At least 41 migrants have died in another European mass drowning event, with a people-smuggling vessel carrying them from North Africa capsizing off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa. The incident is another example of the deadly consequences of the lax asylum rules insisted on in the European Union (EU) capital of Brussels.
Just four identified survivors of the wreck, three men and one woman from sub-Saharan Africa, were picked up by a passing cargo ship and transferred to the Italian coast guard. They said at least three children were aboard the vessel, which set sail from Tunisia, when it was turned over by a strong wave.
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The news comes not long after another migrant ship sank en route to Italy, resulting in over 500 drownings, but the incentives to make the dangerous voyages remain strong, with close to 100,000 people having reached Italy by sea in 2023 already.
— IOM – UN Migration 🇺🇳 (@UNmigration) June 24, 2017
Few migrants are deported once they reach European soil, even if they are deemed to have no legitimate claim to refugee status – a stark contrast with the “tough love” policy on boat migrants implemented by Australia after sinkings in its territorial waters.
They stopped their boats crisis almost entirely by insisting no one arriving in Australia by sea could stay in Australia, and would either be turned back immediately or sent to a third country for processing, and hosted in a country other than Australia if found to be a real refugee.
Italy’s new, supposedly populist prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has failed to implement a similar policy, focusing on supporting Ukraine after winning office rather than keeping the promises on immigration that got her elected.
Editor’s Notes
Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The House Oversight Committee is investigating claims that Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) leadership is manipulating crimedata to downplay violent crime in the city.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: MPD leadership, D.C. government officials, responding officers, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Ongoing investigation with allegations spanning recent years, primarily in Washington, D.C.
💬KEY QUOTE: “They make you call an official, like a sergeant and the lieutenant on the scene to make that decision. Basically, to put people who have skin in the game with the crime stats in the business of deciding whether we should record the stat or not,” said a reserve officer with MPD.
🎯IMPACT: The alleged manipulation of crime data may mislead the public, create a false sense of security, and hinder accurate assessments of public safety in D.C.
IN FULL
The House Oversight Committee is conducting an inquiry into allegations that Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) leadership is deliberately manipulating crime statistics. Sources familiar with the process claim that city officials routinely minimize violent crime by downgrading charges, a practice they allege starts at the crime scene and continues through the court system.
A reserve officer with MPD disclosed that responding officers are not allowed to classify violent crimes independently, leaving those decisions to higher-ranking officials like sergeants or lieutenants. “They make you call an official, like a sergeant and the lieutenant on the scene to make that decision. Basically, to put people who have skin in the game with the crime stats in the business of deciding whether we should record the stat or not,” the officer explained. This process, the officer noted, disincentivizes officers from reporting violent crimes accurately.
The National Pulse reported in July that Michael Pulliam, a Washington, D.C. police commander, is under investigation for allegedly doctoring crime statistics. The investigation began after the Fraternal Order of Police complained that the department was deliberately falsifying crime data.
Further, the officer noted that a legal change in September 2023, driven by D.C. Council Democrats, introduced a new charge of “endangerment with a firearm” as a substitute for assault with a dangerous weapon. While both are felonies, only the latter is classified as a violent crime in MPD’s data. The officer claimed this distinction is often abused to artificially lower violent crime statistics.
A review of the data found 25 instances of “endangerment with a firearm” being used in arrests between September 2023 and late 2024, though the true number may be higher. This reclassification, alongside MPD’s selective use of crime categories, has raised questions about the city’s reported 35 percent decrease in violent crime from 2023 to 2024.
Additionally, the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew Graves, has faced criticism for declining to prosecute a significant number of cases, including assaults against police officers. In 2023, Graves’ office reportedly did not prosecute 42 percent of cases. After President Donald J. Trump was inaugurated for his second term in January 2025, Graves was removed from office and eventually replaced by Jeanine Pirro as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Representative Katie Porter (D-CA) grew angry and irate, and nearly walked out of an interview when pressed on how she plans to appeal to Trump voters in California.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Katie Porter, journalist Julie Watts of CBS News California Investigates, and California voters.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The exchange occurred last month during an interview with CBS News in California, with the footage of the exchange spreading on social media this week.
💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t want to keep doing this, I’m going to call it. Thank you.” – Katie Porter
🎯IMPACT: The tense exchange raises questions about Porter’s ability to connect with a broader voter base in her gubernatorial campaign and whether she even has the temperament to govern.
IN FULL
Former Representative Katie Porter (D-CA), considered a front-runner to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), may have seen her campaign end right out of the gate. Among political insiders in Washington, D.C., and California, Porter has long been known for her violent temper and narcissistic attitude, but those traits are now on full public display in an abortive interview with CBS Sacramento reporter Julie Watts in which the California Democrat berates the reporter for asking simple follow-up questions. Filmed last month, the footage of Porter’s meltdown spread across social media this week.
Watts questioned Porter about her stance toward the 6.1 million Californians who voted for President Donald J. Trump in 2024, prompting Porter to respond that she didn’t need their support if running against a Republican in the general election. “How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” Porter responded, seemingly unhappy with the question but chuckling for the camera, before going on to express certainty that she could pick up the remaining 60 percent of non-Trump votes. “I have stood on my own two feet and won Republican votes before, and that’s not something every candidate in this race can say,” Porter said, referring to her time representing “purple” Orange County.
However, she became visibly irritated when Watts pressed further on her dismissiveness toward Trump voters. Porter stated, “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is your question?” At one point, Porter lifts her hands as if to push Watts away.
After Watts explained that similar questions had been posed to other candidates, Porter said she would seek every vote she could win. However, she ended the interview shortly after, stating, “I don’t want to keep doing this. I’m going to call it. I want to have a pleasant, positive conversation.” She also objected to follow-up questions, adding, “I don’t want this all on camera.” Porter then reached for the mic pinned to her lapel and attempted to remove it while castigating Watts’s interview methods.
The Leading CA Democrat attempts to implode her own campaign in one single interview pic.twitter.com/cpVJ2hgnzJ
Porter is notorious for aggressive and narcissistic outbursts. In an infamous 2020 exchange during a congressional hearing with then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Porter became irate when Mnuchin revealed he was unaware of the then-Congresswoman’s law degree. Mnuchin had asked Porter, “Are you a lawyer?” after a series of terse exchanges regarding the Treasury Department‘s funding of Federal Reserve lending facilities.
Even more disturbing, documents filed in Porter’s divorce reveal a litany of claims of spousal abuse by Porter against her ex-husband, Matthew Hoffman. In one instance, Porter allegedly dumped scalding hot potatoes on Hoffman’s scalp.
Porter, who lost her bid for the Senate to Adam Schiff last year, is bidding to become California’s first-ever female governor. On the Republican side, her challengers include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton.
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WHAT HAPPENED: Far-left political streamer Hasan Piker faced backlash after a Twitch broadcast on October 7, 2025, where his dog Kaya yelped during a scolding, leading to allegations of animal cruelty involving a shock collar.
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WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hasan Piker, his dog Kaya, and critics, including liberal streamer Ethan Klein of h3h3 Productions, who accused Piker of cruelty.
WHEN & WHERE: October 7, 2025, during a Twitch livestream, with clips shared across X and Reddit.
KEY QUOTE: “Horrifying animal cruelty caught on camera … as he activates her shock collar for one tiny step off her bed. She cries in pain … this had to be the result of some brutally strict training.” – Ethan Klein
IMPACT: The incident has sparked widespread demands for action against Piker by the Amazon-owned Twitch platform, and potentially an official investigation if a complaint is filed against him.
IN FULL
Turkish-American streamer Hasan Piker, known online as “HasanAbi,” is facing growing backlash following an October 7, 2025, livestream on Amazon-owned Twitch where his dog Kaya let out a sharp yelp after being scolded. In clips circulating widely on social media, Piker interrupts a rant that begins, “I hate this f**king country so much,” to shout at Kaya, who serves as a prop in the background of his streams, as she attempts to move from her bed. The far-leftist yells, “Kaya, please, just f**cking go—” as he appears to reach for something, before the dog suddenly yelps in pain and returns to her position. Observers believe that a shock collar or similar device may have been used to keep her in place.
Piker’s complaint that his mother had allowed Kaya to “roam the house” while dogsitting, in contrast to her seemingly restricted movements during many of his streams, further raised suspicions. Online sleuths quickly turned up a video clip in which Piker confesses to owning a shock collar and calls them “incredibly effective.” In another clip, he expresses indifference towards animals suffering, saying of the difficulties French bulldogs have with breathing: “I know they have breathing problems, I know they’re incredibly f**king inbred, I don’t give a s**t, I know, I know, I don’t care… Like, I don’t give a s**t, this is a dog.”
Critics, including h3h3 Productions’ podcaster Ethan Klein, openly accused Piker of shocking Kaya: “Horrifying animal cruelty caught on camera … as he activates her shock collar for one tiny step off her bed. She cries in pain … this had to be the result of some brutally strict training,” Klein said.
Piker denied the allegations during a follow-up stream, claiming Kaya hurt herself by clipping her bed frame, insisting, “She is the best-behaved and most spoiled dog on the planet.” He dismissed the accusations as misinterpretations. However, skepticism persists due to the timing of his hand movements just before Kaya’s pained yelp and return to her bed.
This is not Piker’s first controversy. A well-known far-left commentator with a massive online following, he has infamously said that “America deserved 9/11,” and has previously been suspended from Twitch—albeit only briefly—for telling viewers to “shoot” GOP Senator Tom Cotton in 2024, and suggesting Rick Scott should be “killed” earlier in 2025.
WATCH:
Hasan Piker is accused of using a shock collar to keep his dog from wandering out of frame. During a rant about America, Hasan’s dog stood up, causing Hasan to become irate at it. He reaches off screen and the dog yelps, laying back down immediately.https://t.co/nUFdkmEKtepic.twitter.com/qXJAklHSWJ
❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump called for the jailing of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), following the deployment of 500 National Guard troops to Chicago.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Governor Pritzker, Mayor Johnson, and National Guard troops.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The comments were made Wednesday morning on Truth Social, as National Guard troops were deployed to Chicago over the weekend and on Monday.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: The deployment of federalized National Guard troops has sparked significant political tension, with Illinois Democrat officials opposing the move and filing lawsuits to block it.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump called for the jailing of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) on Wednesday, taking to Truth Social to criticize their handling of public safety and failure to protect federal immigration enforcement agents from violent leftist attacks. The post comes as 500 National Guard troops have been deployed to Chicago at President Trump’s direction.
“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” the America First leader wrote on Truth Social, directly targeting Johnson and Pritzker.
Gov. Pritzker, 60, responded by saying, “This is a man who’s suffering dementia,” adding: “This is a man who has something stuck in his head. He can’t get it out of his head.”
Over the weekend, the Pentagon federalized approximately 300 Illinois National Guard members, despite objections from Pritzker and the Illinois government. Additionally, Texas has sent some of its National Guard units to Illinois to assist federal agents. The state and city had previously filed lawsuits to block the deployment of armed National Guard troops to Chicago; it is expected that a federal judge will rule on the matter on Thursday morning.
President Trump’s remarks follow Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, the two suspects arrested for a vehicle ramming attack on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents in Chicago, Illinois, over the weekend, being released from custody on Monday by a federal judge pending trial.
According to DHS, Martinez—who was shot five times by agents responding to the vehicular attack—was armed with a semi-automatic weapon and had previously doxxed federal agents.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey has been indicted on charges of alleged false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding and is set to appear in federal court on Wednesday.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: James Comey, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and District Court Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff, among others.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Comey’s arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 10 AM Eastern Time in the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in the Eastern District of Virginia.
💬KEY QUOTE: “No one is above the law,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
🎯IMPACT: The case underscores the ongoing scrutiny of past FBI leadership and its handling of key investigations, with significant implications for public trust in federal law enforcement.
IN FULL
Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey is set to appear in federal court following his indictment on charges of alleged false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. The arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday at 10 AM Eastern Time in the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in the Eastern District of Virginia. District Court Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff will preside over the hearing.
Comey was indicted in September by a federal grand jury on two counts: making alleged false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The indictment alleges Comey obstructed a congressional investigation into the disclosure of sensitive information and falsely claimed he did not authorize an FBI official to act as an anonymous source.
Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on the case, stating, “No one is above the law.” FBI Director Kash Patel also weighed in, criticizing “previous corrupt leadership” for politicizing federal law enforcement, particularly during the Trump-Russia probe, known as “Crossfire Hurricane.”
Comey denied the allegations in a video posted to Instagram, stating, “My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way… I am innocent, so let’s have a trial and keep the faith.”
The investigation into Comey follows years of scrutiny over the FBI’s handling of the Russia hoax, which began in July 2016 and later became the focus of Special Counsel John Durham‘s investigation.
Durham’s report concluded that the FBI failed to act on clear warnings that the bureau was potentially being manipulated for political purposes to undermine President Donald J. Trump during the 2016 election. He noted that the FBI’s actions during the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation displayed a “startling and inexplicable failure” to critically assess intelligence related to the Clinton campaign’s efforts to influence the law enforcement process.
Update: Just after 10 AM, former FBI Director James Comey entered a plea of not guilty.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: A 9.8-foot asteroid, named 2025 TF, passed within 300 miles of Earth, closer than the orbit of the International Space Station, and was only detected after it had passed.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Catalina Sky Survey detected the asteroid, which was later observed by the European Space Agency’s Planetary Defence Office.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The asteroid flew over Antarctica on October 1, 2025, at 01:47:26 BST.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Objects of this size pose no significant danger. They can produce fireballs if they strike Earth’s atmosphere, and may result in the discovery of small meteorites on the ground.” – European Space Agency
🎯IMPACT: The incident highlighted the difficulty in detecting small space objects, raising concerns about planetary defense capabilities.
IN FULL
An asteroid measuring approximately 9.8 feet, named 2025 TF, flew within 300 miles of Earth on October 1, 2025. The space rock passed closer to the Earth than the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS), at an altitude of just 265 miles. However, scientists only detected the asteroid after it had already passed, with the Catalina Sky Survey identifying it hours later.
The European Space Agency (ESA) stated that 2025 TF posed no significant danger, as objects of its size would likely burn up or explode in the atmosphere rather than impact the surface. “Objects of this size pose no significant danger,” the ESA noted, though they acknowledged such objects can produce fireballs or result in small meteorites reaching the ground.
Following the asteroid’s passage, the ESA’s Planetary Defence Office used the Las Cumbres Observatory in Australia to observe the object. This allowed astronomers to refine their measurements, determining that the asteroid’s closest approach occurred precisely at 01:47:26 BST. Despite its proximity, there were no spacecraft or satellites in its path.
Despite its current public communication limitations due to a government shutdown, NASA has listed 2025 TF on its Center for Near-Earth Object Studies website. The asteroid is expected to make another close approach in 2087, though at a much safer distance of 3.7 million miles. Its small size, however, made it difficult to detect in advance, underscoring the challenges of tracking smaller near-Earth objects.
As of October 4, 2025, there were 39,585 known near-Earth asteroids, with 11,453 measuring over 460 feet in diameter. While most pose no immediate threat, incidents like this highlight the importance of advancing planetary defense systems.
NASA and ESA have conducted tests, such as the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), to explore methods of deflecting potential threats. However, experts emphasize the need for early detection to mitigate risks effectively.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney signaled progress on a potential trade agreement during a joint press appearance at the White House.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump and Prime Minister Carney.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, during a meeting at the White House.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re going to be talking about tariffs, about trade, about a lot of things—but that’s for a little later on.” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: Both leaders expressed optimism for a trade agreement, signaling improved relations between the North American nations.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met at the White House on Tuesday, where both leaders indicated progress toward a potential trade agreement. During their joint press appearance, a more conciliatory Carney praised Trump’s foreign policy achievements, including his efforts in the Middle East and his economic policies.
Prime Minister Carney noted President Trump’s “transformation of the economy,” “peace agreements in the Middle East,” and “disabling Iran as a force of terror.” When asked about the trade discussions, Trump said, “We’re going to be talking about tariffs, about trade, about a lot of things—but that’s for a little later on.” He added that the people of Canada would “love us again” once an agreement is finalized.
President Trump also noted that both nations were aligned on the importance of peace in the Middle East, stating, “Our team is over there now. Literally every country in the world supports our plan.”
Carney began his remarks by highlighting what he called “the most important” of Trump’s achievements, prompting Trump to joke, “The merger of Canada and the United States.” Carney responded, “That wasn’t where I was going.”
The meeting concluded with Trump calling Carney “a great man and a world-class leader.” When a reporter asked why a deal had not yet been reached, Trump humorously replied, “Because I want to be a great man too.”
Earlier on Tuesday, The National Pulse reported that the European Commission has proposed a 50 percent tariff on steel imports exceeding a reduced annual quota, aiming to bolster the European Union’s (EU) struggling steel industry.
The move is largely seen as an attempt to head off China and India from dumping excess steel on the European market now that the former countries face steep U.S. tariffs.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has halted diplomatic efforts with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, coinciding with the publication of an alleged Justice Department “kill list” containing cartel leaders and others.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, special envoy Richard “Ric” Grenell, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The United States, Venezuela, and the wider region, October 2025.
🎯IMPACT: The developments signal a potential escalation in U.S. military involvement in Latin America, as the Trump administration seeks to crush “narco-terrorists.”
IN FULL
The United States appears to be moving toward a new phase of military escalation in and around Venezuela, with President Donald J. Trump reportedly terminating diplomatic engagement with President Nicolás Maduro‘s regime and authorizing a series of military strikes in the region.
President Trump is said to have instructed special envoy Richard “Ric” Grenell to halt all outreach to Caracas, surprising even close allies like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Grenell had previously confirmed backchannel discussions with Maduro’s government, but those efforts have now been abruptly discontinued.
An alleged “kill list” containing drug cartel members and other drug traffickers was reportedly leaked to CNN, which published the claims on October 7, stating that the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel is behind the list. The list allegedly contains names of cartels not yet publicly declared terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.
Operations against drug traffickers are reportedly backed by a classified legal opinion from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, which argues that the President has sweeping authority to use deadly force against cartels considered an imminent threat to Americans.
Reports claim that some senior Trump administration officials, including Rubio and United States Homeland Security Advisor and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, are pushing for a military operation aimed at removing Maduro from power entirely. This comes amid allegations, including from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), that Maduro’s regime is facilitating the infiltration of the U.S. by foreign terrorist groups.
In the Caribbean, the U.S. military presence is growing, with at least eight warships, aircraft, and other assets deployed for counter-narcotics operations. The Pentagon has already carried out multiple targeted strikes on vessels involved in drug trafficking.
One of the most high-profile incidents occurred in early September, when U.S. forces killed 11 people aboard a boat allegedly tied to Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang with transnational reach. In response, Venezuela has reinforced coastal defenses, deployed drones and naval patrols, and mobilized troops along its borders.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Unlawful crossings at the southern border have dropped to their lowest level since 1970, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Border Patrol, President Donald J. Trump, DHS, and Latin American governments, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Fiscal year 2025, covering the U.S.-Mexico southern border and transit routes through Central and South America.
💬KEY QUOTE: “President Trump has overwhelmingly delivered on his promise to secure our Southern Border. As a result, Americans are safer—unvetted criminal illegal aliens and dangerous drugs are no longer pouring over our border unchecked.” – Abigail Jackson, White House spokeswoman
🎯IMPACT: The Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies have drastically reduced illegal border crossings.
IN FULL
Illegal crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border have fallen to their lowest level in over 50 years, according to newly released internal data from the Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Border Patrol recorded approximately 238,000 apprehensions in fiscal year 2025, a dramatic decline from the 2.2 million reported in fiscal year 2022 during the Biden-Harris regime.
The sharp drop has been widely attributed to the return of aggressive enforcement policies under President Donald J. Trump since he resumed office in January 2025. These measures include expanded military deployments along the border, restricted access to asylum, and accelerated deportation procedures.
“President Trump has overwhelmingly delivered on his promise to secure our Southern Border,” said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. “As a result, Americans are safer—unvetted criminal illegal aliens and dangerous drugs are no longer pouring over our border unchecked.”
Notably, more than 60 percent of the fiscal year’s apprehensions occurred in the final months of Joe Biden’s term. By September 2025, the number of monthly apprehensions had dropped to a record low of 8,400. Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, noted that “strict restrictions to access asylum at the border, coupled with new detention policies, are the two most important factors that have led to the recent decline in irregular [sic] migrant arrivals.”
The Trump administration has also expanded cooperation with regional governments, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala, to stem migration flows. Mexico has deployed troops to its southern and northern borders, while other countries in Central America have increased their own border enforcement efforts.
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown extends beyond the southern border. Illegal crossings at the U.S.–Canada border have also plunged. In the Swanton Sector, which includes parts of New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, arrests dropped by 95 percent from March 2024 to March 2025. Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said, “There is now a clear message: You cannot come into the U.S. without consequence.”
Notably, Trump’s deportation strategy has driven a growing number of migrants to seek entry into Canada instead, with over 5,500 asylum claims filed at a single Quebec border crossing since July.
Domestically, the Trump administration has also increased prosecutions of illegal entrants. In June 2025 alone, over 3,000 migrants were charged with criminal reentry, a record high. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also ramped up deportations.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: A drag queen was removed from the Phoenix Pride Festival lineup after being charged with sexual misconduct involving a 13-year-old boy.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Michael Browder, also known as Aubrey Ghalichi, and a 13-year-old boy.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The charges stem from an investigation that began in June, with Browder’s arrest occurring in September. The incident relates to events in Phoenix, Arizona.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The crime alleged is one that we find reprehensible and entirely contrary to what Phoenix Pride stands for.” – Phoenix Pride statement.
🎯IMPACT: Browder was removed from the event lineup, and Phoenix Pride emphasized their commitment to a safe environment while noting he has not been convicted.
IN FULL
Michael Browder, a Phoenix-based drag queenwho goes by the stage name Aubrey Ghalichi, has been removed from the upcoming Phoenix Pride Festival after being charged with two counts of sexual misconduct involving a minor. According to court documents, the charges follow a months-long investigation that began in June.
Investigators allege that Browder and another man met a 13-year-old boy through an online dating app. Messages found on the boy’s laptop reportedly led authorities to Browder, who was identified as “a known Phoenix drag queen.” During questioning, Browder allegedly admitted to the encounter but claimed he believed the boy was 18 or 19. He also claimed that the lighting in the apartment was too dark for him to realize the boy’s age.
In response to the charges, Phoenix Pride issued a statement confirming Browder’s removal from the festival, which is scheduled for October 18 and 19. “The crime alleged is one that we find reprehensible and entirely contrary to what Phoenix Pride stands for,” the organization said.
Browder is currently being held on a $10,000 secured appearance bond. If released, he will be required to wear an ankle monitor, avoid any contact with minors, and abstain from alcohol, drugs, and possession of weapons.
His case comes amid a spate of reports involving drag queens facing criminal allegations. In Wisconsin, drag performer Dwight Evan Chisolm, known on stage as “Sno Wight,” was arrested in early 2024 on charges of child enticement and exposure. Chisolm, a registered sex offender, has previous convictions related to sexual offenses with minors.
Another case from 2023 involved Shane Murnan, an Oklahoma elementary school principal who also performed in drag under the name “Ms. Shantel Mandalay.” Murnan had faced child pornography charges in the early 2000s but was not convicted. Despite the controversy, he was later hired as a principal at John Glenn Elementary School.
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