Thursday, July 10, 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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Trump Terminates Clinton-Era Policy Giving Free Tuition to Illegals.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Education has revoked a Bill Clinton-era policy giving taxpayer funds to help pay for the education of illegal aliens.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, and illegal aliens.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on July 10, and the policy will come into force on August 9.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens.” – Linda McMahon.

🎯IMPACT: The change will save taxpayers from funding the education of illegal aliens.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Education has announced the rollback of a Bill Clinton-era policy that made certain federal education funds accessible to illegal immigrants enrolled in technical, career, and adult education programs.

The decision reverses a directive from the former Clinton administration, allowing non-citizens without legal status to benefit from federal funding for postsecondary education. According to the Trump administration, that interpretation was at odds with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), a federal law that limits most public benefits to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

“Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Under President Trump’s leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities. The Department will ensure that taxpayer funds are reserved for citizens and individuals who have entered our country through legal means who meet federal eligibility criteria.”

Officials pointed to an executive order signed by President Trump on February 19, which reinforced the administration’s commitment to ending the use of federal funds for illegal immigrants. That order aligns with the PRWORA by emphasizing that federal benefits should be reserved for legal residents.

Beginning August 9, 2025, the Department will enforce the updated interpretation of the PRWORA. Federally funded postsecondary programs will be required to verify participants’ eligibility in accordance with the revised policy.

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By Popular Demand.
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EXPLAINED: Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order Despite SCOTUS Ruling.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge has issued a nationwide injunction blocking President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order ending birthright citizenship, despite a Supreme Court ruling last month barring lower courts from granting such relief beyond their jurisdiction.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Normand Laplante, the United States Supreme Court, President Donald J. Trump, and the children of immigrants born on or after January 20, 2025.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The injunction was issued on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The court hereby finds that Class Petitioners have demonstrated likelihood of success on the merits of their claims; that Class Petitioners are likely to suffer irreparable harm if the order is not granted,” wrote Judge Laplante.

🎯IMPACT: Despite the Supreme Court ruling limiting nationwide injunctions, Judge Laplante utilized the “wiggle room” in the ruling, which allows for nationwide injunctive relief to be granted in class action lawsuits where a viable class is established and certified by the court.

IN FULL

U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Normand Laplante has issued a nationwide injunction blocking President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order ending birthright citizenship. While the U.S. Supreme Court ruled late last month that lower courts cannot—under most circumstances—grant injunctive relief beyond their jurisdiction, the high court left a degree of what Justice Samuel Alito called “wiggle room” for issuing nationwide injunctions as part of a class action lawsuit. This latter exception is how Judge Laplante, a George W. Bush appointee, made his ruling blocking the birthright citizenship order.

“After careful consideration of the parties’ submissions, the supporting declarations, the applicable law, and the filings and record in this case, the court GRANTS Petitioners’ Motion for a Classwide Preliminary Injunction,” Judge Laplante wrote in his ruling. He continued: “The court hereby finds that Class Petitioners have demonstrated likelihood of success on the merits of their claims; that Class Petitioners are likely to suffer irreparable harm if the order is not granted; that the potential harm to the class petitioners if the order is not granted outweighs the potential harm to Respondents if the order is granted; and that the issuance of this order is in the public interest.”

Notably, the injunction only provides relief from President Trump’s directive ending birthright citizenship for the class established by the court, which Judge Laplante defines as the children of immigrants born after the January 20, 2025, Executive Order went into effect. The federal judge, based in New Hampshire, also issued a seven-day stay on his injunction to allow time for the Trump administration to appeal the decision.

While Judge Laplante appears to have circumvented the constraints placed on nationwide injunctions by the Supreme Court, the expediency with which he recognized a viable class for the purposes of class action could be seen as dubious. Typically, establishing and certifying a viable class can take a relatively long period of time, with most class action lawsuits in the United States taking, on average, two to three years to conclude.

The Trump administration is expected to appeal the injunction.

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EXC: Epstein Lawyer Jay Lefkowitz Now Helping Columbia University Get Off Trump’s Hook.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Jay Lefkowitz, known for once securing a lenient deal for sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, is now negotiating on behalf of Columbia University to restore its federal funding.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jay Lefkowitz, Columbia University, and the federal government under the Trump Administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Current negotiations following actions against Columbia by the Trump Administration, including a suspension of $400M in federal grants.

🎯IMPACT: Potential restoration of hundreds of millions in federal funding and protection of Columbia’s accreditation and tax-exempt status.

IN FULL

Jay Lefkowitz, the lawyer who once helped carve out a sweetheart deal for sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, is now orchestrating another behind-the-scenes maneuver—this time on behalf of Columbia University, The National Pulse has learned.

Sources tell The National Pulse that Lefkowitz has outplayed federal negotiators in the Trump administration and is on the verge of finalizing an agreement with the U.S. government to rescue the far-left college from the brink of financial disaster. This involves restoring over $400 million in suspended federal grants and preserving its tax-exempt status and accreditation, even as the university faces accusations of civil rights violations and internal bigotry against both Trump supporters and Jewish students.

Lefkowitz’s name is infamous among legal and political observers. In 2007, while a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, he helped broker a non-prosecution deal with then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta that let Epstein dodge a 53-count federal indictment in Florida. The pair met at a Marriott 70 miles from the prosecutor’s office to hammer out the secret arrangement. Epstein would plead guilty to state prostitution charges, serve just 13 months with work-release perks, and—most shockingly—his victims would never be notified, a blatant violation of federal law.

When the agreement eventually surfaced a decade later, Acosta was forced to resign as Trump’s Secretary of Labor. Lefkowitz, meanwhile, doubled down—personally appealing to Manhattan authorities to minimize Epstein’s sex offender registration requirements.

In May, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concluded that Columbia “violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act” by ignoring anti-Semitic harassment on campus. The Trump Administration responded by cutting off federal funds and moving to review Columbia’s accreditation—a potential deathblow to an Ivy League institution long viewed as untouchable.

Lefkowitz is reportedly working to scrub the damage and convince federal officials to settle. A source familiar with the negotiations said he’s “close to another miracle,” despite Columbia’s long list of controversies.

Among them:

— The university published a formal protocol instructing students and staff how to resist ICE enforcement actions;

— Internal text messages from Claire Shipman, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Acting President, show her scheming to oust a Jewish board member and “replace her with somebody from the Middle East or who is Arab.”

— Columbia’s leadership has refused to take accountability for weeks of on-campus intimidation and harassment targeting Jewish students during the Gaza-related protests.

Meanwhile, this week, the Department of Justice and the FBI attempted to close the book on the Epstein case with a curt two-page memo. It claimed there was “no client list” and reaffirmed the government’s position that Epstein died by suicide in 2019, despite widespread skepticism and a mountain of unanswered questions. The timing of that announcement, coming as Lefkowitz works his magic once again, has raised eyebrows in both legal and political circles.

Lefkowitz has historically been a major donor to ‘RINO’ Republican candidates such as Nikki Haley, Jeb Bush, and Mitt Romney. His most recent political contribution was to New York Democrat Ritchie Torres, who represents part of the Bronx neighborhood. Lefkowitz has also represented anti-Trump activist and failed magazine editor Bill Kristol.

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By Popular Demand.
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TikTok Is Being Investigated for Storing Western User Data in China, AGAIN.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The European Union’s top data privacy regulator announced it is launching its second investigation this year into whether TikTok is storing European user data on servers located in China, in violation of EU laws.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The EU, the Data Protection Commission (DPC), TikTok, ByteDance, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The DPC investigation was announced on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: The EU regulator expressed “deep concern” about the integrity of its prior investigation after discovering that “TikTok had submitted inaccurate information.”

🎯IMPACT: TikTok could face new financial sanctions after being fined €530 million ($620 million) in May over violating EU data privacy laws.

IN FULL

The Chinese-owned social media company TikTok is facing a second European Union (EU) investigation over allegations that it illegally transferred European user data to company servers in China. In May of this year, the EU’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined TikTok a total of €530 million ($620 million) over the same allegations—though the social media giant insists that EU user data was only accessed in China remotely and not directly stored on servers in the country.

On Thursday, the DPC announced it had opened a second investigation into TikTok’s data practices. The DPC also confirmed that earlier this year, TikTok admitted to the EU regulator that “limited EEA user data had in fact been stored on servers in China,” referring to the European Economic Area (EEA)—which includes EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The EU regulator stated it has “deep concern” about the integrity of the prior investigation after it was discovered that “TikTok had submitted inaccurate information.”

TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have been subject to increasing scrutiny in the EU and the United States over their data practices and allegations that they are under the direction of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). While the social media giant has made significant investments, to the tune of tens of billions of dollars, in building data services in Europe and the United States, either by its own admission or by evidence from whistleblowers, TikTok has been shown to have continued storing European and American data in China.

The latest EU investigation aims to determine if TikTok has, subsequent to the May DPC findings, brought itself into compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)—the EU’s extensive data privacy law.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald J. Trump has continued to push for a non-Chinese company to purchase TikTok’s American operations from ByteDance. Trump has delayed a potential U.S. ban of the social media app several times as discussions over ByteDance’s divestment from it remain ongoing.

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By Popular Demand.
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Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Fires Lawyer, Wants to Represent Himself.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Ryan Wesley Routh, who attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump late last year, informed a federal court that he has fired his attorney and is requesting to represent himself.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ryan Routh, federal prosecutors, a U.S. federal court, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The court was informed of Routh’s decision on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

🎯IMPACT: It remains to be seen whether the court will deem Routh competent enough to represent himself. The 59-year-old faces serious consequences should he be found guilty, as attempting to assassinate a president can carry a sentence of life in prison or even the death penalty.

IN FULL

Would-be presidential assassin Ryan Wesley Routh announced in court on Thursday that he has fired his attorney and is requesting that he be allowed to represent himself. Routh is currently facing five federal charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty, stemming from a September 2024 attempt on President Donald J. Trump’s life. The federal trial is currently slated to begin on September 8, 2025, with Routh facing state charges as well.

Last year, Routh was discovered by the United States Secret Service (USSS) hiding with a SKS-style rifle amidst shrubbery on the edge of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. At the time, Trump was just several hundred yards away playing a round of golf. After spotting Routh positioned in cover with a rifle, a Secret Service agent performing an advance sweep, several holes ahead of Trump, fired four shots at the would-be assassin, causing him to flee the scene. Subsequently, Routh was pursued by law enforcement in a high-speed chase in which a six-year-old girl was nearly killed. He was apprehended some time later in Marin County, Florida, after causing a multi-car crash on a highway, which nearly resulted in the death of the young girl.

The 59-year-old Routh’s attempt to assassinate Trump appears to have been inspired by the former’s obsession with supporting Ukraine. The would-be assassin appears to have been deeply involved with efforts to send Afghanistan military veterans to Ukraine to assist in the country’s defense against Russia Additionally, federal prosecutors have produced a letter authored by Routh in which he pledges a six-figure cash bounty on President Trump, with the text also suggesting that he was likely inspired by the anti-Trump rhetoric pushed by the Democratic Party.

A separate November 2024 letter authored by Routh and sent to the media indicates that President Trump’s firm stance against Iran’s nuclear weapons program and sponsorship of terrorism was a secondary motivation for the assassination attempt. Notably, Iran has repeatedly threatened the life of Trump and other government officials in retaliation for a January 3, 2020, drone strike, which killed Iranian Quds Forces commander Qasem Soleimani.

It remains to be seen whether the court will deem Routh competent enough to represent himself. The 59-year-old faces serious consequences should he be found guilty of the federal charges. Attempting to assassinate a president can carry a sentence of life in prison or even the death penalty.

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By Popular Demand.
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Hispanic Support for Trump’s Deportations Is Surging.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll shows Hispanic voter support for deportations has surged by 11 percent in just two months.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The poll was conducted by Cygnal, and it surveyed 1,500 people. The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have also been central to recent deportation efforts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The survey was conducted between July 1 and 2, 2025, as ICE continues nationwide raids and deportations.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.” – Tricia McLaughlin

🎯IMPACT: Support for deportations among Hispanic voters has risen significantly despite pro-illegal immigrant riots in cities across the U.S.

IN FULL

Support for President Donald J. Trump’s mass deportation policies has surged among Hispanic voters, according to a poll conducted by Cygnal. The survey, which polled 1,500 people between July 1 and 2, 2025, revealed an 11 percent rise in strong support for deportations among Hispanic voters since May.

The findings coincide with a series of nationwide raids and deportations carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These operations have targeted migrants living in the U.S. illegally, many with serious criminal records.

Since May, overall support for deportations among Hispanic voters has increased by seven percent, with an 11 percent rise in those who “strongly support” them.

The poll found that over 60 percent of all voters now support the deportation of illegal immigrants. Among Hispanic voters, 50 percent expressed support, with 48 percent opposed. Support among black voters stood at 53 percent, while support among white voters stood at 65 percent. This is despite pro-illegal immigrant riots and potentially deadly attacks on ICE in cities across the U.S., accompanied by highly inflammatory anti-ICE rhetoric from senior Democrats.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated: “We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”

Meanwhile, illegals who decline this offer and take their chances evading ICE will face fines of $1,000 a day, and be deported forcibly—possibly to a country other than their own, such as El Salvador.

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Zelensky’s D.C. Ambassador, Accused of Pro-Democrat Election Interference, Is OUT.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova is set to leave her post in Washington, D.C.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Markarova’s departure was announced on Wednesday during a broadcast on Ukrainian radio.

💬KEY QUOTE: “She is extremely effective and charismatic, but every diplomat has a rotation cycle,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

🎯IMPACT: Markarova’s tenure has been marked by accusations of partisanship by Republican lawmakers. She was present in the Oval Office when Zelensky started a blazing row with Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald J. Trump.

IN FULL

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry confirmed this week that Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, is set to return to Kiev, supposedly as part of a routine diplomatic rotation. The decision comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly seeks to inject new energy into U.S.–Ukraine relations, which have been strained since President Donald J. Trump returned to office with the goal of securing a compromise peace between Kiev and Moscow.

Deputy Head of Zelensky’s Presidential Office and newly appointed Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha addressed the transition in a Ukrainian radio interview on Wednesday. “Ambassador Markarova has served with exceptional dedication and charisma. However, all diplomats follow scheduled rotations,” Sybiha suggested.

Markarova’s departure comes after a series of political controversies. Chief among them was a September 2024 visit to a munitions manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania, where Markarova was joined by Democratic Party leaders. The event drew criticism from Republicans who said they were deliberately excluded. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) accused the ambassador of partisanship, calling the visit “election interference” due to its location in a key battleground state and its association with Democratic figures close to Vice President Kamala Harris. In a letter to President Zelensky, Johnson alleged the visit was “intentionally partisan” and said it undermined trust in Markarova’s ability to serve as an impartial diplomat.

“The absence of any Republican invitees from such a high-profile event raises serious concerns,” Johnson wrote. “It was clearly political, and such actions damage the credibility of Ukraine’s diplomatic representation.”

Following President Trump’s reelection and inauguration, Marakova was present during the infamous Oval Office clash between Zelensky, President Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance in February. She was photographed with her head in her hands as Vance and then Trump admonished Zelensky for his ingratitude and seeming disinterest in making peace, after the Ukrainian leader had made a point of attempting to undermine the Vice President in front of the press.

Image via U.S. Institute of Peace.

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The FDA Just Approved Moderna’s ‘Spikevax’ Jab for Babies and Young Children.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, for children aged 6 months to 11 years.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Moderna, the FDA, American children.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on Thursday.

🎯IMPACT: Moderna’s shares rose 2%, and the company plans to have its updated vaccine available for the 2025-26 season.

IN FULL

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given full approval to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, for children between the ages of 6 months and 11 years who are considered at higher risk of the disease. Previously, the vaccine was only accessible to pediatric groups under an emergency use authorization. This announcement has positively impacted Moderna’s market performance, with shares rising by two percent in premarket trading.

This follows Moderna facing scrutiny in the United Kingdom earlier this year, when it was fined nearly £44,000 (~$60,000) for unlawfully using incentives such as teddy bears to encourage children to participate in coronavirus vaccine trials in 2023.

The British complaints centered around advertisements published by Bradford Teaching Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, which aimed to recruit children aged 12 and over for trials of Moderna’s updated mRNA vaccine. These ads were targeted directly at children rather than their parents, promising certificates and teddy bears as rewards for participation.

Molly Kingsley, founder of the pro-children campaign group UsForThem, criticized this approach, stating, “For any pharmaceutical company to effectively bribe children with the offer of free teddy bears to take part in a trial of a product posing a degree of risk to the child is sinister and deeply unsavoury behaviour.”

The FDA has itself recently updated the warning labels on Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA coronavirus vaccines with new information on the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly in young males.

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By Popular Demand.
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John Kerry Admits ‘Trump Was Right’ on Strong Borders.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged that “Trump was right” on immigration during an interview, criticizing Democrats for neglecting border issues.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Kerry, President Donald J. Trump, former President Joe Biden, and Trump White House advisor Stephen Miller, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Kerry’s comments were made during a BBC interview.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The first thing any President should say—or anybody in public life—is without a border protected, you don’t have a nation.” – John Kerry

🎯IMPACT: The remarks highlight growing bipartisan concerns over immigration policies and border security, with Republicans emphasizing enforcement and Democrats facing internal criticism.

IN FULL

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has admitted that President Donald J. Trump was correct on border and immigration issues, stating, “Trump was right,” during an interview. He criticized Democrats for failing to address border security adequately, admitting the U.S.-Mexico border was “under siege” during Joe Biden’s presidency.

Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, remarked, “The first thing any President should say—or anybody in public life—is without a border protected, you don’t have a nation.” He added, “I wish President Biden had been heard more often saying, I’m going to enforce the law.”

Illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped to near-record lows during Trump’s second term. Trump has since prioritized deportations, particularly in Democrat-run cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where large populations of illegal immigrants reside.

Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and a key architect of Trump’s immigration policies, initially gave U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a target of at least 3,000 arrests a day. However, with ICE funding significantly increased with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Border Czar Tom Homan now hopes to hit 7,000 arrests a day.

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Secret Service Suspends Six Agents Over Trump Shooting.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Six Secret Service agents were suspended without pay following critical security failures during an assassination attempt on President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, six Secret Service agents, shooter Thomas Crooks, and Deputy Director Matt Quinn.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The assassination attempt occurred at a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” said Deputy Director Matt Quinn, adding: “Butler was an operational failure and we are focused today on ensuring that it never happens again.”

🎯IMPACT: The suspensions are part of broader reforms, including deploying military-grade drones and new mobile command units, to prevent similar incidents.

IN FULL

The Secret Service suspended six agents without pay on Wednesday in response to critical security failures during last year’s assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The decision, confirmed by Deputy Director Matt Quinn in an interview with CBS News, comes nearly a year after a gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, opened fire as Trump spoke, striking the America First leader’s ear and seriously wounding two attendees, one of whom died.

Quinn described the suspensions, which range from 10 to 42 days, as part of a broader effort to address systemic issues. However, he defended the decision not to punish anybody in the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt, insisting, “We aren’t going to fire our way out of this.”

“We’re going to focus on the root cause and fix the deficiencies that put us in that situation,” he added.

Following their suspensions, each of the six agents will be reassigned to less critical roles. Quinn also noted that the agency has implemented significant reforms, including the deployment of military-grade drones and new mobile command units to ensure better coordination with local law enforcement.

The Butler incident, along with another foiled attempt weeks later in Florida, led to the resignation of then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, despite the fact she initially insisted she would stay in post. A December congressional report labeled the attack “tragic and preventable,” citing a catalogue of errors, including leadership and training deficiencies, as key factors.

“Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” Quinn admitted. “Butler was an operational failure.”

Image by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

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