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President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget plan would slash non-defense domestic spending by $163 billion while increasing expenditures on national security, according to White House statements Friday. The plan shows a desire to crack down on diversity programs and initiatives to address climate change. But it doesn’t include details about what Trump wants on income taxes, tariffs, entitlement programs or the budget deficit — a sign of the challenge confronting the president when he’s promising to cut taxes and repay the federal debt without doing major damage to economic growth. Budgets do not become law but serve as a touchstone for the upcoming fiscal year debates. Often considered a statement of values, this first budget since Trump’s return to the White House carries the added weight of defining the Republican president’s second-term pursuits, alongside his party in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the plan showed fiscal discipline given the problems of persistently high budget deficits. The budget released on Friday did not, in fact, include a forecast on government borrowing. “President Trump’s plan ensures every federal taxpayer dollar spent is used to serve the American people, not a bloated bureaucracy or partisan pet projects,” Johnson said. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the cuts could ultimately be more extreme than what the administration has proposed, noting that the budget doesn’t provide funding levels for programs such as Head Start. “President Trump has made his priorities clear as day: he wants to outright defund programs that help working Americans while he shovels massive tax breaks at billionaires like himself and raises taxes on middle-class Americans with his reckless tariffs,” Murray said. The budget seeks to cut discretionary spending by a total of 7.6% next year, but includes a 13% increase in national security spending. The State Department and international programs would lose 84% of their money and receive $9.6 billion, a cut that reflects the existing efforts by adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The Housing and Urban Development Department would get a $33.6 billion cut, while the Health and Human Service Department would receive $33.3 trillion less and the Education Department’s spending would be reduced by $12 billion. The Defense Department would get an additional $113.3 billion and Homeland Security would receive $42.3 billion more. The IRS and FBI would lose money, while the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program would be ended. There would be $980 million less for college students in work-study programs, as well as similarly sized cuts for adult education and instruction for learning English. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would lose nearly $3.6 billion under the plan, while the National Institutes of Health would face a steep cut of almost $18 billion. The budget would eliminate more than $15 billion for infrastructure-related programs tied to climate change and $1.3 billion from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The White House budget plan arrives as Trump has unilaterally imposed what could hundreds of billions of dollars in tax increases in the form of tariffs, setting off a trade war that has consumers, CEOs and foreign leaders worried about a possible economic downturn. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget, headed by Russell Vought, a chief architect of Project 2025, provided contours of a so-called skinny version of topline numbers only regarding discretionary […]

President Trump introduced his 2026 budget blueprint on Friday, laying out plans to slash $163 billion from a variety of government programs including education, foreign assistance, and environmental initiatives, while ramping up military spending past the $1 trillion threshold.

The proposed reductions to non-defense discretionary funding represent a 22.6% decrease compared to current appropriations, according to documents released by the White House.

At the same time, Trump is requesting a 13% increase in defense allocations, pushing the Department of Defense budget to $1.01 trillion. Additionally, the administration is asking for $175 billion to address border security, aiming to, as the budget puts it, “at long last, finally secure our border.”

Despite the administration’s proposal, Congress retains the responsibility of crafting its own version of the federal budget—a process that could take several months of negotiations.

The White House is making a concerted effort to see the budget passed quickly, with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles telling The Post that enacting Trump’s legislative priorities is the central focus for the coming half-year.

“We ought to have a budget by then which would contain virtually all of the president’s priorities,” Wiles said Tuesday, “which are the things that he campaigned on, and renewal of the Trump tax cuts.”

“And if, if that is all we do, which it won’t be. That is an enormous accomplishment, because it’s the framework for everything else we will work to do.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced Friday that Harvard University will be losing its tax-exempt designation.

“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” he posted on Truth Social.

This development follows the Trump administration’s recent decision to suspend $2.2 billion in federal grant money that had been allocated over several years. The suspension was in response to Harvard’s alleged failure to adequately address antisemitism and hate-related activity on its campus.

Earlier, Trump had suggested that Harvard’s continued promotion of “political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’” could place its tax-exempt status in jeopardy.

“Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!” he warned.

Being tax-exempt allows universities like Harvard to attract substantial donations from wealthy benefactors looking for tax deductions, and ensures that the institution doesn’t pay income tax on its net earnings.

However, current federal law bars the president and other top government officials from ordering or halting any IRS audits or investigations.

The administration has yet to explain the legal justification it plans to use in order to revoke Harvard’s tax exemption.

Harvard has long benefited from its tax-exempt designation, helping it accumulate the country’s largest university endowment, now estimated at $53 billion. In the 2024 fiscal year alone, the school reportedly generated $2.4 billion in earnings from that endowment.

That endowment is crucial to the school’s financial operations, reportedly covering nearly 38% of its $6.4 billion annual budget. Additionally, $686 million in yearly federal funds comprise about 16% of its total budget.

Should Harvard’s tax-exempt status be revoked and its endowment earnings be taxed at the corporate rate of 21% instead of the current 1.4%, the school could face a $525 million annual loss in available funds.

{Matzav.com}

For Ethel Caterham, the trick to a long life — and in her case, it really has been — is not to argue. Caterham, who is 115, became the world’s oldest living person, according to the Gerontology Research Group, after Inah Canabarro, a Brazilian nun and teacher, died on Wednesday at the tender age of 116. “Never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like,” she said from her nursing home in Surrey, southwest of London, on the secret to her longevity. She was born on Aug. 21, 1909, in the village of Shipton Bellinger in the south of England, five years before the outbreak of World War I. She was the second youngest of eight siblings. Travel has been in her blood, it’s clear. In 1927, at the age of 18, Caterham embarked on a journey to India, working as a nanny for a British family, where she stayed for three years before returning to England, according to the GRG. She met her husband Norman, who was a major in the British army, at a dinner party in 1931, and they were stationed in Hong Kong and Gibraltar, the GRG said. They had two daughters whom they raised in the U.K. Norman died in 1976. Hallmark Lakeview Luxury Care Home in Camberley, where Caterham is a resident, posted pictures of her cutting a cake and wearing a “115” tiara in a Facebook post on Thursday. “Huge congratulations to Lakeview resident, Ethel on becoming the oldest person in the world! What an incredible milestone and a true testament to a life well-lived,” it said in an accompanying statement. “Your strength, spirit, and wisdom are an inspiration to us all. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable journey!” The title of the oldest person ever is held by French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years 164 days, according to Guinness World Records. (AP)

Jerusalem Hills wildfires update: Firefighters, supported by two Croatian firefighting aircraft, are in the final stage of extinguishing the blaze in Operation “Wall of Fire.”

President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that he plans to rebrand Veterans Day, calling it “Victory Day for World War I” as a tribute to what he described as America’s decisive military triumphs.

In a message posted late at night on Truth Social, Trump said the renaming effort is intended to spotlight America’s unmatched contributions in both global conflicts. He also proposed replacing the name “Victory in Europe Day,” observed on May 8, with “Victory in World War II Day,” asserting, “we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II.”

“We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything,” Trump wrote. “That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”

The suggestion to change the name of Veterans Day comes as a surprise, considering the holiday’s origins. It was first introduced as Armistice Day after the end of World War I to honor the American soldiers who had served in that devastating war. During the 1950s, its scope was expanded to include all U.S. military veterans, encompassing those who had fought in World War II and the Korean War. It became an official federal holiday in 1968, and over time has come to commemorate veterans of numerous other conflicts, including those in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

May 8 is recognized as the date when Nazi Germany surrendered, marking the end of fighting in Europe. However, the war against Japan continued for several more months, concluding in September 1945 after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Unlike Veterans Day, Victory in Europe Day is not an official federal holiday in the United States.

Trump’s assertion that the United States played the most significant role in winning World War II is likely to provoke pushback, particularly from Russia, which highlights its immense wartime losses during what it calls the “Great Patriotic War.” Approximately 9 million Soviet soldiers and 19 million civilians were killed in battles against the Nazi regime on the Eastern Front. Britain also endured severe destruction during Germany’s prolonged bombing campaigns.

{Matzav.com}

VP Vance on Elon: “He’s not really exiting the stage. He’s not going to disappear, he’s still going to play a regular role. He’s just not going to be in Washington every single day. One of the biggest improvements in govt. efficiency, we’ve seen in the history”

Wild video shows a malfunction during a drone show causing hundreds of drones to come crashing to the ground.

Secretary LCD on the jobs report: “[President Trump] mentioned to the American people over and over again that the Golden Age was coming. I will tell you the Golden Age is here… This is another great jobs report… Better than expected.”

Canadian Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to hold talks with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday.

Tsunami warnings ringing in southern Chile after 7.4-magnitude earthquake. Coastal areas are being evacuated.

Cybersecurity professionals are urgently advising Apple users to update their devices without delay following the discovery of a major security loophole in the company’s AirPlay technology, according to the New York Post. Researchers say the flaw could open the door for hackers to steal sensitive information, install malicious software, and even listen in on private conversations.

The vulnerability, dubbed “AirBorne,” exposes millions of Apple devices to potential threats. Experts explain that the issue allows cyber attackers to penetrate devices sharing the same Wi-Fi network — making places like coffee shops, office spaces, and airports particularly vulnerable.

AirPlay, which allows wireless media sharing across Apple products, relies on a software development kit (SDK) used in a wide array of electronics. Analysts warn that this exploit could provide intruders with access to various devices, such as iPhones, smart TVs, and infotainment systems in vehicles.

“Because AirPlay is supported in such a wide variety of devices, there are a lot that will take years to patch — or they will never be patched,” said Gal Elbaz, chief technology officer and co-founder of Israeli cybersecurity company Oligo, during an interview with Wired. “And it’s all because of vulnerabilities in one piece of software that affects everything.”

Security investigators identified 23 distinct flaws within the AirPlay system. Worryingly, the affected hardware could include older or idle devices that are still connected to a network — such as obsolete streaming boxes or Bluetooth speakers — which could serve as entry points for attackers.

“If a hacker can get on the same network as one of these devices, they can gain control and use it as a stepping stone to reach everything else,” Elbaz warned.

In response to the findings, Apple has released software updates to patch the vulnerabilities, and users are strongly urged to download the latest versions. However, products made by outside companies that rely on AirPlay integration have yet to be uniformly updated — a gap in protection that cybersecurity experts say could put users at continued risk.

“When third-party manufacturers integrate Apple technologies like AirPlay via an SDK, obviously Apple no longer has direct control over the hardware or the patching process,” said Patrick Wardle, CEO of Apple-centric security company DoubleYou. “If third-party vendors drag their feet — or skip updates entirely — it could leave users exposed and might chip away at consumer trust in the entire ‘Apple ecosystem.'”

To mitigate potential breaches, security specialists recommend Apple users update their iPhones and other Apple hardware as soon as possible and turn off AirPlay if it is not currently needed. Doing so could block a major vector for cyberattacks.

While Apple has worked swiftly to correct these issues within its own devices, analysts stress that the wider concern is the sheer number of non-Apple products that depend on AirPlay and may remain unprotected.

{Matzav.com}

Nearly four months after wildfires reduced thousands of Los Angeles-area homes to rubble and ash, some residents are starting to rebuild. In the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, construction workers recently began placing wooden beams to frame a house on a lot where only a charred fireplace remains standing. In the seaside city of Malibu and foothills neighborhood of Altadena, many land parcels where homes once stood are being cleared of debris. Hundreds of homeowners have sought city or county approval for new home designs and other permits to eventually rebuild or repair damaged homes, though few have gotten the green light to break ground. Some 17,000 homes, businesses and other structures burned to the ground in the Jan. 7 fires. It’s uncertain how much will be rebuilt. Many homeowners will not be able to afford it, even those with insurance. Some are still trying to figure out whether it’s safe to return to their properties, given limited data on the degree to which toxins from the fires, including lead and asbestos, may have permeated their land. Roughly 400 land parcels are already for sale in the fire-ravaged areas. Facing overwhelming loss and the chaos that comes with sudden displacement, those looking to rebuild must navigate an often confusing and time-consuming process. In most cases, it will take years for them to rebuild. LA issued its first building permit nearly two months after the fires started. It took more than seven months before the first building permit was issued following the Woolsey Fire in 2018. “Putting this in context of other disasters, the speed is actually probably faster than expected,” said Sara McTarnaghan, a researcher at the Urban Institute who studied the aftermath of urban wildfires in recent years in Colorado, Hawaii and California. Resolving to rebuild in Altadena Kathryn Frazier, a music publicist and life coach, had lived in her four-bedroom, three-bath house in Altadena for 10 years and raised her two children there. After her home burned to the ground, she was in shock and questioned whether it made sense to come back. But after conversations with neighbors, she became determined to rebuild. “I’m not leaving,” Frazier said. “That’s what kept coming up for everybody, and the more we all talked to each other the more we were all like ‘hell yes.’” She is making progress. Frazier hired a crew to clear the property of debris and she is nearly through the first phase of permitting, which involves getting county review and approval for her new home’s design. The next phase before receiving approval to begin construction includes reviews of electrical, plumbing and other aspects of the design. Frazier, 55, is rebuilding her home without major changes to its size or location in order to qualify for an expedited building permit approval process. “We are hoping to be building by June or July, latest,” she said. “I’ve been told that maybe by February or March of 2026 we could be back in our home.” For now, Frazier is getting quotes on windows, skylights and other home fixtures in hopes of locking in prices before they go up as more construction projects ramp up, or in response to the Trump administration’s ongoing trade war. “I’m doing things like scouring Home Depot, finding slate tiles that look modern and beautiful, but they’re actually really cheap,” she said. Recreating […]

The White House has rolled out a new online hub highlighting a surge of announced investments pouring into the U.S. economy since President Donald Trump began his second term in office.

The website showcases 49 significant investment commitments from a broad spectrum of industries—ranging from technology and pharmaceuticals to energy and real estate.

In the tech world, Apple and Nvidia each unveiled plans to pour $500 billion into U.S. operations. A separate $500 billion commitment is being made through Stargate, a collaborative initiative between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. Meanwhile, IBM has pledged a $150 billion investment of its own.

The pharmaceutical industry also figures prominently in the list, with several major players committing tens of billions of dollars in investment. Among them:

• Johnson & Johnson: $55 billion
• Genentech (Roche): $50 billion
• Eli Lilly & Company: $27 billion
• Novartis: $23 billion
• AbbVie: $10 billion
• Merck: $9 billion

Major investments from other sectors include $21 billion from automotive powerhouse Hyundai, $20 billion from DAMAC Properties in real estate, and $25 billion jointly announced by ADQ and Energy Capital Partners.

While addressing a gathering of business leaders on Wednesday, Trump said he expects total investments during his second term to cross the $8 trillion mark within a matter of weeks.
“We have a total of close to $8 trillion all told,” he continued. “And there’s never been anything like that in this country; we’ve never had anything close. I would say, if you looked at the last administration, probably for four years, they did maybe less than $1 [trillion], and we’ve done almost $8 [trillion].”

Trump’s signature economic policies—tariff enforcement, sweeping deregulation, and major tax cuts—are widely seen as key drivers behind the tidal wave of new capital since January.

During remarks at the White House on Wednesday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang directly credited Trump’s role in bringing advanced manufacturing back to U.S. soil, as the company prepares to roll out a next-generation 70-pound processor.

“We’re going to build NVIDIA’s technology, the next generation of that, all here in the United States,” he said.

“Without the president’s leadership, his policies, his support, and, very importantly, his strong encouragement… frankly, manufacturing in the United States wouldn’t have accelerated to this pace,” Jensen added.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Army has developed detailed proposals for a large-scale military parade on June 14, President Donald Trump’s birthday, featuring a display of military power that includes more than 6,600 troops, over 150 military vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven Army bands, and potentially thousands of civilians, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.

These internal planning files, dated April 29 and 30, have not yet been made public. They provide the Army’s latest draft for celebrating its 250th anniversary on the National Mall—an event that now may include a military parade, a vision long championed by Trump but still under discussion.

Coincidentally, the Army’s milestone falls on the same day as Trump’s 79th birthday, June 14.

Although the slides don’t specify a budget, a parade of this scale would require tens of millions of dollars to coordinate. Those expenses would cover transporting equipment, vehicles, personnel, and aircraft to Washington, as well as providing meals and lodging for thousands of service members.

Trump had pushed for a military parade during his presidency, but those efforts were shelved due to high costs. Officials are again raising concerns that heavy military hardware could damage the capital’s streets.

Army spokesman Steve Warren addressed the potential event on Thursday, saying no final decisions have been made.

Col. Dave Butler, another spokesperson for the Army, emphasized enthusiasm for the anniversary plans.

“We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,” said Butler. “We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.”

Sources familiar with the plans, speaking anonymously since no final approval has been granted, confirmed the documents reflect preparations in the event the White House gives the green light. A request for comment sent to the White House received no immediate response.

So far, there has been no official authorization for the parade. The plans remain fluid and have already undergone revisions in recent weeks.

Without specifically referencing the June 14 event, Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday night, “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!” He announced his intent to rename May 8, currently recognized as Victory in Europe Day, to “Victory Day for World War II,” and to change Veterans Day on November 11 to “Victory Day for World War I.”

Transporting the equipment would require logistical operations involving rail and air transport to bring military assets to the capital.

Some of the personnel and machinery were already slated to appear as part of the Army’s planned birthday festivities, which have been under development for over a year. The scheduled events on the National Mall include demonstrations, physical challenges, climbing walls, Humvees, helicopters, and other military displays.

Adding a parade would significantly boost the number of participating troops and the amount of equipment. According to the outline, approximately 6,300 service members would march, while others would handle logistics and support.

The Army initially didn’t plan for a parade, but officials confirmed last month that discussions about adding one had begun.

The draft plan envisions a showcase of the Army’s 250-year legacy, with soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions expected to take part. This could include a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion with two companies of tanks, and an infantry battalion featuring Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery, Howitzers, and other mechanized units.

Seven official Army bands would perform, and the Golden Knights parachute team is expected to participate. Civilian contributors could include historic military vehicles and planes, additional bands, reenactors, and representatives of veterans organizations and military academies.

The draft indicates the parade would be designated a national special security event, pending approval—a request already submitted by the National Park Service and currently under review.

Plans also include a concert and fireworks following the evening parade.

One planning document highlights logistical hurdles, such as identifying housing for incoming troops and resolving “significant concerns regarding security requirements” associated with moving large volumes of equipment into the city. The biggest outstanding question, the documents note, is finalizing which specific units will be assigned to participate.

Trump first expressed interest in hosting a U.S. military parade after attending the Bastille Day celebrations in France in 2017. Impressed by the parade down the Champs-Élysées, Trump declared he wanted an even larger display along Pennsylvania Avenue.

That initial plan was ultimately dropped due to the projected $92 million cost and logistical headaches, including pushback from city leaders who feared damage to local streets from tanks and heavy armor.

In 2018, Trump wrote on social media that he canceled the parade due to the excessive costs and blamed local officials for inflating the price.

This year, as the Army’s celebration took shape in Washington, conversations about incorporating a parade resurfaced.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed in April that the federal government had reached out about organizing a parade on June 14, with a proposed route stretching from Arlington, Virginia—home to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery—across the Potomac River into downtown Washington.

{Matzav.com}

More U.S. children have died this flu season than at any time since the swine flu pandemic 15 years ago, according to a federal report released Friday. The 216 pediatric deaths reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eclipse the 207 reported last year. It’s the most since the 2009-2010 H1N1 global flu pandemic. It’s a startlingly high number, given that the flu season is still going on. The final pediatric death tally for the 2023-2024 flu season wasn’t counted until autumn. “This number that we have now is almost certainly an undercount, and one that — when the season is declared over, and they compile all the data — it’s almost certain to go up,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, of the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are likely several contributors to this season’s severity, but a big one is that fewer children are getting flu shots, added O’Leary, a University of Colorado pediatric infectious diseases specialist. The flu vaccination rate for U.S. children has plummeted from about 64% five years ago to 49% this season. Flu vaccinations may not prevent people from coming down with symptoms, but research shows they are highly effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths, O’Leary said. The season has not only been hard on children. CDC officials have described it as “ highly severe,” and estimate that so far there have been at least 47 million illnesses, 610,000 hospitalizations and 26,000 deaths this season. CDC officials have information about underlying conditions on nearly 5,200 adults who were hospitalized with flu this season, and 95% had at least one existing health problem. But among 2,000 hospitalized children with more detailed health information, only about 53% had an underlying condition — including asthma and obesity. The CDC report did not say how many of the children who died were vaccinated. The agency did not make an expert available to talk about the flu season. The good news is that flu indicators have been waning since February, and last week all 50 states were reporting low or minimal flu activity. The season has seen more of a mix of flu strain circulating than in many other years, with two different Type A strains — H1N1 and H3N2 — causing a lot of infections. But CDC data released earlier this year suggested flu shots were doing a pretty good job at preventing deaths and hospitalizations. The CDC continues to recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine. Childhood vaccinations in general have been declining, driven by online misinformation and the political schism that emerged around COVID-19 vaccines. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also echoed some of the rhetoric of antivaccine activists since taking over as the nation’s health secretary. But there may be other reasons fewer children got flu shots this year, O’Leary said. Many pediatricians offices are understaffed and are not holding as many after-hours vaccination clinics as in the past. Also, more Americans are getting their vaccinations at pharmacies, but some drugstores don’t vaccinate children, he said. ”My hope is that this season will be a bit of wake up call for folks that we actually do need to vaccinate our kids against influenza,” O’Leary said. (AP)

The Israel Defense Forces emphasized that their foremost mission in the ongoing Gaza conflict is the safe recovery of the 59 hostages still in Hamas captivity.

This assertion stands in stark contrast to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s remarks yesterday in which he stated that achieving “victory” over Hamas is the war’s overriding objective, rather than securing the hostages’ return.

“The supreme mission that the IDF is dealing with is our moral duty to return the hostages. The second mission is defeating Hamas. We are working to advance both goals, with the return of the hostages being at the top [of the list of priorities],” the military says.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Republican lawmakers representing blue states are engaged in intense private negotiations over potential changes to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, with proposals ranging from $30,000 to as high as $100,000. Their aim is to secure inclusion of the provision in President Trump’s sweeping new tax legislation, sources told The Post.

On Wednesday, GOP representatives from states like New York, New Jersey, and California met with House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith of Missouri. The group discussed potential figures to propose as a new cap on SALT deductions as part of a massive tax reform bill expected to total several trillion dollars.

According to three individuals briefed on the meeting, lawmakers floated multiple figures — $30,000, $40,000, and $60,000 were discussed — while some pushed aggressively for a $100,000 threshold, insisting on “$100,000 or bust.”

Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey has previously voiced support for a $30,000 limit per filer, calling it “a good number” and “still reasonable.”

One Republican from California, who was not named, is said to have proposed a $60,000 cap, which mirrors a past proposal by Long Island Representative Nick LaLota. LaLota’s bill would have allowed single filers to deduct up to $60,000 and joint filers up to $120,000.

Congressman Mike Lawler of Rockland County is backing an even more generous proposal — $100,000 for individual filers and $200,000 for married couples. His plan would also eliminate what’s been referred to as the “marriage penalty,” where the cap was previously the same for both single and joint filers.

The SALT deduction is currently capped at $10,000 for both individuals and couples, a limit put in place by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed by President Trump. That cap is due to expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts.

Representative Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island and other colleagues have criticized the current cap as being insufficient, saying even a $20,000 limit wouldn’t adequately support the middle class.

“We’re working on identifying a number that will cover the middle-class families we represent,” Malliotakis said.

“It’s going to come down to what provides relief for the middle-class, what can we get consensus on in the committee and what is palatable for the entire conference,” she added.

“The president, the speaker, Chairman Jason Smith and my colleagues on the [Ways and Means] committee — they understand the dilemma facing New York members.”

The committee is aiming to finalize the details of the tax overhaul next week, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent targeting July 4 as the deadline for passage.

Bessent warned reporters on Tuesday that failure to pass what he called the “big, beautiful” legislation — which also allocates funds for defense and border protection — could have dire consequences: “If it doesn’t pass, we’ll have the largest tax hike in history.”

If the $10,000 SALT cap remains permanent, the nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimates that more than $1 trillion could be added to the federal deficit over the next decade.

Meanwhile, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget projected that Lawler’s proposal of $100,000 for single filers and $200,000 for couples could cut an additional $1 trillion in revenue by 2035.

Several elements of the tax bill still need review by the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to ensure that it can be approved through reconciliation, a process that allows it to pass the Senate with a simple majority of 51 votes.

“Our final bill will not only extend the 2017 tax relief for hardworking Americans, it will make it permanent,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota during remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday.

Speaker Johnson remains hopeful that the full legislation can be sent to the president before Memorial Day.

{Matzav.com}

The Zionist Organization elections have entered their final phase, with the “Eretz Hakodesh” faction expressing significant concern about a possible defeat. Campaign officials report a substantial increase in voting among Reform and Conservative supporters in recent days, threatening to shift the balance of power. While the Eretz Hakodesh faction enjoyed strong initial support across diverse constituencies, the situation has changed dramatically in the final stretch. The AID faction, which maintains close ties with the Israeli left and the “Brothers in Arms” movement, has launched an extensive online campaign successfully mobilizing voters for parties within the liberal-reform bloc. This coordinated effort appears to be backed by several left-leaning organizations and associations worldwide that view Conservative and Reform representation in Zionist Organization institutions as strategically important in their opposition to traditional Jewish Zionism in Israel. “If the current voting trends continue and Eretz Hakodesh fails to activate additional support bases, our representation risks becoming a minority position against the left-wing bloc,” a faction spokesperson stated. Campaign officials are now intensifying their outreach efforts in the final days before polls close, urging supporters of the religious bloc to participate and ensure their voices are represented in the organization’s future decision-making. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The German domestic intelligence service said Friday it has classified the Alternative for Germany party, which placed second in national elections in February, as a “right-wing extremist effort” — making it subject to greater and broader surveillance of its activities. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution cited the “extremist character” of the party, known as AfD, and said it “disregards human dignity” — in particular by taking aim at those who moved to Germany from mostly Muslim countries. The party criticized the move, with deputy chairman Stephan Brandner saying that it “is complete nonsense, has absolutely nothing to do with law and order, and is purely political in the fight of the cartel parties against the AfD.” The AfD has already been under enhanced surveillance by authorities in some regions, but the announcement by the domestic spy agency means the agency’s officials can use informants and other tools such as audio and video recordings to monitor the party’s activities nationwide. The office, which has warned of growing extremism in Germany, cited court decisions in two German regions in recent years that detailed party efforts to undermine a free and democratic order. The party “aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society, to subject them to unconstitutional unequal treatment and thus to assign them a legally devalued status,” the agency, known as BfV, said. The party had already come under scrutiny from the BfV for its links to extremists and its ties to Russia. Of the 38,800 far-right extremists counted by the agency last year, more than 10,000 are members of the party. “The ethnic and descent-based understanding of the people prevailing within the party is incompatible with the free democratic basic order,” the intelligence service said, adding that the party’s political positions have underpinned “continuous agitation” against minorities and stirred fear and hostility toward them. “This is evident in the numerous xenophobic, anti-minority, anti-Islamic, and anti-Muslim statements continually made by leading party officials,” it said. Nancy Faeser, the interior minister, said in a statement that the classification was “clear and unambiguous” and had resulted from a 1,100-page “comprehensive and neutral audit” that had no political influence. Under the move, any surveillance of AfD activities must abide by a “principle of proportionality” under German law. The measure does not amount to a ban of the party, which can only take place through a request by either of parliament’s two chambers or the federal government through the Federal Constitutional Court. Asked whether the party would appeal the decision, Brandner said the executive board is holding a scheduled meeting next Monday and is expected to discuss it then. (AP)