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Tuesday, May 13, 2025

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March 5, 2024
NatSec

FBI Hunting For Iran Spy Who Plotted Trump Admin Assassinations.

FBI’s Miami Field Office has announced that it is seeking information about an Iranian intelligence officer, Majid Dastjani Farahani, in connection to alleged assassination plots against current and former US government officials. Farahani is allegedly a spy acting on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

“Majid Dastjani Farahani, an Iranian intelligence officer, is wanted for questioning in connection with the recruitment of individuals for various operations in the United States, to include lethal targeting of current and former United States Government officials as revenge for the killing of IRGC-QF Commander Qasem Soleimani,” the FBI said in a statement. “Farahani also reportedly recruited individuals for surveillance activities focused on religious sites, businesses, and other facilities in the United States.” The FBI says they believe Farahani — fluent in Farsi, English, Spanish, and French — may be seeking a way out of the US and could attempt to flee to Iran or Venezuela.

In December, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Farahani and another individual, Mohammad Mahdi Kanpour Ardestani. Both are accused of recruiting individuals in the US to assassinate government officials in response to Soleimani’s death. Details on Farahani’s whereabouts are still unfolding.

Tensions between the US and Iran have increased under President Joe Biden. On October 7 of last year, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists carried out a barbaric attack on Israel, sparking a regional war. Since then, Iranian-supplied militant groups have launched assaults against the US and allied militaries across the Middle East. Last month, three US soldiers were killed on a military base in Jordan when they came under attack by Iranian-backed militants.

By Popular Demand.
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27 minutes ago
Politics

Far-Left, Foreign-Born House Democrat Moves for Immediate Trump Impeachment Vote.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A House Democrat introduced a privileged resolution to impeach President Donald J. Trump, triggering a potential chamber-wide vote.

👥 Who’s Involved: Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI), House GOP leadership, and vulnerable House Democrats.

📍 Where & When: U.S. House of Representatives, introduced Tuesday afternoon on May 13, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Donald Trump has unlawfully conducted himself, bringing shame to the presidency and the people of the United States,” Rep. Thanedar claims.

⚠️ Impact: The resolution is unlikely to pass, but it could politically endanger vulnerable Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has attempted to avoid discussing the impeachment resolution, but with a potentially imminent vote, he may no longer be able to shield his members in swing districts.

IN FULL:

Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI) has filed a privileged resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach President Donald J. Trump, setting the stage for a potential chamber-wide vote. The resolution, introduced Tuesday afternoon, forces House leadership to address the measure within two legislative days.

Thanedar’s resolution accuses Trump of multiple offenses, including obstruction of justice, bribery, corruption, and abuse of trade powers. “Donald Trump has unlawfully conducted himself, bringing shame to the presidency and the people of the United States,” Thanedar stated. He also criticized the Elon Musk-fronted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), denouncing it as a “flagrantly unconstitutional creation.”

The far-left Michigan Democrat, who hails from India, initially introduced seven articles of impeachment in April. However, his efforts faced early setbacks, as four Democratic co-sponsors withdrew from the measure, reportedly claiming they were added in error.

House Republican leaders, who hold the majority, are expected to move to table the resolution. Such a procedural move would prevent a direct vote on the impeachment articles. No Republican lawmakers are anticipated to support the measure, making its passage highly unlikely.

An impeachment vote could place vulnerable House Democrats in a precarious position, especially as the party seeks to regain the majority in the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats have struggled to unify around a clear message since the 2024 election, and this vote could further complicate their efforts. A number of Democrat House members hold seats in districts won by President Trump in 2024, with the America First leader maintaining consistent support among working-class voters, once part of the Democrat political base. Alienating that voting bloc further could spell disaster for the Democrats.

This move follows similar impeachment efforts by Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who previously attempted to file articles against Trump and was removed from a joint session of Congress for protesting the President’s joint address to both chambers. The chamber subsequently censured Green.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
Immigration
Religion

Texas Blocks Construction of Islamic ‘EPIC City.’

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the halting of all construction on EPIC City, a planned Islamic settlement near Dallas.

👥 Who’s Involved: Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the East Plano Islamic Center, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

📍 Where & When: Announcement made on Sunday; project located outside Dallas, Texas.

💬 Key Quote: “Texas has halted any construction of EPIC City. There is no construction taking place. The state of Texas has launched about a half dozen investigations into this project. That includes criminal investigations. And, the U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating.” – Governor Greg Abbott.

⚠️ Impact: Multiple investigations launched into EPIC City, including potential violations of constitutional rights and state laws.

IN FULL:

Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) has announced that all construction on EPIC City, a proposed development near Dallas, Texas, designed exclusively for Muslims, has been halted. Abbott confirmed the decision on Sunday in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating the project is under investigation for potential legal violations.

“Texas has halted any construction of EPIC City,” Abbott stated. “There is no construction taking place. The state of Texas has launched about a half dozen investigations into this project. That includes criminal investigations. And, the U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating.”

The planned development, centered around the East Plano Islamic Center, had drawn scrutiny for allegedly intending to impose sharia law on its residents and for reportedly planning to exclude non-Muslims from purchasing or renting property. Critics,have raised concerns about potential constitutional violations. Cornyn is currently facing a primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), with the latter leading in early polls.

“A master-planned ‘community of thousands of Muslims’ could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans,” Cornyn noted, adding that such a project could discriminate against non-Muslim minorities. He called for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether the development would provide equal protection under the law for all residents.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also announced his office is examining communications between the East Plano Islamic Center and officials in nearby towns, including Plano, Richardson, and Wylie. Paxton emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “If any local official is supporting or communicating with a real estate development that is under investigation for potential violations of state law, then it’s imperative that we are made aware of exactly what’s being communicated.”

The controversy surrounding EPIC City comes amid broader concerns about similar developments in Texas. Colony Ridge, a massive community near Houston, has faced criticism for allegedly becoming a hub for illegal immigrants and crime. That development is also under investigation by federal and state authorities.

Governor Abbott noted that over a dozen state agencies are involved in investigating EPIC City, particularly whether its reported practices of religious-based housing discrimination would violate Texas law. The investigations remain ongoing.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Corruption

REVEALED: Top Doc Said Biden Was One Fall from a Wheelchair in 2024 Run-Up.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Democrat White House staffers planned for the possibility that former President Joe Biden would need to serve most of his second term confined to a wheelchair. The octogenarian Democrat’s physical decline was so alarming that his doctor warned aides that if he had another fall, Biden would be confined to a wheelchair during a difficult recovery.

👥 Who’s Involved: Former President Joe Biden, Doctor Kevin O’Connor, Doctor Kevin Cannard, Democrat White House aides, and Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper.

📍 Where & When: The medical assessments were made throughout Biden’s presidency from 2021 until 2025, while the revelation of the coverup and Dr. O’Connor’s concerns were made on May 13, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Given Biden’s age, [his physician Kevin O’Connor] also privately said that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery,” an excerpt reads from a forthcoming book on the coverup of Biden’s declining health.

⚠️ Impact: The revelation that former President Biden’s doctor and White House aides hid his reduced physical health from the public may trigger an extensive congressional investigation into the actions of the prior government. Additionally, the revelations raise serious challenges as to whether any details of the president’s physical examination by health professionals should be kept confidential from the American public.

IN FULL:

Former President Joe Biden‘s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, warned White House aides that if he had suffered another fall in 2023 or 2024, the octogenarian Democrat would need to be confined to a wheelchair and face an arduous recovery. The revelations on Biden’s physical state are made in a new book authored by Axios’s Alex Thompson and CNN’s Jake Tapper—well after Biden had already left office.

“Given Biden’s age, [his physician Kevin O’Connor] also privately said that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery,” an excerpt from the book reads. In a typical media environment, the revelation would mean a grave political scandal, as O’Connor, as late as 2024, had publicly reported that Biden’s physical examination was nominal and gave the Democrat president a clean bill of health. The National Pulse reported on concerns over the accuracy and veracity of O’Connor’s examination of Biden repeatedly in 2024, and on whether the Democrat White House was covering up the president’s cognitive and physical decline.

Concerns over Biden’s physical fragility led to White House staff preparing contingency plans for Biden to run his eventually abandoned 2024 re-election campaign while confined to a wheelchair. Aides also reportedly prepared for Biden to serve his second term while using a wheelchair, had he successfully run and won re-election.

At the end of the Biden presidency, his staff went to great lengths to ensure the octogenarian Democrat did not suffer another catastrophic fall. Public events were carefully choreographed to include instructions taped to the ground directing Biden where to walk, the use of handrails on all stairs and stages at public events, and Biden began wearing special shoes that provided him with a greater degree of balance and stability when walking.

However, Thompson and Tapper’s book notes that White House aides ignored O’Connor and other medical professionals’ advice that Biden should receive more rest and cut back on his public commitments. While the other medical professionals are not yet known and may not be named in the book, at least one was likely Dr. Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson’s and deep brain disorder specialist who visited the White House and Dr. O’Connor numerous times in 2023 and 2024.

The insistence by his aides that Biden maintain a modest workload left O’Connor to quip that the White House staff was trying to kill Biden while he, his doctor, was tasked with keeping him alive.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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Trump Border Mass Deportations

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3 hours ago
William Upton
Economy
Immigration

Finally, the U.S. Is About to Go After Foreign Workers Sending Dollars Overseas.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A tax provision in the House Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill would enact a five percent tax of foreign remittances, which causes a drain on the U.S. economy and enriches foreign nations at the expense of Americans.

👥 Who’s Involved: House Republicans, President Donald J. Trump, foreign workers, and American workers.

📍 Where & When: The tax provisions for the budget reconciliation bill were revealed on Monday, May 12, in the form of an amendment to the broader legislation. The amendment is currently undergoing mark-up in the House Ways and Means Committee.

💬 Key Quote: “We should take fees on the remittances sent [to] other countries around the world when people come to our country illegally and wire money back home, we should tax those remittances. Take that money and use it to pay for the wall, to pay for ICE agents, to pay for Border Patrol,” Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) said in a floor speech late last year.

⚠️ Impact:

IN FULL:

Buried in the House Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill is a tax provision long sought by immigration hawks in the U.S. Under the plan, foreign workers who send portions of their income back to their home countries will pay a five percent tax on the transfer. Notably, U.S. citizens who make foreign transfers can recoup the five percent tax through a credit when filing annually or quarterly.

President Donald J. Trump attempted to institute a tax on remittances, the act of foreign workers making non-commercial transfers of money or goods to their families in their country of origin, during his first term in office. However, the measure was sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the House Republican plan, remittances will be taxed at a modest five percent, on top of existing income and payroll taxes foreign workers pay on their wages.

Remittances are the single largest form of financial inflow from one country to another worldwide, dwarfing foreign aid. In 2021, remittance payments accounted for $780 billion being sent to 800 million people, from one country to another. In the same year, foreign aid only accounted for a total cross-national flow of around $200 billion.

Notably, remittances from the United States comprise a significant portion of Mexico’s gross domestic product (GDP). In 2022, remittances made up about four percent of Mexican GDP. A similar percentage has been forecast for 2024. Remittances from the U.S. to Mexico constitute the latter’s largest foreign income source, even larger than foreign direct investment (FDI).

The remittance tax is reflective of President Trump’s broader America First agenda, which is focused on boosting domestic American industries and protecting American workers from foreign predatory actions. Additionally, the measure will effectively punish an economic behavior that removes dollars and consumption from the U.S. and transfers that economic activity to Mexico. Trump has repeatedly worked to end unearned benefits that Mexico enjoys from the U.S. unless it ramps up efforts to stymie the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S. and moves to end the influence and power of drug cartels.

Following Trump’s landslide presidential election victory last November, the idea of taxing remittances gained steam in the House of Representatives. During a floor speech shortly after the election, Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) stated: “We should take fees on the remittances sent there and other countries around the world when people come to our country illegally and wire money back home, we should tax those remittances. Take that money and use it to pay for the wall, to pay for ICE agents, to pay for Border Patrol.”

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
News
UK

LGBT Groups Refuse to Allow Party Involvement Until Politicians Usurp Supreme Court.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Four major Pride events in Britain have banned political parties from participating officially, citing solidarity with the transgender community.

👥 Who’s Involved: Birmingham, Brighton, London, and Manchester Pride organizations; British political parties; transgenders; the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom; the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

📍 Where & When: Britain, announcement made following a Supreme Court ruling that determined sex is determined by biology, not gender identity, for the purpose of equality law.

💬 Key Quote: “In this moment, we choose to stand firmer, louder, and prouder in demanding change that protects and uplifts trans lives,” said Pride organizers.

⚠️ Impact: Political parties are excluded from major Pride events unless they commit to returning transgender “women” to women’s single-sex spaces and sports, amidst ongoing debates over gender recognition laws.

IN FULL:

Four of the United Kingdom’s largest LGBT Pride organizations have announced a ban on political parties participating in their events in an official capacity, citing solidarity with transgenders. Birmingham, Brighton, London, and Manchester Pride groups issued a joint statement explaining the decision, which they said was driven by a lack of commitment to transgenderism among political parties.

The announcement follows a Supreme Court ruling that defined “woman” under the Equality Act as being based on biological sex. While this decision has been welcomed by many citizens and campaigners, particularly lesbian and gender-critical groups, it has been resisted by transgender activists.

The Pride groups stated that the ruling highlighted the need for urgent action and described their move as a refusal to “platform those who have not protected our rights.” They also called for reforms, including full “protections” under the Equality Act—likely meaning renewed access to women’s spaces—as well as improved access to transgender medical interventions and sustained funding for trans-led services.

“In this moment, we choose to stand firmer, louder, and prouder in demanding change that protects and uplifts trans lives,” the Pride groups said in a joint statement.

The Supreme Court ruling stems from a case involving the Scottish Parliament’s gender balance legislation, which included transgenders in quotas for women. The court clarified that the Equality Act’s definition of sex is based on biology, not gender identity, even for those holding a government Gender Recognition Certificate.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) subsequently issued guidance emphasizing that access to single-sex spaces must align with biological sex.

Some groups, such as Scottish Lesbians, welcomed the clarification, stating it protects women’s rights. They have criticized Pride organizers for excluding lesbians by prioritizing transgender issues.

The decision to exclude political parties affects events that collectively attract over a million attendees annually. Political figures, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have historically participated in Pride events.

Image by Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Politics
World

Trump Ending Sanctions on Syria to ‘Give Them a Chance at Greatness.’

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced the cessation of sanctions against Syria at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, aiming to normalize relations with the regime led by former al-Qaeda operative Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa and stabilize the war-torn nation.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Syria’s leader Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, a.k.a. Abu Mohammad al-Julani.

📍 Where & When: Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump declared.

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s move could help stabilize Syria and pave the way for migrant returns. Engaging with al-Sharaa’s controversial regime risks backlash over minority persecutions, but could create diplomatic leverage that the administration can leverage to protect minorities.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has announced he “will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness” at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum. The America First leader said Syria had “seen so much misery and death” over its years of civil war, and that he hoped the new regime would “hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace.”

“[T]hey’ve had their share of travesty, war, killing [for] many years,” Trump remarked on Tuesday, saying his administration had already taken steps towards normalizing relations with the country. He revealed that the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed Bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had played a significant role in persuading him to make these moves.

“Oh, the things I do for the Crown Prince,” Trump joked after the sanctions announcement was met with sustained cheers.

The decision to normalize relations with Syria, now led by former al-Qaeda operative and wanted terrorist Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, a.k.a. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, will prove controversial, given his track record and reports of atrocities against Syria’s Alawite and Christian minorities under his leadership.

However, the reality on the ground is that al-Sharaa is in complete control of the country’s capital and heartlands, and he is already being welcomed on official visits by other countries, such as France. Officially recognizing al-Sharaa’s government may give the Trump administration more leverage to persuade al-Sharaa’s regime not to persecute minorities, and make it possible to return tens of thousands of Syrian migrants to their homeland.

Earlier in his visit, President Trump announced he had secured $600 billion in Saudi investments.

WATCH:

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
William Upton
Election Integrity
Lawfare

Democrat Lawfare Guru Marc Elias Sues State Over Law Preventing Noncitizen Voting.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Far-left Democrat election attorney Marc Elias is suing the State of Wyoming to make it easier for noncitizens to cast ballots in state and federal elections.

👥 Who’s Involved: The State of Wyoming, Marc Elias, the Equality State Policy Center, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray.

📍 Where & When: The lawsuit was filed on Friday, May 9, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The far-left’s lawsuit is a meritless attempt to undermine the common-sense election integrity measures Wyomingites want. Proof of citizenship and proof of residency are common-sense measures pivotal to election integrity,” said Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray in response to the court filing.

⚠️ Impact: Wyoming’s proof of citizenship requirement was passed into law in March. If Elias’s lawsuit is successful, it would mean that noncitizens would only need to assert they are legally allowed to vote in order to cast a ballot in elections held in the state.

IN FULL:

Democrat lawfare operative and elections attorney Marc Elias has filed a lawsuit against the State of Wyoming to make it easier for noncitizens to vote in the state’s elections. Elias’s lawsuit targets a new state law that will soon take effect and requires those registering to vote to provide election officials with documented proof of citizenship. These documents can include a U.S. passport, naturalization papers, a birth certificate, and other official government forms of identification only available to citizens.

“When HB 156 becomes effective, it will impose new, burdensome, and entirely unnecessary requirements that will make it harder for eligible citizens to vote,” the lawsuit, filed by Elias, along with the Equality State Policy Center and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), reads. “Women—as well as Hispanic, young, and low-income voters—are less likely to have acceptable documentation and, in many cases, face greater hurdles to obtaining it,” it claims.

Notably, the Elias lawsuit raises one of the Democratic Party’s newest anti-election integrity talking points, which claims Voter I.D. and measures ensuring only citizens vote discriminate against married women. The lawsuit contends that women who have taken their husbands’ last names are more likely to be turned away from polling places, despite little evidence of this actually occurring.

The lawsuit also contends that the new law is duplicative, as Wyoming and the U.S. federal government already require voters to attest to their eligibility to vote with a sworn statement. Proponents of the document requirements counter that the provision adds an extra layer of security by requiring evidence that a voter is a citizen beyond their mere word.

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray has pledged to defend the document requirement in court. He blasted Elias and his co-filers, stating: “The far-left’s lawsuit is a meritless attempt to undermine the common-sense election integrity measures Wyomingites want. Proof of citizenship and proof of residency are common-sense measures pivotal to election integrity.”

Image by Jewish Democratic Council of America.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
William Upton
Economy

April Inflation Cools to Just 2.3 Percent, Lowest Annualized Increase Since 2021.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by just 0.2 percent in April, following a 0.1 percent decrease in March. This was the smallest annualized increase in inflation since 2021.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), President Donald J. Trump, market analysts.

📍 Where & When: Data, which covers the month of April 2025, was reported on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “That’s a relief for investors and borrowers—who have feared that tariffs could cause a spike in prices preventing the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates to support the economy,” Nicholas Hyett, an investment manager at Wealth Club, said, referencing the slowing inflation numbers.

⚠️ Impact: Consumer goods prices increased by 2.3 percent over the past year, marking a significant cooldown in inflation.

IN FULL:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced Tuesday that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by just 0.2 percent in April, marking a slight rebound after a 0.1 percent decline in March. The CPI measures changes in the cost of a basket of consumer goods and services, offering a key indicator of inflation trends. The index shows just a 2.3 percent increase in prices over the last 12 months, indicating a significant cooldown in inflation.

While market analysts had forecast a 2.4 percent annualized increase in the CPI, investors on Wall Street largely believed the April rate would come in much higher than the forecasts, citing President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies. However, the April CPI number has thrown cold water on claims that Trump’s tariffs are inflationary and lends credence to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s assertion that the trade duties could actually have a deflationary effect.

“That’s a relief for investors and borrowers—who have feared that tariffs could cause a spike in prices preventing the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates to support the economy,” Nicholas Hyett, an investment manager at Wealth Club, said, referencing the slowing inflation numbers.

Last week, the Federal Reserve declined to reduce interest rates, with the central bank’s chairman, Jerome Powell, insisting that tariffs could have an inflationary effect. However, both the March and April CPI reports suggest Powell’s inflation fears are entirely unfounded.

While the lower rate of inflation is good news for consumers, there are mounting concerns that the economy could be facing a deflationary cycle. If the economy faces significant deflationary effects, it could finally move the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates in order to inject liquidity into markets. Though an interest rate cut could be too-little-too-late at this junction—reflecting President Trump’s “Too Late” criticism of Powell—and force the Federal Reserve to resort to other emergency measures to generate liquidity.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
Immigration
News

Episcopal Church Refuses to Help Refugees Because They are White.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Episcopal Church is ending its partnership with the U.S. government on refugee resettlement, refusing to assist in resettling white South African refugees.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, President Donald J. Trump, and 49 Afrikaner refugees.

📍 Where & When: United States, decision announced Monday, refugees arrived the same day.

💬 Key Quote: “In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation… we are not able to take this step,” said Bishop Sean Rowe.

⚠️ Impact: The move ends a decades-long collaboration and highlights the Episcopal Church’s political agenda.

IN FULL:

The Episcopal Church has announced its decision to cease collaborating with the U.S. government on refugee resettlement, specifically declining to help in resettling white South African refugees. The announcement, made by Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on Monday, marks the end of a longstanding partnership between the church’s Episcopal Migration Ministries and federal agencies.

The decision coincided with the arrival of 49 Afrikaner refugees in the United States. These individuals were granted priority resettlement status under the Trump administration, allowing them to bypass the typically lengthy waiting periods other groups face.

“In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step,” Rowe stated. He added that the church would conclude its federal refugee resettlement grant agreements by the end of the fiscal year.

President Trump has prioritized resettling white South Africans, after the South African government passed laws allowing it to seize white-owned farmland without compensation, alongside brutal violence directed at Dutch-descended Afrikaners. “It’s a genocide that’s taking place. Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white,” Trump remarked on May 12.

The move by the Episcopal Church comes just months after the Trump administration ended federal funding for Roman Catholic groups who were aiding illegal migrants and asylum seekers. Catholic Migration Services (CMS) would have received nearly $300,000 for the resettling of migrants, but this was suspended in March.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) announced in February that it would face major layoffs due to its reliance on money from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). President Trump halted USAID funding for a multitude of woke projects and organizations shortly after his inauguration.

Image by Diocese of Bethlehem.

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PULSE POINTS:

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
News

Trump Inks $600 Billion Economic Partnership Deal with Saudi Arabia.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: U.S. President Donald J. Trump has signed an economic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia early in his Middle East tour.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump and Mohammed Bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

📍 Where & When: The agreement was signed at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “President Trump is the dealmaker in chief, and he has once again secured a historic deal that strengthens America’s economic dominance and global influence.” — White House statement.

⚠️ Impact: The agreement secures a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the United States.

IN FULL:

U.S. President Donald J. Trump initiated his four-day Middle East tour by signing an economic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The signing ceremony took place at the Royal Court in Riyadh, where President Trump met with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) underscores a commitment to fostering closer economic ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia. According to the White House, the deal has secured $600 billion in investment commitments from the Saudis. Billions of dollars in U.S. exports have been secured, including Boeing 737-8 and gas turbines.

A “defense and security partnership” is a key feature of the deal, with “extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces” provided alongside nearly $142 billion in “state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms.”

The meeting marks the beginning of Trump’s Middle East tour, which aims to strengthen regional alliances and explore opportunities for cooperation, trade, and investments across various sectors.

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