FBI Director Kash Patel delivered a fiery response to ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith’s claim that President Trump was behind the arrests of NBA stars and coaches involved in an illegal betting network. Speaking on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, Patel mocked Smith’s theory, saying, “I’m the FBI director. I decide which arrest to conduct and which not to conduct.”
Patel went on to blast the sports analyst’s comments as utterly ridiculous. “That may be the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history. And I live most of my time in Washington, DC,” he said, visibly exasperated.
He didn’t stop there, drawing a comparison to one of his least favorite political figures. “It’s right up there with Adam Schiff. We arrest people for crimes,” Patel added, rejecting the notion that the FBI’s actions were politically motivated.
The controversy erupted after Patel announced a massive federal operation earlier that day. More than 30 individuals — a mix of NBA figures and members of several notorious Mafia families — were arrested in what authorities described as one of the most significant gambling busts in years.
The investigation revealed that coaches and players from the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Toronto Raptors were tied to the betting ring. Portland’s head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones were among those indicted. Officials said the operation pulled in more than $7 million in illicit profits over two years.
Smith, reacting on his ESPN show First Take, suggested the crackdown was politically timed. “Tell me when we’ve seen that … We’ve seen accusations before. We’ve seen athletes get in trouble with the law before. You don’t see the director of the FBI having a press conference. It’s not coincidental. It’s not an accident. It’s a statement, and it’s a warning that more is coming,” Smith said.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he continued. “It’s very concerning. We don’t know where this is gonna go. But everybody better brace themselves, because he’s coming,” Smith added, alluding to Trump.
The outspoken host went even further, speculating that the administration could extend its reach to other areas of pop culture and sports.
Patel, dismissing the theory as baseless political theater, emphasized that the arrests were driven by evidence and law enforcement priorities, not politics. “We arrest people for crimes,” he repeated, underscoring that the FBI operates independently — no matter who occupies the Oval Office.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump signaled he is weighing whether to urge Israel to free arch Palestinian terrorist murderer Marwan Barghouti, the jailed Fatah thug regarded by many Palestinians as their most unifying political figure.
The move would represent a major shift as Washington explores options for a new leadership structure in Gaza after the war.
In an interview released Thursday, Trump acknowledged that Barghouti’s case had come up in internal talks among his aides. “I was literally being confronted with that question about 15 minutes before you called,” he told TIME Magazine when asked about the idea. “So I’ll be making a decision.”
The White House declined to offer any comment regarding Trump’s contemplation of the matter. His acknowledgment of the ongoing discussions highlights the immense challenge facing U.S. and Israeli policymakers as they seek a credible authority to govern Gaza once Hamas is removed.
Barghouti’s name has long loomed large in Palestinian politics, but Israel has refused to consider his release. He was notably excluded from this month’s Gaza ceasefire prisoner exchange, even though Hamas negotiators reportedly pressed for his inclusion.
Israel considers Barghouti a terrorist responsible for orchestrating deadly attacks. Convicted in 2004 for involvement in assaults that left five Israelis dead, he is currently serving multiple life terms.
Yet, for many Palestinians, Barghouti’s imprisonment has only elevated his stature. Supporters describe him as a pragmatic nationalist who, while endorsing armed resistance at times, also promoted the vision of two states living side by side. His admirers liken him to Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid icon who rose from incarceration to lead South Africa.
Now 66, Barghouti remains one of the rare figures commanding respect across the fragmented Palestinian political spectrum. With Mahmoud Abbas aging and deeply unpopular, polls routinely show terrorist Barghouti as the leading choice to succeed him as head of the Palestinian Authority.
Before his arrest, the sickening terrorist led Fatah’s operations in the West Bank during the second intifada. Israel accused him of directing the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a coalition of Fatah-linked militants that carried out numerous deadly attacks.
Though he never confirmed or denied ties to the Brigades, Barghouti often defended the Palestinians’ right to resist amid expanding settlements and military crackdowns. He simultaneously spoke of his desire for a peaceful resolution and a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel.
When captured by Israel, Barghouti refused to defend himself in court, declaring that he did not recognize its authority. He was convicted on multiple counts of murder tied to attacks by the Brigades and sentenced to five life terms, though acquitted on several other charges.
The latest prisoner release under the ceasefire deal primarily freed Hamas and Fatah members jailed since the 2000s, many serving time for deadly assaults or attempted attacks on Israelis. Most were subsequently sent either to Gaza or into exile abroad after regaining their freedom.
{Matzav.com}Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu pushed back against claims that the United States dictates Israel’s actions, declaring that Israel remains a sovereign nation in full control of its decisions.
His comments came after President Donald Trump told TIME Magazine that Israel would not move forward with applying sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, warning, “Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”
“I deeply, deeply appreciate President Trump’s support – both for the wartime operations, for my decision to enter Gaza City, and for his mobilization of the Arab world to help bring back our hostages through our military pressure and his diplomatic pressure,” Netanyahu said in response to a question from Channel 12 News.
The prime minister went on to describe the joint efforts between Israel and Washington, noting the success of recent operations. “We brought back 20 hostages alive, something no one believed would happen. Now, in the framework we’re advancing – including tonight’s conversation with Marco Rubio, and earlier with Vice President Vance – we’re working to promote the goals of demilitarizing Gaza and disarming Hamas, along with other matters important to us. That’s what matters. The cooperation between us, between partners, is a blessing for the State of Israel. We are an independent country,” he emphasized.
The exchange followed a contentious Knesset session on Wednesday, during which lawmakers approved in a preliminary reading two bills proposing the application of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. Netanyahu’s office quickly distanced the government from the move, asserting that “the Knesset vote on annexation was a deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord during Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel.”
According to the statement, both pieces of legislation were introduced by opposition Knesset members, not by members of the governing coalition.
Vice President JD Vance reacted sharply to the developments as he boarded Air Force Two to leave Israel, calling the vote “weird” and expressing bewilderment over the timing. He told reporters that he had been informed the move was “symbolic” and merely a “political stunt.” In his words, “If it was a political stunt, then it was a stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it.”
Vance made clear that Washington’s position remains unchanged, stating, “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel. That will continue to be our policy.”
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that an unnamed benefactor had stepped forward with a stunning act of generosity — donating $130 million to the federal government to make up for the gap in military pay caused by the ongoing government shutdown.
Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting that the donation came after a personal phone call from the contributor. “He called us the other day and he said, ‘I’d like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown. I’d like to contribute, personally, contribute any shortfall you have with the military, because I love the military and I love the country, and any shortfall, if there’s a shortfall, I’ll contribute it,’” Trump said.
According to the president, the donor wanted no recognition or fanfare. “He doesn’t really want the recognition, if you want to know the truth, but he gave us a check for $130 million, which was sort of a shortfall, and that’s going to go to the military,” Trump added.
The revelation immediately set off a wave of speculation online as users tried to piece together who the anonymous patriot might be. Trump offered only two clues: the donor was a personal friend of his and preferred to remain unnamed. That didn’t stop the internet from guessing.
One of the most frequently mentioned possibilities was Elon Musk. With a net worth approaching $500 billion, observers noted that a $130 million gift would barely make a dent in the X founder’s fortune. “According to President Trump, an anonymous billionaire sent a $130 million check to pay off our troops during the Schumer Shutdown. What’s the odds it was Elon?” one X user asked.
Others joined in the guessing game. “Who do you think paid donated $130,000,000 to pay the salary shortfall for the military? I say it was Elon,” another wrote, while someone else posted, “Was it Elon Musk who donated $130 million dollars due to the shutdown?”
Grok, responding to the speculation, weighed in with an analysis: “Elon Musk is the most likely candidate, having funneled over $130 million into pro-Trump efforts via PACs while vocally prioritizing U.S. military and space dominance. His close ties to Trump and aversion to some spotlight align with the anonymity request. Other possibilities like Jared Isaacman exist, but Musk’s scale and patriotism make him the prime fit.”
Still, others thought the credit might go to another billionaire — Jared Isaacman, the founder and CEO of Shift4. With a net worth of roughly $1.3 billion, Isaacman certainly had the means. Grok commented on this theory as well, saying, “Yes, Jared Isaacman (aka rookisaacman) is a billionaire. Forbes estimates his net worth at $1.3 billion as of late October 2025, primarily from founding Shift4 Payments. A $130 million donation would represent roughly 10% of that, which is substantial but feasible for someone of his wealth who’s already funded private space missions.”
Not everyone believed the donor was a third party. Some even floated the idea that Trump himself might have made the donation. Independent journalist Nick Sortor, who broke the story, wrote, “Wouldn’t surprise me! He’s got a history of doing things like this without mentioning it publicly.” Still, since Trump described the donor as “a friend,” many dismissed that theory.
As of now, the donor’s identity remains a mystery. The names circulating — Musk, Isaacman, or even Trump himself — are purely speculative. What’s certain is that someone quietly stepped in with $130 million to keep America’s troops paid during a political standoff in Washington.
{Matzav.com}
Gerer Rosh Yeshiva Rav Shaul Alter penned a moving letter this week to the family of hostage atan Angrest, expressing profound gratitude to Hashem for the miracle of Matan’s return after two long years of captivity in Hamas tunnels beneath Gaza.
The Rosh Yeshiva shared that throughout the years of anguish, he had kept a special place in his heart for Matan after his parents had once visited his room and given him a picture of their son. “But now,” Rav Shaul wrote, “there is praise to Hashem — we have the source itself, and no longer need the picture.”
In his letter, Rav Alter highlighted the remarkable spiritual recognition that Matan had achieved during his imprisonment, seeing in it a powerful expression of divine providence even in the depths of darkness. He thanked Hashem for the matan — both literally and figuratively — that the Jewish people merited upon Matan’s safe return “to the land of the living.”
According to members of Rav Shaul’s kehillah, ever since Simchas Torah two years ago, when the war began and the hostages were taken, the Rosh Yeshiva made it his personal practice to recite the entire Sefer Tehillim each day after Mincha. This custom was observed daily in his beis medrash without fail, continuing until this past Simchas Torah — the very day that the nation received the joyous news of the hostages’ return.
At the hakafos shniyos celebration that night, Rav Shaul offered a public hoda’ah, a heartfelt expression of thanksgiving to Hashem for the miracles witnessed and for the return of the captives to their families, filling Klal Yisroel with emotion and gratitude.
{Matzav.com}
The massive asifa against what organizers call the persecution of Torah learners, initially scheduled for Sunday, appeared likely to be postponed to early next week—either Monday or Tuesday—due to logistical challenges and requests from various factions seeking additional time for preparation.
The decision followed yesterday’s announcement by the Slabodka roshei yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who had called for a large public gathering in defense of lomdei Torah. However, as planning intensified, it became clear that a short delay would allow for broader participation and coordination among the different Torah communities.
Sources confirmed that in the past day, a phone conversation took place between Rav Moshe Maya and Rav Avrohom Salim, during which they agreed to instruct their respective talmidim to attend the upcoming protest. The event is being billed as a united expression of opposition to government efforts seen as targeting yeshiva students through the ongoing draft legislation crisis.
Discussions are also underway regarding the location of the rally. While some are advocating for it to take place in Bnei Brak, others favor Yerushalayim. A final decision is expected soon.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump announced that he plans to personally visit Gaza, describing himself as the key architect behind the fragile truce that brought an end to the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. In an interview released Thursday, he said the peace deal would not have been possible without his direct involvement.
“The most important thing,” Trump told Time magazine, “is they have to respect the president of the United States. The Middle East has to understand that.
“And they do. If you go to Qatar, if you go to Saudi Arabia, if you go to UAE, who are the three big ones, in that sense, they all respect the president, and if they’re not going to respect the president — it’s almost the president more so than the country. You understand that? If they don’t respect the president, and if the president doesn’t know what he’s doing, it could break apart. If they do respect the president, it’s going to be long-term beautiful peace.”
The president credited his own credibility and assertiveness with bringing the parties to the table. He said that respect for American leadership, not pressure or threats, was what ultimately stabilized the Middle East after months of bloodshed.
In the same conversation, Trump revealed that Saudi Arabia is poised to join the Abraham Accords before the end of the year, a move that would expand normalization between Israel and Arab nations. “They had a problem,” he said of Riyadh. “They had a Gaza problem and they had an Iran problem. Now they don’t have those two problems.”
The truce, reached on October 10, saw Hamas release its final 20 surviving Israeli hostages and begin returning the remains of more than two dozen others. The cease-fire remains fragile but has largely held since then.
Although Trump did not specify when his Gaza visit would take place, he made clear that his patience would run thin if Hamas violated the deal. He cautioned that “nobody would mind if we went in and took [Hamas] to task” should they renege on their commitments.
Convincing Israel to agree to the deal, Trump said, required firm persuasion. “Bibi, you can’t fight the world,” he recalled telling Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. “You can fight individual battles, but the world’s against you. And Israel is a very small place compared to the world.”
Trump also condemned Israel’s September 9 airstrike in Qatar that targeted Hamas political officials. “That was terrible,” he said, labeling it “a tactical mistake” by Israel. But in typical Trump fashion, he added that the blunder inadvertently accelerated diplomatic progress: “It was so out of joint that it sort of got everybody to do what they have to do. If you took that away, we might not be talking about this subject right now.”
While Trump reaffirmed his strong support for Israel’s security, he issued a clear warning against any attempt to annex the West Bank. “It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” he stated. “Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”
In an unexpected comment, Trump said he has developed a personal rapport with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, describing him warmly despite Abbas’ fierce rivalry with Netanyahu. Abbas, 89, has led the Palestinian Authority since 2005 and participated in this month’s peace summit in Egypt that finalized the Gaza agreement.
Trump reflected on his long-standing relationship with Netanyahu, recalling how the Israeli leader had once urged that Trump be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. “I stopped him, because he would have just kept going,” Trump said. “It could have gone on for years. It would have gone on for years. And I stopped him, and everybody came together when I stopped, it was amazing.”
{Matzav.com}
