Matzav

Health officials are warning of a potentially punishing flu season as a new strain of influenza circulates widely, prompting concern among doctors and researchers as winter illnesses accelerate nationwide.

The strain drawing attention has been dubbed the “super flu,” a variant of influenza A H3N2 known as subclade K. Previous H3N2 outbreaks have been associated with more intense illness and longer recovery periods compared to other flu strains.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that the variant first surged in the United Kingdom before spreading across Europe and Australia, eventually reaching the United States.

“The United Kingdom got hit pretty hard by this,” said Neil Maniar of Northeastern University. “I think that’s a pretty good harbinger of what we are likely to see here. This is going to be a very difficult flu season.”

People infected with the K subclade have reported classic flu symptoms such as high fever, severe body aches, extreme fatigue, persistent cough, sore throat, and intense headaches. Doctors say many patients are also experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, gastrointestinal distress, and lingering weakness well beyond the acute phase of illness.

As case numbers continue to climb, physicians stress the importance of early treatment, particularly for patients at risk of severe disease. Antiviral medications remain a central tool in managing serious infections.

The CDC currently recommends four antiviral drugs: Tamiflu, Xofluza, Relenza, and Rapivab. Xofluza is prescribed as an oral treatment for uncomplicated flu in patients aged 5 and older. Relenza is approved for individuals 7 and older, while Rapivab can be administered to patients as young as 6 months.

“Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, get sufficient rest and take Tylenol or Advil to manage fever, headaches and muscle aches at home,” said Dr. Mark Mulligan of NYU Langone Health’s Vaccine Center.

Public health experts say warnings about the flu have been circulating since early fall, but the emergence of the super flu strain combined with lagging vaccination rates has intensified concern.

“This can be a very serious illness. We need to take it seriously, and we need to take measures to protect ourselves,” Maniar said. “As we go deeper into the flu season, this is likely to be a tough one.”

Infectious disease specialists fear that relatively low vaccine uptake could result in one of the most severe flu seasons in recent memory, though they emphasize there is still time to reduce the impact.

“It is certainly not too late, especially as we’re thinking about holiday gatherings and travel,” said Dr. Andrew Pekosz. “Now would be a great time for individuals to go out and get that last influenza vaccine or that COVID vaccine to provide one layer of protection for this holiday season.”

Some experts have noted concerns that this year’s flu vaccine may not be a perfect match for the K subtype. Pekosz said it nonetheless remains effective.

“There are three different influenza strains that cause influenza. The vaccine covers all three. And with two of them, it looks like there’s a pretty good match right now … and we think it’ll provide at least partial protection against this clade K H2N2 virus.”

The CDC continues to recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older.

While the latest nationwide flu data has been delayed due to the Christmas holiday, figures through mid-December already showed a sharp rise in positive cases. Virus activity has reached “very high” levels in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Louisiana, and Colorado. Manhattan alone recorded a 104% jump in infections earlier this month.

“We see the sudden spike in New York because of their more dense population,” said Dr. Ulysses Wu of Hartford Hospital. “They’re a center for international as well as domestic travel.”

Significant flu activity has also been reported in Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, and South Carolina, adding to fears of a widespread and difficult season ahead.

{Matzav.com}

Fresh online chatter about President Donald Trump’s health surfaced after viewers scrutinized video from his high-stakes talks on Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, focusing on what some described as an unusual mark on his left hand.

Comments circulated quickly on X, where several users zeroed in on the appearance of Trump’s hand during the meeting. One user, Aaron Rupar, wrote: “There appears to be a hole in Trump’s left hand.” Another, Derek Guy, posted: “Seems to be a small hole at the site of discolouration.” A third commenter, Adam Parkhomenko, added: “Can’t use the right hand anymore. Docs had to switch hands.”

Parkhomenko’s remark referenced earlier explanations offered by the White House regarding bruising that had appeared on Trump’s right hand in recent months.

At the time, the White House said the discoloration was the result of frequent handshaking. Officials have not addressed any claims or speculation related to Trump’s left hand.

Questions about Trump’s health have periodically drawn attention, echoing the intense scrutiny faced by Joe Biden during his term in office.

Just last month, the White House confirmed that Trump underwent an MRI scan focused on his abdomen, saying the results were “perfectly normal.”

Trump has also stated publicly that he has taken multiple cognitive assessments and that he “aced” them each time.

{Matzav.com}

The future of Israel’s proposed draft law is increasingly uncertain after a scheduled discussion was abruptly canceled and senior chareidi figures acknowledged that the chances of advancing the legislation during the current Knesset term have dropped sharply.

The debate, which had been set for Tuesday in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, was called off at the request of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. Publicly, the cancellation was attributed to other pressing committee matters, but behind the scenes, chareidi factions say they are coming to terms with the likelihood that the bill may not survive.

Initially, after the presentation of the draft law by committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth, chareidi party leaders were told that the committee’s legal adviser, attorney Miri Frenkel-Shor, supported most of the bill’s core provisions. They were led to believe that if the law passed, the Knesset’s legal department would defend it against High Court petitions.

As time passed, however, senior chareidi officials realized that Frenkel-Shor in fact opposed many of the substantive elements of the new draft law. Several party leaders said they were surprised by the scope of her objections. Aside from one senior Shas figure, others had expected that she would seek adjustments but ultimately back the revised proposal.

With the committee legal adviser’s position now clear, chareidi factions are pinning their hopes on the Knesset’s chief legal adviser, attorney Sagit Afik, to support the law and defend it before the High Court, despite the stance taken at the committee level.

A senior chareidi lawmaker involved in the issue said that without such backing, the legislation is a nonstarter. “If the Knesset’s legal counsel does not commit to defending the law at the High Court, there is no reason for us to pass it,” he said. “That is the directive of the gedolim. The damage outweighs the benefit of passing a law that does not meet the High Court’s initial test and would immediately face an interim injunction. A central condition for advancing the law is legal support from the Knesset’s legal counsel.”

The same official explained that opposition from the Attorney General’s Office had been expected from the outset. “The government’s legal advisers are against us — that was clear from day one. Our hope was that the Knesset’s legal counsel would defend the law, so that even if it were ultimately struck down, there would be no interim order against it and it would take a year or two before being invalidated. But if Sagit Afik also does not support the law, there is a very high chance that an interim injunction will be issued.”

Legal sources in the Knesset, however, say the prospects of Afik breaking with the committee’s legal opinion are slim. One legal official noted that Frenkel-Shor also serves as deputy to the Knesset legal adviser and has been closely involved in draft legislation for more than a decade. “It is hard to see Sagit Afik turning her back on her and going against the legal position of the adviser who has accompanied every clause of this law,” the source said.

{Matzav.com}

Yehuda Leib Lazarov, a Chabad-affiliated yeshiva student from Texas who was critically wounded in the terror attack in Sydney while assisting with a Chanukah event, underwent his seventh surgery overnight, his family said.

The update was delivered by his father, Rabbi Yosef Lazarov, a Chabad shaliach in Texas, who reported that the operation—performed under full anesthesia, as were the previous procedures—ended with what family members described as the “best possible outcome” under the circumstances.

Before being taken into surgery, Yehuda Leib asked to put on tefillin.

Earlier this week, Yehuda Leib received his personal tefillin back after they were examined by a certified sofer stam. He had been concerned that shrapnel from the attack may have damaged them. The inspection determined that the tefillin were fully kosher.

Yehuda Leib was injured while helping Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries organize a Chanukah event in Sydney. During the attack, he acted with notable presence of mind and courage, saving the life of a police officer who had been shot. According to accounts from those familiar with the incident, Yehuda Leib removed his shirt and used it to apply a tourniquet, stopping the bleeding and preventing the officer from bleeding to death.

Rabbi Lazarov previously described the dramatic moments during the attack, recounting that the wounded officer was incapacitated as the terrorist advanced toward them. “The officer was neutralized, and as the terrorist moved closer, Leib begged the officer to give him his gun, telling him that he was from Texas, licensed to carry a firearm and knew exactly how to use it—and if not, ‘we’re both going to die.’”

He continued, “As his father, I can testify to Leib’s extraordinary abilities. Despite that, Rabbi Eli was shot and killed, and shortly afterward Leib himself was shot twice—in the stomach and the leg—by shotgun and rifle fire, and now he is fighting for his life.”

Rabbi Lazarov added that he hopes Australia will one day recognize his son as a national hero. “Leib faces a long medical road with many surgeries ahead,” he said, noting that just a month earlier, Lazarov had played the piano and sung movingly at a memorial ceremony for other victims of terror.

According to his father, Yehuda Leib has reflected humbly on the events, saying that despite his efforts and nearly bleeding to death, “I wish I could have done more. I tried, but I was shot.”

All are asked to continue davening for the recovery of Yehuda Leib ben Mania.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities have already secured convictions in a sweeping fraud investigation centered in Minnesota, with additional cases expected, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday.

In a message posted on X, Bondi said investigators have been building the case for months and credited outside reporting for highlighting the scope of the alleged misconduct. “@NickShirleyyy’s work has helped show Americans the scale of fraud in Tim Walz’s Minnesota,” she wrote. “@TheJusticeDept has been investigating this for months. So far, we have charged 98 individuals — 85 of Somali descent — and more than 60 have been found guilty in court.”

Bondi signaled that the prosecutions are far from over, adding, “We have more prosecutions coming…BUCKLE UP, LAWMAKERS!”

Her remarks followed the release of videos by citizen journalist Nick Shirley documenting visits to several Minnesota daycare facilities that were reportedly receiving millions of dollars in federal funding despite appearing to have no children on site.

According to Breitbart News, one such location Shirley filmed in South Minneapolis stood out for an error on its signage. Shirley visited the “Quality Learning Center,” noting that the word “learning” was misspelled as “learing.”

Video from the visit shows tension as Shirley approached the building. An unidentified woman could be heard shouting, “Don’t open up,” while incorrectly asserting that Shirley and his companion were agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. At one point in the footage, Shirley remarked, “There’s no one here.”

Bondi’s post stated that 85 Somalian nationals are among those charged in connection with the alleged fraud schemes operating in the state under Gov. Tim Walz.

The investigation has also drawn attention from federal law enforcement leadership. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel previously said the bureau was already acting on the issue. He noted the FBI is “aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota,” and added that “even before the public conversation escalated online, the FBI had surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.”

{Matzav.com}

An emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Monday focused on Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, a move that has drawn international criticism and prompted sharp exchanges at the UN.

Israel’s envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, argued ahead of the meeting that the issue had been wrongly elevated. “This is not a question of international security but of double standards. When countries in the UN unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state, the issue is accepted without discussion and without objection. When Israel exercises its sovereign powers and acts in accordance with international law, the Security Council convenes for an urgent session. This illustrates the one-sidedness and hypocrisy of some of the council members.”

Speaking during the session, US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Tammy Bruce forcefully backed Israel’s position. “Israel has the same right to conduct diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state,” she said, according to AFP.

Bruce contrasted the current reaction with earlier decisions by other countries, telling the Council, “Earlier this year, several countries, including members of this Council, made the unilateral decision to recognize a nonexistent Palestinian state. And yet, no emergency meeting was called to express this Council’s outrage.”

She went on to fault what she described as a misplaced focus by the body, stating, “This Council’s persistent double standards and misdirection of focus distract from its mission of maintaining international peace and security.”

Addressing Washington’s own policy, Bruce emphasized that the United States has not altered its stance on the matter. “On the matter of Somaliland, we have no announcement to make regarding US recognition of Somaliland. And there has been no change in American policy.”

The debate followed Israel’s announcement on Friday that it had formally recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. That decision was condemned by the European Union and by a bloc of Arab and Islamic countries, along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

{Matzav.com}

A controversial spring semester course at Princeton University has ignited criticism for asserting a “central focus on the ongoing genocide in Gaza” and proposing comparisons between the experience of Gazans and that of Jews during the Holocaust.

The course has already been denounced by American Jewish Congress, which labeled it “unacceptable” and warned, “At a time of record levels of antisemitism, this course risks fueling further hostility and making campus even more unsafe for Jewish students.”

Enrollment figures published on Princeton’s website show minimal interest so far, with just one of 14 available seats filled. The syllabus references terms such as “reproductive genocide in Gaza” and “reprocide in Gaza,” and indicates that students will study “Gaza within comparative histories of the Armenian genocide, the Holocaust and genocide against black and indigenous populations.”

Concerns over antisemitism at Princeton predate the introduction of the class. In April 2024, during the Biden Administration, the US Department of Education launched a Title VI investigation into allegations at the university following a complaint by a Jewish activist. That filing cited reports that campus pro-Palestinian protesters chanted “Intifada,” and “Brick by brick, wall by wall, apartheid has got to fall,” in the weeks after the October 7 massacre.

More recently, the Trump administration paused $210 million in federal funding to Princeton, asserting that the university “has perpetuated racist and antisemitic policies.”

Reacting to the course description, Rep. Tom Kean told JNS that it was “deeply troubling,” arguing that it “falsely characterizes Israel’s right to self-defense as ‘genocide.’”

“Israel was the victim of a brutal terrorist attack on Oct. 7 at the hands of Hamas, and any honest discussion must begin with that fact,” the New Jersey congressman said. “Hamas is a terrorist organization that deliberately targets civilians and hides behind innocent people to advance its violent agenda. While I support freedom of speech and the offering of different perspectives in the classroom, words matter.”

He continued by warning that “recklessly misusing the term ‘genocide’ does nothing to advance peace, justice, understanding or open dialogue. Israel has both the right and the obligation to defend its people, and that reality should not be erased or rewritten in the classroom.”

In response to the broader scrutiny, Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber said the university is “committed to fighting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, and we will cooperate with the government in combating antisemitism.”

{Matzav.com}

After more than 30 years in circulation, the MetroCard is approaching the end of its run, joining the subway token as a relic of New York transit history. The familiar gold card, once a symbol of modernization, is being phased out as the city completes its move to a contactless fare system.

Beginning Wednesday, riders will no longer be able to purchase or add value to a MetroCard. The transition clears the way for OMNY, the tap-to-pay system that allows fares to be paid with a credit card, phone, or other smart device. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, more than 90 percent of subway and bus trips are already paid through the system, which debuted in 2019.

Cities across the globe adopted similar technology years ago. London and Singapore have relied on contactless transit payments for some time, while U.S. cities including Chicago and San Francisco have followed suit, with San Francisco launching its system earlier this year.

Even as it fades from daily use, the MetroCard is being reexamined as a cultural artifact. At the New York Transit Museum, an exhibit opened this month chronicling the card’s impact. Museum curator Jodi Shapiro says the MetroCard fundamentally changed how New Yorkers thought about getting around the city.

“There was a resistance to change from tokens to something else because tokens work,” Shapiro said during a recent visit to the museum, located in a former subway station. “MetroCards introduced a whole other level of thinking for New Yorkers.”

Before the MetroCard arrived in 1994, riders paid with brass tokens first issued in 1953, or, earlier still, with paper tickets that cost just five cents when the subway opened in 1904. To ease the transition, transit officials launched public campaigns demonstrating the proper swipe technique and even briefly considered a mascot known as the Cardvaark before abandoning the idea.

Over time, the card became a canvas for the city itself. Special editions marked major moments, including the 2000 World Series “Subway Series” between the Mets and Yankees, when a ride cost $1.50. Musicians such as David Bowie and Olivia Rodrigo, hip-hop legends like the Wu-Tang Clan, the Notorious B.I.G., and LL Cool J, and television staples including Seinfeld and Law & Order all appeared on commemorative cards.

Collectors took notice. Lev Radin of the Bronx said the most meaningful designs captured the spirit of the city rather than just its skyline.

“For me, the most special cards are cards which present New York City to the world,” Radin said. “Not only photos of landmarks, skylines, but also about people who live and make New York special.”

Mastering the MetroCard swipe even became a quiet badge of authenticity. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton struggled through several attempts at a Bronx turnstile. Her Democratic rival at the time, Bernie Sanders, a Brooklyn native, appeared unaware that tokens had already been retired.

Unlike the MetroCard’s debut, the OMNY rollout has been relatively seamless. Riders who prefer not to use personal devices can still buy reloadable OMNY cards, and existing MetroCards will remain valid through 2026 so balances can be used up. The MTA says the shift saves at least $20 million a year in costs tied to the old system.

The new platform also introduces fare capping, allowing unlimited rides within a seven-day period once 12 trips are taken. When fares rise to $3 in January, weekly spending will be capped at $35. Still, some critics have voiced concerns about data collection and surveillance tied to digital payments.

{Matzav.com}

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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld In the beginning of  Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov Avinu blessed his grandchildren, Ephraim and Menashe. He told them that Yisroel will bless their children to be like Ephraim and Menashe. The posuk uses the words “on that day” referring to when Yaakov bentched them.      The Targum Yonoson writes that this bracha shall be given to each child on the day he is circumcised.      The Pirush Yonoson explains the specificity of the day of milah as the time of this bracha since the posuk uses the term “on that day.” He adds that the word Yisroel seems to be unnecessary in the posuk since it is obvious that a Yisroel (not a goy) will bentch his child in this way. By using the word Yisroel, the posuk is teaching us that the day the child becomes a Yisroel is the day he receives this bracha.      The Moshav Zekeinim Le’Baalei Tosfos explain that the Sefardim who say the following upon completion of the Bris carry out this tradition. “It should be the will of Hashem that the baby should be “Ach l’Shiva and also l’shmona.” This is saying that the baby should be like Ephraim and Menashe who were numbers seven and eight when the Nesiyim brought the korbanos at the inauguration of the Mishkan.      The question arises; why is it important to give this Bracha on the day of a Bris over any other day?      The first answer is that there is a great ayin hora on the day of the Bris Milah. (We learn that Bilam tried harming Bnei Yisroel when they were in the midbar on the day of the milah.) We therefore bless the child that he should be like Ephraim and Menashe who were from Shevet Yosef, and therefore an ayin hora has no effect on them.       Secondly, we want to give a child the bracha as early as possible since it might be too late once the child is grown up, so we bracha is said as soon as he enters into the covenant of being a Jew.      The last answer is that we know that when a child cries at the bris all tefillos go up to shomayim without any hindrance. That is why we pick that opportune time to give the baby this bracha.      Let us hope that all these tefillos and brachos will be mekuyam.

The venerable gaon Rav Meir Greineman was released Monday afternoon from Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer after successfully undergoing a pacemaker implantation, b’chasdei Shamayim.

As previously reported here on Matzav, Rav Greineman was rushed to the hospital late Friday night after losing consciousness while learning with his grandson. Following the arrival of his eldest son, the decision was made to evacuate him to the hospital, where he was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit.

Rav Greineman, the last living nephew of the Chazon Ish and known for his lifelong stringency of not eating food prepared outside his home, declined to eat the meals served by the hospital, despite their mehadrin kashrus. It was also learned that he did not allow food to be brought from his home, as he did not want anyone transporting food for him on Shabbos from Bnei Brak to Tel Hashomer, even though an eiruv could have been relied upon.

As a result, from approximately 2:00 a.m. on Friday night until noon on Shabbos day, Rav Greineman consumed only water, despite his advanced age and delicate medical condition. Only at around 12:00 p.m. did a non-Jew arrive with food brought from his home.

Rav Greineman has now returned to his residence in Bnei Brak, where he will continue resting and resume his regular learning schedule.

All are asked to continue davening for the complete recovery of Rav Meir ben Tzivia.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Fox News interview tonight that while negotiations toward a peace framework with Russia have made significant progress, surrendering Ukrainian territory remains a red line that would derail any agreement.

Zelensky said that roughly “90%” of the proposed framework has already been settled, but stressed that the remaining dispute over land is the most difficult issue still unresolved.

Speaking about the eastern Donbas region, which Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to seize, Zelensky warned that withdrawal would carry grave consequences. “All the parties have to understand that the worst way is to go out from the Donbas,” he told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.

According to Zelensky, any deal brokered with Putin — with President Trump acting as the intermediary — would ultimately require approval by the Ukrainian public through a national vote. He emphasized that moving forward with concessions he knows would be rejected makes no sense. “Of course, referendum — if we will go to referendum — is very important, but if we are not stupid, we can’t go to referendum after signing with President Trump … we can’t go to referendum knowing that the referendum will fail.”

He underscored that point bluntly, adding, “I mean, I think it’s stupid.”

Zelensky said handing the Donbas region to Moscow would be unacceptable to the public and dangerous for the country. “It will be a big risk for Ukraine,” he said of ceding the territory to Putin, calling such a move “not acceptable for Ukrainians.”

Summing up his position, the Ukrainian president argued that any agreement must reflect the will of the nation and lead to a lasting resolution. “We have to find real peace,” he said, “a real way to peace which is acceptable by the Ukrainian nation.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. forces have now killed at least 106 suspected terrorist-linked drug traffickers in strikes aimed at smuggling vessels operating in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, according to military figures released this week.

The latest operation is believed to be the first conducted under “Operation Southern Spear” since December 22, and marks the 30th such strike since September 2.

U.S. Southern Command said Monday that another suspected drug-running vessel was destroyed in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of two individuals described as “narco-terrorists.”

“On Dec. 29, at the direction of [War Secretary] Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters,” Southern Command posted on X.

According to the command, the target had been under surveillance and was moving through a well-known trafficking corridor. “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the post continued. “Two male narco-terrorists were killed. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”

{Matzav.com}

A milestone was marked this week in the rapidly growing chareidi community of Charish, with the formal appointment of a rav for the kehillah in the Choreish neighborhood.

Rav Reuven Miron was named rav of Kehillas Beis Hashem in Choreish during a ceremony attended by leading rabbonim and members of the community. Rav Miron is a close talmid of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and a son-in-law of Rav Tzvi Weber, rav of the Neve Yaakov neighborhood in Yerushalayim. He has also served for many years as one of the rabbonim of Kollel Ahavas Shalom.

The first ceremony took place at the home of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch as part of a series of gatherings held in the homes of gedolei Torah. The event was attended by members of the Charish community, Rav Weber, and rabbonim from other kehillos.

Rav Hirsch, who has accompanied and guided the Charish community since its founding, spoke at length in praise of Rav Miron, highlighting his personal qualities and his suitability to lead a kehillah. He recalled his long-standing personal connection with Rav Miron, noting that Rav Miron transcribed his shiurim during his years in yeshiva. Rav Hirsch offered heartfelt brachos to the newly appointed rav and to the community, expressing his hope that they will continue to strengthen and expand Torah.

At the home of Rav Dov Landau, the rosh yeshiva joined in extending warm brachos, wishing Rav Miron great siyata diShmaya in his leadership role and success to all members of the community.

Charish in general, and the Choreish neighborhood in particular, is widely viewed as having tremendous potential for Torah growth. The city’s rapid chareidization, relatively affordable housing, proximity to central Israel, strong mosdos, quality kollelim, employment opportunities, and convenient transportation to major chareidi centers have made it an increasingly attractive destination for young families seeking a strong Torah environment.

{Matzav.com}

Voluntary departures from the United States have surged during President Donald Trump’s second term, with the Department of Homeland Security reporting that close to 2 million illegal migrants left the country on their own initiative this year.

In a year-end summary of DHS activity released in mid-December, the department said 1.9 million people departed voluntarily between January and December 2025, a figure officials say reflects the administration’s intensified approach to immigration enforcement and deterrence.

According to the Washington Examiner, the numbers are being cited by the White House as proof that its strategy of encouraging illegal migrants to leave without formal removal proceedings is having an impact, despite sharp criticism from Democrats and activist organizations who argue the approach relies on intimidation.

Administration officials counter that the policy restores order while saving taxpayer dollars after what Republicans characterize as years of lax border enforcement. “President Trump is delivering on his promise to make America safe again and deport criminal illegal aliens,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Examiner, describing the effort as the “largest mass deportation operation of criminal illegal aliens in history.”

Beyond voluntary departures, the Examiner reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has removed an additional 600,000 illegal migrants, most of whom had criminal records. Together, the figures point to a dual-track strategy combining arrests with pressure for migrants to exit the country on their own.

Analysts quoted by the outlet said ICE’s limited staffing — roughly 6,500 deportation officers nationwide — makes large-scale arrests impractical, increasing reliance on self-deportation as a release valve for a system strained during the Biden administration. Former immigration judge Andrew Arthur said consistent enforcement sends a signal that many migrants understand. When the law is applied steadily, he said, people “get the message and leave on their own.”

That message, according to the report, has been reinforced through frequent social media posts and high-profile arrests. The Examiner pointed to a White House post highlighting the apprehension of an illegal migrant previously deported and later convicted of fentanyl trafficking, emphasizing the administration’s focus on criminal offenders.

Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks dismissed claims that the campaign is designed to instill fear, saying the goal is clarity. “Do not come,” he said, summarizing the administration’s warning to would-be migrants.

CBS News reported last week that DHS has also expanded incentives for voluntary departure, tripling the so-called exit bonus from $1,000 to $3,000 for undocumented migrants who enroll through the revamped CBP Home app and leave the country by Dec. 31. Those who participate may also qualify for free airfare and relief from certain civil penalties related to unlawful presence.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS that migrants who decline the program will be “found,” “arrested,” and “never [allowed to] return” to the United States. DHS has said the initiative significantly reduces costs, with ICE estimating that a full arrest, detention, and deportation process averages about $17,000 per migrant — far more than airfare and a stipend.

While DHS said “tens of thousands” have used CBP Home to coordinate departures, officials have not released detailed figures showing how many received government assistance versus those who left independently.

Some analysts remain skeptical of the headline number. The Examiner reported that Cato Institute researcher David Bier cautioned the 1.9 million total could include some legal residents leaving voluntarily and may be influenced by incomplete survey data.

Even critics, however, acknowledge the underlying trend. As enforcement intensifies, departures — voluntary or otherwise — continue to climb.

{Matzav.com}

As the city prepares to welcome a new administration in 2026, NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will quietly take office just after midnight in a closed ceremony held far below the streets of Lower Manhattan, his transition team said Monday.

The oath will be administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James at the long-abandoned Old City Hall subway station, with members of Mamdani’s family present. The underground setting will mark the official transfer of power as the new mayor enters office at the start of the New Year.

“When I take my oath from the station at the dawn of the New Year, I will do so humbled by the opportunity to lead millions of New Yorkers into a new era of opportunity, and honored to carry forward our city’s legacy of greatness,” Mamdani said.

The Old City Hall station, situated beneath City Hall Park, opened in 1904 as part of the city’s original subway system. Though it was taken out of service in 1945 amid system upgrades, the ornate station later gained recognition as a New York City landmark in 1979 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Reflecting on the choice of location, Mamdani said, “It was a physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working peoples’ lives.” He added, “That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past, nor must it be isolated only to the tunnels beneath City Hall: it will be the purpose of the administration fortunate enough to serve New Yorkers from the building above.”

Later that day, Mamdani will take part in a public ceremony he has titled the “Inauguration of a New Era,” to be held on the steps of City Hall. The event will include a Broadway block party with designated viewing areas, allowing residents from across the city to attend.

The public swearing-in is scheduled for 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day, with Sen. Bernie Sanders set to administer the oath.

{Matzav.com}

Amid growing anger over a sweeping fraud scandal in Minnesota, a conservative watchdog group said it was reviewing the personal finances of Rep. Ilhan Omar, citing questions about her sudden rise in wealth.

Peter Flaherty, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, said his organization had begun examining the Minnesota Democrat’s financial disclosures and related business ties. He told The NY Post that his team was “certainly looking” at Omar (D-Minn.).

The scrutiny followed recent reporting that highlighted a dramatic increase in Omar’s net worth. According to her financial filings, her wealth climbed to roughly $30 million within about a year — an increase of approximately 3,500% compared to 2023.

Much of that increase appeared tied to the business interests of her husband, Tim Mynett. His ventures included a California-based winery and Rose Lake Capital, a venture capital firm based in Washington, DC.

Rose Lake Capital’s reported value surged from nearly nothing in 2023 to somewhere between $5 million and $25 million a year later, according to previous reporting by The Post. The firm had also promoted the claim that its officers had overseen some $60 billion in “previous” assets.

More recently, the company removed the names and biographies of its nine officers from LinkedIn, prompting further questions about the firm’s operations and leadership.

Mynett’s winery, which had faced fraud-related allegations in the past, also saw a sharp jump in its estimated value. Omar’s disclosures placed the winery’s worth at between $1 million and $5 million in 2024.

The questions surrounding Omar’s finances emerged against the backdrop of the Feeding Our Future scandal in Minnesota, where hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds were siphoned off through a sprawling fraud scheme tied to pandemic-era food programs.

Omar had previously pointed to flaws in how COVID-era relief programs were rolled out, arguing that speed took precedence over oversight.

“I just think that a lot of the COVID programs were set up so quickly that a lot of the guardrails did not get created,” she told CNN earlier this month.

Republican critics said the situation demanded broader scrutiny, including a closer look at how Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Omar handled the unfolding fraud.

“On Walz’s watch, Minnesota became a fraud factory, aided and defended by allies like Ilhan Omar. Investigate everything,” Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) wrote on X.

“Prosecute everyone involved.”

{Matzav.com}

Against the backdrop of escalating tensions within the coalition, Knesset Members Meir Porush and Yisroel Eichler of the Agudah faction of UTJ declined both a meeting and a phone conversation with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu after he sought to speak with them over the weekend.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the prime minister’s outreach followed the two lawmakers’ decision last week to abstain from a Knesset vote on the establishment of a parliamentary commission of inquiry headed by MK Ariel Kallner.

Despite repeated efforts by the Prime Minister’s Office to arrange a meeting at Netanyahu’s office, Porush and Eichler turned down the request. They later made clear that they were also not interested in holding a phone call with him.

Until recently, Porush and Eichler were viewed as the more flexible figures within the Agudas Yisrael faction, particularly in comparison to the party’s other representatives, former minister Yitzchak Goldknopf and MK Yaakov Tessler.

{Matzav.com}