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Netanyahu Slams McCain Over Gaza Hunger Claims

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back Friday against World Food Program chief Cindy McCain, accusing her of misrepresenting conditions in Gaza after she claimed civilians are “starving.”

Netanyahu said McCain acknowledged during a meeting in Jerusalem this week with him and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that the situation had improved significantly since Israel increased humanitarian shipments into Gaza. According to Netanyahu’s office, McCain admitted that food was available, prices had dropped, and markets were showing sufficient supplies.

“She said that during her recent visit to Gaza, she saw a dramatic improvement,” the statement read. “It is regrettable that Mrs. McCain has since issued statements contradicting what she told us in Jerusalem. That is a misrepresentation.”

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel continues to enable a steady flow of aid while Hamas seizes and resells shipments at inflated prices. He argued that the real victims of deliberate starvation are Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.

The prime minister also called on the World Food Program to work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed initiative ensuring aid reaches civilians rather than being diverted by Hamas.

This is not the first clash between McCain and Israel. In December 2024, she falsely claimed only two food trucks had entered Gaza in the previous month, when Israeli authorities documented 847.

Israel has long contended that Hamas manipulates humanitarian aid as a weapon, stealing supplies for its fighters while blaming Israel for shortages. Netanyahu’s remarks highlight ongoing tensions between humanitarian organizations and Israel’s efforts to balance aid delivery with preventing Hamas exploitation.

Neil Young Bashes Trump with Anti-National Guard Protest Song

(Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Aging left-wing rocker Neil Young has released a new anti-Trump protest song attacking President Donald Trump’s “Make America Safe Again” campaign, even as crime in Washington, D.C. has dropped significantly under Trump’s crackdown.

The song, titled “Big Crime,” portrays Trump as a “fascist” and denounces his use of the National Guard to restore order in the nation’s capital. Young sings, “There’s big crime in D.C. at the White House,” before calling Trump a criminal and blasting soldiers on city streets. The track also mocks Trump’s iconic slogan with the line, “No more great again.”

Young reportedly performed the song live at a concert in Chicago, framing Trump’s deployment of federal forces as authoritarian. Yet the claims in his song stand in sharp contrast to reality on the ground. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, publicly thanked Trump this week for his efforts, crediting the National Guard and law enforcement surge with reducing crime and making “neighborhoods feel safer.”

The 79-year-old rocker has made attacking Trump a recurring theme. Earlier this year, Young went so far as to post “86/47” on his website, a veiled reference to assassinating the 45th and 47th president. He previously aligned himself with socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during their “Oligarchy Tour,” and claimed Trump would jail him for his opposition.

Despite his rhetoric, crime statistics and local leadership confirm Trump’s crackdown has delivered real results for D.C. residents. For Young, however, facts appear to matter less than feeding his decades-long protest persona.

U.S. Approves Ukraine Munitions Package

Karollyne Videira Hubert/ Unsplash

The United States approved a potential munitions deal with Ukraine that includes extended-range missiles and other equipment to use in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Under the $825 million deal, Ukraine will purchase 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles and 3,350 Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) (EGI) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM), Y-Code, or M-Code, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) explained.

Other materials to be included in the deal are: missile containers; stoker pylons; component parts and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapons software and support equipment; mission planning system hardware; classified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; transportation support; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support,” as per a list shared by the agency.

The proposed sale will support “foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the DSCA added.

Ukraine’s funding for the deal will come from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, as well as Foreign Military Financing from the United States.

This month, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark pledged to pay $500 million to an effort to provide U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine. The countries are the first to finance the military package under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List (PURL) initiative. Norway is to provide $135 million, Sweden will contribute $275 million, and Denmark will provide $90 million for the effort.

IDF Recovers Israeli Hostages’ Bodies from Gaza

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Friday that it had recovered the bodies of two Israeli hostages from Gaza during a complex operation against Hamas.

One of the victims was identified as Ilan Weiss, 55, of Kibbutz Be’eri, who was murdered and abducted from his home during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 terrorist massacre. His wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were also kidnapped that day but were released in November 2023 as part of a hostage deal. The second body has not yet been formally identified.

The IDF said the recovery was the result of “precise intelligence” and was carried out with the cooperation of the Southern Command, the Intelligence Directorate, the Shin Bet, and special forces units. Following the operation, the remains were transferred to the National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification. Families of both victims have been notified.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered condolences to the Weiss family and others affected. “Together with all citizens of Israel, my wife and I convey our heartfelt condolences to the dear families and share in their deep sorrow,” he said. Netanyahu praised IDF forces for their “determination and bravery.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also urged global action, declaring: “The world must show moral clarity, apply pressure, and act for the immediate release of all the hostages. We will not rest until every one of them is brought home, the living to the loving embrace of their families, and the fallen to be laid to rest in dignity.”

According to Israeli officials, 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with roughly 20 believed to still be alive. The IDF has vowed to continue operations to bring every captive home.

Ford Brake Fluid Recall Hits 500,000 Vehicles

Ford Vehicle (Nadine Shaabana/Unsplash)

Ford Motor Company announced a massive recall of nearly 500,000 vehicles across the U.S. due to a potentially dangerous brake fluid issue. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed Thursday that a ruptured brake hose could lead to leaks, increasing stopping distances and raising the risk of crashes.

The recall impacts Ford Edge SUVs from model years 2015 to 2018 and Lincoln MKX luxury vehicles from 2016 to 2018. Federal safety regulators estimate about one percent of the recalled vehicles have the defect.

Ford warned dealers that drivers may notice a longer brake pedal travel or an illuminated brake fluid warning light if the issue develops. “An increase in stopping distance increases the risk of a crash,” the company wrote in a letter cited by CBS News. Despite the risks, Ford said there have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the defect.

The company also announced two additional recalls: more than 213,000 vehicles for faulty tail lights and another 100,900 over airbags at risk of tearing during deployment.

This latest action follows a series of recalls hitting Ford in recent months. In 2024, the automaker recalled over 90,000 vehicles due to engine valve issues and more than 272,000 vehicles in January for battery problems. Earlier this summer, Ford pulled nearly 200,000 Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles from the market over defective door locks that could trap passengers inside.

The recalls come as Ford faces mounting financial struggles, including a reported $5.1 billion loss in its electric vehicle and software division last year. The company has struggled to reassure consumers about the reliability of its EVs while continuing to face mechanical safety concerns in its traditional gas-powered fleet.

Pixar Writer Defends Lightyear Lesbian Kiss Scene

Disney+ website on computer screen (American Faith Media)

Lauren Gunderson, one of the credited writers on Pixar’s Lightyear, defended the film’s controversial lesbian kiss after rapper Snoop Dogg expressed discomfort over the scene appearing in a children’s movie.

Speaking on the It’s Giving podcast, Snoop recalled watching Lightyear with his grandchild when the moment appeared. “Oh shit, I didn’t come in for this shit. I just came to watch the goddamn movie,” he said. “It fucked me up. I’m, like, scared to go to the movies now. Y’all throwing me in the middle of shit that I don’t have an answer for.” He added, “These are kids. We have to show that at this age? They’re going to ask questions. I don’t have the answer.”

In response, Gunderson revealed on Instagram that she was the original writer who created the lesbian couple. “So. I created the Lightyear lesbians,” she wrote. “As we wrote early versions of what became Lightyear, a key character needed a partner, and it was so natural to write ‘she’ instead of ‘he.’ As small as that detail is in the film, I knew the representational effect it could have. Small line, big deal. I was elated that they kept it. I’m proud of it. To infinity. Love is love.”

Gunderson acknowledged she had little involvement in the final script but expressed pride in seeing a “happy queer couple” included, even briefly.

Released in 2022, Lightyear flopped at the box office, grossing just $226 million worldwide against a $200 million production budget, plus marketing. The film’s poor performance was widely seen as an early sign of Disney’s decline, leading to then-CEO Bob Chapek’s ouster and major corporate layoffs.

Snoop Dogg’s remarks sparked debate, with some labeling him homophobic. However, others backed his concerns, including The Breakfast Club hosts. DJ Envy agreed, saying, “I don’t want to have to explain any of this in a cartoon … whether it’s gay [or] hetero as well.” Charlamagne tha God added, “I’m just trying to watch a movie. Now I got to Google this later and explain to my kids.”

White House Backpedals Chinese Visa Comments

china
Photo by Thomas Peter-Pool/Getty Images

The White House issued a statement to clarify President Donald Trump’s statements on Chinese visas.

This week, Trump told reporters, “We’re going to get along good with China. I hear so many stories about, ‘We’re not going to allow their students.’ We’re going to allow their students to come in. We’re going to allow it. It’s very important — 600,000 students. It’s very important.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later told Laura Ingraham that without the Chinese students, the “bottom 15 percent of universities and colleges would go out of business in America” because fewer U.S. students would attend.

Amid backlash from the statement, the White House said, “President Trump isn’t proposing an increase in student visas for Chinese students. The 600K references two years’ worth of visas. It’s simply a continuation of existing policy.”

“It’s very insulting to say students can’t come here,” Trump later said during a Cabinet meeting. “I like that their students come here. I like that other countries’ students come here.”

In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department was working to remove Chinese students’ visas.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

Illegal Venezuelan Fugitive Arrested in Texas After Release

Texas
Texas Flag (Joshua J. Cotten/Unsplash)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Texas arrested a Venezuelan illegal alien wanted in his home country for torturing and attempting to murder a woman. The fugitive, 31-year-old Raul Enrique Pargas Rodriguez, was captured in Plano on August 14 after entering the U.S. illegally in 2022 and being released under Biden-era “catch-and-release” policies.

According to ICE, Pargas lured a young woman to his workshop in Venezuela in February 2021 before launching into a violent rage. He allegedly beat and demeaned her, then played a twisted game of Russian roulette by pointing a loaded pistol at her head, removing and replacing bullets. The woman managed to escape, and Pargas fled Venezuela.

Pargas crossed into the U.S. illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas, in August 2022. Border Patrol agents initially detained him, but due to Biden administration discretionary policies, he was released into the country. Fifteen months later, ICE officers encountered him in the Dallas County jail following an assault arrest—yet he was released again.

“This dangerous criminal alien allegedly beat, demeaned, and tortured a young woman … and then fled to the United States when his attempt to murder her fell apart,” said ICE Dallas acting Field Office Director Joshua Johnson. He credited a Border Patrol tip with helping locate and apprehend Pargas.

A video released by ICE showed Pargas crying after being placed in a police vehicle. ICE said he now faces repatriation to Venezuela, where he is wanted for attempted aggravated femicide. He remains in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.

The case underscores the public safety risks of the Biden administration’s lenient immigration policies, which critics argue have allowed violent criminals to remain in U.S. communities rather than face swift removal.

Trump Pulls Plug on Harris’ Secret Service

CBS
Kamala Harris (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump revoked former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service protection.

Former vice presidents often receive six months of protection after leaving office, according to federal law. The six-month period ended on July 21.

“You are hereby authorized to discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorized by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law, for the following individual, effective September 1, 2025: Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris,” Trump’s letter, obtained by CNN, reads.

A Harris senior adviser, Kirsten Allen, told the outlet that Harris is “grateful to the United States Secret Service for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to safety.”

CNN’s report noted that the security withdrawal comes as Harris is set to begin her book tour.

Harris announced in July that she would not be running for California Governor. “In recent months, I have given serious though to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor.”

“I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election,” she said at the time.

“For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office,” she continued. “I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.”

Earlier this year, President Trump revoked security clearances from several former officials, including Harris.

No English, No Funding: Trump’s DOT Slams Blue States

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Sander Yigin/Unsplash

The U.S. Department of Transportation, under Secretary Sean Duffy, has issued a direct warning to California, Washington, and New Mexico: enforce federal English-language standards for commercial drivers or lose critical highway funding. The move, backed by President Trump’s executive order, signals a sharp shift toward law-and-order enforcement of long-ignored safety protocols.

The warning comes after a tragic crash in Florida on August 12 involving a commercial driver, Harjinder Singh, who reportedly made an illegal U-turn, killing three people. Singh, a foreign national, was later found to have limited English proficiency, raising questions about how he was cleared to operate a commercial vehicle on U.S. roads.

Duffy emphasized, “States don’t get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow… As we saw with the horrific Florida crash that killed three, when states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger.”

Federal law has long required commercial drivers to read and speak English well enough to understand road signs, communicate with officials, and navigate safely. However, investigations revealed that California, Washington, and New Mexico repeatedly failed to enforce these rules. According to a recent DOT audit, these states allowed noncompliant drivers to stay on the road without consequences, violating federal safety regulations.

In response, Secretary Duffy announced the states have 30 days to comply or face the loss of millions in federal funds. California stands to lose $33 million, Washington $10.5 million, and New Mexico $7 million—all tied to the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program, which supports commercial vehicle inspections and safety enforcement.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier echoed his support for the Trump Administration’s stance and the action of the DOT, saying, “You have this tragic accident at the hands of an illegal alien who should not have ever had this trucker’s license to begin with. You’ve got blue states that apparently are engaging in systematic abuse of the program, not only allowing illegal aliens to get these permits but enabling them to do so when they do not even speak English.”

President Trump previously signed an executive order in April mandating the enforcement of English proficiency requirements—rules that were downplayed during previous administrations. The policy aims to restore accountability and protect American lives on the road by ensuring that every commercial driver operating in the U.S. can understand traffic laws, emergency instructions, and safety protocols.

The DOT’s warning is clear: states that put political correctness or lax enforcement ahead of public safety will be held accountable. The administration emphasized that proper communication is a basic necessity for highway safety, and failing to uphold this standard places lives at risk.

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