Trump Insists Wrongly Deported Man Has ‘MS-13’ Tattooed on His Knuckles

 https://www.wsj.com/us-news/trump-interview-ms-13-tattoo-kilmar-abrego-garcia-39b994fa?mod=hp_lista_pos2

Notorious gang’s initials were digitally added to an image of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s hand

President Trump insisted in a television interview that the man his administration mistakenly sent to a Salvadoran prison has the letters and numbers “MS-13” tattooed on his knuckles, as a judge in Maryland presses ahead with an inquiry into what the administration has done to seek the man’s return. 

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was born in El Salvador and had been living in Maryland after entering the U.S. without authorization as a teen, has symbols tattooed on his knuckles that can be common among those without gang affiliations, including a marijuana leaf, skull, cross and a smiley face with X’s for eyes. 

JD Vance Casts Tiebreaking Vote to Defeat Democrats on Trump Tariff Plan

 https://www.newsweek.com/jd-vance-casts-tiebreaking-vote-defeat-democrats-trump-tariff-plan-2066490

Vice President JD Vance cast a tiebreaking vote to table a bipartisan resolution Wednesday night aimed at canceling President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency in order to impose global tariffs.

The resolution ended in a tie during the first round of votes, as a few members of the Senate were not there. In a subsequent vote to table or reconsider the resolution, Vance stepped in to break the 49-49 tie.

Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky cosponsored the bill and Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski also voted in favor of it.

Kipa in office

Igros Moshe (CM I #93) Question Is it permitted to get a job at a place which requires that he not wear a kip and go bare headed? Answer It is clearly permitted since one is not obligated to lose money in order to wear a kipa! That is because  there is no actual prohibition  even as a rabbinic decree to go bare headed but it is only a good custom.  It definitely is not worse than nullifying a positive command which does not require sustaining a loss of a lot money to avoid.  Therefore avoiding taking the job which is the basis for his parnossa is considered a large financial loss.  Thus even according to the Taz who says not wearing a kipah violates the Torah prohibition of following non Jewish practices which would require sustaining a large financial loss to avoid.  However this prohibition is is not clear. And this  would also seem to depend on the specific place and country. In America ,  going bare headed is definitely not goyish custom, since most people don’t go bare headed to show they are goyim. But it would be permitted only at the office where they are strict about this.  But going to another place  and especially in public it would be prohibited to go bare headed  even if people will laugh at him since there is no longer a financial loss of losing his job.by wearing a kipa there.

Igros Moshe (OC IV #2)  Question: Can one stop wearing a Kipa in order to get a job  which requires meeting people and his boss says he can’t wear a kippa. Answer It would seem that this is permitted since most authorities say that wearing a kipa is not actually required but is an act of piety.  Even wearing this when saying G-d’s name is not actually prohibited. However this is an ancient custom (minhag) and thus to avoid a great loss as it would be permitted concerning nullifying a positive commandment it is permitted. However the Taz says that not wearing a kipa involves an issur of chukas goyim  which would not be permitted by a great financial loss  and it is appropriate to be strict according to his view even though that in a case of great loss one can rely on the view that this is not a case of chukas goyim because even the goyim don’t wear a hat when it is warm so we see that not wearing a hat is not a requirement but only a free choice which refutes the view of the Taz. .  

Why were Jews redeemed from Egypt?

 At the Sea  The Angel asked Why the Jews were saved since they were sinners like the Egyptians and had no special merit of their own

Mechilta (beshalach 6) The Jews were only redeemed from Egypt because of the reward for their faith

The Worst First 100 Days of Any Administration in History

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-worst-first-100-days-of-any-administration-in-history/

That is not to contradict the White House’s assertion that it has been a record-breaking first 100 days. Indeed, it is inarguable that no administration has done more damage, more quickly, to the U.S. economy, to the rule of law, to America’s standing in the world and to important institutions at home and abroad than Trump’s second tenure has.

Look at Trump’s campaign promises. Ending the war in Ukraine in 24 hours? No. Revitalizing the economy? No. Beating inflation? No. Restoring America’s standing in the world? No. No. Making sure we no longer have an addled old man in the White House? No.

In fact, in each of these areas—and many more still—Trump has made matters worse.

US Economy Shrinks: Wall St Drops, Trump Blames Biden

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-administration-immigration-tariffs-live-updates-2066077

The U.S. economy contracted for the first time in three years, with new data showing a 0.3% decline in gross domestic product for the first quarter of 2025. The surprising drop, driven largely by a spike in imports ahead of steep new tariffs, sparked fresh market jitters and political finger-pointing, including President Donald Trump, who blamed the downturn on the "Biden overhang."

Trump blames Biden as US economy goes into reverse

President Donald Trump pointed the finger of blame at former President Joe Biden after data showed the U.S. economy shrank for the first time in three years.

"This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's," Trump posted to his Truth Social platform after the economic news dropped, and markets braced to open lower.

"I didn't take over until January 20th. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers.

"Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden 'Overhang.' This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!"

'Tariff scrooge' Trump is already killing U.S. jobs and has the worst 100-day polling ever

Flood and Geologists

 Malbim (Bereishis  7:23) All existence on earth was blotted out While  life was blotted out, many of their bones which were as strong as iron bars and did not disintegrate.  Most of the carcasses were carried by the flood waters into deep crevices. They were thus buried deep in the earth. Consequentlt when Noach left the Ark, he found no trace of the carcasses of animals  or the big bones of of the large animals or giants that existed before the Flood. The testimony of G-d is reliable and enlightens the fool.  And is the response to the scholarly geologists who dig in the depths of the Earth where they find the large bones of giants and large animals. That were lost from the earth and have not existed after the days of the flood, They claim this is proof that the world is very old. That is because that the world is composed of different materials and that different distinct depths there is a different type of earth and they calculate based on these layers the age of the bones. They believe that the world is thousands of years old and that there were already animals from ancient times before the time of our creation. And this is nonsense, because at the time of the flood the earth opened up because of the earthquakes and they overturned the layers bring the lower levels to the top and the top layers to the bottom as well as lowering the carcasses to the lower levels. This process of overturning the layers which continued for 150 years confounds the scientists . They should only be aware of the deeds and wonders of G-d as to how he obliterated the world and drowned them to the depths. 

Netziv (Bereishis 7:23) All existence on earth was blotted out That means that their bodies were removed from the surface of the world. But many of the bodies were covered with dirt by the Flood but remained intact. In fact these are source of the bones that have been found by those who dig in the dirt and find bones of creatures which don’t exist now in the world. The many scientist conclude from them that there must have been a different world in existence proior to the creation of this world. In fact in Bereishis Rabbah it clearly states that there were worlds created before this one which G-d destroyed. This idea is also found in the Zohar. Nevertheless I find this problematic as we see in Shemos Rabbah that what came before is not significant and nothing remained of them. I think that these bones are from those that existed before the Flood and no longer exist. Even though they flourished in a different climate but they deviated from their previous life prior to the Flood and moved to a different place. They continued to exist by breeding with different species and produced strange offspring like a horse breeds with a camel. It is the result of Divine supervision that these bones remain so that the contemporary generation can learn the secrets of Nature  and the Glory of G-d. . 

Engagement - interfere

Igros Moshe (E.H.I #91). Question Is it permitted for someone to try and become engaged to a women who is engaged to another. Is this a case of Ani Hehapech becharara? Answer It is clear that if the first couple has not yet decided to finalize the engagement there is no problem. However if they have decided but are still lacking the customary kinyan there is a dispute among the poskim whether it is permitted. Once the kinyan is made there is a cherem against nullifying the engagement.

Harvard head apologises as scathing reports on campus prejudice released

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0eljwdp545o

The reports included testimony from students who described feeling alienated and pressured to conceal their identity from their peers and educators.

In response to the findings, Harvard pledged to review its academic offerings and admissions policies - a key demand of the White House, which accuses the Ivy League institution of failure to stamp out campus antisemitism.

Canadians united against Trump, but are divided about almost everything else

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/29/americas/canada-election-results-liberal-carney-poilievre-analysis-intl/index.html

The resurrection of Canada’s Liberal Party was as close to miraculous as you can get in modern politics. Its savior: Prime Minister Mark Carney, a political rookie but also an experienced tactician and one of the world’s most highly regarded economists.

But in a farmer’s field on the eve of the election, Canada’s Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre continued to nurture a robust political movement that won the Conservative Party its largest share of the popular vote in decades.

Both leaders promised to vigorously stand up to the threat to annex Canada that came early, loudly and often from US President Donald Trump.

Israeli convicted of plotting assassinations for Iran sentenced to 10 years

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-convicted-of-plotting-assassinations-for-iran-sentenced-to-10-years/

Court notes Moti Maman twice traveled to Iran while Israel was fighting Iranian proxies; defense says it will appeal ‘disproportionate’ sentence

The Beersheba District Court on Tuesday handed a 10-year prison sentence to Moti Maman, an Israeli man convicted in December of contacts with Iranian agents, some of them inside Iran, and discussing with them a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Maman, 73, of Ashdod, was convicted on charges of contact with a foreign agent and entering an enemy state without authorization, after he visited Iran twice and met with Iranian intelligence officials to discuss assassinating senior Israeli public figures including Netanyahu, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, or then-defense minister Yoav Gallant.

Medicine: Are there patients whose life should not be prolonged

Igros Moshe (Choshen Mishpat II #73.1) Question: Are there patients who should not be given medication to prolong there short life expectendcy? Answer We see concerning the death of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi that the prayers of the rabbis did not cure him but just kept him alive (Kesubos 104a).When his maid servant saw his great sufferering she first prayed that they stop praying but this didn’t stop them so she made a loud noise and that distracted them from their prayers and he died. This gemora shows that there are times to pray for a person to die who is in great suffering but can not be cured either through medicine or prayers. The Ran in Nedarim (40) also says there are times to pray that a sick person die.based on the gemora in Kesubos. Thus for thse cases that are incurable and he is suffering his life should not be prolonged with medical tratments. He can not be given treatment to shorten his life even a little bit because it is considered murder. Thus only passive methods of withholding treatment are allowed not active ones that kill him. Therefore if there are pain killers which are not harmful he should be given them because he is not considered a gosais. A seriously sick patient who is able to breathe needs to be given oxygen even if he can’t be cured by this.It is viewed as easying his suffering. Nevertheless to see whether he has died he should be checked every hour or two whether he is still alive. This should be continued until the oxygen tank is finished .

Igros Moshe (Choshen Mishpat II #74.1) Question You requested I clarify what I wrote about treating incurable patients who are suffering Answer  I don’t see the need for additional explanation as I dont understand why you think my original answer can be mistaken. I simply said if the doctors know no cure for his sickness or treatment to ease the pain but can only prolong his painful life – he should not be given that treatment. This is like the case of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi (Kesubos 104a) where prayer did not cure him or stop the suffering but helped only to prolong his life of suffering.  When his maid servant saw she could not stop these prayers through her prayers she distracted them by making a loud noise and then he died. This gemora is cited by the Ran as proof that one can pray for a person in incurable pain to die.  We should not  learn from this that we should pray that a person die.G-d forbid! We learn that if the person is incurable and can not reduce his suffering that at best they can prolong his life of suffering that they should not give treatment to prolong his life. It is obvious that if it helps him survive until he can be given a real cure that this should be done.  The patient doesn’t even need to be asked whether he wants it nor is he listened to if he says he doesn’t want it. However it is best if wants the treatment since forcing treatment might be harmful. . The Remah also says that it is permissible  or even required to remove all things that are preventing death even if this hastens death just a small amount. Obviously this is because of the suffering of the gosais. If there is no suffering there is no reason to remove what is impeding death. .Treatment can also be done in these cases if it makes the patient feel better. 

Elevator Shabbos

Igros Moshe (OC II #80) Question: There is a large building in which most of the space is rented for offices which are used on Shabbos and Yom Tov and there is an elevator operated by a non Jew. Now the owner wants to change this so the elevator is self service Is this change prohibited because it is causing Jews to sin? Answer Before the elevator was operated by the non Jew there was no concern for lifnei Ivair since there were other offices elsewhere that could be rented. And thus it was only a question of allowing sin and the Magan Avraham says this is not a problem since most use does not involve sin.  However now that a non Jew has been hired to run the elevator and it would require a major effort for the tenants and might be impossiuble  to move elsewhere it is now a problem of lifnai ivair if you switch to self service and thus it seems it should be prohibited. However I have shown regarding Sheviis that whenever the work involved can be sometimes prohibited and other times permitted it is permitted to sell a field or an animal that will sometimes be involved in sin but not all the time. Thus it is not viewed as causing or supporting of  allowing sin. But merely being a minor causation that sin is done and this is not prohibited.  However while I was inclined to permit based on this reasoning I didn’t actually pasken that it was permitted since I couldn’t find anyone who actually ruled according to this principle. Nevertheless if not permitting will result in a large financial losss it can be relied on to permit. Even the use of the non Jew violates a Rabbinic prohibition if he is acting entirely because he was hired to work for the owner. It is better that he work primarily for himself. For example if he get paid a specific amount for each trip and thus the prohibition is not caused by the owner

Igros Moshe (OC II #95) It is prohibited to enter an elevator on Shabbos that an evil person entered into first. However if a goy enters first for his own needs it is technically permitted but is prohibited because of maris haaiyen. In addition it is prohibited because additional people that enter increase the work done by the motor. Furthermore if he is known as a G-d fearing person and surely as a talmid chachom use of the elevator is also a chillul haShem 

Igros Moshe (OC IV #64.1) It is prohibited to use electricity on Shabbos and Yom Tov even though  it doesn’t make a fire . Similarly a refrigerator or freezer is prohibited and obviously it is prohibited to turn on electric lights. 

Igros Moshe (OC V #18.27) It is prohibited to comb hair on Shabbos because it is impossible without pulling out hair. The Magen Avrahan says even according to the view that an inevitable action which is unwanted is permitted this is prohibited because you want to separate the hairs and it is impossible do do it without pulling out some hair. This Magen Avraham supports my view regarding the sparks produced when an electrical circuit is completed or disconnected with any electrical device. Similarly when increasing the load on an electric motor such as in an elevator. So even saying that the sparks serve no necessary purpose and you don’t want them however since it is impossible to obtain the use of electrical power for the elevator without them so the sparks are not considered an inevitable  side product but rather are viewed as an integral part of the elevator and are prohibited