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Wednesday, July 23, 2025

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6 hours ago
News

Former Epstein Attorney Dead at 80.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Prominent criminal defense attorney Roy Black, known for his role in Jeffrey Epstein’s 2008 plea deal, has passed away at the age of 80.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Roy Black, his wife Lea Black, and notable figures such as Jeffrey Epstein and William Kennedy Smith.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Black passed away on Monday at his home in Coral Gables, Florida, following an illness.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Roy Black was the greatest criminal lawyer of our generation, perhaps in American history,” said Howard Srebnick, his partner of three decades.

🎯IMPACT: Black’s death comes as Epstein’s criminal activities have been thrust to the forefront of public attention once again, as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has backtracked on claims it would release a “client list” of high-profile individuals tied to the pedophile financier’s sex trafficking activities.

IN FULL

Roy Black, a criminal defense attorney known for his role in securing Jeffrey Epstein’s 2008 plea deal, has died at the age of 80 following an illness. Lea Black, his wife and former Real Housewives of Miami star, shared the news on Instagram, stating, “Thank you for all your blessings.”

“Roy Black was the greatest criminal lawyer of our generation, perhaps in American history,” said Howard Srebnick, his partner of three decades.

Black first rose to national prominence in 1991 when he successfully defended William Kennedy Smith, the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, in a high-profile rape trial. The televised proceedings marked a turning point in criminal defense law, showcasing Black’s skills to a nationwide audience. He later played a significant role in Jeffrey Epstein’s legal defense, negotiating a controversial non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in 2007, finalized the following year.

Under the deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution with a minor, receiving a 13-month jail sentence and registering as a sex offender. He was allowed to leave the jail 12 hours a day, six days a week, supposedly to work at a job one of his own nonprofits created for him, during this sentence, and his cell was often left unlocked. He spent hours at a time at his Palm Beach estate during some of these “work-release” shifts.

Epstein’s criminal activities have been thrust to the forefront of public attention once again as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has backtracked on claims it would release a “client list” of high-profile individuals tied to the pedophile financier’s sex trafficking activities. While U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi initially indicated that a client list existed and was “on [her] desk,” she has subsequently stated a client list does not exist.

The National Pulse reported on Tuesday that Bondi is preparing to meet with Epstein associate and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in the near future, following new developments suggesting she may be willing to testify before Congress about Jeffrey Epstein’s network of associates.

High-profile America First voices, including WarRoom host and former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon, have called on President Donald J. Trump to appoint a special prosecutor to examine the case in light of what is being seen as an attempted DOJ cover-up.

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22 minutes ago
William Upton
News

House GOP Finally Moves to Investigate J6 Feds and J6 Committee.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Over six months after announcing they would establish their own select subcommittee to investigate allegations surrounding the involvement of federal agents prior to and during the January 6, 2021, House Republicans have finally filed a resolution to create the investigative panel.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), the House Judiciary Committee, Congressional Republicans, Congressional Democrats, and federal agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The select subcommittee was initially announced in January, with the authorizing resolution only being filed on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “House Republicans are proud of our work so far in exposing the false narratives peddled by the politically motivated January 6 Select Committee during the 117th Congress, but there is clearly more work to be done.” — Speaker Mike Johnson

🎯IMPACT: House committee chairmen have pledged to extend their jurisdictional authority to the select subcommittee, and Loudermilk will have full subpoena power.

IN FULL

House Republicans are finally beginning the process of establishing their own select subcommittee to investigate the involvement of federal agents prior to and during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, and alleged malfeasance by the January 6 Committee established by Congressional Democrats. Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), who has championed the effort, is slated to lead the select subcommittee.

The Republican-led investigation into federal knowledge of and involvement with January 6 was announced by GOP House leadership over six months ago, but was sidelined due to internal disagreements over the scope of its authority. However, Loudermilk’s effort recently received a boost of momentum after President Donald J. Trump began pushing Republican lawmakers to prioritize an investigation.

“House Republicans are proud of our work so far in exposing the false narratives peddled by the politically motivated January 6 Select Committee during the 117th Congress, but there is clearly more work to be done,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a statement. “The resolution introduced today will establish this Select Subcommittee so we can continue our efforts to uncover the full truth that is owed to the American people. House Republicans remain intent on delivering the answers that House Democrats skipped over.”

While the process to establish the committee is now underway, Republican House leaders have indicated that it will still be several months before Loudermilk can officially initiate the January 6 inquiry. A vote on the resolution establishing the select subcommittee—including its investigative authority and scope—is expected to be held in September when Congress returns from the August recess.

Initially, after being announced in January, the select subcommittee was delayed over the issue of whether Chairman Loudermilk would be restricted to just the Congressional jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee. Speaker Johnson initially backed a narrow investigatory scope over Loudermilk’s objections. However, it appears the Speaker has relented, and other House committee chairmen have pledged to extend their jurisdictional authority to the select subcommittee, and Loudermilk will have full subpoena power.

“It is vital that we continue to uncover the facts and begin the task of making needed reforms to ensure this level of security failure may never happen again,” Loudermilk said in a statement, noting that his prior investigation—while more narrow in scope—”uncovered that what happened at the Capitol that day was the result of a series of intelligence, security, and leadership failures at multiple levels within numerous entities.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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1 hour ago
1A
News

New York Pays Out $225K After Trying to Force Christian Photographer to Shoot Gay Weddings.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York agreed to pay $225,000 in legal fees to Christian wedding photographer Emilee Carpenter and promised not to enforce laws that infringed on her First Amendment rights by trying to coerce her into shooting homosexual weddings.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Emilee Carpenter, New York Attorney General Letitia James, U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci, and the Alliance Defending Freedom.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The legal battle concluded with a consent decree following a May ruling in a New York federal court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “New Yorkers can now enjoy the freedom to create and express themselves, a freedom that protects all Americans regardless of their views,” said Bryan Neihart of the Alliance Defending Freedom.

🎯IMPACT: The decision upholds First Amendment protections for creative professionals, potentially setting a significant precedent for similar cases.

IN FULL

After a four-year legal battle, the State of New York has agreed to pay Christian wedding photographer Emilee Carpenter $225,000 in legal fees and to stop enforcing laws that violate her First Amendment rights. The settlement allows Carpenter to decline photographing homosexual weddings without fear of state penalties.

The agreement, detailed in a consent decree between New York Attorney General Letitia James and Carpenter’s legal team at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), follows a ruling in May by U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci, a Barack Obama appointee, who stated it was “beyond debate” that New York cannot use public accommodations laws to “compel speech.”

“New Yorkers can now enjoy the freedom to create and express themselves, a freedom that protects all Americans regardless of their views,” ADF senior counsel Bryan Neihart stated.

The case was returned to the lower court by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Colorado’s public accommodations law in the high-profile 303 Creative case, where graphic designer Lorie Smith won the right to refuse homosexual wedding clients. Colorado eventually agreed to pay Smith $1.5 million in legal expenses.

Judge Geraci issued a “narrow” preliminary injunction preventing New York from “peculiarly” targeting Carpenter. Under the consent decree, James’ office committed to refraining from applying New York’s public accommodations, discrimination, and publication laws in ways that would force Carpenter and her company to provide the same wedding and engagement photography services to homosexual couples as they do to heterosexual couples.

The agreement also affirms Carpenter’s right to “adopt their desired Beliefs and Practices policy,” to post and promote that policy publicly, and to ask potential clients “questions sufficient to determine” if they are requesting services for a homosexual wedding.

Image by Matt Cohen.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Immigration
UK

Guests Kicked Out, Staff Fired So Four-Star Hotel Can Be Filled With Migrants.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Guests with prior bookings at the four-star Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, London, were turned away without notice after Britain’s Home Office acquired the property to house asylum seekers. Staff were also reportedly fired.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Home Office, Tower Hamlets Council, local police, and affected hotel guests.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday at the Britannia Hotel, located in Canary Wharf, London.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are aware of the government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.” – Tower Hamlets Council spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: Heightened security presence, booking suspensions, and increased political tension and social unrest over illegal immigrants being lavished with public money.

IN FULL

Visitors with existing reservations at the four-star Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, London, were unexpectedly denied entry on July 22 after the British Home Office—roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—repurposed the property to house asylum seekers. Tourists were captured on video being refused access at the entrance, while security personnel stood behind locked glass doors. Major booking websites have since halted all reservations for the upscale, four-star hotel located in one of London’s most affluent districts. Staff were also reportedly fired.

Tower Hamlets Council has acknowledged the situation, confirming that the facility is being used to provide temporary shelter. A spokesman stated, “We are aware of the government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. It is important that the government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.”

The site has seen a noticeable increase in security, including police officers stationed at the entrance. Lee Anderson, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, commented on the situation: “It must cost a couple of hundred quid [pounds] a night to stay there. Most normal people in this country would not even be able to afford to come and stay here for a weekend.”

The Home Office has rejected any connection between the decision in Canary Wharf and recent disturbances in Epping, where tensions flared outside another asylum seeker hotel. That unrest followed the arrest of an Ethiopian migrant on multiple sexual assault allegations and led to confrontations between protesting families—branded “far-right” by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer—and pro-migrant counter-protesters, prompting the deployment of riot police.

Speaking about the Epping protests, Reform leader Nigel Farage voiced his support for residents: “Do I understand how people in Epping feel? You bet your life I do… Don’t underestimate the simmering anger and disgust that there is in this country that we are letting in every week, in fact, some days, many hundreds of undocumented young males, many of whom come from cultures in which women and young girls are not even treated as second-class citizens.”

In response to growing public unease, Prime Minister Starmer has urged immediate measures to prevent further disturbances. However, critics argue that the leftist Labour government has not effectively addressed immigration challenges, pointing to persistent levels of illegal entry and continued high rates of legal migration.

Image by James Petts.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
William Upton
Immigration
Politics

WATCH: Senator Facing Paxton Primary Challenge Loves Anti-Borders, Pro-Sanctuary Nonprofit.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) is facing political backlash over resurfaced comments made on the Senate floor praising the far-left League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) political group, which advocates for open borders and mass immigration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), Governor Greg Abbott (R), President Donald J. Trump, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and Texas Republican voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Cornyn’s remarks came during National Hispanic Heritage Month and resurfaced on social media on July 23, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is also the League of United Latin American Citizens, or as we know it, LULAC, that fights to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans—particularly when it comes to education.” — Sen. John Cornyn

🎯IMPACT: Cornyn is struggling to defend his Senate seat from a primary challenge launched by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a staunch ally of President Trump. The video is likely to cause further problems for Cornyn among Texas Republicans.

IN FULL

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) is drawing backlash from Texas conservatives after a video surfaced of him praising the far-left League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) political group, which advocates for open borders and mass immigration. Notably, LULAC sued Texas in 2017 over legislation signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) ending sanctuary cities in the state.

Sen. Cornyn’s praise for LULAC is part of the Congressional Record. The Texas Republican highlighted the group on the Senate floor during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15 every year.

“There is also the League of United Latin American Citizens, or as we know it, LULAC, that fights to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans—particularly when it comes to education,” Cornyn stated during his floor speech praising numerous Hispanic and immigrant advocacy groups.


Notably, in recent months, Cornyn has tried to reposition himself as being opposed to mass immigration while claiming to be an ally of President Donald J. Trump‘s America First agenda. Polling has shown Cornyn consistently trailing his Republican primary challenger, Trump ally and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), by a significant margin in the 2026 Senate race.

LULAC presents itself as a Hispanic and Latin-American civil rights organization; however, the group has consistently pushed a far-left political agenda, including educating illegal immigrants on legal maneuvers to frustrate federal immigration enforcement actions. Additionally, LULAC has joined campaigns in defense of abortion, far-left DEI programs, and Affirmative Action.

Concerningly, LULAC has joined other far-left groups in promoting anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) propaganda. LULAC has accused ICE of utilizing so-called “terror strikes” and “lightning attacks” to create an environment of “fear and anxiety” in the Hispanic community.

The group has received significant funding from the Tides Foundation, as well as the National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Its current president, Domingo Garcia, is a long-time Texas Democrat politician and served as a member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for over a decade.

Cornyn actively opposed Trump’s 2024 bid to retake the White House until well after polling showed the America First leader was the only GOP candidate positioned to defeat the Democrats. The National Pulse reported in November 2023 that Cornyn admitted, “I was wrong,” regarding his opposition to Trump’s candidacy.

The resurfaced LULAC video is likely to cause further problems for Cornyn in Texas. Already, the Senator has seen defections, with Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) endorsing Paxton.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
News

Bryan Kohberger Receives Four Life Sentences for Idaho Murders.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to four life sentences without parole after pleading guilty to the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bryan Kohberger, the families of victims Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, and Judge Steven Hippler.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The sentencing took place on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho, following the November 2022 killings in Moscow, Idaho.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If it were up to the President, he would have forced this monster to publicly explain why he chose to steal these innocent souls.” — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

🎯IMPACT: Kohberger will serve four life sentences without parole, with victims’ families expressing mixed emotions over the plea deal.

IN FULL

Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves as part of a plea deal that spared him the death penalty. He was sentenced to four life terms without parole and an additional 10 years for a burglary charge. The sentencing hearing, held in Boise, Idaho, included emotional victim impact statements from the families of the deceased.

The murders occurred in the early hours of November 13, 2022, at a residence in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger was arrested six weeks later at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. Prosecutors revealed that DNA evidence, surveillance footage, online purchase history, and cellphone data connected him to the crime. During the hearing, Kohberger declined to make any statement, prompting murmurs from the victims’ families.

Judge Steven Hippler, before issuing the sentence, described Kohberger as a “faceless coward” and expressed admiration for the victims’ families. He emphasized that no rational explanation could justify the crimes, stating, “The time has now come to end Mr. Kohberger’s 15 minutes of fame.” Kohberger showed no visible reaction as the sentence was delivered.

The hearing featured over two hours of victim impact statements. Family members shared memories of the victims and expressed the profound impact of their loss. Some directed their remarks at Kohberger, with Kaylee Goncalves’ father calling him a “complete joke” and her sister labeling him a sociopath. Other family members, such as Xana Kernodle’s aunt and mother, expressed forgiveness, citing personal healing.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in on the sentencing at the start of Wednesday’s press briefing. “If it were up to the President, he would have forced this monster to publicly explain why he chose to steal these innocent souls,” Leavitt stated, telling the press that it was a message directly from the White House.

Prosecutor Bill Thompson detailed the reasoning behind the plea deal, which required Kohberger to plead guilty on all counts and waive his right to appeal. While some families supported the deal as a path to closure, others criticized it for allowing Kohberger to avoid the death penalty.

Thompson concluded by urging the court to impose the agreed-upon sentence, which the judge ultimately upheld.

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4 hours ago
William Upton
NatSec

U.S. Embassy Guard Charged with Spying for Russia, Iran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A 27-year-old Norwegian man employed as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo has been charged with spying on behalf of Russia and Iran, according to documents filed by prosecutors in the country.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Norwegian prosecutors, a 27-year-old spy, the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, and Russian and Iranian intelligence.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The espionage activities are alleged to have occurred between March 2024 and November 20, 2024, with an indictment filed on July 22, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: In the indictment, filed on July 22, Norwegian prosecutors stress the gravity of the espionage, “because the aim was to reveal information to a foreign state.”

🎯IMPACT: The indictment marks the latest concerning incident of espionage being carried out against the United States.

IN FULL

A Norwegian man employed as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo has been charged with spying on behalf of Russia and Iran, according to documents filed by prosecutors in the NATO country. Norwegian officials allege the 27-year-old man engaged in espionage, supplying Russian and Iranian intelligence agents with embassy security plans, a list of couriers used by Norwegian intelligence, and the personal contact information for diplomats, staff, and their families. He also allegedly supplied foreign intelligence with a list of license plates associated with U.S. embassy vehicles.

These espionage activities are alleged to have occurred between March 2024 and November 20, 2024—the latter being the date of his initial arrest. In the indictment, filed on July 22, Norwegian prosecutors stress the gravity of the espionage, “notably because the aim was to reveal information to a foreign state.”

The indictment states that the man received payments—which he attempted to conceal—in Bitcoin and euros. Prosecutors state that the estimated €17,000 in payments was deposited in various sums in the accounts of associates.

The accused spy, while acknowledging his actions, rejects the charges against him, according to his lawyer, Inger Zadig.

This marks the latest concerning incident of espionage against the United States and its allies. The National Pulse reported earlier this month that two Chinese nationals were arrested for spying on the U.S. Navy. They face charges of allegedly acting as agents for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime to collect intelligence from U.S. Navy service members and bases and attempt to recruit military members to carry out tasks for the Ministry of State Security (MSS), China’s main intelligence force.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
NatSec

Chinese National Stole U.S. Missile Tech: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A dual national engineer pleaded guilty to stealing military trade secrets from a Southern California defense contractor.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chenguang Gong, a 59-year-old citizen of China and the United States, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The unauthorized transfers occurred between March 30 and April 26, 2023, at a Southern California defense contractor. Chenguang Gong pleaded guilty to stealing military trade secrets on Monday, July 21, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These files describe the methods, designs, techniques, processes, specifications, testing, and manufacture of these technologies and would be extremely damaging economically if obtained by the victim company’s competitors, and would be dangerous to U.S. national security if obtained by international actors.” – U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

🎯IMPACT: The theft highlights ongoing concerns about China’s military-civil fusion policy and its implications for U.S. national security.

IN FULL

Chenguang Gong, a dual citizen of the United States and China, pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing over 3,600 files containing military trade secrets from a Southern California defense contractor. These files included blueprints for advanced sensors used to detect and monitor hypersonic, ballistic, and nuclear missiles, as well as sensors designed to warn U.S. warplanes of incoming heat-seeking missiles and jam their infrared tracking systems.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California revealed that Gong was employed as an application-specific integrated circuit design manager at the contractor in January 2023. The unauthorized transfers occurred between March 30 and April 26, 2023, and included files marked “proprietary” and “for official use only.” Gong transferred over 1,800 files after accepting a position with a competitor of the company.

Prosecutors also noted Gong’s previous efforts to apply for Chinese government “Talent Programs,” which aim to recruit overseas scientists and engineers to transfer expertise and technology to China. In one instance, while working for a U.S. technology firm in Dallas in 2015, Gong proposed developing sensors and analog-to-digital converters for a high-tech Chinese organization, emphasizing their military applications. He traveled to China multiple times to secure funding for these projects.

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, in its February 2024 complaint, stated: “These files describe the methods, designs, techniques, processes, specifications, testing, and manufacture of these technologies and would be extremely damaging economically if obtained by the victim company’s competitors, and would be dangerous to U.S. national security if obtained by international actors.”

Gong is currently free on a $1.75 million bond and is awaiting sentencing, scheduled for September 29. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Image by Doug Harvey via U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet.

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6 hours ago
News

White House Leaves Dem Donor & Biden Holdover as SecDef Chief of Staff.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s advisers have paused efforts to replace Joe Biden holdover and suspected leaker Ricky Buria as acting chief of staff to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, allowing him to continue in the role.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ricky Buria, Pete Hegseth, Trump administration officials, and former Pentagon staff such as Joe Kasper and Lt. Gen. Jennifer Short.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent months, primarily at the Pentagon and the White House.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Hegseth has since defended Buria at every turn, even as the White House told the defense secretary he could keep Buria but that he would never become chief of staff,” according to The Guardian.

🎯IMPACT: Buria remains in a key Pentagon role despite White House reservations, while questions linger regarding his role in internal controversies.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s advisers have decided to halt efforts to find a new chief of staff for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, allowing Joe Biden holdover Ricky Buria to continue in an acting capacity, sources claim. While Buria is not expected to be formally approved for the role, the push to replace him has lost momentum.

Buria’s efforts to amass power within the Defense Department were first exposed by The National Pulse. These efforts appear to have been largely successful, despite his history of donating to Democrats such as Mike O’Brien—who claims President Trump “hates veterans”—through the highly controversial ActBlue platform.

His influence has grown as he filled a power vacuum created by the departure of key aides earlier this year, including Joe Kasper and Lt. Gen. Jennifer Short, amid a contentious leak investigation. Concerningly, Buria himself is accused of being a significant source of leaks, with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations reportedly investigating his alleged disclosures to media that are generally hostile to the Trump administration.

According to The Guardian, “Hegseth has… defended Buria at every turn, even as the White House told the defense secretary he could keep Buria but that he would never become chief of staff.”

Nevertheless, Buria has effectively taken on the role regardless, with West Wing staffers reportedly referring to him as “Chief Ricky.”

Hegseth’s decision to retain Buria has effectively handed him the responsibilities of the chief of staff role, despite the White House’s reservations. The situation reflects ongoing tensions and unresolved issues within the Pentagon’s leadership under the Trump administration.

A favorite of Biden’s Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Buria has maintained links with several Biden-era staffers. Biden Department of Defense official Anne Powers publicly referred to Buria as her “partner in crime” on LinkedIn.

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7 hours ago
Corruption
News

Tulsi Gabbard: Documents Declassified Today Prove Obama ‘Coup.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has accused former President Barack Obama of manufacturing evidence to suggest Russian interference in the 2016 election and released more documents to support her claims.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tulsi Gabbard, Barack Obama, James Comey, John Brennan, James Clapper, Hillary Clinton, and others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Claims focus on a December 9, 2016, National Security Council meeting and subsequent events, with recent developments occurring in July 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is essential that for the future of our nation and our democratic republic, that accountability must occur.” – Tulsi Gabbard

🎯IMPACT: The allegations have sparked further political division, with critics accusing Gabbard of distraction tactics and supporters calling for accountability in intelligence operations.

IN FULL

U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has said that former President Barack Obama orchestrated a scheme to manufacture evidence implicating Russia in aiding President Donald J. Trump during the 2016 presidential election. Gabbard has released additional documents to substantiate her claims, which involve senior Obama administration officials, including former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan, and former DNI James Clapper.

“We will be releasing further documents tomorrow that will refute that statement,” she said on Tuesday night. “We will be pulling a whole host of statements that were made by the Obama administration, by Hillary Clinton, by senior Democrat officials, by their friends in the media that state, over and over again, after this January 2017 manufactured intelligence document was created, that repeat the narrative.”

The newly declassified evidence comes from a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence staff report, with Gabbard saying it “exposes how the Obama Administration manufactured the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that they knew was false, promoting the LIE that Vladimir Putin and the Russian government helped President Trump win the 2016 election.”

“In doing so, they conspired to subvert the will of the American people, working with their partners in the media to promote the lie, in order to undermine the legitimacy of President Trump, essentially enacting a years-long coup against him,” she added.

President Trump has said it is “time to go after people” for attempting to negate his first presidency, telling the media on Tuesday, The witch hunt that you should be talking about is they caught President Obama absolutely cold… They tried to rig the election, and they got caught—and there should be very severe consequences for that.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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7 hours ago
William Upton
Economy
World

Trump Strikes Major Trade Deal With Japan.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump says the U.S. has struck a significant trade deal with Japan ahead of his August 1 deadline to avoid higher tariff rates.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, key industries in both nations, and American and Japanese consumers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The trade deal was announced late Tuesdady, July 22, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made. Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90% of the Profits. This Deal will create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs — There has never been anything like it.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Japan will open its domestic markets to U.S.-made goods and will invest $550 billion in American-based supply chains involving pharmaceuticals, defense technology, and semiconductors, among other products.

IN FULL

U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced late Tuesday that he has struck a significant trade agreement with Japan. The announcement came as a major shock to pundits in both nations, with critics of Trump’s tariff policies insisting a trade deal with Japan would be impossible to complete before the August 1 deadline for reciprocal U.S. tariffs to take effect.

“We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made. Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90% of the Profits. This Deal will create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs — There has never been anything like it,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social late Tuesday. “Perhaps most importantly, Japan will open their Country to Trade including Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things. Japan will pay Reciprocal Tariffs to the United States of 15%.”

The America First leader added, “This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Japan’s acquiescence to U.S. demands that the East Asain nation open its markets to a bevy of American products is significant. For decades, Japan has largely blocked foreign imports from its domestic market—especially regarding foreign competition to its automobile industry. This position has frustrated numerous U.S. presidents and major American companies that have sought access to Japan’s consumer base of 124.5 million people.

Critically, Japan is also pledging a $550 billion investment in the U.S., mainly focused on establishing U.S.-based supply chains for certain pharmaceuticals, defense technology, and semiconductors.

If a deal had not been reached, Japan would have faced a 25 percent tariff on its exports to the U.S. starting on August 1. The lower tariff rate is being celebrated as a significant political win for Japan’s embattled Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Liberal Democratic Party, which was reduced to a governing minority in the country’s parliament after the populist Sanseitō party surged in elections last weekend on a ‘Japanese First’ platform.

The deal with Japan comes on the heels of two other U.S. trade agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines, both announced earlier on Tuesday. With Japan’s agreement now finalized as well, pressure on China to make further concessions to the Trump White House in order to end its trade conflict with the U.S. is likely mounting.

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