GET THE APP
Tuesday, April 22, 2025

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

October 22, 2024
William Upton
Election 2024

Kamala Campaign Smashes the Panic Button in Michigan.

Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign is fretting over whether the Democratic Vice President will be able to hold the so-called “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The three Rust Belt states typically trend together in terms of which candidate wins their electoral votes—though there are some signs that may change this election cycle. According to a senior Harris campaign official, Michigan has especially become a concern.

“There has been a thought that maybe Michigan or Wisconsin will fall off,” a Harris campaign official tells NBC News. The individual, along with other Harris campaign sources, stresses that Michigan is the bigger concern at the moment.

Should Harris lose either Michigan or Wisconsin, her path to the White House becomes far more difficult. The Democratic Vice President would need to make up for the loss with a win in North Carolina or a combination of several other swing states to reach 270 electoral votes. However, the Harris campaign is also feeling less confident regarding North Carolina, with at least one campaign official acknowledging the state appears to be slipping away.

A combination of factors is complicating the Democratic Party’s efforts to win Michigan. Arab-American voters are showing signs of turning against Harris over U.S. support for Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, several recent endorsements of  President Donald J. Trump by Arab-American and Muslim leaders in Michigan are likely to push the community toward the Republican nominee.

Additionally, Trump has seen a surge in support from rank-and-file union members, with polling conducted by the Teamsters suggesting their members are breaking for the former president by a nearly two-to-one margin over Harris. A decisive break for Trump among working-class voters could potentially push the entire “blue wall” into the Republican column on election night.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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

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

12 minutes ago
Jack Montgomery
News

Al Gore Compares Trump Administration to Nazi Germany.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Al Gore compared the Trump administration to Nazi Germany and called Trump a “threat” to the Constitution.

👥 Who’s Involved: Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President; Donald J. Trump, 45th and 47th U.S. President.

📍 Where & When: The comments were made during an event in San Francisco at the start of “Climate Week.”

💬 Key Quote: “Our constitution, written by our founders, is intended to protect us against a threat identical to Donald Trump.” — Al Gore.

⚠️ Impact: Gore’s histrionic remarks may drive a further wedge between the Democrats and independent voters who do not believe President Trump’s energy policies warrant comparisons to the Nazis.

IN FULL:

Former Vice President Al Gore, speaking at a “Climate Week” event on Monday, drew parallels between the Trump administration and the National Socialist regime of Adolf Hitler in Germany. Gore, the failed 2000 Democratic presidential candidate, made the remarks at a San Francisco science museum to an audience of only around 150.

Gore alleged that, like the Nazis, the Trump administration is “trying to create their own preferred version of reality.”

“I understand very well why it is wrong to compare Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich to any other movement,” Gore continued, despite having just done precisely that. “It was uniquely evil, full stop. I get it. But there are important lessons from the history of that emergent evil.” He added: “Our constitution, written by our founders, is intended to protect us against a threat identical to Donald Trump.”

The 77-year-old complained of the Trump administration, “They say the climate crisis is a hoax invented by the Chinese to destroy American manufacturing, they say coal is clean, they say wind turbines cause cancer, they say sea level rise just creates more beachfront property,” alleging that America is “under attack.”

With high energy prices contributing significantly to the decline of American manufacturing and the cost of living crisis for American households, and China’s construction of new coal plants at a ten-year high, President Trump has made energy independence a priority for his second administration.

Earlier this month, he signed four executive orders to save coal miners’ jobs and revitalize their industry, saying, “[W]e’re taking historic action to help American workers, miners, families, and consumers. We’re ending Joe Biden’s war on beautiful, clean coal once and for all. We’re going to put the miners back to work.”

Image by World Economic Forum / Chris Heeney.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

2 hours ago
News
Politics

Elon Musk Didn’t Contribute to Trump’s Inauguration.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk did not contribute financially to Donald Trump’s inauguration events, despite being a vocal supporter during his campaign.

👥 Who’s Involved: Elon Musk, President Donald J. Trump, Trump’s inaugural committee, and companies such as Meta, Amazon, and Nvidia.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., during Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025; FEC filing released on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Donations to an inaugural committee are not subject to any contribution amount limitations. In addition, an inaugural committee may accept donations from corporations and labor organizations,” state FEC rules.

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s inauguration raised $239 million from donors, exceeding previous records, highlighting potential Silicon Valley support for Trump’s presidency.

IN FULL:

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, notably abstained from making financial contributions toward the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, as shown in recent documentation by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). This reveals a departure from Musk‘s previous backing of Trump’s campaign, during which he reportedly expended over $250 million in support of the America First leader. According to the FEC filing, which was released by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, donations exceeded $239 million, setting a new record for inaugural fundraising in January.

Several major technology companies, including Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), Nvidia, and Amazon, contributed substantially, each offering at least $1 million toward the inaugural events. However, the reason for Musk’s absence from the list of inaugural donors is not yet known.

While Musk did attend the inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2025, and delivered an address at a major rally later that evening, his financial absence is noteworthy given his prior involvement in the presidential campaign. Notably, a number of major Silicon Valley firms contributed to the second Trump inauguration despite the tech industry’s hostility—and in some cases outright opposition—to Trump’s agenda in the past.

The inaugural committee is not obligated to disclose expenditure specifics or remaining funds until it submits its tax return in 2026. Also of note, the FEC rules state: “Donations to an inaugural committee are not subject to any contribution amount limitations. In addition, an inaugural committee may accept donations from corporations and labor organizations.”

Image by Wcamp9. 

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

3 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Florida is Suspending Illegal Immigrant Arrests. Here’s Why…

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier instructed law enforcement to stop arresting undocumented migrants after a federal judge reinforced a restraining order against the state.

👥 Who’s Involved: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams, Florida law enforcement, and various illegal immigrants.

📍 Where & When: Florida; following a federal order originally issued earlier in the month, discussed in a hearing last Friday.

💬 Key Quote: Judge Williams expressed she was “astounded” by the state’s continued arrests despite her previous order to halt them.

⚠️ Impact: State law enforcement actions against illegal immigrants are paused, pending further legal proceedings in late April; confusion remains among enforcement agencies as to what, if any, actions they are permitted to take to assist federal immigration officials.

IN FULL:

Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier has directed law enforcement agencies to cease the apprehension of undocumented migrants following a federal judge reiterating that she had placed a hold on any further arrests using a new Florida law making it a misdemeanor for illegal immigrants to enter the state. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams said she was “astounded” that state law enforcement had continued making arrests despite her having issued a restraining order against the state two weeks ago.

Plaintiffs—suing the state government of a law making it a misdemeanor for illegal immigrants to enter Florida—allege that state law enforcement officials had made at least 15 additional arrests after Judge Williams had ordered the state to halt the detentions. Currently, the U.S. District Court Judge is weighing the constitutionality of Florida’s new law aimed at prohibiting illegal immigrants in the state.

The move in Florida comes after the United States Supreme Court and a number of lower federal U.S. District Court judges have intervened to halt President Donald J. Trump’s push to implement a mass deportation program targeting violent and dangerous illegal immigrants. Notably, a central contention of pro-open borders advocates and Congressional Democrats has been that each case should receive the whole litany of due process and legal appeals provided to American citizens, despite many of the individuals not having received any initial vetting when released in the U.S. under the prior Biden government.

Additionally, illegal immigrants who are affiliated with violent criminal gangs like MS-13, Tren de Aragua, or several Mexican drug cartels have been declared members of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), limiting the avenues of legal appeals they can access to try and prevent their removal from the U.S. In Florida, Uthmeier’s instructions to local law enforcement emphasized that he does not agree with Judge Williams’s order, but does relent that the state is bound to obey her ruling for now.

Further clarity on the status of Florida’s immigration law will likely be determined at a hearing set for April 29.

Image by Joel Kramer.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

16 hours ago
Podcast

WATCH: Laura Loomer Explains Fresh Trump Admin Personnel Issues in Podcast With Tara Palmeri.

PULSE POINTS:

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Laura Loomer discusses how her intel prompted Donald Trump to fire multiple national security officials, bypassing his own adviser Mike Waltz, in a new podcast with Tara Palmeri.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Loomer, Trump, Waltz, and various NSC personnel; Loomer says Trump is her “biggest ally.”

🧾KEY QUOTES: “Trump said, ‘Hire her.’ They never do.” / “If you want loyalty in DC, get a dog—I have four.”

⚠️FALLOUT: Loomer alleges internal sabotage and persistent leaks.

📌SIGNIFICANCE: Loomer’s role highlights Trump’s ongoing trust issues inside his camp—and signals a chaotic personnel battle ahead of a second term.

IN FULL:

Laura Loomer revealed how her Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump led to the firing of multiple National Security Council officials—over the objections of Trump’s own national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz, in a new podcast with reporter Tara Palmeri.

Despite multiple hiring directives from Trump himself, Loomer says his staff has repeatedly blocked her from joining the administration and leaked her visits to CNN. “He said, ‘Hire her,’” Loomer told Palmeri. “They never do.”

Loomer accused Waltz of promoting disloyal staff and said she attempted to show Trump a video of Waltz attacking him during the 2016 campaign—until Waltz walked into the room and interrupted the meeting. “What does a Mike Waltz vet entail?” Loomer asked. “He himself wouldn’t pass one.”

She warned of a vetting crisis inside Trump’s operation, alleging that senior aides are onboarding and shielding unvetted or ideologically hostile personnel.

The former congressional candidate and opposition researcher now runs Loomered Strategies, a consulting firm offering executive-level vetting.

WATCH: 

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

17 hours ago
Sports

Illinois Refuses to Comply With Key Trump Order.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has decided not to comply with an executive order from President Trump barring the participation of biological male athletes in female sports.

👥 Who’s Involved: The IHSA, President Donald J. Trump, IHSA President Dan Tully, Illinois state lawmakers, and State Representative Blaine Wilhour.

📍 Where & When: Illinois, United States. Current ongoing issue.

💬 Key Quote: IHSA President Dan Tully: “The Illinois Human Rights Act requires that transgender athletes be permitted to participate in events and programs aligning with the gender they identify.”

⚠️ Impact: The IHSA seeks clarity from state lawmakers and the Trump administration to resolve conflicting policies, while potential federal funding cuts loom over the state.

IN FULL:

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) says it will continue to ignore a federal directive barring the participation of biological male athletes in high school girls’ sports. Previously, the State of Maine announced it would not comply with the directive, issued as an Executive Order by President Donald J. Trump in February, and now faces a federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

ISHA’s president, Dan Tully, claims that state law preempts the federal restriction and requires Illinois high schools to accommodate so-called transgender athletes, who are biological males, by allowing their participation in girls’ sporting events. “The Illinois Human Rights Act requires that transgender athletes be permitted to participate in events and programs aligning with the gender they identify,” Tully states in a letter to Illinois Republican lawmakers. He argues that the ISHA, “simply desires to comply with the law and takes no position as to which of the foregoing is correct or whether there can be alignment between claimed federal and state law.”

According to the ISHA—which represents 809 schools and neither receives state nor federal funding—the participation of biological males in women’s sports is determined on a case-by-case basis, suggesting it is not a blanket policy. The association claims it considers whether the gender identity change is “bona fide and/or for the purpose of gaining competitive advantage.”

However, Republican lawmakers in Springfield aren’t sold on the ISHA’s decision, and are encouraging the federal government to launch a similar Title IX investigation to the one seen in Maine. “The whole policy is sick,” State Representative Blaine Wilhour said during a recent media appearance. He continued: “Either you believe in fair competition or you don’t. The Democrat Party today… does not believe in fair competition. They put their woke ideology over protecting girls in sports.”

“[The Trump administration is] going to have to engage here, and the leverage that they’ve got is federal funding,” he added.

In 2011, Democrat lawmakers in Illinois enshrined protections for biological males who choose to identify as female to participate in women’s sporting events. Notably, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL)’s cousin is billionaire James Pritzker, who identifies as “Jennifer.”

Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian. 

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

17 hours ago
NatSec

Biden-Era Security Lapse Saw Sensitive White House Blueprints Shared With 11,000+ People.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Sensitive documents, including White House blueprints, were improperly shared with thousands of federal employees after being accidentally uploaded through the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Google Drive.

👥 Who’s Involved: Employees of the General Services Administration (GSA).

📍 Where & When: The incident originated from the GSA in Washington, D.C.; it began in 2021 and was discovered last week.

💬 Key Quote: “Even if they were not formally classified … they would be closely held for obvious security reasons,” said Steven Aftergood, a former director for the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy.

⚠️ Impact: Potential security risk due to sharing sensitive information with upwards of 11,200 government workers; ongoing investigation and cybersecurity report filed.

IN FULL:

Personnel from the General Services Administration (GSA), responsible for managing federal buildings, unintentionally gave over 11,200 agency employees access to sensitive documents. The documents reportedly included blueprints for the White House.

The issue arose when a Google Drive folder was mistakenly uploaded with settings that allowed widespread access. This misconfiguration occurred in 2021 during the Biden government and was discovered only last week during a routine audit by the GSA’s IT team.

Subsequent to the discovery of the Biden-era Google Drive security issue at the GSA, the Trump administration posted three documents in the compromised folder, not knowing that the materials were widely accessible. Notably, one of the documents contained the banking information for a vendor contracted for work on a Trump administration press conference. The GSA’s IT department is conducting a detailed investigation, and a cybersecurity report has been filed regarding the incident.

Experts in government secrecy, including Steven Aftergood, have emphasized the potential risk posed by sharing certain documents even if they lack formal classification. “Even if they were not formally classified … they would be closely held for obvious security reasons,” said Aftergood, a former director for the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy.

Information about private passageways or security procedures could be considered classified under Executive Order 13526, which governs national security information.

The leak comes just weeks after a corporate media journalist was inadvertently added to a Signal chat with senior officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, about strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.

Photo by ajay_suresh.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

18 hours ago
Media

Larry David Lashes Out at Bill Maher in Tired, ‘Trump’s a Nazi’ NYT Op-Ed.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Larry David, creator of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” satirized Bill Maher’s recent dinner with Donald Trump in a New York Times op-ed titled “My Dinner With Adolf.”

👥 Who’s Involved: Larry David, Bill Maher, and Donald Trump.

📍 Where & When: The op-ed was published in the New York Times, and Maher’s comments were made during an April episode of “Real Time With Bill Maher.”

💬 Key Quote: Larry David wrote, “Suddenly he seemed so human… this private Hitler was a completely different animal.”

⚠️ Impact: None, to be honest.

IN FULL:

In a satirical op-ed titled “My Dinner With Adolf,” Larry David, known for his work on Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, openly critiqued Bill Maher’s recent dinner with President Donald J. Trump. The op-ed, featured in the New York Times, uses hypothetical historical context to analogize Maher’s encounter.

The piece riffs on Maher’s April discussion about his dinner with Trump. During his show “Real Time With Bill Maher,” Maher noted his unexpected experience with Trump, including the fact that he laughed during their interaction. David’s piece draws a tired and played-out parallel, imagining a dinner with Adolf Hitler in 1939, where he observed a different, more human side of the public figure.

The likely unrecognized irony of David’s piece, however, is that the New York Times itself once uncritically published excerpts from Hitler’s Mein Kampf in 1941. David made no mention of this in his piece:

Two hours later, the dinner was over, and the Führer escorted me to the door. “I am so glad to have met you. I hope I’m no longer the monster you thought I was.” “I must say, mein Führer, I’m so thankful I came. Although we disagree on many issues, it doesn’t mean that we have to hate each other.” And with that, I gave him a Nazi salute and walked out into the night.

The piece is unlikely to change Maher’s mind, though David happily shared a stage with Trump during a 2015 episode of Saturday Night Live.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

18 hours ago
Economy

Trump Blasts ‘Loser’ Powell for Delay in Interest Rate Cuts.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling for reduced interest rates amid claims of low inflation.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump and Jerome Powell.

📍 Where & When: On Truth Social, the morning of Monday, April 21.

💬 Key Quote: Trump remarked, “Powell has always been ‘Too Late,’ except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?”

⚠️ Impact: The U.S. economy has sent mixed signals that have left the Federal Reserve to adopt an overly cautious stance. However, recent indicators have suggested deflation could now be occurring, which may finally push Powell to reduce rates.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump is continuing his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, urging for immediate cuts to interest rates. Trump reiterated his position on Truth Social on Monday, stating, without providing evidence, that “preemptive cuts” to rates are being advocated by many as the economy faces what he described as “virtually No Inflation.”

“‘Preemptive Cuts’ in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden’s egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other ‘things’ trending down, there is virtually No Inflation,” Trump wrote, continuing: “With these costs trending so nicely downward, just what I predicted they would do, there can almost be no inflation, but there can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW. Europe has already ‘lowered’ seven times.”

“Powell has always been ‘Too Late,’ except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?” the America First leader added.

President Trump has increased pressure on the Federal Reserve chairman in recent weeks. Last week, Trump suggested Powell’s removal as the head of the U.S. central bank could be imminent, writing on Truth Social that, “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” However, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Powell is likely to be replaced as Fed chair later this year, with the target date being “sometime in the fall.”

The Federal Reserve has been slow to reduce interest rates, fixating on concerns that inflation could accelerate. However, a Consumer Price Index (CPI) print from early April had SuperCore CPI—a key indicator monitored by the central bank—showing possibly deflation. A deflationary cycle is far more of an economic concern than reigniting inflation, and may suggest a lack of liquidity in the market, meaning an interest rate cut may need to occur, whether Powell is ready for rate reductions or not.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

19 hours ago
Politics

Gov. Hochul Ignores Federal Deadline to Scrap Manhattan Congestion Tolls.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is enforcing an April 20 deadline for New York to stop charging a $9 congestion toll in Manhattan.

👥 Who’s Involved: New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the New York City and State Departments of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Representative Nicole Malliotakis, and the White House.

📍 Where & When: Manhattan, New York; deadline for compliance was April 20.

💬 Key Quote: “The deadline is April 20th, and we expect New York to comply and terminate this program,” said a spokesman for the USDOT.

⚠️ Impact: Legal disputes and potential political tensions as the state risks losing federal support for transportation funding over compliance issues.

IN FULL:

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) appears prepared to disregard a federal mandate to end her state’s controversial $9 congestion fee on vehicles entering parts of Manhattan. Initially implemented in January for vehicles traveling below 60th Street, the toll has led to a series of lawsuits between federal and state officials, including York City’s transportation authorities.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, under Governor Hochul’s direction, commenced legal action after a federal warning was issued to cease the toll. However, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) confirmed it would stick to the April 20 deadline for New York to discontinue the program. “Despite the Administration’s ‘royal’ decree, its effort to summarily and unilaterally overturn the solution to the City’s congestion enacted by New Yorkers’ elected representatives is unlawful and invalid,” an amended state lawsuit reads.

USDOT’s insistence on the April 20 deadline comes despite an agreement reached earlier this month between the Trump Administration and the MTA allowing toll cameras to be used until the fall. “The deadline is April 20th, and we expect New York to comply and terminate this program,” a USDOT spokesman said, adding: “USDOT will continue to fight for working class Americans whose tax dollars have already funded and paid for these roads.”

At the heart of litigation against the Hochul government in New York are allegations that the Democratic administration failed to abide by federal regulatory statutes when it enacted the toll scheme. Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), a plaintiff in one of the several lawsuits filed against Hochul, states that the New York state government circumvented a required federal environmental impact study. At a press conference on Saturday, the New York Republican said: “Whether it’s the sanctuary [city policies], state policy, whether it’s ignoring federal directives, this is just another example of how it’s rules for me, not for thee. They don’t want to comply with our federal law.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has not publicly addressed the ongoing legal battle. Nonetheless, his office released a statement signaling an openness to dialogue with the federal government on transit funding, maintaining a stance that the state should independently assess financial solutions for its transportation systems.

Image by MTAPhotos. 

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

19 hours ago
Politics

Trump Backs Hegseth Despite New Signal Chat Leak Allegations.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly shared details about a military strike in Yemen through Signal chat groups with family and friends.

👥 Who’s Involved: Pete Hegseth, Karoline Leavitt, Jeffrey Goldberg, Mike Waltz, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: The incident surrounding the March strike was reported by various outlets in Washington, D.C., over Easter weekend 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” Karoline Leavitt stated.

⚠️ Impact: Questions have arisen about information security policies within the Pentagon. However, President Trump and his White House communications team stress that the media allegations are part of a broad effort by career Pentagon bureaucrats to undermine the America First Agenda.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump continues to “strongly” stand behind Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth despite a series of corporate media stories alleging that the Pentagon chief communicated details regarding military operations in Yemen through private messaging groups. Late Sunday, the New York Times reported that Hegseeth had sent details about a March strike against the Houthis via Signal chat to a group that included his family and personal attorney.

“The President stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said early Monday. She added: “This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and against the monumental change that you are trying to implement.”

Later in the day, during the White House Easter Egg Roll, President Trump also addressed the corporate media allegations, calling them a “waste of time” and—addressing Hesgesth specifically—stating, “He’s doing a great job.” The America First leader added: “Ask the Houthis how he’s doing.”

The controversy over the use of encrypted Signal messaging chats involving groups of administration officials began in March after The Atlantic’s editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to a group. That specific instance involved a Signal group dedicated to situational awareness and messaging cohesion regarding strikes against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen.

A forensic investigation shows Godlberg’s contact information was saved under the wrong contact on National Security Advisor Mike Waltz‘s phone. However, the White House has stressed that no war plans or classified materials were shared in the chat to which Goldbeg was inadvertently made privy.

DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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