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Questions surrounding Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health are intensifying as the longtime Kentucky Republican approaches six weeks away from the Senate following a June fall that resulted in his hospitalization, with lawmakers and political observers increasingly calling for greater transparency about his condition.

The 84-year-old senator has not cast a vote since the middle of June, and the limited information released by his office has fueled widespread speculation online while prompting both supporters and critics to urge him to provide a clearer update on his recovery.

McConnell revealed on July 12 that he fell at his home on June 14 and briefly lost consciousness. While hospitalized, he also developed a mild case of pneumonia. He said doctors determined that he had not suffered a heart attack, stroke, concussion, hemorrhage, or broken bones before transferring him to a rehabilitation facility.

At the time, McConnell acknowledged that he was not yet prepared to return to the Senate but did not offer any indication of when he expected to resume voting.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he has received no direct communication from McConnell since his hospitalization, despite sending the senator a letter requesting an update. Beshear urged McConnell to reassure the public by either making a brief appearance or releasing a short video about his condition.

“When you’ve been in a hospital for a month and you’ve missed all the votes … you owe your boss, like anybody else out there who works, an explanation of what’s been going on and when you’ll get back,” Beshear said.

Scott Jennings, a longtime McConnell adviser and former campaign aide, also argued that the senator should communicate more openly with the public during his recovery.

“Truthfully, I think a little transparency on the front end here would have saved him a whole lot of grief,” Jennings told CNN’s “The Arena with Kasie Hunt.” “But that didn’t happen and they are where they are now.”

Jennings added that he expects McConnell to provide another public update in the near future.

McConnell spokesman David Popp insisted that the senator remains actively involved in his responsibilities despite his prolonged absence from Washington.

“The Senator continues to meet with staff regarding Senate and Kentucky business, including discussions on defense appropriations, foreign policy, the farm bill, constituent services and constituent federal grant requests,” Popp said. “As the Senator continues to improve in rehab, we will be sure to keep you updated.”

When asked whether McConnell planned to return to the Senate soon or attend Tuesday’s funeral for his longtime colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Popp referred reporters back to McConnell’s July 12 statement.

In that statement, McConnell reflected on the reluctance many older Americans have to discuss personal health matters publicly.

“Folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older,” he said.

“Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct — I can’t help it.”

Although McConnell stepped down last year after serving 18 years as Senate Republican leader, he chose to remain in office through the expiration of his current term in January.

His absence has narrowed Republicans’ effective Senate majority, increasing the importance of every vote as Congress enters its final stretch before lawmakers leave Washington to campaign ahead of the midterm elections.

Several Republican senators have joined Democrats in urging McConnell to provide additional details about his medical condition.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said he wishes McConnell a full recovery but believes voters deserve a more complete explanation.

“At a certain point you do have an obligation to your constituents and the country to tell them what’s going on,” Hawley told Fox News, adding that he felt “totally in the dark” about McConnell’s condition.

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin also questioned a photograph McConnell released earlier this month before later withdrawing his comments, explaining that he had repeated an unverified rumor.

“It’s not fun watching anybody age,” Johnson told reporters. “We’re all hoping Mitch recovers fully and comes back. I haven’t talked to him, so I have no knowledge.”

McConnell is far from the first senator to miss an extended period because of health issues. Sen. John Fetterman was absent for two months in 2023 while receiving treatment for depression. Sen. Dianne Feinstein missed nearly three months that same year while recovering from shingles. Sen. John McCain did not return to cast another Senate vote during the final eight months of his life in 2018, while former Sen. Mark Kirk spent nearly a year away from the Senate after suffering a stroke in 2012.

Lester Munson, who served as Kirk’s chief of staff, noted that senators often continue overseeing legislative work and constituent services even when illness prevents them from being physically present in Washington.

“I think people kind of just assume — not really correctly — that if the senator’s in the hospital or something like that, that they can’t do their job,” Munson said. “That’s not entirely true. There’s obviously some things they can’t do … but a lot of other things continue to be carried on.”

Munson added that McConnell’s national profile has subjected him to far greater public scrutiny than Kirk experienced during his recovery.

“As far as I’m concerned, this guy has given so much to the Senate over time and therefore so much to America, God bless him,” Munson said. “He’s got all the latitude in the world to deal with this problem.”

{Matzav.com}

Most Americans believe they are facing the highest cost of living they have ever experienced, with soaring prices—particularly at the gas pump—continuing to shape public opinion about the nation’s economy, according to a newly released Politico poll.

The nationwide survey of 2,061 registered voters found that 57% said today’s cost of living is the worst they have ever seen. Another 26% said conditions are difficult but that they have lived through worse economic periods. Only 8% described the current cost of living as “not bad.”

The poll also found that rising gasoline prices are having a significant impact on how many Americans intend to vote in November.

Among voters who said gas prices are influencing their election decisions, 46% said the higher prices have strengthened their support for the party they already intended to back. Another 31% said the issue is making them more inclined to vote for the opposing party, while roughly 15% remain undecided.

When asked who deserves the greatest responsibility for the state of the U.S. economy, respondents offered mixed views, although President Donald Trump received the largest share of the blame.

Nearly one-third of those surveyed—32%—said Trump bears full responsibility. Seventeen percent placed full responsibility on Joe Biden, while another 14% said both presidents share equal blame.

An additional 11% said Trump is primarily responsible but that Biden also deserves some blame. Another 10% said Biden bears most of the responsibility, with Trump sharing part of it.

Asked what they believe has driven gasoline prices higher since Trump returned to office, the most common answer was the war with Iran, cited by 63% of respondents.

Other frequently mentioned factors included Trump’s tariffs on imported goods, selected by 40% of respondents, and Trump’s handling of the economy, cited by 38%.

Meanwhile, 23% blamed ongoing supply chain disruptions, 21% pointed to insufficient domestic oil production, 19% cited sanctions imposed on Russia and other oil-producing countries, and 15% blamed production cuts by OPEC and other major oil exporters.

The survey also highlighted a sharp partisan divide over the causes of higher fuel prices.

Voters who supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election were considerably more likely to attribute rising gas prices to tariffs and the Trump administration’s economic policies. By contrast, Trump supporters were more likely to identify international developments, particularly the conflict with Iran, as the primary driver of higher prices.

The poll was conducted between July 12 and July 15 among 2,061 registered voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.16 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani following the antisemitic stabbing attack on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, declaring that it is Mamdani—not Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu—who should face arrest for what he described as incitement that fuels violence against Jews.

Speaking with Newsmax, Huckabee accused the mayor of encouraging dangerous rhetoric through his repeated calls to arrest Netanyahu, arguing that such statements are “exactly inciting people” in the aftermath of the double stabbing that police are investigating as a hate crime.

Earlier in the week, Mamdani reiterated his promise to honor the International Criminal Court’s November 2024 arrest warrant against Netanyahu over the Gaza war. At the same time, he acknowledged that New York City has no “independent legal authority” to carry out such an arrest and urged the federal government to take action instead.

President Donald Trump has made clear that Netanyahu will not be arrested while visiting the United States.

Just two days after Mamdani admitted he lacked the authority to arrest the Israeli prime minister, authorities say 51-year-old Raul Morales stabbed two men on Manhattan’s Upper West Side—one Jewish and one Asian—while allegedly shouting “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks.

On Friday, Morales was formally charged with hate crimes and attempted murder.

Appearing on Saturday Report, Huckabee argued that there was a direct connection between the mayor’s inflammatory rhetoric and the violence that followed.

“It’s incredibly reckless for the mayor of New York, first of all, to pretend that he can do anything about arresting an elected prime minister from a foreign country who, first of all, has diplomatic immunity when he comes,” Huckabee said.

He also defended Netanyahu, saying the Israeli leader has “not committed the war crime” and stressing that Mamdani has no legal authority to detain a foreign head of government.

“This guy didn’t have the power to go after someone who didn’t pay his subway fare to say he’s going to go after international elected officials.”

Huckabee reserved his harshest criticism for what he characterized as the mayor’s inflammatory language.

“If anybody gets arrested it ought to be the mayor for incitement. That’s a serious issue, and he is frankly just whipping up the attitude, and it’s a disgusting thing to watch.”

Critics also faulted Mamdani for delaying his public response to Thursday’s attack. Hours after the stabbing, the mayor first posted about a housing tax proposal while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and other officials had already condemned the assault.

When Mamdani eventually issued a statement, he described the attacks as “hateful and despicable” but did not refer to them as antisemitic, an omission that drew sharp criticism.

By Friday morning, UJA-Federation of New York CEO Eric Goldstein echoed concerns similar to those raised later by Huckabee, urging the mayor to change course.

“Mayor Mamdani, stop fanning the flames of hatred and division.

“The consequences are not abstract. They are playing out on our streets,” Goldstein said.

Asked again about Mamdani’s repeated threats to arrest a sitting foreign leader, Huckabee dismissed the idea outright.

“He doesn’t have the power,” the ambassador said, calling the mayor’s arrest threats “nonsense” and emphasizing that Netanyahu is protected by diplomatic immunity.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Whether Mamdani moderates his rhetoric before that visit—and how the federal government responds to the ICC warrant, which Trump has already sanctioned the court over—is expected to remain a major point of attention in the weeks leading up to the trip.

{Matzav.com}

A federal appeals court has refused to reinstate key portions of President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at tightening mail-in voting rules, dealing a significant setback to the administration just months before this year’s midterm elections and potentially setting the stage for a Supreme Court battle.

In a 2-1 ruling issued today, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Justice Department’s request to temporarily lift a June court order that blocked several provisions of Trump’s March executive order while the administration continues its appeal.

The Justice Department had previously indicated that, if unsuccessful before the appeals court, it could seek emergency intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Administration attorneys argued that the lawsuit challenging the executive order was filed too early because federal agencies had not yet completed the process of adopting the policies necessary to carry out the president’s directives. The appeals court disagreed, concluding that the states challenging the order already faced imminent election deadlines and had begun preparing for the anticipated changes.

“As the district court reasoned, the (executive order) lays out a clear set of rapidly approaching deadlines by which states must coordinate with federal officials and comply with new voting procedures,” the majority wrote. “The Plaintiff States have no practical choice but to respond to the (order) now.”

Trump signed Executive Order 14399 in March as part of his broader election integrity initiative.

Among its provisions, the order instructs the Department of Homeland Security to create lists of verified U.S. citizens eligible to vote and provide that information to the states. It also directs the U.S. Postal Service to develop new standards governing mail-in ballots and orders the Justice Department to prioritize investigations into state and local election officials who issue federal ballots to individuals determined to be ineligible to vote.

The legal challenge was filed by 23 states and the District of Columbia, led by California, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washington. The plaintiffs argue that the Constitution gives states primary authority over the administration of federal elections and contend that the president exceeded his constitutional powers by directing federal agencies to impose new election procedures.

In June, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani sided with the states, ruling that several portions of the executive order were likely beyond the president’s legal authority. She barred federal agencies from enforcing those provisions in the plaintiff states through the Nov. 3 federal elections.

Today’s decision does not resolve the merits of the case but leaves the lower court’s injunction in effect while the administration’s appeal moves forward.

{Matzav.com}

Growing concerns over America’s dwindling stockpile of precision-guided munitions reportedly played a key role in discussions at the White House as President Donald Trump weighed expanding military operations against Iran, with the United States ultimately pausing its nightly bombing campaign after nearly two weeks of sustained strikes.

According to a U.S. official who spoke with CNN, Vice President JD Vance and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine both warned Trump during a Friday White House meeting about the strain the conflict has placed on U.S. weapons inventories.

On Friday night, the United States halted its air campaign against Iran for the first time in nearly two weeks. A Defense Department source told CNN that military operations are currently “on a hold.”

It remains unclear whether concerns over depleted munitions stockpiles were the primary reason for the operational pause or whether the suspension of strikes will continue.

“President Trump has always been consistent in saying he prefers a diplomatic solution, but he continues to retain all options if Iran continues terrorist activities in the (Strait) of Hormuz or against allies,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement.

“Combined with successful sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy and 13 straight days of strikes against military targets in response to their repeated aggression, it would be wise for Iran to work towards a negotiated deal. Otherwise, they know what will happen.”

CNN reported that it also sought comment from Vance’s office.

The developments come as key U.S. weapons reserves remain significantly depleted, with officials acknowledging that additional military operations against Iran would place even greater demands on already strained stockpiles.

After meeting Friday with Cabinet officials and senior advisers, Trump told reporters that negotiations with Iran remain active. At the same time, he made clear that further military action remains on the table, saying the United States could continue its bombing campaign or “make it a heavier dose.” He added that Iran appeared to be becoming “more serious” in ongoing negotiations.

As of Friday afternoon, administration officials were still debating what any escalation of the conflict would entail, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The source said Gulf nations have encouraged Washington to exercise restraint, while acknowledging that the United States possesses military capabilities unmatched by its regional allies should it choose to intensify the campaign.

Even after publicly discussing the possibility of launching a major offensive against Iran, Trump privately instructed his negotiating team to “keep talking,” according to a source familiar with the matter. The directive reflected the president’s effort to balance continued diplomacy with limited military pressure while avoiding the deployment of American ground forces.

According to multiple sources, many within Trump’s inner circle and senior Pentagon leadership remained skeptical that further military escalation alone would achieve the president’s strategic objectives.

CNN previously reported that before the war began, Gen. Caine and other senior military leaders had already cautioned Trump that an extended conflict could significantly deplete America’s weapons stockpiles.

“America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to CNN.

“We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests.”

{Matzav.com}

A woman accused of helping orchestrate a $32 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme has been returned to the United States after being captured in Jamaica, ending what the FBI described as a lengthy international manhunt.

FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital that 41-year-old Elaine Angene Escoe had been hiding in Jamaica under the false identity of “Harley Newman” while evading prosecution in connection with the alleged multimillion-dollar pandemic relief fraud.

Escoe arrived in South Florida on Thursday after Jamaican authorities arrested her following a federal search. Prosecutors allege she played a key role in fraudulently securing more than $32 million in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief money before fleeing the United States after failing to appear in federal court.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Escoe was indicted in 2025 on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of money laundering.

Federal prosecutors said an arrest warrant was issued after Escoe failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing in May 2025. Investigators allege she escaped to Jamaica, where authorities ultimately tracked her down after the FBI received a tip regarding her whereabouts.

“This Most Wanted Fraudster allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Fox News Digital.

“She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not,” he continued. “Those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable by this Department of Justice, no matter how long it takes or where they attempt to hide.”

Patel described the arrest as another major success in the FBI’s effort to track down international fraud suspects, noting that Escoe is the fourth alleged “Most Wanted Fraudster” apprehended in the past five weeks.

“The historic success of the ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ list continues as the FBI, and our partners just captured our fourth Most Wanted Fraudster in 5 weeks, and yet another high value target returned to the U.S. by this FBI,” Patel said. “Elaine Angene Escoe, on the run since May 2025, was captured in Jamaica while living under a fake identity of ‘Harley Newman’ — and returned to the United States today to face justice.”

Patel said Escoe is accused of participating in a conspiracy involving wire fraud and money laundering that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.

He added that since June, the FBI has brought more than 30 high-value fugitives back to the United States. According to Patel, the four alleged fraud suspects captured over the past five weeks are collectively accused of nearly $1.8 billion in fraud after spending more than 3,500 days on the run across three continents.

“Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated, and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide,” Patel said.

Authorities said the operation to return Escoe to the United States involved coordinated efforts by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, Jamaican law enforcement, and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump spoke at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner, held in the Presidential Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC. The annual gala was rescheduled after the original event was interrupted when an armed man, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, attempted to breach a Secret Service checkpoint.

WATCH:

Joe Biden has withdrawn his lawsuit seeking to prevent the release of audio recordings and transcripts of interviews he gave to his memoir ghostwriter before becoming president, clearing the way for the material to be turned over to a Republican-led congressional committee.

The decision came just days after a divided federal appeals court ruled against Biden’s effort to keep the recordings private. Rather than ask the Supreme Court to intervene or seek a rehearing before the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Biden’s attorneys filed a notice on Friday voluntarily dismissing the case.

Earlier this week, a three-judge panel voted 2-1 that there is a “substantial” public interest in making the recordings public. Although the court delayed implementation of its ruling until Aug. 3 to give Biden additional time to pursue further appeals, he instead chose to end the legal challenge.

In a dissenting opinion, Circuit Judge Florence Pan argued that Biden had demonstrated a “substantial privacy interest” in keeping the recordings confidential.

The interviews were conducted by memoir ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer, who collaborated with Biden on the books Promises to Keep (2007) and Promise Me, Dad (2017). Zwonitzer interviewed Biden at his home during 2016 and 2017. Biden’s legal team has maintained that the discussions were deeply personal, candid, and never intended for public release.

Special Counsel Robert Hur obtained the recordings during his investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents dating back to his years as a U.S. senator and later as vice president in the Obama administration. Although Hur declined to bring criminal charges, Republicans in Congress later sought access to the interview recordings.

Biden filed suit in an effort to block the Trump Justice Department from releasing the recordings to Congress and the Heritage Foundation. The Justice Department had previously argued that the material was protected from disclosure under federal public records laws.

The appeal followed a June ruling by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, who concluded that the public’s interest in the recordings outweighed Biden’s claimed privacy interests, allowing their release to move forward.

{Matzav.com}

Security officials are investigating after a drone came down near the home of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, prompting an immediate response by the IDF.

Ben Gvir’s office confirmed that the minister was notified by security authorities that a drone had landed near his residence. Officials are currently examining the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine exactly what occurred.

The drone was recovered by the IDF, and authorities said the incident did not result in any injuries.

“The minister and his family are safe,” the statement said.

Officials have not yet released additional information, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

{Matzav.com}

Iran has reportedly exploited illegal migrant-smuggling routes across the English Channel to infiltrate suspected intelligence operatives into the United Kingdom, according to a new report citing Iranian officials, people smugglers, and British security sources.

The Telegraph reported that British authorities intercepted several individuals allegedly connected to Iran’s intelligence apparatus while they were attempting to enter the country aboard small migrant boats. The newspaper said officials have increasingly relied on drones and artificial intelligence-powered surveillance towers to monitor Channel crossings and identify potential security threats.

According to the report, Iranian officials claimed that some of the migrant-smuggling networks are operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly Unit 700, the logistics division of the IRGC’s Quds Force.

One Iranian official told The Telegraph: “Of course, don’t forget that our armed forces have influence and run the [smuggling] routes in some cases if they want.

“At the moment we have people right there in London, revolutionary people who care about the world and the lives of children – they wait for us to tell them what to do. We have not done that yet, but we can easily make London unsafe for you if we want to.

“These smuggling routes are more important and useful than the missiles for us – we do not need a missile to target London, it’s easier than that.”

The report also stated that British intelligence officials believe a larger number of individuals linked to the IRGC likely enter the UK legally via commercial flights from Europe rather than through Channel crossings. Officials reportedly view the recruitment and activation of members of Britain’s Iranian diaspora, as well as the use of proxy operatives already inside the country, as a greater long-term security threat than migrants arriving by boat.

The report comes shortly after Iran threatened to target RAF Fairford following Britain’s decision to renew permission for the United States to use the air base in support of military operations against Iran.

MI5 Director General Ken McCallum revealed in October that British intelligence had uncovered more than 20 potentially deadly Iran-backed plots during the previous year, warning that Tehran has increasingly turned to criminal proxies to conduct operations on British soil.

Conservative lawmaker and shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the government to respond more aggressively to what she described as Iran’s growing presence inside Britain.

“The Government needs to face facts: the IRGC is exploiting the small boats crisis to put its operatives on British streets.

“We need an urgent taskforce to root out Iranian agents among those arriving and who’ve arrived on our shores, designation of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security under hostile state legislation, and emergency powers to shut down IRGC cut-outs like the Islamic Centre of England.

“Tehran is openly threatening Britain and we have a Prime Minister silent on our national security – our people deserve answers, action and leadership.”

Dr. Kristian Gustafson, deputy head of Brunel University’s Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies and a former Sandhurst lecturer, told The Telegraph that Iran would more likely rely on recruiting people already living in Britain than risk sending its own intelligence officers into the country through illegal migration routes.

A spokesman for Britain’s Home Office said the government conducts rigorous security screening of migrants arriving by small boat and detains anyone found to pose a national security risk. He added that authorities have strengthened the powers of police and intelligence agencies to disrupt IRGC-linked activities and make it easier to prosecute individuals working on the organization’s behalf.

{Matzav.com}

Although the United States refrained from launching attacks against Iran overnight for the first time in nearly two weeks, Israel remains on maximum alert as defense officials prepare for the possibility that a major American military operation could still be imminent.

For the first time in 13 consecutive nights, no U.S. strikes were reported against Iranian targets. Even so, Israeli security officials continue to operate under the assumption that Washington may soon move forward with a large-scale assault that was reportedly postponed over the weekend.

According to Israeli defense assessments, preparations remain underway for a significant American operation. Officials believe President Donald Trump could ultimately determine that military action is unavoidable, prompting the Israeli Air Force to maintain an elevated level of readiness in anticipation of a possible escalation.

Speaking to reporters at the White House early Monday, Trump emphasized that no final decision has yet been reached. “They are talking to us right now. They want to make a deal. I don’t think they’re ready for that. I don’t think it’s time yet, but I’m willing to listen,” he said.

Trump also reaffirmed that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a top priority. “They can’t have nuclear weapons. We don’t want to see Washington, or any of our cities, or Israel, and, frankly, the entire Middle East-destroyed with nuclear weapons. If they have such weapons, they will use them,” he said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command announced no military operations against Iran overnight, marking the first such pause in approximately 13 nights. Earlier reports indicated that an American naval vessel intercepted an oil tanker attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. The encounter reportedly occurred in waters off the coast of Oman.

According to a report citing U.S. officials, American intelligence agencies believe Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is even more supportive of pursuing nuclear weapons than his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed early in the war in an Israeli strike carried out with U.S. intelligence assistance, had publicly maintained religious opposition to the development of nuclear weapons.

The report comes after Iran reportedly rejected a ceasefire proposal delivered by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani on behalf of the Trump administration. Iranian and Iraqi officials told The New York Times that the diplomatic initiative came as Trump warned Tehran that the United States was prepared to expand attacks against Iran’s vital infrastructure.

Israel, meanwhile, continues to prepare for additional Iranian retaliation and the possibility of a wider conflict. Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu convened a meeting of the limited security cabinet on Sunday to assess the latest developments, although no changes have been made to the Home Front Command’s civilian safety directives.

As speculation grows over a possible meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, the IDF remains on heightened alert, operating under the assessment that an American strike against Iran could be launched at any moment. Overnight, the U.S. State Department also updated its travel advisory, urging American citizens to avoid traveling to Israel while regional tensions remain exceptionally high.

{Matzav.com}

A massive fire tore through the Rabbeinu Hagadol complex in Hadiach, Ukraine, on Friday night, causing catastrophic destruction at the tziyun of the Ba’al Hatanya, Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi, author of the Tanya. The devastating blaze destroyed the complex’s historic shul and caused damages estimated in the millions of dollars.

The fire erupted at the Rabbeinu Hagadol complex, located adjacent to the kever of the Ba’al Hatanya. The site, which draws thousands of mispallelim and visitors from around the world each year, was quickly engulfed as flames raced through the main structure.

According to preliminary reports, the blaze broke out shortly before midnight. The complex’s shul was completely destroyed, while the kitchen and hachnasas orchim facilities sustained severe damage. Nearly the entire main building was consumed by the fire, leaving behind destruction estimated to total millions of dollars.

B’chasdei Hashem, no injuries were reported.

Investigators have not yet determined what sparked the fire. One possibility under examination is that an electrical malfunction ignited the blaze, although officials are continuing to investigate all potential causes.

The tziyun in Hadiach is regarded as Ukraine’s second-largest destination for Jewish pilgrimage, welcoming thousands of visitors each year who come to daven at the resting place of the Ba’al Hatanya.

{Matzav.com}

In a significant departure from his longstanding annual practice, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, will remain in Eretz Yisroel this summer rather than traveling overseas for a period of rest. Beginning on Tu B’Av, the Rebbe will start receiving chassidim in preparation for Rosh Hashanah, with appointments scheduled through Rosh Chodesh Elul.

The Rebbe’s office announced that kabbolas kahal will commence this week on Tu B’Av and continue until Rosh Chodesh Elul. A separate announcement regarding reception hours during the month of Elul itself is expected to be released at a later date.

In most years, the Rebbe spends this period abroad for rest and recuperation. Since he will remain in Eretz Yisroel this year, it was decided to move kabbolas kahal forward, giving thousands of chassidim additional opportunities to enter for a private audience and submit kvitlach before the Yomim Nora’im.

Since assuming the leadership of the Vizhnitzer chassidus, the Rebbe has traditionally traveled each year to the resort town of Chaldodna in the United Kingdom for a period of rest, and on occasion to Davos, Switzerland. In recent years, however, because of his medical condition, the Rebbe has spent those periods between treatments in the Israeli community of Ora, near Yerushalayim.

Officials in the chassidus said the earlier start to kabbolas kahal is intended to better accommodate the expected influx of chassidim seeking to receive the Rebbe’s brachah before Rosh Hashanah 5787 by spreading appointments over a longer period.

At the same time, tefillos continue for the Rebbe’s complete recovery. His name for tefillah is Rav Yisroel ben Leah Esther, b’soch she’ar cholei Yisroel.

{Matzav.com}

The Muslim, socialist, anti-Israel mayor of the Big Apple is standing firm.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is refusing to apologize for his repeated anti-Israel rhetoric despite growing demands from Jewish leaders following the brutal stabbing of a man wearing a kippah on Manhattan’s Upper West Side by an attacker who allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar.”

The jihad-supporter dismissed calls for an apology on Friday, even as criticism intensified in the wake of Thursday’s attack, in which a Jewish man observing the fast of Tisha B’Av was stabbed on the Upper West Side by an assailant who witnesses said yelled “Allahu Akbar” during the assault.

Authorities announced Friday that the suspect, 51-year-old Raul Morales, has been charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, attempted murder, assault as a hate crime, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the NYPD.

The mayor has faced sustained criticism over his outspoken anti-Israel positions. Earlier this week, he released a video acknowledging that he has no legal authority to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a future visit to New York City, despite repeatedly making that promise while campaigning. Even so, Mamdani continued to describe Netanyahu as a “war criminal.”

Speaking Friday during an interview on NY1, Mamdani defended his previous remarks, insisting they are “critiques of a political leader, not of people of a specific faith or a religion or a background.”

He also maintained that his responsibility extends equally to all New Yorkers, regardless of their political views or beliefs, stating, “My responsibility as the mayor of this city is to keep every New Yorker safe, no matter where they come from, what they believe in or frankly, even if they agree with my politics.”

Israeli officials argued that the violent attack reflected the dangerous consequences of the mayor’s inflammatory anti-Israel messaging.

Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli accused Mamdani of helping create the atmosphere that led to the stabbing in Manhattan.

“A straight line connects Mamdani’s vile jihadi video to the terror attack that just struck the city,” Chikli wrote on social media, referring to Mamdani’s video about Netanyahu.

“When an attacker yells ‘Allahu Akbar’ while stabbing innocent people, you know Mamdani’s message landed,” Chikli added.

Chikli further asserted that Mamdani “would never dare post a video like that against any other state leader,” arguing that the mayor’s message was “a pure manifesto of Jew hatred, thinly coated” as criticism aimed solely at Israel.

He went on to accuse the mayor of “dragging the city into decay and bloodshed,” warning that New York’s Jewish community would be the first to bear the consequences.

“The Jews will be the first to pay the price, as always,” Chikli wrote. “But make no mistake, New Yorkers: it will not end with the Jews.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned the attack, declaring, “I am appalled by the horrific antisemitic stabbing attack in New York. Appalled but sadly not surprised. This violence did not happen in a vacuum. Months of incitement against the Jewish state from Mamdani have helped create a climate in which Jews are targeted.”

He continued, “Words have consequences. Mamdani must end the incitement, confront antisemitism with resolve, and act now to protect the city’s Jewish community. Enough is enough.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, likewise placed responsibility on the mayor’s rhetoric, saying, “Zohran Mamdani, your incitement is putting Jewish lives in danger in New York, home to the largest Jewish community outside Israel. You have spent months fueling hatred, demonizing Israel and legitimizing hostility toward Jews. Now take responsibility for the consequences.”

Danon concluded with a warning, writing, “Every time you pour more fuel on this fire, you make violence more likely. Stop the incitement. Before more people get hurt.”

{Matzav.com}

A credible threat from Iranian proxy forces against President Trump and Air Force One prompted a last-minute change of aircraft during this month’s NATO summit in Turkey, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter. The incident has also renewed questions about the security capabilities of the Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar, which Trump had begun using for official travel.

Trump arrived in Ankara aboard the Qatari-donated jet, a newer aircraft that lacks many of the sophisticated defensive systems installed on the traditional Air Force One fleet. According to officials, intelligence indicating a credible threat emerged while the president was attending the summit.

After U.S. authorities detected the danger, the Secret Service recommended that Trump abandon the newer aircraft and instead depart Turkey aboard the older Air Force One. The president later publicly confirmed that he would be leaving on the older plane.

The newly disclosed details help explain the White House’s rapid decision to replace the aircraft before Trump’s departure. They also highlight ongoing concerns about the defensive capabilities of the donated jet, which Trump had pushed to place into service as quickly as possible.

Officials emphasized that the intelligence did not indicate the newer aircraft itself was being specifically targeted. Rather, the threat was directed at Trump regardless of which plane he was traveling aboard.

People familiar with the matter spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the classified information publicly.

The White House declined to comment directly on the report. However, a senior administration official pointed to Trump’s own public comments regarding Iranian assassination plots and expressed confidence in the security precautions taken to protect the president and his delegation. The official also spoke anonymously.

According to those briefed on the matter, knowledge of the specific intelligence was tightly restricted within the administration. Many officials were told only that the aircraft change was a precaution stemming from broader concerns involving Iran, and congressional leaders reportedly were not informed about the precise nature of the threat.

Trump initially explained the aircraft swap by saying it would allow American service members stationed in Britain to tour the newer plane, while rejecting suggestions that the decision was motivated by security concerns. The New York Times later reported that the Secret Service had advised him to switch aircraft.

After The New York Times published a report this month detailing significant federal concerns over the donated aircraft’s security features, the government opened a leak investigation seeking grand jury testimony from several Times reporters, along with phone records belonging to them and certain relatives. The Justice Department withdrew those subpoenas on Thursday.

Trump appeared to acknowledge on Sunday that the donated jet still lacks some of the defensive technology installed on the older Air Force One aircraft. When asked about the absence of antimissile systems, he responded that the aircraft would soon be “maxed out.” Although the approximately 14-year-old plane underwent an extensive retrofit to serve as Air Force One, officials have acknowledged the process was completed on an accelerated timetable.

Around the time of the aircraft switch, reports surfaced that Israel had shared intelligence with Washington concerning Iranian efforts to assassinate Trump. Some U.S. officials questioned the reliability of that intelligence, believing it may have been intended to encourage a stronger American military response against Iran.

According to several people familiar with the matter, however, the threat that prompted the Air Force One change in Turkey was unrelated to the intelligence attributed to Israel.

While Trump was attending the summit in Ankara, approximately 1,000 miles from Tehran, the United States resumed military strikes against Iran. During the conference, Trump openly discussed Iran’s repeated attempts to assassinate him when asked why he had abandoned the Qatari aircraft.

“They want to take out the U.S. leader — me,” he said. “I’m on every list. I saw this morning, I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky, but that maybe doesn’t last very long.”

Iran-linked groups have sought to target Trump for years, dating back to his first term after the U.S. military killed senior Iranian General Qassim Suleimani.

Trump has long criticized the aging Air Force One fleet, arguing that the aircraft no longer project the image he believes the United States should present overseas. Military officials have separately warned that the existing presidential aircraft have remained in service far beyond their originally intended lifespan.

Last year, Qatar announced it would donate a Boeing 747-8 for Trump’s use. Trump has also said he intends to include the aircraft in his presidential library after leaving office.

Administration officials have described the donated jet as a temporary “bridge” aircraft until Boeing completes delivery of the long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes ordered by the U.S. Air Force.

Since Trump’s return from Turkey, White House officials have said the donated aircraft will be removed from service for approximately one month later this fall to undergo additional upgrades.

“The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the president’s travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “During that time, the president will fly on the old Air Force One.”

Officials have not explained what improvements can realistically be completed during such a short period.

Speaking at a Secret Service briefing on Wednesday ahead of the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner—which had originally been postponed after a gunman breached a security checkpoint in April—agency leaders warned that the threat environment facing protected officials has reached unprecedented levels.

“The numbers at this agency, and certainly I’ve never seen in my 24-year career, they’re off the charts,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran told reporters. “I think the environment has become very volatile and that’s just across the board. I think not just to our protectees, but local officials. The threat picture and environment is as large as I’ve ever seen it.”

Before becoming Secret Service director, Curran led Trump’s protective detail between the president’s two terms. He was also among the agents shielding Trump during the July 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

{Matzav.com}

The man accused of carrying out two violent stabbing attacks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side — including the daylight assault of a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke — has now been hit with multiple hate crime charges, according to law enforcement sources.

Authorities said 51-year-old Raul Morales has been charged with attempted murder as a hate crime and assault as a hate crime for allegedly stabbing the Jewish victim in the chest with a screwdriver while the victim was walking in broad daylight wearing a yarmulke.

Investigators said Morales allegedly shouted, “Allahu Akbar!” during the violent spree while also wandering through the area repeatedly muttering, “Islam.”

In addition to the hate crime counts, Morales has also been charged with first-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the attack on the Jewish victim, sources said.

Police said Morales allegedly struck another victim before targeting the Jewish man, stabbing an Asian passerby in the back during the earlier attack.

For that assault, prosecutors have charged Morales with attempted murder, first-degree assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, according to law enforcement sources.

Both victims remain hospitalized as they continue recovering from their injuries.

{Matzav.com}

In an unusual halachic ruling, Gerer rabbanim permitted live music last night, on Motzoei Tishah B’Av, for a festive reception celebrating the release of Yisroel Yehuda Fein, a talmid of Yeshivas Sefas Emes, who was freed from Military Prison 10 approximately one hour before the fast concluded. The special dispensation was granted on the grounds of kavod haTorah.

Hundreds of Gerer bochurim and chassidim welcomed Fein with spirited singing and dancing following his release. His imprisonment had become a major cause within the Gerer community and prompted widespread demonstrations over the past week.

Earlier in the week, thousands of Gerer chassidim, led by the Gerrer Rebbe, assembled outside the gates of Military Prison 10 to demand Fein’s release. After the rally concluded, a group of participants continued to the home of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, where they held an additional protest.

Upon Fein’s return to Yerushalayim, a festive reception was held at Yeshivas Sfas Emes. Although the accepted custom is to refrain from listening to music until midday on the day after Tishah B’Av, leaders of the Gerer chassidus said the chassidus’ rabbanim ruled that live music could accompany the celebration because of kavod haTorah.

Music for the event was provided by the Narnenah Choir, whose members are Gerer chassidim, together with singer Sandy Dinkel. Throughout the gathering, participants sang and danced as they celebrated Fein’s release from military prison.

Following the reception, hundreds of bochurim marched from Yeshivas Sefas Emes in the Machaneh Yehudah neighborhood to Fein’s home on Rechov Minchas Yitzchak. The procession wound through the streets of Yerushalayim with singing and dancing.

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{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Avraham Menachem zt”l, the longtime Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Migdal HaEmek and the founder of the Ner HaTzafon network of Torah institutions.

Born in Morocco, Rav Menachem immigrated to Eretz Yisroel as a teenager, arriving at approximately 15 years of age. Soon after settling in Migdal HaEmek in the Jezreel Valley, he distinguished himself through his exceptional diligence in Torah study and unwavering commitment to Torah and mitzvos. At the time, the young city was still in its formative years, and he dedicated himself to fostering Torah learning and preserving Jewish tradition, particularly among immigrants from Morocco.

For many decades, Rav Menachem served as the city’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi, earning the admiration and respect of residents from every segment of the community. Together with his longtime colleague, the Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Migdal HaEmek, Rav Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, he helped spearhead a Torah renaissance throughout northern Israel, transforming Migdal HaEmek into a flourishing center of Torah, chessed, and Jewish education.

Rav Menachem founded and led the Ner HaTzafon educational network, which grew to include Talmudei Torah, preschools, the Nezer HaTorah yeshiva ketanah, kollelim for avreichim, and the Ohr HaEmek shul. Thousands of talmidim passed through these institutions, establishing Torah-observant homes and continuing the values instilled by their revered Rosh HaMosdos.

He was widely known for his extraordinary humility, warm countenance, and genuine concern for every individual. Despite his stature as one of the country’s senior rabbanim, he lived with remarkable simplicity. His home was always open to anyone seeking guidance or assistance, while the Torah classes and Daf Yomi shiurim he delivered in local shuls drew large numbers of participants from across the region.

Rav Menachem is survived by a distinguished family of children, grandchildren, and descendants who continue to walk in his path, dedicating themselves to Torah and mitzvos.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

The United States has already recorded more measles cases in 2026 than it did during all of 2025, setting a new three-decade high with nearly five months still remaining in the year and raising fresh concerns among public health officials about declining vaccination rates and expanding outbreaks.

According to updated figures released Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2,318 measles infections had been confirmed nationwide as of Thursday.

That total has already surpassed the 2,289 cases reported during all of 2025, which had previously been the country’s worst measles year in more than 30 years. With large outbreaks continuing in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona, along with smaller clusters in several other states, 2026 has now become the nation’s worst measles year since 1991.

International health authorities are expected to meet in November to determine whether the United States and Mexico should retain their measles-free status. The U.S. achieved elimination of endemic measles transmission in 2000 through consistently high vaccination rates, but immunization levels have since fallen below the 95% threshold experts say is needed to prevent sustained outbreaks.

Health officials also caution that the true number of infections is likely much higher than official statistics indicate. Public health researchers have long acknowledged that reported case counts underestimate the spread because many infected individuals never seek medical care or receive a confirmed diagnosis.

Experts say the gap between reported and actual infections may be especially significant because measles is among the most contagious viruses known, while vaccination rates have continued to decline nationwide. Although national coverage for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine among kindergarten students stood at 92.5% during the 2024-25 school year, down from 95.2% in 2019-20, some communities have substantially lower vaccination rates.

Utah offers one example of the challenge. Public health officials there have battled measles for more than a year, with more than 700 confirmed cases reported during that period. State epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen said mathematical models and genetic analyses suggest the outbreak along the Utah-Arizona border could ultimately prove to be three to four times larger than current official figures indicate.

Officials in South Carolina have reached similar conclusions. Although the state has confirmed 997 measles cases during what has become its largest outbreak in 35 years, health authorities believe the true number is likely higher, though they cannot determine by how much.

Dr. Brannon Traxler, acting director of South Carolina’s Department of Health, said the size of the undercount remains uncertain.

“The undercount is ‘impossible to know and may vary during the course of an outbreak.’”

Researchers say incomplete reporting makes it difficult to accurately measure the full scope of an outbreak. While hospitalization rates can provide useful clues, measles-related hospitalizations are not required to be reported uniformly across all states.

“If we really had some kind of solid gold standard for the percentage of all cases that have hospitalization or some measure of severity, then that would be another way of estimating the outbreak size that we could see if it’s consistent with these other methods,” said Damon Toth, an applied mathematician at the University of Utah’s medical school who is working on one of the Utah outbreak analyses.

Scientists are also reexamining last year’s outbreak in Texas. Early analyses suggest the epidemic may have infected nearly twice as many people as the 762 officially confirmed cases.

Rémy Pasco, a mathematical epidemiologist at the University of Colorado Boulder who is helping conduct that research, said such discrepancies are not unexpected. He noted that once vaccination rates fall below the recommended 95% level, containing measles becomes extremely difficult.

In discussing how outbreaks are identified, Pasco noted that the CDC defines an outbreak as three or more connected cases, but warned that by the time those cases are recognized in communities with low vaccination rates and limited surveillance, transmission is often already widespread.

“Either you missed the previous ones or you’re going to have a lot more,” he added.

Texas Chief State Epidemiologist Dr. Varun Shetty said investigators have encountered situations in which infected individuals tested positive for measles but officials were unable to determine who else in the household had been exposed or whether additional family members had also become ill.

“What we’re able to count and report is almost always an underestimate of what actually occurred, because it relies on people being willing to be able to get tested, to share information with healthcare providers and with public health,” Shetty said. “Sometimes that just doesn’t happen.”

Earlier reports from the Texas Department of State Health Services indicated that 182 probable measles infections among minors in Gaines County—the center of the 2025 outbreak—could not be officially confirmed because investigators lacked sufficient information. During the entire outbreak, the county recorded 414 confirmed cases.

Shetty said he expects measles outbreaks to continue as long as large numbers of people remain unvaccinated.

“It’s really critical, not only for individual people, but for communities, to have high vaccination coverage,” he said.

Dr. Mark Roberts, the retired director of the Public Health Dynamics Lab at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, expressed particular concern for individuals who cannot receive the vaccine.

Research conducted by Roberts and his colleagues indicates that infants, immunocompromised individuals, and the small percentage of vaccinated people who do not develop strong immunity often face the greatest risk during outbreaks.

Roberts compared vaccine refusal to removing a car’s most important safety feature, emphasizing that the consequences extend beyond the individual making the decision.

“Not vaccinating your kid is like saying, ‘I don’t want my car to have brakes,’” he said. “Because it’s other people that you can hit. It’s not just you in your car. It’s other people.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is expected to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Tuesday, according to a White House official, setting up a closely watched meeting as the two leaders prepare to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and broader security issues.

A Ukrainian source said Zelenskyy is planning to travel to the United States but was awaiting final confirmation from the White House regarding Trump’s schedule before finalizing the visit.

Representatives for the Ukrainian president did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the anticipated meeting.

Earlier Friday, conservative activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer said she had spoken directly with Zelenskyy, who indicated that he expected to be in the United States next week for meetings that would include talks with Trump.

In a post on X, Loomer also said Zelenskyy told her he plans to attend the funeral of the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who passed away earlier this month.

Graham was among the strongest supporters of Ukraine in the U.S. Senate. Since Russia’s invasion, he traveled to Ukraine 10 times, consistently advocating for increased American assistance to Kyiv while pressing for tougher sanctions against Moscow.

{Matzav.com}