Matzav

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said congressional investigators are pressing ahead with an examination of alleged fraud in Minnesota, arguing that state leaders failed to act despite years of warnings and insisting that accountability must extend beyond those who carried out the abuse.

Comer said the committee is focused on determining how much taxpayer money was lost, who benefited, and whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison were aware of the situation and allowed it to continue. He said the probe could lead to criminal referrals, not just for individuals accused of fraud, but also for officials he believes enabled it. Comer dismissed Walz’s call for Republicans to halt their inquiry. “For Governor Walz to say Republicans on the Oversight Committee should stand down, he’ll fix it — I don’t think anybody in America believes that,” Comer said. “He’s not going to do anything.”

Appearing Tuesday on Newsmax’s “National Report,” Comer said he has no faith that Walz is prepared to confront what he described as a long-running and expansive scheme involving federal assistance programs. He accused the governor of disregarding internal alarms and shielding a politically significant Democratic constituency.

Comer said whistleblowers inside Minnesota’s government have been raising concerns for years. He emphasized that many of those sounding the alarm are Democrats themselves and state employees who tried repeatedly to get intervention from top officials. “Fortunately for us, we have whistleblowers,” Comer said. “These are good state employees of the state of Minnesota who have been begging for assistance from the attorney general and the governor of Minnesota for years to step in and prevent this fraud.”

According to Comer, those appeals went nowhere because Democratic leaders feared the political consequences of taking action. He said Minnesota’s Somali community plays a central role in the state’s Democratic electoral math. “This Somali population has become a massive part of the Democrat base in Minnesota,” Comer said. “It’s the whole key to the business model of success for the Democrat Party in Minnesota — and on the presidential scale to win the state of Minnesota and get those Electoral College votes.”

Comer alleged that Walz and Ellison ignored the problem as it spread across multiple programs. “They allowed this fraud to continue,” Comer said, adding that state workers witnessed the misuse of funds “every day.”

He also challenged Walz’s attempts to minimize the scale of the losses, saying the numbers remain staggering even under the governor’s own framing. “The governor wants to say, ‘Well, we don’t think it was billions,’” Comer said. “Let’s say it was hundreds of millions — that’s still too much.”

Comer accused Democrats of trying to shut down scrutiny by branding questions about fraud as bigotry. “Anyone like me who tries to question that is a racist or whatever,” he said. “We’re not going to be bullied in this.”

He further argued that early data reviewed by the committee points to unusually high levels of government dependency tied to Minnesota’s Somali population. Comer said the figures suggest roughly three-quarters are receiving full government assistance. “That’s full welfare,” Comer said. “The overwhelming majority of that population is on Medicaid and other types of government programs.”

Comer linked those figures to broader Democratic arguments on immigration and labor, saying Minnesota contradicts claims that expanded migration would primarily address workforce shortages. “You’ve got a massive population in that one state, and the overwhelming majority of that population is on government assistance,” Comer said, adding that assertions that there are no illegal immigrants on Medicaid “are going to be proven false in Minnesota.”

As the investigation continues, Comer said the committee intends to follow the money and the decision-making that allowed the alleged fraud to persist, insisting that ignoring whistleblowers and delaying action should carry consequences just as severe as committing the fraud itself.

{Matzav.com}

Federal officials say a sweeping new border initiative will soon reshape large sections of the Rio Grande, with plans calling for hundreds of miles of floating barriers aimed at blocking illegal crossings and strengthening enforcement along Texas’ southern border.

The project, expected to cost roughly $500 million, is financed through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in July. Administration officials argue the funding reflects a broader strategy that is already producing results, pointing to sharp drops in illegal crossings this year. The Department of Homeland Security has highlighted historically low encounter numbers, while outside reports have described unlawful crossings as falling to levels not seen in more than half a century.

According to U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks, the buoy system would stretch from near the Gulf of Mexico by Brownsville and continue westward along the Rio Grande. He said the barriers will not be placed in shallow portions of the river and can be repositioned as water levels and river conditions change.

Banks said construction is slated to begin in early 2026. The initial phase would cover about 500 miles of the river, with a follow-up phase expanding the system by another 400 miles. The buoys, he explained, are designed to serve as both a physical deterrent and a technological tool, incorporating detection systems that alert agents to movement in the water.

Banks described the effort as a critical security layer. “I have never seen this much support from a president and a secretary,” Banks said in an interview. “The support is even greater than it was in his first administration, as he’s continued to learn and grow in his understanding and knowledge on the border.”

The White House echoed that message in a statement defending the administration’s broader border record. “There’s no doubt that President [Donald] Trump has expeditiously delivered on his promise to secure our border,” a spokesperson said. “While Biden let criminal illegals pour into our country and complained he couldn’t do anything to stop it, President Trump immediately proved him wrong, and the American people are safer for it. It’s amazing what happens when you have a President who believes in empowering Border Patrol to do their job.”

Floating barriers in the Rio Grande are not a new concept. Texas first drew national attention to the approach in 2023, when Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a shorter buoy system installed near Eagle Pass as part of the state’s own border operation. That move quickly triggered legal action from the Biden administration, which argued that Texas lacked federal approval to place an obstruction in a navigable waterway and had not obtained authorization tied to international boundary oversight.

The legal fight moved through federal court and intensified debate over both jurisdiction and safety. Opponents raised alarms about the risk of drownings and questioned whether states or the federal government ultimately control such measures along an international river.

Republican leaders have largely applauded the federal expansion of the buoy system, calling it a long-overdue deterrent. Abbott and other GOP officials have said that a combination of river barriers, fencing, and surveillance technology is necessary to disrupt smuggling networks and discourage dangerous crossings.

Critics, however, argue that water barriers can drive migrants toward even more hazardous routes and say the funding would be better directed toward domestic priorities, including healthcare, asylum processing, and expanded border facilities. Civil rights groups and some local officials have also urged greater attention to humanitarian protections and coordination with Mexico, noting that the Rio Grande serves as a shared international boundary.

Federal officials maintain that the buoy barriers are intended to work alongside other enforcement tools, including expanded surveillance and tougher penalties for illegal entry. Opponents counter that the plan underscores what they see as an ongoing focus on physical infrastructure and deterrence rather than comprehensive, long-term immigration policy changes.

With immigration expected to remain a central political issue in the years ahead, the administration’s decision to move forward with the buoy project is likely to further intensify national debate as the 2028 election cycle approaches.

{Matzav.com}

Amid renewed attention on the so-called “QatarGate” affair, Naftali Bennett released a sharply worded statement on Tuesday, directing his criticism at Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and questioning how the situation has been handled at the highest levels of government.

Opening his remarks, Bennett declared: “These days, the people of Israel are being exposed to the most serious security affair: from the innermost sanctum of Israel’s security, the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu’s closest advisors operated on behalf of the enemy state of Qatar, for money from Qatar, and all this during a time of war against Hamas, the organization Qatar serves as patron for.”

He went on to say that “the materials present a detailed and horrifying picture: how these advisors worked diligently to promote Qatar’s interests, exploiting their special status as representatives of the Prime Minister. After every such action, they sent reports of the results of their actions to their Qatari operators.”

Bennett escalated his rhetoric further, stating: “I’ll be clear: Qatar is Hamas. While our brave soldiers fight and fall in battles against Hamas in the alleys of Khan Yunis, these advisors work for pay on behalf of Qatar, which finances Hamas militants. This betrayal is a knife to the hearts of our brave soldiers, and a knife to the heart of all of Israel. This is the most severe betrayal in the history of the State of Israel because, unlike previous traitors like Mordechai Vanunu and Udi Adiv, this comes from the most senior and powerful people in Israel. We must honestly admit that implanting agents in the Prime Minister’s Office is a significant intelligence-security success for our enemies, Qatar,” Bennett emphasized.

Turning his focus directly to Netanyahu, Bennett posed a series of pointed questions. “I am not claiming, at this stage, that Netanyahu gave the order to act on behalf of Qatar, or even that he knew his advisors were receiving hundreds of thousands of shekels from the enemy. But I definitely ask a simple question: why is Netanyahu silent? Why does he continue to cover up the betrayal in his office? After he became aware of the affair, he should have been the first to cry out and take action!”

Drawing on his own experience in office, Bennett said: “I was Prime Minister. I know the weight of responsibility and the sanctity of Israel’s security. In such a situation, I would- and every one of you would-immediately fire the errant advisors, urgently summon the head of the Shin Bet and the police commissioner, and demand they launch a thorough security investigation to expose the entire network of agents, ensuring that my office and my staff are completely clean. But Mr. Netanyahu does exactly the opposite: from the moment the affair was exposed, he and his people have taken every action to obstruct the investigation of the truth, as we saw even in last night’s publication.”

Bennett also appealed directly to Israel’s security agencies. “In the current situation, where a heavy cloud of suspicion looms over us, I appeal to the Shin Bet and the Israeli police: your national duty is to pursue this investigation to the fullest. All of Israel expects this, and you have our full support. This is a defining moment for our existence as a nation. I trust our security and law enforcement agencies to act quickly and not abandon the security of the state.”

The Likud party responded forcefully, rejecting Bennett’s accusations outright. “Srulik Einhorn and Eli Feldstein were never part of the Prime Minister’s office. In all the materials that have been exposed, there is not a shred of involvement from the Prime Minister’s office or its representatives; on the contrary. From the start of the war, the Prime Minister’s office and the Prime Minister have attacked Qatar, and Qatar has repeatedly attacked the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has also faced severe criticism from the Israeli media and senior security officials for attacking Qatar, claiming it jeopardizes the hostage deal.”

Likud then turned its fire on Bennett personally. “It would be better for Bennett to look at himself when using the word ‘betrayal.’ Bennett betrayed his voters when he formed a government with the Muslim Brotherhood, which Bennett himself described as a sister movement to Hamas. Bennett will betray again, just as his partners Yair Golan and Gadi Eisenkot said. He will try again to form a far-left government dependent on the Muslim Brotherhood. Bennett brought thousands of Gazan workers into Israel, laying the groundwork for 10/07. Bennett, the arch-liar, is fabricating blood libels. Even though Bennett knows that the court has already ruled that QatarGate is a ‘Qatar fake’ and there is no crime, he recycles lies to divert attention from the serious materials exposed in the hacking of his phone, which are being kept hidden from the public,” the statement concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Emergency crews rushed to a nursing home northeast of Philadelphia after a gas explosion sent thick black smoke into the air and left people unable to get out of the building, officials said.

Authorities reported that the blast occurred shortly before 3 p.m. at Silver Lake Healthcare Center in Bristol Township, roughly 20 miles outside the city, prompting an immediate response from local and state agencies.

“We understand that there are people trapped inside,” said Ruth Miller, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

State Rep. Tina Davis, whose district includes the facility, described a chaotic scene as emergency vehicles poured in from across the area. “I saw smoke and I saw car after car after car was a fire truck or ambulance from all over the city, from all over,” Davis said. She added that she approached the area by car but stayed back to avoid disrupting rescue efforts.

Davis noted that officials were discussing the possibility of relocating residents to a nearby school if evacuations became necessary. According to a state report, the nursing home has 174 beds.

Plans were put in motion to assist displaced residents if needed. Jim Morgan, president of the Bristol Township School Board, said school district buses were prepared to transport people from the nursing home to a reunification site at Truman High School. He said crews were arranging beds, water, and other essentials at the school, though as of 4 p.m., no residents had yet arrived. “As of 4 p.m. no one had showed up at the school,” Morgan said.

Expressing concern over the incident, Davis reflected on the timing and impact of the emergency. “It’s just so sad — it’s that hopeful time of year. This is just something that is sad for everybody and the families and the workers that are there. I hope there’s positive results from this. We don’t know at this point,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

Chicago is staring at the possibility of an unprecedented municipal shutdown after a bitter clash over the city’s 2026 budget, as Mayor Brandon Johnson considers rejecting the spending plan approved by the City Council.

The mayor has sharply criticized the package that cleared the council over the weekend, blasting it as “morally bankrupt” because it omits his preferred per-employee corporate “head tax.”

If Johnson exercises his veto power, council members would be forced back to the drawing board to assemble a revised budget that could win the mayor’s signature before the December 30 deadline. Failure to do so could leave city government without an approved spending plan.

The standoff is unfolding entirely within the political left. Chicago’s City Council has no Republican members, consisting of 48 Democrats and two independents, making the dispute an intraparty fight rather than a partisan one.

One of the mayor’s Democratic critics is Alderman Gilbert Villegas, who represents Belmont-Cragin on the city’s Northwest Side and is closely aligned with former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Reacting to the veto threat, Villegas said he would “work hard to see if we can get 38-40 votes to override the veto,” noting that the budget initially passed by a 30–18 margin.

At the heart of the disagreement is Chicago’s looming fiscal problem. The city is facing a projected $1.2 billion deficit for 2026. Johnson has argued that policies under the Trump administration tilt the scales toward corporations and away from working families, insisting that businesses should “put more skin in the game.”

Not all Illinois Democrats are on board with that approach. Governor JB Pritzker has spoken out against Johnson’s proposed $33-per-worker, per-month head tax, warning that it would “penalize the very thing that we want, which is more employment.”

Johnson has also pushed back against national media criticism. He took aim at The Washington Post after it published a harsh editorial titled, “Chicago Has Lost Its Mind,” which warned that the head tax and other business-related measures could choke off economic growth. Responding to the paper, Johnson remarked that it “wouldn’t be the first time a publication got something I’ve done wrong.”

The council-approved budget attempts to close revenue gaps through a mix of new and expanded levies. Proposals include allowing video-gambling machines in restaurants and at Chicago-Midway Airport, increasing the city’s shopping-bag tax, and creating a first-of-its-kind tax on social media companies. That plan would charge platforms $0.50 per active Chicago user above 100,000 users, a move expected to generate $31 million if enacted.

Although a full-scale shutdown would be unprecedented, Chicago has seen budget brinkmanship before. In the 1980s, Democratic Mayor Harold Washington vetoed multiple budgets, often triggering tense, last-minute negotiations that ultimately produced agreements.

Washington, the city’s first Black mayor, rejected four budgets during his four-and-a-half years in office before his sudden death in 1987, shortly after winning re-election at age 65.

Within the current council, a key Johnson ally is Alderman Pat Dowell of the South Side, who is spearheading efforts to rally support for the budget, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Dowell acknowledged the plan’s shortcomings but said it is “not perfect but is a good budget and one we can work with.”

Progressives aligned with the mayor have been far more caustic. West Side Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez backed Johnson’s head-tax proposal and condemned the council’s alternative as an “immoral, bankrupt, ‘Michael Sacks’ budget.”

Sacks, a billionaire financier who heads asset manager GCM Grosvenor, has ties to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and donated to several aldermanic campaigns ahead of the budget fight, according to WGN.

Defending Sacks, Alderman Bill Conway III — a former military intelligence officer who represents the Loop — told WGN, “Michael is someone who cares about the future of the city, and he tries to work with those who are like-minded.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Shlomo Weisberg zt”l, a noted talmid chochom whose life was devoted entirely to Torah and avodah.

Rav Shlomo z”l was a distinguished talmid muvhak of Rav Nochum Partzovitz zt”l, from whom he absorbed not only vast iyun and clarity in learning, but a deep reverence for mesorah. Those who learned alongside him or heard him speak recall a mind of precision and depth, coupled with an innate humility that defined his bearing.

He came from a home steeped in Torah greatness. His father, Reb Yaakov Weisberg, was among the early talmidim of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l at Beth Medrash Govoha, part of the founding generation that helped establish Lakewood as a world center of Torah. Rav Shlomo carried that legacy forward with dignity and constancy, forging his own path as a true talmid chochom whose every step reflected the values he had inherited.

Rav Shlomo was named after his father’s rebbi, Rav Shlomo Heiman zt”l, a name he honored throughout his life through his unyielding commitment to Torah lishmah and integrity.

He leaves behind a family that continues his legacy. His son, Rav Yosef Weisberg, serves as the rav of Bais Medrash of Pine Lake Park in Manchester.

The levaya is taking place at Beth Medrash Govoha’s Bendheim Bais Medrash. Kevurah will be in Eretz Yisroel.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

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Five days after Lebanese officer Ahmad Shukr vanished, investigators say they have found no physical or technological evidence showing that he remains inside Lebanon, a gap that officials believe supports the possibility that he was taken out of the country.

A senior Lebanese legal source told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that one working theory under examination is that Shukr was seized by Israel as part of an “intelligence entrapment operation.” The assessment stems from suspicions tied to his alleged links to the 1986 abduction of Israeli airman Ron Arad in southern Lebanon.

According to reports circulating within Lebanese intelligence circles, Shukr, who previously served in the Lebanese General Security apparatus, may have been abducted by Mossad after “falling victim to a sophisticated recruitment operation” in the Bekaa Valley.

Investigators also disclosed that two Swedish citizens — one of them of Lebanese origin — had traveled to Lebanon shortly before Shukr disappeared. One of the two reportedly departed the country on the same day Shukr went missing, a detail now being scrutinized as part of the inquiry.

Shukr was last seen after visiting the town of Nabi Sheet in the northern Bekaa region, after which all contact with him was lost.

Family members have pointed to Shukr’s background and relatives as relevant context. He is the brother of Hassan Shukr, a Hezbollah operative killed during the IDF’s “Law and Order” operation in 1988, a period marked by Israeli raids on Hezbollah and other militant bases. Hassan Shukr belonged to the group that carried out Ron Arad’s abduction and later transferred him to an unknown location, after which his trail vanished.

Ahmad Shukr is also related to Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s chief of staff, who was killed in an Israeli strike approximately a year and a half ago.

{Matzav.com}

British authorities revealed that a terror plot described as potentially catastrophic was narrowly stopped, following the conviction of two men who had spent months preparing an attack inspired by the ISIS organization.

Deputy Police Commissioner Robert Potts said the planning stretched over a long period and had reached an advanced stage, noting that the suspects were alarmingly close to putting their plans into action.

Prosecutors and police warned that the scheme, had it been carried out, could have resulted in “one of the deadliest terror attacks in the history of the UK, if not the deadliest.”

The men, identified as Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were found guilty of plotting a terrorist assault in Britain. Testimony showed that they intended to launch a mass killing spree, using automatic weapons with the explicit aim of murdering as many Jews as possible.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump renewed his long-running feud with The New York Times early Tuesday, unleashing a blistering attack on the newspaper in a late-night post accusing it of deception, ideological extremism, and endangering the country.

Writing on Truth Social shortly after midnight, the president took aim at both the paper’s reporting and its opinion content, charging that the outlet routinely publishes false material and distorts facts for political purposes.

“The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation,” Trump wrote.

In the same post, Trump accused the paper of “Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior” and claimed it was “writing FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way.”

He went further, asserting that the newspaper “must be dealt with and stopped,” and ended the message with the declaration, “THEY ARE A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!” The post was signed, “PRESIDENT DJT.”

The remarks represent the latest flashpoint in a public clash that stretches back nearly a decade, beginning during Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2015 and continuing through his time in office and beyond.

Throughout his first term, Trump repeatedly targeted The New York Times and other major media outlets, frequently dismissing critical coverage as “fake news” and accusing reporters and editors of entrenched political bias.

During that period, the Times published a series of high-profile investigative pieces examining Trump’s tax records, business affairs, and administration policies. Trump disputed or denied many of those reports.

In response to Trump’s criticisms over the years, the newspaper has consistently stood by its journalism, maintaining that its reporting is grounded in verified facts and serves the public interest.

A Times spokesperson has previously said the paper’s mission is to “seek the truth and help people understand the world,” stressing that coverage is not shaped to satisfy any political leader.

When Trump has labeled the paper an “enemy of the people” in the past, Times executives have rejected that claim, arguing that a free press is constitutionally protected and vital to holding those in power accountable.

The newspaper has also emphasized that its opinion section operates separately from its newsroom and represents a variety of viewpoints, a distinction it has highlighted amid criticism from Trump and his supporters.

{Matzav.com}

A sweeping audit released Tuesday by State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman paints a troubling picture of security, management, and coordination failures along the Seam Line and the crossings surrounding Yerushalayim, shortcomings that have accumulated over many years.

The report evaluates the preparedness and performance of the authorities responsible for the barrier and crossings, with particular attention to the lessons of the October 7 massacre and the Swords of Iron War. Engelman’s findings indicate that longstanding government decisions were not properly implemented and that operational weaknesses remain unresolved.

One of the central findings concerns the physical barrier itself. According to the audit, only 61% of the several hundred kilometers comprising the seam line route are protected by a physical obstacle. In the remaining areas, wide gaps allow Palestinians to cross without inspection. In some places, including an 11-kilometer stretch on one route and a six-kilometer stretch on another, no barrier exists at all—conditions the Comptroller described as posing a significant risk of terrorist infiltration.

The report also highlights systemic problems at the crossings. It notes the lack of an approved operating framework, the failure to carry out key government decisions regarding civilian management, and what it describes as an insufficient response by the Shin Bet to professional recommendations. Despite a Prime Ministerial decision dating back to 2005, not a single crossing in the Yerushalayim perimeter sector has been transferred to civilian operation.

Further criticism is directed at the Israel Police, which, according to the audit, have been running the crossings for roughly 20 years without a formal doctrine or permanent command structure. Of the 16 crossings in the sector, only two are supervised by commanders formally authorized for the role. Engelman warned that this situation creates dangerous security gaps and weakens coordination among the IDF, police, Border Guard, and civilian security elements.

On the ground, the audit found that Border Guard units were reassigned from routine security duties in the area to other missions, diminishing the overall defensive posture along the seam line. The report also cites inconsistent and incomplete reporting between the IDF and police regarding infiltration incidents, resulting in a fragmented and uncoordinated response.

Additional deficiencies identified include aging infrastructure, manpower shortages, inadequate inspection equipment, and failures in coordination between government ministries. One example cited is the prolonged delay in opening the subsidence road at the Qalandiya crossing, which the report attributes to disputes between the Ministry of Transportation and the police.

Among the Comptroller’s recommendations are completing the civilianization of the crossings, establishing a clear police operating doctrine, improving intelligence-sharing among all relevant agencies, and immediately closing existing gaps in the barrier. The report also calls for reexamining the route of the barrier based on updated threat assessments.

Reacting to the findings, the Regavim movement issued a sharply worded response, saying: “The State Comptroller’s report addressing the October 7 scenario in the Yerushalayim area is welcome, but it focuses on marginal issues. The seam line will always be breached. Every day, dozens and hundreds of Arabs from Judea and Samaria cross the fence. Even the most expensive and fortified fence in the south was breached within minutes by terrorists wearing flip-flops.”

Regavim added that fences alone cannot prevent terrorism, arguing that the roots of the problem lie in education, territorial withdrawals, failed agreements, and weak governance. “In Yerushalayim, as elsewhere,” the organization said, “only firm control of the territory-through military and civilian presence, settlement, and governance-can address the dangerous security reality facing the State of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

In a wide-ranging appearance on “The Shawn Ryan Show” released Monday, Hunter Biden offered unusually blunt criticism of two of the most controversial episodes of his father’s presidency, faulting both the handling of immigration at the southern border and the execution of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Discussing immigration, Hunter Biden said the approach taken during the Biden administration unraveled badly, calling the situation at the border “a disaster.” While stressing support for robust, lawful immigration, he argued that the country “doesn’t want immigrants that are coming here illegally, draining us of resources” and being “prioritized above” veterans and other Americans who are struggling.

The exchange came as host Shawn Ryan pressed him on frustrations voiced by many Americans, particularly the contrast between strained services for veterans and taxpayer-funded assistance for illegal immigrants in major U.S. cities. Hunter Biden rejected the idea that simply cutting migrant benefits would fix problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, saying his father “cared” deeply about veterans and citing the PACT Act as evidence of that commitment.

Even so, his remarks echoed a long-standing Republican critique that the administration surrendered operational control of the border and declined to fully enforce existing laws until political pressure intensified. Government data has underscored the magnitude of the surge. The Congressional Budget Office estimated net immigration of roughly 2.4 million people per year in both 2023 and 2024 under an “other foreign nationals” category, with levels expected to decline closer to historical norms afterward.

Hunter Biden also revisited a familiar Democratic argument over a stalled bipartisan border proposal, saying a sweeping bill crafted by Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and Chris Murphy of Connecticut had Republican backing until Donald Trump intervened ahead of the 2024 election. Republicans, however, have maintained that the necessary enforcement tools were already in place and that then-President Joe Biden opted not to deploy them, while Trump emphasized deterrence, removals, and curbing asylum abuse through campaigns and executive actions.

Turning to Afghanistan, Hunter Biden said that ending the two-decade war was justified, describing the decision to leave as “the right thing to do.” At the same time, he acknowledged that the manner in which the withdrawal unfolded was “an obvious” failure.

He pointed to the ISIS-K suicide bombing at Kabul’s airport during the evacuation, which killed 13 U.S. service members and about 170 Afghan civilians, as emblematic of what went wrong. Reflecting on responsibility for the outcome, he said: “I think that there was a better way to do it, and … I can blame it on his generals, I can blame it on [other] people [for] the way in which we did it, but — and my dad always knew this also, is that the buck stops with him.”

Hunter Biden added that his father was “crushed” by the deaths of the troops. His candid comments, however, are likely to reignite scrutiny of the administration’s planning and the deadly consequences of the withdrawal, an episode Republicans have long cited as a symbol of weakened American credibility overseas.

{Matzav.com}

Yeshiva bochur Binyamin Kreif, who was released after three and a half months in military prison for failing to report to the draft office, spoke Monday night in a wide-ranging interview about his incarceration, including two months spent in solitary confinement, the high-profile escape attempt that drew national attention, and the message he wants fellow yeshiva students to hear: “Prison is a summer camp. Don’t be afraid.”

Kreif spoke with broadcaster Yankele Friedman, who opened the conversation by describing the emotional scenes surrounding Kreif’s release, including a celebratory reception in Modi’in Illit and what he termed a “royal welcome,” complete with a limousine. Friedman said Kreif had been jailed solely because he is a yeshiva student devoted to Torah study, adding that tefillos for his release had come from across the country. “I saw videos today of thousands celebrating together with him. He was welcomed like a king,” Friedman said.

Kreif thanked Friedman for his steady support throughout his imprisonment, calling him a “holy person” whose encouragement helped him endure months behind bars.

During the interview, Kreif described in stark detail the conditions he faced, most notably two months in solitary confinement, in a cell measuring roughly two and a half meters. “I was in solitary for two months—just a cell and a guard watching you all the time,” he said. According to Kreif, security was intentionally stringent, with guards rotating every four hours to prevent any rapport. He said the harsh treatment stemmed from the widely documented escape incident that followed his arrest. “The guards told me, ‘You shamed the IDF,’” Kreif recalled. “I answered them, ‘Fortunate are we.’”

Despite the isolation and physical strain, Kreif said he and other inmates found ways to lift their spirits and even inject humor into daily life. He described harmless antics meant to unsettle guards without being caught, such as ducking into camera-free restrooms and making animal noises. “We turned the place into a summer camp,” he said with a smile. “We’d shout, ‘Zoo—fall in!’ and keep them on edge all night.” Friedman wondered whether such behavior prolonged Kreif’s time in solitary, but Kreif insisted the goal was to retain dignity and feel like “a prince” even in prison.

One of the interview’s most striking moments involved Kreif’s encounter with an atheist inmate who was transferred into his cell just days before his release. Kreif said that over the course of four days, he shared parables and spoke about faith, sparking a profound change. “On the day I was released, he told me, ‘Binyamin, can you leave me your peyos so I can look chareidi too?’” Kreif recounted. Friedman responded that even behind bars, Kreif had merited “bringing a lost brother closer.” Kreif added that many secular inmates expressed deep respect for the chareidi yeshiva students housed alongside them.

As the conversation drew to a close, Kreif addressed yeshiva students anxious about the prospect of arrest. “There’s really nothing to fear about this prison. It truly is a summer camp,” he said confidently. He acknowledged that solitary confinement is difficult, but emphasized that conditions improve significantly once inmates are moved to the regular unit, where the atmosphere is far more social and supportive.

{Matzav.com}

A heartening and widely discussed engagement was announced yesterday, Zos Chanukah 5786, involving a 25-year-old yeshiva bochur who took part last year in a well-known Chassidishe segulah for shidduchim — and is now celebrating his engagement.

The chosson, Shmuel Aharon Chazan, is among the talmidim of Yeshiva Kiryas Melech. He became engaged yesterday to a young woman from the Gutfarb family of Kiryat Sefer less than a year after traveling to Poland to participate in the traditional segulah associated with the yahrtzeit of rav Dovid of Lelov.

Each year, on 7 Shevat, dozens of unmarried men who are awaiting their zivug travel to Poland, where the Lelover Rebbe conducts a tish at the site of the yahrtzeit. As part of a long-standing custom regarded by many as a tried and tested segulah, participants dance atop a table during the tish, davening for salvation in their personal lives.

With the upcoming yahrtzeit only weeks away, another story of yeshuah has now emerged. The chosson lives in Beit Shemesh near the center of Lelover Chassidus. After hearing about the custom, he traveled last year on 7 Shevat to the tziyun of the Lelover Rebbe in Poland, took part in the dance, and yesterday — on Zos Chanukah — celebrated his engagement.

This is not the first such case. In Adar of last year, we reported on another engagement that followed the same segulah: a 29-year-old talmid of Yeshivas Oraysa who became engaged less than a month after participating in the Lelover yahrtzeit dance. He has since married, b’shaah tovah u’mutzlachas.

A striking detail in both cases is that neither chosson is a follower of Lelover Chassidus. Nonetheless, both traveled to Poland, fulfilled the segulah with complete faith, and were subsequently zocheh to see yeshuah.

{Matzav.com}

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie sharply criticized President Trump’s recent conduct, saying the past week reflected poorly on the administration and warning that Republicans could pay a political price if voters don’t feel tangible improvements in their daily lives.

Speaking during a panel segment on ABC News’s “This Week,” Christie dismissed any suggestion that recent developments were routine. “It’s not a strange week, Jon, it’s an awful week,” he told host Jonathan Karl.

Christie argued that the president needs to refocus on governing rather than staging appearances, cautioning that symbolic gestures won’t address public concerns. “And the president better wake up to the fact that going to Rocky Mount, N.C., is not going to solve his problems,” he said. “And that he better start solving the American people’s problems, or our party is going to have a big problem.”

The former governor, who mounted unsuccessful Republican presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2024, said Trump has failed to connect with voters, pointing to surveys indicating that most Americans believe the economy has not improved under Trump compared with the Biden administration.

Christie also took aim at Trump’s conduct over the last week, criticizing what he described as a “disgraceful post” about the reported deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, in which Trump suggested the noted Hollywood director and Democratic donor died due to hostility toward the president or from “Trump derangement syndrome.”

He went on to list a series of actions he found troubling, saying, “Then he puts his name on the building named after an assassinated President. Then he gives a frenetic national TV speech filled with inaccuracies and really sounded like he was yelling at the American people that they don’t get how great he’s done so far. And then he puts these plaques up underneath the presidential pictures he’s put on the colonnade, filled with things that you could tell just from reading them that he wrote them himself,” adding that Trump “even figured out a way to get himself into the Andrew Jackson plaque, but as a martyr, worse than whatever happened to Andrew Jackson.”

Christie further faulted the president for failing to secure an agreement to end the war in Ukraine and pointed to recent votes on Capitol Hill where some Republicans broke ranks with Trump, including efforts to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Despite the criticism, polling suggests Trump’s standing has improved modestly in recent weeks. According to Decision Desk HQ’s polling aggregate, his approval rating rebounded from a second-term low of 41 percent last month, recorded during the prolonged government shutdown, to about 45 percent — roughly in line with his average since taking office.

Still, signs of vulnerability remain as Trump approaches 2026. Recent surveys show him registering some of his weakest economic approval numbers, with voters citing tariffs, high prices, and persistent cost-of-living pressures as ongoing concerns.

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{Matzav.com}

Israel’s defense minister moved quickly on Tuesday to clarify remarks he made earlier in the day regarding the northern Gaza Strip, stressing that the government is not planning to establish settlements there.

According to a statement from Yisroel Katz’s office, his earlier comments about creating military youth communities were intended “solely in a security context,” adding unequivocally that “the government has no intention of establishing settlements in the Gaza Strip.”

The statement further emphasized the government’s security doctrine, noting: “The Defense Minister emphasized the central principle of border protection in every arena: The IDF is the first and last line of defense for Israeli citizens, and the State of Israel relies for its defense only on it and the security forces.”

The clarification followed remarks Katz delivered earlier at an event in Beit El, where he spoke about plans for the security establishment to create military youth communities in northern Gaza and to restore IDF bases in northern Samaria that had been relocated in past years.

At that ceremony, Katz underscored the ideological and security importance of Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria, declaring: “The State of Israel expresses, once again, in the clearest possible way, its commitment and trust in settlement in Judea and Samaria, which guards the heart of our land, connects us to our heritage, roots, and ideology. The past few years have proven that where there is settlement, there is security. Just as the settlement protects a large portion of Israel’s citizens, so our role is to ensure that we protect the protector.”

He continued by linking settlement policy to broader security operations, saying that “Settlement is a central part of a broader operation to remove threats throughout Judea and Samaria proactively.”

Katz also used the occasion to address the government’s decision announced a day earlier to shutter the IDF’s Galei Tzahal radio station. Referring to the move, he said, “We are ending this anomaly of a civilian broadcasting station inside the IDF that attacks the IDF and its soldiers relentlessly, even during the ongoing war. After I examined the matter, and following identical positions expressed by many defense ministers and chiefs of staff in the past, I will not be deterred and will continue to advance the decision.”

He went on to accuse opponents of politicizing the issue, adding, “Today, some have changed their position out of opposition to the government, and the judicial system has also enlisted to thwart the decision, as part of its struggle against the government. The summer camp is over.”

The Beit El gathering marked a milestone agreement to remove the Binyamin Regional Brigade base from the area’s civilian government compound, where it had been located for nearly four decades. In its place, a new residential neighborhood with 1,200 housing units is planned. The development has already received approval for planning and execution from the Supreme Planning Council.

Among those attending the ceremony were Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs, and senior officials from the Civil Administration. Beit El mayor Shai Alon recited a Shehecheyanu to mark the occasion and led participants in a celebratory toast for the project.

Despite the subsequent clarification from Katz’s office, the Yesha Council welcomed his initial remarks, saying, “We welcome Defense Minister Yisroel Katz on his important announcement on the establishment of new military youth communities in the Gaza Strip. The uprooting of the settlements and the expulsion of the Jews was a terrible injustice, and settlement in Gaza is the rectification. Settlement in the Strip has always strengthened the security of the south of the country and of the entire State of Israel. Now it will also make clear to the enemy that they will pay for the October 7th massacre with the permanent loss of their land.”

The proposed military youth communities, referred to in Hebrew as Garinim, are typically made up of young people or young families who commit to communal living and joint work, often centered on agriculture or structured volunteer frameworks. Members of these groups usually enlist in the IDF together upon reaching draft age, serve as a cohesive unit, and later return to their community to raise families and sustain future growth. Under the current framework, the communities would be affiliated with the Nachal Brigade, though individual military roles would continue to be assigned by the IDF at enlistment.

{Matzav.com}

A decades-old photograph showing a young Elon Musk celebrating a Jewish holiday has surged across social media, igniting renewed discussion about the billionaire’s background.

The image depicts Musk as a child wearing a red outfit trimmed in white, complete with a hood that some viewers likened to a Santa Claus costume. Visible behind him is signage referencing Purim, according to the original post that shared the photo.

Musk himself weighed in on the viral post, confirming its authenticity by noting that it was taken “at Purim.”

The resurfaced image has prompted a fresh round of speculation in online comment sections about Musk’s ethnicity, with some users wondering whether the entrepreneur might be Jewish, despite his repeated statements to the contrary.

In earlier public remarks, the businessman has said that he attended Rachel Spiro Hebrew Kindergarten in Pretoria, South Africa, a detail that often resurfaces in such discussions.

Although Musk has faced criticism in the past over statements that some have labeled antisemitic, he has consistently expressed positive sentiments toward Jewish people. The SpaceX founder has even described himself as “aspirationally Jewish.”

{Matzav.com}

Jim Beam has announced that it will suspend operations at its primary bourbon-making facility in Kentucky beginning January 1, even as the broader whiskey industry grapples with slowing demand and shifting consumer habits.

In a statement sent to CBS News, the company said its Clermont, Kentucky distillery will shut down production for a limited period “while we take the opportunity to invest in site enhancements.” Despite the pause, Jim Beam noted that the James B. Beam campus will remain open to the public throughout the shutdown.

While activity at the main site will be paused, distilling will continue at other company facilities. Production will carry on at the Fred B. Noe craft distillery in Clermont as well as the Booker Noe distillery located in Boston, Kentucky.

The temporary shutdown comes during a challenging period for the spirits industry. Americans are drinking less overall, with Gallup reporting that only 54% of U.S. adults now consume alcohol — a level close to a 90-year low.

International sales have also taken a hit. According to an October report from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, exports of American-made spirits dropped 9% in the second quarter. The report pointed to the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, noting especially sharp declines in shipments to Canada. Exports to that market plunged 85% after Canadian retailers removed U.S. spirits from store shelves in response to President Trump’s trade measures.

Domestic production data reflects the slowdown as well. Through August, whiskey makers produced 55 million fewer proof gallons than during the same period last year, a decrease of 28%, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. A proof gallon is defined as one U.S. gallon of liquid containing 50% alcohol by volume.

Even so, consumers are unlikely to see shortages anytime soon. Kentucky distilleries are currently storing a record 16.1 million barrels of aging bourbon, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. Reported in October, that figure represents the highest total since Prohibition ended and marks a 27% increase compared with 2024.

Industry groups attribute the buildup to both a growing number of distillers operating in Kentucky and a recent cooling in demand. Trade uncertainty, softer export markets, and changes in drinking patterns have all contributed to the slowdown, the association said.

To qualify as bourbon, whiskey must meet specific U.S. legal standards. Among other requirements, it must be aged in new, charred oak containers and made from a grain mixture containing at least 51% corn, according to the whiskey tourism site Bourbon Country.

{Matzav.com}

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For those who crave serious Torah, total immersion, and an atmosphere charged with intensity and purpose, the announcement of the Agudah 5786 Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim lands like a jolt of electricity. This winter, Agudath Israel of America will once again bring together lomdei Torah from around the world for five unforgettable days of learning in Yerushalayim, from Sunday, February 15 through Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The Yarchei Kallah is a full-throttle ascent into a single sugya, treated with focus, clarity, and discipline, from the first seder to the last. In the span of one week, participants work toward real mastery, guided by a carefully structured program that pairs high-level shiurim with serious hachanah and in-depth preparation.

At the center of the week are shiurim from Gedolei Yisroel, whose presence sets the tone and elevates the entire experience.

The atmosphere is unmistakable. Hundreds of bnei Torah learning shoulder to shoulder. The hum of chavrusos locked in debate. Tables filled from early morning until late at night. A sense that every moment matters, that this is time reclaimed and used properly.

And while the learning is intense, everything around it is designed to support it. Comfortable hotel accommodations, gourmet meals, and seamless logistics allow participants to stay focused, energized, and fully present in the beis medrash, without distractions pulling them away.

The Yarchei Kallah has long been known as a place where people come to reset their learning, raise their level, and reconnect with why they learn in the first place. In Yerushalayim, during these charged winter days, that impact is felt even more sharply.

For those ready to push harder, think deeper, and experience what a week of real Torah immersion can feel like, the Yarchei Kallah 5786 is on the calendar — and it promises to be nothing short of powerful.

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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu warned on Monday of a “very severe response” should Iran take action against Israel, while emphasizing that the Jewish state is “not seeking confrontation.”​

Speaking at a joint press conference in Yerushalayim alongside the leaders of Greece and Cyprus, the premier said that Israel is aware of recent Iranian “exercises,” referring to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missile drill which, according to Axios, Israel has warned the Trump administration could be a cover for a strike against Israel.

“We are following this and we are making the necessary preparations,” said Netanyahu. “I want to make it clear to Iran here, any action against Israel will be met with a very severe response.”​

Netanyahu spoke following a trilateral summit with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

​Asked if the Islamic Republic would be on the table during his sixth meeting with President Donald Trump, scheduled for Dec. 29 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Netanyahu affirmed that it will be discussed, saying that “we are not seeking confrontation with anyone … we seek stability, prosperity and peace.” The premier added that there were “great achievements” during the 12-day war with Iran in June, stressing that “our basic expectations from Iran have not changed,” a position that Washington shares, namely, “the level of enrichment and other activities, the ending of the proxy wars against us.”​

Huckabee: Iran didn’t get Trump’s full message​

In a video aired on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee responded to reports that the Islamic Republic is attempting to rebuild its nuclear and missile programs just six months after the joint Israeli-American operation, arguing that Tehran’s actions pose a threat to the entire world, not just the Jewish state.

“Iran, I don’t know if they ever took him [Trump] seriously, until the night that the B-2 bombers went to Fordow. I hope they got the message, but apparently they didn’t get the full message,” he said during an interview with the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. “They appear to be trying to reconstitute and find a new way to dig the hole deeper, secure it more,” he added.​

Huckabee stressed that Iran threatens not just Israel, but the United States and Europe, and warned that if the Europeans fail to comprehend this, “then they’re dumber than I sometimes think they are.” At the same time, he said he was pleased that snapback sanctions were recently reimposed against the regime in Tehran, calling them “very important” and saying that more of these types of actions “will help to maybe choke off Iran’s ability to do what they’re trying to do.”​

Huckabee emphasized that the Iranian regime has “threatened America for 46 consecutive years” since 1979, when the ayatollahs took power.​

“They’ve always said, ‘Death to Israel, death to America,’ in the same sentence. This was never a separation. Israel is only the appetizer because you’re closer and you’re an easier target than the vast geographical expanse that represents the United States,” said Huckabee.​

“But they’ve never hidden the fact that the real entrée, their ultimate goal, is to destroy the United States, because if you want to destroy Western civilization and move the world back to the 7th century and take us back to a place that, thank God, doesn’t exist anymore, then you cannot do that without taking the United States down,” the diplomat continued. “And that’s why they have said for all of these 46 years, ‘Death to America.’” JNS

{Matzav.com}