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A cyberattack targeting check-in and boarding systems disrupted air traffic and caused delays at several of Europe’s major airports on Saturday. While the impact on travelers appeared to be limited, experts said the intrusion exposed vulnerabilities in security systems. The disruptions to electronic systems initially reported at Brussels, Berlin’s Brandenburg and London’s Heathrow airports meant that only manual check-in and boarding was possible. Many other European airports said their operations were unaffected. “There was a cyberattack on Friday night 19 September against the service provider for the check-in and boarding systems affecting several European airports including Brussels Airport,” said Brussels Airport in a statement, initially reporting a “large impact” on flight schedules. Airports said the issue centered around a provider of check-in and boarding systems — not airlines or the airports themselves. Collins Aerospace, whose systems help passengers check themselves in, print boarding passes and bag tags and dispatch their luggage from a kiosk, cited a “cyber-related disruption” to its MUSE (Multi-User System Environment) software at “select airports.” It was not immediately clear who might be behind the cyberattack, but experts said it could turn out to be hackers, criminal organizations, or state actors. Travel analyst Paul Charles said he was “surprised and shocked” by the attack that has affected one of the world’s top aviation and defense companies. He said “it’s deeply worrying that a company of that stature who normally have such resilient systems in place have been affected.” “This is a very clever cyberattack indeed because it’s affected a number of airlines and airports at the same time — not just one airport or one airline, but they’ve got into the core system that enables airlines to effectively check in many of their passengers at different desks at different airports around Europe,” he told Sky News. As the day wore on, the fallout appeared to be contained. Brussels Airport spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli told broadcaster VTM that by mid-morning, nine flights had been canceled, four were redirected to another airport and 15 faced delays of an hour or more. She said it wasn’t immediately clear how long the disruptions might last. Axel Schmidt, head of communications at the Brandenburg airport, said that by late morning, “we don’t have any flights canceled due to this specific reason, but that could change.” The Berlin airport said operators had cut off connections to affected systems. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, said the disruption has been “minimal” with no flight cancellations directly linked to the problems afflicting Collins. A spokesperson would not provide details as to how many flights have been delayed as a result of the cyberattack. The airports advised travelers to check their flight status and apologized for any inconvenience. Some passengers voiced annoyance at the lack of staff. With many, if not most, checking in individually, airlines have reduced the number of people operating at the traditional check-in counters. Maria Casey, who was on her way to a two-week backpacking holiday in Thailand with Etihad Airways, said she had to spend three hours at baggage check-in at Heathrow’s Terminal 4. “They had to write our baggage tabs by hand,” she said. “Only two desks were staffed, which is why we were cheesed off.” Collins, an aviation and defense technology company that is a subsidiary of RTX Corp., formerly Raytheon […]

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yaakov Zechariah zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Lev Eliyahu in Yerushalayim, who was niftar on Friday night at the age of 70.

Rav Zechariah, who suffered a severe stroke about a month ago, was hospitalized in Shaare Tzedek Medical Center, where he was niftar at 2 a.m. Friday night. As a zechus, rabbonim had added the name Refael and countless tefillos were recited on behalf of Rav Rafael Yaakov ben Naima, but to the great sorrow of his talmidim and admirers, his condition deteriorated.

The levayah was held Motzoei Shabbos from Yeshivas Lev Eliyahu on Rechov HaRav Patil in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, proceeding to Har HaMenuchos in Sanhedria, where he was buried alongside his rabbeim, Rav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul zt”l and Rav Yehuda Tzadka zt”l.

Rav Zechariah was born in Eretz Yisroel on 11 Shevat 5715 (1955). As a bochur, he studied at Yeshiva Porat Yosef in Yerushalayim, where he became one of the foremost talmidim of Rav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul.

He was deeply attached to his rebbi and often spoke of Rav Ben Tzion’s extraordinary dedication to Torah. Decades ago, Rav Ben Tzion himself remarked of Rav Zechariah that “he has absorbed our derech halimud and is worthy of teaching talmidim.”

In 2002, Rav Zechariah established the Lev Eliyahu yeshiva ketanah, and in 2010 he opened the yeshiva gedolah in Ramat Shlomo, later also founding Yeshivas Derech Torah.

The spirit of Rav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul hovered like a guiding flame over Lev Eliyahu. Few yeshivas today are shaped so directly by his Torah and methodology, and Lev Eliyahu stands proudly as one of those rare institutions.

The yeshiva became known for its distinctive derech halimud, blending the clarity and depth of Porat Yosef’s roshei yeshiva with rigorous analysis of the Maharsha and Maharam Shif, while integrating the approach of the Chazon Ish, the Brisker Rav, and other great Acharonim.

Over the years, Rav Zechariah raised generations of talmidim in Torah and yiras Shamayim. His petirah has left his many talmidim and the broader Torah world in mourning.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that he is scheduled to sit down with President Trump next week while both leaders are in Manhattan for the UN General Assembly.

According to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, Zelensky wants to focus the conversation on security guarantees promised to Ukraine, which he considers essential for reaching any eventual peace agreement in the war with Russia.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has continued to dismiss direct negotiations with Zelensky, insisting he will only engage if his conditions are first satisfied.

“We expect sanctions if there is no meeting between the leaders or, for example, no ceasefire,” Zelensky stated in remarks issued by his office on Saturday, as cited by AFP.

“We are ready for a meeting with Putin. I have spoken about this. Both bilateral and trilateral. He is not ready.”

In advance of his upcoming encounter with Trump, Zelensky’s top aide Andriy Yermak spoke by phone Saturday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“We discussed preparations for security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as expanding cooperation in military, defense, and economic areas,” Yermak posted on X.

The 80th session of the UN General Assembly will open on Tuesday.

Zelensky also revealed in a press briefing in Kyiv on Friday that there would “very likely, a meeting between the first ladies of Ukraine and the United States on the humanitarian issue relating to children,” Interfax Ukraine reported.

{Matzav.com}

An emerging TikTok deal with China will ensure that U.S. companies control the algorithm that powers the app’s video feed and Americans will hold a majority of seats on a board overseeing U.S. operations, the White House said Saturday. A central question to the tug of war between Washington and Beijing has been whether the popular social video platform would keep its algorithm after the potential divestment of Chinese parent company ByteDance. Congress passed legislation calling for a TikTok ban to go into effect in January, but President Donald Trump has repeatedly signed orders that have allowed TikTok to keep operating in the United States as his administration tries to reach agreement for ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said tech giant Oracle would be responsible for the app’s data and security and that Americans will control six of the seven seats for a planned board. Oracle did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “We are 100% confident that a deal is done, now that deal just needs to be signed and the president’s team is working with their Chinese counterparts to do just that,” Leavitt told Fox News’ “Saturday in America” A day earlier, Trump and China’s Xi Jinping discussed a TikTok deal in a lengthy phone call. Leavitt said “the algorithm will also be controlled by America as well,” offering more detail about how the deal, at least in the eyes of the White House, is taking shape. TikTok’s algorithm fuels what users see on the app. American officials have warned the algorithm is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect. Trump said after his call with Xi that American investors were lined up and that the Chinese leader has been “a gentleman” about the matter. The Republican president was vague on the crucial question of whether China would control the algorithm. “It’s all being worked out,” Trump said. “We’re going to have very good control.” A statement from the Chinese government after that phone call did not clarify what Xi had agreed to regarding a sale of a controlling stake by TikTok’s Chinese parent company to avoid a U.S. ban. Leavitt said Trump “recognized the need to protect Americans’ privacy and data while also keeping this app open,” adding that “TikTok is a vital part of our democratic process.” A recent Pew Research Center survey found that about one-third of Americans said they supported a TikTok ban, down from 50% in March 2023. Roughly one-third said they would oppose a ban, and a similar percentage said they weren’t sure. Among those who said they supported banning the social media platform, about 8 in 10 cited concerns over users’ data security being at risk as a major factor in their decision, according to the report. Leavitt expressed confidence that the agreement would be finalized soon. “Now we just need this deal to be signed,” she said. “And that will be happening, I anticipate, in the coming days.” (AP)

SING Entertainment has announced that with the help of the show’s sponsor, Whee, their chol hamoed concert will include a section with more affordable seating for families that wish to join their family show starring Benny Friedman.   Tishrei is a time where expenses tend to begin to pile up for families. For some, the expense of chol hamoed activities for a whole family can be overwhelming.   It is with that in mind that SING Entertainment, together with the show sponsor Whee, have announced a new feature for this year.   They designated a balcony section where tickets are listed at the most affordable price yet, with seats starting at just $36.   The goal of these seats is to make the show accessible and affordable to all fans to come and enjoy a fresh batch of simchas yom tov.   “We’re seeing these sell pretty fast” Eli Ickowics of SING Entertainment shared with YWN. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re sold out pretty soon. But that underscored the need that there is for these types of seats, and we are grateful to the team at Whee for helping us make this happen.”   Jewish music fans have been abuzz ever since last week’s concert announcement, eagerly trying to guess and predict which guest stars will be joining Benny Friedman at his October 12 show at the Newark Symphony Hall.   Keeping the info tight-lipped, the show’s producers have just kept saying “people are going to be stunned.”   On Sunday, October 12 at 3:00 PM “Benny and Friends” will take the stage for an afternoon concert titled “Whee Want To Sing With You” live at the Newark Symphony Hall brought to you by Whee.    Doors open at 2:00, show begins at 3:00.   Tickets are now on sale at https://t.ly/sing.ywn  

The olam haTorah is abuzz with anticipation as multitudes of Oraysa lomdim take their final strides toward a Siyum on Seder Mo’ed. With the beginning of Maseches Chagigah, tens of thousands across the globe are embarking on the last leg of a journey that began nearly six years ago. And now, for the first time in Oraysa’s history, a global community of lomdei Torah stands on the threshold of completing an entire Seder of Shas together. Kehillos across the U.S., Eretz Yisroel, and Europe are preparing to converge for a historic maamad kavod haTorah to celebrate this milestone. This will be a once-in-a-generation asifa — not only marking an ending, but celebrating a shared journey and the start of something even greater. The Siyum will shine a light on the endurance, perseverance, and dedication of the countless individuals who show up every single day, amud by amud, carrying the vision of the Oraysa movement forward — and equally, the wives and families whose daily sacrifices and unwavering support make this achievement possible. And now, with every daf of Chagigah learned, the anticipation grows louder. This is the masechta that will carry us into history — the final step before the Siyum. For those not yet part of the movement, there could not be a more opportune moment to join. To start Maseches Chagigah today is to be part of the Siyum tomorrow. The journey of Seder Mo’ed has been extraordinary, but the accomplishment that awaits is greater still. With Gedolim, Roshei Yeshiva, and thousands united in celebration, the Siyum promises to be monumental. Each daf of Chagigah is more than learning — it is a contribution to a global accomplishment, a chance to write yourself into the history of Oraysa. Yisroel V’Oraysa V’Kudsha Brich Hu Chad Hu — and together, we are living that eternal truth. To sign up for the Chagiga, click here: https://www.oraysa.org/ To preregister for the Siyum, click here: https://www.oraysasiyum.org/

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is preparing for a potential campaign in 2028 that could focus on either the presidency or the Senate, according to Axios, citing people familiar with her political operation. Ocasio-Cortez, 35, has expanded her profile well beyond her Bronx and Queens district this year. She has held town halls in upstate New York, including one in Plattsburgh where she told voters, “Every town, every city, every neighborhood in this state matters. Every corner matters. No one deserves to be ignored.” She also joined Sen. Bernie Sanders on his national “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, where audiences chanted her name. Her growing presence has fueled speculation about her next step, particularly as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 74, faces re-election in 2028. A Senate contest between Ocasio-Cortez and Schumer would pit one of the party’s longest-serving leaders against its most high-profile progressive. Some of her allies also believe she may consider a presidential run, even if the odds of winning are low, to ensure progressives have a voice in the Democratic primary. Behind the scenes, Ocasio-Cortez has invested millions of dollars to expand her digital operation, bringing in hundreds of thousands of new small-dollar donors. Kyle Tharp, author of the political newsletter Chaotic Era, noted that she has spent more on digital advertising in 2025 than nearly any other politician. Her social media following now stands at 36.7 million across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, X and Facebook — far outpacing Schumer and many other Democrats who could emerge as 2028 contenders. Ari Rabin-Havt, a longtime Sanders aide, said she has the reach and experience to mount a serious campaign. “She has a supporter base that, in many ways, has a larger potential width than Bernie’s,” he told Axios. “She has been in the glare of the spotlight from day one and has the national campaigning experience a lot of other potential candidates are now trying to get.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Hamas today unveiled what it described as a “parting image” of the 48 Israelis still in captivity inside Gaza, just as Israel’s ground forces were preparing to advance on Gaza City.

The picture displayed a grid of hostages’ faces, with each one labeled “Ron Arad.”

Arad was a pilot in the Israeli Air Force who disappeared during a 1986 mission in southern Lebanon. He was captured and is thought to have died long ago, though his official status remains that of missing.

In its propaganda, the terror organization placed the blame on Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu for refusing a last-minute cease-fire and prisoner deal, and on IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir for implementing Netanyahu’s orders to move on Gaza City despite his own reservations.

“Because of Netanyahu’s refusal, and Zamir’s capitulation, a parting image as the military operation in Gaza City begins,” was the statement appearing above the image.

Gaza City, the largest population center in the enclave, is widely seen as Hamas’ final stronghold.

Through the night, the Israeli Air Force struck 100 different targets across Gaza, hitting tunnels, structures, and other facilities the military said were in use by Hamas.

On Friday, the IDF cautioned that it was prepared to unleash “unprecedented force” in the upcoming battle for Gaza City. Military officials said they have already demolished as many as 20 towers in the city over the past two weeks, which they identified as Hamas bases of operation.

Civilians were again urged to evacuate, with Israel estimating that some 480,000 people have left Gaza City since the end of August.

Before the offensive began, about one million Palestinians were living in Gaza City.

According to the IDF, several Hamas commanders and other militants were killed in the most recent wave of strikes.

Hamas, sensing Israeli forces were about to encircle the city, issued its strongest threat yet on Thursday, declaring that by entering Gaza City, Israel had forfeited any hope of recovering its hostages, whether alive or dead.

Bassem Naim, a Hamas leader who survived an Israeli strike in Doha earlier this month, resurfaced for the first time Thursday in an interview with Qatari television.

“The operation in Gaza City will be met with fierce resistance, and the death and destruction that the enemy tries to bring to Gaza’s streets will befall its soldiers,” Naim said, as reported by the Times of Israel.

“Those who harm us during the operation in Gaza City will also harm the hostages, living and dead.”

Meanwhile, across Israel, massive protests erupted this evening against the government’s launch of the ground campaign.

Relatives of the hostages accused Netanyahu of sacrificing their family members for political advantage by prolonging the fighting instead of working toward a negotiated solution.

“The blood of our loved ones is, for him, nothing more than a political tool to cling to power,” they declared in a statement read outside Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence. “As long as there is war, Netanyahu has a government.”

{Matzav.com}

Trump: “We’re gonna have an announcement on autism on Monday.”

The past few months have seen extensive discussion about the shidduch challenges facing our community, particularly the growing number of older single girls having difficulty finding their shidduch. Many go for long stretches without dates, and behind each situation is a real family experiencing difficulty. There’s been much conversation about the age gap, and we’ve seen encouraging movement from roshei yeshivos and rabbanim to restructure when younger bochurim start shidduchim. However, there’s one angle that hasn’t been fully explored: What about encouraging boys – and their mothers – to be more open to dating girls who are older than them? Obviously, you cannot dictate whom someone should marry. But perhaps as age flexibility becomes increasingly normalized, it could help address this challenge. The truth is, many boys have already done this – it’s simply a matter of making this more common. What if we developed a campaign showcasing the viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences of couples where the wife is older than the husband? Having them share how their marriages have worked out could be powerful. We could feature anonymous perspectives from these couples, plus examples from respected rabbinic figures where the wife is older. Combined with relevant Torah sources, this could form an awareness campaign that helps normalize age flexibility in shidduchim. If you or someone you know is part of such a marriage, your story could help change perspectives. We’re collecting experiences from couples or relatives of couples in these situations. https://form.jotform.com/252146477073156 This anonymous form takes just a minute to complete. Your contribution could show our community that these marriages work beautifully and perhaps help open minds that could change lives. Sincerely, D.S. The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review. 

Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to convene a meeting on Sunday evening at his Jerusalem office to discuss a potential security agreement with Syria, according to an attendee’s office. There is growing anticipation that the agreement could be formally announced later this week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where both Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa are scheduled to attend.

Hamas ominously released what it called a “parting image” Saturday of the remaining 48 Israelis being held captive in Gaza, as IDF ground troops prepare to close in on Gaza City. The image is a compilation of the faces of the captives, with the name Ron Arad inscribed below each one. Arad was an Israeli air force pilot who went missing during a 1986 bombing mission in southern Lebanon, who is believed to have been captured and since died. He is still officially classified as missing.

President Trump said Friday that the U.S. military had launched a third attack on suspected narcotics smugglers tied to a terrorist group, reporting that the operation eliminated “3 male narcoterrorists.”

“On my Orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He did not identify which terrorist network was being targeted or where the boat had originated.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans,” Trump added.

According to the president, the strike killed all three men on board, and no American service members were injured. He said the boat was intercepted in international waters.

Video posted by Trump shows a small craft speeding across the sea before an airstrike blasts it apart, engulfing it in fire.

“STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS!!!” Trump declared.

The campaign of strikes began earlier this month. On Sept. 2, Trump authorized the first attack on alleged traffickers, killing 11 suspected members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang labeled by his administration as a Foreign Terrorist Organization working under the control of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. Their boat was destroyed while moving through open waters.

A second strike was carried out on Sept. 15, when U.S. forces hit another vessel, killing 3 “male terrorists” accused of running drugs, Trump said.

Trump shared video footage of both earlier operations on Truth Social.

To support these missions, the U.S. Navy has deployed at least eight warships throughout the Caribbean Sea as part of the administration’s clampdown on drug-smuggling groups aligned with Maduro’s regime.

In addition, F-35 stealth fighters have been dispatched to the region, with at least five spotted landing in Puerto Rico over the past several days.

The administration has also placed a $50 million reward on the capture of Maduro, underscoring its intent to escalate pressure on his government.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar is insisting that Israel issue a formal public apology for the recent airstrike in Doha that killed senior Hamas figures, setting it as a precondition for resuming its role as mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, Channel 12 News reported.

The demand was formally relayed to Israeli officials and also communicated to representatives of the United States, according to the report.

Since the Gaza conflict began, Qatar has played a central part in shuttle diplomacy between the two sides, and the Trump administration has assessed that without Doha’s involvement, progress toward negotiations would be severely hampered.

The matter surfaced during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s discussions this week with the Qatari emir in Doha, as well as in his meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

Qatar’s position was further conveyed during a session in London between Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff is scheduled to hold additional talks in New York later this week with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in hopes of moving forward with efforts to resolve the standoff, resume ceasefire negotiations, and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

{Matzav.com}

The federal prosecutor reviewing mortgage fraud allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James stepped down on Friday, just hours after President Trump publicly declared, “I want him out.”

U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who had been overseeing the inquiry into James without filing any charges, informed staff at his Alexandria, Virginia, office that he was resigning after Trump made it clear he no longer wanted him in the position, several outlets reported.

“This evening, I submitted my resignation as Interim U.S. Attorney for [Eastern District of Virginia],” Siebert wrote in an email to employees. “For the last eight months, I have had the pleasure of leading the finest and most exceptional of DOJ employees who care deeply about our nation and our EDVA community.”

“Thank you for the lessons you have taught me, the sacrifices you have made, and the pursuit of justice you strive for every day,” he added.

Siebert’s departure as the lead prosecutor in Virginia comes amid reports that the Trump administration had been pressuring him over his handling of the James investigation.

“I want him out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about Siebert, whom he himself had nominated in May.

Although Siebert’s nomination had not yet been confirmed by the Senate, Trump said he withdrew his support once he learned that Virginia’s Democratic senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, had endorsed him.

“I have other people, judges, and I have US attorneys for other states where I have the same situation. And they can’t get approved. So when I learned that they voted for him, I said, ‘I don’t really want him,’” Trump explained.

The probe into James began in April after Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte asked the FBI to investigate alleged mortgage fraud.

According to Pulte, James “falsified records” in order to obtain favorable loan terms on a Virginia property she bought in 2023 and on a Brooklyn brownstone she has owned since 2001.

Pulte claimed James listed the Virginia home as her “principal residence” while continuing to serve as attorney general of New York. James has dismissed the accusations as “baseless” and part of a “revenge tour” by Trump, who she has sued in civil court for fraud involving the Trump Organization.

“We’re going to see what happens,” Trump said about the case, which has already gone before a grand jury. “I am not following it very closely. It looks to me like she’s very guilty of something, but I really don’t know.”

A source told the New York Post that Justice Department Special Attorney Ed Martin had been scheduled to meet Siebert on Monday to go over the progress of the James case.

If Siebert had opted against moving ahead with charges, protocol required him to draft a memo recommending the matter be dropped and forward it to higher-level officials for review.

{Matzav.com}

Matzav.com has received numerous requests to clarify the authenticity of a pamphlet that seems to be notes stolen from Hagaon Rav Gershon Bess, Rov of Bais Medrash Kehilas Yaakov, Los Angeles, regarding a p’sak din from last year that garnered significant interest. Below is his response.

The Pentagon says it will require credentialed journalists at the military headquarters to sign a pledge to refrain from reporting information that has not been authorized for release — including unclassified information. Journalists who don’t abide by the policy risk losing credentials that provide access to the Pentagon, under a 17-page memo distributed Friday that steps up media restrictions imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump. “Information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified,” the directive states. The signature form includes an array of security requirements for credentialed media at the Pentagon. Advocates for press freedoms denounced the non-disclosure requirement as an assault on independent journalism. The new Pentagon restrictions arrive as Trump expands threats, lawsuits and government pressure as he remakes the American media landscape. “If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see,” said National Press Club President Mike Balsamo, also national law enforcement editor at The Associated Press. “That should alarm every American.” Hegseth says no more permission to ‘roam the halls’ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News Channel personality, highlighted the restrictions in a social media post on X. “The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon — the people do. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility,” Hegseth said. “Wear a badge and follow the rules — or go home.” The Pentagon this year has evicted many news organizations while imposing a series of restrictions on the press that include banning reporters from entering wide swaths of the Pentagon without a government escort — areas where the press had access in past administrations as it covers the activities of the world’s most powerful military. The Pentagon was embarrassed early in Hegseth’s tenure when the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently included in a group chat on the Signal messaging app where the Defense secretary discussed plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen. Trump’s former national security adviser, Mike Waltz, took responsibility for Goldberg being included and was shifted to another job. The Defense Department also was embarrassed by a leak to The New York Times that billionaire Elon Musk was to get a briefing on the U.S. military’s plans in case a war broke out with China. That briefing never took place, on President Donald Trump’s orders, and Hegseth suspended two Pentagon officials as part of an investigation into how that news got out. Media organizations clap back On Saturday, the Society of Professional Journalists also objected to the Pentagon’s move, calling it “alarming.” “This policy reeks of prior restraint — the most egregious violation of press freedom under the First Amendment — and is a dangerous step toward government censorship,” it said in a statement Saturday. “Attempts to silence the press under the guise of “security” are part of a disturbing pattern of growing government hostility toward transparency and democratic norms.” And Matt Murray, executive editor of The Washington Post, said in the paper’s columns Saturday that the new policy runs counter to what’s good for the American public. “The Constitution protects the right to report on the activities of democratically elected and appointed government officials,” Murray […]

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Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, sharply criticized Fox News during a Friday appearance on Newsmax’s The Chris Salcedo Show, accusing the channel of silencing key conservative figures — including both himself and the late Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.

Giuliani’s comments came as Fox faced renewed backlash over its handling of Kirk’s legacy following his assassination earlier this month. Critics argue the network is guilty of hypocrisy for eulogizing Kirk on air while having kept him off its programming for years.

“Well, I was completely banned from the network,” Giuliani told host Chris Salcedo. “They don’t even interview me on Sept. 11 anymore. For 10 or 12 straight years, I was interviewed live on ‘Fox & Friends’ to talk about Sept. 11 — which I imagine would be a time you’d want to talk to me, right? Since they banned me, several of their people have thought they could put me on and then had to call me and tell me, ‘No, you’re not allowed on.’”

Once a frequent guest, Giuliani said Fox cut him off after the fallout from the 2020 election, when he publicly and strongly supported President Donald Trump.

He recalled that even longtime friends inside the network admitted their hands were tied. “At least three or four occasions, very decent, wonderful people that were friends of mine wanted to put me on … and then they’d have to call and tell either me, ‘I’m sorry. They won’t let you on,’” he said.

Giuliani stressed that the network’s decision stung all the more because of his role in helping Fox expand into New York during its early days. “I also helped to establish Fox News in New York. They wouldn’t have been on in New York if it wasn’t for my making a deal with them as mayor to give them the New York City station for a large amount of money,” he said.

His criticism echoes complaints from many America First conservatives who believe Fox has sidelined pro-Trump voices, especially Kirk.

Republican fundraiser Caroline Wren blasted Fox in a social media post, writing: “I appreciate the coverage Fox News is giving Charlie Kirk tonight, but let’s not forget that Fox banned Charlie from coming on the network from 2021-2024, and the same anchors crying on air tonight over losing ‘an amazing champion for free speech’ are the same anchors who didn’t have the guts to challenge [Rupert] Murdoch, Paul Ryan, and Karl Rove when they banned Charlie from their network.”

The network’s tributes to Kirk after his death angered many, including former Fox host Megyn Kelly. On her podcast The Megyn Kelly Show, she declared: “It’s really bothering me how Fox News is talking about Charlie, like he was theirs — he wasn’t. It’s a lie. Just stop. Fox News wouldn’t put Charlie on. I know this from my own behind-the-scenes conversations. They were annoyed on Team Charlie because he was banned. He had been too supportive of Tucker [Carlson].”

Kelly explained that Kirk vanished from Fox’s lineup after Carlson’s ouster in 2023, only reappearing sparingly late the following year. “He was considered ‘other.’ They finally caught on to his magic, but prior to that, he was essentially gone,” she said.

Kirk himself acknowledged the snub in 2023, pointing out that Fox was absent from his Turning Point USA events. “We don’t have a single person from Fox here, and in years past, we have. They’ve been very good to me,” Kirk told Breitbart. “But for whatever reason, it’s gone off the reservation. Since Tucker’s departure, I haven’t been on. And so we had to do an event without Fox.”

Giuliani told Salcedo that the network’s fear after the January 6 Capitol unrest drove much of the shift. “Well, I think after Jan. 6 they panicked. Even some of their talent panicked. Some of the testimony they gave, I can tell you wasn’t true. I think they went into a state of panic about Jan. 6,” he said.

He added that he could not understand Rupert Murdoch’s sudden opposition to Trump, given their prior relationship.

Giuliani ended by stressing that Kirk and he were far from the only ones pushed out. “I have to assure you, I’m not the only one banned from Fox. There’s a rather large group of us,” he said, noting that those excluded largely shared a record of backing Trump.

Salcedo wrapped up the segment with a pointed jab at the network: “The Karl Rove Never Trump network seems to be the repository for the surrender caucus-style type Republicans — [Mitch] McConnell, [John] Cornyn, [Paul] Ryan, Rove, etc.”

For Giuliani, the conclusion was clear: Fox News had turned away from its founding values and shut out the very voices that once fueled its success.

{Matzav.com}

Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night host recently suspended from ABC, has been criticized for heavily favoring liberal voices on his program while focusing his comedic barbs almost exclusively on Republicans. A review by NewsBusters found that in the last three years, Kimmel invited only one Republican guest, even as his monologues relentlessly skewered conservatives.

Before being pulled “indefinitely” from Jimmy Kimmel Live! following his claim that Charlie Kirk’s killer was linked to the MAGA movement, Kimmel, 57, featured 13 left-leaning guests this year alone without a single Republican, according to the media watchdog group.

The group also documented that the share of Kimmel’s political jokes aimed at conservatives jumped sharply, rising from 88% in 2023 to 97% in 2025.

In fact, Kimmel made 1,128 jokes about President Donald Trump this year — more than any other target.

The runner-ups were Trump’s ally Elon Musk, mocked 154 times, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was ridiculed on 71 occasions.

By comparison, President Joe Biden, who has faced repeated verbal missteps, was the subject of just 26 jokes, according to the same analysis.

Since resuming his show on Sept. 2 after summer break, Kimmel devoted approximately 90 minutes across nine episodes to blasting Trump in his opening monologues, a review by the New York Post found.

Roger Stone, Trump’s longtime political strategist, didn’t hold back in his criticism. “Kimmel has become a shill for the left and a persistent source of boring unfunny narratives. People I know who have interacted with him also say he’s a jerkoff,” Stone told the Post.

“Kimmel’s greatest crime was that he wasn’t funny, and that his rhetoric often veered into the hateful . . . He won’t be missed,” Stone added.

The only Republican to appear on the program in the past four years was MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, who was interviewed in 2023 but only inside a claw machine because he refused the COVID-19 vaccine. Kimmel admitted he insisted Lindell sit in the machine “because it’s hilarious.”

“Of all the colorful unhinged characters who’ve come to prominence in the political era of Donald Trump, our next guest is probably the most enthusiastic,” Kimmel joked during the Jan. 31, 2023 broadcast.

“To help him conquer his debilitating fear of machines we have installed him inside a claw machine for his interview tonight,” Kimmel said, mocking Lindell’s outspoken views on voting-machine fraud.

A former Kimmel writer, Blaire Erskine, tried to counter accusations of bias by listing Republicans who had once appeared on the show. “Oh and your king Donald Trump was a guest on Kimmel,” she posted on X.

But Trump’s appearance dates back a decade. Bill Cassidy was the last Republican senator to show up, in 2017, and he was grilled about the GOP’s health care plan.

Former New York City Councilman Joe Borelli said the numbers don’t lie. He called Kimmel a “liberal hack” and mocked his change in appearance, saying he was “a lot funnier fat.”

“Kimmel decided to be a whiny pompous liberal who, as his ratings show, clearly turned off even the most passive viewer who once tuned in as background noise while scrolling Etsy in bed,” Borelli said.

Nielsen ratings show that by August 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! had dropped to just 1.1 million viewers, down from 1.95 million at the start of the year, making it the lowest-rated late-night program.

Kiersten Pels, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, accused Kimmel of relying on “parroting Democrat talking points to a tiny left-wing fanbase.”

“Now Democrats are more enraged over an out-of-touch, washed-up millionaire losing his ABC gig than they were about the cold-blooded murder of Charlie Kirk,” she said. “This tells you everything you need to know about the Democrat Party.”

NewsBusters noted that the imbalance exists across all late-night shows. From September 2022 through June 2025, they counted 511 liberal guests compared with just 14 conservatives across programs hosted by Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, and Jon Stewart.

CBS recently announced that Colbert’s Late Show would end in May, citing financial concerns.

Curtis Houck, managing editor at NewsBusters, dismissed Kimmel’s program entirely. “For a man hailed by friends as someone whose kindness and sincerity are allegedly defining features, his so-called comedy is the opposite,” Houck said.

“While [Stephen] Colbert was late-night group therapy for liberals, Kimmel was a daily pep rally for liberals and a source of unearned validation for their land of delusion.”

The controversy around Kimmel intensified after his Monday monologue, when he declared, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

Two days later, ABC announced the show would be suspended “indefinitely.”

The suspension triggered debates about censorship and freedom of speech.

But Vice President JD Vance dismissed those arguments, writing, “Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t funny, his ratings were in the toilet, and his advertisers were revolting.”

“Also the bellyaching from the left over ‘free speech’ after the Biden years fools precisely no one,” Vance continued, pointing to allegations that Democrats concealed Biden’s declining health during the 2024 campaign.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island and Brooklyn said the issue was not censorship but audience appeal. “This is not about freedom of speech,” she told the NY Post. “It’s about maintaining an audience and ratings. A politically lopsided show has a hard time doing that, which is why [Kimmel] lost nearly a million viewers over the past decade.”

{Matzav.com}