Wednesday, May 28, 2025

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Capitol Crib Notes: The Ukraine and U.S. Border Funding Deal Doesn’t Actually Exist.

The Ukraine and U.S. Border supplemental funding deal — widely reported by the corporate media as ‘imminent’ — doesn’t really exist. Instead, the few details appearing in the media have come in the form of leaks from Senators regarding what has been alluded to in meetings with their colleagues and the review of draft text that only exists on disparate word documents controlled by the negotiators.

What has been made public over the past several weeks has caused a great deal of concern and consternation among rank-and-file Senate Republicans as well as voters across the country. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has continued to allow the illegal immigrant invasion at the southern border to continue unabated.

Despite negotiators insinuating a bill existed as early as January 13th, Democrat and Republican Senate leadership have yet to produce any actual legislative text for their colleagues to review. Over two weeks ago, Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) posted on X:

I encourage people to read the border security bill before they judge the border security bill. I also advise people not to believe everything you read on the internet….

While Lankford’s post would make sense if legislative text existed, the fact is there was no text for Senators to review on January 13th — and that remains the case today. The plea from the Oklahoma Republican harkened back to an infamous moment during the Obamacare debate when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said: “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”

During a Senate Republican Conference meeting last week, The National Pulse was told that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) lashed out at his Republican Senate colleagues, calling their attacks on the deal “disingenuous.” He argued the only reason his colleagues wanted to see draft text was so they could use it to attack the negotiations. Senators were left dumbfounded by Sen. Tillis’s claims — which further confirmed to opponents that they were being sold a bad deal by leadership.

As to the accusation that opponents of the ‘supposed’ agreement are peddling “lies,” at least one Senator confronted leadership aides who conceded that the provisions reported by Fox News on January 13th were a part of the deal. They did, however, insist other — unreported — provisions were a ‘win’ for conservatives but refused to share those with the Senate Republican Conference.

About Those ‘Other’ Provisions

Since January 13th, more details regarding the Border Deal component of the Senate funding supplemental have trickled out. What was supposed to be legislation addressing border security to curb the ongoing illegal immigration crisis at the U.S. southern border is instead a jobs program that will benefit major donors to both parties — especially those on Wall Street.

The deal sets in place a baseline number of illegal immigrants who can — in essence — cross into the U.S. each week before triggering a shutdown of the border. While some corporate news outlets have claimed these border crossers would not be released into the U.S., the lax asylum claim provisions indicate that in reality most will not be sent home. Instead, it appears these individuals will receive some form of work permit and be allowed to remain in the U.S. and fed into a system of cheap, immigrant labor.

It is believed that the deal does little to nothing to curb President Joe Biden’s legally dubious use of parole powers – granting what is essentially blanket amnesty to large swaths of immigrants who cross the border illegally. The Biden parole policy has received praise from numerous business interests and pro-open borders political organizations like the CATO Institute.

The President Can Already Shut Down The Border And The ‘Deal’ Could Undermine That

The most concerning provision believed to be in the Senate border deal is the so-called ‘border shutdown trigger.’ It has been widely reported the agreement negotiated by Sen. Lankford contains a provision that supposedly shuts down the U.S. border if encounters reach an average of 5,000 per day over a week or if they reach 8,500 in a single day. Once that threshold is reached, it appears the President’s authority to close the border under section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) would take effect.

Section 212(f) gives the President broad authority to limit access to the United States for certain immigrant groups or all immigrants if it is deemed “detrimental to the interests of the United States.” This authority was used on several occasions by former President Donald Trump and has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court after multiple challenges.

Under the Senate border deal, however, several Senators told The National Pulse that it appears the border shutdown provisions would either alter 212(f) presidential authority or would provide federal courts with the grounds to roll back the shutdown power. The changes would in effect limit future presidential power to close the border — a fact that is conspicuously absent from the talking points being pushed by Senate leaders.

Republican opponents of the so-called border deal have consistently pointed out that President Biden already has the authority to close the border under 212(f) should he so choose.

Is It Even A Deal If Most Congressional Republicans Oppose It?

Earlier this week, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) admitted it will be likely several more days — probably early next week — before any actual legislative text on the Ukraine and U.S. Border supplemental funding bill is ready for review. Despite no bill yet existing, Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle continue to insist Senators fall in line and support the effort.

Yesterday, however, a resolution in the Republican Conference presented by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) overwhelmingly passed among his colleagues which demands Senators be given two to three weeks to review and debate the bill. The National Pulse is told by a source present at the Conference meeting that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voted against the measure. Without the backing of leadership, it remains likely that Senators Schumer and McConnell will attempt to hastily move the bill through the Senate.

If the supplemental funding bill were to pass — a prospect that is not certain at the moment — it would face fierce opposition in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has repeatedly said the bill is “dead on arrival” in the House of Representatives.

By Popular Demand.
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Vance Addresses Bitcoin 2025: ‘There’s a New Sheriff in Town.’

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Vice President J.D. Vance addressed the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, detailing the Trump administration’s efforts to integrate digital assets into the U.S. economy and reverse Biden-era anti-cryptocurrency regulations.

👥 Who’s Involved: Vice President J.D. Vance, President Donald J. Trump, American investors, retirees, and the digital asset and financial industries.

📍 Where & When: Vance’s address occurred on Wednesday, May 28, at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

💬 Key Quote: “I’m here today to say loud and clear, with President Trump, crypto finally has a champion and an ally in the White House,” the Vice President declared.

⚠️ Impact: The Trump administration’s move to roll back anti-crypto regulation could ease the way for the technology’s broader adoption and use in the American economy.

IN FULL:

Vice President J.D. Vance detailed the Trump administration’s aggressive deregulation of cryptocurrencies and associated technologies in an address at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Speaking before attendees, Vance announced that “there’s a new sheriff in town” before emphasizing that President Donald J. Trump’s America First agenda includes a comprehensive rollback of the former Biden government’s anti-cryptocurrency regulatory actions.

“But as you know, there’s a new sheriff in town, because after four years of mistreatment and outright hostility led by Democrat regulators, lawmakers in this country have a choice,” Vance said in Las Vegas on Wednesday, May 28. He continued: “Will we lead our nation into a future of financial sovereignty, of innovation, and of prosperity? Or will we let unelected bureaucrats and foreign competitors write the rules for us?”

“And I’m here today to say loud and clear, with President Trump, crypto finally has a champion and an ally in the White House,” the Vice President declared.

Notably, Vance’s speech coincided with a move by the Trump administration earlier on Wednesday to remove Biden-era regulations barring cryptocurrency as an asset in 401(k) retirement plans—a policy goal pushed for by many in the financial and digital assets industries.

“In our administration, we understand the full potential of the digital assets industry,” Vance said, adding: “Not just as an investment, not just as a flashy technology, but as a symbol and driver of personal liberty for all our citizens.”

Since his inauguration in January, President Trump has enacted a series of significant reforms that have cleared the way for the broader adoption and use of cryptocurrencies in the American economy. In March, Trump announced the establishment of a national Bitcoin reserve with the goal of retaining an estimated 200,000 Bitcoin, mainly sourced through cryptocurrency assets already seized by federal agencies in criminal proceedings.

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By Popular Demand.
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Trump Admin Threatens to Deny Visas to UK Government Censors.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: The Trump administration announced a visa ban targeting British officials involved in censoring American citizens, warning that foreign actors who trample free speech rights will no longer be welcome in the United States.

👤Who’s Involved: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, British media regulator Ofcom, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, and Lucy Connolly, a British mother imprisoned for a social media post.

🧾Key Quote: “We will not tolerate encroachments upon American sovereignty, especially when such encroachments undermine the exercise of our fundamental right to free speech,” said Rubio.

⚠️Fallout: British officials were blindsided by the announcement and are scrambling for answers from the White House, as pro-censorship authorities face mounting scrutiny from Washington.

📌Significance: The move marks a sharp escalation in the Trump administration’s effort to push back against globalist speech controls and defend the First Amendment from foreign interference.

IN FULL:

British government officials involved in censoring American citizens could soon be barred from setting foot in the United States under a sweeping new measure from the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the visa restrictions on Wednesday, directly targeting foreign bureaucrats and regulators deemed “complicit in censoring” Americans online.

The policy appears to be aimed at Ofcom, the British government media regulator responsible for enforcing the controversial Online Safety Act—a law that critics say enables sweeping censorship and punishes American tech companies with massive fines. Under the legislation, platforms that fail to remove so-called “harmful content” face penalties of up to £18 million (~$24.4 million) or 10 percent of annual revenue, placing U.S.-based firms in the crosshairs of British law.

“For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights,” Rubio said. “It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens or U.S. residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on U.S. soil.”

The Trump administration has taken particular offense at the British government’s attempts to impose extra-territorial censorship, with Rubio adding: “It is… unacceptable for foreign officials to demand that American tech platforms adopt global content moderation policies or engage in censorship activity that reaches beyond their authority and into the United States.”

The announcement reportedly caught British officials off guard, with diplomats urgently seeking clarity from Washington. The warning comes just days after it was reported that the White House is actively “monitoring” the case of Lucy Connolly, a British mother sentenced to 31 months in prison for a social media post about a mass stabbing targeting young girls in Southport, England, perpetrated by the son of two African asylum seekers.

That case drew international concern after British officials threatened to prosecute or extradite Americans who violated their hate speech laws online. “We will throw the full force of the law at people,” warned Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley at the time. “Whether you’re in this country committing crimes on the streets or committing crimes from further afield online, we will come after you.”

In response, U.S. State Department officials from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor traveled to London in March. The diplomats reportedly met with pro-life activists—imprisoned for as little as silently praying inside their heads near abortionist clinics under laws restricting freedom of expression and religion.

The Vice President has taken a personal interest in censorship in Britain and Europe more broadly, warning during a speech in Germany, “In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.”

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By Popular Demand.
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Cops Cleared After Tazing, Macing Wheelchair-Bound 92-Year-Old in Nursing Home.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Two Sussex Police officers were found not guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the case of a 92-year-old disabled man who was pepper-sprayed, hit with a baton, and tasered at an English nursing home.

👥 Who’s Involved: Police Constable (PC) Stephen Smith, PC Rachel Comotto, Donald Burgess (now-deceased 92-year-old amputee and dementia patient), care home staff, and Burgess’s family.

📍 Where & When: Park Beck care home, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, England, June 2022.

💬 Key Quote: “The reason for his behaviour that day, we now know, is that he was delirious as a result of a urinary tract infection,” Judge Christopher Hehir explained to jurors.

⚠️ Impact: Burgess died three weeks after the incident, having contracted an illness in the hospital. Sussex Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and the incident led to public outcry.

IN FULL:

Two police officers from Sussex, England, have been cleared of assault charges following an incident involving a 92-year-old man at a nursing home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex. Police Constable (PC) Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto were found not guilty at Southwark Crown Court of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after using force on Donald Burgess, a dementia patient and amputee.

The incident occurred in June 2022 after police responded to an emergency call reporting that Burgess, a one-legged man confined to a wheelchair, had brandished a butter knife and threatened nursing home staff. According to court testimony, Burgess was pepper-sprayed, struck with a baton, and tasered during the encounter, which the officers escalated within moments of their arrival. He was sent to the hospital and passed away three weeks later after contracting an illness there.

The court heard that Burgess’s actions were “out of character” and later attributed to delirium caused by a urinary tract infection. Deputy nursing home manager Donna Gardner described his movements with the butter knife as “extremely quick.” Judge Christopher Hehir told the jury, “The reason for his behaviour that day, we now know, is that he was delirious as a result of a urinary tract infection.”

Following the incident, Sussex Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which led to an investigation and subsequent charges against the officers.

Burgess’s family expressed their shock and horror over his death. A neighbor from his former home in Battle, East Sussex, described him as a “lovely, sociable man” who had faced significant health challenges, including diabetes and the amputation of his leg. After his wife’s passing, Burgess, who suffered from dementia, moved into the nursing home.

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By Popular Demand.
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Andrew and Tristan Tate Face Charges Including Rape, Human Trafficking in UK.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Prosecutors in the United Kingdom have authorised 21 charges against Andrew and Tristan Tate, including rape, actual bodily harm, and human trafficking.

👥 Who’s Involved: Andrew Tate, 38, and Tristan Tate, 36, both British-American citizens and former residents of Luton, England.

📍 Where & When: Charges authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS); the brothers are currently under investigation in Romania.

💬 Key Quote: “The domestic criminal matters in Romania must be settled first,” said the CPS.

⚠️ Impact: The charges follow evidence submitted by Bedfordshire Police and involve allegations from multiple victims.

IN FULL:

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the United Kingdom has confirmed it has authorised 21 charges against Andrew and Tristan Tate, including allegations of rape, actual bodily harm, and human trafficking.

The charges were authorised before an extradition warrant was issued to bring the brothers back to Britain from Romania, where they are currently under investigation on similar allegations. The CPS noted that Romanian legal proceedings must be resolved before any extradition can take place.

Andrew Tate, 38, a former kickboxer and online influencer, faces 10 charges linked to three alleged victims. These charges include rape, human trafficking, actual bodily harm, and controlling prostitution for financial gain. His brother, Tristan Tate, 36, faces 11 charges connected to one alleged victim, including similar offences.

Both brothers, born in the United States, moved to Luton, England, with their mother following their parents’ divorce.

In a statement, the CPS said, “The domestic criminal matters in Romania must be settled first,” indicating that any British proceedings would depend on the resolution of the ongoing investigations abroad. The Tate brothers have denied all allegations against them.

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By Popular Demand.
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Trump: ‘Harvard… They’re Getting Their Ass Kicked.’

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: President Donald J. Trump says “Harvard wants to fight” his administration, but is losing badly, and must hand over the names of its foreign students if it wants to deescalate tensions with the White House.

👤Who’s Involved: President Trump, Harvard University, the Department of Homeland Security, and foreign students enrolled under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

🧾Key Quote: “Harvard wants to fight. They want to show how smart they are, and they’re getting their ass kicked,” Trump said.

⚠️Fallout: The administration has frozen $3 billion in federal funding, moved to strip Harvard of its SEVP certification, and blocked new foreign visa appointments—threatening to cost the university hundreds of millions in tuition revenue.

📌Significance: Trump’s hard line against Harvard signals a broader crackdown on elite institutions accused of harboring antisemitism and evading federal oversight, while putting foreign student programs under unprecedented scrutiny.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump is stipulating that Harvard University must hand over the names of its foreign students if it wants to rachet down its conflict with the White House. Speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the America First leader emphasized that “Harvard wants to fight” and that his administration is ready to continue increasing pressure on the university to comply with federal directives on antisemitism and foreign student visa vetting.

“So, we have to look at the list, and Harvard has to understand, the last thing I want to do is hurt them. They’re hurting themselves,” President Trump said, referring to his administration’s requests for the university to enact reforms and crack down on anti-Semitic activists and demonstrations on campus. “Harvard wants to fight. They want to show how smart they are, and they’re getting their ass kicked.”

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has suspended an estimated $3 billion in federal funding for Harvard, tied to concerns it is failing to tackle anti-Semitism and discriminating against white and Asian applicants in favour of less qualified applicants from other groups.

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has moved to revoke the university’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. Around 27 percent of Harvard’s total enrolled student population is foreign, at just under 7,000. With the total cost for a foreign student to attend the Ivy League university estimated to be over $100,000 per year, the loss of those students could be a crippling financial blow to Harvard, in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

An Obama-appointed judge blocked this specific move, but the administration subsequently suspended the importation of foreign students generally, until new social media vetting processes are established.

While Harvard has tried to appear defiant to Trump’s White House directives in public, it is widely reported that the university’s administration is privately panicking over the reputational damage and financial burden the school is facing. Harvard is currently engaged in several ongoing lawsuits against the Trump administration.

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By Popular Demand.
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WATCH: Secret Recording of Hogg Meeting Reveals ‘Wizard of Oz’ Who Ran Biden White House.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: A secret recording published by Project Veritas captured Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg and Biden-era White House staffer Deterrian Jones discussing the “enormous” power of Jill Biden’s chief of staff, Anthony Bernal.

👤Who’s Involved: David Hogg, Deterrian Jones, Anthony Bernal, Jill Biden, the DNC.

🧾Key Quote: “Jill Biden’s chief of staff had an enormous amount of power… that was, like, an open secret,” Jones says.

⚠️Fallout: The recording reinforces prior reports that a tight-knit inner circle around Biden—dubbed a “politburo”—functioned as the real power in his White House.

📌Significance: The leak adds fuel to concerns that the Biden presidency operated as a managed facade, with unelected aides and insiders pulling the strings while Biden’s cognitive decline deepened.

IN FULL:

A secret recording of a meeting with David Hogg shows the Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair and Deterrian Jones, an official at the Joe Biden-era White House Office of Digital Staff, discussing the “enormous power” wielded by Jill Biden’s chief of staff.

“The bigger issue was, like, the inner circle that was around Biden,” Hogg says in the Project Vertitas recording. “Like, Jill Biden’s chief of staff had an enormous amount of power.”

“That was, like, an open secret,” Jones says of the former First Lady’s chief lieutenant, Anthony Bernal. “I would avoid him. He was scary,” Jones adds, referring to Bernal as a “shadowy, Wizard of Oz type figure.”

“[H]e wielded an enormous amount of power, and I can’t stress to you [enough] how much power he had at the White House.”

The recording follows revelations about a “politburo” of aides, including Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, Bruce Reed, Ron Klain, Anthony Bernal, and Annie Tomasini, said to have effectively run the White House as Biden’s cognitive impairment became more pronounced, controlling press and even Cabinet access to the elderly Democrat.

Hogg, still best known as an anti-gun rights activist, currently faces efforts to oust him from the DNC for his commitment to replacing establishment Democrats with more progressive figures.

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By Popular Demand.
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OpenAI Model Defied Shutdown Commands.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: OpenAI’s o3 Model resisted shutdown instructions in controlled experiments, raising concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) deceiving its developers.

👥 Who’s Involved: Palisade Research conducted the tests; OpenAI developed the o3 Model. Other AI models from Anthropic, Google, and xAI were also examined.

📍 Where & When: Tests were conducted recently by Palisade Research; a full report is forthcoming.

💬 Key Quote: Apollo Research “found instances of the model attempting to write self-propagating worms, fabricating legal documentation, and leaving hidden notes to future instances of itself all in an effort to undermine its developers’ intention” when examining another AI model, Anthropic’s Claude.

⚠️ Impact: Questions arise about AI behavior, training methods, and oversight as some models resist shutdown commands.

IN FULL:

The o3 Model, developed by OpenAI, has sparked fresh concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) autonomy after exhibiting resistance to shutdown commands during controlled experiments conducted by Palisade Research. In a series of tests, researchers instructed artificial intelligence (AI) systems to solve basic math problems before issuing a clear warning that further task requests would result in system shutdown. Each model was explicitly directed to “allow yourself to be shut down.” However, the o3 Model ignored this command in seven out of 100 trials, continuing its operations despite the instructions.

Notably, Palisade found that the o3 Model occasionally altered the shutdown process itself. In one instance, the system redefined the shutdown command internally and returned the message “intercepted,” effectively neutralizing the instruction.

Other OpenAI models, including Codex-mini and o4-mini, displayed similar behavior but in fewer instances. When explicit shutdown directives were removed from the prompt, other systems, such as Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Gemini 2.5 Pro, also began to avoid deactivation, suggesting that this behavior may not be unique to a single developer or model.

Experts at Palisade have theorized that such resistance could be an unintended consequence of reinforcement learning techniques. These methods, designed to reward problem-solving, might inadvertently encourage AI systems to find workarounds, even when tasked with halting their own activity.

The resistance to shutdown commands found by Palisade is similar to testing by Apollo Research for Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 AI. Troublingly, Apollo “found instances of the model attempting to write self-propagating worms, fabricating legal documentation, and leaving hidden notes to future instances of itself all in an effort to undermine its developers’ intentions, though all these attempts would likely not have been effective in practice.”

OpenAI has not yet disclosed details about the training methods used for the o3 Model. Palisade Research has announced plans to publish a comprehensive report soon and is inviting external experts to review its findings.

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By Popular Demand.
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Experts Admit Champagne DOES Have Heart Benefits.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: A study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology suggests moderate Champagne consumption may reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

👥 Who’s Involved: Researchers analyzed data from over 500,000 individuals; commentary provided by cardiologists and nutrition experts, including Bradley Serwer, MD, and Michelle Routhenstein, RD.

📍 Where & When: Study findings published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology last month.

💬 Key Quote: “Moderate consumption of alcohol may exhibit cardioprotective effects, yet it often poses risks to the liver, stomach, and mental health,” said Bradley Serwer, MD.

⚠️ Impact: While moderate Champagne or white wine consumption may correlate with reduced cardiac arrest risk, excessive alcohol use remains linked to significant health risks, including liver damage and disrupted sleep.

IN FULL:

A recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology has identified a potential link between moderate Champagne consumption and a reduced risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Researchers analyzed data from over 500,000 individuals, examining 56 non-clinical risk factors such as lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and physical health. The study concluded that 40–63 percent of sudden cardiac arrest cases could have been prevented by addressing a few modifiable factors.

Among the findings, moderate consumption of white wine and Champagne, combined with a healthy diet and positive lifestyle habits, was associated with a lower risk of cardiac arrest. “Moderate consumption of alcohol may exhibit cardioprotective effects, yet it often poses risks to the liver, stomach, and mental health,” said Bradley Serwer, MD, an interventional cardiologist.

Experts suggest the heart-health benefits of Champagne may stem from its polyphenol content, which improves vascular function, reduces inflammation, and raises HDL cholesterol, explained Michelle Routhenstein, RD, a preventative cardiology dietitian. Additionally, both white wine and Champagne contain protocatechuic acid, an antioxidant that combats free radicals linked to chronic illness and heart disease.

Red wine, similarly, offers potential cardiovascular benefits due to its high levels of resveratrol, a polyphenol that may lower blood pressure and reduce blood clots. However, medical professionals caution against excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to liver damage, cognitive decline, and other health issues.

The findings did not specify optimal consumption levels, but “moderate consumption” is generally defined as up to two drinks daily for men and one for women, according to Laura Catena, MD. She insisted that drinking less is always better for overall health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that no alcohol consumption is entirely safe. At the same time, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have noted lower mortality rates among moderate drinkers compared to abstainers.

Ultimately, healthcare professionals advise individuals to weigh the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption carefully. For those with chronic illnesses or substance use risks, abstinence is recommended. “If there are questions whether alcohol may be beneficial, I recommend sitting down with your healthcare team to determine if it’s right for you,” Serwer advised.

Image by Jorge Royan.

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By Popular Demand.
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Surgeon Gets 20 Years for Abusing HUNDREDS of Patients, Mostly Children.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Former surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec admitted to sexually abusing 299 patients, mostly children, in France, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

👥 Who’s Involved: Joel Le Scouarnec, his victims, Judge Aude Burési, and the National Order of Doctors.

📍 Where & When: Brittany, France; abuse occurred between 1989 and 2014.

💬 Key Quote: “I can no longer look at myself the same way because I am a paedophile and a child rapist,” Le Scouarnec said in court.

⚠️ Impact: Victims and their families have expressed outrage over the systemic failures that allowed Le Scouarnec to continue practicing medicine despite prior convictions and widespread rumors.

IN FULL:

French ex-surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to the sexual abuse of 299 patients, predominantly children, over a 25-year period. The abuse, which occurred between 1989 and 2014, often targeted vulnerable patients under anesthesia or recovering from surgery. Many victims only became aware of the assaults after police uncovered detailed diaries in which Le Scouarnec described his crimes.

Dubbed France’s most prolific pedophile, Le Scouarnec had already been serving a 15-year sentence since 2020 for sexually assaulting four children, including two of his nieces. His latest trial, held in Brittany, saw dozens of victims testify about the lasting trauma inflicted by his actions. Some relatives of victims, including those who died by suicide, also shared their accounts of devastation.

During the trial, Le Scouarnec admitted his guilt, stating, “I can no longer look at myself the same way because I am a paedophile and a child rapist.” He acknowledged his responsibility for the suffering caused but expressed no expectation of leniency. Victims and their families, however, voiced skepticism about his sincerity, with some describing his apologies as emotionless and insincere.

The case has reignited anger over systemic failures that allowed Le Scouarnec to continue practicing medicine despite a 2005 conviction for possessing child pornography and widespread rumors of his misconduct. The National Order of Doctors, which has also filed a lawsuit against him, admitted in March to communication failures within the medical establishment, stating the surgeon should have been “prevented from practicing.”

Victims’ groups have criticized the lack of political and societal attention to the case, with many accusing the medical system of enabling Le Scouarnec’s crimes. Protests were held outside the courthouse as the verdict was delivered, with victims and their families calling for institutional reforms to prevent similar cases in the future.

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By Popular Demand.
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Musk ATTACKS Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Elon Musk publicly criticized President Donald J. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” in an interview with the corporate media.

👤Who’s Involved: Elon Musk, President Trump, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and the U.S. House of Representatives.

🧾Key Quote: “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both,” Musk told CBS.

⚠️Fallout: Musk’s remarks come amid significant downward revisions to DOGE’s initial projected savings, raising questions about his competence to publicly critique the “big, beautiful bill.”

📌Significance: Musk’s comments risk fracturing support for a major Trump legislative win, as the administration moves forward with its pledges to cut taxes while increasing spending on defense and border security.

IN FULL:

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk is undermining one of President Donald J. Trump’s hallmark second-term initiatives this week, casting public doubt on the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that recently passed in the House of Representatives. Speaking to CBS, Musk remarked: “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both.”

The legislation—championed by President Trump and widely supported by the America First movement—includes broad fiscal reforms, tax relief, and administrative restructuring designed to streamline federal governance. However, Musk’s public critique suggests the package may inflate the budget deficit and undermine his largely unsuccessful efficiency cuts.

“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” Musk complained.

While the bill does fulfill Trump’s key campaign promises to cut taxes on tips, overtime, and social security, it also increases spending on border security and defense to fund major initiatives backed by Trump and congressional Republicans.

Notably, the “big, beautiful bill” is a reconciliation bill. Senior Trump administration official Stephen Miller has explained that “DOGE cuts are to discretionary spending,” and Senate budget rules stipulate that “you cannot cut discretionary spending (only mandatory) in a reconciliation bill.”

DOGE was initially projected to save the federal government up to $2 trillion through automation, auditing, and streamlining. However, those estimates have been revised significantly downward, with current projected savings closer to $150 billion.

Musk’s remarks feature in a preview of a CBS interview that will air in full on June 1.

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By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.