Laughing Off Trump’s Agenda Would Be a Fatal Error

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/laughing-off-trumps-agenda-would-be-a-fatal-error/

Since Donald Trump first took office in 2016, we have struggled to answer whether his defining characteristic—and that of his administration—is ignorance, incompetence, greed, or malevolence.

You might ask whether choosing among these base traits is useful, given that each clearly plays some role shaping the outcomes with which we must now contend. But it matters. If Trump and those around him are merely not up to the job, or they are just bumbling clowns, then it’s easier to shrug off what they say and do. If they lack the capacity to achieve their goals, then we needn’t worry so much— all we need do is cringe and wait for it all to collapse beneath the weight of its own stupidity.

But it has become increasingly clear that the roots of the current U.S. administration are not just reckless. Recent developments have shown that laughing off Trump & Co. is a dangerous miscalculation.

How a U.S. President Pivoted Toward Russia

 https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-relationship-4decfe96?mod=hp_lead_pos7

When President Trump met Russia’s Vladimir Putin for their first bilateral summit, in the Finnish capital of Helsinki in July 2018, the two men cloistered themselves for hours with no advisers present.

Once they emerged to a packed news conference, Trump tossed a gift from the Russian president—a soccer ball meant for Trump’s son Barron—to the front row where America’s senior-most officials sat. Trump then stunned his team by saying he believed Putin, and not America’s own intelligence services, about whether Russia interfered in the 2016 elections that brought him to power.

Israel delays release of terrorists until humiliating ceremonies stop

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404338

Prime Minister's Office announces that it has been decided to delay the release of the terrorists due to the humiliating ceremonies held by Hamas. Terrorists who were set to be released were returned to their prison cells.

'It's morally disgusting': Trump torched for saying Ukraine 'should have never started' Putin's war

'This is a dictator': New York Post cover shows cracks in right-wing over Trump's comments

Shin Bet arrests two Israeli Jews who drove terrorists to Bat Yam ahead of bus bombings

 https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-843160

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) arrested two Jewish-Israeli suspects and are investigating their potential involvement in transporting the terrorists that planted bombs on buses in the Bat Yam area of central Israel on Thursday evening, Israeli media reported on Friday. 

The two are also charged with attempted murder.

From saviour to Judas… How Trump’s pivot on Russia also endangers his own country

 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/22/from-saviour-to-judas-how-trumps-pivot-on-russia-also-endangers-his-own-country

Candidate Trump, touting a just peace, pledged to end the war in a day. Now he praises Vladimir Putin, claims Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is “a dictator” and backs a settlement on Moscow’s criminal, one-sided terms. This deranged collapse into craven capitulation, this transition from American saviour to American Judas, took less than a month. It’s contemptible.

Ukraine is in shock over Trump’s unforced concessions and pro-Russia lurch: no return of occupied territory to Kyiv; no Nato membership, no US security guarantees, no troops. Less art of the deal, more art of the steal. Zelenskyy’s too-true jibe about Trump living in a “Russian disinformation bubble” hit a nerve, recalling the Mueller report on 2016 election collusion with the Kremlin.

One in Four Canadians See US as 'Enemy' Country

 https://www.newsweek.com/canada-us-relations-enemy-poll-tariffs-2034766

According to the Leger poll conducted between February 14 and 17, 27 percent of Canadians now consider the U.S. an enemy, while 30 percent still see it as an ally. Another 27 percent view it as neutral. The poll surveyed 1,500 Canadians and 1,000 Americans. It was not assigned a margin of error as it was conducted online.

US proposes its own UN resolution marking anniversary of war in Ukraine after refusing to back European statement

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/22/politics/ukraine-war-us-proposes-un-resolution/index.html

The draft US resolution is brief. It mourns “the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict” and “implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.”

U.S. Pushes Kyiv to Kill Its U.N. Resolution Marking War’s Anniversary

 https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/u-s-pushes-kyiv-to-kill-its-u-n-resolution-marking-wars-anniversary-ed6db571?mod=hp_lead_pos1

In a new rift, Washington and Kyiv pitch competing texts, with Europe backing Ukraine and the U.S. refusing to blame Russia for the war

The diplomatic rift between the Trump administration and Ukraine over Russia’s invasion escalated Saturday after the U.S. pushed to kill a United Nations resolution that Ukraine had crafted with European support marking the war’s third anniversary. Instead, the U.S. submitted its own draft resolution.

Conservative Judaism – taking a teaching Job in their school

 Igros Moshe (YD I #139) This that you took a job as a principal at a school for young children under the auspices of heretics and you were told  by one of my principals that it was inappropriate. The fact is that even if the job was kosher such as teaching them G-d’s Torah and praying with them properly. In another location it would be proper to have such a job since it is necessary to teach Torah to their children so that perhaps they will grow up to keeping Torah and mitzvos as proper Jews. However it is still inappropriate to accept this position which involves also being a teacher there because it is possible that the students there will come to view their school as a legitimate place to learn since they have such a nice religious teacher and this can lead to serious damage. However this that you write that they pray an inappropriately abbreviated pray and they don’t say all the Berachos in the Amida and consequently instead of educating them properly in prayer and mitzvos you are teaching them that which is prohibited. That is because all the Berachos of the Amida are required. It is surely a problem if the beracha they say has been altered from the original text it would certainly be prohibited to take this job. Even if it is possible that you might be able to influence some of the students to be better. But the possibility similarly exists that it is more likely that the opposite is true that this will cause some to not be properly religious. That is because heresy is attractive and thus must be avoided.

Igros Moshe (YD II  #107) To take a job as teacher and principal in a religious school of the Conservatives in something which is displeasing to Sages. However you can not say it is prohibited if he is allowed to teach G-d’s Torah and to pray properly and that the school is located away from their synagogue. Consequently don’t object against those who need a livelihood and want to take such a job. .It is also a positive thing since the children of the Conservative Jews need to learn G-d’s Torah and perhaps this will aide them to acquire Torah as proper Jews. However because of this possibility it doesn’t make taking the job something pleasing to the Sages. That is because it is uncertain whether he will have a positive influence on them and  this means he will be closely associating with heretics. Our Sages have stated that we should distance ourselves from heresy and to be greatly concerned with their danger even if it is only a small problem. Therefore this can only be tolerated if  needed for a livelihood. So in this case where the job is sought not because of livelihood but for idealistic reasons you were correct to object and his time better spent with helping children who are properly observant and already attend a proper shul. While it is important to attract those children of the irreligious but not to take an official position with them. 

Forensic team confirms Shiri Bibas was not killed in an airstrike

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-843267

The forensics team that identified Shiri Bibas's body confirmed that she did not die in an Israeli airstrike as Hamas had previously claimed. 

"We were met with depths of evil and malice that could not be conceived," Dr. Chen Kugel, a leading forensic scientist from the National Center for Forensic Medicine, said on Saturday. "Our examination showed no evidence of injury from the bomb."

"This is a difficult day for us and for all citizens of Israel," he concluded. 

Alice Weidel on Her Far-Right AfD Party’s Rise, Elon Musk’s Support, and the German Election

 https://time.com/7260499/alice-weidel-far-right-afd-germany-musk-vance-trump/

The country’s main intelligence service has labelled some branches of the AfD as extremist groups and placed several of its leaders under surveillance. In the European Parliament, an alliance of right-wing groups expelled the party last spring for being too radical. One AfD official had suggested the Nazi SS were “not all criminals.” Another has called the Holocaust a mere speck of “bird sh-t” on the glorious sweep of German history.

None of this has stopped the Trump Administration from embracing the AfD. In mid-February, Vice President J.D. Vance met with Weidel during his first official tour of Europe. The cornerstone of his trip was an appearance at the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of leaders from around the world. As an establishment outcast, the AfD was not invited, and Weidel was not allowed in the venue. So her meeting with Vance took place in the basement of the Westin Grand, where he spent the night.

Shiri Bibas was murdered in captivity

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404306

Shiri Bibas was murdered in the first weeks of the war, together with her children Kfir and Ariel. 'She was beloved by everyone who knew her, but above all, she was a dedicated mother.'