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April 28, 2024
William Upton
Lawfare

Trump Trial Day 4: The Catch and Kill Hoax.

The fourth day of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s prosecution saw jurors hearing continued testimony from David Pecker as former President Donald Trump‘s defense attorneys finished their cross-examination of the tabloid newsman.

In addition to Pecker, jurors have now heard from two new prosecution witnesses. Rhona Graff, a former executive assistant to Donald Trump and a former senior vice president in the Trump Organization, gave brief testimony after being called by the prosecution. Her cross-examination by Trump’s attorneys was short as well. The day closed with Bragg’s team putting banker Gary Farro on the stand — his testimony will continue on Thursday after a several-day break for the end of the Passover holiday.

At this juncture, the prosecution’s strategy has become readily apparent. More on that below.

FINISHING OFF PECKER. 

Tabloid newsman David Pecker’s time on the stand came to a close on Friday. Former President Donald Trump‘s attorneys continued their cross-examination of the prosecution witness, with even more damage done to Bragg’s case. Pecker admitted to the former President’s attorney Emil Bove that “catch and kill” was never discussed during a 2015 meeting between Trump, Michael Cohen, and himself. He also acknowledged that the three never discussed any financial agreements during the same meeting.

In a most damning moment, Pecker said he was aware that Cohen and Karen McDougal’s attorney at the time knew each other both professionally and socially. The tabloid newsman admitted the two attorneys could have been merely discussing an agreement they had made on their own.

RHONA GRAFF NO HELP FOR BRAGG.

The former executive assistant and senior vice president at the Trump Organization, Rhona Graff, briefly took the stand after Pecker. Prosecutors asked very little of Graff, mainly focusing on having her confirm the veracity of a thumb drive they claimed contained a list of contacts belonging to former President Trump. Among the contacts included in the drive are Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels.

Graff’s cross-examination by Trump’s defense team was also abbreviated. She was asked if she enjoyed her time working with former President Trump. Graff replied that she did, noting that Trump showed her a great deal of respect because of her intelligence and work ethic.

Addressing Stormy Daniels, Graff said she had seen the woman at Trump Tower but had assumed she was there to interview to be a cast member of The Apprentice. “It was part of the office chatter,” she told Trump defense attorney Susan Necheles.

COHEN’S MONEY MAN.

The next prosecution witness was banker Gary Farro. While working at First Republican Bank, Farro listed Michael Cohen among his clients. The banker told prosecutors he was assigned to Cohen because of his ability “to handle individuals that may be a little bit challenging.”

Farro told prosecutors that in October 2016, Cohen approached him about setting up a new LLC. “Need an account opened for Mike Cohen immediately. He wants no address on the checks,” Farro told associates in an email dated October 13, 2016. On forms setting up the company, Cohen marked “no” when asked if the organization would be “associated with Political Fundraising/Political Action Committee (PAC).”

The court adjourned for the day without finishing Farro’s testimony.

WHERE IS THIS GOING? 

It is becoming clear that the prosecution is attempting to build up to the testimony of Michael Cohen. They hope that through Cohen, they can convince the jury that former President Trump engaged in illegal activity despite them so far being unable to provide any conclusive evidence. Each of the witnesses so far appears to be primarily concerned with boosting Cohen’s dubious credibility — which, as he appears to be Bragg’s singular star witness, is a top concern for the DA.

You can read The National Pulse’s Day Three trial coverage here, and if you find our work worthwhile, consider joining up as a supporter.

By Popular Demand.
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11 hours ago
Media
Politics

WaPo Columnist Fears Losing Job if He Critiques Bezos’s New Relationship With Trump.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin admitted during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored that he fears being fired if he comments on or critiques the newspaper’s owner, Amazon founder and mega-billionaire Jeff Bezos.

👥 Who’s Involved: Piers Morgan, Josh Rogin, Bill Maher, Jeff Bezos, and Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: The debate occurred on Piers Morgan Uncensored, following Maher’s account of his dinner with President Trump on Real Time, which aired on Friday.

💬 Key Quote: Rogin stated, “I’m not in a position to comment on Jeff Bezos, because if I comment on Jeff Bezos, then I could be fired from my job.”

⚠️ Impact: The conversation highlighted potential double standards in media criticism and raised questions about the influence of media ownership. In recent months, Bezos has taken a more active role in the Washington Post, especially on the newspaper’s editorial side.

IN FULL:

On a recent episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, columnist Josh Rogin found himself in a tight spot as he was challenged to explain why he criticized comedian Bill Maher‘s recent dinner meeting with Present Donald J. Trump while overlooking similar actions by Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. Rogin was pressed by host Piers Morgan over dismissing Maher’s engagement with Trump as a “PR stunt,” accusing the host of HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher of inadvertently serving as a tool for Trump’s publicity.

Morgan grilled the Washington Post columnist on his apparent selective criticism, pointing out that Bezos, who owns the newspaper, has had several recent public and private interactions with Trump. “He called him and praised him after he was shot. At a New York Times event in December Bezos said he was optimistic about a second Trump presidency. He had dinner at Mar-a-Lago in December 2024. He pledged a million dollars to Trump’s inauguration fund. He attended the inauguration. Amazon, obviously, one of his, companies [Amazon] streamed Trump’s inauguration on its Prime Video service and is also paying $40 million for a Melania Trump documentary,” Morgan noted.

After several exchanges, Morgan finally drew a stunning confession from Rogin after lampooning the columnist’s unwillingness to discuss Bezos. “All right, but look, Josh, look, if it looks like a duck and it sounds like a duck, it’s probably a duck,” Morgan jabbed, adding: “I mean, you can appreciate that if you’re Bill Maher watching you refusing to be remotely critical of what your own owner has done with Trump in terms of kissing the ring, you could potentially see that he might think there’s a double standard there.”

An exasperated Rogin relented, admitting: “You know, I see what you’re trying to do, Piers, but I’m not in a position to comment on Jeff Bezos, because if I comment on Jeff Bezos, then I could be fired from my job and you know that, so I’m not going to do that.”

The National Pulse reported last October that the Washington Post saw over 200,000 digital readers cancel their subscriptions and its editorial staff revolt against ownership after Bezos and the newspaper’s editorial board decided not to endorse Democratic Party presidential candidate Kamala Harris, choosing instead not to back any candidate. Since the 2024 election, the newspaper has bled subscribers and revenue while facing a second staff revolt in late February of this year when Bezos announced changes to the newspaper’s opinion section, stating it would now focus on promoting “personal liberties and free markets.”

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By Popular Demand.
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11 hours ago
Crime
News

An American Pastor Was Kidnapped in South Africa. The Hunt Continues.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: An American pastor, Josh Sullivan, was kidnapped at gunpoint in South Africa while conducting a prayer service.

👥 Who’s Involved: Josh Sullivan, the South African Police Service’s Hawks unit, and Sullivan’s family.

📍 Where & When: Last Thursday, Motherwell, South Africa.

💬 Key Quote: “Please pray for Josh Sullivan,” the Fellowship Baptist Church in Tennessee posted on Facebook.

⚠️ Impact: Concerns for his safety have led to an ongoing search and calls for information from the public.

IN FULL:

Authorities are combing South Africa for a missing American missionary, Josh Sullivan, who was reportedly abducted last week during a prayer service in the town of Motherwell. Sullivan, 35, from Tennessee, has been living with his family in South Africa since 2018, connected to the Fellowship Baptist Church.

Local police stated that armed individuals entered the church, capturing Sullivan and forcibly transporting him in his vehicle, which was soon found deserted in the vicinity. The South African Police Service’s special unit, Hawks, confirmed their active investigation into this incident, emphasizing their commitment to securing his safe return.

The U.S. State Department has acknowledged the situation, but Sullivan’s location remains unknown as of Tuesday. His family, back in the United States, has taken to social media requesting prayers and support. “My heart is breaking,” his mother, Tonya Rinker, expressed on Facebook, urging continuous prayers for her family and describing Sullivan as a devoted and God-serving individual.

“Please pray for Josh Sullivan,” the Fellowship Baptist Church in Tennessee posted. They also mentioned receiving derogatory remarks about their missionary activities.

Sullivan’s case comes as the United States and South Africa have seen a fraying in their diplomatic relations. This is partially due to the South African government looking to seize land from white farmers without compensation.

A similar move was enacted by Zimbabwe decades ago and led to deaths, a collapse in food production, and massive economic problems. Now, after the fall of the late dictator Robert Mugabe, the government of Zimbabwe has decided to enact some measures to compensate those who had their land seized.

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By Popular Demand.
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13 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Corruption
UK

Far-Left Pol Now Wanted on Corruption Charges Campaigned to Ban Trump.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Tulip Siddiq, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Britain’s governing Labour Party, now facing corruption charges in Bangladesh, campaigned to ban President Donald J. Trump from Britain in 2016, and campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008.

👥 Who’s Involved: Tulip Siddiq, President Donald J. Trump, former President Barack Obama, and Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission.

📍 Where & When: British Parliament debate in January 2016; arrest warrant issued in Bangladesh, April 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The United Kingdom should not be held to ransom by corrosive billionaire politicians,” Siddiq said of Trump in 2016.

⚠️ Impact: Siddiq’s corruption charges undermine her past criticisms of Trump, exposing contradictions in her political stance.

IN FULL:

Tulip Siddiq, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Britain’s governing Labour Party and, until recently, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Anti-Corruption Minister, is now wanted in Bangladesh on corruption charges. Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, previously covered her efforts to ban President Donald J. Trump from the United Kingdom and her campaign work for Barack Obama in 2008.

In January 2016, Siddiq took a prominent role in a parliamentary push to bar Trump from entering Britain. Speaking to the British press, Siddiq called Trump “corrosive,” dismissing contemporary reports he could pull a proposed £700 million investment in Scotland if he was banned from the country. “The United Kingdom should not be held to ransom by corrosive billionaire politicians,” she stated. “Donald Trump’s threats about withholding investment from the UK is another desperate attempt to get in the headlines, and anyone seeing his comments should reject his bigotry.”

At the time, Trump was under fire for proposing a so-called “Muslim ban” to stem Islamist terror attacks—later manifested as a ban on travel from certain known hotbeds of jihadism with insecure vetting for outbound travelers.

Not coincidentally, Bangladesh—where Siddiq’s now-ousted aunt Sheikh Hasina was Prime Minister—is overwhelmingly Muslim in composition. Siddiq’s corruption charges are linked to allegations she and her family profited from misused public funds in the country during her aunt’s 15-year rule.

In addition to campaigning against Trump traveling to Britain, Siddiq traveled to the U.S. to campaign for Barack Obama during his 2008 U.S. presidential run, according to the ‘British Bangladeshi Who’s Who’ magazine.

She backed the bid by hard-left former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn—expelled by Starmer amid an anti-Semitism scandal—but maintained a high profile following his ouster, being appointed as Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister, or Anti-Corruption Minister, when Labour regained power last July.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission accuses her of illegally obtaining a 7,200-square-foot plot in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone through abuse of power. The commission alleges she used forged signatures to secure a flat, qualifying her for the land deal, as part of broader investigations into her family’s dealings during Hasina’s government.

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By Popular Demand.
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14 hours ago
Economy
News

Trump Pledges Fast-Track for Nvidia’s $500 Billion Investment.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: NVIDIA plans a substantial investment in U.S. infrastructure to create AI supercomputers.

👥 Who’s Involved: NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Arizona and Texas, announcement made on April 14, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The engines of the world’s AI infrastructure are being built in the United States for the first time.” — Jensen Huang.

⚠️ Impact: Potential growth in U.S. chip manufacturing; concerns about the impact of tariffs on demand.

IN FULL:

Tech giant NVIDIA has announced a major push to manufacture artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputers in the United States, committing to a $500 billion investment. This marks the first time the company will build its AI infrastructure domestically. President Donald J. Trump responded to the announcement on Truth Social, emphasizing that necessary permits for NVIDIA and similar businesses will be expedited to support what he described as the “Golden Age of America.”

The initiative involves over a million square feet dedicated to the production and testing of NVIDIA’s specialized Blackwell chips in Arizona, alongside the assembly of AI supercomputers in Texas. This investment is expected to realize up to half a trillion dollars in AI infrastructure over the next four years.

NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, highlighted the strategic advantage of U.S.-based manufacturing. Huang stated it allows the company to better meet the demand for AI technology while fortifying supply chains and increasing operational resilience. “The engines of the world’s AI infrastructure are being built in the United States for the first time,” Huang said.

The announcement comes amid the Trump Administration’s stance that partial tariff waivers for electronics, such as phones and computer parts, are temporary. These waivers will remain until a new, industry-specific tariff strategy is devised. Trump’s economic strategy encourages global manufacturers to relocate production to the U.S.

The move by NVIDIA  comes after President Trump announced a significant investment by South Korean auto manufacturer Hyundai last month. The company will invest $21 billion in the United States. At least $5.8 billion of which will be invested in a new steel plant in Louisiana, providing over 1,400 jobs.

President Trump’s tariff policies have brought nearly all affected countries to the negotiating table except China. The Communist-led government has instead opted for its own retaliatory tariffs.

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By Popular Demand.
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14 hours ago
William Upton
Economy
World

China Refuses Boeing Jet Deliveries.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has instructed domestic airlines to halt acceptance of Boeing jet deliveries amid escalating trade tensions with the United States.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Chinese government, domestic Chinese airlines, Boeing, U.S. companies supplying airline parts, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: The announcement occurred in China in the context of ongoing trade disputes with the U.S.

💬 Key Quote: “We do not see China as critical to Boeing’s ramp over the next few years,” said Seth Seifman, an analyst with JPMorgan. He added: “China will be important longer term, however.”

⚠️ Impact: Boeing’s stocks dropped by 1.6 percent in morning trading. China’s heightened tariffs on U.S. goods to 125 percent complicate aircraft and parts shipments, affecting affordability. The trade rift may disrupt Boeing’s planned deliveries, impacting future transactions.

IN FULL:

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is directing its country’s aviation sector to stop receiving Boeing jets as U.S.-China trade tensions intensify. The Chinese government’s directive also includes a halt on the purchase of U.S.-made airline components. Last week, China’s communist government announced it would increase tariffs on American goods to 125 percent. This followed an announcement by U.S. President Donald J. Trump of a 145 percent tariff on all Chinese imports.

Notably, Boeing-made aircraft comprise an estimated 40 percent of the total global commercial aviation market. France-based Airbus holds nearly 60 percent of the market, with Canada’s Bombardier Aviation and Brazil’s Embraer S.A. making up the small remainder. Additionally, U.S.-made airline parts account for a significant share of components sold around the world.

The move by China could significantly impact Boeing, which was set to deliver approximately 10 of its 737 Max models to Chinese airlines like China Southern Airlines, Air China, and Xiamen Airlines. However, payment and delivery processes for some aircraft may have been finalized before the trade conflict expanded, meaning those specific deliveries might proceed. In addition, the CCP restrictions could cause considerable problems for China’s domestic commercial aviation industry, limiting the ability of the country’s airlines to source critical components—with the use of aftermarket or refurbished parts increasing safety risks.

“We do not see China as critical to Boeing’s ramp over the next few years,” wrote Seth Seifman, an analyst with JPMorgan, in an investor note. He added: “China will be important longer term, however.”

Following the announcement of the CCP directive, Boeing’s stock shares fell 1.6 percent, or $2.59, to $156.74 as trading began Tuesday morning.

The restrictions on Boeing are one of the few areas where China can directly impact American exports. As a surplus economy, China exports far more than it imports—especially in its trade relations with the U.S. Notably, American exports to China are primarily agricultural in nature, with aircraft and airline components comprising a much smaller share.

Image by Clemens Vasters.

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By Popular Demand.
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15 hours ago
William Upton
NatSec
World

WARNING: Greenland Signals Closer Co-Operation With Chinese Communist Party.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Greenland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt, announced the strategically important island will seek greater cooperation with China, potentially entering into a trade partnership.

👥 Who’s Involved: Greenlandic Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, Denmark, China, the United States, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

📍 Where & When: Motzfeldt’s comments appeared in a recent interview with the Danish daily newspaper Berlingske. 

💬 Key Quote: “China is very important to us, and we are eager to strengthen our cooperation,” Motzfeldt said.

⚠️ Impact: The comments mark a significant escalation in the ongoing U.S.-China trade conflict and President Donald J. Trump’s goal of securing strategic control over Greenland.

IN FULL:

Greenland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt, says the strategically important island will seek greater cooperation with China and potentially enter into a trade partnership with the communist state. The announcement, made in an interview with the Danish daily newspaper Berlingske, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing U.S.-China trade conflict and President Donald J. Trump’s goal of securing strategic control over the island.

“China is very important to us, and we are eager to strengthen our cooperation,” Motzfeldt said in the interview. The Greenlandic Foreign Affairs Minister noted that she traveled to China in 2023 as part of a diplomatic delegation to open the island’s representative office within the Danish embassy in Beijing. Motzfeldt emphasized Greenland’s current trade relations with China, noting its significant seafood exports to the communist country.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has made securing American influence over Greenland a key goal of his White House. The island—currently a semi-autonomous protectorate under the Kingdom of Denmark—is strategically located at the boundary of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and holds significant rare earth mineral deposits. Currently, the island hosts a small U.S. Space Force contingent at the Pituffik Space Base. However, American military officials have pushed for a more significant presence, including the possibility of a naval facility for submarine basing.

“We’ll get Greenland. Yeah, 100 percent,” President Trump said during an interview in late March, stating he was confident it is a “good possibility that we could do it without military force.” However, the America First leader added that he would not “take anything off the table.”

Conversely, China has condemned American aims on Greenland, with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian stating: “On the issue of Greenland, China always believes that relations between countries should be handled in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.”

Motzfeldt’s announcement of interest in increased cooperation between Greenland and China comes amidst increasing tensions between the United States and its Asian communist rival. Last week, the Trump administration announced it was increasing the trade tariff on Chinese imports to 145 percent. China retaliated, raising its import duty on American goods to 125 percent and barring the further purchase of American-made commercial aircraft.

Image by NordForsk/Terje Heiestad.

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By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
Politics

Biden to Deliver Chicago Speech, First Address Since Election.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Former President Joe Biden is set to deliver his first public speech since leaving office in January.

👥 Who’s Involved: Joe Biden; Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD); former Gov. Martin O’Malley; and former Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

📍 Where & When: Tuesday evening, at a conference in Chicago.

💬 Key Quote: “We are deeply honored President Biden is making his first public appearance at ACRD’s sold-out conference,” said Rachel Buck, ACRD Executive Director.

⚠️ Impact: Biden’s speech is anticipated to focus on Social Security. However, attention will likely be focused on the octogenarian Democrat’s cognitive state.

IN FULL:

Former President Joe Biden is scheduled to make what is being billed as his first public speaking engagement since leaving office on Tuesday. The former president will deliver the evening keynote address during a conference hosted by the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD), with an expected focus on Social Security.

“We are deeply honored President Biden is making his first public appearance at ACRD’s sold-out conference,” said Rachel Buck, Executive Director of ACRD, in a statment. She continued: “As bipartisan leaders have long agreed, Americans who retire after paying into Social Security their whole lives deserve the vital support and caring services they receive. As a result, we are thrilled the President will be joining us to discuss how we can work together for a stable and successful future for Social Security.”

The address will likely draw significant media and public attention, with extra scrutiny on Biden’s cognitive state. Since the former president left office, the corporate media has admitted that staffers in the Biden White House engaged in a concerted effort to hide the 82-year-old Democrat’s reduced mental faculties from the American public. Biden’s declining cognitive and physical health became particularly evident following a disastrous June 2024 presidential debate with now-President Donald J. Trump, where the octogenarian Democrat appeared confused and physically frail.

Biden will be joined in his keynote address by former Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD), who also served as Biden’s Social Security Administration commissioner. Additionally, former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) is slated to speak at the ACRD conference.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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19 hours ago
Immigration
NatSec

Democrats Rushing to El Salvador to Help MS-13 Gangster Back into America.

PULSE POINTS:

❓ What Happened: A group of Democratic lawmakers wants to travel to El Salvador to lobby for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an MS-13 gang member deported by the Justice Department.

👥 Who’s Involved: The key figures are Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Maxwell Frost and Yassamin Ansari.

📍 Where & When: The stunt follows a White House visit involving President Donald J. Trump and President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, where the press raised Garcia’s case.

💬 Key Quote: “Of course I’m not going to do it,” said President Bukele regarding returning Garcia, an El Salvadoran citizen, to the U.S.

⚠️ Impact: The situation highlights tensions between leftist legislators and judges and the U.S. and Salvadoran governments.

IN FULL:

Leading Democratic lawmakers, spearheaded by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), are prepared to visit El Salvador to advocate for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an MS-13 gang member deported to the Central American country’s CECOT super-prison by the Trump administration. During a White House visit, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele declared that he would not send Garcia back to the U.S.

Van Hollen has formally contacted El Salvador’s ambassador in Washington, requesting a dialogue with President Bukele. The Maryland Democrat announced his intention to monitor Garcia’s condition and negotiate for his release in El Salvador if he is not returned to the U.S. by midweek. Democratic colleagues, including Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), have expressed readiness to join the potential delegation.

The push to bring Garcia back stems from the Trump administration deporting him contrary to a 2019 immigration judge’s order prohibiting his return to El Salvador, due to rival gang members presenting a threat to him.

Contradicting media reports presenting Garcia as an “innocent” father, the courts also adjudicated that he was an illegal alien who had failed to demonstrate he was not a danger to Americans at an immigration bond hearing. Additionally, the relevant ruling states that “sufficient” was presented proving Garcia was a gang member, which he had failed to rebut.

The Trump White House’s deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, contends that Garcia’s deportation was in accordance with federal law. “Nobody was mistakenly deported anywhere. That’s a big fact that all of you, most of you, have gotten wrong,” Miller told the press outside the White House on Monday. He added: “The only mistake that was made is a lawyer put an incorrect line in a legal filing that’s since been relieved… [Garcia] is El Salvadoran. He is an illegal alien. He was deported to El Salvador.”

While the courts have asked the Trump administration to facilitate Garcia’s return, the fact he is an El Salvadoran citizen in the custody of El Salvador puts him beyond U.S. jurisdiction. During Bukele’s visit, the Salvadoran leader dismissed calls to return Garcia to the U.S., describing such expectations as “preposterous.” He questioned how he could “smuggle” Garcia into America without violating the law, given his status as a “terrorist.”

WATCH:

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By Popular Demand.
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19 hours ago
William Upton
Education
Politics

Trump Withdraws $2 BILLION from Harvard. Here’s Why…

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Trump administration is freezing $2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University after the Ivy League institution rejected a set of government policy conditions aimed at addressing anti-Semitic incidents and pro-Hamas protests on its campus.

👥 Who’s Involved: Harvard University, President Donald J. Trump, Harvard President Alan Garber, pro-Hamas demonstrators, and federal officials.

📍 Where & When: Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, and the White House in Washington, D.C., with the funding freeze announced late on April 14, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Harvard’s statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges,” the Trump administration’s Joint Task Force to combat anti-Semitism said in a statement.

⚠️ Impact: The university is being hit with a freeze on $2.2 billion in multi-year federal grants, and the Trump administration has canceled a $60 million contract with Harvard.

IN FULL:

Late Monday evening, the Trump administration suspended $2.2 billion in multi-year federal grants for Harvard University after the Ivy League academic institution rejected funding conditions U.S. President Donald J. Trump proposed to address anti-Semitism on campus. Earlier Monday, Harvard issued a statement declaring the Trump White House’s push for policy changes at the university to be “illegal.” The Trump White House had previously announced it would condition funding for Harvard on the school adequately addressing anti-Semitic incidents on campus, ensuring viewpoint diversity in its academic programs, and assisting with the federal screening of foreign students for pro-terrorism and extremist ideologies.

“Harvard’s statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges—that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws,” the Joint Task Force to combat anti-Semitism announced in a statement yesterday evening, continuing: “The disruption of learning that has plagued campuses in recent years is unacceptable. The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable. It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously and commit to meaningful change if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.”

The statement concluded: “The Joint Task Force to combat anti-Semitism is announcing a freeze on $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60M in multi-year contract value to Harvard University.”

Universities across the United States have seen an explosion in anti-Semitic incidents and the harassment of Jewish students by pro-Hamas demonstrators. In several instances, protests escalated to the point where demonstrators would surround and trap Jewish students in university classrooms and libraries. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has moved to revoke student visas for hundreds of foreign students over their participation in the campus demonstrations and for public pro-Hamas statements.

Image by Adam Fagen.

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20 hours ago
Science

Now ‘Climate Change’ is Responsible for… Schizophrenia!?

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❓What Happened: A study in Nature Climate Change links high temperatures to increasing mental and behavioral disorders, including schizophrenia, and warns of a further rise due to climate change.

👥 Who’s Involved: Researchers from the University of Adelaide conducted the study.

📍 Where & When: The Australian study was published in Nature Climate Change on Monday.

💬 Key Quote: Dr. Peng Bi claims, “From mild distress to serious conditions like schizophrenia, rising temperatures are making things harder for millions.”

⚠️ Impact: The study alleges there will be a 49 percent increase in mental health burdens by 2050 due to climate-related heat unless effective adaptations are made.

IN FULL:

A recent study by researchers at the University of Adelaide, Australia, claims that increasing temperatures significantly affect mental health. According to the findings published in Nature Climate Change, extreme heat is contributing to a rising incidence of mental and behavioral disorders, and the situation will worsen if the climate warms.

The research utilizes the metric of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to estimate the mental health toll of rising temperatures. Currently, heat supposedly contributes to the annual loss of over 8,450 healthy life years in Australia, accounting for about 1.8 percent of the nation’s mental and behavioral disorder burden. The study claims this toll could rise by nearly 50 percent by 2050 if global temperatures increase.

Dr. Peng Bi, who led the research, alleges that high temperatures exacerbate conditions from mild distress to severe illnesses like schizophrenia. According to the study, approximately 8.6 million Australians could encounter a mental behavioral disorder at some point. Co-author Dr. Jingwen Liu claims, “Climate change will drive up mental health challenges beyond what population growth alone would cause,” and, “Young people, who often face these issues early in life, are especially at risk as the climate crisis worsens.”

The research models various scenarios, indicating a possible 49 percent increase in burden under a high-emissions pathway and up to 141 percent when factoring in population growth. It claims climate change policies could limit the increase. Notably, however, Western countries such as Australia now account for only a small percentage of global emissions, with the impact of net zero policies that have a punishing effect on households and businesses being wiped out by the increasing use of coal and other carbon-heavy fuels by the likes of China and India.

Image by Jorge Royan.

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By Popular Demand.
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