Matzav

Senator Bernie Sanders has ignited controversy with remarks praising President Donald Trump’s border policy, saying during an appearance on The Tim Dillon Show that Trump “did a better job” securing America’s borders than President Biden. Sanders called on Democrats to reembrace an enforcement-centered immigration approach, declaring that “it ain’t that hard to do.”

The comments, released Wednesday in a podcast episode now widely shared on X and YouTube, mark one of Sanders’ most direct challenges to his own party in years. “So long as we have nation-states, you’ve got to have borders,” he said. “If you don’t have any borders, then you don’t have a nation.”

In an unusually candid assessment, the Vermont senator admitted his discomfort while still crediting Trump. “Trump did a better job. I don’t like Trump, you know, but we should have a secure border, and it ain’t that hard to do,” he said, before adding that the current administration had failed to follow through. “Biden didn’t do it.”

The clip quickly gained traction online, with the Republican National Committee’s research division reposting it within hours, highlighting Sanders’ remarks as evidence of what they described as “growing Democratic acknowledgment of Biden’s border failures.”

Sanders, who twice sought the Democratic nomination for president on a populist economic platform, has occasionally split from his party on immigration. Even during his 2020 campaign, he warned against “open borders” messaging and insisted that the United States already possesses “the technology and manpower” necessary to maintain control. He reiterated that sentiment on the podcast, saying bluntly, “I’m not going to sit here and tell you that overall [Biden] did a good job — it was not.”

The senator’s remarks come amid record-breaking numbers at the southern border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 2.47 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2023 — the highest ever — compared to about 458,000 in Trump’s final year in office.

Sanders made the comments while promoting his new book, Fight Oligarchy, and responding to host Tim Dillon’s question about where Democrats have lost touch with working-class voters. His tone represented a notable shift from his earlier stance. During his 2020 run, Sanders accused Trump of “demonizing immigrants” and dismissed talk of a border crisis as “manufactured.”

Back in March 2020, Sanders told a Fox News town hall audience he “would not close the borders” even amid the COVID-19 outbreak, calling such restrictions “xenophobic.” And in January 2019, when Trump delivered a televised address warning of a border emergency, Sanders brushed it off, saying “we don’t need to create artificial crises.”

Now, five years later, the longtime progressive’s rhetoric has taken a striking turn. By insisting that “you’ve got to have borders” and asserting that Trump “did a better job,” Sanders has aligned himself — at least on immigration enforcement — with an argument long championed by conservatives.

The New York Knicks have ordered mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani to immediately stop using the team’s logo in his campaign materials, warning that his ad implied a false association with the franchise and violated its intellectual property rights.

The controversy erupted after Mamdani’s campaign aired an ad during the Knicks’ season opener on Wednesday night, featuring the team’s iconic orange-and-blue design but swapping out the word “Knicks” for “Zohran.” The ad carried the tagline, “This is our year. This is our time,” and appeared across the candidate’s social media accounts.

Following The New York Post’s report exposing the unauthorized use, Mamdani’s campaign swiftly removed the online ads by Friday afternoon.

In a letter sent to the campaign, the Knicks’ legal team accused Mamdani of misleading voters by creating the false impression that his candidacy was “affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by, or in some way connected with the Knicks.” The team demanded that all campaign material containing Knicks-related imagery or branding be deleted immediately.

A spokesperson for the franchise confirmed the team’s actions in a statement to The Post: “The NY Knicks have sent NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a cease-and-desist letter for using the NY Knicks logo to promote his candidacy.” The spokesperson added, “The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to enforce our rights.”

Mamdani, the socialist Democrat leading in early polls, had promoted the ad as a symbol of local pride and energy heading into the race, but the Knicks’ move forced his team to backtrack.

While the organization made its disapproval public, Knicks owner James Dolan has stayed quiet on the mayoral race itself. Still, Dolan has not avoided politics altogether—recently revealing that he quietly supported independent candidate Diana Florence’s campaign for Manhattan district attorney in an effort to unseat incumbent Alvin Bragg.

{Matzav.com}

Ireland has elected Catherine Connolly, a far-left independent and outspoken critic of Israel, as its next president in a sweeping victory that reshapes the country’s political tone.

Final results released today confirmed Connolly’s decisive win, with 63% of first-preference ballots once invalid votes were excluded. Her rival, Heather Humphreys of the center-right Fine Gael party, trailed far behind at 29%. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial, the result marks a sharp political statement from Irish voters.

At a victory celebration in Dublin Castle, the 68-year-old Connolly pledged to promote unity and uphold Ireland’s tradition of neutrality. “I would be an inclusive president for all of you, and I regard it as an absolute honor,” she said, promising to be “a voice for peace” and to “build on our policy of neutrality.”

Her win was widely expected after polls showed overwhelming public backing, bolstered by endorsements from Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, and the Social Democrats. Connolly, a former barrister who entered parliament in 2016, has built her reputation as an independent voice critical of mainstream parties and Ireland’s alignment with Western military policies.

She has long been a controversial figure for her positions on the Middle East. In September, Connolly referred to Hamas as “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people.” The remark provoked backlash from Jewish groups and political opponents alike.

Amid mounting criticism, Connolly later insisted she “utterly condemned” the group’s attacks but simultaneously accused Israel of committing a “genocide” in Gaza — a charge Israel categorically denies. She also previously alleged that Israel was “behaving like a terrorist state.”

Earlier in the day, Humphreys conceded defeat even before the final votes were tallied, acknowledging the scale of Connolly’s lead.

Connolly has also warned of what she calls the European Union’s “growing militarization” following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, arguing that Ireland should resist pressure to deepen its military ties. Critics, however, say her rigid neutrality risks isolating Ireland from key allies and diminishing its influence in European security discussions.

She will replace Michael D. Higgins, who is stepping down after serving two full seven-year terms since 2011. Connolly thus becomes Ireland’s 10th president — and only the third woman to hold the office.

Prime Minister Micheál Martin congratulated her on what he called a “very comprehensive election victory.” He added that he looks forward to collaborating with the new president “as Ireland continues to play a significant role on the global stage, and as we look forward to hosting the EU presidency in the second half of 2026.”

A shocking report from The Daily Mail has revealed that more than 150 convicted Palestinian terrorists, recently deported from Israel under the ceasefire-hostage deal, are now living in luxury at a five-star Marriott property in Cairo, mingling with unsuspecting tourists at the Renaissance Cairo Mirage Hotel.

The former prisoners, many serving life sentences for some of the bloodiest terror attacks in Israel’s history, were spotted lounging poolside, enjoying buffet meals, and sipping drinks at the hotel bar. According to the Mail, journalists who booked nearby rooms found themselves “just a few doors down” from the ex-inmates.

Witnesses described the surreal atmosphere: freed terrorists taking selfies with relatives and fans, while an outdoor wedding played music in the background. Some family members “had flown to be with them,” the report noted, adding that the group appeared to be celebrating openly with “adoring local fans.”

Among those seen at the hotel were several notorious figures. The Mail identified Mahmoud Issa, jailed since 1993 for orchestrating the abduction and murder of Border Police officer Nissim Toledano; Samir Abu Nima, responsible for a 1983 Jerusalem bus bombing that killed six people, including an 11-year-old; and Muhammad Zawahra, involved in a deadly 2024 shooting near a Jerusalem checkpoint.

The weekend also saw a bizarre twist when Akram Abu Bakr, a former Fatah Tanzim commander, held his wedding at the same hotel, reportedly attended by several of the deported terrorists.

Guests were seen “withdrawing wads of cash from ATMs within the hotel,” The Daily Mail said, raising questions about how the lavish stay was being financed. A hotel staff member confirmed to Israel’s Channel 12 that the group had indeed been staying at the property, though he claimed they had since checked out.

Their deportation came under the terms of a U.S.-brokered truce announced on October 13. Israel released roughly 2,000 Palestinian security prisoners — including around 250 serving life terms — after Hamas freed the final 20 living hostages taken on October 7, 2023. Those convicted of particularly severe crimes were expelled from Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, with 154 sent to Egypt.

Upon arrival in Cairo, the ex-prisoners were greeted by “huge crowds of friends, family and fans,” before heading “to a function room beneath booked for the occasion,” the Mail reported. Photos and videos circulating online show smiling attendees waving Palestinian flags and embracing the newly arrived men.

One of them, Mahmoud al-Arida — a senior Islamic Jihad figure who helped mastermind the 2021 Gilboa Prison escape — even shared a photo of himself enjoying a meal at the hotel. “My first time with a spoon after four long years with local labneh from Arraba and thyme from the Arraba hills,” he wrote. Al-Arida famously used a spoon to dig his way out of the high-security prison.

According to The Daily Mail, Egyptian authorities are allowing the deportees to apply for long-term residency but are closely monitoring their movements. Armed police guard the hotel, and those wishing to leave must request permission. Some, however, have already been cleared to depart — including Basem Khandakji, who participated in the 2004 Tel Aviv Carmel Market bombing that killed three and wounded more than 50.

Security experts are warning that the situation poses a significant risk. Anthony Glees, an emeritus professor at the University of Buckingham, cautioned, “They are our sworn enemies. They will cut off the heads of British soldiers and kill left, right and center.” He added, “We must not let them collect together. There can be no hiding place for these people. Otherwise, you are setting up a terrorist army in exile.”

A retired Israeli intelligence operative identified as “Guy C” offered a similar warning, saying the deported militants now have “no restrictions on their movements in these countries.” He explained, “They can walk freely, travel to Europe – even the UK – receive donations from naive supporters, and gain backing from protesters who already sympathize with them. The first thing these terrorists will do when they reach Turkey or Qatar is contact their associates in Gaza and the West Bank to send money and re-establish their networks. They will quickly regroup and form new terror cells.”

The Mail estimated the cost of housing all 154 ex-prisoners at the Cairo Marriott to exceed £30,000 — roughly $39,000 — per night, with rooms starting around $200 each. The report concluded that it remains unclear who is footing the bill, as Marriott has yet to comment.

{Matzav.com}

The identity of the mystery philanthropist who pledged $130 million to cover U.S. military salaries during the ongoing government shutdown has been revealed as Timothy Mellon, a billionaire railroad executive and descendant of one of America’s most storied banking families, according to The New York Times.

Despite the staggering figure, Mellon’s donation amounts to roughly $100 per service member. The U.S. government typically spends close to $6.4 billion every two weeks on military payroll, meaning the contribution represents only a tiny fraction of what’s required to pay America’s troops.

The arrangement could also violate federal law. The Times, citing individuals familiar with the matter, reported that the use of Mellon’s funds might breach the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from using unappropriated money to finance operations or salaries.

President Donald Trump first announced the contribution Thursday at the White House, calling the donor a “great patriot” and “friend of mine,” though he did not disclose Mellon’s identity at the time.

“And he’s a big supporter of mine,” Trump said the following evening. “He’s a wonderful man, and he doesn’t want publicity.”

Mellon’s fortune, estimated by Forbes to be close to $1 billion, comes from his vast railroad and investment holdings. However, he once dismissed the label of billionaire, insisting in a 2024 email to a news outlet, “Billionaire NOT! … Never have been, never will be.”

His donation is intended to temporarily cover pay and benefits for U.S. troops while the federal government remains partially shuttered, though experts say it’s largely symbolic given the immense costs of military compensation.

With more than 1.3 million active-duty troops, the Trump administration’s 2025 budget projected nearly $600 billion in military pay and benefits. Against that backdrop, Mellon’s $130 million contribution—while headline-grabbing—barely makes a dent.

Mellon, the grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, has long been among Trump’s top political allies. During the 2024 election cycle, he gave $50 million to Trump’s super PAC—one of the largest single political donations ever disclosed, The Times noted.

But the move has drawn concern from lawmakers. A spokesman for Senator Chris Coons of Delaware warned of the dangers in allowing private individuals to fund government functions. “Using anonymous donations to fund our military raises troubling questions of whether our own troops are at risk of literally being bought and paid for by foreign powers,” the spokesman said.

{Matzav.com}

Norway’s national broadcaster, NRK, has sparked fierce criticism after broadcasting antisemitic jokes on a satire program aimed at audiences as young as nine years old.

The controversy erupted during the latest episode of Nytt på Nytt, a popular satirical news show that aired tonight. Host Tuva Johannessen joked, “U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson believes reasonable people thank America for bombing ships full of fentanyl — but if you replace fentanyl with Jews, it suddenly doesn’t sound so okay.”

The audience and panel members laughed, prompting Johannessen to continue with another remark referencing an earlier segment about smuggling adult magazines from Sweden to Norway. “Imagine if Jews were being smuggled from Sweden to Norway — that wouldn’t work,” he said.

The exchange drew swift condemnation from Jewish organizations and Israeli representatives, who said such rhetoric crosses every line of decency.

On Elpeleg, an Israeli educator based in Norway who documents antisemitism in the country’s public media, denounced the broadcast, saying authorities have continually ignored repeated complaints. “The hosts’ cynical humor is simply warped. The goal here is to humiliate Jews. What’s worse is that this is a show officially rated for children age 9 and up — practically an invitation for parents to watch with their kids. And then people wonder why antisemitism is surging here,” he said.

This latest scandal followed another troubling broadcast just a week earlier, when an NRK radio presenter made an antisemitic remark on air. “I have a great morning joke for our listeners. Do you know what happened to the Jew who ran into a wall with an erection? He broke his nose,” the host said.

In response, the Israeli Embassy in Oslo issued a sharp rebuke: “Antisemitism is never funny. It is unacceptable for such ‘humor’ to be given a platform by Norway’s public broadcaster and remain online. Action must be taken.” Despite the uproar, NRK declined to remove the offensive clip, offering only a written apology after widespread backlash.

Elpeleg condemned the network’s handling of the situation, connecting it to Norway’s wartime legacy. “It’s 2025, not 1945 — yet we’re hearing Nazi jokes on state TV again. It’s unbelievable that this broadcaster, which collaborated with the Nazis and boosted their morale between 1940 and 1945, is still operating like this 80 years later. Schools have started teaching about the ‘genocide’ to 13-year-olds, but at the same time, this is being normalized on educational television. I’ve worked in education here for 25 years, and I’m stunned. History is repeating itself.”

{Matzav.com}

Senior Hamas terror figure Moussa Abu Marzouk announced that it may take a significant amount of time before the group can locate and return the bodies of the remaining hostages. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said that the process “won’t take weeks – it could take months.”

Abu Marzouk explained the difficulty of recovering the remains, stating, “I have said in the past that there will be a problem regarding the deceased hostages, because it is difficult to hand them all over and hard to locate them all at once. This won’t take weeks – it could take months.”

He continued by admitting that some bodies may never be found, saying, “It could be that we won’t be able to find some of the deceased hostages. We say clearly: We have no deceased hostages that we are able to hand over.”

Earlier this month, the Hamas leader made a similar assertion, predicting that locating both living and deceased hostages would take “months.” Yet less than two weeks later, the organization freed all 20 living captives in a single day, undermining his earlier claims about the expected delay.

Meanwhile, tonight, as previously reported here on Matzav, President Donald Trump issued a direct warning to Hamas, urging the terror group to promptly deliver the bodies of the slain hostages.

“We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING,” Trump wrote. “Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action.”

He pointed out that while some remains may be harder to recover, others are accessible, saying, “Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not.”

Concluding his statement, Trump made clear that his patience is limited: “Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, ‘Both sides would be treated fairly,’ that only applies if they comply with their obligations. Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely.”

{Matzav.com}

Fatah, under the leadership of Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, declared that any political or administrative arrangement in the Gaza Strip can only take place within the recognized framework of Palestinian national legitimacy — specifically, through the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine.

The movement asserted that these are the only legitimate entities empowered to safeguard what it called “the Palestinian national enterprise,” insisting that no external body has the authority to shape Gaza’s governance outside these parameters.

In its statement, Fatah stressed that sovereignty over all territories belonging to the State of Palestine — including the Gaza Strip — is a natural and irrevocable right of the Palestinian people and their governing institutions. The leadership, it said, is primarily focused on achieving “a ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip.”

Addressing ongoing discussions about forming an interim administrative committee to oversee Gaza, the movement described the idea as “an important and necessary step,” but stipulated that such a body must “operate under the authority of the government of the State of Palestine.”

On matters of security, Fatah clarified that “responsibility for security in the Gaza Strip lies solely with the official security forces of the Palestinian Authority.” The group further emphasized that any foreign or international security presence “must be stationed only on the border with Israel and with the explicit consent of the Security Council,” ensuring that Palestinian sovereignty remains intact.

Fatah also voiced firm opposition to “any attempt to impose international educational reforms on the Palestinian people,” warning that outside interference would not be tolerated. It stated that the role of the International Peace Committee should be limited “to monitor the cessation of hostilities and to rehabilitate Gaza,” without encroaching on the independence of Palestinian decision-making.

As for disarmament, the movement made clear that any plan to remove weapons from Gaza must occur “within an overall national framework,” guided by the principle of “one authority, one armed force, and one law.” This approach, Fatah noted, would help secure internal unity while eliminating Israeli “pretexts” for maintaining military operations in the Strip.

{Matzav.com}

As Israel moved into the early hours of Sunday morning, the nation officially ended Daylight Saving Time and shifted its clocks back one hour, marking the start of winter’s shorter days.

At precisely 2:00 a.m., time was rolled back to 1:00 a.m., aligning the country with Standard Time once again. This adjustment will remain in place until March 27, 2026, when clocks will once more spring forward to Daylight Saving Time.

The twice-yearly time changes are regulated by the Time Determination Law enacted in 2013. According to this law, Israel reverts to Standard Time on the final Sunday of October, setting clocks back an hour. The return to longer evenings occurs each spring on the Friday preceding the last Sunday in March, when clocks move ahead one hour.

The goal of the seasonal shift is to synchronize waking and working hours with the reduced daylight of winter months, ensuring that mornings begin in sunlight. However, this also means that nightfall arrives earlier, with dusk now descending in the late afternoon.

Although the change allows many to start their day in brighter conditions, it shortens daylight after work, often leading to heavier traffic in the dark and curtailing outdoor and recreational activities during the early evening.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a firm call tonight for the Hamas terror group to hand over the remains of fallen hostages without delay.

In his message he declared, “We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING. Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action.”

He added urgency, noting, “Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not.”

Referring to earlier commitments, he emphasized: “Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, ‘Both sides would be treated fairly,’ that only applies if they comply with their obligations. Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely.”

The night before, a senior Israeli official told Yediot Acharonot that while Hamas could return the bodies of up to eight additional hostages, the group claimed ignorance of the whereabouts of five others.

“They’re playing games and stalling to prolong the ceasefire even without moving into the second stage, which requires disarmament,” the official alleged.

Though Hamas released 20 living hostages under Trump’s Gaza peace plan, the group has delayed returning the bodies of deceased hostages and insists it does not know the location of most of them.

On Thursday morning, Israel’s Defence Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and senior officers from the IDF Intelligence Directorate briefed U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the Kirya in Tel Aviv.

According to Kan 11 News, the Israeli delegation told Vice President Vance that Hamas is capable of retrieving at least ten of the thirteen hostage remains still in the Gaza Strip, even without external assistance.

The intelligence shared with Vance indicated that Hamas can act independently and does not require the deployment of Arab forces or an “international peacekeeping force” proposed under the Trump framework.

Further warning from military intelligence officials described how Hamas has used the ceasefire to rebuild its position in Gaza: rehabilitating terror tunnels, recruiting new personnel, repairing weapons and reorganizing its command structure. These sources cautioned that Hamas shows no sign of disarming or giving up its authority.

And the message delivered to Vice President Vance was direct: “Progress under the Trump framework cannot currently proceed until Hamas fulfills its part of the agreement.”

{Matzav.com}

A Channel 12 evening report on Friday relayed that a large portion of Hamas’s tunnel system was left intact after the Gaza fightingm with more than 60% still undestroyed, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz told U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Many of those subterranean routes reportedly run on both sides of the yellow line, meaning some lie inside zones currently under IDF control as well as inside Gaza.

The same coverage said one of the remaining tunnels was the route used by the militants who killed two IDF soldiers during last week’s Rafah operation. Taken together, the figures imply that, across the past two years, Israeli efforts have eliminated under 40% of the tunnel network.

In his conversation with Vice President Vance, Katz emphasized the strategic priority: “The destruction of the tunnels is the most important joint mission in the demilitarization of Gaza, in accordance with the Trump plan, and preparations must be made to carry it out.”

He added a broader objective: “We must bring back all the hostages and fallen, eliminate all the tunnels, take the weapons from Hamas, and ensure it is not a governing force in Gaza.”

A German manufacturer has turned this week’s Paris art heist into an unexpected marketing moment.

The company behind the furniture elevator used by the thieves in the dramatic Oct. 19 Louvre robbery — in which priceless Napoleonic jewels valued at roughly $102.63 million were stolen — is now capitalizing on the global attention with a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign.

Husband-and-wife team Alexander Böcker and Julia Scharwatz, who head Böcker Maschinenwerke in Werne, western Germany, immediately recognized the equipment featured in photos of the crime scene circulating worldwide. The lift, an Agilo model produced by their firm, had been used by the burglars to haul away their loot through a museum window.

Once they confirmed that no one had been injured in the theft, the couple decided to seize the publicity opportunity. They purchased the rights to one of the now-famous images and published an ad the following day, Oct. 20. The campaign slogan read: “When you’re in a hurry, the Böcker Agilo carries your heavy treasures.”

Böcker told The New York Times that the company had no plans to actively promote the ad in France, but the reaction elsewhere was immediate. Speaking to Reuters, he said, “We have even had feedback from abroad saying, ‘Hey, you Germans do have a sense of humor after all.’”

Ironically, Böcker revealed that the Agilo elevator in question had itself been stolen — taken from a Paris-based company that had originally purchased it from Böcker Maschinenwerke in 2020.

The daring heist, which has left France reeling, continues to dominate headlines — and now, inadvertently, serves as an unorthodox showcase for German engineering and gallows humor.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that trade discussions with Canada have been suspended following outrage over a Canadian political advertisement that featured a manipulated recording of late President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. The video, Trump said, was a “fraudulent” distortion of Reagan’s words.

“Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED,” Trump declared on Truth Social.

Earlier this year, Trump had imposed tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobiles, leading to retaliatory measures from Ottawa. Despite that, both governments had continued working toward a deal addressing the metals sectors — until the controversy over the advertisement brought talks to an abrupt end.

The ad, released by Ontario’s provincial government more than a week ago, was designed to criticize protectionist trade policies. It featured Reagan’s voice saying tariffs trigger “trade wars and economic disaster.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford later confirmed that the clip had drawn Trump’s attention. “I heard that the president heard our ad. I’m sure he wasn’t too happy,” Ford said Tuesday.

The advertisement used segments from Reagan’s 1987 Presidential Radio Address, editing and rearranging several sentences to create a message opposing tariffs. “When someone says, Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports, it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs,” Reagan says in the clip. “And sometimes for a short while it works — but only for a short time.”

He continues in the same recording, warning that “over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer,” and that trade wars make “markets shrink and collapse; businesses and industries shut down; and millions of people lose their jobs.”

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation quickly objected to the ad, calling it a distortion of Reagan’s message. “The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address [by Reagan in 1987], and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks,” the foundation said in a statement, adding that it was exploring legal options.

According to the foundation, the video spliced together five complete sentences from the five-minute address but presented them out of context. Reagan’s speech, they noted, was actually meant to defend temporary tariffs his administration had placed on Japanese imports, calling them an unfortunate but necessary exception to his broader support for free trade.

While the Canadian federal government did not issue an immediate response, the controversy quickly escalated into a diplomatic headache.

Trump, a staunch defender of his tariff policy, has described tariffs as “the most beautiful word in the dictionary” and has repeatedly used them as leverage in global trade negotiations.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed reporters Thursday, saying that Canada “will not allow unfair U.S. access” to its domestic markets if negotiations on various trade agreements falter.

The timing of the dispute is particularly sensitive. The United States, Canada, and Mexico are scheduled to review their 2020 continental free trade pact next year — a process that could be overshadowed by the latest breakdown in trust between Washington and Ottawa.

{Matzav.com}

Chelsea Clinton has come out swinging against President Donald Trump’s plans for a massive renovation of the White House, accusing him of transforming the historic building into what she called a personal monument rather than preserving it as a national treasure.

In a USA Today opinion piece headlined “Trump is Wrecking the People’s House,” Clinton denounced the project — a $250 million privately funded overhaul that includes replacing part of the East Wing with a 90,000-square-foot ballroom. “What was dismantled today isn’t just marble or plaster,” she wrote. “It is a reflection of how easily history can be erased when power forgets purpose.”

Clinton described her criticism as rooted in respect for tradition and civic duty, noting her own years growing up in the White House during her father Bill Clinton’s presidency. “Although I spent many of my formative years living in the White House, I always knew it wasn’t my house,” she wrote. “It was my home, absolutely, but not my house. The White House belongs to the American people.”

She contrasted Trump’s plans with those of earlier presidents who made renovations with historical sensitivity. “When Mrs. Kennedy restored and renovated the White House, she did so with historians, landscape architects and preservation experts,” Clinton said. “It is unsettling that such substantial alterations to the 225-year-old People’s House are being undertaken without a historic-preservation review and seemingly without the involvement of any historians.”

According to the Trump administration, the new ballroom will be completed in time for America’s 250th anniversary next year. Officials say the gold-trimmed space, designed to accommodate 650 guests, will feature bulletproof glass and cutting-edge broadcast equipment. Aides insist the expansion “will not interfere with the building’s original design.”

Clinton, however, called the project a symbol of what she described as the administration’s “disregard for history.” She accused Trump’s team of erasing cultural and historical references from government resources. “Our greatness doesn’t come because we ignore our history,” she wrote, “it comes because we acknowledge it, we learn from it and build a better future on it.”

Her essay also cited examples of what she views as cultural neglect under Trump, including the “censoring of museum exhibits” and the removal of content about women’s and LGBTQ history from federal websites. She charged that the White House renovation was part of the same pattern — “taking a wrecking ball to our heritage.”

Not everyone agreed with her critique. Social media users quickly mocked Clinton for what they saw as hypocrisy, given her own family’s history with the presidential residence. “You might want to sit this one out, Chelsea,” one user on X wrote. “…your mom ripped off the furniture and fine china when she left.”

Another user fired back, saying Clinton’s outrage was misplaced: “You should really rethink this post. Your parents did renovations all over the White House and used private funds to do so. The history of presidents leaving their make on the White House is long and available online in the public archives. Please stop treating the American people like we are dumb.”

{Matzav.com}

After months of speculation, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries officially threw his support behind Zohran Mamdani’s bid for New York City mayor, ending the suspense surrounding his long-delayed decision.

The Brooklyn lawmaker, in a statement given to the New York Times, said that while he and Mamdani share “areas of principled disagreement,” unity within the Democratic Party was essential when facing what he called the “existential” threat posed by President Trump.

“Zohran Mamdani has relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy,” Jeffries wrote in his endorsement statement.

Jeffries’ backing arrived just under two weeks before the November 4 election. The move followed months of hesitation by national Democratic figures to embrace the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist, whose surprise primary win in June sent shockwaves through the party establishment.

Hints that Jeffries’ stance was shifting came Thursday during an appearance on the Rev. Al Sharpton’s radio program Keepin’ It Real. Jeffries told Sharpton that his endorsement would “likely come Friday,” saying, “I do hope to talk to the Democratic nominee either late today or tomorrow, in advance of early voting.”

He went on to praise Mamdani’s decision to reappoint NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected, calling it “a positive step in the right direction.” Jeffries explained that keeping Tisch signaled a balanced approach: “while he is going to of course focus on affordability — and that is the number one concern of the people in the communities I represent.”

Speaking later with Bloomberg Television, Jeffries expanded on his praise, describing Mamdani’s intention to keep Tisch, whose leadership of the NYPD has been widely commended, as “a strong step toward community trust and public safety.”

“Zohran has demonstrated a real partnership with local communities and a willingness to work with all New Yorkers to make the city more affordable and inclusive,” Jeffries added.

Throughout the campaign, Jeffries, known for his pragmatic style and centrist instincts, maintained open lines of communication with Mamdani, focusing on affordability and housing policy.

Sharpton, who appeared with Mamdani at a rally in Harlem earlier this year, has lauded the candidate publicly but has not yet issued a formal endorsement. When Mamdani’s opponent, Andrew Cuomo, met with Sharpton in September, rumors swirled that the meeting was meant to secure Sharpton’s backing.

Cuomo did, however, gain a nod from Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday. Governor Kathy Hochul, who initially withheld her endorsement after Mamdani’s primary upset, followed a trajectory similar to Jeffries’ — ultimately announcing her support in a New York Times op-ed last month.

“We’ve had our disagreements,” Hochul wrote, acknowledging divisions over taxation and fiscal policy, while emphasizing shared priorities such as making New York “more affordable and safe.”

Her endorsement, which came after months of conversations with Mamdani, was seen as a breakthrough moment that helped close ranks between the party’s establishment and its progressive wing. It also underscored the growing legitimacy of the Democratic Socialist’s candidacy within the broader party coalition.

Still, some influential Democrats remain silent. Among them is U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has yet to publicly endorse Mamdani, leaving a few final pieces of the party’s unity puzzle unresolved as Election Day approaches.

{Matzav.com}

At a recent gathering marking the yahrzeit of the Chasam Sofer, leading posek Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern delivered a forceful address condemning the growing trend of antiquities dealers who cut apart holy manuscripts for profit.

The rov, known as one of the foremost transmitters of the Chasam Sofer’s teachings, decried those who have taken the great tzaddik‘s original writings and sliced them into separate pages to sell individually at exorbitant prices. “Lo yinakeh mi she’asah es zeh — one who committed such a wrong will not be absolved,” Rav Stern declared, warning that “certainly, the Chasam Sofer, z’chuso yagen aleinu, is greatly pained and offended by this.”

To illustrate the magnitude of the desecration, Rav Stern offered a powerful analogy: “Imagine if someone were to take the Sefer Torah of the holy Baal Shem Tov, z’chuso yagen aleinu, and cut it into pieces just to earn a few more dollars.”

At Israel’s Civil Military Coordination Center, Secretary of State Marco Rubio toured the complex and addressed reporters, describing it as “an impressive place” that represents a critical step forward. “This is the journey to get through the 21-point plan. I am here to get an understanding of the needs. We are starting to see more of the US military presence. A lot of progress is being made,” he said, noting the growing American role in ensuring stability and coordination on the ground.

Rubio emphasized that the task remains far from complete, warning that “on the other side of the yellow line there is still a terrorist group that is brutalizing Palestinians.” He urged global partners not to allow obstacles to stall progress. “In addition to that, we have to focus on points that shouldn’t derail the entire process. We have to coordinate between many organizations around the world. This is a massive undertaking,” he said.

He stressed the need to build a sustainable structure for the future, explaining that “behind the yellow line, the areas are safe, secure. We have to ensure an international force, we have to see what it will look like, we have to get the right international mandate, to ensure that that entity can exist, is funded. Then is the rebuilding, so that we will never see again October 7th. That’s a longer term plan. But before we can get to that goal we have to ensure that we secure a ceasefire, while creating conditions to provide stabilization in the area.”

Rubio reiterated that American support for Israel remains unwavering. “We are very committed to Israel’s security. We want to ensure that there is no Gaza that is a risk to Israel. We want people to live in Gaza without Hamas, so that they won’t be terrorized by Hamas.”

He outlined Washington’s expectations of Hamas under the ceasefire framework. “Hamas will be fully demilitarized. That is the agreement they signed on. We don’t want to see any threats coming out against Israel from the areas where Hamas is still in control.”

Turning to the ongoing hostage arrangements, Rubio said, “Israel should have received all its live and dead hostages within 72 hours – we are going to ensure that this is going to happen. If not it’s a breach of the agreement.” He added that every country involved in the talks agrees that “Hamas has to commit to its side of the agreement.” Acknowledging the challenges ahead, he said, “There are still terrorists in Gaza, behind that yellow line. This is a long-term plan. The progress that has been made in 14 days, there is nothing to compare this to. This is very difficult, but will be something historic. It will change Israel’s security. There are going to be bumps along the road, but we are committed to making it work.”

Rubio also confirmed that discussions continue regarding the creation of an international task force to operate in Gaza. “I will not reveal the list, but there are many countries that want to take part,” he said. However, he cautioned that much remains unresolved: “Many gaps must be closed, such as what the mandate of the force is, what its authority is, who will be responsible for it and what are its sources of funding.” He underscored that any such multinational force “must be one that is acceptable to Israel.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Once derided as an embarrassment, New York’s LaGuardia Airport has now claimed the title of America’s best airport. The stunning turnaround was made official in Forbes Travel Guide’s second annual Verified Air Travel Awards, which spotlighted excellence in air travel across multiple categories.

The awards recognized 18 winners spanning first- and business-class cabins, airport lounges, and dining experiences. For the second year running, LaGuardia took home the crown for Best U.S. Airport — a remarkable achievement for a facility that President Biden once compared to “some third-world country.”

Nearly $8 billion in renovations have transformed the Queens travel hub into a modern showpiece. The Forbes report praised the airport for its “spacious gate areas, state-of-the-art architecture and food from New York culinary institutions,” highlighting local favorites like H&H Bagels and Junior’s.

The accolades didn’t stop there. Earlier this year, the Skytrax rankings also declared LaGuardia the Best Airport in North America for 2025, calling it the top choice for domestic and short-haul international travel.

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton reflected on the transformation with pride. “A decade ago, the suggestion that LaGuardia Airport would one day be recognized on the world stage as the best regional airport in North America would have been laughable,” he said. “But the Port Authority and our private partners have built what we promised – a world-class airport, with inspiring architecture, public art, iconic concessions and state-of-the-art technology that has propelled LaGuardia from worst to best in the nation in the eyes of the critics and passengers alike.”

While LaGuardia celebrated its national victory, Singapore’s Changi Airport once again reigned supreme globally, taking home the award for Best International Airport. The travel hub’s unmatched amenities include a 10-story shopping complex, multiple indoor gardens, a butterfly sanctuary, a rooftop swimming pool, a museum, a 24-hour movie theater, a dinosaur-themed park, and the breathtaking Rain Vortex — the tallest indoor waterfall on the planet, standing at 130 feet.

For the airline categories, Emirates was named Best International Airline, while Delta Air Lines captured the title of Best U.S. Airline for the second consecutive year.

Delta had a particularly strong showing, earning five 2025 Verified Air Travel Awards — more than any other carrier. The Atlanta-based airline, which marks its 100th anniversary this year, was also recognized for Best U.S. First Class for its A321neo recliners and for Best U.S. Business Class through its Delta One service.

Passengers flying Delta One enjoy exclusive access to the Delta One Lounge, and its flagship location at JFK International Airport was singled out as the Best U.S. Airline Lounge.

Opened in 2024, the JFK Delta One Lounge is a sprawling, upscale retreat offering full-body massage chairs, fine dining options, private shower suites with robes and slippers, and soundproof work pods — setting a new standard for premium travel comfort.

Capping its list of achievements, Delta was also awarded Best Airline App for its seamless interface that offers real-time flight updates, personalized notifications, luggage tracking, and easy access to global upgrade certificates — reinforcing its place as the standout U.S. airline of 2025.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. national debt has soared to a staggering new high, crossing the $38 trillion threshold for the first time — a grim reminder of Washington’s relentless borrowing spree. Treasury Department figures released Wednesday put the total at $38,019,813,354,700.26 as of October 21.

It marks yet another rapid climb, with the country adding another trillion dollars in debt just two months after breaching the $37 trillion mark in mid-August, and less than a year since it first crossed $36 trillion last December. The speed of the increase highlights a troubling trend: America’s debt is ballooning at a rate never before seen in peacetime.

Much of the surge stems from demographic pressures. As America’s population ages, spending on Social Security and Medicare continues to climb, driving entitlement costs ever higher.

But it’s not only social programs fueling the problem. A growing share of federal spending now goes toward servicing the debt itself. Higher interest rates — imposed by the Federal Reserve to tame inflation — have made borrowing dramatically more expensive, creating a feedback loop that compounds the problem.

Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, told FOX Business that “reaching $38 trillion in debt during a government shutdown is the latest troubling sign that lawmakers are not meeting their basic fiscal duties.”

He added that the pace of borrowing is accelerating beyond historical norms. “If it seems like we are adding debt faster than ever, that’s because we are. We passed $37 trillion just two months ago, and the pace we’re on is twice as fast as the rate of growth since 2000.”

Peterson warned that the exploding cost of interest payments is draining resources that could otherwise be used for public investment. He noted that over the past decade, interest expenses cost the U.S. about $4 trillion — a figure projected to skyrocket to $14 trillion in the next ten years. Those mounting costs, he said, “crowd out important public and private investments in our future, harming the economy for every American.”

In the fiscal year that ended on September 30, the federal deficit hit roughly $1.8 trillion. Analysts expect that figure to worsen as entitlement spending and debt-servicing obligations continue to expand.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that by 2035, debt held by the public — the metric economists often use to gauge fiscal health — will surge from around 100% of GDP in 2025 to about 120% of GDP. Over that same period, annual deficits are forecast to reach $2.6 trillion, with a staggering $22.7 trillion added to the national debt over the next decade.

A major factor driving those deficits is the steep rise in interest payments. The CBO estimates that net interest costs will climb from $1 trillion this year to $1.8 trillion by 2035.

By then, total federal spending is projected to reach $88 trillion — about 23.6% of the nation’s GDP — while revenue will hover around $65 trillion, or 17.5% of GDP. That spending level is far above the 50-year average of 21.1% of GDP, while revenue is only slightly above its long-term norm of 17.3%, reflecting a widening gap between what Washington takes in and what it continues to spend.

{Matzav.com}

A sweeping surge of cold air from Canada is set to plunge much of the central and eastern United States into an early taste of winter, with more than 50 million Americans expected to face frost and freeze alerts. Meteorologists warn that the deep chill could bring temperatures as low as the 20s in some regions this morning.

FOX Weather meteorologist Dylan DeBruyn explained to The New York Post that the sweeping freeze warnings will stretch from southern Minnesota all the way to central New Jersey. “Frost and freeze alerts are posted for over 50 million Americans, who could see frosty conditions on Friday morning,” he said.

The cause of the frigid plunge, DeBruyn noted, is a powerful front sweeping down from the north. “A powerful cold front is allowing cool Canadian air to filter in behind it. Temperatures will drop 5–10 degrees below average and could drop below freezing into Friday morning,” he said.

He added that calm winds and cloudless skies will make conditions ripe for frost to settle overnight. “The drop below freezing, coupled with calm winds & clear skies, will allow frost to develop,” DeBruyn said.

In New Jersey, the National Weather Service has issued frost advisories for nine counties, including western Monmouth, Mercer, Salem, Gloucester, Burlington, Ocean, Cumberland, and Atlantic, where temperatures are expected to dip into the mid- to upper 30s by dawn, according to NJ.com.

Such plunging temperatures mark the likely close of the growing season across much of the affected region, as frost and freezing conditions can destroy crops and harm sensitive plants.

While the cold front will touch much of the East, New York City itself will be spared any official frost warnings. Even so, the city will feel the chill as the mercury falls heading into the weekend. “While New York City is not included in any alerts, lows into Friday and Saturday morning will be in the mid-40s,” DeBruyn added.

Weather experts note that the first frost in the city usually doesn’t arrive until around mid-November—meaning this cold snap, though brief, is arriving weeks ahead of schedule.