UPDATE: WH Press Secretary says Politico report that Musk is departing is “garbage.”

A terribly car accident on Tuesday night claimed the life of Rabbi Shneur Zalman Oirechman z”l, a Chabad shliach and marbitz torah in northern Eretz Yisroel. He was just 33 years old. The niftar, a ben aliyah with a lev tov, was raised assisting his father, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Oirechman yb”l, the Rosh HaShluchim of the Krayot area, Rav of Beis Knesses Shaarei Moshe in Kiryat Yam, and a prominent askan serving as chairman of the Vaad Kesivas Sefer Torah Kloli. From a young age, Shneur Zalman z”l was known for his Ahavas Yisroel, bringing chizzuk and simchas haTorah to countless Yidden. Whether through his efforts in the Sefer Torah Hakloli, his harbotzas haChassidus, or simply his warm smile that lit up any room, he was a true oved Hashem.

DEVELOPING: Indian air force Jaguar fighter jet crashes in Gujarat state. No word on casualties.

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee held another discussion on the draft conscription law on Wednesday. Lt. Col. Avigdor Dikstein, the head of the Chareidi sector in the Manpower Directorate of the IDF, presented updated data on the recruitment of Chareidim to the committee, saying that of 10,000 draft orders sent since July 2024, only 205 Chareidim enlisted. He added that a total of 1721 Chareidim are serving as soldiers since the beginning of last year’s recruitment cycle. There is approximately 66,000 bnei yeshivos who are currently eligible for IDF service but have not enlisted. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled for the Food and Drug Administration in its crackdown on sweet-flavored vaping products following a surge in teen electronic cigarette use. But the justices’ unanimous decision throwing out a federal appeals court ruling is not the final word in the case, and the FDA could change its approach now that President Donald Trump has promised to “save” vaping. The high court ruled that the FDA, during President Joe Biden’s administration, did not violate federal law when it denied an application from Dallas-based company Triton Distribution to sell e-juices like “Jimmy The Juice Man in Peachy Strawberry” and “Suicide Bunny Mother’s Milk and Cookies.” The products are heated by an e-cigarette to create an inhalable aerosol.

Rep. Mike Lawler addresses 200+ attendees at Agudath Israel’s Mission to Washington, focusing on a critical, nationwide school-choice bill that would greatly benefit frum private school students

NETANYAHU: “Last night in the Gaza Strip, we switched gears. The IDF is seizing territory, striking the terrorists and destroying the infrastructure. We are also doing something else: We are seizing the Morag Corridor. This will be the second Philadelphi, an additional Philadelphi Corridor. Because we are now dividing the Strip and increasing the pressure step by step, so that they will give us our hostages. And as long as they do not give them to us, the pressure will increase until they do. We are determined to achieve the objectives of the war, and we are acting relentlessly, and with a clear line and a clear mission. And with G-d’s help and that of our heroic soldiers, we will also achieve them.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is willing to drop all of Canada’s tariffs: “We’d be willing to take those off tomorrow… he knows… we’re going to take these tariffs off in the next minute if he said he’s taking their tariffs off”

Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries says that requiring proof of citizenship to vote in our country’s elections is “voter suppression.”

HAKEEM JEFFRIES: “This isn’t Liberation Day. It’s Recession Day in the United States of America. That’s what the Trump tariffs are going to do.”