Trump Pardons His Top 2020 Allies in Mammoth Late-Night Reveal

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-pardons-his-top-2020-allies-in-mammoth-late-night-reveal

Donald Trump has pardoned a roll call of his allies who were involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The 77-person list dropped just before 11 p.m. on Sunday from Trump’s Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, who titled his X post: “Important pardon of Alternate Electors of 2020!!”

The list of people getting “full, complete and unconditional” pardons include former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, attorneys John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro, Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn, and conservative attorney...

Trump Admin Demands States ‘Undo’ Full SNAP Benefit Payouts

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-admin-demands-states-undo-full-snap-benefit-payouts-11018765

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued directives to state SNAP directors on Saturday, declaring the authorized payments "unauthorized" now that the Supreme Court has temporarily paused the rulings that mandated the disbursements. The move affects the anti-hunger program used by millions of Americans and has triggered fierce pushback from Democratic-led states and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, then wrote to state SNAP directors warning that payments made under the prior orders were "unauthorized" and demanding states "immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025." The directive threatened penalties for non-compliance, though it remains unclear whether penalties apply to states that used their own funds rather than federal money.

Republican Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said on Sunday: "It's one thing if the federal government is going to continue its level of appeal through the courts to say, no, this can't be done. But when you are telling the states that have said this is a significant enough issue in our state, we're going to find resources, backfill or front load, whatever term you want, to help our people, those states should not be penalized."

Snap funding stopped by Trump

Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Full SNAP Payments

 https://www.newsweek.com/supreme-court-temporarily-blocks-full-snap-payments-11014816

The High Court granted the Trump Administration's request to appeal a previous ruling that would require SNAP to be fully funded amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The Supreme Court’s administrative stay pauses District Judge John J. McConnell Jr.'s previous mandate for full SNAP payments, giving the First Circuit Court of Appeals additional time to review the case.

Meanwhile, millions of SNAP recipients face continued uncertainty about the timing and amount of their benefits.

Trump on Truth Social on Tuesday: "SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly 'handed' to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT"

Democrats swept elections far beyond the big races in referendum on Trump

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/08/democrats-local-election-sweep-trump

From clerks to coroners, Democrats on Tuesday flipped city councils, school boards and county commissions.

Much of the attention Tuesday night focused on the Democrats’ big wins in the Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races, as well as in the New York mayor’s contest. But the party also won hundreds of lower-profile state and local contests — often swamping Republican incumbents with overwhelming turnout, suggesting that voters’ desire to send a message opposing President Donald Trump was deep and wide.

Voters seemed intent on showing their displeasure with Trump even if that meant voting against a random Republican city council member. In a recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, 41 percent of Americans said they approved of Trump’s performance while 59 percent disapproved — the president’s worst showing since January 2021, a week after the attack by a pro-Trump mob on the U.S. Capitol.

Rabbi Rottenberg

 

Baltimore Beis Din

 

Omens

 Sefer Chasidim (59) For there was no enchantment in Jacob and we are not to look for omens. Due to our current sinful state,,there are many Jews that utilize charms and omens. For example they are mindful not to eat eggs Saturday night after Shabbos and not to take fire twice when there is a sick person in the house or a new mother within 9 days of giving birth.  They also are involved in divination. When they see fire and burning coals standing, they say we will have a guest, if you extinguish it with water, they say the the guest will fall into the water. They are violating a number of Torah commandments.  The only omens that are permitted is that which our Sages have permitted such as the signs on Rosh HaShanna. People say  not to start teaching a child or begin any mitzva until Rosh Chodesh. While this is not divination it is improper since no one knows whether he will die before Rosh Chodesh and thus miss doing the mitzva. The rule is always to do the mitzva as soon as it is available. 

The Night Democrats Finally Stopped Losing

 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/11/05/democrats-election-night-of-winning-00637076

It wasn’t just that Democrats won every closely-watched election — it’s that their victories were so sweeping. An expected victory in the Virginia governor’s race became a 15-point landslide, a gubernatorial race thought to be closer in New Jersey became a 13-point thrashing of its own and that referendum to redraw California’s House lines to add more Democratic seats was winning by nearly 30 points.

If the message was in the margins, there was no mystery in the why. Voters are, again, unhappy with the political status quo and, again, fault a White House they see as unfocused on their priorities. And Trump isn’t just failing to address the cost of living — many voters see him as abusing his power.

And the deeper problem Republicans have is that Trump is a one-man turnout machine for Democrats. There’s no such similar force for Republicans when the president isn’t on the ballot, and every election for a decade that’s about Trump (rather than the Democrats) has turned out poorly for the GOP.

For now, Democrats were happily reminded that there’s no tonic for a demoralized party like success.

New York Post editorial board says Trump sounds like Biden on affordability

 https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5595698-trump-criticized-affordability-inflation/?tbref=hp

The editorial board of the New York Post is blasting President Trump, arguing the president sounds like former President Biden on issues of affordability and the cost of living.

“Americans didn’t appreciate being lied to by Biden and Democrats, and the party paid for it at the ballot box. But Americans also won’t appreciate being called liars for what their own eyes — and their own wallets — are telling them,” it concluded. “Don’t deny things are tough, Mr. President. Take another look at some of your economic policies and help make things better.”

The Waiting Game

 https://mishpacha.com/the-waiting-game-2

At the time of press, SNAP benefits (food stamps) have not gone out due to the US government shutdown and its future looks uncertain. This will affect many members of our frum communities.

No one goes into the chinuch field for the money, and it turns out that the administrator who encouraged me to apply for government benefits to supplement my meager salary wasn’t planning to cover the shortfall when the government decided to shut down. At least she seemed slightly embarrassed when she told me that I’m not the only one who approached her this week. I should feel angry, but instead it’s a comfort — at least I’m not the only one. This isn’t my failing.

Zionist?

 

Israel Importance

 Kesubos (110b): One should always live in the Land of Israel, even in a town most of whose inhabitants are idolaters, but let no one live outside the Land, even in a town most of whose inhabitants are Israelites; for whoever lives in the Land of Israel may be considered to have a G-d, but whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who has no G-d. For it is said in Scripture, To give you the Land of Canaan, to be your G-d. Has he, then, who does not live in the Land, no G-d? But this is what the text intended to tell you, that whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who worships idols. Similarly it was said in Scripture in the story of David, For they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave to the inheritance of the Lord, saying: Go, serve other gods. Now, whoever said to David, ‘Serve other gods’? But the text intended to tell you that whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who worships idols.

Affordability is an urgent and burning issue, Mr. President — Americans want action - Even Trump supporters are complaining

 https://nypost.com/2025/11/06/opinion/affordability-is-an-urgent-and-burning-issue-mr-president-americans-want-action/

Trump’s Truth Social post on Thursday suggested that higher costs are all in our heads, that “the Democrats ‘affordability’ issue is DEAD! STOP LYING!!!”

Americans didn’t appreciate being lied to by Biden and Democrats, and the party paid for it at the ballot box. But Americans also won’t appreciate being called liars for what their own eyes — and their own wallets — are telling them.

Don’t deny things are tough, Mr. President. Take another look at some of your economic policies and help make things better.