Matzav

JPMorgan Chase is cracking down on account holders it claims defrauded the bank by exploiting a viral technical loophole known as the “infinite money glitch,” which gained widespread attention on TikTok last year.

The nation’s largest bank, under the leadership of Jamie Dimon, initially began filing legal action in October against customers who allegedly abused the system flaw in August, with some reportedly walking away with tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The glitch in question enabled users to deposit large checks and immediately access the full amount, even though the checks would eventually be returned for insufficient funds.

Now, JPMorgan is broadening its legal campaign by targeting those accused of taking less than $75,000. The bank has recently submitted new lawsuits across several U.S. jurisdictions, according to a recent report.

One such lawsuit, cited by CNBC, alleges: “On August 29, 2024, a masked man deposited a check in Defendant’s Chase bank account in the amount of $73,000.00.”

CNBC reports that while the check was rejected six days later, the individual managed to withdraw $82,500 in multiple transactions at two different Chase branches before the funds were flagged.

According to the same lawsuit, the customer still owes Chase $57,847.69 and has not responded to multiple demands from the bank to return the money.

Additional fraud suits have been launched in courts located in Miami, the Bronx, and two counties in Texas, CNBC added.

A Chase spokesperson commented, “We’re still investigating cases of fraud and cooperating with law enforcement—and we’ll do that for as long as it takes to hold fraudsters accountable.”

A person familiar with the situation told The NY Post that Chase has also issued repayment demand letters to approximately 1,000 individuals since October.

Though most banks do allow limited access to deposited check funds before they officially clear, deliberately exploiting this process is considered check fraud—a federal crime in the United States.

In contrast to U.S. banking norms, paper checks are nearly obsolete in much of Europe. Countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands have phased them out entirely.

Despite growing adoption of digital payment methods like ApplePay, checks are still widely used in America as a preferred form of payment.

{Matzav.com}

Mrs. Rivky Kogan, nee Spielman, the Chabad Shlucha in the United Arab Emirates, welcomed a baby girl during Chol Hamoed, offering a moment of joy in the midst of a deeply painful year.

Just five months ago, her husband, Rabbi Zvi Kogan Hy”d, fell victim to a vicious act of terror. In November 2024, Arab terrorists kidnapped and savagely murdered him.

Rabbi Kogan, 28, was running the Rimon kosher grocery store in Dubai when the attack occurred. The perpetrators—three Muslim men from Uzbekistan—were apprehended and ultimately sentenced to death and executed. A fourth individual involved received a life sentence.

Originally from Yerushalayim , Rabbi Kogan was educated in Litvishe yeshivos before serving in the IDF. He married Rivky in 2022. She hails from Crown Heights and is the niece of Rabbi Gabi Holtzberg Hy”d, the Chabad Shliach who was murdered during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

This baby girl is the couple’s first child, born posthumously to Rabbi Kogan. She is a source of comfort to her grandparents: R’ Shmuel and Devorah Spielman in Crown Heights, and Rabbi Alexander Sender and Etel Kogan in Yerushalayim.

Chief Rabbi of the UAE Rabbi Levi Duchman  expressed his sentiments in a public statement: “We extend a heartfelt Mazal Tov to Rivky Kogan on the birth of her baby girl. We join the Kogan and Spielman families and all Am Yisroel in celebrating this special moment of simcha. This precious baby is a special continuation of her beloved father, who was brutally murdered, Reb Zvi Hakohen Kogan Hy”d, and whose life’s mission continues to inspire us all. May we share only simcha and bracha, and may this young girl bring much joy, comfort, and light to her family and to all Am Yisroel.”

{Matzav.com}

Key members of Israel’s opposition reacted Thursday to a New York Times report claiming that President Donald Trump stepped in to stop Israel from launching a strike against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Yair Lapid, head of the opposition, posted on X/Twitter that back in October he had suggested targeting Iran’s oil industry.

“Destroying Iran’s oil industry would have caused its economy to collapse and would have ultimately brought down the regime. Netanyahu was afraid, so he prevented the move,” Lapid wrote.

Benny Gantz, who leads the National Unity party, echoed the urgency of neutralizing Iran’s nuclear ambitions in his own message on X.

“Israel must, and can, remove the prospect of Iranian nuclear capabilities,” Gantz said. He added, “The Iranian regime is an expert at stalling,” and emphasized the need for strong cooperation with Washington: “Let us coordinate closely with our great ally, the US. It is time to change the Middle East.”

Naftali Bennett, Israel’s former prime minister and a current political figure, also weighed in on the article and broader issue.

“The only deal worth making with Iran is one that fully and permanently dismantles its nuclear program, ends all Iranian terrorism, and fully stops it from developing ballistic missiles,” Bennett wrote.

He added, “Under President Trump’s leadership, the US has amassed for itself unprecedented leverage.”

“At this moment, America is strong while the regime and its proxies are temporarily weaker than ever, almost defenseless,” he said.

“It would be a historic miss to allow Iran to regroup and threaten us—the US, Israel and the rest of the world—again,” he concluded.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday, calling for his removal amid frustration over what he sees as the Fed’s reluctance to lower interest rates.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump lashed out: “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough,” just a day after Powell made clear that the central bank would stay the course and not rush to cut rates.

Speaking at an Economic Club of Chicago event, Powell—who was originally chosen for the role by Trump—voiced concerns that increased tariffs could drive inflation higher and harm the broader economy.

In his online rant, Trump fumed: “‘Too Late’ Jerome Powell of the Fed, who is always TOO LATE AND WRONG, yesterday issued a report which was another, and typical, complete ‘mess!’”

Later that day, Trump extended his attack during a meeting at the White House with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

“The Fed really owes it to the American people to get interest rates down. That’s the only thing he’s good for,” Trump stated. “I am not happy with him. If I want him out of there he’ll be out real fast believe me.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump has been discussing the possibility of firing Powell in private for several months. These conversations reportedly included former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh, whom Trump is considering as a potential successor.

However, Warsh is said to have advised Trump against ousting Powell, urging that the Fed chief should be allowed to finish his term undisturbed, according to sources cited by the Journal.

The legality of removing Powell remains murky, as Fed chairs are nominated by the president but must also be confirmed by the Senate, and they traditionally serve full terms.

A Supreme Court case regarding a president’s authority to dismiss members of independent agencies could potentially affect the Fed as well, though Powell said Wednesday he believes that any ruling would not disrupt the Fed’s autonomy in setting monetary policy—a principle that enjoys widespread bipartisan backing.

Despite Trump’s claim that Powell would step aside if asked, Powell has made it clear that he has no intention of resigning before his term ends in May 2026.

The situation has become serious enough that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has reportedly advised officials within the administration to tread carefully, warning that attempting to oust Powell could send shockwaves through financial markets, according to Politico.

“A sudden crystallization of the threat to Fed independence would both intensify market stress and shift it in more of a stagflationary direction with a sharp increase in tail risk,” wrote Krishna Guha, vice chair of Evercore ISI, in a market note.

During his Chicago appearance, Powell urged a cautious approach when it comes to interest rates, emphasizing the need for more clarity on the administration’s trade policies before making further monetary moves.

The Fed’s main interest rate currently stands at 4.25% to 4.50%, unchanged since December after a series of rate cuts last year.

Speaking to Fox Business on Thursday, New York Fed President John Williams remarked, “I don’t see any need to change the setting of the fed funds rate anytime soon…It’s really about collecting information, understanding better what’s happening in the economy during the rest of this year, understanding kind of how the uncertainty plays out.”

“I think we have a period of higher inflation this year and a slower growth path for this year relative to last year. So that’s a combination you have to think carefully about,” Williams added.

Trump’s first term was marked by frequent clashes with Powell, whom he often denounced publicly, at one point calling him an “enemy” and mocking Federal Reserve officials as “boneheads.”

Their tensions escalated as the Fed resisted Trump’s push for aggressive rate cuts, which he viewed as necessary to fuel economic expansion.

Powell, who previously worked in private equity, was renominated to his current position by Joe Biden in 2022.

{Matzav.com}

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is shaping up to be the leading contender to head the party’s 2028 presidential ticket—if she decides to enter the race, according to political analyst Nate Silver.

Silver offered his take during a “2028 Democratic primary draft” discussion on his “Silver Bulletin” Substack, where he was joined by “GD Politics” podcast host Galen Druke. Druke beat Silver to the punch by naming Ocasio-Cortez as his top pick for the nomination.

“That was going to be my … first pick!” Silver exclaimed after Druke claimed Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as his top choice.

Druke highlighted findings from a Yale University survey that showed Ocasio-Cortez scoring one of the strongest favorability margins among Democratic voters, with a net +60 rating.

In the same survey, Ocasio-Cortez placed second in a theoretical 2028 Democratic primary field, trailing only Kamala Harris.

“I think there’s a lot of points in her favor at this very moment,” Druke said. “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has broad appeal across the Democratic Party.”

“I think equally important is the fact that she has very fervent support. I think a lot of people are gonna run in 2028 and it’s going to be a contest for attention and getting those sort of people who might be in your boat to turn out and stay with you through thick and thin.”

Silver responded by saying, “I agree with everything” Druke said, though he added that it’s far from certain that she’ll run, that many things could change between now and 2028, and that Democrats may eventually question whether she can win a general election.

Druke, however, expressed greater certainty that Ocasio-Cortez would enter the race, pointing to her recent national tour with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) under the banner of the “Fighting Oligarchy Tour.”

Silver also mentioned that Ocasio-Cortez was holding her own in polls in a hypothetical 2028 matchup against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), even though, as he put it, “New York Democrats are actually a pretty moderate bloc.” He further described her as “canny” and “charismatic.”

With Ocasio-Cortez off the board, Silver turned to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as his first pick.

“In the past three nomination races … you kind of have this compromise candidate where you have the moderates and you have the progressives and you get kind of somewhere in the middle,” Silver explained. “If you’re not going to pick an AOC … then maybe go to someone who’s fully moderate, ‘electable.’”

Silver then went on to select a string of figures including Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), billionaire Mark Cuban, and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.).

Druke followed his Ocasio-Cortez pick by drafting Vice President Harris, then continued with a list that included former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Rubin Gallego (D-Ariz.), Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Sanders.

The pair critiqued each other’s picks, with Druke implying Booker has always received more hype than he’s deserved, while Silver took aim at Harris’ performance in the 2024 race, saying she made “a lot of tactical errors” that raised doubts about her political savvy.

“Kamala Harris has universal name recognition,” Druke said. “I think that she could go some way to clear the field if she decided early to get in. I think we don’t yet know how big of an electoral flop she is.”

“We saw with Joe Biden, he was on the campaign in 2019, right? It was not debate performances, it was not like [his] ability to give a rousing speech or anything like that got him the nomination,” he continued. “It was kind of just outliving everyone else and being a consensus candidate.”

At present, Harris is reportedly weighing whether to mount a campaign for California governor in 2026 or to go straight for the White House two years later.

One of the pivotal moments that contributed to Biden stepping aside and Harris becoming the Democratic nominee in 2024 was an op-ed from actor George Clooney in The New York Times, which questioned the president’s mental sharpness.

Clooney has floated the idea that Wes Moore could become the “levitating above” candidate in the field of 2028 Democratic hopefuls—someone who stands out from the crowd.

Back in the previous election cycle, Silver famously said his “gut says Donald Trump” would win the presidency, though his forecasting models showed the race as essentially even. He had also projected that President Trump was likely to lose both the 2016 and 2020 elections.

Silver rose to fame during the 2008 election when he accurately predicted the outcome in 49 out of 50 states.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

A federal judge has determined that Google unlawfully controls two key segments of the digital advertising technology market, dealing a major antitrust blow to the tech powerhouse — one that could lead to a dramatic restructuring of its digital ad business.

Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled on Thursday that Google’s grip on the publisher ad server space and the ad exchange platform — which links advertisers to publishers — breaches federal antitrust law under the Sherman Act.

“Google further entrenched its monopoly power by imposing anticompetitive practices on its customers and eliminating desirable product features,” Brinkema wrote.

She went on to say, “In addition to depriving rivals of the ability to compete, this exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Google’s publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web.”

Following the decision, Alphabet — Google’s parent company — saw its shares dip 1.2%, trading at $153.64 on Thursday.

Antitrust expert Mike Davis, who serves as an adviser to President Trump and leads the Internet Accountability Project, said this ruling puts a breakup of Google’s ad business firmly on the table.

The Justice Department has pushed for the court to mandate that Google divest some of its digital advertising operations, particularly Google Ad Manager, which encompasses both its ad-serving tools and its ad exchange platform.

“Google made its trillions by monopolizing the online advertising market, then Google uses its market power to crush competition, shutter small businesses and cancel conservatives,” Davis said. “That’s coming to an end.”

Danielle Coffey, president and CEO of the News/Media Alliance — a nonprofit representing over 2,200 publishers including The Post — called the ruling a major milestone for digital media.

“The news media industry hails the court’s decision to again hold Google accountable for decades of abuse of its market power,” Coffey said. “Google’s monopolistic tactics—this time in the advertising market—have starved content creators of the revenues they deserve and need to sustain quality journalism.”

However, Judge Brinkema ruled that the DOJ didn’t provide enough evidence to show that Google monopolizes a third area — the advertiser ad network market. That portion of the case was dismissed after the three-week bench trial, which began in 2023 and was backed by a group of U.S. states.

In response, Google declared a partial win and said it would challenge the judge’s findings on the other fronts.

“We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, in a statement.

“We disagree with the Court’s decision regarding our publisher tools. Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective,” Mulholland added.

Advocacy groups that monitor tech companies praised the ruling, calling it a breakthrough for accountability in the digital advertising industry.

“This ruling is an unequivocal win for the American people that will help lower prices, increase competition, and lead to a better internet for everyone,” said Sacha Howarth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project.

Government lawyers argued throughout the trial that Google has misused its dominant position to harm both publishers and advertisers, with some experts saying the company collects up to 35% of every dollar spent on ads through its platform.

Evidence presented included a statement from a Google executive back in 2009 who said the company’s aim in digital advertising was to “crush” its competition.

Google’s legal team countered by claiming that the DOJ’s case was based on a dated understanding of the internet and cautioned that federal intervention might produce unintended negative consequences.

Judge Brinkema noted that a second trial would be needed to decide on the best course of action to dismantle Google’s hold on the digital ad sector.

This isn’t the only courtroom setback for Google. In a different case last year, a judge found the company illegally monopolized the online search engine space.

That case is moving into its remedies phase starting Monday, where the government is expected to ask for measures that could include divesting the Chrome web browser.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s administration is set to ask a federal appeals court on Thursday to halt a lower court’s decision that overturned White House restrictions on the Associated Press, which were imposed after the agency refused to adopt the administration’s preferred terminology for the Gulf of Mexico.

The administration argues that the ruling—which requires AP reporters to be granted entry to White House press events—undermines the president’s discretion in determining who may access secure areas. While the appeal proceeds, the White House is seeking to pause the enforcement of the order.

In February, the White House began curbing the AP’s access to President Trump after the outlet continued to refer to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico, despite Trump’s directive to rename it the Gulf of America.

This legal battle has become a focal point in the ongoing friction between the Trump administration and the media, as the White House attempts to tighten its control over which reporters are permitted to pose questions and provide immediate coverage of the president’s remarks.

Attorneys representing the AP accused the administration on Wednesday of failing to comply with the court’s directive, saying the White House has continued excluding its reporters from certain events and has also scaled back access for other wire services, including Reuters and Bloomberg.

The administration maintains that the AP is not entitled to what it describes as “special access” to the president, insisting that press credentials are not guaranteed for any particular outlet.

On April 8, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden—who was appointed by Trump—issued a temporary injunction ordering the administration to admit AP journalists to events that are open to comparable media outlets. This includes access to the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other designated areas within the White House, pending the outcome of the case.

The AP filed suit against three senior aides to Trump, claiming that the access restrictions were designed to pressure the agency into adopting government-approved language, thus impeding its journalistic function.

Judge McFadden concluded that the administration’s actions were a form of retaliation against the AP’s editorial choices and likely ran afoul of the First Amendment’s free speech protections.

The appeal will be heard by a three-judge panel consisting of Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao—both appointed by Trump—and Cornelia Pillard, who was nominated by President Barack Obama.

According to the AP, and as Judge McFadden concurred, the White House targeted the agency in part because of its widely used stylebook, which serves as a reference for many news organizations across the United States.

In that stylebook, the AP notes that the term Gulf of Mexico has been in use for over four centuries and affirms that, as an international news service, it will continue to use the historical name while also acknowledging the new term proposed by Trump.

{Matzav.com}

Senator Bernie Sanders, who has been vocal about his opposition to America’s wealthiest individuals during his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has been relying on private air travel to get from stop to stop, according to campaign finance records.

Federal Election Commission filings released this week show that Sanders’ main campaign arm, Friends of Bernie Sanders, spent $221,723 on private jet charters during the first quarter of 2024, according to a report Thursday by The Washington Free Beacon.

The first of these payments was made just ahead of the tour’s kickoff in February, the filings reveal.

Speaking in California on Tuesday, Sanders declared, “we will not accept a rigged economy where working people struggle while billionaires become richer,” emphasizing the need for an economic system that supports “working people, not just [Elon] Musk and the billionaire class.”

While Sanders once targeted both millionaires and billionaires in his speeches, he shifted focus solely to billionaires after joining the ranks of millionaires shortly before his 2020 presidential campaign.

Michael Bloomberg, who competed against Sanders during the 2020 Democratic primary, took a jab at him during a debate, highlighting the senator’s wealth and lifestyle. “The best known socialist in the country happens to be a millionaire with three houses,” said Bloomberg, who has a personal fortune nearing $105 billion.

According to Tuesday’s financial disclosures, the Friends of Bernie Sanders committee worked with three private jet firms: Cirrus Aviation Services, N-Jet, and Ventura Jets. Those three vendors made up about 75% of the campaign’s total travel-related expenses for the first quarter of the year.

The filings also show that the campaign spent $63,380 on commercial airfare, nearly $41,000 on hotel accommodations, and $248,245 on event-related production costs.

The “Fighting Oligarchy” tour began on February 22 in Nebraska and has since traveled through several key states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and California. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, who has been introducing Sanders at each stop, was seen flying first class to a rally in Las Vegas last month.

{Matzav.com}

Court filings have confirmed that the illegal immigrant at the center of a heated deportation dispute had an official rank and nickname within the violent MS-13 gang.

The Trump administration maintains that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, apprehended in Maryland and later deported to El Salvador, was an active member of MS-13. His removal occurred despite an immigration judge’s order blocking deportation.

Newly disclosed records identify Abrego Garcia as having held the gang rank of “Chequeo” and going by the street name “Chele” within MS-13’s hierarchy.

MS-13—short for Mara Salvatrucha—originated in Los Angeles during the 1980s as a means of protecting Salvadoran immigrants from rival gangs. The Department of Justice has described the group as “well-organized and is heavily involved in lucrative illegal enterprises, being notorious for its use of violence to achieve its objectives.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media on Wednesday to share evidence tied to a 2019 incident in Maryland, where Abrego Garcia was found in the company of confirmed MS-13 members in a Home Depot parking lot.

A Hyattsville City Police Department report, citing a credible informant, identified Abrego Garcia as a known MS-13 associate affiliated with the gang’s Western cliques. The source confirmed his rank as “Chequeo” and his alias as “Chele.”

According to the report, law enforcement officers observed Abrego Garcia wearing clothing commonly linked with gang culture, including a Chicago Bulls cap and a sweatshirt featuring images of U.S. presidents with rolls of money covering their eyes, ears, and mouths.

“The meaning of the clothing is to represent ‘ver, oir y callar’ or ‘see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil,’” the report stated.

The document added that “Wearing the Chicago Bulls hat represents that they are a member in good standing with the MS-13.”

During a Wednesday press briefing where she also announced a lawsuit against the state of Maine, Bondi acknowledged that a procedural step had been skipped prior to the deportation. Nevertheless, she was adamant that Abrego Garcia would not be allowed to return.

“He is an illegal alien who has been living illegally in our country from El Salvador. ICE testified, an immigration judge ruled he was a member of MS-13. An appellate judge ruled he was a member of MS-13. Hard stop,” Bondi told reporters. “He should not be in our country.”

Also on Wednesday, the Trump administration pointed to prior domestic violence charges against Abrego Garcia, while pushing back on what it described as sympathetic coverage from the mainstream media and progressive lawmakers defending the deported individual.

{Matzav.com}

Andrew Cuomo holds a strong lead in the race for New York City mayor, according to a new Siena College poll, showing him well ahead of his competitors in the Democratic primary. In response, a group of influential Brooklyn Democrats announced their backing of three top opponents, in a coordinated effort to halt Cuomo’s momentum.

The poll, conducted last week in partnership with the AARP, surveyed 811 registered New York City voters, with a particular focus on the 556 participants who identified as registered Democrats.

With nearly 90% of Democratic voters expected to cast ballots, 34% of respondents said they were choosing Cuomo as their top pick in the city’s ranked-choice voting system.

Trailing Cuomo is Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamadani, a progressive candidate aligned with democratic socialist ideals, who captured 16% as voters’ first choice—placing him 18 points behind Cuomo.

Although Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the Democratic primary to pursue reelection as an independent, the composition of the race has remained relatively unchanged. Cuomo’s lead, while slightly smaller than it was in last month’s Emerson College and Honan Strategy Group polls, still remains substantial.

This Siena College poll is among the few that replicates New York City’s ranked-choice system, implemented in 2021, which permits voters to rank up to five candidates in order of preference.

While Cuomo and Mamadani were the frontrunners in the initial round, none of the other candidates broke into double digits early on. Cuomo didn’t clinch the nomination until the eighth round, when he defeated Mamadani by a margin of 54% to 27%. At that stage, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander had 19% support.

The numbers carry extra weight considering Lander’s campaign has been urging voters to leave Cuomo off their ballots entirely. That message was echoed on Wednesday by a group of Brooklyn Democrats who endorsed Mamadani, Lander, and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as part of a unified push to challenge Cuomo’s dominance.

Among the seven Democratic officials backing this strategy is Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who took to social media to explain her support. She said the candidates are “in this race for the right reasons” and told The New York Times that Cuomo’s popularity is more about name recognition than alignment with working-class concerns.

Velázquez was joined by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senators Julia Salazar and Emily Gallagher, and City Council members Lincoln Restler, Sandy Nurse, and Jennifer Gutiérrez.

Branded in campaign materials as the “Dream Team,” the candidates have received additional layered support through strategic endorsements aimed at maximizing ranked-choice voting’s effect. Both Salazar and Gallagher included State Senator Zellnor Myrie in their endorsements, while Gallagher also backed State Senator Jessica Ramos.

Salazar explained her reasoning by stating, “Supporting these four candidates and strategically using Ranked Choice Voting is essential for our city to defeat Cuomo, and elect a mayor who we can hold accountable to fight for working people.”

According to the Siena poll, the top concerns for voters include the rising cost of living, housing challenges, crime, and safety for pedestrians—issues that are shaping how voters evaluate candidates and their platforms.

The poll comes with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points overall, and a slightly wider margin of 4.9 points for Democratic respondents.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler said that there was no “day after” discussion with regard to the Gaza Strip until all the hostages being held there are freed.

According to U.S. President Donald Trump, “nothing goes forward until all hostages are released,” Boehler told Al Jazeera. “Step one is all hostages released. Step two is, let’s figure out this day after,” he continued.

“I think there’s always a possibility for a comprehensive deal,” Boehler said, adding, “I don’t think Israel is interested in staying for the long term.”

Trump has proposed relocating those Gazans who want to leave to safer areas while the enclave, which has suffered extensive damage due to the Israel Hamas war, is rebuilt.

“What’s very important now is to … bring back all hostages, all innocent hostages, and then we can talk about the makings of the deal … Hamas needs to release the hostages … They should release the hostages unilaterally,” said Boehler.

“The hostages are what keep things from moving forward. We need them home. You can’t deal with people that hold innocent people as hostages,” he added.

“I can tell you that the fighting would end immediately, immediately, if the hostages are released. The day that those hostages are released, the fighting will end,” he continued.

Hamas should identify an offer that Israel and the United States can accept “and end this,” he added.

Commenting on Hamas’s claim that it has lost track of hostage Edan Alexander, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, due to an Israeli bombing sortie, Boehler said if anything happened to Alexander, the blame would fall on Hamas.

“If Edan gets sick, if Edan has a cold, guess who’s getting blamed— Hamas. I think the best thing for them is not to … risk blame from the United States on these things. So I hope no hair on his head is hurt, or we’re going to come for them, and it’s not going to be pretty. So I believe that Edan is fine,” he said.

Of those hostages who may have died due to Israeli airstrikes, he said, “I’m not sure I would blame Israeli bombardment for that. I would blame the fact that they’re hostages in the first place.”

In mid-March, Boehler’s direct talks with Hamas resulted in tensions with Israel. According to reports, the Trump administration removed him from the hostage team after he referred to Hamas as “nice guys” and said during an interview that he didn’t “really care about” the concerns of Ron Dermer, Israel’s strategic affairs minister. He also said that the United States was “not an agent of Israel.”

After immediate backlash, he clarified his remarks on social media, claiming that people “misinterpreted” them.

“Hamas is a terrorist organization that has murdered thousands of innocent people,” he wrote. “They are, by definition, bad people.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

On Thursday, the Hamas terror group released a statement denouncing MK Tzvi Succot of the Religious Zionism party for visiting the Har Habayis, where he davened and bowed in prostration.

“The storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by settlers, with the participation of the extremist terrorist ‘Tzvi Succot,’ under heavy security protection from the occupation army and police, constitutes a continuation of the occupation’s frantic attempts to Judaize and seize Islamic holy sites,” Hamas declared.

The group continued: “We assure Ben-Gvir and other extremist occupation leaders that all of the occupation’s measures against our land and holy sites will disappear with its inevitable demise, and that they will not succeed in changing the Arab-Islamic identity of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

They went on to urge broader support across the Muslim world: “We call on the sons of our Arab and Islamic nation to rise up in support of their people who are steadfast in Palestine, defending the first Qiblah (direction of prayer) of Muslims and the nation’s holy sites and constants. We demand that the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation take urgent action and take measures to protect Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

In response, MK Succot issued a firm statement: “The days of fear are over. For years, there were no prayers on the Har Habayis out of fear of the enemy, and there is no reason for the reign of fear to continue. We will not be deterred by terror organizations, and we will continue Jewish possession and sovereignty over all the areas of our land until the enemy is destroyed.”

Soldiers currently stationed in Gaza are experiencing increasing difficulties accessing kosher-for-Pesach meals, with many reporting a significant decline in the quality and quantity of food during the Yom Tov.

In recent hours, accounts have emerged of Golani Brigade troops having to rely almost exclusively on matzah and chocolate spread for sustenance, even after exhausting and prolonged operations on the battlefield.

Galei Tzahal military reporter Doron Kadosh revealed that since the start of the Yom Tov, troops have only received one hot meal — on the night of the Seder. “The last time they received hot trays of food was a week ago, on the Seder night. Since then, only field rations, dried Kabanos sausages, and corn. After a year and a half of straight fighting on several fronts, it’s just coming out of their ears.”

In response to the inadequate provisions, many parents of the soldiers have taken it upon themselves to organize grassroots fundraising efforts to provide their children with suitable food. These efforts include supplying fresh fruits and vegetables and even bringing camping stoves to the Tze’elim Base in southern Israel, in the hopes the supplies can be transported into Gaza.

Channel 12’s military correspondent Nir Dvori addressed the issue as well: “I don’t remember a Passover like this, and there have been problems in the past. Bases and installations in the south, north, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley – they all have severe shortages of food because of Pesach. It’s just terrible. As if they haven’t learned anything.”

Following the public outcry, Doron Kadosh reported that the IDF’s chief logistics officer has pledged to personally investigate the situation and make sure that every combat unit deployed in Gaza has access to the necessary supplies.

According to the IDF’s official statement, daily supply convoys are dispatched into Gaza, including the Rafah area, with the goal of providing at least one hot meal per day to all troops, even those on the front lines. In response to the recent complaints, the military has committed to verifying that food deliveries are reaching every unit as intended.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Jewish community leaders are working to deescalate the unrest that has emerged following a troubling confrontation between a Jewish man and a black resident of the neighborhood, an altercation that has stirred fears of renewed racial tensions in the area.

The incident, which took place several weeks ago and was caught on surveillance footage, shows a 30-year-old frum resident shoving Troy McLeod, a wheelchair-bound African-American man. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a dispute over McLeod’s dogs, which were being walked without leashes. The push caused McLeod to topple out of his wheelchair.

In the aftermath, the 30-year-old was taken into custody and charged with second-degree assault and aggravated menacing. He was later released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on July 17.

A demonstration is set to take place today at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue. The rally is being organized by local activist and pastor Kevin McCall.

Dubbed the “Peaceful Rally for Troy McLeod,” the event aims, according to organizers, “to condemn the actions and unite Brooklyn.”

Initially, the protest was planned for the area directly in front of 770 Eastern Parkway, the global headquarters of Chabad. However, after appeals from various community figures, organizers agreed to relocate the gathering across the street, in front of a Bank of America branch. Community members voiced concern over a flyer for the event, which originally claimed that McLeod had been “Assaulted in a wheelchair by members of the Orthodox Jewish community.”

“The messaging was reframed as a peace rally, and I was told that speakers will be calling for unity,” said Rabbi Yaakov Behrman, a prominent Crown Heights representative. “I absolutely condemn this act of violence — but we cannot allow it to be used as an excuse to promote antisemitism or fuel discrimination. I sincerely hope the organizers honor their commitments.”

In a show of solidarity and moral clarity, Jewish leaders from the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council issued a public statement denouncing the attack. “There is absolutely no justification for assaulting someone in a wheelchair — ever,” declared Rabbi Shmuel Rosenstein, Rabbi Zalman Friedman, and Rabbi Yaakov Behrman in the joint statement.

Some of McLeod’s neighbors, however, allege that tensions between him and others in the area had been building over time, citing prior complaints about his unleashed dogs scaring local children and dismissive responses to parents’ concerns. Nonetheless, Jewish community leaders emphasized that no matter the context, violence is never acceptable.

{Matzav.com}

On Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement addressing a report published by The New York Times, which claimed that President Donald Trump prevented Israel from launching a military operation against Iran’s nuclear sites.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu has been leading the global campaign against the Iranian nuclear program for over a decade, even when there were those who belittled the threat and called it a ‘political spin’ and the Prime Minister ‘paranoid.’ The Prime Minister led countless overt and covert actions in the campaign against Iran’s nuclear program; thanks to them, Iran does not have a nuclear arsenal,” the statement declared.

The statement continued: “The actions set Iran’s nuclear program back by a decade, and that’s thanks to the Prime Minister’s insistence to stand up against the opposition from within and out to his aggressive policy against Iran. As the Prime Minister declared more than once: Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.”

According to The New York Times, Israel had devised and finalized plans for a military strike on Iran’s nuclear program by May, but the operation was ultimately put on hold after President Trump chose to pursue negotiations with the Iranian regime.

Individuals with direct knowledge of the military planning told the publication that Israel’s intended mission was designed to delay Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by at least a year. However, the success of the strike was heavily dependent on American support—both to carry out the strike effectively and to manage the likely Iranian retaliation.

The report detailed that U.S. forces had already taken preparatory steps in anticipation of potential escalation. Under the direction of Gen. Michael Kurilla, U.S. Central Command had moved key military assets into the region, including stealth bombers, advanced missile defense systems, and aircraft carriers. While these deployments were partly aimed at countering threats from Houthi forces in Yemen, officials acknowledged they were also positioned to serve in a larger campaign against Iran if needed.

Nevertheless, internal discussions within the Trump administration began shifting. Several senior officials raised concerns over the fallout of a preemptive Israeli operation. Intelligence presented by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned that a strike could ignite a larger regional conflict—something the president’s team was eager to avoid.

The article further noted that, for now, the administration’s stance has not changed: diplomatic efforts must take precedence, with military options remaining only as a contingency if negotiations break down.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF’s Home Front Command has initiated an upgrade to its rocket alert system, and beginning today, it will introduce a new preliminary advisory that will precede any formal missile alert in cases of launches from Yemen targeting Israel. This step is part of a broader effort to enhance emergency readiness across the country.

The initial advisory will be issued through the Home Front Command’s mobile app and will use a unique alert tone, distinct from the standard siren, in areas deemed to be at risk.

Previously, all missile warnings were triggered based on the shortest possible response time for a given region, regardless of the origin of the attack. For example, residents near the borders with Gaza or Lebanon were given only about 15 seconds to reach a shelter—even if the projectile was launched from a much greater distance, such as Yemen.

According to military officials, the introduction of this preliminary advisory is aimed at giving people a head start in preparing, allowing them to begin seeking shelter even before the main siren sounds, and ensuring they receive updates from verified sources.

Alongside this change, the IDF will also distribute alerts stating that a missile launch from Yemen toward Israeli territory is possible within minutes, urging the public to follow the Home Front Command’s instructions closely.

The Home Front Command emphasized that it is “making every effort to ensure the safety of Israel’s citizens.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

After President Donald J. Trump officially swears in the incoming U.S. Ambassador to Israel on Friday morning, Ambassador Mike Huckabee will head to the Kosel to fulfill a personal request from the president: to place a written prayer from Trump into the stones of the makom kadosh.

At the conclusion of the visit, Ambassador Huckabee is expected to make a formal statement to the press.

Earlier this week, Huckabee revealed in an interview with Fox News that this symbolic act would be his first order of business upon arriving in Israel for his new role.

“The first thing I’m going to do is to take a prayer that the President gave me on Thursday when I met with him at the White House, and I’m going to take it to Western Wall and I’m going to place it there on behalf of the American people and on behalf of the President,” Huckabee declared.

He emphasized the meaning behind the gesture: “I can’t think of a better way to begin my tenure than to let the people of Israel know that the President stands with them, he wants their safety, their security, and he wants the hostages home and that’s the first priority.”

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli citizen, age 48, who previously lived in New Jersey before relocating to Israel, has admitted to orchestrating a large-scale fraud targeting a U.S. government relief initiative designed to support small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.

Federal prosecutors announced that Daniel Dadon fraudulently secured more than $3.2 million from the Paycheck Protection Program by submitting fabricated applications. These filings included bogus financial records, inflated employee numbers, forged banking details, and deceptive business information.

As a result of his plea, Dadon now faces severe legal consequences, including a potential 30-year prison sentence for bank fraud, another 10 years for laundering illicit funds, and financial penalties exceeding $1 million.

Court filings from New Jersey reveal that beginning in April 2020, and continuing for over two years, Dadon repeatedly applied for PPP loans using multiple companies. The PPP was introduced to assist businesses struggling due to the pandemic, offering forgivable loans on the condition that the money be used for salaries and critical operating expenses.

Authorities say that the figures provided by Dadon were outright fabrications. In one instance, he falsely claimed that his company, Seldat Distribution, had a staff of 400. A later review by tax officials showed the actual number of employees was just 97. He also exaggerated the business’s payroll costs, listing them at $850,000 a month. That misrepresentation led to a loan approval totaling over $2.1 million.

Investigators allege that Dadon wasted no time in moving the funds. The day after the money landed in the Seldat Distribution account, he reportedly shifted the entire sum to another company he owned, Seldat Fashion. When required to justify the use of the funds and request forgiveness for the loan, he allegedly submitted forged paperwork, including fabricated rent receipts and fake employment agreements. Although a portion of the loan was forgiven, a large part remains unpaid.

Dadon did not stop there. Prosecutors say he filed additional fraudulent PPP loan requests on behalf of other companies under his control, such as DG Distriservices and Seldat Staffing. These applications featured altered records, incorrect employee numbers, counterfeit tax filings, and digitally doctored documents made to look legitimate. In one case, he is accused of forging a letter from a New Jersey accountant to falsely affirm that his business met loan forgiveness criteria.

The Justice Department further alleges that some of the funds acquired through the fraudulent scheme were routed to bank accounts overseas, including in Canada and Vietnam. Prosecutors believe some assets were either hidden or disposed of. Legal filings allow for the confiscation of any properties or items bought using the illegally obtained money.

Dadon has officially pleaded guilty to both bank fraud and money laundering. Under federal law, bank fraud carries up to 30 years behind bars and fines reaching $1 million or double the amount of losses. Money laundering convictions come with a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of at least $250,000. His sentencing is set to take place on August 13 in the U.S. District Court in Trenton, New Jersey.

{Matzav.com}