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A storm of criticism has erupted around Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani after he chose Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari — a progressive activist who publicly expressed admiration for convicted cop-killer Assata Shakur — to serve on his youth and education transition team, according to The NY Post.

Shaakir-Ansari, who helps lead the Alliance for Quality Education, was tapped last week to advise the incoming administration on public-school matters. Her past comments resurfaced almost immediately, including an interview with Lingua Franca in which she was asked to choose any woman in history to spend an afternoon with.

Her answer drew immediate fire.

“Assata Shakur — I believe she has so much to offer. With all of the reflection you must have done after all of the years as a Black Panther, what advice do you have for black women to move the movement while also caring for each other?” she said.

Assata Shakur — born Joanne Deborah Chesimard — was convicted for the 1973 killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster after a gun battle on the New Jersey Turnpike. She had been traveling with Zayd Malik Shakur and Sundiata Acoli when state troopers stopped them for a broken taillight, prompting a shootout that left Foerster dead.

Before her involvement with the Black Liberation Army, she was aligned with the Black Panthers and immersed in radical political activity during the 1970s. In 1977 she was convicted of murder and assault, but in 1979 a team of armed BLA members broke her out of the Clinton Correctional Facility for Women, took hostages, and fled in a hijacked van.

Shakur ultimately escaped to Cuba in 1984, where the communist regime granted her asylum. Calling herself a “20th century escaped slave,” she remained a fugitive for decades and was placed on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list in May 2013 — the first woman ever added.

For families of fallen police officers, Mamdani’s decision to elevate someone who venerates Shakur felt like a painful slap.

“Supporting a cop killer, you know, is not . . . a good thing,” said Grace Machate, whose husband, NYPD Officer Robert Machate, was murdered in 1989 while she was seven months pregnant.

Her husband, like Foerster, was gunned down during what began as a routine traffic stop involving “two suspicious males.”

“When someone kills an officer, whether he’s from New Jersey, New York or Alabama, I don’t care. It’s something that families are going to stick together on,” she said.

Retired NYPD lieutenant and US Marine Eric Dym reacted with disbelief at Mamdani’s choice.

“That’s unbelievable. I don’t think it’s a small oversight. I think it’s a conscious decision,” said Dym.

He added a blunt warning about what this signals to the rank and file: “When someone with that history is given a seat at the table it sends the message that your sacrifice is negotiable . . . this just strips away at the morale of the NYPD.”

John Macari, a retired NYPD lieutenant and co-host of the “New York’s Finest: Retired and Unfiltered Podcast,” argued that while Shaakir-Ansari can hold any views she wants, they shouldn’t shape city policy.

“Shaakir-Ansari has every right to her opinions, but she should have no business shaping education policy in a city where thousands of cops entrust their own kids to be educated and kept safe,” he said.

Shaakir-Ansari, a grandmother and longtime education advocate, has been involved in activism for roughly twenty years. In 2017, she appeared on City and State New York Magazine’s list of the 25 most influential Brooklyn leaders. She even launched a clothing line last year, raising $15,000 through GoFundMe.

During the mayoral campaign, Mamdani sparked additional backlash when he declined to denounce a glowing tribute to Shakur posted by the Democratic Socialists of America after her death.

“We vow to honor her legacy by recognizing our duty to fight for our freedom, to win, to love and protect one another because we have nothing to lose but our chains,” the DSA said on X.

Pressed by The Post to respond to the DSA statement, Mamdani sidestepped the issue.

“I am running to be the mayor of New York City,” he said. “I am running to represent the people of New York City. My focus is on the issues of the city, and I’m accountable to those same New Yorkers.”

Law-enforcement experts warn that appointments like this are a troubling signal for the coming administration. Retired NYPD sergeant and John Jay Professor Joe Giacolone said the fallout will be swift.

“You pick someone who praises a cop killer, you don’t need a slide rule to figure out what’s going on here — there’s gonna be two types of cops left, those who want to get out and can, and those who want to get out and can’t.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior diplomat from Riyadh declared that reforming the Israeli government — not the Palestinian Authority — is the key to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. Speaking onstage at the Doha Forum, Manal Radwan, a minister in Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry, pushed back against what she described as an international fixation on Palestinian […]

WATCH: House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congressman Mike Lawler seen leaving the home of the Skvere Rebbe following a visit.

The New York Post reports Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect in the shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. worked at the same counterterrorism base as Mohammad Alokozay, the man accused of posting a video of himself on TikTok indicating he was making a bomb to target Fort Worth, Texas.

NY Seniors May Receive Up to 65% Property-Tax Exemption Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new legislation allowing local governments to offer seniors a property-tax exemption of up to 65% of a home’s assessed value. * This raises the previous maximum exemption from 50% to 65%. * Savings for eligible seniors could reach about $300 a year, […]

Sen. Tom Cotton used a Sunday interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” to issue a full-throated endorsement of the Trump administration’s lethal actions against cartel-linked vessels, arguing that the mission is both legally justified and essential for protecting American lives. Cotton, who was briefed on the strikes in his capacity as Senate Intelligence Committee chair, described the objective in blunt terms: stop the narcotics flow by eliminating the boats pushing them toward U.S. interests.

According to Cotton, the nature of the threat leaves little ambiguity. “Destroy these drug boats,” he said, emphasizing that the same smuggling networks are responsible for overdose deaths in his own state and across the nation. He told host Kristen Welker, “The order, like the entire operation, Kristen, is to destroy these drug boats, which are running drugs into our country from foreign drug cartels and traffickers that are killing hundreds of Arkansans every year and hundreds of thousands of Americans.”

NBC News previously revealed that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth authorized a strike that resulted in all 11 individuals aboard a targeted craft being killed after U.S. intelligence labeled them “narco-terrorists.” Cotton said he never heard anyone refer to a formal “target list,” but he did say officials conveyed “high confidence based on multiple sources of intelligence that everyone on that boat was part of a foreign terrorist organization” and therefore “valid targets.”

He pushed back sharply against claims circulating in earlier press accounts that the U.S. military had fired upon “helpless survivors.” Cotton flatly rejected that depiction, insisting the men weren’t drifting unprotected or clinging to debris. Instead, he said they remained on an overturned vessel and were “not incapacitated in any way.”

Cotton defended the decision to conduct a secondary strike as both appropriate and lawful. He argued that it was necessary “to make sure that its cargo was destroyed,” and maintained, “It is in no way a violation of the law of war.”

Some Democrats who viewed classified footage disagreed, suggesting the individuals appeared stranded or possibly attempting to surrender. Cotton dismissed that reading entirely, underscoring that the vessel, its drugs, and the crew remained legitimate military objectives in an ongoing counter-cartel operation.

Even when Welker noted that the shipment might have first been destined for Suriname before being moved elsewhere, Cotton insisted that such nuances don’t change the equation. He argued that smuggling networks routinely shift loads between different boats, and any cartel-manned craft carrying narcotics poses a direct danger. “Any boat loaded with drugs that is crewed by associates and members of foreign terrorist organizations that are trying to kill American kids I think is a valid target,” he said. “I’m not just comfortable with it, I want to continue it.”

Cotton added that he supports declassifying and releasing the strike footage, describing it as standard operational video and “not gruesome,” though he acknowledged the Pentagon may need to safeguard sensitive intelligence practices before doing so.

President Trump unleashed on Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) after the congressman, freshly pardoned on federal bribery and corruption charges, announced he would seek reelection as a Democrat. Cuellar, 70, had faced sweeping allegations — including bribery, money laundering, and acting as an unregistered foreign agent — stemming from what prosecutors said was $600,000 in payments […]

Efforts to revive the fragile communications line between Israel and Qatar have quietly resumed in New York, where Mossad chief David Barnea has sat down with a top Qatari representative at the urging of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, according to Axios. Two sources told the outlet that this discussion marks the launch of a three-way framework intended to stabilize the damaged relationship after the strike in Qatar on September 9 disrupted months of delicate diplomacy.

The September operation, aimed at senior Hamas political figures, did not eliminate the leadership it targeted, but it did result in the deaths of several lower-ranking Hamas operatives as well as a Qatari guard. The fallout was immediate. Qatar, which had been the central mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the Gaza conflict, abruptly halted its involvement and demanded accountability for what it viewed as a violation of its sovereignty.

Barnea’s meeting represents the most senior-level engagement since that episode. According to the report, the goal is to determine whether the two sides can rebuild the cooperation that existed before the strike and re-establish Qatar’s role in facilitating negotiations despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Israel and Doha.

In an effort to contain the crisis back in late September, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu personally conveyed an apology to Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, acknowledging that Qatari sovereignty had been breached.

The conversation in New York is expected to revolve around whether a path can be charted toward the next stage of the Gaza ceasefire process. Axios notes that the meeting is intended to probe how — and whether — Israel, Qatar, and the United States can resume coordinated mediation after weeks of strained silence.

{Matzav.com}

HAPPENING NOW: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was in Rockland County today for fundraisers supporting Congressman Mike Lawler, has just arrive, together with Congressman Mike Lawler, at the home of the Skvere Rebbe, in New Square for a visit.

TUNE IN NOW! WATCH HERE      

During an extensive visit to key hotspots inside Gaza on Sunday, Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir surveyed front-line positions alongside top southern commanders, receiving a close-up briefing on current battlefield conditions and the next phase of operations. He moved through areas including Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya, where division leaders outlined the pace of recent missions and the broader strategic picture.

As he addressed the commanders, Zamir made clear that the army views the campaign as far from finished. “We are operating to thwart and remove threats in all arenas,” he began, underscoring that Israeli forces will counter aggression wherever it appears. He added firmly, “We will not tolerate threats against our troops, and we will respond to any attempt. We have freedom of operation – both here in the Southern Command and across all arenas.”

Zamir highlighted that the military intends to block any attempt by Hamas to rebuild or reorganize. “We will not allow Hamas to reestablish itself. We have operational control over extensive parts of the Gaza Strip and we will remain on those defense lines. The Yellow Line is a new border line – serving as a forward defensive line for our communities and a line of operational activity.”

Turning to the matter of the hostages, he noted that Israel’s responsibility continues. “The overwhelming majority of our hostages have returned, but our mission will not be complete until the last fallen hostage, SFC Ran Gvili, is brought home.”

Zamir warned his officers against easing their posture in the coming period. “We must not be complacent. We must be prepared in all arenas and maintain readiness and alertness, while maintaining operational norms. The IDF is preparing for surprise attack scenarios – this is one of the cornerstones of the upcoming multi-year plan.”

He spoke at length about the vital role of the reserves and the need to bolster them for future challenges. “The security and existence of the State of Israel depend on the IDF, with reserve troops being a central component. You achieved unprecedented successes throughout the war, and your level of readiness and capability is extremely high.”

Looking ahead, Zamir outlined legislative steps meant to support the force. “We are advancing several laws intended to strengthen the IDF and its readiness, and in doing so also ease the burden on the reserve troops. We must reinforce and expand the reserve array – this is a central mission in the IDF’s force build up process.”

He also referenced the internal reviews completed regarding October 7, stressing their importance for institutional improvement. “In recent weeks, we concluded the inquiries into October 7th. The inquiries are a crucial component in learning the lessons needed to prevent another October 7th. We are leading the IDF toward learning, developing, and strengthening in order to prepare for future challenges. You are partners in advancing the IDF forward.”

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: i24NEWS reports that top Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich is set to be indicted in the classified-documents leak case. According to the investigation, Urich is accused of improperly handling and leaking sensitive military intelligence. The accusations include possession and unauthorized transfer of classified material that may have endangered national security.

NYC Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani pledges to protect illegals in NYC and stand up to ICE.

During a public discussion at the Doha Forum on Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Al 20 made it unmistakably clear that his country has no intention of underwriting the massive cost of rebuilding Gaza, pushing back against widespread assumptions that Doha would serve as the primary financier. “We are not the ones who are going to write the check to rebuild what others destroyed,” Al Thani declared as he spoke on stage.

Instead, he stressed that Qatar’s role will remain focused on humanitarian relief. He emphasized that Doha will continue assisting Palestinians in immediate need, while making sure any support directly addresses their suffering. “Our payments will only go to help the Palestinian people if we see that the help coming to them is insufficient,” he said, declining to provide further detail.

His comments add a new degree of uncertainty to an already murky global picture surrounding Gaza’s reconstruction. Doha had long been perceived as the most likely backer of rebuilding efforts—particularly because other Gulf powers such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have conditioned any substantial investment on a credible political plan leading toward Palestinian statehood, a path Israel opposes.

International agencies have painted a dire picture of the scale of devastation. The UN announced in November that repairing Gaza’s shattered infrastructure could cost around $70 billion, noting that roughly 75 percent of all structures in the Strip have either been destroyed or damaged beyond function. Despite some commitments—such as the EU’s $1.87 billion pledge in April and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent offer of $100 million—no clear financial framework exists for covering the enormous shortfall.

The Doha Forum interview ended with an unexpected twist, when American political commentator Tucker Carlson told Al Thani—and the audience—that he would soon be purchasing property in Qatar. “I have been criticized as being a tool of Qatar… I’ve never taken anything from your country and don’t plan to. I am, however, tomorrow, buying a place in Qatar,” Carlson remarked. “I’m doing that because I like the city, I think it’s beautiful, but also to make the statement that I’m an American and a free man and I’ll be wherever I want to be,” he added.

Qatar’s relationship with the United States has been a central pillar of its foreign policy, and the country has invested heavily in maintaining those ties. Washington designates Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, and Doha has made high-profile gestures toward President Donald Trump, including gifting him a luxury aircraft in May to serve as a new Air Force One due to delays in America’s own procurement process.

Al Thani argued that there are actors “putting in a lot of effort to sabotage the relationship between Qatar and the United States and to try to demonize anyone who will come to this country.” He noted that Qatar continues to engage with Washington “to make sure that this relationship is safeguarded and the relationship for us is mutually beneficial.” As he put it, “We pay all these amounts for lobbying only to protect and to safeguard this relationship.”

Qatar has played a crucial diplomatic role as a mediator in the US-backed Gaza truce, though it has faced criticism from American and Israeli officials over its long-standing hosting of Hamas’s political leadership—a policy Doha maintains was carried out with the approval of Washington beginning in 2012. Throughout these debates, Qatar has categorically rejected claims that it funds the terror group, insisting its involvement has centered on conflict mediation, not support.

If Qatar now pulls back from reconstruction commitments, the world may be left with a question no one seems ready to answer: who, if anyone, will rebuild Gaza?

{Matzav.com}

Israel and Qatar Hold Secret Meeting in New York to Repair Ties Axios reports a secret trilateral meeting between Israel, Qatar, and the U.S. is taking place today (Sunday) in New York to rebuild relations after the Israeli strike in Doha that killed a Qatari security guard. * Hosted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. * […]

FLATBUSH: Early Sunday morning at approximately 5:00 a.m., a catalytic converter was stolen from a Prius at the corner of Avenue K and East 13th Street in Flatbush. The theft was carried out in under two minutes! Flatbush Shomrim responded to the scene within minutes, however, the suspects had already fled the area. The cost […]

The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $875 million after no one hit all six numbers Saturday, marking the second-largest prize of the year and one of the biggest in the game’s history.

Waymo issued a voluntary software recall on its autonomous vehicles after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a preliminary investigation around allegedly illegal maneuvers.

A new examination by The New York Times paints a portrait of an administration that repeatedly hesitated at critical moments, brushing aside early guidance that might have eased the humanitarian and political fallout at the southern border. Advisers raised alarms during the first weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency, cautioning that dismantling Trump-era restrictions too quickly could spark “chaos,” yet those internal concerns were overridden as the White House raced to reset immigration policy.

The rapid reversal of deterrence measures sent migrant encounters soaring almost immediately in 2021. Processing centers buckled under the influx, major cities absorbed financial and logistical strain, and public frustration escalated as images of overrun facilities and overwhelmed municipalities dominated the news cycle. According to the Times, Biden’s team misread both the scale of global migration pressures and how sharply voters would react to the crisis.

Interviews with former officials reveal a White House deeply sensitive to criticism from progressive activists. Political advisers worried that any move toward tougher enforcement could fracture Biden’s coalition. That reluctance, they now say, boxed the administration in and ceded a powerful opening for Donald Trump and his allies heading into 2024.

The Times outlines repeated internal efforts to pursue more assertive responses — from streamlining asylum processing to expanding short-term holding space or implementing stronger deterrence tools — but many of those ideas stalled. In some instances, officials recalled policy blueprints being floated, dissected, and ultimately watered down or abandoned. One even described plans for a major border speech that were shelved entirely, leaving the public with the impression that the administration hoped the crisis would fade on its own.

The absence of a clear guiding approach was summed up starkly by Scott Shuchart, who joined the administration in 2022 as a senior adviser at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Biden White House “had no strategy, because they had no goal,” he said. “All they had was wishing the problem would go away so that they could focus on the things they cared about.”

As the Times noted, this vacuum met a system already buckling under outdated statutes and an asylum backlog that can take years to adjudicate. Biden initially maintained Title 42 but quickly unwound other restrictions, halted further border wall work, narrowed enforcement priorities, and moved to suspend “Remain in Mexico.” Former aides told the Times these steps were widely interpreted by migrants as a signal that border controls were loosening, adding momentum to already rising flows driven by instability abroad and cartel operations.

By spring of 2022, pressure on border states boiled over. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched busing operations to Washington, D.C., both to relieve small border towns and to protest what he argued was federal inaction. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis soon adopted a similar tactic. Mayors across the country appealed for coordination and federal support, but the Times reported that Washington remained locked in disputes over legal authority and concerns about “incentivizing” even more migration.

At the same time, Biden’s expansion of “legal pathways” and humanitarian parole drew intense scrutiny. Critics charged that these mechanisms served as an “open border” workaround that sidestepped Congress, while the administration defended them as part of a compassionate and orderly framework.

By the point the White House pivoted toward tighter enforcement as the 2024 election loomed, the operational strain, political deterioration, and cultural polarization surrounding the issue had already taken root — a trajectory internal critics say might have been avoided had early warnings been heeded.

{Matzav.com}

The Nordic countries are no strangers to the long, dark winter. Despite little to no daylight — plus months of frigid temperatures — people who live in northern Europe and above the Arctic Circle have learned how to cope mentally and physically with the annual onset of the winter blues, which can begin as early […]