Trump's friendship with Israel is a double-edged sword

 https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-849389

Had Obama or former president Joe Biden announced direct talks with Iran, Netanyahu and his allies would have slammed the move.

Both the announcement and the prime minister’s silence reveal how different the US-Israel relationship is today compared to the Obama years, the last time a US president directly engaged with the Iranians.

But that support comes with a cost. In this case, the price is a loss of some autonomy. Given everything Trump has done for Israel, it is now politically unthinkable for Jerusalem to say “no” to this president.

Had Obama or former president Joe Biden announced direct talks with Iran, Netanyahu and his allies would have slammed the move. But not with Trump – a reminder that even the warmest friendships come with strings attached. In this case, that string is an inability to object.

Elon Musk rips ‘moron’ Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro: ‘Dumber than a sack of bricks’

 https://nypost.com/2025/04/08/us-news/elon-musk-rips-moron-trump-trade-adviser-peter-navarro/

Billionaire Elon Musk escalated his attacks against White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Tuesday, calling him a “moron” who’s “dumber than a sack of bricks.”

Musk responded Tuesday to the trade adviser’s suggestion on CNBC Monday that the Tesla boss was “not a car manufacturer” but “a car assembler.”

‘Historically awful’: Harry Enten on Trump’s net approval ratings

Donald Trump's Strong Disapproval Rating Surges

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-approval-rating-2026-midterms-2056747 

Donald Trump is facing a sharp rise in disapproval ratings similar to that of November, 2018, when the Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives, according to new polling data.

According to CNN pollster Harry Enten, Trump's disapproval rating is currently at a similar level to November 2018, when the Republicans lost the House in the midterms and the Democrats gained 41 seats. At the time, 42 percent disapproved of Trump's job performance, according to Enten's analysis.

Harry Enten said: "The Democratic protest, the idea of protesting Donald Trump, if the resistance was a little bit lacking at the beginning of Trump's second term, it is very much alive now. The protests are out there, and the interest in protesting Donald Trump is definitely there now."

Billionaire GOP Megadonor Rips Trump’s ‘Huge’ Trade War Mistake

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/billionaire-gop-megadonor-rips-trumps-huge-trade-war-mistake/

Ken Griffin joins a growing list of Trump loyalists who have spoken out against the aggressive tariff program.

A billionaire GOP megadonor has ripped into President Donald Trump over his latest tariffs, calling them 

a “huge policy mistake.”

According to a report from Bloomberg, Ken Griffin said that families making $50,000 annually are being told “it’s going to cost you 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent more for your groceries, for your toaster, for a new vacuum cleaner, for a new car.

“Even if the dream of jobs coming back to America plays out, that’s a 20-year dream. It’s not 20 weeks. It’s not two years. It’s decades.”

Mashgiach for Kashrus woman

Igros Moshe (Y.D. II #44):Question Concerning the widow of a talmid chachom who had a position as masghiach of kashrus and with his death she is destitute and has no way of providing for herself or her children. She is a modest woman and truly G-d fearing as well as being smart, understanding and responsible. She can relied upon and in fact was working under her husband’s supervision and that was her parnossa until he died. You want to know my view as to whether she can now serve i as a mashgiach? Answer From the aspect of believability, a women is fully believed concerning prohibitions. The basic law is that a single witness is believed for prohibitions. However some sources indicate that women are only believed for Rabbinic prohibitions. Tosfos explains that tasks which require great effort or matters she can’t control she is not believed. But that is only for matters which are presumed prohibited. Therefore supervising kashrus means she prevents people from eating that which is prohibited from food which is not presumed to be forbidden she is to be believed even if the food is not in her control. It has been standard practice in every generation to hire women to cook and buy meat and other foods and rely on them that it is kosher. . In conclusuion from the aspect of believability there is no problem that this women can serve as mashgiach since she is established as good woman with solid knowledge and understanding as the job requires. Howver there is a problem from a different aspect.  The Rambam states clearly that all positions of authority in Judaism can only be males. I don’t know the source for the Rambam’s ruling. The Sifrei that is cited by the Kesef Mishna and others  only states that the ruler must be a male king and not a female queen but no mention is made that all positions of authority must be male. It must be that the Rambam decided that on his own. . It is reasonable to say that a kashrus supervisor is considered a position of authority as Rashi notes that a supervisor over weights and measures is considered an appointment of authority since both positions require opposition to deviations from standards. Consequently the Rambam would prohibit a woman being appointed as mashgiach. . However it seems to me that not everyone agrees with the Rambam. The Chinuch and Tosfos seem to disagree  as do Rashi and the Ran  Thus it is not clear what the halachic status of the Rambam’s view is. Consequently in the case of great need such as the livelihood of this widow and her children one can rely on those that disagree with the Rambam and appoint her as mashgiach to replace her husband. However there is a way to appoint her which doesn’t conflict with the Rambam.  If she is officially hired by a rabbi  and is thus while she is not the official boss but she does the actual work and therefore she has no actual authority which is totally given to her boss. 

Disagree with Rav Moshe

 Igros Moshe (O.C. I #109): This that you apologize for disagreeing with me in a halachic issue – this is totally unnecessary. That is because this is the way of Torah that it is necessary to establish the truth. Chas v’shalom to silence one who disagrees with you – whether he is being more lenient or more strict. [While there is a discussion about disagreeing in a formal court session Sanhedrin 36 where the court is deciding on the guilt or innocence…] it is not a problem to disagree with the gadol (greatest scholar) when he is saying something in the course of teaching the material or even if he is making a practical halachic ruling but he is not part of a formal court. We see this in many places in the gemora where students question their teacher’s view. … It is obvious in these cases the rulings were not part of a formal court session. Furthermore it is apparent that there is no one today who has the status of gadol for this law that no one can disagree with him… Therefore even if you consider me to be a gadol – it is permitted to disagree with me and consequently it is required that you express your opinion and there is no need to apologize. Nevertheless regarding the halachic question that was raised, my view -that I wrote that it is prohibited - is the correct one.

Igros Moshe (YD II #45): This that you apologize because you disagree with my reasoning and my position. I don’t know why you think you need to apologize. There is an absolute need for everyone to clarify the truth according to his own understanding whether that is a more lenient or strict  position and even if it disagrees with the views of his teacher (rav) and surely those who are not considered his teacher.  Look at what I wrote already in greater detail in Igros Moshe O.C. I #109): If you are perhaps apologizing because of possibly expressing yourself disrespectfully, but anyone who knows me knows that I am Thank G-d not concerned  with what anyone says against me and surely not the words of a Torah scholar. 

Donald Trump was once a registered Democrat and party donor. So why did he jump ship? - A man of principle- the power principle

 https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/donald-trump-was-once-a-registered-democrat-and-party-donor-why-did-he-jump-ship/wj85mj5yq

The former Republican president was once a registered Democrat and even donated money to Kamala Harris. Here's a look back at how Donald Trump's political affiliations have changed over time, and why.

But before they were political rivals, Trump was actually one of Harris' financial donors.

State records show that Trump donated US$6,000 ($9,107) in total to the then-California attorney-general's campaign — US$5,000 ($7,589) in September 2011 after she was first elected, and another US$1,000 ($1,518) in 2013.

At the time of both donations to Harris' campaign, Trump was registered as a Republican.

The former president wasn't the only member of his family contributing money to Harris; his eldest daughter Ivanka donated US$2,000 ($3,036) in 2014 to her re-election campaign.

Trump first registered as a member of the Republican Party in 1987. But records show that since then he's changed his party affiliation five times.

In October 1999, he joined the Independence Party of New York.

Not long after, he declared himself a potential candidate for the Reform Party's presidential nomination for the 2000 election. The Independence Party of New York was at that time the state affiliate of the national Reform Party.

Then in 2001, Trump became a Democrat — and remained one for eight years.

In a 2004 interview with CNN, he said that "in many cases" he identified more as a Democrat than Republican.

"It just seems that the economy does better under the Democrats than the Republicans," he said.

Despite his praise for the Democrats, Trump returned to the Republican Party in 2012 and has remained a member since.

Trump has always been "ideologically inconsistent" on most issues, according to Emma Shortis, a senior researcher in international and security affairs at public policy think tank The Australia Institute.

"The through line is always his desire to access power and access elite circles," she said.

"He's always been pretty desperate to be validated by the American elite, as often as disdainful as he is of them, he wants access to that … so every time I think Trump has changed, you can explain that change by that desire for power, and elite access."

At the time of Trump's donations to Harris' campaign, he was facing a class action about whether Trump University had defrauded its students.

Voting Rav Moshe Feinstein

 

Letter (October 1984) On reaching the shores of the United States; Jews found a safe haven. The rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights have allowed us the freedom to practice our religion without interference and to live in this republic in safety. A fundamental principle of Judaism is hakaras hatov — recognizing benefits afforded us and giving expression to our appreciation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each Jewish citizen to participate in the democratic system which safeguards the freedoms we enjoy. The most fundamental responsibility incumbent on each individual is to register and to vote. Therefore, I urge all members of the Jewish community to fulfill their obligations by registering as soon as possible and by voting. By this, we can express our appreciation and contribute to the continued security of our community.

AI is coming to skin cancer detection

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/04/07/ai-is-coming-skin-cancer-detection/

A future where artificial intelligence will guide skin cancer detection is in sight, experts say, even as human care remains essential.

“The whole ecosystem has really matured and we are now past the hype and the big media headlines,” says Ivy Lee, a Los Angeles-based dermatologist who chairs the Augmented Intelligence Committee at the American Academy of Dermatology.

As of now the gold standard is to get an annual skin check with a dermatologist, Lee says. And if you notice any new or changing spots, you should see your dermatologist or physician.

Cracks appear among Trump’s cheerleaders amid market turmoil

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/07/trump-tariff-reaction/

As the world reels from President Donald Trump’s trade war, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is alerting shareholders that the tariffs will “slow down growth.” Podcaster Ben Shapiro is warning that the president’s vision of international trade is “mistaken.” And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is advising that the tariff strategy carries “enormous risk.”

Shapiro, who initially supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary before switching his support to Trump, spent much of his recent episodes highlighting the flaws in Trump’s tariff push to his audience.

“The president’s vision of international trade is, I’m sorry to say, mistaken,” he said this week on “The Ben Shapiro Show.” “So this is a massive tax increase on American consumers. That’s what it is. And it is designed to be so,” he said, adding that it is “probably unconstitutional … one of the biggest tax increases on consumers in history,” which he said was “predicated on a bad idea of how international trade works.”

'A little miracle': First baby born in UK to woman with transplanted womb

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78jd517z87o

A "miracle" baby girl has become the first child in the UK to be born to a mother using a donated womb.

The baby's mum, Grace Davidson, 36, was born without a functioning uterus, and received her sister's womb in 2023 – in what was then the UK's only successful womb transplant.

MAGA Rolls Out Bonkers New Justification for Trump’s Trade War

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-rolls-out-bonkers-new-justification-for-trumps-trade-war/

Right-wingers from the fringe to Fox News are rolling out a new argument in favor of Trump’s tariffs—that they will help boost America’s masculinity.

Donald Trump’s claim that “jobs and factories will come roaring back” due to his steep tariffs has been welcomed by some right-wing commentators who have argued that it will be a needed improvement for American workers’ masculinity.

As one prominent right-wing influencer wrote in a now-deleted X post: “you do not solve low birth rates by giving money to women, you solve low birth rates by taking money away from women.”

“Fertility is a solved problem and tracks differential status between men and women,” another wrote, seemingly endorsing the theory.

Whether the tariffs will end up creating any of these blue collar jobs at all, however, is unclear.

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.