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July 23, 2024
William Upton
Politics

Inside the Secret Service Director’s Disastrous House Testimony.

Monday’s House Oversight Committee hearing regarding the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump evolved into a rare moment of near-bipartisan unity as lawmakers demanded United States Secret Service (USSS) Director Kimberly Cheatle resign. As Cheatle‘s questioning progressed through the morning and early afternoon, committee members became increasingly alarmed by the lack of information Cheatle was willing to provide and her seeming incompetence.

Cheatle—who from 2019 to 2022 served as the global director of security for PepsiCo.—sat for nearly four and a half hours as lawmakers peppered her with questions regarding the lapses in security that resulted in a 20-year-old shooter being able to get within 200 yards of Trump and nearly assassinate him. While the hearing could have been an opportunity to assuage concerns on Capitol Hill and among the American public, Cheatle offered little transparency.

Calls for Cheatle’s resignation were nearly unanimous, although Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) stopped short of demanding she step down and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) avoided the conversation altogether.

Three exchanges between lawmakers and Cheatle best summarize the hearing overall.

CHEATLE’S EGO EXPOSED.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) engaged in one of the most aggressive pushes among the lawmakers regarding Cheatle‘s resistance to calls for her resignation from the USSS. The Flordia Democrat asked: “You said there’s going to be accountability. I understand that you don’t want to give us names. When you say that, are you telling the committee that once [the investigation] is concluded, that you’re prepared to fire the people on the ground who made poor decisions that day?”

Cheatle attempted to dodge the question, saying she was prepared to “take the actions necessary” before Moskowitz intervened and pressed again if she would fire those who failed in their duties. Again, Cheatle offered only a non-answer.

The USSS director’s lack of candor instigated a telling question from Moskowitz, who had grown frustrated with Cheatle. “Let me ask this question a different way. If Trump had been assassinated that day, if the gunman had succeeded, would you have come and tendered your resignation?” he asked.

Cheatle responded: “I would still be sitting here because I would want to ensure the integrity of the investigation.”

While Moskowitz acknowledged that it was fair that she would want to set the process in motion, he pressed again, asking if she would have acknowledged the need for new leadership at the USSS if “a president was assassinated on [her] watch.” Cheatle, as she had done throughout the hearing, refused to give a direct response.

 

CAUGHT IN A LIE?

Next, Cheatle struggled to give an honest answer to Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) regarding evidence and information that had been communicated to her by officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Tired of Cheatle’s non-answers, Rep. McClain told the USSS director the best way to keep her job was to answer the questions honestly and “not play this shell game.”

When pressed on when she began preparing for the hearing, Cheatle couldn’t offer a date, leaving the Michigan Republican exasperated. McClain then asked Cheatle if she’d communicated with the FBI and with whom. At first, the USSS director would not answer as to what FBI officials she was communicating with, though she eventually relented and acknowledged she had spoken with the agency’s director and deputy director.

“How many shell casings were on the roof?” Rep. McClain asked Cheatle, noting the USSS director had acknowledged that the FBI had given her an exact number despite the fact she had declined to answer in her earlier testimony. Cheatle responded: “I would refer to the FBI.”

McClain again asked how many shell casings were found on the roof where the assassin was positioned. Again, Cheatle referred the Congresswoman to the FBI—refusing to share information with the committee.

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. 

The final exchange with Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) was the most telling of the day. The Florida Republican questioned why the USSS had not held a single press conference informing the American public as to updates regarding the attempted assassination of former President Trump. Cheatle acknowledged that neither she nor Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had held a single press conference.

“This is how misinformation flies in the darkness. In the absence of information,” Rep. Waltz said of the lack of public transparency from the USSS. He continued: “Are you aware that national news anchors are saying this was a hoax? On national television, they’re saying, ‘No, the president wasn’t shot; it was flying glass.’ Are you aware of that?”

Cheatle responded: ” I have not heard those reports.”

“Are you aware that there are rumors rampant online that there were multiple shooters?” Waltz pressed, with Cheatle responding: “Yes.”

“Are you aware that because the shooter had overseas encrypted platforms in Belgium, New Zealand, and Germany, that a lot of people are speculating there could have been foreign involvement? Logically?” he asked Cheatle, with the USSS director admitting she was aware.

“And have you done anything to disabuse any of these notions today?” the Florida Congressman asked before answering for Cheatle: “No.”

 

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4 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Breaking

Charlie Kirk Assassinated at 31 as Left-Wing Violence Epidemic Breaks Out Across Western World.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an American Comeback Tour event at Utah Valley University.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Charlie Kirk and a suspected gunman.

📍WHEN & WHERE: September 10, during an American Comeback Tour event in the Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.

💬KEY QUOTE: “He was a very, very good friend of mine, and he was a tremendous person.” – President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: The FBI is monitoring the situation closely. A person initially detained at the scene turned out not to be the shooter, but a suspect is now in custody.

IN FULL

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has been shot and killed at an American Comeback Tour event at Utah Valley University. UVU has confirmed the shot was fired “at about 12:10” and that a suspect was taken into custody. However, police have since determined that a suspect taken into custody in the immediate aftermath of the shooting was not the gunman. As of now, the killer is still at large.

UPDATE: 18:25 PM EST Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has announced that “The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.”

“Thank you to the local and state authorities in Utah for your partnership with [the FBI],” he continued, adding that he would “provide updates when able.” 

UPDATE: 16:45 PM EST — Officials have confirmed that Kirk’s killer is still at large, and that a manhunt is underway. Meanwhile, President Donald J. Trump has released a statement on Kirk’s assassination, writing on his Truth Social platform, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”

UPDATE: 16:20 PM EST — Deseret News politics reporter Brigham Tomco has cited Utah Speaker Mike Schultz as confirming that Charlie Kirk has died. Real America’s Voice, where Kirk’s show aired, has also been quoted as confirming Kirk’s death.

Speaking to CNN shortly before Kirk’s death was confirmed, President Donald J. Trump had said Kirk’s condition was “very bad,” and that he felt badly about the situation. “He was a very, very good friend of mine, and he was a tremendous person,” the President added.

UPDATE: 16:10 PM EST — Police have reportedly determined that a person taken into custody immediately after the shooting was not the gunman. It is currently unclear whether the actual shooter is still at large.

UPDATE: 15:50 PM EST — Geoffrey Ingersoll, Director of the Young America’s Foundation’s National Journalism Center, said around 03:10 EST that he had received two unconfirmed reports that Kirk “[has] been stabilized against all odds and is in the hospital receiving blood,” despite medical and military observers initially assessing the gunshot as unsurvivable. However, CBS has since reported Turning Point USA’s chief marketing officer as saying that while Kirk is in hospital, his condition “does not look good.”

The Associated Press describes the 31-year-old’s condition as “critical.”

Original report continues below:

Video footage from the event shared on social media shortly after the incident shows people running in all directions following the shooting, with social media users reporting Kirk was hit in the neck. Soon afterwards, further video from the event was shared, appearing to show the moment Kirk was struck.

“Charlie Kirk was just shot at UVU while speaking. My daughter was in the crowd and saw it. He was shot in the neck,” one social media user reported, adding: “Pray for him and the students who are there.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has confirmed the bureau is “closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” adding, “Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected. Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation.”

Vice President J.D. Vance shared a statement asking, “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”

Shortly afterwards, President Donald J. Trump shared his own statement, concurring, “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”

Kirk, 31, married Erika Frantzve in 2021, and has a young daughter and son, born in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

This story is developing…

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
World

Conor McGregor Slams Government ‘Traitors’ Pushing to Replace Irish With Migrants.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: UFC legend and Irish presidential contender Conor McGregor has slammed Ireland’s Finance Minister as a “traitor” for saying mass migration is needed to solve Ireland’s demographic problems.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Conor McGregor, Finance Minister Paschal Donohue, the Irish government, the Irish people, and immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: McGregor made his statements on X (formerly Twitter) on September 10.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Get this Ireland, we need more people hurriedly brought in, under full government subsidy, in order to support the hordes we are currently bringing in, on full government subsidy,” McGregor sarcastically observed.

🎯IMPACT: Donohue’s remarks reflect a broader dogma among many Western politicians that mass migration can be used to keep population levels rising despite low birthrates, regardless of the impact on native populations and social cohesion.

IN FULL

UFC legend Conor McGregor, who is seeking the Irish presidency, attacked the Irish government’s immigration policy following the publication of a Department of Finance report pushing mass migration as a solution to Ireland’s ageing population.

In a post on X, the former UFC champion labelled the Finance Minister Paschal Donohue a “WEAK, TREACHEROUS, TRAITOR,” accusing him of endangering the Irish people through unsustainable immigration policies.

“Get this Ireland, we need more people hurriedly brought in, under full government subsidy, in order to support the hordes we are currently bringing in, on full government subsidy,” McGregor sarcastically observed. “In the memory of Aisling Murphy, we refuse this endangerment to our sovereign, indigenous people of Ireland!” he added, referring to a young Irishwoman murdered by a migrant in 2022.

Specifically, McGregor’s remarks came in response to The Future Forty: Ireland’s Demographic Outlook, a new government report warning that declining birthrates will lead to a shrinking workforce and increased pressure on public finances. Ireland’s fertility rate has dropped from 2.6 to just 1.53 births per woman over the past four decades, and is expected to fall to 1.3 by 2038.

The report notes that immigration is now the “sole driver” of labor force growth. However, critics like McGregor argue that the strategy places a disproportionate strain on infrastructure and threatens Irish cultural identity. The Department of Finance acknowledged that mass migration could lead to infrastructure bottlenecks and stressed the need for contingency planning. Chief Economist John McCarthy has also admitted that population pressure is a significant factor behind Ireland’s housing crisis.

Despite these concerns, Donohoe has previously dismissed calls to encourage higher birth rates among Irish families, stating in 2024 that “we still have a population that’s growing.” Ireland’s population passed 5.3 million last year, bolstered by a record net immigration of 79,300.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
News

Analysts Say Trump DID Write the Epstein Letter… AI Disagrees.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A forensic linguistic analysis by three AI research systems concluded there is an “extremely low probability” that a 2003 letter allegedly written by President Donald J. Trump to Jeffrey Epstein was authored by the America First leader. This contradicts an analysis published by The Wall Street Journal, pointing to Trump as the author.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, The Wall Street Journal, and three AI systems: Claude 4.0 Opus Thinking, Perplexity Sonar, and Gemini 2.5 Pro.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The alleged letter dates back to 2003, but the analysis and public release occurred in 2025, with reports from The Wall Street Journal and responses from the White House and President Trump’s legal team.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The stylistic gulf between the note and Trump’s known communication patterns is not merely a matter of slight variation; it represents a fundamental and pervasive mismatch across nearly every linguistic metric.” – AI research report.

🎯IMPACT: The findings support President Trump’s denial of authorship amid his federal libel lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its parent companies.

IN FULL

Artificial intelligence (AI) analysis using Claude 4.0 Opus Thinking, Perplexity Sonar, and Gemini 2.5 Pro has found linguistic discrepancies in a 2003 birthday letter allegedly written by President Donald J. Trump to deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The findings run contrary to human forensic analysis conducted by The Wall Street Journal, which implies Trump is the likely author of the letter.

The AI analysis cited “profound” and “pervasive” deviations from Trump’s documented writing patterns spanning four decades. According to one analysis report: “The stylistic gulf between the note and Trump’s known communication patterns is not merely a matter of slight variation; it represents a fundamental and pervasive mismatch across nearly every linguistic metric.”

Claude 4.0 Opus Thinking noted “multiple linguistic anomalies” that diverged sharply from Trump’s established communication patterns, including the use of phrases like “enigmas never age” and a theatrical dialogue structure absent from Trump’s authentic writings. Similarly, Gemini 2.5 Pro reported “a complete inversion” of Trump’s idiolect, pointing to the letter’s sophisticated and abstract language as inconsistent with Trump’s direct and simple style.

However, a separate human forensic analysis of handwriting and word choice by The Wall Street Journal, published earlier this week, suggested Trump is the likely author. Referring to the letter’s signature, the WSJ claims that while President Trump signs most correspondence with his full name, there are some past examples of letters signed only with “Donald,” using “bold serif lettering.” Additionally, the newspaper claims there are similarities between the drawing on the Epstein letter and other correspondence purported to be authored by Trump: “Over the years, doodles and drawings of cityscapes and other subjects with similar strokes have been attributed to Trump and auctioned for charity.”

Additionally, The Wall Street Journal‘s findings diverge from the AI analysis, claiming, “Trump used the word ‘enigma’ to describe Don King and Mike Tyson in his 1990 book and to describe Dan Rather in his 2004 book. In social-media posts and in speeches, Trump has often used the phrase ‘a wonderful thing.'” However, both linguistic markers are commonly used by a multitude of authors, casting doubt on their evidentiary significance.

Notably, contrary to The Journal‘s findings, Perplexity Sonar’s AI analysis found that the letter’s vocabulary sophistication, syntactic complexity, and philosophical tone were fundamentally at odds with Trump’s well-documented linguistic markers. When the AI systems were also tasked with arguing the opposite case—that Trump authored the letter—they could only identify circumstantial factors, such as Trump’s past association with Epstein, rather than linguistic evidence.

President Trump has dismissed the letter as “fake” and filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Journal, its parent company News Corp, owner Rupert Murdoch, and the reporters involved.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
Health
UK

UK PM Smears Trump World Health Advisor Ahead of State Visit.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer smeared Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a speaker at this year’s annual conference for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, who is close to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Action group, ahead of President Donald J. Trump’s state visit to Britain.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Starmer, Dr. Aseem Malhotra, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump, and Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Malhorta responded to Starmer’s comments about him on X (formerly Twitter) on September 10, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I did NOT state that ‘vaccines are linked to cancer’.” – Dr. Aseem Malhotra

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the ongoing debate and concerns over the use of mRNA technology in vaccines and public trust in vaccination, and potentially frays relations between the British government and the Trump administration.

IN FULL

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has come under fire for smearing Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist close to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Action group, ahead of President Donald J. Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom. Speaking in the House of Commons, Starmer said Dr. Malhorta had made “shocking and baseless claims that vaccines are linked to cancer,” adding, “These dangerous conspiracies cost lives.”

Malhotra, targeted after speaking at the annual conference of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, which has overtaken Starmer’s Labour Party in the polls, publicly refuted Starmer’s statements on X (formerly Twitter). “I did NOT state that ‘vaccines are linked to cancer’,” he said, emphasizing that he was merely “presenting information about the possible link [between] the covid mRNA vaccine and cancer from U.S. HHS data and quoting oncologist Professor Angus Dalgleish [who said] ‘it’s highly likely that the covid vaccines have been a significant factor in cancer of members of the royal family.'”

King Charles III, 76, and his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, 43, announced they had been diagnosed with cancer in February and March 2024, respectively.

Dr. Malhotra warned, “Conflating legitimate safety concerns of a novel mRNA technology with all vaccines is preposterous and dangerous,” highlighting research showing that smears like Starmer’s are “fuelling the concerning reduced uptake of vital traditional vaccines.”

Notably, Starmer’s targeting of Malhotra could fray tensions between his government and the Trump administration, considering his ties to Secretary Kennedy. President Trump will make an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom from September 17 to September 19.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Anti-ICE Rioter Faces Eight Years in Prison for Spitting in Officer’s Face.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Portland man was charged with assaulting a federal officer after allegedly spitting in the officer’s face during an anti-ICE protest.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Devin Patrick Montgomery, 49, federal officers, and anti-ICE protesters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in South Portland, Oregon, during the ongoing protests.

🎯IMPACT: Montgomery faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. Federal authorities have charged 26 protesters with various offenses since the demonstrations began.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Devin Patrick Montgomery, 49, of Portland, Oregon, with assaulting a federal officer during an anti-ICE protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in South Portland. Montgomery allegedly spat in a federal officer’s face after being detained for illegally operating a drone above the facility, according to the DOJ.

The Federal Protective Service (FPS), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), observed Montgomery flying a drone in a restricted area above the ICE facility. Officers informed him of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions, but Montgomery refused to comply and continued operating the drone. When approached, he reportedly became belligerent, cursed at officers, and claimed he had the right to operate the drone. After his arrest, Montgomery allegedly spat in the face of one of the officers.

Video footage shared on social media showed Montgomery resisting orders and being verbally aggressive with officers. Several federal agents were needed to take him into custody. Protesters, many of whom are linked to Antifa networks, harassed the officers during the incident, according to the footage.

Since the anti-ICE occupation began on June 7, federal authorities have charged 26 protesters with crimes, including assault on a federal officer, arson, and possession of destructive devices. Some incidents involved serious violence, such as attempting to harm officers with knives and large rocks. Sixteen of the defendants face charges of assaulting federal officers. Additionally, 109 citations have been issued, which could prevent protesters from returning to the site.

Montgomery was released from custody pending further court proceedings. Amid ongoing violence at the ICE facility, President Donald J. Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard to restore order. Local police are largely not responding in the area, citing low staffing levels and Portland’s sanctuary city policies.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
Election 2024
Politics

Kamala Now Says Biden Was ‘Reckless’ to Seek Re-Election, Claims She Was ‘Hypnotized.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the Democratic Party’s decision to leave former President Joe Biden’s reelection bid up to his discretion, calling it “recklessness” in her new book.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, and the Bidens’ inner circle.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Harris’s comments appear in her new book 107 Days, to be released on September 23, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness.” – Kamala Harris

🎯IMPACT: Harris’s remarks mark a rare public critique of Biden’s campaign decisions and highlight ongoing internal tensions within the Democratic Party.

IN FULL

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has described the decision to allow then-President Joe Biden to determine whether to seek reelection in 2024 as “recklessness,” according to an excerpt from her new book, 107 Days, published in The Atlantic. Harris reflects on the discussions surrounding Biden’s decision to run for a second term, stating, “Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness.”

“‘It’s Joe and Jill’s decision.’ We all said that, like a mantra, as if we’d all been hypnotized,” Harris wrote.

Biden, who was 81 at the time, eventually dropped out of the race in July 2024 following a catastrophic debate performance against Donald J. Trump, in which he appeared cognitively impaired. This resulted in Harris being installed as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee without a primary contest. She ultimately lost the election in a landslide to Trump, who became only the second American in the country’s history to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.

Harris criticized the Democrats’ decision-making process, writing, “This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego, an individual’s ambition. It should have been more than a personal decision.” Nevertheless, Harris continues to defend Biden’s ability to govern in the book, despite acknowledging his struggles with fatigue during the campaign.

She writes, “On his worst day, he was more deeply knowledgeable, more capable of exercising judgment, and far more compassionate than Donald Trump on his best. But at 81, Joe got tired. That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.” She attributes his debate challenges to exhaustion from a demanding travel schedule.

Harris also accuses Biden’s inner circle of fueling negative narratives about her tenure as Vice President, including stories about her office being in disarray. She claims the then-President’s staff was “adding fuel to negative narratives” and even sought to diminish her success, citing an instance where the Biden White House was displeased with a speech she gave in Selma, Alabama, that went viral. “I was castigated for, apparently, delivering it too well,” Harris writes.

The book underscores Harris’s belief that her success would have reflected positively on Biden, particularly given concerns about his age. “My success was important for him,” she writes. “His team didn’t get it.”

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8 hours ago
William Upton
Economy

New Data Shows Inflation FELL in August, Piling Pressure on Fed to Cut Rates.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Producer Price Index (PPI) for August fell by 0.1 percent, defying economists’ expectations of a 0.3 percent increase.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August’s PPI data was released on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

🎯IMPACT: The PPI and jobs numbers have shifted the broader interest rate discussion ahead of next week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting from whether the Federal Reserve will cut rates to how much it will need to cut rates.

IN FULL

The Producer Price Index (PPI) for August fell by 0.1 percent, defying economists’ expectations, which predicted a 0.3 percent increase. Importantly, the data suggest that inflation continues to fall, adding further pressure on the Federal Reserve and Chairman Jerome Powell, dubbed ‘Too Late’ by President Donald J. Trump, to begin cutting interest rates at next week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).

“Just out: No Inflation!!! ‘Too Late’ must lower the RATE, BIG, right now. Powell is a total disaster, who doesn’t have a clue!!!” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday morning, reacting to the PPI news. The year-over-year headline PPI numbers were even more stunning, falling to 2.6 percent, while expectations were 3.3 percent.

In August, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signalled the central bank would likely shift its current interest rate policy toward reducing borrowing costs at the September FOMC. The likelihood of a rate cut has only increased since then, with the August jobs report containing strong signs that the U.S. labor market continues to cool.

Concerningly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) annual benchmark revision suggests there has been little to no real job growth in the U.S. for several years—an indication that the Federal Reserve may have held interest rates too high for too long. The National Pulse reported on Tuesday that the BLS revised downward the total number of jobs created between April 2024 and March 2025 by a shocking 911,000. This follows last year’s revision for April 2023 to March 2024, which saw 818,000 fewer jobs created than initially reported.

The PPI and jobs numbers have shifted the broader interest rate discussion ahead of next week’s FOMC from whether the Federal Reserve will cut rates to how much it will need to cut rates. Increasingly, expectations appear to be pointing to a 50 basis point (bps) cut rather than the 25 bps cut many were forecasting just last week. Among those concerned about the U.S. having entered a possible deflationary cycle, there are mounting calls for an even more aggressive 100 bps cut.

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9 hours ago
News
World

Violence Grips Paris Amid Anti-Macron ‘Block Everything’ Protests.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: France has been hit by a wave of “Block Everything” protests, a social media-driven anti-government campaign involving strikes and demonstrations across the country.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Protesters supported by major unions, including the CGT and Sud-Raid, clashed with police, while the French government, led by Emmanuel Macron and newly-installed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, attempts to address the unrest.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Protests began early Wednesday, with key demonstrations in Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, and other cities, expected to continue with further strikes planned for September 18.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is not a citizens’ movement in any way. It’s been hijacked by the ultra-Left, and some are determined to carry out violent actions,” complained outgoing Interior Minister Bruino Retailleau.

🎯IMPACT: Travel disruptions, clashes with police, and widespread unrest are further undermining President Emmanuel Macron’s legitimacy, after the French National Assembly voted out his former prime minister, François Bayrou, earlier this week.

IN FULL

France has descended into street turmoil as an anti-government “Block Everything” campaign of strikes and protests sweeps the country. By 8 AM on September 10, up to 50 arrests were reported in Paris, with police stating that “most of those taken into custody were threatening public order.” Protesters attempted to cripple vital transport links, including targeting the Eurostar hub at Gare du Nord, and clashed with riot police, erecting barricades and obstructing road junctions in cities such as Bordeaux and Marseille.

The unrest is driven by anger towards President Emmanuel Macron and his freshly appointed Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, who replaced François Bayrou after Bayrou’s government collapsed following a confidence vote. Bayrou’s minority administration lost the vote on Monday, 364 to 194, bringing down yet another government in what is now a near-permanent cycle of instability under Macron. Bayrou is now the fifth prime minister to fall in under two years.

“This is not a citizens’ movement in any way. It’s been hijacked by the ultra-Left, and some are determined to carry out violent actions. There is an insurrectional mood,” Bruno Retailleau, the Interior Minister in the outgoing government, said.

Prime Minister Lecornu, a Macron loyalist who formerly served as Defense Minister, takes over amid deep parliamentary divisions, with no clear majority. He must wrestle with a fractured assembly to push through a divisive 2026 budget amid soaring national debt, still lingering at about 114 percent of GDP —with no guarantee that Marine Le Pen’s populist National Rally party and a bloc of far-left parties, which both have more lawmakers than Macron’s allies, will not vote him out as well.

The “Block Everything” campaign, spearheaded by unions like the CGT and Sud‑Raid, promises to blockade fuel depots, slow traffic via go‑slow operations, and stage demonstrations in city centers. Some online messages even advocate taking food from supermarkets without paying, while Sud‑Raid has urged members to carry on, saying, “The fall of the government is good, but it’s insufficient.”

Macron’s office says the president wants Lecornu to engage in talks with parliamentary opponents to forge a compromise on the budget and other contentious policies.

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By Popular Demand.
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9 hours ago
News

Protesters Get Close to Trump During Trip to Democrat-Owned ‘Joe’s’ in D.C.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump faced protesters during an outing to Democrat-owned Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab in Washington, D.C., raising questions about who signed off on the trip and who tipped off protesters.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and protesters from the far-left, Gaza-obsessed activist group Code Pink.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday night at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab, less than a quarter-mile from the White House.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re standing right in the middle of D.C., which as you know about, over the last year was a very unsafe place… and now there’s virtually no crime. We call it crime-free.” – President Donald Trump.

🎯IMPACT: The event raises questions about the decision-making on President Trump’s staff.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s visit to a local, Democrat-run D.C. restaurant on Tuesday night was met with cheers and protests. Accompanied by administration officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump arrived at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab, located less than a quarter-mile from the White House.

Outside the restaurant, Trump briefly addressed reporters, stating that Washington, D.C., was now “crime-free” due to his administration’s crackdown on crime, which included federal law enforcement efforts and National Guard deployments. He added, “We wanted to take some of the members of the Cabinet out to dinner and here we are—we’re standing right in the middle of D.C., which as you know about, over the last year was a very unsafe place, over the last 20 years actually was very unsafe. And now there’s virtually no crime.”

Joe’s is owned by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE), which was founded by Democrat donor Rich Melman. Melman has donated thousands to Democrats over decades, including Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and others. This raises questions about why Trump’s team chose Joe’s, especially given Melman’s proximity to top Democrat figures like Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel.

Once inside, Trump greeted patrons but was soon interrupted by protesters from the activist group Code Pink, who carried Palestinian flags and chanted slogans such as “Free D.C., free Palestine, Trump is the Hitler of our time.” A video posted on Code Pink’s social media showed Trump approaching the protesters, smiling, and gesturing for them to leave. They were slowly escorted out of the restaurant but managed to get within feet of President Trump.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later promoted the Democrat-run restaurant: “The President and his team enjoyed crab, shrimp, salad, steak, and dessert. The food was phenomenal and the service was fantastic. Thank you, Joe’s!”

Trump, who had not dined out in D.C. during his presidency, indicated that his policies have made the city safer. He also suggested that his administration is still evaluating plans to deploy National Guard troops and federal law enforcement to other high-crime, Democrat-run cities, including Chicago, New York, and New Orleans, to address crime.

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By Popular Demand.
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10 hours ago
News
War

Poland Just Shot Down a ‘Huge Number’ of Russian Drones.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Polish forces intercepted and destroyed a significant number of Russian drones that violated its airspace during an attack on Ukraine.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Polish military, NATO allies from Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany, and Russian forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred overnight in Polish airspace, during a Russian attack on Ukraine.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I have no reason to claim we’re on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it’s incomparably more dangerous than before.” – Donald Tusk

🎯IMPACT: The drone incursion heightened tensions between NATO and Russia, with European leaders condemning the actions and calling for peace.

IN FULL

On Wednesday, Polish authorities confirmed that their military, with support from NATO aircraft from Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany, intercepted and neutralized a “huge number” of Russian drones that breached Polish airspace during an assault on Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed the alliance’s full support for Poland, denouncing Russia’s “reckless behavior.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted on X, “Last night the Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down.”

Addressing the Polish legislature, Tusk cautioned, “I have no reason to claim we’re on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it’s incomparably more dangerous than before,” describing the incident as Europe’s closest brush with open conflict since the Second World War. Notably, Poland invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which calls for joint consultations between NATO allies “whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened,” but stopped short of invoking Article 5, which calls for a joint military response to an attack on a NATO member.

The Kremlin had not commented on the incident as of the time of publication, with President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting, “It’s a matter for the [Russian] defence ministry.” Russia’s Defense Ministry denied any intent to target Poland. General Pavel Muraveiko, who leads the military of Belarus—a close ally of Russia, although not directly engaged in the Ukraine war— attributed the drone incursion to electronic warfare.

European NATO leader Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, stressed the urgency of peace to stop the Ukraine war from escalating, stating, “Living in the shadow of a war is fraught with risks and dangers. It’s time to make it stop! To this end, we support the efforts of President [Donald J. Trump] aimed at achieving peace.”

Image by Julian Herzog.

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By Popular Demand.
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