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June 15, 2024
Jack Montgomery
UK

Gen Z Shifts: Farage’s Reform Party Surpasses Conservatives With Young Voters.

Nigel Farage’s Reform Party has surpassed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives (Tories) in recent opinion polls, including among younger voters. According to a YouGov survey, Reform is more than twice as popular as the Tories among the 18- to 24-year-old age group, at 15 percent support to the Tories’ 7 percent.

Reform not only leads the Conservatives among the youngest voters but also among those aged 25 to 49, at 15 percent to 12 percent. In the 50- to 64-year-old age group, Reform is at 22 percent, while the Tories are at 16 percent. Sunak’s party only leads among the over 65s, with 34 percent support against 23 percent for Farage’s party.

Farage has bolstered his political resurgence with a strong presence on social media, particularly TikTok, where millions of people have viewed his videos. A recent TikTok post featuring Farage humorously singing lyrics from an Eminem song received 17,600 likes and 597 comments within an hour. Reform is also outperforming the Tories on Facebook, with users sharing their posts 53,000 times compared to 31,000 shares for the Conservatives.

GLOBAL PHENOMENON. 

Farage’s growing support among young people mirrors that of his friend and ally Donald Trump in the U.S. While the youth vote was a key demographic for Joe Biden in 2020, his lead among young Americans has been slashed, with young Americans increasingly disillusioned with the Democrat’s economy and foreign policy.

Like Farage, Trump has embraced TikTok, where he reaches many more people than his 81-year-old rival—despite joining it much more recently.

“He’s reaching young people in a way like never before,” said Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, in a recent War Room appearance. Biden and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have failed to cut through in the same way because they lack Trump’s authenticity.

Young people are also embracing the populist right in Europe. The Konfederacja (Confederation) party was the top choice of young Poles in the recent European elections, and the German political class is in panic over the viral song Ausländer Raus (foreigners out) sweeping the country.

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By Popular Demand.
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17 minutes ago
Economy
World

Italy’s Meloni Set for White House Strategy Session on Tariffs with Trump.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is traveling to Washington on Thursday to negotiate with President Donald J. Trump regarding European Union (EU) trade tariffs.

👥 Who’s Involved: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., meeting on Thursday, with the trip concluding on Friday when Meloni returns to Rome.

💬 Key Quote: Meloni stated, “Surely I am aware of what I represent and I am aware of what I am defending.”

⚠️ Impact: Potential impact on EU-U.S. trade dynamics, with current annual trade valued at approximately €1.6 trillion ($1.8 trillion).

IN FULL:

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is visiting the United States on Thursday to engage in trade negotiations with President Donald J. Trump, with the aim of reducing tariffs on European exports. The meeting comes in the wake of Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement imposing reciprocal tariffs on foreign governments with barriers limiting the purchase of American exports, including a 20 percent trade duty on goods from the European Union (EU).

Subsequently, Trump paused the enactment of the reciprocal tariffs last week to allow time for negotiations on bilateral trade agreements with over 70 countries, but a 10 percent tariff remains in place alongside higher tariffs on specific products, such as steel.

Meloni is the first European leader to meet with Trump following the tariff announcement. The Italian Prime Minister’s White House visit underscores an effort by the EU to reach terms with President Trump and avoid the reimposition of the 20 percent tariff on the EU this summer. “We know we’re going through a difficult period, let’s see how it goes in the coming hours. I don’t feel any pressure, as you can imagine, for my next two days, let’s say,” Meloni quipped earlier this week. “Surely I am aware of what I represent and I am aware of what I am defending.”

The rapport between Trump and Meloni could play a key role in the future of economic relations between the United States and Europe. President Trump has referred to Meloni as a “fantastic leader,” and the Italian Prime Minister has pushed EU leaders in Brussels to let her take the lead in working to de-escalate the trade tensions with the White House.

Following the Thursday meeting with President Trump, Meloni will return to Italy and host U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance in Rome, where trade discussions will likely continue. Trade between the EU and the United States is valued at an estimated €1.6 trillion (~$1.8 trillion) annually, with the former holding a trade surplus of €198.2 billion (~$225.3 billion).

Image: European Union, via Wikimedia Commons.

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By Popular Demand.
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58 minutes ago
Religion

Judge Rules Catholic Employers Are Not Required to Cover Abortions.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A federal judge in North Dakota ruled that over 9,000 Catholic employers are exempt from federal regulations concerning abortion and fertility treatment accommodations for workers.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Catholic Benefits Association, the Bismarck Diocese, and the U.S. District Court were involved in the case against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

📍 Where & When: This ruling was issued in North Dakota on April 17, 2025, following a lawsuit filed last year.

💬 Key Quote: “It is a precarious time for people of religious faith in America. It has been described as a post-Christian age,” wrote U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor in his previous ruling.

⚠️ Impact: The decision permanently blocks enforcement of certain EEOC regulations, impacting more than 164,000 employees working under Catholic employers who are members of the association.

IN FULL:

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor has concluded that over 9,000 Catholic employers are not required to comply with federal rules protecting employees seeking abortion and fertility treatment accommodations. This ruling came after the Catholic Benefits Association and the Bismarck Diocese challenged regulations set forth by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), arguing these rules infringed upon their religious liberties.

The lawsuit, initiated last year, contended that the EEOC’s guidelines, derived from the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (effective since 2023), imposed obligations contrary to Catholic teachings. The Act mandates that employers provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy or childbirth-related requests. In 2024, the EEOC issued rules and harassment guidance meant to enforce this law, which included considerations for gender identity under sex-based discrimination.

Judge Traynor’s judgment was based on his determination that the regulations conflicted with federal laws protecting religious freedoms. He emphasized that the lawsuit’s core facts and evidence had not shifted since his earlier provisional block on the rule.

The Catholic Benefits Association, representing thousands of Catholic employers, claims the EEOC’s directives would force its members to go against their faith by accommodating abortions and fertility treatments and by compelling the use of pronouns, all incongruent with Catholic doctrine. They additionally expressed concerns over being restrained from articulating Catholic teachings on sexual matters.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Documents Reveal 2021 Protective Order Filed by Wife Against MS-13 Gang Member Deported to El Salvador.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Kilmar Abrego Garcia—the 29-year-old illegal immigrant and adjudicated MS-13 gang member deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration—was the subject of a 2021 protective order filed in Maryland by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, due to multiple alleged incidents of domestic violence. A federal judge is attempting to force the White House to retrieve Garcia from El Salvador’s CECOT prison, as are Democratic Party lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

👥 Who’s Involved: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), the government of El Salvador, and U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis.

📍 Where & When: Kilmar Abrego Garcia was detained in Maryland, with his deportation occurring on March 15. The protective order was filed in May 2021 in Prince George’s County District Court.

💬 Key Quote: “At this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos/videos of how violent he can be and all the bruises he [has] left me,” Jennifer Vasquez alleged in the 2021 protective order filing, adding: “In November 2020, he hit me with his work boot. In August 2020, he hit me in the eye leaving a purple eye.”

⚠️ Impact: This case has prompted significant legal challenges against Garcia’s deportation, with a federal judge ordering the Trump administration to facilitate the El Salvadoran illegal immigrant’s return to the United States. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, traveled to El Salvador earlier this week in an attempt to retrieve the MS-13 gang member from the country’s CECOT prison facility.

IN FULL:

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant and member of the violent MS-13 criminal gang, was the subject of a 2021 protective order filed in Maryland by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, alleging that he beat her on several occasions. In March, the Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia, 29, alongside other illegal immigrants, invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The deportation orders were predicated on transnational gang links, a charge denied by Abrego Garcia’s family and legal counsel.

While Congressional Democrats and the corporate media have attempted to portray Abrego Garcia as a loving father and “Maryland man,” court documents reveal the illegal immigrant has a history of domestic abuse accusations, allegedly beating his wife on several occasions. The revelations came as Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) traveled to El Salvador seeking the illegal immigrant’s return.

“At this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos/videos of how violent he can be and all the bruises he [has] left me,” Jennifer Vasquez alleged in the 2021 protective order filing, adding: “In November 2020, he hit me with his work boot. In August 2020, he hit me in the eye leaving a purple eye.”

Despite the past accusations of domestic abuse, Vasquez now says she stands by her husband. “We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling,” she wrote in a statement issued in response to news of the protective order. “Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect,” she claimed, adding: “That is not a justification for ICE’s action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation.”

In early April, U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States, an action that El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele says he will not allow. “How can I return him to the United States? Like, if I smuggle him into the United States, or what do I do? Of course, I’m not going to do it,” Bukele said earlier this week.

While opponents of President Donald J. Trump’s mass deportation of violent, criminal illegal immigrants from the United States have tried to claim that Abrego Garcia is not an actual member of MS-13, state and federal law enforcement agencies confirmed his affiliation in 2019. Both the Prince George’s County Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) documented evidence of Abrego Garcia’s membership in MS-13, noting that the clothing he wore when detained during a 2019 murder investigation was associated with the gang.

Additionally, a confidential informant tied to MS-13 identified the El Salvadoran national as an active member of the gang’s “Westerns” group, holding the rank of “Chequeo,” and using the name “Chele.” Two federal immigration judges accepted the state and federal law enforcement findings, ruling that there was “sufficient” evidence.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Economy

U.S. Jobless Claims Dip, Signaling Trump Labor Market Remains Strong.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: U.S. jobless claims dropped by 9,000 to 215,000 for the week ending April 12, reflecting a strong labor market as President Donald J. Trump advances his tariff agenda.

👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. Department of Labor, American workers.

📍 Where & When: Reported by the Labor Department in Washington, D.C., on April 17, 2025, for the week ending April 12.

⚠️ Impact: The decline in jobless claims highlights economic stability, reinforcing confidence in Trump’s tariff strategy to boost domestic industry, though rising continuing claims suggest a need to monitor rehiring trends.

IN FULL:

The U.S. labor market showcased its strength as the Department of Labor reported a decline in jobless claims on April 17, 2025. Applications for unemployment benefits fell by 9,000 to 215,000 for the week ending April 12, outperforming analysts’ expectations of 225,000 new claims. This drop underscores a robust labor market that continues to thrive as President Trump implements tariffs to protect and revitalize American industry.

Weekly jobless claims, a key measure of layoffs, have consistently ranged between 200,000 and 250,000 over the past few years, indicating steady employment conditions. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out weekly variations, also decreased by 2,500 to 220,750, further confirming the labor market’s resilience.

President Trump’s tariffs, including a 10 percent reciprocal duty and higher rates on Chinese goods, aim to bolster domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign imports. The strong labor market data aligns with the administration’s goals, showing that businesses are maintaining hiring levels as these policies take effect. Overall, the economy appears well-positioned to benefit from Trump’s strategy of prioritizing American workers and industries.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
News
Politics

DNC Vice Chair David Hogg Launches Multi-Million Dollar Campaign Against His Own Party Members.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: David Hogg plans to allocate $20 million to challenge insufficiently woke incumbent Democrats through primary elections.

👥 Who’s Involved: David Hogg, Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, through Leaders We Deserve, a grassroots organization, is involved.

📍 Where & When: Hogg, who became Vice Chair in February, discussed his strategy in a newspaper interview published on April 15.

💬 Key Quote: “This is going to anger a lot of people.” — David Hogg.

⚠️ Impact: Hogg’s initiative could massively divide Democratic National Committee leadership and affect party strategies.

IN FULL:

Anti-gun rights activist David Hogg, Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), is set to direct $20 million into primary campaigns against current Democratic incumbents. By leveraging the organization Leaders We Deserve, which focuses on electing young progressives, Hogg aims to promote a far-left progressive agenda.

His strategy introduces potential tension within the Democratic Party’s leadership, particularly as it deviates from the traditional focus of opposing Republican candidates.

Hogg, appointed Vice Chair in February, acknowledged that pursuing these primary challenges might lead to significant personal and professional pushback. “This is going to anger a lot of people,” he said, anticipating efforts to undermine him.

The initiative challenges the Democratic Party’s usual practices, which generally emphasize securing victories over Republican opponents rather than engaging in infighting. During a recent private meeting, the Democratic National Committee reiterated the importance of neutrality among its officials, emphasizing their need for impartiality. Hogg was the only one not to sign this “neutrality policy.”

DNC Chair Ken Martin addressed the situation, underscoring the party’s supposed principle that primary voters should choose nominees without interference from national party influences.

Hogg’s approach has been criticized by several quarters. Steve Schale, a long-time Democratic campaign strategist, emphasized that the party should focus on regaining lost ground in key battleground areas, noting a troubling trend in 703 out of 767 counties over recent presidential election cycles. Matt Bennett from Third Way also expressed concerns about Hogg’s ability to transition from activism to his current official role, describing his actions as problematic.

The move comes as the Democrats still lack clear leadership since the election of President Donald J. Trump. A poll released in March showed the Democrats plummeting to historic lows, falling 20 percentage points since Trump’s victory in November.

Image by Lorie Shaull.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Politics

DOGE Appears to Have Slashed Its Savings Target by 92%.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Elon Musk initially claimed he could reduce the federal budget by $2 trillion during Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. Once appointed to front the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk revised his target to $1 trillion, but recent statements have scaled back the expected savings further to $150 billion for fiscal year 2026.

👥 Who’s Involved: Elon Musk, President Donald J. Trump, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

📍 Where & When: White House cabinet meeting on April 10, Washington, D.C., addressing fiscal year 2026 (October 2025 – September 2026).

💬 Key Quote: “I’m excited to announce that we anticipate savings in ’26 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion,” Musk said.

⚠️ Impact: Musk’s revised savings projection is prompting skepticism, with critics doubting the feasibility of ever cutting $1 trillion. DOGE’s method of accounting for savings has also been criticized due to errors and inaccuracies.

IN FULL:

Details from an April 10 White House cabinet meeting indicate Elon Musk moderated his ambitious budget reduction goals. Musk had promised substantial cuts to the federal budget, initially aiming for a reduction of $2 trillion. Subsequent revisions saw expectations reduced to $1 trillion upon Musk’s appointment to front the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

However, at the April cabinet meeting, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO further reduced his expectations, citing $150 billion in anticipated savings from cutting waste and fraud for fiscal year 2026. In perspective, this represents a 92 percent reduction from the originally promised cuts to the budget spanning from October 2025 to September 2026.

“I’m excited to announce that we anticipate savings in ’26 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion,” Musk said.

Musk’s newest budget cut target reflects data from the DOGE website, which currently amounts to the cited $150 billion in savings—though it is unclear whether the number is a hard ceiling for Musk and his team. The Trump White House maintains that the original $1 trillion in cuts remains the administration’s goal.

Notably, Musk’s cabinet meeting presentation was unusually brief, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instead commencing the session—suggesting a possible shift to national security concerns as the administration’s top priority. Musk did insist that the federal government is a “target-rich environment” with inefficiencies being identified across agencies.

Despite its efforts, DOGE’s online platform has faced claims that its data is inaccurate and either miscounts or incorrectly attributes savings. These allegations have increased skepticism among both DOGE’s supporters and critics regarding the feasibility of the ambitious budget cuts.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Immigration
News

Trump’s Immigration Policies Are Normalizing Life on the Border for Residents.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, which had been closed and fortified with concertina wire and armed guards for over a year, has reopened.

👥 Who’s Involved: Local residents like Dora Flores, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, former President Joe Biden, and Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr.

📍 Where & When: Eagle Pass, Texas, reopened in recent days after closures and heightened security started in January 2024.

💬 Key Quote: Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr. stated, “We’re happy the park has returned to the city.”

⚠️ Impact: The reopening represents a shift in the politics surrounding immigration enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border and a decrease in the perceived urgency of security measures.

IN FULL:

Residents of Eagle Pass, Texas, experienced a return to normalcy as the once-closed Shelby Park reopened, shedding the concertina wire and armed presence that kept it inaccessible for more than a year. The move comes after President Donald J. Trump’s border policies have significantly reduced illegal crossings in the area.

The reopening followed Texas Governor Greg Abbott‘s withdrawal of significant security measures, citing a decrease in migrant crossings at the border. In January 2024, Abbott had deployed forces to the area as a demonstration against former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. However, with crossings reaching a record low, the focus has shifted, and the enhanced security presence has been significantly reduced.

Local residents like Dora Flores, 73, approached the park on a warm Monday morning, noting the changes. “Is the park really open?” she asked, expressing relief that the area no longer resembled a high-security facility. The park, equipped with sports fields and a boat ramp into the Rio Grande, is once again available for public use. Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr. commented on the developments, stating, “We’re happy the park has returned to the city.”

President Trump’s strict border policies have massively reduced the number of illegal crossings. These include sending U.S. military personnel to aid in border security. The chief of San Diego’s Border Patrol said having troops on the border was a “force multiplier” last month.

March saw a record-low number of illegal border crossings, a massive 97 percent decline compared to March 2022. President Trump’s mass deportation initiative under Border Czar Tom Homan has also been credited for dissuading illegal crossing attempts.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
World

Nearly Half of Criminal Suspects in This European Country Are Foreigners.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Crime statistics reveal that nearly half of the criminal suspects in Austria in 2024 were foreigners.

👥 Who’s Involved: Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, foreign criminals, youth criminals.

📍 Where & When: A report on Austrian crime statistics was released by Karner on April 14.

💬 Key Quote: “The number of crimes among ten to 14-year-olds has almost doubled in the last five years. Above all, the number of Syrian suspects clearly stands out here.” — Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.

⚠️ Impact: The statistics reveal how overrepresented foreigners are in criminal reports in Austria.

IN FULL:

Despite representing around 20 percent of the overall population, foreigners accounted for nearly 50 percent of the criminal suspects in Austria last year. Of the over 335,000 criminal suspects investigated by police in the European Union (EU) member state in 2024, 46.8 percent were foreign nationals.

The top sources of foreign criminals are Romania, Germany, and Syria, with Syrians seeing a 30 percent increase in crimes compared to the prior year. The data, presented by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, also reveals a surge in youth crime across the country. Crimes attributed to children aged 10 to 14 increased by nearly 100 percent, with around half being foreigners.

“The number of crimes among ten to 14-year-olds has almost doubled in the last five years. Above all, the number of Syrian suspects clearly stands out here,” Interior Minister Karner said. Due to the increase, the Interior Minister has suggested expanding facilities for repeat youth criminals, while others have called for increased fines for school absences.

Dominik Nepp, the leader of the populist Freedom Party (FPOe) in Vienna, stated that the age of criminal responsibility should be reduced to 12 years old and said that Austria’s immigration and border policies also contributed to the surge in criminality.

The anti-mass migration FPOe, led by Herbert Kickl, came first in the last Austrian national election and looked to form a government earlier this year, but talks between them and the center-right Austrian People’s Party collapsed.

Image by C.Stadler/Bwag.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
Immigration

Trump Blocks Social Security Benefits for Illegal Aliens.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to prevent illegal aliens and ineligible individuals from receiving benefits under the Social Security Act.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Trump Administration, Social Security Administration (SSA), 50 U.S. Attorney Offices, and Medicare and Medicaid fraud-prosecution programs.

📍 Where & When: The Memorandum was signed today in the United States.

💬 Key Quote: “Taxpayer-funded benefits should be provided only to eligible persons and must not encourage or reward illegal immigration to the United States.” – President Trump.

⚠️ Impact: The Memorandum seeks to protect taxpayer funds, expand SSA fraud investigations, reduce incentives for illegal immigration, and stop payments to ineligible individuals.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has enacted a Presidential Memorandum to prevent illegal aliens and those deemed ineligible from accessing benefits provided through the Social Security Act. The directive involves a series of enforcement measures intended to safeguard taxpayer dollars, remove incentives for illegal immigration, and address instances of benefit fraud.

Key components of this initiative include the Social Security Administration (SAA) collaborating with at least 50 U.S. Attorney Offices to strengthen its fraud prosecutor program. Moreover, it establishes dedicated fraud prosecution initiatives for Medicare and Medicaid across 15 U.S. Attorney Offices. These steps aim to ensure benefits do not reach individuals who do not qualify.

To further combat identity fraud, the SSA Inspector General has been tasked with examining income records for people aged 100 and over with inconsistencies in their Social Security information. Additionally, the agency is exploring whether to reinstate civil monetary penalties for those committing Social Security fraud, a measure that has been dormant for several years.

According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), American taxpayers incur expenses surpassing $182 billion yearly due to the presence of approximately 20 million illegal aliens and their offspring, based on both federal and state expenditures. Despite some illegal aliens contributing taxes, reports suggest they remain a net fiscal burden, estimated at roughly $150.7 billion.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Obama Judge Threatens Contempt in Deportation Dispute.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Far-left U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg says he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt for not returning deportation planes to the U.S. as ordered.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Trump administration, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, and the Justice Department (DOJ).

📍 Where & When: Deportations to El Salvador in March; the court order was announced on Wednesday, April 16.

💬 Key Quote: “The Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order,” stated Judge Boasberg.

⚠️ Impact: The administration is instructed to file declarations or face potential prosecution. However, President Donald J. Trump holds the power to pardon people in federal contempt cases.

IN FULL:

Far-left U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg says he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt over its alleged failure to comply with his court order requiring planes carrying illegal immigrants to El Salvador to turn around and return to the United States. The federal judge accuses the Trump White House of acting with “willful disregard” toward his March 15 order, which temporarily halted all deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act.

Despite Boasberg’s contention, the Trump administration argues the judge’s order came too late to turn around two planes carrying 261 illegal immigrants—including over 100 Venezuelan gang members—to El Salvador, where they are being housed in the country’s high-security CECOT prison facility. In a 48-page determination, the judge lays out his dubious criticism of the government for its actions and outlines steps for the administration to avoid prosecution.

Boasberg demands the Department of Justice (DOJ) submit additional declarations by April 23 to explain the circumstances surrounding non-compliance or face potential prosecution. “The Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt,” the judge writes. Boasberg continued, explaining that if the DOJ does not explain why the court should not proceed with contempt charges, he will ask federal prosecutors to identify administration officials responsible for what he calls “contumacious conduct.”

“The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions,” the Barack Obama-appointed judge concluded while declaring that the government’s responses so far have been unsatisfactory to the court.

In response, the White House swiftly announced plans to seek appellate relief. “We plan to seek immediate appellate relief,” Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director, announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He added: “The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country.”

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By Popular Demand.
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