Democrats demand answers over book removals at military service academies

 https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5236466-democrats-book-bans-military-service-academies/?tbref=hp

The academy said the removal was to comply “with all directives outlined in Executive Orders issued by the President.”

The letters sent by the Democrats say the review focused on books that had topics relating to “gender ideology” and “discriminatory equity ideology.”  

“If true, this is a blatant attack on the First Amendment and a clear effort to suppress academic freedom and rigor at the United States Naval Academy. Moreover, this reported book ban — or any similar efforts that may be ongoing at the United States Military Academy — displays an alarming return to McCarthy-era censorship,” the representatives wrote.  

Bishul Kli Shlishi

Igros Moshe (OC IV #74.4) Question Should one  be concerned for the view of the Chaye Adam that everyone agrees that a kli sheini cooks if it is hot to burn the hand (yad nekeves). Furthermore to be concerned also that a kli shlishi cooks when it is that hot? Answer  It is impossible to know what the accepted practice is in this issue since we are strict with everything because we are concerned it might cook since there are things that cook in a kli sheini that we don’t know and thus this distinction is not relevant on a practical level. Concerning a hot kli shlishi (yad nekeves) it is not relevant since we are lenient and simple assume that nothing is cooked in a kli shlishi. However we should not learn from this to be lenient for a kli sheini.  It is possible that even the Chaye Adam  would rule that there is no prohibition  for a kli shlishi  even if very hot (yad nekeves)  But it is not clear there is such a thing.

Igros Moshe (OC IV #74.16) I personally am strict  for myself and don’t put instant coffee or sugar in a kli shlishi however according to halacha there is no need to be strict

Igros Moshe (OC IV #74.17) Question Is it permitted to place uncooked salt in a kli shilishi? Answer In my humble opinion as I have written before we don’t find that any cooks in a kli shlishi. Salt is is viewed l’chumra to be cooked when placed in a kli sheini so obviously it is not viewed even l’chumra to be cooked in a kli shlishi especially when the law is clear that salt is permitted even in a kli rishon. 

Igros Moshe (OC IV #74.18) Tavlin is permitted in kli sheini onion is considered tavlin according to Aruch HaShulchan while the Taz prohibits it. Because there is a question whether onion and garlic are tavlin that is permitted in a kli sheini it is best to be strict like the Taz but only because there are things that cook in a kli sheini that we don’t know about. Nonetheless there is no problem with a kli shlishi. Lemon is prohibited in a kli sheini  but is permitted in a kli shlishi. Concerning coffee and cocoa they are considered tavlin and can be placed in a kli sheini  according to the Mishna which says tavlin can be placed in a kli sheini since they won’t be cooked.  I am surprised by the Aruch HaShulchan who is strict not to put them in a kli sheini or kli shlishi. The Mishna Berura prohibits coffee in a kli sheini because there are things which are cooked by a kli sheini. However the Mishna clear excludes Tavlin from being cooked in a kli sheini. This makes sense for tea leaves not to consider them as tavlin since they don’t give flavor but just color, however coffee and cocoa are clearly tavlin and therefore their question is puzzling. The best approach is to be strict with a kli sheini but to permit putting them in a kli shlishi. 

US Naval Academy removed books about the Holocaust, antisemitism ahead of Hegseth visit

 https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-849275

At the same time as the US Naval Academy removed a display honoring Jewish female graduates ahead of a visit from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, it also removed books about the Holocaust and antisemitism.

The books, which also covered the history of white supremacy in the United States, were among nearly 400 removed ahead of the visit last week. 

The order to remove the books, most of which focused on topics like race, diversity, and gender, appeared to come at the behest of Hegseth himself. The Pentagon chief, whose initiatives against diversity, equity, and inclusion programming have already led to the removal of other Holocaust remembrance content from the Defense Department’s digital platforms, sent a memo to the Maryland school instructing it to comply with larger anti-” woke” purges at the department.

Even Trump Sycophant Maria Bartiromo Is Questioning His Tariff ‘Debacle’

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/even-trumps-most-loyal-fox-news-fan-trashes-his-tariffs-debacle/

Fox Business Network host Maria Bartiromo admits that President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs have caused a “debacle.”

Reacting to the news on Mornings With Maria, the host asked if Congress should step in as the markets reel.

“My question to you on this tariff debacle is, should Congress be involved?” she asked Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer.

The White House’s “Rapid Response 47” account on X shared the clip of Bartiromo’s interview but cut out her question that called the tariff fallout a “debacle.”

Bartiromo still touts her pro-Trump views on air. On Friday, she even claimed that any big downturn in the economy would be “Joe Biden’s recession.”

RFK Jr. Touts Bogus Measles Treatment Hours After Burying 8-Year-Old Child

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/rfk-jr-touts-bogus-measles-treatment-hours-after-burying-8-year-old-child/

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touted the work of two controversial “healers” Sunday—just hours after advocating for vaccinations and attending the funeral of a child who died as part of a measles outbreak taking over Texas.

Kennedy has also claimed that vitamin A and cod liver oil are effective treatments for measles. So bold were Kennedy’s claims, they forced the American Medical Association to release a statement last month urging: “As parents, our instinct is to do everything we can to keep our children safe. In the case of measles–a highly contagious disease that can cause severe health problems—that means getting your children vaccinated today. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is extraordinarily safe and effective."

Trump Orders Four Mile Military Parade for his 79th Birthday

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-orders-four-mile-military-parade-for-his-79th-birthday/

President Donald Trump is making plans for a military parade in Washington, D.C., on his 79th birthday, according to a report.

The display of military might will march around four miles from the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, to the White House, the D.C. source told the publication.

S&P 500 Enters Bear Market Territory As Trump Makes False Inflation Claim

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-administration-stocks-plunge-tariffs-global-live-updates-2056225

Wall Street's main indexes opened sharply lower on Monday, with the S&P 500 on track to enter bear market territory. The sell-off continues after a series of troubling signals in the economy, raising fears of a possible recession.

The Dow fell by 1,212.98 points (3.17%) to 37,101.88

The S&P 500 dropped 181.37 points (3.57%) to 4,892.71

The Nasdaq lost 623.23 points (4.00%) to 14,964.56

The market is set to enter bear market territory if losses persist through the day

Rising fears of an economic slowdown and tightening financial conditions weigh heavily on investor sentiment

Trump shared a post on Truth Social early Monday, speaking to the supposed benefits of his tariff strategy, including lower oil prices and a reduction in food costs, adding that there is "NO INFLATION."

Will Russia Come Out a Winner in Trump’s Trade Wars?

 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/03/will-russia-come-out-a-winner-in-trumps-trade-wars-a88238

U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs notably do not include Russia or its neighbor Belarus.

In the short term, Russia may be able to capitalize on the escalating trade war by replacing U.S. energy supplies to China. But the Kremlin is unlikely to significantly benefit from the tariffs in the longer term — especially as they may lead to a global economic slowdown that cuts into demand for Russian oil and gas.

US seems content to cosy up to Russia instead of imposing tariffs

 https://news.sky.com/story/us-seems-content-to-cosy-up-to-russia-instead-of-coerce-it-with-tariffs-13341300

Russia is the glaring omission from Donald Trump's tariffs list. Along with Cuba, Belarus and North Korea, it has been spared the sweeping measures, with America's foes apparently treated better than many of its friends.

The explanation given by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to the US outlet Axios was that existing sanctions "preclude any meaningful trade" with Russia.

Lutnick says Trump tariffs on uninhabited islands prevent other countries from using ‘loopholes’

 https://thehill.com/policy/international/5234768-lutnick-trump-tariffs-uninhabited-islands/?tbref=hp

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Sunday defended President Trump’s tariffs even against uninhabited islands, saying they are intended to guard against loopholes.

In an interview on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” moderator Margaret Brennan asked why uninhabited territories, like the Heard and McDonald Islands, were included on the list that Trump displayed in the Rose Garden, noting they “don’t export to the United States and are quite literally inhabited by penguins.”

“Why do they face a 10 percent tariff? Did you use AI to generate this?” Brennan added.

“No. No,” Lutnick said. “Look, the idea is that there are no countries left off.”

“What happens is, if you leave anything off the list, the countries that try to basically arbitrage America go through those countries to us,” he continued.

Trump Officials' Evolving Narrative on Russia's Exclusion from Tariffs

 https://www.newsweek.com/russia-trump-tarriffs-trade-2056152

Russia's involvement in Ukraine peace talks was the main reason why Moscow has not faced the painful trade tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed on most of the rest of the world.

That explanation by White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett appears to stand in contrast with the Trump administration's previous reason, voiced last week: namely that trade between the two countries is too negligible, due to sanctions over Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion.

The lack of impact on Moscow has been met with criticism in Ukraine. The Hope for Ukraine charity CEO Yuriy Boyechko has noted that the war-torn country, also party to the peace negotiations, has been hit with 10 percent tariffs while Russia was exempt.

'Black Monday' Fears Grow for Stock Market

 https://www.newsweek.com/black-monday-fears-stock-market-2056093

Major stock indexes plunged in Asia on Monday after Wall Street experienced the worst two days since the pandemic last week, the S&P 500 down 6 percent by market close on Friday while the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 5.5 percent. The Nasdaq composite dropped 5.82 percent.

CNBC host and market analyst Jim Cramer on Saturday warned of a repeat of the devastating "Black Monday" collapse of October 19, 1987, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw its worse single-day fall and plummeted 22.6 percent.

Pesach Erev – Shabbos

Igros Moshe (OC I #155) Question What to do with chametz and matzah when Erev Pesach is on Shabbos “You wish to know my weak opinion on what to do when Erev Pesach is Shabbos Answer The Rishonim disagree whether the prohibition of eating matza is all day erev Pesach or just at the time when chametz is prohibited? Even though the prohibition of matza erev Pesach is only Rabbinic and according to the rules of psak of the Rema we should follow the lenient view that it is prohibited only from the time when chametz is prohibited, however we have explained that the understanding of the Yerushalmi is like the Ramban who prohibits it all day as do the Ran and the Baal HaMeor so it is appropriate to take the stricter view as the Ramban and Rambam and other Rishonim do. And prohibit it all day. And that is the accepted practice in our country. .  In practice for the morning meal even before the fourth hour of the day it is prohibited to eat matza since according to Rambam, Ramban and many other Rishonim it is prohibited the whole day. However for the evening meal, since most poskim hold there is no prohibition for the night of the 14th one should not protest against those who eat matza for the mitzva of Shabbos meal. Nevertheless it is proper to be strict and not ear matza as the Magen Avraham prohibits matza also the night of the 14th and this seems to be the virw of Ramban even though the poskim don’t mention it since no one disagrees openly against the Ramban.   Therefore it is best for those who don’t want to have chametz on Shabbos day because of the concerns with the problems that result from this, should have have the two meals with egg matza. Since you are making a Shabbos meal on it you need to say the beracha hamotzi and Berchas hamazone – this is the advice of the Bei Yosef. We see from the Beis Yosef that is appropriate to remove all chametz before Shabbos to avoid problems. However if you keep chametz for Shabbos you should at leat use egg matza for the third meal. Therefore for those who are able to have egg matza for two meals that is preferable.  It is best to eat two meals with egg matza but only within the time it is permitted to eat chametz according to our custom of not eating egg matza on Pesach or Erev Pesach after the time when it is permitted to eat chametz.  

College – learn in summer

Igros Moshe (YD IV 34) Question Is it permitted for a yeshiva student to learn in college in the summer? Answer The issue of college is not a simple matter. Don’t protest about this since it is known that it doesn’t have any influence for many students because of the attitude of the majority of their parents. In addition there are those who go for parnossa while there are others who are not actually learning anything in yeshiva. Nevertheless it is important that every yeshiva student even those already learning in college that it is not a black and white issue to allow college. In contrast in the summer when the students are on vacation and they go to college instead, even if they think this is for good reason that in a relatively short time they can complete a lot and thus have more time to learn in yeshiva. But there are significant problems with college even in the summer such as the large number of women who attend then and are not modestly dressed and this arouses prohibited lust. In addition sometimes the yeshiva is physically very close to the college and this causes unfortunate violations as the result of minimizing sexual sins and this can not be permitted at all. In short the good intent does not outway the problems. Therefore you have done the right thing by prohibiting the yeshiva students from going to summer college. Therefore even those who have reason to go to college should not go in the summer.