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President Donald Trump suggested he might use executive authority to eliminate mail-in voting ahead of the midterm elections next year, though such a step could face pushback from within his own party, NBC News reported Sunday.

Recent figures show that in at least 14 states and Washington, D.C., more than 30% of voters cast their ballots through the mail. Trump carried half of those states, many of which have Republican governors or secretaries of state supervising their elections.

“My view on vote-by-mail is that I think it should be permissible,” Michigan state House Majority Leader Bryan Posthumus, a Republican who endorsed Trump last year, told NBC News. “But I also believe that currently, the way it exists, specifically in Michigan, it is the highest risk for fraud.”

Posthumus has pushed for changes to the Michigan constitution that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration and mandate photo identification at the polls.

“We shouldn’t just go off and get rid of voting by mail,” Posthumus said. “We need to buckle down and secure the weakness and vulnerability in it. … I’ve always been a proponent that it should be easy to vote and hard to cheat. As long as our vote-by-mail systems are secure, then the access to the ballot box that it allows for is a good thing.”

Nearly a dozen other Republicans across the country voiced similar opinions, acknowledging Trump’s criticism of the system and agreeing that reforms are needed, but questioning whether he could — or should — impose a nationwide prohibition.

Some also expressed concern that blocking mail-in voting would disadvantage military personnel stationed overseas as well as GOP candidates who rely on absentee votes in states where the practice is widely used.

“As Trump often does, sometimes he overstates his case,” said Paul Dame, chair of the Vermont Republican Party. “I don’t think anyone supports a complete elimination. That would disenfranchise men and women overseas. I’m sure that’s not his intention.”

Even if Trump issued an executive order ending mail-in voting, major legal and political hurdles would remain. The Constitution gives states the authority to regulate the “times, places, and manner” of their congressional elections, NBC News noted.

Although the president and Congress can enact laws that override state election statutes, that would be difficult to achieve, particularly in the Senate where Democrats hold enough power to block legislation backed by Trump and his allies.

{Matzav.com}

With flights scheduled to send dozens of Guatemalan children back to their home country, a federal court order on Sunday halted the removals. The ruling came after lawyers representing the minors argued that the government was breaking the law and putting them in serious danger.

The unusual events unfolded during the holiday weekend, stretching from airport runways in Texas to a Washington courtroom. It marked yet another dramatic clash between the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies and the legal protections that Congress established for children arriving at the border.

The decision ensures that Guatemalan youths who crossed the border without parents or guardians will remain in the U.S. for at least two more weeks while the case continues.

“I do not want there to be any ambiguity,” said U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan.

Not long after the emergency hearing, buses carrying migrant children pulled up to a charter plane at Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas, which is commonly used for deportation flights. Witnesses reported seeing dozens of children in brightly colored clothing, the type usually worn at government-operated shelters.

The Justice Department confirmed in court papers that all 76 minors would be returned to shelters run by the Department of Health and Human Services before the end of the day Sunday.

“This idea that on a long weekend in the dead of night they would wake up these vulnerable children and put them on a plane irrespective of the constitutional protections that they had is something that should shock the conscience of all Americans,” said Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, after the court session.

Officials at the Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the ruling.

The rapid sequence of events brought to mind a similar episode in March, when hundreds of Venezuelans were deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador despite advocates pleading with a judge to intervene. In that instance, the government carried out the flights, arguing the judge’s order had come too late.

This time, the administration maintained that the effort was meant to reunite Guatemalan minors with family members who wanted them back. Attorneys for some of the children disputed that claim and said the government failed to follow legally required procedures.

One girl’s lawyer said her parents in Guatemala received a suspicious call weeks earlier, warning that she was being deported. The 16-year-old, currently staying at a shelter in New York, described herself as an honors student preparing to enter 11th grade, and said she is “deeply afraid of being deported.”

Other children, identified by initials in legal documents, described abandonment, abuse, and threats in Guatemala.

“I do not have any family in Guatemala that can take good care of me,” a 10-year-old child said in court papers. Another teen recounted experiencing “threats against my life” and added, “If I am sent back, I believe I will be in danger.”

While the main hearing took place in Washington, similar legal challenges were filed in other states.

In Arizona, a lawsuit from the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project noted that one of its clients, a 12-year-old asylum seeker with kidney disease, requires dialysis and will eventually need a transplant. Two other children named in that case, a boy of 10 and his 3-year-old sister, reportedly have no family to return to in Guatemala.

Meanwhile, relatives in Guatemala prepared for the expected arrivals. At an air base in Guatemala City, families gathered anxiously. Gilberto López said he drove through the night after a midnight call from his nephew, who told him he was being deported. The teen had left Guatemala at 15 and worked in the U.S. for two years before being detained.

In the U.S., migrant children who arrive alone are typically placed under the care of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement. They often live in group shelters or foster arrangements until a sponsor, usually a family member, can be found. Many Guatemalan youths apply for asylum or pursue other legal remedies to remain in the country.

Attorneys from the National Center for Youth Law reported that in recent weeks, Homeland Security Investigations agents had been questioning Guatemalan children at shelters, asking about relatives back home.

By Friday, advocates said they began hearing that children’s immigration hearings were being canceled.

According to Shaina Aber of the Acacia Center for Justice, advocates learned late Saturday that officials had compiled lists of minors scheduled for deportation, with flights planned out of Harlingen and El Paso.

Lawyer Efrén C. Olivares said two planes were waiting in Harlingen and one in El Paso, citing accounts from people on the ground. A government attorney later told the court that one plane may have taken off but then returned.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller posted on X that Guatemala had asked for the children’s return and accused the judge of “refusing to let them reunify with their parents.”

Judge Sooknanan explained that she had been awakened at 2:30 a.m. by lawyers for the children, who warned in urgent filings that flights were only hours away. She said she spent much of the morning trying to contact government attorneys.

“I have the government attempting to remove unaccompanied minors from the country in the wee hours of the morning on a holiday weekend, which is surprising,” the judge remarked during Sunday’s hearing. She added: “Absent action by the courts, all of those children would have been returned to Guatemala, potentially to very dangerous situations.”

According to a letter from Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the administration is seeking to deport nearly 700 Guatemalan minors who crossed the border without parents.

Later Sunday, Guatemala’s government issued a statement noting that it had raised the issue with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her July visit. Officials said their concern was that many of the youths would soon age out of juvenile facilities and be transferred to adult detention centers. The statement said Guatemala was ready to receive the minors once U.S. due process was completed and procedures were followed.

{Matzav.com}

On the eve of the new school year, Chabad emissaries from across the globe have united in an unprecedented call to the Israeli government: intervene immediately to protect the Shalheves Chabad network of schools and institutions.

A dramatic letter was signed by leading and influential shluchim including Rabbi Shabtai Slavaticki, as well as emissaries stationed in countries with significant Israeli communities such as Cyprus, Hungary, Thailand, Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, and France. The signatories warned: “The harassment of Chabad institutions and the attempt to halt their growth endangers the life’s work of the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l. This must not be allowed to happen.”

At the center of the struggle is Rabbi Shmuel Oirechman, director of government relations for Agudas Chassidei Chabad, who was asked by the leadership of Chabad’s educational network to spearhead the battle with government ministries. The emissaries declared in the letter: “We stand behind Rabbi Oirechman in the fight to save Chabad education in Israel.”

Chief Rabbi of Russia Rabbi Berel Lazar also joined the appeal with a personal letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, stressing that the Sheheves Chabad network serves as a vital anchor for thousands of immigrants from Russia. “Harming it,” he wrote, “is harming the entire mission of Chabad shlichus.”

Chabad insiders said, “This is a historic moment. For the first time, Chabad has united across all its diverse groups for a shared cause. This is a struggle for the very survival of these institutions and for the future of Chabad education in Israel.”

From Chabad’s Government Relations Office came a firm response: “We will not comment on leaks, but the threat is clear: Chabad institutions face the danger of closure, with an unprecedented crisis in opening the new year. We will fight to the end to stop this trend and secure an orderly resolution.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a fiery shmuess delivered Motzoei Shabbos during his weekly Chumash shiur, Rav Velvel Soloveitchik, rosh yeshivas Brisk and son of Rav Dovid Soloveitchik, sharply denounced the chareidi institutions that have recently joined the Mamlachti Chareidi (state-run chareidi) school system.

At the outset, Rav Soloveitchik remarked that he was uncertain whether his words would have any effect, “but there is a fire burning here, and it is necessary to cry out and protest.”

The rosh yeshiva focused on the history of so-called “exempt schools” (mosdos p’tur), which decades ago began accepting state funding. “They told everyone that the moment the government would intervene, and so much as dare say anything about the curriculum, they would immediately stop taking money. Everyone knows the results. Not only do they intervene incidentally, but they are the ones who now decide the curriculum—what should be studied and what should not be studied.”

He continued, “And of course, even those who permitted it back then permitted it only under the framework of mosdos p’tur. But it never entered anyone’s mind that, from the outset, people would agree to move over to Mamlachti Chareidi or any similar program for the sake of money. Meaning, with mosdos p’tur, the interference was the ‘classic’ kind that comes with taking money, where the administrators are trapped and unable to free themselves. But those institutions that are now switching over to Mamlachti Chareidi know exactly what they are doing, and still they agree to place themselves under programs of change in the school curriculum. They do this purely for the sake of money—large budgets and payouts.

“This is not a case of being forced to make changes after already taking money,” Rav Soloveitchik declared. “Rather, they are walking like sheep to the slaughter into the prohibited core studies.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

With just three weeks remaining before the annual gathering at the kever of Rav Nachman in Uman on Rosh Hashanah, the IDF is reportedly intensifying its crackdown on draft evaders.

Enforcement will not be limited to Ben Gurion Airport but will also extend to various crossings and checkpoints throughout Israel.

According to a report by Nir Dvori on Channel 12 News, military police have been stationed in areas with heavy concentrations of travelers, including Elad, Beitar Illit, and around Yerushalayim.

These forces will conduct spot inspections aimed at identifying deserters and draft evaders as part of the IDF’s broadened enforcement campaign — on land, in the air, at sea, and at border points.

Since July alone, 52 draft evaders have been arrested at Ben Gurion Airport. While the numbers remain relatively small, the IDF has made clear that the policy is to ramp up its presence and enforcement measures in the coming weeks.

{Matzav.com Israel}

People close to Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein released a strong statement on Sunday condemning the spread of videos that misrepresent his words about army service.

The statement accused “coordinated and deliberate persecution” by “self-interested parties” who come to his public shiurim with the intention of taking lines out of context and presenting them to the public “in a misleading manner.”

The family of Rav Zilberstein made it clear that “the recently published videos are edited, cut, and manipulated in a biased way, including partial quotes and statements taken out of context.”

According to the statement, the circulation of these clips has caused “great distress to the rabbi,” and his close aides consider “any attempt to harm the honor of the Torah through media manipulation as extremely serious.”

Rav Zilberstein explained that he “does not wish to rule on public matters, particularly on matters pertaining to enlistment in the military,” and that in general he directs such shailos to the manhig hador, Rav Dov Landau.

Concerning remarks that were quoted in his name about chillul Shabbos to avoid drafting a yeshiva bochur, his aides clarified that “these remarks were cited from his teacher, Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, solely to illustrate the gravity of the issue, and not as practical halachic rulings.”

The statement also responded to what was attributed to Rav Zilberstein regarding the Netzach Yehuda unit, explaining that “one of the attendees attempted to mislead the rabbi on this matter,” and emphasizing that Rav Zilberstein wished to make clear that Rav Shteinman “never forgave or excused those who claimed he had founded or supported this unit until the end of his life.”

The aides of Rav Zilberstein urged “all parties and media outlets to act responsibly, accurately report statements, and refrain from misleading the public.”

They further voiced their disappointment at “repeated attempts to harm the rov’s honor and distort Torah teachings on serious matters.”

{Matzav.com}

For the first time in over a decade, the sound of tefillos once again echoed in the central shul of Damascus, Syria. The poignant moment marked a rare revival of Jewish presence in a city that once held a thriving kehilla, now reduced to just a handful of elderly Yidden. Moshe Klein, a noted researcher of Jewish heritage who has been active in diplomatic efforts to preserve batei knesses and cemeteries around the world, together with New York businessman Dov Bleich, undertook a three-day visit to Damascus. Despite ongoing reports of Israeli airstrikes in the region, the two visited the city’s historic Jewish quarter, davened together with one of the last remaining Jews in Damascus, R’ Bachur Siman-Tov, and toured the ancient Jewish cemetery. There, they recited tefillos at the kever of the mekubal Rav Chaim Vital zt”l, the foremost talmid of the Arizal, whose resting place was recently desecrated by vandals searching for imagined treasures. Locals, Klein reported, reacted with surprise and curiosity upon seeing Jews wearing yarmulkas openly on the streets. “They greeted us with ‘Shalom,’” he recounted, adding that many expressed longing for peace and wondered aloud why Israel was bombing them. While many of Damascus’s Jewish heritage sites remain shuttered or under government control, heritage advocates remain hopeful that, in time, these makomos kedoshim will once again be open to Yidden seeking to connect with their storied past. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Gerrer Rebbe was admitted this evening to Hadassah Har HaTzofim Hospital in Yerushalayim after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

The public is urged to daven for the complete recovery of the Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Aryeh ben Yutta Henna.

Earlier today, the Rebbe left his home to undergo medical examinations at Hadassah Har HaTzofim. Following the evaluations, doctors determined that hospitalization was necessary due to the pneumonia.

Over the past week, the Rebbe’s strength had weakened, and on Friday he experienced difficulty breathing. This comes several weeks after he suffered a fall in Moshav Ora.

Although there had been signs of improvement in his condition over Shabbos, a CT scan conducted today revealed severe pneumonia, prompting doctors to admit him for treatment.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Republicans in Congress notched a major win this summer when they succeeded in passing President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” of tax cuts and spending reductions without the support of a single Democrat. But as lawmakers reconvene in Washington following their August recess, the challenge ahead will be navigating around—or working with—Democrats as the threat of a government shutdown looms.

The battle over federal funding is set to dominate September’s legislative agenda. At the same time, Senate Republicans are weighing a rules change to overcome Democratic obstruction on nominations, and senators are also debating a proposal that would place hefty tariffs on certain countries that continue to trade with Russia while the U.S. pressures Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.

In the House, GOP lawmakers plan to continue their investigations into former President Joe Biden. Speaker Mike Johnson must also deal with internal divisions among Republicans about whether the Trump administration should release additional records tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Congress’s most urgent responsibility is to prevent a government shutdown when funding runs out on September 30. At this point, it’s still unclear if Democrats and Republicans will be able to reach common ground to avoid it.

To keep the government running past the deadline, legislators will likely need to approve a temporary spending bill. However, Republicans can’t pass such a measure without Democratic votes, and Democrats are sure to demand concessions. Earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to vote with Republicans to avert a shutdown led to sharp backlash within his own caucus.

Another complicating factor is Trump’s push to roll back money previously approved by Congress. The GOP passed a bill this summer clawing back nearly $9 billion in foreign aid and funding for public broadcasting, and just this past Friday Trump again told Congress he would block $4.9 billion in foreign aid.

Democrats argue that these actions could undermine the broader spending talks. “Trump is rooting for a shutdown,” Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut wrote Friday on social media.

The Senate will return to the same fight that consumed it before the recess: Trump’s nominees.

Frustrated Republicans left town in August after making little headway on confirmations due to Democratic opposition, which left many administration posts vacant and aggravated Trump. The impasse even led to an unusual Saturday session that ended in failure, prompting Trump to lash out online, writing that Chuck Schumer could “GO TO HELL!”

Now, Republicans are considering changing Senate rules to break the logjam, and discussions on how to do so will occupy much of their time in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close ally of Trump, has been urging the president to endorse his bipartisan sanctions bill. The measure would impose steep tariffs on countries fueling Russia’s war by purchasing its oil, gas, uranium, and other exports. While 85 senators back the bill, Republican leadership has said they won’t move forward without Trump’s support.

Graham has increased his calls since Trump’s meetings last month with Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy, after which Russia continued to escalate attacks. “If we don’t have this thing moving in the right direction by the time we get back, then I think that plan B needs to kick in,” Graham told the Associated Press.

This Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy will testify before the Senate Finance Committee about his health care priorities. His appearance comes less than a week after he removed Susan Monarez as head of the CDC, a shake-up that also triggered several high-level resignations in protest.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who chairs the Senate HELP Committee and also sits on Finance, has called on the CDC to postpone a planned meeting of outside experts on vaccine policy until Congress can conduct oversight.

The Epstein case is also expected to resurface in the House, which left town in July amid disputes over whether to force Trump’s administration to release more information about the investigation into the disgraced financier. Pressure for transparency is likely to grow stronger when lawmakers return.

Bipartisan calls are mounting, with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie promoting legislation that would compel the Department of Justice to publicly disclose its findings. They are organizing a press event this week alongside Epstein’s victims, while the House Oversight Committee continues its own probe.

Democrats, in particular, are eager to keep the issue alive, criticizing the Trump administration for failing to follow through on promises of openness. For years, the Epstein saga has fueled speculation and conspiracy theories over who may have been complicit in his crimes.

Alongside that, the Oversight Committee is pressing ahead with its investigation into Biden’s mental acuity during his presidency. Nearly a dozen of Biden’s close aides and advisers have already been questioned, with more scheduled for September, including Jeff Zients, Biden’s final chief of staff, Karine Jean-Pierre, his press secretary, and Andrew Bates, a senior communications aide.

Chairman James Comer has said the public should expect hearings and a full report later this fall.

Another issue gaining traction is legislation to prevent lawmakers from trading individual stocks, an idea long floated to avoid conflicts of interest given the sensitive information Congress often handles.

Momentum has grown recently, with a Senate panel approving a bill from Sen. Josh Hawley that would expand the trading ban to cover future presidents and vice presidents — though Trump would be excluded. In the House, lawmakers are also advancing versions of the measure, with some threatening to bypass leadership to force a vote.

Nevertheless, resistance remains strong from members of both parties, especially wealthier legislators who profit from their investments and have little interest in curbing them.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump declared on Sunday that he is in excellent health, saying he has “never felt better,” while also pointing to Washington, DC’s new crime-free status as a victory under his leadership.

After a quiet stretch over the weekend, when he spent time golfing at his Virginia resort, Trump returned to Truth Social with a burst of energy.

“NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE. Also, DC IS A CRIME FREE ZONE!” he wrote, highlighting the results since he assumed oversight of the DC Metropolitan Police Department.

His message came after several days of mounting speculation online about his condition, as critics and supporters alike noted the president’s absence from public appearances and spun theories about his health.

Following his post about feeling well, Trump shifted the spotlight to the economy, tying the upcoming Labor Day holiday to celebrations of what he described as America’s continued financial strength.

{Matzav.com}

A shocking new Harvard/Harris poll has revealed that 60 percent of voters aged 18 to 24 say they support Hamas over Israel. The finding stands in sharp contrast to every other age group, where support leaned decisively toward Israel. Overall, just 26 percent of respondents nationwide said they favored Hamas, underscoring how isolated Gen Z is in its stance compared with older Americans. The poll also probed perceptions of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Nearly seven in 10 voters — 69 percent — said they believe famine is taking place in the enclave. But most Americans still pointed the finger at Hamas for the suffering, with 61 percent holding the group responsible. A slim majority of younger voters, however, assigned blame to Israel. The generational split reflects a broader shift in U.S. politics, as younger progressives increasingly question Washington’s traditional alignment with Israel while older demographics remain firmly supportive. The results add urgency to a debate already roiling American politics — one that could have implications for both domestic party strategies and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Sunday issued a direct warning to senior Hamas figures living overseas, saying they aren’t safe from Israel’s wrath. In an operational briefing at Northern Command, Zamir said the majority of Hamas leadership has already been eliminated and stressed that those who remain abroad are not beyond Israel’s reach. “Most of the remaining leadership resides overseas — and we will reach them too,” he said. The warning came shortly after Israel confirmed the killing of Abu Obaida, the longtime spokesman for Hamas’ military wing. Zamir said the strike was part of a broader campaign that has included Israeli operations in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and “other theaters.” “The IDF operates offensively, proactively, and with operational superiority across all arenas and at all times,” Zamir said. “We surprise, initiate, and reach every target to ensure the security of Israeli citizens.” He also underscored Israel’s continuing efforts to recover hostages and fallen soldiers. Zamir noted that in a recent operation the remains of hostages Idan Shtivi and Ilan Weiss were recovered, bringing to ten the number of fallen hostages returned since Operation Gideon’s Chariots began in March. “This is our moral mission,” Zamir said. “And we will continue relentlessly.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A delegation visited the home of Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshivas Chevron, on Sunday to present him with the newly printed Zohar Bnei Heichala, authored by the Ashlag Rebbe in accordance with the system of the Baal HaSulam.

The sefer, scheduled for release next week, has already stirred much excitement in the Torah world.

Upon receiving the volume, Rav Cohen immediately began to leaf through its pages, examining it intently for a long period. His interest was evident as he sought to understand the unique qualities of the new edition.

Rav Eliezer Yisroel Ashlag, chairman of Machon Bnei Heichala, explained at length the special features of this Zohar, highlighting that it is designed to be accessible to all and could potentially bring about a major transformation in the study of the Zohar.

The rosh yeshiva expressed great admiration for the monumental achievement, calling it a profound blessing for our generation. He emphasized that this edition will surely draw many more people into the world of the Zohar and the sacred teachings of the Baal HaSulam.

הגר”ד כהן עם הזוהר בני היכלאצילום: אלחנן קוטלר הגר”ד כהן עם הזוהר בני היכלאצילום: אלחנן קוטלר הגר”ד כהן עם הזוהר בני היכלאצילום: אלחנן קוטלר הגר”ד כהן עם הזוהר בני היכלאצילום: אלחנן קוטלר הגר”ד כהן עם הזוהר בני היכלאצילום: אלחנן קוטלר הגר”ד כהן עם הזוהר בני היכלאצילום: אלחנן קוטלר הגר”ד כהן עם הזוהר בני היכלאצילום: אלחנן קוטלר הגר”ד כהן עם הזוהר בני היכלאצילום: אלחנן קוטלר

הגר”ד כהן עם הזוהר בני היכלאצילום: אלחנן קוטלר

{Matzav.com Israel}

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said on Sunday that testimony from staffers and other witnesses has raised new questions about whether Joe Biden was truly exercising full authority during the final stretch of his presidency.

“When you have Ian Sams, who was the face of the White House response to the very damaging report that said Joe Biden was a forgetful old man, he was the one that would always respond and say he had talked to Joe Biden, Joe Biden was vibrant, Joe Biden did not do this,” Comer told Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures.

Comer noted that when Sams, who served as a White House spokesman under Biden, gave testimony under oath, “He admits, well, I only saw Joe Biden two times over a two-year period. That’s unprecedented.”

Sams confirmed to the Oversight Committee that in over two years with the administration, he met Biden in person only twice, aside from one virtual meeting and a single phone call.

Comer contrasted that with the amount of time special counsel Robert Hur spent with Biden, pointing out that Hur questioned him for nearly six hours over two days in 2023 regarding the classified documents investigation — a greater level of contact than Biden’s own spokesman had.

Hur ultimately decided not to recommend charges against Biden, reasoning that a jury would likely view him as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” making it difficult to prove criminal intent.

On Sunday, Comer also said investigators are now examining who operated the presidential autopen, which was used to sign executive orders and pardons.

He added that some individuals questioned by the committee have invoked their Fifth Amendment rights, complicating efforts to determine who was actually making key decisions.

“It’s becoming very apparent that Joe Biden really wasn’t the one in command at the end of his presidency,” Comer said.

The Kentucky Republican also claimed that entrenched government officials politicized federal agencies, referencing testimony from FBI whistleblowers who alleged they faced retaliation under Biden.

“These activists tried to weaponize the federal government in various forms, whether to enact policy or ruin the lives of people or influence elections,” Comer said.

He argued that the responsibility for accountability now falls on the Justice Department, headed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, while also pointing to recent remarks from President Donald Trump, who has declared that “the day of accountability is near.”

Meanwhile, the Oversight Committee is preparing to meet with individuals who were victimized by Jeffrey Epstein, after the Justice Department agreed to provide related documentation. Comer emphasized that lawmakers from both parties will be part of those discussions.

“We want to listen to those victims and their families and their attorneys to see how best we can present this information,” he explained, while noting the importance of maintaining redactions to protect sensitive details.

He added that while releasing the Epstein files remains a major public goal, privacy safeguards are essential since “there are victims that are involved here, and we want to protect their futures and their reputations and their families.”

{Matzav.com}

Powerball players will have another opportunity on Monday night to chase a massive jackpot that has climbed past the $1 billion mark, after yesterday’s drawing once again produced no grand prize winner.

The top prize has been growing steadily since May 31, with no one managing to match all six numbers. It now stands at $1.1 billion, making it the fifth-largest payout in Powerball’s history. The eventual winner could choose between annual installments paid out over 30 years or opt for a one-time cash option estimated at $498.4 million before taxes.

The chance of hitting all six winning numbers is incredibly slim — just 1 in 292.2 million. Statistically, being struck by lightning is more likely. Still, with millions of tickets sold, it’s only a matter of time before someone’s life changes overnight.

Last night’s winning numbers were 3, 18, 22, 27, and 33, with the Powerball number 17.

Each ticket costs $2, and Powerball is available in 45 states, as well as in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings take place three times a week — every Monday, Wednesday, and Motzoei Shabbos.

{Matzav.com}

After hundreds of girls in Rechasim were left without the start of their school year, Rav Yosef Brandeis has reversed his earlier position and given his approval for the schools to open tomorrow. The resolution came after Independent Education Network Director Rabbi Eliezer Sorotzkin personally met with the rav to address concerns and provide solutions.

The controversy, which surrounded the opening of the new Bais Yaakov in Rechasim, was first reported earlier today. By this evening, the tension had been resolved when Rav Brandeis, rov and moreh hora’ah of Kehillas Chayei Torah in Rechasim, issued a letter granting his blessing for the school to proceed, ensuring that classes will begin tomorrow as usual.

In his letter, Rav Brandeis wrote: “To the precious avreichim of our kehillah in Giv’ah Gimel, this past Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Shoftim I was zocheh to meet with Maran Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a, where I presented before him the difficulties facing the avreichim of Giv’ah Gimel regarding the new school. I heard from him that he instructed the director of Chinuch Atzmai to meet with me urgently.”

Rav Brandeis continued: “Today, the director came to my home and stated that, under the present circumstances, there is no alternative but to open the school as planned due to various considerations that cannot be detailed in writing. At the same time, he assured me that he will personally see to it that every issue that may arise in the school will be dealt with. Therefore, I can only extend my blessing to all the talmidos of the schools, that they should succeed in their learning and merit a life filled with love of Torah and yiras Shomayim.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rabbi Leo Dee, who suffered the devastating loss of his wife and two daughters in a brutal terror attack, ascended Har Habayis on Sunday morning just hours before his chasunah.

While there, Rabbi Dee put on tefillin. Police officers intervened and placed him under detention for doing so.

Following his detainment, he was brought before a hearing, where authorities decided to prohibit him from entering Har Habayis for one week. The decision also included a stipulation allowing the ban to be extended for as long as six months.

Rabbi Dee’s tragedy became widely known in April 2023, when terrorists attacked his family as they traveled in the Jordan Valley. His wife, Lucy, was critically wounded and fought for her life for several days before being niftar. Two of their daughters, Maia and Rina, were killed immediately in the attack.

In recent weeks, Rabbi Dee shared the news of his engagement to Aliza Teplitsky. The couple is scheduled to celebrate their wedding later on the same day as his detainment.

{Matzav.com}

Kan News has disclosed that security arrangements have been dramatically intensified for Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, and other top-ranking Israeli officials.

The report noted that the Shin Bet has rolled out “special and extraordinary measures” designed to shield Israel’s senior political and defense figures. These precautions come in light of threats from Yemen, where retaliation was vowed following the killing of leading members of the Houthi regime.

Last week, in an Israeli Air Force strike on central Sana’a, fighter jets targeted a specific site in the Yemeni capital.

According to intelligence gathered by the Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN), senior Houthi leadership had assembled at the location to view a speech by their leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

The airstrike hit a facility where more than ten high-ranking Houthi officials — spanning military and political roles — were meeting. Those in attendance included Houthi Chief of Staff Muhammad Abd Al-Karim al-Ghamari, who had previously escaped an assassination attempt two months earlier, along with the group’s Defense Minister and Interior Minister.

{Matzav.com Israel}

At a formal handover ceremony for the leadership of the Judea and Samaria Division, IDF Brig. Gen. Yaki Dolf transferred command to Brig. Gen. Kobi Heller on Sunday.

Central Command chief Avi Bluth opened his remarks with words from the Torah portion of the week. “On the coming Shabbat we will read the portion that begins ‘When you go out to war against your enemy’ and ends ‘Remember what Amalek did to you.’ On October 7, these two verses came together — when we, as an army, failed to defend our citizens, and the enemy, Hamas — like Amalek — launched a wicked attack.”

Bluth explained that one of the central takeaways from October 7 is that the military must evaluate the enemy based on its capabilities and strike firmly. “Problems must be killed while they are small and not left to grow. We should not place our hopes solely on early warning and deterrence. The same applies to disturbances of the peace — we have determined not to tolerate disturbances but eliminate them immediately.”

He went on to say that the changes in Judea and Samaria over the past two years — especially since the start of Operation Wall of Iron — will be analyzed for years to come. “All this was accomplished amid a war in which Israel is engaged on seven fronts. Yaki, you are handing over a sector that is much more stable and secure than the one you received.”

Bluth emphasized the difficulty of the task in the central sector. “It is no secret that the central arena is the most complex of all arenas and requires a professional and value-based approach as well as a moral backbone to implement this approach. Day by day you, the commanders and soldiers, prove that it is possible to win and remain humane. Our mission as a command is to ensure that the central and eastern arenas remain stable and secure even as the challenges are great.”

He noted that the IDF operates with full awareness of the population in the region. “We are not confused; we know we operate in an area that has a civilian population and we see everyone. We set clear priorities — protecting Israelis, fighting terrorism and, yes, enforcing law and order. The decisive action against anarchist fringe youth has led to a decrease in nationalist crime over the last three months. We are committed to ensuring that this trend continues.”

The general stressed that military activity is always guided by both determination and moral principles. He said operations are carried out “with an offensive and cunning approach that sanctifies initiative, and all while adhering to the state’s laws and rules of morality. The Torah says ‘Justice, justice shall you pursue’ — and we pursue it! We also pursue our enemies, and doing so while justice, morality and the law are our guiding light.”

Looking forward, he warned that the coming weeks would present new tests. “The holidays and the olive harvest are at hand, the battle for control of Gaza is ongoing, and there are various initiatives and statements that could shake the arena. Our enemies, though they were struck hard, try continuously to direct terrorism in the West Bank sector and from the eastern arena. Nevertheless, we are determined to continue the positive trends alongside our operational readiness for shifts and escalation.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A sweeping and controversial postwar plan for Gaza is circulating inside the Trump administration, envisioning the relocation of the enclave’s entire population and the transformation of the war-torn territory into a U.S.-administered economic and tourism hub, The Washington Post reported Sunday. The 38-page proposal, dubbed the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation Trust — or GREAT Trust — reflects President Donald Trump’s repeated pledge to “take over” Gaza. It lays out a decade-long U.S. administration that would redevelop the territory into high-tech “smart cities,” industrial zones, and luxury beachfront resorts. At the heart of the plan: relocating Gaza’s more than 2 million residents. According to the documents, departures could take the form of voluntary resettlement abroad or movement into heavily secured zones within the enclave during reconstruction. Every Palestinian who leaves Gaza would receive a $5,000 cash grant, four years of rent subsidies, and a year’s worth of food. The trust calculates that relocating each resident would save roughly $23,000 compared with providing temporary housing and basic services on-site. Landowners would be compensated with “digital tokens” redeemable for housing in six to eight planned AI-powered smart cities inside Gaza — or to finance new lives abroad. The plan stresses it would require no U.S. taxpayer funding. Instead, it pitches itself as a magnet for private capital, projecting a nearly fourfold return on a $100 billion investment over ten years. Potential mega-projects include electric vehicle plants, data centers, high-rise apartments, and beach resorts. Some of the same Israeli operatives behind the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — which currently distributes food in Gaza under U.S. and Israeli supervision — helped design the GREAT Trust. Financial modeling was carried out by former Boston Consulting Group analysts, though the firm later distanced itself, saying the work was never formally approved. Two senior partners were dismissed. Trump convened a closed-door White House meeting last Wednesday to review postwar options. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — who spearheaded the administration’s first-term Middle East initiatives and retains private business interests in the region — all attended. No decisions emerged from the session. Witkoff described the administration’s planning as “very comprehensive,” while the White House declined to comment. The plan contrasts sharply with alternative proposals from the United Nations, Arab states, and the Palestinian Authority, which have floated models for technocratic or international administration. Israel, for its part, has ruled out restoring control of Gaza to the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority and insists on retaining security control. Legal experts warn the GREAT Trust could collide with international law. Any plan that blocks Palestinians from returning to their homes or fails to ensure adequate shelter, food, and medical care could be deemed unlawful, regardless of the financial incentives attached. The proposal envisions starting with clearing debris and unexploded ordnance, then rebuilding power and water systems before launching new industrial and tourism zones along Gaza’s borders. The planned smart cities would combine residential, commercial, and industrial development with schools, clinics, parks, and green spaces. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)