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Trump Trial Day 13: Michael Cohen Brings Bragg’s Case To A Disastrous End.

The thirteenth day of former President Donald J. Trump‘s Manhattan-based hush money trial continued with the prosecution’s direct examination of their star witness, serial perjurer Michael Cohen. Much like Monday’s testimony, Cohen and prosecutor Susan Hoffinger spent much of the morning and early afternoon discussing invoices and verbal payment agreements that may or may not have only existed in Cohen‘s head. Todd Blanche handled Cohen’s cross-examination, with the two clashing from the start.

Also of note, court transcripts of a sidebar conversation between Trump‘s defense team, Judge Juan Merchan, and prosecutor Joshua Steinglass revealed that Michael Cohen is the last witness for the prosecution. Previously, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office had indicated they’d be bringing one additional witness after Cohen. With the prosecution’s case coming to a close, they have yet to detail what, if any, underlying crime former President Trump has committed.

The court won’t be in session Wednesday or Friday. Michael Cohen’s cross-examination will continue on Thursday.

A MATTER OF LOYALTY. 

Starting the second day of direct examination by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, Cohen claimed he had been Trump‘s personal counsel for “approximately 15 months.” When Hoffinger asked him why he lied for Trump, Cohen responded, “Out of loyalty and to protect him.” The disgraced attorney’s insistence on terms like “loyalty” and “respect” is likely why prosecutors focused so much with prior witnesses on Trump’s use of similar terms. Prosecutors had quotes using similar words from several books authored by Trump entered into the evidentiary record.

Much like Cohen‘s recollections of what Trump may or may not have said, his understanding of “loyalty” and “respect” isn’t derived from Trump but is his own. A secondary problem for the prosecution and Cohen’s discussion of “loyalty” is the fact that the disgraced attorney admitted to unethically recording a conversation with his client — over which he may have also perjured himself again.

COHEN ADMITS HE LIED TO CONGRESS.

As the morning wore on, Hoffinger — likely acknowledging her witness’s past inability to be truthful — asked Cohen to address his conviction for lying to Congress. The disgraced attorney explained the circumstances of his perjury charge and sentence. “They dealt with the Trump Tower Moscow real estate project, specifically the number of times that I claimed to have spoken to Mr. Trump about the project as well as the time period for those conversations,” Cohen testified.

Hoffinger next asked Cohen why he lied. “Because I was staying on Mr. Trump’s message that there was no Russia, Russia, Russia, and again in coordination with the joint defense team, that’s what was preferred,” he responded, appearing to mock a turn of phrase often used by Trump when the corporate media brings up the Russia Hoax.

THE TIMELINE STILL MAKES NO SENSE.

During yesterday’s testimony, The National Pulse highlighted an issue with Cohen and the District Attorney’s prosecutors’ timeline of alleged crimes. The alleged hush money repayments made to Cohen were all said to have occurred in 2017, well after the 2016 election, casting doubt on the prosecution’s assertion that the hush money payments were made to influence the election.

This morning, Cohen muddied the timeline even further, testifying that he continued to pressure individuals around both Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal to lie about their alleged affairs with Trump well into 2018. When asked why he continued to work on the Daniels and McDougal stories, Cohen replied: “In order to protect Mr. Trump.”

If the primary concern was the impact the Daniels and McDougal stories could have on the 2016 presidential election, Cohen offered no reason to the court and jury for continuing to work as a ‘fixer‘ on the stories nearly two years later.

NOTHING COHEN SAYS CAN BE BELIEVED. 

The disgraced and disbarred attorney spent much of the late morning describing a bevy of instances in which he claims he lied on behalf of former President Trump. District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s prosecutors likely felt they had to go down this path as it would be exposed during Cohen’s cross-examination beginning in the afternoon.

However, Cohen‘s admissions of being untruthful to an almost pathological degree cast a shadow on the remainder of his direct examination. The one-time Trump associate claimed he spoke with the former President regarding the false statement he gave to the media about the hush money payment to Daniels. According to Cohen, he told Trump “that I had paid the money on his behalf without his knowledge because just because something isn’t true doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you and that I did it.”

Cohen then dubiously claimed Trump replied, “That’s good, good.”

STORMY DANIEL’S DENIAL.

In another moment, Cohen may have let slip that many of his actions were of his own accord. He testified that he was the one to inform former President Trump that Stormy Daniels would be issuing a statement denying the affair allegation. When asked by Hoffinger why he was the one who told Trump, Cohen responded, “One to get credit for expressing that I was continuing to ensure that he was protected and stayed loyal. And the other so we could have this matter taken care of.”

Cohen told Hoffinger that Stormy Daniels’s denial statement was false. When asked how he knew, Cohen responded it was because he had written the statement. Again, while his claim may appear damaging on the surface, it reinforces the contention that he is untrustworthy and lacks credibility.

The direct examination of Cohen did not improve from here in terms of bolstering his credibility. When the prosecution submitted his 2018 letter to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regarding the Stormy Daniels payment, Cohen was asked why he had lied about the Trump Organization and campaign not having knowledge of the payment. Again, Cohen — without directly implicating Trump — said the letter was meant to be misleading “in order to protect Mr Trump, stay on message, demonstrate my continued loyalty.”

JUDGE MERCHAN’S INSTRUCTIONS. 

At this point, Judge Juan Merchan stopped the direct examination to instruct the jury regarding Cohen’s FEC letter and statement. He told the jurors that Cohen’s statement was only admissible in the context of their assessment of the serial perjurer’s credibility as a witness. Merchan continued, instructing the jury that the fact that an FEC investigation into the Trump campaign occurred was not admissible and should have no bearing on their deliberations.

A little over an hour later, Judge Merchan issued a second set of jury instructions regarding Cohen having pleaded guilty to lying to Congress. Merchan said the guilty plea was not to have any bearing as evidence of Trump‘s guilt but could be used to assess Cohen’s credibility.

“Mr. Cohen’s plea is not evidence of the defendant’s guilt, and you may not consider it in determining whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the charged crimes,” Merchan said.

COHEN ‘STOPPED LYING IN 2018.’

The prosecution’s direct examination of Cohen wound down just before the court broke for lunch. Hoffinger walked Cohen through how he communicated with other business associates and confidants within the Trump orbit. In addition, the context and whether the recording Cohen had made of his conversation with Donald Trump regarding David Pecker and the McDougal payment was altered in any way was raised again.

“At any time, did you alter or modify the audio recording of your conversation with Mr. Trump as contained in PX246?” Hoffinger asked Cohen. He replied, “No, ma’am.”

The disgraced attorney told the jury that he hasn’t lied since 2018, suggesting that the several criminal cases against him and his subsequent three-year prison sentence caused him to have a moral revelation. “I regret doing things for him that I should not have — lying, bullying people in order to effectuate a goal. I don’t regret working with the Trump Organization,” Cohen said. Again, he stopped short of firmly stating he was ordered to do anything illegal. Instead, Cohen again focused on the need to “keep the loyalty.”

CROSS-EXAMINATION BEGINS.

Former President Trump‘s lead defense attorney, Todd Blanche, handled Michael Cohen‘s cross-examination and the long-expected fireworks kicking off immediately. “You went on TikTok and called me a crying little sh*t,” asked Blanche in an opening salvo. Cohen responded, “Sounds like something I would say.” As Cohen finished, prosecutors frantically objected to the question, which Judge Merchan sustained, striking the question and response from the record.

Blanche’s opening strategy appears to have been to paint Cohen as someone who runs their mouth and still demeans others, undermining his claims to have turned a new leaf.

Taking another shot at Cohen’s credibility and personal investment in the trial outcome, Blanche asked: “Is this trial important to you, Mr. Cohen?” The disgraced attorney answered: “Personally, yes.”

COHEN HAMMERED ON TIKTOK POSTS.

After lunch, Blanche spent a sustained period hammering Cohen on his social media posts throughout the trial. “You also talked on social media, during this trial, about President Trump, have you not?” Trump‘s attorney asked Cohen. The serial perjurer replied: “Sounds correct, yes.”

Addressing Michael Cohen’s TikTok video posts, Blanche asked him if he had referred to Trump as a “dictator douchebag.” Cohen again acknowledged that he likely had. “On that same TikTok on April 23, you referred to President Trump when he left the courtroom — you said that he goes right into that little cage, which is where he belongs in a f**king cage like an animal?” Blanche asked Cohen next.

“I recall saying that,” Cohen responded.

Blanche’s line of questioning served two purposes. One illustrates the extreme degree of hostility Cohen still holds for former President Trump, which could color his testimony as possibly false or biased. The other highlights Cohen’s hazy recollection of recent comments. During the prosecution’s direct examination, Cohen was able to recall — evidently in great detail — conversations between five and ten years old with former President Trump.

A HAZY MEMORY. 

“Do you remember in February 2021, you were going on TV talking about the investigation?” Blanche asked Cohen, referring to the District Attorney investigation prior to Bragg’s indictment of Trump. Cohen could not give a concrete response, instead replying: “I go on TV often, so I’m not sure what the topic was.”

Blanche continued to press Cohen, asking him if he had often talked to the press about the investigation. Cohen, again, refused to give a firm answer, stating instead: “It sounds correct.”

The response prompted another terse exchange between Blanche and Cohen, with Trump‘s defense attorney firing back: “I don’t want it to sound correct. Is it correct?” Michael Cohen finally relented, responding, “Yes, it would be correct.”

Zeroing in on conversations Cohen had with his attorney, Lanny Davis, regarding media appearances, Blanche drew Cohen’s memory problems out into the open for the jury: “You testified yesterday about very specific recollections that you have about telephone conversations you had with President Trump in 2016 — but you have no recollection that last month just over a year ago that you promised the district attorney that you would stop going on TV?”

“What I was saying to you, sir, I don’t recall even having these conversations with Lanny Davis about not going on television,” Cohen replied before adding: “I recall the conversations with President Trump at the time, yes.”

COHEN MAKES MONEY OFF TRUMP.

Moving on, Blanche focused on Cohen’s financial motivations for attacking and ostensibly lying about former President Trump. He asked Cohen about his social media activity, specifically his TikTok videos. Cohen testified he spends about an hour on TikTok every night. When Blanche asked if he makes money off his social media posts, Cohen admitted he does but contended, “It’s not significant.”

Continuing the social media theme, Blanche asked Cohen if he uses TikTok to make money. The serial perjurer replied, “Money is made from it, yes.”

“That’s not my question. One of the reasons you do it is to make money, yes or no?” Blanche fired back.

“Yes,” is all Cohen said in response.

OBSESSION.

Cohen’s ‘obsession’ with Trump was the final theme of Blanche’s cross-examination before the court adjourned for the day. Blanche read a series of glowing statements about Trump that Cohen has made over the years. “At the time, you weren’t lying, right?” Trump’s defense attorney asked Cohen. “At that time, I was knee-deep into the cult of Donald Trump, yes,” Cohen responded, adding: “I was not lying, it’s how I felt.”

Blanche asked Cohen if he was obsessed with Donald Trump. “I wouldn’t say obsessed. I admired him tremendously,” Cohen replied. He continued: “I can’t recall using that word. I wouldn’t say it would be wrong.”

Pivoting into a darker form of obsession, Blanche confronted Cohen over claims he now wants to see Trump in prison: “Have you regularly commented on your podcasts that you want President Trump to be convicted in this case?”

“Yes, probably,” Cohen responded.

When pressed further on why he responded with “probably,” Cohen said: “Because I don’t specifically know if I used those words, but yes, I would like to see that.”

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

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Identified: Over $160 Billion in Cost Overruns on Federal Boondoggles.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) has released a report identifying over a dozen federal projects that are significantly over-budget or delayed by years, including the renovation of Jerome Powell’s Federal Reserve.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Joni Ernst, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and Vice President J.D. Vance.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Report released Wednesday, covering projects nationwide.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bail out gravy trains and bridges to nowhere because bureaucrats continue to get bamboozled.” – Joni Ernst

🎯IMPACT: Ernst’s report highlights $162.9 billion in cost overruns, calling for greater accountability in federal spending.

IN FULL

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Wednesday outlined federal infrastructure projects that have faced significant delays or cost overruns. The report, assembled after a letter from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to Vice President J.D. Vance, identified 14 projects that are either $1 billion over budget or more than five years behind schedule.

“Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bail out gravy trains and bridges to nowhere because bureaucrats continue to get bamboozled,” Ernst said regarding her report’s findings. She added, “I will not allow taxpayers to continue to be taken for a billion-dollar ride. It is time to bring these boondoggles to a squealing halt.”

The report highlights $162.9 billion in cost overruns, with California’s high-speed rail project alone accounting for $95 billion. Other projects include the Columbus Crossroads corridor, which is 19 years behind schedule, and the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, which has seen a $4.8 billion overrun with its completion date pushed back to 2031.

In addition to transportation projects, Ernst’s report addresses overruns in defense spending and federal agency programs, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs’ electronic records system, which is nearly $34 billion over budget. Ernst noted that flaws in the system may have caused harm or even death to veterans.

Already, the Republican-led Congress has passed one rescission request made by the Trump White House, clawing back $9 billion in spending. Sen. Ernst’s report will likely serve as the basis for additional rescission requests in the future. President Donald J. Trump has signalled he will soon send a second rescission package to Capitol Hill.

Ernst has proposed a Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act to ensure “that all government projects $1 billion over budget or five years behind schedule will automatically be publicized.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Trump Moves to Shut Down New York’s City-Sanctioned Drug Dens.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order targeting city-approved “safe” drug injection sites, potentially forcing their closure.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), OnPointNYC, Mayor Eric Adams, and the New York City Health Department.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The executive order was issued on July 24, 2023; the injection sites are located in East Harlem and Washington Heights, NYC.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I urge the Department of Justice to take immediate action and shut down these centers and put to an end once and for all their operations.” – Rep. Nicole Malliotakis

🎯IMPACT: The order could end federal funding for injection sites, expand civil commitment procedures, and prioritize grants for jurisdictions enforcing drug-use prohibitions.

IN FULL

Two allegedly “safe” drug injection sites in New York City may be forced to shut down following a new executive order issued by President Donald J. Trump. Signed on July 24 and titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets,” the order restricts federal funding to “evidence-based programs,” explicitly excluding support for “so-called harm reduction or safe consumption efforts” that it claims “only facilitate illegal drug use and its attendant harm.”

The directive has drawn support from Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), who is urging federal authorities to take swift action. “I urge the Department of Justice to take immediate action and shut down these centers and put to an end once and for all their operations,” Malliotakis said.

The two sites at the center of the controversy, located in East Harlem and Washington Heights, were opened in November 2021 during the Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) administration in collaboration with the New York City Health Department, and have continued to operate under Mayor Eric Adams. The facilities, managed by OnPointNYC, have remained open despite warnings from then-Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams that such programs violate federal law.

Malliotakis, a longtime critic of the sites, contends they do more harm than good. “Since 2021, New York City has allowed two illegal drug injection sites to remain open, and it’s time to shut down these illegal facilities to protect public safety and the quality of life for all New Yorkers,” she stated.

Malliotakis recently reintroduced her Defund Heroin Injection Centers Act of 2025, which seeks to permanently cut off federal funding to such facilities by codifying Trump’s executive order into law. In February, she also asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to intervene and close the OnPointNYC-operated sites.

In addition to targeting supervised drug-use sites, Trump’s executive order broadens civil commitment options for individuals with severe mental illness and prioritizes federal funding for jurisdictions that ban open drug use. The order also eliminates federal backing for “housing first” programs that do not include mandatory treatment or recovery services.

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Supreme Court Sets Date for Ghislaine Maxwell Appeal Review.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Supreme Court announced it will review a petition filed by Ghislaine Maxwell regarding her 2021 sex trafficking conviction.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ghislaine Maxwell, deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the U.S. Supreme Court, Department of Justice (DOJ) Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Maxwell’s attorney David Markus.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The petition will be examined on September 29, with Maxwell currently serving her sentence in Florida.

🎯IMPACT: If the petition is denied, Maxwell will have no further avenues for appeal. The case could influence ongoing investigations and testimonies related to Epstein.

IN FULL

The U.S. Supreme Court says it will review a petition filed by Ghislaine Maxwell regarding her 2021 sex trafficking conviction in connection with the late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Court announced on Wednesday that it will consider the petition on September 29. This will mark the first time Maxwell’s case is considered by the justices, with a decision on whether to hear the appeal expected shortly thereafter.

Maxwell, a former associate and girlfriend of Epstein, was convicted in New York on five counts related to sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy. She is currently serving a 20-year sentence. Her appeal argues that the conviction should be overturned due to a 2007 plea deal Epstein made with federal prosecutors, which she claims granted her immunity. Her attorneys also claim that the statute of limitations for the charges had expired.

The case has drawn renewed attention following a review of the Epstein investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Federal officials stated they found no further evidence to justify new charges or release additional documents related to individuals connected to Epstein. However, criticism has been directed at the Trump administration and especially Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously claimed an Epstein “client list” was “on [her] desk,” for failing to provide greater transparency regarding the case.

The high court’s consideration of Maxwell’s appeal comes shortly after DOJ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell for two days at her Florida prison. Her attorney, David Markus, described the meeting as the “first opportunity she’s ever been given to answer questions about what happened,” adding that Maxwell responded to questions about “maybe about a hundred different people, and she didn’t hold anything back.”

Maxwell is also expected to be the subject of a House Oversight Committee subpoena as part of an ongoing Congressional investigation into Epstein. Her legal team has stated she would require full immunity to cooperate and will wait until after the Supreme Court rules on her petition.

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Anti-ICE Activists Help Detainee Escape Facility.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Anti-ICE protestors are being accused of helping an illegal immigrant escape from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE agents, anti-ICE protestors, and an illegal immigrant with British citizenship.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The escape occurred on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is getting out of control,” one ICE official said.

🎯IMPACT: Federal immigration officials have faced increasingly violent attacks in the wake of June’s violent anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles. Anti-ICE activists continue to maintain a significant presence near the Los Angeles detention facility, with the aim of disrupting its operation.

IN FULL

An illegal immigrant escaped from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday with the assistance of far-left anti-ICE protestors. The migrant, who has British citizenship, was being transferred to the ICE facility when his escape was enabled by the anti-ICE activists, who subsequently absconded with the detainee in a waiting van.

Federal immigration agents have launched a manhunt to locate and recapture the illegal, who is said to have a criminal record. “This is getting out of control,” one ICE official said, describing the dangerous environment created by the far-left activists who have dominated the immediate area around the Los Angeles detention facility since June’s anti-ICE riots.

Over the last month, federal immigration officials have faced increasingly violent attacks in the wake of the June riots. The National Pulse reported last week that Elpidio Reyna, accused of hurling concrete blocks at law enforcement during immigration enforcement actions in Paramount, California, on June 7, was apprehended at the U.S. southern border. Meanwhile, earlier this month, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents captured Benjamin Song, a suspect accused of shooting at ICE officers during a riot at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4. The ambush resulted in a local police officer being shot in the neck.

The Democratic Party has been intensifying its rhetoric against law enforcement involved in deportations, in particular, since President Donald J. Trump’s reelection, with 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz going so far as to describe ICE agents as the “Gestapo.” A number of Democratic lawmakers and candidates have been arrested for attempting to interfere with federal immigration enforcement actions, with Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) being indicted on charges of forcibly impeding federal officers.

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Man Douses Politician in Gasoline and Sets Him on Fire.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A Virginia councilman was doused with gasoline and set on fire outside his workplace on Wednesday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Councilman Lee Vogler, 38, and suspect Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday morning in Danville, Virginia, outside the offices of Showcase Magazine on Main Street.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This type of senseless act of violence has to stop. Lee is a brother to me. He is one of the kindest, most genuine people I know.” – Showcase Magazine co-owner Andrew Brooks

🎯IMPACT: Vogler was airlifted to a burn center and is reportedly awake and speaking; the suspect was arrested shortly after the attack.

IN FULL

A local Virginia official, Councilman Lee Vogler, was set on fire outside his workplace in a shocking attack on Wednesday. The incident occurred outside the offices of Showcase Magazine on Main Street in Danville.

According to the Danville Police Department, 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes entered the building with a large bucket of gasoline, poured it on Vogler, and set him on fire as he tried to flee. Witnesses reported seeing Vogler run outside while on fire.

“An individual forced his way into our office carrying a five-gallon bucket of gasoline and poured it on Lee,” said Andrew Brooks, who co-owns Showcase Magazine with Vogler, in a Facebook video, continuing: “Lee attempted to flee, ran to the front of the building—the individual followed him and set him on fire.”

Brooks added, “This type of senseless act of violence has to stop. Lee is a brother to me. He is one of the kindest, most genuine people I know.”

Vogler, a four-term Republican councilman who has served Danville for over 12 years, was treated at the scene before being airlifted to a burn center. Brooks confirmed that Vogler was “awake, speaking, and en route to the center in Lynchburg” and that he was able to identify his attacker.

Police apprehended Hayes, who fled the scene in a vehicle, shortly after the attack. Authorities confirmed that the incident was not politically motivated but rather stemmed from a personal matter between the two men.

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Woke Church Names Married Lesbian as New Archbishop.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Cherry Vann has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Wales, becoming the first married lesbian woman to hold the position.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cherry Vann, Andrew John, the Church in Wales, and the Anglican Communion.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Vann’s appointment follows Andrew John’s retirement last month, after serving three-and-a-half years as Archbishop.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The first thing I shall need to do is to ensure that the issues which have been raised in the last six months are properly addressed and that I work to bring healing and reconciliation, and to build a really good level of trust across the Church and the communities the Church serves.” – Cherry Vann

🎯IMPACT: Vann’s appointment follows a critical safeguarding review, and underlines official Anglicanism’s increasing estrangement from traditional Christianity.

IN FULL

The Anglican Church of Wales has named married lesbian priestess Cherry Vann the 15th Archbishop of Wales, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Originally from Leicester, England, Vann has served as the Bishop of Monmouth for five years and succeeds Andrew John, who retired last month after three and a half years in the role.

John’s departure followed the publication of a safeguarding review at Bangor Cathedral, which highlighted issues such as “a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred” and “promiscuity was acceptable.” The report also noted inappropriate language, rude jokes, and innuendos within the choir, which left some members feeling unsafe or humiliated.

Vann was ordained as a deacon in 1989 and was among the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1994. She later served as Archdeacon of Rochdale in the Diocese of Manchester for 11 years before her appointment as Bishop of Monmouth.

In a statement, Vann acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying: “The first thing I shall need to do is to ensure that the issues which have been raised in the last six months are properly addressed and that I work to bring healing and reconciliation, and to build a really good level of trust across the Church and the communities the Church serves.”

Other Protestant European churches are also appointing homosexual women bishops, such as in Sweden, where lesbian Eva Brunne became the Lutheran Bishop of Stockholm in 2009. Brunne was the first ever openly lesbian bishop of a mainline denomination in the world.

Anglican churches are struggling to attract regular parishioners in the United Kingdom, with far more young people in England attending Roman Catholic Mass. If current projections hold, there will soon be more practicing Roman Catholics than Anglicans in England for the first time since the Protestant Reformation.

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Trump Sanctions Brazilian Judge for Pushing Censorship.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, a justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, for using judicial authority to target dissent, stifle opposition, and censor speech.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Alexandre de Moraes, U.S. Treasury, and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The sanctions were announced recently by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and apply under U.S. jurisdiction.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against U.S. and Brazilian citizens and companies.” – Scott Bessent

🎯IMPACT: Americans and U.S. entities are now barred from engaging with de Moraes, with legal consequences for violations of the sanctions.

IN FULL

The U.S. Treasury has imposed sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, a justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, for exploiting his judicial authority to target dissent, stifle political opposition, and censor speech. The announcement, made by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), highlights behavior that U.S. officials say violates fundamental rights and extends beyond Brazil’s borders.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against US and Brazilian citizens and companies.” He further noted that de Moraes is responsible for “an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions—including against former President Jair Bolsonaro.”

The sanctions fall under Executive Order 13818, which expands the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to target foreign individuals involved in serious rights abuses or corruption. De Moraes has been formally identified as engaging in conduct threatening democracy and U.S. interests. Earlier this month, the State Department revoked visas held by de Moraes and his immediate family, citing their connection to unlawful censorship efforts directed even at American citizens.

De Moraes, appointed to Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court in 2017, has become a key figure in the nation’s crackdown on dissent. His influence over investigations has enabled him to order arrests, freeze assets, and direct law enforcement against critics of him or the government. Targets include journalists, political opponents, media organizations, U.S.-based tech platforms, and social media users, including Americans. In one case, he ordered a journalist’s detention for over a year without formal charges, seemingly as retaliation.

OFAC accuses de Moraes of using judicial power for politically motivated repression. His actions reportedly include banning individuals from social platforms, freezing assets, canceling passports, and authorizing raids. Under the sanctions, any property or financial assets linked to de Moraes within U.S. jurisdiction are now frozen, and U.S. individuals and entities are prohibited from engaging with him. Violations of these sanctions could lead to severe legal penalties.

Image by Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil.

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Mass Migration Drives Population Surge in England.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The population of England and Wales increased by over 700,000 in the year to June 2024, the second largest rise in more than 75 years—primarily driven by mass migration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Office for National Statistics (ONS), Labour and Conservative Party politicians, and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

📍WHEN & WHERE: England and Wales, in the 12 months to June 2024.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It puts impossible pressures on public services and further divides our communities.” – Nigel Farage

🎯IMPACT: The rise in population, driven by mass migration, has increased pressure on housing, public services, and social cohesion.

IN FULL

The population of England and Wales grew by 706,881 in the year to June 2024, bringing the total to 61.8 million, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This marks the second-largest annual increase since 1949, with mass migration accounting for the vast majority of the rise.

Net migration for the period stood at 690,147, a decrease from 833,696 the previous year. The decline is attributed to fewer foreign nationals from outside the European Union (EU) arriving on work and study visas, combined with an increase in students leaving at the end of their courses. Changes in migration rules under the previous government, including restrictions on foreign students bringing family members and banning overseas care workers from bringing dependents, contributed to the reduction.

Natural population change, with 596,012 births and 566,030 deaths, added a modest 29,982 to the total. The ONS noted that only four regions, London, south-east England, the West Midlands, and eastern England, saw population growth from natural change, while others experienced a decline due to lower fertility rates and an aging population.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, described the figures as “disastrous” for public services and community cohesion.

The ONS also highlighted a long-term decline in fertility rates, with women in England and Wales having an average of 1.44 children between 2022 and 2023, the lowest on record.

Previous ONS reports have claimed that the British population could grow as much as five million in the next decade, almost entirely due to mass migration.

Image via DFID.

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BREAKING: Kamala Won’t Run for California Governor.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Former Vice President Kamala Harris (D) announced she will not run for California governor in the upcoming election.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kamala Harris, her husband Doug Emhoff, and the Democratic Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Harris made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon in a public statement. She and her husband are residing in California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “After deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.” – Kamala Harris

🎯IMPACT: Harris’s decision opens the possibility of a future presidential run in 2028 and leaves the Democratic Party speculating about her next political move.

IN FULL

Former Vice President Kamala Harris (D) announced Wednesday that she will not run for California governor in the upcoming November election. In her statement, Harris—who was defeated in a landslide by President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential race—reflected on her career and her decision to step back from seeking elected office for the time being.

“In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their governor,” Harris said. “I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for governor in this election.”

Harris, who served as a prosecutor, California Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and Vice President, said that her leadership would not be in elected office for now. She added, “We must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis.”

Harris’s decision comes after her disastrous 2024 presidential run, which followed former President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. The Democratic Party has been closely watching her next moves, with earlier reports suggesting she was weighing a gubernatorial bid, a third presidential run, or stepping back from elected politics entirely.

Harris and her controversial husband, Doug Emhoff, have returned to California, where Emhoff has resumed private law practice and teaches at the University of Southern California.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Black Cincinnati City Council Prez: White Assault Victims ‘Begged for That Beatdown!’

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A Cincinnati City Council member is drawing backlash for claiming on social media that a group of white people who were attacked by numerous black assailants in the city last weekend “begged for that beatdown!”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cincinnati City Council president pro tem Victoria Parks (D), mayoral candidate Cory Bowman, Cincinnati Police, and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Parks’s Facebook post was revealed by Bowman on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They begged for that beatdown!” — Cincinnati City Council president pro tem Victoria Parks

🎯IMPACT: The comments highlight the apparent reluctance of local Democrats to acknowledge incidents in which white victims are targeted by ethnic minority criminals.

IN FULL

Cincinnati City Council president pro tem, Victoria Parks (D), has further inflamed racial tensions in Ohio’s third-largest city after declaring on social media that a group of white people who were attacked by numerous black assailants last weekend “begged for that beatdown!” Parks, a black woman elected to the city council in January 2022, made the remark in a post on Facebook, insinuating that additional evidence suggests one of the white male victims instigated a fight. Regardless, several other individuals—who appeared to intervene to stop the conflict—were also brutally attacked.

“They begged for that beatdown!” Parks wrote in the Facebook post, adding: “I am grateful for the whole story.” Several Facebook users responded, noting that a white female victim who intervened to stop the attack and was knocked to the ground unconscious “didn’t ask for this.” Parks’s post was brought to light by Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President J.D. Vance and a candidate for Cincinnati mayor in November.

Following the weekend attack, which occurred as crowds mingled in downtown Cincinnati following the conclusion of a Reds baseball game and the Cincinnati Music Festival at Paycor Stadium, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it is monitoring local law enforcement’s handling of the attacks, which may amount to federal hate crimes.

Videos of the incident have circulated widely on social media, showing a white man being shoved to the ground and beaten by multiple black attackers, and a white woman receiving a severe concussion. Other white people can be seen being attacked in the background.

The videos depict many in the crowd, including women, joining in the attacks, with one man being stomped on and beaten for nearly a minute. A woman is also shown being punched in the face and knocked unconscious after her head hits the pavement.

At least three individuals have so far been arrested for their involvement in the attacks.

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