Top university withholds student’s diploma after anti-Israel graduation speech

A New York University (NYU) student who slammed Israel’s war in Gaza during a graduation speech has had his diploma suspended. 

Logan Rozos drew a sharp rebuke from the university after repeatedly referring to Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “genocide” that was being perpetuated with the support of the United States. 

“The genocide currently occurring is supported politically and militarily by the United States, is paid for by our tax dollars and has been livestreamed to our phones for the past 18 months,” said Rozo, a graduating student from the Gallatin School liberal art program.

Rozos’ comments drew a loud reaction from the crowd, including applause along with a standing ovation for those who supported him, while others expressed their disapproval. 

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As the video spread online, pro-Israel groups demanded the university take aggressive disciplinary action against Rozo.

NYU spokesperson John Beckman condemned the speech and said that NYU was “deeply sorry that the audience was subjected to these remarks.”

Beckman said Rozos deviated from approved remarks and the university is now withholding Rozos’ diploma while it pursues disciplinary actions. 

“He lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated the commitment he made to comply with our rules,” Beckman said in a statement Wednesday. “NYU is deeply sorry that the audience was subjected to these remarks and that this moment was stolen by someone who abused a privilege that was conferred upon him.” 

Rozos, a member of the Gallatin Theater Troupe, was selected by fellow students to give the program’s address. Rozos is described as having a moral and political obligation to speak to the audience about the situation in Palestine. 

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“My moral and political commitment guide me to say that the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine,” Rozos said. “I do not wish to speak only to my own politics today, but to speak for all people of conscience, and all people who feel the moral injury of this atrocity.”

Pro-Jewish groups sharply criticized Rozos’ remarks and praised NYU for acting quickly on the matter. 

“No student — especially Jewish students — should have to sit through politicized rhetoric that promotes harmful lies about Israel during such a personal milestone,” the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement.

We are thankful to the NYU administration for their strong condemnation and their pursuit of disciplinary action.

Rozos majored in cultural criticism and political economy, according to an archived version of Gallatin’s website. Rozos’ profile is no longer available on the website. 

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The documentary non-profit Fireflight Media describes Rozos in a profile page as an “actor, artist, and gay Black trans man” whose debut in acting was in the Peabody-nominated television drama David Makes Man in 2019.

The war on Gaza sparked a wave of student protests on college campuses last year, including at NYU where demonstrations turned violent, with dozens of arrests being made. 

NYU is one of 10 universities being investigated by the Trump administration’s antisemitism taskforce. The task force is examining how universities have handled alleged antisemitic incidents since the start of the Israel-Gaza war.

Dem gov to be awarded for ‘moral courage’ after trans athlete dispute with Trump

Maine Gov. Janet Mills will be one of the recipients of the Human Rights Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization. A ceremony will be held next month.

Mills will receive the award because of her battle with President Donald Trump’s administration over transgender athlete inclusion in women’s and girls’ sports.

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“I am honored to receive this recognition named for former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, a heroic champion for civil rights and the rule of law that governs our nation and inspires the world,” Mills said in a news release.

“Throughout my career as a District Attorney, Attorney General, and now as Governor of Maine, I have fought to uphold the Constitution of my state and my country. I feel it is the responsibility of all Americans to speak in defense of their principles, for the rights of others, and for the rule of law which protects us all. As a member of the generation of Americans who were inspired by the career of Robert F. Kennedy, I am truly humbled and grateful for this award, which recognizes how his remarkable legacy should inspire all of us today.”

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Mills, along with Justice Department pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer and immigration and reform activist Jeanette Vizguerra, was given the award “for their moral courage and willingness to act on their convictions – even at great personal risk.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sued the state of Maine in April as Mills bucked the president’s executive order to keep males out of girls’ and women’s sports. Maine’s transgender participation policies have been a source of consternation, leading to a public spat between Trump and Mills during a meeting with the governors in February. The USDA lawsuit was one of a few filed against the state.

The USDA announced a funding freeze and a review of federal funding to Maine for the state allegedly refusing to provide equal opportunities to women and girls in educational programs. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said at the time that the state must agree to protect female athletes from trans inclusion before funding would be restored.

Maine sued the USDA over the funding freeze and accused the department of “withholding funding used to feed children in schools, childcare centers, and after-school programming as well as disabled adults in congregate settings.”

The state dropped the lawsuit against the administration as the USDA agreed to restore federal funding earlier this month.

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Maine is still facing other legal battles over the issue.

Actor shuts down ‘intimidating’ question about immigrants in US at the Cannes film festival

Actor Pedro Pascal, who is starring in a movie titled “Eddington” that played at the Cannes Film Festival, deflected concerns about the United States becoming closed off to migrants in a press conference on Friday.

“I wonder what you think – are you worried about these millions of Latin migrants in the shadows, living in America, and do you fear that America will become an absolutely closed country to the world?” one reporter asked Pascal. 

“I mean it’s obviously very scary for an actor participating in a movie to sort of speak to issues like this,” Pascal said. “It’s far too intimidating a question for me to really address. I’m not informed enough. I want people to be safe and to be protected and I very much want to live on the right side of history. And I’m an immigrant.”

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“My parents are refugees from Chile. I, myself, was a refugee. We fled a dictatorship, and I was privileged enough to grow up in the U.S.,” Pascal continued. “If it weren’t for that, I don’t know what would have happened to us. I stand by those protections always.”

The actor also spoke to the political situation in the U.S. under President Donald Trump, opposing the politicization of fear: “F— the people who try to make you scared.”

“Fear is the way they win,” Pascal said about his concerns over reentering the U.S. after making “Eddington,” according to Variety.

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The Trump administration has pursued an aggressive immigration deterrence policy, building on promises made during the campaign to crack down on illegal immigration. 

Several U.S. judges have opposed the Trump administration’s actions, including in a status hearing centered on Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Salvadorian migrant and alleged MS-13 member who was deported from Maryland to El Salvador in March in what administration officials have acknowledged was an administrative error.

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Bulk shopping retail giant to roll out game-changing switch to checkout process

Costco has started letting U.S. customers pay for large online purchases with buy now, pay later through a new partnership with Affirm.

The new online payment option for U.S. Costco customers was unveiled by Affirm and the popular warehouse retailer on Wednesday. 

With Affirm’s buy now, pay later service, approved Costco members can now “pay over time” for eligible $500 to $17,500 purchases they make on the warehouse retailer’s website, the payment company said.

Costco said on its website that “many” online items qualify for the Affirm buy now, pay later installment plans.

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Members using Affirm’s service to pay are presented with their options for installment plans once they undergo a “quick, real-time eligibility check” during checkout, according to Affirm.

The plans “feature transparent pricing and credit offers,” the company said.

They range from three to 36 months, with APR rates between 10%-36% depending on what the customer is purchasing, according to Costco. 

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Splitting up large purchases with Affirm’s buy now, pay later service can only be done for purchases on Costco’s website, meaning it is not a payment method that members can use at the retailer’s physical warehouses, Costco’s website indicated.

The retailer had 624 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico as of early May, as well as 281 across 13 other countries.

Its physical warehouses typically sell less than 4,000 different types of products at a given time, whereas its e-commerce site offers 9,000 to 10,000 on average.

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Trump suggests theory about Comey’s ’86 47′ post, says he did it ‘for a reason’

President Donald Trump is condemning a cryptic social media post from former FBI Director James Comey, which Trump and others interpreted as a veiled call for his assassination.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier during a visit to Abu Dhabi, Trump said the now-deleted post, which showed seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” was deliberate.

“He wasn’t very competent. But he was competent enough to know what that meant. And, he did it for a reason,” Trump said in an interview that aired Friday on “Special Report.”

The post, shared on Instagram, featured the caption, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Some interpreted it as a coded message, with “86” being slang for “get rid of,” and “47” referring to Trump, who is the 47th president of the United States. 

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Comey later deleted the post and issued an apology, saying, “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

Trump, however, is not convinced.

“He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant,” he said. “If you’re the FBI director, and you don’t know what that meant – that meant assassination, and it says it loud and clear.”

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When asked whether Comey should face consequences, Trump declined to give a definitive answer but said the Justice Department and U.S. Secret Service are investigating.

“If he had a clean history – he doesn’t, he’s a dirty cop … I could understand if there was a leniency. But I’m going to let them make that decision,” he said.

Trump also used the interview to highlight recent foreign policy developments, claiming success in brokering peace and securing economic deals in the Middle East.

“I’m using trade to settle scores and to make peace,” Trump said.

He pointed to a recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, calling it a major breakthrough that averted what he claimed was the potential for nuclear war.

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“That was going to be a nuclear war, I think, or close … And now everyone’s happy,” Trump said. “In fact, I told my people, call them up, let’s start trading immediately.”

Earlier this month, Trump announced the ceasefire in a Truth Social post, congratulating both nuclear powers for showing what he called “common sense.” 

He said he’s also looking to use his trade strategy with Iran, which he claims is looking to make a deal with the United States. The president reiterated his stance that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, and noted the solution will either be “violent or not violent” and said he would prefer the peaceful option.   

Trump is returning to Washington with what he described as three major investment deals from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, amounting to billions of dollars in commitments to the U.S. economy.

He also criticized President Joe Biden’s approach to the region, saying, “It’s a great region, but it was never treated properly. And it was certainly not treated well by Biden, who didn’t know he was alive, frankly.”

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Trump added that he has eased “crippling” sanctions on Syria, claiming the country’s leadership requested relief to prove they could change.

The president also commented on the ongoing war in Ukraine, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin is growing “tired” of the conflict. Trump said he believes he could pressure Russia into peace talks using economic leverage, as he claims to have done with Iran, but only if he has to.

He criticized Biden for what he views as a failure to prevent the war, repeating his longstanding argument that the invasion would not have happened under his administration.

Toward the end of the interview, Trump discussed the investigations into two assassination attempts against him during the 2024 campaign season. He revealed that, while some information remains classified, he has been briefed by officials and still has questions.

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“I thought it was strange,” Trump said of one suspect. “The one guy had 18 cell phones, okay? I have a lot of cell phones, but I have like two.”

Discussing the Butler, Pennsylvania incident, where a bullet grazed his ear, Trump said investigators found unusual activity on the assailant’s phone.

“Three apps. Very unusual apps. And two of them were foreign apps,” he noted.

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Trump says that although he continues to feel uneasy, he’s been assured by officials that he is not currently at risk.

“They tell me it’s fine,” he said. “It’s a bit hard to be believe as I get that throbbing feeling. I get a little throbbing feeling,” he added, touching on the lingering effects of his injury.

The secrets of a long-lasting and meaningful grandparent-grandchild bond

Each Friday night, Jewish families do what we have done for thousands of years. We sit down for the moment we have anticipated all week: Shabbat dinner.

Before the meal, we engage in a few ritual practices. The woman of the house lights the Shabbat candles, ushering in the sacred day. We welcome the Sabbath day in song, we bless God over the wine and the bread, and we serenade (from Psalms 31) the Jewish woman. 

The best part – the moment that earns our highest anticipation throughout the week – is when we bless our children. It is a moment so sublime that the Jewish parent can, by laying his or her hands on the child, feel the presence of God at the Shabbat table. (See the video at the top of this article.) 

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The blessing that we make over our daughters is: “May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.” This is easily understandable. 

These are our – the most prominent women in the Book of Genesis.  

The blessing that we give our sons is very different. 

We say: “May God make you like Ephraim and Menasseh.” 

An observer would not be blamed for saying: “Who?” 

After all, Ephraim and Menasseh are obscure figures, so much so that they never speak a word in the whole Torah! Why, the observer might follow, don’t you bless your sons to be like Abraham, Joseph, Moses or King David? 

The blessing that Jewish boys receive on Friday night was given in the Torah — but not by a father. It was given by a grandfather. 

The truth is: The blessing only gets stranger. The blessing that Jewish boys receive on Friday night was given in the Torah — but not by a father. 

It was given by a grandfather, Jacob (who is also known as Israel).

So why, at the holiest moment of the week, do Jewish pass on a blessing from a grandfather to two otherwise obscure grandchildren?

Because the Bible is revealing something profound about human flourishing.

Ephraim and Menasseh are the only characters in Genesis who have a relationship with a grandparent. 

And when Jacob blesses them, the Torah doesn’t call him Jacob. It calls him . 

What is the significance? Let’s turn to Exodus 1:1: “These are the names of the sons of Israel who are to Egypt. With Jacob – each man with his household.”

The text uses  names of our patriarch – Jacob and Israel – and modifies the tense accordingly. Unlike the name “Jacob,” which is rooted in the past, “Israel” is the name of becoming.

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That’s the heart of grandparenthood.

In Exodus, the Torah instructs us to teach “your children and your children’s children.” 

The Torah tradition is filled with stories of grandparents – not as soft-spoken and candy-dispensing extras, but as teachers, transmitters, moral educators. 

Grandparenting, at its best, is a sacred calling.

Science backs this up. Among the nine million or so species on Earth, creatures from only six live after childbearing age. 

So grandparenthood is a very rare phenomenon. 

Why do humans live so long after raising their own children?

In 1998, Professor Kristen Hawkes of the University of Utah discovered the answer: the grandmother hypothesis.

Active grandparents free up the middle generation to do more, especially to have additional children. Grandparents extend the human story.

Grandchildren who are close to grandparents are more secure, perform better in school and are less impulsive. 

And everyone benefits. 

Grandparents who stay involved – but aren’t full-time caregivers – live longer, think more clearly, and are happier. 

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The Berlin Aging Study, which began in 1990 and tracked aging participants for over three decades, found that grandparents who provided noncustodial care for their grandchildren had a 37% lower risk of dying over 20 years compared to those who were less involved. 

Grandchildren who are close to grandparents are more secure, perform better in school, are less impulsive and are less anxious.

What’s the secret to a meaningful grandparent-grandchild bond?

A 2020 study from Hong Kong University found it: . 

Not nostalgia, but investment in what’s coming next.

A grandparent who always talks about how things were better “back in the day” might be tolerated. 

But a grandparent who’s excited about his or her grandchild’s dreams and who helps with assignments, celebrates milestones and passes on wisdom is loved, remembered and emulated.

That’s why , not , gives the blessing. 

And that’s why it’s the one we repeat every week.

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Grandparenthood, lived with love and future orientation, is one of the most powerful gifts – for all three generations.