Israeli doctors are pumped after country’s first successful artificial heart transplants

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-doctors-are-pumped-after-countrys-first-successful-artificial-heart-transplants/

Israel celebrated its first successful artificial heart transplant at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem on May 25. Four days later, a second successful artificial heart transplant took place at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan.

The Aeson artificial hearts used in the procedures, made by French company CARMAT, have only been employed in 114 such surgeries worldwide.

“This is a great step forward,” said Prof. Rabea Asleh, director of the Heart Failure Unit and the Cardiovascular Research Center at Hadassah Ein Kerem, who performed the May 25 surgery with Dr. Alexander Lipey-Diamant, Prof. Offer Amir and Dr. Amit Korach. “It’s a historical moment.”

JD Vance’s False Immigrant Choice

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/jd-vance-immigrants-international-students-visas-donald-trump-b42452ed?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

Does the Trump Administration want to stop illegal immigration, or nearly all legal immigration, including foreign students? The evidence is growing that it wants the latter, which will sharply reduce the human capital the U.S. needs to prosper.

The President on Wednesday suspended foreign nationals from entering the U.S. to study at Harvard. His proclamation invokes a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act that lets the president suspend entry of any class of aliens that would be detrimental to the U.S. This is the same law he used to impose his first-term travel ban.

But the vast majority of foreign students at Harvard don’t pose a national security threat. Just the opposite. Many assist with research that is a national asset. While the Administration is clearly trying to use every lever it has to punish Harvard for not surrendering to its sweeping demands, the ban is also part of its broader attack on foreign talent.

Frum Pundits sour on Trump

https://mishpacha.com/no-permanent-friends/

In  his major speech in Riyadh on May 13, President Trump emphasized that he does not believe in permanent enemies. But the flip side of that statement, as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has surely deduced, is that he also does not believe in permanent friends. Thus, the assurance that Trump will always have Israel’s back is one upon which Israel cannot afford to rely.

https://mishpacha.com/divine-delusions/

One implication of Trump’s unique status is that Israel finds itself in a fragile position when he’s in office. He was an outstanding supporter when in office the first time around. This time, he’s kept the munitions tap open. But as Trump confirmed last week, he’s keeping Israel’s government on a short leash when it comes to Gaza and Iran.

And unlike the days of Obama and Biden, there’s nowhere to turn to challenge the president. Barring some honorable exceptions, the Democrats are more or less toxic on Israel. And the Republicans? Yes, they’re pro-Israel, but more than they are pro-Israel, they’re pro-Trump.

Donald Trump has become a value in and of himself to vast numbers of his supporters. He has become the arbiter of Republicanism. If he turns on Israel, so will they.

So, all the rumblings of Israeli right-wingers that Bibi needs to show some spine and defy Uncle Sam are wrong. Bibi has done the wise thing: kept quiet and tried to influence the administration behind the scenes. Openly opposing the White House worked to a degree under Biden, when there was a political bloc predisposed to be anti-Biden and pro-Israel.

But with a monarchical president, the number of American politicians currently minded to defy Trump in support of Israel is close to zero.

Don’t Let Your Glee Make You Forget Your Loathing

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/dont-let-your-glee-at-donald-trump-elon-musk-make-you-forget-your-loathing/

One is King Kong. One is Godzilla. Enjoy the fight but remember: They’re both true monsters.

Tracking Public Opinion on the State of U.S. Affairs

 https://pro.morningconsult.com/trackers/public-opinion-us-state-of-affairs

More than 2 in 5 Americans (44%) say the country is headed in the right direction. That number was as high as 48% last week following a reprieve in President Donald Trump's trade war with China, only slightly down from 49% in mid-March — the current high for optimism during his second presidency.

Direction of Country

 https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-of-the-union/direction-of-country

			Right Direction	Wrong Track
			44.0	50.7

Bamidbar: Why did the divsion into groups only happen a year after they left Egypt?

 Emes L’Yakov (Bamidbar  1:11) Question Why was the division into different groups only done a year after they left Egypt In addition the banners served to divide the nation into unique groups and thus undermine unity?Answer  The counting was to arrange the tribes according to their banners.  However since they now had a common center – the Tabernacle there was no longer a danger of factionalism as there would have been when they first left Egypt.  This is like a person who in spite of having specialized parts such as ears and eyes remains a single entity. 

Concern in Israel over US administration shakeup of pro-Israel officials

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byduenimee

Dismissals of top pro-Israel officials in Washington spark Israeli concern as Trump’s 'America First' agenda sidelines allies; Netanyahu allies say figures like Donald Jr. and JD Vance now shape US policy, deepening rift over Iran and Gaza

Israeli officials are expressing growing concern over a series of unexpected personnel changes within the U.S. administration, particularly involving individuals widely seen as strongly supportive of Israel. 

Agudat Israel will submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset

 https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-856767

Agudat Yisrael, the hassidic faction of the haredi United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, announced on Thursday that it would submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset.

The Trump-Musk ‘War of the Roses’

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-trump-musk-war-of-the-roses-543065a0?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

It certainly makes for entertaining political theater, at least for Democrats. First came Mr. Musk’s broadside against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as an “abomination.” Mr. Trump replied that he was disappointed but that his buddy Elon knew what was in the bill all along.

Mr. Musk raised the bidding with a demand sent to his followers on X.com to “KILL the BILL.” The President suggested Mr. Musk suffered from “Trump derangement syndrome,” to which Mr. Musk replied that the President wouldn’t have won without him.

Since these guys only know how to escalate, Mr. Trump then posted on Truth Social that “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.” Tesla shares plunged. Defcon 2.

Elon Musk Says Donald Trump 'Is In Epstein Files'

 https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-says-donald-trump-epstein-files-2081653

Musk, in a post Thursday on X, wrote, "Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" He followed with, "Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out."

The most explosive charge in the feud came with Musk's claim that Trump is listed in Epstein-related files that have not yet been made public. While it is known that Trump and Epstein were acquainted and photographed together in the early 2000s, Trump has long denied any involvement in Epstein's criminal conduct.

GOP Rep. tells Elon Musk the Trump bill ‘is just the beginning’ amid concerns over the deficit

Musk urges lawmakers to ‘kill the bill’, but Republicans aren't walking away

Women guns

Igros Moshe (OC IV 75.3)  Question Can women carry guns in those Israeli settlments close to Arab who hate Jews or is it prohibited as being male items being used by women? Answer It would seem clearly appropriate in this life threatening situation to carry a pistol. However if the Arabs are afraid of Jews and it is not viewed as life threatening or it is possible to travel safely in Israeli controlled areas or it is possible to be accompanied by an armed escort perhaps not, Nevertheless since it is difficult for them to act differently then what is considered normal it can be permitted since it clearly serves a purpose other than decoration and it is not for going to war.