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Trump Trial Day 16: The Defense Rests.

The sixteenth day of former President Donald J. Trump‘s Manhattan-based hush money trial ended well before noon as defense witness Robert Costello‘s cross-examination by prosecutors concluded, and the defense rested their case after a brief redirect. While Costello’s testimony lacked the fireworks seen Monday afternoon — where Judge Juan Merchan cleared the entire courtroom at one point — the former legal adviser to Michael Cohen delivered a few parting blows to his former client’s claims.

Following Costello’s testimony, representatives for the prosecution and defense met in conference with Judge Merchan for a lengthy debate on what instructions the jury would receive ahead of their deliberations.

COSTELLO PART II. 

Costello’s cross-examination by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger continued Tuesday morning. Kicking off her questioning, Hoffinger pressed Costello on whether disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen ultimately retained his law firm. The former federal prosecutor and defense attorney acknowledged that Cohen eventually hired a different firm to represent him.

Hoffinger showed the jury a 2018 email in which Cohen asked Costello to stop contacting him. It read: “Gentleman, Please cease contacting me as you do not and have never represented me in this or any other matter. Your interest and offers to become part of the team and to serve as a contact was subject to existing counsel, Guy Petrillo (cc’d) approval, which was denied.”

COSTELLO AND GIULIANI. 

Pressing on, Hoffinger zeroed in on the 2018 Regency Hotel meeting between Michael Cohen and Robert Costello. Cohen previously testified that Costello had asked him during that meeting how he was connected with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

“That’s not true,” Costello replied to Hoffinger. He added that Cohen‘s relationship with Giuliani did come up at a later meeting between the two. Hoffinger went on to confirm with Costello that Giuliani was a guest at his wedding.

The prosecution next presented Costello and the jury with an email on April 19, 2018, in which Costello informed Cohen that Giuliani was joining the Trump legal team. “I am sure you saw the news that Rudy is joining the Trump legal team. I told you my relationship with Rudy which could be very very useful for you,” he wrote to Cohen. Hoffinger also produced an email between Costello and Jeff Citron, where the former wrote: “All the more reason for Cohen to hire me because of my connection to Giuliani, which I mentioned to him in our meeting.”

Costello acknowledged he authored both emails.

MERCHAN’S RULING SNAGS COSTELLO. 

Yesterday, Judge Merchan ruled that Robert Costello’s testimony would be limited to rebutting two specific claims made by Michael Cohen and that further elaboration was out of the scope of the trial. The dubious ruling prevented Costello from going into detail regarding his communications with Cohen, allowing prosecutors to undermine Cohen‘s former legal adviser to a degree on Tuesday.

Hoffinger presented Costello with another email in which the latter refers to a “backchannel.” She asked him if he pushed to represent Cohen to serve as a backchannel between the disgraced attorney and former President Donald Trump. Costello denied the accusation.

“That was your email to Michael Cohen?” Hoffinger asked, with Costello replying, “Yes.” Pushing further, the prosecutor asked Costello: “The email speaks for itself, right sir?”

Sensing an opportunity to trip up the prosecution and widen the scope of his testimony, Costello replied, “No, not quite. There are circumstances about that email which I would be delighted to tell you.”

Unfortunately, Hoffinger quickly responded, “That’s alright; let’s move on to the next one.” The exchange earned laughs in the courtroom.

AN EMAIL PROBLEM?

The prosecution continued to hammer at Costello using a series of 2018 emails he sent regarding the possibility of representing Cohen. In a May 15, 2018, email presented by Hoffinger, Costello wrote: “Our issue is to get Cohen on the right page without giving him the appearance that we are following instruction from Giuliani or the president. In my opinion, this is the clear correct strategy.”

Pressed as to the meaning of the email, Costello replied, “No, not to follow instructions but to get everybody on the same page because Michael Cohen had been complaining incessantly that Rudy Giuliani was making statements in the press.”

Next, Hoffinger presented an email authored by Costello on June 13, 2018. “Since you jumped off the phone rather abruptly, I did not get a chance to tell you that my friend has communicated to me that he is meeting with his client this evening, and he added that if there was anything you wanted to convey, you should tell me, and my friend will bring it up for discussion this evening,” he wrote at the time.

“I was encouraging Michael Cohen, as I just explained to you in my previous answer, to express any of his complaints, and he had several, so that I could bring them to Giuliani, and get them worked out, whatever they were,” Costello explained to Hoffinger regarding the email’s contents.

After a few more moments discussing the emails and Costello’s rocky relationship with Michael Cohen, the prosecution ended the witness’s cross-examination.

A BRIEF REDIRECT. 

Former President Trump‘s defense attorney Emil Bove engaged in a brief redirect with Costello on the stand. He asked Cohen’s former legal adviser, “Who first used the word backchannel?” Costello told Bove that Giuliani first used the term.

Circling back to the June 13, 2018 email, Bove asked Costello whether he thought he was pressuring Cohen. Bove specifically highlighted a line in the email reading: “You have the ability to make that communication when you want to. Whether you exercise that ability is totally up to you.”

“Was that pressuring Michael Cohen to do anything?” Bove asked. Costello replied: “No, not at all.”

“Did you ever pressure Michael Cohen to do anything?” Bove followed up. Costello responded: “I did not.”

Former President Donald Trump‘s defense team rested after presenting a two-hour case on Monday and Tuesday.

SUMMATION AND DELIBERATION.

After Trump’s defense team rested their case, Judge Merchan dismissed the jury for an entire week. The judge told jurors and counsel that summations — also known as closing arguments — would occur on Tuesday, following the holiday weekend. The jury — barring a dismissal of the case by Merchan — is expected to begin deliberations as early as next Wednesday.

“I’ve considered all the permutation… at the end of the day, I think the best thing that we can do is to adjourn now until next Tuesday,” Merchan said. He continued: “At that time, you will hear summations from the attorneys. Probably Wednesday I’ll ask you to come in … hear jury charge and then I would expect that you will begin your deliberations hopefully at some point on Wednesday.”

JURY INSTRUCTIONS.

Following a lengthy break, counsel for the prosecution and defense returned to the courtroom at 2:15PM for a jury instruction conference with Judge Merchan. Trump‘s defense attorney Emil Bove asked Merchan to include an instruction that any campaign finance violation must be “willful” in nature. He argued that omitting the instruction “would allow the jury to think about the predicate offense in civil terms.”

Matthew Colangelo, representing the precaution, countered: “The plain text of the statute provides that the election law conspiracy occurs when its intended results are executed through unlawful means. There’s no need to add the word willful.”

He added: “The other crime here is the election law violation, which becomes a criminal violation when two or more persons conspire to promote” a candidate for election by unlawful means.”

Judge Merchan, interjecting, noted that the charge of falsifying business records in the first degree “requires that there be an intent to defraud that includes the intent to commit another crime.” While Merchan did not rule immediately on the issue, he did appear inclined to agree with the defense.

Regarding whether the National Enquirer did publish articles and promote Karen McDougal as part of her agreement with them, Judge Merchan sided with the defense and included language about the tabloid’s “legitimate press function.”

CLARIFYING COHEN’S CRIMES.

In another win for Trump‘s defense, Judge Merchan agreed with the former President’s attorneys to strike proposed language from the prosecution that stated Cohen “participated in and was convicted of two crimes.” Instead, the instructions will read that Cohen “participated in crimes.” Removing the reference to “convicted” was important to the Trump team as they did not wish the former President to be implicated in Cohen’s 2018 conviction for tax fraud.

Judge Merchan also appeared inclined to side with the defense regarding language referring to the falsified business records. Specifically, Bove asked Merchan to strike the phrase “a person causes a false entry when…”.

“They could convict based on someone else causing a false entry and accessorial liability — basically causing the causer — where (for example, if) Allen Weisselberg caused someone to do something and then President Trump caused Allen Weisselberg,” Bove contended. He added: “It doubles up on accessorial liability.”

In addition, the defense pushed Merchan to use an expanded instruction on intent. Bove noted, that there is a “significant issue with instructing to the jury that intent to defraud could include defrauding the government and the voting public, based on the facts of this case.” While Merchan did not immediately rule, he appeared inclined to find a middle ground between the proposed defense and prosecution language.

Judge Merchan did rule against the defense’s request that jurors be instructed that hush money payments are not illegal. “I think that to take it to the next level and actually give an instruction to the bench is taking it too far. I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said.

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

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UK Boat Migrant Deported to France Under ‘One Out, One In’ Deal Returns on Another Small Boat.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A boat migrant deported from Britain to France under a contentious “one out, one in” deal with the French government has returned to Britain on another small boat.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Britain’s Home Office, French authorities, and illegal immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The returns deal was announced earlier this year, with the latest developments reported this week in Britain and France.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If I had felt that France was safe for me, I would never have returned to the UK.” – Anonymous migrant

🎯IMPACT: The migrant’s return raises further questions about the efficacy of the “one out, one in” deal, which was already under fire for covering only a small number of migrants while illegal crossings have remained in the thousands.

IN FULL

A boat migrant deported to France under a new “one out, one in” deal between the British and French governments has reportedly returned to Britain on another small boat.

Britain’s Home Office—roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—states that 42 migrants have been returned to France as part of this arrangement, which was introduced earlier this year by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Despite the fact that it entails Britain taking a migrant from France for every boat migrant that is returned, it is supposed to deter boat migrant crossings by raising the possibility that such journeys will be wasted. However, thousands of boat migrants have crossed since it was introduced, indicating that it is not working.

Now, one migrant from the initial group of deportees has already returned, claiming that France—a First-World European Union (EU) and NATO member state—is unsafe. He told the left-wing Guardian newspaper, “If I had felt that France was safe for me, I would never have returned to the UK.”

This comes as Prime Minister Starmer, of the leftist Labour Party, is hosting a summit on illegal immigration with other European leaders. A government spokesman for his government attempted to defend the “one out, one in” deal, stating: “We’ve been clear about the arrangement with France, that this is the beginning of a landmark scheme which is not, in itself, a silver bullet.”

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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TikTok Migrant Known for Filming ICE Arrests Shot After Allegedly Ramming Federal Vehicles.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: An illegal immigrant was shot after allegedly ramming his car into federal agents in Los Angeles, California.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Carlitos Ricardo Parias, also known as Richard LA on TikTok, and federal agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: October 21, in Los Angeles, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Ultimately, an agent opened fire, wounding Parias and a deputy U.S. marshal, who was hit with a ricochet bullet.” – Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essay

🎯IMPACT: Parias faces charges carrying up to eight years in prison if convicted.

IN FULL

Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a Mexican national living in the U.S. illegally and known on TikTok as “Richard LA,” was shot and arrested in Los Angeles, California, following a confrontation with federal agents. The incident occurred when law enforcement attempted to arrest Parias, who allegedly rammed his car into federal vehicles during the standoff. Agents opened fire, striking Parias in the elbow. A deputy U.S. marshal was also wounded by a ricocheting bullet.

“Ultimately, an agent opened fire, wounding Parias and a deputy US marshal, who was hit with a ricochet bullet,” Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essay said of the incident.

Parias gained popularity on TikTok for his videos documenting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Despite his unlawful status and the serious allegations against him, Parias received support from Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price, who described him as “a pillar of our community” and a “fearless citizen journalist.”

Parias is not the first illegal immigrant influencer to face legal trouble. Earlier this year, Venezuelan influencer Leonel Moreno was deported after using TikTok to encourage illegals to squat in unoccupied homes. His videos, which often showed him flashing cash and mocking U.S. laws, drew national attention.. Immigration authorities confirmed his deportation in March.

Another deportation involved Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, a Colombian national known for organizing anti-ICE protests and posting videos of enforcement actions. Mafla-Martinez was removed from the U.S. in October after what federal officials described as multiple violations of immigration law.

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The FBI Has Arrested Almost 30,000 Criminals Since Trump’s Return to Office.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested over 28,000 violent criminals since January 20, as part of a major crackdown on crime.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Co-deputy Director Andrew Bailey, and the FBI.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrests have been occurring nationwide since January 20, with a focus on major U.S. cities.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are bringing LAW AND ORDER back to America. Kash, Dan, Andrew, and the men and women of the FBI, are doing a tremendous job, MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The arrests have led to a significant reduction in crime, with a 20 percent decrease nationwide and the summer being dubbed the safest in two decades.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for its efforts in arresting over 28,000 violent criminals since January 20. The agency has also seized over 6,000 illegal weapons, arrested 1,700 child predators, and rescued 5,000 children.

The FBI’s Operation Summer Heat, which ran from June to September, was a significant part of this crackdown, targeting violent criminals in major U.S. cities. Trump announced that more than 8,700 arrests were made, with cities like Nashville and New Orleans experiencing a 250 percent increase in arrests of violent offenders.

“Since January 20th, more than 28,000 Violent Criminals have been arrested (RECORD BREAKING!), with over 6,000 illegal weapons seized, more than 1,700 child predators and 300 human traffickers taken off the streets, 5,000 innocent children rescued, 2,000 Criminal Enterprises disrupted, 1,900 kilos of Fentanyl (Enough to kill 125 Million people!) taken out—HISTORIC RESULTS,” President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding: “We are bringing LAW AND ORDER back to America. Kash, Dan, Andrew, and the men and women of the FBI, are doing a tremendous job, MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted that over 480,000 criminal illegal aliens have been arrested, with 70 percent having convictions or pending charges. The new Operation River Wall aims to secure the Rio Grande region against illegal immigration and criminal activity.

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Amazon Plans to Automate 600,000 Jobs, Leaked Documents Reveal.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Amazon is reportedly planning to automate much of its operations, potentially avoiding the need to hire over 600,000 U.S. workers by 2033.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Amazon, its robotics team, and American workers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The automation plans aim for significant implementation by 2027, with full goals set for 2033, across Amazon’s U.S. operations.

🎯IMPACT: If successful, Amazon could save billions of dollars but may face backlash over job losses and its role as a major U.S. employer.

IN FULL

Amazon is reportedly looking to automate a significant portion of its operations, which could allow the company to avoid hiring over 600,000 U.S. workers by 2033. The leaked internal documents reveal that Amazon aims to automate 75 percent of its operations, potentially saving $12.6 billion between 2025 and 2027.

The company’s robotics team is reportedly working to replace 160,000 U.S. roles by 2027, saving approximately 30 cents on every item warehoused and delivered. The documents also indicate that Amazon expects to double its product sales over the same period.

In anticipation of backlash, Amazon has reportedly explored ways to soften its public image, including participation in community projects and avoiding the use of terms like “automation” or “AI.” Instead, the company has considered using phrases such as “advanced technology” and “cobot” to describe its robots working alongside humans.

Amazon responded publicly to the leak, claiming the documents were incomplete and do not fully represent its hiring strategy. The company also denied instructing executives to avoid certain terminology when discussing robotics.

Notably, the documents detailing the automation plan appear to be based on projections that Amazon will continue to see significant growth in its consumer base. However, The National Pulse reported in April that UPS announced plans to reduce its workforce by 20,000 jobs this year as part of a cost-reduction strategy related to decreased deliveries from Amazon.

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Slovak Leader’s Would-Be Assassin Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Juraj Cintula was sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of terrorism charges for shooting and seriously wounding Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in 2024.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The attacker, Juraj Cintula, 72, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, 64.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred in May 2024 in Handlová, Slovakia. The sentencing followed in 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I decided to harm the health of the prime minister but I had no intention to kill anyone,” said Cintula during his trial.

🎯IMPACT: The attack and subsequent trial have deeply impacted Slovakia, raising tensions in the small EU and NATO-member country.

IN FULL

A 72-year-old man, Juraj Cintula, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for terrorism after shooting and seriously injuring Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in May 2024. The attack took place in the town of Handlová, where Fico was meeting with supporters following a cabinet session. Cintula approached the prime minister at close range and fired five shots, hitting him in the abdomen, hip, hand, and foot.

Fico was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and underwent a five-hour emergency surgery. He survived and made a full recovery, reappearing in public several months later. During his trial, Cintula claimed he never intended to kill the prime minister but wanted to express his political frustration through violence. “I decided to harm the health of the prime minister but I had no intention to kill anyone,” he told the court, adding that he was relieved when he found out Fico had survived.

Judge Igor Králik, who presided over the case, emphasized that the crime was politically motivated and targeted at the state’s highest official. “The defendant did not attack a citizen, but specifically the prime minister. He was against the government, he was inciting people to overthrow the government,” Králik said. Although Cintula acted alone and had no ties to organized groups, the court ruled that his intention and method met the legal definition of terrorism. He has the right to appeal the verdict, though it is unclear whether he will.

The shooting has sent shockwaves throughout Slovakia, a European Union and NATO member state. Fico has long been a polarizing figure in Slovak politics, known for his nationalist and populist views, particularly his softer stance on Russia. After returning to power in 2023 for a fourth term, he halted military support for Ukraine and criticized what he described as Western interference in Slovak affairs.

Fico blames liberal opposition groups and media outlets in Slovakia for creating an atmosphere of hate that led to the attempt on his life. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Fico, condemned the attack, calling it a wake-up call for peace in Europe. “Today we must fight for peace alone,” he said.

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White House Confirms No Plans for Trump-Putin Meeting in Near Future.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the immediate future, despite earlier indications of a potential meeting in Budapest, Hungary.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on October 21, with prior discussions involving meetings in Budapest, Hungary, and Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Lavrov had a productive call. Therefore, an additional in-person meeting between the Secretary and Foreign Minister is not necessary, and there are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future,” a senior White House official said.

🎯IMPACT: Trump had previously indicated on social media that the Budapest meeting would be the next step in his diplomatic efforts.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the foreseeable future, a senior White House official confirmed Tuesday. The decision comes despite earlier suggestions from Trump that a summit in Budapest, Hungary, could help move toward ending the war in Ukraine.

The announcement follows a phone call earlier this week between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The White House described the conversation as “productive,” and officials said it removed the need for any immediate in-person follow-up. “Therefore, an additional in-person meeting between the Secretary and Foreign Minister is not necessary, and there are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future,” the official stated.

Trump had previously indicated on social media that the Budapest meeting would be the next step in his diplomatic efforts. “President Putin and I will then meet in an agreed-upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ war, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end,” he wrote on October 16.

Last week, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Zelensky requested long-range Tomahawk missiles and other advanced military systems, which he believes are critical to striking Russia’s infrastructure. Trump has not made any public commitments to provide those weapons.

While the summit is now on hold, Trump emphasized his continued focus on peace efforts during a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Tuesday. “We’re working on number nine,” he said, referring to his broader push to resolve global conflicts. The administration has also proposed a trilateral summit including Trump, Putin, and Zelensky, and has pledged not to send U.S. troops to Ukraine under any peace agreement. In addition, the administration has authorized sharing intelligence with Ukraine on Russian energy infrastructure, a move aimed at helping Ukraine target Russia’s economic lifelines.

Meanwhile, a large fire broke out Monday night at Hungary’s Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta, just south of Budapest. The facility, which processes primarily Russian crude oil, is one of the few in the EU still heavily reliant on Russian energy imports. Firefighters contained the blaze, and no injuries were reported, but investigators are examining whether the incident was accidental or deliberate.

The timing of the fire, amid sensitive geopolitical negotiations and multiple recent disruptions at regional refineries, has raised concerns of potential sabotage, similar to what occurred at the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in 2022. Last month, a Ukrainian national was arrested in Poland following an arrest warrant issued by Germany.

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The FDA Withheld Reports on Tylenol Risks, Internal Documents Reveal.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Internal U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) documents reveal the agency ignored its own safety experts’ advice to warn pregnant women about Tylenol for nearly a decade.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: FDA officials, scientists, Tylenol manufacturers, President Donald J. Trump, and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recommendations were made between 2014 and 2025.

🎯IMPACT: The FDA’s delay in issuing warnings has led to lawsuits, public confusion, and ongoing debates about Tylenol’s safety during pregnancy.

IN FULL

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withheld reports and memos containing repeated recommendations from its own drug safety experts to warn pregnant women about the potential risks of Tylenol, internal agency documents reveal. These recommendations were made across multiple reviews and memos between 2014 and 2022, yet the agency declined to update its guidance until September 2025, following public pressure from President Donald J. Trump and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

FDA scientists had reviewed numerous studies showing a potential association between Tylenol use during pregnancy and risks such as ADHD, neurological damage, and other developmental issues. Despite this, FDA leadership repeatedly delayed action, citing insufficient evidence and calling for further studies. A 2016 report by FDA Senior Medical Officer Andrew Mosholder recommended a nuanced warning to pregnant women, but the agency’s leadership postponed decisions, leaving its outdated 2015 statement unchanged for nearly a decade.

The documents obtained by Keller Postman LLC, a law firm pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue, show that internal FDA divisions supported issuing warnings as early as 2016. However, FDA officials, including longtime Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Director Janet Woodcock, opted against taking immediate action. Woodcock has faced scrutiny for controversial decisions during her tenure, including delays in issuing warnings about other drugs and vaccines.

In November, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit will hear an appeal in a class-action lawsuit against Kenvue. The lawsuit alleges that Tylenol manufacturers failed to adequately inform consumers about potential risks, while FDA officials argue that existing evidence does not meet the threshold for causality. The agency’s 2023 review omitted recommendations entirely, further fueling controversy.

The National Pulse reported in September that social media posts by a now-defunct X (formerly Twitter) account belonging to Tylenol recommended multiple times against using acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol (paracetamol), during pregnancy, due to a potential link to autism.

Photo by Roadsidepictures.

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‘No Kings’ Flyers Threaten Violent Uprising Unless SCOTUS and ICE Are Abolished.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A flyer distributed at the No Kings protest in Ann Arbor, Michigan, called for dismantling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Supreme Court, and other institutions. It warned of “disorder without parallel” if demands were not met.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Protesters at the No Kings event, the Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC), and community activists.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ann Arbor, Michigan, during the No Kings protest; training sessions are advertised to take place at the ICC Education Center.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In no uncertain terms, the following conditions must be met, or hostilities will continue, and they will escalate,” the activists warned.

🎯IMPACT: The flyers’ extreme demands and threats of escalation raise concerns about the potential for unrest and the implications for public safety.

IN FULL

Flyers distributed during a No Kings protest in Ann Arbor, Michigan, called for escalating unrest if extreme demands to abolish the Supreme Court and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are not met. The document began with a threatening declaration: “Everything comes to a head. We draw up the terms. We arrange the time and the date. Your people. And our people. We have demands. In no uncertain terms, the following conditions must be met, or hostilities will continue, and they will escalate.” It concluded with a stark warning that if the demands are ignored, “disorder will be without parallel in modern times.”

The flyers called on millions to “rise up, block the streets, take over research centers, and raise the banner of FREE HEALTHCARE and MEDICAL AUTONOMY for everyone on U.S. soil,” presumably including illegal aliens. It also promoted resistance against federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE, Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and local police. Participants were urged to “destroy their infrastructure, discredit their operations, and overwhelm their personnel.”

Also targeting the nation’s judiciary, the flyer demanded that “angry mobs storm the Supreme Court, ABOLISHING IT outright,” and advocated for the replacement of centralized government authority with hyper-local leadership by “community elders, wayward youngsters, and those who earn trust in their communities continuously because of their care and humility, not appointed authority.”

In addition, the document also promoted a local organizing session, advertising a “Neighborhood anti-ICE Training” at the ICC Education Center in Ann Arbor. The center, operated by the Inter-Cooperative Council, is described as a student-led nonprofit promoting “safe spaces and inclusive communities.”

The protest’s messaging, especially the tone and scope of its demands, reflects increasingly militant rhetoric among leftist groups. Recent reports have highlighted a rising willingness among left-wing activists to embrace violence as a political tactic.

According to data and law enforcement assessments, federal agencies have begun tracking Antifa-related groups more closely, including under domestic terrorism protocols. In one case, Antifa-affiliated individuals were charged as terrorists following a sniper attack on an ICE facility.

On Monday, The National Pulse reported that a long-running Antifa website shut down, citing fears of increased federal scrutiny under the Trump administration.

Photo by Tim Sheerman-Chase.

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Vance Pledges No U.S. Troops to be Deployed in Gaza During Israel Visit.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President J.D. Vance reaffirmed that no American troops would be deployed to Gaza as Hamas tests the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Vice President J.D. Vance, President Donald J. Trump, Israeli leaders, and Hamas.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, October 21, in southern Israel.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There are not going to be American boots on the ground in Gaza. The President of the United States has made that very clear.” – J.D. Vance

🎯IMPACT: The United States continues to act as a mediator in the region while avoiding direct military involvement in Gaza.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance on Tuesday reiterated that the United States will not deploy troops to Gaza, even as skirmishes test the limits of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Speaking during a visit to southern Israel, Vance emphasized the U.S. commitment to diplomacy rather than military involvement. “I think it’s important for Americans to know a couple of things. Number one: there are not going to be American boots on the ground in Gaza,” he said during a press conference, adding: “The President of the United States has made that very clear. All of our military leadership has made that very clear.”

Vance also highlighted the United States’ ongoing role as the lead mediator in the region, working with key players such as Egypt, Turkey, the Gulf Arab states, and Israel. “The only real mediators are the United States of America. That’s the role that we’re going to play [that] I think the American people should be proud of,” he said.

The visit comes amid reports of limited clashes in Gaza following the ceasefire brokered by President Donald J. Trump earlier this month. According to the agreement, Israeli forces began withdrawing from key areas in Gaza, including Gaza City and Khan Younis, as part of the first phase of the deal. Despite weekend flare-ups, both Trump and Israeli officials confirmed that the ceasefire remains in place.

President Trump addressed the situation last week with a warning to Hamas, stating that continued violence would result in harsh retaliation. “We will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” Trump said. He later clarified that U.S. forces would not take part in any ground operations. “It’s not going to be us. We won’t have to. There are people very close, very nearby that will go in. They’ll do the trick very easily, but under our auspices,” he said.

Inside Gaza, Hamas is reportedly facing internal pressure and unrest, including accusations of executing suspected collaborators with Israel. Vance warned the group that failure to uphold the terms of the deal would have consequences. “We know that Hamas has to comply with the deal, and if Hamas doesn’t comply with the deal, very bad things are going to happen,” he said.

Vance also noted growing frustration among Arab nations toward Hamas, as the U.S. works with regional partners to recover the bodies of deceased hostages and begin reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

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By Popular Demand.
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White House Says ‘Zero Truth’ to Report That Trump Plans to Grant Diddy Clemency.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The White House has denied a TMZ report claiming President Donald J. Trump may release Sean “Diddy” Combs from prison later this week.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and TMZ.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The report surfaced Monday, and the White House responded Tuesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would’ve gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news.” – White House statement.

🎯IMPACT: The White House reiterated that the President is the sole authority on pardons and commutations, dismissing the TMZ report as false.

IN FULL

The White House is denying reports that President Donald J. Trump is considering commuting rapper and music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs’s prison sentence, calling the initial story published by the entertainment tabloid website, TMZ, a fabrication. “There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would’ve gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news,” a White House official said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

“The President, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations,” they added.

On Monday, TMZ—an entertainment industry tabloid owned by the Fox Corporation—published a story claiming to cite an anonymous high-ranking White House official who suggested Trump might commute Diddy’s sentence as early as this week. The story sparked a corporate press frenzy intended to fuel a public backlash against President Trump over the possible grant of clemency for Combs, who is currently serving a four-year and two-month prison sentence for two counts of transporting women for prostitution.

Notably, Combs has not yet filed a formal request for clemency with the Department of Justice (DOJ), though his attorneys have indicated they are considering it as a possible option.

When asked about pardons on October 6, President Trump said, “I have a lot of people who have asked me for pardons,” and mentioned, “I call him Puff Daddy has asked me.” Diddy has been a vocal critic of Trump, stating during the 2020 election, “White men like Trump need to be banished… We are in a war of love versus hate. The number one priority is to get Trump out of office.”

Photo by Nikeush.

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By Popular Demand.
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