In Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump each secured three votes in the town’s traditional midnight voting, marking the formal commencement of Election Day 2024. Dixville Notch is known for its role in launching Election Day with its early votes and has leaned Democratic in the past two presidential elections, awarding all votes to Joe Biden in 2020 and favoring Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The brief voting process, held at the Balsam Resort, drew more journalists than voters. The proceedings spanned approximately 10 minutes, beginning with the national anthem. Each voter took their turn entering the booth, followed by manual counting and a public announcement of the results. The totals were then recorded on a whiteboard.
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The Dixville Notch midnight vote continues a nearly 60-year tradition, attracting national attention and serving as an early indicator of voter sentiment in the presidential race, albeit with a very small sample size.
In the gubernatorial race, Republican Kelly Ayotte captured five votes.
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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump’s pledge to “take back” the Panama Canal from Chinese influence has won support from frustrated Panamanian workers, who say foreigners are favored over locals for canal jobs.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, and local workers like Marvin Moreno.
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📍 Where & When: Panama Canal, with Trump’s campaign intensifying since his inauguration in January.
💬 Key Quote: “Right now [Trump] is the best option because the president we have is putting Panamanians practically against a wall,” said Panamanian welder Marvin Moreno.
⚠️ Impact: Trump’s pressure has secured U.S. military access to the canal and pushed Panama to ditch China’s Belt and Road, strengthening America’s grip on a vital trade route despite opposition from some local elites.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump’s mission to reclaim influence over the Panama Canal is resonating with a growing cohort of Panamanian workers frustrated by their government’s mismanagement and perceived foreign favoritism. Construction workers see the return of U.S. influence as a path to restore local jobs and curb Chinese encroachment.
“May Trump come, take the canal in his pocket, and remove all those people from its administration. They are thieves,” one unemployed worker toldThe Telegraph, echoing the sentiment among laborers who claim Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino prioritizes foreign workers, particularly from a Chinese consortium building the canal’s $1.4 billion fourth bridge. Marvin Moreno, a 42-year-old welder, put it bluntly: “Right now [Trump] is the best option because the president we have is putting Panamanians practically against a wall. He is practically acting as a dictator.”
Trump has made the 51-mile waterway, which handles 40 percent of U.S. container traffic, a cornerstone of his foreign policy agenda, slamming the late Democratic President Jimmy Carter for “foolishly” ceding it to Panama. He accuses China of controlling the canal through CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong-based firm managing two adjacent ports, despite Panama’s denials.
Trump’s administration has successfully pressured the company to sell to a U.S. consortium and secured Panama’s exit from China’s Belt and Road Initiative after Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s February 2025 visit. He has also secured a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in April, granting U.S. military vessels free passage and allowing U.S. troops to train on Panamanian soil.
“We will take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared in a press conference at the canal. Trump doubled down on Truth Social, demanding free passage for U.S. military and commercial ships through both the Panama and Suez canals, arguing they “would not exist” without America.
While some Panamanians, like opposition leader Ricardo Lombana, call the MOU a “camouflaged invasion” and challenge its legality, workers like Moreno see Trump as defending Panama’s sovereignty against their government’s failures.
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Editor’s Notes
Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.
So here’s a little nugget for you, which I have tried to run up the DOD flagpole in recent months: what is the great Panamanian pasttime? It’s not soccer
So here’s a little nugget for you, which I have tried to run up the DOD flagpole in recent months: what is the great Panamanian pasttime? It’s not soccer show more
❓What Happened: England is becoming Catholic once more as young people increasingly turn to the Roman Catholic faith over protestant Anglicanism.
👥 Who’s Involved: Roman Catholic Church, Church of England, young people in Britain.
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📍 Where & When: A survey of young practising Christians in England and Wales was released on May 8.
💬 Key Quote: “Ten years ago, numbers might have been half that.” – Catholic priest Father Kensy Joseph on attendance at a London church youth program.
⚠️ Impact: If the trend continues, practising English Catholics will outnumber Anglicans for the first time since the Protestant Reformation.
IN FULL:
An increasing number of young people in England and Wales are joining or practicing the Roman Catholic faith, with the number of practicing Catholics now exceeding the number of practicing Anglicans. A poll from YouGov reveals that young men, particularly, are flocking to the Christian faith.
The poll, commissioned by the Bible Society, shows a 56 percent rise in those attending church at least once a month. Among those aged 18 to 24, regular church attendance jumped from just four percent in 2018 to 16 percent in 2024.
The Church of England, the state religion of England, headed by King Charles III, is not where young people are going. Many are attending Roman Catholic churches to the extent that practising Catholics now outnumber Anglicans among those aged 18 to 54.
If the trend continues, practising Catholics could be a more significant bloc than Anglicans for the first time since England’s Protestant Reformation, sparked by King Henry VIII in the 1500s.
“Ten years ago, numbers might have been half that,” said Catholic priest Father Kensy Joseph, speaking of the attendance at the Farm Street church in London, which normally attracts as many as 180 people for its young adult program.
The interest in Catholicism in England comes amid a surge of adult baptisms in France this year. The country saw a record 10,384 adult baptisms at Easter last month.
Young Catholics are also increasingly interested in the traditional Latin Rite, also known as the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), in many parts of the world. A 2023 French survey found 40 percent of young French Catholics like the TLM, while the traditionalist pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres last year saw a record 18,000 attendees.
The rise in popularity of Catholicism in some parts of Western Europe comes amid the election of Pope Leo XIV, who some are optimistic may unify the liberal and traditional wings of the Church.
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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order implementing a “most favored nation” prescription drug pricing policy that could cut pharmaceutical costs by anywhere between 30 and 80 percent for Americans.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Medicare, foreign nations, the pharmaceutical industry.
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📍 Where & When: The order was signed on Monday, May 12, 2025, at the White House.
💬 Key Quote: “We are going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. Whoever is paying the lowest price, that is the price we’re going to get—so we’re no longer paying ten times more than another country,” President Trump said after signing the Executive Order.
⚠️ Impact: The new drug pricing plan aims to significantly lower the costs for prescription drugs purchased through Medicare, providing savings for both the U.S. government and Americans enrolled in the federal health insurance program.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order establishing a “most favored nation” policy that will tie Medicare payments for pharmaceuticals administered by a medical doctor to the lowest price paid by other countries. The directive aims to bring down the cost of prescription drugs in the United States and provide significant savings to the federal government through reduced Medicare costs. Notably, the Trump White House contends the policy could cut pharmaceutical costs by anywhere between 30 and 80 percent for Americans.
The “most favored nation” pricing policy has been a long-standing goal for President Trump. An attempt to implement the plan late in his first term was sidelined after a federal court blocked the directive. However, according to Trump, the newest iteration will not only be implemented through his Executive Order but will also be codified into law as part of the budget reconciliation bill taking form in Congress.
“We are going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. Whoever is paying the lowest price, that is the price we’re going to get—so we’re no longer paying ten times more than another country,” Trump said after signing the order in the Oval Office on Monday. He continued: “I’m doing this against the most powerful lobby in the world, probably—the drug lobby and pharmaceutical lobby—but it’s one of the most important orders, I think, that’s ever been signed.”
The America First leader added: “Big Pharma will either abide by this principle voluntarily, or we’ll use the power of the federal government to ensure that we are paying the same price as other countries.”
.@POTUS on Most Favored Nation prescription drug pricing: “We are going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. Whoever is paying the lowest price, that is the price we’re going to get — so we’re no longer paying ten times more than another country.” pic.twitter.com/IdckTkObE0
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 12, 2025
While the specifics of the Executive Order and legislative provisions are not entirely known as of the time of publication, a “most favored nation” pricing policy essentially means the United States government will only pay pharmaceutical companies for a drug covered under Medicare at the lowest rate paid by similar advanced nations. For instance, while a pharmaceutical company might charge the federal government $300 for a specific medication, if that same medication is sold to the German government for just $30, by law, the U.S. government will only pay $30 instead of the higher price.
It is expected that Trump’s Executive Order will face a number of legal challenges from the pharmaceutical industry.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: Defending Democracy Together (DDT), a Never Trump advocacy group, has expanded into a network of left-leaning political action committees (PACs), policy nonprofits, and media properties, raising at least $151 million since 2018.
👥 Who’s Involved: Former Republicans Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell, who lead the DDT Network.
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📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C.; network activities and fundraising have been ongoing since 2018.
💬 Key Quote:The New York Times described Kristol as “someone who has probably picked over as many greenroom fruit plates as anyone in Washington.”
⚠️ Impact: The DDT Network resembles a political party infrastructure and has directed significant funds towards opposing President Donald J. Trump and supporting Democratic causes.
IN FULL:
Defending Democracy Together (DDT), a Never Trump advocacy group spearheaded by former Republicans Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell, has evolved into a substantial network comprising left-leaning political action committees (PACs), policy nonprofits, and media entities. Since its inception in 2018, the network has successfully raised over $151 million, with its financial momentum showing no signs of slowing down. A recent report from the Capital Research Center (CRC) has revealed the Never Trump organization’s vast network of far-left funders and affiliations with a web of anti-Trump political groups.
Kristol, a veteran of Washington politics and staunch neoconservative, serves as the principal officer, while Longwell is the executive director of both Defending Democracy Together and the Defending Democracy Together Institute (DDTI). The duo also oversees the Republican Accountability PAC, a political action committee (PAC).
In 2020, the network’s efforts to defeat President Donald J. Trump were bolstered by a $10,050,000 grant from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, part of the far-left Arabella Advisors dark money network. The network’s financial transparency remains limited, with a significant portion of its backing sourced from anonymous contributions.
Prominent donors to the DDT Network include Democracy Fund Voice, backed by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, and American Future Republic, connected to LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. These contributions have enabled the network to direct substantial resources towards opposing Trump and supporting Democratic candidates, with Hoffman contributing $9.5 million directly to the Republican Accountability PAC. Other significant donors to the PAC include Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who has given $6.9 million; John Pritzker, a San Francisco real estate mogul and member of the Pritzker family, who has contributed $3 million; and the leftist daughter-in-law of Rupert Murdoch, Kathryn Murdoch, who gave $2 million.
The DDT Network has also funneled funds into media ventures such as The Bulwark, a Never Trump website, and The Liberal Patriot, a platform that critiques the Democratic Party’s focus on “woke” culture and climate issues. Additionally, the network supports groups like George Conway‘s Society for the Rule of Law (SFL) and the Never Trump group Principles First.
Sarah Longwell’s consulting firm, Longwell Partners, has received over $21 million as a contractor for the DDT Network, suggesting the network also serves as a significant income conduit for its leaders.
The U.S. and China agreed to suspend most tariffs for 90 days following high-stakes weekend trade negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland over the weekend.
The details: The agreement will see both nations slash their tariffs from 125 percent to 10 percent during the three-month reprieve. A separate 20 percent tariff on China for its role in the fentanyl trade will remain in place.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday the talks led to “substantial progress,” and U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer added that the differences were “not as large as maybe thought.”
China echoed the optimism, calling the pending joint statement “good news for the world.”
Markets react: U.S. stock futures surged, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ rising more than three percent. The dollar and bonds also jumped.
Trump reacts: President Trump struck an optimistic tone on Sunday, writing:
“A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner. We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”
What happens next? Talks will continue, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
These terms go into effect on Wednesday.
Peace is in the air: Over the weekend, President Trump also announced that India and Pakistan agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” following negotiations mediated by the United States.
The U.S. and China agreed to suspend most tariffs for 90 days following high-stakes weekend trade negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland over the weekend.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: Ukrainian intelligence has arrested two people they accuse of spying for Hungary and attempting to find out if ethnic Hungarians in the country would favor Hungarian military intervention.
👥 Who’s Involved: Hungary, Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), two unnamed alleged spies, Hungarian Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations Zoltán Kovács.
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📍 Where & When: Ukraine announced the arrests on May 9.
💬 Key Quote: “It is unprecedented in the country’s recent history that a domestic political actor would work in tandem with the intelligence services of a neighboring state.” — Zoltán Kovács.
⚠️ Impact: The allegations further inflame tensions between the two countries, which have been brewing since well before the start of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine in 2022.
IN FULL:
The Ukrainiangovernment has accused Hungary of spying on its territory and allegedly trying to determine if ethnic Hungarians in the country would support an invasion by the Hungarian army. The claims have been fiercely dismissed by Hungarian authorities, who have linked the allegations to one of their country’s main opposition parties.
Media in Ukraine reported on May 9 that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had uncovered the alleged Hungarian spy ring operating in the Transcarpathia region, home to many ethnic Hungarians. Hungary lost the territory to Ukraine following the First World War and the signing of the Treaty of Trianon.
The SBU arrested two Ukrainian citizens, who they alleged were seeking to find out if the locals would support an invasion by the Hungarian military to reclaim the land. SBU spokesman Artem Dekhtaryenko claimed the pair also collected information on Ukrainian military units and installations and tracked local government officials.
Hungarian Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations Zoltán Kovács dismissed the accusations as “political theater” in a blog post on May 9. Instead, he linked the accusations to what he called a “growing coordination” between Ukrainian intelligence and Hungary’s main opposition party, Tisza.
“It is unprecedented in the country’s recent history that a domestic political actor would work in tandem with the intelligence services of a neighboring state. This partnership, aimed at discrediting Hungary’s national security structures, amounts to an attack on sovereignty from within,” he said.
In response to the accusations, Hungary has expelled two Ukrainian diplomats who claim they are spies. Kovács stated that Hungary’s refusal to arm Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia made the country a target and said potential coordination between Tizsa and Ukrainian intelligence was “destabilizing.”
Hungary has clashed repeatedly with Ukraine since well before the full-scale war with Russia began in 2022. For instance, Hungary has accused Ukraine of forcing ethnic Hungarians to study only in Ukrainian at schools and generally repressing them, as well as cutting off Russian gas to Hungary proper. Ukraine, in turn, has been angered by Hungary refusing to allow weapons shipments to Ukraine via its territory and scrutinizing European Union (EU) aid.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: Arizona has established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve by enacting House Bill 2749.
👥 Who’s Involved: Governor Katie Hobbs (D), State Representative Jeff Weninger (R), Satoshi Action Fund, and cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.
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📍 Where & When: Arizona, with the bill signed into law on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “Arizona just showed the country how to turn forgotten assets into a fortress against inflation,” said Dennis Porter, CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund.
⚠️ Impact: The law aims to transform unclaimed state assets into appreciating digital stores of value, positioning Arizona as a leader in digital asset management.
IN FULL:
Arizona has taken a significant step into the digital financial realm by establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, becoming the second state in the U.S. to do so. Governor Katie Hobbs (D) signed House Bill 2749 into law on May 8, 2025, officially launching the Arizona Bitcoin & Digital Assets Reserve. This innovative legislation redirects profits from unclaimed property into Bitcoin and other leading digital assets.
The bill, championed by State Representative Jeff Weninger (R), introduces a strategic approach to managing idle state assets. It includes provisions for using interest and staking rewards from abandoned property to fund acquisitions, while ensuring strong diversification rules to prevent Bitcoin from dominating the state’s investment portfolio. The law mandates U.S.-regulated custody for these assets and outlines clear steps for implementation, allowing the state to begin purchasing digital assets.
Dennis Porter, CEO and Co-Founder of the Satoshi Action Fund, a key advocate for the bill, praised the move. “Arizona just showed the country how to turn forgotten assets into a fortress against inflation,” Porter stated. He emphasized that the law converts dormant dollars into “digital gold” without impacting taxpayers.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase also played a crucial role by providing expert testimony, which helped legislators understand the financial and technological implications of Bitcoin-based reserves. This support was pivotal in overcoming legislative hurdles and securing bipartisan backing for the bill.
The law aligns Arizona with New Hampshire in utilizing idle state assets as potentially appreciating stores of value, aiming to safeguard the treasury without raising taxes or dipping into the general fund. Representative Weninger highlighted the legislation’s importance, stating, “Digital assets aren’t the future—they’re the present.” He underscored the law’s role in ensuring Arizona doesn’t leave value on the table and positions the state to lead in digital currency management.
The National Pulse reported in March that President Donald J. Trump laid out key details of his plan to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, issuing an Executive Order creating a federal government reserve of Bitcoin with the goal of retaining an estimated 200,000—mainly sourced through cryptocurrency assets already seized by federal agencies in criminal proceedings.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized 113 grams of fentanyl at the Paso Del Norte crossing in El Paso.
👥 Who’s Involved: A 40-year-old female with U.S. citizenship was arrested. CBP officers, along with Homeland Security Investigations agents, were involved.
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📍 Where & When: The incident occurred at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso on May 7.
💬 Key Quote: “This is an exceptionally dangerous practice and could be lethal if the packaging were to fail during transport,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio.
⚠️ Impact: The woman faces federal charges for attempting to smuggle drugs internally, highlighting the risks associated with such activities.
IN FULL:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso intercepted 113 grams of fentanyl concealed within a 40-year-old woman’s body on May 7. The woman, a pedestrian border crosser with U.S. citizenship, was found with the drugs hidden within her, a method deemed highly dangerous by officials.
CBP officers selected the woman for a secondary inspection just before 3 AM. During this examination, she confessed to having a foreign object concealed inside her body. Subsequently, she was taken to a medical facility, where medical staff confirmed and removed the internally concealed package filled with fentanyl. A follow-up examination revealed no further anomalies.
“This is an exceptionally dangerous practice and could be lethal if the packaging were to fail during transport,” stated CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio. He emphasized the risks associated with such smuggling methods, advising against engaging in any form of smuggling activity.
After the medical procedure, the woman was returned to the port of entry, where she was arrested and handed over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents. She now faces federal charges related to the failed smuggling attempt.
The incident underscores the ongoing attempts by gangs and criminal organisations to smuggle fentanyl into the United States. While President Trump’s border policies have reduced illegal migration by over 90 percent on the southern border, issues still remain with illegal smuggling.
Fentanyl, one of the deadliest drugs on the planet, can kill in small doses. One fentanyl shipment caught by CBP agents last year saw four million pills of fentanyl seized, enough to kill 250 million Americans.
Last month, Republicans introduced legislation that would charge fentanyl dealers with felony murder if their distribution of the drug results in deaths.
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By Popular Demand.
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❓What Happened: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two additional natural color additives and expanded the use of a third, aligning with efforts to phase out artificial food dyes being pursued by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
👥 Who’s Involved: The FDA, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, and U.S. food manufacturers.
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📍 Where & When: The FDA’s approval occurred on Friday in Silver Spring, Maryland.
💬 Key Quote: “Today we take a major step to Make America Healthy Again,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
⚠️ Impact: The approval supports the transition to natural dyes in food, affecting products like cereals, snacks, and candies.
IN FULL:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a significant step toward reducing artificial food dyes by approving additional natural color additives. This move aligns with a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative to eliminate artificial dyes, which are often petroleum-based and lack nutritional value.
The FDA’s recent approval includes Galdieria extract blue, derived from algae, and butterfly pea flower extract. The use of calcium phosphate, a natural compound, has also been expanded. These natural colorings are now permitted in a variety of food products, including fruit juices, cereals, snacks, and candies.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his commitment to making America’s food supply healthier, stating, “For too long, our food system has relied on synthetic, petroleum-based dyes that offer no nutritional value and pose unnecessary health risks. We’re removing these dyes and approving safe, natural alternatives—to protect families and support healthier choices.”
The FDA has been encouraging food companies to voluntarily phase out synthetic dyes, a move supported by some manufacturers like Tyson Foods. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary emphasized the agency’s dedication to this transition, noting, “FDA staff have been moving quickly to expedite the publication of these decisions, underscoring our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based dyes in the food supply and provide new colors from natural sources.”
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❓What Happened: Former Congressman George Santos seeks clemency from President Donald J. Trump after being sentenced to 87 months in prison.
👥 Who’s Involved: George Santos, President Trump, federal prosecutors, and former Attorney General Merrick Garland.
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📍 Where & When: New York, sentencing occurred last month; Santos appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Thursday.
💬 Key Quote: “President Trump, I’d appreciate if you could give me a consideration. I’m not an altar boy, I’m not pretending to be one. But I’m not a hardened criminal.” — George Santos.
⚠️ Impact: Santos argues his sentence is overly harsh and claims his experience could help identify other wrongdoers.
IN FULL:
Former Congressman George Santos is appealing to President Donald J. Trump for clemency following his sentencing to 87 months in federal prison. Santos, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft, appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored expressing his hope for a pardon or commutation from the President.
Santos, who was removed from Congress after a House Ethics Report, claims the sentence is excessive for a first-time offender. He argues the case against him was politically motivated, pointing to former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s role in leading the Joe Biden-era Justice Department. “I do believe this is an unfair judgment handed down to me. There was a lot of politicization over the process,” Santos stated.
The former congressman was charged with several schemes involving political donors and government assistance programs, intending to enrich himself while campaigning for New York’s 3rd congressional district. His downfall was marked by accusations of fabricating his resume, lying about his background, and misleading the public regarding a dog charity.
Despite pleading guilty, Santos has been vocal on social media, disputing prosecutors’ claims and maintaining his sentence is disproportionately severe. He contends that his actions, though regrettable, were mistakes and not deserving of such a lengthy prison term. “President Trump, I’d appreciate if you could give me a consideration. I’m not an altar boy, I’m not pretending to be one. But I’m not a hardened criminal,” he pleaded.
Santos also suggests his experiences could serve the country by identifying others engaged in similar misconduct. “Who better… to be able to sniff out other bad actors doing similar actions that I did?” he asked.
WATCH:
‘No one better than President Trump knows what a weaponized justice department looks like.’
George Santos, who is facing seven years in jail for wire fraud and identity theft, makes his plea to Trump.
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) May 8, 2025
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