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February 26, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Crime
Immigration

‘A New Category of Crime’ – Is Trump Right About Migrant Crime? Looking Back Over the Last Week.

“We have a new category of crime, it’s called migrant crime, and it’s going to be worse than any other form of crime,” Donald Trump warned during his latest town hall.

Last month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 171 illegal aliens over the course of a two-week operation, convicted or charged with crimes including first-degree murder and child rape, indicating the former president is right to suggest mass migration is increasing crime in the United States.

Often, migrant crime can fly under the radar. Sometimes, this is because it is confined to local and regional news and does not reach a broad audience; sometimes, this is because media outlets consciously choose not to report a suspect’s immigration background and will describe an illegal alien based in Columbus, Ohio, as simply a “Columbus man.”

This does not mean migrant crime is not happening, however. Here are some examples from reports published the last week:

BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS.

The most-reported migrant crime of recent days is the murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley in Georgia. The suspect in the nursing student’s killing is  Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela. He crossed the border at El Paso, Texas, was briefly detained by officials, and then, like countless others, released into the country with no meaningful oversight.

Georgia’s Mike Collins (R-10) is in no doubt about who is responsible for this deadly carelessness: “The blood of Laken Riley is on the hands of Joe Biden, [Homeland Security Secretary] Alejandro Mayorkas, and the government of Athens-Clarke County.”

STABBED IN TIMES SQUARE.

Times Square, the scene of several altercations involving migrants in recent weeks, including a high-profile attack on police officers,  saw another on Thursday.

During a brawl reportedly involving “dozens” of people, ending with a 17-year-old boy being stabbed in the lower back.

“I saw someone running… and there was blood coming from his back, coming from everywhere,” said one eyewitness.

An unnamed 22-year-old and three migrant teenagers were arrested following the attack.

BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS.

Still in New York City, migrants Dugleidy Gonzalez-Riera, 28, Yefferson Prieto-Galviz, 23, and Morelis Blanco-Cineros, 41, were arrested for stealing “clothing, shoes and fragrances” worth over $5,300 from a string of retail locations.

The trio, who initially gave false names to police, were also found to be in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, and the car they were driving had bogus license plates.

The migrants carried out their crimes while living in the Roosevelt Hotel at taxpayers’ expense.

MOB MENTALITY.

Randall’s Island, which hosts a tent city shelter for migrants, almost descended into riot earlier in the week as police officers attempted to arrest a migrant vigorously resisting arrest.

Fellow migrants grew restive, first heckling the officers and then pelting them with water bottles, backpacks, and other makeshift missiles in an incident captured on video.

AN AVOIDABLE TRAGEDY.

One of the saddest incidents in recent days involved the death of a 10-year-old boy, Alex Wise, in Texas.

Rogelio Ortiz, 50, who was in the United States despite having been removed from the country on six previous occasions, has been charged with mowing the boy down in a hit-and-run.

Ortiz also faces charges for driving while intoxicated.

SAFETY LAST.

An illegal alien from Guatemala, charged with molesting a child, has been released by a judge in Rhode Island despite being wanted by immigration authorities.

State Attorney General Peter Neronha expressed fury at the situation, as his office had “argued that the court should order the defendant held without bail on the grounds that he posed a danger to the community and was a flight risk.”

ICE confirmed the alleged pedophile reached the U.S. interior “without being inspected, admitted or paroled by an immigration official” — a reminder that the migrant “encounters” logged at the southern and northern borders are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of illegal entries.

THE CHICAGO STRANGLERS.

A final example, Venezuelan migrants Fernando Loyo-Rodriguez, 22, Wilker Gutierrez Sierra, 21, Carlos Carreno-Carreno, 20, and Yonnier Guasamucare Garcia, 18, were arrested in Chicago for attacking a 49-year-old man on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train,

The attack did not take place in the very early or very late hours, but at 4:30 p.m., and saw the victim beaten, strangled to the point of unconsciousness, and robbed.

Like some of the other migrants on this list, the suspects are all confirmed to have been “staying in area shelters” on the taxpayers’ dime.

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1 hour ago
Immigration
UK

Britain Is Granting Asylum to Known Predators: Whistleblower.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A whistleblower at Britain’s Home Office, roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has revealed that migrants charged with serious crimes, including sex offences, are being granted asylum.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A Home Office caseworker, Afghan asylum seekers, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, and Home Office officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The allegations have surfaced amidst an ongoing review of the British asylum system in 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I said: ‘I’m refusing. He’s a wrong ’un.’ And my senior manager said we can’t refuse an Afghan, we’ve got to grant.” – Home Office whistleblower.

🎯IMPACT: The whistleblower’s revelations underline the systemic issues in the British asylum process, with soaring application numbers and concerns over public safety.

IN FULL

A whistleblower at Britain’s Home Office, roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has revealed that migrants accused of serious crimes, including sexual offenses, are being granted asylum in Britain. The caseworker stated that officials are approving asylum applications from migrants who have committed or been accused of crimes that would attract a prison sentence of less than 12 months if committed in Britain.

The whistleblower said she faced disciplinary action after refusing the asylum application of an Afghan man accused of repeatedly exposing himself in a children’s play area. “I said: ‘I’m refusing. He’s a wrong ’un.’ And my senior manager said we can’t refuse an Afghan, we’ve got to grant,” she said. “I was refusing that man because… I believed he posed a threat to children, but he was never going to receive a jail sentence for indecent exposure, he was just getting repeated warnings.”

She also revealed that caseworkers are being pressured to approve more claims, with applications from some countries, such as Sudan and Eritrea, being fast-tracked with less scrutiny. She described the situation as “lose-lose” for staff, saying employees are caught between pressure from senior officials and public criticism over excessively generous decisions.

The revelations come as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood prepares to announce reforms to the asylum system, including stricter rules for migrants with criminal records and measures which will supposedly prevent people using human rights laws to avoid deportation as often as they do at present. Mahmood, of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, has acknowledged that the Home Office is “not yet fit for purpose.”

Asylum claims in the United Kingdom have reached record highs, with 111,000 applications submitted in the year to June 2025, a 14 percent rise compared with the previous year. In the same period, 37,000 migrants arrived in Britain by small boat alone, an increase of 17 percent on 2024.

The financial burden of accommodating asylum seekers has also drawn criticism. Reports have estimated that housing asylum seekers costs UK taxpayers around £15 million every day, with many placed in hotels due to shortages of permanent accommodation. Hundreds of migrants living in taxpayer-funded hotels have been charged with serious offences, including rape and assault.

In one case, the government reportedly paid more than $600 to a convicted pedophile migrant, previously released from prison in error, to persuade him to cooperate with his deportation.

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Crime
UK

Southport Stabber’s Migrant Father Believes Failure to Integrate Influenced Crime.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The immigrant father of mass murderer Axel Rudakubana suggested that difficulties assimilating into British society may have impacted his son’s mental state before a stabbing spree in Southport, England, that left three young girls dead and many others injured.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Axel Rudakubana, his father Alphonse Rudakubana, his brother Dion Rudakubana, and victims of the 2024 Southport attack.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Southport, England, during a Taylor Swift-themed children’s dance class in 2024; testimony was given during an ongoing inquiry in 2024.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I think what affected them was that we were a small family with two friends from Rwanda [in the UK].” – Alphonse Rudakubana

🎯IMPACT: The inquiry into Rudakubana raised questions about immigration, assimilation challenges, and state failures to act on warning signs before the attack.

IN FULL

The father of child killer Axel Rudakubana told an inquiry that his son’s mental health may have been affected by the family’s difficulties assimilating into British society after migrating from Rwanda. Speaking about his two sons, Alphonse Rudakubana said: “I think what affected them was that we were a small family with two friends from Rwanda [in the UK]. They could see that we are kind of lonely compared to their peers, their friends from school. So they’ll see that we are in a foreign land even though they were born here.”

Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Cardiff, Wales, to Rwandan asylum seekers, carried out a stabbing spree at a children’s Taylor Swift–themed dance class in Southport, England, on July 29, 2024. Three young girls, six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, were killed, while several other children and two adults were injured, in some cases very seriously. The attack, which shocked the nation, was one of the deadliest child-targeted assaults in modern British history.

Despite being referred multiple times to the government’s Prevent counter-extremism programme, Rudakubana was never correctly identified as a threat. One teacher who attempted to raise the alarm about him was even shut down by a mental health worker, who warned against racially profiling “a black boy with a knife.”

After his stabbing spree, investigators found that Rudakubana possessed an al-Qaeda training manual and chemical ingredients capable of producing the deadly toxin ricin. However, the authorities did not classify the killings as terrorism-related, saying there was no clear ideological motive. Rudakubana’s brother Dion told the inquiry that he believed Axel deliberately targeted children to “hurt society particularly badly.”

During testimony, Rudakubana’s father apologised for not alerting authorities sooner after discovering a bow and arrow set and chemicals in his son’s room days before the massacre. “I am ashamed,” he told the inquiry, admitting that he failed to confront his son’s escalating violent behaviour.

In January 2025, Rudakubana pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, and possession of terrorist materials. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 52 years, the longest minimum sentence ever imposed on someone who was 17 at the time of their offense. The judge stated that if Rudakubana had been 18, he would have received a whole-life order, meaning no possibility of parole.

The tragedy prompted nationwide protests and riots amid public anger over immigration and security failings. Initial reports described the attacker only as “originally from Cardiff,” but authorities later confirmed his Rwandan heritage. The inquiry, which remains ongoing, is examining failures across mental-health services, policing, and counter-terrorism agencies to determine how a teenager previously flagged for extremist material and violent behaviour was able to carry out such a horrific attack.

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By Popular Demand.
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14 hours ago
Immigration
News

ICE Launching Dedicated Call Center to Help Track Down Missing Minors.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to open a call center to assist law enforcement in locating unaccompanied migrant children.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE, private contractors, law enforcement agencies, and unaccompanied migrant children.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The call center is planned to open in Nashville, Tennessee, by March, reaching full capacity by June.

🎯IMPACT: The center will handle up to 7,000 calls daily, with technology integration to streamline operations.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is launching a new call center to support law enforcement in locating unaccompanied migrant children. This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a Request for Information (RFI) emphasizing the “immediate need” for a center equipped with cutting-edge, data-driven tools.

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the center will run around the clock and manage 6,000 to 7,000 calls each day. The site is slated to launch by March and hit full operations by June. ICE is consulting contractors on potential tech integrations that could merge partner and migrant data to boost performance.

This development unfolds against the backdrop of wider conversations on immigration enforcement. Nashville hosts CoreCivic Inc., a for-profit prison company that’s seen strong financial growth lately. Companies such as Palantir have also landed ICE deals for tech support, like a $30 million database to speed up detentions and removals.

The initiative fits into the Trump administration’s push to tackle illegal immigration and its consequences. The former Biden-Harris government lost huge numbers of unaccompanied minors, who were often placed with dubious sponsors, with fears that many have been trafficked or otherwise exploited. The Trump administration has made tracking them down a priority, with thousands already found.

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By Popular Demand.
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14 hours ago
Lawfare
News

Appeals Court Revives Trump’s Bid to Overturn NY Conviction.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. appeals court revived President Donald J. Trump’s bid to dismiss his business records criminal conviction, allowing him to move his case out of a New York state court.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Judge Juan Merchan, and U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was made on Thursday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, addressing a New York state court conviction.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We leave it to the able and experienced District Judge to decide whether to solicit further briefing from the parties or hold a hearing to help it resolve these issues,” the appeals court judges wrote.

🎯IMPACT: The decision allows Trump to pursue dismissal of his criminal conviction in a federal court.

IN FULL

A U.S. appeals court on Thursday revived President Donald J. Trump’s attempt to dismiss his business records conviction, ruling that he can seek to move the case from New York state court to federal court. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a previous ruling by a lower court judge, saying that the judge had “bypassed what we consider to be important issues bearing on the ultimate issue of good cause.”

The three-judge panel did not take a position on the merits of Trump’s argument for dismissal but said the lower court must reconsider the request. “We leave it to the able and experienced District Judge to decide whether to solicit further briefing from the parties or hold a hearing to help it resolve these issues,” the ruling stated. The appeals court also directed the judge to reevaluate Trump’s motion to file a second removal notice, considering the new opinion.

Earlier this year, Trump’s legal team sought to move the case to federal court, arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity might require the Manhattan jury’s conviction to be dismissed. In May 2024, that jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with reimbursements to his disgraced former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who had paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 during the 2016 campaign. Prosecutors said the payments were improperly recorded as legal expenses to conceal their true purpose.

Trump pleaded not guilty and maintained that the case was politically motivated. Following his election victory in 2024, he received an unconditional discharge, meaning no additional penalties were imposed, but the conviction remains on his record. His lawyers have filed a separate appeal with the New York Supreme Court’s Appellate Division, arguing the charges relied on a “convoluted legal theory” and should never have resulted in a conviction.

Trump has repeatedly called the Manhattan prosecution a “witch hunt” designed to interfere with his 2024 presidential campaign. Other criminal cases against him, in Washington, Florida, and Georgia, have since been dismissed or dropped.

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By Popular Demand.
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15 hours ago
Crime
News

Chinese Researchers Charged Over Plot to Smuggle ‘Biological Materials’ Into America.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Three Chinese researchers were charged with conspiring to smuggle biological materials into the U.S., according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Xu Bai, Fengfan Zhang, and Zhiyong Zhang, all researchers at the University of Michigan, along with Chengxuan Han, a deported Chinese national.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrests were announced November 5. The alleged smuggling activities occurred in 2024 and 2025, involving the University of Michigan and shipments from China.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Allegedly attempting to smuggle biological materials under the guise of ‘research’ is a serious crime that threatens America’s national and agricultural security,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights vulnerabilities in foreign student programs and the need for enhanced security measures at educational institutions.

IN FULL

Three Chinese researchers at the University of Michigan have been charged with conspiring to smuggle biological materials into the United States, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday. The defendants, 28-year-old Xu Bai, 27-year-old Fengfan Zhang, and 30-year-old Zhiyong Zhang, were all working in the university’s Shawn Xu (Xianzhong Xu) laboratory, which specializes in sensory biology. Federal officials described the case as part of a “long string of cases” involving Chinese nationals linked to the university.

“Allegedly attempting to smuggle biological materials under the guise of ‘research’ is a serious crime that threatens America’s national and agricultural security,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We will remain vigilant to threats like these from foreign nationals who would take advantage of America’s generosity to advance a malicious agenda.”

According to court documents, the researchers, all J-1 visa holders, received concealed shipments of roundworm-related biological materials from a Chinese national, Chengxuan Han, who was previously deported after pleading no contest to smuggling and making false statements. The defendants were dismissed from their university positions after refusing to attend a mandatory meeting regarding the investigation. They were later apprehended by federal law enforcement while attempting to leave the country through Detroit and New York City. “At some point, pattern becomes practice. And, apparently, these three men are part of a long and alarming pattern of criminal activities committed by Chinese Nationals under the cover of the University of Michigan,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr.

The investigation involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons praised the agencies’ cooperation, stating, “This case underscores the vital importance of safeguarding the American people and addressing vulnerabilities within foreign student and exchange visitor programs. Educational institutions must enhance their admissions procedures to prevent exploitation, which can pose risks to national security, as demonstrated in this instance.”

The case follows several other recent incidents involving Chinese researchers and biological materials in the United States. Earlier this year, federal authorities charged another University of Michigan postdoctoral researcher and her partner with smuggling the toxic fungus Fusarium graminearum, which officials described as a potential agroterrorism weapon because of its ability to devastate crops such as wheat and corn.

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15 hours ago
Corruption
News

Federal Corruption Probe Targets DC Mayor Bowser Over Qatar-Funded Trip.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) is under federal investigation for a trip funded by Qatar.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mayor Muriel Bowser, her staff, and Qatar.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation has been ongoing for months, centered in Washington, DC.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This was a business trip. D.C. representatives regularly travel to promote Washington as a destination for investment and growth.” – Bowser’s office

🎯IMPACT: The investigation may involve potential bribery or campaign finance law violations.

IN FULL

Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., is reportedly under investigation by federal investigators over a trip financed by Qatar. The investigation is said to focus on potential violations related to bribery or campaign finance laws.

The inquiry, which has been ongoing for several months, is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington. Sources familiar with the matter disclosed these details to the New York Times.

Bowser’s office issued a statement asserting that the trip was a legitimate business endeavor aimed at promoting the U.S. capital as a hub for investment and growth. The statement emphasized that such trips are a regular part of the city’s efforts to attract business.

“All proper paperwork for this standard donation is on file,” the statement from Bowser’s office insisted.

The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for Mayor Bowser and her administration, depending on the findings related to the alleged financial misconduct.

Image by Lorie Shaull.

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16 hours ago
Lawfare
SCOTUS

Supreme Court Rules Trump Can Scrap Gender ‘X’ on Passports.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to enforce its policy requiring passports to reflect the holder’s biological sex at birth, freezing a lower court’s injunction.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, the Supreme Court, transgender and nonbinary plaintiffs, and U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Supreme Court decision was issued on Thursday, with the case originating in Massachusetts.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Displaying passport holders’ sex at birth no more offends equal protection principles than displaying their country of birth—in both cases, the Government is merely attesting to a historical fact without subjecting anyone to differential treatment,” the Supreme Court stated in its decision.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling allows the Trump administration to enforce its passport policy while legal challenges continue, reversing the Biden-era policy of self-selecting gender markers.

IN FULL

The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for the Trump administration to implement its rule mandating that American passports list the bearer’s biological sex at birth, overriding any alternative gender identity. The ruling halts a lower court federal judge’s earlier order that had paused the policy’s rollout.

In a 6-3 decision, with the court’s conservative majority prevailing over the liberal justices’ dissent, the unsigned order noted, “Displaying passport holders’ sex at birth no more offends equal protection principles than displaying their country of birth—in both cases, the Government is merely attesting to a historical fact without subjecting anyone to differential treatment.”

Dissenting Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, appointed by Joe Biden, complained, “Without relief, transgender Americans are forced to make a difficult choice that no other Americans face: use gender-incongruent passports and risk harassment and bodily invasions, on the one hand, or avoid all activities… that may require a passport, on the other.”

The move reverses the Biden government’s approach of permitting passport applicants to choose their gender marker, including an “X” option for those identifying as nonbinary. Trump officials maintained that such documents should align with biological facts rather than individual choices. Solicitor General D. John Sauer put it bluntly during arguments: “The question is whether the Constitution requires the government to adopt respondents’ preferred definition of sex. It does not.”

The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed by seven transgender and nonbinary plaintiffs, who contended the policy violated constitutional protections and stemmed from bias against their community. U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick, a Biden appointee, had initially ruled in their favor, citing evidence of discriminatory intent. With this latest development, the administration can now apply the rule as the broader court battle unfolds.

Image by Photo Phiend.

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16 hours ago
Immigration
News

Trump Implements Global Visa Crackdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A State Department cable has directed U.S. embassies worldwide to enforce expanded visa screening rules under the “public charge” immigration provision, reviving a standard from the first Trump administration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. embassies, consular officers, the State Department, and visa applicants worldwide.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The cable was sent to U.S. posts globally on November 5.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Self-sufficiency has been a longstanding principle of U.S. immigration policy.” – State Department Cable

🎯IMPACT: Consular officers are instructed to deny visas to applicants likely to rely on public benefits, with a broad range of factors now under scrutiny.

IN FULL

A new State Department cable instructs U.S. embassies worldwide to implement stricter visa screening rules under the “public charge” provision of immigration law, reviving and expanding a Trump-era policy that was scaled back under former President Joe Biden.

The directive orders consular officers to deny visas to applicants who are deemed likely to rely on public benefits, with evaluations based on factors such as health, age, English proficiency, financial status, and potential long-term medical needs. “Self-sufficiency has been a longstanding principle of U.S. immigration policy,” the cable states, emphasizing that the public charge rule has been part of immigration law for more than a century.

Older applicants approaching retirement age are to face particular scrutiny over their employment prospects and financial means after retiring. The cable notes that “Long-term institutionalization (e.g., at a nursing facility) can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and should be considered.”

The guidance follows an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” which seeks to ensure that “no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens.” It reminds officers that determining whether an applicant is a public charge is “in the opinion of the consular officer” and requires a “comprehensive and thorough vetting” of each case, taking into account the “totality of the applicant’s circumstances.”

The policy grants U.S. consular officials abroad broad discretion to deny visas on public charge grounds. Under the Biden regime, the rule’s scope was narrowed to consider only limited benefits such as cash assistance, but the new guidance represents a return to the broader interpretation used during Trump’s presidency. Embassies are instructed to verify all supporting financial documents and closely evaluate applicants’ ability to support themselves without public aid.

The move is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to tighten visa controls and emphasize economic self-sufficiency among immigrants. In recent months, the administration introduced a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas, arguing the program has been “deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers.” Trump officials also launched a comprehensive review of the approximately 55 million visa holders currently in the United States, aimed at identifying potential security risks and overstays.

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17 hours ago
Economy
News

Thanksgiving Costs Are Down Under Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Thanksgiving meal prices have dropped approximately three percent compared to last year, with significant reductions in the cost of holiday staples such as turkeys, stuffing, and vegetables.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump and major retailers like Walmart, Lidl, Aldi, Target, and Schnucks.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Nationwide, in time for Thanksgiving 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s proof that under President Trump’s leadership, America is winning the war on high prices.” – White House statement

🎯IMPACT: Retailers are offering the most affordable Thanksgiving meals in years, with costs per person as low as $3.60.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump is making good on his pledge to drive down costs for American families this holiday season, with the traditional Thanksgiving dinner running about three percent less expensive than in 2024. The savings span a range of essential items, with notable drops including a 22 percent reduction for dinner rolls and a 15 percent decrease for frozen vegetables.

Other staples, such as turkeys, stuffing, gravy mixes, fresh cranberries, and pumpkin pies, are also seeing lower price tags across the board. Major retailers are amplifying the affordability, rolling out some of their most competitive Thanksgiving bundles in years. At Walmart, for instance, a full meal for 10 people is now 25 percent cheaper than last year, featuring the chain’s lowest turkey pricing since 2019 and totaling just under $4 per serving.

Lidl’s equivalent spread for 10 has reduced its 2024 cost by $10, now landing at $3.60 per person. Aldi reports a $7 drop for its 10-person meal—the cheapest since 2019—at $4 per head.

Target has hit a milestone with its lowest-ever price for a four-person Thanksgiving kit, coming in below $5 per person. Schnucks, one of the country’s biggest privately owned supermarket operators, is offering frozen turkeys at their lowest rates in more than 15 years.

“It’s proof that under President Trump’s leadership, America is winning the war on high prices—even as Democrats grind the country to a halt with their deranged, reckless government shutdown,” the White House said in a statement, referring to the Senate Democrats’ ongoing efforts to block Republican efforts to reopen the federal government.

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18 hours ago
Economy
News

Trump IRS Eases Paperwork Burden Related to Tips, Overtime.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of the Treasury announced penalty relief for employers regarding new reporting requirements on cash tips and qualified overtime compensation under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) for the 2025 tax year.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The IRS, the Department of the Treasury, and employers, particularly in tipped industries such as hospitality.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement applies to the 2025 tax year and was made following the signing of the OBBB into law in July 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Tax year 2025 will be treated as a transition period for IRS enforcement and administration of the new information reporting requirements for cash tips and qualified overtime compensation under the OBBB.” – IRS Official Release

🎯IMPACT: Employers will not face penalties for failing to meet the new requirements in 2025, but full enforcement will begin in 2026.

IN FULL

In a move to ease burdens on businesses, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of the Treasury have granted penalty relief for the 2025 tax year for employers regarding new reporting requirements on cash tips and qualified overtime compensation under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). Signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in July 2025, the OBBB mandates that employers report specifics on cash tips and qualified overtime pay using forms like the W-2 and 1099.

With many companies—especially in service sectors reliant on tips—still scrambling to update their processes and paperwork, the IRS has labeled 2025 a grace period. During this time, no fines will be imposed for shortcomings in compliance.

Specifically, employers won’t be penalized for not isolating cash tips in reports, failing to note the occupations of tip earners, or leaving out aggregate qualified overtime figures for staff. To support workers’ deduction claims, the IRS urges businesses to share details like job codes and itemized tips or overtime through digital platforms or simple written notices.

In an official statement, the IRS explained: “Forms W-2 and 1099 for tax year 2025 will not be updated to account for the OBBB-related changes. Therefore, tax year 2025 will be treated as a transition period for IRS enforcement and administration of the new information reporting requirements for cash tips and qualified overtime compensation under the OBBB.”

This waiver is limited to 2025. From 2026 onward, full penalties will apply for non-adherence to the reporting rules. The IRS also plans to release further instructions to assist filers in deducting eligible tips and overtime when submitting their 2025 returns next year.

Image by Alpha Photo.

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