Matzav

Republican lawmakers lined up today in strong support of President Donald Trump after U.S. forces struck Venezuela and detained its leader, Nicolás Maduro, praising the administration’s actions as decisive and overdue.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida, whose district includes a large Venezuelan expatriate community and who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, said he spoke directly with Secretary of State Marco Rubio following the operation.

“President Trump has changed the course of history in our hemisphere. Our country & the world are safer for it. Today’s decisive action is this hemisphere’s equivalent to the Fall of the Berlin Wall,” Gimenez wrote on X.

Rubio also briefed other members of Congress after the mission, according to multiple Republican lawmakers.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said he discussed the matter with Rubio and expects additional briefings once lawmakers return to Washington from a two-week recess that ends Monday.

“President Trump’s decisive action to disrupt the unacceptable status quo and apprehend Maduro, through the execution of a valid Department of Justice warrant, is an important first step to bring him to justice for the drug crimes for which he has been indicted in the United States. I am grateful for the brave men and women of our armed forces who carried out this necessary action,” Thune said.

“I spoke to Secretary Rubio early this morning, and I look forward to receiving further briefings from the administration on this operation as part of its comprehensive counternarcotics strategy when the Senate returns to Washington next week.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said the administration is arranging classified briefings for lawmakers once Congress reconvenes.

“Today’s military action in Venezuela was a decisive and justified operation that will protect American lives,” Johnson said. “President Trump is putting American lives first, succeeding where others have failed, and under his leadership the United States will no longer allow criminal regimes to profit from wreaking havoc and destruction on our country.”

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Rubio confirmed to him that Maduro is now in custody and will be prosecuted.

“The interim government in Venezuela must now decide whether to continue the drug trafficking and colluding with adversaries like Iran and Cuba or whether to act like a normal nation and return to the civilized world. I urge them to choose wisely,” Cotton said.

Some Republicans who initially raised questions about the legality of the action later indicated they were reassured after additional details were shared.

Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said earlier that he wanted to understand “what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force.”

After speaking with Rubio, Lee said the secretary explained that Maduro had been taken into custody to face criminal charges in the United States and that force was used to safeguard those executing the arrest.

“He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant,” Lee wrote.

“This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack.”

Most Republican statements today expressed unequivocal backing of the administration. That included comments from House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast of Florida and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford of Arkansas.

“The operation carried out last night capturing Nicolás Maduro is another win by President Trump to protect our homeland and clean up the backyard of the United States,” Mast told Fox News Digital.

Crawford said, “This is a historic day in the Western Hemisphere, 36 years after the capture of Manuel Noriega, when the U.S showed we will not allow cartels to take over countries in our shared neighborhood. The arrest of Cartel De Los Soles leader Nicolás Maduro shows this clearly.”

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the third-ranking Republican in the House, also praised the action.

“Maduro worked with our greatest adversaries, supported dangerous cartels, and infiltrated our country with drugs, killing Americans. President Trump took on this threat head-on today and Maduro was indicted in a U.S. court for his actions leading to the death of innocent Americans. God bless our troops and law enforcement who conducted this mission.”

House GOP Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik of New York credited the military and intelligence community for the operation.

“l am grateful for our brave troops, intelligence officers, and law enforcement who ensured a successful military operation in Venezuela leading to the arrest and indictment of the illegitimate narco terrorist Nicolás Maduro.”

The unified Republican response contrasted sharply with Democratic criticism, which largely accused Trump of bypassing Congress and entering an unlawful conflict with Venezuela.

The reaction followed Trump’s announcement on Truth Social that the United States had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela” and detained the country’s leader.

Trump said Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi later confirmed that both were indicted in the Southern District of New York, one of the nation’s largest federal prosecutorial jurisdictions.

Democratic lawmakers reacted sharply today after President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, removed them from Venezuela, and carried out what the White House described as a “large scale” strike inside the country.

Several Democrats argued that the operation violated U.S. law because it was undertaken without authorization from Congress, warning that the move could drag the United States into another foreign conflict.

Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey accused senior administration officials of misleading lawmakers during earlier briefings, directing his criticism at Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress,” Kim wrote on X. “Trump rejected our Constitutionally required approval process for armed conflict because the Administration knows the American people overwhelmingly reject risks pulling our nation into another war.

“This strike doesn’t represent strength. It’s not sound foreign policy,” he continued. “It puts Americans at risk in Venezuela and the region, and it sends a horrible and disturbing signal to other powerful leaders across the globe that targeting a head of state is an acceptable policy for the U.S. government.”

Kim later warned that the fallout would further weaken U.S. alliances.

“This will further damage our reputation – already hurt by Trump’s policies around the world — and only isolate us in a time when we need our friends and allies more than ever.”

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego joined the criticism, calling the operation the “second unjustified war in my life time.”

“This war is illegal, it’s embarrassing that we went from the world cop to the world bully in less than one year,” he wrote online. “There is no reason for us to be at war with Venezuela.”

In a follow-up post, Gallego pointed to his own military service.

“I fought in some of the hardest battles of the Iraq War. Saw my brothers die, saw civilians being caught in the crossfire all for an unjustified war,” the Arizona Democrat continued. “No matter the outcome we are in the wrong for starting this war in Venezuela.”

House Democrats also voiced opposition. Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts tied the strike to domestic policy battles, noting that Affordable Care Act subsidies expired earlier this week amid a record-long government shutdown.

“Without authorization from Congress, and with the vast majority of Americans opposed to military action, Trump just launched an unjustified, illegal strike on Venezuela,” McGovern wrote on X. “He says we don’t have enough money for healthcare for Americans — but somehow we have unlimited funds for war??”

Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, who previously commanded Marines in Latin America, said U.S. troops deserve lawful and strategic leadership.

“The president has no authority to strike Venezuela, no strategy for a democratic transition, and no credibility that he won’t just pardon the criminal Maduro like he did the Honduran president,” Auchincloss wrote in a statement. “After voting No in December, Republicans in Congress must now join Democrats to grab hold the steering wheel of Venezuela policy to prevent this capture from spiraling into a blood for oil war.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York argued that the administration’s justification did not hold up, saying the action was driven by oil and regime change rather than narcotics enforcement.

“It’s not about drugs,” she wrote online. “If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month. It’s about oil and regime change.”

“And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from Epstein + skyrocketing healthcare costs,” she added.

Sen. Adam Schiff of California issued a blistering statement, acknowledging Maduro’s record while condemning the U.S. response.

“Nicolás Maduro was a thug and an illegitimate leader of Venezuela, terrorizing and oppressing its people for far too long and forcing many to leave the country,” Schiff wrote. “But starting a war to remove Maduro doesn’t just continue Donald Trump’s trampling of the Constitution, it further erodes America’s standing on the world stage and risks our adversaries mirroring this brazen illegal escalation.”

He later added, “Acting without Congressional approval or the buy-in of the public, Trump risks plunging a hemisphere into chaos and has broken his promise to end wars instead of starting them.”

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, described the mission as “unauthorized” and urged lawmakers to reclaim Congress’s role in decisions of war and peace.

Democrats have spent months scrutinizing the administration’s actions in the Caribbean, including stepped-up pressure on Venezuela and strikes against vessels accused of drug trafficking. That scrutiny intensified in December after the White House announced the seizure of an oil tanker.

Trump defended the operation in an interview with The New York Times today, calling it “brilliant” and praising “a lot of good planning” by “a lot of great, great troops and people.”

Vice President Vance dismissed Democratic criticism and argued that Maduro’s legal exposure justified the action.

“PSA for everyone saying this was ‘illegal’: Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism,” he wrote on X. “You don’t get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas.”

Republicans largely backed the president. Sen. Tim Cotton of Arkansas, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said Maduro should be held accountable.

“Maduro wasn’t just an illegitimate dictator; he also ran a vast drug-trafficking operation. That’s why he was indicted in U.S. court nearly six years ago for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism,” Cotton wrote online.

“I commend President Trump and our brave troops and law-enforcement officers for this incredible operation,” he added. “The interim government in Venezuela must now decide whether to continue the drug trafficking and colluding with adversaries like Iran and Cuba or whether to act like a normal nation and return to the civilized world. I urge them to choose wisely.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi detailed the charges against Maduro in a post a few hours after the strike, listing “Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.”

“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she wrote.

Maduro was first indicted in 2020 on narco-terrorism charges tied to allegations that he sought to weaponize cocaine by “flooding” U.S. communities with drugs. In August, the Department of Justice increased its reward for information leading to his arrest to $50 million, doubling the amount offered by the Biden administration.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said today that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife are now en route to New York to face federal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, after being seized during a U.S. military operation that ended with their transfer by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima.

Asked about what comes next for Venezuela now that Maduro is no longer in the country, Trump said decisions about the nation’s future leadership are still being made.

“We’re making that decision now.”

“We can’t take a chance of letting somebody else run and just take over where he left off. So we’re making that decision now,” Trump told Fox News today. “We’ll be involved in it very much, and we want to do liberty for the people. We want to, you know, have a great relationship. I think the people of Venezuela are very, very happy because they love the United States. You know, they were run by essentially a dictatorship or worse.”

Trump made the remarks during an exclusive interview with “Fox & Friends Weekend,” where he described the dramatic capture of Maduro inside what he called a heavily fortified residence. According to the president, the Venezuelan leader was overwhelmed by American special forces before he could reach a reinforced safe area.

“He was in a house that was more like a fortress than a house. It had steel doors. It had what they call a safety space, where it’s, you know, solid steel all around. He didn’t get that space closed. He was trying to get into it, but he got bum rushed so fast that he didn’t get into that,” Trump said.

Trump explained that U.S. planners had prepared for the possibility of breaching steel barriers but ultimately did not need to do so.

“We were prepared. We had, you know, massive blowtorches and everything else that you need to get through that steel. But we didn’t need it. He didn’t make it to that area of the house.”

According to Trump, the operation had been delayed several times earlier in the week due to unfavorable weather conditions, despite being ready to launch.

“We waited four days. We were going to do this four days ago, three days ago, two days ago. And then all of a sudden it opened up, and we said, ‘Go,’” the president said, adding that Maduro was inside a “very highly-guarded” location when U.S. forces moved in.

Trump said he monitored the mission in real time from Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where he met with senior military leaders as the operation unfolded.

A U.S. official briefed on the matter told Fox News today that the capture was carried out by the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, with intelligence support from the CIA provided to the Department of War to locate Maduro precisely.

Trump highlighted the level of preparation involved, saying the military rehearsed the raid extensively.

“Everything was pinpoint … everything they practiced. They actually built a house which was identical to the one they went into with all the safes, all the steel all over the place,” Trump told “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

The president said he believes no American service members were killed during the mission, though some sustained injuries.

“A couple of guys were hit, but they came back, and they’re supposed to be in pretty good shape.”

Trump also defended the broader U.S. campaign against the Maduro regime, arguing that the military action is aimed at curbing narcotics trafficking.

Trump said the operations are “saving lives because the drug trafficking is so bad. It’s gotten so out of control.”

Scientists are warning that a dangerous, drug-resistant fungus already entrenched in U.S. hospitals is becoming more formidable across the globe, even as new research points to possible breakthroughs in treatment.

Candida auris, commonly referred to as C. auris, has expanded rapidly worldwide and is increasingly able to evade both antifungal drugs and the human immune system, according to a comprehensive scientific review released in early December by researchers at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation.

The review echoes earlier alerts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has classified C. auris as an “urgent antimicrobial threat.” It is the first fungal pathogen to receive that designation, a reflection of the sharp rise in U.S. cases, particularly within hospitals and long-term care facilities.

CDC data indicate that roughly 7,000 cases were detected across dozens of states in 2025, and the pathogen has now been identified in at least 60 countries worldwide.

The analysis, published in the journal Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, outlines why the fungus has proven so difficult to control, citing outdated diagnostic tools and a limited arsenal of effective treatments. The review was authored by Dr. Neeraj Chauhan of Hackensack Meridian CDI in New Jersey, Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary of the University of Delhi’s Medical Mycology Unit, and Dr. Michail Lionakis, head of the clinical mycology program at the National Institutes of Health.

The researchers emphasized the urgency of expanding therapeutic options and improving detection.

Their work highlights the need to create “novel antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, to improve diagnostic tests, and to develop immune- and vaccine-based adjunct modalities for the treatment of high-risk patients,” they said in a statement.

“In addition, future efforts should focus on raising awareness about fungal disease through developing better surveillance mechanisms, especially in resource-poor countries,” they added. “All these developments should help improve the outcomes and prognosis of patients afflicted by opportunistic fungal infections.”

First discovered in 2009 after being isolated from an ear sample in Japan, C. auris has since spread to numerous regions, including the United States. In some cases, outbreaks have been severe enough to force the closure of hospital intensive care units, the researchers noted.

The fungus is particularly dangerous for patients who are already critically ill, including those on ventilators or with compromised immune systems. Some estimates suggest that about half of infected patients may die.

Unlike many fungal organisms, C. auris can persist on human skin and survive for long periods on hospital surfaces and medical equipment, making it especially difficult to eliminate in healthcare environments.

“It is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, and it tends to spread in hospital settings, including on equipment being used on immunocompromised and semi-immunocompromised patients, such as ventilators and catheters,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst and a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone, previously told Fox News Digital.

Misidentification is another major challenge, as C. auris is often confused with other infections, slowing treatment and containment efforts.

“Unfortunately, symptoms such as fever, chills and aches may be ubiquitous, and it can be mistaken for other infections,” Siegel said.

In September, Siegel noted that intensive research efforts were underway to find new ways to combat the fungus.

Currently, only four main classes of antifungal medications exist, and C. auris has already demonstrated resistance to many of them. Although three new antifungal drugs have either been approved or are nearing approval, experts caution that drug development has not kept pace with the pathogen’s rapid evolution.

Despite the grim outlook, recent findings suggest a potential path forward.

In a separate study published in December, researchers at the University of Exeter in England identified what may be a critical vulnerability in C. auris while studying the organism in a living-host model.

The scientists found that during infection, the fungus switches on specific genes that allow it to scavenge iron, a nutrient essential for its survival. Their findings were published in the Nature portfolio journal Communications Biology.

Because iron is vital to the pathogen, researchers believe that targeting this process could halt infections or allow existing antifungal drugs to be repurposed.

“We think our research may have revealed an Achilles’ heel in this lethal pathogen during active infection,” said Dr. Hugh Gifford, a clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter and a co-author of the study.

As scientists continue working to better understand and counter the fungus, public health officials stress that strict infection-control practices, rapid diagnosis, and sustained investment in new therapies remain essential.

Experts also emphasize that Candida auris does not pose a danger to healthy individuals.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, saying today that he had been briefed on plans to hold them in New York City and denouncing the operation as unlawful and dangerously provocative.

At a news conference today, Mamdani said he personally raised objections with President Donald Trump in a direct phone call, arguing that the action crossed legal lines and risked destabilizing consequences.

“I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act, and to make clear that it was an opposition based on being opposed to a pursuit of regime change, to the violation of federal international law, and a desire to see that be consistent each and every day,” Mamdani said. “I registered my opposition, I made it clear, and we left it at that.”

Trump earlier today announced that U.S. forces had captured Maduro and his wife during what he described as a “large scale strike,” capping months of U.S. operations targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking linked to the Venezuelan government in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific.

The Venezuelan government responded with a sharply worded statement, accusing the United States of launching the attack to gain control of Venezuela’s natural resources and framing the operation as an existential threat to the country’s political system.

The statement described the action as an effort to seize oil and minerals and labeled it an “attempt to impose a colonial war to destroy the republican form of government and force a ‘regime change,’ in alliance with the fascist oligarchy.”

Following his remarks to reporters, Mamdani addressed the situation on X, warning that the consequences of what he called an aggressive foreign policy move would be felt locally as well as abroad.

“My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance,” Mamdani wrote in the post.

Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who was inaugurated on New Year’s Day, has built his political identity around policies aimed at redistributing wealth by increasing taxes on high earners and corporations to expand public services. Maduro has pursued redistribution through state control of oil revenues and key industries.

The mayor has also advocated for city-run housing, childcare, mass transit, and municipally owned grocery stores, echoing elements of Venezuela’s system of state-managed food distribution, healthcare, and housing.

Critics note, however, that Venezuela’s version of socialism has been marked by widespread nationalization and centralized control, developments that preceded economic collapse and a turn toward authoritarian governance.

The United States carried out a surprise military operation today inside Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, an escalation that U.S. President Donald Trump said would lead Washington to temporarily administer the country despite immediate resistance from Venezuelan officials.

Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said U.S. Special Forces detained Maduro during a nighttime raid that disrupted electricity in parts of Caracas and targeted one of the president’s secure locations. With Maduro now in U.S. custody, Trump said Washington would assume control during a transition period. “We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” he said. “We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind.”

Video footage showed an aircraft landing at Stewart International Airport, roughly 60 miles northwest of New York City, where U.S. personnel wearing FBI and other agency gear boarded the plane. Multiple television networks, including CNN, Fox News and MS Now, identified the individual seen exiting the aircraft as Maduro.

Despite Trump’s declaration, it remains unclear how the United States intends to exert authority inside Venezuela. U.S. forces do not control the country, and the existing government appears to remain operational while signaling no willingness to cooperate with Washington.

A Justice Department official said Maduro, who faces U.S. indictments including allegations of narco-terrorism conspiracy, is expected to appear initially in federal court in Manhattan on Monday.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, viewed as Maduro’s apparent successor, appeared on state television today alongside senior officials, condemning what she described as an abduction. “We demand the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores,” Rodriguez said, insisting that Maduro remains “the only president of Venezuela.”

Her remarks came hours after Trump said his administration had been in contact with Rodriguez and that she seemed willing to cooperate. “She really doesn’t have a choice,” Trump said.

Inside Venezuela, conditions were largely quiet today. Security forces patrolled certain areas, and small groups of Maduro supporters gathered in parts of Caracas.

Some residents, however, voiced relief. “I’m happy, I doubted for a moment that it was happening because it’s like a movie,” said Carolina Pimentel, a 37-year-old merchant in Maracay. “It’s all calm now, but I feel like at any moment everyone will be out celebrating.”

At his press conference, Trump—flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth—declined to provide specifics about how the United States would administer Venezuela. He suggested that senior officials around him would manage the effort. “The people that are standing right behind me” would oversee the country, he said.

Trump also left open the possibility of deploying U.S. troops inside Venezuela. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” he said.

The removal of Maduro, who critics have labeled a dictator after more than a dozen years in power, raises concerns about a potential power vacuum in a nation bordering Colombia, Brazil, Guyana and the Caribbean.

Trump ruled out cooperation with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, widely regarded as Maduro’s strongest political challenger. He said Washington had no contact with her. “She doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country,” he said.

Those comments angered some of Machado’s supporters. She has backed U.S. action against alleged drug trafficking and dedicated her Nobel Prize win to Trump and the Venezuelan people. Pedro Burelli, a former board member of state oil company PDVSA, pushed back online, saying Machado “is the most respected politician in the country,” adding, “Venezuela is broke and needy, but it is not about to surrender to absurd whims.”

Reuters has previously reported that members of Machado’s team assisted the Trump administration in shaping a tougher approach toward Caracas, despite concerns about potential repercussions for Venezuelan immigrants living in the United States.

Trump’s remarks about a potentially open-ended U.S. military presence echoed language used during past interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, conflicts that ultimately ended with U.S. withdrawals after years of fighting and heavy casualties.

Today, Trump said that during his presidency, including his first term, military operations he oversaw were “only victories,” though none involved removing a foreign head of state. In the past, he criticized such actions, calling the Iraq invasion “a big fat mistake” during a 2016 debate and saying in 2021 that he was “especially proud to be the first president in decades who has started no new wars.”

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene on Monday to discuss the U.S. action.

Before today, the last comparable U.S. intervention in the region was the 1989 invasion of Panama to oust military leader Manuel Noriega over drug trafficking allegations. U.S. authorities have leveled similar accusations against Maduro, claiming he oversaw a “narco-state” and manipulated the 2024 election.

Maduro, 63, a former bus driver chosen by Hugo Chavez as his successor in 2013, has rejected those allegations, accusing Washington of seeking control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves—the largest in the world.

Trump’s move has drawn comparisons to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 and the era of “gunboat diplomacy” under Theodore Roosevelt. Trump acknowledged the parallels at his press conference, joking that a modern version might be called the “Don-roe Doctrine.”

While several Latin American governments oppose Maduro and say he stole the 2024 election, Trump’s comments about controlling Venezuela and exploiting its oil have revived memories of past U.S. interventions in the region that remain deeply unpopular.

Argentina’s President Javier Milei praised what he described as Venezuela’s new “freedom,” while Mexico condemned the operation. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the action crossed “an unacceptable line.”

A former diplomat warned that the unilateral move would resonate far beyond the region. “For Latin America, it basically says no leader is safe if deemed illegitimate by the U.S.,” said Tyson Barker, a senior associate fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations. “For the world, it flattens any moral credibility we have vis-à-vis China and Russia.”

Trump insisted that a U.S. occupation would be financially self-sustaining. It “won’t cost us a penny,” he said, arguing that the United States would be reimbursed through revenue from Venezuela’s oil resources—a comparison that recalls claims made ahead of the 2003 Iraq war, which ultimately cost the United States an estimated $2 trillion.

The president’s focus on foreign intervention has given Democrats an opening ahead of November’s midterm elections, where control of Congress is at stake and Republicans hold narrow majorities. Polls show voters are more concerned about high domestic prices than foreign policy. “How does going to war in South America help regular Americans who are struggling?” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy wrote on X.

Outside the White House, roughly 100 demonstrators organized by the ANSWER Coalition and the Party for Socialism and Liberation gathered to demand Maduro’s return to Venezuela, denouncing the U.S. action as a “kidnapping.”

Independent reporter Nick Shirley said that a forthcoming second chapter of his Minnesota investigation will further unsettle critics in major newsrooms, hinting that the reaction will be intense once it is released.

“Just wait until I post part 2, they are going to go insane,” Shirley wrote.

His comments came amid a wave of responses to a 42-minute report he published last week examining Minnesota daycare facilities that appeared closed or inactive while still receiving large sums of public money. The video exploded online, surpassing 134 million views on X, and quickly drew the attention of federal authorities. In response, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services moved to halt all childcare payments in the state while the matter is reviewed.

As the story gained traction, several legacy media organizations faced criticism for their handling of Shirley’s findings. CNN and others were accused by commentators of minimizing the work by framing it as little more than a “viral video.” Journalist Stella Escobedo wrote on X that the episode amounted to “an indictment” of mainstream outlets, a characterization that Shirley publicly embraced.

Some news organizations went further, directly challenging Shirley’s credibility. PBS described him as a “right-wing influencer” and said he accused Minnesota daycare centers of fraud “without proof.” The New York Times similarly referred to his work as a “single viral video,” while NPR aired an interview with University of Minnesota media law professor Jane Kirtley, who suggested Shirley was primarily promoting a narrative aligned with his own views.

Other critics highlighted how cable news handled the story. NewsBusters contributor Steve Malzberg noted that multiple CNN programs claimed Shirley had previously “shared anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim videos,” without providing specifics. CNN also drew ridicule following a segment on “Anderson Cooper 360” Tuesday night, in which correspondent Whitney Wild questioned Shirley extensively about his reporting process.

During that broadcast, Wild said the network was “looking into” Shirley’s allegations and then demonstrated her own outreach by calling daycare centers on speakerphone. She acknowledged that most did not respond.

“Only one daycare facility answered and said they are a legitimate business,” Wild told viewers.

The segment was quickly criticized online, with many observers arguing that CNN appeared more focused on scrutinizing Shirley himself than examining the alleged misuse of public funds in Minneapolis.

Shirley has previously voiced frustration with that dynamic, writing on X, “Mainstream media is more mad at me than they are at the FACT that billions of YOUR dollars are being used for fraudulent business.”

State officials have also sought to counter the implications of Shirley’s reporting. Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown said earlier this week that inspections conducted in the past had not revealed fraud, while still acknowledging the attention generated by the video.

“We are aware of a video that’s being circulated that has gained local and national attention about childcare centers in Minnesota,” Brown said at a Monday news conference. “While we have questions about some of the methods that were used in the video, we do take the concerns that the video raises about fraud very seriously.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s top diplomat issued a sharp response Friday to remarks by President Donald Trump regarding the unrest unfolding across the Islamic Republic, accusing Washington of courting escalation.

Speaking out on social media, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized Trump’s message, framing it as a product of outside forces hostile to negotiations. “Trump’s message today, likely influenced by those who fear diplomacy or mistakenly believe it is unnecessary, is reckless and dangerous,” Araghchi wrote.

He went on to warn against any external involvement in Iran’s domestic affairs, stressing both popular resistance and military readiness. “As in the past, the Great People of Iran will forcefully reject any interference in their internal affairs. Similarly, our Powerful Armed Forces are on standby and know exactly where to aim in the event of any infringement of Iranian sovereignty,” Araghchi added.

The foreign minister also rejected characterizations of the demonstrations as violent, saying the protests were largely peaceful. In doing so, he pointed to Trump’s own actions during periods of unrest in the United States, noting the deployment of the National Guard in American cities.

Araghchi’s comments followed a stark warning from Trump, who said the United States could step in if Iranian authorities resort to lethal force against demonstrators. “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported Thursday that the clashes and riots linked to the broader protest movement had resulted in five deaths within a 24-hour period.

Footage from one of the demonstrations showed protesters setting ablaze a statue of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Quds Force, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in January 2020.

{Matzav.com}

A marked improvement has been reported in the condition of Rav Meir Greineman, who was hospitalized last week and has now returned home and resumed his regular Torah schedule.

Rav Greineman, the last surviving nephew of Chazon Ish, was taken to Sheba Medical Center late Friday night after losing consciousness while learning with his grandson. He was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit, where doctors closely monitored his condition.

After several days of treatment and observation, his health stabilized, and he was now discharged from the hospital to his home in Bnei Brak.

Last night, just one week after the incident, Rav Greineman returned to his established routine and delivered his regular shiur in his home to talmidim of Yeshivas Beis Medrash Elyon.

All are asked to continue davening for Rav Meir ben Tzivia.

{Matzav.com}

Two yeshiva bochurim who had been held in military prison for refusing to report for IDF service were released and greeted by friends with singing, dancing, and a red carpet laid out in their honor.

After ten days in military custody, Yair Saada, a talmid of Yeshiva Kisei Rachamim, was freed on Thursday morning. At the same time, Yitzchak Rebibo, a talmid of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Ozer, was released after spending 17 days in military prison. Dozens of friends arrived to welcome the two, breaking out in song and dance as the young men emerged.

Saada was arrested on December 25, by military police after refusing to present himself for military service. The arrest took place at his family home in Be’er Sheva. At the time, Saada was unwell, suffering from a high fever, and had been brought home by his parents from yeshiva. Several hours later, military police arrived and arrested him while he was in bed.

Rebibo was arrested earlier, on December 16, 2025, in Ramat Gan, shortly after lighting neiros Chanukah with his family. Three weeks before his arrest, military police had already attempted to detain him on charges of draft evasion but were unsuccessful. He was later tracked by authorities and arrested several weeks afterward.

An earlier attempt to arrest Rebibo on November 26, near the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan border sparked large demonstrations. Alerts circulated through protest hotlines associated with the Yerushalmi faction, drawing hundreds of demonstrators to the scene. Large numbers of yeshiva students and avreichim, mobilized by assistance organizations, protested the arrest attempt.

{Matzav.com}

Retired NYPD Chief of Department John Chell warns of a ‘massive’ problem if NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani ‘alienates’ himself from police officers due to rhetoric and political appointments on ‘Fox News Live.’

WATCH:

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A new survey released Friday in Ma’ariv indicates a modest uptick for Likud, which gained two seats in the latest weekly polling. The findings come after Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s visit to the United States and his meeting with President Donald Trump. The poll was conducted by the “Lazar Research Institute.”

As Likud strengthened, the governing coalition as a whole also improved its standing, rising by two seats to a total of 52. At the same time, the bloc opposing Netanyahu—excluding Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am—slipped to 58 seats, largely due to a drop in support for Naftali Bennett’s party, which fell from 21 seats to 19.

Based on the poll’s breakdown, if elections were held today Likud would emerge with 27 seats. Naftali Bennett’s party would secure 19 seats, while the Democrats, Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beiteinu, and Otzma Yehudit would each receive 10. Yashar would follow with 9 seats, Shas with 8, and United Torah Judaism with 7. Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am would each earn 5 seats.

The Religious Zionist Party remains below the electoral threshold, though it is currently the closest among parties that have not crossed it. Trailing further behind in the rankings are the Reservists’ Party, Blue and White, and Balad.

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Amid escalating unrest across Iran, President Donald Trump warned Friday morning that the United States could step in if Iranian security forces open fire on demonstrators. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP,” signaling a readiness to act should the situation deteriorate further.

Reports from Iranian media a day earlier indicated that violence linked to the protests has already proven deadly. According to those accounts, five people were killed over a 24-hour period during clashes tied to the broader wave of demonstrations spreading across the country. The deaths were said to have occurred during confrontations with police in Lorestan, in western Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the unrest by calling for a focus on public welfare, saying the government must guide the nation in assisting all citizens. He stressed that “the livelihood of the people is a red line,” and added, “There is no problem that cannot be solved.”

U.S. officials have also publicly aligned themselves with the demonstrators. Earlier in the week, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz expressed solidarity with those protesting Iran’s leadership. “The people of Iran want freedom. They have suffered at the hands of the Ayatollahs for too long,” Waltz wrote on social media.

He continued by stressing American backing for the demonstrations nationwide, saying, “We stand with Iranians in the streets of Tehran and across the country as they protest a radical regime that has brought them nothing but economic downturn and war.”

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Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli issued a forceful response after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani moved to undo executive actions aimed at countering antisemitism that had been put in place by his predecessor, Eric Adams.

Chikli argued that the mayor’s early decisions were deliberate and revealing. “It is no coincidence that one of Mayor Mamdani’s first actions was an attempt to cancel the IHRA definition of antisemitism. He knows very well that, according to that definition, he himself falls under the category of antisemitic,” Chikli said. “Instead of confronting reality, he is trying to change the rules.”

He went on to accuse the mayor of pursuing a broader rollback of policies tied to Israel and antisemitism. “It does not stop there. At the same time, he is working to lift the ban on boycotts of Israel and to erase official statements made by his predecessor, a friend of Israel, Eric Adams, regarding antisemitism in New York. This is a systematic attempt to erase the fight against antisemitism and to legitimize extremist positions under the guise of social justice.”

Chikli warned that the location of these developments heightened their significance. “The fact that such moves are taking place in New York City, the city with the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, is a serious warning sign.”

In closing, he offered a stark assessment of the situation. “We must say things clearly. Today, the mayor of New York is an overt antisemite and a supporter of terrorism. Anyone who tries to obscure this reality or wrap it in polite language is cooperating with a dangerous process that threatens not only the Jewish community of New York but the very legitimacy of the fight against antisemitism in the Western world,” Chikli concluded.

Mamdani was sworn in as mayor shortly after midnight on January 1 and quickly moved to cancel executive orders issued by Adams. Among the actions set to be rescinded was a June 2025 order that formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism. Another order, signed last month, barred mayoral appointees and city agency staff from participating in boycotts or disinvestment campaigns targeting Israel.

The mayor’s actions drew swift condemnation from Jewish leaders across the United States. William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said: “Mayor Mamdani’s decision to cancel New York’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, along with related presidential orders aimed at addressing antisemitic discrimination, is a troubling indicator of the direction he is leading the city, just one day after taking office.”

Daroff warned that the policy shift could have concrete consequences. “Its cancellation reduces New York’s ability to identify and respond to antisemitism at a time when the number of incidents continues to rise. New York City should clearly lead in moral integrity and determination in confronting antisemitism. This decision signals the opposite direction.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities announced Friday that an 18-year-old from the Charlotte suburbs has been taken into custody on terrorism-related charges tied to an alleged plan to carry out violence on New Year’s Eve.

According to law enforcement, Christian Sturdivant of Mint Hill, North Carolina, is accused of preparing to target a grocery store and a fast food restaurant using knives and hammers. Details of the alleged plot were first reported by WSOC-TV.

Investigators said the case was handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Charlotte office, which determined that Sturdivant was “directly inspired to act” by ISIS.

Officials drew a connection between the disrupted plot and a deadly attack carried out last year in New Orleans, when an ISIS-inspired assailant drove a truck into crowds celebrating New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street. That attack, carried out by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, left 14 people dead and 57 others wounded as festivities were coming to an end.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly aligned himself with demonstrators challenging Iran’s ruling authorities, posting a message of solidarity on X late Friday.

Writing in Farsi, Ben-Gvir addressed Iranians directly, declaring, “The Iranian people deserve to be free, free of the murderous dictator Khamenei.” He closed the message with a statement of support, adding, “We are with you!”

The post also featured an AI-generated image depicting a shattered bust of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei alongside a noose and a burning flag of the Islamic Republic. Text embedded in the image read “Death to the dictator” in Farsi and “The dictator must fall” in English.

Earlier the same day, President Donald Trump issued a warning tied to the ongoing unrest in Iran, cautioning Tehran against violent repression of demonstrators. “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he wrote.

{Matzav.com}

World Zionist Organization Chairman Yaakov Hagoel issued a sharp rebuke of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after the city moved to revoke its prohibition on boycotts targeting Israel, calling the decision “deeply troubling.”

Hagoel underscored the heightened dangers facing Jews worldwide, saying, “Jews around the world have been facing relentless Antisemitic campaigns since October 7, 2023. Just two weeks ago, 15 people were murdered in a brutal Antisemitic terrorist massacre in Sydney, Australia.” He pointed to that climate as reason for heightened vigilance, not policy reversals he believes could embolden hostility.

Emphasizing public safety, he warned that local leadership carries responsibility for the wellbeing of Jewish residents, stating that “the Jewish communities of New York must be able to live in safety, and I sincerely hope that Mayor Mamdani does not continue down a path that fuels Antisemitism against the Jews living in his city.”

He framed the moment as requiring firm lines rather than accommodation, declaring, “This is the time for zero tolerance toward Antisemitism.”

Hagoel also said the World Zionist Organization is actively coordinating with communities to address threats, adding, “The World Zionist Organization is in close contact with Jewish communities and will do everything in its power to protect Jews in New York and around the world.”

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Fire and Rescue officials who arrived this week to close a well-known yeshiva in Elad ultimately agreed to delay the shutdown after being deeply impressed by the atmosphere of Torah learning and holding an extended discussion with the rosh yeshiva.

Personnel from Israel Fire and Rescue Authority conducted a safety inspection at Yeshivas Knesses Yechezkel, led by Rav Baruch Mordechai Ettinger. Following the inspection, officials initially determined that the yeshiva did not meet legally required safety standards and ordered its immediate closure.

However, after a lengthy conversation with Rav Ettinger and a visit inside the beis medrash—where they encountered the powerful sound and intensity of ongoing Torah study—the inspectors agreed to postpone the decree for several months. This reprieve is intended to allow the yeshiva time to bring its facilities into compliance with safety regulations.

At the same time, Fire and Rescue officials instructed that most of the dormitories, which are housed in caravans lacking proper fire-safety standards, must be closed within a few months unless significant upgrades are completed.

In response, the yeshiva’s administration has been working around the clock to find immediate solutions and prevent any interruption to the learning. According to information obtained by Matzav.com, the yeshiva is considering launching a matching fundraising campaign to raise the approximately 2.5 million shekels required to carry out the necessary safety renovations and repairs.

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New details reveal that just one month before the October 7 massacre, Israel actively pressed Qatar to expand the flow of cash into the Gaza Strip, funds that went directly to the Hamas government. At the time, Israel’s security establishment assessed that Hamas was not interested in a full-scale escalation and was instead using limited confrontations along the border fence as leverage to extract additional economic concessions.

According to a report by Ynet, a key meeting took place in September 2023 at a hotel in Yerushalayim. During that meeting, official Israeli representatives asked a senior Qatari official to increase the transfer of funds to Hamas in Gaza, citing threats by the terror organization to escalate violence in the enclave.

The central figure at the meeting was Mohammed al-Emadi, the Qatari official who for years oversaw the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars into Gaza. These transfers were carried out with the knowledge and approval of successive Israeli governments.

The report states that Israel’s entire security system believed Hamas was not seeking a broader conflict. Instead, officials assessed that Hamas was deliberately managing friction near the border in order to secure economic relief and additional concessions.

Israeli officials also received assurances from Qatar that Hamas was interested in preserving stability. At the same time, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar reportedly demanded an increased allocation of fuel for Gaza’s power station during the August–September period, citing the extreme summer heat.

During September, Mossad chief David Barnea traveled to Doha for meetings with senior Qatari officials to coordinate the continuation of the cash transfers. According to the report, Qatari officials directly asked whether they should keep transferring money to Hamas. Barnea responded affirmatively, acting under the explicit instructions of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

The report further notes that Barnea had opposed the transfer of Qatari funds to Hamas even before assuming his role as Mossad chief. Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, as well as his predecessor Nadav Argaman, were also firmly against allowing Qatari money to reach Hamas. Despite this opposition, Netanyahu repeatedly set the priority of maintaining calm in Gaza at almost any cost and instructed officials to coordinate that policy with Qatar.

It now emerges that Israel was not merely interested in continuing the existing funding mechanism. According to the report, Israeli officials sought to expand the financial transfers and grant additional economic concessions, largely in line with Sinwar’s demands, in what is described as a desperate attempt to purchase quiet.

In hindsight, the cost of that policy is now tragically clear.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Aryeh Zilberstein zt”l, the rov of the Gerer kehillah in Bnei Brak, who was niftar early Friday morning at Hadassah Ein Kerem. He was 67 years old.

Rav Zilberstein’s levayah  began at the Gerer Beis Medrash on Yirmiyahu Street in Yerushalayim. From there, the levayah continued to Bnei Brak, with kevurah at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery.

Rav Aryeh was born on 15 Kislev 5719 (1958) as the eldest son of his father, Rav Shlomo Zilberstein zt”l, who served as rov of the Gerer kehillah in Bnei Brak. He was a grandson of Rav Zev Zilberstein, one of the prominent figures of the Gur court, known for his influence and presence in the famed shtiebel on Kishon Street.

His mother, Mrs. Chava a”h, was a daughter of Rav Meir Shcharnesky, founder of the first seminary of the New Yishuv in Eretz Yisroel.

In his youth, Rav Zilberstein studied at Ger’s Yeshivas Imrei Emes and Sfas Emes. In 1982, he married his wife, Mrs. Rochel, daughter of Rav Shmuel Malavsky of Bnei Brak.

He received semichah from Rav Shmuel Halevi Wosner and served for several years as a dayan and moreh hora’ah at the Zichron Meir beis hora’ah.

In 1994, he was appointed by the Pnei Menachem of Ger to serve as rov of the Gerer kehillah in Kiryat Gat. Following the passing of his father in 2009, Rav Zilberstein was appointed by the current Rebbe of Ger to succeed him as rov of the Gerer kehillah in Bnei Brak. In addition to his rabbinic duties, he later established a kollel for rabbanim and dayanim, which he headed.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}