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April 22, 2025
NatSec

A Biden Holdover & Democrat Donor is Amassing Power in Trump’s Department of Defense, Causing Major Concerns.

PULSE POINTS:

❓ What Happened: Col. Ricky Buria, a former aide to Biden-era Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, has resigned from the Marine Corps and is reportedly transitioning into a senior civilian role under Trump-world Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with consideration for the coveted chief of staff position. Buria, a recent Democrat donor, is the source of major concerns in Trump world.

👤 Who Was Involved: Ricky Buria, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, outgoing Chief of Staff Joe Kasper, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Democratic congressional candidate Mike O’Brien, and former DoD official Anne Powers.

🧾 Key Quote: “Ricky was only the [Senior Military Assistant] because he was the only guy standing,” a defense official told Defense News.

⚠️ Fallout: Officials inside the Department of Defense and the White House have raised concerns about Buria’s close ties to the previous administration.

📌 Significance: The personnel move highlights unresolved tensions surrounding staffing and loyalty inside the Pentagon’s top ranks.

IN FULL:

Col. Ricky Buria, a former junior military assistant (JMA) to Lloyd Austin, is reportedly in line for a senior civilian advisory position under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to multiple defense officials. Buria began terminal leave from the Marine Corps last week and is even under consideration for the role of chief of staff following the departure of Joe Kasper, according to numerous sources familiar with the matter.

But Buria was first appointed to the Pentagon in April 2024 under the Biden government. After Hegseth’s confirmation, Buria remained in place–a “holdover”–while other senior staff were dismissed. He temporarily filled the position of acting senior military assistant (SMA).

“Ricky was only the SMA because he was the only guy standing,” an official told Defense News.

In recent months, Buria has accompanied Hegseth on official travel and participated in high-level meetings. On a recent trip to Panama, Buria was present for discussions with the Panamanian government regarding canal access. He also joined a bilateral meeting in Washington with El Salvador’s Minister of Defense, seated two chairs away from the secretary.

Buria, far left, with Hegseth in Panama.

Multiple officials say Buria has taken on expanded responsibilities beyond those typical of a junior military assistant, including personnel input and attendance at foreign policy briefings.

Additionally, campaign finance data uncovered by The National Pulse shows that Buria made a donation in 2023 via ActBlue to Democrat Mike O’Brien, a former Marine and candidate in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. O’Brien was endorsed by VoteVets–a left-wing group that claims President Trump “hates veterans,” and has attempted to destabilize his Department of Defense using the now-infamous “Signal group chat” story as a cudgel. The group even publicly called for Hegseth to be fired.

Buria has maintained relationships with former Biden-era Pentagon staffers. In a LinkedIn comment, former Department of Defense official Anne Powers publicly referred to Buria as her “partner in crime,” while he heaped praise on others and vice versa.

Buria’s messages to Biden-era staffers on LinkedIn.

The White House personnel office is reviewing Buria’s transition to civilian service. Approval is required for senior advisory appointments.

Buria was promoted to colonel in fall 2024. Under standard requirements, officers must serve two years at a given rank to retire at that grade. Without a waiver, he is expected to retire as a lieutenant colonel.

Four top officials have departed Hegseth’s team in recent days. The staffing turnover has left a gap in senior leadership, which Buria is currently helping fill, much to the chagrin of many across the Trump administration.

By Popular Demand.
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9 hours ago
TECH

Elon Musk’s Self-Driving Cars Are Under Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Muks’s Tesla is under investigation in both the U.S. and France over concerns about its self-driving technology and safety practices.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tesla, Musk, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), French regulators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Investigations launched in 2025 following incidents in Austin, Texas, and regulatory actions in France.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I predict that there will be millions of Teslas operating fully autonomously in the second half of next year.” – Elon Musk

🎯IMPACT: Tesla faces regulatory challenges, safety concerns, and backlash in key markets, impacting its reputation and sales.

IN FULL

Tesla is facing regulatory scrutiny in both the United States and France over its self-driving technology and safety claims. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla‘s Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, after videos surfaced showing vehicles violating traffic laws during their debut weekend.

In France, regulators have ordered Tesla to cease what they described as “deceptive marketing practices” regarding the autonomous driving capabilities of its vehicles. The French action follows a sharp decline in Tesla’s local sales, with registrations dropping from 3,118 in January last year to 1,141 this year.

Videos posted online showed troubling incidents involving the Robotaxi service, including one vehicle veering into a lane for oncoming traffic before crossing double yellow lines to correct itself. The rollout in Austin involved about 10 vehicles operating in a limited area, each with a safety driver in the front passenger seat.

The NHTSA confirmed it is “aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information.” The agency emphasized that manufacturers are responsible for self-certifying that their vehicles meet safety standards, with regulators investigating potential defects afterward. “NHTSA will continue to enforce the law on all manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment, in accordance with the Vehicle Safety Act and our data-driven, risk-based investigative process,” the agency said.

Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has remained optimistic about the company’s autonomous driving ambitions, stating during an earnings call in April: “I predict that there will be millions of Teslas operating fully autonomously in the second half of next year.” However, Tesla’s challenges extend beyond regulatory scrutiny, with incidents like suspected arson attacks on Tesla vehicles and lawsuits alleging the company’s association with Musk’s political views has harmed its brand.

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By Popular Demand.
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10 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
NatSec

Trump Is Expanding Military Zones Along the Border to Stop Illegals.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon is expanding two new military zones at the southern border to further enhance border security.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Pentagon, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Border Patrol.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The expansion was reported on June 25, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The establishment of a second National Defense Area increases our operational reach and effectiveness in denying illegal activity along the southern border,” said U.S. Northern Command chief General Gregory Guillot.

🎯IMPACT: The move further strengthens the border as illegal crossing numbers rapidly decline under President Donald J. Trump.

IN FULL

The Pentagon is designating two new military zones along the southwestern border in Arizona and Texas, intensifying the Trump administration’s efforts to further secure the southern border with Mexico, amid a sharp drop in migrant crossings.

The new zones, officially National Defense Areas, will be patrolled by U.S. troops. One will be added to the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona, and the other to Joint Base San Antonio in Texas. Officials say illegal immigrants entering these zones will be treated as trespassers and may be detained by troops until Border Patrol arrives.

“The establishment of a second National Defense Area increases our operational reach and effectiveness in denying illegal activity along the southern border,” said U.S. Northern Command chief General Gregory Guillot.

These additions bring the total to four newly established military zones along the border. Previously in April, a 200-mile, 60-foot-wide strip along New Mexico was added to a military base. A 63-mile zone near Fort Bliss, Texas, was also recently designated.

Nearly 9,000 active-duty troops are now deployed at the border. The buildup includes surveillance aircraft and U.S. Navy ships offshore, under Joint Task Force–Southern Border, led by U.S. Northern Command. Ground forces include combat-seasoned troops from the Army’s Fourth Infantry Division.

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By Popular Demand.
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10 hours ago
Podcast

Zohran Mamdani’s Religious Sect Wants 1200-Year-Old Final ‘Prophet’ to Spread Islam Globally.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary in New York City, prompting warnings about the rise of Islamist-progressive politics in America’s largest city.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, Raheem Kassam, Stephen K. Bannon, progressive voters, Twelver Muslims, New York City electorate.

📍WHEN & WHERE: June 25, 2025; New York City, NY

💬KEY QUOTE: “New York City did not take one small step towards [Sharia] yesterday, it took one giant leap towards it.” – Raheem J. Kassam

🎯IMPACT: The victory reveals deep fractures over identity politics, Islamism, and leftist economics, and raises questions about the future of New York’s political landscape.

IN FULL

Reacting to the outcome of the New York City Democratic primary, Raheem Kassam warned WarRoom viewers that the election of Zohran Mamdani represents a radical shift in the city’s politics. “New York City did not take one small step towards it yesterday, it took one giant leap towards it yesterday,” he said, referencing the rise of Islamist-aligned, hard-left political figures and the subtitle of his book No Go Zones: How Sharia Law is Coming to A Neighborhood Near You, which predicted much of what is happening with Islam in America today.

Mamdani, a self-identified follower of Twelver Shia Islam, is a member of a sect that “believe that to this day there is a 1,200-year-old living prophet on Earth who is in hiding and is going to come out at some point soon, and proselytize Islam the world over.”

Kassam highlighted the candidate’s religious affiliations and accused the media of completely ignoring their relevance: “I’ve yet to hear any reporters on the campaign trail in New York put these questions to him and say, ‘Hey… do you really believe in this stuff?’”

He warned of severe consequences for the city, mocking Mamdani’s economic plans: “He’s talking about rent control, grocery stores owned by the government. All these, all of these Caracas-style policies that have failed the world over time and time again.” Kassam quoted a social media post saying, “The funny thing is, he will bring prices down. Once everyone leaves, there will be no demand and prices will come down.”

Kassam ended by blasting the contradictions of Mamdani’s identity politics campaign: “He’s put together this unholy alliance, right? I mean, he’s going out there on the one hand saying he’s a twelver Muslim. On the other hand, he’s saying he’s for LGBT rights.” According to Kassam, that contradiction is “haram” under Twelver doctrine, and should be a central attack point: “To me personally, if I were running a campaign against him, I would drive this wedge through his campaign over and over and over again.”

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By Popular Demand.
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11 hours ago
Corruption
Politics

Who is Biden’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Refusing to Testify Before Congress?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Anthony Bernal, a senior adviser to Jill Biden, is refusing to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and potential misuse of the autopen.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anthony Bernal, Representative James Comer (R-KY), Neera Tanden, and other Biden government aides.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Bernal declined to testify on June 26, 2025, following the White House Counsel’s Office announcement on June 25, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “With no privilege left to hide behind, Mr. Bernal is now running scared, desperate to bury the truth.” – Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer.

🎯IMPACT: The Oversight Committee plans to subpoena Bernal to compel testimony as part of the investigation into Biden’s fitness for office.

IN FULL

Anthony Bernal, a senior adviser to Jill Biden described as the “Wizard of Oz” who ran the Biden White House, is refusing to testify in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and potential misuse of the autopen. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced on Wednesday that Bernal declined to appear for a June 26 interview, despite the White House waiving his executive privilege.

Comer criticized Bernal’s decision, stating, “Now that the White House has waived executive privilege, it’s abundantly clear that Anthony Bernal—Jill Biden’s so-called ‘work husband’—never intended to be transparent about Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and the ensuing cover-up. With no privilege left to hide behind, Mr. Bernal is now running scared, desperate to bury the truth. The American people deserve answers and accountability, and the Oversight Committee will not tolerate this obstruction. I will promptly issue a subpoena to compel Anthony Bernal’s testimony before the Committee.”

Bernal had initially agreed to participate in a transcribed interview. However, following the White House Counsel’s Office announcement that executive privilege for nine former Biden aides had been waived, Bernal’s legal team informed the committee he would no longer appear.

Comer also referenced testimony from Neera Tanden, the former White House staff secretary, who testified that she had minimal interaction with President Biden despite holding significant authority over the autopen process. Comer noted, “Her testimony raises serious questions about who was really calling the shots in the Biden White House amid the president’s obvious decline. We will continue to pursue the truth for the American people.”

Bernal is one of four Biden government aides, including Neera Tanden, Ashley Williams, and Annie Tomasini, who had previously agreed to transcribed interviews. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s former White House doctor, is scheduled to testify in a closed-door deposition on July 9.

A secret recording of now-former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg and Biden White House staffer Deterrian Jones, covered by The National Pulse in Ma,y shows the pair describing Bernal as wielding “an enormous amount of power” and “scary.”

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By Popular Demand.
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12 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
1A
Religion

Trump DOJ Takes Democrat State to Court for Trying to Force Priests to Break Seal of Confession.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is launching legal action against Washington State for trying to force Catholic priests to violate the Seal of the Sacrament of Confession.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Washington State, Governor Bob Ferguson (D), the Roman Catholic Church, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The DOJ announced the lawsuit on June 25.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church have no place in our society.” – Harmeet K. Dhillon.

🎯IMPACT: The legal challenge could stop more states from attempting to force priests to violate the sacrament in the future by setting a legal precedent.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched legal action against the State of Washington for trying to force Roman Catholic priests to break the Seal of Confession, arguing that the law violates the First Amendment and religious freedom. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division explained that the bill forces Catholic priests to face criminal consequences for upholding their faith.

“Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church have no place in our society,” Dhillon said.

Washington’s Senate Bill 5375 demands that Catholic priests violate the Seal of Confession if a confession pertains to child abuse or neglect. Importantly, Catholic priests are bound to the Seal of Confession and face excommunication and possible removal from the priesthood for breaking the seal. Nevertheless, those who refuse to violate the seal in Washington State could face prison time.

Democrat Governor Bob Ferguson, supposedly a Catholic himself, claimed he was “very familiar” with the sacrament when he signed the law last month. However, local Spokane Bishop Thomas Daly was defiant, saying no priest will break the Seal of Confession regardless of the law.

Assistant Attorney General Dhillon argued, “Where does it stop? Can we force everyone to report everything? That becomes compelled speech, which is unconstitutional. This country was built on protecting religious expression, not dismantling it.”

Image by Cottonbro Studio.

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By Popular Demand.
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13 hours ago
Crime

Former Biden FCC Staffer Free on Bond After Alleged Metro Station Abductions, Assaults.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Fairfax County man was arrested and charged with abduction and sexual assault involving two women at Metro stations in Virginia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeffrey Gary, 35, a former Biden government Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assistant division chief, the victims, and law enforcement officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred on May 30, 2025, near the Braddock Road and Potomac Yard Metro stations in Alexandria, Virginia.

💬KEY QUOTE: Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter stated, “The Commonwealth disagrees with the bail decision and is appealing the matter to the Court of Appeals.”

🎯IMPACT: Gary was released on bond with conditions as the Commonwealth appeals the bail decision.

IN FULL

A Fairfax County man, Jeffrey Gary, was arrested and charged with assault and battery, sexual battery, and two counts of abduction with force after incidents involving two women near Metro stations in Alexandria, Virginia, on May 30, 2025.

Gary, 35, a Georgetown Law graduate and former assistant division chief at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the Biden government, was taken into custody on June 1 following a coordinated investigation involving Alexandria Police and other regional law enforcement agencies. He was identified using public safety cameras and other technology.

One incident occurred near the Braddock Metro Station, where a woman in her mid-thirties was approached from behind, grabbed, and wrestled to the ground. She managed to resist and escape before calling 911. No weapon was used in the assault, according to police reports.

Gary was released on June 13 after posting four bonds totaling $14,000. Alexandria Circuit Court Judge Katie Uston imposed conditions on his release, including house arrest, a GPS ankle monitor, and evaluations for substance abuse and mental health. He is also barred from the Braddock Road and Potomac Yard Metro stations. Before serving at the Biden FCC, Gary worked for Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) as a law clerk and staff assistant, respectively. According to public records, he also worked for Microsoft as a policy analyst from 2021 to 2022.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter stated, “The Commonwealth disagrees with the bail decision and is appealing the matter to the Court of Appeals.” Gary is scheduled to appear in court on July 7, 2025.

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By Popular Demand.
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13 hours ago
News
War

Hegseth Initiates Criminal Investigation Into Iran Intel Leaks to Natasha Bertrand.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon has launched a criminal investigation into a leaked top-secret military intelligence report regarding U.S. strikes in Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reporter Natasha Bertrand, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation was announced on Wednesday during a NATO meeting, following a U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities on Saturday, June 22, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Fake news, CNN and MSDNC, all of these terrible people, you know, they have no credibility,” President Trump said.

🎯IMPACT: The leaked report has raised questions about Deep State actors attempting to undermine the Trump administration and push for greater American military involvement in Iran.

IN FULL

The Pentagon has initiated a criminal investigation into a leaked top-secret report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) stating that U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities only delayed its nuclear ambitions by a few months. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the investigation after CNN published details of the report via Natasha Bertrand, a journalist notorious for laundering stories for partisan actors within the intelligence community.

Speaking at a NATO meeting alongside President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other officials, Hegseth criticized the media’s portrayal of the strikes. “We’re doing a leak investigation with the FBI right now, because this information is for internal purposes, battle damage assessments, and CNN and others are trying to spin it to make the President look bad,” Hegseth stated.

Hegseth defended the operation, describing the Fordow nuclear enrichment site as “obliterated” by 14 bunker buster bombs weighing a total of nearly 420,000 pounds. He emphasized that the leaked report was a “preliminary, low confidence” assessment and suggested that the damage was likely far more severe than indicated in the document.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, criticizing the motivations of the leakers. “This is what a leaker is telling you the intelligence says. That’s the game these people play. They read it and then they go out and characterize it the way they want it characterized,” Rubio stated, adding that leaking such classified information is “against the law.”

Infamously, Bertrand was previously used to place a discredited letter from “51 intelligence officials” falsely suggesting Hunter Biden’s “Laptop from Hell” was Russian disinformation prior to the 2020 election. Previously, she was a key booster of the Steele Dossier used to initiate the bogus Russiagate investigation into Trump.

President Trump dismissed the media reports as “fake news,” asserting that the strike was “very successful.” He further criticized outlets like CNN and MSNBC, stating, “Fake news, CNN and MSDNC, all of these terrible people, you know, they have no credibility.”

Since the strikes on Iran, President Trump has managed to get both Israel and Iran to agree to an uneasy ceasefire, which has largely held so far.

WATCH HERE:

 

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By Popular Demand.
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14 hours ago
News

Police Demand Resignation of Vice Mayor Who Urged ‘Cholo’ Gangsters to Confront ICE.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez encouraged criminal “cholos” to defend their “turf” against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), causing a major police union to demand her resignation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cynthia Gonzalez, ICE, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), and Los Angeles-based street gangs, including 18th Street and Florencia 13.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The video was posted on social media recently and has since been deleted. Gonzalez is the Vice Mayor of Cudahy, a city in southeast Los Angeles County.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Where’s the leadership at? Because you guys are all about territory… And now that your hood’s being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you.” – Cynthia Gonzalez

🎯IMPACT: DHS linked Gonzalez’s rhetoric to a reported 500 percent increase in assaults on ICE officers and warned that federal agents would prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.

IN FULL

The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), representing close to 9,000 members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), is demanding the resignation of Cynthia Gonzalez, Vice Mayor of Cudahy, a city in Los Angeles County, California. Gonzalez appeared to call on street gangs to organize violent action against federal immigration agents.

“I wanna know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles. 18th Street, Florencia. Where’s the leadership at? Because, you guys are all about territory… and now that your hood’s being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you,” she complained.

“Dude, [federal law enforcement] are running amok all up in yo streets and in yo city… So, whoever’s the leadership over there, just get your f**king members in order.”

The LAPPL, whose members were targeted by pro-illegal immigrant rioters after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began detaining illegals in L.A., including mass shooters and child molesters, condemned her comments. “The 18th Street and Florencia street gangs are notoriously dangerous Los Angeles-based criminal enterprises,” they stressed, noting that the gangs “rule their ‘turfs’ through intimidation, violence, and murder, and finance their operations through the sale of narcotics and illegal firearms, prostitution, and protection rackets.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also condemned Gonzalez’s video, accusing her of encouraging violence against law enforcement. DHS linked her comments to a reported 500 percent increase in assaults on ICE officers and warned that any attacks on federal officers would be met with full prosecution. Gonzalez reportedly deleted the video shortly after posting it, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents visited her home following the incident.

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By Popular Demand.
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15 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Crime
Politics

The Democrats’ Muslim Socialist NYC Mayoral Candidate Wants to Defund the Police and ‘Abolish’ Prison.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Democratic Party’s newly minted candidate for New York City Mayor, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, has a history of campaigning to defund the police and “abolish” the prison system.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Democratic Party voters, New York City electorate.

📍WHEN & WHERE: New York City, over the course of Mamdani’s political career.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As socialists, we believe people should not have to endure the violence & coercion of a criminal-legal system that props up the exploitation of the market by surveilling, caging & killing those fighting to survive under capitalism. We can abolish that system.” — Zohran Mamdani.

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani’s victory signals growing momentum within the modern Democratic Party for radical criminal justice policies, including prison abolition and police defunding.

IN FULL

Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the “progressive Muslim immigrant” who won the New York mayoral primary for the Democratic Party overnight, wants to “decarcerate” the city’s prisons and jails, arguing that “our prison system relies on dehumanization and brutality, so the goal must be to abolish this exploitative system entirely” in a 2021 social media post.

The Queens assemblyman has made “decarceration” a key theme of his political career, having also stated the previous year that, “We can’t reform a system working exactly as designed – to control Black, brown & poor New Yorkers. We need to defund the police, get them out of matters they have no business in, free the thousands locked up unjustly & invest the savings in those most impacted by state violence.”

He continued: “As socialists, we believe people should not have to endure the violence & coercion of a criminal-legal system that props up the exploitation of the market by surveilling, caging & killing those fighting to survive under capitalism. We can abolish that system.”

This activism continued into 2022, with Mamdani telling the LGBTQ-oriented Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, “I will… work to dismantle mass incarceration in New York by opposing the construction of new state prisons and jails, divesting from our $3 billion/year carceral system, and investing in jobs, services, and restorative justice approaches… I also support the abolition of felony disenfranchisement, including for incarcerated New Yorkers, as we work toward full decarceration of our state.”

In office, Mamdani has backed policies to end cash bail, release prisoners in their fifties, give prisoners the vote, and decriminalize prostitution.

He also argues that “Defunding the police is a feminist issue” because “Women, especially trans women, are disproportionately impacted by police violence & the violence of incarceration.”

Image by Bingjiefu He.

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16 hours ago
Immigration

ICE Has Detained a Record-Breaking Number of Illegals Under Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Illegal immigration detention numbers under the Trump administration have reached record levels, with over 56,000 migrants currently detained.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Trump administration figures, including United States Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have spearheaded the expansion of immigration enforcement efforts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: As of June 2025, detention numbers have surpassed prior records, with enforcement operations occurring nationwide.

🎯IMPACT: The detention surge has strained ICE’s budget, with the agency reportedly $1 billion over its annual allocation. However, Congressional Republicans are working to boost immigration enforcement funding through President Donald J. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

IN FULL

Illegal immigration detention numbers in the United States have reached historic levels under President Donald J. Trump, with at least 56,000 migrants currently in custody. However, federal government data suggests the number could be as high as 59,000, significantly exceeding the agency’s capacity and surpassing previous records.

The administration has implemented aggressive enforcement tactics, including declaring an invasion by foreign gang members and invoking emergency powers to expedite deportations. The temporary protected status (TPS) abused by the Biden government to admit over 800,000 immigrants from countries like Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela has been revoked, clearing the way for the deportation of even more illegal immigrants.

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has pushed for an increase in daily arrests, aiming for 3,000 per day. Federal resources, including law enforcement agencies like the FBI and DEA, have been redirected to support immigration enforcement. Additionally, partnerships with local police departments have further bolstered these efforts.

However, ICE faces significant budgetary challenges, with reports suggesting the agency is $1 billion over its annual allocation and could run out of funds in the coming months. To meet the costs, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are looking to boost resources for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE through provisions in reconciliation legislation—known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—which will likely be taken up by the U.S. Senate later this week.

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