Matzav

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Sniper Studios Presents: HaMayer

Prepare to be swept away by the soul-stirring debut album of Mayer Engel, HaMayer, a musical journey that blends timeless emotion with a modern energy all its own.

This album is a true collaboration of talent, featuring the remarkable child vocalist group E-Minor (Featuring Nesanel Tuvia Gottesman, Yisroel Kravitz, Yosef Rooz, and Yitzchok Zinger) whose voices elevate the music to new heights. The tracks were masterfully arranged by the gifted Shloimi Schinfeld and ZELIG, with the exceptional vocals recorded at Sniper Studios, ensuring every note hits with precision and heart.

Mayer Engel himself shines as both a composer and performer, composing seven of the songs, including “Ir Al Tila,” “Torah,” and “HaMayer,” each one a testament to his deep connection to the music and his roots.

Also featured are the contributions of Sam Glazer, Shimi Maryles, and ZELIG,  who composed songs for this album.

As a special touch, Mayer’s son, Shimmy, makes a guest appearance, adding his unique voice to the album.

And last but certainly not least, a heartfelt thank you to Nochi Krohn for allowing Mayer and E-Minor to cover and recreate his beautiful song V’nikeisi — a perfect way to honor the rich traditions of Jewish music.

HaMayer is not just an album, but an experience—one that will leave you inspired, uplifted, and moved by the incredible talents of Mayer Engel and his collaborators.

Project Manager – Nachum Dovid Stamm

Media by – Little Brook Studios | Visit https://www.LittleBrookStudios.com

Elephant Painting by: Shira Cenzer

Connect with Mayer Engel:

Email – mayerengelmusic@gmail.com

WhatsApp – 917-830-4905

Visit – https://www.MayerEngel.com

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Live at Genazym Auction!

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that talks are ongoing with Hamas about freeing the hostages, cautioning that the outcome would be severe if the captives are not released. “We’re in very deep negotiation with Hamas. We said, ‘Let them all out. Right now, let them all out.’ And much better things will happen for them. But if you don’t let them all out, it’s going to be a tough situation. It’s going to be nasty. That’s my opinion,” he said while addressing journalists in the Oval Office.

The President noted that he had reason to believe some of the roughly 20 hostages who were previously thought to be alive may have died in recent days, though he stressed this was not confirmed. “That’s what I heard. I hope I’m wrong,” Trump remarked.

Earlier in the week, Trump had already weighed in on the crisis involving the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Using his Truth Social account, he urged the terrorist organization to release the 20 surviving hostages all at once, pledging that such an action would immediately bring the conflict to a close. “Tell Hamas to immediately give back all 20 Hostages (Not two or five or seven!), and things will change rapidly. It will end!” he wrote.

In reaction to Trump’s statement, the Hostages Families Forum expressed gratitude but also clarified their position. “President Trump, you have shown your commitment to us through the darkest times, but we respectfully wish to make it clear: this nightmare cannot end for our nation until ALL 48 hostages are accounted for – both those who survived and those who were brutally murdered during these 700 days of hell. President Trump, uphold your promise to us, which you made multiple times – bring all 48 hostages home and end this war. Our loved ones, held by Hamas terrorists, are counting on your leadership to bring them home now. The living and deceased have all run out of time. This is your moment to fulfill your most sacred promise,” the group declared.

Following this, Adam Boehler, Trump’s Special Envoy for Hostage Response, also issued a sharp message to Hamas. After the group suggested it was open to a broad deal with Israel while still holding onto its earlier demands, Boehler posted on X: “Hamas best pay attention to ⁦@realDonaldTrump,” attaching a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared moments ago that he would remain in the running for another term, dismissing growing rumors that he might be lured away by a position in the Trump administration.

Speculation intensified during the day after The New York Times revealed that advisers to President Trump had discussed the possibility of offering Adams and Republican hopeful Curtis Sliwa roles in Washington. The move was said to be aimed at pushing both men out of the race and setting up a direct contest between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani.

Sliwa made it clear that he would not accept any role in the administration, but Adams earlier in the day had indicated he might be open to considering such opportunities, though he emphasized that “he hadn’t received any formal offer.”

If Adams continues in the campaign, his decision complicates attempts to unite opposition to Mamdani, the Democratic nominee who describes himself as a democratic socialist, under a single challenger. Cuomo, who has consistently polled in second place, has advocated for candidates to step aside if needed to strengthen efforts to block Mamdani’s path to victory.

With several candidates still in the race, opponents of Mamdani fear that the divided field could enable him to secure an easy win. Polls show him maintaining a comfortable lead, although he has yet to capture an outright majority of support.

{Matzav.com}

Health officials in Maine announced Friday that three people have been diagnosed with active tuberculosis, the infectious illness that remains the leading cause of death worldwide.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the patients, all located in the Portland region, had no ties to each other. This indicates that each of them contracted the illness from separate sources.

A spokesperson for the CDC told the Portland Press Herald that investigators are working to track down and test everyone who may have been in close contact with the infected individuals.

Tuberculosis, a bacterial illness, damages the lungs and other organs, often resulting in breathing problems and severe internal injury. The infection can also spread to the spine, kidneys, and brain.

Warning signs include a lingering cough that may produce blood or phlegm, fever, and chest pain.

The World Health Organization notes that tuberculosis claims more lives than any other disease globally, with an estimated 1.25 million people dying from it each year, primarily in poorer nations.

In the United States, 565 deaths were recorded from tuberculosis in 2022, the latest year for which statistics are available.

Maine health officials say that while the state is seeing a rise in reported cases, there is currently no widespread outbreak.

By the end of July this year, 28 tuberculosis cases had been documented across the state, according to the Maine CDC.

“The three active cases in Maine are not genetically linked, meaning they were not transmitted from one person to another,” said Lindsay Hammes, spokesperson for the Maine CDC.

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned on Friday that any Western troops stationed in Ukraine would be regarded as “legitimate targets for defeat,” issuing a new warning against proposals for international forces to be sent in once the fighting halts.

“This is one of the root causes (of the war): trying to involve Ukraine in NATO,” Putin said while addressing an economic conference in Russia’s Far East. “So if any troops appear there, especially during the ongoing hostilities, we assume they will be legitimate targets for defeat.”

His comments followed an announcement in Paris a day earlier, where European and Allied governments backed a joint plan for security support after the war. During that gathering, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 26 nations had signed on to provide guarantees for Kyiv, potentially including military help “in the sky, in the sea and on the ground.” French President Emmanuel Macron further described the pledges as possible deployments “by land, sea or air” once the fighting stops.

Putin argued that the arrival of outside forces would only hinder efforts if Russia and Ukraine manage to reach a political agreement. “If decisions are reached that lead to long-term peace, then I simply see no reason for their presence on Ukrainian territory,” he said. “Because if such agreements are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will fully implement them.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reinforced Putin’s position, stressing Moscow’s grievances with NATO and equating Western security commitments to Ukraine with further expansion of the alliance eastward.

“What was one of the root causes of this conflict? It was when the foundations of security guarantees for our country began to be eroded, when Ukraine was being drawn into NATO, and when NATO’s military infrastructure began moving toward our borders,” Peskov said, according to Russian state outlets. He noted that any final deal would have to include assurances “to both us and the Ukrainians.”

The warnings from Moscow came at the end of a week in which Putin engaged in high-profile diplomacy, including a trip to Beijing, where he stood together with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. While there, Putin revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had personally asked him to hold direct discussions with Zelenskyy about ending the conflict.

“Donald asked me if it was possible to hold such a meeting. I said yes, it is possible. In the end, if Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow. Such a meeting will take place,” Putin said. He added that Russia would guarantee the Ukrainian president’s safety if he came to the capital.

Zelenskyy rejected the proposal outright, saying Moscow was again attempting to stall genuine negotiations. “Our American partners told me that Putin had invited me to Moscow. In my opinion, if someone wants the meeting to not take place, they should invite me to Moscow,” Zelenskyy said Thursday.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, stated that Kyiv is prepared for face-to-face discussions but only in a neutral setting. “Right now, at least seven countries are ready to host a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the war — Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Türkiye, and three Gulf states,” he wrote on social media.

{Matzav.com}

The looming threat of the draft law continues to weigh heavily on rabbonim and communal leaders, and discussions are intensifying over the possibility of organizing a massive public gathering of the entire chareidi community.

After the cancellation of previously planned demonstrations before Rosh Chodesh Elul, Matzav.com has learned that preparations are now being made in the homes of gedolei Yisroel to hold a major asifah in the coming week. The goal is for all factions of chareidi Jewry to unite in a joint outcry and heartfelt tefillah over the gezeiras hagiyus.

Sources confirm that rabbonim have been visiting the homes of leading gedolim in recent days to finalize details. While it remains to be decided if the event will be formally declared an “Asifas HaMillion,” organizers are clearly aiming to bring together the broad spectrum of Klal Yisroel for a unified demonstration of tefillah and protest, with Thursday mentioned as a possible date.

As previously reported, gedolei Yisroel had earlier drafted a letter calling for such a mass rally during bein hazmanim, but the initiative was shelved at the time, and no gatherings ultimately took place. Now, however, the momentum appears to be shifting toward a large-scale event that would express the anguish of the Torah world over the government’s plans.

{Matzav.com}

A New York Supreme Court granted a decisive victory today to schools that had been deemed “nonequivalent.” This development in the decade-long substantial equivalency saga — predicated on legislation advocated for by Agudath Israel and others — allows parents in these schools to exhale once more, and can have broader positive implications for yeshivas long-term.

In May 2025, all parents of six schools received a foreboding letter from New York City stating that their child’s school:

“shall no longer be deemed a school which provides compulsory education… effective June 30th, 2025, all services at the school for your child will be discontinued, including special education and related services. Given that your child will no longer be able to attend this school, a decision must be made about what school your child will attend for the 2025-2026 school year and you must notify the New York City Department of Education of where your child will be enrolled by July 1st 2025.” [emphasis added]

The letter continues by describing how parents will proceed if their child attends public school in 2025-2026.

This legislative session, new language, fundamentally redefining how nonpublic schools can satisfy “substantial equivalency,” became law.

SED had argued that all schools can opt in to the new legislation, except for schools that had already been deemed nonequivalent prior to the legislation’s enactment. The court refuted SED’s claim, calling it “arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law.” The court further rejected SED’s argument that the schools cannot avail themselves of the new legislation because, by being non-equivalent, they are “non-schools,” and thus are ineligible to make a selection.

This case may have long-term implications if, in the future, any school is declared non-equivalent. Based on this ruling, a school can still choose to avail itself of a pathway. The “non-school” argument was soundly defeated.

The Agudah congratulates Steven Barshov, Esq., of SBarshov Law PLLC, who represented the yeshivas and parents in this case.

{Matzav.com}

After six weeks during which Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu temporarily held the Yerushalayim and Tradition Affairs portfolio, a compromise arrangement has been reached. Justice Minister Yariv Levin will assume the role of Acting Minister for Yerushalayim and Tradition, while Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi will be given direct responsibility for the annual Lag BaOmer pilgrimage in Meron.

According to the cabinet agenda released Friday, Levin’s appointment will be formalized at Sunday’s government meeting. His term as acting minister will last for three months, during which he will continue to hold his other positions—Justice Minister, Acting Interior Minister, and Acting Religious Affairs Minister.

The reshuffle follows the resignation of former minister Meir Porush, who stepped down amid disagreements over the draft law. Netanyahu had held the ministry himself since Porush’s departure.

As part of the arrangement, practical oversight of the Meron celebrations, including preparations, coordination, and execution of the massive annual event, will be transferred to Minister Karhi. Levin had expressed reluctance to personally take on responsibility for Meron, leading to the split in duties.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Reb Yoel Simcha z”l, a devoted chossid of Ger and longtime administrator of the Yeshiva Ketana of Ger in Brooklyn. He was 37 years old.

Reb Yoel, remembered for his open heart and boundless kindness, endured much suffering throughout his short life. Friends often referred to him as “Yoel baal yissurim,” recognizing both his struggles and the noble way in which he bore them.

He was a son of Reb Avrohom Binyomin Simcha and grew up steeped in the traditions of Ger. His life was marked by dedication to chessed, to Torah, and to the yeshiva where he faithfully served as administrator, ensuring its smooth functioning with quiet devotion.

In recent years, Reb Yoel was stricken with illness but miraculously recovered. Just last year, after his recovery, he marked the occasion by making a l’chaim and bentching Gomel before the Gerrer Rebbe during the Rebbe’s visit to America for the wedding of his daughter, Reb Yisroel Menachem Alter’s child.

Sadly, in recent weeks, the disease returned with far greater intensity. Out of concern not to burden others, Reb Yoel kept the severity of his condition hidden from his family and friends. Only as his health rapidly deteriorated did he inform his parents, who immediately traveled from abroad to be at his side.

Throughout his final weeks, he lay in the hospital in excruciating pain, yet he requested not to be sedated, explaining that he wished to accept yissurim mechaperim — suffering as atonement. Even as his condition worsened, he sought halachic guidance from the Gerrer dayan, Rav Hershel Rotenberg, and asked that whatever the dayan ruled should be followed. In the end, his medication was changed, but his wish to remain conscious was honored until his weakness overtook him.

During his last days, many friends and fellow Gerrer chassidim kept vigil by his bedside. They sang and tried to uplift his spirits, joined by his chavrusa, Rabbi Yehuda Taub, who remained constantly at his side. This morning, Erev Shabbos Parshas Ki Seitzei, he was niftar. 

The levayah was held this morning at the Gerrer Yeshiva Ketana in Boro Park.

Reb Yoel is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Tensions between Yerushalayim and Cairo escalated further as Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu accused Egypt of “imprisoning against their will residents in Gaza who want to leave a war zone.”

His remarks followed criticism from Egypt over comments he made in an interview with the Abu Ali Express channel. In that exchange, Netanyahu said he was prepared to let residents of Gaza exit through the Rafah Crossing, but added that “they would be blocked by Egypt.”

Egypt’s foreign ministry quickly pushed back, issuing a statement expressing its “utmost condemnation” of Netanyahu’s claim. The ministry said the remarks were “part of his continuous attempts to prolong the period of escalation in the region and entrench instability to avoid confronting the consequences of Israeli violations in Gaza, both internally and externally.”

“Displacement is not an option and it is a red line for Egypt and we will not allow it to happen,” declared Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during a press conference Friday in Nicosia.

“Displacement means liquidation and the end of the Palestinian cause and there is no legal or moral or ethical ground to evict people from their homeland,” he continued. Abdelatty also repeated Cairo’s long-standing charge that Israel is carrying out genocide, a claim that Israel firmly denies.

In the meantime, Egypt has been reinforcing its military presence along the border with Gaza. The move comes as the IDF prepares for a major push to seize control of Gaza City, raising fears that the large-scale evacuation from northern Gaza could result in Palestinians attempting to cross into Egyptian territory.

The Rafah border has been shut since Israeli forces took over the crossing. Security officials note that, after the October 7, 2023 outbreak of war, Egypt constructed a fortified barrier along its frontier—consisting of a concrete wall extending six meters underground, topped with barbed wire, as well as berms and upgraded surveillance systems.

{Matzav.com}

Today, the IDF targeted a multi-story building in Gaza City that was being utilized by Hamas.

Inside the building, the terror group had set up facilities designed to help them plan and launch operations against Israeli soldiers in the vicinity.

Beneath the tower, Hamas had created an underground system that served as a base for organizing assaults on IDF units. This subterranean network was also used to stage ambushes and provided escape routes for its fighters.

Before carrying out the strike, the IDF implemented multiple safety precautions to minimize civilian casualties. These included advance warnings to residents, carefully chosen precision weaponry, drone monitoring, and additional intelligence measures.

The terror factions operating in Gaza consistently breach international law, cynically turning civilian areas and the local population into protective shields for their violent actions.

The IDF stressed that it will persist in its mission to confront and dismantle the terrorist groups entrenched in the Gaza Strip.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump this morning took aim at longtime Democratic Representative Jerry Nadler, celebrating the veteran lawmaker’s decision to retire and blasting him as “one of the most disgusting Congressmen in USA History.”

Trump’s remarks came shortly after Nadler announced he would not be running again for Congress, ending more than three decades as Manhattan’s representative in Washington.

“Jerry Nadler, one of the most disgusting Congressmen in USA History is, at long last, calling it ‘quits’,” Trump declared in a Truth Social message early Friday morning.

“He’s finally leaving Congress! I’ve been beating this bum for 40 years, first as a New York City developer, where he opposed me, for no reason, at every corner, but could NEVER stop me from getting the job done, and then, as your President.”

The president also branded Nadler a “psychopathic nut job,” pointing to his role in spearheading impeachment proceedings against him on two separate occasions.

“It will be a great day for the U.S.A. when Nadler, a pathetic lightweight, is out of office and leaves our beautiful, and NOW VERY SAFE, Washington, D.C.,” Trump wrote.

Nadler, now in his 17th term, explained that his decision stemmed from the need for a “generational change.” He hinted that President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline over the past year reinforced his choice to step aside.

“Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party and I think I want to respect that,” Nadler told the New York Times.

He went on to add that a younger member of his party taking over his seat “can maybe do better, can maybe help us more.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States has ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico in a new escalation against drug cartels, The NY Post reported Friday, citing sources. The move follows a deadly U.S. strike earlier this week that killed nearly a dozen Venezuelan narco-terrorists.

According to a source close to the Trump administration, the advanced aircraft are expected to touch down in Puerto Rico next week, adding significantly to the U.S. military’s footprint in the southern Caribbean.

The decision to send the jets is part of President Trump’s pledge to take aggressive action against groups the U.S. has formally labeled as narco-terrorist organizations.

In recent weeks, American forces have already stationed naval vessels in the region as part of this expanded operation.

The latest announcement comes just after Trump disclosed that U.S. forces had taken out 11 individuals aboard a “drug-carrying boat” near Venezuela’s coastline.

Trump stressed that those killed were linked to Tren de Aragua, the powerful Venezuelan gang that has spread its influence far beyond the country’s borders.

“TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of [Venezuelan President] Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, … trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere,” Trump declared in a Truth Social post shortly after the strike.

“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!” he added.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas on Friday posted a video on its Telegram channel showing hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, where he is seen embracing fellow captive Alon Ohel.

“Time is running out,” Hamas wrote alongside the footage.

In the clip, Gilboa-Dalal expressed disbelief that he was still alive after nearly two years of conflict and revealed that he was being held in Gaza City.

He added that he and the other hostages would remain in Gaza City during the next stage of the IDF’s military campaign, and that Hamas would move them wherever Israeli forces advance.

Earlier this week, Channel 12 reported that Abu Obeida, the late Hamas military spokesman, had intended to use psychological warfare centered around the hostages in an effort to deter Israel’s entry into Gaza City.

The newly released video also includes Gilboa-Dalal noting the date as August 28, suggesting it may have been recorded just before Obeida’s death.

On Friday morning, the Hostages’ Families Headquarters issued a fierce statement charging that the IDF has no clear knowledge of where the captives are being held, warning that the current Gaza offensive could result in their “murder and disappearance forever in the ruins of the Strip.”

“This action poses an immediate and direct danger to our loved ones who have been languishing in Hamas’s tunnels for 700 days. Sadly, we have not heard of any way to protect them, nor has any plan been presented to us that would ensure that Operation Gideon’s Chariots B will not turn into ‘Murder of the Six part two,’” the statement said, referring to the discovery of six hostages’ bodies — Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Ori Danino — in Rafah tunnels.

The statement continued: “Forty-eight of our loved ones are at risk of being murdered and disappearing forever in the ruins of Gaza.” The families blasted the IDF chief of staff for choosing “to cooperate with a needless war” while claiming that even he acknowledges there are ways to achieve goals without putting both hostages and soldiers in harm’s way.

The group further underscored: “What did not work in Gideon’s Chariots A will not work in Part B or in Part C,” insisting that a viable proposal already exists, referring to the plan advanced by US envoy Steve Witkoff, which they believe could lead to a sweeping agreement to free all the hostages and halt the fighting.

“The sign of life published this morning is yet another painful reminder that Israel must return to negotiations to return the hostages and try to close a deal,” Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X/Twitter.

“We must do everything to bring them home. Sending strength to the families, you are not alone, we are with you.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

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President Trump on Friday criticized the warming relationship between India, Russia, and China, just days after their leaders stood together in Beijing for a military parade.

“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, posting a photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi side by side.

“May they have a long and prosperous future together!” he added.

The display in Beijing also featured North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, marking the first time all four appeared publicly together. The event commemorated 80 years since the end of World War II.

During the elaborate ceremony, Modi was seen clasping hands with Putin, a moment that underscored the tightening bonds between their nations.

Trump seized on the gathering to slam the regimes in China, Russia, and North Korea, accusing them of working in concert against America.

He also suggested the whole affair was staged.

“I thought it was very, very impressive, but I understood the reason they were doing it. And they were hoping I was watching — and I was watching,” Trump remarked about the Chinese military spectacle.

His comments followed a series of recent clashes with India, including his decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian imports and his sharp criticism of New Delhi for buying discounted Russian oil, which he portrayed as opportunistic.

{Matzav.com}

Health authorities are warning about the growing spread of Chagas disease in the United States, with most cases reported in California.

A new study published in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases confirmed human infections in eight states, prompting researchers to call for the illness to be officially classified as “endemic.”

“Acknowledging the endemicity of Chagas disease in the United States is crucial for achieving global health goals,” the study’s authors wrote.

The CDC defines an endemic disease as one that has a “constant presence and/or usual prevalence” in a particular region, essentially representing the baseline level of infection in a community.

“Chagas disease (or American trypanosomiasis) is already endemic in South America and Central America, but it has now spread to the Southern U.S., where it is taking hold among insects and animals,” Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital.

Chagas is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted by triatomine insects, often referred to as “kissing bugs.”

Transmission occurs when feces from an infected bug enter the body through a bite wound or by coming into contact with the eyes or mouth, according to the CDC.

“When the kissing bug takes a blood meal, it will eventually defecate and leave the feces somewhere,” explained lead study author Dr. Norman Beatty, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

“Sometimes it can ‘poop’ on our skin or mucous membrane while feeding, and then the parasite enters at that site. The bug’s feces can also end up inside or near a home and then be incidentally ingested or rubbed into the skin or mucous membrane.”

Other possible transmission routes in the U.S. include congenital infection, where a mother passes the parasite to her unborn child, or through organ transplants, Beatty noted.

The disease begins with an acute phase shortly after infection, followed by a chronic stage that can last for decades, according to the CDC.

Not everyone develops symptoms, but for those who do, they may include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, body aches, or a rash.

“Chagas can lead to fever, fatigue, rash, body aches and lymph node swelling, and later can lead to digestive issues, heart problems and neurological involvement,” Siegel warned.

A distinct sign of infection is swelling of one eyelid, known as Romaña’s sign.

In the chronic stage, 20% to 30% of patients may go on to suffer from potentially fatal heart disease or severe digestive complications, the CDC reports.

An estimated 300,000 people are living with Chagas disease acquired either in Latin America or within the U.S., Beatty said.

“However, the exact number is unknown — a national prevalence study has never been conducted,” he told Fox News Digital.

The risk is higher in areas where kissing bugs live near human dwellings, particularly in California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

“What really matters is whether the kissing bug has been found invading homes and harbors the parasite that causes Chagas disease in a particular region,” Beatty explained, noting that current research is “just tipping the iceberg” in terms of understanding U.S. cases.

“Unfortunately, most of the United States is unaware of this ‘silent killer’ and the fact that it is spread by a bug,” he said.

“Our first steps are recognizing that this is an endemic infectious disease, building on improved education among the public and healthcare providers, and allocating funding for research and programs to support testing and additional monitoring.”

Beatty classified Chagas as a “neglected tropical disease.”

“Our hope as a team researching Chagas here in the U.S. is that we bring awareness to the fact that this infectious disease is being transmitted here and can be deadly,” he told Fox News Digital. “More research and resources are needed so we can help mitigate transmission to at-risk communities, especially those living in rural and agricultural sectors.”

Most people, he said, are bitten by kissing bugs inside their own homes.

“From there, a person will reach out with a picture of that bug, and we start the process of testing and educating on how to prevent the insect from getting in the home and deterring it from wanting to be around a human dwelling.”

While lab testing and treatment are available, many doctors are unfamiliar with Chagas and may not realize it is circulating in their communities.

Currently, two antiparasitic drugs—Benznidazole and Lampit (nifurtimox)—are approved for treatment in the U.S.

“Currently, there is a clinical trial being conducted to assess a new agent for the treatment of Chagas at certain centers in the U.S. and Latin America,” Beatty added.

There is no vaccine to prevent infection.

Patients in rural America often struggle to find doctors who understand the illness, Beatty noted.

“In my clinic, people have traveled from other states to see me in Florida just because they have no one else near them willing to care for them,” he said.

“It is essential that we start educating our future clinicians about Chagas disease and ways to test, treat and manage those infected.”

Beatty also outlined steps to keep kissing bugs out of homes.

He advised eliminating “harborages” for rodents and other nesting animals, such as woodpiles or clutter near houses.

Sealing cracks around doors and windows and installing screens can also reduce the risk.

He further recommended “judicial use” of residual pesticide sprays at entry points like door frames and window edges.

{Matzav.com}

Liberals are reacting with outrage over reports that Bari Weiss, the independent journalist behind The Free Press, is being considered for a senior role at CBS News as Paramount’s new leadership inches closer to striking a major deal with her.

According to Puck News, Paramount CEO David Ellison—who took control of the company last month following his $8 billion merger with Skydance—is close to finalizing plans to purchase Weiss’s digital outlet and bring her into a top editorial position at CBS News, which has struggled in recent years.

Weiss, a self-described classical liberal who resigned from The New York Times in 2020 after clashing with progressive colleagues, has since been targeted by many on the cultural left for her work at The Free Press. Her publication has frequently challenged DEI initiatives, gender ideology, and media coverage critical of Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas.

CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy derided the rumored deal in his Status newsletter, describing the projected $100 to $200 million purchase price as “an absurd sum.”

“David Ellison vowed not to politicize Paramount — yet his first big move at CBS News is a major bet on Bari Weiss, one of the most polarizing figures in media,” Darcy wrote Wednesday evening. “Weiss, the stridently pro-Israel, proudly anti-‘woke’ culture warrior, has built her brand on polarizing political commentary — supposedly the type of material Ellison signaled to reporters that he wishes to run away from.”

Darcy cautioned, “Handing Weiss the keys won’t broaden trust — it will further erode it among the people who actually watch the network, reinforcing suspicions about Ellison’s agenda. In effect, the move will set CBS News on a course to squander its hard-earned credibility with the audience that reveres its history and demands it stand unbowed to power.”

HuffPost likewise referred to Weiss as the “polarizing editor of The Free Press,” saying the likely acquisition “offers a preview of how Ellison, the son of a top Trump ally, intends to shape CBS News moving forward.”

Salon also labeled Weiss “the polarizing editor and founder of conservative outlet The Free Press” and called her a “controversial figure.”

The Nation went further, publishing a piece under the headline, “Vile Grifters Are Taking Over Establishment Media.”

“If we lived in a less terrible time and place, Weiss would be dismissed as a crank and a bigot, and never heard from again. But we live in the waking nightmare that is the United States in 2025. So instead, Weiss is being rewarded with a prize that even she must think is kind of wild. That prize? CBS News,” wrote senior editor Jack Mirkinson. He called the deal “disturbing.”

“Whatever CBS News currently is, it isn’t just some hate factory pumping out shoddy propaganda 24/7. But now it’s being shipped over to one of the leading hateful propagandists of our time,” Mirkinson continued. “I hope that CBS News staffers resist this attempt to destroy their workplace with everything they have. I hope that Weiss’s tenure atop CBS is short and failed. But mostly, I hope that one day we live in a world where people like Weiss are treated with the contempt they deserve and are hurled into the cultural wilderness where they belong.”

Conservatives and critics of establishment media, however, have generally welcomed the idea of Weiss taking a leadership role at CBS, while many liberals and anti-Israel voices blasted the reports on social media.

“The right wing grift economy is undefeated,” former Washington Post journalist Taylor Lorenz wrote.

“finally! a pro israel voice in mainstream media!” progressive streamer Hasan Piker said sarcastically.

“CBS about to become your go-to news source on keffiyeh-wearing college students, how wokeness is the defining crisis of our times, whatever trans kids are up to, and whatever this is,” tweeted writer Jil Filipovic, posting a screenshot of a Free Press op-ed by Ben Shapiro.

She added, “I don’t hate the Free Press and I think Bari Weiss definitely has a lane. I frankly think it was a mistake to let her go from the Times — there is definitely a demand for anti-woke center-right people on the op/ed pages. But that lane is not running CBS News (!).”

{Matzav.com}

Mitch McConnell, the longtime Republican senator and former leader of the party in the Senate, warned that the world under President Donald Trump’s second term has entered a dangerous moment, drawing parallels to the years leading up to World War II.

In an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader published this week, McConnell, who is preparing to close out his political career next year, expressed alarm over tariffs and foreign policy, calling this era “the most dangerous period since before world war two.” He criticized the Trump administration’s reliance on tariffs, comparing it to America’s isolationist stance in the 1930s, which many historians believe contributed to the Great Depression and ultimately global conflict.

Although he voiced concerns about America’s lack of readiness to confront authoritarian regimes, the 83-year-old senator did not address accusations that Trump himself has pursued authoritarian measures.

McConnell also sidestepped his own role in expanding Trump’s influence. As majority leader, he blocked Barack Obama from appointing a Supreme Court justice, while later ensuring Trump secured another nominee in the final weeks of 2020. Those actions solidified a conservative 6-3 Court majority, one that critics contend has leaned heavily in Trump’s favor, particularly with last year’s ruling granting him immunity from prosecution for criminal conduct.

Since stepping down from Senate leadership earlier this year, McConnell said he has focused on “defense and foreign policy” and grown increasingly concerned about the path Trump’s “make America great again” trade agenda is charting.

“I think this is the most dangerous period since before world war two. There’s certain similarities right now to the 30s,” McConnell told the Herald-Leader.

“[Then president] Herbert Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley tariff bill in 1930, widely believed by historians and economists to have taken the depression worldwide. Those who were totally anxious to stay out of all of what was going on in Europe were called ‘America First’. Sound familiar?

“So what do we have today? North Korea, China, Russia, Iran and Iran’s proxies. They’re very different kinds of countries, but they have one thing in common: They hate us.”

The remarks came before this week’s summit in Beijing where leaders hostile to Washington—including Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong-un—met in what some analysts described as a historic shift in the global balance of power.

McConnell argued that the U.S. should already have been preparing for the rise of these autocratic powers, pointing indirectly to what he saw as Trump’s mishandling of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The conflict, now in its fourth year, is the largest Europe has faced since World War II.

“When you talk about preparedness, we’re not prepared like we should be,” McConnell said.

“With regard to Ukraine, what we need to do is avoid the headline at the end of the war, ‘Russia wins, America loses.’ It has huge worldwide implications.”

He added that the more than $130 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine had tangible benefits for the United States as well, even as Trump has wavered on the issue.

“For those who are concerned about the money, I think it’s important to remember that about half of the money was spent in this country, including in Kentucky, [with] 38 states modernizing our own industrial bases,” McConnell said. “We’ve sent older weapons to Ukraine.”

Trump has often mocked McConnell since leaving office in 2021, once telling donors that McConnell was “a dumb son of a bitch” and labeling him “Old Crow.” In his interview with the Herald-Leader, McConnell declined to respond in kind.

“My own view about the leader job, whether you’re the president or the leader of one of the parties, is the Ronald Reagan quote that I thought made the most sense. He had what he called the 11th commandment: ‘Do not speak ill of another Republican,’” McConnell said.

Still, he bristled at suggestions that his decision to retire stemmed from declining popularity in Kentucky, a perception fueled by criticism from businessman Nate Morris, a staunch Trump ally and potential Senate successor. “I’m a Trump guy, not a McConnell boy,” Morris has said.

McConnell countered that his long record speaks for itself. “These suggestions about who’s popular and who isn’t irritate the hell out of me, because when you get into the leadership position, you get beat up,” he said.

“How do you judge popularity? Seven victories in Kentucky, nine victories in the [Senate Republican] conference.”

Reflecting on his legacy, McConnell cited his role in the 2004 Kentucky tobacco buyout, which allowed farmers to leave the crop behind, as one of his proudest accomplishments. “At the federal level it would be the courts,” he added.

When asked if the United States was in better shape now than before Trump’s presidency, McConnell demurred. “I’m not sure enough time has passed to start evaluating who made a difference and who didn’t,” he said.

He acknowledged, however, that he has thought about how he will be remembered. “I would like everybody to be able to say, you know, I actually had an impact in a positive way on the country.”

{Matzav.com}