McIver case presents stumbling blocks for Trump DOJ

 https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5316437-lamonica-mciver-habba-doj-new-jersey/?tbref=hp

Alina Habba, a former personal attorney to President Trump now serving as interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, has accused McIver of assaulting law enforcement with her forearms during a chaotic clash that ensued after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers began to arrest Newark, N.J., Mayor Ras Baraka (D).

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, described the first document filed in the case as highly flawed. 

“It’s one of the most embarrassing publicly filed charging documents from a U.S. attorney’s office that I’ve ever seen,” Goldman told The Hill.“When you then compare the written allegations to the photos that are included, it’s clear the written allegations do not accurately reflect what the photos show. Then, when you look at the video, it’s even less accurate, and it is because it’s so weak and thin, it is so clear that it is a purely political charge.”

“It is so clear that there’s no intent to inflict any physical harm or do anything with the necessary criminal intent. She’s in a scrum and is just trying to protect herself. And even if she did use her forearm to push an agent as part of a scrum, it would never, ever be charged against an average bystander, and certainly not against an elected official who has a constitutional right to be there,” Goldman said.

Satmar Rav says Six Day War victory was natural - without Divine Providence

 It seems that the Satmar Rebbe is saying that the 6 Day War victory was entirely natural - no miracles and no hashgocha protis. To ascribe it to a miracles is "maaseh Satan" i.e., an erroneous perception which causes major theological damage. He is not necessarily saying that Satan did these miracles. This is similar to the Novominkser Rebbe saying that the Gra's opposition to Chassidus was "maaseh Satan". Not that it originated with Satan but that it was a serious mistake with disastrous consequences and thus served Satan's purposes. However I have no problem understanding the way the gedolim of the Aguda understood it - i.e., it originated with Satan. It is rather a small difference between saying that when some error serves a negative purpose we use the idiom of "maaseh Satan" to describe it and saying that Satan actually caused the error.  See -  G-d does-miracles-even-for-irreligious

hhttp://www.baismedrash.com/2011/01/the-satmar-rebbes-position-on-the-six-day-war


Satmar Rebbe(Divrei Yoel Behaloscha page 304): Would you even imagine that there would be empty headed fools that while they call themselves religious but the smell of heresy wafts from their mouths and they fool the whole world with their announcements about miracles [during the Six Day War] – G‑d save us. If in fact these were miracles it would have been much worse. That is because there is bitter retribution to the Jewish people when G-d does miracles from the aspect of evil as the Maharal mentioned before stated. However in truth there were no miracles here at all [concerning the Six Day War]. It was simply a natural occurrence as can readily be seen from the discussions in the newspapers that it was assumed that [Israel] would be victorious. I have already stated that I am fearful – G‑d forbid – for the time when actual miracles are done for them. If at this time when in truth there were no miracles and yet this great evil befell them, then surely if there had been miracles done for them that it would have brought about severe suffering as we mentioned above. From this we see the extreme degree of their cruelty and evil. That even though it was reasonable that [Israel] was going to win the war, nevertheless the Jewish people were in great danger. Nevertheless they placed the Jewish people in this danger for the sake of their glory and for the sake of their governing. Because it was obvious to those with understanding that [Israel] had the ability to completely prevent the war. There were a number of alternatives and circumstances regarding preventing the war, but this is not the place to go into detail. Nevertheless someone who has eyes will see that there is no doubt about this. In fact it was the filth of heresy that blinded their eyes and made them act in an irresponsible and irrational manner..


Satmar Rebbe(Divrei Yoel #7 Shelach page 415): From here we see clearly that one shouldn’t talk about miracles done by Satan. One should avoid it to what ever degree that is possible. That is because this type of talk causes error and misleads the foolish to say that there is such a thing. And even if in truth miracles were done, it is necessary to conceal this fact and describe events in natural terms to the degree that it is possible because of the concern for the negative consequences which might come from it. Unfortunately due to our great sins, the opposite is done. People talk about and publicize miracles of Satan which in fact have no basis in reality. They are nothing more than phony miracles that are presented in order to fool the masses and to attract them to heresy and rebellion against G‑d and His holy Torah. Thus it is necessary for all Jews to avoid talking about the miracles of [Israel] so that they don’t have a part in the denial of G‑d and His holy Torah. Concerning victory in war, it clear from the words of the ancients in many places that it is not considered a type of miracle – even if the few defeat the many. And even the miracle of Chanukah in which the Chashmoneans defeated the vastly greater force of Greeks – even so the commemoration of Chanukah was not established because of the miracle of military victory but rather for the miracle of the oil. The Pri Magadim explains in the laws of Chanuka that it was because military conquest is not in the category of miracle since it appears to be totally natural. That is because there are times that it is natural for the few to vanquish the many even when they are greatly outnumbered. We can related this to the issue of this war of the Zionists with the Arabs.There was not even the slightest miracle because the Zionists were skilled in battle as opposed to the Arabs who were not real soldiers. The secular writers of those days testifiy that they knew from the start that the Zionists were going to win and thus the victory was according to nature. However due to our many sins we see that the heretics brag about their strength and their weapons and they do not believe at all in miracles. It is only the religious Jews who are attracted to these Zionists who loudly proclaim that it was miraculous in order to fool the world. Therefore we are obligated to deny and reject their words. [See Ahl HaGeula v’ahl HaTumra starting with simon 7)

Satmar Rebbe(Divrei Yoel #7 Shelach page 415): From here we see clearly that one shouldn’t talk about miracles done by Satan. One should avoid it to what ever degree that is possible. That is because this type of talk causes error and misleads the foolish to say that there is such a thing. And even if in truth miracles were done, it is necessary to conceal this fact and describe events in natural terms to the degree that it is possible because of the concern for the negative consequences which might come from it. Unfortunately due to our great sins, the opposite is done. People talk about and publicize miracles of Satan which in fact have no basis in reality. They are nothing more than phony miracles that are presented in order to fool the masses and to attract them to heresy and rebellion against G‑d and His holy Torah. Thus it is necessary for all Jews to avoid talking about the miracles of [Israel] so that they don’t have a part in the denial of G‑d and His holy Torah. Concerning victory in war, it clear from the words of the ancients in many places that it is not considered a type of miracle – even if the few defeat the many. And even the miracle of Chanukah in which the Chashmoneans defeated the vastly greater force of Greeks – even so the commemoration of Chanukah was not established because of the miracle of military victory but rather for the miracle of the oil. The Pri Magadim explains in the laws of Chanuka that it was because military conquest is not in the category of miracle since it appears to be totally natural. That is because there are times that it is natural for the few to vanquish the many even when they are greatly outnumbered. We can related this to the issue of this war of the Zionists with the Arabs.There was not even the slightest miracle because the Zionists were skilled in battle as opposed to the Arabs who were not real soldiers. The secular writers of those days testifiy that they knew from the start that the Zionists were going to win and thus the victory was according to nature. However due to our many sins we see that the heretics brag about their strength and their weapons and they do not believe at all in miracles. It is only the religious Jews who are attracted to these Zionists who loudly proclaim that it was miraculous in order to fool the world. Therefore we are obligated to deny and reject their words. [See Ahl HaGeula v’ahl HaTumra starting with simon 7)

Satmar Rebbe<(Ahl HaGeula v’ahl HaTemura simon 7): The consequences of all that we have discussed up to this point is that victory in war has nothing to do with miracles but is entirely natural. This is true even if a larger force is defeated by a smaller one and a stronger force is defeated by a weaker one… So surely concerning our topic of the war of the Zionists with the Arabs – there was not the slightest hint or scent of miracle. Because it is well known that Arabs and the descendants of Yishmael are not good soldiers and they fulfill the beracha that Avraham gave to Yishmael that he would fall before all his brothers…Therefore it is clear that there was not the slightest involvement of miracles in their defeat in war rather it was entirely natural. We have the testimony of many experts and government leaders that was published in the secular newspapers of that time which clearly foretold that the Arabs would not win a war because they were not good soldiers. I remember that in Israel prior to the founding of the State of Israel that the Zionist leaders gloated that they weren’t afraid of war with the Arabs even though they were numerically superior. These leaders explained that the nature of the Arab is to flee and escape from the sword of battle. But now the Zionist leaders are saying the opposite in order to blind the eyes and to exaggerate the victory by claiming false miracles and other things. They bribe the newspaper to write what they want to write in order to magnify their victory and their might. But it is clear that there is not even a whiff of truth in what they say about this. All of this is well known and there really should be no need to belabor the point nevertheless…I am belaboring this point…because of the great blindness in the contemporary world. Satan is becoming stronger and he is manifested in those religious Jews who are attracted to Zionism. Even to the degree that they announce that belief in the supposed miraculous victory is required and one of the foundations of faith. As if to say that whoever does not believe in their miracles is a heretic in their eyes. And they announce publicly and openly heretical words that these “miracles” were greater than the miracles done for those who were redeemed from Egypt…


Satmar Rebbe(Ahl HaGeula v’ahl HaTemura #86): It is one of the kindnesses of G‑d that He hasn’t tested us with tests that are so severe because there have not yet been open miracles. All their publicity and stories about their miracles are only false illusions that blind the eyes. Satan has been satisfied with that which the religious Jews who are attracted to Zionism have described as miracles. This has been enough to blind the eyes of a generation as weak and lowly generation as ours. However I am still afraid of what will happen in the future. I hope that it won’t come to this and that we won’t be tested from Heaven with different and powerful tests… In general a person needs to know that he should not be excited and impressed with any miracle or sign and wonder or success of the wicked or their ilk. That is because all of them are only tests from Satan…

"G-d does miracles even for the irreligious" - Criticism of the views of the Satmar Rebbe

One of the major theological controversies in recent years has been the validity of the Satmar Rebbe's claim that the Six Day War victory was ma'aseh Satan and whether miracles only happen to frum people. [There is of course Rav Moshe's teshuva (Y.D. 4:8.2) regarding the miracle of Entebbe which clearly disagrees with the Satmar. ] But there is a little known or  remembered event that happened shortly after the Six Day War which clearly defined the basis of dispute. This is the version I heard from Rabbi Gavriel Beer - a life long Aguda askan - who was there.

As is well known by now, the mood leading up to the Six Days War was very gloomy. Many in Israeli and in the Diaspora were anticipating a war which would be very costly in life - both for the soldiers and civilian population. The more optimistic view was that Israel would take a harsh beating but would survive. There is no need to mention the pessimistic view.

But when the guns were silent after the incredibly short war in June 1967, Israelis discovered that not only had they survived but they had soundly thrashed the massive armies of the surrounding Arab countries and in addition had acquired the West Bank - which included the Old City of Jerusalem and the location of the Temple. Everyone seemed to say it was an open miracle. There was one major dissenting voice - the Satmar Rebbe - who insisted that it was not only not a miracle but the victory was in fact the work of Satan. He emphatically stated that miracles don't happen for the Zionist  - especially to support the theological crime known as the State of Israel.

Several months later at the annual Aguda Convention, this astounding event was the central topic of discussion  Speaker after speaker spoke on the topic and the gedolim were clearly divided on whether to agree or disagree with the Satmar position. One of those who publicly agreed with the Satmar view was Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky.

At the Melava Malka that weekend, the keynote speaker was Rav Itchie Meyer Levin - the Gerrer Rebbe's son-in-law. He of course spoke about the topic. After some introductory comments he made the following observation. "Not so long ago the Jewish people suffered the horrible loss of 6  million Jews in the Holocaust. When we went to the gedolim for an explanation we were told that we must be silent and accept this because it was G-d's will. Now we were just faced with another possible holocaust in the Land of Israel but the Jews were saved this time. We hear gedolim who say that these millions who were saved were saved by Satan. How is that when it comes to the death of Jews it is G-d's work but when it comes to rescuing them from death it is Satan? It can't be."

In response, Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky quickly wrote a note which he sent to be read from the podium. It said, "I want to publicly retract my previous statement supporting the view of the Satmar Rebbe and say that now I agree fully with what Rabbi Levin just stated." 

Rabbi Beer noted that this was Rav Yaakov's greatness. His only concern was truth and he wasn't afraid to publically admit that he had erred.

======================
Igros Moshe(Y.D. 4:8.2):Concerning the matter of the Jews who were hijacked in Uganda and then were saved by [Israeli] soldiers who went to Uganda. It is reasonable that this should be considered an open miracle. That is because in the normal course of events it would not be possible that such a thing be successful. Whatever is done in the world is only by the hand of G‑d – whether it is for the good or whether it is – G‑d forbid - ! the opposite. He causes the blow and the cure. He caused that these Jews be captured. But He also caused that they were rescued by means of giving these soldiers special courage and motivation so that they were able to save the captives. He also arranged circumstances so the soldiers in fact were successful. Nevertheless the reasons that G‑d did a miracle through sinners are hidden from us. Furthermore it is prohibited for any man to be “wise” and raise question against G‑d’s actions. Rather it is necessary for us to be innocent and accepting whatever G‑d does as it explicity says in the Torah (Devarim 18:13)

New Pentagon chief spox. has history of antisemitic, pro-replacement theory comments - Antisemitism is only a problem for Democrats

 https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-855377

The US Defense Department has announced the promotion of its deputy press secretary, Kingsley Wilson, to chief press secretary, prompting ire from Jewish groups who raised concerns over her history of antisemitic comments.

However, Jewish groups and some Democrats have cited her social media history as evidence of unsuitability for the role.

In 2023, Wilson tweeted, “Leo Frank raped and murdered a 13-year-old girl. He also tried to frame a black man for his crime. The ADL is despicable.”

Wilson has also openly supported the German far-right party Alternative for Germany, tweeting in 2024, “Globalist elites hate AfD because they put Germans before foreign migrants and radical Islam. Ausländer raus! [Germany for Germans, foreigners out].”

Generation Alpha Is Causing Problems for Teachers

https://www.newsweek.com/generation-alpha-technology-education-teachers-2076269 

The demographic, born between the 2010s and the mid 2020s, is entering a world of education that is radically different than their Generation Z predecessors. Hit by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as young children, Generation Alpha is going through school at a time when technology is more ubiquitous in education than ever before.

Short attention spans, an overdependence on technology and a lack of interest in learning are all things that Generation Alpha has been accused of having.

Newsweek spoke with Elizabeth McPherson, who is known by her handle Ms Mac on TikTok. She told Newsweek by email: "There's been a noticeable shift in student engagement and accountability. Many students today appear apathetic and disconnected from their own learning, and it's not simply a matter of motivation—it's systemic.

Government to promote plan for integrating haredim into medical studies

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-855440

The goal is to develop a dedicated framework for training haredi doctors, with recommendations to be submitted to the health minister within 90 days.

A key aspect of the proposal is its emphasis on Jerusalem, reflecting a broader national strategy to address the shortage of physicians in Israel while strengthening medical services in the capital.

Rubio and Van Hollen get into testy exchange during Senate hearing

Understanding Criminal Due Process in the United States

‘Elections do not change the Constitution’: Judges pump brakes on Trump’s disregard for due process

Trump goes full swamp: Melber on crypto ‘scam,’ Tucker talks MAGA corruption

ALMOST UNWATCHABLE: Warren Literally Reads Off Rule Word-By-Word To Trump IRS Commissioner Nominee

Donald Trump Blasts Putin—'What the Hell Happened to Him?'

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-blasts-putin-hell-happened-him-2076929

Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Morristown, New Jersey, before he boarded Air Force One to return to Washington, D.C., Trump spoke about a range of topics as he fielded questions ranging from tariffs to manufacturing goals to Russia and Ukraine peace talks.

"I'm not happy with what Putin is doing," the president said. "He's killing a lot of people, and I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him, but he's sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't like it at all."

"We're in the middle of talking, and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all," he added. "I don't like what Putin is doing, not even a little bit. He's killing people. Something happened to this guy, and I don't like it."

Senator John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, last month said: "I don't think it's going to get any better until we make it clear to Mr. Putin that we are willing to turn him and his country into fish food."

Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said in a post last month on X: "IVE SEEN ENOUGH KILLING OF INNOCENT UKRAINIAN women + children. President Trump pls put the toughest of sanctions on Putin. U ought to c from clear evidence that he is playing America as a patsy."

Testy Trump Admin Whines That Due Process for Immigrants Is ‘Burdensome’

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/testy-trump-admin-whines-that-due-process-for-immigrants-is-burdensome/

Late Saturday night, the Department of Justice posted in its entirety their legal challenge to an order from M.A. District Judge Brian Murphy blocking the Trump administration from deporting immigrants to third countries.

In the motion, the DOJ argues that the requirement that the Department of Homeland Security provide detainees with the opportunity to challenge their deportations is “burdensome” because the DHS is required to “maintain custody and control” of the detainees and conduct interviews regarding any reasonable fears they may have about being deported to third countries in private at a time of the detainees’ choosing.

According to Rubio, court orders that prevent the Trump administration from deporting people to countries they have no ties to would cause damages such as harming humanitarian efforts in South Sudan. This, as Rolling Stone points out, is an argument that sounds particularly odd coming from the administration that single-handedly decimated USAID. The Trump administration has already deported at least two Asian immigrants to South Sudan in violation of court orders.

The Trump administration is rallying around Israel, but not Netanyahu

 https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/22/israeli-embassy-killing-us-israel-dynamic-00366681

President Donald Trump was quick to condemn the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington and has called himself the most pro-Israel president in U.S. history. But, behind the scenes, there is a growing rift between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Five current and former U.S. officials say Trump and Netanyahu’s relationship has been under strain in recent weeks as they’ve disagreed about how to handle multiple Middle East crises — and the shocking killing in Washington is unlikely to change that.

While U.S. and Israeli officials say it would be too strong to describe the current situation as a rupture, a growing number of people in the Trump administration feel frustrated with Israel and its approach to Washington and the Middle East, the officials said.

Not helping matters is Netanyahu’s approach to the U.S. relationship, which lacks the deference and pomp and circumstance that Trump and his team have appreciated in dealing with other partners in the Middle East.