Iran’s once-grand plan to transform post-war Syria into a loyal regional satellite has collapsed in dramatic fashion, according to a trove of confidential documents obtained by Reuters from the Iranian embassy in Damascus. The blueprint, drawn up in 2022, envisioned Tehran embedding itself deep into Syria’s economy, politics, and security apparatus. But the sudden fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 has left those ambitions in ruins. The newly installed Syrian government, composed largely of rebel factions hostile to Tehran, has moved to dismantle Iran’s presence. Iranian military officers, diplomats, and economic envoys have withdrawn from Damascus. Cultural centers funded by Tehran have shuttered. Contracts worth billions—spanning oil, mining, and telecom—have been torn up or handed over to rival powers. Iran’s plan, detailed in the leaked documents, was to dominate Syria’s post-civil war reconstruction in return for years of military and financial support to Assad. The strategy hinged on long-term agreements, soft-power influence, and the placement of Iranian allies in key Syrian institutions. But what was supposed to be a strategic jewel in Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” has instead turned into a costly blunder. The report lays bare the scale of Iran’s involvement—spanning education, energy, telecom, and internal security—and the central role played by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Spearheaded by senior officer Abbas Akbari, the IRGC’s efforts to sidestep U.S. sanctions and fast-track projects often foundered in a maze of Syrian bureaucracy, corruption, and competing interests from Russia and other actors. Now, with a new Syrian leadership firmly closing the door on Iranian influence, Tehran finds itself ousted from a country it once helped prop up. Iran’s cultural institutes have been repurposed. Its oil and phosphate deals have vanished. Even its once-strong political alliances in Damascus have eroded overnight. The fallout marks a stinging defeat for Iran’s long-standing regional ambitions. With Syria no longer a pliant client state, Tehran is left to reckon with the high cost of its intervention—measured not just in billions of dollars, but in lost leverage, credibility, and strategic depth. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The chavrusah tumult took place at BMG this week, as the summer Zman kicks off. The tumult generally last for two days, with talmidim of the yeshiva seeking out chavrusos and which chaburah they will be in. Enjoy the videos and phots below of this spectacular site!
Various Yom Ha’atzmaut ceremonies were held across Israel on Thursday as Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service continued to battle the fires that began in the Jerusalem hills on Wednesday. Photos taken of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the President’s Medal of Excellence ceremony in Jerusalem aroused curiosity due to a sight not seen since COVID days—the prime minister’s bodyguards with masks on their faces. The masks were not worn to protect against a new COVID variant but against the ancient and deadly antisemitism variant. The bodyguards, who are part of the Shin Bet’s personal security unit, were instructed to wear masks at public events to protect themselves from possible arrest warrants issued abroad, Walla reports. For the same reason, no close-up photos of IDF soldiers were taken at the various ceremonies. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana didn’t hold back in a Fox News interview, launching a scathing verbal attack against Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Kennedy took aim at her style and substance, using colorful language to express his disdain.
“As I’ve said before, she’s entitled to her opinions. You know, my personal opinion is that God gave her a billy goat brain and a mockingbird mouth, you know,” Kennedy remarked during his appearance on Fox.
The senator broadened his criticism to the Democratic Party in general, accusing them of lacking a substantive policy agenda. He suggested that their political platform revolves entirely around their opposition to one person. “Look, I believe in the power of ideas, and my Democratic colleagues have no ideas. All they have is hatred for one man, even when he’s right, and that is President Trump,” Kennedy said.
He went on to say, “And I don’t think that’s healthy for them. I don’t think that’s healthy for America.”
Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez has been traveling extensively, holding events aimed at rallying opposition to Trump-era proposals, especially those involving deep budget cuts.
Her office did not issue a response when asked to comment on Kennedy’s statements.
Ocasio-Cortez has been increasingly viewed as a possible contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. That speculation grew stronger after she released a professionally produced video showcasing her tour alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, prompting comparisons to a campaign launch.
Despite the buzz, she hasn’t officially declared any plans to run, and has sidestepped inquiries about her political future.
“Listen, it’s a video. And frankly, I think what people should be most concerned about is the fact that Republicans are trying to cut Medicaid right now and people’s health care is in danger,” Ocasio-Cortez told Fox News Digital when asked directly about a presidential campaign.
She emphasized her immediate priorities, saying, “That’s really what my central focus is.”
Earlier this year, a March survey ranked Ocasio-Cortez as the Democratic figure most closely aligned with the party’s “core values,” fueling talk about her rising influence and possible future aspirations in national politics.
{Matzav.com}
An Israeli soldier was accidentally left behind in the Gaza Strip earlier this week, wandering alone through hostile territory for 40 harrowing minutes before finding safety. The incident occurred on Tuesday following an IDF operation by the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit in the volatile Morag Corridor, nestled between Rafah and Khan Younis — a region known for fierce fighting and terrorist infrastructure. As the unit concluded its mission and withdrew back into Israeli territory, one soldier was inexplicably left behind. According to a statement by the IDF, the soldier—realizing he had been abandoned—began making his way through the danger zone on foot, calling out “IDF! IDF!” repeatedly in an effort to avoid being mistaken for a terrorist and shot by his own forces. He eventually reached troops from the Golani Brigade, who were operating nearby and took him in safely. “This is a grave incident that is being thoroughly investigated,” the IDF said in an acknowledgment of the error. “Lessons will be drawn to ensure that such a critical failure does not occur again.” The IDF has not released the soldier’s name, but officials say he was not harmed during the ordeal. Nevertheless, the breach in protocol and potential risk to life has raised serious concerns within the military’s ranks. The fact that a soldier from one of Israel’s most elite engineering units could be forgotten—if only for under an hour—inside one of the most dangerous places on earth is a startling breach of operational discipline. Military commentators have already begun questioning how such a lapse could occur during a coordinated withdrawal, and what it says about the pressure and chaos still facing troops on the ground in Gaza. The internal investigation is ongoing. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The animal sedative medetomidine is increasingly showing up in the U.S. illegal drug supply, according to three reports released Thursday. Medetomidine, which is used to sedate pets and is somewhat similar to xylazine, was first detected in illegally manufactured opioids in North America in 2022. Investigators say the drug is being mixed in with other illicit drugs, mainly fentanyl, the synthetic opioid behind most overdose deaths. On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published three reports about recent clusters of medetomidine cases in Chicago, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In Chicago, health officials last May were puzzled by a surge in overdoses. The patients had taken fentanyl, but the overdose-reversing drug naloxone didn’t seem to work. After an investigation, the city’s health department reported 12 confirmed cases of medetomidine-involved overdose — the largest to date — as well as more than 160 probable or suspected cases including a possible death. The two other reports focused on medetomidine withdrawal in patients in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In Philadelphia, medetomidine was detected in 72% of illegal opioid samples tested late last year, overtaking xylazine, which has complicated the U.S. response to the opioid crisis. More than 160 people were hospitalized for an unusual version of fentanyl withdrawal that was resistant to medications that helped against fentanyl and xylazine. However, another drug — dexmedetomidine — did work, health officials said. Pittsburgh reported 10 similar cases during a similar time period. (AP)
The Kremlin has responded to the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal.
According to a New York Post report, the Kremlin unloaded on the U.S. and Ukraine on Thursday after the two countries finalized a deal for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.
A deal that gives the U.S. a vested interest in the war’s outcome.
“Trump has finally pressured the Kiev regime to pay for US aid with mineral resources,” Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Telegram. “Now, the country that is about to disappear will have to use its national wealth to pay for military supplies.”
From The New York Post:
The State Department has already notified Congress of its intent to sell $50 million or more in military equipment to Ukraine in what would be the first deal of its kind under the Trump administration, according to reports.
Unlike military aid packages under the Biden administration, Ukraine would pay the United States for these weapons — benefiting both Kyiv’s defense and the US defense industry without the use of American taxpayer dollars.
The sale was reported hours after the US-Ukraine mineral deal was inked Wednesday night.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke about the deal on Hannity Wednesday night.
“It’s a great deal,” Bessent told Hannity. “This is President Trump’s deal that he’s done. He’s done trade deals, tax deals, and now we have this Ukraine-American economic partnership deal, and it’s win-win. It shows that there is no daylight between Ukraine and the U.S. as President Trump presses to end this horrible war. He wants both sides to come to the table now by showing that the U.S. has an economic interest in Ukraine as a signal to the Russian leadership.”
Bessent continued: “It’s also a signal to the American people that we have a chance to participate and be compensated for some of the funding and the weapons and be partners with the success of the Ukrainian people and bring American know-how to the rebuilding of Ukraine.”
{Matzav.com}
Steve Witkoff, a former real estate mogul turned makeshift diplomat, has become a growing liability for the Trump administration, drawing scorn from foreign policy experts, career diplomats, and even members of Trump’s own orbit, the NY Post reported in a scathing article. Once hailed for brokering a brief cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Witkoff’s erratic solo diplomacy is now being widely ridiculed as amateurish, naive, and dangerously out of step with international norms. Witkoff, now serving as President Trump’s special envoy to both the Middle East and Russia, has taken on a role that would overwhelm even seasoned statesmen. But rather than surrounding himself with veteran negotiators and intelligence experts, Witkoff has taken to flying solo — literally. Sources say he regularly meets alone with world leaders like Vladimir Putin, sometimes relying on Kremlin translators instead of U.S. personnel. One former Trump official described Witkoff bluntly: “Nice guy, but a bumbling… idiot. He should not be doing this alone.” The criticism isn’t unfounded. In a March meeting in Qatar, Witkoff walked away from talks with Hamas believing he had secured a hostage deal. Days later, the terror group pulled the rug out from under him, offering only one living hostage in return for concessions. Witkoff admitted on national TV he might have been “duped.” The cease-fire collapsed within days. His performance on the Russia front has been no better. While retired Gen. Keith Kellogg handles negotiations with Ukraine, Witkoff — handpicked by Trump to deal with Moscow — has effectively become the Kremlin’s mouthpiece in Washington. In an eyebrow-raising interview with Tucker Carlson, Witkoff parroted Putin’s propaganda nearly word for word, referring to occupied Ukrainian regions as “Russian-speaking” territories with legitimate referenda, while failing to recall the names of the four oblasts in question. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul didn’t mince words: “Witkoff acts as a mailman for Putin. He is not negotiating anything.” Even worse, video footage shows Witkoff asking whether his own translator at a Kremlin meeting was “from the embassy.” Experts were stunned. “You do not walk into a hostile negotiation relying on the other side’s translator,” said Estonian-Ukrainian advisor Jaanika Merilo. “Unless you are incompetent. Or worse — unless you don’t care.” And then there’s Iran. In yet another diplomatic misfire, Witkoff floated a return to a watered-down nuclear deal allowing Iran to retain enrichment capabilities — only to walk back his own comments a day later. Critics blasted the trial balloon as reckless and uninformed. “Witkoff’s discussions with Iran are a waste of oxygen,” said former National Security Advisor John Bolton. “The Iranians are buying time. And he’s giving it to them.” The bigger question: why is a man with no diplomatic experience juggling three of the world’s most explosive crises? “This is not shuttle diplomacy,” said one Israeli expert. “It’s Uber diplomacy — and Witkoff is in the driver’s seat with no GPS.” Despite mounting criticism, the Trump White House has rushed to Witkoff’s defense. “Steve Witkoff has done incredible work,” said Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. “Like President Trump, he is focused on stopping the killing and advancing peace through strength.” But to many observers, Witkoff’s greatest strength seems to be his talent for confusing both allies and adversaries — while undermining U.S. credibility in the process. A cease-fire gone awry, […]
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reached out to Israeli President Isaac Herzog with a personal letter marking Israel’s 77th year of independence, extending his good wishes and expressing concern for those still held captive in Gaza.
The message opened warmly: “My wife and I wanted to send Your Excellency and the people of The State of Israel our congratulations on the auspicious occasion of your seventy-seventh Independence Day.”
In his letter, Charles acknowledged the ongoing agony felt by families awaiting the return of hostages. “We are all too aware of the immense pain and suffering still being endured by those who remain hostage in Gaza,” he wrote. “Our special thoughts and prayers remain with them and their families, as well as with all those whose lives have been so dreadfully devastated by this conflict.”
He concluded with a heartfelt expression of optimism: it is his “profound hope that they are able to return home to their loved ones and that there is peace in the region.”
{Matzav.com}
The U.S. Justice Department filed lawsuits against four states this week, claiming their climate actions conflict with federal authority and President Donald Trump’senergy dominance agenda. The DOJ on Wednesday filed lawsuits against Hawaii and Michigan over their planned legal action against fossil fuel companies for harms caused by climate change. On Thursday, the DOJ sued New York and Vermont, challenging their climate superfund laws that would force fossil fuel companies to pay into state-based funds based on previous greenhouse gas emissions. The suits, which legal experts say are unprecedented, mark the latest of the Trump administration’s attacks on environmental work and raises concern over states’ abilities to retain the power to take climate action without federal opposition. DOJ’s court filings said the states’ plans and policies “impermissibly regulate out-of-state greenhouse gas emissions and obstruct the Clean Air Act’s comprehensive federal-state framework and EPA’s regulatory discretion.” The DOJ said the Clean Air Act — a federal law authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate air emissions — creates “a program for regulating air pollution in the United States and “displaces” the ability of States to regulate greenhouse gas emissions beyond their borders.” DOJ argued Wednesday that Hawaii and Michigan are violating the intent of the Act that enables the EPA authority to set nationwide standards for greenhouse gases, citing the states’ pending litigation against oil and gas companies for alleged climate damage. Democratic Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel last year tapped private law firms to go after the fossil fuel industry for negatively affecting the state’s climate and environment. Meanwhile, Democratic Hawaii Governor Josh Green plans to target fossil fuel companies that he said should take responsibility for their role in the state’s climate impacts, including 2023’s deadly Lahaina wildfire. When burned, fossil fuels release emissions such as carbon dioxide that warm the planet. A spokesperson for Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office deferred to Nessel when asked for comment. “This lawsuit is at best frivolous and arguably sanctionable,” Nessel said in a statement, which noted that Michigan hasn’t filed a lawsuit. “If the White House or Big Oil wish to challenge our claims, they can do so when our lawsuit is filed; they will not succeed in any attempt to preemptively bar our access to make our claims in the courts. I remain undeterred in my intention to file this lawsuit the President and his Big Oil donors so fear.” Green’s office and the Hawaii Attorney General’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Thursday’s filings called the Superfund Act — a federal law enacted to address the harm associated with hazardous waste sites — “a transparent monetary-extraction scheme.” Trump has suggested the superfund laws “extort” payments from energy entities. “By purporting to regulate the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change, the Act necessarily reaches far beyond” the states of New York and Vermont, the DOJ argued, saying it incorrectly looks to regulate nationwide and global airspace. “At a time when States should be contributing to a national effort to secure reliable sources of domestic energy,” all four states are choosing “to stand in the way,” all four filings said. In its filings, the DOJ repeated the Republican president’s claims of America’s energy emergency and crisis. But legal experts raised concern over the government’s arguments. […]
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu made waves on Thursday when he emphasized that achieving “victory” over Hamas remains the paramount aim of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, even above securing the release of hostages still held captive. The remark drew immediate and fierce backlash from the families of those abducted.
This development comes as relatives of the hostages have recently accused Netanyahu of derailing potential negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. They also claim he is keeping them in the dark regarding the fate of the remaining 59 hostages believed to be in Gaza.
Speaking during the annual Bible Quiz in Yerushalayim, held in honor of Independence Day, Netanyahu stated, “We have many goals, many goals in this war. We want to bring all our hostages home. We’ve so far brought back 147 alive, and 196 total.”
“There are another up to 24 alive, 59 total, and we want to return the living and the dead,” Netanyahu continued, a statement that came despite conflicting figures shared by his wife earlier this week, who suggested that the number of living hostages may be even lower.
Calling the hostages’ return “a very important goal,” Netanyahu nonetheless clarified, “The war has a supreme goal, and the supreme goal is victory over our enemies, and this we will achieve.”
Until now, Netanyahu had presented Israel’s objectives in the war as a triad: defeating Hamas, securing the return of all captives, and preventing Gaza from posing future threats. He had refrained from establishing a hierarchy among these goals, repeatedly stating that military operations would persist until Israel achieved “absolute victory.”
His latest statement triggered a sharp reaction from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which said Netanyahu appeared to be aligning with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich stirred controversy last week when he said, “the hostages are not the most important thing” in determining war policy.
“The majority of the Israeli public… wants the return of all the hostages before anything else,” the Forum said in response, declaring the release of captives “the supreme goal that should be guiding Israel’s government.”
Tying their message to Independence Day, the Forum added, “There is no full independence for the state or for the people of Israel without the return of our brothers and sisters.”
Separately, President Isaac Herzog delivered remarks at a formal Independence Day event held at his official residence in Yerushalayim, where he voiced his personal anguish. “We cannot celebrate independence with a whole heart when our brothers and sisters are not with us. Israel as a nation longs for them, for their freedom.”
The Forum has repeatedly condemned Netanyahu’s refusal to end the military campaign in Gaza as part of a deal that could free the captives. A recent proposal from Hamas was turned down by Israel. Meanwhile, Smotrich and fellow cabinet member Itamar Ben Gvir have warned that they would bring down the government if it agrees to halt operations in Gaza.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rent-stabilized tenants in New York City could see their monthly housing costs rise this fall, after the city’s Rent Guidelines Board voted Wednesday in favor of proposed rent increases for one- and two-year leases. The board approved a range of potential hikes: 1.75% to 4.75% for one-year leases and 4.75% to 7.75% for two-year leases. The final rates will be determined in a binding vote scheduled for June. If approved, the changes would apply to leases beginning on or after October 1. The preliminary decision comes as the board weighs how to support the financial stability of building owners while protecting tenants from cost-of-living increases. Over the past three years, the board has greenlit cumulative rent hikes totaling 9%. Mayor Eric Adams called the vote a “challenging decision,” stressing the importance of maintaining building quality without placing “unreasonable” burdens on renters. He expressed concern over the upper end of the proposed range, saying, “A 7.75% increase is far too unreasonable of a burden for tenants,” especially in the midst of a worsening affordability crisis across the city. Landlord advocates, however, blasted the board’s proposed increases as insufficient. Kenny Burgos, CEO of the New York Apartment Association, which represents owners of roughly 400,000 rent-stabilized apartments, said the adjustments fall short of what is needed to keep buildings operational. “Following this inadequate adjustment, we now need elected officials to step up and lower the costs they can control – like property taxes, water and sewer payments, and energy prices,” Burgos said. “If they do not take action, then thousands of rent-stabilized buildings will fail in the next year.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Elon Musk confirms that DOGE is here to stay: “If we take our eye off the ball, the fraud will come roaring back.” DOGE Engineer Edward Coristine notes that the government payment system incentivizes wasteful spending due to the lack of oversight when approving requests for funding.
The Trump Organization has signed a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, marking its first real estate venture there since Trump’s return to the White House. The project will include beachside villas and an 18-hole golf course.
VP VANCE ON MIKE WALTZ: “He is being made ambassador to the United Nations — which, of course, is a Senate-confirmed position … We brought Mike on to do some serious reforms to the National Security Council. He has done that.”
In yet another explosive controversy rocking New York City’s embattled public school system, the Department of Education is under fire for distributing an official newsletter that accused Israel of committing “genocide in Gaza”—a claim that outraged Jewish educators and advocates are calling a dangerous escalation of anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric within the city’s classrooms. According to a NY Post report, the inflammatory statement appeared in the spring 2025 edition of the “Teacher Career Pathways” newsletter—an internal publication bearing the logos of both the NYC Department of Education and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT)—which was distributed to hundreds of “master teachers” across the city’s 1,800 public schools. “The genocide in Gaza, among other global injustices, emphasized the urgent need for student voices to be centered and heard,” the newsletter read, citing a student protest in the Bronx held on March 28 as a model of activism. But Jewish educators say the message crossed a line—falsifying history, glorifying antisemitic demonstrations, and turning schools into ideological battlegrounds. “This newsletter needs to be removed and someone needs to apologize immediately,” said one Jewish teacher, who asked to remain anonymous. “Does the DOE expect me, a Jewish educator, to pass along this kind of language in good conscience?” Pro-Israel teachers say that the referenced protest was not a benign call for peace, but a chaotic pro-Hamas rally rife with antisemitic tropes and slogans calling for the destruction of Israel. “To frame this as a noble catalyst for leadership is both revisionist and reckless,” said another concerned educator. This is not the DOE’s first foray into controversy over anti-Israel messaging. Just weeks ago, the chancellor’s office was forced to apologize for a separate DOE-linked publication that promoted a “Stop Gaza Genocide Toolkit,” urging educators to support calls to “Stop arming Israel” and “Free Palestine.” The latest incident sparked harsh rebuke from elected officials and education watchdogs alike. “This is simply inexcusable and unconscionable,” said Manhattan Councilwoman Julie Menin. “We were clear with the chancellor that this must never happen again—and yet here we are. DOE gets an F.” Karen Feldman, co-founder of the NYC Public School Alliance and a 26-year teaching veteran, echoed the sentiment. “This is not genuine social justice—it is the spread of hate disguised as activism. Our schools should be spaces of inclusion and learning, not platforms for radical, inflammatory propaganda.” Michelle Ahdoot, director at the advocacy group #EndJewHatred, called the newsletter part of a “clear pattern of Jew-hatred in official DOE communications,” accusing the chancellor of “deliberate indifference” to the danger Jewish educators and students face. She demanded a full investigation and public accountability. DOE officials acknowledged the language had been removed after it was flagged but declined to name the author. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Polling data from John Zogby Strategies offers an early snapshot of the 2028 presidential race, with Independent Senator Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump Jr. emerging as the current front-runners in their respective political parties.
During an appearance on Newsmax’s “Greg Kelly Reports,” pollster John Zogby discussed the newly released findings, shedding light on early voter sentiment heading into the next presidential cycle.
“Well, I did it, I guess, to quote a former president because I could,” Zogby remarked when asked about the motivation for conducting such an early survey. “But I did it because we have done that early on in nonpresidential years, looking ahead to the future. Usually, these are based on name recognition, you know, obviously, but in this instance, I think it told a story.”
According to the poll, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders leads among Democrats. Though he will be 86 years old in 2028 and is not expected to run, Zogby said Sanders represents a symbolic figure for progressives, sharing that space with New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“That’s the left wing of the party. And the left wing of the party is in the ascendancy right now,” Zogby explained. “Who holds up the more establishment side of the party? That’s [former Transportation Secretary] Pete Buttigieg together with [Sen.] Cory Booker [D-N.J.] and [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom. What I’m impressed about is that there’s five people there in double digits, meaning this is wide open.”
Donald Trump Jr. leads among Republicans in the poll, and Zogby drew a historical parallel to a similar moment in political history.
“What’s really interesting is that Donald Trump Jr. is parallel to what we saw at this point in time in 1997,” he said. “George W. Bush, who was still relatively new governor of Texas, came in first in a field of Republicans that included, you know, some heavyweights.”
Zogby reflected on the 1997 polling results, noting that many voters at the time mistakenly thought George W. Bush was actually his father, President George H.W. Bush, and supported him out of a belief that the elder Bush had been unfairly treated in the 1992 election. He suggested that a similar phenomenon could be contributing to the numbers favoring Trump Jr.
When pressed on whether Trump Jr.’s polling success was simply a product of name familiarity, Zogby acknowledged that factor but said it doesn’t tell the whole story.
“Of course,” he said. “But behind the numbers, he does better than [Vice President JD] Vance. He gets 35% support among self-identified Republicans. Whereas those independents who said that they would vote in the Republican primary in their state favor Vance 2-to-1.”
{Matzav.com}
A record 1,120 people accused of being in the U.S. illegally were arrested in less than a week during sweep orchestrated by federal, state and local authorities in Florida, an operation officials credited on Thursday to the burgeoning number of local police departments and state agencies that have joined President Donald Trump’s drive for mass deportations. That cooperation was on display Thursday when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to tout the arrests. “We will continue to engage in broad interior enforcement efforts,” said DeSantis at a joint press conference with federal officials. “This is just the beginning.” Local police can make immigration arrests and detain people for immigration violations under specific agreements. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had 135 agreements across 21 states in December. That number has since jumped to 506 deals across 38 states, with an additional 74 agencies pending approval. As the Trump administration ramps up cooperation with state and local agencies, it is moving to retaliate against those that limit helping immigration authorities. On Monday, the president signed an executive order to publish a list of “sanctuary” jurisdictions and reiterated threats of criminal charges against state or local officials who thwart federal policy. Advocates who oppose local officials getting into immigration enforcement say the practice violates a clause in the U.S. Constitution that makes federal, not state, authorities responsible for it. “This is finding methods to terrorize communities,” said Katie Blankenship, an immigration attorney and co-founder of Sanctuary of the South, adding that local law enforcement officers aren’t trained to handle immigration issues “in any sort of just manner.” Trumps deportation goals may be too big for ICE alone ICE, which has about 6,000 deportation officers, needs help achieving Trump’s goal of deporting many of the roughly 11 million people in the country illegally, a conservative estimate. Texas, whose Republican governor, Greg Abbott, has closely allied himself with Trump on immigration, has 76 enforcement agreements on record, the second-largest number of any state. They include one inked April 10 with the state National Guard. Texas has also signed an agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its National Guard to arrest people at the border. Georgia and North Carolina have also joined Trump’s cause, but no state approaches Florida’s cooperation, with agencies from all 67 counties signing on. Some participating institutions appear to have little, if anything, to do with immigration enforcement, including the Florida Department of Lottery Services and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. No such agreements were signed during the Biden administration. Many of the new pacts adhere to a “task force model” under which police arrest immigrants on the streets and in communities, as opposed to a “jail enforcement model” under which ICE takes custody of people only when they are put in state and local jails or prisons. On Thursday, DeSantis and federal officials offered some details of “Operation Tidal Wave,” the multiagency law enforcement operation that, according to ICE, culminated with arresting the largest number of people in the U.S. illegally in a single state in one week since the agency was created in 2003. “While this may be the first … operation of its kind, thanks to the governor, it’s not going to be the last,” said Madison Sheahan, ICE deputy director. “We will […]
The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, who was in Los Angeles for the past two and a half months following a complex surgery, departed last night on a private jet bound for Switzerland, where he will be staying for a period of rest and recuperation.
The Rebbe took off from Los Angeles at 10:45 p.m. local time on Wednesday night, en route to Davos, where he is expected to remain for ten days.
Barring any changes, the Rebbe is scheduled to return to Eretz Yisroel at the start of the week of Lag BaOmer.
Upon his return, a major welcome event is planned, featuring a grand kabbalas panim by all the talmidim of Vizhnitz’s talmudei Torah schools across the country.
In Eretz Yisroel, preparations are already underway for a high-profile conference of the Vizhnitz institutions, set to take place in Rosh Pina. The exclusive gathering will bring together prominent philanthropists and dignitaries from around the world, with the participation of the Rebbe himself.
Additionally, the main Lag BaOmer event in Bnei Brak, including the traditional bonfire lighting, is scheduled to take place under the leadership of the Rebbe. However, the exact location of the event is still under discussion, as organizers expect a massive turnout from across the country, especially as it will be the Rebbe’s first major public appearance since his surgery.
In advance of the Rebbe’s arrival in Switzerland, a group of six outstanding yeshiva students—described as the “lions” of the Vizhnitzer yeshivos—were selected to accompany him and maintain their full Torah study schedule during the stay in Davos. The talmidim were carefully chosen by the administrations of the yeshivos in Kiryat Vizhnitz, Brachfeld, and Elad. Among them is Tzvi Elimelech Askal, son of Rabbi Ephraim Askal, a prominent chassid, who recently completed the entire Shas. He merited the Rebbe’s participation at the siyum celebration held at Yeshivas Yeshuos Moshe-Vizhnitz in Brachfeld.
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Yisroel ben Leah Esther for his swift return to full strength.
{Matzav.com Israel}
China accused the United States on Wednesday of being the true source of COVID-19, as tensions over the origins of the virus once again flared into the international spotlight. The accusation came in the form of a sharply worded white paper released by the Chinese government, claiming that the U.S. is “shamelessly politicizing” the pandemic and attempting to deflect from its own failings. Beijing’s fiery rebuttal followed a recent push from the White House suggesting that the virus likely leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where gain-of-function research was allegedly being conducted. A section of a newly updated government webpage explicitly claims that “a lab-related incident” is now considered the most probable origin of the deadly pandemic that has claimed millions of lives. “The U.S. government, instead of facing squarely its failure in response to COVID-19… has tried to shift the blame and divert people’s attention,” the Chinese paper declared. The document insists that “substantial evidence” suggests the virus may have been circulating in the U.S. before China’s first known outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019. The renewed battle over COVID’s origins comes as multiple U.S. agencies—including the CIA and FBI—have leaned toward the lab leak theory, though the CIA maintains “low confidence” in its assessment and admits that a natural origin remains possible. A House panel has also weighed in, citing growing concerns over the security of gain-of-function research and the inadequacy of current global oversight mechanisms. Still, China stood by the results of a 2021 joint study conducted with the World Health Organization, which deemed a lab leak “extremely unlikely” and concluded the virus likely jumped from bats to humans via an intermediary species. Beijing went further, accusing the U.S. of undermining global cooperation during the pandemic and lambasting its public health response. “It has severely undermined joint international efforts… and become a weak link in global public health governance,” Chinese officials wrote. The report also alleged the U.S. has failed to adequately address questions surrounding its own COVID timeline and response. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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