Matzav

Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the renowned matzo bakery in Dnipro has received a top-tier kosher certification from one of the world’s leading kashrus authorities.

Rav Asher Eckstein, a senior dayan from the United States and one of the foremost figures in the global kosher certification world, traveled to the Ukrainian city of Dnipro to personally inspect and grant his certification to the matzo bakery that has continued operating even during the war. Dnipro is considered the nerve center of Jewish life in Ukraine, home to the largest organized Jewish community in the country, as well as the Menorah Center.

Rav Eckstein toured the city’s Jewish institutions together with the city’s chief rabbi and head Chabad shaliach, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, and Rabbi Meir Stambler, chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine.

One of the key highlights of Rav Eckstein’s visit was his inspection of the Dnipro matzo bakery, considered the largest of its kind in Europe. The bakery exports its meticulously prepared matzos to destinations including the United States. After personally examining its wheat supply and witnessing its meticulous standards, Rav Eckstein granted the bakery his personal kosher certification, which will now accompany the certifications already issued by Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi of Kfar Chabad, the OK kashrus organization, and the Dnipro Vaad Hakashrus led by Rabbi Kaminezki.

Joining Rav Eckstein on his visit were Rabbi Elisha Baram, the former head of the Dnipro kashrus division, and his successor, Rabbi Yisrael Gurevich.

During his inspection, Rav Eckstein remarked on the extraordinary level of halachic stringency upheld by the Dnipro community and its institutions. “It’s remarkable to see such high standards of kashrus being maintained in a country at war,” he said. “The commitment to halachic excellence here, despite the challenges, is clearly blessed with siyata dishmaya.”

{Matzav.com}

The NYPD confirmed on Thursday that it has terminated dozens of officers who were hired despite having serious disqualifications noted during their recruitment process.

An internal probe revealed that 31 officers brought onto the force within the past two years had already received final disqualification notices, yet were still approved for employment. The department stated that once those final decisions were made, hiring them was against the law.

“The department was not legally allowed to hire these individuals and was forced to inform them that they could no longer continue as members of the NYPD,” a department spokesperson said.

Sources told 1010 WINS that Inspector Terrell Anderson, who previously oversaw the Candidate Assessment Division, made the decision to hire the disqualified applicants on his own, even though they had been officially notified they were ineligible.

That same source added that Anderson has now been reassigned and is facing significant disciplinary charges from within the department.

According to information provided to 1010 WINS, the disqualifications stemmed from serious issues in the applicants’ pasts, including failure to disclose criminal convictions, past arrests, job dismissals, multiple arrests, outstanding criminal summonses, and serious driving violations that led to license suspensions.

Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, condemned the firings, saying that the fault lies not with the officers, but with the department’s flawed recruitment system. “These police officers aren’t responsible for the NYPD’s broken hiring process or the supervisors who made these decisions,” Hendry said.

He explained that the recruits believed they were eligible to serve, especially since the department had already hired and trained them. The union said it is weighing legal action to defend the affected officers and demand accountability from NYPD leadership.

“It is an absolute travesty that the department is trying to cover its tracks by summarily forcing them off the job, without affording them the same appeal process available to other applicants,” Hendry said.

The dismissals come amid mounting internal turmoil within the NYPD. Just days earlier, four former senior officials filed lawsuits alleging widespread misconduct and favoritism, including accusations that promotions were being sold for as much as $15,000.

Among the claims is that former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, who stepped down in December after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced, routinely bypassed standard protocols to appoint unqualified associates to influential roles starting in 2023.

In a lawsuit brought by ex-Chief of Detectives James Essig, he described noticing an “unusually high number” of inexperienced officers being reassigned to the sex crimes division during that period.

The legal filings further allege that current leadership, including Chief of Department John Chell, has worked to undermine internal oversight and prevent scrutiny of the department’s actions.

{Matzav.com}

Mahmoud Khalil, an alumnus of Columbia University, is demanding $20 million in compensation from the administration of President Donald Trump after spending more than 100 days in immigration custody, according to a report by The Independent on Thursday.

In advance of a formal federal lawsuit, a court filing alleges that Khalil was the victim of politically motivated arrests and efforts to suppress campus activism. Officials in the administration claimed Khalil had engaged in “antisemitic activities” due to his involvement in anti-Israel demonstrations.

“There must be accountability for political retaliation and abuse of power,” Khalil stated. “I’m holding the US government accountable not just for myself, but for everyone they try to silence through fear, exile, or detention.”

On March 8, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended Khalil as part of a broader effort to clamp down on campus protests critical of Israel.

At the time he was taken into custody, Khalil had become a prominent voice in student-led demonstrations nationwide opposing the war in Gaza. After his arrest, federal authorities relocated him from his residence in New York to a detention facility in Louisiana to face deportation proceedings.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited a Cold War-era statute passed during the 1950s Red Scare, which allows for the expulsion of foreign nationals considered detrimental to American foreign policy.

But a judge later determined that Rubio’s claims were insufficient to justify Khalil’s continued detention or deportation, ruling that the government lacked grounds to classify him as a national security threat. Khalil was subsequently granted release on bail in late June.

Officials have accused Khalil of omitting from his immigration paperwork what they called his “membership” in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Khalil denies any wrongdoing and insists his arrest and detention were punitive actions in response to his political speech.

{Matzav.com}

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The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced Friday morning that Captain Reei Biran, 21, a squad commander in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit of the Golani Brigade, was killed during an operation in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

According to an initial review of the events, Biran’s unit had been tasked with targeting terrorist infrastructure in Khan Yunis. As part of their assignment, they were preparing buildings suspected of being used by terror operatives for demolition.

Roughly two hours into the mission, an explosion erupted during the rigging process. Captain Biran sustained critical injuries and was later declared dead. The IDF is actively investigating the details of the incident to determine what went wrong.

So far, 890 Israeli soldiers have died since the onset of the war.

Another casualty was cleared for publication Wednesday night: Abraham Azulay, 25, from the Shaked Farm near Yitzhar, who was killed while operating engineering equipment in Gaza. Azulay had been married only three months prior.

Azulay is the third individual from Yitzhar to lose his life in the war. He had volunteered, along with many others from his community, to assist the IDF by operating heavy engineering vehicles in the Gaza Strip.

Preliminary findings suggest that while IDF troops were conducting a mission in Khan Yunis, terrorists emerged from a subterranean tunnel and launched an attack. During the ambush, they tried to kidnap the soldier operating the engineering vehicle.

The soldier resisted the attackers but was fatally shot. Forces stationed nearby returned fire, injuring several of the terrorists and preventing the abduction. The IDF is continuing to examine the circumstances of the incident.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that the United States will impose a 35% tariff on goods imported from Canada beginning August 1, citing Ottawa’s retaliatory actions as the reason behind the move.

“Instead of working with the United States, Canada retaliated with its own Tariffs,” Trump wrote in a message addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, which was shared publicly on Truth Social.

Trump pointed to the fentanyl crisis as a factor behind the tariff decision, suggesting that progress on that issue could potentially change the tariff plan. “If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,” he said.

According to Trump, the new tariff rate will be distinct from any previously existing sector-specific tariffs. He warned that if Canada hits back with more trade penalties, the U.S. will respond with even higher duties. “If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 35% that we charge,” he declared.

The letter also made clear that any attempts to reroute goods to bypass the increased tariff would be met with the same penalty. “Good transshipped to evade this higher tariff will be subjected to that higher tariff,” it stated.

Trump noted that the tariff rate could either go up or be reduced based on how negotiations unfold with Canada. He stressed that the issues between the two nations aren’t limited to fentanyl. ″[Canada] has many Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, which cause unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States … The Trade Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!”

Currently, Canadian products are subject to a 25% tariff put in place earlier this year, aimed at addressing Canada’s alleged connection to fentanyl trafficking. Exceptions have been made for those complying with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, while Canadian energy exports face a reduced 10% tariff.

The latest tariff announcement followed a June 29 agreement between the two nations to restart trade negotiations, aiming for a new deal by July 21, according to Canada’s Department of Finance.

Trump had previously threatened to call off all trade talks with Canada after it refused to halt its planned digital services tax targeting U.S. tech companies. Canada eventually dropped the tax, clearing the way for talks with Washington to resume.

{Matzav.com}

At a gathering held Thursday evening in honor of United Hatzalah volunteers in Bnei Brak, MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, delivered a fiery speech targeting Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara following her announcement of new enforcement measures aimed at yeshiva students who do not enlist in the army.

Addressing the volunteers, Gafni praised them as the true servants of Israeli society. “You are living proof that the chareidim serve, assist, and help all the citizens of Israel,” he said, lauding their selfless dedication to saving lives.

Turning to the Attorney General, Gafni’s tone turned scathing. “She’s putting up roadblocks — well, she can forget about that,” he declared. “She wants us to speak out against her so that if they try to fire her, she’ll be able to claim she’s the one standing up to the chareidim. That’s what she’s really interested in. It’s a disgrace to the State that this woman is the Attorney General.”

Then, with biting sarcasm, Gafni added, “But one thing’s for certain — if, Heaven forbid, she’s ever in an accident, it’ll be the chareidim from United Hatzalah who save her. We don’t keep score.”

His remarks came in the wake of Baharav-Miara’s endorsement of a new IDF draft enforcement plan targeting yeshiva bochurim. In a statement issued by her office, the Attorney General welcomed the military’s enforcement efforts, saying, “The Attorney General commends the progress made in formulating this year’s draft enforcement plan and the IDF’s policy to increase enforcement in the immediate term.”

She stated that “the number of recruits in the past year does not meet the security needs, the commitments of the State, or the value of equality.” The statement added that enforcement would be carried out “equitably across all sectors, with particular attention to shortening the time until draft orders are issued and until draft dodgers are formally declared — to enable quicker use of enforcement tools.”

The plan also includes a one-time opportunity for draft dodgers from all sectors to enlist without being arrested. Those who report for duty will begin regular service immediately and, if they complete one full year of proper service and meet additional conditions, their charges will be commuted and replaced with a suspended sentence.

Further steps outlined include a follow-up meeting to assess implementation, including updates on IDF activity at border crossings, proactive enforcement actions, and details regarding the expansion of detention facilities.

Due to gaps in coordination between the Education Ministry and the IDF regarding transfer of information on draft-eligible students, another meeting — headed by the Deputy Attorney General — will be held to address and resolve the issue.

The meeting summary will be forwarded to the Defense Minister’s office, emphasizing the importance of expanding the tools available to enforce the draft on those evading service.

To finalize the government’s legal response to court challenges, officials were instructed to expedite efforts to complete a comprehensive draft affidavit, including specific details about the enforcement plan, criteria for identifying draft dodgers, and IDF enforcement activities — their scope and frequency — particularly at Israel’s borders.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Articles written by Zohran Mamdani during his college years have resurfaced as his profile rises in New York City’s political landscape. A review by Fox News Digital reveals that Mamdani, a self-described socialist and Democratic mayoral nominee, used his time at Bowdoin College to promote radical views on race and Israel, including a call for an academic boycott of the Jewish state.

During his time at Bowdoin from 2010 to 2014, Mamdani authored 32 opinion pieces for the college newspaper, the Bowdoin Orient. In one of his final columns as a senior, Mamdani backed a push for academia to cut ties with Israel. “This academic and cultural boycott aims to bring under scrutiny the actions of the Israeli government and to put pressure on Israeli institutions to end the oppressive occupation and racist policies within both Israel and occupied Palestine,” he wrote. Mamdani also co-founded the college chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, a group now known for organizing some of the loudest anti-Israel demonstrations on campuses, especially in the wake of the October 7 Hamas massacre, with some chapters going as far as glorifying the attack.

One of Mamdani’s targets in his article was Bowdoin’s president at the time, Barry Mills, who rejected the idea of an academic boycott. “Lastly, Mills regrettably makes no mention of Palestinians or Palestine,” Mamdani wrote. “The call for the boycott comes in response to more than 60 years of Israeli colonial occupation of Palestine. When Mills speaks of the ‘free exchange of knowledge, ideas, and research, and open discourse’ in academia, he does so while privileging partnerships with Israeli institutions over basic freedoms for Palestinians, including the rights to food, water, shelter and education, which many Palestinians are denied under Israeli rule.”

In another opinion piece from 2013, Mamdani accused a fellow White student of failing to recognize his own racial privilege after the student objected to claims that the school’s editorial section lacked diversity. “White males are privileged in their near-to-exclusive featuring as figures of authority in print, on television and around us in our daily realities,” Mamdani wrote. “We, the consumers of these media, internalize this and so believe in the innate authority of a white male’s argument and the need for its publication. So, white privilege is both a structural and an individual phenomenon, the former propelling the latter. Therefore, even when the individual is silent, the structures continue to exist and frame our society through their existence.”

He further elaborated on the lack of diversity in the campus newspaper’s opinion section, calling it a product of institutional racism. Mamdani wrote that the “pervasive male whiteness” of the school’s opinion pages “builds on the sadly still-present white male monopolization of both discourse and understanding.”

Expanding on the topic, Mamdani emphasized how white privilege operates, regardless of personal experience. “While whiteness is not homogenous, white privilege is. This privilege is clear in not having to face institutional racism in access to housing subsidies, college grants, financial institutions, or civil rights. It allows a white person to universalize his own experiences. It restricts society’s ability to understand its flaws, and projects a false image of meritocracy upon a nation built on institutional racism,” he wrote.

In a separate piece titled “Bearded in Cairo,” Mamdani recounted his semester abroad in Egypt during a period of political upheaval. He wrote about choosing to grow a beard before his trip as a way to confront American stereotypes about Muslim and South Asian men. He admitted the beard was “mostly as a symbolic middle finger” to the idea, widespread in America, that people with brown skin and beards are automatically seen as “terrorists.”

While in Egypt, Mamdani reflected on how racial privilege manifested differently. “Gone was the image of the white Christian male that I had grown accustomed to, and in its place was a darker, more familiar picture – ­­­one that, for the first time, I fit: brown skin, black hair, and a Muslim name,” Mamdani wrote. “With the right clothing, some took me for an Egyptian and most thought I was Syrian – either identity allowed me unrestricted access to exploring Cairo.”

In a 2014 article marking the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to Bowdoin, Mamdani critiqued what he saw as complacency around diversity. Although the school had increased its non-white student population in recent years, he argued that it had fallen short of what true inclusivity required. “I have been forced to personally grapple with these inconsistencies during my time here,” Mamdani wrote.

He offered a personal window into how these shortcomings played out in everyday campus life. “I sit in class not knowing whether to correct everyone’s mispronunciation of an Indian woman’s name. I usually do, but today I’m tired. I’m tired of being one of a few non-white students in a classroom, if not the only one. I bring up race in discussions only to see the thought flicker in my peers eyes and on their tongues. They sigh without a sound. I’ve brought up race again. I’ve sidetracked the discussion. I’ve chosen to make an issue out of it.”

In the same article, Mamdani — born in Uganda to Indian parents — wrote candidly about the alienation he felt early in college. “I grow a beard only to be called a terrorist,” Mamdani wrote. “I pronounce the ‘h’ in my name only to hear muffled laughs. Clothing becomes exotic once it clads my body. Cotton shirts are called dashikis and sandals ethnic.”

He also described the insecurities he wrestled with during his freshman year. “While I am now comfortable in my own skin, I can remember wishing for whiteness my first year when I thought certain types of girls were impossible to talk to due to my skin being more kiwi than peach. Months later, I remember thinking that attraction might only be possible when a girl had ‘a thing for brown guys.’”

Despite finding a few like-minded peers, Mamdani remained frustrated by what he perceived as willful ignorance. “Still, too few people acknowledge that race is an issue on our campus, or that it has ever been one,” he wrote. “But if people say they are color blind, do they even see me?”

Mamdani captured national attention last month after an unexpected win in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, despite heavy criticism of his far-left platform. His campaign has called for radical changes, such as municipal-run grocery stores, police defunding, government-sanctioned drug sites, and a $30 minimum wage.

His win has deepened the divide within the Democratic Party. While some party leaders urge a centrist course following Kamala Harris’s loss in the presidential election, others have rallied behind the progressive movement championed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who backed Mamdani’s campaign.

Now heading into the general election as the leading candidate in a city where Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans, Mamdani appears poised to extend his political rise.

{Matzav.com}

The Department of Education has officially rescinded a longstanding policy that allowed individuals residing in the U.S. illegally to receive federal funding for vocational and technical education programs, according to a report by The Daily Caller.

“Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “Under President Trump’s leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities.”

She emphasized the department’s new direction, saying, “The Department will ensure that taxpayer funds are reserved for citizens and individuals who have entered our country through legal means who meet federal eligibility criteria.”

The change aligns with a previous executive order issued by President Donald Trump, which terminated government subsidies for undocumented immigrants.

The original rule dates back to 1997 during Bill Clinton’s presidency. It followed the enactment of the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, which restricted access to health care benefits for illegal immigrants. Clinton at the time had insisted that federal education programs should not fall under those same restrictions.

However, Trump administration officials rejected that approach, stating that Clinton “mischaracterized the law by creating artificial distinctions between federal benefit programs based upon the method of assistance,” according to The Daily Caller.

Implementation of the new policy is scheduled to begin next month, with the Department of Education preparing to enforce the updated standards.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against California, claiming that three of the state’s laws are playing a direct role in increasing egg prices nationwide by introducing what it called unnecessary regulatory burdens.

According to the legal complaint, “Through a combination of voter initiatives, legislative enactments, and regulations, California has effectively prevented farmers across the country from using a number of agricultural production methods which were in widespread use — and which helped keep eggs affordable.”

The lawsuit focuses on three California statutes — AB 1437, Proposition 2, and Proposition 12 — and contends that the federal government, not individual states, holds the legal authority over egg regulation based on a law passed in 1970 that governs standards for eggs and related products.

The government argues that Proposition 2, approved by California voters in 2008 to implement animal welfare requirements, and AB 1437, which governs egg safety for consumers, are collectively reducing national egg output and pushing prices higher.

Proposition 12, which voters passed in 2018 to mandate minimum space for livestock and poultry, is also under fire in the suit as another measure harming egg availability.

Notably, the complaint does not address the recent avian flu outbreak earlier this year that decimated flocks and dramatically tightened egg supplies, sending prices soaring across the U.S.

The case was filed on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The list of defendants includes California Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and various other state officials.

In response, the governor’s office mocked the lawsuit in a post on X, saying, “Trump’s back to his favorite hobby: blaming California for literally everything.”

“Next up: @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom caused the fall of Rome and sent the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs!” the message added.

{Matzav.com}

Michelle Obama, the wife of President Barack Obama, shared candid thoughts on the latest episode of her podcast, revealing that she finally feels unburdened. She spoke about this sense of personal liberation during a conversation with her brother Craig Robinson on their podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson.

In the Wednesday installment, Michelle spoke passionately about the confidence and autonomy that often come with age, particularly for women. She encouraged listeners to take advantage of this period in life to reclaim time and space for themselves.

“As we get older, we should embrace the fact that we have more time,” she said. “We aren’t parenting our kids anymore. They’re parenting us. We’re not worrying about whether they’re getting home on time or whether they did their homework.”

She went on to explain that this chapter of her life is uniquely empowering. “I mean, this stage in life for me, for me personally, is the first time that I’ve been completely free — where every choice that I make in my life is not about my husband, not about his career, not about what my kids need or where they’re going. It’s totally about me,” Obama added.

These reflections were sparked by a question from a listener asking for advice on how to help her mother, Sharon, navigate a recent move and the fear of building new relationships that might not last.

Obama encouraged the woman to see her situation through a different lens — one of opportunity and renewal. “And Sharon, you know, if she thinks about it like that, wow, she’s got a new freedom. She’s starting over in a new city. There’s so much to learn and to see and to do,” the wife of President Obama said.

“It’s like, this is when we start living, ladies,” Michelle Obama added. “This is the age when we’re free.”

Since their time in the White House ended nearly ten years ago, Michelle Obama has stayed in the public eye through bestselling memoirs and now, her podcast. In these platforms, she has spoken openly about life’s emotional highs and lows, her identity as a mother and wife, and her current professional journey.

In a recent interview, she shared that she’s been attending therapy to help her process the transition into a quieter, child-free home — an “empty nester” phase.

She also dismissed speculation about issues in her marriage that began circulating after she didn’t attend President Trump’s inauguration. “If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it,” Obama said.

{Matzav.com}

During the 2016 election cycle, Obama administration intelligence officials admitted behind closed doors that they lacked concrete evidence tying Donald Trump’s campaign to a Russian conspiracy. Nevertheless, they continued to push the public narrative suggesting collusion between the Trump team and Moscow, Fox News reports.

Transcripts from interviews conducted by the House Intelligence Committee in 2017 with senior Obama-era officials—such as DNI James Clapper, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, and Attorney General Loretta Lynch—indicate a lack of solid evidence supporting the collusion claims.

These statements were consistent with the outcome of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which did not uncover proof of criminal cooperation between Trump’s campaign and Russian operatives. Mueller also refrained from making a determination on whether obstruction of justice had occurred.

Interest in these testimonies has resurfaced as John Brennan, who led the CIA, and James Comey, former FBI director, are reportedly under criminal investigation. Justice Department sources told Fox News Digital the probes are exploring whether they provided false statements to Congress regarding the Trump–Russia inquiry.

The interview transcripts from 2017 and 2018 reveal lawmakers asking several Obama officials whether they had direct evidence of collusion, conspiracy, or coordination between Trump’s campaign and the Russian government—the central premise that fueled both the initial FBI investigation and Mueller’s special counsel probe.

“I never saw any direct empirical evidence that the Trump campaign or someone in it was plotting/conspiring with the Russians to meddle with the election,” Clapper said in his 2017 testimony. “That’s not to say that there weren’t concerns about the evidence we were seeing, anecdotal evidence…. But I do not recall any instance where I had direct evidence.”

Lynch said she did “not recall that being briefed up to me” when asked about the existence of such evidence. “I can’t say that it existed or not,” she added when pressed on the issue of collusion or coordination.

Despite those denials, Brennan briefed President Obama and several senior officials—among them Biden, Lynch, Clapper, and Comey—on July 28, 2016, about information indicating that a Clinton campaign advisor had proposed linking Trump to Russian interference as a political strategy.

“We’re getting additional insight into Russian activities from (REDACTED),” Brennan wrote in notes later published by Fox News Digital in 2020. “CITE (summarizing) alleged approved by Hillary Clinton a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisers to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security service.”

Following that meeting, the CIA transmitted the intelligence to the FBI in the form of a Counterintelligence Operational Lead (CIOL), addressed to Comey and Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence Peter Strzok, with the subject line: “Crossfire Hurricane.”

Fox News Digital obtained and reported on this CIOL in 2020. The document stated: “The following information is provided for the exclusive use of your bureau for background investigative action or lead purposes as appropriate.”

It continued: “Per FBI verbal request, CIA provides the below examples of information the CROSSFIRE HURRICANE fusion cell has gleaned to date,” referring to a message detailing Clinton’s purported approval of a plan to connect Trump to Russian hacking activity as a distraction from her private email scandal.

Despite the intelligence, the FBI never opened a probe into the Clinton connection. Instead, it pushed forward with its counterintelligence effort targeting the Trump campaign. Just three days after the CIA briefing, the FBI formally launched the Crossfire Hurricane investigation on July 31, 2016.

Elsewhere in the transcripts, Samantha Power, then U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, was asked whether she had seen any evidence of collusion or conspiracy. “I am not in possession of anything – I am not in possession and didn’t read or absorb information that came from out of the intelligence community,” she said. When pressed again, she repeated: “I am not.”

Susan Rice also addressed the question in her House testimony. “To the best of my recollection, there wasn’t anything smoking, but there were some things that gave me pause,” she stated. “I don’t recall intelligence that I would consider evidence to that effect that I saw… conspiracy prior to my departure.”

Asked if she saw any signs of “coordination,” Rice responded: “I don’t recall any intelligence or evidence to that effect.” When questioned about collusion specifically, she said: “Same answer.”

Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security advisor, gave similar testimony when asked about the Trump–Russia issue. “I wouldn’t have received any information on any criminal or counterintelligence investigations into what the Trump campaign was doing, so I would not have seen that information,” he said.

When the question was posed again, he replied: “I saw indications of potential coordination, but I did not see, you know, the specific evidence of the actions of the Trump campaign.”

Andrew McCabe, who served as the FBI’s deputy director, was not directly asked whether he saw evidence of collusion. Instead, his testimony focused on the controversial Steele dossier, which was at the heart of the investigation and widely discredited.

In his 2017 interview, McCabe was asked which part of the dossier he could confirm as accurate. “We have not been able to prove the accuracy of all the information,” he responded.

“You don’t know if it’s true or not?” a House investigator asked. McCabe replied: “That’s correct.”

Comey, during the transition after Trump’s election win, briefed the president-elect on the Steele dossier, a document that contained unverified allegations linking Trump to the Russian government. Brennan was also present at the Trump Tower meeting in January 2017.

The Steele dossier had been financed by Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee via the law firm Perkins Coie, but at the time, it’s unclear if intelligence agencies knew about its funding origins.

The recent criminal probe into Brennan involves claims that he misled Congress, particularly related to a newly unsealed email from his deputy in December 2016. The email cautioned that including the Steele dossier in the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) could “jeopardize the credibility of the entire paper.”

A subsequent CIA review stated: “Despite these objections, Brennan showed a preference for narrative consistency over analytical soundness.” It continued, “When confronted with specific flaws in the Dossier by the two mission center leaders – one with extensive operational experience and the other with a strong analytic background – he appeared more swayed by the Dossier’s general conformity with existing theories than by legitimate tradecraft concerns.”

The report added that Brennan ultimately finalized his position, writing, “my bottomline is that I believe that the information warrants inclusion in the report.”

However, when Brennan testified before the House Judiciary Committee in May 2023, he claimed the agency opposed including the dossier. “The CIA was very much opposed to having any reference or inclusion of the Steele dossier in the Intelligence Community Assessment,” he said. “And so they sent over a copy of the dossier to say that this was going to be separate from the rest of that assessment.”

At the time, CIA officials had pushed back on the FBI’s attempt to insert the dossier into the ICA, labeling it “internet rumor.” Although the final version of the ICA presented to President Obama did not include the Steele material in the main body, it was referenced in a footnote, reportedly at the insistence of top FBI leadership, according to later investigations by both the DOJ inspector general and the Senate Intelligence Committee.

In June 2020, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe declassified that footnote—also known as “Annex A” of the ICA—which revealed that Steele’s reporting had “limited corroboration” concerning claims that Trump “knowingly worked with Russian officials” during the 2016 campaign.

This annex, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, was under two pages in length and highlighted that Steele, a confidential FBI source, had provided politically charged information during the 2016 election season.

“An FBI source (Steele) using both identified and unidentified subsources, volunteered highly politically sensitive information from the summer to the fall of 2016 on Russian influence efforts aimed at the US presidential election,” it read. “We have only limited corroboration of the source’s reporting in this case and did not use it to reach the analytic conclusions of the CIA/FBI/NSA assessment.”

The annex also noted that Steele was not compensated by the FBI for this specific reporting.

Officials made clear that the material wasn’t developed through rigorous sourcing methods. “The FBI source caveated that, although similar to previously provided reporting in terms of content, the source was unable to vouch for the additional information’s sourcing and accuracy,” the document stated. “Hence this information is not included in this product.”

DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz reviewed how Steele’s dossier was used in the ICA and in applications for FISA warrants against Trump campaign associate Carter Page.

In his 2019 report, Horowitz found “significant inaccuracies and omissions” in the FISA applications, many of which relied on Steele’s uncorroborated material despite the FBI’s inability to verify key claims against Page.

Ratcliffe later referred Brennan for possible prosecution, directing evidence to FBI Director Kash Patel, according to DOJ insiders who spoke to Fox News Digital.

These officials confirmed that the referral was received and that an investigation into Brennan’s conduct was launched. While they would not discuss specifics, they said the probe focuses at least in part on potential false statements to Congress.

Sources also confirmed that Comey is under investigation as well, though the scope of that inquiry remains undisclosed.

Two individuals familiar with the matter described the suspected behavior of Brennan and Comey as resembling a “conspiracy,” which could lead to a broad range of criminal charges.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas has expressed dissatisfaction with Israel’s latest truce proposal, which was delivered to mediators and outlines how the IDF would remain stationed within parts of Gaza during the envisioned 60-day pause in fighting.

The revised plan demonstrates that Israel is willing to show more leeway regarding the army’s positioning during the ceasefire, particularly in the zone stretching from the Morag Corridor down to the Philadelphi Corridor along the border with Egypt.

One insider told The Jerusalem Post the situation had reached a “stalemate,” while another source noted, “We thought things would move faster due to American and Qatari pressure. At least a few more days of negotiations will be needed.”

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sat down with relatives of the hostages and informed them that, given the current reality, there was no possibility of securing a broad agreement. “There was no such option,” Netanyahu said. When asked which hostages might be included in a deal, he added: “All of them are humanitarian cases. It will likely be Hamas that decides who will be released.”

In an official announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu said that once the proposed 60-day truce begins, “we will enter negotiations for a permanent end to the war, meaning a permanent ceasefire.”

He emphasized Israel’s core requirements: Hamas must lay down its weapons, Gaza must no longer be militarized, and the terror group must lose all ability to rule or fight. “If this can be achieved through negotiations, all the better. If not, we will achieve it through other means – by force, through the strength of our heroic army.”

According to a source familiar with the matter, President Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, intends to jumpstart efforts toward a final resolution from day one of the ceasefire. “He’s planning for the talks to begin immediately and intends to travel to Qatar in person to start them,” the source stated.

Hamas announced on Wednesday that it still had unresolved concerns, such as the volume and consistency of humanitarian aid entering Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and receiving “genuine guarantees” for a lasting truce. While the organization is prepared to release 10 hostages, it labeled the discussions “tough” and blamed Israeli “intransigence” for the difficulties.

At a demonstration held in Washington, DC, on Monday, families of those still being held captive urged that any agreement must result in the return of all 50 remaining hostages.

“We are here to remind President Trump and PM Netanyahu that there are 50 hostages to be released. We cannot accept a deal for a partial release,” said Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump proclaimed on Thursday that the United States has fully rebounded, and he urged the Federal Reserve to respond by slashing interest rates.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump celebrated unprecedented highs across major financial indicators, from tech stocks to cryptocurrencies. He pointed to Bitcoin’s historic surge and the lack of inflationary pressure as proof of the economy’s strength. “Tech Stocks, Industrial Stocks, & NASDAQ, HIT ALL-TIME, RECORD HIGHS! CRYPTO, ‘Through the Roof.’ NVIDIA IS UP 47% SINCE TRUMP TARIFFS. USA is taking in Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in Tariffs. COUNTRY IS NOW ‘BACK.’ A GREAT CREDIT!” Trump wrote, while pushing the Fed to act.

He continued by stressing that interest rates need to come down immediately. “FED SHOULD RAPIDLY LOWER RATE TO REFLECT THIS STRENGTH. USA SHOULD BE AT THE ‘TOP OF THE LIST.’ NO INFLATION!!!” he said.

The president has not held back in criticizing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell for resisting calls to reduce rates. Despite Trump’s persistent pressure, the Fed has opted not to make the move, keeping borrowing costs elevated.

Powell has defended the Fed’s approach by warning that Trump’s trade and tariff strategies might eventually drive inflation—an outcome that has yet to materialize.

In another post on Thursday, Trump again took aim at Powell using a nickname he has often repeated. “‘Too Late’ DEMEANS THE GREAT CREDIT OF THE USA. We are now, again, the Number One Credit in the World! ‘Gigantic Comeback,’” Trump wrote. “The Fed Rate should be reflective of this. We should be at the top of the list!!! LOWER THE RATE!!!”

As of June, the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark rate in the 4.25% to 4.5% range. That came after rate reductions of 50 basis points in September and 25 basis points each in November and December. Breitbart News Economics Editor John Carney reported these figures in a June update.

Even though inflation has dipped below the Fed’s 2% target in recent months, central bank officials have remained cautious. At their most recent meeting, they increased their inflation outlook and reiterated plans for two rate cuts in 2025—unchanged from March’s forecast. Powell said while there had been “modest further progress,” the Fed needs “greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent” before making any further rate reductions.

Carney also noted that inflation eased again in May, as shown in economic data released toward the end of June.

{Matzav.com}

Israel and the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor are locked in an ongoing legal standoff, submitting filings almost weekly in a heated third round of arguments over whether the court has authority to investigate alleged war crimes by Israelis—an issue hinging on the recognition of a “State of Palestine” capable of conferring such jurisdiction, the Jerusalem Post reports.

The ICC Prosecutor’s ability to proceed with arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hangs in the balance, following a major procedural blow suffered on April 24 when the Appeals Chamber issued a ruling that temporarily halted the case’s momentum.

The arrest warrants, which have drawn international attention, pose a serious challenge to Israel’s global standing and could unleash a wave of diplomatic, legal, and economic fallout.

In a surprising turn for Israel, the ICC’s Appeals Chamber decision on April 24 instructed the lower court to take a more thorough look at Jerusalem’s objections to the court’s authority—a move that temporarily derailed the Prosecutor’s efforts.

This legal fight is not new; it marks the third time the ICC has grappled with whether Palestine meets the criteria to grant jurisdiction. The Palestinians prevailed twice before, in rulings delivered by the lower court in 2021 and again in November 2024.

As of July 3, Israel received permission from the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber to submit further legal arguments by August 1, extending the timeline of this high-stakes legal fight.

This extension followed three separate submissions by the Prosecutor’s Office—on June 18, June 27, and July 2—disputing Israel’s claims, along with additional legal filings from the Palestinian Authority during the same timeframe.

All these filings respond to Israel’s May 26 submission, which sought to build on its partial win at the Appeals Chamber in April by pushing for the case to be thrown out entirely for lack of jurisdiction.

Israel’s main arguments rest on two core positions: first, that there is no sovereign Palestinian state with defined borders; and second, that the Oslo Accords prevent the Palestinian Authority from delegating criminal jurisdiction over Israelis to international bodies like the ICC.

One legal angle Israel is leaning heavily on is the absence of PA governance in Gaza, especially in light of the 21-month war with Hamas. Another key point is that previous ICC dismissals of the Oslo-based argument lacked substantive legal engagement, according to Jerusalem.

Nevertheless, Israel still faces significant legal obstacles.

After its April Appeals Chamber success, Israel attempted another legal maneuver on May 9, asking the same court to halt the implementation of the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. That request was denied.

Amid this contentious legal backdrop, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan went on indefinite leave between May 17–18 following unrelated allegations of sexual misconduct involving an ICC staff member.

Instead of appointing a single interim Prosecutor, the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties chose to place both of Khan’s deputies in charge, creating a somewhat ambiguous leadership structure.

The dual leadership team—Mame Mandiaye Niang from Senegal and Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji—split their duties, with one focusing on investigations and the other handling legal prosecutions.

When the ICC submitted its May 21 brief responding to Israel, Shameem Khan signed the document, though it bore Karim Khan’s name in print. Since then, she has continued signing the briefs, indicating she is now leading the case during Khan’s absence.

Her continued authorization of the arrest warrants implies that even if Khan’s leave becomes permanent or ends in dismissal, Israel will remain under investigation by the ICC.

A pressing issue is whether the deputy prosecutors have the authority—or political will—to pursue additional Israeli officials, or if they’ll restrict themselves to maintaining the current proceedings against Netanyahu and Gallant.

According to The Wall Street Journal, just before taking his leave, Karim Khan was seriously weighing criminal proceedings against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing their backing of Jewish settlement activity and their alleged incitement of violence in places like Huwara and Jit.

Back in May 2024, there were even discussions within the ICC about whether Khan should begin by targeting Smotrich, Ben-Gvir, and the broader settlement enterprise before shifting his focus to Netanyahu and Gallant in relation to the Gaza conflict.

The reasoning behind this sequence was that there was a broader international consensus condemning settlement policy and its architects at the time. In contrast, Netanyahu and Gallant received a considerable amount of international support.

But now that the deputy prosecutors are at the helm—and with the ICC under pressure due to U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration that have driven out several ICC personnel—Shameem Khan may choose not to broaden the charges at this time.

Unlike earlier rounds of this jurisdictional debate, which dragged on for over a year, the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber is expected to issue a ruling relatively quickly, potentially within a few months.

{Matzav.com}

A bill designed to prevent terrorists’ relatives from receiving Israeli citizenship or residency cleared its final two hurdles in the Knesset, passing both its second and third readings. The measure passed with widespread support from lawmakers across party lines, including members of both the governing coalition and the opposition.

Under the new law, individuals related to terrorists will no longer be eligible for “family reunification” status, effectively preventing them from being granted permission to live in Israel.

The legislation is the product of an extended effort spearheaded by MK Amit Halevi of the Likud party, working closely with Herzl and Merav Hajaj, the bereaved parents of Lt. Shir Hajaj, who was murdered in a terrorist ramming attack in Jerusalem’s Armon HaNatziv neighborhood in 2017. The new law also gives the state the power to revoke the temporary status of family members of terrorists who are already inside Israel.

MK Halevi declared, “This law will strike at the terrorist pipeline enabled through the family reunification process. For years, Supreme Court rulings have permitted the entry of Palestinians who have become an inseparable part of the terrorist infrastructure. We hope this law will deter future attacks and prevent the next disaster.”

The Hajajs shared their personal motivation, saying, “This law was born from deep pain, but it may save lives and prevent further tragedies. We extend our heartfelt thanks to MK Amit Halevi and MK Yuli Edelstein for their support and unwavering commitment.”

MK Yuli Edelstein underscored the significance of the legislation, asserting, “The days of family reunification for terrorists are over. No more gifts for the families of terrorists. Illegal residents will be deported—plain and simple. We advanced this legislation through the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and I’m proud to announce that it is now part of the State of Israel’s law. We express our deep appreciation to the parents of the late Lt. Shir Hajaj, Merav and Herzl Hajaj, and to MK Amit Halevi for their determination in advancing this vital reform.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. State Department’s Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs released a blunt and urgent advisory on Thursday, cautioning Americans against setting foot in Iran.

The notice, delivered in both English and Farsi and entirely in capital letters, declared: “AMERICANS, INCLUDING IRANIAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER DUAL-NATIONALS HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY DETAINED—TAKEN HOSTAGE—BY THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT FOR MONTHS, AND YEARS. THE THREAT OF DETENTION IS EVEN GREATER TODAY, DO NOT TRAVEL TO IRAN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.”

To drive the point home, the Office shared a video online featuring Emad Shargi, an Iranian-American entrepreneur who was held in Iranian custody for five years beginning in 2018. In the clip, Shargi offers a personal account of his harrowing experience, backing up the government’s stark warning with his own firsthand testimony.

{Matzav.com}

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir voiced fierce opposition to the developing outline of a potential agreement with Hamas regarding the release of hostages.

Smotrich expressed alarm over the prospect that the Israeli government might agree to retreat from territory reclaimed by the IDF during the ongoing conflict. “If, God forbid, the reports are true about the Prime Minister’s willingness to withdraw as part of a hostage deal from areas conquered by our soldiers, this would be a betrayal of the soldiers and the families who sacrificed everything dear to them and a violation of the promise made to them,” he declared.

He went on to condemn the idea of vacating land that IDF troops had paid for with their lives, only to allow Hamas to reoccupy and fortify those areas. “Withdrawing from areas repeatedly conquered with our soldiers’ blood and allowing the enemy to enter, arm, and booby-trap them, and then sending our soldiers to conquer them again is an illogical and immoral slap in the face.” In response, Smotrich cleared most items from his schedule to hold urgent consultations.

Ben Gvir warned that such concessions would invite further attacks and embolden Hamas. “As negotiations for reckless deals intensify, so does the motivation of Hamas terrorists to abduct more people, and last night it cost us the life of an IDF soldier who was killed during a kidnapping attempt,” he said.

He demanded a complete change in strategy, urging Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to abandon diplomacy and take military action. “Enough negotiating with a murderous terrorist organization and pursuing a deal that will revive and strengthen it. The lives of our soldiers and the residents of the south are more important than any normalization and economic agreements,” Ben Gvir insisted.

Ben Gvir pressed the prime minister to escalate the campaign against Hamas immediately. “Give the order to crush Hamas completely. We have no extra soldiers to lose in reckless deals!” he said.

The families of the hostages also issued a joint statement blasting the direction of the talks and the government’s priorities. “The media reports about the deal and its implications do not give us peace. While our loved ones are in chains and cages of Hamas in tunnels deep underground, the Prime Minister and the negotiation team are discussing the reconstruction of the Strip with Qatar. Hamas senses that Israel is eager for a deal and is entrenching its positions. Where in the world is such a thing heard? Are we delusional? Has the State of Israel given up on defeating Hamas and returning the hostages?”

They pointed to the most recent attempted kidnapping as proof that Hamas remains as dangerous as ever. “Just yesterday Hamas terrorists tried to abduct a soldier. Yesterday. We are rushing to a partial deal that will endanger the hostages who will remain there, endanger the IDF soldiers, and endanger the residents of the south. The dangerous flexibility in negotiations will encourage future kidnappings and reflects the essence that Hamas will never release everyone.”

The statement concluded with scathing criticism of the Israeli leadership for prioritizing rebuilding Gaza over securing the full release of captives. “Instead of announcing the halt of all aid until the hostages are returned, they are talking about reconstructing the Strip. Instead of dealing with the defeat of Hamas, we are talking to them in Qatar. Instead of dealing with the return of all the hostages, we are fighting only for half. Prime Minister, you do not have a mandate to abandon the rest of the hostages!”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Trump acknowledged that the Secret Service made serious errors during the attempted assassination at a 2024 campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet narrowly missed taking his life. Still, he said he maintains strong faith in the agency’s abilities. “Well, it was unforgettable,” Trump, 79, told his daughter-in-law Lara Trump during an interview set to air on Fox News Channel’s My View. “I didn’t know exactly what was going on. I got whacked. There’s no question about that. And fortunately, I got down quickly. People were screaming, and I got down quickly, fortunately, because I think they shot eight bullets.”

He also offered high praise for the Secret Service sniper who neutralized the shooter, Thomas Crooks. “His name is David,” Trump said. “He just, he went about his business. Less than just about four seconds, and that’s when it all stopped and he got him perfectly from a very long distance. So we got a little bit lucky in that regard.”

The Secret Service announced Wednesday night that disciplinary actions had been taken against six of its personnel for their roles in the security lapse during the shooting. Despite the failures, Trump said he was generally reassured by the information he’s been given since the attack. “They should have had somebody in the building [Crooks shot from], that was a mistake,” he said. “They should have had communications with the local police, they weren’t tied in, and they should have been tied in. So there were mistakes made … But I was satisfied in terms of the bigger plot, the larger plot, I was satisfied.”

He reiterated his overall support for the agency, even while acknowledging the shortcomings. “And I have great confidence in these people. I know the people. And they’re very talented, very capable. But they had a bad day. And I think they’ll admit that. They had a rough day.”

{Matzav.com}