Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall sits in the front cockpit of an X-62A VISTA aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, California on May 2, 2024. (AP/Damian Dovaganes)
By: Tara Copp
With the midday sun blazing, an experimental orange and white F-16 fighter jet launched with a familiar roar that is a hallmark of U.S. airpower. But the aerial combat that followed was unlike any other: This F-16 was controlled by artificial intelligence, not a human pilot. And riding in the front seat was Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.
AI marks one of the biggest advances in military aviation since the introduction of stealth in the early 1990s, and the Air Force has aggressively leaned in. Even though the technology is not fully developed, the service is planning for an AI-enabled fleet of more than 1,000 unmanned warplanes, the first of them operating by 2028.
It was fitting that the dogfight took place at Edwards Air Force Base, a vast desert facility where Chuck Yeager broke the speed of sound and the military has incubated its most secret aerospace advances. Inside classified simulators and buildings with layers of shielding against surveillance, a new test-pilot generation is training AI agents to fly in war. Kendall traveled here to see AI fly in real time and make a public statement of confidence in its future role in air combat.
“It’s a security risk not to have it. At this point, we have to have it,” Kendall said in an interview with The Associated Press after he landed. The AP, along with NBC, was granted permission to witness the secret flight on the condition that it would not be reported until it was complete because of operational security concerns.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall smiles after a test flight of the X-62A VISTA aircraft against a human-crewed F-16 aircraft in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base. (AP/Damian Dovaganes)
The AI-controlled F-16, called Vista, flew Kendall in lightning-fast maneuvers at more than 550 miles an hour that put pressure on his body at five times the force of gravity. It went nearly nose to nose with a second human-piloted F-16 as both aircraft raced within 1,000 feet of each other, twisting and looping to try force their opponent into vulnerable positions.
At the end of the hourlong flight, Kendall climbed out of the cockpit grinning. He said he’d seen enough during his flight that he’d trust this still-learning AI with the ability to decide whether or not to launch weapons in war.
There’s a lot of opposition to that idea. Arms control experts and humanitarian groups are deeply concerned that AI one day might be able to autonomously drop bombs that kill people without further human consultation, and they are seeking greater restrictions on its use.
“There are widespread and serious concerns about ceding life-and-death decisions to sensors and software,” the International Committee of the Red Cross has warned. Autonomous weapons “are an immediate cause of concern and demand an urgent, international political response.”
Kendall said there will always be human oversight in the system when weapons are used.
The military’s shift to AI-enabled planes is driven by security, cost and strategic capability. If the U.S. and China should end up in conflict, for example, today’s Air Force fleet of expensive, manned fighters will be vulnerable because of gains on both sides in electronic warfare, space and air defense systems. China’s air force is on pace to outnumber the U.S. and it is also amassing a fleet of flying unmanned weapons.
Future war scenarios envision swarms of American unmanned aircraft providing an advance attack on enemy defenses to give the U.S. the ability to penetrate an airspace without high risk to pilot lives. But the shift is also driven by money. The Air Force is still hampered by production delays and cost overruns in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which will cost an estimated of $1.7 trillion.
Smaller and cheaper AI-controlled unmanned jets are the way ahead, Kendall said.
Vista’s military operators say no other country in the world has an AI jet like it, where the software first learns on millions of data points in a simulator, then tests its conclusions during actual flights. That real-world performance data is then put back into the simulator where the AI then processes it to learn more.
China has AI, but there’s no indication it has found a way to run tests outside a simulator. And, like a junior officer first learning tactics, some lessons can only be learned in the air, Vista’s test pilots said.
Until you actually fly, “it’s all guesswork,” chief test pilot Bill Gray said. “And the longer it takes you to figure that out, the longer it takes before you have useful systems.”
Vista flew its first AI-controlled dogfight in September 2023, and there have only been about two dozen similar flights since. But the programs are learning so quickly from each engagement that some AI versions getting tested on Vista are already beating human pilots in air-to-air combat.
The pilots at this base are aware that in some respects, they may be training their replacements or shaping a future construct where fewer of them are needed.
But they also say they would not want to be up in the sky against an adversary that has AI-controlled aircraft if the U.S. does not also have its own fleet.
“We have to keep running. And we have to run fast,” Kendall said.
In a strategic move to bolster its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, Nvidia has acquired Run:ai, an Israeli startup known for its advanced workload management and orchestration software. According to a report on the Investopedia web site, this acquisition, announced on Wednesday, reflects Nvidia’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its AI capabilities, though the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Run:ai is built on the Kubernetes open-source platform and specializes in optimizing compute infrastructure for enterprise customers. As was explained in the Investopedia report, this allows businesses to manage their AI operations more efficiently, whether their systems are based on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid environment. The Investopedia report suggested that Nvidia’s acquisition of Run:ai is expected to enhance its offerings by improving how its customers utilize AI computing resources, particularly those requiring extensive GPU clusters.
Despite the potentially positive long-term implications of this acquisition, Nvidia’s shares experienced a slight decline in Wednesday’s intraday trading, falling 1% to $815.97 by mid-afternoon. However, the Investopedia report indicated that it is important to note that Nvidia’s stock has seen significant growth overall this year, increasing by almost two-thirds of its value and reaching an all-time high of $974.00 on March 8. The slight dip observed post-announcement is not uncommon in acquisition scenarios, where immediate financial uncertainties or investor adjustments may temper initial stock reactions, as was suggested in the report.
Nvidia’s acquisition of Run:ai is not just an expansion of its technology portfolio but also a strategic alignment with its broader goals in the AI sector. By integrating Run:ai’s technology, Nvidia aims to offer more sophisticated tools to its enterprise customers, helping them maximize the efficiency of their AI applications, as was detailed in the Investopedia report. This move is particularly significant as demand for AI and machine learning capabilities continues to grow across various industries, from healthcare to automotive to finance.
This acquisition occurs amid a flurry of activity in the AI and tech sectors, where companies are increasingly seeking to leverage AI for competitive advantage, as per the Investopedia report. Nvidia’s focus on enhancing its AI infrastructure through strategic acquisitions such as that of Run:ai demonstrates a clear commitment to maintaining its leadership position in the AI technology market.
As the company continues to integrate Run:ai’s technologies, it will be critical to watch how this enhances Nvidia’s product offerings.
Noninvasive, low-cost, and easy-to-learn, acupressure can help to ease pain from osteoarthritis of the knee, even when patients do it themselves, a new study has found. This comforting news affects vast numbers of adults who experience pain and stiffness caused by arthritis in this crucial joint. (Ground Picture/Shutterstock)
Knee pain from osteoarthritis may be eased by acupressure you can learn to perform at home.
By: Susan C. Olmstead
Noninvasive, low-cost, and easy-to-learn, acupressure can help to ease pain from osteoarthritis of the knee, even when patients do it themselves, a new study has found. This comforting news affects vast numbers of adults who experience pain and stiffness caused by arthritis in this crucial joint.
The randomized clinical trial, performed by researchers in Hong Kong, London, and Virginia, found that self-administered acupressure significantly reduced pain and improved mobility in adults with osteoarthritis of the knee.
The original investigation appeared in JAMA Network Open.
Lead author, Jerry Wing Fai Yeung, an associate professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Nursing, told The Epoch Times that he and his fellow investigators were not surprised by their findings.
“Previous smaller-scale studies have preliminarily tested and supported the potential effects of self-administered acupressure for relieving knee osteoarthritis pain,” he said. “Based on the previous works, our study further confirmed the effectiveness with a larger sample size.”
The study involved 314 residents of Hong Kong, aged 50 or older, with probable knee osteoarthritis.
One group of subjects received two training sessions on self-administered knee acupressure with a brief knee health education session. The trainers were registered Chinese medicine practitioners with at least five years of clinical experience. The participants in this group then practiced acupressure twice daily for 12 weeks. A control group received only education about maintaining knee health for the 12-week period.
At the end of the study, the acupressure group reported a significantly greater improvement in pain than did the control group. Participants in the self-administered acupressure group also performed significantly better in a mobility test and reported a better quality of life in the medium term than those in the control group.
Causes, Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is common among the middle-aged and elderly, affecting 23 percent of people aged 40 and older, according to the researchers who conducted the trial.
The Arthritis Foundation reports the knee is one of the most common joints to be affected by osteoarthritis. The foundation’s website lists risk factors for developing osteoarthritis of the knee:
Older age: Osteoarthritis is most common in older adults.
Female sex: Women are more likely than men to have knee osteoarthritis.
Obesity: Being overweight stresses the knee joints and causes joint inflammation.
Injuries: Any knee injury, even an old one, can lead to knee osteoarthritis.
Repeated stress: Frequent stress on the knee from work or sports can increase risk for osteoarthritis.
Genetics: A tendency to develop osteoarthritis can run in families.
Bone deformities: Those with bone deformities are at higher risk.
Some metabolic diseases: Diabetes and hemochromatosis (a condition in which the blood has too much iron) have been linked to osteoarthritis.
Pain, stiffness, and swelling are common symptoms of osteoarthritis, and when it affects the knee, mobility can become a problem as the condition progresses.
Treatment most often involves pain relievers such as ibuprofen, exercise and physical therapy, cold and heat therapy, and topical medications. Steroid injections and surgery, including knee replacement, may be called for in more severe cases. Interventions such as acupressure and acupuncture are considered complementary therapies rather than first-line treatment in most cases.
Performing Knee Acupressure at Home
“Acquiring mastery in acupressure techniques is more feasible and safe for individuals if taught by licensed practitioners, rather than attempting to learn them independently,” said Mr. Yeung.
The Hong Kong study involved eight acupressure points in a 16-minute protocol and experienced Chinese medicine practitioners instructed the participants in proper technique.
“Some acupoints utilized in our studies, such as the Yanglingquan acupoint (GB 34) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), require some specific technique [to locate]. Familiarity with the anatomical structure of the knee joint is necessary for accurate acupoint location,” Mr. Yeung said.
“Therefore, individuals experiencing knee pain are advised to seek guidance from their acupuncturist, similar to the approach followed in our study. Additionally, strict adherence to professional acupressure techniques is crucial to prevent exacerbation of the condition or finger joint pain.”
However, patients who’d like to see what they can accomplish on their own before seeking out a professional may want to try an abbreviated knee pain acupressure regimen with only three points, such as the guidance and instructions offered by Kaiser Permanente called “Acupressure for Knee Pain.”
Knee massage may also offer some relief. Licensed massage therapist Ann Swanson demonstrates self-massage for knee pain on the Arthritis Foundation website and her YouTube channel.
Whether patients seek in-person expert guidance or give it a go on their own, they must be willing to perform the routine regularly.
“Best results will occur from regular acupressure throughout the day for several weeks,” Malerie Giaimo, a diplomate of Oriental medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and herbalist, told The Epoch Times.
“Acupressure is very effective for pain and arthritis located in and around the knee,” she said. “It’s important to apply acupressure near and around the site of pain, above and below the area.” She mentioned sites on the thigh, hamstring, and calf as beneficial to the knee.
“Some of my favorite points are Stomach 25, He Ding, Stomach 36, Spleen 10, and Gallbladder 34,” she said. Ms. Giaimo recommended receiving an acupuncture treatment for more direct, specific, and deeper pain relief.
A Complementary Treatment
According to Mr. Yeung:
“The utilization of medication and injections should be discussed with healthcare professionals, including physicians and pharmacists, responsible for patients’ care.”
“Acupressure can be regarded as an alternative or complementary approach to conventional treatments for knee pain and osteoarthritis—however, it should not be seen as a full replacement for them without prior discussion with their physician.
“While certain individuals may experience relief solely through acupressure, it is crucial to recognize that each person’s condition is unique, and treatment effectiveness can vary, as it is also influenced by the treatment principles of traditional Chinese medicine.
“Conventional treatments such as medications and injections, prescribed by healthcare professionals, have established efficacy and may be indispensable for individuals with more severe symptoms. It is advisable to consult with a healthcare provider who possesses knowledge in both conventional and complementary therapies to determine the most suitable treatment plan tailored to an individual’s specific situation.”
Donna Cooper holds up a dosage of Wegovy, a drug used for weight loss. Credit: AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades
By: Jonel Aleccia
Millions of Americans who have dropped pounds and boosted their health using popular obesity drugs like Wegovy are facing a new dilemma: What happens if they stop taking them?
Many worry that they’ll regain weight and revert to old habits. In studies, people who paused the drugs put back on most of the weight they lost.
But others are gambling on a do-it-yourself strategy to ease off the drugs and stay slim by stretching out doses, taking the medication intermittently or stopping and starting again only if needed.
More than 3 million prescriptions for the new medications are dispensed each month in the U.S., according to 2023 data from the health technology company IQVIA. They include semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide, the drug in Mounjaro and Zepbound.
But many people don’t stick with it. One study published in the journal Obesity found that just 40% of patients who filled a prescription for Wegovy in 2021 or 2022 were still taking it a year later.
Here’s what you need to know about taking a break from these new medications:
HOW ARE THE DRUGS DESIGNED TO BE TAKEN?
Doctors who treat obesity stress that the disease is a chronic condition that must be managed indefinitely, like heart disease or high blood pressure. The new injection drugs work by mimicking hormones in the gut and the brain to regulate appetite and feelings of fullness. They were designed — and tested — to be used continuously, experts said.
“I don’t think they should be used in intermittent fashion. It’s not approved for that. They don’t work like that,” said Dr. Andres Acosta, an obesity researcher at the Mayo Clinic.
WHY DO PEOPLE WANT TO STOP THE DRUGS?
Some people who achieved their health and weight goals with the drugs are looking for an offramp, said Dr. Amy Rothberg, who directs a weight-management and diabetes treatment program at the University of Michigan.
“Many of them want to step down or de-escalate their dose,” she said. “And they’re also wanting to ultimately discontinue the medication.”
Some patients don’t like side effects such as nausea and constipation. Others want to stop for holidays or special occasions — or just because they don’t want to take the weekly shots indefinitely, said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company Intellihealth.
“To me, it’s a help, it’s an aid,” said Donna Cooper of Front Royal, Virginia, who lost nearly 40 pounds (18 kilograms) in nine months using Wegovy along with diet and exercise. “At some point you have to come off of them. I don’t want to be on them forever.”
Other people have been forced to ration or halt doses because the drugs are costly — $1,000 to $1,300 per month — and insurance coverage varies or because demand has far outstripped supply, Rothberg noted.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY STOP?
The drugs work by changing the way the body processes and stores energy. When people stop taking it, many gain back the weight they lost, plus more. And many report a return of symptoms of obesity such as so-called food noise or intrusive thoughts of food, raging hunger and decreased feelings of fullness when they eat.
Some people who stop the drugs and start again have severe stomach side effects. Others find the drugs don’t work as well as before. There’s no data on the long-term effects of intermittent use, Saunders said.
Americans share a bleak outlook on how the U.S. health care system treats mental health issues. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
By: Amie Dahnke
Americans share a bleak outlook on how the U.S. health care system treats mental health issues, with more than 80 percent recognizing a dramatic rise in mental health issues over the past five years, according to results of a new survey.
Additionally, three-quarters of Americans feel mental health conditions are identified and treated more poorly than physical health conditions. When it comes to how well the United States manages mental health conditions, one-quarter of Americans gave the nation’s health care system a failing grade, while just 1 percent said it deserved an A grade.
The statistics come from the West Health–Gallup survey, which paints an unflattering portrait of how the American health care system treats those suffering from mental health problems. The survey was conducted between Feb. 2 and Feb. 14, surveying 2,266 adults 18 and older.
“Many Americans struggle with mental and behavioral health conditions that often go unaddressed in the context of treating and managing other medical conditions,” Timothy Lash, president of nonprofit West Health, focused on American health care and aging, said in a press release. “Health systems, providers, caregivers and patients themselves need to pay just as much attention to mental health as they grow older as they do their physical health. The two are inextricably linked and critical to overall health, aging successfully and quality of life.”
Depression is more common in individuals who have other illnesses, so this becomes even more of a concern as people age. About 80 percent of older adults diagnosed with depression have at least one chronic health condition, and 50 percent have two or more, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states.
According to the survey, 51 percent of Americans say they have experienced depression, anxiety, or some other mental or emotional condition in the past year. The group includes roughly 22 percent who say the condition was so significant that their regular, everyday routines or activities were disrupted, disabling them from going to work or maintaining their household responsibilities.
Aging Population May Not Seek Help
The survey showed that a higher proportion of older respondents—82 percent versus 75 percent—believed that mental health issues were not treated as they should be in the United States. The finding is especially troubling since, for the first time, the country will be home to more people 65 and older than children by 2030.
“There are still sizable numbers of people not getting the treatment they need—a situation that may only worsen as the population ages,” Mr. Lash said.
Many within this population, the survey found, struggle with the perceived social stigma around mental illness, which can prevent people from seeking professional help. Seventy-five percent of older adults who have dealt with a mental health condition in the past year reported that societal stigma has prevented them from seeking help. This was the highest percentage among all age groups.
Why the Gap Between Mental and Physical Health Care?
Over half of those surveyed believe psychological counseling can be an effective treatment for mental health issues, and 35 percent find prescription medication can be effective, too.
However, many say treatment access is the tricky part. More than half of the survey’s respondents (52 percent) said that affordability is the top barrier to finding good mental health care, followed by being able to find a provider (42 percent).
A radiologist uses a magnifying glass to check mammograms for breast cancer. Photo Credit: AP/Damian Dovarganes
By: Carla K. Johnson
Regular mammograms to screen for breast cancer should start younger, at age 40, according to an influential U.S. task force. Women ages 40 to 74 should get screened every other year, the group said.
Previously, the task force had said women could choose to start breast cancer screening as young as 40, with a stronger recommendation that they get the exams every two years from age 50 through 74.
The announcement Tuesday from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force makes official a draft recommendation announced last year. The recommendations were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“It’s a win that they are now recognizing the benefits of screening women in their 40s,” said Dr. Therese Bevers of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She was not involved in the guidance.
Other medical groups, including the American College of Radiology and the American Cancer Society, suggest mammograms every year — instead of every other year — starting at age 40 or 45, which may cause confusion, Bevers said, but “now the starting age will align with what many other organizations are saying.”
Breast cancer death rates have fallen as treatment continues to improve. But breast cancer is still the second-most common cause of cancer death for U.S. women. About 240,000 cases are diagnosed annually and nearly 43,000 women die from breast cancer.
The nudge toward earlier screening is meant to address two vexing issues: the increasing incidence of breast cancer among women in their 40s — it’s risen 2% annually since 2015 — and the higher breast cancer death rate among Black women compared to white women, said task force vice chair Dr. John Wong of Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
“Sadly, we know all too well that Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women,” Wong said. Modeling studies predict that earlier screening may help all women, and have “even more benefit for women who are Black,” he said.
Here are more details on what’s changed, why it’s important and who should pay attention.
Age 40 is when mammograms should start for women, transgender men and nonbinary people at average risk. They should have the X-ray exam every other year, according to the new guidance. Other groups recommend annual mammograms, starting at 40 or 45.
The advice does not apply to women who’ve had breast cancer or those at very high risk of breast cancer because of genetic markers. It also does not apply to women who had high-dose radiation therapy to the chest when they were young, or to women who’ve had a lesion on previous biopsies.
It’s not clear whether older women should continue getting regular mammograms. Studies rarely include women 75 and older, so the task force is calling for more research.
Bevers suggests that older women talk with their doctors about the benefits of screening, as well as harms like false alarms and unnecessary biopsies.
Mammograms don’t work as well for women with dense breasts, but they should still get the exams.
The task force would like to see more evidence about additional tests such as ultrasounds or MRIs for women with dense breasts. It’s not yet clear whether those types of tests would help detect cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage, Wong said.
Congress already passed legislation requiring insurers to pay for mammograms for women 40 and older without copays or deductibles.
U.S. deaths of moms during childbirth have fallen to pre-pandemic levels. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
By: Mike Stobbe
U.S. deaths of moms around the time of childbirth have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels, new government data suggests.
About 680 women died last year during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, according to provisional CDC data. That’s down from 817 deaths in 2022 and 1,205 in 2021, when it was the highest level in more than 50 years.
COVID-19 seems to be the main explanation for the improvement, said Donna Hoyert, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maternal mortality researcher.
The coronavirus can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women. And, in the worst days of the pandemic, burned out physicians may have added to the risk by ignoring pregnant women’s worries, experts say.
Fewer death certificates are mentioning COVID-19 as a contributor to maternal deaths. The count was over 400 in 2021 but fewer than 10 last year, Hoyert said.
The agency on Thursday released a report detailing the final maternal mortality data for 2022. It also recently released provisional data for 2023. Those numbers are expected to change after further analysis — the final 2022 number was 11% higher than the provisional one. Still, 2023 is expected to end up down from 2022, Hoyert said.
The CDC counts women who die while pregnant, during childbirth and up to 42 days after birth from conditions considered related to pregnancy. Excessive bleeding, blood vessel blockages and infections are leading causes.
There were about 19 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the provisional data. That’s in line with rates seen in 2018 and 2019.
But racial disparities remain: The death rate in Black moms is more than two-and-a-half times higher than that of white and Hispanic mothers.
“In the last five years we’ve really not improved on lowering the maternal death rate in our country, so there’s still a lot of work to do,” said Ashley Stoneburner, the March of Dimes’ director of applied research and analytics.
The advocacy organization this week kicked off an education campaign to get more pregnant women to consider taking low-dose aspirin if they are at risk of preeclempsia — a high blood pressure disorder that can harm both the mother and baby.
There are other efforts that may be helping to lower deaths and lingering health problems related to pregnancy, including stepped-up efforts to fight infections and address blood loss, said Dr. Laura Riley, a New York City-based obstetrician who handles high-risk pregnancies.
But there’s a risk that those kinds of improvements are being offset by a number of factors that may reduce the ability of women to get medical care before, during and after a birth, she said. Experts say the list includes the closure of rural hospitals and a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that did away with the federally established right to abortion — and contributed to physician burnout by causing doctors to feel constrained about providing care during pregnancy-related medical emergencies.
“I think there’s good news. We’re making strides in certain areas,” said Riley, head OB-GYN at Weill Cornell Medicine. “But the bad news and scary news is … th
Fierce Clashes Between Pro-Palestinian Protestors & Police Break Out in Athens
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In the heart of Athens on Tuesday, tensions flared as more than 300 protesters convened outside the parliament building, voicing their dissent against the recent Israeli military operations in the southern part of the Gaza Strip known as Rafah. According to a Reuters report, these protesters, many waving Palestinian flags and brandishing banners with slogans like “Hands off Rafah!”, represent a global outcry against the escalation of conflict in the region. Noted in the Reuters report was that among them was Antonis Davanellos, a 60-year-old pensioner, who emphasized the group’s solidarity with the Palestinian cause, declaring their readiness to respond whenever called upon.
The rally, while largely peaceful, saw moments of confrontation when a subset of protesters escalated their demonstrations to the gates of the Egyptian embassy across from the parliament, leading to police intervention with tear gas to manage the unruly crowd, as was indicated in the Reuters report. These clashes, though brief, illustrate the high emotions and tensions surrounding the international perceptions of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Earlier on Tuesday, a report surfaced of a group of rioters who attempted to break in to an Athens hotel where a group of Israelis were staying. Local Athens police rushed to the scene to regain control of the area surrounding the hotel and to quell the rancorous mob. Confirmation of the rioting report was not received.
On the battleground in Gaza, the situation remains grim. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry released staggering figures on Tuesday, reporting that 34,789 Palestinians have been killed and 78,204 injured since the conflict erupted seven months ago when Hamas launched a war on Israel through a brutal massacre of 1200 Israeli civilians and the abduction of 250 others. Reports indicated that approximately 133 hostages are believed to still be held in Gaza.
It is important to note that these figures from the Gaza health ministry include both combatants and non-combatants, and there are claims from sources close to the situation suggesting that these numbers may be skewed to garner international sympathy and to portray Israel as an aggressor without distinction.
In response, Israel has continued its military operations, particularly in Rafah, aiming to dismantle the military capabilities of Hamas. Israel asserts that these operations are crucial for its national security, especially given Rafah’s strategic importance as a conduit for humanitarian supplies.
On Monday, Hamas said it had told mediators it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal, but claimed that Israel rejected the deal. In reality, Hamas had crafted a new version of the deal at the last moment before the invasion of Rafah began. Reports are circulating that Israel had not been informed of any modifications of the ceasefire deal.
The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu on Monday forcefully rejected a claim made by an Israeli official suggesting that he was responsible for torpedoing the latest round of talks with Hamas in Cairo on a potential hostage and truce deal.
The suggestion, said a statement from Netanyahu’s office, is “a complete lie and a deliberate deception of the public.”
“Hamas is the one that sabotages any deal by not moving one millimeter from its extreme demands that no Israeli government could accept,” the statement from Netanyahu’s office continued, “first and foremost, that Israel withdraw from Gaza and end the war.”
(JNS) – Ella Chaimi, whose husband was murdered by Hamas during the terror group’s Oct. 7 massacre, has given birth to a healthy baby boy, the Rabin Medical Center’s Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah announced on Tuesday.
Tal Chaimi, 41, died seven months ago defending Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak in the northwestern Negev. It was initially thought that he had been taken alive to the Gaza Strip, but evidence that came to light late last year indicates that he died during the Hamas assault, after which the terror group kidnapped his remains.
The child is the couple’s fourth.
“This birth is filled with mixed emotions as I welcome into the world our child, who brings with him lots of joy,” stated Chaimi, according to the hospital. “I also remember Tal, who was a wonderful husband and father. I wish he was here with us right now.”
Idit Engel, a midwife at Beilinson, said, “Every labor and delivery is special, but this one was even more so, as this baby brings joy to a family who has suffered so much tragedy.”
Ella and her family have been through devastation and I hope that this baby brings them much joy,” she added.
Professor Arnono Weisnizer, who heads Beilinson’s gynecology department, noted that the family “has been through dark times,” adding that “the birth of this baby is a light for them and for the people of Israel.”
“I have known Ella for many years and have cared for her during her previous pregnancies. I know her and her family well, having previously worked in the Gaza Envelope, and my heart breaks for what they have gone through,” he said.
The NYT’s executive editor criticized Bari Weiss, who has since launched the independent news outlet “The Free Press.” Credit: X.com
NY Times Editor Rips Writer and Former Colleague, Bari Weiss
By: Ellen Cans
The New York Times’ executive editor publicly criticized former colleague Bari Weiss, who has since launched the independent news outlet “The Free Press.” As reported by the NY Post, Joe Kahn, who oversees all of the NY Times’ global newsroom operations, quipped about Weiss, telling Semafor News, “she’s got a single note, and keeps playing it up over and over again.” Weiss is also “missing a commitment to deeper reporting [at the Times] and a willingness to kind of look at issues from a 360 perspective that if you were only reading Bari Weiss’ version, you would expect never existed,” Kahn said.
Weiss worked as an opinion writer and editor at the NY Times from 2017 to 2020, and then left the Times and founded The Free Press in January 2021, expanding her Substack newsletter entitled “Common Sense”. Weiss’ exit from the NY Times had made quite a stir, as the 40-year-old journalist had posted her resignation letter on her news organization’s website.
In it, she had criticized “the paper’s failure to anticipate the outcome of the 2016 election,” which Weiss said “meant that it didn’t have a firm grasp of the country it covers.” “The lessons that ought to have followed the election — lessons about the importance of understanding other Americans, the necessity of resisting tribalism, and the centrality of the free exchange of ideas to a democratic society — have not been learned,” Weiss wrote, adding that “Twitter has become its ultimate editor” and the NY Times has become “a kind of a performance space.”
Weiss didn’t immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment regarding Kahn’s criticism.
Despite Kahn’s harsh words, he admitted to Semafor that he still reads The Free Press.
“She’s built a whole media organization around combating and what she sees is excess of The New York Times and elsewhere,” Kahn added of Weiss, noting that the site still has “valuable reporting.” He added, “I think there’s some stuff that they’re doing that is worth paying attention to. Do I think she’s right about the [Times]? Not really, no.”
When asked about the upcoming election in November, and whether it’s his job to help Joe Biden win the matchup against GOP nominee Donald Trump, Kahn said that the NY Times is a “pillar” of democracy but not a tool of power. Kahn did admit, however that the Times presents “a much more favorable view of Biden’s conduct over foreign policy at a difficult time than the polling shows the general public believes.” “I think the general public actually believes that he’s responsible for these wars, which is ridiculous, based on the facts that we’ve reported,” Kahn told Semafor, adding that the Times doesn’t make a big deal about Biden’s age like other papers do.
AllSides, which measures media bias ratings for news organizations, has identified the NY Times as left leaning, meaning its content “aligns with liberal, progressive or left-wing thought and/or policy agendas.” By AllSide’s standards, the Free Press has no lean and is categorized as “center”.
Students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) celebrated Israel’s upcoming Independence Day next to an anti-Israel encampment on campus.
In a video posted to X, students were seen listening to a speaker who remained hopeful that the encampment would be taken down “in the very near future.” Several people in the crowd could be seen draping the Israeli flag around their bodies.
There’s an Israeli Independence Day celebration taking place next to the MIT anti-Israel encampment right now. pic.twitter.com/XtYGPDDdiL
“Hopefully, in the very near future, you’re going to see this encampment go down,” the speaker said. “That’s our goal.”
The speaker then invited students in the encampment to “celebrate” with the group, adding that they were “about to be suspended.”
“Everybody in the encampment is welcome here to celebrate with us, the State of Israel,” the speaker said. “Although they’re about to be suspended, some of them are in the process of being suspended and expelled. So, but, for now, you can come and celebrate with us if you still want to.”
On Monday, MIT Chancellor Melissa Nobles sent a letter to students threatening to place students on “interim academic suspension” if they did not leave the encampment by 2:30 p.m. on Monday.
In her letter, Nobles said the encampment, which was established on April 21, was “in violation of MIT policies.”
Despite most of the tents from the encampment being removed, protesters reclaimed their encampment later that evening.
In a statement issued on Monday, MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Executive Vice President and Treasurer Glen Shor, and Nobles wrote:
At midday, Student Life staff handed a written advisory to students making clear that if they didn’t leave the encampment by 2:30 p.m., they would face discipline. By 2:30, most students had left the enclosed tent area. Five remained, and many students gathered right outside the encampment.
Around that time, a large number of outside demonstrators arrived, in part because of a call on social media to students in the area to join our students, and in part because of a planned public protest. Cambridge police and state police were present to assist MIT police in managing the crowd. At around 6:00 p.m., an individual jumped over the fencing surrounding the remaining tents, causing a surge, and soon the area was breached.
In response to the protesters reoccupying their encampment, Nobles issued a letter informing them that “dozens of interim suspensions and referrals to the Committee on Discipline,” had been made.
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its 114-year-old name, according to a statement from the tech sector CEO who runs the fabled organization, in what seems to be a bid to deny the reality that boys are different from girls.
The new sexually-neutral name –“Scouting America” — will send “a really strong message to everyone in America that they can come to this program, they can bring their authentic self,” said Roger Krone, the organization’s president and CEO.
Krone’s “authentic self” phrase matches language used by transgender activists who oppose the public recognition that boys and girls, women and men, have different needs and desires. The pro-transgender activists insist that young children can create their individual sexual persona and “gender,” regardless of their male or female nature.
“They can be who they are, and they will be welcomed here,” added Krone, who until recently was the chief of Leidos, a consulting company in defense and healthcare. The scouting organization’s National Executive Board also includes other business leaders.
Krone suggested that the organization’s focus on boys hinders recruitment at a time when more young boys are spending their time glued to semi-addictive social media machines.
The scouting organization was created in 1910 to encourage urban boys to channel their physical energy into hiking and camping. The focus recognized that young boys are different from young girls, and it proved highly successful as urban parents wanted their boys to build competence and confidence.
But times changed, and the organization accepted gay boys in 2013, validated gay leaders in 2015, and welcomed girls in 2018. The Associated Press reported on May 7:
After a high point over the last decade of over 2 million members in 2018, the organization currently services just over 1 million youths, including more than 176,000 girls and young women. Membership peaked in 1972 at almost 5 million.
The organization’s decision to ignore the differences between boys and girls was cheered by some adults. The AP reported:
Within days of the announcement that girls would be allowed, Bob Brady went to work. A father of two girls and a proud Eagle Scout himself, the New Jersey attorney eagerly formed an all-girls troop. At their first weekend gathering with other troops, the boys were happy to have the girls involved but some adult leaders seemed concerned, he recalled. Their worries seemed to melt away as soon as the girls led a traditional cheer around the campfire.
“You could see a change in the attitude of some of the doubters who weren’t sure and they realized, wait, these kids are exactly the same, they just happen to have ponytails,” said Brady. His daughters are among the 13 girls in his troop and the 6,000 girls nationwide who have achieved the vaunted Eagle Scout rank. [emphasis added]
Krone doubled down on the ideological claim that there are no significant differences — often described as “gender differences” — between the two complementary and cooperating sexes.
“Though our name will be new, our mission remains unchanged: we are committed to teaching young people to be Prepared. For Life,” Krone said in a statement. “This will be a simple but very important evolution as we seek to ensure that everyone feels welcome in Scouting.”
“Membership is at historic lows, right?” he told the AP. “Part of my job is to reduce all the barriers I possibly can for people to accept us as an organization and to join.”
Krone also suggested that scouts should respect each other, regardless of motives and merits. “Scouting America provides a welcoming, safe environment where youth can become the best version of themselves by learning from and respecting each other,” he added in the statement.
However, the scouts’ long-standing recognition of competition among boys and sexual distinctions between boys and girls has been an attraction for millions of young boys who preferred to avoid female company, oversight, and conflict.
Moreover, very few young boys claim to be transgender, suggesting that the group will gain few new members from the transgender-friendly policy.
The eclipse of the Boy Scouts was touted by journalists eager to celebrate its new “inclusive” nature denying the popular and useful recognition that men and women — and boys and girls — are equal, different, and complementary.
U.S. Department of Education. Credit: DC Stock Photography/Shutterstock.
(JNS) The U.S. Department of Education announced on Tuesday that it is probing Columbia University, the City University of New York “central office,” Emory University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the North East Independent School District in San Antonio for allegedly violating Title VI in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The investigations relate to “shared ancestry,” which includes discrimination of Israelis and Jews. The department does not share details of its open investigations, but a listing on its website notes that Columbia and Emory as being probed for alleged Title VI violations based on “national origin discrimination involving religion.”
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Laura Diamond, assistant vice president of university communications at Emory University, confirmed to JNS that the Atlanta, Ga. private school received the Title VI complaint from the Education Department and that it intends to respond.
“We are unable to discuss an open investigation,” she told JNS.
Samantha Slater, director of communications for media relations at Columbia University, told JNS that “We’re going to decline comment on a pending investigation.”
JNS also sought comment from CUNY, UNC Chapel Hill and the San Antonio school district.
UNC Chapel Hill, which received an “F” grade from the Anti-Defamation League in its recent “report card” on campus antisemitism, was the target of a U.S. Education Department probe for alleged Title VI discrimination for “national origin discrimination involving religion” opened on Dec. 23.
Per a copy of the complaint that the department released, a professor at the public school referred to the existence of the State of Israel as “somewhat ridiculous,” and a speaker at a UNC event said that Zionism is a “cancer” and that “Oct. 7, for many of us from the region, was a beautiful day. It was a day on which we saw … men break out of a concentration camp.”
UNC Chapel Hill was also the target of a Title VI investigation related to alleged religious discrimination in February 2023.
There are currently eight open Title VI investigations probing CUNY based on potential violations related to religion.
Two Columbia Business School professors told JNS that the Education Department’s investigation of their employer is necessary.
“Antisemitic protests, threats and violence were a regular part of Columbia University life for more than six months,” Ran Kivetz, a marketing professor at the school, and Awi Federgruen, professor of management and chair of decision, risk and operations, told JNS in a joint statement.
“Columbia faculty members harassed Jewish students, whose tuition pays their salaries,” the two Columbia professors said. “The perpetrators of antisemitism on Columbia’s campus have not been disciplined.”
The duo, which has defended Israel against charges of causing starvation in Gaza, criticized the “inexplicable” decision of Columbia president Minouche Shafik to “appease the Hamas-supporters” by considering demands to boycott Israel.
“She also created a moral equivalency between the campus riots and past protests against apartheid in South Africa,” they said.
The front page of the New York Times reads “Palestinian Militants Stage an Attack on Israel.” The Washington Post declares “Israel ‘At War’ After Hamas Attack.” What is shockingly absent, what neither headline includes, is language that accurately describes what happened the day before. Nothing calls it what it was.
On October 7, terror came to Israel, with a level of precision, and on a scale she had never experienced before. The terrorists targeted civilians, women, children, and peace-loving concertgoers. They committed acts of such extreme savage brutality that they defy imagination. For Jews, it was an emotional atomic bomb, the impact of which sent shockwaves that rocked and shook the souls of our people around the world. Including me.
I’ve felt helpless in the face of what has happened since that day. And those who would politicize or justify what happened that day, or even deny that it happened at all, spin the false narratives that have been flying through the ether of social media, screamed on college campuses, and poisoning the reporting of news since the October 8. Israel is constantly demonized, and those who simply believe in her right to exist are now the villains and oppressors of the world. The result is an exponential rise in overt antisemitism, considered by some to be just what we deserve.
But then this came along — the opportunity to do something positive in these turbulent times. Daunting in scope, it has been both an empowering and truly humbling experience.
October 7 is testimony — a collective sharing of traumatic memory. It isn’t political. It isn’t commentary. Our only job was to find the balance between the devastation of what these people experienced, and the incredible force of hope and resilience that they embody, and to share that with the audience through the truth of their words. We committed ourselves as a company to ensure that the authentic voices of these remarkable people are heard so that others might be touched by their humanity and extraordinary resilience. And I have no doubt that you will be.
Shalom.
Geoffrey Cantor ( Director: October 7: In Their Own Words)
This astonishing play takes you into the heart of the October 7th attacks against Israelis of all ages, ethnicities, and circumstances.
Stories of horror and heroics are presented verbatim, using only the words of those who experienced the attacks and dealt with the aftermath.
Despite pain and loss, these are also stories of hope, resilience, and even humor.
Don’t miss this historic opportunity to bear witness to the tragedy and heroism of those who endured October 7th. In their own words.
Never again is now.
When: Now thru June 16, 2024
Where: Actors Temple Theatre 339 W. 47th St, NY 10036
TJV Readers can get discounted tickets now, by clicking here:TICKET OFFER
Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you very much. I am Eric Adams, the mayor of this amazing city, New York, and, I can almost recall, like it was yesterday, that Commissioner Iscol came to me with a record dealing with the loss of my Uncle Joe, who died in Vietnam at 19-years-old.
He was hesitant to give it to me, because you think the pain of losing someone that fights to defend this country, you bury it. Then there was a sad reality of knowing, at 19, he lost his life defending this country.
That is why we’re here today. I want to be extremely clear. In spite of the unpopular notion that people don’t want to say it, I want to say it. I love America. I love America. I’m proud to be a citizen of America. The reason we are here is because of men and women like this statue behind us. We cannot remain silent when our symbols of freedom are desecrated by individuals who clearly hate our country and hate our way of life.
I am not going to remain silent. We should not remain silent, because our silence gives the belief that everything is okay and it is not okay. Not only was this statue desecrated, but down the block, another statue was desecrated. We know how important free speech is to this country. It’s the core of our democracy, one that many Americans, like the symbols of these men, fought and ensured that it would stay intact. It’s a unique qualification that this country is so proud to have.
The right to free speech, the right to protest the right, is something that we will always fight to keep in place. These heroes of World War I, who this memorial is honored by, and if you look closely and read the history of this memorial, it is not like others where they lift up generals and high-ranking individuals. This memorial is reflected of the common man, the common woman, everyday soldiers who died and sacrificed their lives on the field of battle. And it’s painful. It’s painful for me, and it’s painful for others, and I’m sure it’s painful for my two commissioners who are here, who fought and served this country, to watch this desecration take place right in front of them in the country that they defended and fought for.
Being vandalized by cowards, in the name of protest, one of the very freedoms that is enshrined in the memorial of the individuals who are here and died. And it’s at the face of what commissioner has done, Sue Donoghue, has done for years to keep our parks at the level of care and nurture. This is at the foot of what children play and what we believe should be a symbol of our strength.
They are crimes, and they will be treated as one. Today, I’m announcing $5,000 of my personal money for the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for this act. Crime Stoppers, they also joined me. They have announced a $10,000 reward as well in the Crime Stopper tips hotline. We’re going to be handing out these flyers for people in the areas who may have witnessed what happened. We’re going to canvas the area. We’re going to treat this crime with the seriousness that it deserves.
Detective Kenny is here, Commissioner Daughtry and Chief Chell, they’re here. This is a top priority for us to solve this crime. I’m not just putting my money where my mouth is. I’m going to put it where my heart is. My heart is in this city and in this country, and I would not stand by while people desecrate memorials for those who fought for democracy and human rights.
The same rights that they are calling for, they are desecrating the lives of people who fought for that. I want to assure New Yorkers that our city will not tolerate chaos and disorder, even if those who are creating it claim to be doing so in the name of peace. We want [you] to bring your anger and passion to the protests, but don’t bring your hate, don’t bring your violence and don’t bring your disorder. Threaten to change history, but let’s not threaten each other.
I want to thank everyone from the Parks Department and the Central Park Conservancy for immediately removing — you still see remnants of the graffiti that was placed here because of the porousness of the bricks, but they did a good job to immediately address the issues that’s in front of us with the desecration. Their quick response and cleanup sent the right message. We’re going to immediately respond, and we’re working to address the additional acts of vandalism just down the street at Grand Army Plaza, the Manhattan Grand Army Plaza, not the one in Brooklyn.
We’re going to be swift with our response. We’re going to be swift with our actions, and we’re going to be swift to ensure those who attempt to bring disorder to the city would not accomplish their task. This is the greatest city on the globe because it’s in the greatest country on the globe. We’re able to say that because of the men and women who placed their lives on the line to sacrifice for that freedom. One of those is the commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management who fought for this country. I want to bring him up now. Commissioner Iscol.
Commissioner Zach Iscol, New York City Emergency Management: Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you all for being here today. Mr. Mayor, thank you for your words. Thank you for your support for the veterans community and thank you for setting this standard.
Last summer, I took my son, Wolf, to Normandy for the 79th anniversary of Normandy in World War II. A different war than the memorial behind us, which is World War I. We walked the beaches where his great-grandfather, my grandfather, landed. We went to the cemetery at Normandy. There’s a quote on the wall at the cemetery that sort of amounts to the fact that Americans have fought overseas, and all that we’ve asked for is enough land to bury our dead. All that we’ve asked for is enough land to bury our dead.
As the mayor said, this memorial behind us is different than all the other memorials. This is a one to the Doughboys. This is one to the World War I men who went off and fought for our country. They believed in something. They believed in the promise of America. Over 500 of them didn’t make it home. On the way up here, I printed out the names of some of those men. I was looking at them, their ages, so much life that was unlived. I thought about my battalion. I served in one of the hardest-hit battalions of the Iraq War, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.
We lost 33 Marines in combat. Over half our battalion, 576 Marines were wounded. I think about what those Marines and sailors gave their life for. I think about what we owe them in terms of what we do with our lives. Some of those guys that I served with, we have conversations ranging the political perspective.
Some of them have gone off and fought in Ukraine. Some of them are marching in these protests. Some of them are doing the best they can to give meaning to their lives because they were the ones fortunate enough to go home. With those Marines that I served with, we’ve had all sorts of conversations about things we vehemently disagree about. We’ve had conversations. The last way to have a conversation is doing what these folks did to this memorial. That is not the start of a conversation. That is desecration. I’m glad we live in a city and we have a mayor that won’t stand for that. I’m proud to bring up my colleague, the commissioner, Colonel James Hendon. James. Thank you.
Commissioner James Hendon, Department of Veterans’ Services: Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is James Hendon. I serve as commissioner for the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services. I just want to take a moment to speak about this monument in general, just from our friends at the Parks Department. Dedicated September 29, 1927, this is the 107th Infantry Memorial. It is one of eight World War I monuments in Central Park, and it’s Central Park’s largest war memorial.
Four point seven members — 4.7 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces served in World War or the Great War: 204,000 were wounded, 116,516 died. This monument recognizes 350 men who died from the 107th and 900 who were wounded over a two-day period. The lineage traces back to the Revolutionary War for the 107th, and the sculpture symbolizes seven men bursting through from the woods, breaking the Hindenburg Line in Germany in September of 1918. When we look at those who served, past and present, our commitment to these men and women and their families throughout time as a nation, a state, a city, as an administration, our commitment transcends death.
To pan back, the country’s been around for 247, going on 248 years, in that time, 45 Americans have served in 12 major conflicts, 1.5 million wounded in action, 81,000 missing, 658,088 killed. What is bitter in its irony is that all who sacrificed and all who died would sacrifice and die again in order to protect the rights and freedoms of the very people who burned the flag and vandalized this monument yesterday evening.
Of those who have and do fulfill military service, we are all races. We are all creeds. We are all genders, all disability types, all sexual orientations, all colors, all classes, all religions. That our allegiance is transcendent is what makes our country so strong. The power of America lies in our freedoms and our diversity.
With that, rather than give the vandals what they wanted and speaking about whatever they want it on their terms, we choose to take the narrative back and make sure that military veterans and their families know that this city and this administration has their back at all times.
As to our veteran community members, please know that the New York City Department of Veterans Services can be reached at 212-416-5250. Email is [email protected]. Website is nyc.gov/vets. Social media handle is @nycveterans. On issues ranging from healthcare to housing, to benefits, to culture, to education or employment, we’re here. To anyone who is angry right now, because I’m angry too, I just want to say that. To anyone who is angry right now, we urge you to turn that anger into positive actions. Take steps to help do right by our military sisters and brothers and their families, past and present. We owe them that. Thank you.
Mayor Adams: Thank you. Over to any questions, if there are any.
Question: John Townsend, CBS News. I saw the flier. It’s $10,000 for Crime Stoppers and an additional $5,000 from your own money, so $15,000. Right?
Mayor Adams: Yes. Yes. Yes. Dedicated in the name of my uncle, 19-year-old Uncle Joe.
Question: Newsmax, do you have any leads on who these people might be?
Mayor Adams: Chief of Detectives Kenny is, we are, tracing down the leads, and we’re asking anyone based on the fliers, the Crime Stoppers fliers, we’re going to be posting this around. Every information will help us, there’s a few social media leads we have, but we’re going to continue to focus on that, but we’re asking whomever, witness anything, to please let the New York City Police Department know
In this courtroom sketch, Stormy Daniels testifies on the witness stand as Judge Juan Merchan looks on in Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York.. A photo of Donald Trump and Daniels from their first meeting is displayed on a monitor. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
(AP) — Porn actor Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday in the hush money case against Donald Trump, who looked on as she detailed their alleged sexual encounter and the payment she got to keep it quiet.
Prosecutors allege Trump paid Daniels to keep quiet about the claims as he ran for president in 2016. Her testimony aired them very publicly as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee seeks to win the White House again.
Trump denies having sex with Daniels, and his lawyers unsuccessfully pushed for a mistrial midway through her testimony.
The case centers on a $130,000 payment to Daniels from Trump’s then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, in the final weeks of Trump’s 2016 campaign. Prosecutors say it was part of a scheme to illegally influence the campaign by burying negative stories about him.
In this courtroom sketch, Stormy Daniels testifies on the witness stand as Judge Juan Merchan looks on in Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York.. A photo of Donald Trump and Daniels from their first meeting is displayed on a monitor. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
His lawyers have sought to show that Trump was trying to protect his reputation and family — not his campaign — by shielding them from embarrassing stories about his personal life.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, told jurors that she started exotic dancing in high school and appearing in adult films at age 23, eventually moving on to direct more than 150 films and winning a roster of porn industry awards.
Daniels testified she first met and chatted with Trump at a 2006 Lake Tahoe celebrity golf outing where her studio was a sponsor.
He referred to her as “the smart one” and asked her if she wanted to go to dinner, she said. Daniels testified that she accepted Trump’s invitation because she wanted to avoid dinner with her co-workers and thought it might help her career. Trump had his bodyguard get her number, she said.
Stormy Daniels testifies in Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York, about the encounter in former President Donald Trump’s hotel penthouse, showing how she found Trump in his bedroom lying on his bed. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
When they met up later in his penthouse, she appreciated that he seemed interested in the business aspects of the industry rather than the “sexy stuff.” He also suggested putting her on his TV show, “The Apprentice,” a possibility she hoped could help establish her as a writer and director.
She left to use the bathroom and was startled to find Trump in his underwear when she returned, she said. She didn’t feel physically or verbally threatened but realized that he was “bigger and blocking the way,” she testified.
Stormy Daniels, second from left, exits the courthouse in New York, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Porn actor Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, took the stand mid-morning Tuesday and testified about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, among other things. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
“The next thing I know was: I was on the bed,” and they were having sex, Daniels recalled. The encounter was brief but left her “shaking,” she said. “I just wanted to leave,” she testified.
PAYMENTS FOR SILENCE
Daniels was asked if Trump ever told her to keep things between them confidential and said, “Absolutely not.” She said she learned in 2011 that a magazine had learned the story of their encounter and she agreed to do an interview for $15,000 to make money and “control the narrative.” The story never ran.
Former President Donald Trump gestures to reporters as he returns to the courtroom after a break in his trial, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, Pool)
Former President Donald Trump, joined by his attorney Susan Necheles, left, sits at the defense table in Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, Pool)
In 2016, when Trump was running for president, Daniels said she authorized her manager to shop the story around but did not initially receive interest from news outlets. She said that changed in October with the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump bragged about grabbing women sexually without asking permission. She said she learned that Cohen wanted to buy her silence.
MISTRIAL PUSH
Midway through her testimony, Trump’s lawyers moved for a mistrial.
Defense lawyer Todd Blanche argued that Daniels’ testimony about the alleged encounter and other meetings with him had “nothing to do with this case,” and would unfairly prejudice the jury.
The judge rejected it, and he faulted defense attorneys for not raising more of their objections while she was testifying.
Before Daniels took the stand, Trump’s lawyers had tried to stop her from testifying about the encounter’s details, saying it was irrelevant in “a case about books and records.”
Prosecutors countered that Daniels’ testimony gets at what Trump was trying to hide and they were “very mindful” not to draw too much graphic detail. Before Daniels took the stand, they told the judge the testimony would be “really basic,” and would not “involve any details of genitalia.”
While the judge didn’t side with Trump’s lawyers, he acknowledged that some details were excessive. The objections could potentially be used by Trump’s lawyers if he is convicted and they file an appeal.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
Trump’s lawyers tried to attack Daniels’ credibility, suggesting she was motivated by money and that her account has shifted over the years.
“Am I correct that you hate President Trump?” Defense lawyer Susan Necheles asked Daniels at one point. Daniels acknowledged she did.
“And you want him to go to jail?” the lawyer asked.
“I want him to be held accountable,” Daniels said. Pressed again whether that meant going to jail, she said, “If he’s convicted.”
The defense pressed Daniels on the fact that she owes Trump hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees stemming from an unsuccessful defamation lawsuit and on a 2022 tweet in which she said she “will go to jail before I pay a penny.” Daniels dug in at times in the face of pointed questions, forcefully denying the idea that she had tried to extort Trump.
TRUMP IN COURT
Trump whispered frequently to his attorney during Daniels’ testimony, and his expression seemed to be pained at one point as she recounted details about the dinner she says they shared. He shook his head and appeared to say something under his breath as Daniels testified that Trump told her he didn’t sleep in the same room as his wife.
At one point, the judge told defense lawyers during a sidebar conversation — out of earshot of the jury and the public — that he could hear Trump “cursing audibly” and see him shaking his head, according to a transcript of the proceedings.
“I am speaking to you here at the bench because I don’t want to embarrass him,” Judge Juan Merchan told Blanche, Trump’s lawyer. Blanche assured the judge he would talk to his client.
“You need to speak to him. I won’t tolerate that,” the judge said.
On the way out of the courthouse, Trump called it “a very revealing day.” He didn’t address Daniels’ testimony explicitly but claimed the prosecutors’ case was “totally falling apart.”
A JARRING SPLIT SCREEN
Trump’s appearance in court Tuesday, like all other days he’s stuck in the courtroom, means he can’t be out on the campaign trail as he runs for president a third time. It’s a frequent source of his complaints, but Daniels’ testimony in particular might underscore how much of a distraction the trial is from the business of running for president.
While Trump was stuck in a Manhattan courthouse away from voters and unable to speak for much of the day, his rival, Democratic President Joe Biden, was attending a Holocaust remembrance ceremony and condemning antisemitism.
It’s an issue Trump has sought to use against Biden in the campaign by seizing on the protests at college campuses over the Israel-Hamas war.
____
Whitehurst reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Michael Sisak, Jennifer Peltz, Jake Offenhartz and Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this story.
