U.S. intelligence efforts into the roots of the COVID-19 pandemic are moving forward through a special unit known as the Directors Initiative Group, which has been tasked with digging into a number of President Donald Trump’s high-priority national security concerns, according to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
During an appearance on “The Megyn Kelly Show” on SiriusXM Wednesday, Gabbard revealed that this task force is working closely with NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Their investigation includes scrutiny of gain-of-function experiments, particularly those tied to China and other nations. She noted that findings from the inquiry may be disclosed shortly.

Demonstrators associated with the organization “Free Jerusalem” staged a provocative protest outside the Knesset on Thursday, lining the area near the iconic menorah with lifeless-looking effigies splattered in red to mimic blood. The action was meant to signal their opposition to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, the group said in a post on X.
“Independence celebrated on the blood of tens of thousands of people in is not independence,” the group stated.
The protest installation was accompanied by provocative placards bearing inflammatory messages, including “Celebrating 77 years of Jewish supremacy and ethnic cleansing” and “Isolate Israel! Stop the genocide.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is making history by taking on an unprecedented dual role at the highest levels of American foreign policy. He will be the first individual since Henry Kissinger to simultaneously serve as both secretary of State and national security adviser.
While several notable figures, such as Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, have filled both positions at different points in their careers, none have held both posts at once—until now.
President Trump revealed on Thursday that Rubio would step in as national security adviser on a temporary basis. This announcement followed the dismissal of Mike Waltz from the position and his subsequent nomination by Trump to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana didn’t hold back in a Fox News interview, launching a scathing verbal attack against Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Kennedy took aim at her style and substance, using colorful language to express his disdain.
“As I’ve said before, she’s entitled to her opinions. You know, my personal opinion is that God gave her a billy goat brain and a mockingbird mouth, you know,” Kennedy remarked during his appearance on Fox.

The Kremlin has responded to the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal.
According to a New York Post report, the Kremlin unloaded on the U.S. and Ukraine on Thursday after the two countries finalized a deal for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.
A deal that gives the U.S. a vested interest in the war’s outcome.
“Trump has finally pressured the Kiev regime to pay for US aid with mineral resources,” Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Telegram. “Now, the country that is about to disappear will have to use its national wealth to pay for military supplies.”
From The New York Post:

King Charles III of the United Kingdom reached out to Israeli President Isaac Herzog with a personal letter marking Israel’s 77th year of independence, extending his good wishes and expressing concern for those still held captive in Gaza.
The message opened warmly: “My wife and I wanted to send Your Excellency and the people of The State of Israel our congratulations on the auspicious occasion of your seventy-seventh Independence Day.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu made waves on Thursday when he emphasized that achieving “victory” over Hamas remains the paramount aim of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, even above securing the release of hostages still held captive. The remark drew immediate and fierce backlash from the families of those abducted.
This development comes as relatives of the hostages have recently accused Netanyahu of derailing potential negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. They also claim he is keeping them in the dark regarding the fate of the remaining 59 hostages believed to be in Gaza.

Polling data from John Zogby Strategies offers an early snapshot of the 2028 presidential race, with Independent Senator Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump Jr. emerging as the current front-runners in their respective political parties.
During an appearance on Newsmax’s “Greg Kelly Reports,” pollster John Zogby discussed the newly released findings, shedding light on early voter sentiment heading into the next presidential cycle.

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, who was in Los Angeles for the past two and a half months following a complex surgery, departed last night on a private jet bound for Switzerland, where he will be staying for a period of rest and recuperation.
The Rebbe took off from Los Angeles at 10:45 p.m. local time on Wednesday night, en route to Davos, where he is expected to remain for ten days.
Barring any changes, the Rebbe is scheduled to return to Eretz Yisroel at the start of the week of Lag BaOmer.

A group of 23 U.S. lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, headed by Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Don Bacon of Nebraska, sent a letter to Wikipedia CEO Maryana Iskander demanding answers about how the site plans to uphold its editorial standards, crack down on bias among its editors, and stop antisemitic and pro-terror material from appearing in its articles.
The members of Congress highlighted Wikipedia’s far-reaching impact, despite being a freely editable, user-driven platform. With millions relying on its entries for information—and its content serving as a source for search engines and artificial intelligence tools—they underscored the site’s unique power to shape public perception.