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Trump Trial Day 8: Judge Could Jail Ex-Prez for OLD Posts, as Prosecution Reels From Hope Hicks’s Demolition of Michael Cohen.

Former Trump campaign aide Hope Hicks had some choice things to say about Michael Cohen last week, which bear consideration. During defense attorney Emil Bove’s cross-examination, Hicks took aim at Cohen’s credibility. She told Bove that the disgraced attorney “used to like to call himself Mr. Fix It, but it was only because he first broke it.”

When Bove, who is one of former President Donald J. Trump‘s attorneys in the hush money trial, asked Hicks about Cohen’s role in the 2016 campaign, she threw additional cold water on the prosecution’s assertions. “No, he would try to insert himself at certain moments, but he wasn’t supposed to be on the campaign in any official capacity,” Hicks responded. She added: “There were things he did in a voluntary capacity because of his interest.”

Asked if Cohen was prone to going rogue, Hicks said, “Yes.”

MERCHAN HOLDS TRUMP IN CONTEMPT… AGAIN. 

Day eight of former President Donald Trump‘s Manhattan-based hush money trial ended about 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. Judge Juan Merchan gave no reason for the court’s adjournment.

The court’s morning session began with another hearing on alleged violations of the gag order placed on former President Trump by Democrat-aligned Judge Merchan. Once again, the former President was found in contempt of the order and fined $1,000 for the new violation. “I find you in criminal contempt for the 10th time,” the judge said. He added: “Going forward, this court will have to consider a jail sanction.”

“Mr. Trump, it’s important you understand that the last thing I want to do is put you in jail. You are the former president of the United States and possibly the next president as well,” Judge Merchan continued. He added, “The magnitude of this decision is not lost on me, but at the end of the day, I have a job to do.”

But even Democrat legal strategists admitted Merchan’s behavior didn’t stack up, with the judge seemingly rebuking Trump for statements that have been long-deleted.

THE ACCOUNTANT ON THE STAND. 

Following the testimony of Hope Hicks, the prosecution next brought Jeff McConney, the former controller — essentially the top accountant — for the Trump Organization. McConney has testified twice before in legal proceedings involving Donald Trump —before Judge Juan Merchan in the 2022 Trump Organization tax fraud trial and in last fall’s civil fraud trial against Trump brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Former Biden Justice Department attorney Matthew Colangelo handled the questioning for the prosecution.

The early part of McConney’s testimony was focused on establishing his role and chain of command within the Trump Organization. The former controller told Colangelo that he oversaw the company’s accounting department and Deb Tarasoff, the accounts payable supervisor. Tarasoff would be the next prosecution witness brought before the court adjourned for the day.

WHO CUTS THE CHECKS?

Early on, the prosecution focused on check signing authority. According to McConney, prior to 2017 — when Trump was inaugurated as President — Donald Trump had the signing authority. Once he became President, however, a trust account was formed with Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, and Allen Weisselberg having signing authority.

Much of the morning focused on Colangelo and McConney walking through accounting practices, tax applicability to employee reimbursements, and the general ledger for Donald Trump’s personal account. While this was not the most riveting testimony, much of the prosecution‘s case hinges on the contention that the former President directed Michael Cohen‘s actions and understood the nature of the payments made to Cohen from the personal account.

COLANGELO BORES THE COURT. 

As the trial neared lunchtime, Colangelo finally began to focus on Michael Cohen — though McConney’s testimony was less than helpful to the prosecution’s case. When asked if he knew Cohen, McConney responded: “He said he was a lawyer.”

The prosecutor followed up, asking, “Did he work in the legal department?” McConney drew audible laughs from the courtroom with his response. “I guess so,” he said.

Next, Colangelo probed McConney on checks cut to Cohen, with the former controller saying that Allen Weisselberg had told him that they needed to get some money to the disgraced lawyer. “We added everything up, and came up with the amount we would have to pay him,” McConney said.

He testified that $35,000 was to be wired to Cohen monthly from Donald Trump‘s account. After reviewing Cohen’s invoices and the payment process for over an hour, McConney testified that he could not recall any further payments after December 2017. The prosecution ended its questioning after entering into evidence the invoices and financial disclosures relating to the payments to Cohen that allegedly covered the money he sent to Keith Davidson.

COHEN ACTED AS A VENDOR.

Emil Bove again handled the cross-examination for Trump‘s defense team. He kicked off the cross, asking McConney how often he spoke with Trump. The former Trump Organization controller said it wasn’t often. The defense attorney moved on to Cohen‘s employment status, asking McConney if Cohen used a Trump Organization account. McConney responded that Cohen did not and instead used a personal Gmail account. McConney explained that this meant Cohen was acting, essentially, as an outside vendor and not a Trump employee.

When Bove asked if McConney knew the nature of Cohen’s legal work or if the disgraced attorney was doing any personal work for Trump in 2017, McConney said: “I do not know.” Following up, when asked about his conversation with Weisselberg, McConney testified that he didn’t know what Cohen was seeking reimbursement for.

TRUMP DIDN’T ORDER PAYMENTS.

Moving on, Bove began chipping away at the core of the prosecution‘s case. Bragg’s team has spent a great deal of time insinuating that the payments made to Cohen were somehow illegal. Bove asked McConney, “These payments were also disclosed to the IRS, correct?” The former controller responded, “Yes.”

Bove, presenting McConney with an IRS 1099 form, asked: “There’s no place on this form to break out payments for legal services versus expenses incurred right?” McConney again responded, “Yes.”

Shifting to Cohen, the defense attorney asked McConney, “And it’s Michael Cohen’s job to figure out how to account for these payments on his personal taxes correct?” McConney once again responded, “Yes.” When asked if he knew whether Cohen had included the payments in his tax filings, McConney replied that he did not know.

In the most important moment, Bove asked McConney: “President Trump did not ask you to do any of the things you described?”

“He did not,” the former controller replied.

STILL NO EVIDENCE. 

A brief redirect by Colangelo may have further undermined the prosecution. McConney testified that he merely did as directed by Weisselberg. However, the former controller also said he was never privy to, nor knew of, any conversations between Weisselberg and Trump regarding payments to Cohen.

Despite the prosecution continuing to insinuate that Trump knew the nature of and directed the payments to Cohen, not a single witness that it has brought has been able to establish this assertion. In fact, several of the witnesses, so far, have actually undermined the claim — adding to the Trump defense team’s argument that he thought the payments were, in fact, for legal services and was unaware of Cohen’s agreement with Keith Davidson.

The next witness brought by the prosecution was Deb Tarasoff. Again, despite the prosecution’s efforts, Tarasoff said that Weisselberg was the man who called most of the shots and had the most contact with Cohen. The remainder of her testimony was a rehash of the invoice and check signing process heard in McConney’s morning testimony. After the prosecution finished and the defense engaged in a brief cross-examination, the court adjourned.

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

Editor’s Notes

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RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
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Trump Migration Crackdown Slashes Migrants Crossing Darien Gap to Near Zero.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Panama’s Darien Gap, a dangerous but once-busy route for migrants heading to the U.S., is now nearly deserted due to President Donald J. Trump’s immigration crackdown.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, and U.S. border officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: June 2025, Darien Gap, Panama.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In Panama’s Darien Gap, migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border—only 10 migrants crossed in June,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

🎯IMPACT: Migrant crossings in the Darien Gap have dropped to nearly zero, reflecting the effectiveness of the Trump administration’s border policies.

IN FULL

Once a major corridor for U.S.-bound migration, Panama’s treacherous Darién Gap has seen a dramatic decline in crossings. According to Panama’s migration authorities, only 10 individuals crossed the dense jungle in June 2025, marking a near-total collapse in traffic along what became a heavily used migrant route under former President Joe Biden.

The sudden drop follows the return of President Donald J. Trump’s hardline immigration policies, which include greatly strengthened border enforcement and efforts to orchestrate mass deportations. These measures stand in sharp contrast to conditions under the former Biden regime, when crossings through the region, once deemed impassable, surged.

In February 2024 alone, 37,166 migrants passed through the Darién Gap, and in 2022, the weekly average reached approximately 16,400. In 2023, over 530,000 migrants traversed the route, usually aided by organized smuggling networks.

Highlighting the change, U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted, In Panama’s Darien Gap, migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border—only 10 migrants crossed in June. The world is hearing our message that America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers.”

This view is supported by figures from the U.S. southern border, where apprehensions of illegal migrants have sharply declined. Border Patrol agents reported only about 6,000 arrests in June, none of whom were released into the country. This is a steep drop compared to previous years: 83,000 in June 2024, 99,000 in June 2023, and 192,000 in June 2022, per U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.

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NYC’s Mamdani Bragged About Channeling Public Funds to Illegals.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A resurfaced interview revealed the Democrats’ candidate for New York City mayor, Uganda-born Zohran Mamdani, touting taxpayer-funded unemployment benefits for illegal immigrants as one of his “greatest victories.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, New Yorkers, and illegal immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The comments were made in a June 2021 interview with SAAG Interactive in Mamdani’s capacity as an assemblyman.

💬KEY QUOTE: “What this fund would do is provide some modicum of relief [to illegals]. And this fund was won in many ways because of the pressure brought by [illegals] that the state doesn’t even recognize, the state does not even see,” Mamdani said.

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani’s pro-illegal immigrant stance has drawn criticism from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and highlights his broader platform of supporting illegal immigrants, including expanding sanctuary city policies.

IN FULL

Democratic candidate for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani described securing taxpayer funding for unemployment benefits for illegal immigrants as one of his “greatest victories” during a 2021 interview with SAAG Interactive. The fund, known as the Excluded Workers Fund, was created for illegal alien workers who were ineligible for federal and state unemployment benefits.

“When I think of the greatest victories in Albany this year, I think the excluded workers fund,” the Uganda-born assemblyman said. He continued, “And what this fund would do is provide some modicum of relief. And this fund was won in many ways because of the pressure brought by those that the state doesn’t even recognize, the state does not even see.”

“Without the pressure from those individuals, members of the state would never have taken this action because nothing happens because of benevolence, it happens because of pressure,” he added.

Mamdani’s campaign website outlines his commitment to expanding protections for illegal immigrants in New York City. The avowed socialist and Muslim extremist‘s platform includes measures to strengthen the city’s sanctuary policies, eliminate cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and increase legal support for undocumented residents.

Meanwhile, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has criticized Mamdani for his silence following the recent shooting of a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer in New York City. “His silence in the face of this brutal attack speaks volumes about where his priorities lie, and it’s not with public safety and the American people,” Lyons said of Mamdani, who only became a U.S. citizen in 2018.

Mamdani has also faced scrutiny for his support of the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, which he discussed in the same 2021 interview. Other past comments include anti-NYPD posts accusing police of controlling minorities and the poor, and calls for the defunding of the NYPD and the abolition of prisons.

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Ukrainian Lawmakers Brawl in Parliament as Zelensky Reverses Crackdown on Anti-Corruption Agencies.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian lawmakers passed a bill reinstating the independence of anti-corruption agencies after protests. Two politicians fought in the chamber during the session.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, European Union (EU) officials, and members of Ukraine’s parliament.

📍WHEN & WHERE: July 31, 2025, during a parliamentary session in Kiev, Ukraine.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This guarantees the normal, independent work of anti-corruption bodies and all law enforcement agencies in our country. It is the right decision.” – Volodymyr Zelensky

🎯IMPACT: The decision restores Ukraine’s anti-corruption safeguards, addresses public outcry, and aligns with EU governance rules.

IN FULL

Ukraine’s parliament voted on July 31 to reestablish the autonomy of its two key anti-corruption bodies, responding to widespread domestic and international criticism over a recent law placing them under the government’s control. The measure passed unanimously, with 331 lawmakers voting in favor, marking a significant political reversal for President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The parliamentary session was notable for being the first to be broadcast live since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and it reflected the gravity of the situation. Tensions ran high inside the chamber, culminating in a punch-up between two politicians. The cause of the scuffle remains uncertain.

President Zelensky addressed the nation following the vote, acknowledging the strong reaction, including protests in several cities, that the prior law had triggered. “It is very important that the state listens to public opinion,” he said. He emphasized that the new law secures the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), which was gutted by previous legislation.

The controversy began when Zelensky signed a law that transferred oversight of the anti-corruption bodies to the office of the prosecutor general, who is under Zelensky’s control. Critics, including European Union (EU) officials and human rights groups, saw this as a significant rollback of anti-corruption reforms. The backlash was swift: thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets in Kiev, protesting despite ongoing martial law, and efforts by Zelensky to claim the anti-corruption bodies had been infiltrated by Russia.

The independence of NABU and SAPO has long been regarded as critical to Ukraine’s aspirations for European Union membership and continued access to Western financial support. Both agencies have played pivotal roles in investigating high-level corruption, including cases involving senior government officials.

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Bud Light Parent Company’s Shares Plunge Again.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Shares of AB InBev dropped as much as 11 percent after reporting a larger-than-expected decline in second-quarter volumes, despite increases in revenue and profits.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, and its CEO, Michel Doukeris.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The stock drop occurred on Thursday, with shares last seen down 9.1 percent by 10:27 AM. London time. The performance reflects global markets, including China, Brazil, and the U.S.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The results pointed to the resilience of the beer category and the continued momentum of the company’s megabrands.” – Michel Doukeris

🎯IMPACT: The decline in volumes, particularly in China and Brazil, overshadowed profit growth and raised concerns about the company’s performance in key markets.

IN FULL

Shares of AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, dropped as much as 11 percent on Thursday after the company reported a steeper-than-expected 1.9 percent decline in second-quarter volumes. Analysts had predicted a smaller 0.3 percent dip. Despite this, quarterly revenues rose three percent on an organic basis to $15 billion, and operating profit jumped 6.5 percent year-on-year, exceeding expectations. However, the American-Belgian multinational could face tariff impacts due to its European footprint and partial Brazilian ownership.

The decline in volumes was primarily driven by underperformance in China, where volumes fell 7.4 percent, and Brazil, which saw a 6.5 percent drop due to adverse weather and high comparisons. AB InBev noted it was “underperforming the industry” in China, a critical market. Shares later pared losses but remained down 9.1 percent by mid-morning in London.

CEO Michel Doukeris emphasized the resilience of the beer market and the strength of AB InBev’s “megabrands,” which include Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Corona. Analysts, however, expressed concerns over the significant volume declines in China and Brazil, as well as weaker-than-expected performance in other regions such as the Middle Americas and EMEA.

The beer industry is also grappling with broader challenges, including 50 percent tariffs on aluminum, which are expected to increase the cost of beer cans produced in the U.S. AB InBev previously stated that 98 percent of its cans are manufactured domestically. Meanwhile, wine and spirits producers are lobbying for tariff relief under ongoing EU-U.S. trade negotiations.

AB InBev previously saw significant losses for almost a year after a Bud Light marketing campaign featuring the transgender social media personality Dylan Mulvaney sparked a boycott in April 2023.

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Zelensky Demands Regime Change in Russia.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging the international community to pursue regime change in Moscow, arguing that Russia’s leadership will continue to destabilize neighboring countries even after the war in Ukraine ends.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ukraine and Russia, July 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If the world doesn’t aim to change the regime in Russia, that means, even after the war ends, Moscow will still try to destabilize neighbouring countries.” – Volodymyr Zelensky

🎯IMPACT: Zelensky’s stance suggests he is disinterested in making a compromise peace with Russia’s leadership, meaning the war will likely continue dragging on for the foreseeable future.

IN FULL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia will continue to threaten neighboring countries unless the world works to “change the regime” in Moscow. The Ukrainian leader warned on Thursday that Russia’s leadership rejects the “post-World War Two” order and called for the threat to be removed permanently.

“Russia keeps launching such attacks, even when the whole world is calling on it to stop the war,” Zelensky said following overnight airstrikes by Russia. He added that the Kremlin persists with the war because it cannot recognize its “natural borders’’ and sees them as “wherever it wants them to be.”

“They are mentally stuck in another century, a time of brutal violence, depredations, a total disregard for human rights and equality. We all know that such ideas and such times must never return to Europe, and we all know how to protect ourselves from that, how to protect Europe from what Russia is bringing,” Zelensky said.

“If the world doesn’t aim to change the regime in Russia, that means, even after the war ends, Moscow will still try to destabilise neighbouring countries,” he added.

His comments suggest he is not poised to strike a compromise peace deal with Russia, meaning that the war—which Ukraine is currently losing—is less likely to be brought to a close in the near future.

Image via the Presidential Office of Ukraine.

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Declassified Durham Report Annex Exposes FBI Role in Prolonging Trump-Russia Hoax.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A newly declassified annex from special counsel John Durham’s report on the Trump-Russia hoax reveals the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) dismissed intelligence suggesting Hillary Clinton’s campaign fueled the allegations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The FBI, Hillary Clinton’s campaign, John Durham, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe, and other high-ranking officials from the Obama administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Trump-Russia hoax emerged during the 2016 election cycle, with subsequent revelations relating to it being disclosed up to the present day.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Based on the Durham annex, the Obama FBI failed to adequately review and investigate intelligence reports showing the Clinton campaign may have been ginning up the fake Trump-Russia narrative for Clinton’s political gain.” – Sen. Grassley

🎯IMPACT: The revelations raise further questions about the FBI’s handling of politically charged intelligence, with implications for public trust in federal agencies.

IN FULL

A declassified annex to John Durham’s report has revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) dismissed intelligence suggesting that allegations of collusion between President Donald J. Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia may have been fueled by Hillary Clinton’s campaign or Russian disinformation. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) released the annex, which remains partially redacted, after years of calls for transparency.

The document highlights how the FBI was informed of intelligence indicating that some of the information it received about Trump’s campaign might have been linked to Clinton’s campaign or was a product of Russian disinformation. Despite this, the FBI reportedly dismissed the intelligence as “not credible” without taking investigative steps to verify or refute the claims. Durham’s report criticized the FBI’s handling of this information.

Sen. Grassley, a leading figure in investigating Russiagate, stated, “Based on the Durham annex, the Obama FBI failed to adequately review and investigate intelligence reports showing the Clinton campaign may have been ginning up the fake Trump-Russia narrative for Clinton’s political gain.” Grassley emphasized the damage caused by what he described as one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history.

The annex also notes that top officials, including then-CIA Director John Brennan, briefed former President Barack Obama, former President Joe Biden, and other high-ranking officials about intelligence concerning a “purported Clinton campaign plan” to link Trump to Russia. The fraudulent Steele Dossier, funded by Clinton’s campaign and the DNC, was cited as a key element in the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation, which Durham found was mishandled.

During an interview, former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and current Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe stated, “What hasn’t come out yet and what’s going to come out is the underlying intelligence… part of this was a Hillary Clinton plan, but part of it was an FBI plan to be an accelerant to that fake Steele dossier.” Ratcliffe added that the declassified annex underscores inconsistencies in testimony from figures like Clinton, Brennan, and former FBI Director James Comey.

Image by Paul Morigi Photography.

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D.C. Bar Association Continues Its Anti-Trump Lawfare, Recommends Jeff Clark Be Disbarred.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Acting Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) Director Jeff Clark has been recommended for disbarment in a politically motivated case brought before the District of Columbia Bar. The complaint against Clark dates back to the 2020 election when he drafted an unpublished letter outlining legal paths for certain lawmakers to challenge the election results.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeff Clark, the D.C. Bar, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the former Biden government.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Bar Association determination was issued Thursday, 31, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A majority of the Board recommends that Respondent be disbarred. We recognize that there are no factually comparable prior disciplinary cases.” — The D.C. Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility

🎯IMPACT: Unless the District of Columbia Court of Appeals intervenes, Clark will face the suspension of his ability to practice law within 30 days as his case continues to proceed.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump‘s Acting Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) director, Jeff Clark, has been recommended for disbarment in a politically motivated case brought before the District of Columbia Bar. The complaint against Clark dates back to the 2020 election when he drafted an unpublished letter outlining legal paths for certain lawmakers to challenge the election results. At the time, Clark was serving at the Department of Justice (DOJ) as Assistant Attorney General.

“A majority of the Board recommends that Respondent be disbarred. We recognize that there are no factually comparable prior disciplinary cases. But that is not surprising given the underlying facts. In making this recommendation, we are mindful of the need to maintain the integrity of the legal profession and deter the respondent and other attorneys from engaging in similar misconduct,” the D.C. Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility wrote in their recommendation, issued on Thursday.

“Lawyers must observe the highest standard of professional conduct. At a minimum, they must be honest. While dishonesty is always intolerable, the facts here are significantly aggravating to warrant disbarment: Respondent was prepared to cause the Justice Department to tell a lie about the status of its investigation of an important national issue (the integrity of the 2020 Presidential election),” it continues.

“Lawyers cannot advocate for any outcome based on false statements, and they certainly cannot urge others to do so. Respondent persistently and energetically sought to do just that on an important national issue. He should be disbarred as a consequence and to send a message to the rest of the Bar and to the public that this behavior will not be tolerated,” the D.C. Bar recommendation concludes.

Critics soundly argue that the recommendation is a clear and disturbing attempt to punish an attorney for simply stating their legal opinion, a point that was repeatedly brought up and acknowledged by the board during a hearing last year. Even more troubling, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—under the former Biden government—never provided a reason for their raid on Clark’s home, an incident some contend was thinly veiled political harassment.

Unless the District of Columbia Court of Appeals intervenes, Clark will face the suspension of his ability to practice law within 30 days as his case proceeds. Notably, former FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith, who lied on a FISA warrant targeting the Trump campaign, only received a sentence of 12 months’ probation and 400 hours of community service, along with only losing his law license for one year. Clinesmith is currently an “active member” in “good standing” with the Bar.

Curiously, it was controversial U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg who issued the unusually light punishment to Clinesmith.

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Researchers Create New Hybrid Bird Flu for Vaccine.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Researchers in Japan have engineered a new strain of bird flu, combining genetic material from two wild viruses to create a pathogen known as Vac-3.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Japanese scientists, U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)- funded researchers, and U.S. institutions such as the University of Georgia, Mount Sinai, and Texas Biomed.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The study was published last week in NPJ Vaccines, involving experiments conducted in Japan.

🎯IMPACT: The research raises biosecurity concerns over gain-of-function experiments and the potential for man-made pandemics.

IN FULL

A recent study published in NPJ Vaccines reveals that Japanese scientists have engineered a novel strain of bird flu by combining the genetic components of two different wild influenza viruses. The synthetic virus, designated Vac-3, was created in the lab, propagated in chicken eggs, and inactivated with formalin for use as a whole-particle vaccine in long-term tests involving nonhuman primates. This strain—formally named A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-3/2007 (H5N1)—was artificially assembled and does not occur in nature.

This development comes in the wake of disclosures about U.S. government-funded experiments involving lab-created H5N1 bird flu variants. Some of those strains reportedly caused 100 percent mortality in exposed mammals. In those cases, scientists employed synthetic DNA to construct the viruses and, under a $59 million federal contract, deliberately infected live cows. Japan has also been cooperating with U.S. researchers on additional influenza-related projects, including hybrid viruses combining horse and human flu genes that reportedly replicate much faster than naturally occurring strains.

The Japanese research team emphasized that Vac-3 stimulated more robust immune responses than current flu vaccines, mainly because it retained its full genetic content, including viral RNA. Their approach, called whole-particle vaccination, is designed to activate the body’s innate immune sensors and “rewire” immune responses.

Though the term “gain-of-function” is not used in the study, the methodology behind Vac-3 fits the criteria. The virus was produced by merging genes from different influenza viruses to enhance its immunogenic properties. According to a 2025 Executive Order from the White House, gain-of-function research includes work that alters a virus’s interaction with the immune system, such as increasing its ability to evade or overactivate immune defenses.

The research also introduces significant biosecurity concerns. In their testing, scientists exposed macaques to a deadly H5N1 strain to evaluate how long immunity from Vac-3 would last. This involved constructing a virus that had never previously existed, infecting primates with it, and later challenging them with a lethal strain, all conducted within a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory. While the stated goal was vaccine development, such experiments could trigger future pandemics.

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Democrat Jamie Raskin Backs UK Govt’s Censorship Law.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is backing the British government’s Online Safety Act—a censorship law which critics argue stifles free speech and is aimed at harming U.S.-based social media and technology companies—after a blow-up with Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Reps. Jamie Raskin, Eric Swalwell, Jasmine Crockett, and Jim Jordan; Nigel Farage, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and British Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Raskin’s embrace of the Online Safety Act came during a congressional delegation trip to the UK this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We thought there were some very good things in the Online Safety Act…” — Rep. Jamie Raskin

🎯IMPACT: The Democratic Party’s embrace of UK-style censorship is well outside the American legal mainstream regarding free speech rights and appears to be driven almost entirely by Raskin and others’ desire to undermine President Donald J. Trump.

IN FULL

Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is backing Britain’s far-left Labour Party government on the Online Safety Act—a censorship law that stifles free speech and harms U.S.-based social media and technology companies. The Maryland Democrat’s embrace of British censorship came this week as American lawmakers traveled to Great Britain on a congressional delegation led by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).

“We thought there were some very good things in the Online Safety Act, and there might be some problematic things,” Raskin said during an interview with the press in London. The staunchly anti-Trump Democrat added: “I think the intervention of Democrats who don’t have a dog in that fight was maybe too much for [Nigel Farage] to handle, but we did want to make some general points about the freedom of speech.”

Raskin’s reference to Reform Party leader Nigel Farage stemmed from an argument that broke out between Congressional Democrats and the Brexit leader during a meeting with British lawmakers. Farage was responding to off-topic remarks Raskin made, accusing U.S. President Donald J. Trump of being a threat to free speech. Raskin states that Farage injected during his remarks, stating, “We’re not here to talk about Donald Trump.” The Marland Democrat continued: “[Farage] said that I am a guest here, and I should act like a guest. And I told him that he was a host, and he should act like a host.”

House Democrats claim Farage accused Raskin of being “the most pig-headed person he’d ever met,” while Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) alleges, “Farage just looked unhinged and like a giant manbaby.”

For his part, Raskin defended his own outburst by dismissing Farage’s valid concerns regarding his own experience being the target of politically motivated censorship, such as debanking, by stating the incident was an “explosive reaction of one British politician who obviously didn’t want any challenge to his view that he’s a free speech victim.”

Notably, Farage has been the target of political smears because of his pro-British stances. The National Pulse reported earlier this year that Farage successfully resolved his long-standing debanking dispute with NatWest Group, nearly two years after the closure of his accounts at the bank’s Coutts subsidiary. The settlement, which includes an apology from NatWest, brings closure to a saga that led to the resignation of the bank’s former chief executive, Dame Alison Rose, in 2023.

Additionally, Farage was smeared as being “on the side” of pedophiles and extreme pornographers in comments made by British Technology Secretary Peter Kyle over the Reform leader’s pledge to repeal the Online Safety Act. The National Pulse reported Wednesday that the office of the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, approved the remarks by Kyle.

Texas Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, often accused of taking her duties as a lawmaker less than seriously, quipped, “There was a little bit of drama, and somehow it did not involve me or Swalwell.”

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Israeli NatSec Minister Says ‘Germany Is Returning to Supporting Nazism.’

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir accused Germany of reverting to Nazism following comments by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on recognizing a Palestinian state.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Itamar Ben Gvir, Johann Wadephul, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

📍WHEN & WHERE: July 31, 2025, during Wadephul’s visit to Jerusalem.

💬KEY QUOTE: “80 years after the Holocaust, and Germany is returning to supporting Nazism.” – Itamar Ben Gvir

🎯IMPACT: The accusation highlights tensions between Israel and Germany concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

IN FULL

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has charged Germany with reverting to National Socialism in response to comments by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Wadephul had observed at a recent United Nations (UN) conference on a so-called two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians that “Israel is finding itself increasingly in the minority.”

Ben Gvir quickly condemned the statement, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “80 years after the Holocaust, and Germany is returning to supporting Nazism.” His remarks coincide with Wadephul’s visit to Jerusalem for meetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Wadephul recently said that “in view of the open threats of annexation [of Palestinian territories] by some in the Israeli government, a growing number of European countries are ready to recognize a state of Palestine without previous negotiations.”

Ben Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party are staunch supporters of West Bank annexation, a stance echoed by other figures in Netanyahu’s coalition—although a complete annexation is not the official policy of Netanyahu and his Likud party, which have held varying, usually more moderate stances on annexing Jewish settlements in the West Bank over the years.

The clash reflects escalating tensions between Israel and Germany, as well as shifting European views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

France has already signaled its intention to recognize a Palestinian state at a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in September, with Britain saying it will do the same unless Israel meets certain demands on aid.

However, President Donald J. Trump, while increasingly critical of Netanyahu, believes such recognition would amount to “rewarding Hamas” for its October 7, 2023, terror raid against Israel. He has even warned the Canadian government that, if it moves to recognize Palestinian statehood, it could derail U.S.-Canadian trade negotiations.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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