Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has expressed concern over President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, HunterBiden, suggesting it might establish a dangerous “precedent” for future administrations.
Speaking on Sunday, Sanders acknowledged the personal aspect for Biden, noting the understandable desire of a parent to protect their family amidst political attacks. “When you have his opponents going after his family, as a father, as a parent, I think we can all understand Biden trying to protect his son and his family,” he said. “On the other hand, I think the precedent being set is kind of a dangerous one,” he added, warning that the scope of this pardon might create challenges for future presidents.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
Biden’s White House pledged last year that he would not pardon his son Hunter after Hunter was indicted for several felonies, including lying about his drug habits on a federal firearms form. Despite that promise, Biden pardoned Hunter following the election victory of President-elect Donald J. Trump, granting sweeping immunity for any crimes Hunter committed or may have committed over a decade from 2014 to 2024.
U.S. District Court Judge Mark Scarsi, who presided over one of Hunter’s cases, called the pardon partially unconstitutional and an attempt to re-write history.
Following Hunter Biden’s pardon, others have called for pardons for top Democrats. Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), former chair of the House Democrats’ January 6 Committee, stated he would accept a pardon if Biden offered it.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. District Court judges in New Jersey will decide whether to reappoint Alina Habba as U.S. Attorney on Monday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has been lobbying them to push her out—resulting in an ethics complaint.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Alina Habba, President Donald J. Trump, Hakeem Jeffries, Mike Davis and the Article III Project, and New Jersey’s 17 U.S. District Court judges.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision is set for Monday in New Jersey, as Habba’s 120-day interim term ends Tuesday.
💬KEY QUOTE: “House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on the 17 New Jersey U.S. district judges (15 of whom are Democrat-appointed by Presidents Obama and Biden) to effectively fire the New Jersey U.S. attorney tomorrow [Monday]… The reason? Because she brought an indictment against a Democrat House Member—who allegedly attacked federal officers. This is clear corruption by House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries.” – Article III Project ethics complaint.
🎯IMPACT: The judges’ decision could lead to a new U.S. attorney or leave the position unfilled, with potential implications for federal prosecutions in New Jersey.
IN FULL
On Monday, U.S. District Court judges in New Jersey will determine whether to confirm Alina Habba as the state’s U.S. Attorney, choose another candidate, or leave the position unfilled. Habba, appointed on an interim basis in late March, is approaching the end of her 120-day term.
President Donald J. Trump nominated Habba for the role on July 1, but the Senate Judiciary Committee has yet to conduct its standard vetting process. This delay stems from opposition by New Jersey’s two Democrat senators, Corey Booker and Andy Kim, who have not supported her nomination, resulting in the decision being thrown to the Garden State’s federal judges.
Notably, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is publicly lobbying the mostly Democrat-appointed jurists to push out Habba, citing her prosecution of Democrat Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ)—currently facing charges for physically accosting federal officers involved in deportations. Consequently, Mike Davis and the Article III Project have filed a House ethics complaint against Jeffries for “abuse of his official position by improperly inserting himself into a criminal proceeding pending in federal court.”
“House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on the 17 New Jersey U.S. district judges (15 of whom are Democrat-appointed by Presidents Obama and Biden) to effectively fire the New Jersey U.S. attorney tomorrow [Monday]… The reason? Because she brought an indictment against a Democrat House Member—who allegedly attacked federal officers. This is clear corruption by House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries,” the complaint reads.
New Jersey’s judges might consider First Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace or former U.S. District Court Judge Noel Lawrence Hillman, both registered Republicans, as alternatives to Habba, or leave the U.S. Attorney position vacant.
The latter scenario echoes a recent situation in the Northern District of New York, where a judicial panel declined to reappoint John Sarcone III as U.S. Attorney after his 120-day interim term. “Because there’s no U.S. Attorney in place, I became ‘Acting’ U.S. Attorney for an indefinite term,” Sarcone said of his current status.
🚨
House Democrat Leader @HakeemJeffries is corruptly strong-arming 17 New Jersey U.S. district judges–including 15 Obama and Biden judges–to fire New Jersey U.S. Attorney @AlinaHabba tomorrow at 10 am.@Article3Project just filed this House ethics complaint against Hakeem: pic.twitter.com/HLbpQcaVTI
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Cascadia Subduction Zone could be building toward a significant seismic event capable of producing a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and 100-foot-high tsunami along the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States and Canada.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Residents of the Pacific Northwest, seismologists, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model currently estimates there is a 15 percent chance of a magnitude 8.0 or higher earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone in the next 50 years. The last major event occurred on January 26, 1700.
🎯IMPACT: A major earthquake in the zone could result in nearly 6,000 fatalities, with a subsequent tsunami claiming another 8,000. Additionally, the seismic event could leave well over 100,000 people injured and half a million buildings destroyed—with a total economic cost of over $100 billion.
IN FULL
The Pacific Northwest could be living on borrowed time, with the Cascadia Subduction Zone having remained geologically quiet for well over three centuries. However, the zone—which is actually an extensive fault line where the Pacific Ocean‘s Juan de Fuca Plate is being pushed under the North American Plate—has been building up pressure for decades as the oceanic tectonic plate grinds under the continental plate, and if that pressure is released, it could cause a catastrophic earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
Seismologists believe the Cascadia Subduction Zone can, if enough pressure has built up, produce devastating earthquakes registering a magnitude of 9.0 or even higher. Geological evidence and historical accounts suggest these major seismic events only occur every 400 to 500 years—with the last major earthquake generated by the zone believed to have had a magnitude between 8.7 and 9.2 and occurring on January 26, 1700.
Despite being on the lower end of what is believed to be the historical intervals of severe earthquakes, the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model currently estimates there is a 15 percent chance of a magnitude 8.0 or higher earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone in the next 50 years. Such an event could produce a tsunami wave of over 100 feet in height, which would crash ashore from Northern California to Canada shortly after the earthquake.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) believes a major earthquake in the zone would result in nearly 6,000 fatalities, with a subsequent tsunami claiming another 8,000. Additionally, the seismic event could leave well over 100,000 people injured and half a million buildings destroyed—with a total economic cost of over $100 billion.
Meanwhile, the geography of the Pacific Northwest would likely be drastically altered as well, with large swaths of coastline sinking into the ocean and major estuaries flooding inland. However, despite the inevitable destruction, a major Cascadia Subduction Zone event happening sooner rather than later could be the lesser of two evils, as the longer the seismic pressure builds, the more destructive the earthquake and tsunami are likely to be.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Reports suggest the Trump White House is frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following recent Israeli attacks on Syria and Gaza’s only Catholic church.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and White House officials.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Following recent Israeli airstrikes, including the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza on Thursday.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time,” a White House official told Axios.
🎯IMPACT: The incidents have reportedly caused tensions between the Trump administration and the Israeli government.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump’s administration is concerned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent strikes on Syrian government targets and Gaza’s only Catholic church are reckless, with some officials describing him as acting “like a madman.”
White House sources reportedly told Axios that Netanyahu’s actions are hindering Trump’s attempts to foster peace in the region. “Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time,” an unnamed White House official remarked. Another official added, “Netanyahu is sometimes like a child who just won’t behave.”
The situation intensified following Israel’s bombing of the sole Catholic Church in Gaza on Thursday. In response, Trump reportedly held a heated phone call to Netanyahu, insisting on a public acknowledgment that the attack was an error, which Israel subsequently provided.
Despite the growing frustration among White House staff, Trump has in recent months openly supported Netanyahu, and criticized the corruption prosecution he faces in the Israeli courts. On June 25, Trump said he was “shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister!”
Nevertheless, some U.S. officials find the situation increasingly unsustainable. One official told Axios, “The feeling is that every day there is something new. What the f***?”
Trump publicly expressed frustration with the Israeli government towards the end of its 12-day war with Iran, despite having sent American forces to assist Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. “I’m not happy with Israel. You know, when I say, OK, now you have 12 hours, you don’t go out in the first hour and just drop everything you have on them,” he said, after the Israelis launched massive strikes on Iran after a ceasefire had been agreed but before it came into effect.
The America First leader later demanded the cancellation of post-ceasefire Israeli strikes on Iran in response to an alleged violation by Iran, writing on his Truth Social platform, “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
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.
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard dropped a political bombshell on Friday, revealing newly declassified documents that she says prove a “treasonous conspiracy directed by President Obama.”
The details: Gabbard declassified hundreds of pages of emails and government documents from the weeks between President Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory and his inauguration, which show that Obama and top intelligence officials set up the Russia collusion scandal that plagued his first term. Here’s the timeline:
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
🗓️ December 8: In what would have been the Presidential Daily Brief, then-DNI Director James Clapper wrote: “We assess that Russia and criminal actors did not impact recent US election results.” The brief did highlight one instance in Illinois where Moscow tried, but failed to hack election systems.
Gabbard says, “Before it could reach the President, it was abruptly pulled “based on new guidance.” This key intelligence assessment was never published.”
🗓️ December 9: Obama met with heads of the intelligence agencies, including FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan, DNI Director Clapper, and others.
E-mails show that following this meeting, they were directed to “produce an assessment per the President’s request” that highlights the tactics Russia tried to use in 2016.
🗓️ December 9: Obama officials began leaking to the media to advance the story they concocted in their meeting with the president.
The Washington Postwrote: “The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency.”
🗓️ January 6: Two weeks before Trump took office, DNI Clapper finally published the Presidential Daily Brief that had been paused on December 8, but this time it concluded that: “Putin and the Russian Government aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him.”
What happened next is history. The Mueller special counsel, impeachments, years of bulls*it, hanging over Trump’s first term.
Treason: Gabbard reacted to the finding, going as far as to tell Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo that “this treasonous conspiracy was directed by President Obama… after President Trump had already gotten elected.
It’s worth noting: As president-elect, this brief would have also gone to Donald Trump — reinforcing why Obama would not have wanted it to go out in its original form.
Trump reacts? Sort of. He hasn’t said anything directly, but he did re-post several memes on Truth Social, including one AI-generated video of Obama being arrested with YMCA music playing.
TLDR: U.S. intel agencies first found no Russian impact on the 2016 election. After an Obama-led meeting, the assessment was revised to say Moscow helped Trump—triggering three years of investigations that dogged his presidency.
What happens next? Gabbard said: “There must be indictments. Those responsible, no matter how powerful… they all must be held accountable” and referred it to the Department of Justice.
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard dropped a political bombshell on Friday, revealing newly declassified documents that she says prove a “treasonous conspiracy directed by President Obama.”
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.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is considering changes to the H-1B visa system, including a potential “weighted selection process” for applicants. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed notice of a possible change with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on Thursday, the filing provided no further details.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and President Donald J. Trump.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The filing was made on Thursday with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
🎯IMPACT: Changes could prioritize highly skilled workers, though details remain unclear, and the rule is unlikely to affect next year’s visa holders.
IN FULL
The Trump administration is exploring changes to the H-1B visa system, which is heavily used by the tech industry to employ foreignlabor, usually at far lower wages than their American counterparts. On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed a notice with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, proposing a “weighted selection process” for applicants under the capped portion of the program. The filing, however, provides no further details as to how the new system would function.
The H-1B visa has faced increased scrutiny, with some supporters of President Donald J. Trump pushing for stricter immigration rules. Meanwhile, figures like former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk and others in the tech industry have defended the program. Critics argue that the current lottery system disproportionately benefits larger companies such as Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft, and leaves American workers at a disadvantage, having to compete with cheap foreign labor.
While the statutory cap for H-1B visas is set at 85,000 per year, the proposed changes could alter this limit. Any potential increase in the cap—which is already circumvented through a number of regulatory exceptions—would likely be met with intense backlash from the America First movement. The DHS filing, however, provided little detail about how the weighted selection process would work. Currently, visas are allocated randomly through a lottery system, which does not prioritize applicants based on qualifications or salary.
The National Pulse reported in May that the replacement of native-born American workers with cheap foreign labor remains unabated despite strong public opinion against the policy. While the total approvals for 2026 are lower than the peak years under the former Biden government, data shows 120,141 H-1B visas have been accepted for the next year. This is about equivalent to the total number of H-1Bs approved for 2021, cleared during the final year of President Trump’s first term in office.
While no specific deadline was included in the filing, the rule is unlikely to impact next year’s visa holders, as the program has already reached its capacity for the current cycle.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
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.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services formally rejected amendments to the International Health Regulations adopted by the World Health Assembly last year.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, and State Secretary Marco Rubio.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The rejection was announced on Friday, ahead of the amendments’ binding implementation date of July 19.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The amended IHR would give the WHO the ability to order global lockdowns, travel restrictions, or any other measures it sees fit to respond to nebulous ‘potential public health risks.'” – Joint statement from State and HHS.
🎯IMPACT: The rejection prevents expanded WHO authority over U.S. public health measures and safeguards domestic sovereignty.
IN FULL
The U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services (HHS) have formally rejected recent amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) adopted by the World Health Assembly, which would have expanded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) power during global health emergencies.
In a joint statement released Friday, the departments criticized the amendments, saying, “The amended IHR would give the WHO the ability to order global lockdowns, travel restrictions, or any other measures it sees fit to respond to nebulous ‘potential public health risks.’” The U.S. government warned that the revised regulations could infringe upon national decision-making in public health crises.
Although the United States previously withdrew from participation in the WHO, an agency of the United Nations (UN), the amended International Health Regulations were scheduled to become binding on the U.S. starting July 19, unless formally rejected. The administration has now made clear that it will not recognize the new rules.
The joint statement also raised concerns about the WHO’s susceptibility to political interference, particularly from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, stating the amendments “fail to address the WHO’s vulnerability to political influence and censorship, most notably from China, during outbreaks.”
Among the provisions drawing criticism are those that would compel member states to adopt digital health documents and give the WHO influence over public messaging. According to the statement, such measures “could stifle scientific debate by imposing narrative controls.”
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. echoed these concerns in a video statement, warning that the changes “open the door to the kind of narrative management, propaganda, and censorship that we saw during the COVID pandemic.” He emphasized that international cooperation is possible “without jeopardizing our civil liberties, without undermining our Constitution, and without ceding away America’s treasured sovereignty.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed strong reservations, calling the proposed language “vague and broad,” and suggesting that it could lead to WHO-directed responses “centered on political issues rather than effective actions.”
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), who introduced the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act, applauded the move, highlighting the need to preserve U.S. sovereignty in matters of public health.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
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.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency filed a criminal referral against Sen. Adam Schiff, alleging violations of federal laws tied to mortgage and tax fraud.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Director William Pulte of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The referral, detailing actions spanning from 2003 to 2019, was sent to the Justice Department and covered properties in Maryland and California.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Based on media reports, Mr. Adam B. Schiff has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments from 2003–2019 for a Potomac, Maryland-based property.” – William Pulte
🎯IMPACT: Schiff faces potential penalties, including up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines, if charged and convicted.
IN FULL
A criminal referral submitted by William Pulte, Director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), to Attorney General Pam Bondi, accuses Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) of possibly violating multiple federal statutes, including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements to financial institutions.
According to a report published on July 17, Pulte’s referral is based on findings from Fannie Mae financial crimes investigators and outlines what he describes as a “pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation” connected to Schiff’s handling of real estate holdings in Maryland and California from 2003 to 2019.
“Based on media reports, Mr. Adam B. Schiff has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments from 2003–2019 for a Potomac, Maryland-based property,” Pulte wrote in the referral.
At the center of the allegations is Schiff’s repeated declaration of both his California and Maryland residences as “primary residences” on mortgage applications. This move would violate federal rules permitting only one primary residence designation at a time. The referral cites instances in 2009, 2011, and 2013 where Schiff refinanced his Maryland home while simultaneously identifying a California condominium as his principal residence.
According to the referral, this dual-claim arrangement was not corrected until 2020, when Schiff reclassified the Maryland property as a secondary residence.
“Primary residence mortgages receive more favorable loan terms, including lower interest rates, than secondary residence mortgages,” Pulte stated in the referral. He further alleged that Schiff financially benefited from these misrepresentations through more advantageous refinancing rates and a property tax reduction on his California home totaling approximately $7,000.
The referral also draws broader connections between Schiff’s alleged misconduct and ongoing concerns about mortgage fraud involving Democratic Party officials. It references explicitly related allegations involving New York Attorney General Letitia James.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Hundreds of asylum seekers housed in taxpayer-funded hotels have been charged with criminal offences, including rape, robbery, and theft, according to court records.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Migrants staying in 105 asylum hotels across the United Kingdom, with cases involving at least one in every 100 migrants appearing before magistrates this year.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The cases were monitored during the first six months of 2025 across courts in Britain.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Women are being raped and sexually assaulted and even police officers attacked. We just need to deport them all immediately upon arrival.” – Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp
🎯IMPACT: The findings highlight concerns over migrant crime, with calls for more deportations and stricter border control measures.
IN FULL
Court records reveal that at least 339 migrants housed in taxpayer-funded hotels have appeared before British magistrates so far this year, charged with offences ranging from rape and robbery to assault to theft. The data shows that at least one in every 100 migrants in these accommodations has faced court proceedings.
Among the cases, 29 were related to sexual crimes, including seven alleged rapes and one proven incident of exposure. A further 64 cases involved violence-related offences such as assault, grievous bodily harm (GBH), and possession of weapons. For instance, an Ethiopian migrant was remanded in custody after allegedly trying to kiss a 14-year-old schoolgirl just eight days after arriving in Britain.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the government’s handling of illegal immigration, stating, “Women are being raped and sexually assaulted and even police officers attacked. We just need to deport them all immediately upon arrival, whether to Rwanda or elsewhere.” He added that illegal immigrants crossing the Channel are “Twenty-four times more likely to wind up in prison than average.”
However, while illegal immigration has worsened under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, the boat migrants crisis, initially exposed by Nigel Farage, began and steadily worsened under Philp’s Conservative Party, which governed from 2010 to mid-2024.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: A disagreement between U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and the Israeli authorities over delays in granting tourist visas to Christian groups has surfaced.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, and Christian organizations.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The dispute became public on July 18 after leaked correspondence was published by Israeli media.
💬KEY QUOTE: “It would be very unfortunate that our embassy would have to publicly announce throughout the United States that the State of Israel is no longer welcoming Christian organizations and their representatives,” Huckabee wrote.
🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights tensions between the U.S. and Israel, with potential implications for Christian pilgrims.
IN FULL
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has formally raised concerns with the Israeli government regarding delays in granting tourist visas to Christian groups. The issue came to light after Israeli media published details of Huckabee’s letter to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, followed by Arbel’s official reply on July 18.
In his letter, Huckabee cautioned Israeli authorities that the continued holdups could lead to serious diplomatic consequences. “This is not the relationship Israel wants to have with its best partner and friend,” he wrote.
“It would be very unfortunate that our embassy would have to publicly announce throughout the United States that the State of Israel is no longer welcoming Christian organizations and their representatives and is instead engaging in harassment and negative treatment toward organizations with long-standing relationships and positive involvement toward Zionism and friendship to the Jewish people and the State of Israel,” Huckabee said. He also suggested that such delays could impact the ease with which Israelis obtain visas to the United States.
Interior Minister Arbel, affiliated with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, wrote in his response, “In my view, this course of action deviates from accepted working norms and does not reflect the direct and constructive relationship we have established.”
These tensions emerge amid broader frustration among Christian groups toward Israel, particularly following recent controversial incidents. One such event involved a strike on the only Catholic church in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of three people. Another involved the fatal beating of a Palestinian-American Christian by extremist Jewish settlers—an incident Huckabee has publicly condemned.
There have also been several high-profile anti-Christian incidents in Israel in recent years, including the desecration of Christian graves, physical attacks on Christian clergy, spitting attacks, and vandalism of churches. Members of the current coalition government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have also tried to introduce legislation to criminalize Christians from evangelizing in the country, though it did not pass.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ruled President Donald J. Trump illegally fired two Democrat members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) earlier this year.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan, and attorneys for both sides.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued Thursday in Washington, D.C., following the firings in March.
💬KEY QUOTE: “As the Court recognized today, the law is clear, and I look forward to getting back to work,” said Slaughter.
🎯IMPACT: The decision could affect the independence of other federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve.
IN FULL
A federal judge ruled that President Donald J. Trump did not have the constitutional authority to fire two Democrat commissioners from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) earlier this year. The ruling allows Rebecca Kelly Slaughter to resume her duties as commissioner, while Alvaro Bedoya had already resigned after filing suit to challenge the dismissals. Notably, the ruling appears to run counter to a stay order issued by the United States Supreme Court in Trump v. Wilcox, which lifted another lower court’s order preventing Trump’s removal of Biden appointees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
In the ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan—appointed by former President Joe Biden—cited a 1935 Supreme Court decision that limited the President’s ability to remove independent agency officials without cause. AliKhan stated the ruling upholds “clearly established law” and prevents the President from exerting unchecked control over so-called independent agencies. “As the Court recognized today, the law is clear, and I look forward to getting back to work,” said Slaughter following the ruling.
The Trump administration argued that the FTC’s expanded role in modern times justified direct presidential oversight. The FTC, created by Congress, enforces consumer protections and antitrust laws. Its commissioners typically consist of three members from the President’s party and two from the opposition, serving staggered seven-year terms. The lawsuit alleges Trump dismissed Bedoya and Slaughter because their views conflicted with his administration’s priorities.
The administration has signaled it intends to appeal AliKhan’s ruling.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
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.
Share Story
FacebookTwitterWhatsappTruthTelegramGettrCopy Link
Real News Fan? Show It!
Many people are shocked to learn that because of active censorship, we currently have to spend more time making sure you can even see The National Pulse, than on producing the news itself. Which sucks. Because we do this for the truth, and for you.
But the regime doesn’t want you being informed. That’s why they want us to go away. And that will happen if more people don’t sign up to support our work. It’s basic supply and demand. So demand you get to read The National Pulse, unrestricted. Sign up, today.
We don’t sell ads, and refuse corporate or political cash. It all comes down to you, the reader. I hope you can help.
