GET THE APP
Tuesday, July 29, 2025

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

March 30, 2025
NatSec
Politics

President Trump Exempts National Security Agencies from Collective Bargaining Requirements.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to end collective bargaining with federal unions in several agencies tied to national security. This action uses authority from the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Science Foundation (NSF), Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of State, Department of Energy (DOE), and others.

📍 Where & When: The White House, recent Executive Order signing.

💬 Key Quote: “President Trump supports constructive partnerships with unions who work with him; he will not tolerate mass obstruction that jeopardizes his ability to manage agencies with vital national security missions,” the White House said in a statement.

⚠️ Impact: The order aims to ensure that agencies central to national security can operate without delays and intrusive union restrictions, affecting the implementation of policies and management decisions.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order to terminate collective bargaining agreements with federal unions in agencies associated with national security. This decision, made under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, involves ending union negotiations within pivotal government entities such as the Department of Defense (D0D), Veterans Affairs (VA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Coast Guard. These agencies have essential roles, such as healthcare for troops, military research, and safeguarding national borders.

Besides defense, the order impacts border security, foreign relations, energy security, pandemic preparedness, cybersecurity, economic defense, and public safety. Within these sectors, departments like Homeland Security (DHS), Justice (DOJ), State, and Energy (DOE) will see collective bargaining with federal unions halted.

The move is meant to eliminate delays and impediments in policy implementation associated with union negotiations. President Trump points to the challenges posed by union activities as obstacles in executing crucial national security measures. Union contracts, often renegotiated under the former administration, impede the ability of agencies to modify policies as swiftly as necessary, especially during ongoing security threats.

For instance, unions have been able to delay adjustments to cybersecurity protocols, citing the need for bargaining rights. This has proven problematic for agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Executive Order explicitly aims to counteract such obstructions, emphasizing a move toward more prompt and decisive governance.

Unions, considered adversarial by the administration, have filed numerous grievances against Trump administration policies, as demonstrated by the Veterans Affairs unions’ significant volume of actions taken since his inauguration. The administration argues that such union participation undermines the effectiveness of national security operations.

Official White House Photo by Molly Riley.

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.

17 minutes ago
Politics

Trump EPA Prepares to ‘Drive a Dagger Into the Heart of the Climate Change Religion.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a proposal to rescind the legal basis for federal regulation of gas-powered vehicle emissions and electric vehicle (EV) mandates established during the Obama administration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, former EPA Chief of Staff Mandy Gunasekara, and legal experts including Steve Milloy and Michael Buschbacher.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This will basically drive a dagger into the heart of the climate change religion.” – Lee Zeldin

🎯IMPACT: If finalized, the proposal could dismantle the regulatory framework for federal climate policies, reshaping the U.S. energy and environmental landscape.

IN FULL

The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding issued under the Obama administration. This finding declared greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide and methane, as threats to public health, enabling sweeping federal climate regulations.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the proposal on Tuesday morning, stating, “This will basically drive a dagger into the heart of the climate change religion.” The 2009 finding has been the foundation for numerous regulations, including those targeting vehicle emissions, coal-fired power plants, and methane emissions from oil and gas operations.

The Biden government had relied on the same finding to enforce electric vehicle (EV) mandates and other climate policies. Former EPA chief of staff Mandy Gunasekara noted, “It is the activating document to the entirety of our substantive greenhouse gas regulations.” Steve Milloy, a senior legal fellow at the Energy & Environment Legal Institute, added, “If they get rid of the endangerment finding, then the rationale for all federal action on climate kind of goes away.”

The proposal, if finalized, would empower the EPA to reverse regulations governing greenhouse gas emissions, potentially reducing regulatory burdens on industries reliant on fossil fuels. However, legal experts, including Michael Buschbacher, caution that the proposal may face significant legal challenges. “Unless this is done really, really well, this has the potential of being a kind of regulatory Vietnam,” he said.

Notably, Zeldin and Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright both contend that the EPA can rescind the Obama-era greenhouse gas finding under the legal framework created by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo ruling, which dramatically altered the legal principle of Chevron deference.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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.

58 minutes ago
Crime
Culture

Convicted Child Sex Offender Purchases Baby Through Surrogacy.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man featured in a surrogacy video has been identified as a registered child sex offender, raising concerns over his parental role.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former teacher Brandon Keith Mitchell, a convicted sex offender, and his husband, Logan Riley, a second-grade teacher.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Pennsylvania, with details coming to light in July 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As always in cases like this, where a teacher had access to hundreds of students over multiple years, authorities are concerned that there may be other victims out there.” – District Attorney Chief of Staff Charles Gaza, following Mitchell’s arrest in 2016.

🎯IMPACT: The case raises questions about surrogacy laws and the immediate safety of the child.

IN FULL

Brandon Keith Mitchell, a Tier 1 sex offender in Pennsylvania, has been identified as one of the men featured in a viral video celebrating the surrogacy journey of a homosexual couple. The video, which showed Mitchell and his husband Logan Riley holding their baby, initially gained attention after Irish activist Derek Blighe posted it on social media. “Unless a miracle happens, this child has almost no chance at a normal life,” Blighe wrote.

Mitchell, a former chemistry teacher, was convicted in 2016 for soliciting a 16-year-old student for nude photos and videos and engaging in explicit “sexts.” Authorities found over 12,000 text messages exchanged with the victim, as well as hundreds of explicit videos stored on Mitchell’s devices. He pleaded guilty to felony child pornography possession and Corruption of Minors, serving just two months of a 23-month sentence before being released on parole.

Mitchell and Riley married in 2021 and launched a GoFundMe campaign in 2023 to raise funds for surrogacy. The fundraiser detailed their plans to use a gestational surrogate and highlighted the rigorous medical and legal processes involved. Despite a goal of $50,000, the campaign raised only $2,000. In November 2023, the couple announced they had successfully found a surrogate to carry their child.

Concerns have been raised about Mitchell’s parental role, given his criminal history. The Pennsylvania State Police confirmed that state laws do not automatically prohibit convicted sex offenders from having children or exercising parental rights. Surrogacy laws, which allow intended parents to be legally recognized through pre-birth orders, bypass restrictions that apply to adoption or foster care.

This case has reignited debates on surrogacy and the legal loopholes that enable predatory adults with serious criminal convictions to gain custody of children. Critics argue that more stringent regulations are needed to protect the welfare of children born through such arrangements.

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.
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
Culture
Politics

Sydney Sweeney ‘Great Jeans’ Campaign Sparks ‘Nazi Propaganda’ Meltdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Sydney Sweeney’s new American Eagle ad campaign has received backlash from left-wing media outlets and social media users over its tagline, which they irrationally believe promotes white supremacy and eugenics.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sydney Sweeney, American Eagle, and far-left social media users critical of the campaign.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The campaign launched ahead of the back-to-school shopping season, with ads appearing in New York City, Las Vegas, and online.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Maybe I’m too f***ing woke. But getting a blue-eyed, blonde, white woman and focusing your campaign around her having perfect genetics feels weird,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

🎯IMPACT: The campaign has drawn criticism for its messaging while also raising funds for domestic violence awareness through sales of “The Sydney Jean.”

IN FULL

Sydney Sweeney’s collaboration with American Eagle has sparked outrage among radical leftists on social media due to the campaign’s tagline, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes,” which was later altered to say “Jeans.” Progressive and left-wing activists and newspapers, such as The Guardian, argue that the phrase “great genes” has historically been associated with eugenics.

The campaign features Sweeney, a blonde, blue-eyed white actress widely known for her attractiveness, in various promotional materials for the limited-run “Sydney Jean.” MSNBC denounced the ads as symbolic of “an unbridled cultural shift toward whiteness,” with producer Hannah Holland claiming that “The internet has been quick to condemn the advertisement as noninclusive at best and as overtly promoting ‘white supremacy’ and ‘Nazi propaganda’ at worst.”

Some far-left social media users, amplified by the media, claimed the campaign’s messaging was “tone deaf,” with one commenting on X (formerly Twitter), “This is what happens when you have no people of color in a room.”

“Maybe I’m too f***ing woke. But getting a blue-eyed, blonde, white woman and focusing your campaign around her having perfect genetics feels weird,” another X user wrote. Others have tried to bizarrely claim the American Eagle name itself is a reference to Nazi and fascist iconography.

Despite the backlash, the campaign has a charitable component. American Eagle announced that 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of “The Sydney Jean” will be donated to Crisis Text Line, a non-profit providing confidential mental health support. The jeans also feature a butterfly motif representing domestic violence awareness.

American Eagle’s Chief Marketing Officer Craig Brommers described the media buy for this campaign as “significantly more” than previous efforts, emphasizing its importance ahead of the back-to-school shopping season. The retailer has faced financial challenges, including a $68 million adjusted operating loss in the first quarter, adding pressure for the campaign to perform well.

The controversy follows other headline-grabbing ventures by Sweeney, including the launch of a soap product containing her bathwater, which sold out quickly and later appeared on reseller platforms for inflated prices. Notably, after the American Eagle ad campaign launched, the company saw its stock value spike, with investors speculating the association with Sweeney would boost sales.

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.

2 hours ago
Economy

Trump Tariffs Win as U.S. Goods Trade Deficit Narrows Significantly.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. goods trade deficit narrowed sharply in June, exceeding economists’ expectations, as imports fell significantly.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Commerce Department reported the data, with economists and analysts tracking the trade balance.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The report was released Tuesday, covering trade activity in June 2025.

🎯IMPACT: The narrowing deficit is expected to boost second-quarter GDP, with a smaller trade gap reducing its drag on economic growth.

IN FULL

A sharp drop in imports drove a significant narrowing in the U.S. trade deficit in June, with impacts particularly seen in consumer goods. The Commerce Department published data on Tuesday that shows the trade gap in goods narrowed to $86.0 billion, down from $96.4 billion in May—suggesting that President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs are successfully rebalancing the economy in favor of American producers. Economists had projected a deficit of an estimated $99 billion.

U.S. exports dropped only 0.6 percent to $178.2 billion, while imports dropped 4.2 percent to $264.2 billion. The drop in imports was primarily driven by a 12.4 percent drop in consumer goods imports. Notably, the slide in consumer goods imports—a category that includes items such as apparel, electronics, and household products—was the largest month-to-month decline seen in over a year.

The importation of industrial materials fell by 5.5 percent, while automotive part imports fell by a more modest 2.0 percent. Economists now expect the falling U.S. trade deficit to boost the 2nd Quarter gross domestic product (GDP), with an initial estimate set to be published in August.

Year-over-year data shows that the goods trade deficit fell by approximately 13 percent, or $12.8 billion. Meanwhile, exports rose 3.6 percent, with imports sliding 2.5 percent.

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.
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
Economy
News

CCP Moves to Expand Influence Over Panama Canal After Derailing U.S. Ports Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A proposed deal between U.S.-based BlackRock and China’s CK Hutchison involving the transfer of international ports, including two in Panama, has collapsed amidst pressure from Beijing.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: BlackRock, CK Hutchison, China’s state-owned shipping giant Cosco, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The deal collapsed on Monday, impacting 43 ports across 23 countries, including the Panama Canal ports of Balboa and Cristobal.

💬KEY QUOTE: President Trump has previously stated, “China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama—and we’re taking it back.”

🎯IMPACT: The failed deal raises concerns about U.S. strategic interests in the region.

IN FULL

China is poised to increase its influence over the Panama Canal following the breakdown of a proposed agreement between U.S. investment giant BlackRock and Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison. The collapse of this $23 billion deal, initially met with criticism from Beijing, leaves the future of control over dozens of strategic international ports uncertain, including two positioned at either end of the Panama Canal.

The original agreement would have shifted ownership of 43 ports across 23 countries to a consortium involving BlackRock. Among those were the Balboa and Cristobal ports in Panama, which have been operated by CK Hutchison since 1997.

President Donald J. Trump had praised the collapsed deal, describing it as a step toward curbing China’s presence in the region. Referencing America’s former control over the canal, Trump had said, “China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama—and we’re taking it back.” The canal was handed over to Panama by the U.S. in 1999 following a 1977 treaty brokered by Democrat former President Jimmy Carter.

Amid rising pressure from Chinese authorities and concerns over a potential anti-monopoly investigation, CK Hutchison announced this week that its exclusive negotiation window with BlackRock had ended. However, the company left the door open for future restructuring of the deal. In a statement, CK Hutchison said it would “remain open to discussions with a view to inviting a major strategic investor from the [People’s Republic of China] to join as a significant member of the consortium.” The firm added that it believed “changes in deal structure and participant makeup are necessary to gain approval from all relevant authorities.”

One analyst, Dane Chamorro of Control Risks, suggested that while China may ultimately be left out of the Panama portion of the port portfolio, it could still walk away with control over many of the other global assets involved. “China will insist this be the quid pro quo: that the other global ports have Cosco participation. And obviously, Cosco is already a major global port holder,” he noted.

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.

4 hours ago
News
Religion

Trump Admin Protects Federal Workers’ Right to Express Their Faith.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration issued new guidance affirming that federal employees may openly express their religious beliefs at work.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Office of Personnel Management, federal employees, and CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The guidance was issued on July 28, 2025, and applies to federal workplaces across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “From the very founding of our nation, faith was not relegated to the private sphere but boldly woven into the fabric of public life.” – CatholicVote president Kelsey Reinhardt

🎯IMPACT: The guidance expands religious freedoms for federal employees and reinforces constitutional protections for faith expression in the workplace.

IN FULL

The Trump administration issued updated guidance on Monday, affirming that federal employees are permitted to express their religious beliefs in the workplace openly. The new directive clarifies that federal workers may engage in religious activities such as praying with colleagues, sharing their faith, and displaying religious symbols in their personal office spaces.

According to a memo from the Office of Personnel Management, federal workers are allowed to attempt to “persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views” and invite coworkers to religious functions, provided such actions do not cross the line into harassment.

This policy marks a broader effort by the administration to defend constitutional rights and ensure that federal employees are protected from retaliation due to their faith. The guidance builds upon pre-existing Department of Labor rules but goes further in creating space for religious activity during the workday. Now, federal staff can keep items like crosses, Bibles, and other religious objects at their desks. Additionally, supervisors may post church-related flyers, for instance, on office bulletin boards, and public-facing officials, such as park rangers or healthcare providers, may pray with members of the public.

The guidance also calls on federal agencies to revise their internal rules to reflect these expanded protections. It references the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Groff v. DeJoy, which reinforced legal safeguards around religious accommodation in the workplace.

Kelsey Reinhardt, President of CatholicVote, commended the guidance, calling it “a reaffirmation of America’s founding principles.”

“From the very founding of our nation, faith was not relegated to the private sphere but boldly woven into the fabric of public life,” Reinhardt added, praising other recent steps by the administration to defend people of faith, including an executive order addressing anti-Christian discrimination and the creation of the Religious Liberty Commission.

“The assurance that… expressions [of faith] will be welcomed and safeguarded in federal workplaces not only honors our history; it reinvigorates the spirit of liberty for every citizen,” she said.

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.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad
Mamdani

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
Crime
News

Anti-NYPD Posts by NYC’s Mamdani Resurface After Cop Killing.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan left four people dead, including New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Didarul Islam. Subsequently, anti-NYPC comments by the Democrats’ New York City mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, have resurfaced.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Victims included NYPD officer Didarul Islam, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, security guard Aland Etienne, and Rudin firm employee Julia Hyman. The shooter was identified as Shane Tamura, 27.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shooting occurred Monday evening at 345 Park Avenue, Midtown Manhattan, a skyscraper housing NFL and Blackstone offices.

💬KEY QUOTE: “He was doing the job that we asked him to do. He put himself in harm’s way. He made the ultimate sacrifice,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said of the slain officer.

🎯IMPACT: The incident drew scrutiny of Mamdani’s past anti-police rhetoric, particularly his calls to “defund” the NYPD during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots.

IN FULL

Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat candidate for New York City Mayor, is facing backlash following a mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan on Monday that killed four people, including New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Didarul Islam. While celebrating his wedding in his home country of Uganda, Mamdani released a statement feigning appreciation for first responders. However, social media users soon resurfaced the avowed socialist‘s previous comments supporting defunding the NYPD.

In June 2020, the Twelver Muslim called the NYPD “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety,” advocating for its defunding. In 2021, he declared, “We can’t reform a system working exactly as designed – to control Black, brown & poor New Yorkers. We need to defund the police… free the thousands locked up unjustly & invest the savings in those most impacted by state violence.”

The gunman in the Midtown shooting, 27-year-old Shane Tamura, killed three people in the lobby, including Officer Islam, before dying by suicide. Tamura left a note citing frustrations with the NFL’s handling of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and its effects on former players.

Officer Islam had served three years with the NYPD. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “He died as he lived. A hero.”

Mayor Eric Adams stated that the investigation into Tamura’s motives and actions continues.

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.

5 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Health

Doc Who Stabbed ‘Voodoo Doll’ of Trump Gets Powerful FDA Job.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED:  Dr. Vinay Prasad, a hematologist-oncologist, has been appointed Director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) despite prior anti-Trump comments, including claims he stabbed a “voodoo” doll of the America First leader to “curse” him.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dr. Vinay Prasad, President Donald J. Trump, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the FDA.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Prasad’s anti-Trump statements were made on his podcast and other media appearances over the last several years.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Who can I curse for the pandemic? I mean, I’m frustrated like a lot of people; I’m annoyed. But who do I curse? And there’s no one to really curse, but I can curse Trump. I have his little statue. I stab him, his little figurette.” — Dr. Vinay Prasad

🎯IMPACT: The public remarks expose a lack of proper vetting for administration officials and potential political bias that has the potential to undermine the Trump administration.

IN FULL

Dr. Vinay Prasad, a hematologist-oncologist and outspoken progressive commentator, has been appointed Director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). This appointment comes despite prior anti-Trump comments that include claims he stabbed a voodoo doll to “curse” the America First leader.

Nominated in May by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Prasad’s elevation to a key regulatory role comes amid concerns about political bias revealed by journalist Laura Loomer. Prasad has opposed key Trump policies like the Right to Try Act—championed by the President to expand treatment access for terminally ill patients.

Prasad’s podcast, Plenary Session—and other public appearances—provide a record of his hostility toward Trump and the Republican base. On a February 7, 2021, episode, Prasad admitted he “stabbed a Trump voodoo doll to ‘curse’ Trump”.

“Who can I curse for the pandemic? I mean, I’m frustrated like a lot of people; I’m annoyed. But who do I curse? And there’s no one to really curse, but I can curse Trump. I have his little statue. I stab him, his little figurette,” Prasad said, admitting it was voodoo with his guest.

His rhetoric has consistently painted the President in stark terms. On October 3, 2020, he aligned himself with the “Never Trump” movement, declaring, “I hate him too.” Days later, he called Trump “a narcissist” who “uses evil as a tool.” Later the same month, he alleged Trump’s lies “could fill a few 10,000-page volume books.”

His contempt extends beyond Trump to his political supporters. In a November 7, 2020, episode, Prasad described Trump’s base as a “cult” and likened them to “substance abusers” or “criminals.” Expressing disappointment in the closeness of the 2020 election, he called it “a crushing loss for Democrats, for progressives like myself” because he had hoped for a landslide.

In a July 7, 2022, episode of the VPZD Show, Prasad mocked Trump loyalists in the wake of the January 6 Capitol protests, criticizing those who “turn a blind eye for insurrection.”

Prasad has openly identified as a progressive, stating in an October 16, 2021, episode, “I’m on the far left.”

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.
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
Religion
World

Pope Leo Mourns Islamist Church Massacre.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Armed militants attacked Catholic faithful gathered in prayer at the Blessed Anuarite Parish in Komanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing dozens and setting nearby structures on fire.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The attackers were militants linked to the Islamic State, targeting Catholics during a vigil service.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on July 27 at the Blessed Anuarite Parish in Komanda, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

💬KEY QUOTE: “His Holiness is begging God so that the blood of these martyrs is a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity and love for all the Congo people.” – Cardinal Pietro Parolin

🎯IMPACT: The attack has left dozens dead, with varying reports estimating fatalities between 10 and 43 or more, and has prompted calls for solidarity and development in the region.

IN FULL

Pope Leo XIV has expressed “consternation and deep affliction” in response to a July 27 massacre of Catholics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where armed Muslims killed dozens of Catholic faithful gathered in prayer.

A message from the American-born pontiff, sent to Bishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu, President of the Congolese Bishops’ Conference, states, “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has learned with consternation and deep affliction of the attack permitted against the Blessed Anuarite Parish of Komanda in the province of Ituri, which caused the death of several faithful, gathered for worship.”

Signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the telegram adds that the Pope “joins the mourning of the families and of the Christian community severely affected, showing them his closeness and assuring them of his prayer.”

Islamic State-affiliated militants attacked the parish during a Sunday morning vigil, using machetes and firearms to kill worshippers and set nearby houses and shops ablaze. Official reports confirm at least 10 deaths, though some estimates suggest up to 43 or more.

Cardinal Parolin wrote that “[the] tragedy invites us further to work for the whole human development of the murdered population of this region,” adding: “His Holiness is begging God so that the blood of these martyrs is a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity and love for all the Congo people.”

Central Africa has long been violent and dysfunctional. However, the Trump Administration recently opened a path to progress, brokering a peace deal between Congo and neighboring Rwanda in June.

Image by Edgar Beltrán, The Pillar.

Join Pulse+ to comment below and receive exclusive email 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.

6 hours ago
William Upton
Corruption

‘Grifters and Lobbyists’ Pushing AG Bondi to Gut Trump DOJ’s Antitrust Efforts.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two key U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division staffers have been fired after pressure from corporate interests and lobbyists aiming to undermine President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to rein in business monopolies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The DOJ Antitrust Division, Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, Roger Alford, Bill Rinner, Attorney General Pam Bondi, DOJ Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle, investigative journalist Laura Loomer, The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam, lobbyists, and major corporations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The DOJ Antitrust Division firings were confirmed on Monday, July 28, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “What if I told you this was happening because greedy, fake-MAGA world grifters and lobbyists are upset that the antitrust team was actually doing their job instead of taking cash from big corporates to turn a blind eye to monopolistic practices?” — Raheem Kassam

🎯IMPACT: The firings raise serious concerns about the future direction of the Antitrust Division and whether the White House will continue to back an America First agenda opposing the consolidation of corporate power.

IN FULL

Two of the top antitrust officials at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have been fired following internal tensions. The firings of Roger Alford and Bill Rinner—both deputies to Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater—raise serious concerns that the nation’s top law enforcement agency is gutting its ability to tackle and restrict consolidation among corporations and the influence of multi-nationals.

“What if I told you this was happening because greedy, fake-MAGA world grifters and lobbyists are upset that the antitrust team was actually doing their job instead of taking cash from big corporates to turn a blind eye to monopolistic practices?” The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Another giant L for Pam Bondi here too, btw. She signed off on this. Remember, her last job was as a lobbyist for nations like Qatar and corporates like Uber, General Motors, and Amazon.”

Slater, a leading voice among conservative and populist legal minds who have broken with the political establishment and pushed for more aggressive antitrust enforcement, has been a significant target of criticism from lobbyists representing entrenched big business and Wall Street interests. These political and corporate establishment interests are upset that Slater and the DOJ Antitrust Division are not rubber-stamping merger requests. Instead, they are fulfilling their legal duty, investigating the market impact of corporate consolidation.

Investigative journalist Laura Loomer, in now-deleted social media posts, accused DOJ staff close to Attorney General Pam Bondi of influence peddling, suggesting the Antitrust Division firings were because of lobbyist complaints, including an effort by Ticketmaster and Live Nation to see the antitrust case against them dropped. According to Loomer’s posts, DOJ chief of staff Chad Mizelle is at the center of the controversy, having intervened and overruled department decisions that could be seen as opposed to corporate interests.

“Now that [Chad Mizelle] has made it clear he is open for business at the DOJ to the highest bidder, other consultants are now putting big price tags on their lobby efforts to influence the DOJ to settle even more anti-Trust cases,” Loomer wrote.

Join Pulse+ to comment below and receive exclusive email 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.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad