The surface explanation is that Mr. Waltz had to take the fall for accidentally adding a reporter to a Signal group chat on the Houthis. But if so, why keep Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who shared details of U.S. attack plans on the chat? Without that blunder, Mr. Waltz’s use of Signal to ask for his colleagues’ points of contact would have been a minor embarrassment.
Friday, May 2, 2025
Steve Witkoff shouldn’t be leading Iran, Russia negotiations, allies and insiders say
President Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, former real estate attorney and investor Steve Witkoff, has left administration insiders distressed by his approach to negotiating with two of America’s greatest adversaries.
Witkoff, who has become Trump’s de facto personal ambassador to Russian President Vladimir Putin in addition to taking on the Middle East portfolio, takes part in high-level meetings alone — and is said to have even occasionally leaned on Kremlin translators — in a break with longstanding diplomatic procedure, multiple sources told The Post.
Witkoff underestimating Hamas, Iran in negotiations, experts say
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-852204
Some fear that handling both Hamas and Iran will be too much for Steve Witkoff.
Trump administration insiders are reportedly concerned that the United States’ special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is not capable of dealing with Iran, Hamas, or Russia, the insiders told the New York Post on Wednesday.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Trump Melts Down at Being Fact-Checked Right to His Face
“Wait a minute. Terry. Terry, Terry,” Trump said during Tuesday’s interview, refusing to move on.
“He did not have the letter ‘M-S-1-3,’” Moran said.
“It says ‘M-S-1-3,’” Trump insisted.
“That was Photoshopped,” Moran said.
“That was Photoshopped? Terry you can’t do that,” Trump told Moran.
Trump-appointed judge says president’s use of Alien Enemies Act is unlawful in first-of-its-kind ruling
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/01/politics/alien-enemies-act-trump-rodriguez-ruling
The ruling is a significant blow to Trump’s decision in March to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, which has faced numerous legal challenges and has been halted by several courts. But Rodriguez’s ruling is the first to conclude that the president exceeded his authority by relying on a law that was intended to be used during times when the US is at war.
The Trump administration, Rodriguez wrote, does “not possess the lawful authority under the AEA, and based on the Proclamation, to detain Venezuelan aliens, transfer them within the United States, or remove them from the country.”
Judge rules Trump use of Alien Enemies Act for gangs is ‘unlawful’
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5277593-judge-trump-alien-enemies-act-texas
A federal district judge ruled Thursday that the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) does not permit President Trump to swiftly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador, extending a block on the law being used against migrants detained in South Texas.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Trump appointee, said the rarely used law can only be invoked when an “organized, armed force” is entering the United States, rejecting the president’s claims that he can use it against alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA).
Firefighters battle blazes throughout night; main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway remains closed
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-may-01-2025/
Fire service stresses ban on visiting national parks and forests in areas near fires during Independence Day * Three people rescued from blaze at Bat Yam senior home
Trump Insists Wrongly Deported Man Has ‘MS-13’ Tattooed on His Knuckles
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. .
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
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!!!"
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