Friday, August 22, 2025

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Trump Trial Day 15: Cohen The Embezzler Get’s Costello’ed.

The fifteenth day of former President Donald J. Trump‘s Manhattan-based hush money trial saw the prosecution‘s case end with a catastrophic admission of theft by Michael Cohen as the prosecution rested its case. Even more troublesome for District Attorney Alvin Bragg was that Trump’s defense team brought Robert Costello, Michael Cohen’s former criminal defense attorney, as its second witness.

Costello, the former Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, made his career telling juries the truth. Before giving his testimony on Monday, Costello testified before Congress last week that Cohen had repeatedly said to him that he had no evidence against Donald Trump when facing criminal investigation in 2018. On Monday, he told the same recollection of events to the Manhattan jury.

COHEN CONFESSES A CRIME.

The final day of Michael Cohen’s cross-examination by Trump‘s lead counsel, Todd Blanche, ended with the serial perjurer potentially adding a new crime to his rap sheet. Cohen, on the witness stand, admitted to stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization.

In the course of discussing the legal services invoices that Cohen filed with the Trump Organization — allegedly reimbursing him for the hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels — Blanche dropped a bombshell on the disgraced attorney. “You did steal from the Trump Organization based upon the expected reimbursement from Red Finch?” he asked Cohen. The disbarred lawyer responded: “Yes, sir.”

Documents presented by Trump’s defense team show Cohen receiving $50,000 for a payment to a tech company called Red Finch. However, Cohen only paid the company $20,000 and pocketed the $30,000 difference. Cohen testified that while the owner of Red Finch would have preferred his invoice to be paid in full, he was “placated for the time being” with the partial $20,000 payment. The National Pulse reported earlier on Monday that CNN legal analyst Elie Honig described the exchange as a “bomb dropped right in the middle of the prosecution‘s case.”

Cohen claimed he began pocketing the money after being shorted a $100,000 bonus. Cohen’s total theft came to $60,000 when “grossed up” for taxes. It is unclear whether District Attorney Avlin Bragg will consider charges against Cohen, especially considering that he confessed to committing a crime on the witness stand while under oath.

DANIEL GOLDMAN DID PREP COHEN.

In another shocking admission, Cohen acknowledged that he was prepped for cross-examination by Representative Daniel Goldman (D-NY). The National Pulse reported last Tuesday that Goldman admitted during an appearance on MSNBC to having assisted with Cohen’s testimony and preparation for cross-examination by former President Trump’s defense team. Even more concerning is that Goldman is a client of Authentic Campaigns, a Democrat-aligned political fundraising firm where Judge Juan Merchan‘s daughter, Loren Merchan, is a partner. Goldman also served as lead counsel during the first Trump impeachment.

The connections between Goldman and Loren Merchan deepened after it was revealed on Friday that Goldman’s campaign payments to Authentic Campaigns were not sent to their office address but to Loren Merchan’s residential address in Richmond, Virginia. Goldman (D-NY) appears to have sent over $160,000 in checks to the home address of Loren Merchan, adding further credence to claims that Judge Juan Merchan should have recused himself from the case to do conflicts of interest.

BACK TO STORMY. 

As the morning wore on, Blanche returned to Cohen‘s payment to Stormy Daniels. “You told multiple people when it first leaked that President Trump knew nothing about the payment, correct?” the lead defense counsel asked Cohen, who confirmed that was the case.

Pressing on, Blanched asked Cohen: “You even called Melania, the first lady, and told her that President Trump didn’t know about it?” Cohen confirmed to Blanche that he had told New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman on the record that the former President was unaware of the payment when it was made.

Cohen went on to testify that he recorded conversations with reports in which he stated that Trump was unaware of the Daniels payment until it had already been made. Blanche asked the serial perjurer if it was correct that he “had told anybody who asked that President Trump knew nothing about the payment at the time.”

“That’s what I said, yes,” Cohen replied.

PRELUDE TO COSTELLO.

The defense’s cross-examination of Cohen began to wind down with Blanche pivoting to the disgraced attorney’s conversations with his then-legal counsel, Robert Costello. Blanche presented the jury with documentation of 75 phone conversations between Cohen and Costello. He asked Cohen if he’d be surprised to know that he communicated with Costello for over nine hours in just two months. “No sir,” Cohen responded.

“So would it surprise you to learn that you actually communicated on the phone, either you calling Mr Costello or Mr Costello calling you 75 times?” Blanche asked again, with Cohen responding: “Seems excessive but possible.” The serial perjurer also acknowledged meeting with Costello several times in person.

MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS.

Moving on from Costello, Blanche again pressed Cohen on his finances. The disgraced attorney said he stopped making money after pleading guilty to tax crimes in 2018. “Did you stop making money when you plead guilty in 2018?” Blanche asked. Cohen confirmed this was the case.

Pushing further, Blanche asked Cohen if he made any income between is incarceration and the publication of his book. Cohen acknowledged he did not. However, since 2020, Cohen testified he’s earned over $4.4 million from his attacks on former President Trump and the Biden government’s lawfare campaign against the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. He said he’s made at least $1 million from his MeidasTouch-hosted Mea Culpa podcast and $3.4 million from the two books he published.

“Do you have a financial interest in the outcome of this case?” Blanche asked Cohen, who responded: “Yes, sir.”

Blanche continued: “Because if President Trump is convicted, that would benefit you personally and financially, right?”

“No sir,” Cohen insisted before continuing: “I talk about it on my podcasts, I talk about it on TikTok, and they make money, and that’s how I was viewing your question. Whether Mr. Trump is ultimately determined innocent or guilty is not going to affect whether I speak about it or not.”

Cohen’s cross-examination ended with a simple question posed by Blanche: “It’s true that you will lie out of loyalty, correct?”

“Yes sir,” the serial perjurer replied.

PROSECUTION GOES FOR BROKE. 

Following the lunch break, Alvin Bragg‘s prosecution team went for broke and tried to convince Judge Merchan to delay the trial until Tuesday morning as they tried to recall an expert witness who had already left New York City for Louisiana. Prosecutors moved to add a series of C-SPAN photos of former President Trump and Keith Schiller into evidence, asking it be allowed to confirm the veracity of the photos with their witness, a C-SPAN archivist. Trump’s defense team raised a hearsay objection to the photo and witness.

After reviewing the prosecution’s photo evidence, Judge Mechan said, “I don’t see how the people can get past the hearsay objection.” At this point, a back-and-forth erupted between the defense and prosecution over delaying the trial, with Trump‘s lead counsel, Todd Blanche, telling Judge Merchan that the defense only had a few witnesses who were ready to testify and that they aimed to rest their case shortly after the prosecution potentially.

Eventually, however, the two sides agreed on a process to enter one photo of Trump and Schiller into evidence without the C-SPAN archivist. Michael Cohen again briefly took the stand to confirm the photo. Judge Merchan excluded the other. Following this, the prosecution rested its case.

In hindsight, the prosecution‘s attempt to delay the trial a day was likely in anticipation of the second witness the defense would bring in the afternoon — hoping to buy time to prepare for testimony from the one man who could undercut almost all of Cohen‘s claims.

COSTELLO TAKES THE STAND.

By late afternoon, it was time for former President Donald Trump‘s defense team to mount this case. The first witness was a paralegal from Todd Blanche’s law office named Daniel Sitko. His primary role was to confirm the process by which he compiled the log of phone calls between Cohen and Robert Costello. At this point, everyone in the courtroom had an inkling of who the defense would call next.

Trump’s defense attorney, Emil Bove, stood and announced: “The defense calls Robert Costello.” This was met with an immediate request to approach the bench for the prosecution. During the sidebar, Judge Merchan told Trump‘s defense team: “I do wish that we had discussed this earlier.”

The prosecution asked Merchan to limit Costello’s testimony, with Susan Hoffinger arguing: “They should be restricted to two questions frankly that Cohen testified he didn’t recall. He didn’t recall Costello telling him that he should cooperate against Trump. He didn’t recall the words saying that he said to Mr. Costello that he had nothing on President Trump.”

Merchan eventually determined that Costello could testify on two of Cohen‘s statements but did give Trump’s defense team some latitude on additional topics.

COSTELLO ON COHEN.

Michael Cohen‘s former defense attorney’s testimony was met with a series of furious objections by the prosecution, which sought to prevent the decorated attorney and former federal prosecutor from completely undercutting its star witness. Much of Costello’s testimony repeated what he had already said under oath before Congress last week.

The National Pulse reported last Wednesday that Costello told Congress that Cohen had repeatedly told him in 2018: “I swear to God, Bob, I don’t have anything on Donald Trump.” He also testified that he met Cohen at the Regency Hotel on April 17, 2018, and found the serial perjurer to be manic and suicidal.

As Costello’s testimony in the hush money trial continued, the prosecution challenged his every word with objections. Before the witness could even finish a sentence, Judge Merchan would often sustain the objection. This caused Costello to become annoyed and add a bit of his own commentary to the judge’s rulings, muttering “Jesus” and “Geez” several times under his breath.

After Judge Merchan called the prosecution and the defense to the bench for a sidebar, Costello leaned into his microphone and uttered, “Ridiculous.” Merchan met Costello’s exasperations several times on the stand, asking the witness, “Sorry?”

COSTELLO VERSUS MERCHAN.

Following additional back-and-forths between Costello and Merchan, the judge asked the jury to leave the courtroom. He turned to Costello and said: “Mr. Costello, you’re to remain seated.” Costello audibly sighed and rolled his eyes at the judge.

“I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom,” Merchan said, now visibly annoyed, before chastising Costello further: “You don’t give me a side eye, and you don’t roll your eyes.” He continued: “When there’s a witness on the stand, if you don’t like my ruling, you don’t say ‘jeez,’ and you don’t say strike it.”

Costello, now as equally annoyed as Merchan, stared the judge down. “Are you staring me down?” Judge Merchan asked before promptly clearing the whole courtroom.

After a brief break, the defense continued direct examination of Costello. After a few more questions, the prosecution began its cross-examination, which was uneventful. Just after 4:30PM, the court adjourned for the day with further cross-examination of Costello set for Tuesday.

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

By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
More From The Pulse

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Judge Frees Kilmar Abrego Garcia, ICE Vows to Deport Him.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released from custody in Tennessee.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, his attorney Sean Hecker, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Released on Friday in Tennessee; previously deported to El Salvador and later detained in Maryland and Tennessee.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free.” – Sean Hecker

🎯IMPACT: ICE officials plan to re-arrest him and begin deportation proceedings after his release from U.S. Marshals’ custody.

IN FULL

Alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released from custody in Tennessee on Friday. The release followed the expiration of a judge’s 30-day pause on his case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Tennessee had ordered his release from a jail near Nashville, where he had been held since June after returning from El Salvador.

“Today, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free,” his attorney, Sean Hecker, said. Abrego Garcia had been deported to El Salvador earlier this year after being identified as a member of MS-13 by the Trump administration. Hecker claimed that the deportation and subsequent imprisonment were part of a “vindictive attack” and praised the courts for providing “meaningful due process.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, however, have indicated that they plan to re-arrest Abrego Garcia and begin deportation proceedings once he is no longer in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. The case has drawn significant political and media attention, including sympathetic support from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and other Democratic members of Congress, as well as misleading stories from The Atlantic and POLITICO, which described the illegal immigrant as a “Maryland father.”

Abrego Garcia was initially returned to the U.S. from El Salvador on human trafficking charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop. He was later detained in Tennessee after being indicted on human smuggling charges. His lawyers hired a firm with court-approved pre-trial transportation experience to bring him back to Maryland after his release.

Barack Obama-appointed U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis ordered that ICE must provide 72 hours of notice before initiating removal efforts.

Image by Victoria Pickering.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

BREAKING: DOJ Drops Transcripts, Audio of Ghislaine Maxwell Interviews.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has published transcripts and hours of audio from Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche’s recent interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted of trafficking children to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2021.

The interviews, published on the DOJ website, were set up amid public backlash over the agency’s release of a memo suggesting Epstein had no “client list,” despite Attorney General Pam Bondi previously stating that such a list was “on [her] desk.”

Maxwell claims to Blanche that she was not aware of Epstein attempting to record or blackmail people, and repeats that “there is no list, there’s no client list. Nothing like that.” She also says she does not believe the financier committed suicide, which is the government’s official position.

This story is developing…

show less
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has published transcripts and hours of audio from Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche's recent interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted of trafficking children to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2021. show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Trump Warns D.C. Mayor: Address Fake Crime Stats or Face Federal Takeover.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is threatening further federal intervention in Washington, D.C., if Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) do not address the alleged falsification of crime statistics.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Mayor Bowser, the Metropolitan Police Department, the D.C. Police Union, and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C., on Friday, with ongoing developments throughout the week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The DOJ is investigating allegations of manipulated crime statistics, with federal oversight of D.C. law enforcement under review.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump blasted Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in a Truth Social post on Friday for providing “false and highly inaccurate crime figures.” Trump, who has temporarily federalized law enforcement in the American capital, warned of a “complete and total Federal takeover of the City” if the issue is not addressed.

“Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN! The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard and Police are doing a fantastic job. They are out in force, and are NOT PLAYING GAMES!!! As bad as it sounds to say, there were no murders this week for the first time in memory,” Trump wrote. “Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City! Washington D.C. will soon be great again!!!”

The National Pulse reported on Thursday that the MPD is being sued by a veteran of its homicide unit who alleges the capital city’s law enforcement leaders manipulated crime data by misclassifying murders as accidental deaths and suicides. Meanwhile, the D.C. Police Union, representing 3,000 officers, has expressed skepticism over the accuracy of crime statistics reported by the MPD. Union President Gregg Pemberton stated, “What we know, what our members know, is that we go call to call to call out on the streets at night, going from robbery to carjacking to stabbing to shooting, and we just know that crime is ubiquitous, and it’s all in every quadrant of the city.”

Notably, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation into allegations of manipulated crime data, following reports of a D.C. police commander being placed on leave over accusations of falsifying statistics. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is leading the investigation, which may examine actions by multiple police officials.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Canada Folds, Lifts Numerous Retaliatory Tariffs Against U.S.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Canada announced the removal of many retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, bowing to the Trump administration’s prerequisite that the duties be ended before trade talks can resume.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and a White House official.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on August 22, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As we work intensively with the United States, our focus is squarely on the strategic sectors,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney.

🎯IMPACT: The decision is expected to ease trade tensions and could lead to further negotiations between the two nations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

IN FULL

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Friday that his country would remove many of its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, signaling progress in trade relations between the two nations. The announcement was made during a press conference in Ottawa, Ontario.

The tariffs, initially imposed in March, included a 25 percent levy on a wide range of U.S. products, mostly falling under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Beginning September 1, these trade duties will end, though similar tariffs imposed on Canada by the United States will remain in effect as negotiations continue. However, Canada will maintain its 25 percent tariffs on U.S. autos, steel, and aluminum.

“As we work intensively with the United States, our focus is squarely on the strategic sectors,” Carney stated during the press conference. He also noted that President Donald J. Trump assured him in a phone call that removing tariffs would pave the way for further negotiations.

A White House official described Canada’s decision as “long overdue” and expressed optimism about continued discussions on trade and national security concerns. The announcement comes as the USMCA, negotiated during Trump’s first term, is set for review later this year.

Canada’s counter-tariffs, originally imposed by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, targeted CA$30 billion (US$21.7 billion) worth of U.S. goods. The decision to ease tariffs follows a period of heightened tensions, during which Trump raised tariffs on Canadian goods to 35 percent, citing issues such as the continued flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and Canada’s lack of cooperation on the matter.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Trump Targets Comprehensive Review of All 55 MILLION Visa Holders.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has announced plans to review the status of all 55 million foreign nationals in the U.S. holding valid visas, initiating a “continuous vetting” process aimed at identifying security threats and individuals supporting terrorism.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance.” – Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

🎯IMPACT: The new policy will include a “continuous vetting” process for all 55 million foreign nationals who hold valid visas in the United States.

IN FULL

The Trump administration says it will soon implement a “continuous vetting” process for all foreign nationals in the U.S. holding valid visas. The policy, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to identify legal immigrants who pose security risks or are involved in activities such as supporting terrorism.

“Things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organization” will serve as cause for visa revocation under the new policy, according to the State Department. The agency added: “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance.”

The State Department highlighted that since the beginning of Trump’s second term, it has revoked more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, compared to the same period last year. The administration has also targeted visa applicants for potential ties to anti-American or terrorist groups, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) monitoring foreign nationals participating in campus protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Secretary Rubio has also announced additional measures, including a halt on worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers, citing concerns over road safety and the impact on American truckers. “Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers,” Rubio wrote on X, adding that the move was necessary to protect American lives and livelihoods.

This follows the killing of three people by an illegal immigrant truck driver in Florida.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

RFK Jr. Moves to End Dependency on China for Pharma Supplies.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is taking steps to onshore the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and reduce reliance on China.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: This month, with ongoing efforts including new manufacturing partnerships in Virginia and Maryland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It really is a critical national security issue at this point when we have these trade wars and economic issues going on.” – John Knox

🎯IMPACT: Efforts aim to strengthen U.S. national security and reduce dependency on foreign pharmaceutical supply chains.

IN FULL

Officials at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have stated that the U.S. is taking concrete steps to reduce its reliance on foreign nations for critical drug ingredients, particularly China and India. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response John Knox said in a recent interview, “There’s a lot of levers that can be pulled and need to be used in order to bring onshoring back.”

According to Knox, 70 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and key drug-making materials used in the U.S. are sourced from China and India. He noted that China alone produces about 90 percent of the world’s antibiotics. “It really is a critical national security issue at this point when we have these trade wars and economic issues going on,” he said.

The U.S. dependence on Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing stems from years of cost-cutting by major drug companies, which moved production overseas due to lower labor costs and looser regulations. As a result, China has become the world’s largest supplier of generic drug ingredients and essential medicines. Experts have long warned that any disruption in China, whether due to trade wars, natural disasters, or political tensions, could severely impact America’s access to life-saving treatments.

To address this vulnerability, President Donald J. Trump recently signed an executive order to expand the Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve (SAPIR), a federal stockpile designed to secure a domestic supply of essential drug components. The White House said the move is part of a broader effort to “safeguard national health and security against global supply chain disruptions.”

Knox pointed to successful examples of domestic drug production, such as batch manufacturing facilities in Petersburg, Virginia, and rapid, on-demand pharmaceutical systems in Rockville, Maryland. “Over here at ASPR and through our IBMSC Program, we’re looking at innovative technologies [and] using that American ingenuity to create new ways to make these medications so that we’re not so dependent on foreign sources,” he said, expressing hope that future public-private partnerships will help restore U.S. pharmaceutical independence.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Britain Set for Nationwide Anti-Migration Protests This Weekend.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Multiple anti-migration protests are expected across Britain this weekend, as police also have to contend with the notoriously violent Afro-Caribbean Notting Hill Carnival in London.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anti-migration protesters, British police, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, the Labour Party government, and asylum seekers living in taxpayer-funded hotels.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The protests are scheduled to take place this weekend across Britain.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Our streets are becoming more dangerous, yet this disaster only gets worse. The public are right to be very angry with this government.” – Nigel Farage.

🎯IMPACT: The timing of the protests alongside the Notting Hill Carnival could stretch British police resources to their limit.

IN FULL

The United Kingdom is heading for a turbulent weekend, with demonstrations against mass migration set in numerous cities, including Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Leeds, and Perth. Anti-mass migration demonstrators and far-left pro-migration activists are expected to face off over the government’s ongoing use of taxpayer-funded hotels to house poorly vetted asylum seekers,  putting public safety at risk.

The wave of protests stems from a High Court injunction halting the use of a hotel in Epping Forest, England, to house migrants, which had also attracted protests after residents were accused of sexually assaulting local children. Further legal challenges against migrant hotels are now expected elsewhere in the country, as the government mounts its own legal efforts to overturn the Epping ruling.

The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels is estimated at over 32,000, an increase of eight percent during Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s first year in office. “New figures out today show record numbers claiming asylum under Labour. Our streets are becoming more dangerous, yet this disaster only gets worse,” commented Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, adding: “The public are right to be very angry with this government.”

Notably, the protests are expected to coincide with London’s Notting Hill Carnival, a massive annual cultural event drawing over a million attendees. While championed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and other diversity advocates, the Afro-Caribbean carnival always places significant pressure on police force. Last year’s carnival was marked by serious safety concerns: ten people were stabbed, two of them fatally, with police making at least 349 arrests during the event for offences ranging from drug possession to assaults on emergency workers. Sixty-one police officers were also assaulted.

The combined polcing demands of the protests, counter-protests, and carnival are raising concerns that law enforcement may struggle to maintain order this weekend.

Image by Bob Bob.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Is Jerome Powell Finally Poised to Cut Interest Rates?

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled possible interest rate cuts amid ongoing economic uncertainty during his speech at the Fed’s annual Jackson Hole conference.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jerome Powell, Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members, and President Donald J. Trump, who has been vocal about his desire for lower rates.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Friday, August 22, 2025, at the Federal Reserve’s annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a potential interest rate cut being enacted in September.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[W]ith policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.” — Jerome Powell

🎯IMPACT: Powell’s remarks caused stocks to surge, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing over 600 points, while Treasury yields dropped significantly. Moreover, the Jackson Hole speech appears to tee up an interest rate cut at September’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

IN FULL

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell addressed potential interest rate cuts during his speech at the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole conference on Friday. He cited “sweeping changes” in tax, trade, and immigration policies as factors creating uncertainty for policymakers. Powell noted that while the labor market ostensibly remains strong, data suggest employment could be weakening and this may necessitate a change in the Fed’s interest rate policy.

“[W]ith policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance,” Powell said. Although he stopped short of explicitly endorsing a rate cut, Wall Street interpreted his comments as a sign of potential easing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained over 600 points following the speech, and the two-year Treasury note yield dropped by 0.08 percentage points.

Powell emphasized the independence of the Federal Reserve from elected officials, stating, “FOMC members will make these decisions, based solely on their assessment of the data and its implications for the economic outlook and the balance of risks. We will never deviate from that approach.” This comes amidst pressure from President Donald J. Trump, who has repeatedly called for aggressive rate cuts.

The Fed has maintained its benchmark borrowing rate between 4.25 percent and 4.5 percent since December, citing uncertainty over the long-term impact of tariffs on inflation. Powell expressed that while tariff impacts may be “short-lived,” current economic conditions allow the Fed to proceed cautiously.

Importantly, the Fed chairman finally acknowledged that the central bank’s current rate policy could be hampering employment. “This slowdown is much larger than assessed just a month ago, as the earlier figures for May and June were revised down substantially,” Powell said, with the caveat: “But it does not appear that the slowdown in job growth has opened up a large margin of slack in the labor market—an outcome we want to avoid.”

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Biden Judge Frees Teens Accused of Brutal Assault on Ex-DOGE Staffer ‘Big Balls.’

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Two teens charged with attempted carjacking and assaulting former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward “Big Balls” Coristine have been released by a Joe Biden-appointed judge.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A 15-year-old boy and girl from Maryland, Judge Kendra D. Biggs, prosecutors, and Coristine.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was made in Washington, D.C. in August 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A family court rehabilitation program of yoga and ice cream socials for hardened repeat offenders just doesn’t cut it.” – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro

🎯IMPACT: The decision has sparked backlash amid rising juvenile crime in D.C.

IN FULL

The two Maryland teens charged with an attempted carjacking and assaulting software engineer and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) saffer Edward “Big Balls” Coristine have been released under the orders of Joe Biden-appointed Washington, D.C. Superior Court Judge Kendra D. Biggs. The teens, aged 15, were previously held at D.C.’s Youth Services Center but have now been placed in alternative settings—a youth shelter for the girl and the custody of his mother for the boy.

Judge Biggs ordered a 24-hour curfew for the teens, allowing them to attend school and electronic monitoring. During the hearing, the teens’ parents confirmed their school enrollments, though the judge acknowledged that the girl had “major truancy issues” and had previously been reported missing from home.

The incident comes amid a surge in juvenile crime in Washington, D.C., with 56 percent of carjackings since 2023 attributed to minors, some as young as 12. Following the attack on Coristine, President Donald J. Trump federalized the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deployed federal law enforcement and National Guard troops to restore order. These measures have led to notable improvements in crime levels, including the first homicide-free week in the District since March.

Critics of the leniency shown to juvenile offenders, such as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, have spoken out. “A family court rehabilitation program of yoga and ice cream socials for hardened repeat offenders just doesn’t cut it,” she said.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

Rubio Halts Truck Driver Visas After Illegal Kills Three.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a pause on worker visas for commercial drivers after an illegal immigrant trucker allegedly caused a fatal crash in Florida.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Marco Rubio, Harjinder Singh, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The crash occurred in Fort Pierce, Florida. Singh was extradited from California; investigations span multiple states.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: The move highlights concerns over public safety and the legality of commercial driver licensing for foreign workers.

IN FULL

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that foreign worker visas for commercial drivers would be paused “effective immediately.” The move follows a deadly incident where an illegal immigrant truck driver engaged in an unlawful U-turn, causing a crash that killed three people in Florida. Rubio cited public safety concerns as the primary reason for the decision.

“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” the Secretary of State wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) late Thursday.

The fatal crash involved Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old illegal immigrant driving a commercial truck with a trailer on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce. Authorities say Singh attempted a U-turn in an unauthorized area, causing the trailer to jackknife and collide with a minivan, killing all three passengers inside. Investigations revealed that Singh had not passed English or road tests before obtaining a commercial driver’s license, answering only two of 12 questions correctly in an English Language Proficiency test, and misidentifying three of four road traffic signs.

Singh was granted a full-term commercial driver’s license in Washington in July 2023, despite not being legally eligible. He also held a limited-term commercial driver’s license in California in 2024.

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have since engaged in a dispute over Singh’s licensing, with Newsom’s office falsely claiming Singh obtained a work permit during President Donald J. Trump‘s first term. However, DHS has clarified that Singh was denied in September 2020 under Trump but granted a permit in June 2021 under the Biden government.

“Three innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California Department of Motor Vehicles issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License—this state of governance is asinine,” commented DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, adding: “How many more innocent people must die before Gavin Newsom stops playing games with the safety of the American public?

Singh has been extradited to Florida from California and faces three counts of vehicular homicide.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.