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The Trump administration has halted several dozen federal research grants at Princeton University, the Ivy League school said Tuesday. The university received notifications this week that grants were being suspended by agencies including the Department of Energy, NASA and the Defense Department, according to a campus message from Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber. The rationale was not fully clear but Princeton will comply with the law, Eisgruber said. “We are committed to fighting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, and we will cooperate with the government in combating antisemitism,” he wrote. “Princeton will also vigorously defend academic freedom and the due process rights of this University. Princeton is the latest Ivy League school to have its federal funding threatened by Trump administration amid investigations into campus antisemitism. This month Columbia University agreed to several demands from the federal government after it pulled $400 million and threatened to cut billions more. A federal task force on antisemitism announced Monday that Harvard was facing a “comprehensive review” of almost $9 billion in federal grants and contracts. Princeton is among more than 100 universities with open investigations into antisemitism or Islamophobia following a wave of pro-Palestinian protests. The federal government is a major provider of revenue for American universities through grants for scientific research. (AP)

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer revealed that the Department of Labor will be sending more than $1 billion in unused pandemic-related funds back to taxpayers. The move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to curb excess spending and improve accountability across federal agencies.

According to a press release from the department, $1.4 billion in leftover COVID-19 relief funds will be “returned to taxpayers through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s General Fund,” while steps are underway to retrieve the additional $2.9 billion that remains.

“The roughly $4.3 billion was intended for states to use for temporary unemployment insurance during the pandemic,” the press release states. “Instead, several states continued spending millions of dollars despite no longer meeting necessary requirements, which was uncovered in a 2023 audit conducted by the department’s Office of Inspector General.”

The department explained that the funding in question was originally allocated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in March 2020. Its purpose was to expand unemployment benefits to Americans who were unable to work due to the pandemic.

Although the program was officially terminated in 2021, a subsequent review in 2023 uncovered that four states had continued drawing from the funds. The audit concluded that these states did so “despite not meeting program requirements,” and identified more than $100 million in questionable expenditures.

“There’s no reason leftover COVID unemployment funds should still be collecting dust,” DeRemer told Fox News Digital in a statement. “I promised to look out for Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars, and we are delivering at the Department of Labor.”

“Any money still sitting around for pandemic-era unemployment funds is a clear misuse of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars,” Chavez-DeRemer said in the press release, adding that she is “rooting out waste to ensure American Workers always come First.”

Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling echoed her sentiments, expressing disapproval at the lack of oversight that allowed this situation to persist.

“It’s unacceptable that billions of dollars went unchecked in a program that ended several years ago.

In a huge win for the American taxpayer, we’ve clawed back these unused funds and will keep working to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.”

This latest development follows a message DeRemer shared with department staff upon assuming her role last month. In that internal communication, she pledged to enforce Trump’s executive orders and collaborate with DOGE to target inefficiencies.

“Under the leadership of President Trump, our focus remains on promoting job creation, enhancing workforce development, and ensuring safe working conditions, wages, and pensions so that every American has the opportunity to succeed,” DeRemer said to employees in the memo. “I challenge each of you to actively engage with your teams to identify innovative solutions that can help us achieve our goals.”

Chavez-DeRemer emphasized that the department must fully support the Trump administration’s vision by ensuring that all funds are spent responsibly. She stressed the importance of cutting waste, minimizing unnecessary expenditures, and making the most of government resources.

The department, she said, “must focus on practicing fiscal responsibility, reducing unnecessary spending, and optimizing our resources to ensure that taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively.”

{Matzav.com}

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A coalition of state attorneys general sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over its decision to cut $11 billion in federal funds that go toward COVID-19 initiatives and various public health projects across the country. Attorneys general from 23 states filed the suit in federal court in Rhode Island. They include New York Attorney General Letitia James and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, as well as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and the District of Columbia. The lawsuit argues the cuts are illegal, and that the federal government did not provide “rational basis” or facts to support the cuts. The attorneys general say it will result in “serious harm to public health” and put states “at greater risk for future pandemics and the spread of otherwise preventable disease and cutting off vital public health services.” The lawsuit asks the court to immediately stop the Trump administration from rescinding the money, which was allocated by Congress during the pandemic and mostly used for COVID-related efforts such as testing and vaccination. The money also went to addiction and mental health programs. “Slashing this funding now will reverse our progress on the opioid crisis, throw our mental health systems into chaos, and leave hospitals struggling to care for patients,” James said Tuesday in a news release. The U.S. Health and Human Services Department, which began serving employees dismissal notices on Tuesday in what’s expected to total 10,000 layoffs, said it does not comment on ongoing litigation. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon pointed to the agency’s statement from last week, when the decision to claw back the money was announced. The HHS said then that it “will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago.” Local and state public health departments are still assessing the impact of the loss of funds, though the lawsuit points to the claw back putting hundreds of jobs at risk and weakening efforts to stem infectious diseases like flu and measles. California could lose almost $1 billion, according to a statement from state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office. That money supports a number of public health initiatives, including substance use disorder prevention programs, vaccination efforts and bird flu prevention. Health officials in North Carolina, which joined the lawsuit, estimate the state could lose $230 million, harming dozens of local health departments, hospital systems and universities, and rural health centers. At least 80 government jobs and dozens of contractors would be affected, according to state health officials. “There are legal ways to improve how tax dollars are used, but this wasn’t one of them,” North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said. “Immediately halting critical health care programs across the state without legal authority isn’t just wrong — it puts lives at risk.” Already, more than two dozen COVID-related research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health have been cancelled. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from March shows that COVID-19 killed 411 people each week on average, even though the federal public health emergency has ended. (AP)

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker wrapped up a marathon speech criticizing the Trump administration, bringing it to a close 25 hours and five minutes after he first took the floor Monday evening.

“I believe that there is an urgent crisis in our country that we are not talking about. It’s not a left-right crisis, it’s a right-wrong crisis,” he declared, shortly after announcing his intention to end his lengthy remarks.

In his closing moments, Booker returned to the testimonies he had shared throughout the previous day—accounts from Americans who have depended on programs like veterans’ services and Medicaid, which now face reductions under President Trump’s proposed budget cuts.

“I don’t know how to solve this, I don’t know how to stop us from going down this road,” Booker concluded. “But I know who does have the power. The people of the United States of America. The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”

Booker launched his speech at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, aiming to halt the Senate’s usual proceedings in protest of what he described as the “grave and urgent” threat posed by the Trump presidency.

As the hours ticked by and he neared the 24-hour mark, signs of fatigue became more visible. Still, Booker remained standing, using expressive gestures as he continued to speak with intensity.

During the final stretch, Booker invoked historical figures such as the Founding Fathers, civil rights icons, and legislators who stood in opposition to McCarthyism. These references supported his call for lawmakers to take a stronger stand against Trump’s actions.

At one point, Booker allowed Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut to ask a question, briefly giving him the floor while retaining control of the debate. Murphy used the moment to recount the longest speech in Senate history—Republican Senator Strom Thurmond’s 1957 filibuster against the Civil Rights Act.

“What you have done here today Senator Booker couldn’t be more different than what occurred on this floor in 1957,” Murphy told him. “Strom Thurmond was standing in the way of inevitable progress.” He continued, “Today, you are standing in the way not of progress but of retreat.”

As he drew close to breaking Thurmond’s record, Booker reflected on the example set by his late colleague and civil rights hero, John Lewis.

“This is one of those moments when John Lewis would not sit still,” Booker said. “I don’t know what John Lewis would say right now,” but he “would say something, he would do something.”

“This is our moral moment. This is when the most precious ideas of our country are being tested,” Booker continued. “Are we going to do something different like John Lewis would call us to do? He would call us to get into good trouble, necessary trouble.”

When Booker officially surpassed Thurmond’s 24-hour and 18-minute speech, he acknowledged the historical weight of the moment by choosing forgiveness.

He offered grace to Thurmond, who once tried to prevent legislation that helped pave the way for Booker’s own Senate career.

Shortly afterward, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stepped in to ask a question and formally informed Booker that he had just broken the Senate record.

{Matzav.com}

The post Cory Booker Breaks Record For Longest Speech By US Senator As He Condemns Trump Policies For More Than 24 Hours first appeared on Matzav.com.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has officially registered a new political party under the interim name “Bennett 2026,” a move widely interpreted as a step toward reentering Israeli politics ahead of the next national election. In a statement cited by Channel 12, Bennett stopped short of confirming his candidacy, saying, “If and when I decide to actually run for the elections, an announcement will be made on the matter.” Despite the ambiguity, the move drew support from figures across the political spectrum. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who previously served alongside Bennett in a short-lived unity government, congratulated him on the new party. “Israel needs a good government,” Lapid wrote on social media. Reports of Bennett’s return have circulated for months. Channel 12 revealed last September that the former national-religious leader had been laying the groundwork for a new political movement, reaching out to more than 100 former activists. He has also held meetings with key political players, including New Hope chairman Gideon Sa’ar and Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman, both of whom have acknowledged discussions about a potential alliance. “To replace this government, we need more seats,” Liberman said last October. “If we see in the polls that running together will bring more seats, we will run together.” Bennett, who previously led the now-defunct Yamina party, has been out of office since 2022 when his ideologically diverse coalition government collapsed. That coalition briefly ended Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s 12-year hold on power and was heralded as a rare moment of unity in Israel’s politically fractured landscape. However, Bennett recently indicated a different approach should he return to office. Speaking to a private audience of U.S. students in March, he said that any future government he leads would not include Arab parties. “This time around, the government must be Zionists,” he said. According to a recent Channel 12 poll, Bennett may pose the most significant electoral threat to Netanyahu. In a direct matchup, 38% of respondents said Bennett was better suited to serve as prime minister, compared to 31% for Netanyahu. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Republican Jimmy Patronis is projected to win the special election for Florida’s 1st Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ.

BOOKER FINALLY YIELDS: Senator Cory Booker pays tribute to the late John Lewis as he yields the Senate floor, concluding his historic, 25 Hour record-breaking marathon speech.

Jewish Republican Senator Randy Fine won Florida’s 6th Congressional District special election, defeating Democrat Josh Weil despite Democrats spending millions to flip the deep-red seat vacated by Mike Waltz.

Housing Minister and UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf came out with a sharp condemnation Tuesday after footage emerged of a group of Chareidi youths shouting at IDF soldiers touring the streets of Bnei Brak earlier in the day. The video, which quickly spread on social media, shows a few bochurim yelling at soldiers as they walked through the mostly Chareidi city. However, not all present displayed such behavior. One young man was seen stepping forward to shake a soldier’s hand respectfully, even as others shouted from the sidelines. “I strongly condemn the criminal behavior of fringe youths who attacked IDF soldiers in the city of Bnei Brak today,” Minister Goldknopf wrote on X. “This is not the derech of Torah Yidden. We owe hakaras hatov to IDF soldiers, who put their lives on the line to protect Klal Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.” The Bnei Brak municipality also released a statement denouncing the incident, emphasizing that such conduct does not reflect the values or attitudes of the broader Chareidi tzibbur. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Republican Randy Fine has won Florida’s 6th Congressional District special election, holding off a surprisingly strong challenge from Democrat Josh Weil. NBC News projected Fine’s win in the district, a Republican stronghold for years.

The race to replace Michael Waltz—who stepped down from Congress to become national security adviser to Trump—proved to be far more contentious than initially expected. Republican officials grew concerned when Weil, a schoolteacher by profession, managed to dramatically out-raise Fine, who serves in the Florida state Senate. While early voting numbers appeared to show a surge in Democratic participation, such statistics are often a poor predictor of final turnout.

Democratic leaders refrained from suggesting that Weil would flip the seat, yet the closeness of the contest may signal underlying challenges for Republicans moving forward. The 6th District has historically favored the GOP by wide margins—Trump, who backed Fine in the race, won the area by over 30 percentage points in the last presidential election, and Waltz had easily retained his seat.

This was one of two special congressional contests held in Florida on Tuesday.

Although the outcome of these elections would not have shifted the balance of power in the House—Republicans would have maintained their slim majority either way—a loss could have further complicated their already fragile governing prospects.

Tuesday’s elections in Florida, along with a key Supreme Court race in Wisconsin, marked the first major contests since Trump resumed the presidency. “The attention on the Florida races was a warning sign for Republicans,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said last week, adding that he believes Democrats will reclaim the House majority in the coming year.

{Matzav.com}

The post Jewish Republican Randy Fine Wins Florida’s 6th District Race Over Democrat Josh Weil first appeared on Matzav.com.

President Donald Trump ‘s administration has acknowledged mistakenly deporting a Maryland man with protected legal status to a notorious El Salvador prison but is arguing against returning him to federal custody in the United States because of alleged gang ties. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials admitted in a court filing on Monday night to an “administrative error” in deporting the 29-year-old man, generating immediate uproar from immigration advocates. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was arrested on March 12 after completing a shift as a sheet metal worker apprentice at a construction site in Baltimore, according to a complaint filed in federal court by his lawyers. Abrego Garcia was then sent to a notorious prison in his home country, the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, which activists say is rife with abuses and where inmates are packed into cells and never allowed outside. He was placed at CECOT despite an immigration judge’s ruling in 2019 that he not be deported to El Salvador because he had established it was “more likely than not that he would be persecuted by gangs,” according to his lawyer’s complaint. Abrego Garcia “left El Salvador when he was around sixteen years old, fleeing gang violence,” according to the complaint. “Beginning around 2006, gang members had stalked, hit, and threatened to kidnap and kill him in order to coerce his parents to succumb to their increasing demands for extortion.” “Although he has been accused of general ‘gang affiliation,’ the U.S. government has never produced an iota of evidence to support this unfounded accusation,” the complaint stated, adding that Abrego Garcia is neither a member of nor affiliated with MS-13 or any other criminal or street gang. Abrego Garcia’s wife later saw him in photos and video of him at the prison, identifying her husband through his distinctive tattoos and two scars on his head, the complaint stated. The Trump administration said in its court filing that ICE “was aware of his protection from removal to El Salvador,” but still deported Abrego Garcia “because of an administrative error.” The administration argued against his return to the U.S., citing alleged gang ties and claiming that he is a danger to the community. The administration stated that his gang ties were confirmed at a 2019 bond proceeding and upheld by the Board of Immigration Appeals. “This was an oversight, and the removal was carried out in good faith based on the existence of a final order of removal and Abrego-Garcia’s purported membership in MS-13,” Robert Cerna, ICE’s acting field office director of enforcement and removal operations, wrote in a statement to the court. (AP)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken steps to bolster American military strength in the Middle East by sending additional aircraft to support naval operations, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.

While the official announcement did not detail which aircraft were deployed, several U.S. officials speaking anonymously to Reuters revealed that four B-2 stealth bombers had been flown to the joint U.S.-UK base on Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean positioned within operational range of both Iran and Yemen.

In addition, Hegseth has directed the Carl Vinson carrier strike group to head toward the Middle East. According to a Bloomberg report, the strike group will make its way to the region after it wraps up training drills in the Indo-Pacific.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell also confirmed that the current deployment of the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group will be extended to maintain a strong naval presence.

Parnell emphasized that both strike groups will “continue promoting regional stability, deter aggression, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region.”

These movements come as the United States ramps up its offensive against Houthi forces in Yemen, an operation it formally began last month in response to ongoing threats from the Iran-aligned militants.

President Donald Trump recently declared that the Houthis would be “completely annihilated” and warned that Tehran’s backing would not save them from defeat.

He later remarked that the Houthis are now seeking peace due to the impact of U.S. military action, though he made clear that “those strikes will continue for a very long time.”

This Pentagon update also follows rising friction with Iran. Just days ago, Trump issued a stark warning, stating, “if they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing — and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”

In reply, Iran’s Tehran Times, a government-run publication, posted on X that Iranian missiles are “loaded onto launchers in all underground missile cities and are ready for launch.”

Trump followed up with another warning, suggesting he might impose secondary tariffs on Iran if the country refuses to strike a nuclear agreement.

On Monday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded with a direct threat of his own, cautioning that any U.S. assault on Iran would prompt a “strong blow.”

{Matzav.com}

The post US Deploys B-2 Bombers and Carrier Strike Groups Amid Rising Tensions With Iran first appeared on Matzav.com.

Newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced snap elections in his country. This has set the stage for what many analysts are calling one of the most crucial votes in Canadian history. With key issues on the table and numerous tightly contested ridings (voting districts), the outcome of this election could shape the country’s future in significant ways. Beyond the general importance of this election, it is also considered especially critical for Canada’s Jewish community. Among those who could play a decisive role in the election are Canadian citizens residing in Israel. Chaim V’Chessed has learned that many of these Canadians hail from some of the most hotly contested electoral districts, making their votes particularly impactful. As a result, eligible Canadian voters living in Israel are being strongly encouraged to participate in the election. With various policies and political shifts at stake, Jewish leaders and organizations have emphasized the need for community members to exercise their democratic rights. To facilitate voting for Canadian citizens in Israel, a dedicated website – www.israelvotes.ca  – has been launched. The site provides clear guidance on how to register and cast a ballot from abroad, ensuring that voters can easily navigate the process. It is important to note that, by Canadian law, besides being a citizen, one must have LIVED in Canada at some point of their life to be eligible to vote. With the election set to be a defining moment in Canadian politics, officials and community leaders alike stress the importance of every eligible citizen making their voice heard—no matter where in the world they reside.

The Trump administration announced Monday a major federal review of $9 billion in grants and contracts at Harvard University, citing the school’s failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic discrimination.  The review, conducted as part of the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, will involve audits by the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, along with the U.S. General Services Administration. Federal officials will scrutinize over $255.6 million in contracts between Harvard and the U.S. government, in addition to more than $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon delivered a sharp rebuke of Harvard’s handling of antisemitic incidents on campus, warning that the university’s reputation is at stake. “Harvard has served as a symbol of the American dream for generations—the pinnacle aspiration for students all over the world to work hard and earn admission to the storied institution,” McMahon stated. “Harvard’s failure to protect students on campus from antisemitic discrimination—all while promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry—has put its reputation in serious jeopardy.” She added that Harvard has an opportunity to “right these wrongs” and restore itself as an institution dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, but that federal intervention would proceed if necessary. The administration’s announcement follows a similar crackdown on Columbia University, which resulted in the school agreeing to nine federal demands, including a ban on masked protests. That agreement ignited controversy and led to the resignation of Columbia’s interim president last week. Now, the Trump administration is sending a clear signal that Harvard could face similar consequences. Federal officials warned that stop-work orders could be issued on Harvard’s contracts, and if the university is found noncompliant with federal regulations, its federal funding could be terminated entirely. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

BREAKING: Sen. Cory Booker has broken the Senate’s record for longest floor speech set in 1957 when Strom Thurmond spoke against the Civil Rights Act. Booker began speaking at 7 p.m. yesterday and has just passed the 24 hour mark.

‘The Ben Shapiro Show’ host breaks down global cases of the ‘deep state’ interfering with democracy on ‘The Will Cain Show.’

WATCH:

The post ‘DEEP STATE’: Ben Shapiro Reveals What Leads To More Tyranny first appeared on Matzav.com.

Yemen attacks US warships with missiles and drones for third time in 24 hours

IRGC Deputy Commander Ali Fadavi warns: Iran will strike back hard if provoked. “We control the Strait of Hormuz—40% of global oil passes through it. The U.S. is highly vulnerable at sea.”

3 of 4 soldiers from Fort Stewart, Georgia who died during a training exercise while overseas last week have been identified as Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., Sgt. Edvin F. Franco and Pfc. Dante D. Taitano.