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Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a massive overhaul of the State Department on Tuesday, with plans to reduce staff in the U.S. by 15% while closing and consolidating more than 100 bureaus worldwide as part of the Trump administration’s “America First” mandate. The reorganization plan, announced by Rubio on social media and detailed in documents obtained by The Associated Press, is the latest effort by the White House to reimagine U.S. foreign policy and scale back the size of the federal government. “We cannot win the battle for the 21st century with bloated bureaucracy that stifles innovation and misallocates scarce resources,” Rubio said in a department-wide email obtained by The AP. “That is why, under the leadership of President Trump and at my direction, I am announcing a reorganization of the Department so it may meet the immense challenges of the 21st Century and put America First.” Plans include consolidating 734 bureaus and offices to 602 as well as transitioning 137 offices “to another location within the Department to increase efficiency,” according to a fact sheet obtained by The AP. It is unclear if the reorganization would be implemented through an executive order or other means. The plans come a week after The AP learned that the White House’s Office of Management and Budget proposed gutting the State Department’s budget by almost 50% and eliminating funding the United Nations and NATO headquarters. The budget proposal was in still in a highly preliminary phase and not expected to pass muster with Congress. Ahead of the changes at the State Department, the Trump administration has slashing jobs and funding across agencies, from the Education Department to Health and Human Services. On foreign policy, it’s already dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development and moved to defund so-called other “soft power” institutions like media outlets delivering objective news, often to authoritarian countries, including the Voice of America, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Radio Free Asia and Radio/TV Marti, which broadcasts to Cuba. (AP)

WH PRESS SECRETARY: The President has made it quite clear that it’s Harvard who has put themselves in the position to lose their own funding by not obeying federal law. We expect all colleges and universities who are receiving taxpayer funds to abide by federal law; it’s quite simple.”

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar implicated himself in the affidavit he submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday, in which he accused Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the government of various misdeeds, such as telling Bar he must heed the democratically elected government over the Supreme Court Speaking in an interview with Arutz Sheva, Karhi said: “I think that Ronen Bar filed an indictment against himself today in court. He writes there that for the first time, at 1:33 AM (the night before the Oct. 7 massacre), he sent a team of operatives to the Gaza border area. He understood that something terrible was happening, sent a team of operatives five hours before the massacre, but did not wake up the soldiers or call the Prime Minister. He did not do what was required of him as the head of the Shin Bet. He violated the trust that the head of government and the citizens of Israel placed in him. This was not included in the Shin Bet investigation.” Netanyahu’s office released a response to Bar’s affidavit, saying that it was full of lies and slamming Bar, not for the first time, for not waking up Netanyahu the night before October 7, asserting that if he had done so, the massacre could have been avoided. The statement noted that Bar’s affidavit confirmed that he failed on October 7, reason enough for his ouster. The statement also noted that Bar confirmed in his affidavit that Netanyahu expressed his wish to fire Bar in November 2024, contradicting Bar’s claims in February that Netanyahu fired him due to the Qatargate affair. Karhi continued by saying: “There was a government decision, and everything was done according to the law. The Supreme Court order is clearly illegal and against democracy. There is a shadow government here that is trying to neuter the powers of the elected government. The most fundamental thing in a democracy is that the security of the State of Israel is in the hands of the elected officials. We have seen many statements from the Supreme Court saying that they do not interfere in security issues, but it leaves a Shin Bet chief in office whom the government doesn’t trust. This paradox and the extremely hypocritical conduct have no equal in any democracy in the world. It is our job to come and put things in order. The people gave us the mandate.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

President Trump is reportedly weighing a new executive order that would prevent nonprofit organizations from distributing grant money to entities outside the United States, a source familiar with the matter revealed to The NY Post today.

The proposed directive would specifically apply to organizations categorized under “501(c)(3),” the federal tax code classification for nonprofits that are exempt from paying federal income tax.

Some of the most prominent 501(c)(3) entities potentially impacted by the move have been established by major figures often critical of Trump, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Open Society Foundations — the latter founded by progressive billionaire George Soros.

Although the measure has not yet been finalized, the source said internal conversations within the administration are ongoing, with staffers divided on whether to proceed.

“There’s definitely an effort to limit and scrutinize federal tax dollars being shipped overseas, ramp up scrutiny of foreign acquisitions, protect research and [intellectual property], along with critical supply chains. And we’re seeing it across all the different departments,” a source close to the White House told The Post.

The Trump administration has already made moves to cut back international financial outflows. USAID, a major channel for global aid, was effectively dismantled, and AmeriCorps programs were significantly downsized following an internal review by the Department of Government Efficiency.

As things currently stand, nonprofits in the 501(c)(3) category are legally allowed to make donations to overseas groups, provided the funds are used for charitable activities. These donations benefit from a tax-exempt status, allowing American donors to channel their money through U.S.-based nonprofits to support global causes.

For instance, DirectRelief — one of the top ten American nonprofits in terms of annual donations — delivers large quantities of medical supplies and support to nations facing war and disaster.

Similarly, Americares, which receives over a billion dollars annually in donations, extends healthcare-related grants to foreign partners in locations such as Ukraine, Haiti, and areas governed by the Palestinian Authority.

The Gates Foundation alone disbursed $3 billion in grants to 135 countries in 2023, tackling issues such as “gender equality” and “global health.”

Meanwhile, Open Society Foundations distributed funds to recipients in more than 100 nations last year, and as of 2022, it held $130 million in active investments aimed at achieving social impact.

Faith-based charities would also be affected by the proposed order. In 2023, the Christian humanitarian group World Vision International allocated over $70 million to aid efforts in Ukraine, $11 million to programs in Mexico, and another $25 million to support Colombia.

The potential crackdown on international philanthropy comes on the heels of Trump’s move to reconsider Harvard University’s tax-exempt status. That action was prompted by Harvard’s resistance to his call for faculty and student audits focused on “viewpoint diversity” and institutional reforms addressing campus antisemitism.

{Matzav.com}

WH PRESS SECRETARY: “We’re doing very well in respect to a potential trade deal with China… We feel everyone involved wants to see a trade deal happen — and the ball is moving in the right direction.”

The WH Press Sec. said that the administration has received 18 trade proposals from foreign countries so far — and that officials have trade meetings with 34 countries this week alone.

WH PRESS SECRETARY: “They were Pentagon employees who leaked against their boss to news agencies in this room, and it’s been clear since Day One from this administration that we are not going to tolerate individuals who leak to the mainstream media… the Secretary of Defense is doing a tremendous job.”

WH PRESS SECRETARY: “No student loan has been referred to collection since March of 2020. That comes to an end. On May 5th, the Department of Education will resume involuntary collections for borrowers with defaulted federal student loans.”

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to its lowest point since his return to the White House, with just 42% of Americans approving of his performance, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday. The six-day survey, which concluded on April 21, marks a decline from 43% three weeks earlier and a fall from the 47% approval he enjoyed shortly after his January 20 inauguration. The dip in public support comes as Americans express growing unease over Trump’s tariffs and aggressive efforts to expand executive power. A striking 83% of respondents, including 73% of Republicans, said the president must obey federal court rulings, even when he disagrees with them. This sentiment follows recent legal clashes, including a federal judge’s order halting deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members, which some Trump administration officials may have violated. Such actions have raised concerns about the rule of law, with 57% of respondents—including a third of Republicans—opposing Trump’s push to withhold funding from universities. Trump’s handling of key issues also drew mixed reviews. On immigration, long a cornerstone of his political platform, 45% approved of his performance, while 46% disapproved. His ratings were notably weaker on inflation, taxation, and foreign policy, where disapproval outpaced approval. Only 34% approved of his handling of foreign policy, down from 37% in late March, with 59% of respondents saying the U.S. is losing credibility on the global stage. The poll also captured public resistance to Trump’s more unconventional proposals. A majority—66%—opposed the idea of the president controlling cultural institutions like the Smithsonian or the Kennedy Center, where Trump has sought to exert influence by ordering the removal of “improper” ideology and installing himself as board chair. These moves have sparked criticism that Trump is overreaching his authority, a concern echoed by 49% of Americans who, in a separate survey, said they believe Trump wants to be “king of the United States.” Economic concerns continue to weigh heavily on Trump’s approval. Despite his campaign promises to combat high prices, 70% of Americans expect his tariff policies to drive up the cost of groceries and other essentials, a sentiment that has intensified as the White House imposes steep levies on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. The S&P 500 has lost over $3 trillion in value since its peak last month, reflecting market jitters over a potential global trade war. “Trump’s early actions seem to be alienating even some of his base,” said Kyle Kondik, an analyst with the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “While his immigration policies still resonate with many supporters, the broader public is skeptical of his economic moves and power grabs.” Trump’s approval rating, while low, remains higher than much of his first term (2017-2021), when it dipped to 33% in December 2017, and outperforms his predecessor Joe Biden’s lowest rating of 35% in late 2024. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WH PRESS SECRETARY: “Thanks to President Trump’s America First economic approach, investments continue to pour into our country… it’s a top priority for President Trump to ensure that we are producing critical medicines and pharmaceutical drugs right here in America.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that as of 4 PM EST today, the use of artificial dyes in food products is officially banned in the US.

Efforts to locate the diver who disappeared following a shark attack in Chadeira on Monday have been suspended, according to an announcement by ZAKA.

The search was called off after authorities discovered what are believed to be human remains near the area where the diver went missing.

“From the moment we received the report, we went to the scene with large forces from the Israel Police, the Marine Police Unit, the Fire and Rescue Flame Unit, volunteers from the rescue units and other forces,” ZAKA stated.

They described the situation as both rare and highly challenging, noting that it required significant coordination and a high level of expertise from all those involved in the response effort.

ZAKA’s professional diving team conducted thorough underwater sweeps with the help of advanced sonar equipment. The organization noted that these divers are highly trained and experienced in aquatic search-and-rescue missions.

Material recovered from the location was sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir for analysis and identification. Officials close to the investigation indicated that a decision on whether to resume the search will be made after the forensic results are reviewed.

ZAKA added that “we are prepared to bring the findings found at the scene to the Israel Grave and are accompanying the family during their difficult time.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday called for enhanced engagement with India and said that the South Asian country should buy more defense equipment and energy from the U.S. and allow Washington greater access to its market, lending momentum to an expected bilateral trade deal. Vance, who is on a four-day visit to India, said that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made progress on trade talks during their discussions on Monday, and confirmed that both sides had finalized the terms of reference for the trade negotiation — a vital step towards setting the road map for the final agreement. India and the U.S. hope to seal a bilateral trade agreement this year and have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. If achieved, the trade deal could significantly enhance economic ties between both countries and potentially strengthen diplomatic ties as well. “I believe there is much that India and America can accomplish together,” Vance said at an event in the western city of Jaipur, where he, his wife Usha Vance and their three children were on a sightseeing tour. Vance’s first visit to New Delhi came amid the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s partially-paused tariff program against most countries, including India. Earlier this month, Trump announced a 90-day pause in which imports from most countries would face a baseline 10% tax so that there was time to hold talks and possibly structure broader deals. The trade negotiations are especially urgent for India and could help New Delhi avoid sharp U.S. tariffs. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has portrayed its strategy of tariffs as forcing negotiations that could limit the reach and influence of China, the world’s dominant manufacturer and New Delhi’s main rival in the region. At the event, Vance sought to assuage fears over Trump’s tariff decisions and said his administration was seeking to rebalance global trade so that the U.S., with friends like India, can build a better future. He said that trade relations must be based on fairness. “I come here with a simple message,” Vance said. The Trump administration “seeks trade partners on the basis of fairness and shared national interest. We want to build relationships with our foreign partners who respect their workers.” Vance said that he was in India to strengthen ties between both nations, and criticized previous governments for looking at New Delhi as a cheap source of labor. “I believe that if India and the United States work together successfully, we are going to see a 21st century that is prosperous and peaceful,” he said, adding that if this didn’t happen, it would mean a “dark time for all humanity.” Washington has long sought to develop a deeper partnership with New Delhi, which is seen as a bulwark against China. Modi has established a good working relationship with Trump, and the two leaders are likely to further boost cooperation between their countries. Modi was also among the first leaders to visit the U.S. and hold talks with Trump that kickstarted a negotiation process to minimize the possible fallout of Trump’s tariffs. The two leaders also said they planned to grow their defense partnership. India is a close partner of the U.S. and is part of the Quad, which is made up […]

“Telling your wife your needs and wants” is a complete waste of time for married men who want happiness and I’ll tell you why. So many marriage experts claim they have the secret to a happy marriage and that it all comes down to communication, boundaries and bringing in more money. They tell you to help out more at home, talk about the past, go together to a marriage professional but never stop to take inventory of whether ANY of these methods are actually WORKING in creating happiness and joy! I am not saying those strategies don’t work at all, but they are the long… slow… painful way of having a happy home. And for the few that make it with these strategies, they’ve done it while he doesn’t get what he needs, and she doesn’t get what she needs.  Meanwhile, we’re helping our clients connect with their wives on the highest level, living lives full of happiness and excitement and it gets more and more joyful by the day where both husband and wife feel happiness and excitement… … all without needing their wife to meet them halfway! To check out how they do this, click below to watch my free presentation where I share all the details … you’re going to thank me for it! 5 Steps Married Men Use to Get Rid of Friction and Create Happiness and Excitement… Without Needing Their Wife to Meet Them Halfway!

The Trump administration is actively exploring initiatives to increase marriage and childbirth rates across the country, with one idea under discussion being a $5,000 “baby bonus” granted to mothers following the birth of a child, according to a new report.

Senior officials in the White House have recently been engaged in developing strategies to counter the nation’s waning birth and marriage figures, with the broader goal of encouraging more Americans to embrace the family-oriented ideals championed by Trump and his supporters.

According to four individuals who have been involved in recent discussions, advocates for raising the national birthrate have held talks with administration staffers to design policies aimed at persuading more women to have children, the New York Times reported.

One of the proposals involves awarding a $5,000 payment to new mothers. Another idea floated in the meetings would prioritize married people or those with children for 30% of all Fulbright scholarship allocations.

As of now, the administration has not announced which, if any, of these proposals might move forward.

Those close to the talks emphasized that improving fertility rates will likely become a central theme in efforts to ignite the kind of “baby boom” Trump is aiming to foster.

{Matzav.com}

In an appearance on Fox & Friends Tuesday morning, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pushed back against mounting criticism over the turmoil engulfing the Pentagon under his leadership, blaming the fallout on political enemies and “deep state forces” intent on undermining the Trump administration’s agenda. The embattled Defense Secretary, a former co-host of the morning program, took to the airwaves just days after a damaging stretch of headlines that included the abrupt dismissal of several of his top aides, a scathing Politico column written by one of the ousted staffers calling his tenure “total chaos,” and a New York Times report alleging Hegseth improperly shared classified information over the encrypted messaging app Signal with his wife, brother, and attorney. Throughout the interview with host Brian Kilmeade, a defiant Hegseth denied any wrongdoing and painted himself as a political target for entrenched bureaucrats hostile to the Trump agenda. “We take classification very seriously,” Hegseth said. “Nothing I shared was classified. It was informal and unclassified material. These attacks are from people trying to sabotage the mission we’re on—to bring warfighting back to the Pentagon and end the woke nonsense that’s crippled our military.” Dismissing the accusations as part of a broader attempt to derail Trump-era reforms, Hegseth portrayed himself as a victim of Washington’s elite establishment. “They’ve come after me from day one—just like they came after President Trump,” he said, lauding Trump’s resilience and describing his own efforts as part of a broader ideological battle. Kilmeade asked Hegseth whether he believed “deep state” actors were trying to oust him. Hegseth responded: “Absolutely. But I’m not going anywhere. I know why I’m here—to root out the insidious ideologies infecting the Pentagon and restore America’s warfighting edge.” He went on to defend his recent personnel purge, calling those fired “leakers” and accusing them of undermining Pentagon operations. “Once a leaker, always a leaker,” Hegseth said. “We’re conducting internal investigations, and we’ll keep doing whatever it takes to protect our mission and our troops.” Notably, the aides he removed weren’t career bureaucrats or Obama-era holdovers—they were members of his own inner circle, brought in at the start of his tenure. The contradiction raises questions about Hegseth’s judgment and leadership style. If these individuals were part of the so-called “deep state,” critics argue, it was Hegseth himself who put them there. The Secretary also used the opportunity to outline his agenda: ending what he called “trans lunacy” in the military, restoring “standards and accountability,” and “taking 100 percent operational control of our border.” “I’m not here to sip cocktails in Georgetown or do the Sunday shows,” he declared. “I’m here to make sure our enemies are on notice and our allies know we stand with them. That’s what the American people expect—and that’s exactly what we’re doing.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Senior Houthi Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti vows to defeat the United States and make it “cry tears of blood.”

Gazan Professor Hassan Abujarad, pleaded with western activists to listen to the people of Gaza: “We are chanting against Hamas and against their rule. We demand that the world hear our voice! The war must be stopped… the hostages must be released immediately!”

VP VANCE: “Some in our leadership class seem stricken by self-doubt and fear of the future… The world will soon end, they tell us, because we’re burning too much fuel, making too many things, or having too many children. So, rather than invest in the future, they too often retreat from it… President Trump rejects these failed ideas.”

President Donald Trump revealed today that he held a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu covering several pressing topics, and emphasized that both leaders see eye to eye on those matters.

“I’ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc. The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Their recent dialogue follows a face-to-face meeting in Washington two weeks earlier, where Trump disclosed that the United States was initiating a new phase of engagement with Iran focused on its nuclear program.

“We are having direct talks with Iran. On Saturday we will have a very big meeting and we will see what can happen. I think everybody agrees that a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious, and the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or frankly that anyone here wants to be involved with.” He added that the scenario was “getting to be very dangerous territory. Hopefully, those talks will be successful, and I think it would be in Iran’s best interests if they are,” Trump said.

Addressing the issue of hostages held by Hamas, Trump stressed his desire to see the conflict come to an end. “I want to see the end of the war. Right now, we have a problem with the hostages, we’re trying to get the hostages out. We got quite a few out, but it’s a long process. It shouldn’t be that long, but we have a big problem,” he said.

{Matzav.com}