A tzadik decrees and G-d fulfills

 Michtav M’Eliyahu (2:184) A tzadik decrees and G-d fulfills – It is obviously true that this does not mean that a tzadik can decree something which G-d doesn’t want. The explanation is that there are tzadikim for whom the whole world exists in their merit. That all that happens in the world is merely a means for us to learn from the conduct of these tzadikim how to elevate our service of G-d. What we learn from them is what preserves all of us from the lowest to the highest. That is what it means that because of their merit we live because we are mere utensils for the tzadik which enables us to see G-d’s great kindness in that \He freely sustains the entire world .So when a tzadik who is at this exalted level sees an issue which hides an aspect of G-d’s honor it is appropriate for him to ask G-d to withhold it even if it involves a change in G-d’s normal actions. This is what is meant by “a tzadik decrees and G-d fulfills."

Rav Tzadok (Tzedkas HaTzadik 2:87) No decree comes from the mouth of God except with the consent of the righteous of the generation (who are His court), as it is said in Idra Rabbah "The secret of God is for those who fear Him," and until they consent, no judgment is decreed for the world. And for this reason, one must guard against anything bad ever coming out of his mouth.Certainly everything is according to Justice

White House makes ‘two Kings’ post with photo of Trump, King Charles

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5854013-white-house-kings-trump-charles/

The White House posted a picture of President Trump and King Charles III with the caption “two Kings” amid the monarch’s visit to the U.S. on Tuesday.

White House Finally Lets Slip Trump’s Crazed Thirst for Power

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-finally-lets-slip-trumps-crazed-thirst-for-power/

The official X account for the White House posted a photo of President Donald Trump and King Charles III on Tuesday with the caption: “TWO KINGS. 👑

US intel agencies examining how Iran would react if Trump declares victory in war

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-intel-agencies-examining-how-iran-would-react-if-trump-declares-victory-in-war/

 US intelligence agencies are studying how Iran would respond if President Donald Trump were to declare a unilateral victory in the two-month-old war that has killed thousands and become a political liability for the White House, two US officials and a person familiar with the matter said.

The intelligence community is analyzing the question along with others at the request of senior administration officials. The goal is to understand the implications of Trump potentially pulling back from a conflict that some officials and advisers worry could contribute to deep Republican losses at the midterm elections later this year, according to the sources.

Opinion polls show the war is overwhelmingly unpopular with Americans. Only 26 percent of respondents in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week said the military campaign has been worth the costs, and only 25% said it has made the US safer.

Three people familiar with White House discussions in recent days have described Trump as keenly aware of the political price being paid by him and his party.

US spy agencies examining how Iran would react to Trump declaring victory

 https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894510

US intelligence is analyzing the question to understand the implications of Trump potentially pulling back from a conflict that could contribute to Republican losses in the midterm elections.

United States intelligence agencies are studying how Iran would respond if US President Donald Trump were to declare a unilateral victory in the two-month-old war that has become a political liability for the White House, two US officials and a person familiar with the matter said.

The intelligence community is analyzing the question along with others at the request of senior administration officials. The goal is to understand the implications of Trump potentially pulling back from a conflict that some officials and advisers worry could contribute to deep Republican losses at the midterm elections later this year, according to the sources.

While no decision has been made - and Trump could easily ramp back up military operations - a quick de-escalation could ease political pressure on the president, even as it could leave behind an emboldened Iran that could eventually rebuild its nuclear and missile programs and threaten US allies in the region.

In the days following the initial bombing campaign in February, intelligence agencies assessed that if Trump were to declare victory and the US drew down its forces in the region, Iran would likely view it as a win, one of the sources said.

Haredi anti-draft rioters break into Military Police chief’s home with family inside; 25 arrested

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/haredi-anti-draft-rioters-break-into-military-police-chiefs-home-with-family-inside/

Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators belonging to the extremist Jerusalem Faction protested across the country on Tuesday, blocking Route 4 near the central city of Bnei Brak and breaching the home of the head of the IDF’s Military Police in Ashkelon in protest of the arrest of yeshiva students who have evaded military conscription.

The military said the extremists broke into Military Police commander Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin’s home “while his family was inside.” Police said in a statement that the rioters “trespassed into the yard, acted violently, and disrupted the routine of life in the area.”

Police later announced that 25 suspects, among them minors, were arrested.

In a statement, the Jerusalem Faction declared that the arrest of yeshiva student Nehorai Bachar “from within the walls of the yeshiva in Herzliya” and his incarceration in military prison crossed a “red line” and that faction’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Azriel Auerbach, has “instructed the public to take part in a mass ‘protest of rage’ Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the entrance to Jerusalem.”

The funniest thing about Jimmy Kimmel

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/28/jimmy-kimmels-joke-wasnt-funny-thats-not-fcc-decide/

The funniest thing about Jimmy Kimmel is how President Donald Trump keeps saving his career.

This is the second time in seven months the Trump administration has tried to jawbone Disney in a bid to get Kimmel off the air. It backfired last time, boosting Kimmel’s ratings and getting his contract renewed through May 2027. This time, more than 4 million people who might have otherwise missed the bit that angered Trump have sought it out on YouTube.

It’s easy to see why the president would be annoyed. Even a lousy joke can feel like a threat, especially when crazed people keep trying to kill him. But Kimmel’s speech is clearly protected, and no one can reasonably interpret what he said as incitement to violence. Nor does it justify the president telling a Fortune 50 company how to run its business.

The government retaliating and discriminating against viewpoints the president doesn’t like is plainly unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Administration officials claim the timing of the early license review is coincidental and stems from the probe he launched last year into Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. But the FCC licenses for the eight ABC stations owned by Disney aren’t supposed to come up for renewal until between 2028 and 2031.

Comedy is often edgy. The more taboo it becomes, the more people want to watch. Trump’s latest comments play right into Kimmel’s hands.

US presses Israel to maintain Lebanon 'ceasefire'

 https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/29/us-presses-israel-to-maintain-lebanon-ceasefire/

Israel's response to Hezbollah violations remains measured, in part due to an explicit US request conveyed as part of talks between Washington and Jerusalem, including between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.

For now, Jerusalem is being forced to balance US demands with the growing pressure from northern Israeli communities and the ongoing attacks on IDF troops. On the ground, the ceasefire remains more fragile than ever.

James Comey indicted over 2025 social media post allegedly threatening Trump TDS paranoia

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/28/james-comey-indicted-second-time-by-justice-department/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=acq&utm_campaign=RH-ACQ&utm_content=dtpannual_20260428_RH&campaign_id=17894969

Former FBI director James B. Comey has been indicted on allegations that a photo he posted on social media in 2025 constituted a dangerous threat to the president.

The two charges stem from a photo that Comey posted online showing seashells on a beach that were arranged to write out “86 47.” Trump is the 47th president; “86” can mean banning or removing someone, but it can also be slang for killing a person. Comey quickly removed the post after receiving criticism that the phrase could be used to communicate the threat of violence.

The three-page indictment states that the seashells were “arranged in a pattern making out ‘86 47’, which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.”

Comey has suggested that he stumbled on the shell formation during a walk along the beach and did not arrange the shells himself. There is generally a high legal threshold to charge someone with threatening a person based on their language, and legal experts said it would be tough for the Justice Department to build a strong case with just the seashells.

At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, acting attorney general Todd Blanche sidestepped questions about what evidence prosecutors have that Comey intended to actually hurt the president — an aspect of a threat case that prosecutors would typically need to prove to secure a conviction.

When Erik S. Siebert, the Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorney who led the office before Halligan, concluded that the evidence was insufficient to charge, Trump forced him out of his job.

DOJ cites attack, ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ in seeking ballroom approval

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/28/trump-ballroom-filing-national-trust-lawsuit/

The Justice Department’s motion — which is unusually written for a government legal filing and resembles Trump’s Truth Social posts — was one of several documents filed to the court late Monday night. The motion also criticizes the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nonprofit that brought the lawsuit, writing that the group’s “name is FAKE” and claiming that “they suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly referred to as TDS.”

It is not clear whether the White House Correspondents’ Association, a private organization, would seek to hold its annual celebration in the White House ballroom.

Trump has prioritized the ballroom for months, sometimes mentioning the project more frequently than other major policy priorities. But his efforts have ramped up since Saturday’s incident, and a growing number of GOP lawmakers and allies are now touting the need for a secure space, too.

Trump has also repeatedly mocked Leon and his ruling, calling him a “Trump Hating Judge” in social media posts.

Did Leavitt say there would be 'shots fired' before White House correspondents' dinner shooting?

 https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/karoline-leavitt-shots-fired/

Claim:

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there would be "shots fired" ahead of a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on April 25, 2026.

Correct Attribution

Leavitt made the comment while speaking to comedian and Fox News host Jimmy Failla about the expected content of U.S. President Donald Trump's upcoming speech at the correspondents' dinner. The phrase "shots fired" is a common figure of speech that refers to someone making jokes or jabs at another person. There was no evidence Leavitt's remark referenced the shooting before it happened.

Jimmy Kimmel Speaks Out After Melania Trump ‘Widow’ Joke Criticism

 https://time.com/article/2026/04/28/jimmy-kimmel-melania-trump-widow-joke-fired-response/

He noted, facetiously, that if the Trumps really believe his remarks could have induced violence, they should also look into a remark made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt before the dinner. “It will be funny. It will be entertaining,” Leavitt had told Fox News. “There will be some shots fired tonight.”

While Kimmel said he understands that the incident may have been particularly “stressful” for the Trumps and agreed to reject “hateful and violent rhetoric,” he argued that the First Lady should first speak to her husband about dialing back inflammatory language against his critics and the press.

“Donald Trump is allowed to say whatever he wants to say, as are you and as am I, as are all of us, because under the First Amendment, we have, as Americans, a right to free speech,” Kimmel said, while noting that he’s a vocal advocate against gun violence. “I am sorry that you and the President and everyone in that room on Saturday went through that. I really am,” he said. “Just ’cause no one got killed doesn't mean it wasn’t traumatic and scary, and we should come together and be best.”

Jimmy Kimmel on Melania & Donald Trump Demanding His Firing & The White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Kyiv summons Israeli envoy, EU warns of sanctions after 2nd ‘stolen’ grain ship incident

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-tells-ukraine-too-late-to-seize-russian-grain-ship-as-it-left-haifa-report-2/

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday that Israel’s ambassador had been summoned to his ministry over what he described as Israeli inaction in allowing shipments of grain to enter the country from Russian-occupied Ukraine.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told Sybiha that Ukraine had provided no evidence to support allegations that the grain was “stolen.” He accused him of conducting diplomacy through the media.

In his response, also on X, Sa’ar said the issue would be examined, but that allegations were not evidence and no evidence had been provided.

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to maintain a neutral stance between Moscow and Kyiv, even though Russia has been providing critical intelligence to Iran in the US-Israel war against Iran.