WASHINGTON — Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania continues to nurture an unexpected camaraderie with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a connection that remains robust.

Breaking ranks with many members of his own party once more, the Democratic senator expressed his admiration for Netanyahu during a direct conversation on Wednesday.

“You’ve been a model patriot, advocating tirelessly for what’s beneficial to America and the strength of our alliance, something at which you’ve excelled,” Netanyahu commended Fetterman, as reported by a transcript from the Prime Minister’s office.

“Your straightforwardness, coupled with a fearless and tireless dedication to truth, sets a remarkable example,” Netanyahu added.

Fetterman, who has consistently sided with Israel and stood against the progressive faction since the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023, reciprocated the sentiments of respect.

“Mr. Prime Minister, it was a supreme honor of my time here in the Senate,” Fetterman said. “I’m proud to stand with and for the vision and what Israel is, the miracle that Israel is.”

The senator also blasted fellow Democrats over what he called the party’s increasingly hostile stance toward the US ally.

“It’s been disappointing, as a Democratic politician, how our party continues to behave,” said Fetterman, taking a swipe at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his recent address calling for Netanyahu’s arrest as a “war criminal.”

“Now I think, as far as I know, I was the only Democrat that was proud to push that trash back,” the senator added. “I’m proud to stand with Israel through everything.”

The meeting underscored Fetterman’s growing political isolation inside a Democratic Party where criticism of Netanyahu’s government has become increasingly popular since the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu praised the senator’s willingness to stand apart from his colleagues, telling him that “history will record your contribution to truth and justice.”

Fetterman, for his part, said he has no intention of changing course.

“I’m proud to remain the conscience of the Democratic Party in Congress,” he said.

“It’s always been a just war for me,” Fetterman continued. “I don’t understand how we’ve arrived with where we are politically, at least in my party, but I have no regrets.”

President Donald Trump has expressed willingness to temporarily withdraw his nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche, following a lack of support from two Republican senators.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump stated he wouldn’t oppose pulling Blanche’s nomination if outgoing Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina fail to back his confirmation during the Senate Judiciary Committee vote.

Trump further indicated that Blanche’s nomination could be reintroduced for consideration after the midterm elections.

This development comes amidst an ongoing deadlock between Trump and Senators Cornyn and Tillis. Central to their disagreement are issues relating to a tax immunity deal for Trump and his family, alongside a proposed $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization fund.’ These contentious points have prompted the senators to withhold their approval until there is official assurance that both the IRS deal and the fund are decisively abandoned. Blanche has acknowledged that formal revisions would be necessary to prevent any future revival of the settlement.

Despite extensive negotiations with the Department of Justice, no resolution has been reached. Cornyn highlighted the stalemate, stating that discussions have made no progress toward reaching the required changes.

That Trump appeared willing to gamble the fate of his attorney general nominee in order to keep alive a sweeping IRS settlement that would shield Trump and his family from tax audits offered a fresh glimpse into the president’s motivations in his second White House term. 

Cornyn suggested Thursday the concerns about Blanche’s confirmation are shared by others in the chamber as well, noting on social media that  Trump ‘is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis,’ Cornyn said.

 The impasse threatens to snarl Blanche’s confirmation hopes for the near-term, leaving Trump without a Senate-confirmed attorney general.

It could also prompt renewed scrutiny of the IRS settlement, barring the requested modifications. Already, the settlement and the so-called anti-weaponization fund had created new fissures within the Republican Party and the Trump administration. 

GOP leaders have shown more willingness to buck the President on his legislative priorities, which could complicate things for him in the final months before the midterm elections.

A Senate Judiciary Committee spokesperson conceded that Blanche’s nomination lacked votes to advance from committee, saying that the panel’s chairman, Senator Chuck Grassley, works to ‘set President Trump’s nominees up for success in committee, not failure.’

‘Senators Cornyn and Tillis want written assurances from the Department of Justice regarding the Trump-IRS settlement. Tomorrow’s markup is postponed as work continues to secure sufficient support in committee to favorably report Attorney General-nominee Todd Blanche, who is highly qualified for the job,’ the spokesperson said.

It’s not the only issue that could be a thorn in Blanche’s side in the days or weeks ahead.

Blanche spent his confirmation hearing earlier this month fielding tough questions from Democrats and Republicans alike, who pressed him repeatedly on controversial actions the Justice Department has taken during Trump’s second presidential term.

Lawmakers grilled Blanche about the Justice Department’s botched release of the Epstein files, his personal loyalty to Trump, and concerns about carrying out politically motivated investigations or penalizing career officials who refused to carry out these marching orders.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department said Tuesday that the two sides were in contact. 

DOJ ‘provided a written proposal to Senator Cornyn’s staff following ongoing discussion with both the Committee and the Senator’s office,’ adding that they ‘look forward to further discussion around any outstanding concerns.’

A recent legal filing from a former juror in the high-profile Alex Murdaugh murder trial sheds light on ongoing efforts to uncover purported jury tampering allegations from the 2023 proceedings, a development that has captured public attention.

Myra Crosby, who gained attention as the “egg juror,” has submitted paperwork asserting that the public deserves access to the ongoing investigation into Becky Hill. Hill, the former court clerk in Colleton County, South Carolina, is at the center of these serious allegations, according to a report by WCSC, a local news outlet.

Crosby earned her unusual nickname following a memorable moment when she was dismissed from the jury just before deliberations commenced. She made headlines by asking the judge for permission to retrieve a carton of fresh eggs and her purse that were left in the jury room, adding a unique twist to the trial narrative.

Becky Hill remains under scrutiny due to allegations that she attempted to influence the jury, reportedly advising them “not to be fooled” by Murdaugh’s defense strategies. This investigation is pivotal in unraveling the complexities surrounding the trial’s integrity.

That decision ultimately led to Murdaugh’s murder conviction being overturned by South Carolina’s Supreme Court.

The high court ruled the integrity of the jury’s decision was directly impacted by Hill’s actions.

According to WCSC, Crosby filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in May for the release of records relating to Hill’s jury tampering to be made public.

In response, the attorney general said videos cannot be released right away because they may need parts blurred or removed to protect the jurors’ identities.

Crosby argued those redactions are no longer needed because the jurors already spoke in open court, and some have also appeared in TV interviews and documentaries.

She says even if a few parts need to be hidden, that should not slow down the release of those records.

News Media has reached out to the office of South Carolina Attorney General, Crosby’s attorney and Hill’s attorney for comment.

A unique piece of tech history, the “stealth iPod” prototype, is capturing considerable attention as it heads to auction, with experts predicting it could sell for over £36,000 ($50,000).

This oversized prototype played a crucial role in testing Apple’s first iPod while keeping its true design hidden from the public. It was a clever engineering tactic to mask what would eventually become a game-changing product.

Deviating from the sleek and compact design familiar to many, the prototype featured a much larger casing. This allowed Apple employees to experiment with the device in public spaces without giving away the iPod’s final look and feel.

Internally dubbed the Apple P68, the beige-hued prototype remains in excellent condition thanks to Jim Dumont, who played a pivotal role as the fifth engineer enlisted for the original iPod team.

Dumont’s journey with Apple began in 2001 when he joined as a software engineering program manager. His tenure at Apple saw him not only develop the iPod across several generations but also make significant contributions to the creation of the iPhone.

The surviving prototype retains many of the features used during development, including engineering switches, barcode labels, exposed wiring and the oversized casing.

It is accompanied by an archive of Apple development material assembled during Dumont’s time on the iPod team, helping document one of the company’s most closely guarded product launches.

Steve Jobs famously introduced the iPod in 2001 with the promise of “1,000 songs in your pocket”.

Boston-based RR Auction’s Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction Part Two sale concludes on August 20.

Patrick Clancy described Lindsay’s mental health struggles

Kohberger’s case, which has already imposed a staggering $8 million burden on taxpayers, takes another financial toll as he is now assigned a public attorney. This development comes as he seeks to retract his plea concerning the fatal stabbings of the students.

In a decision made on Wednesday, Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler approved Kohberger’s request for legal assistance. He instructed the Idaho State Public Defender’s Office to appoint new counsel to represent Kohberger in all subsequent post-conviction matters.

This judicial order follows closely on the heels of Kohberger’s handwritten appeal for post-conviction relief. He is seeking to void the guilty plea he accepted last year, an agreement that saw prosecutors forgo the pursuit of the death penalty.

In his appeal, Kohberger alleges that he was “coerced into a false confession.” He further accuses his past defense team—Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth, and Bicka Barlow—of failing to present what he describes as “exculpatory discovery.” This evidence, he claims, was explored in the book “Broken Plea” but never brought to light during court proceedings.

Kohberger previously said he was entering the plea knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily and that no one had coerced him or promised him anything beyond the terms of the agreement. His new petition directly contradicts those statements.

As News Media previously reported, the filing outraged the family of victim Kaylee Goncalves, whose mother, Kristi Goncalves, said the family is prepared to return to court if Kohberger succeeds in reopening the case.

Hippler’s order states Kohberger’s motion for appointed counsel was granted under Idaho’s post-conviction relief statute and directs the Idaho State Public Defender to appoint an attorney to represent him throughout the proceedings.

The judge also noted that Kohberger had filed a motion seeking to proceed on partial payment of court fees, but said filing fees do not apply to petitions for post-conviction relief.

Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to the murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, admitting he fatally stabbed the four students inside an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. He was later sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.

An analysis by the Idaho Statesman found the investigation, prosecution and publicly funded defense have cost taxpayers more than $8 million.

Kohberger’s publicly funded defense alone accounted for nearly $5.5 million of that total, including nearly $2.8 million funded by Latah County before October 2024 and more than $2.65 million in additional defense costs after the state assumed responsibility for the case.

The remaining costs include spending by local and state law enforcement, prosecutors, the University of Idaho and the cost of housing Kohberger in custody after his arrest.

Public records reviewed by the Statesman show Kohberger’s attorneys have collectively earned more than $980,000 since the transition to the statewide public defender system.

It remains unclear how much his post-conviction proceedings will add to the taxpayer tab. News Media has reached out to the Idaho State Public Defender’s Office for comment.

Prosecutors said Kohberger turned off his cellphone before entering the off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, where the four students were fatally stabbed in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, and turned it back on after the killings.

Court records also show he searched online for local police dispatch audio after the murders. Investigators found none of the victims’ DNA inside his car after seizing it in Pennsylvania, but an FBI analyst concluded soil recovered from a shovel in the vehicle was consistent with dirt from the Moscow area.

At his sentencing last year, Kohberger received four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. He showed little visible emotion as relatives of the victims and the two surviving roommates delivered emotional victim impact statements condemning him for the killings.