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WATCH: Bannon’s ‘Victory or Death’ Speech (+ Subtitles & Transcript.)

Stephen K. Bannon spoke at the Turning Point People’s Convention in Detroit this weekend, telling an audience of thousands, “Victory, or death!” as the culmination of a 20-minute long address that touched on the 2020 election, the necessity of MAGA volunteers across the U.S., and the intent of the political establishment to jail President Trump on July 11th.

“Are we at war? Is this a political war to the knife? Are you prepared to leave it all on the battlefield in 2024? There’s no other chance. You realize if they win, if they steal this election, because they can’t win the election, right? No chance they can win it. If they steal this election and they fully intend to steal it, this republic ends,” Bannon said.

WATCH:

AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED TRANSCRIPT:

You are the vanguard of a revolution. Do you understand that? Trump. Trump. Trump. Trump. Trump. Do you understand the inspiration that you give to the world, the young people here today? What do you think inspires, what do you think inspires Germany and France and the United Kingdom? The young people in those nations are rising up against their Marxist leaders for freedom and liberty and its Turning Point. And you, that are inspiring them.

Are we at war? Is this a political war to the knife? Are you prepared to leave it all on the battlefield in 2024? There’s no other chance. You realize if they win, if they steal this election, because they can’t win the election, right? No chance they can win it. If they steal this election and they fully intend to steal it, this republic ends. That’s what the burden’s on your shoulders. Look what they’ve done. Look what the Biden regime has done since the scene of the crime right here in this building where they stole the 2020 election. Look what the Biden regime has done.

I don’t need to go through the litany of how they destroyed this country, particularly on the three big things: the invasion, the overspending that destroyed the economy and left inflation, right, the invasion and the forever wars that they refuse to back off. But what they’ve done is something even worse. They turned, they’ve turned the legal system. They’ve turned the legal system, whether it’s bankruptcy, whether it is taking away somebody’s law license, whether it’s debanking. And they have the greatest president this nation’s had since Abraham Lincoln. They’re about to put him, by the way, you know, on the 11 July, they’re going to sentence him for multiple years in prison. You understand that, right? You understand what they’re doing in New York? And then they’re going to limit, they’re going to limit how he can travel, how it’s going to be court supervised.

Why is that? To steal the election. To steal the election. Under no circumstances can they have the Trump, the Trump administration take back over. They can’t have MAGA rule the country. They don’t care about this election. They don’t care how many votes we get. They’re going to fight us every step of the way. Look, it’s between now and November 5 and what Charlie and the team here and you guys go through these workshops and get out the vote and chase the ballots. And voter integrity is everything. But just winning in November is just the first step. Then, from November 5 to the 6th, Jamie Raskin is going to try to steal the election. On January 6. He’s going to. They’re already talking about right now to say President Trump’s an insurrectionist and we will never certify an election of an insurrectionist. Raskin talks about it all the time. That’s why we have to take the House, even by just one seat.

And then, and then, and then starting on high noon on the 20 January, when President Trump takes his hand off the King James Bible. Now, are all you folks going to be there on that day? You better be. We’re gonna have one hell of a party that night, are we not? They haven’t seen a party like that since Andrew Jackson’s crowd showed up taking the drapes out of the White House. I think after Biden, we’re going to have an exorcism. Correct? That afternoon for Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden and Hunter Biden, all in the Biden, they’re a bunch of feral dogs, right? It’s a family of feral dogs. We’re going to have to fumigate in it and have an exorcism.

That’s where the real work starts. The real work’s going to start on the afternoon, the 20th. And the first thing we gotta, we gotta stop the forever wars, particularly in Ukraine. No more money. No more money for Ukraine. Not a penny, not a penny. We’ve got to stop the massive spending and what’s destroyed the economy. We also have to begin to end the Fed and we need to get in back of independent cryptocurrencies. Not a central bank, digital currency, where they’re going to control you. Correct. And most importantly, he’s got to seal the southern border, and we got to start the deportation of 10 to 15 million. That’s the three big things.

But trust me, on the afternoon of the 20th, we’re also going to start the pick and shovel work to take apart the administrative state and to take on its rogue element, the praetorian guard, the deep state. We’re going to run them all out of town. Hey, hey, Merrick Garland. Merrick Garland. Let me give you a heads-up, bro. You’re not going to be able to have your Department of Justice send a memo and say, oh, he should be prosecuted, and then have Department of Justice say, oh, well, I’m not going to prosecute myself, right, for holding back the tapes that we know show the lives of Joe Biden, the treason of Joe Biden, and how enfeebled he is. After that. It’s not the tapes we’re coming after. Lisa Monaco, Merrick Garland, the senior members of DOJ that have prosecuted President Trump.

Jack Smith, and this is not about vengeance. This is not about revenge. This is not about retribution. This is about saving this republic. We’re going to use the Constitution. We’re going to use the Constitution. We’re going to use the constitution in the rule of law to go after you and hold you accountable. November 5 is Judgment Day. January 20, 2025, is accountability day. You’re going to have a man up here tonight at 06:00 the 06:00 this evening or thereabouts. You know, President Trump’s schedule, having been to a Turning Point conference before. And President Trump is coming here both to give a speech, a rally speech, and also to give Q and A. That’s how highly he thinks of Charlie Kirk and you guys. President Trump, when he takes this stand tonight, is now eligible for 700 years in prison. They want him to serve all of it. They bankrupted him. They smeared his name. And on July 11, they’re going to start by giving him a several-year prison sentence and have Judge Merchan be the custodian of where he can go and how he campaigned in Direct election interference.

Let me tell the people that have done that to President Trump, whether you’re in the federal government or whether you’re down in the state of Georgia or you’re in Arizona or you’re initially, we are going to go and we’re going to get every single receipt into the fullest extension of the law. You are going to be investigated, prosecuted and incarcerated. Okay? We are not going to stop. This has nothing to do with retribution, has nothing to do with revenge because retribution, revenge might be another order of magnitude. This has to do with justice. We’ve got to go back to the beginning. We’ve got to go back to Russiagate. We’ve got to go back to who did that. We’ve got to go back to Mueller’s commission. We got to go back to Andrew Weissman and MSNBC and the New York Times and all of it, right? They stole it. We got to go back there. We’ve got to go back, we got to go back to the pandemic. We have to go back to the George Floyd Summer of love. We have to investigate it all. We have to go back, we have to go back to the 3 November of 2020. We must go back and we’ve got to adjudicate how they stole it and who stole it. We have to go to January 6 and we have to find out every FBI agent or the CIA, DHS, Chris Wray, all of them. The Fedsurrection must be investigated.

The afternoon of January 20, we must free the 1400 patriots and must incarcerate the criminals. Every patriot and Patriot grave, from the revolution to the civil war to Normandy. Now, this 80th anniversary of Saipan, which is big as Normandy, every patriot that died on a battlefield demands it of us. They demand it. They say, we bequeath. We gave all to give you this republic. And look what you allowed to happen. Well, guess what? It stops on the afternoon of the 20 January, 2025. Because then, then the criminals in this government, the criminals on Wall street, the criminals in Silicon Valley, that’s when it’s going to start. That’s when accountability day starts. And we must go there.

MSNBC and the Biden-Harris campaign, they’re clipping this right now. Look at this. This is all they’re talking about. This is not all we’re talking about. President Trump’s talking about peace and prosperity, just like he gave us for three and a half years before the Chinese Communist Party Him with a bioweapon. He’s talking about ending the war in Ukraine, he’s talking about ending the war in the Middle East. He’s talking about backing down China from Taiwan. He wants peace. And only a strong man can give us peace. Only a leader can give us peace. We’ve seen what a feckless, hapless old man can do. President Trump is going to get the tax cuts back, have a growth plan, and stop the massive federal spending. And most important, he’s going to seal the border and deport not just the criminals, not just the sick. He’s going to deport every single illegal alien that came here on Joe Biden’s watch, and you’re going back home. But that leaves plenty of time to set things right.

And that’s where you come in. You’re the vanguard of this revolution. We are not prepared to be governed by criminals and we are going to purge DOJ. We’re going to take apart the FBI, the FBI, the American Gestapo. That building on Pennsylvania Avenue. We don’t need $400 million for a new headquarters. You’re not going to need a headquarters. You’re not going to be in the FBI. We’re going to get everybody out of that building. We’re going to take it down ugly slab by ugly slab is the ugliest building on Pennsylvania Avenue. And we’re going to do what the Romans did to Carthage. We’re going to salt the earth around it so there’ll never be another building there again in mainstream media. Don’t sit there. Go. They want to get rid of the FBI. They’re doing such great work on terrorism. They’re doing such great work on this and that. Yeah, they did great work on terrorism. 9/11, great work. You haven’t gotten anything right. And the CIA hadn’t got anything right in 50 years because you’re spending all your time going after Catholics, pray, praying rosaries at abortion centers. You’re going after moms and dads, going to school boards. You’re an American Gestapo. And it’s going to end on our watch.

And we’re going to rebuild something else. There’ll be something that comes up and is rebuilt along the lines that’s appropriate. Not a federal police force. Not a federal police force that’s in citizens business. Not a federal police force that with jackboots kicking down doors and arresting innocent people, you’re going to be put on a short leash. Like the CIA is going to be on a short lease. The DOJ is going to be in a short leash. It’s going to be a new day. And Maga will run things. The globalist elite, uniparty will not run things in this country. Now, here’s the whole reason I came here today is about President Trump and the team around President Trump, whether it’s Roger Stone or Rudy Giuliani or John Eastman or, you know, Alex Jones, Alex Jones, every person that has defended President Trump, whether they’re a lawyer, whether they’re a media person, Tucker Carlson, they’re trying to, they’re trying to debank people, they’re trying to de-platform people. They’re trying to take their law license away and scare lawyers from defending people. They’re turning people into political prisoners and sending people to prison. And they will send every one of you in this audience to prison also. That’s why they’re coming for Trump.

But the concept, the concept that you have to embed, whether it’s President Trump or Tucker Carlson or Alex Jones, Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro, James O’Keefe, whoever, we’re just the first wave. We’re like the first wave of the Normandy beaches. You’re the second, the third, the fourth. It’s next man up and next woman up. The only way we lose is if we quit. They know that this, this movement is ascendant. We are two-thirds of the nation, maybe 75% of the nation. We just have to get the word out to them. And that’s you. And when anybody falls, when everybody’s taken off, whether they’re put in jail, whether they’re bankrupt, whether they are, they’re de-platformed de banked. They lost their law license. You must step into the breach. Nobody else. Check yourself. You, if you commit to that, if your task and purpose is saving your country, this country will be saved.

Understand, you’re exactly like the patriots in 1774 and 1775. You’re fighting a tyranny, and you’re fighting monopolistic economic power. They, they only had, like, 3% at the beginning, then 5%, then 10%, but they never had more than a third. We have over half the nation right now. Biden didn’t get 81 million votes. The 74 million votes that were won in a landslide, they hadn’t stolen it. You know that, I know that, and they know that. The only thing that defeats us is if we stop. If we don’t stop, we grow more powerful and larger every single day. And when on November 5, when you send a message, when you send a message to Davos and Brussels in Geneva and Wall Street and Silicon Valley and Beverly Hills, they’re going to know that Maga is not only ascended, Maga is in charge.

Between now and election day, they’re going to try to take out so many people. And that’s where it’s next man up. It’s next woman up. Are you prepared to fight? Are you prepared to give it all? Are you prepared to leave it all on the battlefield? I can’t hear you. And they can’t hear you. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s very simple. Victory or death.

By Popular Demand.
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Trump Ousts Obama-Appointed Librarian of Congress.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: President Donald J. Trump terminated Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Carla Hayden, Trent Morse, Robert Newlen, congressional Democrats, and the American Accountability Foundation.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C.; termination announced on Thursday.

💬 Key Quote: “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately.” – Trent Morse

⚠️ Impact: Democrats criticized the dismissal, claiming it undermines public service and could affect libraries nationwide.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has removed Carla Hayden from her position as the Librarian of Congress. The Obama appointee received an email informing her, “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump… your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” Robert Newlen, the Principal Deputy Librarian, informed library staff of the change, indicating he would temporarily assume the duties of the Librarian of Congress.

The American Accountability Foundation (AAF) had been calling for Hayden’s termination, writing in the hours before its announcement that she was “woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids.”

The first black person and the first woman to hold the position, her 10-year term had been set to expire next year. Her early removal has prompted strong reactions from Democrats. Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, a leading Democrat on the House Administration Committee, criticized the decision and plans to propose legislation ensuring Congress appoints future Librarians of Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also condemned the move, with Schumer also pushing for Congress to usurp the executive’s control over the appointment process.

Image by Library of Congress Life.

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By Popular Demand.
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Ric Grenell Issues Warning After Les Mis Actors Threaten Boycott of Kennedy Center Event with Trump.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Actors from a Kennedy Center production of Les Misérables threatened to boycott a performance attended by President Donald J. Trump.

👥 Who’s Involved: The cast of Les Misérables, Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, President Trump, and celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda.

📍 Where & When: The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., June 11.

💬 Key Quote: “The Kennedy Center will no longer fund this intolerance,” stated Ric Grenell.

⚠️ Impact: The Kennedy Center faces controversy over political affiliations and the potential impact on future performances and funding.

IN FULL:

A brewing controversy at the Kennedy Center has emerged as a significant number of actors from the touring company of Les Misérables have expressed their intent to boycott a performance scheduled for June 11, which President Donald J. Trump plans to attend. In response to a report by CNN, Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell issued a firm statement rejecting what he described as “intolerance.”

Grenell emphasized that the Kennedy Center would not support any form of intolerance, stating, “We haven’t heard this rumor, but the Kennedy Center will no longer fund this intolerance.” He further asserted that performers unwilling to entertain patrons regardless of political beliefs would not be welcome, suggesting that such behavior should be publicly acknowledged to inform future hiring decisions.

The Kennedy Center, under the Trump administration, has experienced efforts to revamp its operations, including the firing of the board of directors shortly after Trump took office. Some liberal figures, such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, have distanced themselves from the venue, with Miranda canceling a performance of Hamilton and criticizing what he referred to as the “Trump Kennedy Center.”

Grenell has dismissed such actions as mere “publicity stunts” that he believes will ultimately backfire. He maintained that the arts should be accessible to everyone, not just those who align with specific political views.

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By Popular Demand.
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Prosecutors Claim Man ‘Harassed’ Islam by Burning Quran.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Prosecutors have charged a man for burning a Quran in England, which critics say could introduce blasphemy laws back to the country.

👥 Who’s Involved: Prosecutors, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, Hamit Coskun.

📍 Where & When: Charges were laid after Coskun burned the Quran as part of a protest earlier this year.

💬 Key Quote: “It is not for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or courts to create a blasphemy law in this country by the back door.” — Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Jenrick.

⚠️ Impact: If the prosecution continues and Coskun is found guilty, it could introduce a new de facto blasphemy law into the British legal system.

IN FULL:

British prosecutors have criminally charged a man under the Public Order Act after setting fire to a copy of the Islamic Quran, claiming that he was “harassing” the religion by doing so. Critics have warned that the case could set a precedent for a quasi-blasphemy law in the United Kingdom if the man is convicted.

Hamit Coskun has been charged with harassing the religion, which the prosecutor claims is an “institution” in Britain. It is the first time anyone has been charged with such an offense, as prior to the case, religions like Islam were not considered “persons.”

Shadow Justice Secretary and former Conservative Party leadership contender Robert Jenrick sharply criticised the move to prosecute Coskun. “Burning the Quran, like any religious text, is something that some people find very offensive and few people would condone, but that’s not the point. There are many things in our society that people find offensive, but that doesn’t make them criminal,” Jenrick said. 

He added that Britain scrapped blasphemy laws nearly two decades prior, saying it was “right to do so.” He insisted: “It is not for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or courts to create a blasphemy law in this country by the back door.”

The case came just months after another man in Manchester was admonished by a judge for tearing out a page of a Quran and burning it. According to the judge, the book was “sacred” and such actions were not permissible in a “tolerant” society.

Some Muslim lawmakers in Britain, including members of the ruling Labour Party, have called for blasphemy laws to return to the country. Tahir Ali MP urged the government to ban the desecration of religious texts, something Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out at the time.

Image by Frankie Fouganthin.

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By Popular Demand.
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Farmers Rally in Support of Trump’s Tariff Strategy.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: American farmers are showing strong support for President Trump’s trade policies, expecting tariffs to bolster the agricultural sector.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, American farmers, Purdue University, and CME Group.

📍 Where & When: United States, April (latest data from Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer).

💬 Key Quote: “This month, one out of four respondents said it was a good time to make large investments.” — Perdue University study.

⚠️ Impact: Increased farmer optimism and investment intentions, with expectations of improved financial performance.

IN FULL:

Farmers across America are expressing robust support for President Donald J. Trump‘s trade policies, according to the latest data from the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The survey reveals that 70 percent of farmers believe the tariffs imposed under Trump’s administration will ultimately strengthen the agricultural sector. This optimistic outlook is reflected in the significant rise in farmer sentiment observed in April, with both current and future expectations showing marked improvement.

The Farm Capital Investment Index, a key measure of farmers‘ willingness to invest, has reached its highest level since May 2021. This surge in investment sentiment is underscored by the finding that one in four respondents considers it a favorable time to make substantial investments. This figure is nearly twice the percentage recorded in surveys conducted from May to October of the previous year.

Moreover, the Farm Financial Performance Index has remained above 100 for four consecutive months. This indicates that producers anticipate financial performance this year to be on par with, or slightly exceed, the levels seen last year.

The data underscores a growing confidence among American farmers in the Trump administration’s economic strategies. By focusing on restoring fairness in global trade and opening new markets for U.S. producers, the administration has garnered significant support within the agricultural community.

The optimism of farmers matches the similar sentiment expressed by those in the manufacturing industry, who have also praised President Trump’s tariff policies.

President Trump has said his new trade deal with the United Kingdom, announced Thursday, will significantly open the British market to American produce.

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By Popular Demand.
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Trump Calls for 30-Day Ceasefire Between Russia and Ukraine, Threatens Sanctions on Both if Not Upheld.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: President Donald J. Trump is once again pushing for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, threatening sanctions if either country violates the suspension of hostilities. He hopes a ceasefire can pave the way for a peace deal between the warring nations.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

📍 Where & When: President Trump called for a ceasefire in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions,” President Trump warned.

⚠️ Impact: With the Russian economy beginning to show signs of strain under current U.S. sanctions, and Putin even expressing a desire to re-establish access to Western markets, the 30-day ceasefire demand may be too much for him to pass up. The Russian leader has already signalled he is open to a shorter-term cessation of hostilities. However, this may be the final efforts of the Trump White House to broker an end to the conflict before washing their hands of the issue.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump is calling for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, threating that the United States and its partners will impose crippling sanctions on whichever of the two nations either refuse the agreement or violate it. The America First leader outlined the ceasefire proposal in a post on Truth Social late Thursday, May 8, 2025.

“The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations,” Trump wrote, continuing: “If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions.”

He added: “Thousands of young soldiers are dying on a weekly basis, and everybody should want it to STOP. I do, and the United States of America does, also. As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be!”

Trump emphasized that the ceasefire demand is intended to “ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement” and that it must be done “quickly.” Additionally, President Trump offered to be “available on a moment’s notice” to help broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier in the week, Trump expressed his disgust and anger with the intransigence shown by both the Russian and Ukrainian governments toward a peace deal. Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington, D.C., said that Russia is “asking for too much” in return for ending its war against neighboring Ukraine, highlighting the Trump White House’s continued frustration with reaching an elusive peace settlement.

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By Popular Demand.
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EU Takes Trump to WTO, Plans 95 Billion Euro Retaliation Against U.S. Tariffs.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: The European Union (EU) announced plans to challenge U.S. “reciprocal” tariffs at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and launched a public consultation on countermeasures.

👥 Who’s Involved: European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, John Plueger of Air Lease Corp.

📍 Where & When: Luxembourg, May 7, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The EU’s objective is thus to reaffirm that internationally agreed rules matter, and these cannot be unilaterally disregarded by any WTO member, including the US,” stated the European Commission.

⚠️ Impact: Further trade tensions with tariffs affecting industries such as automotive, aerospace, and spirits, with a possible shift in production strategies for EU manufacturers.

IN FULL:

The European Union (EU) has declared its intention to contest the United States’ reciprocal tariff policy at the World Trade Organization (WTO). This announcement was made during a press conference held by EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic at the EU Council building on May 7, 2025.

The European Commission has initiated a public consultation on possible countermeasures targeting U.S. imports valued at $107.4 billion, should negotiations with Washington falter. The proposed list includes a wide array of agricultural and industrial goods, notably bourbon and tequila, which have been contentious points between the transatlantic partners. President Donald J. Trump had previously threatened to impose a 200 percent tariff on EU alcohol imports, escalating tensions.

The EU’s dispute will formally begin with a consultation request, as the Commission asserts that the U.S. tariffs contravene fundamental WTO rules. “The EU’s objective is thus to reaffirm that internationally agreed rules matter and these cannot be unilaterally disregarded by any WTO member, including the US,” the Commission emphasized in its statement.

European Trade Commissioner Maroš Sefcovic highlighted the EU’s aim to negotiate a resolution to avoid Trump’s proposed 20 percent reciprocal tariffs on all U.S. imports from the EU. Despite ongoing talks, Sefcovic noted that the EU is preparing for all outcomes. The U.S. has already imposed a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles, impacting European car manufacturers.

In a statement, EC President Ursula von der Leyen expressed commitment to finding negotiated solutions, stating, “We believe there are good deals to be made for the benefit of consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”

The EU has temporarily halted retaliatory measures against U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, which could affect $24.1 billion worth of U.S. goods with a 25 percent tariff rate if implemented. Its combative approach with the Trump administration at the WTO contrasts with the approach of the United Kingdom, a former EU member state now able to control its own trade policy, which struck an ambitious free trade agreement with the U.S. on Thursday.

Image: European Union 2023– Source: EP.

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By Popular Demand.
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Stocks Climb as Trump Secures U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom, leading to a rise in U.S. stock markets.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, investors, and the U.S. Stock Market.

📍 Where & When: The announcement of the U.S.-UK trade deal was made on Thursday morning, May 8, 2025, from the Oval Office.

💬 Key Quote: Trump stated the deal will provide “billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture.”

⚠️ Impact: U.S. stock indices rose, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq all gaining. The blue-chip Dow narrowly missed exit correction territory.

IN FULL:

U.S. stock markets experienced a boost on Thursday following President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a trade agreement with the United Kingdom. At closing, the Dow Jones had gained 254 points, or 0.6 percent. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 also rose 0.6 percent, and the Nasdaq closed up 1 percent.

After weeks of what Trump critics tried to frame as a market decline, the blue-chip Dow Jones narrowly missed exit correction territory, strongly suggesting that the volatility has been driven by a much-needed market correction. Notably, the market gains are also throwing cold water on fears that the United States has entered a bear market.

In a statement from the Oval Office, President Trump highlighted the economic benefits of the new trade deal, which promises “billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture.” He noted that the United Kingdom will remove non-tariff barriers that have previously “unfairly discriminated against American products.”

Despite the new agreement, lower tariffs on imports from Britain will remain. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that tariffs would continue to generate $6 billion in revenue for the United States.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed a House committee earlier this week that the U.S. is engaged in negotiations with 17 out of 18 key trading partners. While the U.S.-U.K. deal is seen as a positive step, larger traders like China may present more significant challenges. China has reiterated its demand for the U.S. to cancel tariffs, a point of contention ahead of talks between Secretary Bessent and a Chinese delegation this weekend.

President Trump has maintained his stance on not reducing the 145 percent tariffs on Chinese goods during negotiations. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve, citing trade policy uncertainties, decided to keep its benchmark interest rate steady at 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent.

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By Popular Demand.
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Germany Reverses Designation of Populist Party as ‘Right-Wing Extremist’ Following Lawsuit, Pressure from Trump.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Following a lawsuit and criticism from the Trump administration, Germany’s domestic spy agency has suspended its classification of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which placed second in the country’s recent federal elections, as a right-wing extremist organization.

👥 Who’s Involved: AfD, AfD leader Alice Weidel, co-leader Tino Chrupalla, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

📍 Where & When: The spy agency announced the move on May 8.

💬 Key Quote: “We are defending ourselves with all legal means against the upgrade by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.” — Weidel and Chrupalla.

⚠️ Impact: The German spy agency will not surveil members of the AfD or place informants in the party as general policy until the court case is resolved.

IN FULL:

The German domestic spy agency has suspended its labelling of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a right-wing extremist organization following pressure from the Trump administration and a new lawsuit. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution announced it would be suspending the classification on May 8 until a court decides on the outcome of the pending lawsuit.

The AfD is appealing the classification at the Cologne Administrative Court to reverse the spy agency’s decision. If the court does not rule in favour of the party, the spy agency will be able to surveil party members and use informants to infiltrate it at scale.

Following the announcement from the spy agency, AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla both claimed it as a victory, though the move will only become permanent after a ruling.

“We are defending ourselves with all legal means against the upgrade by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution,” the pair said in a statement. Their party placed second in Germany’s recent federal elections, and it is the leading party in several areas, particularly in the former East Germany.

Along with the lawsuit, the move comes after the German spy agency was widely criticised by members of Donald J. Trump’s administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise,” Rubio said.

Image by Markus Spiske.

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By Popular Demand.
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With Ed Martin Nomination Stalled, Trump May Name Judge Jeanine as U.S. Attorney for D.C. Instead.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: With Ed Martin’s nomination as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia stalled in the Senate, it is widely speculated that President Donald J. Trump will announce former judge, prosecutor, and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as his new pick.

👥 Who’s Involved: Current Interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin; Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro; President Donald J. Trump, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), the U.S. Senate.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., May 8, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “He is a terrific person. He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump said of the stalled Martin nomination, adding: “I’m very disappointed in that. But I have so many different things that I’m doing now with the trade [negotiations]. One person, I can only lift that little phone so many times in a day. But we have somebody else that will be great.”

⚠️ Impact: Pirro is seen as a staunch ally of Trump, who, like Martin, will continue to carry out the America First leader’s agenda in the District of Columbia.

IN FULL:

It is believed that President Donald J. Trump will soon tap former judge, prosecutor, and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the new Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. The move comes as the push to confirm the current interim prosecutor, Ed Martin, has stalled out in the U.S. Senate after drawing opposition from Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), an establishment figure often accused of catering to the political goals of multinational corporations over Americans.

Earlier on Thursday, after signing a landmark trade deal with the United Kingdom, President Trump addressed the current situation with Martin’s nomination, expressing his frustration with the senators opposing his pick but signaling that the White House would be moving on to another choice. “He is a terrific person. He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump said, adding: “I’m very disappointed in that. But I have so many different things that I’m doing now with the trade [negotiations]. One person, I can only lift that little phone so many times in a day. But we have somebody else that will be great.”

Trump went on to reemphasize that his White House has “somebody else that we’ll be announcing over the next two days who’s gonna be great.”

Jeanine Pirro has been a staunch ally of Trump, even before either was on the national political stage. Notably, Pirro was an early backer of Trump’s successful 2016 presidential bid and served as a quasi-surrogate, pushing back against attacks on him in the media.

Image by Michael IVadon.

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By Popular Demand.
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Economists Blast Bank of England Rate Cut as Too Small — While U.S. Fed Won’t Slash Rates at All.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: The Bank of England reduced its base interest rate from 4.5 percent to 4.25 percent.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Bank of England, economist Patrick Minford, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and the United States Federal Reserve.

📍 Where & When: Thursday, May 8, 2025, in the United Kingdom.

💬 Key Quote: “I would have welcomed more [of a cut to base rates] actually… At the moment, the priority is to try and stop the recession gathering pace,” said economist and former Margaret Thatcher advisor Patrick Minford.

⚠️ Impact: The British rate cut may not be sufficient to prevent a recession in Britain, but could increase pressure on the U.S. Federal Reserve to finally enact a rate cut of its own.

IN FULL:

The Bank of England has announced a reduction in its base interest rate from 4.5 percent to 4.25 percent, a move that has been met with mixed reactions from economists and the public. While this decision is seen as beneficial for many homeowners, Patrick Minford, a prominent economist and former advisor to the late Prime Minsiter Margaret Thatcher, has expressed concerns that the cut may not be enough to avert an impending recession. Conversely, yesterday, the United States Federal Reserve declined to cut rates at all, raising concerns that the American central bank is asleep at the wheel.

“I would have welcomed more [of a cut to base rates] actually,” Minford said in an interview, warning: “At the moment, the priority is to try and stop the recession gathering pace.”

As in the U.S., the British inflation rate has continued to fall, decreasing from 2.8 percent in February to 2.6 percent in March. However, in both countries, the inflation rate remains just above their respective central bank targets. In the U.S., President Donald J. Trump has steadily increased political pressure on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to usher in a cut to interest rates and inject liquidity into the American economy.

Following the signing of a bilateral trade agreement between the U.S. and the UK on Thursday, President Trump again pushed “Too Late” Powell to cut rates, likening a cut to “jet fuel” and suggesting Powell’s reluctance to lower interest rates is politically motivated.

Despite growing concerns over a potential global recession driven by a deflationary demand collapse, the U.S. labor market has remained resilient under President Trump. The National Pulse reported on Thursday that unemployment claims are continuing to fall in the U.S., beating expectations, suggesting that recession fears may be overblown.

Image by Rafael Saldana.

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PULSE POINTS:

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By Popular Demand.
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