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May 18, 2023
Jake Welch
News

READ: List of Attendees of Shadowy Bilderberg Meeting This Week.

The highly-secretive Bilderberg Group, which brings a handful of the world’s elite together to discuss geopolitics and international affairs, is preparing to meet this weekend in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Group was first established in the Netherlands in 1954 and operates under the Chatham House Rule, meaning, the identity nor affiliation of the speakers or participants in discussions can be revealed.

According to last year’s press release, however, some of the topics included geopolitical realignments, NATO challenges, China, Russia, continuity of government and the economy, disruption of the global financial system, disinformation, and post-pandemic health.

Unlike the World Economic Forum (WEF), which assembles thousands of politicians, economists, and academics, the Bilderberg Group is strictly limited to no more than 150 of the highest-ranking individuals, including aristocrats, heads of states, and businessmen – in what author Jordan Schachtel refers to as: “Davos on Steroids.”

Some of last year’s attendees included Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, Henry Kissinger, former United States Secretary of State, Sam Altman CEO of OpenAI, and Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities among many other positions in the British government.

Some of the attendees are not listed and are hidden from the public, however.

A full list of participants can be read, below: 

Abrams, Stacey (USA), CEO, Sage Works Production
Achleitner, Paul M. (DEU), Chair, Global Advisory Board, Deutsche Bank AG
Agrawal, Ajay (CAN), Professor of Economics, University of Toronto
Albares, José Manuel (ESP), Minister of Foreign Affairs
Altman, Sam (USA), CEO, OpenAI
Alverà, Marco (ITA), Co-Founder, zhero.net; CEO TES
Andersson, Magdalena (SWE), Leader, Social Democratic Party
Applebaum, Anne (USA), Staff Writer, The Atlantic 
Arnaut, José Luís (PRT), Managing Partner, CMS Rui Pena & Arnaut
Attal, Gabriel (FRA), Minister for Public Accounts
Balsemão, Francisco Pinto (PRT), Chair, Impresa Group
Barbizet, Patricia (FRA), Chair and CEO, Temaris & Associés SAS
Barroso, José Manuel (PRT), Chair, International Advisors, Goldman Sachs
Baudson, Valérie (FRA), CEO, Amundi SA
Beaune, Clément (FRA), Minister for Transport 
Benson, Sally (USA), Professor of Energy Science and Engineering, Stanford University
Beurden, Ben van (NLD), Special Advisor to the Board, Shell plc 
Borg, Anna (SWE), President and CEO, Vattenfall AB
Borrell, Josep (INT), Vice President, European Commission
Botín, Ana P. (ESP), Group Executive Chair, Banco Santander SA
Bourla, Albert (USA), Chair and CEO, Pfizer Inc.
Braathen, Kjerstin (NOR), CEO, DNB ASA
Brende, Børge (NOR), President, World Economic Forum
Brink, Dolf van den (NLD), CEO, Heineken NV
Brudermüller, Martin (DEU), CEO, BASF SE
Buberl, Thomas (FRA), CEO, AXA SA
Byrne, Thomas (IRL), Minister for Sport and Physical Education
Carney, Mark (CAN), Vice Chair, Brookfield Asset Management
Cassis, Ignazio (CHE), Federal Councillor, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Castries, Henri de (FRA), President, Institut Montaigne
Cavoli, Christopher (INT), Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Ceylan, Mehmet Fatih (TUR), President, Ankara Policy Center
Chhabra, Tarun (USA), Senior Director for Technology and National Security, National Security Council
Creuheras, José (ESP), Chair, Grupo Planeta and Atresmedia
Debackere, Koenraad (BEL), Chair, KBC Group NV
Deese, Brian (USA), Former Director, National Economic Council
Donohoe, Paschal (INT), President, Eurogroup
Döpfner, Mathias (DEU), Chair and CEO, Axel Springer SE
Easterly, Jen (USA), Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Economy, Elizabeth (USA), Senior Advisor for China, Department of Commerce
Ehrnrooth, Henrik (FIN), Chair, Otava Group
Émié, Bernard (FRA), Director General for External Security, Ministry of the Armed Forces
Empoli, Giuliano da (ITA), Political Scientist and Writer, Sciences Po
Entrecanales, José M. (ESP), Chair and CEO, Acciona SA
Eriksen, Øyvind (NOR), President and CEO, Aker ASA
Ferguson, Niall (USA), Milbank Family Senior Fellow, Stanford University
Fleming, Jeremy (GBR), Former Director, GCHQ
Frederiksen, Mette (DNK), Prime Minister
Freeland, Chrystia (CAN), Deputy Prime Minister
Garijo, Bélen (DEU), Chair and CEO, Merck KGaA
Gentiloni, Paolo (INT), Commissioner for Economy, European Commission
Gonzáles Pons, Esteban (ESP), Vice Chair, European People’s Party
Gosset-Grainville, Antoine (FRA), Chair, AXA
Goulimis, Nicky (GRC), Board Member and Co-Founder, Nova Credit Inc.
Griffin, Kenneth (USA), Founder and CEO, Citadel LLC
Gruber, Lilli (ITA), Anchor, La7 TV
Gürkaynak, Refet (TUR), Professor of Economics, Bilkent University
Haines, Avril D. (USA), Director of National Intelligence
Halberstadt, Victor (NLD), Professor of Economics, Leiden University
Hassabis, Demis (GBR), CEO, DeepMind
Hedegaard, Connie (DNK), Chair, KR Foundation
Hofreiter, Anton (DEU), MP; Chair Committee on European Affairs
Holzen, Madeleine von (CHE), Editor-in-Chief, Le Temps
Jensen, Kristian (DNK), CEO, Green Power Denmark
Joshi, Shashank (GBR), Defence Editor, The Economist
Kaag, Sigrid (NLD), Minister of Finance; Deputy Prime Minister
Karp, Alex (USA), CEO, Palantir Technologies Inc.
Kasparov, Garry (USA), Chair, Renew Democracy Initiative
Kieli, Kasia (POL), President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Discovery Poland
Kissinger, Henry A. (USA), Chairman, Kissinger Associates Inc.
Koç, Ömer (TUR), Chair, Koç Holding AS
Kolesnikov, Andrei (INT), Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Kostrzewa, Wojciech (POL), President, Polish Business Roundtable
Kotkin, Stephen (USA), Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Kravis, Henry R. (USA), Co-Chairman, KKR & Co. Inc.
Kravis, Marie-Josée (USA), Chair, The Museum of Modern Art
Kudelski, André (CHE), Chair and CEO, Kudelski Group SA
Kuleba, Dmytro (UKR), Minister of Foreign Affairs
Lammy, David (GBR), Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, House of Commons
Leysen, Thomas (BEL), Chair, Umicore and Mediahuis; Chair DSM-Firmenich AG
Liikanen, Erkki (FIN), Chair, IFRS Foundation Trustees 
Looney, Bernard (GBR), CEO, BP plc
Marin, Sanna (FIN), Prime Minister
Metsola, Roberta (INT), President, European Parliament
Micklethwait, John (USA), Editor-in-Chief, Bloomberg LP
Minton Beddoes, Zanny (GBR), Editor-in-Chief, The Economist
Moreira, Duarte (PRT), Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Zeno Partners
Moyo, Dambisa (GBR), Global Economist; Member, House of Lords
Mundie, Craig J. (USA), President, Mundie & Associates LLC
Nadella, Satya (USA), CEO, Microsoft Corporation
O’Leary, Michael (IRL), Group CEO, Ryanair Group
Orida, Deborah (CAN), President and CEO, PSP Investments
Özel, Soli (TUR), Professor, Kadir Has University
Papalexopoulos, Dimitri (GRC), Chair, TITAN Cement Group; Treasurer Bilderberg Meetings
Philippe, Édouard (FRA), Mayor, Le Havre
Pottinger, Matthew (USA), Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution
Pouyanné, Patrick (FRA), Chair and CEO, TotalEnergies SE
Rachman, Gideon (GBR), Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, The Financial Times
Ramírez, Pedro J. (ESP), Director, El Español
Rappard, Rolly van (NLD), Co-Founder and Co-Chair, CVC Capital Partners 
Reynders, Didier (INT), European Commissioner for Justice
Röttgen, Norbert (DEU), MP, German Bundestag
Rutte, Mark (NLD), Prime Minister
Salomon, Martina (AUT), Editor-in-Chief, Kurier
Sawers, John (GBR), Executive Chair, Newbridge Advisory Ltd. 
Schadlow, Nadia (USA), Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
Schallenberg, Alexander (AUT), Minister for European and International Affairs
Schmidt, Eric E. (USA), Former CEO and Chair, Google LLC
Schmidt, Wolfgang (DEU), Head of the Chancellery, Federal Minister for Special Tasks
Sebastião, Nuno (PRT), Chair and CEO, Feedzai
Sikorski, Radoslaw (POL), MEP, European Parliament
Silva, Filipe (PRT), CEO, Galp
Stilwell de Andrade, Miguel (PRT), CEO, EDP
Stoltenberg, Jens (INT), Secretary General, NATO
Subramanian, Arvind (INT), Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs, Brown University
Tellis, Ashley J. (USA), Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs, Carnegie Endowment
Thiel, Peter (USA), President, Thiel Capital LLC
Tsu, Jing (USA), Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures, Yale University
Tugendhat, Tom (GBR), Minister of State for Security
Vadera, Shriti (GBR), Chair, Prudential plc
Vassilakis, Eftichios (GRC), Chair, Aegean Group
Waldron, John (USA), President and COO, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Wallenberg, Marcus (SWE), Chair, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB
Wennink, Peter (NLD), President and CEO, ASML Holding NV
Wright, Thomas (USA), Senior Director for Strategic Planning, National Security Council
Yang, Yuan (GBR), Europe-China Correspondent, Financial Times
Yergin, Daniel (USA), Vice Chair, S&P Global    
Yinanç, Barçin (TUR), Journalist, T24 News Website

By Popular Demand.
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15 minutes ago
William Upton
Immigration
SCOTUS

SCOTUS Clears Way for Trump to Revoke Parole of 500K Illegal Aliens.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The United States Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay of a lower court order, which will allow President Donald J. Trump to move forward with revoking the parole status granted to around 500,000 illegal immigrants under former President Joe Biden.

👥 Who’s Involved: The U.S. Supreme Court, President Donald J. Trump, and an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

📍 Where & When: The ruling was handed down on Friday, May 30, 2025.

⚠️ Impact: President Trump’s administration can move forward—for now—with revoking parole status for the illegal immigrants.

IN FULL:

The United States Supreme Court issued a stay on Friday, blocking a lower court decision that barred President Donald J. Trump from revoking parole status for an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants who were released into the country by the former Biden government. On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani ruled that the Trump White House had unlawfully ended the temporary parole status granted by Biden for the illegals who originated from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

In the 7-2 decision, with Justice Kagan joining the majority and Justices Jackson and Sotomayor dissenting, the high court took an increasingly rare step in reversing what the Trump administration has called judicial interference in executive branch powers. Since his inauguration in January, President Trump has seen a number of major political agenda items hamstrung by judicial interference, which has led critics to contend that federal courts are abusing their authority to encroach on Article II constitutional powers.

While the stay order marks a temporary victory for Trump and his mass deportation efforts, the underlying case remains pending and a final determination at the appellate court and eventually the Supreme Court level could still result in the illegals’ parole being upheld.

Notably, the Supreme Court has already intervened several times on immigration matters. In April, for instance, the high court temporarily blocked the deportation of 50 illegal immigrants from Venezuela pending further litigation.

Image by Billy Wilson.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
Economy

U.S. Inflation Cooling Despite Hysteria Over Trump Tariffs.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: U.S. inflation continued to slow in April while incomes rose.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Commerce Department, Federal Reserve, Trump administration, and U.S. courts.

📍 Where & When: United States; data reported Friday, May 30, 2025.

⚠️ Impact: The data suggests that President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs have had minimal inflationary impact. Meanwhile, receding inflation signals undermine the Fed’s continued position of keeping interest rates steady instead of enacting a cut.

IN FULL:

A key measure of U.S. inflation slowed last month as consumer prices rose just 2.1 percent in April compared to the same time last year, according to the Commerce Department. This marks a decline from March’s figure of 2.3 percent and represents the lowest rate since September. Core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy categories, increased 2.5 percent year-over-year, down slightly from 2.6 percent in March.

The data indicates a continued decline in inflation from its post-pandemic peak in July 2022, which reached the highest levels in four decades. Despite this, Federal Reserve officials noted during their May 6-7 meeting that inflation remains above their two percent target. The Fed’s policy of maintaining current interest rates, despite the receding inflationary pressure, has sparked criticism. President Donald J. Trump has openly pushed for the central bank to begin cutting rates, and a number of market signals suggest the economy could be moving towards deflation, which would also suggest rate cuts are necessary.

Critics of President Trump’s tariff policies have repeatedly claimed that the trade duties would increase inflation. However, as The National Pulse has repeatedly noted, tariffs—while potentially increasing supply-driven inflation on the front end—have a deflationary effect over time.

Concerningly, the Federal Reserve’s Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) data has consistently shown a push towards the lower end of the current range of the central bank’s federal funds rate—which sets interest rates for the country. This would suggest that market forces are no longer concerned about inflation but instead are seeking greater liquidity and may be worried about the far more concerning potential for deflation.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
News

Trump Says China Already Breaking Trade Deal: ‘So Much for Being Mr. NICE GUY!’

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump accused China of breaching a trade agreement with the U.S. just weeks after both nations agreed to a temporary easing of tariffs.

👥 Who’s Involved: Donald Trump, the United States, and China.

📍 Where & When: Trump’s statement was made on Truth Social on Friday, following a May 12 agreement between the U.S. and China.

💬 Key Quote: “The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!” – Donald Trump.

⚠️ Impact: The claim could reignite tensions between the two countries, potentially affecting trade relations and economic stability.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump on Friday accused China of violating a trade agreement with the United States, just weeks after both nations reached a temporary truce on tariffs. President Trump made the remarks on his Truth Social platform, noting that “Many [Chinese] factories closed and there was, to put it mildly, ‘civil unrest'” following his initial high tariffs.

“I made a FAST DEAL with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation… Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilized and China got back to business as usual. Everybody was happy!” the America First leader explained.

“That is the good news!!! The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,” he continued, adding: “So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”

The trade agreement, established on May 12, involved a 90-day suspension of most tariffs imposed by both countries earlier this year. As part of the deal, the U.S. reduced its tariffs on Chinese goods to approximately 30 percent, down from 145 percent, while China lowered its levies on American imports to 10 percent.

READ:

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
News

Democrat-Led States See Highest Unemployment Increases.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Unemployment rates increased in several U.S. states between February and April, with Democrat-led Massachusetts and Connecticut seeing the highest percentage jumps.

👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), various U.S. states.

📍 Where & When: Nationwide data from February to April 2024, with Massachusetts, Connecticut, and other states experiencing notable changes.

💬 Key Quote: “The state that built America’s middle class is watching robots replace assembly line workers,” said Michael Ryan, regarding Michigan’s automation-driven job losses.

IN FULL:

Unemployment rates in several U.S. states rose between February and April 2024, with Democrat-led Massachusetts and Connecticut experiencing the sharpest increases, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nationally, unemployment is stable.

Massachusetts and Connecticut saw their unemployment rates climb by 0.3 percentage points, with Massachusetts reaching 4.6 percent and Connecticut hitting 3.7 percent.

Other states, including New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Arizona, and Oregon, reported 0.2 percentage point increases. Michigan saw a smaller rise of 0.1 percentage points, reflecting ongoing challenges in its manufacturing sector, which President Donald J. Trump is seeking to address through tariffs.

Nationwide, the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2 percent last month, with job growth in healthcare and warehousing offset by declines in federal government employment due to the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce bureaucracy.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
William Upton
Health
World

This European Country Is Banning Most Outdoor Smoking.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Smoking in most outdoor spaces will be banned in France starting July 1, 2025.

👥 Who’s Involved: French citizens, tourists, children, the French government, and Minister of Labour, Health, Solidarity, and Families, Catherine Vautrin.

📍 Where & When: The ban was announced in the French press on Thursday, May 29, 2025 and will take effect on July 1, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Tobacco must disappear where there are children, the freedom to smoke must end where the freedom of children to breathe fresh air begins,” said Catherine Vautrin, France’s Minister of Labour, Health, Solidarity, and Families, in an interview on May 29, 2025.

⚠️ Impact: Almost a third of France’s population is believed to be regular smokers. Violators of the new ban will face a €135 ($153) fine.

IN FULL:

France will ban the smoking of tobacco in outdoor spaces where there are children present starting on July 1, 2025. These locations include public parks, beaches, public gardens, outdoor areas near schools, bus stops, and sports venues. However, the outdoor areas of bars and cafes, will be exempt from the smoking restrictions.

In 2023, it was estimated that nearly 30 percent of the French population were regular smokers, equating to about 14.5 million people in the country with a total population of 68.29 million. Violators of the new ban will face a significant financial penalty, with the fine set at €135 ($153). Notably, electronic cigarettes and other vaping products are exempt from the ban, though French officials have indicated they will soon announce legal limits for the amount of nicotine these devices can contain.

“Tobacco must disappear where there are children,” France’s Minister of Labour, Health, Solidarity, and Families, Catherine Vautrin, said in an interview in French media on Thursday. She added: “The freedom to smoke must end where the freedom of children to breathe fresh air begins.”

In 2007, France implemented a ban on indoor smoking in workplaces, entertainment venues, bars, and restaurants, among other locations. While self-reported compliance suggests the ban has largely been obeyed, actual observance of the law, especially in the country’s many dining and drinking establishments, appears to be less strict.

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By Popular Demand.
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14 hours ago
William Upton
Breaking

BREAKING: Former NYPD Commissioner and Hero to the MAGA Movement Bernard B. Kerik Has Died.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik has died at 69.

👥 Who’s Involved: Bernard Kerik, President Donald J. Trump, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and FBI Director Kash Patel.

📍 Where & When: Kerik’s passing was announced on May 29, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Today, we mourn the loss of Bernard B. Kerik, a warrior, a patriot, and one of the most courageous public servants this country has ever known. Bernie passed away tragically on May 29, 2025, after a private battle with illness,” Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Kash Patel wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

IN FULL:

Bernard B. Kerik, the 40th Commissioner of the New York Police Department who rushed to Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, and was present with Mayor Rudy Giuliani when United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower as he coordinated first responders, has passed away at 69. Kerik, with over four decades of service in law enforcement and a U.S. Army veteran, would go on to become one of President Donald J. Trump’s most vocal supporters.

“Today, we mourn the loss of Bernard B. Kerik, a warrior, a patriot, and one of the most courageous public servants this country has ever known. Bernie passed away tragically on May 29, 2025, after a private battle with illness,” Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Patel continued: “With over forty years of service in law enforcement and national security, he dedicated his life to protecting the American people. As the 40th Police Commissioner of New York City, Bernie led with strength and resolve in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, guiding the NYPD through one of the darkest chapters in our nation’s history.”

“He was decorated more than 100 times for bravery, valor, and service, having rescued victims from burning buildings, survived assassination attempts, and brought some of the world’s most dangerous criminals to justice,” Director Patel said, adding: “His legacy is not just in the medals or the titles, but in the lives he saved, the city he helped rebuild, and the country he served with honor.”

Image by Gage Skidmore. 

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By Popular Demand.
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16 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
NatSec
UK

China Cheers Britain’s Surrender of U.S. Base Islands to Ally Mauritius.

PULSE POINTS:

❓ What Happened: Communist China is celebrating British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s surrender of the Chagos Islands to its ally Mauritius as a “massive achievement,” contradicting Starmer’s claim that Beijing opposed it. The Indian Ocean archipelago hosts a strategic British-American military base.

👥 Who’s Involved: Keir Starmer, Chinese Ambassador Huang Shifang, Mauritius, and the U.S. military.

📍 Where & When: The British government signed the Chagos deal with Mauritius on May 22, although ratification is still pending.

💬 Key Quote: “China offers massive congratulations to Mauritius for securing the disputed territory,” Ambassador Huang Shifang said.

⚠️ Impact: Starmer’s deal weakens British and American security, hands China a strategic win, and undermines Trump’s America First stance by risking the Diego Garcia base’s integrity.

IN FULL:

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is celebrating British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s surrender of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, bolstering Beijing’s influence in the Indian Ocean at the expense of Western security. On May 27, 2025, China’s ambassador to Mauritius, Huang Shifang, hailed the agreement as a “massive achievement,” directly contradicting Starmer’s claim that Beijing opposed the transfer of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.

Mauritius, aligned with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, will be paid billions of pounds by the British government for the privilege of taking the islands. This is in part to pay for a 99-year lease on the island of Diego Garcia, which hosts a major American military base alongside a small British contingent.

Speaking at the Chinese embassy in Mauritius, Ambassador Huang offered “massive congratulations” to Mauritius for securing the territory. She confirmed China “fully supports” Mauritius’s sovereignty push and revealed plans for the island nation to join the Belt and Road Initiative, a sprawling infrastructure project advancing Beijing’s global influence.

Huang also tied Mauritius’s Chagos claim to China’s One-China policy, drawing parallels between the Chagos dispute and China’s stance on Taiwan. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed this, urging Mauritius to join Belt and Road “as soon as possible” to build a “China-Africa community with a shared future.”

Starmer’s deal, finalized on May 22, 2025, transfers sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, formally the British Indian Ocean Territory, to Mauritius along with £30 billion (~$40.5 billion) over 99 years, in exchange for a lease of Diego Garcia, where Britain was previously sovereign at no cost. However, the Diego Garcia base could now be undermined and potentially rendered redundant if Mauritius allows China to establish a base on another of the Chagos Islands nearby.

Starmer claimed the one-sided agreement was necessary to secure the base, after the International Court of Justice issued an opinion in favor of Mauritius’s territorial claims. However, the United Nations court’s opinion was non-binding and unenforceable, and Starmer was under no obligation to obey it. He also asserted that Britain’s allies supported the deal while “Russia, China, [and] Iran” opposed it, which has now been exposed as a lie by China’s enthusiastic endorsement.

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By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
William Upton
Politics

Trump Replacing DEI With ‘Merit-Based’ Hiring.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Trump administration is rolling out its Merit Hiring Plan for federal agencies, releasing new guidance on Thursday that replaces decades of DEI-style polices with one that focuses on applicants’ skills rather than their race or gender.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), federal agencies, federal hiring managers, and federal job applicants.

📍 Where & When: The policy was released on Thursday through guidance issued to agencies across the federal government.

⚠️ Impact: President Trump’s Merit Hiring Plan marks a significant shift in federal employment practices that will now focus on bringing high-skilled individuals for critical roles. The plan also ends race and gender based hiring practices that critics contend created discriminatory political constituencies inside the government workforce.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump‘s administration is set to unveil a new federal employment policy focused on merit-based hiring instead of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements that have dominated government employment for decades. The new hiring guidance, released to federal agencies on Thursday by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is believed to bar the consideration of race and gender in employment decisions.

Based on legislation adopted last year in Congress, and ushered through by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the Merit Hiring Plan provides guidance for federal hiring and instructs agencies to consider relevant skills beyond just resume experience. Notably, this provision has long been pushed by conservative education activists and technology industry figures who contend that college education requirements lock out too many qualified individuals from the professional workforce.

Skill-based hiring evaluations will be made through interviews and relevant testing of applicants, though resumes and professional experience will still be considered determining factors in hiring decisions.

Additionally, federal agencies are being directed to continue collecting workforce demographic data. However, this data will no longer be released publicly and will merely be retained by the federal government to ensure its policies promote a workforce with diverse skills and professional qualifications.

Another significant change comes through guidance meant to speed up federal hiring processes. Federal interviewers will now ask applicants a more standardized set of questions rather than the previous more ad-hoc process. This is aimed at ensuring federal hirings take no longer than 80 days.

Once implemented, the federal government is expected to begin a more modest hiring period to restaff certain agencies. After being inaugurated in January, President Trump and his White House dismissed upwards of 140,000 federal workers through force reduction or employment buyouts. The Trump administration has indicated it could soon move forward with the dismissal of another 150,000 federal employees, while also bringing in new individuals to fill critical roles.

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By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
News

Bongino Promises Decisive FBI Video on Epstein’s Death.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced the forthcoming release of video footage showing Jeffrey Epstein was alone in his jail cell before his death in 2019.

👥 Who’s Involved: Jeffrey Epstein, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, FBI Director Kash Patel, and unnamed correctional officers.

📍 Where & When: Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York City; Epstein was found dead on August 10, 2019.

💬 Key Quote: “There’s video clear as day, he’s the only person in there and the only person coming out,” said Bongino.

⚠️ Impact: The video aims to address ongoing speculation surrounding Epstein’s death and allegations of foul play.

IN FULL:

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino revealed Thursday that the agency plans to release video footage confirming that pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein was alone in his cell before his death in August 2019. Speaking on Fox & Friends, Bongino stated that the footage, recorded outside Epstein’s cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, shows “clear as day” that no one else entered or exited the area.

“There’s video that when you look at it, and we will release it … you’re going to see there’s no one there but him,” Bongino said. He added that the FBI is preparing both an enhanced version and the original footage to ensure transparency.

Epstein, who had extensive connections to influential figures, was found dead on August 10, 2019. His death, ruled a suicide by hanging, came a month after his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. The incident sparked widespread speculation, with some alleging Epstein was murdered due to his potential knowledge of crimes committed by people in positions of power.

Bongino acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death but maintained that current evidence supports suicide. “There is no DNA, there’s no audio, there’s no fingerprints, there’s no suspects, there’s no accomplices, there’s no tips. There is nothing,” he emphasized.

The FBI’s announcement follows criticism of Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel for previously stating there was “no evidence” to suggest Epstein was murdered. Bongino reiterated the bureau’s willingness to investigate credible leads but said the video evidence strongly supports the conclusion that Epstein acted alone.

Questions remain about Epstein’s removal from suicide watch just days after a prior attempt in July 2019. A Justice Department report indicated that a psychologist approved the decision. Additionally, two guards on duty the night of Epstein’s death reportedly failed to perform routine checks and allegedly fell asleep. A camera that should have captured Epstein’s cell door was reportedly malfunctioning.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Illegals Charged After Death of 18-Year-Old Air Force Recruit Ava Moore.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: An 18-year-old U.S. Air Force recruit, Ava Moore, was killed by a jet ski on Grapevine Lake, Texas, over Memorial Day weekend.

👥 Who’s Involved: Venezuelan nationals Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 22, and Maikel Coello Perozo, 21, both in the U.S. illegally, are facing charges related to the killing.

📍 Where & When: Grapevine Lake, Texas; May 25, 2023.

💬 Key Quote: “This criminal alien and her boyfriend will account for the tragic accident that ended the life of a young woman who exhibited enormous potential,” said Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Dallas Acting Field Office Director Josh Johnson.

⚠️ Impact: The case highlights ongoing concerns about illegal immigration and public safety. Notably, Gonzalez appears to have attempted to flee the scene after the fatal collision.

IN FULL:

Two Venezuelan nationals, both in the U.S. illegally, are now facing criminal charges following the death of 18-year-old Ava Moore, a U.S. Air Force recruit, in a jet ski collision on Grapevine Lake, Texas, over Memorial Day weekend.

Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 22, was arrested on May 27 and charged with second-degree felony manslaughter. Authorities allege that Gonzalez was operating the jet ski that struck Moore as she kayaked near Oak Grove Park on May 25. Witnesses reported that the jet ski was being driven recklessly along the shoreline before the crash.

After the collision, Gonzalez allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Maikel Coello Perozo, who is now charged with hindering apprehension. The pair were apprehended following a standoff at a residence in the Dallas area.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Gonzalez entered the U.S. illegally on September 28, 2022, but was released the same day with a Notice to Appear. Coello reportedly entered the country illegally in January 2023 but was also released pending an immigration hearing.

“This criminal alien and her boyfriend will account for the tragic accident that ended the life of a young woman who exhibited enormous potential,” stated Josh Johnson, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Dallas.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R), who has taken state-level measures to crack down on illegal immigration and those in the country unlawfully who commit violent crimes, wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) following the fatal crash: “Welcome to Texas. Here’s your death penalty.”

The U.S. Air Force Academy remembered Moore as a driven individual with leadership potential. “Her constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, Superintendent of the Academy.

Moore had been visiting her family in North Texas for the holiday weekend when she was killed.

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