GET THE APP
Friday, May 9, 2025

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

January 27, 2025
Politics

Here’s a List of The Incredible Amount of Work From Trump’s First Week.

In just one week, President Trump has taken more than 300 executive actions, securing more than a trillion dollars in U.S. investment, overseeing a significant drop in illegal border crossings, deporting criminal illegal alien rapists, gang members, and suspected terrorists, and restoring common sense to the government.

The following information provided by the Trump White House presents a stark difference between his predecessor, and even eclipses his first term, flying in the face of critics from both left and right who suggested a second Trump term would be either “lame duck” or that the President was simply “too old” to hit the ground running.

SECURING THE HOMELAND:

  • Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was confirmed by the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support.
  • A National Border Emergency has been declared.
  • Construction resumed on the U.S./Mexico border wall.
  • Deportation flights of criminal illegal aliens ramped up.
  • U.S. military troops are being deployed to assist in securing the southern border, while the Coast Guard is surging assets to the Gulf of America.
    • U.S. Northern Command: “Active-duty Marines and Soldiers continue to deploy and are integrating with @USNationalGuard forces already along the border and working together with the @DHSgov and @CBP.”
  • The so-called “CBP One” app — which “paroled” more than one million illegal immigrants into the country — was shut down.
  • The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing the parole status of illegal aliens who were allowed into the country under the Biden administration.
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies began targeted operations in cities across the country to enforce immigration law, preserve public safety, and get criminals out of our communities.
    • Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks: “USBP agents and the U.S. Coast Guard apprehended an aggravated felon aboard a small boat in open waters near Puerto Rico. Biometric checks identified Dominican Republic national Ramon Perez-Valdez, who has a conviction for aggravated felony robbery involving a gun and a prior deportation. Additionally, officials will repatriate the 41 undocumented non-citizens on the boat to their home country.”
    • Breitbart News: “President Donald Trump’s administration arrested 538 illegal aliens on Thursday, ranging from child predators to gang members and a suspected terrorist.”
    • Fox News: “Between midnight Jan. 21 and 9 a.m. Jan 22, a 33-hour period, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested more than 460 illegal immigrants that include criminal histories of sexual assault, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, drugs and weapons offenses, resisting arrest and domestic violence.”
    • The Washington Times: “ICE arrested 10 Tren de Aragua gang members, more than 400 criminals in one day”
    • New York Post: “Trump’s ICE raids turn up pedophiles, gangbangers, and NY-based suspected terrorist as 538 migrants arrested: ‘Heinous crimes’”
    • Fox News: “Trump’s ICE racks up hundreds of arrests, including illegal immigrants arrested for horror crimes”
    • Fox’s Bill Melugin: “ICE has arrested three more Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members, all of whom were previously caught and released at the border by the Biden administration in 2023.”
    • ICE: “Pablo Beningo Calva-Deamonte, a Mexican national with three DUI convictions, faces removal after his arrest by @ERODenver officers Jan. 22. The criminal alien has already been removed from the U.S. twice.”
    • ICE: “Jose Roberto Rodriguez-Urbina, an alleged MS-13 gang member, faces removal after his arrest by @ERONewYork on Jan. 22. He’s wanted in El Salvador on extortion charges.”
    • ICE: “Adan Pablo-Ramirez, a Mexican national with 2 DUIs, faces removal after his arrest by @EROChicago on Jan. 22. He has an existing removal order from 2019.”
    • New York Post: “Feds round up 50 Tren de Aragua members at ‘makeshift nightclub’ in Aurora, Colorado as DEA, ICE hit cities across US”
    • DEA Rocky Mountain: “#DEA agents, @HSIDenver @ERODenver @ATF_Denver & local partners conduct an early AM operation targeting drug trafficking & members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). Drugs, weapons, and cash were seized in Adams County. Nearly 50 illegal aliens were taken into custody.”
    • Fox News: “ICE arrests nearly 1,000 illegal aliens during sixth day of Trump administration”
  • Encounters with illegal aliens at the southern border have “plummeted” as Border Patrol agents are once again allowed to enforce the law.
    • NewsNation’s Ali Bradley: “Border Patrol agents will once again be engaging in pursuits with suspected human and drug smugglers down here at the southern border … The practice was essentially prohibited under the Biden Administration.”
  • The Department of Homeland Security reinstated use of the term “illegal alien.”
  • The Department of Justice announced it will take action against so-called “sanctuary cities” for obstruction of U.S. law.

UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY.

  • A National Energy Emergency has been declared to unlock our full energy potential and bring down costs for American families.
  • Every one of the Biden administration’s job-killing, pro-China, anti-American energy regulations have been rescinded.
  • Americans have been empowered with choices in vehicles, showerheads, toilets, washing machines, light bulbs, and dishwashers.
  • The job-killing Green New Scam was terminated.
  • The United States withdrew from the disastrous Paris Climate Agreement, which unfairly ripped off our country.
  • New federal leasing and permitting for massive wind farms, which degrade our natural landscapes and fail to serve American consumers, have been paused.
  • Bureaucratic regulations, which impeded Alaska’s ability to develop its vast natural resources, have been reversed.
  • Offshore drilling has been opened to “drill, baby, drill.”
  • The Biden-era electric vehicle mandate was terminated.
  • The Department of Energy ended the Liquefied Natural Gas pause and returned to regular order.

INVESTMENTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE:

  • President Trump announced the largest Artificial Intelligence infrastructure project in history with $500 billion in planned private sector investment.
  • Saudi Arabia declared its intention to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years.
  • After meeting with President Trump, Stellantis announced it will reopen its assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois — putting 1,500 employees back to work — and build its next-generation Dodge Durango in Detroit, Michigan. The company also announced new investments in their Toledo, Ohio, and Kokomo, Indiana, facilities.
  • Electronics giants Samsung and LG “are considering moving their plants in Mexico to the US.”
  • The Wall Street Journal: “Trump Tells Davos: Make Your Product in America—or Pay Tariffs”

FOREIGN POLICY:

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
  • Colombia agreed to President Donald Trump’s terms and will accept flights of Colombian illegal aliens being returned on military planes.
  • The Department of State declared an America First foreign policy.
  • The Department of State issued a “pause” on existing foreign aid grants to ensure accountability and efficiency.
  • President Trump continues to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas terrorists.
  • The Iran-backed Houthis were redesignated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
  • President Trump announced “urgent and decisive retaliatory measures” against Colombia for its refusal to accept repatriation flights of deportees from the U.S.
  • The State Department announced it will “no longer undertake any activities that facilitate or encourage mass migration.”
  • Belarus unilaterally released an innocent American citizen, Anastassia Nuhfer, who was taken during the Biden administration.
  • The Department of State ordered embassies worldwide to only fly the American flag — not activist flags.
  • The Mexico City Policy was reinstated to ensure no taxpayer dollars support foreign organizations that perform, or actively promote, abortion in other nations.
  • The United States is rejoining the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which promotes and strengthens opportunities for women and girls around the world, and protects the family as the fundamental unit of society.
  • Bloomberg: “One by One, World Leaders in Davos Fall in Line in Trump Era”

COMMON SENSE AND KILLING ‘WOKE’:

  • Discriminatory “DEI” offices, employees, and practices have been eliminated across the bureaucracy alongside a return to merit-based hiring.
    • Fox News: “Trump’s federal DEI purge puts hundreds on leave, nixes $420M in contracts”
  • The Federal Aviation Administration must return to merit-based hiring for all positions.
  • Affirmative action in federal government hiring has ended.
  • All federal employees have been ordered to return to the workplace.
  • It is now the official policy of the U.S. government that there are only two sexes.
  • The weaponization of the federal government against its citizens has ended.
  • Censorship by the government against its own citizens has ended in favor of free speech.
  • President Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
  • President Trump restored the name Mount McKinley to North America’s highest peak.
  • The Department of Government Efficiency was established to maximize government productivity and ensure the best use of taxpayer funds.
    • DOGE: “In the first 80 hours, approx $420M of current/impending contracts have been canceled. 2 leases have also been canceled. Initial focus is mainly on DEI contracts and unoccupied buildings.”
  • Security clearances were stripped from the infamous 51 “Spies Who Lied” and other intelligence officials who misused the public trust.
  • CIA Director John Ratcliffe released a buried official assessment declaring the pandemic likely originated in a Wuhan lab.

DEFENDING AMERICA:

  • Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
  • Secretary Hegseth declared “no more DEI” at the Department of Defense.
  • Secretary Hegseth outlined President Trump’s “Peace through Strength” mission: “We will do this in three ways — by restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence.”
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.

21 minutes ago
NatSec
War

Hegseth Sets Deadline for Transgenders to Depart from Military.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Transgenders in the U.S. military are being given between 30 and 60 days to self-separate after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to enforce a ban on their service.

👥 Who’s Involved: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, approximately 1,000 transgender service members, and the Supreme Court.

📍 Where & When: U.S. military, with deadlines for self-separation being set by June 6 for active duty and July 7 for reservists, according to a Department of Defense (DOD) memo published on Thursday, May 9, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “After a SCOTUS victory for [President Trump], TRANS is out at the DOD,” Hegseth announced on X (formerly Twitter).

⚠️ Impact: The ruling affects military readiness policies and a broader effort to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at the Department of Defense (DOD).

IN FULL:

The Department of Defense (DOD) has initiated a timeline for transgender service members to voluntarily separate from the military following a Supreme Court order clearing the way for a ban on their service in the U.S. military. A recent memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlines that approximately 1,000 service members who have identified as having gender dysphoria must begin the process of self-separation. Active duty members are required to exit by June 6, with reservists having until July 7 to comply.

This development follows the Supreme Court’s decision to stay a lower court ruling, effectively allowing the Trump administration’s ban on transgender troops to proceed. The administration argues that this policy is essential for maintaining military readiness, unit cohesion, and avoiding the disproportionate costs associated with transgenders’ need for often lifelong medical care.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating: “The Secretary is encouraged by the Supreme Court’s order staying the lower court’s injunction, allowing the Department of Defense to carry out its policies associated with ‘Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness.'”

Hegseth, in an announcement on X (formerly Twitter), declared, “After a SCOTUS victory for [President Trump], TRANS is out at the DOD.” He further noted that service members with a current diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria could choose to separate voluntarily by the set deadlines, or face involuntary removal if they fail to do so.

The Trump administration’s policy, initially introduced via Executive Order in January, mandates updates to medical standards to prioritize readiness and lethality. It also seeks to eliminate the use of invented and identification-based pronouns within the Department of Defense.

The Pentagon’s move is part of a broader initiative to eliminate policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and gender ideology. Hegseth recently announced that nearly all DEI-related policies have been removed from the Department, alongside efforts to standardize fitness tests for men and women.

From January 2016 to May 2021, the Department of Defense reportedly spent around $15 million on transgender treatments for active-duty service members. This financial aspect has been a point of contention in discussions about military spending and readiness.

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.

1 hour ago
World

Mexico Files Lawsuit Against Google Over ‘Gulf of America’ Renaming.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Mexico is suing Google for listing the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on Google Maps for U.S. users.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Claudia Sheinbaum, Google, President Donald J. Trump, the Republican-led House of Representatives.

📍 Where & When: Sheinbaum announced the lawsuit on Friday, May 9, 2025; the name change was initiated in January with Trump’s Executive Order.

💬 Key Quote: “All we want is for the decree issued by the U.S. government to be complied with,” President Sheinbaum stated, asserting that Trump’s order to rename the Gulf only applies to the U.S.’s portion of the continental shelf.

⚠️ Impact: The renaming has led to international tensions and a legal dispute, with broader implications for U.S. foreign relations.

IN FULL:

Mexico has initiated legal action against Google for its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on its Maps platform for U.S. users, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The controversy began when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to officially rename the Gulf for federal agencies. This move followed an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump on his first day in office, arguing that Americans “do most of the work there, and it’s ours.”

President Sheinbaum has expressed her government’s stance that Trump’s order should apply solely to the U.S. portion of the continental shelf, insisting that the U.S. does not possess the authority to rename the entire Gulf. “All we want is for the decree issued by the U.S. government to be complied with,” she stated.

In January, Sheinbaum reached out to Google, requesting a reconsideration of the name change. When no action was taken, she threatened legal proceedings in February. Google has maintained that the change aligns with its “longstanding practice” of adopting name changes when updated by official government sources. The tech giant clarified that the Gulf’s name would remain unchanged for users in Mexico, while users globally would see “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”

The Associated Press (AP) has also been caught in the crossfire. Its refusal to adopt the new name led to a prolonged conflict with the White House, which restricted AP’s access to certain events until a federal judge intervened in April.

Further complicating matters, President Trump hinted at potentially renaming another body of water. During an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, he intends to announce that the U.S. will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia. This has prompted a strong reaction from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who hopes the “absurd rumours” are merely a “disinformation campaign,” warning that such actions would provoke significant backlash from Iranians.

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.

2 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Immigration
Lawfare

WATCH: Miller Says Trump Admin May Suspend Habeas Corpus for Illegals.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Trump administration is considering suspending habeas corpus for illegal aliens, citing the constitutional allowance during cases of “invasion” due to the border crisis inherited from the Biden era.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, and federal courts.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., with statements made on Friday, May 9, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion. That’s an option we’re actively looking at,” Stephen Miller told the press.

⚠️ Impact: The move could streamline deportations and bolster border security, but it risks legal battles with activist judges, testing Trump’s resolve to restore immigration enforcement.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration is “actively looking at” suspending habeas corpus for illegal aliens. The constitutional principle, Latin for “you shall have the body,” allows detained persons to challenge their detention—but the Constitution states that the privilege of habeas corpus can be suspended “when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” The Trump administration’s position is that the illegal immigration crisis that gathered pace under former President Joe Biden amounts to an invasion.

“The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion. That’s an option we’re actively looking at,” White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller told the press on Friday. “A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” Miller said, arguing “radical rogue judges” are violating the Immigration and Nationality Act by intervening in immigration cases.

“By statute, the courts are stripped of jurisdiction from overruling a presidential determination… when courts stepped in, they were violating specific language that Congress had enacted saying they have no jurisdiction,” Miller added.

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.

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
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
Media

BBC Star Pleads Guilty to Terror Offenses Linked to Hezbollah.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) presenter has pleaded guilty to financial terror offences linked to the terrorist group Hezbollah.

👥 Who’s Involved: Oghenochuko ‘Ochuko’ Ojiri, Hezbollah, Nazem Ahmad, Metropolitan Police.

📍 Where & When: London, England on May 9.

💬 Key Quote: “Nazem Ahmad is a suspected terrorist financier and at the time of the business relationship between them it was directly within the knowledge of the defendant that Ahmad had been sanctioned as a terrorist financier of Hezbollah by the United States.” — The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

⚠️ Impact: The case is just the latest to see a BBC presenter pleading guilty to serious crimes in the United Kingdom.

IN FULL:

A Nigerian-British television star and art dealer has pleaded guilty to financial terrorism offences linked to the Islamist terrorist group Hezbollah following a police probe. Oghenochuko ‘Ochuko’ Ojiri, who starred in the BBC program Bargain Hunt, admitted to eight counts of “failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector” on May 9.

The guilty plea came just a day after Ojiri was charged by prosecutors in London for the offences between October 2020 and December 2021. London’s Metropolitan police said that the charges stemmed from Ojiri’s relationship with a man named Nazem Ahmad, who is suspected of being a source of funding for Hezbollah.

Ahmad, a dual citizen of Belgium and Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based, has previously been sanctioned by both the United Kingdom and the United States due to his links to the terror group. Ojiri sold art worth around $186,000 to Ahmad.

“Nazem Ahmad is a suspected terrorist financier and at the time of the business relationship between them it was directly within the knowledge of the defendant that Ahmad had been sanctioned as a terrorist financier of Hezbollah by the United States,” the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Sentencing for Ojiri is expected next month. So far, the BBC has yet to comment on the case, claiming that any comment would not be appropriate.

The case is just the latest to see a BBC personality prosecuted for serious crimes in recent months. Last year, former lead BBC news anchor Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children. Edwards, once the highest-paid news anchor at the BBC, was known worldwide for announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

In Australia, another BBC personality was jailed last August for ten years for raping and killing dozens of dogs. pleading guilty to 56 charges of bestiality and animal cruelty the year prior.

Image by Matt Cornock.

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
News

Trump Grants Asylum to Dozens of White South Africans.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The U.S. has granted refugee status to 54 white Afrikaner South Africans, who are expected to arrive in Washington, D.C., soon.

👥 Who’s Involved: The U.S. and South African governments, President Donald J. Trump, and 54 Afrikaner refugees.

📍 Where & When: Expected arrival at Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C., as soon as Monday.

💬 Key Quote: “The Department of State is prioritising consideration for U.S. refugee resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination,” said a State Department spokesman.

⚠️ Impact: The move marks a significant shift in U.S. refugee policy, with expedited processing for Afrikaners, and raises questions about the treatment of South Africa’s centuries-old white minority.

IN FULL:

The United States has granted refugee status to 54 white Afrikaner South Africans,with their arrival in Washington, D.C. expected as early as Monday. This follows an executive order by President Donald J. Trump, who in February directed his administration to prioritize Afrikaners—descendants of mostly Dutch settlers whose presence in the country dates to 1652—citing government discrimination against them.

The U.S. refugee settlement program was suspended by Trump on his first day in office, leaving over 100,000 approved refugees from countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan in limbo. However, the recent executive order has expedited the process for Afrikaners, who face having their farmland expropriated from them by the state, without compensation, under new laws. Similar legislation passed in neighboring Zimbabwe by the late President Robert Mugabe saw whites driven from their land, and in some cases, killed en masse.

White farmers in South Africa already face a disproportionate number of home invasions and murders, with the authorities turning a blind eye to large-scale rallies calling for their extermination.

Sources indicate that U.S. officials are coordinating the logistics of the Afrikaners’ arrival, with a charter flight to Dulles International Airport being considered. High-level officials from the Departments of State and Homeland Security are expected to greet the refugees upon arrival, a relatively unusual gesture.

While the exact arrival date remains unconfirmed, the State Department has emphasized its focus on Afrikaners facing “unjust racial discrimination.” This expedited processing contrasts with the typical 18 to 24 months it usually takes for refugee resettlement in the U.S.

Image by Johnnyhurst.

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.

4 hours ago
News
Religion

Pope Leo XIV Warns Against ‘Lack of Faith,’ ‘Crisis of the Family’ in Inaugural Vatican Mass.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Holy Mass as pontiff, emphasizing the need for the Church to act as a “beacon” in areas with a “lack of faith.”

👥 Who’s Involved: Pope Leo XIV, previously Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the Roman Catholic Church’s 267th pope and first American leader.

📍 Where & When: The first mass took place at the Vatican on May 9, following his election the previous day.

💬 Key Quote: “A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,” Pope Leo XIV said.

⚠️ Impact: The Pope’s call for unity and outreach is expected to influence the Church’s approach to addressing modern societal challenges and global conflicts.

IN FULL:

Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church, delivered his inaugural Holy Mass at the Vatican on Friday, urging the Church to act as a “beacon” in regions suffering from a “lack of faith.” Previously, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the 267th Pope and the first American to hold the position, was elected just a day prior in a historic conclave.

In his homily, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the Church‘s challenges, noting that many are turning away from faith and towards “technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.” He emphasized the need for missionary outreach in areas where Christian faith is seen as “absurd,” dominated by power and wealth.

The Pope remarked, “A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.” The Pope addressed the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, calling for unity and collaboration.

The mass itself was primarily said in Latin, the traditional language of the Roman Catholic Church, while the homily was said initially in English and Italian.

World leaders, including U.S. President Donald J. Trump, have congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election, with Trump calling it a “great honor” to have the first American pope.

Observers are keenly watching his upcoming public appearances, including Sunday’s Regina Coeli prayer and a Monday press conference, for indications of his leadership direction.

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.

5 hours ago
William Upton
Economy

$13 Billion Boeing Purchase Confirmed After Trump’s UK Trade Deal Announcement.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: British Airways has announced a major deal to purchase 32 Boeing airplanes following the finalization of a landmark bilateral trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom.

👥 Who’s Involved: British Airways and its parent company, IAG; Boeing; IAG CEO Luis Gallego, President Donald J. Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

📍 Where & When: British Airways announced the Boeing purchase on Friday, the landmark trade deal was announced in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Looking ahead to the next decade, these new aircraft will enable us to strengthen our core markets and further improve our customer experience, while continuing to drive long-term value for our shareholders,” said IAG CEO Luis Gallego.

⚠️ Impact: The airline purchase is one of the first major transactions following the finalization of the U.S.-UK bilateral trade agreement.

IN FULL:

The United Kingdom’s British Airways has inked a $13 billion deal to purchase 32 Boeing airplanes, according to its parent company, IAG. The deal was announced on Friday after U.S. President Donald J. Trump and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer finalized a major bilateral trade agreement on Thursday.

Describing the Boeing deal as a “milestone,” IAG CEO Luis Gallego said: “Looking ahead to the next decade, these new aircraft will enable us to strengthen our core markets and further improve our customer experience, while continuing to drive long-term value for our shareholders.”

The major purchase was referenced by President Trump and his Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, on Thursday during the press availability after announcing the landmark bilateral trade deal with the United Kingdom. Both Trump and Lutnick emphasized that part of the agreement would end tariffs on Rolls-Royce, a British automotive and engine company that manufactures airline engines—including those used on a number of Boeing plane models.

Boeing and its chief competitor, Airbus, are the two largest airline manufacturers in the world, and together dominate the global market. China learned this fact the hard way when Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials, in response to President Trump’s imposition of a 145 percent tariff on Chinese exports, halted acceptance of Boeing planes and parts deliveries. However, that move was quickly reversed as it became apparent that China’s domestic airline industry would not be able to function without the new airlines and parts.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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.

5 hours ago
NatSec
News

White House Blocks Biden Holdover at Pentagon After National Pulse Exposé.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Joe Biden holdover Ricky Buria has been blocked from becoming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s permanent chief of staff by the White House, after The National Pulse exposed his past attacks on President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.

👥 Who’s Involved: Ricky Buria, Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, President Trump, and Jennifer Hegseth.

💬 Key Quote: “There is an ideological component to this,” said a Buria critic.

⚠️ Impact: Buria’s rise has caused internal strife and raised concerns about security protocols and political alignment within the Pentagon.

IN FULL:

Pentagon aide Ricky Buria, known to some as “Rasputin Ricky,” has been blocked by the White House from becoming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff. The news comes after an exclusive exposé published by The National Pulse, which shed light on previously unknown background information about Buria.

On April 22, The National Pulse described how Buria, a former aide to Biden-era Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, was amassing power at the Pentagon. A donation in 2023 to Democratic candidate Mike O’Brien via the notorious ActBlue platform was noted, particularly as O’Brien also received an endorsement from VoteVets—a partisan group that alleges President Trump “hates veterans” and called for Hegseth to be fired over “Signalgate.”

Buria has disparaged President Trump and Vice President Vance on many occasions, describing the latter’s foreign policy stance as “wackamamie crazy” and “isolationist.” He also blasted President Trump’s moves to use the military to assist with immigration enforcement as “dumb.”

Buria’s recent rise had been marked by internal clashes, including his role in dismissing three top aides, including the anti-war Dan Caldwell.

“Hegseth [was] elevating a Democrat who does not share the Vice President or the President’s worldview and who weaponized his position to push out internal rivals, including people who had very strong histories of being supporters of the MAGA agenda,” one source told the New York Post.

Security concerns have also been raised, with reports of Buria flouting protocols by bringing personal devices into secure areas. His close relationship with Hegseth has drawn comparisons to the Russian mystic Rasputin, with Buria reportedly wielding significant influence over departmental decisions.

“This is without question the worst in a string of bad judgment calls recently by Secretary Hegseth,” said one source of Buria’s elevation.

Following The National Pulse’s report, the White House personnel office is understood to have assessed Buria’s credentials, ultimately refusing him the chief of staff position. It is currently unclear whether Buria will remain in the department at all.

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.

6 hours ago
Economy

Trump Pressures China for Open Trade, Considers Sharp Tariff Cut.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump urged China to open its markets to the U.S. and suggested reducing tariffs on Chinese goods.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Chinese officials.

📍 Where & When: Comments made in Washington, D.C. on Friday; meetings between the U.S. and China set in Switzerland over the weekend.

💬 Key Quote: “CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!” – President Trump on Truth Social.

⚠️ Impact: Potential reduction in tariffs and improved trade relations between the U.S. and China.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has called for China to open its markets to the United States, suggesting a potential reduction in tariffs on Chinese imports. This announcement comes ahead of planned trade discussions between American and Chinese officials in Switzerland this weekend.

On Friday, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, emphasizing the benefits for China if it opens its markets to American goods. He stated, “CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!” In a subsequent post, he mentioned, “80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Currently, tariffs on most Chinese goods stand at 145 percent, a figure established last month following China’s retaliatory measures against U.S. tariffs. Meanwhile, China has imposed a 125 percent levy on most American products. Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump indicated that these tariffs would not increase further and could only decrease. “It’s at 145, so we know it’s coming down,” he remarked, expressing optimism about future relations with China.

Treasury Secretary Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are scheduled to meet with Chinese counterparts in Geneva over the weekend to negotiate a trade deal. Greer commented on the upcoming talks, saying, “At President Trump’s direction, I am negotiating with countries to rebalance our trade relations to achieve reciprocity, open new markets, and protect America’s economic and national security.” He anticipates productive discussions with his international counterparts.

Bessent has described the current economic dynamics with China as “unsustainable” and emphasized the U.S. desire for “fair trade” without a complete decoupling from China.

In related trade developments, Trump announced a significant trade agreement with the United Kingdom on Thursday. This deal aims to enhance U.S. market access in Britain for billions of dollars worth of American exports. However, a 10 percent baseline tariff on many British goods remains, with specific exceptions for Rolls-Royce engines and airplane parts, among other products.

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.

7 hours ago
News

Trump Ousts Obama-Appointed Librarian of Congress.

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

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

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

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

IN FULL:

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

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

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

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

Image by Library of Congress Life.

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