Trump Puts the Senate in Play in 2026

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-puts-the-senate-in-play-in-2026-83b84ecd?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

A common feature of Donald Trump’s two terms as President is that he can’t stand political prosperity. When events are going in his direction, he has an uncanny habit of handing his opponents a sword.

The latest example came Sunday after GOP leaders dragged several holdouts across the line to vote aye and start debate over the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill. The vote was 51-49, but Mr. Trump couldn’t leave victory alone.

Instead he unloaded on the two GOP dissenters, Rand Paul of Kentucky and especially Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Mr. Trump dumped three different Truth Social posts on Mr. Tillis, calling him a sellout, a “talker and complainer” and various other insults.

He also all but promised to support a Republican opponent in the GOP primary for Senate in 2026, when Mr. Tillis’s term ends. “Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social. “I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina.”

Trump - "only believe what I tell you. Anyone who thinks Iran can develop an A bomb is delusional"

We are witnessing great bitachon amongst Jews However it is bitachon in Trump not G-d Concern for Iranian A bomb can only be a sign of Trump hatred since he claims he destroyed the threat and we all know everything he says is always true

Satellite images reveal Iran attempting to regain access to Fordo nuclear facility

 https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/30/satellite-images-reveal-iran-attempting-to-regain-access-to-fordo-nuclear-facility/

Satellite images show an excavator operating near the crater at the Fordo site, with a sand conveyor removing soil. Iran appears to have made significant progress in clearing the crater near the ventilation shafts that were targeted in the strike.

Images from two days earlier had indicated that initial engineering activity had begun, but the latest photographs suggest Iran is now working to reopen access to the underground facility. Nonetheless, the paved access tunnels leading deeper into the mountain remain blocked by sand piles, apparently placed there by Iran before the attack.

Intercepted call of Iranian officials downplays damage of U.S. attack

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/29/trump-iran-nuclear-damage-intercepted-call/

The officials were heard saying Trump’s strike on Iran proved less devastating than expected. The administration calls the intelligence insignificant.

The United States obtained intercepted communication between senior Iranian officials discussing this month’s U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program and remarking that the attack was less devastating than they had expected, said four people familiar with the classified intelligence circulating within the U.S. government.

The Trump administration did not dispute the existence of the intercepted communication, which has not been previously reported, but strenuously disagreed with the Iranians’ conclusions and cast doubt on their ability to assess the damage at the three nuclear facilities targeted in the U.S. operation.

Analysts broadly agree that the strikes involved immense U.S. firepower, including 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles, that severely damaged the nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. But the extent of the destruction and how long it may take Iran to rebuild has been hotly debated amid reports that Iran moved its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium before the strike and that the explosions sealed off the entrance to two of the facilities but did not collapse their underground buildings.

Nicolle Wallace slams GOP on Medicaid cuts: 'Mitch McConnell doesn't give a you-know-what

New Satellite Imagery Shows Iran Expanding Work at Fordow Nuclear Site

 https://www.newsweek.com/iran-fordow-satellite-images-construction-2091860

A question of intelligence: More fallout from Trump's Iran strikes

Yikes! Fox News’ Brit Hume slams Fox vet Hegseth for berating Fox reporter at Pentagon

MITZVOS AND SPECIAL NEEDS

 https://www.beineinu.org/chizuq-inspiration/gedolim-say/1892-mitzvos-and-special-needs

With regard to Jewish retarded -- parenthetically, I prefer some such term as "special" people, not simply as a euphemism, but because it would more accurately reflect their situation, especially in view of the fact that in many cases the retardation is limited to the capacity to absorb and assimilate knowledge, while in other areas they may be quite normal or even above average -- the Jewish identity factor is even more important, not only per se but also for its therapeutic value. The actual practice of Mitzvos in the everyday life provides a tangible way by which these special people of all ages can, despite their handicap, identify with their families and with other fellow Jews in their surroundings, and generally keep in touch with reality. Even if mentally they may not fully grasp the meaning of these rituals, subconsciously they are bound to feel at home in such an environment, and in many cases could participate in such activities also on the conscious level.

Trump: Make the deal in Gaza, bring hostages back

https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/29/trump-make-the-deal-in-gaza-bring-hostages-back/

US President Donald Trump is continuing to push for an end to the war in Gaza. Trump posted on his TRUTH social media platform that a deal must be signed. Over the weekend, Trump said all efforts are now focused on ending the war and securing the hostages' release as part of a broader move to expand the Abraham Accords.

The primary obstacle remains Hamas's refusal to accept the terms for ending the war: disarmament and the exile of its senior leadership. The central proposal currently on the table postpones discussion of these disputed issues to a later stage in the negotiations and seeks to address Hamas's demand for guarantees that the war will be brought to a complete end, even if talks are not concluded within 60 days. The proposal is still awaiting agreement from the parties involved

Musk condemns latest Senate bill that would 'destroy millions of jobs,' raise taxes on wind, solar projects

 https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/musk-condemns-latest-senate-bill-destroy-millions-jobs-raise-taxes-wind-solar-projects

Former DOGE head and tech mogul Elon Musk took to X on his 54th birthday Saturday to bash the latest Senate draft of President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill," which would "destroy millions of jobs" and raise taxes on all wind and solar projects that have not yet started construction.

"The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country! Utterly insane and destructive," Musk wrote in the post.

Trump: 'Make the deal in Gaza, get the hostages back!!!'

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410814

US President Donald Trump called for a ceasefire deal to return the remaining 50 hostages still held in Gaza in an all-caps post to his Truth Social platform this morning (Sunday).

The President wrote: "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!! DJT."

Trump told reporters on Friday that he believes a ceasefire in Gaza could be achieved this week.

“I think it’s close. I just spoke with some of the people involved. It’s a terrible situation that’s going on in Gaza, and we think within the next week, we’re going to get a ceasefire,” he said.

Iran could start enriching uranium for bomb within months, UN nuclear chief says

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79qeqg89g2o

Iran has the capacity to start enriching uranium again - for a possible bomb - in "a matter of months", the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog has said.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the US strikes on three Iranian sites last weekend had caused severe but "not total" damage, contradicting Donald Trump's claim that Iran's nuclear facilities were "totally obliterated".

"Frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there," Grossi said on Saturday.

Korach and Shabtsai Tzvi

 The commentary of the Netziv regarding the rebellion of Korach makes a nimber of assertions.

1) This was a revolt of gedolim against Moshe and ultimatey against G-d!

2) The motivation of the rebels was different. Korah wanted power. Dosan wanted to cause trouble and was utilized by Korach to recruit the 250 gediolim who were not only judges in Moshe's beis din but were known fot their piety and they sinned for the sake of getting closer to G-d

3) He notes that Nazir is described as were the 250 as sinning against their souls. He says the commonality is that the Nazir afflicts himself to develop ruach hakodesh. Something he is not deserving of by his spiritual level. They felt that only by doing the avoda of Cohanim could they get closer to G-d and they were willing to sin and die to accomplish that. That is why they were not swallowed up as their fellow rebels but were were burned by holy fire as were Aron's sons, He notes that the message of Tzitzis is that spiritual greatness can only be achieved correctly through mitzvos and conforming with    G-d's plan and not through sin. 

Bottom line the Netziv here explains as he did with the meraglim that gedolim also have a yetzer harah to sin even for the sake of Heaven as well as for baser reasons such as power or jealousy.

Rewriting Jewish history

 In the current Mishpacha there is an article about Rav Yisroel Salanter which notes at the end that the writing of Professor Etkes was utilized. It describes his mesiras nefesh in Paris to build Yddishkeit.

It first raises the question of why he lived most of his life outside the religious community of Eastern Europe and lived amongst the emigrants and irreligious in Western Europe. 

https://mishpacha.com/au-revoir-rav-yisrael/

Rav Yisrael Salanter left Eastern Europe in 1857, returning only for sporadic visits. For the next 26 years of his life, the great founder of the Mussar movement, and one of the greatest tzaddikim and geonim in the whole Russian Empire, resided in various cities across Germany — Halberstadt, Konigsberg, Memel, Berlin, Hamburg — and even spent a curious two-year stint in Paris, France.

What was behind his sudden departure? Why did he remain in Western Europe until his passing? And most importantly, what did he set out to accomplish during his long sojourn away from familiar surroundings?

He left for Germany to seek medical care for his worsening health issues. After he’d been there for several months, his observations on the spiritual state of German Jewry made him decide to remain. While Eastern Europe was then beginning its own confrontation with modernity and secularization, Germany and other Western European Jewish communities were already decades into the experience.

Since I have Professor Etkes biography I decided to compare it to the article. 

In the biography it is actually Part Five the Period of Wanderings 1857 to 1883

In the article it is noted that he left Eastern Europe for health reasons and then stayed in Germany because he saw a need for his influence. In the book it states that he left because he was not able to bring about significant change in the established religious communities. In fact, Rabbi Freifeld told me the same. Namely that he felt he could produce change only in a new community or one that had been destroyed by secularism. He himself used the metaphor of a team of horses racing downhill. Nothing can be done until they reach bottom. In other words, the frum community was not amenable to his influence and he felt more productive in kiruv work. That was left out of the article. 

In addition the book notes the health issue was a mental health issue - severe depression. Churchill and Lincoln also suffered from severe depression. Obviously, it is not politically correct to say that about a gadol

There were a number of other issues left out of the article. In other words, the article was willing to mention only that which might inspire without regard whether it provides an accurate understanding of what happened. There is no mention that the material was from a published biography and didn't even mention the name of the biography. For those who can get the biography and want to get a more realistic understanding I would recommend reading the book over the article. Rabbi Israel Salanter and the Mussar Movement Seeking the Torah of Truth published by JPS

"‘Not just an imperial Executive, but an imperial Supreme Court’: Tribe reacts to birthright ruling

Donald Trump Suffers Legal Blow: 'Grave Constitutional Violations'

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-suffers-major-legal-blow-grave-constitutional-violations-2091941

On Friday, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's executive order targeting legal firm Susman Godfrey, ruling it was "unconstitutional from beginning to end."

This is the fourth defeat in court Trump has suffered since imposing punitive measures on a number of law firms that either were involved in legal cases against him or represented his political rivals.

The executive orders Trump imposed on various law firms, including Susman Godfrey, featured a number of punitive measures such as blocking their employees access to government buildings, terminating government contracts and suspending security clearance.

Friday saw District Judge Loren AliKhan conclude that in the case of Susman Godfrey, Trump's order was "unconstitutional from beginning to end."

She said: "Every court to have considered a challenge to one of these orders has found grave constitutional violations and permanently enjoined enforcement of the order in full.

Iran says nuclear sites ‘badly damaged’ amid conflicting reports on strikes’ success

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-says-nuclear-sites-badly-damaged-amid-conflicting-reports-on-strikes-success/

White House publishes Israel Atomic Energy Commission report saying Fordo is inoperable, while Israeli sources told ABC News that the success of the strikes is ‘really not good’

Trump’s incompetent SecDef, Pete Hegseth, fails his intelligence assessment

‘Basically impossible to get them back’: Russia’s mass abduction of Ukrainian children is a war crime, say experts

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/27/russia-ukrainian-children-abduction-war-crime

As many as 35,000 Ukrainian children are still missing and thought to be held in Russia or Russian-occupied territories, according to an American team of experts, with families saying they are being forced to take desperate and risky measures to try to rescue them.

As Russian forces began their invasion in February 2022, children were abducted from care homes, from the battlefield after the death of their parents, or under coercion directly from their families.

Russia has rejected demands for the children to be returned, with an official accusing Ukraine of “staging a show on the topic of lost children” during ceasefire talks in Turkey this month.

Trump claims Iran’s nuclear program has been ‘obliterated.’ Senate Republicans aren’t entirely convinced.

 https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/26/senate-iran-intelligence-briefing-00428638

A number of Senate Republicans exited an afternoon briefing on U.S. airstrikes in Iran not quite ready to endorse President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran’s nuclear program was “obliterated.”

Trump and other top Cabinet officials have spent the last 36 hours furiously doubling down on that characterization. But after hearing from several of Trump’s top military and intelligence officials on the latest damage assessment, Senate Republicans were more restrained in their responses — even as they trumpeted the attacks’ success.

“I don’t think anybody’s been on the ground to assess the extent of the damage,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) told reporters after the briefing.

Asked whether Iran’s nuclear program was set back months, years or was obliterated, as Trump has claimed, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said, “All of those things are true.”

'No one' in admin is providing details on Iran's nuclear program actually being destroyed

When the US president helped save Israel, then went ballistic on its leadership

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/when-the-us-president-helped-save-israel-then-went-ballistic-on-its-leadership/

Talking to reporters on the White House lawn first thing Tuesday morning, Donald Trump let loose what may well have been the most bitter public denunciation of Israel by an American president since, well, ever.

Over and over, and over, and over, he savaged Israel’s leadership for ostensibly breaching the ceasefire he had brokered with Iran (which Israel hadn’t, but was about to), for having “dropped a load of bombs the likes of which I’ve never seen before” on Iran before the ceasefire came into effect, and generally for acting like ingrates after he had dispatched B-2 bombers to “obliterate” Iran’s three key nuclear facilities, notably including the near-impregnable Fordo.

But the overwhelming weight of his barrage was directed at Israel, generally regarded as America’s closest ally in the region, which had lost four more civilians hours earlier in a pre-ceasefire missile attack — a missile attack by the US-loathing, would-be Israel-destroying Islamic extremist regime in Tehran, which had continued to fire missiles immediately after the truce was meant to have begun at 7 am, and again more than three hours later. It was to the latest Iranian barrage that Israel was about to respond, so infuriating the US president.

Although his former chief strategist Steve Bannon assessed that Trump had been “as mad as I’ve ever seen the president of the United States,” and ascribed this to cumulative fury at “the many lies we’ve gotten from the Netanyahu government,” Trump seemed largely mollified just a few hours later, telling reporters there’d be no consequences for Israel because it ultimately “didn’t do anything” to violate the ceasefire. By Wednesday, he was praising the Israelis for scaling back the retaliation — “I was so proud of them” — and acknowledging that “technically they were right” to claim that Iran had breached the ceasefire with its morning missile fire. “It was a little bit of a violation.”

Mossad, nuclear secrets and tweets: Trump’s long history of leaking classified intel

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/symgbg9nll#autoplay

At NATO summit, US president again raised eyebrows by claiming Israeli operatives entered Iran’s Fordow nuclear site after US strike—echoing a pattern of past disclosures, including Mossad missions, spy satellites and classified nuclear details

Many were stunned by U.S. President Donald Trump’s dramatic claim on Wednesday that Israeli operatives had physically visited Iran’s strategic nuclear facility at Fordow, amid his emphatic declaration that Iran’s atomic weapons program had been “obliterated.” 

However, the statement appears to be another chapter in a long pattern of offhand remarks and apparent slip-ups by Trump over the years, during which he has revealed sensitive information to the public.

Trump: Israel confirmed Iran nuclear destruction

 https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/25/trump-israel-confirmed-iran-nuclear-destruction/

As analysis of US and Israeli airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities continues, two Israeli sources told ABC News it is too early to declare the operation a success.

One source downplayed the damage at the Fordo uranium enrichment facility – built hundreds of feet under a mountain southwest of Tehran – saying the outcome there is "really not good."

The sources said they do not know how much enriched uranium may have been moved from the sites in advance of the Israeli and American strikes, or how many centrifuges – used to enrich uranium – are left and can be made operational in the country. To establish such details could take months, one source said, or prove impossible.

Republicans are racing to make Zohran Mamdani the face of the Democratic Party

 https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/25/gop-zohran-mamdani-midterms-00423397

Just hours after Zohran Mamdani’s apparent victory in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, Republicans are already homing in on the 33-year-old democratic socialist as their new boogeyman ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

With the GOP preparing to defend its slim margins in Congress, Mamdani — who has vowed to hike taxes on New York City’s richest residents, freeze rent on more than a million apartments and push for city-owned grocery stores — has quickly emerged as a face for Republicans’ attack line against “radical socialist” Democrats.

Uproar Over Leaked Intelligence Underlines Murky View of Iran Strikes

 https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/uproar-over-leaked-intelligence-underlines-murky-view-of-iran-strikes-7f239b0a?mod=hp_lead_pos8

Trump’s claims of crippling damage don’t address whether Tehran moved a stockpile of highly enriched uranium

President Trump on Wednesday doubled down on his claims that U.S. military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites crippled Tehran’s ability to pursue a nuclear bomb, rejecting a leaked preliminary intelligence report that assessed the American strike had merely delayed Iran’s efforts for a few months.

The dispute points to a larger problem that is likely to bedevil U.S. intelligence analysis and experts for many months, as they attempt to determine the full extent of damage to the nuclear facilities that were struck.

IDF Shares Iran Nuclear Assessment as Trump Doubles Down on 'Obliteration'

 https://www.newsweek.com/idf-shares-iran-nuclear-assessment-trump-doubles-down-obliteration-2090390

IDF Chief Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin gave the assessment at a press briefing on Wednesday, June 25, though he cautioned that it is still early and the results of the strikes are undergoing evaluation.

"We fulfilled all of the goals of the operation, even more than expected," Defrin said, adding that he trusted Israeli military intelligence on the results of the strikes as they have been accurate in recent weeks.

President Donald Trump has described the strikes as causing "total obliteration" to the nuclear sites, pushing back on one early American intelligence assessment that key elements of the program had survived. The White House called that assessment false.

Iran Admits Heavy Nuclear Damage as Israel Backs Trump

 https://www.newsweek.com/israel-backs-trump-iran-nuclear-site-damage-2090538

The Israel Atomic Energy Commission backed President Donald Trump's assessment of the damage done to the Iranian nuclear site at Fordow, saying the U.S. strike "destroyed the site's critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable."

Separately, Esmail Baghaei, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, told Al Jazeera that "our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure" by the U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Trump had said the strike resulted in "total obliteration" of the Fordow facility, which is deep underground inside a mountain. That characterization was called into question by a leaked U.S. intelligence report, but the White House called the early assessment false.

"We assess that the American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran's military nuclear program, has set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years," said the statement from the Israeli commission.

Kings have caused much trouble in History

 Rabbeinu Bachya (Devarim 17:15) It would do well for us to study our history and to learn what happened to the Jewish people during the centuries when their political system was headed by a king of flesh and blood. Devarim Rabbah 5,11 sums it up in these words: the Jewish kings caused many of their people to fall in battle because of their faulty policies. Shaul caused many casualties at Gilboah (Samuel I 31,1) David caused a plague (Samuel II 24,15). Achav, King of Israel, became the cause of the three year famine (Kings I 17,1). Tzidkiyah’s policies became the immediate cause for the destruction of the Temple . How was it that the entire people who had experienced a tremendous renaissance under the leadership of the prophet Samuel agreed to ask for a king? The Talmud Sanhedrin 20 dissects the wording in Samuel I 8, pointing out that the elders of the people were motivated by pure considerations asking that the purpose of the king be “to judge us,” (rather than Samuel’s sons whom they did not consider fit). The common people were motivated by the desire for their king to be a general who would lead them in war, and their sin was in saying “like all the nations.” They spelled this out in greater detail in verse 20 of that chapter. The people were agreed that they wanted a king, but they differed regarding the tasks of that king. 

Mishlei (21:1) Like channeled water is the mind of the king in the LORD’s hand;He directs it to whatever He wishes.

Meshech Chochma (Devarim 17:15): … The Ralbag notes that the heart of the king is in G d’s hand (Mishlei 21:1). Thus the king has no free will but what he does is determined by G d. Shmuel was thus afraid of Shaul at this point [Shmuel 1 1:11] because Shaul was no longer king and thus had free will to harm him.

Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky, zt"l: Zealotry is necessary - but only if guided by a clear understanding of Torah

Emes L’Yaakov (Bereishis 49:7): ... Look at what I wrote previously in Bereishis (34:5). There I explained that it is certain that that this represents a punishment for Shimon and Levi, nevertheless Yaakov specifically appointed these tribes to these exalted responsibilities of educating the children and supervision of holy food. That is because only Shimon and Levi manifested the kano’as (zealotry) required for these jobs. This was seen by their response to Yaakov concerning the rape of their sister Dinah (Bereishis 34:5): “Is our sister to be a prostitute?” They alone were referred to as the brothers of Dinah because they were willing to sacrifice themselves for her welfare. Thus for these positions to be fulfilled successfully it is necessary to appoint people who have the attribute of kano’as (zealotry) and mesiras nefesh (total devotion) to serve G-d and His Torah. These positions require men who when they see something irregular, will immediately be aroused for the sake of G-d like an inferno and they will serve their position well. Therefore Yaakov specially appointed Shimon and Levi for this work.

However if we look carefully to see whether they in fact did these jobs according to their father’s expectations, we see that only the tribe of Levi actually did the work of education but not the tribe of Shimon. It was only the tribe of Levi that served as a strong barrier against those who arose to nullify the covenant with G-d. In contrast we don’t find that Shimon was involved in this work. The reason for this is clear. Only the tribe of Levi was exempt from working for Pharaoh during all the years of slavery. Thus only the tribe of Levi was able to sit and be immersed in Torah study. Only when kano’as (zealotry) is grounded and defined by Torah parameters - is it successful. That is why when the Leviim saw the terrible chilul HaShem that resulted from the sin of the Golden Calf they immediately expressed their zealotry for G‑d and killed even friends and relatives who were participating in the sin. Similarly when there were Jews in the Wilderness who wanted to return to Egypt, it was the Leviim who were in the vanguard against them. During the entire time that passed from the events concerning Dinah until the Redemption from Egypt they maintained their zealotry - but it was always bounded and guided by their deep knowledge of Torah.

In contrast, while the kano’as of Shimon was also strong it was not guided by Torah and thus did not have proper nature. When did his “kano’as" manifest itself? It was in the events of the worship of Baal Peor. It was Zimri who expressed this “kano’as” against the rule of Torah provided by Moshe. It was used to uproot the attribute of modesty which was then prevelant amongst the Jews. He expressed his zealotry by his open involvement in sexual immorality with the non‑Jewish woman. Therefore it was only the kano’as of Pinchus, from the tribe of Levi ,who was guided by the laws of the Torah who was able to attack Zimri and defeat him and stop the plague that was punishing the Jews. Kano’as which is not guided by halacha does not have the ability to be successful because it ultimately just destroys the kanoi. It is only the gedolim in each generation who have the proper intuition and sensitivity to know and decide when it is necessary to be a kanoi and to protest and when it is best to remain silent. This ability is only acquired by those who have the keys to Torah in their hands.

Hegseth and Rubio Grudgingly Admit Bomb Intel Leak Is True

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/pete-hegseth-and-marco-rubio-scramble-to-smear-leakers-who-embarrassed-trump/

Two of Donald Trump’s top allies admitted a bombshell leak about the Iran strikes was true Wednesday.

But they then attacked leakers behind the release of the intelligence report that undercut the president’s claims about the success of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Speaking on Wednesday in the Netherlands, where Trump is attending a NATO summit, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio mounted an aggressive counteroffensive after a leaked preliminary Pentagon assessment said the bombings likely only...

Trump says nuclear deal with Iran not ‘necessary’

 https://thehill.com/policy/international/5368881-trump-iran-nuclear-deal-talks/?tbref=hp

President Trump said Wednesday he doesn’t think it’s necessary to come to a deal with Iran to abandon or contain its nuclear program, but said U.S. and Iranian officials will meet next week over a possible agreement. 

Speaking following the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump said he assessed Iran’s nuclear capabilities to be destroyed, despite U.S. intelligence reports suggesting Tehran’s uranium enrichment program was set back months, not years.

Trump Says Iranian Nuclear Deal Isn’t Necessary After U.S. Strikes

 https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-israel-ceasefire-conflict-news?mod=hp_lead_pos7

The president pushed back on an intelligence report saying the strikes only set back Tehran’s nuclear ambitions by a few months.

Zohran Mamdani's NYC Win is a Political Revolution

 https://www.newsweek.com/zohran-mamdani-nyc-political-revolution-2090477

Zohran Mamdani's win in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary is more than just a stunning political upset.

A self-described democratic socialist who ran on taxing the rich and making the city affordable, Mamdani defeated disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo, a well-funded, familiar and powerful figure backed by billionaire donors and establishment Democrats alike.

Mamdani took such a commanding lead over Cuomo on Tuesday that the former governor, who was seeking a comeback after resigning in disgrace over a sexual harassment scandal, conceded the race early. The ultimate outcome may not be known for days due to the city's ranked choice voting system.

He will now face off against incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent in November's election—and Cuomo could still reenter the race.

His platform focused on freezing rent, building affordable housing, free buses, free child care, a higher minimum wage and more, mostly paid for by new taxes on the rich.

Trump Warns Iran-Israel War 'Could Maybe Start Again Soon'

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-administration-iran-israel-middle-east-live-updates-2090459

Speaking at the NATO summit in The Hague, President Donald Trump defended his confidence in the Israel-Iran ceasefire, crediting the success to U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. While declaring that the war is likely over, Trump conceded it might "start again soon," highlighting both the volatility of the region and his administration's central role in brokering what he has dubbed the "12-day war."

MTG suggests a link between JFK’s assassination and his opposition to Israel’s ‘nuclear program’

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/06/24/congress/mtg-on-jfk-00421426

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Tuesday appeared to suggest in a post on X that former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated over his opposition to Israel’s nuclear program.

“There was once a great President that the American people loved. He opposed Israel’s nuclear program. And then he was assassinated,” Greene posted on X as she defended her dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s weekend strike on Iran. Greene’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment asking for clarity on the remarks.

Israeli officials see "significant" damage to Iran's nuclear facilities

 https://www.axios.com/2025/06/25/iran-nuclear-program-israel-damage-intelligence

Israel, which initiated the war and faces a far more direct threat from Iran than the U.S., is largely satisfied with the early results from Trump's military strike on Saturday.

"A professional battle damage assessment takes time," an Israeli official stressed, suggesting it was far too soon to draw the kinds of conclusions included in the DIA report.

"Israeli intelligence services haven't arrived at any bottom lines for now," the official added. "But we don't think there was any bug in the operation, and we have no indications the bunker-buster bombs didn't work. Nobody here is disappointed."

The classified DIA report was based on early intelligence from just one agency, and the overall picture remains muddled — especially with Iran itself still assessing the damage and weighing its next moves.

U.S. initial damage report: Iran nuclear program set back by months, not obliterated

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/24/us-iran-bomb-assessment-nuclear-sites-not-destroyed/

Core components of Tehran’s nuclear effort were damaged but not destroyed by U.S. airstrikes on three key facilities, according to three people familiar with a Defense Intelligence Agency initial assessment.

Witkoff: US, Iran seeking ‘peace deal,’ strikes set Tehran’s nuke program back years

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/witkoff-us-iran-seeking-peace-deal-strikes-set-tehrans-nuke-program-back-years/

The Trump envoy said the American position is that Iran must not resume enriching uranium at all — a position that the White House vacillated on during previous talks with Iran, led by Witkoff, over the two months prior to Israel’s attack on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs that began earlier this month.

Witkoff also doubled down on the administration’s assessment that the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo completely eliminated the Islamic Republic’s ability to attain a nuclear weapon in the near future. He said the program had been set back years, and lashed out against a leaked security assessment that said the strikes did not destroy the underground sites.

“The reporting out there that in some ways suggests that we did not achieve the objective is just completely preposterous,” he said, calling it “not even conceivable” that Iran would be able to reach a nuclear weapon within months.

Concern among NY Jews: Pro-Palestinian Zohran Mamdani wins Democratic primary for mayor

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410618

Anti-Israel candidate Zohran Mamdani shocks Andrew Cuomo in NYC Democratic mayoral primary focused on Jewish issues, arousing concern among the city's Jewish population.

Early US intel assessment suggests strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear sites, sources say

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/24/politics/intel-assessment-us-strikes-iran-nuclear-sites

The US military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities last weekend did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment that was described by seven people briefed on it.

The assessment, which has not been previously reported, was produced by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s intelligence arm. It is based on a battle damage assessment conducted by US Central Command in the aftermath of the US strikes, one of the sources said.

American strikes only set Iran’s nuclear program back by months — US intel report

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/american-strikes-only-set-irans-nuclear-program-back-by-months-us-intel-report/

Preliminary assessment says uranium stocks not destroyed, some centrifuges still intact; former UN inspector warns Tehran still has ‘ability to break out and produce weapon-grade uranium’

White House Reacts After Intel Assessment Contradicts Trump on Iran Strikes

https://www.newsweek.com/white-house-reacts-us-pentagon-iran-strikes-assessment-2090204

The White House issued a scathing statement after CNN, The New York Times and other media outlets reported that an early assessment by U.S. intelligence said military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend failed to destroy key elements of Iran's nuclear program.

The assessment also found that the strikes only set Iran's nuclear program back by a few months, contradicting President Donald Trump's claim that the strikes "obliterated" the nuclear facilities.

Meanwhile, an early Israeli intelligence assessment determined that the U.S.'s strikes set Iran's nuclear capabilities back by "several years," according to The Times of Israel. The reported assessment came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that "we sent Iran's nuclear program down the drain."

Amid Trump criticism: Israel limits Iran response to symbolic strike

 https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/24/amid-trump-criticism-israel-limits-iran-response-to-symbolic-strike/

Following sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump, Israel delivered merely a symbolic military response to Iran's Tuesday morning ceasefire violation, restricting its retaliation to a single radar strike north of Tehran after the American leader intervened to prevent a broader attack.

"Israel, don't drop those bombs," Trump declared. "If you do it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now!" The president had earlier told White House reporters that "Israel and Iran have been fighting for so long they don't know what the f*** they're doing."

Sources familiar with the situation revealed that Trump received updates throughout the night, confirming Iran had breached the ceasefire first. "Despite his harsh public criticism of Israel, the Israeli Air Force response will still proceed, with Trump containing and possibly supporting it."

Trump Says Israel Turning Jets Around: 'Friendly Plane Wave to Iran'

 https://www.newsweek.com/trump-urges-israel-not-break-iran-ceasefire-do-not-drop-those-bombs-2089853

President Donald Trump said Israeli jets had turned back from their planned strikes on Iran and that a ceasefire remains in effect.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his air force struck a radar station near Tehran but, after speaking with Trump, refrained from carrying out further attacks

Trump sharply criticized Israel for preparing a heavy retaliation against a ceasefire violation by Iran that he said involved a single rocket missing its target.

"ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran," Trump posted to his Truth Social platform on Tuesday morning. "All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!"

In foul-mouthed tirade, Trump savages Israel for striking Iran, says it violated ceasefire

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-foul-mouthed-tirade-trump-fumes-at-israel-for-striking-iran-violating-ceasefire/

In a rare if not unprecedented public display of frustration with Israel by a US president, Donald Trump expressed in no uncertain terms on Tuesday that he was furious at Israel as the ceasefire he announced overnight threatened to unravel.

“I’m not happy that Israel’s going out now,” he told reporters, as Israeli jets were responding to Iranian missile strikes earlier in the day.

“There was one rocket that I guess was fired overboard [by Iran]. It was after the time limit, and it missed its target. And now Israel’s going out. These guys gotta calm down. Ridiculous…”

Trump lashes out at Israel and Iran with profanity for breaking ceasefire

 https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-lashes-out-israel-iran-profanity-breaking-ceasefire

President Donald Trump expressed deep frustration with both Israel and Iran on Tuesday, saying the two countries "don't know what the **** they're doing."

Trump made the comments while departing from the White House for a NATO summit Tuesday morning. Both Israel and Iran fired missiles at one another following the imposition of a ceasefire on Monday night.

"I'm not happy with Israel. You know, when I say, okay, now you have 12 hours, you don't go out in the first hour and just drop everything you have on them. So I'm not happy with them. I'm not happy with Iran either, but I'm really unhappy if Israel is going out this morning," Trump said.

He continued, "We basically have two countries that have been fighting for so long and so hard that they don't know what the **** they're doing." 

'I'm not happy with Israel' | Trump lashes out, warns Israel not to respond to violation

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410574

President Donald Trump lashed out at Israel on Tuesday after Iran broke the ceasefire he brokered between the two countries.

According to the President, "Israel unloaded a lot, and now I just heard that Israel went out because they felt it (the ceasefire) was violated by one rocket that didn't land anywhere. That's not what we want, I tell you that."

While speaking with the press before leaving for the NATO summit, Trump expressed his frustrations, stating: "I'm not happy with Israel either."

He added: "I gotta get Israel to calm down now."

The President claimed that both Israel and Iran violated the ceasefire, but noted: "I don't think they did it intentionally, they couldn't bring people back.

He reiterated his anger with Israel's intention to retaliate against the violation and said he would try to stop it.

Trump pushes for quick end to Iran-Israel conflict amid fragile ceasefire

 https://thehill.com/newsletters/morning-report/5365720-trump-iran-israel-conflict-ceasefire/

A ceasefire between Israel and Iran appeared to be in jeapordy early Tuesday, hours after both countries said they agreed to terms outlined by President Trump to halt their 12-day war.

Trump has pushed for a quick end to the Middle East conflict, signaling a desire to move on after the U.S. carried out bombings of Iran nuclear sites over the weekend and Iran retaliated by hitting a U.S. base in Qatar.

Israel’s military said early Tuesday it detected another Iranian barrage hours after the start of the ceasefire — underscoring the dangerous state of what the president predicted would be a pause in fighting “forever.”

The acceptance of a U.S.-brokered deal by both sides came after Iran’s military denied launching a final onslaught of missiles targeting Israel, which Israel said killed at least four people early Tuesday morning. Israel launched a blitz of airstrikes targeting sites across Iran before dawn, The Associated Press reported.

IDF symbolically strikes in Tehran after Trump orders Netanyahu to turn planes around

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-858826 

Explosions were heard in northern Tehran after US President Donald Trump called for all Israeli fighter jets to leave Iran's airspace. 

IDF sources have confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the air force did in fact strike one radar north of Tehran. A symbolic strike to straddle the need to respond to Iran's attack on the North, while respecting Trump's demand to do nothing or at most respond symbolically.

Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered strikes in Tehran after Iran launched two missiles at northern Israel, hours after the ceasefire had taken effect. 

Trump's poor choices for national security staffing have new relevance after Iran bombing

Israel reports waves of Iranian missiles, soon after Trump announced ceasefire

 https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-announces-israel-iran-ceasefire-2025-06-23/

 Israel's military said Iran launched waves of missiles on Tuesday, with emergency services reporting three people killed, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran to end a 12-day war.

Witnesses said they heard explosions near Tel Aviv and Beersheba in southern Israel. Israel's military said six waves of missiles were launched by Iran and Israel's national ambulance service said three people were killed in Beersheba, the first reported deaths in Israel since Trump announced the ceasefire late on Monday.

Rabbis Urge: Shun Voting for Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Elections (v.4)

 כבר ידוע ומפורסם חומר האיסור לבחור בעד אנשי רשע של דור המבול וסדום ועמורה וכדומה, וכעת עומד

על הפרק שמושל מדינת ניו יארק לשעבר ע.ק. הוא בין המועמדים להיות נבחר לראשות העיר ניו יארק סיטי

(מעיא"ר), והוא ידוע שבראש חפציו ומאוויו הוא להנהיג ולהכריח חוקי זימה ותועבה בכל העיר וגם בהחינוך,

כמו שכבר עשה בהעבר רח"ל, ונוסף על זה ידיו מלוכלות בדם ישראל וגם בדם מאוה"ע ע"י חוקים והוראות

של אכזריות ורציחה בכמה אופנים ובמיוחד בתקופת ה'קאווי"ד לא תקפ"ץ, וידוע איך שחירף וגידף רח"ל

כלפי שמיא, ובכן מובן מאליו שאסור לבחור בעדו, והוא חילול ה' איום ונורא, ומגביר שנאת ישראל רח"ל,

ומדי יום ביומו נתברר יותר האיסור החמור לבחור בעד מועמדים כאלו.

ובזכות שנשמע לדברי גדולי ישראל שכבר אסרו פעמים רבות לבחור במשחיתים ובמחוקקי חוקי און ותועבה,

יזכינו השי"ת להעביר מאתנו כל מיני גזירות קשות ורעות, ולגדל את כל בנינו ודורותינו על דרך ישראל סבא,

ולראות דורות ישרים ומבורכים, ולביאת משיח צדקנו במהרה בימינו אמן.

באנו עה"ח בחודש סיון תשפ"ה לפ"ק

Rabbis Urge: Shun Voting for Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Elections (v.4)

BS"D

June 23, '25

P.S.:  For those who've adopted the view that the greatest threat in this mayoral election is Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, please cooly consider the following facts.  As one astute observer noted here:

"Let's assume Cuomo is the lesser evil in comparison to Mr. Mamdani; there is no legitimate reason to rank Cuomo number one in Ranked Choice voting.

The candidates who are by far less repugnant - like Bartholomew and Tilson (neither who have proven evil records) - will be eliminated before any candidate gets 50% - unless it's a landslide."

(For info on Ranked Choice voting, see [copied below]: https://vote.nyc/page/ranked-choice-voting )

Simply put, there is no need to vote for the rabid homosexualist, abortionist, and elder-cidalist Andrew Cuomo as FIRST CHOICE in order to avoid Mamdani winning.

Accordingly, many of those who seek to mobilize naïve voters to vote for Cuomo as their first choice do not have the best of intentions. Many of them seek to grace a man with much innocent blood on his hands with a kosher stamp of approval. 

That effort and intention is repugnant in the extreme, at best. 

It is also dangerous in the extreme, inviting Divine Wrath on all of us.  We must never forget that the horrific terror attacks of September 11th, '01 occurred on a Mayoral primary election, like this one.

Our Sages exhort us that "G-d extends His Wrath," but He ultimately "collects His Dues." Those who refuse to learn from the past Divine Retribution condemn themselves to learn from future Divine Retribution.

Our responsibility is to ensure that they don't take us down with them.

במקום חילול השם, אין חולקין כבוד לרב.

Moreover, Middah Tovah Merubah; how much is the Divine reward for those who extend themselves to save others from collaboration in a public desecration of the Divine Name, such as this public whitewash of Cuomo-the-Blasphemous.

Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,

Executive Director,

Help Rescue Our Children

845.642.1679

Direct: 771.215.8892

Israeli Helpline: 03.721.3337

torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com

Tomim Tih'yeh [countering "New-Age" infiltration]: 

Tomim1679@gmail.com

Presentations on New-Age dangers: 605-313-6831 ext. 2

Heard weekly on New Jersey's WSNR Radio 620AM, co-hosting the renowned Levin At Eleven program, every Thursday evening, 11pm to midnight (ET).

~~~~~~~

## Fair Use ##

https://vote.nyc/page/ranked-choice-voting

New York City will use ranked choice voting for Primary and Special Elections for the offices of Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President and City Council, due to an amendment in the City Charter approved by voters in 2019.

How are results tabulated?

All first-choice votes are counted. If a candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, that candidate wins.

If no candidate earns more than 50% of first-choice votes, then counting will continue in rounds.

At the end of each round, the last-place candidate is eliminated and voters who chose that candidate now have their vote counted for their next choice.

Your vote is counted for your second choice only if your first choice is eliminated. If both your first and second choices are eliminated, your vote is counted for your next choice, and so on.

This process continues until there are two candidates left. The candidate with the most votes wins."

### (emphasis added -NL)

Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. Base in Qatar

 https://time.com/7296830/iran-qatar-air-base-trump/

Iran retaliated against the U.S. on Monday, launching missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar, according to a statement from the Qatar foreign ministry. The missiles targeted Al-Ubaid Air Base outside Doha and were intercepted by air defenses before they could strike the base, the Qatari government said. 

Thousands of U.S. service members are stationed at Al-Udeid Air Base, an important American military outpost on the Persian Gulf. After an American bombing raid on Saturday hit three nuclear program sites inside Iran, Iranian officials promised to strike back. Iran’s mission to the United Nations posted on Twitter Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “dragging the United States into yet another costly war” and the U.S. has “recklessly chosen to sacrifice its own security merely to safeguard Netanyahu.”

Some lawmakers in both parties question the legality of Trump's Iran strikes

 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/lawmakers-both-parties-question-legality-trumps-iran-strikes-rcna214316

The legal question flows from the War Powers Resolution, a law that says a president can launch military attacks only in three circumstances: a “declaration of war,” a “specific statutory authorization” from Congress or “a national emergency created by an attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, its armed forces.” Congress has gradually ceded those powers under presidents of both parties in recent years.

7 Countries Supporting Iran Against Israel in 2025

Jews joined the meraglim to avoid fighting in war

 According to Rav Yakov the reason why the Jews readily accepted the negative evaluation of the meraglim was because they didn't want to fight in war.

Emes L’Yakov (14:29) As punishment all those older than 20 will die in the desert. Bava Basra (121b) the punishment did not apply to those less than 20 or more than 60. It is clear that those less than 20 should not be punished as they were below the age of punishment even from Heaven. But why should those older than 60 also not be punished? The answer seems to be that only those who were to fight in the battles to conquer Israel were scared and thus accepted the negative report of the spies. Those older than 60  were no longer in the army and thus had no reason to believe the spies and thus didn’t sin

עיין בבבא בתרא [דף קכ"א ע"ב] דאיתא התם דלא נגזרה גזרה לא על פחות מבן עשרים ולא על יתר מבן ששים, ועיי"ש. ולכאורה צריך ביאור, דבשלמא אלו שהיו פחותים מבן כ' יש לומר שנכללו בכלל וטפכם אשר אמרתם לבז יהיה ובניכם אשר לא ידעו היום טוב ורע וגו' [דברים א' פל"ט], או יש לומר שלא נענשו בדיני שמים מכיון שהם פחותים מבן כ', אבל אותן שהיו יותר מששים מדוע לא נענשו - וכי אפשר לומר שכולם לא חטאו בחטא העגל. וצריך לומר דאכן כן היה, דרק אלו שהיו יוצאי צבא שפחדו מלהלחם האמינו למרגלים ומיאנו לעלות לארץ ישראל, אבל אותן שהיו יותר מבן ששים - שכבר לא היו יוצאי צבא - לא היתה להם שום סיבה להאמין למרגלים והם באמת לא חטאו, ודו"ק.

Gedםlim and war

 According to the Netziv the meraglim were chosen because they were gedolim with knowledge of war. He generalizes and says that is the general approach to deal with problems in the world - is gedolim with some knowedge of the actual propblem it is not enough to be a gadol in Torah

Netziv (Bamidbar 13:2) כל נשיא בהם. מי שנשיא היינו גדול בישראל ויודע טכסיסי מלחמה הוא ילך. ולא הדיוט אע״ג שאפשר שיודע יותר טכסיסי מלחמה. ובקי בטיב הענין הנדרש יותר מכל מקום היה הצווי ליקח גדולי ישראל ויודעים לתור ולעמוד על הענין הנדרש ג״כ. בכדי שיהיו דבריהם נשמעים ביותר. ומזה יש לנו ללמוד בכל הליכות עולם לנו: 

Netziv (Bamidbar 13:2) Every nassi – What is a nassi? He is a Gadol who in addition to Torah is also knowledgable about how to fight a war Experts were chosen and not an ordinary person even though he might know more about how to fight a war. Gedolim were chosen who knew how to spy the country and and were also able to determine what was necessary to do. This extra requirenment was so that their views would be more likely to be  respected. This dual model is the prototype of dealing with all issues of the world. 

Iranian missiles trigger waves of sirens across Israel, damages electrical infrastructure in South

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-858660

Missiles fired from Iran triggered sirens across Israel in several waves on Monday morning, the IDF said. Israeli media reported that between 10 and 15 missiles were fired, and that there was a total of 35 minutes of sirens. 

The missiles were launched in numerous waves and to areas across the country, with initial sirens sounding first in northern Israel, including the Galilee area, followed by sirens in central and southern Israel. 

Large booms were heard in the Shfela area and in southern Israel, and loud thuds were heard in Jerusalem, according to Reuters witnesses.  Footage on social media showed a large impact in Israel's South. 

Israel Unsure Iran Nuke Program 'Annihilated' After US Strikes

 https://www.newsweek.com/israel-us-bombs-iran-nuclear-program-fordow-isfahan-natanz-2088974

During a Sunday morning press conference, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that "many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran's nuclear program, and none could until President Trump."

The defense secretary then said to the world's cameras: "We devastated the Iranian nuclear program."

In Israel, though, there's less certainty about whether Iran's nuclear development has been smashed to pieces by U.S. strikes on three of Iran's major nuclear facilities overnight, and whether the country's nuclear program is permanently out of the game.

"Is it fully, fully annihilated? We don't know yet," a senior Israeli official told Newsweek. "Nobody knows yet," added the source, who was granted anonymity to speak freely. "It requires a lot of intelligence work."

Kremlin warns that other nations ready to give Iran nukes: ‘Dangerous escalation has begun’

 https://nypost.com/2025/06/22/world-news/kremlin-warns-that-other-nations-ready-to-give-iran-nukes-dangerous-escalation-has-begun/

Moscow warned Sunday that several nations are prepared to supply Tehran with nuclear weapons, as Russia and China condemned America’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy head of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Security Council, claimed Saturday’s US airstrike — the first to use 15-ton GBU-57 “bunker-buster” bombs in combat — only caused minimal damage to Tehran’s nuclear sites, including the fortified Fordow enrichment plant.

Medvedev, who did not specify which countries are ready to arm Tehran, reiterated that the attacks would not stop Russia’s ally in the Middle East from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Top General Immediately Undercuts Hegseth’s Claim Iran Was ‘Massive Success’

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-declares-irans-nuclear-ambitions-obliterated-in-secret-midnight-attack/

The United States carried out a middle–of-the-night attack using decoys and deception that completely “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared.

But Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine immediately undercut this, telling reporters that while an initial assessment indicated “severe damage and destruction,” it would take time for the final battle damage to be known.

White House wary of Iran counterattack as Trump strikes triumphant tone

 https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/22/white-house-wary-of-iran-counterattack-as-trump-strikes-triumphant-tone-00416470

President Donald Trump was triumphant Saturday night during his Oval Office address but within the administration the mood was less sanguine as officials braced for a potential Iran counterattack.

The decision to send American B-2 bombers to attack Iran, the most significant military action of Trump’s presidency, threatens to inject the United States into another Middle East conflict, the kind that Trump and Vice President JD Vance have long promised to avoid.

“We don’t know how much this is going to get us into something protracted,” said an administration official, who like others was granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberation. “Right now the message is we want to get rid of the nuclear capacity and focus on negotiations.”

US joins Israel’s war in Iran, bombs fortified Fordo site and other nuclear facilities

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-strikes-irans-elusive-fordo-facility-joining-israels-fight-against-nuclear-program/

US President Donald Trump announced early Sunday that the US had carried out a “successful attack” on the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites in Iran, hours after he appeared to suggest that the matter of US involvement in Israel’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear program was as yet undecided.

The decision to directly involve the US in the war came after more than a week of strikes by Israel that damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities, eradicated the country’s air defenses, and took out many of its military brass and top nuclear scientists. Iran, in retaliation, has launched dozens of ballistic missile barrages at Israel.

“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordo,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to the difficult-to-destroy underground site, which has been characterized as the most integral part of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

US bombs three Iran nuclear sites, entering war

 https://thehill.com/homenews/5362296-trump-us-bombs-iran/

President Trump announced Saturday the United States had bombed three Iranian nuclear sites, including the Fordow site that is located in a mountainside.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump posted on Truth Social. 

Fake News - Bibi and Trump colluded to trick Iran?!

 https://mishpacha.com/wars-easier-to-start-than-finish/

Did President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu collude to deceive Iran by creating the impression that the US opposed the IDF taking military action while negotiations over a nuclear deal were still underway? Or did Netanyahu act alone, fearing that Trump would strike a deal with Iran that would garner international support, making it impossible for Israel to attack Iran without becoming a pariah state? There is a lot of spin in both directions. The truth may lie somewhere in between, but it’s irrelevant now.

The mixed messaging serves both American and Israeli purposes. Israel has an interest in demonstrating that Trump and Netanyahu are in sync. Trump is playing a more difficult hand. He boasts of Israel’s military prowess, pleasing his pro-Israel constituency, while his insistence that America is not involved in Israeli strikes and his call to Iran to resume negotiations reassure his domestic right-wing base that he is adhering to his policy of keeping the US out of foreign entanglements.

Regardless, Israel has made significant progress in restoring its deterrent posture with a diversified and well-planned preemptive strike against Iran, which doomsayers claimed Israel could never achieve alone, while also absolving Trump of any blame. Assuming that Iran lacks the desire or capability to restart talks, Trump is no longer at risk of damaging his reputation as a dealmaker by either entering into an agreement that Iran would never honor or being forced to admit that the negotiations had failed.

Donald Trump proves he’s the stupidest man in the Situation Room

Trump's lack of foreign policy principles tears MAGA apart on Iran

How close was Iran to the bomb, and how far has Israel pushed it back?

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-close-was-iran-to-the-bomb-and-how-far-has-israel-pushed-it-back/

The more we learn, the clearer it becomes that Israel struck in the nick of time: Iran was very close to the bomb. Its ballistic missiles were becoming a dire threat. And then there’s that derided ‘Destruction of Israel Plan’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was still more dramatic, characterizing Israel’s resort to force on Friday as preemptive action against an imminent “existential” threat. In a video address at the start of the campaign, Netanyahu said Iran had stockpiled enough uranium to build nine bombs, had taken unprecedented steps in recent months to weaponize that enriched uranium, and could get to the bomb “in a very short time — it could be a year, or it could be a few months.” (The IDF at the launch of the attacks said Iran could enrich enough uranium to weapons-grade level for 15 bombs “within days,” and did not specify how long it would take the regime to complete its nuclear weapons project.)

By contrast, CNN on Tuesday cited a host of American sources assessing that Iran was “up to three years away” from being able to build, deliver and detonate a bomb and asserting that it was not even “actively pursuing” one — an implausible claim, not least in light of the regime’s documented production of increased quantities of near-weapons-grade uranium with no civilian application.

As far as I have been able to determine from interactions with several sources familiar with the matter, Israel’s intelligence assessments are that Iran was very close indeed to attaining nuclear weapons — as in, building and delivering a working bomb. Closer, that is, even than Netanyahu’s public estimate.

Parnossa learning trade in time of Chazal to Modern Times

Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.11) Question: Doesn’t the Talmud and Rishonim indicate that working at a job is required? Answer  I don’t understand why you cite the gemora in Kiddushin (29a) that a father is obligated to teach his son a trade and if not it is consider the son was taught to steal.  Or the statement at the end of Kiddushin that a father most teach his son a trade which seems to be the view of the Rashba. This seems to indicate that this is the halacha. In fact all it shows is an obligation to teach a trade . It simply means he should ensure the son gets a good Torah education so that he can teach others or be a rabbi of a community and thus have parnossa. 

Successful in secular subjects only - leave Yeshiva?

Igros Moshe (IV #36.14) Question: Those students who are not successful in their Torah study should they leave yeshiva and study secular subjects? Answer Are you claiming it is because of a lack of intelligence but they are intelligent for secular subjects? The fact is that concerning Torah anyone can improve with study even those who can’t study it in depth as long as they have a working memory. This is aslso considered growing in Torah and sometimes the ability of in depth study develops and it is possible to become great in Torah knowledge. It is not like medicine and other secular study where misunderstanding can result in harm. In fact the opposite is true. The ignorance in Torah can be harmful to his soul.

Unsuccessful in Torah Study - Leave yeshiva for parnossa?

Igros Moshe (IV #36.14) Question Is it permitted  for unsuccessful students to leave yeshiva to study other subjects. You write that there are many yeshiva students who are afraid of sin and therefore they are not involved in the needs of daily life and they sit in yeshiva with an open sefer but they don’t actually learn anything and thus there learning is not successful. Answer It can’t be that they make such an error but their real motivation is that they are simply lazy. Even if they were actually learning according to their abilities but they were not going into depth but merely skimming the material this is being lazy and is considered serious bitul Torah . They need to be chastised and explained the error of their ways. If they don’t accept this from their peers they need to hear it from the rosh hayeshiva. 

Moshe seeing not more real than hearing - Contradiction?

Igros Moshe (Y.D. I #223): You bring from Sefer HaIkkarim (4:15) that the reason that Moshe did  not break the Tablets immediately when G‑d told him that the Jews had made the Golden Calf was because seeing is more powerfully real than knowledge. In my humble opinion, G‑d forbid to say that when Moshe heard about the Golden Calf that it was less significant to him than when he saw it himself - even in terms of emotional response. A possible explanation of why he broke the Tablets only after seeing the Golden Calf, because G‑d did not tell him about their enthusiastic dancing and therefore he thought it would be enough if they saw him - to completely repent immediately. However when he saw their enthusiastic dancing he realized that they would not so readily repent and therefore he broke the Tablets. You can also say that that he waited to break them so that the Jewish people could see him break the Tablets and realize the great loss they had caused because of the sin of the Golden Calf. This is stated explicitly in Devorim (9:14), “I broke the Tablets before their eyes.” This implies that he deliberately did it before their eyes. In addition it says later more explicitly in Devarim (34:12), “Before the eyes of all Israel.” Rashi explains this verse to mean that he intended to break the Tablets before their eyes. If so he had don possibility of breaking it when he first heard from G‑d about the Calf before he descended from  the mountain. He was thus forced to wait until he descended so they could all see that he was breaking the Tablets. In contrast regarding hearing something from another person it is definitely true that seeing is more powerful in eliciting emotions and there is no need to bring a proof to something so obvious.

Igros Moshe (O.C. III #50): I replied to you many years ago and my reply was printed in my Igros Moshe (1:223) that G‑d forbid to say about Moshe that what he saw with his own eyes was much more real than what he heard from G‑d and that is the reason that he only broke the Tablets after he saw the Golden Calf with his own eyes. Now you write to me that the Akeidas Yitzchok also shares the view of the Sefer HaIkkarim. I in fact looked into the Sefer HaIkkarim and I saw that in fact he agrees with my view that there is no difference between hearing information from G‑d to seeing it oneself. He brings a medrash that the reason that Moshe didn’t break the Tablets previously was in order to inform the Jews that it is prohibited to act on knowledge – even absolutely certain knowledge until it is directly witnessed… The Akeidas Yitzchok himself wanted to say that Moshe wanted to break the Tablets in front of the Jews in order to magnify the message to increase their discomfort at sinning. This is a strong reason and I my explanation anticipates this as I wrote previously.

In contrast in Darash Moshe (Yisro 18:01) For everyone hearing about something is not the same as seeing. Even if what is heard  is known to be true as what is seen it doesn’t get accepted in his mind  and emotion and have the same impact as seeing. We see this even with Moshe who did not break the Tablets until he saw the Golden Calf even though he had heard about it from G-d. 

Trump's ‘heartlessness’ was outdone by Sen. Lee’s ‘perverse’ tweets

Battle to define ‘America First’ intensifies as Israel strikes Iran

 https://thehill.com/newsletters/the-movement/5353559-battle-to-define-america-first-intensifies-as-israel-strikes-iran/

The ideological battle over what “America First” means in the Trump era is intensifying in wake of Israel’s strikes on Iran, splitting the MAGA right and testing its relationships with the president.

On one side, noninterventionist doves insist the Trumpian tagline means the president must avoid U.S. troops, resources or dollars going toward the conflict, for fear of getting dragged into an endless war.

“Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/MAGA,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted Sunday on the social platform X. 

But on the other end, foreign policy hawks and supporters of Israel are appealing to President Trump’s position that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, and encouraging him to leave all options — including direct military intervention — on the table.

“How is it not AMERICA FIRST to congratulate those who just made sure Islamists who chant ‘DEATH TO AMERICA’ and who openly plotted to assassinate President @realDonaldTrump never have an opportunity to have a nuke?” right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer posted on X over the weekend.

Trump: ‘I don’t care’ that Tulsi Gabbard said Iran wasn’t close to having nuclear weapon

 https://thehill.com/homenews/5354764-trump-gabbard-iran-intelligence-assessment/?tbref=hp

President Trump rejected his own director of national intelligence’s assessment of Iran’s nuclear capabilities in remarks as he returned from the Group of Seven summit in Alberta, Canada, a day early to weigh America’s response to escalating airstrikes between Israel and Iran.

Tulsi Gabbard testified before Congress in March that while Iran had an “unprecedented” stockpile of weapons-grade uranium, the country did not appear to be building a nuclear weapon.

“I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having one,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One in the wee hours of Tuesday morning in response to a direct question about Gabbard’s testimony.

CNN reported Tuesday that American intelligence assessments continued to say Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon and was up to three years out from being able to launch one. Israel has claimed Iran was approaching a crucial tipping point for developing nuclear capabilities as justification for its airstrikes.

Israel Built Its Case for War With Iran on New Intelligence. The U.S. Didn’t Buy It.

 https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-built-its-case-for-war-with-iran-on-new-intelligence-the-u-s-didnt-buy-it-55592e81?mod=trending_now_news_2

American spy agencies stand by their assessment that Iran hasn’t decided to build a nuclear weapon, but Trump now says Tehran is ‘very close.’

Before launching its attack on Iran last week, Israel provided the U.S. with intelligence it deemed alarming: Tehran was conducting renewed research useful for a nuclear weapon, including on an explosive triggering system.

But U.S. officials briefed by the Israelis weren’t convinced that the information pointed to a decision by Tehran to build a bomb, according to a senior intelligence official, another U.S. official and two congressional aides familiar with the discussions. 

The gap between Israel’s assessment of Iran’s nuclear program and that of the U.S. helps explain why the two allies haven’t been aligned in recent days on dealing with Tehran.

הגר"ד לנדו: "יש לסגור את הישיבה, הבחורים ילמדו בבית"

 https://www.emess.co.il/radio/1726011

בעקבות היעדר מיגון בישיבת 'תורה בתפארתה', הורה מרן הגר"ד לנדו לסגור את הישיבה: "אם אין מרחב מוגן – הבחורים ילמדו בבית". ראש הישיבה עדכן את התלמידים כי מדובר בפיקוח נפש והם נשלחו לבתיהם

Trump's most favorable pollster warns it could be "all over for MAGA"

 https://www.newsweek.com/trump-pollster-warns-all-over-maga-iran-israel-2086637

President Donald Trump's most favorable pollster has warned that it could be "all over for MAGA" if the president gets the United States more deeply involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel.

"Kiss the Republican majority goodbye... For the next decade," Rich Baris, the director of Big Data Poll, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "If he pulls the trigger, it's all over for MAGA."

A recent poll by the Ronald Reagan Institute, conducted before Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran's military and nuclear program on Friday, shows that a majority of Republicans support Israeli airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

However, polling has also shown that Republican voters are worried about the U.S. being drawn into a military conflict in the Middle East. A Quinnipiac University poll last year found that 86 percent of Republican voters were concerned about it, with 52 percent saying they were "very concerned."

Meanwhile, MAGA figures in recent days have been split on the issue, with some advocating for a strong response and others arguing that Trump's supporters backed him because of his promise not to draw the U.S. into expensive foreign wars.

Avoid Kiddush Friday night at seventh hour

Rav's Shulchan Aruch (OC #271)  There are some who are careful not to make kiddush the first hour of the night (the seventh hour from noon) but either before night or an hour after in the night. That is because at the seventh hour the celestial force of Mars is dominate which represents Sammel (the force of Evil)  It has already been explained that it is always best to make kiddush immediately when returning home from the synagogue and this is typically while it is still day. 

Magen Avraham (OC #271:1) It says in Tekunei Shabbos that one should make kiddush before it is night because at the beginning of Friday night the Mazel of Mars dominates and at the end of Friday Saturn dominates Therefore it is best to make Kiddush when Saturn dominates. The Maharil says the same thing. He also says that if the person doesn’t want to eat then, he can wait to say Kiddush since he already has said kiddush in the prayers at the synagogue. This is satisfactory since the requirement to have a meal with Kidush is a rabbinic requirement and thus he has fulfilled his Torah obligation with his prayers. 

Aruch Ha Shulchan (271:11) I have seen someone (Magen Avraham) who wrote “that a person should be careful to always say kiddush before night since at the beginning of Shabbos night the mazzel of  Mars is dominate while at the end of Friday Saturn is dominate. It is best to make kiddush under the mazzel of Saturn.” In my humble opinion this view is astounding because G-d forbid to say we are under the influence of mazzel. In fact the opposite is true! I saw that in fact the ancients of the non Jews used to sit in darkness in their homes on Shabbos and cry because of the bad mazzel of Shabbos and their fear of being harmed. In contrast G-d commanded us the opposite. We are to light a lot of candles to make light and we are to enjoy ourselves on Shabbos. This is to show that we transcend the force of mazzel and that we have been chosen by G-d to be uninfluenced by mazzel. So how can the Magen Avraham say this? This requires great study. One who trusts in G-d is surrounded by kindness. 

Rav's Shulchan Aruch (O 271) יֵשׁ נִזְהָרִים שֶׁלֹּא לְקַדֵּשׁ בְּשָׁעָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל הַלַּיְלָה (דְּהַיְנוּ שָׁעָה שְׁבִיעִית אַחַר חֲצוֹת הַיּוֹם, עַיֵּן סִמָּן תכ"ח), אֶלָּא אוֹ קֹדֶם הַלַּיְלָה, אוֹ לְאַחַר שָׁעָה תּוֹךְ הַלַּיְלָה, לְפִי שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה הוּא מַזָּל מַאְדִּים, וְסמא"ל מוֹשֵׁל עָלָיו. 

וּכְבָר נִתְבָּאֵר שֶׁלְּכַתְחִלָּה יֵשׁ לוֹ לְקַדֵּשׁ מִיָּד בְּבוֹאוֹ מִבֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם:

Magen Avraham (OC #271:1)לאכול מיד. היינו לקדש כדי שיזכור שבת בכניסתו ועסי' רע"ג ס"ג, וכתוב בתקוני שבת שיקדש קודם לילה כי בתחלת ליל שבת הוא מזל מאדים ובסוף יום ו' הוא מזל צדק לכן יקדש בצדק וכ"כ בתשובות מהרי"ל סי' קס"ג ומ"ע בתשוב' כתב שאם אינו תאב לאכול יכול להמתין שכבר זכר אותו בכניסתו בבה"כ ע"ש, ובירושלמי ריש ברכות אי' שדרך לאכול שעה או ב' בלילה וכ"מ ברש"י ריש דף ג', כ' הרמב"ם פכ"ט קידוש היום דאורייתא בלא יין ורבנן תקנו על היין וכ"כ התוס' בסוכה פ"ג דף ל"ח ונ"ל דמדאוריי' בקידוש שאמר בתפל' סגי דקרא כתיב זכור את יום השבת והרי זכר אותו וקידוש במקום סעוד' רבנן תקנוהו כמ"ש סי' רס"ט וכ"מ בתוס' שכתבו דלר"ת מי שאין לו יין לא יקדש כלל וק' וכי יעקור מ"ע דאורייתא אלא ע"כ דדי בתפלה ועוד דאמרי' בקדושה אף על גב דמקדש בצלותא וכו' ע' בברכות פ"ה וגם הבדלה י"א דאורייתא היא וכמ"ש המ"מ פכ"ט ואפ"ה אמרי' בגמ' דבתחלה קבעוהו בתפלה כו' ע"ש וכ"מ ל' הרמב"ם וכ"מ בתוס' פ' ע"פ בשם הירוש' ע"ש: ודע דהקידוש בי"ט הוא דרבנן כמ"ש המ"מ פכ"ט מ"מ יש לו כל דין קידוש של שבת ואם אין לו אלא כוס א' של שבת קודם:

Aruch Ha Shulchan (271:11)  להמתין איזה שעות בלילה. (מ"ע בתשובות)וראיתי מי שכתב שיקדש דווקא קודם לילה, כי בתחלת ליל שבת הוא מזל מאדים, ובסוף יום ו' הוא מזל צדק - לכן יקדש בצדק. (מג"א שם) ולעניות דעתי הוא תמוה, דחס ושלום לומר שאנחנו תחת המזלות, ואדרבא ראיתי בקדמונים שהאומות הקדמונים היו יושבים בשבת בחשך ובוכים, מפני שהמזלות של שבת מורים לרעה. והקב"ה צוה אותנו להיפך, להדליק הרבה אור ולהתענג עצמינו, להראות שאנו למעלה מהמזלות. ואותנו לקח ד' להוציאנו ממערכת השמים, ואיך נאמר כזה וצע"ג, והבוטח בד' חסד יסובבנו. (המג"א שם הביא ירושלמי ריש ברכות שדרך לאכול שעה או שתים בלילה ע"ש, אמנם ע"ש בפירוש חרידים דשתים הוא שתי חלקי שעה, ומטעם דבתי כנסיות היו בשדות רחוק מהעיר, ועד שיבואו נמשך הזמן ממילא, ואדרבא מדתירץ שם באילין כופרנייא ע"ש - משמע דמצוה לאכול מקודם ודו"ק)