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June 24, 2025
Media
News

Soros Org Files Lawsuit Against Trump FTC.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Media Matters for America has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), accusing it of conducting a retaliatory investigation allegedly influenced by President Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Media Matters for America, the FTC, Elon Musk, and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed on Monday in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a significant free-speech issue, and Media Matters will not back down from this fight.” – Angelo Carusone

🎯IMPACT: Media Matters claims the investigation has disrupted its operations, including layoffs and strained partnerships with advocacy groups.

IN FULL

George Soros-funded activist group Media Matters for America has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), alleging that the agency is conducting a retaliatory investigation influenced by President Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk. The supposed “media watchdog” claims that the FTC is using its authority to “silence and harass” the organization.

In a statement, Angelo Carusone, chairman and president of Media Matters, described the case as a “significant free-speech issue” and vowed not to back down. “If the Trump administration is allowed to use this unlawful investigation to punish legitimate reporting on behalf of a political ally, then there is nothing to stop it from targeting anyone who stands up and exercises their rights,” Carusone claimed.

The FTC has issued Civil Investigative Demand letters, akin to subpoenas, requiring Media Matters and other organizations to provide detailed information about their operations, finances, and communications. Media Matters has asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to halt the investigation, claiming it violates the organization’s First Amendment rights.

The group has also alleged that the investigation, along with pressure from the Trump administration, Republican state attorneys, and Elon Musk, has disrupted its fundraising efforts, resulting in layoffs and strained relationships with other advocacy groups. Media Matters contends that some organizations now fear associating with it due to potential retribution.

The FTC declined to comment on the lawsuit, and Musk’s platform X, formerly known as Twitter, did not respond to inquiries. This legal action follows a November 2023 lawsuit by X against Media Matters, in which Musk accused the group of manipulating data to harm the platform’s reputation and chase away major advertisers in a targeted campaign.

Media Matters was founded by David Brock, a longtime ally of Hillary Clinton. Brock also founded the SuperPAC American Bridge 21st Century, which raised $150 million in 2024.

The FTC investigation into Media Matters comes as another Democratic group, the major fundraising platform ActBlue, is also facing legal scrutiny. The organization is alleged to have had lax donation requirements in the past, which could have allowed fraudulent contributions, such as foreign donations, using prepaid credit cards.

In April, President Trump announced that he would crack down on foreign donations in American elections. Attorney General Pam Bondi is examining whether ActBlue had facilitated “dummy” accounts to allow foreign nationals to donate to them and other Democratic entities.

Image by World Economic Forum/swiss-image.ch/Photo Michele Limina.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
News
TECH

State Fines Meta Over $560 Million for Impact on Children’s Mental Health.

A New Mexico judge has fined Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, $567 million for damaging children’s mental health with new mandates designed to regulate children’s access to social media.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A New Mexico state judge has ordered Meta to pay a $567 million fine for harm caused to children’s mental health by the company’s social media platforms.
📺 DETAIL: Judge Bryan Biedscheid’s 68-page ruling directed Meta to pay $420 million for treatment services for children, with the rest allocated to prevention and awareness initiatives. “The Court finds that the weight of the evidence presented demonstrates that Meta’s platforms are a cause of and substantial contributing factor to the youth mental health crisis in New Mexico,” wrote Judge Biedscheid. The court ordered Meta to delete the accounts of users under 13 and to disable push notifications for minors between 8 AM and 3 PM during the academic year and between 10 PM and 7 AM on normal days. The ruling requires that like counts remain hidden unless authorized by a parent. This follows a $375 million fine imposed on the company earlier this year for violations of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act, which prohibits deceptive business practices. “This case has always been about protecting children, standing up for families, and making sure that one of the world’s largest technology companies cannot profit from practices that endanger young people without consequence,” New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez (D) said in a statement. Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts,” said Meta spokesman Andy Stone.
🎯 IMPACT: Meta plans to appeal the decision. Specifically, Meta maintains that it has already implemented measures to protect minors from harmful content. The ruling could set a precedent for holding tech companies accountable for their platforms’ effects on children’s mental health. This represents a wider push by governments across the West, such as the United Kingdom and the European Union, to regulate access to social media, allegedly to protect children.
📺 FLASHBACK: Back in June, Meta filed for a federal court contempt order against Israeli spyware firm NSO Group. Meta alleged that the Israeli spyware firm had violated a permanent injunction by targeting users on WhatsApp.

Image by Anthony Quintano.

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A New Mexico judge has fined Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, $567 million for damaging children's mental health with new mandates designed to regulate children's access to social media.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Data
Economy
News

Four Out of Five Cities With the Fastest Income Gains in America Are in Trump Country.

A new study has revealed that among the top five cities for rising median household income, four are in states that voted for President Donald J. Trump.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Four out of the five cities with the fastest rising incomes in America are in states that voted for President Donald J. Trump in 2024.
📺 DETAIL: According to a new study published on Thursday by SmartAsset, a personal finance site, the top five U.S. cities with the fastest rising incomes are in Nevada, California, and Florida. The top fives cities are Enterprise in Nevada, Anaheim in California, Henderson in Nevada, Tampa in Florida, and Port St. Lucie in Florida. Nevada and Florida voted for President Trump in 2024. Enterprise topped the survey. The city experienced an 18.3 percent increase in median household income in 2024. Anaheim experienced a 15.8 percent increase, Henderson experienced a 12.4 percent increase, Tampa experienced a 12.2 percent increase, and Port St. Lucie experienced an 11.8 percent increase. Enterprise, Nevada, saw its median household income increase from $93,905 in 2023 to $111,128 in 2024. The growth of all five cities exceeded the national wage growth average of four to five percent in 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. “In many U.S. cities, median household income has outpaced inflation by a wide margin, offsetting the impact of rising costs… In others, however, residents are falling far enough behind to intensify the squeeze on household budgets,” noted the study, which focused on cities with a population of 250,000 or higher.
🎯 IMPACT: The surge in Nevada’s wages is attributed to the diversification of its economy. The state’s economy has historically relied on gambling. New high-paying jobs span software engineering, supply-chain management, and healthcare. While Anaheim, California, features in the top five, the state’s major cities collectively continue to grapple with significant affordability problems. The state’s affordability crisis has caused a collapse in its fertility rate. Meanwhile, on Monday, it was revealed that U.S. manufacturing had reached a four-year high, largely due to domestic production incentives, such as tariffs and tax reforms.

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A new study has revealed that among the top five cities for rising median household income, four are in states that voted for President Donald J. Trump.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Crime
News

Wildfire Arson Suspect Confesses to Lighting 26 Fires Since 2025.

Newly released court documents have revealed that 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci has allegedly confessed to starting one of the three major wildfires in the Spokane, Washington, area.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Aaron Forrest Farinacci, who was arrested on suspicion of arson, has reportedly admitted to starting the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, Washington.
📺 DETAIL: Farinacci allegedly planned the blaze weeks in advance. Court documents revealed that Farinacci researched weather conditions, sought out high-risk scenarios, and constructed a delayed ignition device to start the fire. He also confessed to starting 25 other wildfires since summer last year, including the Aubrey White Fire in 2025, which forced evacuations and burned over 1,200 acres. Specifically, Farinacci allegedly said that he had the weather “planned out” to maximize the spread of the fire, which he described as “powerful” and “beautiful.” “He knew it was gonna get bad,” wrote investigators. Farinacci also allegedly planned to “feign innocence” if intercepted by the authorities. Farinacci allegedly kept cigarettes and marijuana on him while carrying out the crime to provide an alibi for having matches and a lighter. He allegedly described arson as “an easy crime to get away from if you have time.” It was further alleged that Farinacci knew Spokane County had a “PDS” (Particularly Dangerous Situation) warning immediately before the fire.
🎯 IMPACT: The Old Trails Fire has destroyed at least 900 buildings and displaced approximately 70,000 people. It is one of three major wildfires in the Spokane area. Farinacci’s confession undermines the narrative advanced by many politicians and media outlets that the Spokane Fire was the result of climate change. The revelation that the fire was man-made has caused some to backtrack, including former Washington Governor Jay Inslee (D), who now claims that climate change contributed to the fire rather than causing it.
📺 FLASHBACK: Farinacci was previously convicted of manslaughter in 2012 after fatally shooting his father in Arizona. He spent nearly a decade in prison.

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Newly released court documents have revealed that 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci has allegedly confessed to starting one of the three major wildfires in the Spokane, Washington, area.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Immigration
News

Trump Enacts Orders to Halt Birth Tourism, Restrict Birthright Citizenship.

President Trump has issued two executive orders addressing birth tourism and attempting to narrow the scope of birthright citizenship, marking significant changes to U.S. immigration policy.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump signed two executive orders aimed at restricting birthright citizenship and ending birth tourism, despite the Supreme Court’s recent 5-4 ruling in Trump v. Barbara affirming birthright citizenship. Trump said the administration was making “adjustments” to address abuses of the immigration system, arguing that the original intent of the 14th Amendment was to protect the children of former slaves rather than foreigners traveling to the United States to give birth.
📺 DETAIL: According to the White House, one order identifies additional categories of children of noncitizens who are not entitled to birthright citizenship under historical exceptions recognized by the Supreme Court, while the second directs the Departments of State and Homeland Security to halt the practice of birth tourism. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the administration is using its authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny visas to applicants seeking to enter the country solely to give birth and secure U.S. citizenship for their children. Miller also said the birthright citizenship order expands exclusions to include categories such as enemy aliens, members of foreign terrorist organizations, and certain individuals acting on behalf of foreign governments.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We had a very unfortunate decision in the Supreme Court concerning birthright. It was close, but a very, very unfortunate decision. So we’re making adjustments because it’s very unfair. This was done right after the Civil War… for the babies of slaves, and what’s happening now? People are building businesses around it.” – President Trump
🎯 IMPACT: It is hoped that the orders will reduce the number of foreign nationals exploiting U.S. laws for automatic citizenship and welfare benefits, while addressing national security concerns by limiting citizenship eligibility for individuals tied to foreign adversaries or terrorist organizations.
📺 FLASHBACK: The Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Trump v. Barbara earlier this year upheld birthright citizenship under the Constitution, a ruling the Trump administration has sought to address through administrative action.
📈 DATA: Birth tourism reportedly accounts for thousands of births annually in the United States, with some estimates suggesting as many as 33,000 such cases each year.

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President Trump has issued two executive orders addressing birth tourism and attempting to narrow the scope of birthright citizenship, marking significant changes to U.S. immigration policy.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
Education
News

One in Five Subsidized Student Loans Are Going to Foreign Nationals.

The rising share of foreign students taking out tuition and maintenance loans in the United Kingdom, many of whom do not repay them, has sparked concerns about waste, fraud, and abuse.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Non-British citizens account for one in five student loans in the United Kingdom, according to new research.
📺 DETAIL: The share of student loans going to non-citizens has risen from 10.2 percent to 19.3 percent. This means that the share of student loans going to non-citizens has roughly doubled over the past decade. Foreigners from the European Union (EU) represent a large portion of these non-citizens, especially Romanians, who account for one in 20. Foreign students were handed approximately £4 billion (~$5.4 billion) in tuition and maintenance loans overall. Foreign students are also 25 percent less likely to repay their loans compared to British students. This results in estimated annual losses for taxpayers ranging from £1.2 billion to £2.2 billion. Student Loans Company data shows that roughly 195,000 of the 239,000 foreign loan recipients hold settled status.
🎯 IMPACT: The growing financial burden on British taxpayers could reach billions annually, as the cost of unpaid loans continues to mount. The Department for Education has since pledged to crack down on abuse and improve enforcement measures for debt collection. This represents another case of immigration serving as a net drain on British taxpayers. If the figures lead to the exposure of widespread abuse, it is likely to damage the reputation of Britain’s higher education system further.
📺 FLASHBACK: This is not the only metric showing a rise in foreigners in Britain’s education system. Last month, it was revealed that White British students have become a minority at 27 universities across the country.

Image by David Iliff.

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The rising share of foreign students taking out tuition and maintenance loans in the United Kingdom, many of whom do not repay them, has sparked concerns about waste, fraud, and abuse.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

Donations to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Labour Party Collapse by 84 Percent.

The governing Labour Party’s latest financial report has revealed that donations fell drastically between in 2025, placing pressure on new Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Andy Burnham.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Funding for the United Kingdom’s governing Labour Party fell by over 80 percent in 2025.
📺 DETAIL: On Thursday, it was revealed that donations to the Labour Party fell by 84 percent in 2025 compared to the year prior. This represents the biggest drop-off among the three main parties. Donations to Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch’s Conservative Party fell by 46 percent, while donations to the Liberal Democrats, a progressive liberal party that supports re-joining the European Union and open borders, fell by 65 percent. Donations to “Count Binface,” the novelty candidate currently contesting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election, fell by 93 percent. These figures detailing the Labour Party’s financial collapse come just weeks into new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s tenure. Despite experiencing a momentary “Burnham Bounce” in the polls, the party still trails Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which experienced a 290 percent increase in funding between 2024 and 2025. Despite extensive media coverage, Zack Polanski’s far-left Green Party only increased donations by eight percent in the same period. The Labour Party secured £6.4m (~$8.6m) in donations. In contrast, Reform secured £22.8m (~$30.6m). The Conservatives received £15.2m (~$20.4m), the Greens received £2.7m (~$3.6m), and the Liberal Democrats received £2.6m (~$3.5m).
🎯 IMPACT: These findings likely reflect the widespread dissatisfaction with the current Labour-controlled British government. Since entering office in July 2024, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the party has declined in the polls due to unpopular economic policies, high-profile scandals, and the ongoing illegal immigration crisis. These figures also suggest a movement away from the two major parties: Labour and the Conservatives, the latter of which also experienced a significant drop in donations. By contrast, the figures show growing confidence in Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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The governing Labour Party's latest financial report has revealed that donations fell drastically between in 2025, placing pressure on new Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Andy Burnham.

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By Popular Demand.
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16 hours ago
Immigration
News
Politics

RINO Governors Move to Counter Mass Deportations With State Work Permits for Migrants.

Two Republican governors are joining Democrats to advocate for state-issued work permits for migrants, undermining President Donald J. Trump’s federal immigration policy.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Two Republican-in-name-only (RINO) governors are working with the Democrats to issue work permits to migrants and bypass federal deportation orders.
📺 DETAIL: Governors Spencer Cox (R-UT) and Kevin Stitt (R-OK) have partnered with Governors Wes Moore (D-MD) and Matt Meyer (D-DE) to propose a plan allowing states to issue work permits to migrants, bypassing federal deportation processes. The proposal was introduced via the National Governors Association’s Task Force on Immigration Policy. “The reason I set this task force up is because I realized by talking to my colleagues that they’re having the same issues… Let’s actually have the governors issue workforce permits,” said Stitt. “We were really stunned that everybody had kind of the same opinions on what needed to be done,” added Cox. The governors’ proposal aims to address labor shortages in their respective states, especially in agriculture and construction.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We were together in February and having a conversation about immigration, and we were all shocked at the level of bipartisanship, cooperation, and agreement,” said Cox.
🎯 IMPACT: This shows how many prominent Republican politicians continue to prioritize cheap foreign labor over American workers. Cox’s comments in particular highlight how immigration liberalization unites the establishments of both parties, despite widespread support for lowering immigration among the American people. It is possible that this move by RINO governors to overtly align with Democrats will heighten tensions within the Republican coalition ahead of the midterms.
📺 FLASHBACK: This is not the first time that Republican governors have sought to undermine President Trump’s agenda. Last month, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) voiced opposition to President Trump’s plan to deport Haitian illegal migrants by stripping them of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a humanitarian immigration status that allows migrants to legally live and work in the United States. RINOs have also sought to undermine redistricting measures. For instance, the Republican-controlled South Carolina Senate voted against a new congressional map that sought to eliminate the state’s racially gerrymandered black-majority Democrat-voting district in May.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Two Republican governors are joining Democrats to advocate for state-issued work permits for migrants, undermining President Donald J. Trump's federal immigration policy.

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By Popular Demand.
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19 hours ago
Election Integrity
News

DOJ Denied Access to D.C. Voter Rolls by Obama Judge.

A federal judge ruled that the Justice Department cannot compel Washington, D.C., to hand over its full voter list, citing legal limitations under the Civil Rights Act of 1960.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge appointed by Barack Obama has rejected the U.S. Justice Department’s effort to obtain Washington, D.C.’s complete voter registration list, ruling the agency lacks the legal authority to compel the city to provide names, birthdates, identification numbers, and other nonpublic voter information. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1960 permits the attorney general to request individual voter registration records but does not authorize access to a state’s or district’s compiled voter registration list.
📺 DETAIL: The Justice Department argued it needed the data to compare voter records against federal databases to identify potentially ineligible voters, including deceased individuals and noncitizens. Washington, D.C., provided its public voter list but declined to release additional identifying information, such as driver’s licenses and partial Social Security numbers, that federal officials sought. Moss ruled that voter registration lists are created by election officials from individual registration records and, therefore, are not covered by the 1960 law’s record-production requirements. He added that if the Justice Department believes broader authority is necessary, it must seek changes from Congress rather than the courts. The ruling follows similar decisions by judges in other states, including Maryland and Virginia, where courts also rejected the administration’s attempts to obtain full voter registration lists.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “If the Department of Justice wants more, it needs to lodge that objection with Congress.” – Judge Randolph Moss
🎯 IMPACT: This decision represents another setback for the DOJ’s efforts to scrutinize voter rolls across the country.

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A federal judge ruled that the Justice Department cannot compel Washington, D.C., to hand over its full voter list, citing legal limitations under the Civil Rights Act of 1960.

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By Popular Demand.
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19 hours ago
Health
News

After Initial Rejection, FDA Greenlights First mRNA Flu Vaccine.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for Moderna’s mRNA-based flu vaccine for adults 50 and older, despite earlier regulatory concerns.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Moderna’s mRNA-based seasonal flu vaccine. 
📺 DETAIL: Named mFLUSIVA, the vaccine was approved on Wednesday. It is aimed at people aged 50 and older. The decision comes after the FDA initially declined to approve the vaccine back in February. Specifically, the vaccine was initially blocked as the clinical trial did not use the best available comparator for adults aged 65 and older. “We are grateful to the clinical trial participants, investigators, regulators and Moderna teams whose contributions made this milestone possible,” read a statement from Moderna, which further said the approval “reflects the ongoing potential of our mRNA platform to help address important public health challenges through continued scientific innovation.” This follows the decision of Secretary for Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to withdraw approximately $500 million for mRNA vaccine research and move funding toward traditional platforms.
🎯 IMPACT: The approval of the vaccine coincides with the appointment of the new Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Erica Schwartz as the new in a party-line vote. Dr. Schwartz previously served as Deputy Surgeon General during President Donald J. Trump’s first term. This is significant as she replaced Susan Monarez, who was reportedly removed from her post due to an alleged disagreement with Secretary Kennedy Jr. over vaccines.
📺 FLASHBACK: There have been several major vaccine-related developments in recent weeks. In late July, Secretary Kennedy Jr. alleged that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Chief Medical Advisor to former President Joe Biden, suffered an adverse event after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in January 2021. “He got vaccinated… in January of [2021]. And then, five months later, he had… a pulmonary infarction, which is one of the adverse events that NIH, CDC, and FDA said are expected from the vaccine,” said Kennedy Jr. This was revealed roughly a week before the Senate Homeland Security Committee voted to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times, refusing to answer even questions about the color of his tie.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for Moderna's mRNA-based flu vaccine for adults 50 and older, despite earlier regulatory concerns.

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By Popular Demand.
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20 hours ago
News
TECH

FCC Clears Path for Expanded TV Station Ownership.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided to relax the TV station ownership cap in an attempt to help local broadcasters consolidate and compete with streaming giants.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to relax limits on TV station ownership.
📺 DETAIL: In a 2-1 vote, the FCC has allowed companies to own local stations covering more than 39 percent of households in the United States. The FCC also voted to allow companies to own more than two stations in a single market if deemed in the public interest. The vote was held on Thursday. “Viewpoint diversity” will reportedly be factored in when determining public interest. The purpose of removing the cap is to allow broadcasters to achieve scale and compete with broadcasting giants like Netflix. The cap removal was also framed as a way to help local journalism expand. The change to the cap comes as traditional television faces declining viewership and revenue due to the popularity of streaming, which accounts for over 40 percent of all viewership, according to Nielsen, a major audience research firm. “Local broadcasters are struggling in terms of audience and revenue, and this plan could give them some needed relief,” said Jeff McCall, professor of communications at DePauw University.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “In my view, if you care about trusted sources of local news and information, you have to care about the future of local TV stations. They are the economic engines that produce the paychecks for so many of the local journalists that remain in the business. So how can the FCC maximize the odds that those institutions continue to survive and hopefully thrive into the future? To start, we should stop hamstringing this one segment of the broader market with outdated restrictions,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
🎯 IMPACT: The represents an overturning of the 39 percent ownership cap which was established in 2004, over 20 years ago. This will allow local media to consolidate into larger entities capable of staying competitive. The decision is expected to reshape the broadcasting industry. 
📺 FLASHBACK: Removing the cap was first proposed back in July. “When it comes to broadcast news, our country could do with a little less Hollywood and a little more local reporting from communities across the country,” said Carr at the time.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided to relax the TV station ownership cap in an attempt to help local broadcasters consolidate and compete with streaming giants.

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By Popular Demand.
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