Trump promised Jan. 6 pardons. His post-election silence is making loyalists nervous.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/30/trump-january-6-pardons-00192036

Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to pardon a vast swath of supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But his silence on the matter since winning the election has begun unsettling some fervent allies awaiting even the slightest signal from Trump about how he intends to turn his campaign rhetoric into reality.

Adding to the anxiety expressed by some Jan. 6 defendants is a statement from Trump’s transition team that hinted at a far more limited approach than the sweeping pardons that many in Trump’s base have demanded.

Why don't some countries vaccinate against chickenpox?

 https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240229-why-dont-some-countries-vaccinate-against-chickenpox

However, the decision not to vaccinate children against chickenpox is down to more than budget constraints – in many parts of the world, it's a calculated risk that aims to prevent disease in a different group: older adults.   

In the last five years, opinions has begun to shift following large-scale epidemiological studies which have shown that the US and other countries have not actually seen the feared increase in shingles cases over the last three decades. One UK study even estimated that the supposed immunity boosting effect of adults exposed to infected children might be less impactful than previously thought.

"What has changed in the last few years is that we now have very clear evidence from the US that shingles rates did not increase any faster after the vaccine was introduced and if anything, have somewhat levelled off in recent years," says Pollard. "The improved certainty about this has really made the cost-effectiveness modelling more robust." 

There are signs that other countries are also beginning to shift their mindset on the vaccine. Marie Studahl, a professor at the University of Gothenberg in Sweden, said that she welcomed the UK recommendation, and expressed hope that Norway, Denmark and Sweden will soon implement varicella vaccination. "In Sweden we have been waiting a very long time for this… I am convinced that doctors are mostly positive to implementation," she says.

Yikes! Industries warn of devastating effects of Trump's tariffs; Trump ignores his own poor record

Saudi Arabia Has Its Own 'Deal of the Century' for Trump

 https://www.newsweek.com/saudi-arabia-has-its-own-deal-century-trump-1989311

"There is one crucial thing the Trump administration must understand well: it is wishful thinking on their part to assume that Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords for free," Salman al-Ansari, a prominent Saudi political analyst, told Newsweek. "A Palestinian state is a must and an absolute prerequisite for normalization with Israel."

"Navel Pulling": Does Putting Castor Oil In Your Belly Button Benefit You?

 "Navel Pulling": Does Putting Castor Oil In Your Belly Button Benefit You?

The practice is nothing new. It’s actually based on Ayurvedic methods, a historic medical system from India that involves applying different kinds of oils — like caster, peppermint, and ginger oil — to the belly button and surrounding abdomen.

However, it’s recently taken off on TikTok with the hashtag navel oiling amassing over 11.5 million views.

Pete Hegseth’s Mom Said He Abused ‘Many’ Women in Bombshell Email

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/pete-hegseths-mom-said-he-abused-many-women-in-bombshell-email/

“On behalf of all the women (and I know it’s many) you have abused in some way, I say… get some help and take an honest look at yourself,” she wrote on April 30, 2018.

“I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego.

“You are that man (and have been for years) and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth.”

The GOP Barely Won the House

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-gop-barely-won-the-house-9d5e1bb5?mod=hp_opin_pos_3#cxrecs_s

Republicans boasting about their great election mandate may want to hold the euphoria. As the final results trickle in from the late state of California, the GOP looks set to have the narrowest House majority in more than a century.

In the latest race to be called, Republican Rep. Michelle Steel lost her Orange County seat, while Rep. John Duarte now trails his Democratic challenger in his Fresno-area district. If Mr. Duarte loses, Republicans would hold nine of 52 House seats in the Golden State. The Democratic gerrymander in California, plus those in New York (19-7 Democratic to GOP seats), Illinois (14-3) and Massachusetts (9-0), mean four states will deliver 85 of the Democratic total of 215 seats. The GOP could have as few as 220.

Overdose deaths are dropping. So why is Trump applying tariffs which will devastate economy?

Donald Trump's Tariff Threat Could Devastate Texas

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps-tariff-threat-could-devastate-texas-1993250

Economists have warned Donald Trump's plan to impose a 25 percent tariff on all products entering the United States from Mexico and Canada could have a dramatic impact on the economy of Texas, with one predicting it would cost 370,000 jobs in the Lone Star State.

A glut of cheap Chinese goods is flooding the world and stoking trade tensions

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/28/business/china-goods-exports-trade/index.html

China’s factories are churning out more steel, cars and solar panels than its slowing economy can use, forcing a flood of cheap exports into foreign markets.

The oversupply of Chinese goods in key industries is stoking tensions between the world’s biggest manufacturer and its major trading partners, including the United States and the European Union. Its global trade surplus in goods has soared and is now approaching $1 trillion.

UN envoy Albanese says Israel had no right to wage a war in Gaza after Oct. 7

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-envoy-albanese-urges-israel-to-hand-netanyahu-and-gallant-over-to-global-court/

“The fact that we call it terrorism doesn’t justify what Israel has done since,” said Albanese, arguing that “waging a war” was “not proportionate.”

Buy Now Before Tariffs Hit, Retailers Are Telling Shoppers - Trump's answer to high prices - raise them

 https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/trump-tariffs-warnings-retailer-sales-fc270ca9?mod=hp_lead_pos1

“There is a misconception that the countries exporting goods will bear the cost of the tariffs, but that is simply not true,” Arnold said. Rather, she added, price increases will be passed on to consumers. 

Trump’s School-Choice Agenda Hits Pushback From Red-State Voters

 https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/trump-school-choice-republican-voter-ballot-measures-11e0c0d7?mod=hp_lead_pos3

Trump has indicated that he supports public funding of private schools and other options outside traditional school districts. “We will give all parents the right to choose another school for their children if they want,” Trump said in a campaign video. “It’s called school choice.”

Yet school-choice ballot measures lost in three states in the November election, including in two that went strongly for Trump, Kentucky and Nebraska. The results suggest a divide between Republican lawmakers and voters, many of whom have said in opinion surveys that they are generally dissatisfied with what they view as a “woke” agenda in public education but still like their own children’s local schools.

Sheinbaum refutes Trump’s border claim: ‘Mexico’s position is not to close borders’

 https://thehill.com/policy/international/5014093-mexico-claudia-sheinbaum-donald-trump-border-comments/

“In our conversation with President Trump, I explained to him the comprehensive strategy that Mexico has followed to address the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights,” Sheinbaum wrote Wednesday evening in a post on the social platform X, according to a translation from CNN.

“Thanks to this, migrants and caravans are assisted before they arrive at the border,” she added. “We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples.”

MPs may trust doctors to manage assisted dying. Disabled people like me cannot

 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/28/assisted-dying-bill-vote-mps-disabled-people-liz-carr

As someone who relies on the health service and the state for my survival, I simply have a healthy distrust of giving either of them any more power over my life – and death – than they already have. Though some people want the right to die, many of us are still fighting for the right to exist. That’s why I’m part of Not Dead Yet, an international network of disabled people who oppose a law that would give the state and the medical profession potentially even more involvement in many ill and disabled people’s lives.

Trump fires back at WSJ editorial, argues his tariff policies were a success

 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4180825-trump-fires-back-at-wsj-editorial-argues-his-tariff-policies-were-a-success/

“The best way to stop this hemorrhaging of America’s lifeblood is a simple but powerful tariff on most foreign products, like the kind that was the primary source of government revenue through most of American history, and which built this country into the manufacturing powerhouse of the world,” Trump said.

However, the editorial board had also dismissed this argument, suggesting that the trade deficit “isn’t a useful measure of economic performance” and noting that the trade deficit increased under the former president even when adjusting for inflation.

What Trump’s New Tariff Threats Mean for the U.S. Economy

 https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/what-trumps-new-tariff-threats-mean-for-the-u-s-economy-f0e4e69a

The stiff duties that President-elect Donald Trump threatened against the U.S.’s neighbors and big trading partners, along with the additional tariffs he promised against China, could raise prices for Americans on everything from fresh fruit from Mexico to lumber from Canada and Chinese electronics.

Remember the last time a country fooled around and found out?

Trump claims a win on immigration after a call with Mexico’s president. But she suggests no change

 https://apnews.com/article/trump-mexico-tariffs-sheinbaum-fentanyl-5fd2fc21950f47e5dbaf5c062c4725b7

 President-elect Donald Trump declared a win on stopping illegal immigration through Mexico on Wednesday after talking with that country’s leader. But Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested Mexico was already doing its part and had no interest in closing its borders.

Welcome to Trump’s trade war – where no one wins because everyone just pays more for things

 https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2024/nov/28/welcome-to-trumps-trade-war-where-no-one-wins-because-everyone-just-pays-more-for-things

If anyone was under any delusion that Donald Trump was not going to be as bonkers as he said he would be, then his announcement on Tuesday that he would slap a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico (and deeper tariffs on China) should remove all doubt.

“Tariff” has become the economic word of the year thanks to the incoming US president.

It is no surprise that there has been a spike in Americans searching “What is a tariff?” on Google (sadly more people are asking that now, rather than before the election).

The answer is this: a tariff is essentially an import tax.

And despite what Trump might tell you, it is not paid by the country or the company that is exporting things to your country.

Trump picks John Phelan, a businessman with no military experience, to be secretary of the Navy -drain the swamp!

 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-picks-john-phelan-businessman-navy-secretary-rcna182003

In a statement Tuesday night, Trump touted Phelan’s “record of success” and said Phelan has “excelled in every endeavor,” including founding and leading Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm based in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump Wields a Tariff Bludgeon

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-wields-a-tariff-bludgeon-ae051f6b?mod=hp_opin_pos_0

It’s also possible that Mr. Trump views tariffs not merely as a tool for ad hoc negotiation but as a lever to remake the entire global trading system. In that case he’ll try to build high tariff walls in an attempt to force U.S. and foreign companies to build nearly everything in America. The economic and political harm from that strategy is for another day, but investors can’t rule it out and members of Congress would be wise not to give him that power.

As we wrote during the campaign, tariffs were the main economic risk of his candidacy. Mr. Trump campaigned as the Tariff Man, and he aims to impose them early and often. Get ready for what could be a wild ride.

Trump Taps Financier and Art Collector With No Military Experience to Run the Navy

https://www.thedailybeast.com/who-is-john-phelan-financier-with-no-military-experience-tapped-to-run-the-navy/

 “Phelan has not served in the Navy. [Or] any other branch of military service,” tweeted Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of the nonprofit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America group. “But he is a big Trump donor. The least qualified and most overtly political cabinet in American history continues to expand.”

Genetic parents of IVF mixup baby request complete gag order

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399850

The genetic parents of Sophia, born in 2022 following an IVF mixup at Assuta Hospital, respond to her birth parents' appeal to a higher court by requesting a gag on the existence of the entire legal process.

'She called “the most famous Rabbi in America” a murderer': Owens sues Rabbi Boteach

 https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-830835

This morning, Boteach posted on X that Owens was suing him. “She called 'the most famous Rabbi in America' a murderer and said I run a blackmail sex ring in Hollywood that killed Michael Jackson and brought down black celebrities like Hitler-lover Kanye West and others”

Thanksgiving: Wholesome Holiday or Chukos HaGoyim?

 https://ohr.edu/this_week/insights_into_halacha/11438?utm_source=rabbis-newsletter-c39c77.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=thanksgiving-wholesome-holiday-or-chukos-hagoyim

As with many issues in halacha, there are different approaches to Thanksgiving observance. In fact, Rav Moshe Feinstein alone has written four different responsa on topic, spanning several decades.[12] Although in the earlier teshuvos he seems to be against the idea of a Thanksgiving celebration (there possibly was more religious connotations involved in the early 1960s celebrations than in the 1980s), nevertheless, in his later teshuvos he does allow a Thanksgiving observance (he notes that it is not a religious celebration) with turkey being served, as long as it is not seen as an obligatory annual celebration,[13] but rather as a periodical ‘simchas reshus.’ All the same, Rav Moshe concludes that it is still preferable not to have a celebration specifically for Thanksgiving.

Tarifs Raise prices

French teen apologizes at trial for lies that led to her teacher’s beheading

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/french-teen-apologizes-at-trial-for-lies-that-led-to-her-teachers-beheading/

The teenager told the court that she lied to her mother to justify why she had been suspended from school for two days over her behavior and repeated absences.

Conservatives and Liberals have Similar Physiological Responses to Threats

 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7306406/

About a decade ago a study documented that conservatives have stronger physiological responses to threatening stimuli than liberals. This work launched a paradigm aimed at uncovering the biological roots of ideology. Despite wide-ranging scientific and popular impact, independent laboratories have not replicated the study.

Fear and Anxiety Drive Conservatives' Political Attitudes

 https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/mind-in-the-machine/201612/fear-and-anxiety-drive-conservatives-political-attitudes

Empirical evidence suggests that conservatives and liberals don’t just have different outlooks and opinions—they also have different brains. This means that our choice of political affiliation and overall worldview may not really be all that much of a choice. Still, we must work to understand these psychological and biological distinctions so that we can ultimately use this knowledge to work together and find middle ground. Such information may also make us less vulnerable to those who want to exploit these dispositions for their own selfish agendas by using tactics like fear-mongering.

Biden says Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire is proof 'peace is possible'

Grassley: Trump’s new tariff threats are just ‘negotiating tool’ — for now

 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/11/26/congress/chuck-grassley-tariffs-donald-trump-00191682

Farm state Republican lawmakers like Grassley have been wary of how Trump’s threat for broad tariffs on the campaign trail could roil the U.S. agriculture sector again, just as American farmers are still recovering from Trump’s 2018 trade war against China.

Beijing slapped crippling retaliatory tariffs on U.S. farm products, which devastated farmers and rural communities, where Trump has strong electoral support. His administration used $28 billion in federal funding from the Agriculture Department to support farmers affected by his trade war.

Northern evacuees question whether a ceasefire deal is enough to see them home

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/northern-evacuees-question-whether-a-ceasefire-deal-is-enough-to-see-them-home/

While some residents in the north welcome the possibility of returning to their homes and prewar routines, northern officials have expressed concern about a ceasefire deal that they say won’t guarantee security to the region.

Tech forum names seasonal airline, reveals fares for NY route, to launch in January

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/tech-forum-names-seasonal-airline-reveals-fares-for-ny-route-to-launch-in-january/

Round-trip ticket prices with TechAir will run from $800 to $1,800 in economy class, including luggage, seating, and meals, and $4,500 to $5,500 in business class. Round-trip fares with Israel’s flagship carrier, the only airline currently offering direct routes to New York cost between around $1,300 and $2,400 in economy class, when booking at the end of January.

Birth parents of baby conceived in IVF treatment appeal court's decision

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-830783

The birth parents of two-year-old Sofia will appeal a Rishon Lezion family court’s decision to place her in the custody of her genetic parents, Israeli media reported on Sunday. 

"The benefit of transferring the child to her biological parents and living with them outweighs the harm caused by separating her from her foster parents,” Judge Oved Elias said, adding, “The benefits of living with the biological parents include, among other things, the development of future identity, connection to the family lineage, a shared family story, physiological resemblance, and shared family values.” 

Trump Betrays the Truckers With Chavez-DeRemer

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-betrays-the-truckers-with-chavez-deremer-5291d59a?mod=hp_opin_pos_6#cxrecs_s

The American Trucking Associations issued a statement Monday pointing out that Ms. Chavez-DeRemer’s “anti-trucking policies undermine our essential workforce, threaten the right of independent truckers to choose their own career path, and impede the efficiency of the supply chain.”

Hezbollah’s Cease-Fire Is a Victory for Israel

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/hezbollahs-cease-fire-is-a-victory-for-israel-2605457d?mod=hp_opin_pos_2#cxrecs_s

Israeli hard power has secured what 11 months of soft words from Biden envoys could not: Hezbollah’s agreement to abandon Hamas. Iran’s terrorist proxy in Lebanon resumed firing rockets at Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, and it had pledged to continue until Israel conceded to Hamas’s demands. Tuesday’s cease-fire deal marks Hezbollah and Iran’s retreat under fire from that pledge.

The deal is no panacea, and it may prove fragile. Some fighting could restart as Hezbollah tries to rearm in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Armed Forces have agreed to prevent that, with a U.S.-led committee adjudicating compliance. But behind these polite fictions and paper commitments lies the real achievement of the war: a change in the balance of power.

Cease-fire in Lebanon set to begin at 4 a.m.: These are the 13 provisions of the agreement, and the US guarantees

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyxzuh7qkl#autoplay

Agreement will end fighting in the north after almost 14 months; But the dissolution of Hezbollah does not appear in the agreement; Biden spoke with Netanyahu who confirmed that 'Israel maintains freedom of action in enforcing it'  

Hezbollah Says Israel 'Defeated' as Netanyahu Seeks Ceasefire

 https://www.newsweek.com/hezbollah-israel-defeated-netanyahu-ceasefire-1992023

"The length of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon," Netanyahu said during his remarks on Tuesday. "We will enforce the agreement and respond forcefully to any violation. We will continue united until victory."

He offered three main reasons for seeking a ceasefire agreement, the first being to "focus on the Iranian threat," the second to "give our forces a breather and replenish stocks" and the third, to "separate the fronts and isolate Hamas."

Israel-Lebanon ceasefire: A fragile peace with future war risks - analysis

 https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-830869

The part of this war between Israel and Hezbollah has just about come to an end, with Israel managing to alter its narrative since mid-September – from a tie to close to a knockout.

And yet, the terms of the ceasefire and the status of Hezbollah maintaining many of the sources of its power make it clear that another Lebanon war may be closer than many would like to hope.

Israel has agreed to a Lebanon ceasefire. Here’s what that means

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/26/middleeast/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-ceasefire-explainer-intl-latam/index.html

 Israel and Lebanon have accepted a US-backed proposal to end the 13-month border conflict that spiraled into an all-out war in September with Hezbollah.

From the White House’s Rose Garden, US President Joe Biden said the deal “is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities” and will go into effect early Wednesday morning, at 4 a.m. local time (9 p.m. ET on Tuesday).

The ceasefire “will create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line,” according to a joint statement from Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, referring to the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel.

Cabinet approves: Lebanon ceasefire to take effect at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399818

Agreement brings to an end the current round of conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

Trump Wants Revenge. Biden’s Best Weapon: Get Pardoning

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-wants-revenge-bidens-best-weapon-get-pardoning/

Destroying his enemies is the point. Hounding them with baseless lawsuits ruins their lives as they struggle to find the means, financially and otherwise, to defend themselves.

Whatever philosophical discussions there are will take place as the Biden presidency winds down, and the case is made to Biden that preemptive pardons will enhance his legacy. They are the right thing to do. The alternative is to allow Trump free rein, which is not the message Biden should leave for history.

'No Debate' That Charges Against Trump 'Constitute Crimes': Ex-Trump Lawyer

 https://www.newsweek.com/ty-cobb-jack-smith-january-6-charges-trump-1991603

He added: "What the debate has always been, in Trump's mind, is 'No, no, no, you can't get me.' And that proved to be true, that they ran out of time and the American people bestowed upon him the presidency, which puts him in a constitutional position that he can no longer be pursued."

Republicans in North Carolina try to destroy Democracy

As Trump pushes to consolidate power, he is being met with a push for democracy

Trump cabinet picks point to continuation of first term's scandals and disgrace

Are the kids all right? Abigail Shrier says you should stop asking them

 https://www.thejc.com/life-and-culture/are-the-kids-all-right-stop-asking-lhsgy4p9

America is in denial, says Shrier, but all the data suggests that therapy culture carries strong “iatrogenic effects” — when the healer makes things worse. “In 2016,” Shrier says, “one in six of children aged two to eight had a mental health or behavioural diagnosis. Those kids weren’t on smartphones… those were very young kids, they don’t generally have a smartphone now in America, but back then they certainly didn’t. What they had was a tremendous amount of diagnosis. Which meant a tremendous amount of mental health professional oversight. And we have seen this for more than a generation. These kids have been flooded with mental health interventions. They should be the picture of mental health, right? If preventive mental health care worked, these would be the healthiest kids we’d ever seen. But preventive mental health care doesn’t work. Now that of course doesn’t apply to people who actually are in desperate need of treatment, which is not preventive care, [they’re] people who are being treated because they have mental illness and that’s necessary. But right now, mental health professionals are holding themselves up, especially in America, as the solution to the suffering of this generation, just when we have every reason to believe they have only been making things worse for a generation. To me, that’s a very big problem. It’s the idea of the firemen have actually been starting the fire.”

Elon Musk brands UK a ‘tyrannical police state’

 https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-brand-uk-tyrannical-police-state/

Musk’s fight with the British government took off over the summer, when he leaped on the killing of three schoolgirls in the seaside town of Southport to offer his thoughts on policing in the U.K., spread inaccurate claims about the government’s response, and accuse Starmer of running a “two-tier” justice system that treats white people more harshly.

Downing Street hit back after he claimed “civil war is inevitable” in the U.K. and he was not invited to a major investment summit held in the fall, although ministers have since tried to rebuild bridges.

Donald Trump won the election. Now he’s losing it.

 https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5004940-trump-overstepping-voters/

On Nov. 5, Americans hired Donald Trump to do three things: put more money into their pockets; lower prices for gas, groceries and rent and restore order at the southern border.  

Trump was not hired to gut the Justice Department, abolish the FBI, pardon the Jan. 6 rioters, weaken our intelligence agencies, eliminate the Department of Education or “go wild on health.”  

The U.N’s Anti-Israel ‘Genocide’ Purge

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-u-ns-anti-israel-genocide-purge-c8feef1a

Alice Nderitu said Israel’s campaign in Gaza doesn’t meet the definition of genocide. She was fired.

Beracha for all those who promote Achdus

 Today I was Sandek for my new grandson named after Rav Shlomo Fisher

According to reliable sources a Sandek has a power to give Berachos. I was asked by a woman for a beracha that her daughter and grandchildren who are now trapped in Iran will be allowed to leave.

I also give a beracha to all those who are working for peace and achdus within the Jewish people. Even if you just say hello or good day to another person you qualify.

As Musk Assumes Deregulation Role, Tesla Racks Up Pollution Violations

 https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/elon-musk-tesla-environment-1263cd60?mod=hp_lead_pos8

Musk is considered a champion of the environment for his role in pioneering the electric car industry. He has said the mission of Tesla, which is the largest maker of electric cars in the U.S., is to “protect life on Earth.” Yet across his business empire, Musk’s companies show a pattern of breaking environmental rules again and again, federal and state government filings and documents show.

A Journal investigation shows that Tesla bosses were aware of the problems but sometimes chose short-term fixes to avoid slowing production. Former employees said they feared they might lose their job if they drew attention internally to potential environmental hazards, because senior managers didn’t consider such issues to be mission critical. As head of the company, Musk set the tone, these people said, pushing employees to move fast and complaining frequently in public statements that unnecessary regulations are strangling the U.S.

Final text of Lebanon ceasefire reached, Israeli officials say

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399744

The Israeli political-security cabinet will convene tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss the details of the agreement between Israel and Lebanon that will lead to a ceasefire in the conflict with the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

Israeli sources said that in advance of the cabinet meeting, a final text of the agreement with Lebanon has been reached. According to the report, Israel has given the green light to American mediator Amos Hochstein to move forward with the agreement.

Reuters reported that the US has informed Lebanese officials that a ceasefire could be declared "within hours."

GOP senators squirm over sex-related allegations against Trump Cabinet picks

 https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5005618-trump-cabinet-sexual-misconduct/

“There are clear signals from my colleagues that there’s more trouble than just with Gaetz,” said the lawmaker.

The senator warned that heated public hearings in which senators from both parties grill nominees over sexual allegations would be a bad way to start Trump’s second term as president.

“It would be awful for the Senate and I don’t think it’s good for the country,” the lawmaker added.

Trump Wants Deals on Ukraine and Israel. Here’s Why He’ll Struggle.

 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/11/24/trump-foreign-policy-deals-00191282

But while Netanyahu is expected to be more willing to bend to Trump than he has been with Biden, the Israeli leader is also in a stronger position politically — and more able to resist U.S. pressure — than he has been since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. Following Israel’s successful campaigns against Hezbollah and Hamas, Netanyahu has strengthened support in his cabinet and made it likely he can survive in power for at least another year.

Trump’s determination to install controversial picks faces next test

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/25/politics/trump-gabbard-hegseth-analysis/index.html

And CNN reported Friday that Gabbard had once been placed on a Transportation Security Administration watchlist — which, even if it was for benign reasons, would be highly unusual for a nominee for a top position.

Court says birth parents of girl born in IVF mix-up must give her to genetic parents

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/court-says-birth-parents-of-girl-born-in-ivf-mix-up-must-give-her-to-genetic-parents/

Rishon Lezion Family Court says 2-year-old to be removed from custody of parents who raised her, after high-profile mishap brought about lawsuit against hospital

UAE Interior Ministry: Murderers of Rabbi Zvi Kogan arrested

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399692

The Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates says that three suspects were arrested for the murder of Chabad emissary Rabbi Zvi Kogan. The Ministry did not mention the identity or the nationality of the suspects.

A new era in American politics: When sexual misconduct allegations are overlooked

 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/21/trump-cabinet-nominee-sexual-misconduct-allegations/76406952007/

Trump himself is no stranger to allegations of sexual impropriety. Nineteen women have accused him of sexual misconduct going back as far as the 1970s. Last year, a federal jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation of author E. Jean Carroll, who said Trump sexually assaulted her in a New York department store nearly three decades ago. Trump denied the allegations, but the jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages. He has appealed the award.

Trump’s decision to put four men accused of sexual misconduct in prominent government positions is "just the president-elect saying one more time he will do what he wants to do,” Zelizer said. “He doesn’t care about convention. He doesn’t care about perceptions and norms. This is him asserting himself, as he does all the time.

Why MP sex scandals no longer shock

 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36468511

It was precisely hypocrisy, Mr Cole says, which led to the Profumo affair in the 1963, seen as the "first public humiliation of a minister for a sex scandal".

John Profumo resigned as secretary of state for war after admitting he had lied to the House of Commons about his relationship with a 19-year-old model and showgirl, Christine Keeler.

Donald Trump Doesn't Have a Mandate to Radically Remake America

 https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/donald-trump-doesnt-have-a-mandate-to-radically-remake-america

When he declared victory in this month’s election, Donald Trump told supporters that the American public had given him an “unprecedented and powerful mandate.” And it certainly appeared that way: Not only was he on his way to a swing-state sweep and an even bigger Electoral College win than in 2016; he had also taken the popular vote, the first Republican to do so in two decades and the second since 1988. America might’ve gotten stuck with Trump eight years ago. But this time, it seemed, the voters chose him.

But as the ballots have been counted in the weeks since Election Day, Trump’s popular vote lead—and the mandate he claimed as a result of it—has quietly shrunk. “Powerful?” Hardly. Trump is on track to win the popular vote by the narrowest margin since 2000, when Al Gore edged out George W. Bush but lost in the Electoral College. It also appears that the president-elect’s share of the vote will end up below 50 percent. His unexpected gains this cycle don't signal a new silent majority; it's more like a noisy plurality.

Trump seems to believe it means he can do whatever he wants, as evidenced by cabinet picks like Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Linda McMahon, and Tulsi Gabbard—who seem to have been chosen for their roles based on their loyalty, willingness to blow up the system, and the fact that Trump sees them on television a lot.

Pam Bondi’s Comeback

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/11/pam-bondi-nominated-attorney-general/680768/

In 2017, Pam Bondi was passed over as too scandal-tainted. This time, she’s the safe, acceptable fallback choice

Mossad investigating missing Chabad emissary in Dubai, may have been under Iranian surveillance

 https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-830381

An investigation has been launched into the disappearance of an Israeli-Moldovan dual citizen who lives in the United Arab Emirates and has been missing since Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Saturday.

It said the Mossad and authorities in the Gulf country had opened the investigation based on information that the man’s disappearance was related to “a terrorist incident,” without providing further details.

Who Is Pam Bondi, Trump’s New Pick for Attorney General?

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/who-is-pam-bondi-donald-trumps-new-pick-for-attorney-general/

Her aides claimed Bondi was considering joining a lawsuit brought by New York against Trump University over fraud allegations. After Bondi’s political action committee received a $25,000 check from Trump’s family’s charitable foundation, Bondi’s office chose not to pursue the case.

Trump Won Less Than 50 Percent. Why Is Everyone Calling It a Landslide

 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/11/22/trump-win-popular-vote-below-50-percent-00190793

Trump’s 49.9 percent (for now) is still more than Kamala Harris’ 48.3 percent. When the counting is done, the margin will probably have shrunk even further. No matter: It still earns him 312 electoral votes from a population that also gave his Republican Party control of the House and Senate. He won.

All the same, the numbers might seem a wee bit jarring to anyone who has been listening to Washington’s triumphal Republicans and self-flagellating Democrats — all of whom seem to have internalized a version of the story that involves a romping, stomping Trump triumph.

The Lessons of Matt Gaetz’s Withdrawal

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-lessons-of-matt-gaetzs-withdrawal-cabinet-attorney-general-nominee-justice-department-d85138f5?mod=hp_opin_pos_0

The name of the Trump nominations game is clearly “shakeup”—and that’s to be applauded. Few doubt that Washington is in desperate need of some rattling. But note Lesson No. 3: The Gaetz fiasco is a reminder that there remains a bright line between a candidate who is aggressive, committed and professional and one who is unthinking, partisan and a liability. Mr. Trump has chosen a solid lineup of the former, from Linda McMahon (Education) and Marco Rubio (State) to Chris Wright (Energy) and Brendan Carr (Federal Communications Commission). Mr. Gaetz was always clearly the latter—big on bravado, short on ideas and temperament. While not as discussed as the ethics question, it’s also an important reason his nomination was destined to fail.

How Hegseth Cultivated an Image That Caught Trump’s Eye

 https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/how-hegseth-cultivated-an-image-that-caught-trumps-eye-cc1cdd10?mod=hp_lead_pos3

But the very reasons that drew Trump to Hegseth are threatening to derail his nomination. 

He would come to the job never having led a large government agency or faced the scrutiny that comes with it. A 2017 sexual-assault allegation that he later paid his accuser to keep secret blindsided Trump transition officials and has left even some Republicans undecided about voting to confirm him.

IDF rabbinate opposes asking troops to sign form ‘unchaining’ wives in case of disaster

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-rabbinate-opposes-asking-troops-to-sign-form-unchaining-wives-in-case-of-disaster/

While conditional divorces can free women in case of a husband’s disappearance or loss of mental faculties in battle, rabbis say pushing such a document on soldiers may hurt morale

Donald Trump Loses Matt Gaetz for AG—and His Grip on Total Power

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-loses-matt-gaetz-for-agand-his-grip-on-total-power/

While one theory is that Gaetz was intended as a sacrificial lamb to help make other extreme choices seem more palatable, it is not clear that his dropping out will have that effect. It could in fact make it easier for Senators with some vestigial amount of spine left to mount an opposition to Gabbard, RFK, Jr. or Hegseth. The cases against each of them, strong to begin with, are mounting daily.

Botched Gaetz Nomination Shows Limits of Trump’s Hold Over GOP

 https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/botched-gaetz-nomination-shows-limits-of-trumps-hold-over-gop-1a33b971?mod=hp_lead_pos1

The botched Gaetz nomination, together with the other pushback, show that while GOP lawmakers generally agree with the president-elect’s ambition to reshape the federal bureaucracy, they are at times willing to buck their party’s standard-bearer. 

הפרשיה שמסעירה: הרב ממונסי שמעוכב בארץ ניסה להימלט - ונעצר

 https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1679131

דרמה בפרשת העיגון שממשיכה להסעיר את המגזר החסידי: לאחר נסיון הימלטות מהארץ, קובע ביה"ד: הרב מטאהש ישהה במעצר בית | מחאות דלות ברחובות | בד"ץ העדה החרדית מפתיע ומסרב להתערב

Gaetz withdraws from attorney general consideration after Trump told him he didn’t have the votes in the Senate

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/21/politics/matt-gaetz-withdrawing-attorney-general/index.html

But on Thursday morning, President-elect Donald Trump called Gaetz with bad news: He did not have the votes in the Senate to win confirmation, Trump told Gaetz, according to a source with direct knowledge of the call.

Ayelet Shaked refused entry to Australia

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399555

Former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked refused visa to enter Australia, over her opposition to a Palestinian state. 'An antisemitic decision and a black day for Australian democracy.'

RFK Jr. Compared Trump to Hitler in Freshly Surfaced 2016 Comments

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-compared-trump-to-hitler-in-freshly-surfaced-2016-comments/

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of health and human services, in 2016 compared him to Adolf Hitler and lauded commentary that likened Trump’s supporters to Nazis and “belligerent idiots.”

ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant for Gaza 'war crimes'

 https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-830135

In a blockbuster ruling that shook the military, diplomatic, and legal worlds, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday.

The ICC cited reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant committed the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration as Attorney General

https://www.wsj.com/politics/matt-gaetz-attorney-general-drops-out-trump-cabinet-a496bd28?mod=hp_lead_pos1

Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, after it became clear Republican lawmakers were prepared to reject his nomination amid swirling sexual misconduct and drug allegations.

How Trump abandoned his pledge to ‘drain the swamp’

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-drain-the-swamp/2020/10/24/52c7682c-0a5a-11eb-9be6-cf25fb429f1a_story.html

In the closing weeks of that election, Trump led cheering supporters in chants of that slogan, promising that he would completely disrupt the culture of Washington. He warned of the power of lobbyists and political donors who he said effectively bought off elected officials. He told voters he was uniquely prepared to take on the issue, because he knew personally as a contributor how the system worked.

But during his four years in office, Trump has taken few steps to clean up Washington. He has instead presided over a norm-shattering expansion of private interests in government.

Trump Pick Linda McMahon Is Facing Her Own Sex Scandal

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/linda-mcmahon-tapped-for-trumps-education-secretary-faces-own-sex-scandal/

McMahon on Tuesday was tapped to lead the Department of Education as she and her husband, the embattled Vince McMahon, are embroiled in a sex scandal, something of a developing trend in the second Trump administration.

Haley raises concerns about Gabbard, RFK Jr.

 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5000955-haley-trump-cabinet-criticism/?tbref=hp

“This is not a place for a Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer,” she said, referring to the position of director of national intelligence, which “has to analyze real threats.”

“He’s a liberal Democrat, environmental attorney, trial lawyer who will now be overseeing 25 percent of our federal budget and has no background in health care,” Haley stated.

Rand Paul breaks with Trump on using military for mass deportations: ‘Huge mistake’

 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/11/20/congress/rand-paul-trump-immigration-deportations-00190666

“I’m not in favor of sending the Army in uniforms into our cities to collect people,” Paul (R-Ky.) told Newsmax host Rob Schmitt on Tuesday. “I think it’s a terrible image and that’s not what we use our military for, we never have and it’s actually been illegal for over 100 years to bring the Army into our cities.”

Jeffries: Republicans don’t have a mandate

 https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4998716-hakeem-jeffries-republican-mandate/?tbref=hp

“President Trump is looking for persons who will shake up the status quo, and we got a mandate in this election cycle to do that,” Johnson told reporters in the Capitol. “The status quo is not working for the American people. And so these are persons who will go in and bring real reform — significant reform — to the agencies that they lead.” 

Elon Musk Overseeing a Department for Transparency and Accountability Is the Ultimate Troll | Opinion

 https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-overseeing-department-transparency-accountability-ultimate-troll-opinion-1988463

In the Musk world view, transparency and accountability are entirely subjective. In March 2022, several weeks before launching his bid to buy Twitter, Musk declared himself a "free speech absolutist." Nine months later, after completing the acquisition, Musk began banning prominent journalists from the platform. Companies that took their advertising dollars elsewhere were not seen as exercising their free will. Musk sued them, describing the companies' decision as a "conspiracy" and a "boycott," and asking a federal court in Texas to prosecute them to the fullest.

To All Trump Voters: How Will You Measure His Success?

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-question-all-trump-voters-will-have-to-answer/

On the Israel side of things, Trump has promised to give Netanyahu a free hand to “get the job done.” What does that mean? Trump has already articulated his vision for what it looks like, stating that Gaza could be “better than Monaco.” What do you Trump voters think success looks like in the Middle East? During his first term, he promised that Jared Kushner would bring peace to the region.

Did that happen? Did moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem accomplish that task? Did the vaunted Abraham Accords? Or are people still slaughtering each other over a spit of land the size of New Jersey?

Do you Trump voters expect a two-state solution? A one-state solution? Trump’s first peace proposal for the region came out in 2020. Here’s how The New York Times described it: “The plan would discard the longtime goal of granting the Palestinians a full-fledged state. President Trump called it ‘a win-win’ for both sides; Palestinian leaders immediately rejected it.”

Trump Pentagon pick flagged in 2021 as potential insider threat for extremist-linked tattoo

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-pentagon-pick-flagged-in-2021-as-potential-insider-threat-for-extremist-linked-tattoo/

As the AP reported in an investigation published last month, more than 480 people with a military background were accused of ideologically driven extremist crimes from 2017 through 2023, including the more than 230 arrested in connection with the January 6 insurrection, according to data collected and analyzed by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, or START, at the University of Maryland.

Though those numbers reflect a small fraction of those who have served honorably in the military — and Lloyd Austin, the current defense secretary, has said that extremism is not widespread in the US military — AP’s investigation found that plots involving people with military backgrounds were more likely to involve mass casualties.

Haredi minister slams: Judiciary holds a double standard

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399488

Speaking at the Knesset plenum, Porush said, "I don't understand what country I'm in, and what year I'm in. As far as I know, I am in the year 2024, in the same country I was in two years ago. In today's country, there is no problem deciding that the family of a person who didn't become a soldier should not be eligible for daycare [discounts]."

Such a person, he stressed, "is not a terrorist - his whole sin is that maybe he hasn't yet enlisted, or that he, as per the rabbis' instructions, is not going to enlist until there is an arrangement ensuring that people will not be able to harm yeshiva students."

Pope Francis Turns on Israel

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/pope-francis-book-israel-gaza-genocide-hope-never-disappoints-ff367083?mod=WTRN_pos4&cx_testId=3&cx_testVariant=cx_171&cx_artPos=3

Pope Francis has written a new book to mark the 2025 jubilee. In an excerpt from “Hope Never Disappoints” that has generated headlines, he proposes a “careful investigation” by international experts into whether Israel’s actions in Gaza meet “the technical definition” of genocide.

But don’t kid yourself. What matters here is not the prospect of some authoritative finding by a respected international body. With this call, the pope has taken a side in the Hamas-Israel war. The headlines all have “pope,” “Israel,” and “genocide” in them—a great victory for anti-Israel forces.

What to know about Dr. Oz, the TV physician Trump tapped to run Medicare

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/20/dr-oz-trump-cms-credentials-controversy/

In 2014, a study in the British Medical Journal found that more than half the recommendations made on “The Dr. Oz Show” were either not backed up by, or contradicted, scientific research.

Trump’s turn to bask in Musk’s reflected glory

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/20/politics/trump-musk-relationship-analysis/index.html

Conflicts of interest weren’t exactly taken seriously in the first Trump administration. But Musk’s ubiquity in Trump 2.0 as the standout ally in an emerging inner circle of billionaires, millionaires and Fox News anchors means they have officially become a joke.

Sell the Steal: How Michael Flynn built a business and MAGA following out of election denialism

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/24/politics/michael-flynn-election-denialism-business-maga/index.html

Flynn – a retired Army lieutenant general who once led the Defense Intelligence Agency, and someone Trump has indicated he would include in a second administration – has been one of the biggest promoters of the same baseless voter fraud allegations that have spawned criminal investigations, a congressional inquiry and, in the case of Dominion, a $787 million defamation settlement from Fox News.

Donald Trump Taps Dr. Oz for Top Health Position

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-taps-dr-oz-top-health-position-1988555

Oz has also faced controversies surrounding his medical career. During a 2014 Senate hearing on consumer protection, former Senator Claire McCaskill said that the "scientific community is almost monolithic against you" for his weight loss product advertisements.

Linda McMahon's Nomination Attacked by Educators: 'Slap in the Face'

https://www.newsweek.com/linda-mcmahon-donald-trump-secretary-education-nomination-attacked-1988707

 Critics see the nomination as the latest instance of Trump selecting a loyalist to serve in his incoming administration over someone with more relevant experience.

"By selecting Linda McMahon, Donald Trump is showing that he could not care less about our students' futures," Becky Pringle, the president of the National Education Association, said in a statement. She added, "McMahon's only mission is to eliminate the Department of Education and take away taxpayer dollars from public schools."

עדיין מעוכב בארץ: הרב מארה"ב חגג את נישואי נכדתו מרחוק

 https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1678908

מזה כחודשיים וחצי מעוכב בארץ רב קהילת טאהש במונסי המעורב בתיק גירושין סבוך בארה"ב. לרגל חתונת נכדתו חגג מרחוק את השמחה. צפו בתיעוד

Sometimes, Donald Trump tells the truth

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/11/19/trump-cabinet-outsider-heterodox-reagan/

If Trump’s underlying goal is to shrink the federal workforce, which so many other Republican presidents have talked about, then he might have stumbled on a brilliant tactic. Firing civil servants is notoriously difficult. But if Trump manages to install Gaetz at Justice or Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Health and Human Services, I imagine you will see a voluntary exodus of expertise like we’ve never seen before. There’s not a lawyer in the Justice Department who couldn’t be making more money for fewer headaches in private practice.

‘We Are Reeling’: Trump’s Pick of Tulsi Gabbard Alarms Intelligence Community

 https://time.com/7176696/gabbard-russia-connection-trump-intelligence/

Weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Gabbard posted a video espousing a disproven conspiracy theory that alleged pathogens could leak from biolabs in Ukraine, a theory advanced by Russia as part of its propaganda attempt to press for a ceasefire. Then-Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., said Gabbard had embraced “actual Russian propaganda” and called it “traitorous.” Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said Gabbard was “parroting fake Russian propaganda.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene: GOP Covered Up ‘Sexual Harassment and Assault’ Claims

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-gop-covered-up-sexual-harassment-and-assault-claims/

Greene suggested there’s no reason that completed reports and settlements involving lawmakers—including Gaetz’ probe—shouldn’t be made public. While she wrote that she’d even filed an ethics report herself, she didn’t specify what, or who, it involved.

The Georgia firebrand ended with a commitment to make public as many purported claims as possible: “If we’re going to dance, let’s all dance in the sunlight. I’ll make sure we do.”

Arkia and Israir to operate flights to the US, instead of foreign airlines

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399472

The two companies plan to lease European aircraft and operate ten weekly flights using foreign crews in order to lower prices for consumers.

Just not these two Please Mr. President, ditch this dreadful duo — Gabbard and Gaetz

 https://nypost.com/2024/11/19/opinion/donald-trump-please-get-rid-of-matt-gaetz-and-tulsi-gabbard-from-your-cabinet/

There’s a real fear that Gabbard won’t provide President Trump with the intelligence he needs, but rather downplay threats with the intention of isolationism.

Gaetz may provide the disruption, but he has neither the ethics nor the discipline to rebuild a proper system that will pursue fair prosecutions.

Trump: ‘No more Judges confirmed before Inauguration Day!’

 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4998359-trump-demands-senate-stop-confirming-judges/?tbref=hp

The White House called out Trump and Republicans for trying to slow down confirmations at the end of the year, arguing that Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who was elected Senate GOP leader, considered it a priority to confirm Trump’s judicial nominees before the end of his last administration.

WSJ: Much of the seized Hezbollah weapons are Russian-made

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399411

A full 60-70% of weapons found in southern Lebanon at the start of the IDF's ground invasion were Russian-made; experts unsure of whether they were taken from Syria or signal increased cooperation between Russia and Hezbollah, report says.

Israel Finds Large Troves of Russian Arms in Hezbollah’s Hands

 https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-finds-large-troves-of-russian-arms-in-hezbollahs-hands-eeed9445?mod=hp_lead_pos8

The weapons Israel is finding now are newer, more advanced, and present in larger numbers than expected by military analysts. The arms have significantly bolstered Hezbollah’s ability to fight back after Israeli airstrikes decimated its top leadership, they say. Antitank weapons such as the Kornet have been among the most effective weapons in Hezbollah’s arsenal, and have been used to kill numerous Israeli soldiers.

Don’t Overlook How Bad This Lesser-Known Trump Nominee Is

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/dont-overlook-how-bad-this-lesser-known-trump-nominee-is/

“This is a guy who is a strong ally of Elon Musk, another fake free speech champion,” he added. “This is a guy who thinks that, oh, for example, advertisers that refuse to advertise on Twitter are part of an illegal cartel that have to be broken up because they don’t want their ads running next to @HitlerLover69 tweets. So this guy is not a friend of free speech—he wants to go after broadcast networks that don’t bend the knee enough to Donald Trump, or that air reports that might be critical of Donald Trump, or that air shows like Saturday Night Live.”

Could Biden's Ukraine Missile Move Trigger World War III? Experts' Verdicts

 https://www.newsweek.com/could-biden-ukraine-missile-move-trigger-world-war-experts-verdicts-1987468

Americans may not have noticed—nor, shockingly, have many Europeans—that World War III has already begun. On one side are Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. The Russian war in Ukraine is being fought with Chinese support for Russian industry, Iranian drones, and North Korean ammunition and missiles, which kill Ukrainian civilians every night, and now North Korean troops.

Trump’s Cabinet picks, and the morality problem

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/18/trumps-cabinet-picks-morality-problem/

“With some of these nominees — Gaetz, Hegseth, RFK Jr. — I wonder, does it matter anymore for Republicans to think of leaders as people who are moral in their personal lives?” CNN host Jake Tapper asked. “Is that still important to the Republican Party?”

Tulsi Gabbard vs. Trump’s First Term

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/tulsi-gabbard-director-of-national-intelligence-donald-trump-foreign-policy-iran-russia-d64085dc?mod=hp_opin_pos_0

Ms. Gabbard, a Democrat until 2022, shares Mr. Trump’s skepticism toward U.S. military involvement abroad. But she stands out as a troubling choice to manage intelligence because her views on the use of force and U.S. foreign policy mark her to the left of even dovish voices in the Democratic Party.

Jews don’t accept authority or have faith unless forced

 Netziv (Shemos 13:9): Don’t be surprised that G d requires us to do so many mitzvos and techniques to acquire bitachon and emuna  in G d’s Providence. The fact is that it is known that the Jews do not readily accept authority until they are forced as we see by the plagues. That is why G d took us out of Egypt with a strong hand because it was not easy for us to accept His dominance. This is seen in the medrash which discusses, “The Jews did not listen to Moshe because of their irritability and stress of their enslavement.”  The medrash explains that they didn’t want to listen because they were immersed in idol worship.  In other words, the medrash means that in fact they did not want to be redeemed.

Woman is not a slave - disagreeing with Rashi

 Igros Moshe (O.C. 6 5.2): [Menachos 43b It was taught: R. Judah used to say, A man is bound to say the following three blessings daily: who has made me a Jew’, ‘. . . . who hast not made me a woman’; and ‘ . . . who hast not made me a brutish man’. R. Aha b. Jacob once overhead his son saying the blessing … who hast not made me a brutish man’, whereupon he said to him, ‘And this too!’ Said the other, ‘Then what blessing should I say instead?’ [He replied,] . . . who hast not made me a slave’. And is not that the same as a woman?[Rashi explains because in terms of the obligation of doing mitzvos – a woman and a slave are equal]— A slave is more contemptible.] Look at Rashi (Menachos 43b) who explains in his first explanation to the question of saying a beracha “who has not made me a slave” is the same saying “who has not made me a woman", that “the wife is also a slave to her husband as a slave is to his master.” If I weren't afraid I would say that it is necessary to erase the first explantion of Rashi. Because G-d forbid for Rashi to say this ridiculous statement. That is because according to the Torah there is no obligation for the wife to do anything for the husband except for having normal marital relations. And even in regard to intercourse, he is in fact more obligated to her because he also has a negative Torah commandment not to deprive her of sexual satisfaction. In fact it is only a decree of the Sages that requires that her work belongs to her husband. Corresponding to this requirement to work for him, he is required to feed her. But the only work she is obligated to do is house work and not to work in the field. She also has some obligation regarding wool - which is an easy job that women typically do. See Shulchan Aruch EH simon 80. Her meals are his obligation since she should not have it any worse than her family and his family and certainly not less than what she typically eats. Similarly he is obligated to provide her clothing according to what the women of that city typically get as well as according to the standard of his and her family. That is because she is to go up in her standard of living with him and not go down. In addition he is obligated to honor her and he cannot leave the house without her permission except to go to his job that is known to her. In fact we see from all this the opposite of her being his slave. He is obligated to do all the work to earn a living as is stated in the Kesubah. Even if it means hiring himself out according to Tosfos (Kesubos 63). Thus we see that the husband is more of a slave to her then she is to him. This Rashi requires further study (tzorech iyun gadol).

WHO warns: Measles outbreak spreading alarmingly

 https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-829480

In 2023, 10.3 million measles cases were reported globally, marking a 20% increase from the previous year. The WHO attributes this rise to insufficient vaccination coverage, leading to outbreaks.

10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife - voters fell for a conman

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syz6f00qm1g#autoplay

Trump’s solution—deport millions of illegal immigrants. That’s it. Round them up and deport them. Yes, it’s a despicable approach that soundly crosses the threshold into the realm of “inhumane," not to mention would likely slam into many legal and constitutional boundaries, but it was also something else - simple. Just so simple. That is why that approach caught on. Swing voters wanted a simple policy they understand, that will provide the veneer of safety, even if it’s based on an illusion. It's a campaign. It doesn't matter if it's feasible or not.

How Hegseth’s Tattoo Got Him Barred From Working at Biden’s Inauguration

 https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/how-hegseths-tattoo-got-him-barred-from-working-at-bidens-inauguration-0bd0efeb?mod=hp_featst_pos3

The email, dated Jan. 14 and sent from a former Washington, D.C., Guard member, included an attachment showing a shirtless Hegseth with a tattoo on his bicep inscribed, “Deus Vult.” A quick google search told Gaith/er the Latin phrase means “God wills it,” which served as a battle cry for Christians during the Crusades and has become associated with white extremist groups, he told The Wall Street Journal. The pictures also showed that Hegseth has a large Jerusalem cross tattoo. Gaither said he was not concerned about the cross—it was the “Deus Vult” that worried him.

Trump win proves Americans don't care about Israel's war

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkmyoalgjx#autoplay

Opinion: US voters barely give Israel a thought when voting for president; Jewish and Muslim votes remain the same and only about 1% cited the war among their considerations when voting 

Do some vaccinations really reduce dementia risk?

 https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/do-some-vaccinations-really-reduce-dementia-risk#:~:text=Research%20has%20shown%20reduced%20dementia,unclear%20to%20the%20medical%20community.

There is mounting evidence vaccines can reduce the rates of dementia, but one GP says ‘the jury is still out’ on which ones are best.

Rav Yehoshua Kalish zt”l

 https://matzav.com/rav-yehoshua-kalish-ztl/

Rav Kalish was a gaon in Torah, a talmid chochom of extraordinary depth who completed Shas over 40 times during his lifetime.

As a maggid shiur and rebbi, he educated and inspired thousands, shaping the lives of countless talmidim with his brilliance, warmth, and heartfelt hadracha.

In his role as a rov, Rav Kalish was a pillar of strength and leadership, offering chochmas haTorah to his kehillah and the broader community. His sensitivity, clarity in psak, and boundless ahavas Yisroel left an indelible mark on all who were privileged to know him.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399302

Trump won. The celebrations started. Then the trouble began

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/16/trump-transition-cabinet-controversy/

 “It’s hard to argue that a Putin apologist who is friends with Assad represents conservative foreign policy. It’s hard to argue that someone who wants to get rid of fluoride in your water and favors abortion for all nine months is a conservative family pick,” said Marc Short, a longtime adviser to Pence, referring to Gabbard and Kennedy, respectively, before saying that the Gaetz choice “makes a mockery of the whole Department of Justice — which could be what Trump wants to do — but it’s not really advancing law and order.”

Pete Hegseth's Fox News Colleagues React to 'White Supremacist' Accusation

 https://www.newsweek.com/pete-hegseths-fox-news-colleagues-react-white-supremacist-accusation-1986874

In his 2024 book, The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, Hegseth, who is a New York Times bestselling author, spoke out against the military's drive to increase diversity among higher-ranked officers.

"Take it to the racist bank: Black troops at all levels will be promoted simply based on their race," he wrote in a section cited by The Washington Post. "Some will be qualified; some will not be."

Hegseth left the Army in 2021, according to Reuters, after being labeled an "extremist" he said, and that the Army did not want him. In his book, Hegseth also wrote that the feeling was mutual, "I didn't want this Army anymore either."

Wasserman Schultz says Gabbard ‘likely a Russian asset’

 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4993196-wasserman-schultz-says-gabbard-likely-a-russian-asset/?tbref=hp

Gabbard has shared content suggesting that the U.S. was involved in Ukraine developing biological weapons. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said at the time that she was “parroting Russian propaganda” and that her “treasonous lies may well cost lives.”

In 2022, she also knocked the Biden administration for failing to address Russian concerns amid its invasion of Ukraine.

Why Trump’s Clown Cabinet of Deplorables Is a No-Joke Circus

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/gaetz-rfk-jr-gabbard-trumps-cabinet-of-deplorables-is-no-joke/

The pet-murdering former South Dakota Snow Queen to head the Department of Homeland Security? Ron Burgundy to head the Department of Defense? An accused pedophile and sex-trafficker to be Attorney General? A woman Russian television proudly proclaims is an agent for them to be the top intelligence official in the U.S. government? The anti-vaxx conspiracy theorist with a brain worm to head the Department of Health and Human Services?

Trump Keeps Trolling as the ‘Resistance’ Fades

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-keeps-trolling-as-the-resistance-fades-appointments-confirmations-cope-a6a8bd40?mod=opinion_trendingnow_article_pos1

We are back to the Island of Misfit Toys. What a mistake. Mr. Trump often confuses his own antic malice for daring, his own unseriousness for boldness. How amazing that in the rosy glow of election, he will spend so much political capital and goodwill on confirmation fights he may well, and certainly deserves to, lose.

The Strange World of RFK Jr.

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/rfk-jr-health-and-human-services-secretary-donald-trump-3df2b039?mod=hp_opin_pos_0

Donald Trump II is a brave new world, and look no further than his strange choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department. Only months ago Mr. Trump was calling the Kennedy family scion a “liberal lunatic,” yet now he wants to hand RFK Jr. the power to “make America healthy again.” Good luck making sense of this nomination.

Kristi Noem 'Knows Nothing' About Homeland Security: Ex-Trump Official

 https://www.newsweek.com/kristi-noem-knows-nothing-homeland-security-ex-trump-official-1986824

Elizabeth Neumann, who was assistant Homeland Security secretary in Trump's first White House tenure, as well as serving in the department under George W. Bush, told CNN host Kaitlan Collins that it is "concerning" that the department doesn't have the kind of leader it deserves. Newsweek has contacted Noem via the contact form on her website for comment outside of regular working hours.

"It's a little concerning for the agency itself that you have somebody coming in that really knows nothing about Homeland Security and hasn't had that much experience actually—I know she's the governor of a state, but it's a relatively small state—hasn't been in office that long," Neumann said. "So I'm a little concerned for the agency itself that they don't have the kind of leader that they deserve."

Trump Second Thoughts?

Mishpacha has been among Trump's greatest supporters especially  Benjamin Rose

However in the current issue he seems to be hedging his encouragement about Trump

Mishpacha has been among's greatest supporters especiallty Benjamin Rose

Reports are circulating that Trump gave Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu an Inauguration Day deadline to wrap up the IDF wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Others say the deadline only applies to major military offensives, and that the incoming Trump administration has made peace with the idea that Israel will battle on well into its first 100 days and keep control over parts of Gaza and south Lebanon once they are cleared of terrorist infrastructure.

All this remains to be seen. Trump is strong and determined, but Netanyahu is no pushover. He and Israel’s security and intelligence heads should grab every opportunity to make their case. The Biden administration tried to pressure Israel to accept Palestinian Authority rule in Gaza or some combination of Arab forces from moderate Muslim nations. What is Trump’s vision for the future of Gaza?

That’s one reason we need to watch Trump’s pick for secretary of state and pay close attention to his Senate confirmation testimony. What role does Trump envision for Qatar, rumored to be on the way out as a mediator between Israel and Hamas?

Trump Decision Makes Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire More Likely—Lebanese Official

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-lebanon-israel-ceasefire-more-likely-nabih-berri-1986832

Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri believes the chances of Lebanon and Israel reaching a ceasefire agreement now have surpassed 50 percent after President-elect Donald Trump reportedly urged U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein to push through a deal.

Matt Gaetz slammed as ‘vile’ sexual predator by Federalist co-founder, who says senators who vote for AG pick must ‘own that’

 https://nypost.com/2024/11/14/us-news/federalist-co-founder-benjamin-domenech-slams-matt-gaetz-as-vile-sexual-predator-says-senators-who-vote-for-him-must-own-that/

“Every Republican in Washington has an opinion about Matt Gaetz, and 99% of those opinions are, ‘Keep Matt Gaetz away from my wife/daughter/friend and anyone I care about,’” he wrote.

“Here’s the real deal: Matt Gaetz is the line for how we assess the Republican Party. If they are truly a cult of personality, beholden to Donald Trump in ways that we could not even imagine for a party that rejects cults and idol worship, they will approve this choice,” Domenech wrote.

RFK Jr., who mused COVID was designed to spare Ashkenazi Jews, tapped to head HHS - Making America Great obviously

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/rfk-jr-who-mused-covid-was-designed-to-spare-ashkenazi-jews-tapped-to-head-hhs/

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an American anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and onetime presidential candidate who has compared vaccine mandates to the Holocaust and mused that the COVID-19 pandemic was engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews, is US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trump's message to Israel: Advance a deal with Lebanon - What if Biden had said it

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/399237

Diplomatic source says that US President-elect Donald Trump told Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer that Israel needs to reach an agreement which will end the war in Lebanon.

What Republicans are saying about Matt Gaetz's nomination for attorney general

 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/republicans-matt-gaetzs-nomination-attorney-general-115867785

JOHN BOLTON, former U.N. ambassador and national security adviser:

“It must be the worst nomination for a Cabinet secretary in American history. I think this is something that falls well outside the scope of deference that should be given to a president in nominating members of the senior team. Gaetz is not only totally incompetent for this job, he doesn’t have the character. He is a person of moral turpitude.”

Trump AG nominee Matt Gaetz has left a trail of antisemitic comments

 https://forward.com/fast-forward/674875/trump-ag-matt-gaetz-antisemitic/

Rep. Max Miller, a Jewish Republican from Ohio, also blasted the nomination. “Gaetz has a better shot at having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II than being confirmed by the Senate,” Miller said, adding that Gaetz is “a reckless pick” with “a zero percent shot.”

Israel to Trump: It would be ‘better’ to stay in the Paris Agreement

 https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-us-donald-trump-gideon-behar-better-to-stay-in-paris-agreement-climate-cop29-war-gaza/

One of Donald Trump’s closest international allies has advised him against withdrawing from the Paris global climate pact that America signed in 2015.

Asked whether Israel supported the U.S. president-elect’s plan to leave the Paris Agreement, Israel’s Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability Gideon Behar said: “The more people that will remain … is better.” 

What White Christians Have Wrought

 https://time.com/7174260/white-christianity-trump-election-essay/

Over the last decade, many white Christians have not just selfishly supported a dangerous, narcissistic man who promised to restore their waning influence; they have now willingly blessed the advent of a new American fascism that threatens our democratic future. They are principally responsible for Trump’s rise and return to power—and for everything that is coming for all of us in its wake.

CEASEFIRE FOR ARMS? Trump Promises to Remove All Arms Restrictions if Israel Agrees to a Ceasefire in Lebanon Before Inauguration Day

 https://matzav.com/ceasefire-for-arms-trump-promises-to-remove-all-arms-restrictions-if-israel-agrees-to-a-ceasefire-in-lebanon-before-inauguration-day-report/

According to a new report from Channel 12 News on Thursday, US President-elect Donald Trump’s associates have promised Israel that all delays and restrictions on arms to Israel will be removed on his first day in office, provided Israel achieves a ceasefire in Lebanon by the time Trump takes office on inauguration day.