Opinion

In November 2023, a 77-year-old man in Panama shot two climate change protesters who were blocking the road he was driving on. As he approached them with his gun, he reportedly said, “This ends here,” before firing. The incident in Panama did not receive widespread attention in the United States and did not deter protesters from routinely blocking roads to advance their political agenda. As more time passed without a similar fatal incident, protesters became increasingly emboldened to use their bodies and vehicles to impede both civilians and law enforcement from carrying out their daily routines.

This coming Shabbos, we will read about the rishe of a new king “who did not know Yosef.” Last week we observed the inauguration of a new mayor in New York. Are there similarities between the two?

Federal agencies were very explicit in their Dec. 25 holiday greetings to the public, celebrating “the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” in a message issued by the White House. It contrasts sharply with previous administrations that avoided specific references to the defining figure of Christianity.

Over the course of a few days, several separate news stories emerged from opposite sides of the world that all connect to one place—Somalia. Israeli recognition of Somaliland as an independent state from Somalia, explosive investigative reporting on the depths of Somali fraud in Minnesota, and Somalia ascending to a lofty position in the United Nations have put this failed African nation under the microscope.

Communism and Americanism represent fundamentally opposing ideologies, rooted in contrasting views on human nature, society, economy, and governance. While Americanism embodies the principles enshrined in the U.S. founding documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers, communism prioritizes collective ownership and state control. Americanism is deeply tied to capitalism, where private property rights, free markets, and entrepreneurship drive prosperity, fostering innovation, competition, and upward mobility as seen in the American Dream. Communism, in contrast, seeks to eliminate private property and class distinctions, advocating for the means of production to be owned collectively or by the state, which centralized planning often stifles individual incentive and leads to economic stagnation.

Stefanik Drops Out; Bruce Blakeman Is Presumptive GOP Nominee For NY Governor

In a stunning turn of events that has reshaped the Republican landscape for New York’s 2026 gubernatorial election, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced that she is suspending her campaign for governor and will not seek re-election to her House seat in New York’s 21st District, citing her desire to prioritize family going forward. This decision came barely a month after Stefanik launched her bid in November, setting the stage for what was anticipated to be a fiercely contested GOP primary against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. With Stefanik’s exit, Blakeman emerges as the presumptive Republican nominee, poised to challenge Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in what could be a pivotal race for the Empire State. Shortly after her announcement, President Donald Trump endorsed Blakeman, praising him as “MAGA all the way” and signaling strong support from the party’s base.