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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made headlines earlier this year when he became the first public official to officially refer to the Gulf of Mexico by a new title in an emergency declaration for a winter storm. That terminology — “Gulf of America” — is now codified in state law.

On Monday, DeSantis received and signed two pieces of legislation. One bill, HB 575, amends 92 references in state statutes to rename the body of water on Florida’s western coastline. The second, HB 549, mandates the use of the term “Gulf of America” in K-12 educational content across the state.

Supporters of the bills in the Florida Senate hailed the moment as a major victory. “It was an honor to join Governor DeSantis to see these good bills signed into law today. Florida is proud to follow the leadership of President Trump as the first state to officially recognize the Gulf of America,” said Senator Nick DiCeglie, the lawmaker behind HB 575.

He went on to say, “American exceptionalism isn’t an abstract idea. It is an absolute fact that we must recognize and celebrate. In Florida, we will always put America first.”

Senator Joe Gruters, who sponsored the education-focused legislation, emphasized that the new terminology became a reality earlier this year. “On Jan. 20, the body of water along Florida’s west coast became the Gulf of America — that is a fact,” he said.

“These bills, now Florida law, ensure we reflect that fact across state government and, most importantly, in our schools. It is our responsibility to ensure our children understand American greatness,” Gruters added.

Senate President Ben Albritton also voiced strong support for the initiative. “Ever since President Trump entered the Oval Office, he has fought for America first policies that honor our country’s greatness,” he said. “Mr. President, I’m proud to say the Florida Senate stands with you in the fight to recognize the Gulf of America and celebrate American exceptionalism. Thank you Governor DeSantis for signing these bills into law.”

{Matzav.com}

Yet another Shin Bet affair was revealed on Tuesday morning when an Israeli court lifted the gag order on the case, which began when the Shin Bet leadership and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara threw a senior Shin Bet agent into jail without access to a lawyer for exposing information that embarrassed them. Several weeks ago, Israeli media outlets reported that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar had launched a probe into the infiltration of Kahanism into the Israel Police against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and senior police officials. According to leaked documents, Bar launched the probe even after he was told by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Attorney General Gali Barahav-Miara that there was no legal basis for the investigation. Bar denied launching the probe when confronted by Ben-Gvir, but was then publicly humiliated when Ben-Gvir presented him with an internal Shin Bet document proving that Bar launched the investigation. A Shin Bet official is now being investigated for “harming state security” for leaking classified information about the probe to Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli and Channel 12 News reporter Amit Segal. He also revealed information about the internal Shin Bet report regarding its failures on October 7 that was hidden from the public to Yisrael Hayom reporter Shirat Avitan. The suspect, who has served in the Shin Bet for decades and returned to service following the October 7 massacre, was thrown into prison without access to a lawyer for eight days. Segal responded to the exposure of the affair by slamming Bar and Baharav-Miara, explaining: “The story is ultimately very simple. Ronen Bar told the Attorney General a chilling story about the Kahanist takeover of the police as it was expressed on Tisha B’Av on Har Habayit. The Attorney General rushed to investigate, and then, much to her embarrassment, it became clear from Bar’s subordinates that it never happened.” “Bar, in an attempt to restore his standing with her and his people, opened a secret and unprecedented investigation of the police, on suspicion of ‘the spread of Kahanism on the police’ and ordered ‘to bring some findings.’ This investigation also ended with nothing. This did not bother the Attorney General, and she included the false classified information as part of her justifications [for freezing Bar’s dismissal] to the Supreme Court without disclosing that, in professional slang, it was nonsense.” “I exposed this story and it embarrassed them very much. So far, a total failure. But Bar and Baharav-Miara have tools to hunt down whoever exposed their nakedness and so they threw him into custody without a lawyer. Why? For obstructing a probe? How can you obstruct an investigation that ended in nothing? Will it expose Shin Bet sources? When there are no sources, it is difficult to locate them.” “In a climate where people care, even reluctantly, about appearances and freedom of the press, you don’t conduct a hunt for sources for personal reasons. A serious organization would be busy with a deep internal investigation into what caused it to dive headfirst into a sham investigation, not double down on it.” The suspect’s lawyers stated: “Our client, who served in the Shin Bet for decades with great dedication and professionalism, passed on information of enormous public importance in order to bring it to the public’s attention, while taking care not to […]

President Donald Trump is calling for New York Attorney General Letitia James to step down following a media report that raised questions about her involvement in a real estate matter.

According to PJ Media, in August 2023, James signed a document naming her relative Shamice Thompson-Hairston as her power of attorney. The paperwork included a declaration stating, “I intend to occupy this property as my principal residence.” The outlet noted that shortly after, James was actively pursuing her civil fraud lawsuit against Trump, suggesting the property may not have been her actual primary residence.

Trump reacted strongly to the report, using his Truth Social platform to denounce James. “Letitia James, a totally corrupt politician, should resign from her position as New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY. Everyone is trying to MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN, and it can never be done with this wacky crook in office,” he wrote, linking to the article detailing the allegations.

Back in March 2023, James secured a $454 million civil fraud judgment against Trump in a case that he has consistently maintained was baseless and politically driven.

To avoid state authorities seizing his assets, Trump posted a $175 million bond on April 1, 2024. A court heard his appeal on September 26, 2024, but no decision has yet been announced.

After the November election, NBC News reported that James declined a request from Trump’s legal team to abandon her pursuit of the $486 million fraud ruling.

“This Office will not stipulate to vacate the final judgment” against Trump and his company “or otherwise seek to dismiss the action,” stated a representative of James’ office in a letter to Trump’s lawyer.

Attorney John Sauer, speaking on behalf of Trump, had urged James to consider dropping the case, citing potential complications with Trump’s responsibilities as president and framing the request as an opportunity to encourage “unity.”

James has also joined other state attorneys general in lawsuits against the Trump administration over a range of issues, including access to federal education funding related to COVID-19 and efforts to protect the security of U.S. elections.

{Matzav.com}

YWN regrets to inform you of the sudden and tragic petirah of R’ Chaim Lipschutz z”l, a 25-year-old yungerman from Lakewood, who was niftar in Chicago on Friday night after suffering a severe allergic reaction. Reb Chaim, a ben aliyah through and through, was a chaver beTorah u’beYiras Shamayim, beloved by all who knew him. A true talmid chochom with refined midos, he lived and breathed limud haTorah with remarkable hasmadah and depth. He married several years ago, and was beginning to build a home that radiated kedushah and avodas Hashem with his wife, Mrs. Adina Lipschutz (nee Heinemann) yb”l. R’ Chaim z”l was a son of Rav Avrohom Lipschutz, mashgiach of Yeshivas Telshe in Chicago, and a grandson of two towering gedolim: Rav Yacov Lipschutz zt”l of Monsey, and Rav Yisroel Meir Kagan, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim of Denver. His heartbroken eishes chayil carries a legacy of Torah and mesorah as well. She is the daughter of Rav Boruch Gedaliah Heinemann and the granddaughter of Rav Dovid Heinemann, rosh yeshiva of Belmar, and Rav Shaye Schechter, R”M at Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni in Riverdale. She is also a great-granddaughter of the zkan roshei yeshivos, Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita, rosh yeshiva of the Philadelphia Yeshiva. The shock of his sudden petirah has plunged not only the family, but bnei Torah and friends across kehillos into a state of shock. Reb Chaim’s ne’imus haTorah, his gentle smile, and his quiet strength in avodas Hashem leave behind a gaping void. The levayah will take place tomorrow at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood. Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

It is with profound sorrow that Matzav.com reports the heartbreaking petirah of Reb Chaim Lipschutz z”l, a beloved yungerman in the Lakewood, NJ community, who was niftar on Shabbos, Erev Pesach, in Chicago.

Reb Chaim was a son of Rav Avrohom Lipschutz, mashgiach of Yeshivas Telshe in Chicago, and a grandson of Rav Yacov Lipschutz zt”l of Monsey and Rav Yisroel Meir Kagan, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim of Denver.

A choshuve ben Torah and talmid chochom, Reb Chaim had just gotten married a couple years ago. He was fully immersed in limud haTorah, learning in kollel with great hasmadah, and was seen by all who knew him as someone destined for greatness in Torah and avodah.

His devoted wife, Mrs. Adina Lipschutz (née Heinemann), descends from a distinguished Torah lineage as well. She is a daughter of Rav Boruch Gedaliah Heinemann and a granddaughter of Rav Dovid Heinemann, rosh yeshiva of Belmar, and Rav Shaye Schechter, R”M at Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni in Riverdale, and a great-granddaughter of Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of the Philadelphia Yeshiva.

This sudden and devastating loss has cast a heavy pall of mourning over the entire family and all who knew this precious yungerman, whose life was steeped in kedushah and Torah.

The levayah will take place tomorrow at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, NJ.

Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A 38-year-old man from Pennsylvania is facing multiple criminal charges, including attempted murder, after allegedly setting fire to part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence in Harrisburg in the early hours of Sunday, the first day of Pesach.

According to court filings, the suspect, Cody Balmer, surrendered to authorities and admitted he had been “harboring hatred” toward Governor Shapiro, a Jew. He told investigators that had he found the governor inside the home, he would have attacked him with a hammer.

The arson incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of politically motivated acts of violence that have occurred in recent years.

The NY Post reports that the former mechanic, who said he is now jobless, penniless and lives with his parents, was free after making bail for a 2023 simple assault charge, courts spokesperson Stacey Witalec.

In that case, he was accused of stomping on his 10-year-old son’s broken leg and battering his wife, according to a police report.

Balmer stuck his tongue out and crossed his eyes as Pennsylvania State Troopers led him shackled at the hands and ankles into the Dauphin County Magisterial District Courthouse Monday.

Judge Dale Klein promptly order him held without bond, to which he replied, “Thank you, ma’am.”

{Matzav.com}

A new audio recording surfaced Monday involving A., the head of the Jewish Department in the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), in which he is heard making disparaging comments about a judge. This latest revelation follows a prior controversy involving inappropriate remarks about detainees.

The segment, set to be released in full later by Kan News, captures part of a conversation between A. and Cmdr. Avishai Moalem, who heads the Judea and Samaria Police Central Unit. In addition to objecting to the court’s demand to access Shin Bet materials, A. made blunt and dismissive remarks about the judge overseeing the case.

During the exchange, Moalem mentions a judge seeking access to raw Shin Bet files, saying: “He saw materials – he says he wants to see the Shin Bet’s paraphrase, the Shin Bet’s raw materials.” A. responds sharply: “He won’t see it, he could go jump in a lake, who does he think he is?”

This comes just a week after another recording emerged in which A. is heard belittling detainees and expressing a willingness to keep them imprisoned without evidence.

Following the release of that initial recording, A. announced that he would step aside from his role while an internal inquiry is conducted into the matter.

In a message sent to his team, A. expressed regret over the language he used. “I am sorry from the depths of my heart for the style of the things that were said, which do not characterize how I deal with the many other bodies with whom we collaborate.”

He continued: “I totally discredit the attempt to create an appearance of work that violates the law or the values of restraint of power and statesmanship. I misspoke in a way that does not match the agency’s values and my own, and therefore, to allow for a thorough examination and through my dedication to leading by example, I suspend myself from my position as the head of the department until the completion of the thorough examination of the issue.”

In the earlier recording, A. referred to suspects from Judea and Samaria as “Shmucks,” and described holding them for a few days without concrete evidence. Speaking with Moalem, the two discussed strategies for handling Jewish terror suspects, during which A. said: “Put them in detention cells, with mice.”

He also remarked, “We always want to arrest them for interrogation, as much as possible. See how ISA conducts investigations with them. We arrest those shmucks even without evidence for a few days.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rav Moshe Maya, a senior member of Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah and a former Knesset representative for the party, declared that Shas should immediately exit the governing coalition if the army detains even one yeshiva student for draft refusal.

Shas head Aryeh Deri paid a visit to Rav Maya’s home on Monday morning. During their discussion, Rav Maya brought up the ongoing challenges surrounding the Draft Law and the legal status of yeshiva students, expressing concern over the mounting difficulty in securing its passage.

In recent weeks, the military has issued tens of thousands of draft notices and thousands of arrest warrants to chareidi yeshiva students, sparking outrage within the community.

Given these developments, Rav Maya firmly told Deri that if military police arrest even a single yeshiva student, Shas must immediately withdraw from the coalition and sever ties with the current government without delay.

Just last week, Deri told the party’s spokesperson, “We set a clear condition: If by the start of the [Knesset’s] summer session agreements are not reached on the central issues of the law to normalize the yeshiva students’ status, we will not participate in votes in the Knesset plenum.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rav Meir Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Kisei Rachamim, experienced a significant decline in his medical condition, according to a statement from his family.

The family noted that Rav Mazuz is scheduled to undergo another medical procedure, one that poses serious risks to his life. Later updates from those close to the rosh yeshiva confirmed that he has been sedated and placed on a ventilator after a sharp and concerning drop in his vital signs. His condition is extremely critical and his life is in danger.

The 80-year-old rosh yeshiva was initially admitted to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva earlier this month and was released, but had to be hospitalized again last week. Since his readmission, his condition has worsened on multiple occasions. Doctors now classify his status as severe.

In light of the situation, a name has been added and all are asked to daven for Rav Refael Meir Nissim ben Kamsana.

{Matzav.com}

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Are you ready for 40 minutes of comedy gold? Watch “Leave it to Kletzkin,” the must-see, hilarious comedy film for the whole family.  Featuring the Stars of Bardak – starring in their first English Film. Get your unique access code now and enjoy the film – NOW STREAMING! Don’t Miss Out! Vote and Get Your Access Code Now! – Click Here  Presented by Eretz Hakodesh – Slate 11 _If You Voted – Get Your Access Code_

Rav Shmuel Bezalel, rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef in Yerushalayim’s Old City and a member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas, shared poignant reflections during a family gathering for Yom Tov. His words focused in part on how the hostages found faith during their harrowing captivity.

The rosh yeshiva referenced the stories of Agam Berger, the IDF lookout released after more than 480 days, and Omer Shem Tov, who endured 505 days in Hamas captivity. “The hostages who returned from captivity were so distant, and in the captivity of the predatory animals, they felt that only G-d could save them. Not the American military, not the IDF, and not anyone; they had nothing to hold on to but trust in G-d,” Rav Bezalel stated.

He spoke at length about the spiritual transformation these individuals underwent. “After they trusted G-d, they felt that someone embraced them, they reached true faith. Why? Because something happened that they were with despicable people, they did not know what would happen to them. They humiliated them, and at every moment, they could have been executed.”

Rav Bezalel added a powerful sentiment of admiration: “I’m jealous of them that they reached true faith. They had an experience that caused this faith to not only be theoretical, but this faith is in their every inner feeling, in every aspect of their lives, in every limb and ligament. We need to learn from such people who are privileged to have such faith in G-d. They didn’t live in faith for just moments; rather, they did so for a period of time, good for them.”

He concluded by highlighting how the hostages’ ordeal revealed the deeper meaning behind a well-known verse. “We say in the Shema every day ‘with all your soul’ but to really understand this verse you have to have a case of ‘all your soul.’ When someone is under their warm blanket in bed and says ‘with all your soul’ – that really works.”

{Matzav.com}

During a meeting on Monday with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing negotiations between his administration and the Iranian government, which had begun over the weekend.

Kicking off his comments, Trump remarked, “We’ve got a problem with Iran, but I’ll solve that problem, that’s almost an easy one.”

He went on to elaborate, saying, “Iran wants to deal with us, but they don’t know how. We had a meeting with them on Saturday. We have another meeting scheduled for next Saturday. I said that’s a long time [between meetings].”

Trump then accused Iranian officials of stalling, suggesting they had grown accustomed to dealing with previous U.S. leaders whom he viewed as incompetent. “I think they’re tapping us along because they were so used to dealing with stupid people in this country,” he said.

Reaffirming his administration’s red line, the President stated, “Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon, they can not have a nuclear weapon. Nobody can have a nuclear weapon, we can’t have anybody having nuclear weapons.”

Trump once again asserted that events in the Middle East would have unfolded differently if he had been re-elected in 2020, particularly referencing the October 7th attacks. “Iran was stone-cold broke when I was President, and I don’t want that. I want them to be a rich nation. The only thing is, it’s simple – they can not have a nuclear weapon.”

He concluded with a stern warning, signaling possible military action if Iran nears nuclear capability. “They gotta go fast because they’re fairly close to having one. And they are not going to have one, and if we have to do something very harsh, we’re going to do it. I’m not doing it for US, I’m doing it for the world.” When asked if this could involve American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, Trump confirmed that it could.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas has released a formal announcement indicating that it intends to issue a response to Israel’s latest ceasefire and hostage release proposal in the near future. “The organization’s leadership is examining the proposal it received from the mediating countries – and will submit its response as soon as possible after the necessary consultations,” the statement read.

The group reiterated its demands, emphasizing that “any future agreement will include a permanent ceasefire, IDF withdrawal, achieving a genuine prisoner exchange deal, and lifting the blockade on Gaza.”

Earlier Monday, Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen, known for its ties to Hamas, revealed what it claims are the main points of Israel’s offer presented in Cairo.

The deal reportedly outlines a 45-day truce in return for Hamas releasing nine living hostages along with the remains of six others. A major condition attached to the agreement is the complete demilitarization of Gaza.

As part of the second stage of the plan, Hamas would free five additional hostages in exchange for 66 prisoners serving life sentences, as well as another 611 inmates from Gaza. These exchanges would be carried out discreetly, avoiding the kind of public displays Hamas previously staged during similar releases under the January truce.

The offer is said to include provisions for a coordinated method of distributing humanitarian assistance—designed to ensure that aid reaches civilians and isn’t diverted by Hamas, a recurring issue over the past year and a half.

Following the release of the five hostages, humanitarian supplies and shelter equipment would be permitted into Gaza, and the IDF would begin to reposition its forces around Rafah and in the north.

Despite the proposal, Hamas continues to reject any agreement that includes its disarmament and maintains its demand that the conflict conclude on its terms.

{Matzav.com}

The Lebanese network Al-Mayadeen, known for its ties to Hamas, has revealed what it says are the specifics of a proposal delivered by Israel to Hamas during the talks held today in Cairo. As per the alleged terms, Hamas would be required to release hostage Edan Alexander, an American citizen, on the first day as a “special gesture” to the United States.

The proposed deal outlines a 45-day ceasefire in return for Hamas freeing nine hostages who are alive and the remains of six others. A key stipulation of the deal is the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.

On the second day of the agreement, Hamas would release five living hostages. In exchange, Israel would release 66 prisoners serving life terms as well as 611 additional prisoners from Gaza. The handovers would be conducted quietly, without the public spectacles or orchestrated celebrations that accompanied the prisoner exchanges during the January truce.

The report also states that the proposal includes a mutually agreed-upon mechanism for distributing humanitarian aid—one that ensures supplies reach civilians rather than being intercepted and stored by Hamas, a frequent issue over the past year and a half.

Following the release of those five hostages, aid convoys would enter Gaza with food, shelter supplies, and other essentials. At the same time, the IDF would begin repositioning its forces away from key parts of Rafah and northern Gaza.

Negotiations over the broader future of Gaza—including its disarmament and the potential for a long-term ceasefire—would begin on the third day. On the seventh day, Hamas would be expected to free another four hostages in exchange for additional prisoners serving life terms and 500 others detained since the October 7 attacks. At that point, Israeli forces would redeploy to the eastern section of the Philadelphi Corridor.

According to the broadcast, Hamas would hand over comprehensive intelligence on the remaining living hostages by day ten, with Israel responding by sharing information on incarcerated Palestinian terrorists. On day twenty, Hamas would return the bodies of 16 deceased hostages in exchange for 160 bodies of Palestinian Arabs. This swap would occur simultaneously.

The entire negotiation process is to be finalized within the 45-day period. If a permanent ceasefire is reached, then all remaining hostages—both living and deceased—would be released. Should only a temporary ceasefire be agreed upon, it could be prolonged with mutual consent.

A Hamas representative reiterated earlier that the group would not consent to disarmament as part of any agreement and continues to insist that the war must end entirely and on its own terms.

{Matzav.com}

On Motzoei Shabbos, the first night of Pesach, Hamas released a propaganda video featuring proof that hostage soldier Edan Alexander is still alive.

The video, which runs for about three minutes, does not include a specific date, but Alexander mentions that he has been in captivity for 551 days—suggesting it was recorded recently.

Alexander, a 21-year-old American citizen, was serving as a lone soldier near the Gaza border when Hamas launched its deadly assault on October 7, 2023. During that attack, he was kidnapped along with around 250 others. The onslaught resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, the majority of them civilians, and triggered Israel’s ongoing military operation against Hamas in Gaza.

This is the second time Hamas has released footage of Alexander. The first video emerged in November, showing him for the first time since his capture.

Hamas has produced similar videos of other hostages in its custody, which Israel has condemned as a cruel tactic aimed at psychological manipulation.

In response to the latest video, Alexander’s family asked the Israeli media not to air the footage itself but permitted the release of a single still image.

“As we begin the holiday evening in the USA, our family in Israel is preparing to sit around the Seder table,” the family shared in a message disseminated through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. “Our Edan, a lone soldier who immigrated to Israel and enlisted in the Golani Brigade to defend the country and its citizens, is still being held captive by Hamas.”

“So when you sit down to mark Passover, remember that this is not a holiday of freedom as long as Edan and the other 58 hostages are not home.”

Alexander was born in Tel Aviv but raised in Tenafly, New Jersey. After finishing high school in 2022, he returned to Israel and enlisted in the IDF.

Following the release of the video, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached out to Alexander’s parents, Yael and Adi, to offer support.

“The prime minister told the family he empathizes with their pain and updated that currently tremendous efforts are taking place to return Edan and the rest of the hostages,” read a statement from Netanyahu’s office.

This new footage was made public after recent American attempts to negotiate Alexander’s release came up short. These efforts included both behind-the-scenes talks through intermediaries and direct engagement with Hamas, but they did not lead to a breakthrough. With talks stalled, Israel resumed military operations in Gaza, ending a period of calm that followed the January agreement that saw some hostages freed.

Reports of the direct U.S. dialogue with Hamas upset Israeli officials. The details of those communications leaked on the same day President Donald Trump addressed Congress. According to The New York Times, the administration had hoped to finalize a deal for Alexander’s release before Trump’s high-profile speech.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Department of Education has suspended $2.3 billion in funding to Harvard University after the school resisted federal pressure to alter its approach to handling antisemitism and diversity initiatives on campus.

According to Reuters, the Trump administration froze the funds after Harvard rejected requests from the White House to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The Department of Education announced Monday that the freeze includes $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in federal contracts previously allocated to the university.

“Harvard’s statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges—that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws,” said the department’s task force on combating antisemitism.

Although Harvard has not formally responded in detail to the funding halt, the standoff underscores a growing rift between elite institutions and the federal government over issues of free speech, diversity, and civil rights enforcement on campus.

The funding freeze was revealed shortly after Harvard President Alan Garber made clear the university would not meet the administration’s demands regarding protest regulations, DEI programs, or its handling of antisemitism.

“No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Garber stated.

Harvard’s legal team has also challenged the federal demands, arguing that the administration’s requirements exceed legal boundaries, and that the university “is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration.”

The Trump administration had recently warned Harvard that nearly $9 billion in federal support could be in jeopardy unless the university adopted sweeping reforms.

Harvard has been at the center of controversy since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, with critics accusing the university of failing to adequately address antisemitism on campus.

Two days after the Hamas attack, a coalition of 34 student groups at Harvard released a statement attributing blame to Israel for the violence.

Following that, then-president of Harvard Claudine Gay, along with MIT’s Sally Kornbluth and University of Pennsylvania’s Liz Magill, appeared before Congress to address antisemitism in higher education. Their failure to unequivocally denounce antisemitic rhetoric during the hearing, including calls for genocide, sparked public outrage. Gay ultimately stepped down from her role as Harvard’s president.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH: Baby monitor shows the moment a 5.2M earthquake hit the San Diego area on Monday. No injuries or damage were reported.

WOW! West Tennessee family’s DIY levees saves home from devastating floods.

US President Trump has taken a firm stance against Iran’s nuclear program, declaring, “We’ve got a problem with Iran. I’ll solve that problem.” Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he described the issue as manageable, saying, “It’s almost an easy one.” Trump emphasized his position, stating, “Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon.” He expressed a desire for Iran’s prosperity but underscored a non-negotiable condition: “I want them to be a rich, great nation. The only thing is, one thing, simple, it’s really simple: They can’t have a nuclear weapon. And they’ve gotta go fast. Because they’re fairly close to having one. And they’re not going to have one.” Warning of severe consequences, he added, “And if we have to do something very harsh, we’ll do it.” Trump framed his approach as a global necessity, saying, “And I’m not doing it for us. I’m doing it for the world. These are radicalized people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon.” When asked if “something very harsh” included a potential strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump responded directly: “Of course it does.” He also suggested Iran is exploiting past US leadership, remarking, “I think they’re tapping us along because they were so used to dealing with stupid people in this country,” implying Tehran is stringing the US along in negotiations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)