Jeff Roe, the chief strategist for Ron DeSantis’s Super PAC Never Back Down, has taken responsibility for co-ordinating online attacks and spreading dirt on the Republican outsider and DeSantis’ rival, Vivek Ramaswamy. Roe undertook similarly dirty tactics in 2016 against then-candidate Ben Carson.
In a leaked conversation before the recent GOP primary debate, Roetold a number of DeSantis donors and supporters, “Everything you read about [Ramaswamy) is from us… Every misstatement, every 360 he’s conducting or 180 that he is going through in life, is from our scrutiny and pressure. And so, he’s not going to go through that very well, and that will get worse for him.”
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Roe, who runs the legally embattled Axiom Strategies, also admitted to his audience that “a big night” for Ramaswamy may prove problematical for the Florida Governor, who required a breakout moment during the debate. The opposite happened, however, with Ramaswamy dominating national and international media coverage, handing DeSantis a rather forgettable performance.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for Ramaswamy, responded: “America watched Vivek dominate the debate stage, it’s no wonder Never Back Down is pissing away another $20+ million after Labor Day.”
Roe recently demanded another $50 million from donors, as his PAC shifts resources to Iowa with a $12 million ad spend, and an admission that he has fewer than 60 days to defeat Donald Trump.
By Popular Demand.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Far-left agitators clashed with police at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center Monday afternoon in Newark, blocking emergency vehicles and forcing their way toward the facility’s outer gates.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The agitators confronted Newark police and other law enforcement officers stationed at the site.
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⚠️FALLOUT: Protesters barricaded entrances, impeded ambulance access, and shoved through barriers in a series of confrontations with officers.
📌SIGNIFICANCE: The unrest follows last week’s high-profile incident involving Democratic Reps. Watson Coleman, Menendez Jr., and McIver—who entered the facility as Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside. Tensions surrounding the GEO Group-run ICE center continue to escalate.
BREAKING: Clashes outside ICE Detention Center Delaney Hall as Protesters block entrance pic.twitter.com/7IWVvC01n3
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 12, 2025
📰 IN FULL:
Tensions erupted again at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark on Monday as far-left agitators clashed with police during a fresh wave of protests.
In the early afternoon, demonstrators barricaded entrances to the facility and blocked access for emergency vehicles, including ambulances. Video from the scene shows activists shoving through outer gates and confronting law enforcement officers attempting to maintain order.
The incident marks a sharp continuation of unrest surrounding Delaney Hall, which reopened May 1 under a federal contract with the private prison firm GEO Group. Just days ago, three Democratic members of Congress—Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robert Menendez Jr., and LaMonica McIver—entered the facility. At the same time, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested after being denied entry. The confrontation sparked legal threats from the Department of Homeland Security and widespread national attention.
Today’s clashes further underline the breakdown between federal immigration enforcement and local resistance in sanctuary jurisdictions like Newark. Delaney Hall’s reopening has faced staunch opposition from city officials and far-left activist groups, who have sought to disrupt its operations physically.
No official arrest figures or statements from Newark police had been released at the time of this report.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: Police in the United Kingdom arrested a retired police officer for posts on X (formerly Twitter), held him for eight hours, but admitted later he had not committed a crime.
👥 Who’s Involved: British police, former special constable Julian Foulkes, the British government.
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📍 Where & When: The raid and arrest occurred in November 2023, but bodycam footage of the raid was released on May 10.
💬 Key Quote: “Nobody is really safe… the public needs to see what’s happening, and be shocked.” — Julian Foulkes.
⚠️ Impact: The case is just one of many alleged speech crimes or so-called non-crime hate incidents that have seen British police raid or arrest people based on social media posts.
IN FULL:
A retired British police officer was arrested over a social media post on X (formerly Twitter) and had his home raided by police, who questioned his pro-Brexit books. The former special constable was then taken to a police station, where he was held for eight hours.
Julian Foulkes, from Kent in England, was arrested in November 2023, but body camera footage from the police who raided his home was only published on May 10. The footage shows officers criticising Foulkes’s book collection, which contains pro-Brexit material.
The post that prompted the raid was a tacit defense of then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s description of anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London as “hate marches.” Foulkes said the marchers were “One step away from storming Heathrow [Airport] looking for Jewish arrivals,” in reference to Muslims storming an airport in Russia’s Dagestan region looking for arriving Israelis.
🚨WATCH: Body-worn camera footage of Kent Police searching FSU member Julian Foulkes’s home — all because of a perfectly lawful tweet.
— The Free Speech Union (@SpeechUnion) May 11, 2025
“Free speech is clearly under attack,” Foulkes told British media, adding, “Nobody is really safe… the public needs to see what’s happening, and be shocked.” Along with being raided, police also seized Foulkes’s electronic devices and went through many of his personal belongings.
Despite locking Foulkes in a cell for eight hours, police later admitted he had done nothing wrong and even stated that the caution they gave him had been a mistake.
Mr Foulkes commented on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer telling President Donald J. Trump that the United Kingdom has had free speech for a long time, saying, “I saw Starmer in the White House telling Trump we’ve had it in the UK for a very long time, and I thought, ‘Yeah, right.’ We can see what’s really going on.”
The case is just the latest example of British police showing up at people’s homes or even arresting them over social media posts. A similar incident happened to Telegraph newspaper writer Allison Pearson over a social media post that was declared a “non-crime hate incident.” Police turned up at her home last November to ask about her posts.
As many as 250,000 non-crime hate incidents are reported to police every year in Britain.
❓What Happened: The Trump administration has officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan refugees, opening the door to deportations.
👥 Who’s Involved: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision; tens of thousands of Afghans are affected.
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📍 Where & When: The announcement was made on Monday, May 12, 2025, in the United States, with deportation protections expiring in 60 days.
💬 Key Quote: “This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent,” said Secretary Noem, adding: “Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevents them from returning to their home country.”
⚠️ Impact: Deportation protections for Afghans will lapse, affecting tens of thousands of migrants, many of whom were resettled in Texas, California, and Virginia.
IN FULL:
The Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan refugees, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday. The move sets the stage for the potential deportation of tens of thousands of Afghans currently residing in the United States. Deportation protections will expire in 60 days, the minimum period allowed by law after such a notice is issued.
“This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent,” Sec. Noem stated, adding: “We’ve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevents them from returning to their home country.”
The Biden government had brought approximately 76,000 Afghan nationals to the United States following the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, a move ordered by President Joe Biden. Many of these individuals were resettled in states like Texas, California, and Virginia. Between 2010 and 2022, the Afghan population in the U.S. grew from 54,000 to 195,000, though it remains unclear how many of these individuals have obtained legal permanent residency or citizenship.
However, Noem’s analysis pointed to signs of recovery, such as Chinese tourism returning to the region, and a decline in the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance—from over 29 million last year to 23.7 million this year.
The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, created in 2006 and expanded in 2009, was initially designed to assist Afghan and Iraqi translators working with U.S. forces. Many of the Afghans currently in the U.S. fled during Joe Biden’s botched 2021 withdrawal, supposedly seeking refuge from Taliban reprisals.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: The U.S. revoked tourist visas for Mexico’s Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila and her husband, Carlos Torres.
👥 Who’s Involved: Governor Marina del Pilar Avila, her husband Carlos Torres, and the U.S. State Department.
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📍 Where & When: Baja California, Mexico; announcement made on Sunday, May 11, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “I make this information public with responsibility and transparency, not only to avoid speculation but also to limit political opponents’ misuse of this situation,” Carlos Torres said.
⚠️ Impact: The visa revocation raises questions about U.S.-Mexico relations, though the issue may stem from Avila and Torres’s abuse of temporary tourism visas to conduct Mexican government business in the United States.
IN FULL:
The United States has revoked tourist visas for Marina del Pilar Avila, the governor of Mexico’s Baja California state, and her husband, Carlos Torres, who also serves as the state’s coordinator of special projects. Governor Avila announced the development on Sunday through a post to X (formerly Twitter).
Avila stated that no formal accusations, investigations, or incidents had been raised against her or her husband in either Mexico or the United States. Meanwhile, Torres claims the revocations are part of a broader pattern of administrative actions by the U.S. State Department against Mexican officials. “Currently, the application of these administrative criteria has become increasingly common and, like so many others, I am included in that universe,” Torres said.
The couple’s visas were reportedly revoked shortly after a visit to San Diego, where they promoted tourism in Baja California. While the U.S. State Department has not given an official reason for the revocation, it could stem from the couple engaging in cross-border tourism as Mexican government officials while in the United States on tourism visas.
Notably, if Avila and Torres only held B1/B2 temporary visas—used for short business trips and tourism—they would be barred from engaging in official Mexican government business while in the country. Diplomats and foreign government officials undertaking official business are required to obtain an A1/A2 visa.
Some reports suggest 2019 pictures of Avila with Emmanuel ‘El Botas’ Serrano, allegedly linked to Sinaloa Cartel boss Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, could also be a factor, although these have been public knowledge since 2022.
Torres has retained an international immigration attorney to explore legal options, including reopening or reconsidering the decision, or applying for a new visa.
Torres emphasized transparency in addressing the situation, stating, “I make this information public with responsibility and transparency, not only to avoid speculation, but also to limit political opponents’ misuse of this situation.” He also criticized political adversaries, claiming they are “willing to turn any fact into slander if they think it will give them an advantage.”
Governor Avila expressed her support for her husband, describing him as a man of integrity and dedication. “My support for him isn’t just personal, it’s moral and political,” she wrote, adding that the situation requires “composure and prudence” given the complex binational context.
The visa issue follows broader tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, including a recent dispute involving Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and her refusal to allow American military intervention in combating drug cartels. Both Avila and Torres are members of Sheinbaum’s Morena party, which has faced criticism from U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
❓What Happened: House Republicans have unveiled the sweeping tax provisions that will be included in their budget reconciliation legislation, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The measures will permanently enshrine key elements of the 2017 Trump tax cuts while adding new deductions for tips, overtime, car loan interest, school choice scholarship contributions, and more.
👥 Who’s Involved: The amendment was filed by Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Many of the provisions reflect President Donald J. Trump’s 2024 campaign pledges, providing relief for American workers.
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📍 Where & When: The tax provisions were filed on Monday, May 12, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “This week the Republicans are meeting in the Tax, Energy, and Agriculture Committees on major pieces of ‘THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Monday, adding: “Republicans need to UNIFY behind their Highly Respected Chairmen, Jason Smith, Brett Guthrie, and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Remember, these are men that truly strive to do what is RIGHT for America.”
⚠️ Impact: The bill enacts a number of President Trump’s 2024 campaign promises, providing tax relief for American workers through no tax on tips and no tax on overtime provisions. Additionally, other tax changes aim to boost domestic industry and make permanent Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
IN FULL:
House Republicans have unveiled the tax portion of what President Donald J. Trump has dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill“—budget reconciliation legislation that will implement much of the America First leader’s White House agenda. Filed by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) as an amendment to the overall budget bill, the legislative measure contains provisions making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, and expands them with a bevy of new deductions aimed at workers, families, car buyers, and donors to private education initiatives.
“This week the Republicans are meeting in the Tax, Energy, and Agriculture Committees on major pieces of ‘THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social earlier on Monday, adding: “Republicans need to UNIFY behind their Highly Respected Chairmen, Jason Smith, Brett Guthrie, and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Remember, these are men that truly strive to do what is RIGHT for America.”
Critically, the Ways and Means amendment that will be incorporated into the larger reconciliation bill begins by eliminating the 2025 sunset provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Under the new framework, lower individual tax rates would remain in place permanently, and the increased standard deduction would be retained and boosted through 2028. The Child Tax Credit would increase from $2,000 to $2,500 between 2025 and 2028, then remain indexed to inflation thereafter. Eligibility for the credit would require each child to possess a valid Social Security Number—a change likely aimed at curbing fraudulent filings involving non-citizens.
The bill also introduces a new set of work-based incentives. Cash tips would become non-taxable in qualifying service industries. Overtime wages would be newly deductible for workers through 2028. Senior citizens would receive an additional $4,000 standard deduction, phased out at higher income levels. Another provision allows car buyers to deduct loan interest payments, provided the vehicle was assembled in the United States.
Education reforms also receive a significant boost. The bill offers a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for donations to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations that support private and religious schooling. A nationwide cap of $5 billion would apply. Five hundred and twenty-nine savings plans would also be expanded to include homeschool expenses, tutors, special education therapies, and educational materials. The adoption tax credit is enhanced and made partially refundable, with new language recognizing tribal government input in determining children with special needs.
Notably, the estate tax exemption would rise to $15 million per person, effective permanently, providing additional protections to family farms. The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) thresholds would be extended indefinitely. High-income earners would face a return of the so-called Pease limitation on itemized deductions, kicking in on incomes over $400,000.
Overall, the tax provisions reflect President Trump’s America First agenda, rewarding work, family formation, religious schooling, and domestic manufacturing. The Ways and Means Committee amendment’s text is 389 pages long, though the final full reconciliation bill is expected to be far longer.
While House and Senate Democrats have already expressed their opposition to the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” under the rules of the budget reconciliation process, the legislation only requires a majority in each chamber of Congress for passage. Additionally, a budget bill moved under the reconciliation process is not subject to Senate filibuster rules, meaning Republicans will not need to reach the 60-vote threshold to invoke cloture.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to reform immigration rules, including extending the time required for migrants to apply for settlement in the United Kingdom.
👥 Who’s Involved: Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and migrants impacted by the proposed policies.
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📍 Where & When: Announcement made in Britain, details discussed during an appearance on GB News on May 12.
💬 Key Quote: Farage: “Keir Starmer has spent his whole career campaigning for free movement of people… he’s just basically playing catch up with Reform.”
⚠️ Impact: Proposed changes aim to address public concerns over immigration but face criticism for perceived insincerity and potential loopholes.
IN FULL:
Nigel Farage has accused Sir Keir Starmer of insincerity following the Prime Minister’s announcement of new immigration reforms aimed at addressing Britain’s “broken” borders. Speaking on GB News, the Reform Party leader, who is leading Starmer’s Labour in the polls, argued that the government’s proposals are an attempt to “play catch up” on an issue that has long been a priority for his own party.
Starmer’s proposed White Paper includes a significant shift in immigration policy, requiring migrants to reside in Britain for ten years instead of five before applying for settlement or citizenship. Exceptions would be made for those demonstrating a “real and lasting contribution” to the nation’s economy and society.
Farage, however, was quick to point out inconsistencies in Starmer’s approach, stating, “Keir Starmer has spent his whole career campaigning for free movement of people… he’s just basically playing catch up with Reform.” He also noted that Starmer’s repeated use of the phrase “taking back control” during the announcement mirrors a Brexit campaign slogan from 2016, which Farage used as early as 2004.
Starmer claims the “One Nation experiment” in “open borders” is “over,” referring to the liberal “One Nation” wing of the Conservative Party to which former Prime Minister Boris Johnson belonged. Since replacing Labour in government in 2010, Conservative prime ministers David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak all promised to reduce immigration “from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands,” or at least an “overall” reduction—but the party left office having more than quadrupled it.
The Conservatives’ immigration numbers were so enormous that Labour, which instituted the modern era of mass migration under Tony Blair in the late 1990s, now feels able to position itself to the right on the issue. Starmer has gone so far as to say it is turning Britain into “an island of strangers“—angering some in his own party.
“If he was to succeed with all of this, I’d praise him to the heavens, but he’s not,” Farage said of Starmer’s promises, likening them to former Johnson and Sunak’s “stop the boats” promise on illegal immigration, which only increased under their tenure.
Labour is unlikely to be able to steal a march from Farage on immigration regardless, given Labour’s long history of promoting multiculturalism and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) style ideology, with Starmer personally presiding over the draconian crackdown on anti-immigration protestors following the mass murder of a number of young girls in Southport, England, by the son of two African asylum seekers in July 2024.
WATCH:
NEW: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls for the UK to take back its borders, says the UK is becoming an “island of strangers” and immigrants should learn how to speak English.
Wow.
“Without [strict rules], we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks… pic.twitter.com/qrcyc7iymI
❓What Happened: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued subpoenas to California state government officials, seeking records related to alleged misuse of federal funds to benefit illegal immigrants through the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).
👥 Who’s Involved: DHS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Los Angeles, California, Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) administration, and the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC).
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📍 Where & When: Subpoenas were issued in Los Angeles, California, on Monday, with records sought dating back to 2021.
💬 Key Quote: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated, “Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits. If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over.”
⚠️ Impact: The investigation could expose alleged misuse of billions in federal taxpayer dollars and could lead to further scrutiny of California’s financial practices and immigration policies.
IN FULL:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued subpoenas to California state government officials over allegations of federal funds being improperly allocated to illegal immigrants through the state’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). The subpoenas, filed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Los Angeles, demand records dating back to 2021, including applicants’ names, birth dates, immigration status, and other program-related documents.
California’s CAPI program provides monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, and disabled non-citizens who are ineligible for federal Supplemental Security Income. However, the White House believes that the program has been extended to illegal immigrants who are barred from accessing federal social security benefits.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blasted California’s state leadership, accusing them of prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens. “Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits,” she said in a statement. “If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over.”
The investigation follows a report from the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), which revealed that California may be using federal reimbursements to fund state programs benefiting illegal immigrants. EPIC alleged that nearly $4 billion in federal taxpayer dollars are being funneled to healthcare and other initiatives for illegal immigrants through Medicaid provider taxes. The report describes the process as a “money laundering scheme,” with California projected to receive over $19 billion in federal funds from April 2023 to December 2026 without contributing state funds.
Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has yet to publicly respond to DHS’s allegations. However, a spokesman for California’s Department of Healthcare Services claims EPIC’s allegations are “misleading.”
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is using a series of cross-country rallies with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to consolidate support among progressive Democrats ahead of a potential primary challenge against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), or even a possible 2028 presidential run. The New York Congresswoman raised nearly $10 million in campaign cash during the first quarter of 2025.
👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Chuck Schumer, President Donald J. Trump, Democratic voters.
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📍 Where & When: Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders kicked off their Fighting Oligarchy Tour in February with recent rallies in Colorado, California, and Arizona.
💬 Key Quote: “We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez argued at a recent rally in Tempe, Arizona. “I want you to look at every level of office around and support Democrats who fight, because those are the ones who can actually win against Republicans.”
⚠️ Impact: The Fighting Oligarchy Tour has positioned Ocasio-Cortez, a radical progressive, as a leading anti-Trump voice in the Democratic Party, fueling speculation she may soon launch a primary challenge to Sen. Schumer or launch a 2028 presidential bid.
IN FULL:
Disaffected Democrats and political progressives are rallying around the far-left populist message espoused by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), fueling increasing speculation that the 35-year-old New York Democrat may mount a primary challenge to 74-year-old Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) or even launch a 2028 presidential bid. Since late February, Ocasio-Cortez—often referred to as AOC—has been holding large rallies across the country with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as part of the Fighting Oligarchy Tour, resulting in the progressive Congresswoman raising nearly $10 million in the first quarter of 2025.
In March, a Fighting Oligarchy Tour rally in Denver, Colorado, featuring AOC and Sanders, drew a reported 34,000 attendees—eclipsing the crowds drawn during Sen. Sanders’s previous two presidential campaigns and dwarfing all other Democratic Party events that month. Subsequently, an April rally in Los Angeles, California, drew an estimated 36,000 people. The rallies often feature calls for Rep. Ocasio-Cortez to primary Sen. Chuck Schumer. AOC and progressive Democrats contend he was too quick to cave to President Trump and Congressional Republicans on a government funding bill.
“We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez argued at a recent rally in Tempe, Arizona. “I want you to look at every level of office around and support Democrats who fight, because those are the ones who can actually win against Republicans.”
While AOC’s cross-country tour and rallies with Sanders have energized the Democratic Party’s far-left progressive faction, more moderate party leaders worry that the New York Congresswoman’s radical message will alienate independent voters. However, absent any other standard bearers stepping forward and gaining traction, Ocasio-Cortez, with the backing of Sanders, appears to be quickly consolidating her position as one of the Democratic Party’s most vocal anti-Trump leaders.
Despite not having ruled out a potential 2028 bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, AOC is believed to be best positioned to challenge Schumer for his Senate seat. Several House Democrats have encouraged their progressive colleague to mount a primary campaign, with Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) stating, “I’ve already said it: Senate looks good.”
❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland and dominate Arctic commerce hinges on building a new U.S. icebreaker fleet. Finland’s unmatched expertise in designing and constructing these ships is poised to play a pivotal role in achieving this ambition.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Aker Arctic CEO Mika Hovilainen, and Helsinki Shipyard’s new Canadian owner, Davie Shipbuilding.
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📍 Where & When: Finland and the U.S., with Trump’s icebreaker push gaining traction in May 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “What does Finland have to offer the United States? Number one is icebreakers,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb said.
⚠️ Impact: Finland’s icebreaker prowess could fast-track Trump’s Arctic strategy, strengthening U.S. presence in a contested region.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump’s bold vision to secure Greenland and unlock the Arctic’s commercial and strategic potential is taking shape, with Finland’s world-leading icebreaker industry ready to answer the call. Having built or designed 80 percent of the world’s icebreakers, the European Union (EU) country offers unmatched expertise to help the U.S. construct a new fleet.
“Ice is our playground,” said Mika Hovilainen, CEO of Aker Arctic, a Finnish firm designing ships for Canada, Sweden, and now eyeing American contracts. “We want to be involved in every Western icebreaker,” Hovilainen added, noting his role in designing 10 ships, including one that operates sideways.
Trump, after meeting Finnish President Alexander Stubb, posted on Truth Social about boosting U.S.-Finnish ties, “and that includes the purchase and development of a large number of badly needed Icebreakers for the U.S.” Stubb echoed the sentiment, stating, “What does Finland have to offer the United States? Number one is icebreakers. We build them faster than anyone in the world and at about half the price.”
Finland’s edge stems from necessity—its Baltic Sea trade relies on ice-free routes—and a century of building over 120 icebreakers. Unlike the U.S., where expertise fades between rare projects, Finland’s shipyards and suppliers maintain continuous innovation.
With only a handful of aging vessels, the U.S. has lagged in icebreaker development. The Joe Biden-era ICE Pact with Canada and Finland, reaffirmed in March 2025, aims to share expertise, but Trump’s Greenland push demands more urgency. Icebreakers, built to smash ice over 10 feet thick, require specialized hulls, broad bows, and robust systems to withstand extreme cold.
Trump’s Arctic strategy, tied to Greenland’s vast natural resources and strategic location, positions the U.S. to counter Russia and China in a contested region.
❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump’s pledge to “take back” the Panama Canal from Chinese influence has won support from frustrated Panamanian workers, who say foreigners are favored over locals for canal jobs.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, and local workers like Marvin Moreno.
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📍 Where & When: Panama Canal, with Trump’s campaign intensifying since his inauguration in January.
💬 Key Quote: “Right now [Trump] is the best option because the president we have is putting Panamanians practically against a wall,” said Panamanian welder Marvin Moreno.
⚠️ Impact: Trump’s pressure has secured U.S. military access to the canal and pushed Panama to ditch China’s Belt and Road, strengthening America’s grip on a vital trade route despite opposition from some local elites.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump’s mission to reclaim influence over the Panama Canal is resonating with a growing cohort of Panamanian workers frustrated by their government’s mismanagement and perceived foreign favoritism. Construction workers see the return of U.S. influence as a path to restore local jobs and curb Chinese encroachment.
“May Trump come, take the canal in his pocket, and remove all those people from its administration. They are thieves,” one unemployed worker toldThe Telegraph, echoing the sentiment among laborers who claim Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino prioritizes foreign workers, particularly from a Chinese consortium building the canal’s $1.4 billion fourth bridge. Marvin Moreno, a 42-year-old welder, put it bluntly: “Right now [Trump] is the best option because the president we have is putting Panamanians practically against a wall. He is practically acting as a dictator.”
Trump has made the 51-mile waterway, which handles 40 percent of U.S. container traffic, a cornerstone of his foreign policy agenda, slamming the late Democratic President Jimmy Carter for “foolishly” ceding it to Panama. He accuses China of controlling the canal through CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong-based firm managing two adjacent ports, despite Panama’s denials.
Trump’s administration has successfully pressured the company to sell to a U.S. consortium and secured Panama’s exit from China’s Belt and Road Initiative after Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s February 2025 visit. He has also secured a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in April, granting U.S. military vessels free passage and allowing U.S. troops to train on Panamanian soil.
“We will take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared in a press conference at the canal. Trump doubled down on Truth Social, demanding free passage for U.S. military and commercial ships through both the Panama and Suez canals, arguing they “would not exist” without America.
While some Panamanians, like opposition leader Ricardo Lombana, call the MOU a “camouflaged invasion” and challenge its legality, workers like Moreno see Trump as defending Panama’s sovereignty against their government’s failures.
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Editor’s Notes
Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.
So here’s a little nugget for you, which I have tried to run up the DOD flagpole in recent months: what is the great Panamanian pasttime? It’s not soccer
So here’s a little nugget for you, which I have tried to run up the DOD flagpole in recent months: what is the great Panamanian pasttime? It’s not soccer show more
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