Trump praised Walz in 2020 over handling of George Floyd protests

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/07/trump-praised-walz-2020-george-floyd-protests-00173152

 Donald Trump praised Tim Walz’s response as Minnesota governor to civil justice protests in 2020, undercutting a Republican line of attack against the newly minted vice presidential candidate, according to a recording that emerged Wednesday.

Trump — who wanted state authorities to take tough measures to address the civil unrest that erupted around the nation in response to the killing by police of George Floyd in Minneapolis — told governors on a conference call that Walz responded well.

“I know Gov. Walz is on the phone, and we spoke, and I fully agree with the way he handled it the last couple of days,” he said, according to a recording of the call obtained by ABC News.

The remarks were reported at the time but they re-emerged after Kamala Harris announced Walz as her running mate and the Trump campaign launched attacks on the Minnesota governor’s response to the unrest.

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance said Tuesday during a rally that Walz “allowed rioters to burn down the streets of Minneapolis” and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) claimed in a post on X that Walz “did nothing while Minneapolis burned.”

Campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt repeated the criticism in a statement to POLITICO, saying that Walz “allowed Minneapolis to burn for days.” She portrayed Trump’s comments on the call as grudging.

Trump’s response to police killing threatens to further deepen unrest in America, Democrats and Republicans say

 https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/31/politics/trump-george-floyd-protests

 President Donald Trump pledged a crackdown on the protests that arose from the police killing of George Floyd, sparking concerns from some Democrats and Republicans that his response to the crisis further deepens the divide in a country already unnerved by a pandemic, distressed economy and racial unrest.

On Sunday, Trump tweeted his thanks to the National Guard and the job they did in Minneapolis Saturday night before calling for the National Guard to be used in “Other Democrat run Cities and States.”

Trump: Canada ‘considering’ free Golden Dome for its statehood

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5320801-trump-canada-considering-free-golden-dome-for-its-statehood/

President Trump said on Tuesday that Canada is “considering” his offer of joining the United States as the 51st state in exchange for no-cost protection by the proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system.

Canadian officials, as of Tuesday evening, had not addressed Trump’s latest remarks, but Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has repeatedly said that his country would not join the U.S. under any circumstances.

Carney’s recent election victory is seen by many as fueled by his rejection of Trump’s musings about Canada becoming the 51st state.

Donald Trump to Pardon Reality Show Couple Todd and Julie Chrisley

 https://www.newsweek.com/trump-pardons-todd-julie-chrisley-usa-reality-show-2077711

The couple rose to fame portraying a tight-knit, faith-centered Southern family enjoying an extravagant lifestyle.

In 2022, they were convicted of defrauding banks in the Atlanta out of more than $30 million and evading taxes. The pardons come amid Trump's broader pattern of granting clemency to high-profile allies and supporters, sparking renewed debate over the use of presidential pardon powers.

Study finds growing numbers leaving Haredi community, but many staying religious

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-finds-growing-numbers-leaving-haredi-community-but-many-staying-religious/

The study found that rather than marking a complete break, a stereotype enforced by pop culture portrayals, leaving the ultra-Orthodox world is a complicated process that can preserve some aspects of the former lives of ex-Haredim, from faith to their relationships with their parents.

Based on publicly available Central Bureau of Statistics data, Out for Change found that many former members of the Haredi community maintain some level of religious observance, albeit a less stringent one.

‘Stop the Steal’ in U.S. History Class

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/oklahoma-social-studies-2020-election-ryan-walters-donald-trump-e6ae3045?mod=hp_opin_pos_4 

President Trump will never recant his baloney about how the 2020 election was stolen, but given his decisive victory in 2024, the GOP could now at least let his falsehoods fade into obscurity. Oklahoma is keeping them alive by echoing Mr. Trump’s fantasy in its new standards for high-school social studies classes.

Starting with the next academic year, Oklahoma students in U.S. history classes will be asked to “identify discrepancies in 2020 elections results by looking at graphs and other information,” including on “sudden batch dumps, an unforeseen record number of voters, and the unprecedented contradiction of ‘bellwether county’ trends.”

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s elected superintendent of public instruction, defended this language recently to the Associated Press. “The standards,” he argued, “do not instruct students on what to believe; rather, they encourage critical thinking by inviting students to examine real events, review publicly available information, and come to their own conclusions.”

IDF downs two missiles fired from Yemen in latest Houthi attacks

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-downs-missile-fired-from-yemen-after-4th-houthi-attack-in-5-days/

Two ballistic missiles launched at Israel by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen were successfully intercepted by air defenses, the military said Tuesday morning, in what has recently become an almost daily occurrence.

The first missile set off sirens shortly after 5 a.m. in several northern West Bank and Jordan Valley settlements, sending thousands to bomb shelters.

Preceding the sirens by about four minutes, an early warning was issued to residents, alerting them of the long-range missile attack via a push notification on their phones.

'An unusual precedent': Baby Sophia's genetic parents demand new Supreme Court hearing

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409045

After losing custody, genetic parents of Sophia, IVF mixup baby, petition Supreme Court for new hearing. 'This case will shape Israeli family law for generations.'

Israeli law sees the birth mother as the child's natural mother both in cases of gamete donation, in which all the donor's rights to the child are revoked, and in cases of surrogacy, when the birth mother retains the right to regret her decision to give up the baby for a period of seven days following the birth. In addition, the Surrogacy Law declares clearly that in cases of conflict, the birth mother becomes the child's legal parent and guardian.

Smoking cigarettes

Igros Moshe (CM II #18) Question: Is it possible to prohibit smoking in yeshiva and synagogue where there are people who are very bothered by the smoke and it causes painful headaches and other pains and physical problems and health issues and possibly shortens their lives.? Answer It is well known that cigarette smoking is harmful to many people. It is clear and obvious that even without concern for actual danger and illness, the mere fact that it is irritating and disturbimg to some people is enough reason to prohibit smoking in yeshiva and synagogue and all places where there are people who are bothered by the smoke even if it causes bitul Torah for the smoker. . 

Igros Moshe (C M II #76) Question: Is cigarette smoking prohibited? Answer Even though there is a principle that G-d (Shomer Pesaim) guards the fools from harm when they do something dangerous. Nevertheless it is normally prohibited to rely on it Furthermore it is obvious that concerning an issue in which there are many people that it doesn’t harm their health at all such as types of food that many people enjoy such as fatty meat or sharp spices while for certain people it is harmful. Nevertheless we don’t prohibit the food for everyone. Everyone should avoid food that is not healthy for him.  While you work in a hospital and therefore you see many more people who are sick from cigarette smoking than an average person sees in the normal population, nevertheless the amount harmed by cigaretts is still a minority. In this situation we do apply the principle of Shomer pessaim. Nevertheless it is definitely best that everyone, especially Torah students – not to smoke since there is a factor of danger and no genuine benefit to those who are not habitual smokers. It is best not to become used to smoking especially a father should not let his son smoke even if he himself smokes.  Aside from the problem of addiction to cigarettes they should be avoided since a person should not seek after extra pleasures

Igros Moshe (YD II #49) Question :Is smoking cigarettes permitted? Answer Since there is concern that this makes you sick it is best not to smoke. However to say this is prohibited as dangerous is not possible since the danger is widely ignored and thus we say shomer pessaim. In particular since many gedolim in previous times smoked and the present generation smoke. Therefore even those who are strict because of danger, there is no prohibition of lifnai ivair to offer a light or match to the cigarette smoker

Igros Moshe (OC V #34) Question: Is it permitted to smoke on Yom Tov? Answer Many Poskim have discussed this at length. In reality it is a widespread practice and most smokers are lenient. In practice while there are many who don’t smoke because it is viewed as a harmful practice.  And thus it loses the status of being the same for everyone but it is difficult to rule against what is an accepted practice, whether because of danger or some other reason, since even in previous generations not everyone smoked. In additiom since there are 100s of million people who smoke and that makes the practice considered equal for everyone. Therefore even though it is definitely best for a baal nefesh to be strict and not smoke on Yom Tov. It is difficult to say it is prohibited

Trump grants ‘FULL and Unconditional’ pardon to ex-Virginia sheriff convicted of taking $75K in bribes in ‘cash-for-badges’ scheme

 https://nypost.com/2025/05/26/us-news/trump-grants-full-and-unconditional-pardon-to-ex-virginia-sheriff-convicted-of-taking-75k-in-bribes-in-cash-for-badges-scheme/

Federal prosecutors presented evidence at trial that Jenkins accepted cash bribes and campaign contributions from three co-defendants –  Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner, and James Metcalf –  and at least five others, including two undercover FBI agents, in exchange for appointing them to a “sworn law-enforcement position.” 

Jenkins issued the bribe payors official Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and credentials – without training or vetting – as part of the scheme, and none rendered “legitimate services to the Sheriff’s Office or the citizens of Culpeper County” after being appointed auxiliary deputy sheriffs, according to the Justice Department.  

“In addition, Jenkins pressured other local officials to approve a petition filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court by Rahim, a convicted felon, to restore his right to possess a firearm and which falsely stated that Rahim resided in Culpeper County,” federal prosecutors noted. 

In March, acting US Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Zachary Lee argued that Jenkins used his position of power “for unjust personal enrichment” and “violated his oath of office.”  

“Scott Jenkins violated his oath of office and the faith the citizens of Culpeper County placed in him when he engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme,” Lee said after Jenkins was sentenced. “We hold our elected law enforcement officials to a higher standard of conduct and this case proves that when those officials use their authority for unjust personal enrichment, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable.”

Trump Pardons MAGA Sheriff Convicted of Cash-For-Badge Scheme MAGA supports are immune to law

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-pardons-maga-sheriff-convicted-of-cash-for-badge-scheme/

President Donald Trump pardoned a MAGA sheriff from Virginia who was convicted of accepting more than $75,000 in bribes.

Trump announced in a Truth Social post on Monday that he was issuing a “full and unconditional” pardon of Scott Jenkins, who was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison earlier this year following his December 2024 conviction of conspiracy, honest services fraud, and bribery.

“This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn’t deserve to spend a single day in jail,” he wrote. “He is a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left ‘monsters,’ and ‘left for dead.’”

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)