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Trump Trial Day 10: Stormy Did It For the Money.

As the Trump hush money trial entered its tenth day of testimony, defense attorneys for former President Donald J. Trump continued their cross-examination of pornographic actress Stormy Daniels. Defense attorney Susan Necheles continued to handle the questioning, picking up where she left off on Tuesday. The former President’s legal team continued drilling down on the motivations behind Daneils’s actions, including her decision to sell her story to the National Enquirer.

In addition to Daniels, the court — with Democrat-aligned Judge Juan Merchan presiding — heard from three additional witnesses: Rebecca Manochio, a former assistant to Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, Tracey Menzies, a publishing executive at Harper Collins, and Madeleine Westerhout — who served as former President Trump’s executive assistant at the White House.

After the lunch break and conclusion of Daniels’s testimony, Trump’s attorneys again moved for a mistrial. They filed two other motions pertaining to potential testimony from another accuser, Karen McDougal, and for changes to the court-issued gag order.

STORMY CONTINUED.

The defense’s cross-examination of Stormy Daniels began with Trump’s attorney Susan Necheles pressing the porn star on her motivations for going public with her story. The adult film actress insisted that she didn’t want money from Trump or his company or campaign. Instead, Daniels told Necheles — using puzzling logic — that she sold the story to ensure the public heard it.

“I was asking to sell my story to publications to get the truth out,” Daniels said under cross-examination by Necheles. This response will likely undermine Daniels’s credibility as she’s also acknowledged signing the nondisclosure agreement with the National Enquirer, meaning her story would not be published. Daniels admitted that other news outlets, including Slate, wanted to publish her allegations, but the left-leaning website was unwilling to pay for the story.

PHANTOM THREATS REDUX. 

Daniels continued to allude to unsubstantiated threats she and her family received. According to the porn actress, she signed the nondisclosure agreement to create a paper trail and protect her family from the unknown and unnamed individuals threatening them. Additionally, Daniels testified that if she had given the story to Slate or another outlet willing to pay, it would have put a target on her and her family’s backs. Not once did Daniels produce any concrete evidence of threats.

Note that she testified on Tuesday to a previously uncirculated claim that she was threatened to stay silent by an unknown man in a Las Vegas parking garage in 2011. She did not report the incident to police or inform her husband or daughter of the threat. Judge Juan Merchan expressed his dismay that Daniels had raised the story in court with no evidence to corroborate it.

DANIELS YELLS AT DAVIDSON.

A great deal of the cross-examination focused on the various ways Daniels has personally profited from her allegations of an affair with former President Trump. In an especially devastating moment for her credibility, Daniels was faced with a recording produced by Trump’s legal team where her former attorney, Keith Davidson, can be heard speaking with disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen, alluding to her motivations.

Davidson tells Cohen that Daniels “wanted this money more than you can ever imagine.” On the phone call, taped on April 4, 2018, Davidson recalls to Cohen: “I remember hearing her on the phone saying, ‘You — f–king Keith Davidson — you better settle this goddamn story.” According to her former attorney, Daniels called him a “p***y” and demanded he get her a good financial settlement in exchange for the story. He also told Cohen that Daniels told him, “We lose all f**king leverage” if Trump loses the 2016 election.

After being confronted with the phone call recording, Daniels denied having ever yelled at Davidson. “No I did not, actually, I never yelled at Keith Davidson,” she told Necheles.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!

“When Trump was indicted in this case, you celebrated on Twitter by repeatedly tweeting and pushing merchandise you were selling in your store, right?” Necheles pressed the porn star, driving at the financial motivations underpinning her ongoing attacks on Trump.

“I tweeted about him being indicted, yes. People asked how they could support me, so I tweeted the link to my store,” Daniels responded, attempting to dodge the fact she often used news about Trump‘s prosecution to sell merchandise. Showing the jury photos of Daniels’s social media posts, Nicheles asked: “That was you shilling your merchandise, right?”

“That is me doing my job,” the adult film actress responded.

When pressed if she made $100,000 from a documentary about her life and affair with Trump, Daniels became indignant. She refused to answer directly and snapped at Trump’s defense attorney, stating: “You’re trying to trick me into saying something that’s not entirely true.”

Necheles asked Daniels if she had had an affair with one of the cameramen while filming the documentary. Judge Mechan overruled an objection by the prosecution and directed Daniels to answer the question. The pornographic entertainer acknowledged that she did have an affair but claimed she was separated from her husband at the time.

Daniels was also forced to admit she profited from a strip club tour following her going public with her allegations. The tour was promoted with a photo of Daniels with Trump at the aforementioned Lake Tahoe Golf Tournament, where they first met.

I SEE DEAD PEOPLE.

Moving on from her financial motivations, Susan Necheles entered a line of inquiry that must have had the prosecution regretting their decision to put Daniels on the stand. While the adult film industry isn’t known for employing the most mentally sound individuals, Daniels’s side job as a ‘medium‘ between those living in this world and the one beyond may take the cake. Daniels admitted she tried to pitch a paranormal reality show following her newfound fame regarding her home in New Orleans, which she claims is haunted.

“It was a lot of interesting and unexplained activity,” the porn star explained, though she did admit: “A lot of the activity was completely debunked as a giant possum.” In 2022, Daniels described a “non-human thing with tentacles” that frequented her home and would break items. She claimed the ‘haunting’ negatively impacted her mental health.

Necheles pressed Daniels further on whether she claimed she could speak with people’s dead relatives. While the adult entertainer said she did make such claims, she added that it was “all entertainment.”

STORMY STANDS BY THE STORY.

The over six hours of testimony — over two days — by Daniels came to a close with Necheles pressing the porn actress on whether she made the affair allegations up. Trump’s defense team noted the multiple inaccuracies in her story and the fact that its details have changed over time. The National Pulse reported that a previous iteration of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump insinuated that Danials was the aggressor — something she now denies, insinuating she was, in essence, assaulted.

Defending the shifting details, Daniels insisted that she can’t control what quotes end up in magazine interviews or how the reporter framed events. On several occasions, the porn actress was forced to clarify her prior statements when confronted with her inconsistent recollections.

After the defense team finished its cross-examination, the prosecution engaged in a brief redirect. Daniels was again asked about the unsubstantiated threats against her and her family and if this is what motivated her to sign the nondisclosure agreement. Again, Daniels insisted this was the case.

THE BOOK KEEPER AND PUBLISHER. 

Following the marathon testimony of Stormy Daniels, prosecutors moved on to Rebecca Manochio — the former assistant to Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. Like with other testimony from former Trump Organization financial staff, the prosecution focused its questioning on the check signing process and which company executives can approve payments.

The goal of this questioning by the Manhattan District Attorney‘s office is to insinuate that former President Trump not only signed the checks but was aware of their purpose. Thus far, they’ve presented no actual evidence that this is the case.

Following a brief cross-examination of Manochio, during which she acknowledged she never directly interacted with Trump, Harper Collins executive Tracey Menzies was called to the stand next. Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold handled the questioning, which consisted entirely of Menzies reading sections of a book co-authored by Trump. The prosecution’s goal appears to have been to underscore certain controversial statements printed in the book regarding loyalty and getting even.

Under cross-examination, Trump’s defense attorney, Todd Blanche, asked Menzies if she was part of the team that published Trump’s book. “No, I was not,” she replied. Pushing further, Blanche asked Menzies if she had selected the excerpts read in court. She said she had not.

THE FINAL WITNESS FOR THE DAY.

The tenth day of testimony ended with former President Trump‘s personal assistant at the White House, Madeleine Westerhout, taking the stand. The protection asked Westerhout mostly about check signing procedures, but other topics also arose. When asked about the Access Hollywood tape, Westerhout told the prosecution, “At the time, I recall it rattling RNC leadership.”

“It’s my recollection there were conversations about how to, if it was needed, how it would be possible to replace him as the candidate if it came to that,” Westerhout added.

Westerhout was asked what implements Trump would use to sign documents and checks. She recalled, “He liked to use Sharpies or, I believe, a Pentel felt-tip pen.” She also acknowledged that the former President liked to review and read any document before he signed it. When asked whether Trump and Cohen had a close relationship in the early days of the presidential administration, Westerhout responded: “At that time, yes.”

‘A REALLY GOOD BOSS.’

Trump defense attorney Susan Necheles also handled Westerhout’s cross-examination. When asked why Westerhout later wrote a book about her time in the Trump White House, the former aide replied, “I thought it was real important to share with the American people the man that I got to know.”

She added, “I don’t think he’s treated fairly, and I wanted to tell that story.”

Westerhout told the court that the former President wasn’t nearly as concerned about the Access Hollywood tape as those around him.

“He never once made me feel that I didn’t deserve that job and that I didn’t belong there. Especially in an office filled with older men, he never made me feel like I didn’t belong there. He was a really good boss,” Westerhout told Necheles, adding: “I found him very enjoyable to work for.”

With that, the court adjourned for the day, but not before Judge Juan Merchan considered three new motions by Trump‘s defense team.

JUDGE DENIES MISTRIAL MOTION AGAIN.

Former President Donald Trump‘s defense team again motioned for a mistrial, citing the unsubstantiated, unrelated, and prejudicial testimony from Stormy Daniels. Again, Judge Juan Merchan denied the motion. A second motion to bar testimony from the second Trump accuser, Karen McDougal, a former Playboy Playmate, was vacated as District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecutors announced they would no longer be calling her as a witness. A third motion regarding the extent of the court’s gag order on former President Donald Trump did not receive an immediate ruling.

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

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Harvard Astronomer Says There’s an Alien ‘Mothership’ Behind the Sun.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is set to reach its perihelion, the closest point to the Sun on its trajectory, on October 29.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, NASA scientist Tom Statler, and the broader scientific community.

📍WHEN & WHERE: October 29, 2025; the object is currently on the opposite side of the Sun relative to Earth.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If you want to take a vacation, take it before [October 29], because who knows what will happen?” – Avi Loeb

🎯IMPACT: Loeb’s theory of extraterrestrial origin has sparked debate, but most scientists believe 3I/ATLAS is a natural comet.

IN FULL

The mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is expected to reach the nearest point to the Sun on October 29, following its unusual trajectory through the solar system. Currently, the object is opposite the Earth on the other side of the Sun. While most scientists have concluded that 3I/ATLAS is a comet comprising carbon dioxide ice, Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb continues to suggest that the object could be an extraterrestrial “mothership” sent by an intelligent civilization.

As evidence of his claim—which some critics suggest is more of a publicity stunt than a serious proposal—Loeb notes the interstellar object’s unusual trajectory given its size, and claims the object’s path, taking it close to Mars, Venus, and Jupiter, may be more than “extremely rare coincidences.”

Late Thursday, Loeb wrote in a post on Medium, “If you want to take a vacation, take it before [October 29], because who knows what will happen?” He elaborated on the potential for the object to use the Sun’s gravitational pull to accelerate or slow down, referencing the Oberth effect, a principle in physics that allows a spacecraft to generate more energy when its engine is fired at higher speeds.

“If 3I/ATLAS is a massive mothership, it will likely continue along its original gravitational path and ultimately exit the Solar system,” Loeb posits. He speculates: “In that case, the Oberth maneuver might apply to the mini-probes it releases at perihelion towards Solar system planets.”

NASA’s lead scientist for solar system small bodies, Tom Statler, has dismissed Loeb’s theory, stating, “It looks like a comet. It does comet things. It very, very strongly resembles, in just about every way, the comets that we know.” However, Statler did acknowledge that the object has “some interesting properties that are a little bit different from our solar system comets.”

Loeb has admitted that the likelihood of 3I/ATLAS being technological in origin is slim, but emphasized the importance of evidence-based science. “As of now, 3I/ATLAS appears most likely to be a natural comet,” he wrote in a blog post. “But the remote possibility of an Oberth maneuver must be considered seriously as a black swan event with a small probability, because of its huge implications for humanity.”

Image by Adam Fagen.

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Dems in These Two States Want to Redraw Congressional Maps.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Democrats in Virginia and Colorado are exploring redistricting measures ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, following similar moves by Republicans in states like Texas and North Carolina.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Virginia Democrats, Colorado Democrats, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R), Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser (D), and various state party chairmen.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent developments in Virginia and Colorado as part of a broader national redistricting debate ahead of the 2026 midterms.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a shameless, reprehensible political power grab by Democrat lawmakers desperate for anything to distract from the disastrous Democrat Shutdown and Jay Jones’ demented comments and criminal investigation.” – Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

🎯IMPACT: Intensifying redistricting battles could reshape the balance of power in the House of Representatives, with both parties eyeing potential gains.

IN FULL

Democrats in Virginia and Colorado are weighing congressional redistricting plans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, mirroring recent moves by Republicans in states such as Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, and Indiana. In Virginia, Democrat lawmakers are reportedly exploring ways to create two or three additional districts favorable to their party. In Colorado, Democrats are considering a constitutional amendment to allow mid-decade redistricting, a move that would require approval from 55 percent of voters.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) sharply criticized the proposal, saying, “This is a shameless, reprehensible political power grab by Democrat lawmakers desperate for anything to distract from the disastrous Democrat Shutdown and Jay Jones’ demented comments and criminal investigation.”

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) defended the idea of changing the law to match actions in Republican-led states, saying, “If you see states breaking the norm doing mid-decade redistricting, give a mechanism so that we can match it.”

Currently, Democrats hold five of Virginia’s eleven congressional seats and four of Colorado’s eight. Both states have several competitive districts that could shift under new maps.

The push in Virginia and Colorado comes amid a nationwide redistricting battle. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed a redistricting bill in August that could eliminate five Democratic-leaning seats, strengthening the GOP’s hold on the state’s delegation. The plan was endorsed by President Donald J. Trump and quickly approved by the Republican-controlled legislature.

Democrats in California have also sought to redraw their state’s congressional boundaries through a proposed ballot measure backed by Governor Gavin Newsom (D). The plan could potentially yield up to five new Democratic seats by allowing the legislature to take temporary control of the redistricting process from the state’s independent commission.

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AG Letitia James Targets ICE Agents With New Reporting Tool.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) announced a new online tool for reporting supposed misconduct by federal immigration agents.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Letitia James, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol, and members of the public.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made Wednesday, following a recent ICE raid on Canal Street in Manhattan.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If you witnessed and documented ICE activity yesterday, I urge you to share that footage with my office.” – Letitia James

🎯IMPACT: The tool allows the public to submit evidence of supposed federal misconduct, potentially leading to legal reviews or public reports.

IN FULL

New York Attorney General Letitia James has introduced a new online reporting portal designed to collect evidence of supposed misconduct by federal immigration agents operating in the state. The “Federal Action Reporting Form” allows residents to upload videos, photos, and detailed accounts of immigration enforcement activity, including links from social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

“Every New Yorker has the right to live without fear or intimidation,” James said in a statement. “If you witnessed and documented ICE activity yesterday, I urge you to share that footage with my office. We are committed to reviewing these reports and assessing any violations of law.” The initiative follows a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on Manhattan’s Canal Street that outraged liberals.

Notably, the launch comes as James faces mounting personal legal troubles. In October 2025, she was indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. Prosecutors allege that she misrepresented a 2020 Norfolk property as a second home to obtain favorable mortgage terms, while treating it as a rental. The Justice Department estimates she gained roughly $19,000 over the life of the loan.

James has pleaded not guilty, and her attorneys have argued the case is politically motivated, despite her own history of pursuing dubious civil and criminal actions against President Donald J. Trump and his business empire.

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WATCH: Officers Open Fire on U-Haul Truck Charging Coast Guard Base Amid Anti-ICE Protest.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Security officers opened fire at a U-Haul truck that accelerated toward them outside a U.S. Coast Guard base in Alameda, California, during an anti-ICE protest.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Coast Guard security officers, a U-Haul driver, and protesters near the base.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday night at the entrance to Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “He just hit the gas and sped towards them. And that’s when they opened fire. About 20 to 30 rounds.” – Eyewitness Rick Villaroman

🎯IMPACT: No injuries to Coast Guard personnel were reported; the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading an investigation into the incident.

IN FULL

Security officers opened fire on a U-Haul truck that accelerated toward them outside the U.S. Coast Guard base in Alameda, California, during an anti-ICE protest, in a dramatic incident caught on video. The events unfolded near the end of a day-long demonstration against federal immigration enforcement operations staged at the base.

The truck reversed quickly toward officers guarding the bridge to Coast Guard Island, despite instructions to stop, resulting in a volley of gunfire. The truck then began accelerating forward. Photographer Rick Villaroman, who was at the scene, said, “He just hit the gas and sped towards them. And that’s when they opened fire. About 20 to 30 rounds.”

Witnesses said the vehicle struck two bystanders before the masked driver stopped briefly, appeared to check his phone, and then drove off. According to Villaroman, the driver abandoned the truck nearby after it had been parked outside the base for most of the day. The Coast Guard said the vehicle’s actions posed a direct threat to security personnel. Notably, U-Haul trucks have been used in multiple terror attacks and attempted terror attacks in the U.S. and Canada in recent years. Most notably, an Islamic State jihadist admitted to the U.S. from Uzbekistan on a Diversity Immigrant Visa, used a U-Haul to murder eight people on a crowded bike path in Lower Manhattan in 2017.

The confrontation in Alameda follows a series of violent incidents targeting immigration enforcement personnel across the country. Federal officials have warned of a sharp rise in attacks against Immigration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and facilities. In one of the most serious recent cases, federal prosecutors charged a group of self-described Antifa members with terrorism after a sniper attack on an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas. Investigators allege the suspects coordinated the ambush using encrypted apps and targeted agents with gunfire and explosives.

In Chicago, local police have faced criticism for reportedly ordering officers to “stand down” rather than assist ICE agents surrounded by protesters, prompting outrage from the city’s police union. Meanwhile, federal data show a massive increase in assaults on ICE officers compared with last year, according to a July statement from DHS.

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Canadian Province Withdraws Anti-Tariff Ads Following Trump Trade Ultimatum.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The provincial government of Ontario, Canada, has decided to pause its anti-tariff ad campaign targeting the U.S. following criticism from President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ontario Premier Doug Ford, President Trump, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Friday, with the pause taking effect on Monday. The ad aired in the U.S. during World Series games.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trade talks between the U.S. and Canada are now stalled, with Ontario’s ad campaign drawing criticism for its use of selectively edited remarks by the late President Ronald Reagan to undermine President Trump’s tariff policies.

IN FULL

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s second attempt at meddling in U.S.-Canadian talks lasted less than 24 hours. After launching a media campaign attacking U.S. President Donald J. Trump‘s tariff polices, featuring an ad using out-of-context audio from a speech delivered by the late President Ronald Reagan, Ford agreed to pull the television spot on Friday afternoon.

The misleading media campaign drew swift criticism from President Trump overnight, with the America First leader announcing he was breaking off trade talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as a result. Notably, the Ronald Reagan Foundation, which controls the rights to the audio, condemned the ad, threatening legal action against the Ontario government for its use without permission.

Late Friday, Ford announced that the campaign will be paused on Monday to allow trade negotiations to resume. However, he also confirmed that the ad would continue to air over the weekend during the first two World Series games. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, called the ad “FAKE” and accused Ontario of interfering with U.S. policy decisions. He stated, “Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”

The ad in question used Reagan’s voice to argue against tariffs, with lines such as “High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.” However, Reagan did deploy tariffs at times to protect American workers and advance American trade interests, for instance by imposing a 100 percent tariff on Japanese electronics.

White House spokesman Kush Desai condemned Ontario’s campaign, calling it misleading and a distraction from serious trade discussions. “Ontario’s taxpayer-funded ad campaign on American TV networks—that misleadingly edited President Reagan’s 1987 radio address about trade—is the latest example of how Canadian officials would rather play games than engage with the administration,” Desai said in a statement.

This past March, Ford was forced to abandon his first attempt to derail trade talks, the imposition of an electricity tariff on the U.S., in less than 24 hours as well.

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Mamdani: My Aunt Was 9/11’s REAL Victim Because She Couldn’t Wear Her Hijab on the Subway.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani held back tears in a speech on “Islamophobia” on Friday, commemorating his aunt, who “did not feel safe in her hijab” on the subway after jihadists murdered 2,977 people.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani and rival candidates Andrew Cuomo (I) and  Curtis Sliwa (R).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Statements made on Friday, October 27, 2023, in the Bronx, New York, one day before early voting begins for the November 4 mayoral election.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I want to speak to the memory of my aunt, who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab.” – Zohran Mamdani

🎯IMPACT: The remarks have heightened scrutiny of Mamdani, who follows the extremist Twelver sect of Shia Islam and will become New York City’s first Muslim mayor if elected.

IN FULL

Zohran Mamdani, the far-left, anti-white Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, addressed what he called “racist, baseless” attacks against him on Friday, linking these criticisms to a broader culture of “Islamophobia.” Speaking outside a mosque in the Bronx, he also paid tribute to “the memory” of an aunt of his and suggested she was the real victim of the September 11, 2001, radical Islamic terror attack on the city, as she did not feel comfortable wearing her Islamic headscarf on the subway afterwards.

“I thought that if I behaved well enough or bit my tongue enough in the face of racist, baseless attacks… it would allow me to be more than just my faith,” said Mamdani, who follows the extremist Twelver sect of Shia Islam and believes a 1,200-year-old final prophet is living in hiding somewhere, waiting for a time when he will preach Islam to world.

“I was wrong. No amount of redirection is ever enough,” he said, referring to Republican rival Curtis Sliwa alleging he supports a “global jihad,” and independent rival and former state governor Andrew Cuomo appearing to agree with a radio host who suggested Mamdani would be “cheering” if “another 9/11” happened.

Referring to 9/11, Mamdani, choking back tears, said, “I want to use this moment to speak to the Muslims of New York City; I want to speak to the memory of my aunt who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab.”

The bulk of the 2,977 people murdered by radical Islamic terrorists on 9/11 were killed in New York City, with many observers suggesting that Mamdani’s focus on his aunt’s comparatively minor hardship suggests he is out of touch. A Ugandan immigrant, Mamdani only became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.

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Hakeem Jeffries Finally Backs Zohran Mamdani in NYC Mayoral Race.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries belatedly endorsed far-left Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor after months of delay, just one day before early voting begins.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hakeem Jeffries, Zohran Mamdani, and Democrat leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The endorsement was announced on Friday, ahead of the November 4 elections in New York City.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Zohran Mamdani has relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy.” – Hakeem Jeffries

🎯IMPACT: Jeffries’s endorsement may add some further momentum to Mamdani’s campaign, though its lateness highlights divisions within the Democratic Party over Mamdani’s far-left politics.

IN FULL

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) announced his endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, the Democrats’ far-left candidate for New York City mayor, on Friday, ending a prolonged delay until the day before early voting begins. The endorsement follows months of pressure from progressives and repeated questions from reporters about Jeffries’s reluctance to support Mamdani, an avowed Democratic Socialist with a history of extreme policy positions, including abolishing prisons and imposing higher taxes on “whiter” neighborhoods.

“Zohran Mamdani has relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy,” Jeffries said in a statement. “In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.”

Mamdani secured a convincing primary victory in June, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) in what was seen as a major upset. Current polls show the Ugandan immigrant maintains a nearly 20-point lead over Cumo, who is now running as an Independent. Republican candidate Curtis Silwa polls in a distant third place.

Jefferies has largely avoided discussing Mamdani’s candidacy until now, only offering brief concerns about his past rhetoric on Israel and anti-Semitism and his ability to address gentrification in black communities. The endorsement process reportedly included two in-person meetings in Brooklyn, with race activist Al Sharpton mediating between the two camps.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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ken paxton acquitted

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Ken Paxton Just Made a Doctor Who Transitioned Kids Surrender Her Medical License.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Dr. May Lau surrendered her Texas medical license after being sued by Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) for prescribing dangerous drugs to minors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dr. May Lau and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

📍WHEN & WHERE: October 24, 2025, in Austin, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Doctors who permanently hurt kids by giving them experimental drugs are nothing more than disturbed left-wing activists who have no business being in the medical field.” – Ken Paxton

🎯IMPACT: Lau is permanently barred from practicing medicine on minors in Texas, with ongoing legal proceedings against her.

IN FULL

May Lau, a doctor subject to a lawsuit by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) for administering “gender transition” drugs to children, has surrendered her medical license. Previously, a so-called Rule 11 agreement ensured that Lau ceased practicing medicine while the case was ongoing. Now, a press release published by Paxton’s office has confirmed that she is permanently barred from “experimenting on children in Texas” from now on.

“Doctors who permanently hurt kids by giving them experimental drugs are nothing more than disturbed left-wing activists who have no business being in the medical field,” Paxton said. “May Lau has done untold damage to children, both physically and psychologically, and the surrendering of her Texas medical license is a major victory for our state. My case against her for breaking the law will continue, and we will not relent in holding anyone who tries to ‘transition’ kids accountable.”

The legal proceedings against Lau continue as she faces accusations of violating state law by administering cross-sex hormones to minors illegally.

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Trump Deploys Carrier to Caribbean to Support Anti-Cartel Strikes.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon on Friday announced the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford and its Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs Sean Parnell, U.S. military forces, and Central and South American cartels.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The deployment was announced on Friday as part of ongoing U.S. anti-drug cartel operations.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In support of the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).” – Sean Parnell

🎯IMPACT: The United States has executed a significant buildup of military assets in the Caribbean, with more than 6,000 sailors and Marines on eight warships currently in the region.

IN FULL

The Pentagon on Friday announced the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford and its Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. This will provide support for military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean. Currently, the Ford—the world’s largest aircraft carrier and the largest warship ever constructed—is in port in Split, Croatia. Previously, the strike group had been deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean in support of U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

“In support of the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR),” the Pentagon’s Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs, Sean Parnell, wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

He added: “The enhanced U.S. force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere. These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs.”

The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford and its Carrier Strike Group to the Caribbean comes as President Donald J. Trump continues efforts to disrupt and destroy Central and South American cartel operations in the region. Earlier on Friday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced military forces had conducted another strike on a suspected drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, describing the operation as a “lethal kinetic strike” against the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. U.S. forces have also begun to strike targets in the Pacific Ocean, near Marxist-led Colombia.

In recent weeks, the United States has executed a significant buildup of military assets in the Caribbean, with more than 6,000 sailors and Marines on eight warships currently in the region. The addition of the Ford and its strike group would increase the Navy’s manpower by over 10,000, with a significant increase in the Air Force’s presence as well.

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The New York Knicks Really Want to Make It Clear They Didn’t Endorse Mamdani.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The New York Knicks issued a cease-and-desist letter to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D) over his unauthorized use of the team’s logo in a campaign ad.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The New York Knicks, Zohran Mamdani, Mayor Eric Adams, and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred during the Knicks’ season opener in New York City, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to enforce our rights.” – Knicks spokesman

🎯IMPACT: Continued misteps by Mamdani’s campaign, as with its Knicks logo use, could leave undecided voters seeing the far-left New York Assemblyman as too inexperienced to serve as mayor.

IN FULL

The New York Knicks have sent a cease-and-desist letter to Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani after his campaign used a modified version of the team’s logo in a political ad. The ad, aired during the Knicks’ season opener, replaced the word “Knicks” with “Zohran” in the iconic orange and blue logo.

The team’s legal representatives argued that the ad could “mislead the public into believing that the Campaign is affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by, or in some way connected with the Knicks.” A spokesman for the Knicks stated, “The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to enforce our rights.”

While polling shows Mamdani, a Ugandan Muslim immigrant, leading Andrew Cuomo, the former state governor, heading into the final weeks of the campaign, continued misteps, as with the Knicks logo use, could leave undecided voters seeing the 34-year-old New York Assemblyman as too inexperienced to lead the city. In another inexplicable campaign flub in June, Mamdani’s proposal for city government-owned grocery stores fell apart after it was revealed that he didn’t understand the city budget. Among the errors was Mamdani’s confusing private investment with public investment and not understanding the budgetary impacts of  “waived tax revenue” rather than “expenditure.”

The National Pulse reported earlier this week that Mamdani shared a photo on social media last Saturday in which he appears with radical Islamist Imam Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. In the post, Mamdani, who follows the extreme Twelver sect of Shia Islam, praised Wahhaj as one of America’s foremost Muslim religious scholars and a pillar of the local community.

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By Popular Demand.
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