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President Trump Establishes ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Commission to Address Chronic Disease Crisis

Independent Candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks as Michael Smerconish hosts a SiriusXM Town Hall with Democratic Presidential Candidate RFK Jr. at The Centre Theater in Philadelphia, Penn., on June 5, 2023. (Lisa Lake/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

President Trump Establishes ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Commission to Address Chronic Disease Crisis

By:  Fern Sidman

In a bold move to tackle America’s escalating health crisis, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on Thursday creating the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission. This newly formed body, chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been tasked with investigating the root causes behind the nation’s deteriorating health and, more specifically, the alarming rise in childhood chronic diseases.

With a mission centered on transparency, research integrity, and public trust, the Commission aims to shift America’s healthcare paradigm from disease treatment to disease prevention. The initiative highlights Trump’s recognition that the nation’s approach to healthcare has focused more on managing chronic illnesses rather than preventing them, leading to dire economic, public health, and national security consequences.

Chronic diseases have reached unprecedented levels in the United States, with statistics painting a bleak picture of national health. Six in ten adults suffer from at least one chronic illness, while four in ten struggle with multiple conditions. The U.S. also holds the highest age-standardized cancer incidence rate among 204 nations—nearly double that of the second-highest country. Alarmingly, cancer rates in the U.S. have surged by 88% between 1990 and 2021.

Meanwhile, life expectancy in the United States lags behind other developed nations, standing at 78.8 years before COVID-19, compared to 82.6 years in comparable countries. This discrepancy translates to 1.25 billion fewer total life years for Americans—a shocking indicator of the country’s declining health status.

In light of these concerns, the Commission will prioritize childhood chronic diseases, recognizing that the health of the youngest Americans will dictate the long-term well-being of the nation.

A Roadmap to Reversing Chronic Disease

The Make America Healthy Again Commission has been given two major deadlines:

Within 100 days, the Commission will produce an assessment summarizing the state of childhood chronic diseases, identifying knowledge gaps, and including international comparisons.

Within 180 days, it will deliver a strategy to improve children’s health based on its findings, laying the foundation for a new era of preventative medicine.

To achieve these objectives, the Commission has outlined four key policy directives aimed at reversing the chronic disease epidemic:

1. Transparency and Open-Source Data in Health Research

A key concern in the modern healthcare landscape is the influence of corporate interests on federally funded medical research. The Commission will implement safeguards to eliminate conflicts of interest in government-funded health research and will work to make health data more accessible to the public. The goal is to empower Americans with credible, independent, and transparent health information.

2. Prioritizing Root-Cause Research into Chronic Disease

Rather than solely funding research on new pharmaceutical treatments, the federal government will prioritize “gold-standard” research into why Americans are getting sicker in the first place. By addressing fundamental lifestyle and environmental factors—such as diet, pollution, and sedentary behavior—the Commission aims to uncover actionable solutions to curb disease before it develops.

3. Supporting Farmers for a Healthier Food Supply

Recognizing the link between nutrition and disease, the Commission will work with American farmers to ensure that the nation’s food supply is healthy, abundant, and affordable. With obesity, diabetes, and heart disease closely tied to diet, the Commission will encourage agricultural policies that promote nutrient-rich, minimally processed foods rather than subsidizing unhealthy, ultra-processed options.

4. Expanding Preventative Healthcare and Lifestyle-Based Treatments

The Commission will advocate for greater flexibility in health coverage and treatment options that emphasize lifestyle changes, early intervention, and holistic approaches to disease prevention. This shift will move the nation’s healthcare model away from a pharmaceutical-heavy, symptom-focused approach and toward a system that prioritizes prevention, wellness, and sustainable health practices.

Restoring Trust in Medical and Scientific Institutions

Beyond policy reforms, the Make America Healthy Again Commission has a broader mission: restoring public confidence in medical and scientific institutions. Years of conflicting health guidance, industry influence, and the politicization of public health have eroded trust in medical authorities. The Commission plans to hold public hearings, meetings, and roundtables featuring experts from multiple disciplines—ensuring a diverse, fact-based, and open dialogue on health policy.

By including voices from leading doctors, nutritionists, public health officials, environmental scientists, and patient advocates, the Commission will create a more inclusive and transparent decision-making process, ensuring that the interests of the American people—not corporate stakeholders—remain the priority.

The National and Economic Security Implications of Chronic Disease

President Trump’s decision to launch the Commission reflects an understanding that America’s health crisis is not just a medical issue—it’s a national security and economic concern.

 Economic Burden: The rising prevalence of chronic disease has placed an unsustainable financial strain on the healthcare system. As medical costs skyrocket, businesses struggle to cover employee healthcare, and government spending on Medicare and Medicaid continues to surge.

Workforce Productivity: The workforce is being weakened by preventable illnesses, leading to lost productivity, higher disability claims, and increased absenteeism in the labor market.

Military Readiness: A shocking percentage of young Americans are unfit for military service due to obesity and chronic illness, raising concerns about national defense preparedness.

By tackling chronic disease at its root, the Commission aims to revitalize the American workforce, reduce healthcare spending, and strengthen national security.

A Nation in Decline: The Harsh Reality of America’s Health Crisis

Despite having one of the most technologically advanced medical systems in the world, the United States is sicker than ever. Chronic disease has exploded in both children and adults, with alarming statistics pointing to an escalating health disaster.

The Childhood Health Epidemic

Childhood is traditionally regarded as the healthiest stage of life, yet American children today are suffering from an increasing array of chronic conditions:

As of 2022, 30 million children (40.7%) had at least one chronic health condition, such as asthma, allergies, or autoimmune diseases.

Autism rates have skyrocketed to 1 in 36 children, a staggering increase from the 1980s when only 1 in 10,000 were diagnosed.

18% of teenagers suffer from fatty liver disease, an illness once confined to alcoholics, signaling a major metabolic health crisis.

Nearly 30% of teenagers are prediabetic, and over 40% are overweight or obese, conditions that were virtually nonexistent in previous generations.

Childhood cancer rates have risen by 0.8% per year since 1975, resulting in a more than 40% increase over 45 years.

These alarming trends suggest that environmental, dietary, and medical factors are playing a role in the widespread deterioration of children’s health—yet very few large-scale investigations have been conducted to understand why these issues are escalating.

Overmedication and the Mental Health Crisis

In addition to rising rates of physical illness, the overmedication of children is another major concern.

More than 3.4 million children are currently prescribed medication for ADD/ADHD, and the number of diagnoses continues to climb.

The United States has seen a sharp increase in mental health issues among young people, with anxiety, depression, and psychiatric disorders contributing to record-high suicide rates among teens.

While pharmaceutical companies profit immensely from the overprescription of drugs, little attention is being paid to potential underlying causes—whether they be nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, or societal stressors.

A Nation Unfit for Duty: The Military and Economic Consequences

The chronic disease epidemic is not just a personal health crisis—it is a national security and economic emergency.

77% of young adults are unfit for military service without a waiver, primarily due to obesity, drug use, and physical or mental health conditions.

The United States spends nearly $4.5 trillion per year on healthcare, with 90% of those expenditures going toward chronic and mental health conditions—yet outcomes continue to worsen.

America spends nearly twice as much per capita on healthcare as other wealthy nations, yet it has lower life expectancy and higher rates of chronic illness than almost any other developed country.

These figures point to a broken system—one that benefits pharmaceutical companies, insurance corporations, and hospital networks at the expense of the American people.

President Trump’s Plan: Investigating the Root Causes of Chronic Disease

Recognizing the severity of the crisis, President Trump has pledged to establish a Presidential Commission that will investigate why chronic illnesses have been rising at such an alarming rate. Unlike previous government health initiatives, this Commission will be independent from pharmaceutical and corporate interests and will be tasked with answering the critical questions that have long been ignored.

Trump’s Commitment to a Healthier Future

Throughout his first term, President Trump spearheaded initiatives aimed at improving the nation’s health, lowering medical costs, and increasing healthcare accessibility. Some of his major accomplishments include:

Passed Right to Try, giving terminally ill patients access to experimental and potentially lifesaving treatments.

Signed an executive order to combat kidney disease, increasing transplants and improving treatment options.

Accelerated medical advancements in genetic treatments for sickle cell disease, a major step in targeted healthcare solutions.

Declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency and signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, the largest legislative effort in U.S. history to combat drug addiction.

Expanded telehealth services, ensuring greater access to care for rural and underserved communities.

Now, Trump is taking his commitment even further by demanding a comprehensive investigation into the nation’s chronic disease crisis. His plan will involve:

Uncovering the root causes of chronic disease.

Publishing transparent recommendations for how every American child can lead a healthier life.

Challenging the pharmaceutical industry’s stranglehold over medical policy.

Restoring Public Trust in the Medical System

One of the greatest challenges in America’s health crisis is the erosion of public trust in the healthcare system.

Only one-third of Americans trust the U.S. healthcare system, a near-record low.

Many Americans feel they are not receiving honest answers about why chronic illness is rising, why drug costs remain high, and why so many new diseases are emerging.

Trump’s Presidential Commission aims to restore faith in healthcare institutions by ensuring transparency, accountability, and scientific integrity. The Commission will include independent experts, medical researchers, and patient advocates rather than corporate lobbyists and pharmaceutical executives.

A Defining Moment for American Healthcare

President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again initiative represents a crucial turning point in U.S. healthcare policy. By investigating the underlying causes of chronic disease, challenging the pharmaceutical industry’s influence, and prioritizing preventative care, this initiative has the potential to fundamentally reshape the future of American healthcare.

For decades, the U.S. healthcare system has focused on managing disease rather than preventing it. With chronic illness rates skyrocketing, children getting sicker at younger ages, and military readiness declining, inaction is no longer an option.

By placing the health of American families above the interests of corporate lobbyists, Trump’s plan could usher in a new era of medical transparency, affordability, and genuine health solutions. If successful, this initiative will not only help extend American life expectancy but will also restore the nation’s strength, security, and economic vitality.

With the Presidential Commission on Chronic Disease set to launch, the American people will finally get answers—and a healthcare system that prioritizes their well-being over profit.

Hyatt Hotels Blames Weak Q4 Earnings on Decline in Jewish Travelers and Timing of High Holy Days

Hyatt Hotels Corp. plans to purchase Apple Leisure Group for $2.7 billion. The resort company is currently owned by private equity groups KKR & Co. and KSL Capital Partners LLC. Photo Credit: tophotel.news

Hyatt Hotels Blames Weak Q4 Earnings on Decline in Jewish Travelers and Timing of High Holy Days

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Hyatt Hotels reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, attributing the shortfall in part to a decline in Jewish travelers due to the timing of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. According to a report that appeared on Thursday on VIN News, Hyatt’s Q4 results missed Wall Street estimates, triggering an 11% drop in the company’s shares during early trading on Thursday.

CEO Mark Hoplamazian pointed to multiple factors influencing the quarter’s performance, including the shift of the High Holy Days into early October and the impact of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. He emphasized that Jewish group travel typically declines during religious observances, and this year’s holiday calendar may have kept a significant number of travelers at home.

“Group rooms revenue was flat in the quarter and was up 5% when adjusting for the timing of the Jewish holidays in October and the U.S. elections in November,” Hoplamazian stated, as reported by VIN News.

This statement highlights the impact of seasonal and religious travel patterns on major hotel chains, demonstrating how shifts in the Jewish calendar can influence broader hospitality industry trends.

Impact of High Holy Days on Travel and Hospitality

As VIN News report explained, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur traditionally lead to a slowdown in Jewish travel, especially among those who observe these sacred holidays at home or within their communities. In 2023, these holidays fell in September, but in 2024, they shifted into early October—coinciding more directly with Hyatt’s Q4 reporting period.

While Hyatt’s reliance on Jewish travelers may not be immediately obvious, group travel plays a significant role in hotel revenue, particularly for major hospitality brands that cater to corporate events, conventions, and religious gatherings. When Jewish groups delay or cancel travel due to religious observance, hotel chains can see notable shifts in demand—a reality reflected in Hyatt’s earnings this quarter.

Financial Performance: A Disappointing Quarter

According to the information provided in the VIN News report, Hyatt reported Q4 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.42 on total revenue of $1.60 billion, falling short of analyst expectations of $0.71 EPS and $1.65 billion in revenue. This earnings miss prompted an immediate selloff in Hyatt’s stock, with shares dropping nearly 11% in early trading following the announcement.

Despite the disappointing quarter, Hyatt’s stock remains up approximately 14% over the past 12 months, suggesting that investors still view the company’s long-term prospects favorably. However, this earnings shortfall raises questions about Hyatt’s ability to mitigate seasonal fluctuations in travel demand—especially in light of external factors such as religious observances, political events, and broader economic conditions.

Election Uncertainty and Market Volatility

Beyond the Jewish holiday timing, the upcoming U.S. presidential election has also been cited as a factor impacting Hyatt’s Q4 performance. As reported by VIN News, Hoplamazian suggested that election-year uncertainty can affect corporate travel, as businesses delay booking large events until the political landscape becomes clearer.

Historically, election years have brought fluctuations in travel and hospitality spending, as companies hold off on major expenditures due to potential changes in economic policy and regulations. Hyatt’s Q4 report reflects this broader trend, as group travel bookings saw stagnation amid heightened political and economic uncertainty.

The Broader Hospitality Industry: How Hyatt Compares

Hyatt’s earnings miss stands in contrast to some of its competitors, who have reported stronger-than-expected results despite similar market challenges. The report at VIN News noted that Hyatt has continued to expand its luxury and lifestyle brand portfolio, yet it remains more vulnerable to fluctuations in group travel demand compared to hotel chains with a stronger focus on business and leisure travelers.

Other major hospitality players, such as Marriott and Hilton, have diversified their revenue streams through loyalty programs, extended-stay offerings, and international expansion, allowing them to better withstand seasonal downturns. Hyatt’s reliance on group travel and premium accommodations makes it more susceptible to external factors like the timing of religious observances and shifts in corporate event planning.

Looking Ahead: Hyatt’s Strategy for 2025

Despite the Q4 revenue shortfall, Hyatt remains optimistic about long-term growth. According to the report at VIN News, the company is continuing to expand its presence in high-demand markets and investing in premium travel experiences that cater to affluent travelers.

Some of Hyatt’s key strategic priorities moving forward include:

Strengthening Corporate and Group Travel – Given that group travel revenue was flat this quarter, Hyatt may adjust its sales strategies to attract more event-based bookings outside of religious observances and election cycles.

Expanding Luxury and Lifestyle Offerings – Hyatt has been focusing on boutique-style hotels and high-end accommodations, appealing to wealthier travelers less impacted by economic uncertainty.

Growing International Presence – While U.S. demand may fluctuate, international travel remains a strong growth area, particularly in regions where economic conditions are stabilizing post-pandemic.

Enhancing Loyalty Programs – Competing brands like Marriott and Hilton have benefited from strong loyalty membership growth, and Hyatt may seek to strengthen its World of Hyatt program to drive repeat bookings.

A Temporary Setback or a Long-Term Concern?

Hyatt’s weaker-than-expected Q4 earnings underscore the impact that religious, political, and economic factors can have on the hospitality industry. As the VIN News report highlighted, the timing of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur likely led to a decline in Jewish group travel, while broader election-year uncertainties contributed to stagnation in corporate bookings.

However, Hyatt’s long-term outlook remains relatively strong, with the company continuing to expand its premium travel offerings and international footprint. The question remains whether Hyatt can effectively adapt to seasonal and cyclical fluctuations—or whether these challenges will continue to impact the company’s financial performance in the quarters ahead.

For now, investors will be watching closely to see if Hyatt can rebound from its Q4 slump and regain momentum as the 2025 travel season unfolds.

Kanye West’s Super Bowl Ad Sparks Outrage as Anti-Semitism Controversy Deepens

Rap artist and fashion mogul Kanye West earned notoriety with a barrage of anti-Semitic statements in various venues and for scoring a dinner invitation from Trump. Photo Credit: AP

Kanye West’s Super Bowl Ad Sparks Outrage as Anti-Semitism Controversy Deepens

Edited by: Fern Sidman

Late last week, just before Kanye West—now known as Ye—launched into a virulent anti-Semitic and sexist tirade on X, an advertising agency working on his behalf was finalizing deals to air a commercial for his Yeezy clothing line during the Super Bowl. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the ad, featuring West in a dentist’s chair discussing getting new teeth, appeared on multiple local TV stations across the U.S., directing viewers to Yeezy.com. While the ad itself seemed unusual but harmless to broadcasters at the time, it soon led to a firestorm of controversy.

According to the information provided in The Wall Street Journal report, shortly after the ad aired, visitors to the Yeezy website were met with a shocking sight: the only available product was a white T-shirt emblazoned with a swastika. This development sent shockwaves through the media industry, raising serious questions about the vetting process for Super Bowl commercials and exposing the oversight gaps in regional ad placements. Major broadcasters such as Fox and Nexstar Media Group aired the ad on stations in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and St. Louis, inadvertently amplifying West’s latest controversy.

The situation quickly spiraled out of control, with social media erupting in backlash. The Wall Street Journal reported that Shopify, the e-commerce giant hosting Yeezy’s online store, took swift action by shutting down the website on Tuesday. “This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms, so we removed them from Shopify,” the company stated. The site, which had previously sold Yeezy T-shirts and sweatshirts, was now inaccessible, displaying only the message: “Something went wrong. What happened? This store is unavailable.” Despite the uproar, West himself has not responded to The Wall Street Journal’s requests for comment.

The Wall Street Journal report detailed how the advertisement was submitted last Thursday by USIM, the media agency handling the campaign. According to USIM’s president and chief operating officer, Doug Livingston, the agency vetted the ad before submitting it to local stations, and at the time, the Yeezy website displayed only “general athletic apparel.” The agency claims it was unaware of the offensive merchandise that would later appear on the site.

Executives at Fox and Nexstar also reviewed the website before approving the ad. However, as The Wall Street Journal report explained, regional ads undergo a different approval process than nationally broadcast Super Bowl commercials. While Fox and the NFL rigorously screen national advertisements that air during the game, local stations independently manage hundreds of ad submissions daily. The Yeezy ad, though seen as “weird” by some, did not raise any immediate red flags when initially reviewed.

It wasn’t until Friday—after West’s inflammatory posts on X—that USIM cut ties with Yeezy LLC. The Wall Street Journal report said that the agency instructed stations to stop airing the ad early Monday, after realizing the offensive product had been added to the Yeezy website. But by then, the damage had already been done, as thousands of viewers had seen the ad, unknowingly directed to a site featuring a symbol widely recognized as a hate emblem.

The controversy surrounding West’s Super Bowl ad is only the latest in a long series of damaging incidents linked to the rapper’s anti-Semitic rhetoric. According to the information contained in The Wall Street Journal report, over the past two years, his incendiary remarks have led to the severing of major business partnerships, including Adidas, Balenciaga, and Gap, all of which distanced themselves from the artist following his previous comments glorifying Hitler and espousing conspiracy theories about Jewish influence in business and media.

The current scandal once again highlights the risks brands and media companies face when associating with West. Fox and Nexstar now find themselves under scrutiny for airing the ad, while Shopify’s swift action signals an effort by corporate entities to avoid being complicit in spreading hate speech. The Wall Street Journal report noted that the incident also calls attention to the challenges faced by media agencies like USIM, which must navigate an increasingly volatile digital landscape where controversial figures can exploit advertising pathways to promote harmful ideologies.

Despite the widespread condemnation, West’s following remains sizable, with his posts on X continuing to generate engagement. However, as The Wall Street Journal report pointed out, the long-term implications of his latest actions could further isolate him from mainstream platforms and financial networks. The swift shutdown of his Shopify store demonstrates that companies are becoming less willing to tolerate his repeated provocations, even if his brand still commands attention.

Beyond the specific controversy surrounding West, The Wall Street Journal report highlighted the broader issue of advertising oversight, particularly for regional ad placements during high-profile events such as the Super Bowl. While national commercials undergo stringent reviews by major networks, local ad slots often lack the same level of scrutiny. The Yeezy ad fiasco demonstrates how an ad campaign can be approved under seemingly normal circumstances, only to later be weaponized for extremist messaging.

Industry experts cited by The Wall Street Journal argue that media companies must implement stronger safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future. This includes real-time monitoring of advertised websites, stricter vetting protocols for controversial figures, and increased cooperation between advertising agencies and broadcasters to detect potential risks. The incident also raises ethical questions about platforms profiting from individuals with a history of hate speech, and whether more proactive measures should be taken to prevent such individuals from leveraging mass media exposure.

As The Wall Street Journal report detailed, neither Fox Sports nor the NFL was aware of West’s commercial before it aired. When asked about the controversy on Sunday night, executives from both organizations stated they had no prior knowledge of the ad’s placement. On Tuesday, an NFL spokesperson reiterated that the league had “no awareness of the ad buy or the spot until after it ran” and that the NFL “strongly condemns any form of anti-Semitism.”

The lack of oversight illustrates a growing issue in Super Bowl advertising: while major brands pay as much as $8 million for 30 seconds of national airtime, local advertising slots are significantly cheaper and receive less scrutiny. The Wall Street Journal reported that local ads have increasingly become a backdoor strategy for brands aiming to reach Super Bowl audiences without paying premium national rates. Viewers often do not realize that an ad running in their market is a regional placement rather than part of the national broadcast.

A 30-second local Super Bowl ad in Los Angeles cost an estimated $1 million this year—a fraction of what national advertisers paid. This lower barrier to entry made it possible for West’s team to secure ad space despite his highly controversial reputation.

Following West’s latest anti-Semitic rant on X—where he told people to “whip your Jews” and declared “I love Hitler”—his Super Bowl ad and the offensive merchandise on his Yeezy website provoked outrage from civil rights organizations. The Wall Street Journal reported that both the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee swiftly condemned the ad, with the ADL sending letters to Fox and Nexstar demanding answers. The ADL also encouraged the public to email complaints about the advertisement, further amplifying calls for accountability.

Celebrities also joined in the backlash. Actor David Schwimmer, known for his outspoken opposition to anti-Semitism, publicly called for West to be banned from X. Despite the outrage, West’s X account remained active throughout the weekend, and his ad continued to air in select markets. However, as The Wall Street Journal report noted, by Tuesday, West had deleted his X account, likely in response to mounting criticism.

This is far from the first time West has faced repercussions for openly anti-Semitic behavior. His repeated inflammatory remarks have cost him lucrative business partnerships, including major deals with Adidas and Gap, as was noted in The Wall Street Journal report. In 2022, he was suspended from X—then known as Twitter—after posting a swastika in a tweet.

At the time, Elon Musk personally announced West’s suspension, stating that he had “again violated our rule against incitement to violence.” That suspension lasted approximately eight months before his account was reinstated in mid-2023, as was reported by The Wall Street Journal, Upon his return, X stated that West would not be able to monetize his account, and advertisements would not appear alongside his posts—a partial restriction meant to limit his influence on the platform.

However, West’s reinstatement on X did little to curb his behavior. His most recent tirade included a continuation of his pattern of hateful rhetoric, leading to renewed calls for social media platforms and advertisers to take stronger action against him.

The fallout from the Yeezy Super Bowl ad raises broader concerns about the mechanisms that allow controversial figures to bypass national advertising restrictions. The Wall Street Journal report explained that while Fox and the NFL meticulously vet national Super Bowl commercials, the local ad-buying system remains more flexible, making it vulnerable to exploitation.

West’s ad-buying strategy—leveraging regional placements to gain Super Bowl exposure at a lower cost—has drawn attention to the gaps in the system. While the Yeezy website did not feature the swastika T-shirt at the time the ad was submitted for approval, its sudden appearance afterward highlights how bad actors can manipulate advertising channels to spread harmful messaging.

The controversy has also placed additional pressure on media companies. The ADL’s demand for accountability from Fox and Nexstar reflects growing concerns that local broadcasters must implement stricter vetting processes. As The Wall Street Journal report noted, brands and advertising agencies will likely face increased scrutiny in the wake of this scandal, with calls for more stringent oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Super Bowl ad debacle is yet another chapter in Kanye West’s ongoing downfall. His continued embrace of anti-Semitic rhetoric, coupled with his attempt to exploit one of the biggest advertising platforms in the world, has further alienated him from mainstream businesses and audiences.

With Shopify shutting down Yeezy.com and civil rights organizations mobilizing against him, West finds himself increasingly isolated. While he retains a loyal fan base, his ability to maintain commercial viability continues to erode as more companies refuse to associate with him.

At the same time, this controversy serves as a wake-up call for the advertising industry, exposing how local ad placements can be manipulated by individuals with dangerous agendas. For now, West’s latest controversy leaves him once again at the center of global outrage—further proof that his once-glorified brand has become a cautionary tale of self-destruction.

UCLA Finally Suspends SJP After Trump Antisemitism Task Force Launch

After years of overt protests, boycotts, and direct aggression toward Jewish students from NYU’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the university honored the organization with the President’s Service Award for “outstanding contribution to NYU life.” Photo Credit: SJP Uncovered

by  (Front Page Magazine)

Students for Justice in Palestine, a campus terrorist organization that celebrated the Oct 7 attacks, had its chapter at UCLA assault and block Jewish students and community members. SJP did this with the active support of UCLA faculty, officials and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors which paid for the legal fees of their thugs, not to mention the LA Times and the national media.

UCLA failed to take any meaningful action against the campus terror group. That just changed.

Now it might have been SJP along with other terrorist supporters showing up at the home of a UC regent to harass him, threaten his wife and vandalize his property.

Chancellor Frenk’s official statement of an ‘interim suspension’ for SJP mentions that particular incident.

On February 5, 2025, individuals affiliated with the student groups harassed Mr. Sures and members of his family outside his home.
Individuals surrounded the vehicle of a Sures family member and prevented that family member’s free movement.
Individuals pounded on drums, chanting and holding signs with threatening messages such as “Jonathan Sures you will pay, until you see your final day.”
Individuals vandalized the Sures home by applying red-colored handprints to the outer walls of the home and hung banners on the property’s hedges.

Frenk asserts that, “no one should ever fear for their safety. Without the basic feeling of safety, humans cannot learn, teach, work and live — much less thrive and flourish. This is true no matter what group you are a member of — or which identities you hold. There is no place for violence in our Bruin community.”

That’s a little late to the party after Jewish students and community members were violently assaulted on campus during the ‘encampment’ period. (Not to mention minor matters like vandalism.)

I’m sure he takes the harassment of a regent more seriously than a Jewish female student being knocked unconscious on campus during the encampment.

But the Trump admin’s new task force likely has something to do with it too.

The US Justice Department announced on Monday the launch of a task force to combat antisemitism in schools and college campuses.
Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, who is also set to lead the task force, noted, “Antisemitism in any environment is repugnant to this Nation’s ideals.”
He added, “The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found. The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump’s renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools.”
The move followed US President Donald Trump’s “Executive Order on Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” according to the department.

Leo Terrell has been very blunt about UCLA’s malfeasance.

FOX NEWS HOST: Yeah, to your point, we all remember what we saw on college campuses across the country, from Columbia University to UCLA. I believe we have the video where Jewish students were literally barred from going to class by pro-Palestinian protesters, in some cases pro-Hamas protesters. There you go.
Look at that. No one seemed to be doing anything about it. And we heard very little from the last administration on why this was so wrong.
So how is this going to change now?
TERRELL: Well, you heard crickets from the last administration. And in those protests, I was embarrassed to see my law school, UCLA, allow this type of harassment going on. And Columbia University, how it’s going to stop is very simple.
We’re going to cut off their funding. We’re going to take criminal activity against those protesters. We’re going to alert these blue cities that allow this.

The message is getting out.

The interim suspension of SJP is mostly meaningless. A face-saving gesture for everyone involved and a feint to keep the task force away, But that shows UC is afraid. And that’s a good start.

Bill O’Reilly: NYC Mayor Adams Holds Damaging Secrets That Could Take Down Letitia James and Alvin Bragg

NYC Issues First Drought Warning in 22 Years, Pauses Aqueduct Repairs to Bring In More Water
FILE — New York Mayor Eric Adams gets a refill of NYC tap water while speaking to reporters at a news conference about repairs to the water supply infrastructure in New York, Sept. 30, 2024. NYC Issues First Drought Warning in 22 Years, Pauses Aqueduct Repairs to Bring In More Water(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

(TJV) In a recent interview with News Nation, Bill O’Reilly made a bold claim, stating that New York City Mayor Eric Adams “knows where the bodies are buried” when it comes to Attorney General Letitia James and District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

O’Reilly suggested that Adams may possess damning information that could aid Donald Trump in retaliating against the two prosecutors, whom Trump has accused of using the justice system as a weapon against him.

“I’m making a prediction here—Trump will take down Letitia James and Alvin Bragg because they launched a crusade to destroy him. And let’s be clear, President Trump is not one to forgive,” O’Reilly asserted.

Despite the dramatic claim, O’Reilly admitted, “I’m not saying it’s a fact, but it does seem to add up.”

He further warned that California Governor Gavin Newsom could be next in line for political fallout, saying, “Hey, Gavin, they’re coming for you.”

At Least 20 Injured as Driver Ploughs Car Into Crowd in Germany, Suspect is Kabul-born Afghan “asylum seeker”

(Breitbart News) At least 20 people were injured, some seriously and others possibly fatally when a driver ploughed a car into a trade union rally in Munich, Germany on Thursday morning.

UPDATE 1200 GMT — 28 Injured, suspect is Afghan ‘asylum seeker’

Following Bild‘s earlier claim of internal police information that the man held by police over the driving of a car into a trade union demonstration was an Afghan, this fact has now been confirmed by the Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann. He said the Kabul-born Afghan “asylum seeker” was already known to police for drug crimes and theft.

The number of people known injured has also been increased to 28 and Herrmann said it is being treated as a presumed deliberate attack. That the car accelerated into the protest, having passed a police car, and that a police officer shot at the vehicle was also confirmed.

Distressingly, images from the scene show a baby stroller upended near to where the car came to a halt.

What is now being called an attack by the authorities comes just one day before the Munich Security Conference is due to take place in the city a short drive away. Attended by global leaders, the event is seen as a major meeting for security policymakers and practitioners and is due to last until the end of the weekend.

A march by one of Germany’s largest trade unions, the Ver.di was struck by an automobile driven by an unidentified “young male” on Thursday morning on the city’s Seidlstraße. One newspaper asserts the suspect is a migrant male but police have not confirmed the assertion at time of publication.

Munich paramedics said at least 20 people had been injured. They have not yet given exact numbers on how serious these injuries are, but German newspaper Die Welt states their saying some are “seriously” injured, and some may even be “critically” injured, which is to say at danger of death.

Police have no confirmed or denied if there were any killed during the incident, but publication Sueddeutsche Zeitung says organisers from the Ver.di march claimed a woman had been killed and that children were among the injured, including one who had to be resuscitated at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle was “secured” by police. Eyewitnesses cited by various German outlets alternately claim they witnessed the driver deliberately plough his accelerating vehicle into the crowd, or that it appeared to be an accident. But broadcaster BR24 claims witnesses who say when police arrived they found the driver locked inside his car and that they fired shots into the vehicle.

Further, Bild claims police sources who told the tabloid the arrested man is a 26-year-old Afghan citizen.

Police have not said officially whether they are treating the collisions as a deliberate act or traffic accident, and whether the fact the crowd was a trades union gathering was a factor, but have confirmed they are investigating all leads. They have askes witnesses, and anyone with images or footage to come forward.

The incident, be it attack or accident, comes just hours before world leaders including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky among many others are due to arrive in the city for a major international conference, the Munich Security Conference.

Netanyahu holds security briefing in southern Israel as rocket fired from Gaza

In a recent closed meeting regarding ongoing hostage negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it unequivocally clear that military operations in Gaza would resume following any ceasefire agreement with Hamas. (Israeli Government Press Office via AP)

The briefing at the military headquarters in Beersheva was also attended by Defense Minister Israel Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, IDF Chief of Staff-Designate Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, OC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) chief Ronen Bar and other senior Israeli officials.

The security assessment at the Southern Command base lasted some four hours and focused on “the IDF’s operational plans for various scenarios,” a political source in Jerusalem told Hebrew media.

As the meeting got underway, Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired a rocket toward Israel, the IDF said. The projectile fell short inside the Strip, killing a 14-year-old Palestinian, according to initial reports.

The military shared surveillance footage apparently showing a rocket falling inside a densely populated area shortly after being launched.

“The rocket fell inside Gaza. The IDF is committed to fully implementing the conditions of the agreement for the return of the hostages,” it added.

In response to the attempted strike, IDF forces attacked the launch pad from where the attack originated, the IDF stated. Netanyahu and Katz reportedly green-lighted the army’s response at Southern Command.

‘A harsh and disproportionate response’

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, whose Religious Zionist Party has demanded that the Israeli government commit to resuming the war to dismantle Hamas following the first phase of the hostage deal, on Thursday night urged a “disproportionate response” to the attack.

“A rocket was launched from Gaza towards the State of Israel. Mr. Prime Minister, this is a testing moment,” Smotrich wrote in a statement on X.

“A moment for a harsh and disproportionate response that will make it clear that we are not returning to the [security] concept of October 6th,” he continued, referring to the notion that persisted in believing that the terrorist group was deterred before the massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023.

“And to those of you who are calling for an end to the war—wake up! Our duty to the citizens of Israel and the residents of the Gaza Envelope [border area] is to completely destroy Hamas,” he concluded.

The Israeli military is preparing to possibly resume fighting in Gaza following Hamas’s announcement on Monday that it would postpone releasing hostages in breach of its commitments under the truce deal.

Unless Hamas returns Israeli hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will expire and the IDF will resume fighting until total victory over Hamas, Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday.

His ultimatum followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who also named Saturday at noon as the time after which “all hell will break loose” unless the terror group releases all the hostages.

On Thursday, Hamas reportedly confirmed to Egypt its commitment to the terms of the deal, vowing to release three captives on Saturday. The release is reportedly contingent on Israel supplying caravans, tents, fuel, heavy equipment, medicines and hospital renovation materials to Gaza.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Israel asked mediators Qatar and Egypt to expedite the release of the remaining six live captives who are included in the 33 slated to be released during the first phase but are not expected to be among those three set to be freed Saturday.

According to the Journal report, which cited sources in Doha and Cairo, Jerusalem also told mediators it wants to expand the list of those set to be freed in the first phase beyond the 33 captives already agreed upon.

Senate Confirms Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Lead New Era in Restoring American Health

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is on his way to Make America Healthy Again.

The United States Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Thursday morning to lead the Department of Health and Human Services by a vote of 52 to 48.

Kennedy’s confirmation is a watershed moment in the federal government’s role in the health of the American people, likely the most significant development since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the face of waning Senate Republican recalcitrance to Trump, was the lone Republican voting against his nomination, joining 47 Democrats. He also opposed Trump’s now-confirmed choices to lead the Pentagon and Director of National Intelligence, Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard, respectively.

“Mr. Kennedy failed to prove he is the best possible person to lead America’s largest health agency,” McConnell said to cap a typical longwinded statement. “As he takes office, I sincerely hope Mr. Kennedy will choose not to sow further doubt and division but to restore trust in our public health institutions.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has ushered through Trump’s nominees at a historic clip, with Kennedy Trump’s sixteenth confirmed nominee.

By February 13, 2017, in Trump’s first administration, a GOP Senate – with McConnell as Majority Leader – had only confirmed eleven nominees, with the sixteenth nominee not coming until March 1.

And by that date in 2021, the Senate had only confirmed seven of President Joe Biden’s nominees, not reaching sixteen until March 10.

The Senate is likely to confirm Brooke Rollins as Agriculture Saturday later Thursday, which would mark the seventeenth of Trump’s nominees confirmed by the Senate.

Kennedy’s skepticism of the scientific consensus on vaccines led to initial skepticism of the viability of his nomination. But in private meetings with Senators and during his confirmation hearings, Kennedy assuaged those concerns.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a moderate who has often bucked Trump, expressed concerns with Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism but supported his nomination.

“While there is no dispute that the U.S. spends more per capita on healthcare than any other country, our health outcomes do not reflect this investment,” she said in a statement. “Instead of focusing on who covers our exorbitant healthcare costs, we need to reduce these costs by directing our attention to prevention and keeping people healthy.”

Murkowski cited Kennedy’s commitment to driving down healthcare costs and pursuing prevention as part of his appeal, as well as the groundswell of support from Alaskans who had contacted her office in support of the nomination.

“Chronic conditions are a significant source of illness and major drivers of public debt; he recognizes this and is committed to addressing it,” she said.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a medical doctor and another at-times Trump critic, was perhaps the key vote to ensuring Kennedy’s nomination.

As Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee tasked with reporting Kennedy’s nomination to the full Senate, Cassidy’s opposition almost certainly would have prevented Kennedy’s nomination from advancing to the floor. Cassidy and Kennedy held multiple private conversations, with Vice President JD Vance serving as a key intermediary and advocate for Kennedy.

Cassidy ultimately supported Kennedy in committee in a strict party line vote that referred Kennedy to the Senate by a single vote. Cassidy then supported Kennedy on the Senate floor.

“With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes,” Cassidy said in a statement before his vote.

 

Bradley Jaye is Deputy Political Editor for Breitbart News. Follow him on X/Twitter and Instagram @BradleyAJaye.

Could Canada Really Become the 51st Us State? Here’s What It Would Take

The flags of Canada and the United States fly outside a hotel in downtown Ottawa, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

(AP) — President Donald Trump has repeatedly said Canada should be the 51st U.S. state as he proposes erasing the 5,525-mile-long border that separates the countries and alleviating the need for tariffs he’s threatened against one of America’s top allies and trading partners.

The traditional Lower 48 states would become the contiguous 50 as the Canadian territory between the U.S. mainland and Alaska disappears, leaving Hawaii as the only noncontinental state.

“If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that they’d become a state,” Trump said recently.

Canada at first reacted as though Trump must be joking, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowing that his country will never be the 51st state.” But Trudeau more recently suggested behind closed doors of Trump’s sustained annexation calls: “It is a real thing.”

But is it? Really?

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Here’s a closer look:

What’s the process for adding a state?

Congress has to approve accepting a new state.

It takes only a House majority, but Senate filibuster rules require a minimum of 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to bring a bill to the floor — an insurmountable threshold for all kinds of key legislation.

The Constitution’s Admissions Clause, Article IV, Section 3, states: “New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.”

Any measure approving a new state that clears Congress would also have to be signed into law by the president — though Trump, a Republican, has made it clear he’d do so to admit Canada.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump ally, joked on X when all 50 states certified Trump’s Electoral College victory last month, “They skipped Canada. We’ll fix that next time!”

Still, no major legislation is advancing that would extend an invitation to statehood to America’s northern neighbor.

Doesn’t Canada have a say?
A territory’s residents don’t necessarily have to vote to join the United States.

There have been multiple past pathways to statehood — from the absorption of the 13 colonies under the Articles of Confederation, to Congress formally agreeing to Texas’ request to be annexed as the 28th state, but only after rejecting previous overtures from the then-republic.

However, most states were added after Congress accepted a petition from some territorial legislative body, which could include legislatures that Congress itself suggested forming as part of the process.

In practice, therefore, Canada would probably have to have a referendum to gauge voters’ interests in joining the U.S. before more detailed aspects of the process could begin — and the chances of passage don’t seem high.

While not addressing Canada as the 51st state directly, polling last year from Gallup and the Pew Research Center shows that Americans overwhelmingly have a positive view of Canada — and that while Canadians view the U.S. more positively than negatively, their view may be a little more muted.

Trump’s threats of tariffs have left Canadians feeling betrayed, and sports fans in Canada have begun voicing their displeasure by booing the U.S. national anthem at NBA and NHL games.

Of course, public opinion wouldn’t matter if the U.S. opted to invade Canada and annex it by force. Not even Trump is suggesting that, though he’s refused to rule out U.S. military force to seize back control of the Panama Canal.

How would adding Canada affect U.S. elections?
Profoundly — and that’s without speculating about whether a majority of Canadians might back Democrats or Republicans for president and in Congress.

If Canada were to join the U.S., its population of 41.6 million would make it the largest state, outpacing California’s 39.4 million residents. Canada would get two senators but also 55 House seats based on the average congressional district population following the 2020 U.S. census, which was 761,169 individuals.

That would make Canada the presidential race’s richest prize, with 57 Electoral College delegates — exceeding California’s 54.

The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, meanwhile, caps the number of House seats at 435, meaning that other state delegations would shrink to make room for the new Canadian members of the House — and, by extension, its delegates to the Electoral College.

Suddenly, make-or-break swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin may not look so important if there are tens of millions of Canucks waiting to be wooed with a presidential election on the line.

What about other potential new states?
Before Trump took office for his second term, debate around adding State No. 51 traditionally centered around Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth, and its voters have approved statehood in nonbinding referendums. Proposals to allow it become a state have repeatedly been introduced in Congress but not approved.

Washington, D.C., residents have voted in support of statehood and approved a state constitution and proposed boundaries. A bill admitting into the union the city as Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, passed the Democrat-controlled House as recently as 2021 but not the Senate.

Republicans now control both chambers, meaning they’ll likely oppose adding states that could be majority Democratic like Puerto Rico or D.C.

The nation’s capital gets three Electoral College votes for president under the Constitution’s 23rd Amendment, though it lacks voting representation in Congress. That’s why the Electoral College has 538 total delegates: 435 House members, 100 senators and three for D.C.

Trump has talked about the U.S. invading — or purchasing — Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. That’s despite Danish authorities insisting it isn’t for sale.

The president hasn’t said if Greenland could be a state, only that “I think we’re going to have it” and that the island’s roughly 57,000 residents “want to be with us.”

When was the last time the United States added a state?
Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, nearly 18 years after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

The island chain about 2,400 miles (3,900 kilometers) from the mainland United States was annexed as a U.S. territory by Congress in 1898, after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Many bills offering Hawaii statehood were subsequently introduced, but they stalled for decades amid racial discrimination and partisan disagreement.

By the early 1950s, Hawaii leaned Republican and Democrats opposed its admission to the union without including Alaska, which was seen as more favorable to their party.

Alaska, currently separated from the mainland U.S. by about 500 miles (800 kilometers) of Canadian territory, was eventually admitted as State No. 49 in January 1959. That opened the door for Congress to approve Hawaii’s statehood that March, and Hawaiians voted to join the union on Aug. 21, 1959.

Ironically, Alaska has backed Republicans in every presidential election except 1964, while Hawaii has voted Democratic every presidential cycle but 1972 and 1984.

VP Vance Visits the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance enter the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

(AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited the Dachau concentration camp memorial on Thursday, walking the solemn halls with a group that included a Holocaust survivor once held at the site of so much suffering and mass murder and experiencing firsthand a powerful symbol of World War II.

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The tour came amid an ongoing war in Europe in which Vance is serving as a key conduit for the Trump administration. The vice president on Friday has critical talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A light rain and sleet mix fell as the vice president and his wife, Usha Vance, spoke to a group of dignitaries near one of the concentration camp’s gates. The couple then listened intently to details about the camp from its director and other museum officials. Among those participating was from Abba Naor, a Holocaust survivor who was held at Dachau.

The second couple, holding hands, eventually moved inside and to a long concrete room in front a large map plotting concentration camps. The area was Dachau’s administrative room.

 

They next saw the intake room, where those interred arrived at the camp. It included a series of museum cases filled with personal belongings of those who were held there, like watches and government ID cards.

 

“That’s where you started?” Vance said to Naor.

Both Joe Biden, during the administration of President Barack Obama, and Mike Pence, in Trump’s first term, also visited the Dachau memorial as vice presidents.

Vance laid a wreath with a red, white and blue ribbon stenciled with “We remember” and “United States of America” embossed in gold lettering at a large sculpture known as the International Monument. Inaugurated in 1968, the monument was designed by Nandor Glid, who was persecuted as a Jew by the Nazis in his home country Yugoslavia and joined the resistance to Nazi occupation forces.

Dachau was established in 1933, the year Hitler took power, as one of the first concentration camps. More than 200,000 people from across Europe were held at the camp, and more than 40,000 prisoners died there in horrendous conditions. U.S. soldiers completed the liberation on April 29, 1945.

Vance, a Republican, is on a five-day visit to France and Germany, his first overseas travel since becoming vice president last month.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, with their children Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel, wave as they arrive at the Munich airport, in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance arrive to visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

 

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance enter the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

 

U.S. Vice President JD Vance enters the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance enter the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, at left, visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, 3rd right, and second lady Usha Vance, 2nd left, visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

 

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance are shown a picture of a prisoner during a visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, center, visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance enters the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Judicial Crisis in Israel: Supreme Court Inauguration Threatened by Political and Legal Standoff

Judicial Crisis in Israel: Supreme Court Inauguration Threatened by Political and Legal Standoff

Edited by: TJVNews.com

A significant political and legal storm is brewing in Israel as the country prepares for the official inauguration of Justice Yitzhak Amit as President of the Supreme Court. The grand ceremony, scheduled for Thursday evening at the President’s Residence, is now at the center of a growing constitutional crisis. As previously reported by VIN News, key figures in the Israeli government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, are set to boycott the event in protest against Amit’s appointment process. This decision underscores deep political and ideological divisions surrounding judicial authority in Israel.

According to VIN News, the root of this conflict lies in recent investigations into potential judicial conflicts of interest involving Justice Amit. Justice Minister Levin has openly rejected the legitimacy of Amit’s appointment, a stance that aligns with the broader efforts by right-wing factions to reform Israel’s judiciary. Levin’s refusal to recognize Amit’s ascension to the court’s top position is a direct challenge to the established judicial selection process, further complicating an already contentious legal landscape.

Adding to the complexity, there remains a significant legal obstacle that could potentially derail Amit’s appointment. As stipulated under Section 12 of Basic Law: The President, any official document signed by the President of Israel requires a countersignature from the Prime Minister or a designated minister. As reported by VIN News, Prime Minister Netanyahu is seriously considering withholding his signature on Amit’s appointment, a move that could effectively block the transition of power within the judiciary. No other minister has been authorized to sign in his stead, leaving the appointment in a state of legal limbo.

Justice Minister Levin, who holds partial authority in the matter, is also expected to refuse to provide his signature, further exacerbating the impasse. As noted by VIN News, this situation may force proponents of Amit’s appointment to seek judicial intervention, potentially petitioning the Supreme Court to compel the government to fulfill its procedural obligations. Such a petition would add another chapter to the ongoing power struggle between the executive and judicial branches.

Legal experts cited by VIN News suggest that if Netanyahu refuses to sign the appointment, an alternative strategy may involve bypassing the countersignature requirement by publishing Amit’s appointment in Israel’s official government records. Under this approach, the appointment could gain legal standing despite the absence of executive approval. However, such a maneuver would likely provoke immediate backlash from right-wing organizations, who may then petition the Supreme Court to invalidate the move based on its procedural irregularities.

Conversely, if Amit’s appointment is not published in the official records, legal challenges are expected to be filed against Netanyahu or any other responsible minister, seeking to compel them to sign the document. As VIN News highlights, this would likely escalate into a full-scale constitutional confrontation, further destabilizing Israel’s already precarious political and judicial equilibrium.

This unfolding crisis marks yet another significant clash between Israel’s executive and judicial branches, reinforcing the deep-seated tensions that have characterized the country’s ongoing constitutional crisis. The outcome of this battle will not only shape the immediate future of the Supreme Court’s leadership but could also have lasting implications for Israel’s judicial independence and the broader balance of power within the state.

As the situation continues to develop, the legal and political ramifications of this standoff will be closely watched by both domestic and international observers. The next steps taken by Netanyahu, Levin, and the judiciary will determine whether Israel’s democratic institutions can withstand yet another test in an era of deep political division.

The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Intelligence Reports Indicate Israel is Weighing Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites

The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Intelligence Reports Indicate Israel is Weighing Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a recent intelligence assessment conducted during the final days of the Biden administration, U.S. agencies concluded that Israel is seriously contemplating military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities within the year, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report suggests that Israel perceives a unique strategic opportunity to act against Tehran, given Iran’s weakened position following a series of military setbacks.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the intelligence report was finalized around the New Year, as President Biden’s administration prepared for the transition of power. Analysts within the intelligence community warned of the potential for an escalation in military hostilities in the Middle East, particularly in light of Iran’s degraded capabilities over the past year. These findings highlight Israel’s ongoing concern about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its apparent determination to take preemptive action.

Officials familiar with the intelligence assessment told The Wall Street Journal that Israel is expected to seek backing from the Trump administration, believing that the new president would be more inclined to support military action than his predecessor. Israeli officials reportedly fear that the window for preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon is closing, and they see Trump as a more likely ally in a decisive strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

A subsequent report, produced by U.S. intelligence agencies and delivered during the initial days of Trump’s administration, reaffirmed the conclusion that Israel is weighing direct military action against Iran’s nuclear sites, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report highlights the challenges Israel faces in executing such a mission and the likely necessity of U.S. military support. Given the complexity and fortification of Iran’s nuclear facilities, American munitions and logistical assistance would be critical to a successful Israeli strike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has not responded to The Wall Street Journal’s requests for comment, and the Israeli military has also remained silent on the matter. However, Israeli leaders have repeatedly hinted at the possibility of increased military action against Iran. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated in November that “Iran is more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities,” emphasizing that the Israeli government views this as a rare opportunity to neutralize what it considers an existential threat.

Iran, which has historically threatened retaliation against any military action targeting its nuclear program, has been significantly weakened following Israel’s strikes on its conventional military sites last year, The Wall Street Journal reports. Additionally, Iran’s regional allies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, have suffered substantial losses, further limiting Tehran’s ability to respond effectively to potential Israeli attacks.

During the presidential transition, some members of Trump’s team reportedly considered the feasibility of an Israeli-led strike, even discussing the possibility of U.S. forces participating in a coordinated bombing campaign, The Wall Street Journal revealed. However, now that he is in office, Trump has signaled a preference for diplomacy over military escalation. He has reimposed his previous “maximum pressure” strategy on Iran and has left open the possibility of supporting Israeli strikes if negotiations with Tehran fail.

Despite widespread speculation, Trump took to Truth Social to downplay fears of imminent conflict. The Wall Street Journal notes that in a recent post, he wrote, “Reports that the United States, working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereens, ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED.” Nonetheless, his administration’s policies indicate a tougher stance on Iran, and military action remains an option if diplomatic efforts falter.

When contacted by The Wall Street Journal, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the matter. Similarly, a National Security Council spokesman stated that the administration does not discuss intelligence matters publicly. These refusals to comment leave open the question of how the U.S. might respond if Israel does proceed with its plans.

Meanwhile, Tehran has been signaling its willingness to engage in diplomatic discussions. The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran’s foreign minister recently stated on state television that his country is open to negotiations with Washington. “If the main obstacle for the U.S. is Iran pursuing nuclear weapons, then that can be resolved,” he said, reiterating Iran’s official stance that it does not seek nuclear arms.

As tensions continue to simmer, The Wall Street Journal’s reporting illustrates the precarious nature of the situation. Whether Israel will ultimately proceed with a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities remains uncertain, but the intelligence assessments and strategic calculations at play suggest that 2025 could be a pivotal year for Middle Eastern stability.

Hollywood’s Jews hates Jews – opinion

iStock

By Daniel Greenfield, Frontpage Magazine

“I’ve had someone say to me, ‘Let’s not forget what Hollywood is made up of. Be careful,’” Guy Pearce told a Jewish writer at Vanity Fair in response to a question about his attacks on Israel.

In an industry where talent has been cancelled for the most minor perceived offenses against political correctness, Pearce’s remarks went unnoticed and he was rewarded with an Oscar nomination for playing an antisemite both on screen in The Brutalist and in real life.

Contrast that with the backlash against ‘Karla Sofia’ Gascon, a transgender man starring in Emilia Perez, the Oscar frontrunner, over old Spanish-language tweets speaking out against Black Lives Matter and Islam, which he has already apologized for several times.

Pearce’s friend was wrong. He had nothing to worry about from Hollywood. Jews however have plenty to worry about from Hollywood as the Oscar nominations once again show.

The Brutalist, a fictional exploitation of an equally fictional Holocaust survivor oppressed by American capitalism and racism, has received ten nominations. Brady Corbet, who wrote, directed and produced the movie, is non-Jewish and has promoted an anti-Israel documentary.

Like last year’s nominee, Zone of Interest, the movie exploits the Holocaust to score points against America. Most current Holocaust movies see Jews as vehicles for leftist agitprop by non-Jewish liberals or Jews like Zone’s director Jonathan Glazer or A Royal Pain’s star Jesse Eisenberg who symbolically shed their Jewishness as part of their promotional campaigns.

“We stand here as men who refute their Jewishness,” Glazer had declared at the Oscars last year. Jesse Eisenberg, whose movie’s depiction of the Polish role in the killing of Jews borders on Holocaust denial, told Bill Maher that he had obtained dual citizenship in Poland.

Pro-Hamas Columbia law professor shown the door
“A lot of American Jews of Polish descent, you know, have this kind of like negative attitude towards Poland that Oh, it’s anti-Semitic,” Eisenberg complained.

The symbolic shedding of Jewishness, the criticism of Jews and the embrace of antisemites has become an almost mandatory ritual in an industry formerly created by Jews, but where it is trendy to despise Jews and career suicide to stand up for them.

“From ‘A Real Pain’ to ‘The Brutalist’ and beyond, Jewish movies were everywhere in 2024. What does it mean?” the JTA asked. What it means is that these movies aren’t Jewish. They are the work of people who hate Jews and Jews who hate themselves.

Two years after life fundamentally changed for Israeli and American Jews, the industry continues to roll out highly fictionalized prestige Holocaust movies and neurotic shlock about Jewish hipster losers.

Only one movie, September 5, the story of the media coverage of the Munich massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes, dealt with anything remotely relevant to Jews in the present day.

And it was limited to one Oscar nomination.

The Academy Awards did not choose to recognize any of the documentaries about Oct 7, but did nominate, No Other Land, an anti-Israel agitprop doc also promoted by Brutalist’s Corbet.

It would be tempting to pretend that this is a recent problem, but it’s an old Hollywood tale.

The Pawnbroker, a 1964 Oscar nominated movie about a Holocaust survivor, featured a grotesque antisemitic stereotype played by Rod Steiger and ripped from the pages of Der Sturmer whose experiences in the Holocaust have made him selfish and miserable, exploiting minorities for money, until he is finally redeemed by unselfishly coming to care for them.

Call it a liberal Christmas Carol parable for Holocaust survivors who needed to get over it. The New York Times compared the movie’s Jewish Holocaust survivor protagonist, to “the somber shadow of the legendary, ageless Wandering Jew… who taunted Jesus on the way to Calvary and was condemned to roam the world a lonely outcast until Jesus should come again.”

The Pawnbroker and Nazi propaganda shared the conviction that Jews were horrible people, where they differed was the idea that liberalism could redeem the Jews from damnation.

Understand that and you also understand Glazer, Eisenberg, Hollywood and the pathologies of Jewish liberalism which came to welcome any taunt and act of contempt from the Left.

Jews created Hollywood and were disproportionately responsible for its golden age. They could bring legends to life, invent gangsters, swoosh heroes across the screen, and even make iconic Christmas movies, but the one thing they could not do was talk about themselves.

After the Holocaust, two movies about antisemitism fought it out at the 20th Academy Awards.

Gentleman’s Agreement made by Darryl Zanuck, who was not Jewish, after being barred from joining the Los Angeles Country Club because members assumed he was Jewish.

Gregory Peck serves as Zanuck’s much more handsome stand-in as a non-Jewish man whose life falls apart when people start believing that he is Jewish. The movie was sympathetically directed by Elia Kazan, another non-Jewish Hollywood figure who was also often mistaken for Jewish.

Jewish studio heads, including Sam Goldwyn, had pleaded with Zanuck not to make the movie to avoid causing problems for Jews. Instead it won a bunch of awards and everyone agreed that now that it was done with, Hollywood never needed to talk about Jews or antisemitism again.

Up against it was Crossfire, a much more baffling movie about an antisemitic murder, whose plot only makes sense if you understand that it was originally about gay men in the closet.

You can see why the saving grace of Hollywood was that it didn’t make movies about Jews.

Holocaust movies safely boxed off the Jews as hollow figures, convenient victims on stage to provide commentary about some larger social or political issue, a handful of Zionist movies that quickly came and went in the sixties, and then a parade of neurotic postmodern creeps.

Hollywood’s Jews don’t like being Jewish. And so they don’t like Jews very much. Their idea of a Jewish character is a neurotic, because they’re neurotic, and grotesque because they see Jews as grotesque.

The handful of Jewish talent who defy the Hollywood establishment and stand up for Jewish issues, Ben Hecht during the Holocaust, and Debra Messing, Julianna Margulies and Selma Blair after Oct 7, damage their careers while the ‘Guy Pearces’ flourish.

Jews showing up in Hollywood movies is rarely something to celebrate. And the Oscars will invariably dole out some awards to The Brutalist or A Real  Pain whose awardees will use their moment in the spotlight to denounce the Jewish State.

The Hollywood Jews who couldn’t bother to be heard after Oct 7, or to even stand up for the handful of their colleagues, Jewish (and non-Jewish like Patricia Heaton), will applaud and help fund the next horrible ‘Jewish’ movie.

Hollywood would rather that Jews not exist. Jews should return the favor.

Trump Calls for Department of Education to Be ‘Closed Immediately’

President Trump suggested on Tuesday that the United States could take direct ownership of Gaza and oversee its reconstruction, a dramatic shift in U.S. policy that would fundamentally alter the region’s geopolitical landscape. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Elizabeth Weibel (Breitbart)

President Donald Trump expressed that he wants the Department of Education to be “closed immediately,” describing it as a “big con job.”

When asked by a reporter how soon Trump wanted the Department of Education to be closed, Trump criticized how the United States education system was ranked 40th compared to other countries but ranked number one in terms of “costs per pupil.”

“Oh, I’d like it to be closed immediately,” Trump answered. “Look, the Department of Education is a big con job. We’re ranked — so they ranked the top forty countries in the world. We’re ranked number 40th, but we’re ranked number one in one department, costs per pupil. So, we spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, but we’re ranked number 40. We’ve been between 38 and 40, the last time I looked it was 38 and then I looked two days ago … it came out at number 40.”

“Norway, Denmark, Sweden, I hate to say it — China, as big as it is, it’s ranked in the top five,” Trump continued. “That’s a primary competitor. We’re ranked number 40 — so, if we’re ranked number 40, that means something’s really wrong, right?”

Trump continued to state that the United States government should send education back down to states, “I say send it back to Iowa, to Idaho, to Colorado.”

“We probably have 35, maybe 37 states that will do as well as Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden,” Trump added. “They’ll be just as good.”

Trump has previously stated he wants to close the Department of Education and move education back into the hands of the states.

Breitbart News’s Nick Gilbertson previously reported that Trump recently suggested that he would task Linda McMahon, his nominee to lead the Department of Education, to wind the department down and “put herself out of a job.”

“What I want to do is let the states run schools,” Trump said in response to a reporter asking why he had appointed McMahon to lead the Department of Education if he wants to get rid of it. “I believe strongly in school choice, but in addition to that, I want the states to run schools, and I want Linda to put herself out of a job.”

Kristi Noem: I ‘Clawed Back’ Full Payment FEMA Gave to NYC Migrant Hotels

Secretary of Homeland Security: Gov Kristi Noem of South Dakota. Credit: AP

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said on Wednesday that she “clawed back” the full payment made by FEMA for hotels to house migrants in New York City, days after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced the discovery of a $59 million payment made last week.

“I have clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists unilaterally gave to NYC migrant hotels,” Noem announced on Wednesday, noting that FEMA was actively funding the Roosevelt Hotel “that serves as a Tren de Aragua base of operations and was used to house Laken Riley’s killer.”

An immigrant family show their paperwork to security guards at the Roosevelt Hotel, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

“Mark my words: there will not be a single penny spent that goes against the interest and safety of the American people,” she vowed.

Her announcement came on the heels of Elon Musk, heading up DOGE efforts, announcing that they discovered a $59 million payment made last week to luxury hotels in the Big Apple, all with the purpose of housing migrants.

“Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order,” Musk wrote.

FEMA remains under fire for the way it operated under former President Joe Biden’s leadership, not only discriminating against Trump supporters — being told to avoid hurricane victims with Trump signs in their yards — but also mismanaging funds. This came to a head after former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said last fall that FEMA did not have the funds to make it through the remainder of hurricane season. At the same time, $640 million was allotted to DHS specifically for issues related to illegal immigrants, as Breitbart News reported.

 

 

On Wednesday, Noem’s DHS confirmed FEMA is terminating the four employees — FEMA’s Chief Financial Officer, two program analysts, as well as a grant specialist — who circumvented leadership and made the payments for migrant housing.

“Effective immediately, FEMA is terminating the employment of four individuals for circumventing leadership to unilaterally make egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants,” DHS’s Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS will not sit idly and allow deep state activists to undermine the will and safety of the American people,” McLaughlin added.

Pam Bondi Announces Legal Action Against New York for Providing Drivers Licenses to Illegal Aliens

Wendell Husebo (Breitbart)

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Thursday the Justice Department has taken legal action against Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder over Nee York issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.

The actions are in step with President Donald Trump’s pledge to restore law and order throughout the nation.

Bondi said during a brief press conference that the lawsuits target a “green light law” that permits illegal aliens to obtain driver’s licenses in New York.

“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today. We’re here today because we have filed charges against this,” she said. “Violent criminals, gang members, drug traffickers, human smugglers will no longer terrorize the American people.”

Bondi previously sued Illinois and Chicago to invalidate the state and city’s sanctuary city policies.

“As you know, we see Illinois and New York didn’t listen. So now you’re next,” she said. 

“We did it to Illinois. Strike one. Strike two is New York, and if you’re a state not complying with federal law? You’re next,” Bondi said.

“This is a new DOJ, and we are taking steps to protect Americans, American citizens, and Angel moms, like the mom standing right behind me, who you’re going to hear from in a moment,” she added.

Bondi’s reference to “Angel moms” was in relation to Angel Mom Tammy Nobles, who says an illegal MS-13 gang member murdered her daughter, 20-year-old Kayla Marie Hamilton, last year in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Wendell Husebo is a political reporter with Breitbart News and a former RNC War Room Analyst. He is the author of Politics of Slave Morality. Follow Wendell on “X” @WendellHusebø or on Truth Social @WendellHusebo.