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In a newly published interview with Time magazine, President Donald Trump revealed that he has already secured “200 deals” related to tariffs and predicted that all of the arrangements will be finalized within the coming month.

The interview, part of a feature marking his first 100 days in office, followed a question referencing trade adviser Peter Navarro’s earlier assertion that “90 deals in 90 days” would be achieved. The interviewer challenged that claim, pointing out, “We’re now 13 days into the point from when you lifted the reciprocal, the discounted reciprocal tariffs. There’s zero deals so far. Why is that?”

Trump responded firmly, “No, there’s many deals.” Pressed on when those agreements would be formally disclosed, he emphasized that discussions were underway with various companies and allied nations, saying, “We’re meeting with China,” and adding, “We’re doing fine with everybody. But, ultimately, I’ve made all the deals.”

When asked to clarify the timeline for announcing these agreements, Trump offered an extended metaphor to describe his approach to trade: “Because the deal is a deal that I choose,” he said. “View it differently: We are a department store, and we set the price. I meet with the companies, and then I set a fair price — what I consider to be a fair price — and they can pay it, or they don’t have to pay it. They don’t have to do business with the United States, but I set a tariff on countries. Some have been horrible to us. Some have been OK. Nobody’s been great.”

Trump explained that these tariffs would be determined using objective measures. “Fairly according to the statistics,” he said, elaborating that he considers various economic factors. “Do they have the VAT [value-added tax] system in play? Do they charge us tariffs? How much are they charging us? How much have they been charging us? Many, many different factors.”

He also brought up broader concerns beyond just trade policy, including military expenditures that the United States shoulders abroad. “As an example, we have Korea. We pay billions of dollars for the military. Japan, billions for those and others,” Trump said. “But that, I’m going to keep us a separate item, the paying of the military. [In] Germany, we have 50,000 soldiers.”

Pressed again for a timeframe on when the deals would be made public, Trump offered a definitive forecast. “Over the next three to four weeks, and we’re finished, by the way … we’ll be finished,” he said, noting that “some countries” might come back seeking “an adjustment,” which he’d be open to reviewing.

He also claimed the impact of the tariffs has been transformative for domestic investment. “We have $7 trillion of new plants, factories, and other things, investment coming into the United States,” Trump said. “If you look back at past presidents, nobody was anywhere near that. And this is in three months.”

Regarding China, Trump said he does not plan to initiate further calls with President Xi Jinping, although he noted that the Chinese leader has already contacted him. “He’s called,” said Trump. “I don’t think that’s a sign of weakness on his behalf.”

When asked what Xi said during their exchange, Trump responded with another store analogy. “We all want to make deals. But I am this giant store. It’s a giant, beautiful store, and everybody wants to go shopping there. And on behalf of the American people, I own the store, and I set prices, and I’ll say, if you want to shop here, this is what you have to pay.”

And when challenged on whether confusion exists around the administration’s tariff policy, Trump flatly denied it. “The only thing — they have an option,” he said. “They don’t have to shop here. They can go someplace else, but there aren’t too many places they can go.”

{Matzav.com}

Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israel’s national director of government affairs with executive director of the Indiana Nonpublic Education Association John Elcesser and associate director Chris Bunson, outside House chambers just prior to the vote.

A high res version of the image above is available for download here or by clicking on the image.

In the early hours of Friday morning, the Indiana General Assembly voted in favor a budget that provides school vouchers to all students in the state regardless of their income. This victory for families comes sixteen years after Indiana passed its first school choice program in 2009.

The happy ending came after the Senate ultimately went along with the expansion supported by the House and Governor, albeit delaying the start date by a year.

Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, every student in the state will be eligible for a scholarship worth approximately $7,000 to attend the private school of their choice.

Indiana became the 17th state to offer universal school choice just a few hours after Texas passed its universal Education Savings Account.

This expansion will relieve schools and the state from the burden of collecting financial information from parents and will finally treat voucher students equal to those attending public and charter schools. Agudath Israel has consistently argued that just as the government doesn’t ask for financial information from parents before allowing a child to attend a public or charter school at taxpayer expense why should it require such information for a child to receive a voucher for half that amount?

Indiana also has a separate scholarship tax credit and education savings account programs which provide funding to eligible students and remain unchanged.

“Agudath Israel thanks Governor Mike Braun, Speaker Todd Huston and Chairman Bob Behning for their leadership,” said Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israel’s national director of government affairs. “Indiana’s incremental approach has already helped more than 70,000 students access a tuition scholarship and will now send a clear message that all students deserve the same freedom and opportunity.”

{Matzav.com}

As previously reported by Chaim V’Chessed, a significant travel update took effect at the start of 2025: all travelers to Israel are now required to complete an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departure. Without an approved ETA, airlines will not permit passengers to board flights to Israel—with the exception of Israeli passport holders. Even Israeli citizens need an ETA – if traveling on a foreign passport. With the conclusion of the busy Pesach travel season, many are now returning to Israel after the holiday, while others are arriving for the first time. Whether you’re a seasoned visitor or a newcomer, it is absolutely vital to confirm that you have a valid ETA in hand before traveling. Do Student Visa Holders Need an ETA? Technically, holders of valid student visas are exempt from the ETA requirement. However, Chaim V’Chessed strongly recommends that even student visa holders apply for an ETA to avoid any confusion or mishap at the airport. Additionally, if your student visa has expired, you must obtain an ETA. Don’t Overlook Children or Expiring Passports Parents, please take note: children of all ages—including infants—must have their own ETA to board a flight to Israel. This detail has caught many families off guard. Another important point to be aware of is the fact that ETAs are only issued to passports which have at least 3 months of remaining validity. Avoid Boarding Denials In recent days, Chaim V’Chessed has been inundated with reports from individuals who were denied boarding due to not having an ETA. These unfortunate situations often stem from misunderstanding the rules or assuming exemptions that do not apply. If you do not have a valid visa, you must apply for an ETA. If you are unsure about your status, the best course of action is to apply for an ETA just in case. It’s a simple step that can prevent significant frustration and delays. In some instances, the travelers boarded flights from the USA without a valid ETA, yet were stopped at a connecting airport, and stranded there, due to their lack of an ETA. Beware of Fraudulent ETA Websites Travelers should be aware that there are several unsavory websites mimicking the official ETA site, often charging exorbitant fees for a service that is inexpensive on the official site. These third-party services may appear legitimate but should be avoided. An ETA on the authentic site costs just 25 NIS, and is valid for two years. The only correct way to apply is through the official link. Click here to apply for an ETA.

Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos was sentenced Friday to over seven years in prison, sobbing as he learned his punishment for the crimes that led to his expulsion from Congress. Santos, who pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, appealed for mercy. In a federal court a short drive from his old congressional district, he said through tears that he was “humbled” and “chastised” and realized he had betrayed his constituents’ trust. “I offer my deepest apologies,” he said, adding: “I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead.” U.S. District Court Judge Joanna Seybert evidently wasn’t convinced. “Where is your remorse? Where do I see it?” she asked as she sentenced him to 87 months behind bars. “It’s always someone else’s fault.” The New York Republican served in Congress less than a year before becoming just the sixth member of the House to be ousted by colleagues. Santos admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen people, including his family members, to fund his winning campaign. His plea deal included agreeing to pay roughly $580,000 in penalties. “From the moment he declared his candidacy for Congress, Santos leveraged his campaign for his own enrichment and financial benefit,” U.S. Attorney John Durham, whose office prosecuted the case, said outside court. Santos, 36, is due to report to prison July 25. He didn’t respond to reporters’ shouted questions outside the courthouse, but he had told The Associated Press by text Thursday that he was “ready to face the music.” Santos’ victims included a woman with brain damage and two octogenarian men, prosecutor Ryan Harris told the judge. Defense lawyer Andrew Mancilla had asked the judge for a sentence of two years, portraying Santos as a troubled figure who grew up in a “broken house” and was subjected to bullying throughout his life. As a result, “he built the man he wanted to be, not who he was,” Mancilla said. “He did that because he believed that the world would not accept him for who he was.” “Deep down, he is warm, kind, caring, and thoughtful,” Mancilla said. But, the lawyer said, now “everyone hates George Santos.” Santos was elected in 2022, flipping a wealthy district representing parts of Queens and Long Island for the GOP. Soon after, it was revealed that the political unknown had fabricated much of his life story, painting himself as a successful business owner who worked at prestigious Wall Street firms and held a valuable real estate portfolio. In reality, Santos was struggling financially and even faced eviction. He falsely claimed to have been a volleyball star at a college he never even attended. He had referred to himself during the campaign as “a proud American Jew,” but later acknowledged that he was Catholic and insisted he’d only said he was “Jew-ish” after learning that his maternal family had a Jewish background. Reporters uncovered that Santos had been accused in Brazil of using stolen checks to buy clothing, and that he had once been charged in Pennsylvania with using bad checks to buy puppies from dog breeders. The revelations led to congressional and criminal inquiries into how he had funded his campaign. “He told lie after lie until it caught up with him — […]

George Santos, once a rising figure in New York politics who rapidly fell from grace, was sentenced on Friday in his wide-ranging federal corruption case—and broke down in tears as the judgment was delivered.

U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced Santos, the ex-congressman from Long Island, to seven years and three months in prison. He was also ordered to pay $373,000 in restitution. Santos had built his campaign on a foundation of fabrications and deception, and his lies eventually caught up with him in court.

Santos, 36, admitted guilt back in August to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. In doing so, he confessed to duping donors and using the identities of multiple individuals—including relatives and acquaintances—to artificially boost his donor list.

Although he held his congressional seat for less than a full term, having flipped a district covering parts of Queens and Nassau County, Santos was expelled in December 2023, becoming only the sixth member of the U.S. House of Representatives ever to be removed from office.

Since his ouster from Congress, Santos has turned to selling custom video messages through the platform Cameo, charging $100 per clip. On the day of his sentencing, he declined to take questions from reporters as he arrived in court, but earlier in the day he posted the word “Soon” with prayer-hand emojis on X.

Federal prosecutors had requested the maximum sentence under guidelines—seven years—pointing to Santos’ behavior both online and offline as evidence that he hadn’t shown genuine contrition.

In their filings, the prosecution cited recent posts from Santos, including one where he described himself as a “scapegoat,” and argued these showed he lacked remorse and was still lashing out at the justice system.

Defense attorneys countered the accusations, explaining that Santos’ online criticism was a response to what he saw as an overly severe punishment—not an indication that he didn’t regret his actions. They maintained he remained “profoundly sorry” for his conduct.

Santos won election in 2022, but it wasn’t long before the truth about his background began to unravel. He had falsely stated that he earned degrees from Baruch College and New York University and that he had been employed at financial powerhouses like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. In fact, he had no college diploma and had never held direct positions at those companies.

By May 2023, a 23-count federal indictment was brought against him, alleging a variety of financial crimes tied to his campaign activities between October 2021 and October 2022.

Prosecutors laid out how Santos misled Congress about his finances, accepted unemployment benefits despite being employed, and misused campaign donations to support an extravagant lifestyle that included designer clothes, Botox treatments, and luxury getaways.

The scandal also ensnared his former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, who was charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She is expected to be sentenced next month, with prosecutors recommending a term of between three and a half to four years.

In a recent interview with NY1, Santos said he hoped to be held in protective custody once incarcerated, expressing concern for his personal safety.

He also admitted in that same conversation that he currently does not have the financial means to repay the restitution sum included in his plea agreement.

Santos is expected to report to prison on July 25 to begin serving his sentence.

{Matzav.com}

A long-serving judge in Wisconsin has been taken into custody for allegedly assisting a Mexican national in the U.S. illegally to elude federal immigration officers inside her courtroom, the FBI chief said on Friday.

Judge Hannah Dugan, who has presided in Milwaukee County courts for close to ten years, faces an obstruction charge for allegedly preventing the arrest of Eduardo Flores Ruiz during an incident last week.

“We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in an X post.

According to Patel, the agents were ultimately able to apprehend Flores Ruiz after a foot pursuit, but he added, “Thankfully our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public.”

The social media post in which Patel announced Dugan’s arrest was later taken down without explanation.

Dugan made a brief appearance in federal court in Milwaukee Friday morning and was released on her own recognizance.

“Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety,” her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, said during the hearing.

Flores Ruiz, 30, was in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18 for a pre-trial session regarding three misdemeanor battery charges when the incident occurred.

ICE officers had arrived outside the courtroom armed with a federal warrant for his arrest but, per law enforcement sources cited by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, were asked to wait until the court session ended before attempting to detain him.

Allegedly, before the agents could proceed with the arrest, Dugan directed Flores Ruiz and his legal counsel to exit through a restricted side door and a private corridor, effectively helping him avoid ICE custody.

Dugan, an alumna of the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Class of 1986, offered no public response when news broke that she was under federal investigation for obstruction.

Case files related to the matter were not immediately accessible following Friday’s court proceedings, and the Justice Department has not yet issued a statement.

Dugan was elected in 2016 to Milwaukee County’s Branch 31 court and has held roles in both the probate and civil divisions, as noted in her official judicial profile.

Prior to holding public office, Dugan worked with Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid Society, focusing on providing legal services to underserved communities.

She is expected back in court on May 15.

As for Flores Ruiz, he is currently being held at the Dodge Detention Facility in Juneau, about an hour northwest of Milwaukee, according to public records.

{Matzav.com}

A Wisconsin judge was arrested for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade arrest by funneling him through a jury door to avoid the ICE agents waiting for him.

During operations in Gaza, a terrorist cell fired an anti-tank missile at IDF troops from a window of a building where they were hiding. Responding rapidly, an IAF aircraft eliminated the terrorist cell. The incident concluded without any casualties to IDF troops.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addresses the Trump 2028 Hat: “It’s just a hat…though I her the hats are flying off the shelves!”

India has now completely cut off water flow to Pakistan from the Salal and Pakal Dul hydroelectric projects on the Chenab River. This action according to Pakistan, is an act of war.

REPORTER: Have you spoken to President Xi since the tariffs? POTUS: “I’ve spoken to him many times.”

WATCH: A car bomb explosion in the town of Balashikha to the east of Moscow, eliminated the Deputy Head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Major General Yaroslav Moskalik.

Munition being loaded onto F-35Cs with Strike Fighter Squadron 97, onboard the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea, as strikes continue against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Western Yemen.

President Donald Trump said the United States would “willingly” join Israel in launching a military assault on Iran if nuclear negotiations collapse, though he still holds out hope for a diplomatic resolution. Speaking to Time Magazine in a wide-ranging interview reflecting on the first 100 days of his second term, Trump addressed mounting tensions with Tehran, his recent diplomatic outreach, and the growing pressure from Jerusalem to take action. “If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack,” Trump said, making it clear he’s not afraid of confrontation should Iran fail to come to terms. The interview follows reports that Israel recently proposed a series of coordinated strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. While Trump admitted he didn’t outright block the Israeli initiative, he acknowledged that he “didn’t make it comfortable” for them to proceed. “Ultimately, I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped,” he explained. Yet Trump’s patience appears finite. “I think we can make a deal without the attack. I hope we can,” he said, reiterating a preference for diplomacy even as military options remain firmly on the table. Asked whether he fears being “dragged” into a conflict by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump rejected the notion outright. “To the contrary,” he said, “I may go in very willingly.” The president also signaled openness to direct engagement with Iran’s leadership, saying he would meet with either Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei or President Masoud Pezeshkian if needed. This comes just days after U.S. and Iranian officials reportedly made “very good progress” toward a new framework to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Trump, who famously pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal during his first term, has long warned that time is running out. Since 2019, Iran has exceeded the limits set by that agreement, amassing uranium at enrichment levels far beyond what Western powers say is needed for civilian use. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

DNI Tulsi Gabbard following the referral of Intelligence leakers to the DOJ for prosecution: “I made it very clear… we will not allow this… what you’re seeing here is me carrying out the promise and the mandate the American people gave Trump.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met this morning with United States CENTCOM chief Gen. Michael Kurilla. Katz’s office says that the meeting focused on “several security and regional issues.”

Crown Heights activist Yaakov Berman blasts Hamas protestors who gathered in Crown Heights on Thursday night.

BREAKING: George Santos, a former U.S. Representative for New York’s 3rd district, was sentenced to 7 years in prison on April 25, 2025, for fraud, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, following a 13-count indictment unsealed in 2024 by the Eastern District of New York.

The National Weather Service is set to restart its language translation services for those who don’t speak English, beginning Monday. This move marks a reversal of a widely criticized decision made earlier this month to halt the service.

The suspension happened after the agency’s agreement with an artificial intelligence vendor ended. That AI system had replaced human translators in 2023, with the NWS arguing that relying on people for the task had proven too demanding.

The AI firm had been handling translations for languages including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Samoan.

Census figures show that there are 42 million Spanish speakers in the United States, in addition to 26 million residents who primarily speak a language other than English at home.

These translation services are critical because they deliver urgent warnings about deadly weather threats—like tornadoes, hurricanes, and tsunamis—to people who may not understand English, potentially saving countless lives.

{Matzav.com}