President Joe Biden’s decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter has spurred a broader discussion about what else he should be doing with the broad clemency powers of the presidency before he leaves office in January, including whether he should even be pardoning Donald Trump. Biden on Tuesday ducked questions on his decision on his son, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola.

Mourning enveloped the Torah world on Wednesday morning upon hearing the news of the petirah of HaTzadik HaGaon HaRav Dovid Shalom Tzadka, Z’l, the Rav of the city of Pardas Channa-Karkur, the son of Rosh Yeshivas Porat Yosef, HaGaon HaRav Yehudah Tzadka, ztl. HaRav Tzadka, H’YD, passed away at the age of 88 after years of being ill. The niftar was the second son born to his Gadol father in the Beis Yisrael neighborhood of Yerushalayim of old. As a bochur, he learned in Porat Yosef and was one of the close talmidim of the Rosh Yeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Ezra Attiya, H’yd. After his marriage, he lived in Yerushalayim until he was called to serve as the Rav of the Jewish kehilla in Argentina.

The IDF has warned that soldiers and officers who fought in the war in Gaza could be arrested abroad and has ordered some officers and soldiers to cancel their trips, Yediot Achranot reported on Wednesday morning. Many pro-Hamas organizations increased their rhetoric and actions against Israel in the wake of the International Criminal Court’s outrageous decision to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, with some pursuing vicious hate campaigns against IDF soldiers. According to the report, pro-Hamas groups have filed dozens of complaints in countries abroad against IDF soldiers for “war crimes” in various countries abroad and in some cases, criminal proceedings have even been initiated.

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President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a potential nominee for Secretary of Defense, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The move comes as Pete Hegseth, Trump’s original pick for the role, faces mounting resistance in the Senate over personal and professional controversies. The Journal, citing unnamed sources close to the discussions, described the potential selection of DeSantis—a one-time GOP presidential rival—as a dramatic shift. However, the report noted that DeSantis’ conservative credentials and military background align with Trump’s vision for reshaping the Pentagon, including addressing what they perceive as “woke” policies within the armed forces. Hegseth, a former U.S.

Senior Trump spokesman Jason Miller doubled down on President-elect Donald Trump’s firm warning to Hamas regarding the release of hostages in Gaza. In an appearance on Fox News, Miller was asked about Trump’s strong statement issued on Monday, in which the President-elect demanded the hostages’ release before his inauguration on January 20, 2025, or face severe consequences. When Fox News asked, *“What happens if the hostages in Gaza aren’t released by January 20th?”* Miller responded, “I would take President Trump literally at his word — ‘they will have hell to pay.’” Trump’s initial statement, made via social media, issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas.

The upcoming Torah U’Mesorah Presidents Conference, set to take place December 19-22 at the Trump Doral Golf Resort in Miami, is expected to host Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman as special speakers, Torah U’Mesorah officials tell YWN. “Both have not been 100% confirmed, but it’s looking really good that both will attend,” YWN was told by TU. Governor DeSantis has gained widespread recognition among Orthodox Jewish communities for his steadfast support of educational initiatives that align with religious values and his advocacy for Israel. His strong ties with the Jewish community have been further cemented following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre that claimed the lives of 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.

An investigation is underway after a Secret Service agent working on protective assignment outside Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s house fired a weapon following a confrontation between the agent and occupants of a sedan, early Tuesday. At roughly 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, the agent assigned to Yellen’s protective detail outside of her home, observed a sedan with multiple people attempting to open car doors along the street, according to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. A confrontation between the agent and the car’s occupants led to gunfire. It was unclear how many shots were fired by the agent. The Secret Service said there is no evidence that anyone was harmed. The suspects fled the scene in the sedan, and a lookout was issued to local law enforcement, Guglielmi said. The D.C.

Religious Zionist MKs Tzvi Sukkot and Simcha Rothman on Tuesday submitted an amendment to the Knesset’s secretariat that would allow criminal investigations against the Attorney General and the State Attorney. The report comes on the same day that Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi published a list of ministers who signed a letter he wrote demanding that Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara be ousted from her position for “systematically opposing the government and its ministers.” The letter is signed by Likud members Karhi, May Golan, Amichai Chikli, David Amsalem, Chaim Katz, Miki Zohar and Idit Silman; UTJ members Meir Porush and Yitzchak Goldknopf; and  Otzma Yehudit members Itamar Ben-Gvir, Amichai Eliyahu, Orit Strook, and Yitzchak Wasserlauf.

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Tuesday warned Lebanon that if it doesn’t enforce the ceasefire with Hezbollah, the IDF would no longer differentiate between Hezbollah and the state of Lebanon. Speaking on a visit to the northern border, Katz said: “The main message I came to convey here: our policy, together with the IDF, is clear and unequivocal – we will act with all our might to enforce all the understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and we will have maximum response and zero tolerance.” “Yesterday was the first test. Shots were fired toward Har Dov as if it were outside the usual discourse or subject to interpretation. For us, it is not subject to any interpretation.