August 4, 2025

ISRAEL AT WAR

From prototype to combat in 90 minutes is among the reasons Israel's defensetech sector is booming.  

Arab states call on Hamas to surrender. 

Several major Jewish groups refuse a meeting with the French Ambassador over President Macron's premature move to recognize a Palestinian state.  In related news, UK Chief Rabbi Mirvis calls the Starmer Government's similar move to be a "fundamental misstep" that makes Hamas less likely to agree to a deal. 

Presidential appointee Steve Witkoff and Ambassador Mike Huckabee join the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to inspect aid delivery amid accusations against Israel.  

The US State Department sanctions Palestinian leadership.

Germany and Italy block EU attempts to push Israel out of its Horizon high tech collaboration.  

As Israel's third Dolphin class submarine enters sea trials, a first-ever command appointment takes place at the IAF, with a woman assuming command of a drone squadron for the very first time.

And, TLV's Terminal 1 officially reopens.  

ON CAPITOL SQUARE

Cincinnati Police make arrests in a violent "caught on camera" brawl.

Ohio public officials react to Intel's recent announcement.  (In related news, a look at JobsOhio's push to do more for small companies and rural communities.)

Gov. DeWine announces $65 million in job creation and retention projects as well as 1,400 new truck parking slots.  

AG Yost says county fairs can't bar firearms.

Sen. Reineke announces a bid for the Senate Presidency after President McColley is termed out.  

Women are making strides in Ohio's legislature, but Ohio still isn't at "gender parity."

A new Ohio VC fund will help build up the state's next startups.

Anduril gets a big partner in the Republic of Taiwan. 

And, Mendel's kosher KC BBQ partners with Midnight Owl Brewery.  

ON CAPITOL HILL AND AROUND THE COUNTRY

FEMA opens the 2025 DHS NSGP funding cycle with a compressed timeline.  Applications from states are due August 11.  

As IHRA advances in New Jersey, Reps. Foxx and Gottheimer reintroduce it in the US House.

Federal agents arrest a Dayton man for threatening to kill an unnamed Congressman if they voted to cut Medicaid. (In related news, Speaker Johnson says they are looking at how to counter new risks.)  Rep. Dan Goldman, co-chair of the House Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, hosts a roundtable of local electeds, law enforcement, and NYC Jewish community leaders to confront rising Jew-hatred.  The President's lead on combating Jew-hatred says the "Jewish tax" to pay for security is unconscionable.  Judge Jeanine Pirro, the new US Attorney for DC, says she and her team are reaching out to Jewish organizations directly on local matters where they could be of assistance, saying her emphasis on direct community outreach, rather than solely engaging with “other federal agencies that talk to each other all day long,” was a shift.  In the DMV, local FBI leaders are also reaching out to Jewish communities.  

As VP Vance visits Ohio to promote OBBB, he gets into a dustup with Rep. Emilia Sykes over the safety of cities like Akron and Canton.  

Rep. Jordan focuses on free speech in the EU.

As Ohio Solicitor General T. Elliot Gaiser is confirmed for the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel, Orlando Sonza, a former congressional and state legislative candidate, is appointed counsel to the DOJ civil rights division.

Believe it or not, museums are lobbying against strengthening the Holocaust Art recovery law.

Senate Appropriators debate the Trump Administration's antisemitism related crackdown on higher education.  In related news, Harvard agrees to cover Harvard Hillel's security costs for this year.  And college students say financial penalties for colleges aren't enough; they also need to commit to  structural reforms.  

Appropriators also look at the draft NDAA which includes $80 million in additional US-Israel cooperative funding, as compared to 2025; $75 million for counter drone and missile programs, $47.5 million for cooperative programs in emerging defense technologies and $80 million for counter-tunneling programs.

NC Gov. Josh Stein says the state Democratic party was wrong to pass anti-Israel resolutions.

Democratic lawmakers sue for visitor access to ICE facilities.

The Navy moves to work on unmanned missile boats to counter the threats seen in the Russian-Ukraine war and in China's rising power as a blue water naval force in the Pacific.  

States across the country work to restrict cryptocurrency ATMs.

Missouri ballot initiative winners look to respond to legislative efforts to curb or reverse their ballot box wins.  

The Smithsonian is pushing back on transferring the Discovery Space Shuttle to Houston.

Finally, public safety and law enforcement startups are getting attention from investors.

PG Sittenfeld's appeal of his corruption conviction could have an impact on other bribery cases.  

A 90-year-old Holocaust survivor keeps on boxing. 

And, His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, accepts a Philadelphia Eagles hat.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Amy Acton announces a $1.35 million fundraising close.  

Leader Schumer meets with Sherrod Brown. 

A new Ohio congressional map is in the works; GOP leaders are trying to expand Republican wins to other districts. 

A look at how outsiders are now winning Republican primaries in Ohio. 

Ohio Equal Rights looks to move two amendments on the 2026 ballot: one removing the ban on same-sex marriage in the Ohio Constitution, and another expanding discrimination protections.

New York's Jewish community continues to debate how best to confront a potential Zohran Mamdani mayoralty. 

Sen. Jon Ossoff's continuing votes against Israel are hurting his efforts to rebuild support in the Jewish community.

Texas Republicans look to gerrymander additional seats.  

And, former VP Kamala Harris is not running for California governor.

THE JEWISH WORLD

The US and NATO are warning that the Iranian threat is increasing across Europe and North America.  Similarly, Israel's NSC reissues a travel warning regarding the UAE.  

Jewish Canadians were the most targeted religious group, new data shows. No surprise then that the country's antisemitism envoy resigns, citing exhaustion.  Also, no surprise, that a man planning to bomb Toronto synagogues gets just 60 days of house arrest.  A French Jew is attacked by a mob in Italy.  

Israel's Elbit wins a $260 million air defense contract with Germany as CyberArk's $25 billion purchase by Palo Alto Networks marks Israel's second largest ever tech exit.  And Greece seeks EU funds for Israel's BARAK MX missile.

Israel also launches two new deep-tech incubators.

Ben Gurion University announces a new student exchange program with Harvard.  

The Philippines and Israel work on a free trade agreement.  

Leonardo DiCaprio's luxury Herzliya Marina hotel gets approved. 

This Roman era church may actually be a Spanish synagogue.

Azerbaijan wants Israel in a regional energy market.

Why Israel's omission from the Intel CEO memo may be good news.

A new Haifa-Tel Aviv high speed rail line could cut the commute to 30 minutes.

And yes, that's chareidi kids from Bnei Brak at the Capoeira tournament. 

IN THE MEDIA

Yad Vashem chair Dani Dayan writes about humanitarian aid in Gaza and why all sides need to stop using Holocaust references.  

SCN's Michael Masters meets with Secretary Noem on the Jewish community's security needs.

Cleveland rabbis speak about the recent IRS ruling on endorsements.

Former OJC intern Austin Albanese speaks with the Forward about his journey.

And, CJN profiles retiring Park Synagogue executive director Stuart Deicher.

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS OF THE WEEK

WORTH A READ

Sabbaticals take on the "micro-retirement" name for Gen Z workers.  How Birmingham is trying to become a tech hub.  This defensetech CEO takes his lessons from Apple and Tesla.  Mexican cartel members are in the Russia-Ukraine battlefield learning how to use drones.  And, this woman apologizes to Natan Sharansky, three and a half decades on.