borrowing limit again in a few months. Trump has been adamant with lawmakers he wants the larger debt-ceiling hike included in the bill, to push the next politically toxic vote on the issue beyond the 2026 midterm elections.

Murkowski has opposed Trump on big votes before, joining Collins and then-Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) to doom his repeal of the Affordable Care Act during his first term.

Asked after meeting with Murkowski in his office a little before 4 a.m. whether he could pull the vote, Thune told reporters, “Those are options I don’t even want to have to worry about.”

Murkowski, Collins, Paul and Tillis aren’t the only Republicans with reservations about the bill. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) and other deficit hawks have objected that the bill does not cut spending steeply enough to help offset the costs of the tax cuts.

The bill’s nearly $170 billion for the Trump administration’s border and immigration crackdown would be the one of the largest sums ever spent on homeland security. It also includes roughly $160 billion for the Defense Department, partially for Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” continental missile defense system.

Republicans started working on the bill last year shortly after Trump won and Republicans gained the Senate majority in the November election. They pledged to dramatically reduce government spending along with annual deficits, wary of adding to a national debt of more than $36 trillion. But some Republicans believe the bill’s cuts do not go far enough.

Elon Musk, the billionaire and former White House adviser who broke with Trump after criticizing the bill, pledged Monday to try to defeat Republicans who vote for the bill and who campaigned on cutting government spending.

Those Republicans “will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk wrote on X. He also said he would support Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), whom Trump has threatened with a primary for voting against the bill last month.

Much of Trump’s 2017 tax law are set to expire at the end of the year. That law cut rates for virtually all taxpayers, although it concentrated the most benefits among wealthy individuals and corporations. Most Americans will pay more next year if Congress does not extend them. Republicans broadly support an extension.

But some Republicans have balked at voting for legislation that the Congressional Budget Office estimates will cause more than 11 million people to lose their health-care coverage. Tillis warned that Trump’s pledge that the bill would not cut Medicaid benefits would be proved as false as President Barack Obama’s promise after the passage of the Affordable Care Act that Americans who liked their health-care plans could keep them.

“The effect of this bill is to break a promise,” Tillis said Sunday on the Senate floor.

(c) 2025 , The Washington Post · Liz Goodwin, Theodoric Meyer, Jacob Bogage 

{Matzav.com}

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing serious accusations involving the employment of an illegal immigrant with a criminal background on her congressional team, according to reports.

According to Tom Homan, who is overseeing border enforcement efforts, federal authorities are actively investigating claims that Ocasio-Cortez hired an undocumented immigrant with a criminal record. She is also alleged to have guided the individual on how to avoid apprehension by ICE.

A video clip circulating on social media from The Benny Show features host Benny Johnson pressing Homan on the situation. “Just one final question, Mr. Border Czar, and it has to do with the region of New York and somebody who’s in the news a lot lately because she’s most likely planning on running for higher office: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. AOC has come—and what looks like to us crossed the line—a number of times. But two very curious stories out of her office: One, as soon as you were able to regain your position as Border Czar, AOC had a criminal alien who was working in her congressional staff flee the country. I can’t quite square how that’s possible. How is somebody allowed to be a criminal alien in this country and then go work in Congress where you have access to classified material and you have access to a lot of important information? Then AOC has gone on and obviously taught publicly illegal aliens how to avoid ICE. She’s done this with some of her colleagues in the Squad. Here’s the article of the criminal alien staffer that AOC had on staff. Maybe you could just start here, as an explainer to me and to this audience: How is this even possible?”

Johnson raised concerns about how someone living in the country illegally could find employment in a congressional office, especially given the sensitive information to which staffers often have access.

He also referenced public incidents where Ocasio-Cortez, along with other members of the progressive “Squad,” openly advised undocumented immigrants on ways to avoid deportation or ICE encounters, sparking intense political backlash.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Monday that there are no ongoing talks with Iranian officials and that he has not proposed any concessions to the regime, amid backlash from European leaders over threats reportedly made against the head of the UN nuclear agency.

Posting to Truth Social in the early hours, Trump wrote, “I am not offering Iran ANYTHING, unlike Obama, who paid them $Billions under the stupid ‘road to a nuclear weapon JCPOA (which would now be expired!), nor am I even talking to them since we totally OBLITERATED their Nuclear Facilities.”

His post appeared to counter claims made by Delaware Senator Chris Coons, who had told Fox News on Sunday that there are indications Trump “is now moving toward negotiation and offering Iran a deal that looks somewhat similar to the Iran deal that was offered by Obama. Tens of billions of dollars of incentives and reduced sanctions in exchange for abandoning their nuclear program.”

Trump also dismissed reports last Friday that his administration had explored a potential deal with Iran that would give them access to up to $30 billion to develop a civilian nuclear energy sector.

Iran responded on Monday by accusing Trump of playing political games, saying his mixed messaging on sanctions and diplomacy does not reflect a serious approach to resolving tensions between the two countries.

“These [statements by Trump] should be viewed more in the context of psychological and media games than as a serious expression in favor of dialogue or problem-solving,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told a press conference.

At the same time, European powers voiced strong disapproval of Iran’s behavior toward the chief of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, following Iran’s refusal to allow a site visit after Israeli and American strikes on its nuclear facilities.

Iran has blasted International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, accusing him of failing to condemn the attacks and calling his actions a “betrayal of his duties.” Iranian lawmakers voted this week to halt cooperation with the agency.

“France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn threats against the director general of the IAEA Rafael Grossi and reiterate our full support to the agency,” foreign ministers Jean-Noel Barrot, Johann Wadephul and David Lammy said in a joint statement.

The European trio also issued a direct appeal to Iran, warning against further steps to undermine the agency’s mission.

“We call on Iranian authorities to refrain from any steps to cease cooperation with the IAEA,” they added.

“We urge Iran to immediately resume full cooperation in line with its legally binding obligations, and to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of IAEA personnel.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States revealed on Monday that it has approved a major arms deal with Israel, authorizing the sale of bomb guidance systems and related support valued at $510 million, AFP reports.

The assistance comes in the wake of Israel’s extensive use of weaponry during its recent military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran, leaving its reserves significantly depleted.

A statement from the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed the proposed transaction and highlighted its significance to regional stability and national defense.

“The proposed sale will enhance Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats by improving its ability to defend Israel’s borders, vital infrastructure, and population centers,” the DSCA stated.

Reinforcing the close defense relationship between the two countries, the agency added, “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.”

The State Department has already signed off on the deal, and the DSCA has formally submitted the notification to Congress, which must now decide whether to give the sale its final approval, AFP reported.

This move comes in the aftermath of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, a military campaign that focused on crippling Iran’s nuclear operations and targeted top scientists and senior military officials.

In response, President Donald Trump authorized a retaliatory campaign—Operation Midnight Hammer—which included targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure.

Trump addressed the matter during a press conference at the White House on Friday, saying he would “absolutely” weigh the option of further strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities if circumstances warranted it.

“Sure, without question, absolutely – it has to be unbelievable,” the President told reporters when asked specifically if he would consider bombing Iran if future intelligence reports offered a concerning conclusion on its enrichment of uranium.

Trump added that, in his view, Iran is not in a position to resume its nuclear development efforts in the near term as a result of the US military action.

He also mentioned that Iranian officials appear open to discussions with Washington, mirroring statements made by his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who indicated that preliminary conversations had already begun between the two nations regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi firmly pushed back last week against the notion that Tehran was preparing to reenter nuclear talks with the United States, dismissing any such reports following the recent hostilities.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu convened with the IDF General Staff Forum on Monday at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, joined by Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

During the meeting, Netanyahu praised the IDF’s senior leadership for their execution of Operation Rising Lion in Iran and acknowledged their efforts in safeguarding Israel’s long-term security.

“Personally, I would like to express immense appreciation and gratitude to you Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, to you IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and to you, the members of the General Staff Forum for perfectly executing that missions that we set. ‘A people that rises up as a lion’ – and much more,” said Netanyahu.

He reflected on Jewish history, noting that for centuries, Jews were unable to resist their aggressors, enduring displacement, massacres, and ultimately genocide.

“Over the centuries of our exile, the Jewish People lost the ability to oppose those who attacked it. We became as a leaf driven in the wind, a people that experienced exile, pogroms, murders and, in the end, the worst act of murder in history,” he added.

Netanyahu described the birth of modern Zionism as a turning point, when early visionaries recognized that Jews wouldn’t be spared violence—but would instead need the strength to defend themselves.

“When the fathers of Zionism arose approximately 130 years ago, most of them did not think that the attacks on the Jewish People would end with the establishment of the State of Israel, but that we would formulate the diplomatic and military force to oppose these attacks. This is the line that separates between the generations of Jewish history and what has happened in our generation – the establishment of the state and the IDF.”

He spoke of Iran’s continued threat, calling it potentially more dangerous than the united Arab hostility Israel faced in past decades.

“In Iran, a threat was created for us that was no less strong and perhaps even greater than the pan-Arab threat at its peak, and it still threatens us,” the Prime Minister stated.

Netanyahu said he had long believed that the most serious threat to global safety was the combination of extremist Islamic regimes and nuclear weapons.

“40 years ago, and certainly 35 years ago, I thought that the greatest danger to humanity was the link between nuclear weapons and an Islamist regime, or the link between an Islamist regime and nuclear weapons.”

He outlined Iran’s multi-pronged strategy, saying it’s not limited to one path of destruction, but instead includes multiple layers of threats.

“But Iran did not suffice with this because, in effect, they built three axes of annihilation: First – the noose, a plan for the annihilation of Israel by means of an axis. The second – a plan for the annihilation of Israel by means of a missile threat. And the third – a plan for the annihilation of Israel by means of a nuclear threat.”

According to Netanyahu, Iran’s ruling regime is built on the goal of eliminating Israel—not merely as an end in itself, but as a prerequisite to regional domination.

“This is the raison d’etre of the regime. This is not the only reason why they want to annihilate us and we are not their main objective. But in order to realize the main objectives, they must get rid of us. It is impossible to conquer the Middle East without annihilating Israel. And if there is no Israel, the Middle East collapses immediately.”

Using a vivid metaphor, Netanyahu compared Israel’s security threats to a patient with two malignant tumors, stressing that survival depends on proactive and aggressive intervention.

“The State of Israel was like a person who has two cancerous tumors – one was the nuclear threat and the second was the missile threat. If you do not excise them – you die. It could be that you excise them and they return, like you treat cancer. But if you do not excise them, we die,” said Netanyahu.

He emphasized that there was no alternative but to act, and praised both the political leadership and the military for their unity and decisiveness throughout the process.

“Therefore, there was no question here. We had to make this decision. And the way in which it was made, unanimously by the political echelon, and unanimously by the IDF command – under your outstanding leadership, which improved exceptionally on a daily and weekly basis.”

Netanyahu also addressed concerns about U.S. support, clarifying that although Israel worked to secure American cooperation, the operation would have gone forward regardless.

“The question arose regarding the US, and I told you that we would do everything to get them on board, but this was not a condition. It was not a condition,” he stressed.

He concluded by highlighting the long-term significance of the military action, describing it as a defining moment not just in Israeli history, but in global military doctrine.

“But none of this would have been possible without the intensive and superb operation that will be etched in the history of our people, and – in my view – in the history of the world, certainly in the military history, which I believe everyone will come to study. This has major implications for our economy – we are already feeling it.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

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As Monday rolled on into evening, the Senate remained locked in a marathon session of votes, with Republican leadership working overtime to maintain momentum behind President Donald Trump’s sweeping legislative proposal of tax reductions and spending reforms, even as Democrats offered a flurry of amendments in hopes of sinking the measure.

There was still no clear indication of when the final tally would come. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota admitted Republicans are still “figuring out how to get to the end game.”

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson hinted at difficulties that may arise when the legislation returns to the House for final approval later in the week, ahead of Trump’s July 4th deadline. “I have prevailed upon my Senate colleagues to please, please, please keep it as close to the House product as possible,” Johnson said Monday evening as he left the Capitol. The House GOP already passed their version of the bill last month.

This marks a crucial juncture for the GOP, who hold both chambers and are racing against the clock to finalize their agenda by Friday. The sprawling 940-page legislation, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” has dominated the congressional calendar, representing a shared top priority with the president.

With only slim majorities in the House and Senate, Republican leaders have little margin for error. Thune can’t afford to lose more than three GOP senators. Two—North Carolina’s Thom Tillis, who’s concerned about potential Medicaid cuts, and Kentucky’s Rand Paul, who’s against raising the debt ceiling—have already voiced objections. Over the weekend, Tillis announced he won’t seek reelection, following threats from Trump to oppose him politically. Rumors suggest up to six other Republican senators may be undecided or leaning against the bill, enough to jeopardize its success.

Adding to the political storm, billionaire Elon Musk lashed out at the Republican plan, branding the party the “PORKY PIG PARTY!!” over its inclusion of a $5 trillion debt ceiling hike necessary to maintain government borrowing.

Prior to Monday’s voting, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York warned that the most difficult decisions for Republicans were still ahead. “With every rewrite Senate Republicans have made their bill more extreme,” Schumer said. “All to give tax breaks to billionaires.”

Democrats have submitted dozens of proposed amendments during what’s known as a vote-a-rama, although few are expected to pass. United in their opposition to the president’s plan, Democrats eagerly lined up to challenge the bill provision by provision.

A new report from the independent Congressional Budget Office projected that, should the legislation pass, 11.8 million more Americans would be without health insurance by 2034. The same report estimated the bill would swell the national deficit by roughly $3.3 trillion over the next ten years.

The White House remained confident in the final outcome, urging Republican lawmakers to stay the course. “Republicans need to stay tough and unified during the home stretch,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Still, the pace of voting dragged throughout the day—suggesting GOP leadership hadn’t yet locked in the support needed to bring the bill across the finish line.

Tillis, voicing deep concerns, said the bill betrays the president’s pledge not to strip Americans of health coverage, especially if hospitals in rural areas are forced to close.

Maine Senator Susan Collins has proposed adding $25 billion for rural hospitals, while Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski is working to shield her constituents from steep reductions to Medicaid and food assistance. Neither has revealed how they intend to vote on the final measure.

At the same time, several right-leaning Senate Republicans—including Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming—are pushing for deeper spending cuts, especially in health care. Trump, for his part, has urged them not to go “crazy.”

Early amendments debated Monday, such as those aimed at removing limits on Medicaid funding for rural facilities or preventing the cost of food stamps from shifting to state budgets, saw minor Republican backing, but none passed.

Senator Mike Crapo, who heads the Finance Committee, dismissed the dire warnings of healthcare fallout as fearmongering by Democrats. He accused them of engaging in the “politics of fear.”

The legislation would slash taxes by a total of $4.5 trillion, according to the latest CBO review. It would lock in the Trump-era 2017 tax rates, which are due to expire by year’s end, and introduce new provisions from the president’s recent campaign promises—such as eliminating taxes on tips.

The bill would also cancel billions in clean energy incentives, a move Democrats argue would devastate the wind and solar industries nationwide. Additionally, it proposes $1.2 trillion in cuts, mainly targeting Medicaid and SNAP benefits, through stricter eligibility criteria, mandatory work requirements, and changes to how the federal government reimburses states.

Another major component is a $350 billion boost for border and national security, which would include enhanced deportation efforts—partially funded through new immigration-related fees.

Without the votes to stop the bill outright, Democrats are relying on procedural maneuvers to delay its progress.

They demanded the entire bill be read aloud on the Senate floor, a process that took 16 hours, and continue to introduce a steady stream of amendments aimed at slowing the GOP’s momentum.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk reignited his criticism of President Trump’s major spending legislation on Monday, just as the Senate continued its prolonged effort to push the bill through in time for the July 4 deadline.

Once known for his close ties to the Trump administration and his presence at the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has now fully broken with Trump over what he mockingly calls the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

“It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” Musk wrote on X, his social media platform.

“Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” added the billionaire entrepreneur.

In another message, Musk took an even harder stance, blasting lawmakers who support the spending package.

“[T]hey will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk warned, promising political consequences for those backing the measure.

Later that same day, he wrote, “If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day.”

He added that the current political system is broken: the public is stuck between “an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE.”

The White House brushed off Musk’s escalating rhetoric by pointing to President Trump’s recent interview with Fox News, where he addressed Musk’s frustration about provisions that would eliminate subsidies for electric cars.

“I think Elon is a wonderful guy, and I know he’s going to do well, always. He’s a smart guy,” Trump said in the interview.

Musk, who previously led a sweeping overhaul of federal departments under the Department of Government Efficiency, has consistently opposed the scale of Trump’s spending bill, which analysts now estimate will add over $3 trillion to the national debt.

Tensions between Musk and Trump became increasingly public earlier this month, when Musk unleashed a flurry of critical posts on X targeting the president—comments he later partially walked back.

Musk, who once boasted about playing a role in Trump’s election win, had also used an X poll on June 5 to gauge support for launching a brand-new political movement.

{Matzav.com}

The New York City Rent Guidelines Board cast a narrow vote Monday night approving rent increases for rent-stabilized apartments across the five boroughs.

By a 5-to-4 margin, the board opted for a 3% rise for one-year leases and a 4.5% bump for two-year leases. These final figures fell within the range previously proposed, which had included possibilities as high as 4.75% for one-year leases and 7.75% for two-year contracts.

These changes are set to apply to leases commencing between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.

In the spring, the board gave preliminary approval to a range of potential increases. Later, the focus shifted to potentially limiting the hikes for two-year leases, a concession to tenant advocates pushing for restraint.

Before the final vote, tenant organizations gathered to call for minimal increases, urging the board to consider the financial burden renters already shoulder.

Landlords argued that rising costs for upkeep, insurance, and taxes leave them little flexibility, while tenants countered that they’re equally strained by inflation and stagnant wages.

The outcome left both tenant and landlord groups unhappy with what they saw as either an excessive burden or an insufficient adjustment.

“I’ve been in my building for 16 years. What happened to the money that they got from me for my rent? What happened to the money? What did they do? Did they [go] on vacation? Did they buy another building?” said tenant Mercedes Escoto.

“So it’s a waste of time. This is done every year for no good. People are making money, but we’re not making more money,” said fellow tenant Joanne Lawson.

“I look at $600 a year more on a one-year lease, or $900 more a year and that means what are we gonna cut back on?” added tenant Johnny Rivera.

Ann Korchak, who leads the Small Property Owners of NY and advocates for landlords who own a handful of units, sharply criticized the board’s decision after the vote.

“The RGB’s independent public members, like their predecessors, have failed small building owners. We needed rent increases proportional with the 6.3% surge in building operating costs presented in the RGB’s own reports. They didn’t follow the math, and now these rent adjustments will further plunge small rent-stabilized buildings into distress and foreclosure. Capping rent increases when operating costs are rising is unsustainable. It’s time to seriously consider in the future separate, higher rent increases for apartment leases in small economically distressed buildings with high numbers of rent-stabilized apartments,” Korchak stated.

Landlords representing smaller properties argued that the board’s data is misleading and doesn’t accurately portray the financial strain they face.

“That data is grossly incorrect. Why? Because they’re mixing different kinds of buildings. They’re mixing the pre-1974 buildings, small buildings, 100-year-old buildings mostly that have dramatically more expensive costs,” said property owner Bryan Liff.

“We’re not millionaires and all of us aren’t white. How about that? And we go to work to supplement what’s happening in our small properties,” added landlord Joyce Holland.

The board’s nine members are appointed by the mayor, and the vote became a lightning rod in this year’s mayoral race.

Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani of Queens, who just claimed victory in the Democratic primary, campaigned heavily on a rent freeze pledge. His win is expected to be confirmed when the final ranked choice tabulations are released Tuesday, likely showing him surpassing the 50% threshold.

Mayor Eric Adams, now seeking reelection as an independent, has generally shown empathy toward small landlords. Yet following the board’s decision, he expressed disappointment over the final outcome.

“Another massive cost for New Yorkers each month is rent, and the city’s historically low rental vacancy has millions of us feeling the squeeze, which is why, earlier today, I urged the Rent Guidelines Board to adopt the lowest increase possible, as I’ve done in the past. While the board exercised their independent judgment, and made an adjustment based on elements such as inflation, I am disappointed that they approved increases higher than what I called for,” Adams said in a statement.

He made clear, however, that he opposes calls to completely freeze rent.

“While our administration is always fighting to make this city more affordable, what we will never do is sell New Yorkers on an idea that would ultimately leave them in worsening housing conditions. Rent may be on the rise, but so are deteriorating housing conditions — including inadequate heat and heating breakdowns, mice and rat problems, mold, and leaks — especially for New Yorkers in rent-stabilized housing,” Adams stated. “Demands to ‘freeze the rent’ would exacerbate these harmful health and safety issues inside the homes of more than 1 million New Yorkers by depriving owners of the resources needed to make repairs — a cruel and dangerous proposal. While freezing the rent may sound like a catchy slogan, it is bad policy, short-sighted, and only puts tenants in harm’s way.”

City Comptroller Brad Lander, who currently sits in third place in the Democratic mayoral primary as ranked choice tabulations continue, laid blame squarely at the mayor’s feet.

“For the fourth year in a row, Mayor Adams’ appointees on the NYC Rent Guidelines Board stuck tenants with a rent increase they can’t afford — even as landlord profits have soared, vacancy rates are at historic lows, and the proportion of rent-burdened households has reached unsustainable levels,” Lander said. “New York City tenants are facing the highest rents ever. Given the severity of the housing emergency, it is vital that the City do everything it can to keep rents as low as possible, ensure units are well-maintained, and cover essential costs. Instead, Mayor Adams’ appointees to the RGB jacked up tenants’ rents once again.”

Lander and Mamdani had previously endorsed one another and are aligned in their opposition to any further rent hikes.

“After carefully reviewing research compiled by the Rent Guidelines Board, I concluded that a rent freeze was appropriate for the upcoming year, following three years of rent increases that have raised rents by nearly 9%. Economists, tenant advocates, and even the City’s own reports also concluded that a rent increase would lead to more displacement and inequality. And last week, over half-a-million voters — well over half of the electorate — came out and voted for candidates supporting a rent freeze,” Lander said. “Unfortunately, Mayor Adams’ appointees to the Rent Guidelines Board failed to listen.”

{Matzav.com}

In an inspiring encounter between two leading gedolim, the renowned mekubal, Rosh Yeshivat Ahavas Shalom, Rav Yaakov Hillel, visited the home of senior posek Rav Moshe Sternbuch. The two engaged in a heartfelt and profound conversation, focused on the pressing spiritual needs following the conclusion of the war with Iran.

At the outset of the meeting, Rav Sternbuch warmly greeted Rav Hillel with the words: “Fortunate are you, who disseminates Torah in Klal Yisroel, increasing kedushah, increasing taharah, increasing truth—for the Toras Hashem is truth in your mouth.”

When asked by those present what area requires strengthening in light of recent events, Rav Sternbuch answered unequivocally: “In limud haTorah. Torah protects and saves. All brachos come through Torah study. One who merits to increase Torah study has acquired a tremendous treasure.”

Later in the discussion, Rav Sternbuch was asked how women can strengthen themselves. He responded, “They should not waste their husbands’ time or prevent them from learning Torah.”

Regarding young women who are not yet married, the posek was asked how they can fortify themselves during this time. Rav Sternbuch replied succinctly: “In emunah.”

The conversation then turned to the mekubal’s renowned commentary on the Thirteen Principles of Faith. Rav Sternbuch emphasized the importance of teaching these concepts in a meaningful way, encouraging teachers to ensure that their students not only recite the ikkarim, but understand the meaning of each word.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The United Torah Judaism faction announced on Monday that it has unanimously decided to suspend all coalition support in the Knesset until the government finalizes deliberations on the long-disputed draft law and brings it to a vote.

The faction, which includes both Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisrael, issued a clear message: it will not participate in any coalition votes this week as a protest against the continued delay in resolving the issue.

In recent months—prior to the outbreak of war with Iran—UTJ had already launched a similar boycott, refusing to vote with the coalition unless a concrete solution to the draft law was advanced.

The crisis peaked two weeks ago when UTJ threatened to support a bill to dissolve the Knesset, following the directive of Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dov Landau. After hours of overnight discussions, MKs from Degel HaTorah and some members of Agudas Yisrael ultimately voted against the dissolution bill, swayed by direct assurances from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and coalition leadership that real progress on the draft law would be made.

Now, UTJ is once again drawing a line in the sand. The party is demanding that negotiations over the draft law conclude immediately and that the bill be brought to a full Knesset vote. Until that happens, UTJ has declared that it will maintain its freeze on cooperation with coalition voting.

{Matzav.com Israel}

[Video below.] In an unusual and moving gesture, the Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau, personally phoned Rav Don Segal late Sunday night to express his deep appreciation for the mashgiach’s unwavering commitment to the recent fundraising mission on behalf of the Keren Olam HaTorah in the United States.

Rav Segal, who had been resting in Switzerland, agreed—at the personal request of Rav Landau—to join the intense campaign, despite the physical toll and demands involved.

During their phone conversation, Rav Landau said, “I heard about the many efforts the mashgiach invested, turning to each donor with heartfelt pleas. Baruch Hashem, there is reward for this toil. The mashgiach was a faithful emissary on behalf of the entire Torah world.”

It has now been revealed that at every dinner and event held by the fund across the U.S., Rav Segal arrived early and spent hours behind closed doors with major philanthropists. In warm, emotional, and direct conversations, he opened his heart and painted a vivid picture of the dire needs of the Olam HaTorah. It was in those intimate meetings that the largest commitments were secured—massive donations that significantly advanced the fund’s mission.

The presence of Rav Segal, along with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Rav Dovid Cohen, left a lasting impression on donors and community members alike.

Officials from the fund emphasized that while the campaign is still ongoing, much of the current success—tens of millions of shekels raised—is directly attributable to Rav Segal’s relentless and personal involvement.

Sources also confirmed that fund organizers are actively working on the next stage of the campaign, with the goal of reaching $150 million. So far, approximately $78 million has been pledged.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com Israel}

In light of renewed public focus on efforts to secure a hostage release deal following the ceasefire with Iran, opposition leaders voiced strong positions on Monday, signaling readiness to support dramatic moves—even if it means halting the war in Gaza.

Chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu MK Avigdor Lieberman opened his party’s weekly meeting with pointed remarks on the stalled hostage negotiations. He called for a full prisoner exchange deal, even if it requires the IDF to withdraw from Gaza and end its military campaign against Hamas.

“I get daily calls from soldiers in Gaza who are guarding humanitarian convoys. It’s chaos, it’s complete anarchy,” Lieberman said. “Worse still, the rules of engagement allow only deterrent fire. They feel their lives are in danger. The government is sending reservists to demolish buildings with their bare hands—no bulldozers, no equipment. They say there’s no budget for modern APCs, yet hundreds of millions are being spent on humanitarian aid paid for by Israeli taxpayers.”

He continued, drawing a historical comparison: “Could anyone imagine the Allies in World War II sending medicine, water, fuel, and food to the Nazis? Only in Israel does such insanity happen, while our hostages rot in Hamas captivity. This week, David Cunio’s daughters will turn five. He last saw them when they were three. Does that sound reasonable to anyone? If military pressure has exhausted its usefulness—what are we still doing there? I call on the government: make a deal. Bring all the hostages home.”

Lieberman concluded with a call for a new strategy. “After that, we need a Lebanon-style deterrence model. Since the ceasefire, we’ve eliminated 200 Hezbollah operatives. We’ll hunt down every terrorist involved in the October 7th massacre—until their last day.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Unity party, MK Benny Gantz, also addressed the issue during his party’s meeting. He emphasized that securing the release of hostages remains a national priority, pledging that his faction would back the government in any bold steps taken to secure their freedom.

“We stated early on that the intensified phase of the campaign would last three months, followed by at least a year—possibly more—of continued fighting to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure,” said Gantz. “That timeline has long passed. From the beginning, I said the process of reshaping Gaza will take a decade. It’s time to be honest with the public and begin shaping that reality, rather than letting others decide it for us.”

Commenting on reports of a potential 60-day ceasefire tied to a partial hostage deal, Gantz warned: “This is a strategic error. Our goal must be to bring all hostages back as soon as possible—not to stretch this out with another phased deal that leaves people behind as bargaining chips. Now is the time to close the wound, not preserve the coalition.”

He concluded, “Even if the price is a long-term ceasefire, it’s clear—to the world and to us—that we cannot coexist with a terror group arming itself on our border. I don’t believe Hamas will become a peace movement. This deal must be used to change the regime in Gaza and demilitarize it. We cannot fall for Hamas’s stall tactics.”

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid echoed these sentiments, also calling for an end to the war in Gaza. “IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi told the cabinet yesterday that the political leadership must decide what the next objective is,” Lapid said. “Every day, more soldiers are being killed. This month alone, we’ve had 20 fatalities—the highest monthly toll in the past year.”

{Matzav.com}

Several members of the Jewish community arrested in Iran have been released on bail, while others remain in custody, Matzav.com has learned. Jewish leaders are urging the public to continue davening for the safe release of those still imprisoned.

Sources within the community confirmed that while the release of some detainees offers hope, others are still behind bars. “We can see that the tefillos are making a difference,” said a community representative. “Please continue to pray.”

According to reports aired on Kan 11, the release process was delayed in some cases due to damage sustained at Evin Prison during an Israeli strike. The attack reportedly disrupted the transfer of detainees to other facilities. Alongside the Jews held in custody, Iranian authorities are also detaining individuals from other minority groups, including Azeris, Kurds, and members of the Baháʼí faith.

In light of the situation, members of Iran’s Jewish community have been advised to keep a low profile. They were instructed not to publish or share political content, refrain from responding to posts related to the war or foreign affairs, and avoid any contact with foreign nations.

Iran has acknowledged arresting over 1,000 people since the outbreak of the conflict, accusing them of maintaining ties with Israel. Additionally, six people have been executed on charges of collaborating with Mossad. Since the beginning of 2025, nine individuals have reportedly been put to death in Iran for alleged espionage.

{Matzav.com Israel}