Former Nassau GOP Chairman Joseph Mondello sat down with Newsday to speak about his time as the former appointed U.S. ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, during Donald Trump's presidency. 


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Joe Mondello about his time as ambassador

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Joe Mondello reflects on tense times as ambassador to Trinidad

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Salvadorans on Long Island are preparing for the end of their Temporary Protected Status. The federal humanitarian program that allows immigrants to legally live and work in the United States, expires on Wednesday. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

'I never thought this would happen to them'

Aditi Patel of Old Westbury says her mother and mother-in-law, as well as a family friend, are among at least 90 Americans missing after the floods in Nepal and Tibet earlier this week, NewsdayTV's Doug Geed reports.

'It's been the most devastating 48 hours, I think, of my life'

The latest developments in the war with Iran include the naming of Ayotollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father as the country's late supreme leader and the continued rise of gas prices.

Iran developments: Gas prices soar as supreme leader named

Federal officers shot another person in Minneapolis amid an immigration crackdown, Minneapolis Gov. Tim Walz said.

The man was identified as Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse

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2026 has begun in other parts of the world. See celebrations from Hong Kong, Toyko, Bangkok and more locations.

Celebrations mark 2026 worldwide

State Republicans are fighting to scrap the even-year election law. Newsday columnist Joye Brown reports.

'We knew we had to take it to the federal option'

The House and Senate voted in favor of a bill to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

House and Senate vote to release Epstein files

The Justice Department says President Donald Trump has pardoned dozens of key figures allegedly involved in the plan to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Rudy Giuliani and others pardoned by Trump

Dick Cheney was one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history.

A two-term vice president under George W. Bush

On Monday, Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength as it neared Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, multiple landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.

Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in Jamaica

On Tuesday, an immigration enforcement sweep targeting vendors on Manhattan's Canal Street turned chaotic when angry protestors surrounded federal agents and attempted to block them from driving off.

Angry crowds confront federal agents in Canal Street immigration sweep

The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on a Utah university campus. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

$100,000 reward for information

Donald Trump said the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel's effort to decapitate the country's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a long-time foe.

Trump says Iran's key nuclear sites 'completely and fully obliterated' by strikes

Tensions in Los Angeles escalated over the weekend as thousands of protesters took to the streets in response to President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard.

Police and protesters clash outside federal detention center in LA after ICE raids

Americans could pay more for fresh vegetables and electronics as imports from Canada and Mexico will be taxed at 25% and Chinese imports at 20%. 

Trump tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China take effect

The last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting devolved into a tense back and forth between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had urged skepticism about Russia's commitment to diplomacy, citing Moscow's years of broken commitments on the global stage.

Watch: Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance in Oval Office blowup

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Liberty Water has applied to raise rates in three of the areas it serves on Long Island. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Liberty seeks water rate hikes of $21-$28 a month for some Nassau customers

Make the jump to light speed on this week's LI Works. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa meets with a member of The 501st Legion, Empire City Garrison.

LI Works: Explore the dark side of the Force with Ken

The report identified over half a million hateful posts on X between January 2025 and June 2026, with monthly growth of 75%. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Anti-South Asian rhetoric surging on some social media platforms, report says

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed goes inside Critterville Farm Sanctuary to meet the rescued animals finding a second chance and the local passion that keeps it all going.

Out East: Critterville in Riverhead

NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland talks to Andrea McCade, founder of The Social Mom Club LI, about how new moms can connect with others.

Working Moms: Making mom friends

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visits Co-Owner, Dough & Co. Pizza to try the Apple Bay Pizza, which is exclusive to their Oyster Bay location.

Trendy Bites: An apple pie ... pizza?

Video of two Suffolk police officers joining a group of teens playing soccer goes viral. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

Chance encounter turns into viral video

High school athletes striving to play sports in college might want to look at niche sports that give them a better chance. NewsdayTV's Jared Valluzzi reports.

Niche sports might get you a leg up to play at college level

NewsdayTV's Carissa Kellman explores the historic and festive charm of Sleepy Hollow during a fall day trip.

A hauntingly good time in Sleepy Hollow

NewsdayTV's Andi Berlin tried some new martini combinations at Beacon in Long Beach.

Design your own martini at this Long Beach speakeasy

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

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Gregg Sarra sounds off on Wantagh vs. Bethpage and Ward Melville vs Sachem North, plus Michaeil Sicoli has his Nassau soccer picks, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.

Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 5: Top football teams in action and Nassau soccer playoff picks

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