Joe Biden has invoked executive privilege, blocking Congress from procuring his audio recordings with special counsel Robert Hur. This move occurred after the House Oversight Committee began proceedings to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland responsible for his refusal to produce the recording, despite a final warning issued in April compelling him to honor a subpoena.
Associate Attorney General Carlos Uriarte announced the President’s invocation of privilege to the House Judiciary and Oversight Committee chairmen.
When asked by journalists Thursday, Garland did not provide comments on President Biden’s use of executive privilege. The White House counsel, Ed Siskel, censured House Republicans’ demand for the sensitive material, arguing it would be manipulated for political benefits.
Requests to unveil the audio records have been submitted by think tanks and media outlets like CNN via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
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❓What Happened: The U.S. federal government plans to take control of Pennsylvania Station’s renovation efforts in Manhattan, aiming for a major upgrade.
👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, President Donald Trump’s administration, and New York political leaders.
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📍 Where & When: Pennsylvania Station, Manhattan; announcement made on April 17.
💬 Key Quote: Sean P. Duffy stated the goal is to create a station that “reflects America’s greatness.”
⚠️ Impact: The initiative represents a significant federal intervention in an infrastructure project, potentially speeding up or complicating long-standing efforts.
IN FULL:
In a surprise declaration, the federal government announced its intention to redesign historic Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy revealed the plan on Thursday, marking a significant intervention by the federal administration after years of promises by local New York politicians to overhaul the station.
The station, often cited as the busiest rail hub in the United States, has been the subject of numerous renovation attempts over the years, each stalling due to political conflicts. Officials in New York have repeatedly announced ambitious plans to overhaul the facility, but successful execution has remained elusive.
Secretary Duffy emphasized transforming Penn Station into a safe and orderly environment intended to embody national pride in its aesthetics and functionality. “This project will result in a station that reflects America’s greatness,” he declared, signaling a shift from traditional bureaucratic approaches to more direct federal involvement.
For years, the intended renovation of Penn Station had been a subject of significant political negotiation and strategic planning, and it faced various hurdles. The federal control announcement marks the first timepresidential power has been used so overtly in this context. The approach aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s strategy of aggressive negotiation and streamlined decision-making.
Transportation experts have expressed concerns regarding the project’s feasibility under typical timelines and budgets, noting that such comprehensive renovations would require years and potentially billions of dollars in funding. The federal government has the ability to take charge of renovations as it controls Amtrak, which runs through Penn Station.
President Trump has previously expressed interest in infrastructure projects and architecture. On his first day in office in January, he issued an executive order to promote traditional and classical architecture for federal public buildings.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: Four individuals, including three EU citizens and one American, are facing deportation from Germany due to their involvement in protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Their cases have not yet been adjudicated in court.
👥 Who’s Involved: The individuals comprise two Irish citizens, one Polish citizen, and one American citizen.
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📍 Where & When: The protest occurred at Berlin’s Free University in October 2024. The deportation orders were served last month, with an April 21 deadline for voluntary departure.
💬 Key Quote: “We all feel very defiant and confident that this won’t pass through the legal system,” said Roberta Murray, one of the Irish citizens facing deportation.
⚠️ Impact: The move raises concerns about potential conflicts with EU laws on freedom of movement and has sparked discussion about Germany’s commitment to Israel.
IN FULL:
Berlin’s Immigration Office has issued deportation orders to four individuals for their participation in a pro-Hamas protest at Berlin’s Free University, which involved damage to property. The protesters, two from Ireland, one from Poland, and one from the United States, are accused of participating in the October 2024 demonstrations, which resulted in violence and property destruction.. They were instructed last month to leave the country by April 21 or face deportation.
The protestorsallege that no formal charges have been communicated to them, though official statements cite ongoing criminal proceedings related to the incident. Their legal representative, Alexander Gorski, is challenging the orders, citing the lack of due process and expressing confidence that the individuals will be allowed to stay until their cases can be more thoroughly examined.
The European Union’s principle of freedom of movement is central to this issue. The deportation threats have prompted concerns about potential conflicts with this fundamental EU law, particularly as this involves citizens of EU member states. We all feel very defiant and confident that this won’t pass through the legal system,” said Roberta Murray, one of the Irish citizens facing deportation.
“I hadn’t expected it to go this way at all,” Cooper Longbottom—a 27-year-old graduate student from Seattle, Washington, slated to be removed from the EU country—said, adding: “I hadn’t gotten any charges in the mail. It’s just a complete mess and not how the order of criminal law and due process is supposed to go.”
German authorities point to the concept of “Staatsräson,” or Germany’s unwavering solidarity with Israel, as justification for the deportations. However, traditionally, “Staatsräson” has served as more of a political concept than a legal one. Longbottom has indicated he has no intention of leaving Germany despite the deportation proceedings.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller proposed that Americans should be compensated for the harm caused by mass migration.
👥 Who’s Involved: Stephen Miller, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
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📍 Where & When: The remarks were made during a Newsmax interview on Friday.
💬 Key Quote: Miller stated, “Where are the damages for Americans?”
⚠️ Impact: Miller’s comments add to the ongoing debate over immigration policy, highlighting rifts between the administration and its critics.
IN FULL:
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has opened a new front in the immigration debate by suggesting that reparations be paid to Americans for harm caused by mass illegal immigration. During a media appearance on Friday, Miller—responding to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-RI) proposal that the federal government should incur daily fines over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador—argued American citizens are those who deserve restitution.
“Where are the damages for Americans?” Miller countered, continuing: “I mean, for the love of God, where are the damages for Americans? Where do I even begin? Where do I even start?”
“We used to have a functioning public school system in his country. Then we had open borders. Now our schools are in chaos and disarray. We need hundreds of translators. Nobody is learning how to read or write,” Miller said, noting the havoc that millions of illegal immigrants who entered the country under former President Joe Biden have wrought on the United States.
“Look at Los Angeles, once a paradise of safety, security, and prosperity—entire neighborhoods occupied and controlled by foreign gangs,” Miller contended, adding: “Where do all of the residents who have been displaced—who have been forced out of Los Angeles—where do they go to get their reparations?”
Meanwhile, the comments come as Congressional Democrats ramp up their criticism of President Donald J. Trump‘s mass deportation policies and efforts to remove dangerous and criminal illegal immigrants from the United States. Last week, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) traveled to El Salvador in support of Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant who had previously been demonstrated to be a member of the violent MS-13 gang and ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge.
❓What Happened: Four House Democrats traveled to El Salvador concerning the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran illegal immigrant who they claim was wrongfully deported from Maryland.
👥 Who’s Involved: Reps. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ); Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD); Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
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📍 Where & When: El Salvador, visit by Reps. began Monday, following Sen. Van Hollen’s visit the previous week.
💬 Key Quote: Far-left California Rep. Robert Garcia remarked, “While Donald Trump continues to defy the Supreme Court, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being held illegally in El Salvador after being wrongfully deported.”
⚠️ Impact: The case highlights ongoing Democrat Party obsessions with foreign criminals, deportation processes, and concerns about “due process” for illegals.
IN FULL:
Four Democrat members of the House of Representatives have traveled to El Salvador to attempt to represent a foreign, alleged MS-13 gang member and El Salvadoran national, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The delegation, comprised of Reps. Robert Garcia of California, Maxwell Frost of Florida, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, and Yassamin Ansari of Arizona are questioning his deportation from Maryland, which they describe as wrongful.
Abrego Garcia had been living in the U.S. and faced deportation due to illegal entry. However, in 2019, an immigration judge issued a withholding of removal order, citing fears of persecution by a rival gang should he return to El Salvador. However, the country’s government has subsequently ended the rival gang’s presence.
The lawmakers’ journey follows Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen‘s recent visit to El Salvador, where Van Hollen had the opportunity to meet with Abrego Garcia.
Rep. Robert Garcia emphasized the purpose of their visit, stating, “While Donald Trump continues to defy the Supreme Court, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being held illegally in El Salvador after being wrongfully deported.” The Trump administration has countered claims of wrongful deportation, arguing that Abrego Garcia is involved with the notorious gang MS-13 and that the withholding of removal order is effectively vacated now that the gang is considered a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).
President Donald J. Trump pointed out the tattoos on Abrego Garcia’s hand, which indicate his membership in MS-13.
“They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he’s got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc,” President Trump said.
Stephen Miller, a senior White House aide, also contended that the deportation was not in error and blamed a Department of Justice attorney for suggesting otherwise.
❓What Happened: India plans to implement a 12 percent safeguard duty on steel imports to curb an influx of inexpensive steel from foreign nations, especially China.
👥 Who’s Involved: The Indian government, Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Ministry of Finance. Key stakeholders include JSW Steel, Tata Steel, the Steel Authority of India, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India.
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📍 Where & When: The measures will apply in India, with the duty expected to be enforced promptly following final government approval.
💬 Key Quote: “There is clarity that the duty would be 12 percent and a decision is expected at the earliest,” a source informed of the situation stated.
⚠️ Impact: The surge of cheaper steel imports has led to operational challenges and potential job cuts among India’s smaller steel mills.
IN FULL:
India is set to impose a temporary tariff of 12 percent on steel imports, aiming to counter a significant increase in low-cost steel products from China. The action, referred to locally as a safeguard duty, is intended to take effect promptly.
As the second-largest producer of crude steel, India was also a net importer of finished steel for the second straight year during the 2024/25 fiscal year. Preliminary government data shows that steel imports climbed to their highest level in nine years, reaching 9.5 million metric tons.
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) advised last month that a 12 percent tariff be placed on certain steel imports for 200 days. This recommendation forms part of broader efforts to manage cheap imports, following an investigation that began in December of the preceding year to evaluate the impact on Indian steel manufacturers. Of primary concern is China’s dumping of cheap steel products on Indian markets, which aims to undermine India’s domestic steel industry.
“There is clarity that the duty would be 12 [percent] and a decision is expected at the earliest,” an Indian government source said, regarding the anticipated adoption of the DGTR recommendation.
In recent months, India has recorded a surge in finished steel imports from China, South Korea, and Japan. These three countries were responsible for a large portion, amounting to 78 percent of India’s finished steel imports.
This influx is putting financial pressure on smaller steel mills in India, leading some to downscale operations or even contemplate layoffs. A number of nations are considering similar measures to restrict imports, as India’s main steel industry associations, including JSW Steel, Tata Steel, the Steel Authority of India, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, continue to express concerns about the market effects of such imports.
Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church and its 1.39 billion adherents worldwide, is dead at 88. The Italian-Argentine pontiff—born December 17, 1936—was the first cleric from outside Europe to be raised to the papacy since Gregory III, who was of Syrian origin, in the 8th century.
“At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” announced Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, on Easter Monday.
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The late pontiff’s last public appearance was at the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica yesterday, where an aide read an Easter Sunday blessing on his behalf. While his exact cause of death was not officially confirmed as of the time of complication, he was recently hospitalized with a respiratory illness, initially said to be bronchitis. However, speculation that Pope Francis was actually suffering from double pneumonia was later confirmed—a serious condition for someone of his advanced age with only one whole lung.
Born in Argentina to an Italian immigrant father, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elevated to the papacy, choosing the pontifical name “Francis,” in 2013, following the nearly unprecedented resignation of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Under the Francis papacy, the Vatican was seen by many as adopting more ‘progressive‘ and ‘modernist‘ views on Church teachings, especially regarding the liturgy and mass.
Pope Francis reversed several of Pope Benedict’s decisions, which had allowed the traditionalist movement in the Church to flourish for nearly a decade. This culminated in a de facto ban—for the most part—on the Traditional Latin Mass, a move that received significant criticism from conservative Catholics.
NOT SO PROGRESSIVE?
While often portrayed as a liberal pope, the Francis papacy—outside the liturgy and a handful of other superficial changes—saw little divergence from Church teachings on homosexuality, transgenderism, and abortion. In fact, Pope Francis was an outspoken critic of gender ideology, and a document released by the powerful Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Dignitas Infinita, declared sex-change surgeries and surrogacy to be akin in the gravity of sin to abortion.
He personally intervened when Britain’s socialized National Health Service (NHS) decided to allow ill children such as Charlie Gard to die, against the wishes of their parents, attempting to have them brought to the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital for continued care.
Notably, Pope Francis was also embroiled in a controversy where he allegedly used an Italian slur for homosexuals while arguing against allowing gay men to train as priests. The Pope was later forced to apologize for his choice of words.
Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church and its 1.39 billion adherents worldwide, is dead at 88. The Italian-Argentine pontiff—born December 17, 1936—was the first cleric from outside Europe to be raised to the papacy since Gregory III, who was of Syrian origin, in the 8th century.
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By Popular Demand.
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The National Pulse’s Editor in Chief, Raheem Kassam, joined former Congressman and One America News host Matt Gaetz on Friday night to explain how El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele tricked Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen into posing, with margaritas, with an alleged MS-13 gang member.
Kassam also discusses his latest article in the Spectator, about the Kennedy Center, and how truth and beauty are “inextricably linked.”
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The National Pulse's Editor in Chief, Raheem Kassam, joined former Congressman and One America News host Matt Gaetz on Friday night to explain how El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele tricked Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen into posing, with margaritas, with an alleged MS-13 gang member.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: The Supreme Court issued an emergency ruling stopping the deportation of more than 50 Venezuelan illegal immigrants by the Trump administration, pending further order.
👥 Who’s Involved: The Supreme Court, Trump administration, approximately 50 Venezuelan illegal immigrants, ACLU, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
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📍 Where & When: Anson, Texas; ruling issued around 1 am.
💬 Key Quote: “The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court.”
⚠️Impact: The ruling halts deportation proceedings for the detainees and invites the Solicitor General to respond, with the matter pending before the Fifth Circuit.
IN FULL:
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency ruling early Saturday, temporarily halting the Trump administration’s effort to deport more than 50 Venezuelan illegal immigrants. These individuals, detained in Anson, Texas, are awaiting the outcome of several court challenges initiated by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The Supreme Court ruling emerged shortly after 1 am and remains unsigned.
The Court’s instruction stated, “The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court.” This directive prevents deportations until legal proceedings advance. The ACLU originally approached the Northern District of Texas with a petition against the application of the Alien Enemies Act, which allows the deportation of individuals deemed threats. This petition was denied, prompting appeals to the Fifth Circuit and an emergency filing with the Supreme Court.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the decision, although the significance and direct impact of their objection remain to be detailed. Meanwhile, Justice Alito is expected to release a statement.
The legal challenge hinges on the application of the Alien Enemies Act. The Supreme Court previously affirmed the use of the Act, while also ensuring that individuals targeted for deportation are afforded the right to contest it where they are held.
While the dispute is pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the latest decision requires the Solicitor General to offer a formal response to the detainees’ injunction application.
Elsewhere, the ACLU is actively working to shield Venezuelan immigrants from deportation in multiple cities, including New York City, Denver, and Brownsville, Texas. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt disclosed plans to file proactive lawsuits nationwide, insisting the federal government provide a 30-day notice before any similar deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.
The Supreme Court ruling suspends immediate deportations, ensuring comprehensive review and additional layers of legal scrutiny. Meanwhile, figures estimate that over ten million illegal immigrants entered the U.S. during the Biden administration, many pending asylum hearings or possessing various forms of temporary status.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: ICE and federal law enforcement agencies conducted an immigration enforcement operation, leading to the arrest of over 200 individuals illegally present in the U.S.
👥 Who’s Involved: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), various federal law enforcement partners, and individuals with criminal backgrounds.
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📍 Where & When: New York City, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley, between April 6-12.
💬 Key Quote: Eric Adams, NYC Mayor, stated, “One of the big mistakes that’s being made in some parts of the far-left philosophy is that ICE is a criminal organization. They are not, they are part of our law enforcement community.”
⚠️ Impact: The operation targeted individuals with serious criminal records, aiming to enhance public safety by removing offenders from communities.
IN FULL:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with federal law enforcement partners, concluded a week-long operation in New York, resulting in the arrest of 206 individuals illegally residing in the U.S. The operation ran from April 6 to April 12 across New York City’s neighborhoods as well as Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley.
The agency highlighted that many of those detained have significant criminal histories, associated with offenses such as manslaughter, rape, assault, and drug trafficking. Officials specifically targeted offenders considered dangerous, some affiliated with transnational gangs like MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Sureños, and the 18th Street gangs.
ICE stated that a substantial number of the arrests occurred after local New York authorities did not comply with immigration detainers by releasing suspects back into the community. Of those apprehended, 121 individuals had existing major criminal convictions or pending charges.
Among those arrested was Adnan Paulino-Flores, a 58-year-old Mexican individual with a history of sexual offenses. The operation also detained 51-year-old Jaime Gustavo Quizpi-Romero from Ecuador, who had been previously charged with assault and strangulation. Additionally, a member of the Tren de Aragua gang from Venezuela, 22-year-old Edimar Alejandra Colmenares Mendoza, was captured, facing charges related to conspiracy and possession of stolen property.
New York Mayor Eric Adams expressed support for the operation, emphasizing the need to remove criminals from public spaces. “One of the big mistakes that’s being made in some parts of the far-left philosophy is that ICE is a criminal organization. They are not; they are part of our law enforcement community,” he said, aiming to counter leftist claims about the agency.
Judith Almodovar, acting field office director for ICE in New York, praised the operation as a success in protective efforts alongside federal partners. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons reiterated the significance of the operation, stating that New York’s safety is enhanced through the diligent work of enforcing immigration laws and public safety priorities.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: The government union representing IRS employees successfully defended a telework policy allowing employees to work remotely up to eight days per biweekly pay period. A federal labor arbitrator dismissed the Trump White House and IRS officials’ concerns regarding performance and service to taxpayers under this arrangement.
👥 Who’s Involved: The IRS, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), an arbitrator, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), and President Donald Trump.
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📍 Where & When: The agreement was finalized last October, with ongoing arbitration over several policies.
💬 Key Quote: Sen. Ernst critiqued, “While the American people are working hard, the tax collectors are trying to hardly work.”
⚠️ Impact: The ruling allows for substantial remote work at the IRS, leading to criticism regarding taxpayer-funded unions and concerns over IRS employee performance. There is ongoing tension over telework policies in federal agencies.
IN FULL:
Prior to President Donald J. Trump’s second term in office, employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) secured a lucrative policy allowing them to work remotely all but one day a week through an agreement between the agency and the National Treasury Employees Union. The policy received significant pushback from IRS senior leadership, who contend that excessive teleworking could hinder the agency’s ability to serve taxpayers effectively.
Consequently, the Trump White House and the IRS have attempted to roll back the telework agreement and cap telework to just six days per pay period—a modest change that would essentially require workers to be in the office twice a week. However, a federal labor arbitrator has intervened and rejected the telework changes. “To hold telework solely responsible for such issues is inappropriate. Given the need for supervisors to assess the portability of an individual employee’s work, I am not convinced there should be an arbitrary six-day cap,” the arbitrator said regarding their decision to reject the six-day telework policy.
Notably, the National Treasury Employees Union, representing career IRS and Treasury Department employees, uses taxpayer dollars to fund labor negotiations and arbitration cases with the federal government. The most recent available public data shows that around $160 million in taxpayer dollars were spent on government union activities in 2019.
While efforts to rein in the tax collection agency’s absurdly lax telework policy have thus far proven unsuccessful, the arbitrator did agree with the Trump White House that the IRS’s employee bonus structure was too generous. Instead, the arbitrator determines that employee bonuses will be more limited in size and scope, with individual units under the agency determining the qualifying standards.
In a recent media interview, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)—who chairs the Senate DOGE Caucus—blasted the telework policy and taxpayer funding of government union collective bargaining negotiations. “While the American people are working hard, the tax collectors are trying to hardly work,” the Iowa Senator said, adding: “It is infuriating that our tax dollars are footing the bill for union bosses to negotiate for IRS bureaucrats to get cushy telework agreements and bloated bonus structures.”
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