Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt launched a direct attack on former First Lady Jill Biden on Thursday, accusing her of actively covering up former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and calling for her to face questioning over what she knew and when. The bombshell moment came in response to a pointed question from Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, who noted that some Biden aides are now in discussions with congressional Republicans to provide transcribed interviews about how they managed concerns over the president’s health. Doocy asked if the president believed such interviews were sufficient — or whether former First Lady Jill Biden should also testify. Leavitt didn’t hold back.

Federal authorities are investigating a sophisticated impersonation scheme targeting White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. An unidentified individual or group accessed Wiles’ personal cellphone contacts and used that information to impersonate her, reaching out to high-profile officials and business leaders. The impersonator contacted senators, governors, and top executives via text messages and phone calls, some of which featured a voice resembling Wiles. Officials suspect that artificial intelligence was employed to mimic her voice. Recipients reported that the messages originated from unfamiliar numbers and included requests to continue conversations on alternative platforms like Telegram.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have announced plans to target civilian aircraft belonging to Israeli airlines, including El Al, in what could mark a dangerous new phase in the Yemeni group’s ongoing assault on Israel. The warning, issued through Lebanon’s Hezbollah-aligned Al-Akhbar newspaper, follows Israel’s airstrike on Sanaa International Airport earlier this week. The targeted strike reportedly destroyed the last operational Houthi aircraft, a move that Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said eliminatec the group’s remaining air capabilities. But the Houthis aren’t backing down—in fact, they’re upping the ante.

Seven weeks into nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, Israel is voicing escalating concerns that President Donald Trump’s administration may accept a deal that fails to eliminate Tehran’s uranium enrichment capabilities, potentially leaving Israel vulnerable to a nuclear-armed adversary. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia has privately urged Iran to engage seriously with the U.S. proposal, warning that failure to do so could risk a military confrontation with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly cautioned that a “bad deal is worse than no deal,” emphasizing that any agreement permitting Iran to retain enrichment capabilities would be unacceptable.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman THE CENTRAL QUESTION There is a question that a number of people ask: If staying up all night kills one’s Torah learning schedule, should one do it anyway?

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman 1:1 It happened during the time when judges ruled the land. This was before Shaul HaMelech became king, when the people were governed by judges.

Hamas has rejected a U.S.-proposed ceasefire and hostage release deal, which Israel had accepted, further complicating efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The proposal, mediated by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in coordination with Egypt and Qatar, offered a 60-day truce, the release of 10 living Israeli hostages in two phases, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Hamas’s refusal, citing demands for a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, has drawn criticism from Israeli officials who note that it prioritizes the group’s political survival over peace. The deal, discussed in Doha, included the release of 10 living hostages, starting with five on the first day and five on the seventh, alongside the remains of 16 deceased hostages.

Bernard B. Kerik, the former New York City Police Commissioner who gained national prominence for his leadership during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, passed away on Thursday at the age of 69. His death was announced by FBI Director Kash Patel, who said that Kerik succumbed to a cardiac illness after a private battle. Born on September 4, 1955, in Newark, New Jersey, Bernard Bailey Kerik rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most recognized figures in American law enforcement. Growing up in a working-class family, Kerik faced early challenges, including a troubled childhood marked by his mother’s struggles with alcoholism and his parents’ separation. He later chronicled these experiences in his 2001 memoir, The Lost Son: A Life in Pursuit of Justice.

Remormul

A new study published Tuesday reveals a troubling decline in the mental and physical health of mothers in the United States, with only about one in four moms reporting “excellent” mental health. The research, detailed in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine, highlights a 63% increase in mothers reporting fair or poor mental health from 2016 to 2023, underscoring a growing public health concern. The study, which analyzed self-reported health trends among female parents, found that just 25% of U.S. moms rated their mental health as excellent, a sharp drop from previous years.