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July 24, 2025
William Upton
Economy
Politics

Trump Hits Powell Over Renovation Costs During Historic Fed Visit.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump chastised Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in person over the nearly $1 billion in cost overruns for renovations and new office construction undertaken by the American central bank.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Powell, and the Federal Reserve.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A lot of very expensive work, there’s no question about it,” Trump said, adding: “So we’re taking a look, and it looks like it is about $3.1 billion; it went up a little bit.”

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s visit is likely part of a broader campaign to pressure Powell and the Federal Reserve to cut interest, mirroring similar efforts by the late President Richard Nixon to push his Fed chairman, Arthur Burns, into lowering borrowing costs.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump chastised Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in person over the nearly $1 billion in cost overruns for renovations and new office construction undertaken by the American central bank. On Thursday, July 24, 2025, Trump became only the fourth President in American history to visit the Federal Reserve, and the only President to enter the building for nonceremonial purposes. Previously, former Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, and George W. Bush each visited the Fed.

“Thank you very much, we’re looking at the construction, and we’re with the chairman, as you know,” President Trump said before waving Powell over to join him in front of the cameras: “Chairman, come on over.”

“And we’re just taking a look at what’s happening, and it’s a tough construction job; they’re building basements where they didn’t exist or expanding them. A lot of very expensive work, there’s no question about it,” Trump continued. “So we’re taking a look, and it looks like it is about $3.1 billion; it went up a little bit.”

A stunned Powell abruptly began shaking his head in disagreement, insisting the construction costs were not that high. President Trump proceeded to produce a report detailing the cost, which included a separate office space that the Federal Reserve did not pair with its renovation estimates.

For weeks, President Trump has increased pressure on the U.S. central bank to begin slashing interest rates as economic data has shown some concerning deflationary signals. Powell, however, has remained obstinate, maintaining rates at their current levels.

This has led to some speculation that Trump could move to fire Powell—with cause— by citing the renovation cost overruns, though the America First leader has insisted he does not intend to remove the Fed chairman before his term expires next year.

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26 minutes ago
Crime
News

Policeman Shot Dead Amid Surge in ‘Ambush Attacks’ on Law Enforcement.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A police officer in Lorain, Ohio, was killed in an ambush attack, with two other officers injured during the exchange of gunfire.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Officers Phillip Wagner, Peter Gale, Brent Payne, and suspect Michael Parker.

📍WHEN & WHERE: July 2025 in Lorain, Ohio, along a dead-end road.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They’ve always got to have that situational awareness, and the unfortunate thing about law enforcement is they’re truly never off duty.” – Kevin Harris, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) trainer.

🎯IMPACT: The attack highlights a disturbing rise in ambushes targeting law enforcement, with at least 50 officers shot in such attacks this year.

IN FULL

A police officer in Lorain, Ohio, was killed July 23 in what authorities describe as an ambush-style shooting. Officer Phillip Wagner, 35, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, died after being struck multiple times by gunfire. Two fellow officers, Peter Gale, 51, and Brent Payne, 47, were also shot during the incident, with Payne remaining in critical condition as of the time of publication. The suspected gunman, 28-year-old Michael Parker, was killed during an exchange of fire with law enforcement.

The attack occurred around 1 PM along a dead-end road where Wagner and Gale had reportedly parked after picking up lunch. According to police, Parker had been lying in wait before opening fire. Authorities said that several firearms, magazines, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in the suspect’s vehicle.

The violent encounter is part of a trend in the U.S. involving ambushes against law enforcement officers. Statistics indicate that at least 50 officers have been shot in ambush-style attacks in 2025 so far. The annual total could eventually surpass the 80 such incidents recorded in 2024. The peak was in 2023, when 138 ambush-style shootings were reported. Overall, 342 officers were shot in the line of duty last year, up 40 percent compared to 2018, according to the Fraternal Order of Police.

Steven Fioritto, a trustee with the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, commented on the pattern seen in many of these cases: “A lot of times they describe the person as a loner, but not every loner is going to do that.”

The Federal Bureau of Investgation (FBI) has taken a deeper interest in the rise of these types of attacks. Agents have interviewed both victims and perpetrators in an attempt to understand the motivations behind the violence. FBI trainer Kevin Harris spoke to the daily challenges officers face: “They’ve always got to have that situational awareness, and the unfortunate thing about law enforcement is they’re truly never off duty.”

The Democratic Party has been intensifying its rhetoric against law enforcement involved in deportations, in particular, since President Donald J. Trump’s reelection, with 2024 vice presidential candidate going so far as to describe U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as “Gestapo.”

ICE agents, Border Patrol agents, and regular law enforcement supporting them have been targeted in a number of ambush attacks already this year.

Image by Bob K.

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1 hour ago
Crime
News

Ghislaine Maxwell’s Lawyers Say She Discussed ‘About 100 Different People’ With DOJ.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, was questioned by the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ghislaine Maxwell, her attorney David Oscar Markus, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The questioning took place over the last two days in a federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Ghislaine answered every single question asked of her over the last day and a half, she answered those questions honestly, truthfully, to the best of her ability.” – David Oscar Markus

🎯IMPACT: The questioning has reignited public interest in the Epstein case and raised questions about transparency in the Department of Justice’s handling of related files.

IN FULL

Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex offender and former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has faced extensive questioning from the Department of Justice (DOJ) at a federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche led the inquiry, reportedly focusing on individuals connected to Epstein’s crimes.

Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, stated that his client answered all questions posed to her without invoking privilege or refusing to respond. “Ghislaine answered every single question asked of her over the last day and a half. She answered those questions honestly, truthfully, to the best of her ability,” Markus said.

Markus noted that Blanche was “seeking the truth” and “asked every possible question.” He said Maxwell “was asked about maybe about 100 different people. She answered questions about everybody, and she didn’t hold anything back.”

“She never invoked a privilege. She never refused to answer a question. So we’re very proud of her,” he added.

The session comes amid controversy surrounding Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Epstein case, in particular her recent claim that a “client list” for the deceased pedophile, which she claimed was “on [her] desk” earlier this year, does not exist.

 Markus has hinted at the possibility of a presidential pardon for Maxwell, referencing Trump’s authority to do so. Trump said Thursday that he has the power to do this, but has not given much consideration to the matter.

Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking charges, having been convicted for her role in procuring underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein to exploit and abuse.

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2 hours ago
Science

Study Reveals Potential Hostile Alien Threat in Mysterious Interstellar Object.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A controversial study has suggested that an intergalactic object, 3I/ATLAS, might be a hostile alien spacecraft potentially slated to attack Earth.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The study was authored by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, along with Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl of the Initiative for Interstellar Studies in London, England.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The object was discovered on July 1, and the study was published on July 16 on the preprint server arXiv.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The consequences, should the hypothesis turn out to be correct, could potentially be dire for humanity,” the researchers wrote in their paper.

🎯IMPACT: The study has sparked debate among scientists, with many dismissing the alien theory as unfounded and others urging caution.

IN FULL

A group of scientists claims an interstellar object, aa, has been identified as potentially being a hostile alien spacecraft in a new study by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb and researchers Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl. The paper, published on July 16 on the preprint server arXiv, has stirred controversy among scientists worldwide. “The consequences, should the hypothesis turn out to be correct, could potentially be dire for humanity,” the researchers wrote in their paper.

The object, discovered on July 1 and traveling at over 130,000 mph, was initially thought to be a comet with a diameter of up to 15 miles. However, Loeb and his colleagues speculate that its trajectory and speed suggest it could be extraterrestrial spy technology. Loeb, who has previously linked interstellar objects to alien life, theorized that 3I/ATLAS’s behavior could serve strategic purposes for an alien intelligence.

“This could be intentional to avoid detailed observations from Earth-based telescopes when the object is brightest or when gadgets are sent to Earth from that hidden vantage point,” Loeb wrote in a blog post. He also warned that the object’s potential alien origins might support the “dark forest hypothesis,” which posits that extraterrestrial civilizations remain hidden to avoid threats. Loeb suggested this could necessitate defensive measures.

Critics, however, have dismissed the claims. Samantha Lawler, an astronomer at the University of Regina, stated, “All evidence points to this being an ordinary comet that was ejected from another solar system.” Chris Lintott, an astronomer at the University of Oxford, added, “Any suggestion that it’s artificial is nonsense on stilts, and is an insult to the exciting work going on to understand this object.”

Even Loeb acknowledged that the alien theory is unlikely, admitting, “By far, the most likely outcome will be that 3I/ATLAS is a completely natural interstellar object, probably a comet.” The researchers also cautioned that their paper, which has not been peer-reviewed, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Image: Olivier Hainaut et al./European Southern Observatory (processed by Nrco0e).

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2 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Nationwide ICE Op Catches Arsonists, Pedophiles, Human Traffickers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has netted illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes, including child rape, arson, and human smuggling, during a nationwide operation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, and illegal immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Arrests occurred Thursday in cities across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Yesterday, ICE arrested pedophiles, arsonists, and human smugglers. Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, these dirtbags are off our streets,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

🎯IMPACT: The arrests highlight ongoing efforts to remove dangerous illegal aliens from American communities.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has revealed details of a nationwide operation conducted Thursday in which illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes were arrested. Notable arrests include Jacobo Argueta-Fuentes, a 33-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, convicted of multiple sex crimes against children in New York; Rafael Manriquez-Mancia, a 45-year-old from Mexico, convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Texas; and Abraham Eladio Pineda-Rocha, a 33-year-old from Mexico, convicted of alien smuggling in Texas.

Other arrests include Alfonso Lopez-Cabrera, a 48-year-old from Mexico, convicted of lewd acts with a child under 14 in California, and Wahota Allassane Ouattara, a 38-year-old from the Ivory Coast, convicted of arson in New York City.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Yesterday, ICE arrested pedophiles, arsonists, and human smugglers. Thanks to President Trump and [Department of Homeland Security] Secretary [Kristi] Noem, these dirtbags are off our streets. ICE law enforcement is doing what sanctuary politicians refuse to do: protect the American people.”

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3 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Immigration
UK

‘Get Your Act Together’ — Trump Laments ‘Horrible Invasion’ of Migrants ‘Killing Europe.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump arrived in Scotland and criticized Britain’s handling of illegal migration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

📍WHEN & WHERE: July 2025, Glasgow Airport, Scotland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “You better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe anymore.” – President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s comments add pressure on British leadership to address rising illegal immigration issues.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump arrived in Scotland for a four-day visit and immediately addressed Britain’s illegal immigration issues. He urged Britain to “get its act together” to stop what he described as a “horrible invasion” affecting Europe.

“You better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe anymore,” he said shortly after landing. “You’ve got to stop this horrible invasion that is happening to Europe, many countries in Europe.”

He continued: “Some leaders have not let it happen, and they’re not getting the proper credit… I could name them to you right now, but I’m not going to embarrass the other ones. But stop, this immigration is killing Europe.”

The America First leader highlighted his administration’s success in halting illegal entries, saying, “Last month we had nobody entering our country.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, of the left-wing Labour Party, faces increasing pressure to tackle illegal migration, with tens of thousands of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats this year, with virtually none of them being deported. Many are being housed in often luxurious hotels at the taxpayers’ expense, despite being largely unvetted, with some committing crimes that have prompted riotous protests in recent weeks.

Trump plans to meet with Sir Keir and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during his British trip. Despite his critical stance on the British premier’s handling of immigration, Trump commended the Prime Minister for successfully negotiating a U.S. trade deal—only possible as a result of Brexit—stating, “He got a trade deal done… It’s a good deal for the UK.”

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3 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
SCOTUS

Trump: Obama ‘Owes Me Big’ Over SCOTUS Immunity Ruling.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump says former President Barack Obama “owes” him for a Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the immunity of presidents amid accusations of criminality regarding Russiagate.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, former President Barack Obama, Obama administration officials, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.

📍WHEN & WHERE: President Trump made the statements on July 25

💬KEY QUOTE: “He’s done criminal acts, there’s no question about it. But he has immunity, and it probably helps him a lot… he owes me big, Obama owes me big,” Trump said.

🎯IMPACT: The SCOTUS ruling could prevent Obama from facing any criminal liability, but other former administration members may not get the same protection.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump said on Friday that former President Barack Hussein Obama “owes me big” following a Supreme Court ruling that affirmed broad presidential immunity. The statement comes after Trump accused Obama of being the “ringleader” of Russiagate and called for a criminal investigation.

On July 22, following the release of new evidence by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, Trump said that Obama and members of his administration had “manufactured” intelligence to tie him to Russia. “He’s done criminal acts, there’s no question about it. But he has immunity, and it probably helps him a lot… He owes me big, Obama owes me big,” Trump said July 25, adding: “It probably helps him a lot… the immunity ruling, but it doesn’t help the people around him at all.”

The House Intelligence Committee concluded that the U.S. intelligence community lacked direct evidence in 2016 that Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed to help Trump win the presidency. Despite this, the committee alleges that under “unusual” orders from then-President Obama, U.S. agencies disseminated “potentially biased” intelligence.

A declassified report prepared by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and dated September 18, 2020, revealed that just five Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analysts, directed by senior intelligence officials and political appointees, produced the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) published shortly before Trump’s inauguration.

“The draft was not properly coordinated within CIA or the IC, ensuring it would be published without significant challenges to its conclusions,” the committee report noted. It further noted that the 2017 ICA was rushed to completion, driven by pressure from then-CIA Director John Brennan and others to include the bogus anti-Trump Steele Dossier, which was “based largely on internet rumor.”

Tulsi Gabbard said this week that “deep state obstacles” had delayed the release of this information. “There are a lot of deep state actors still here within Washington. President Trump wants us to find the truth. I want to find that truth. The American people deserve the truth, and they deserve accountability,” Gabbard said.

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4 hours ago
TECH

Huh? – Tesla Launches ‘Robotaxis’ with Human Drivers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Tesla is planning to expand its robotaxi service to San Francisco, California, despite ongoing technical issues and regulatory hurdles, with “human safety operators” in the driver’s seats.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tesla, led by CEO Elon Musk, and its head of artificial intelligence (AI) software, Ashok Elluswamy, along with California regulatory agencies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The rollout is planned for this week in San Francisco, following an earlier, limited launch in Austin, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We will launch the service with a person in the driver’s seat just to expedite while we wait for regulatory approval.” – Ashok Elluswamy

🎯IMPACT: Tesla faces significant challenges as it seeks regulatory approval and attempts to address technical issues in its push for autonomous ride-hailing services.

IN FULL

Tesla is preparing to expand its robotaxi service to San Francisco, following its limited and problematic launch in Austin, Texas. According to an internal memo, the rollout could begin as soon as this week, with plans to cover a large portion of the Bay Area.

However, Tesla will deploy a so-called human safety operator in the driver’s seat, indicating the company is not yet confident in its autonomous technology or is unable to secure full regulatory approval. Tesla’s head of artificial intelligence (AI) software, Ashok Elluswamy, acknowledged the limited rollout during an earnings report earlier this week, stating: “We will launch the service with a person in the driver’s seat just to expedite while we wait for regulatory approval.”

The company faces mounting pressure as it attempts to recover from declining revenues and global sales. Elon Musk has expressed ambitions to sell “millions” of humanoid robots and establish a widespread robotaxi service, but technical issues and regulatory barriers remain significant obstacles.

In Austin, Tesla’s robotaxis have encountered issues such as running stop signs, swerving into incorrect lanes, and dropping passengers in unsafe locations. Despite these problems, Tesla is pushing forward with its plans, though it has yet to apply for a commercial robotaxi permit in California.

While the California Public Utilities Commission has granted Tesla a permit to transport employees, broader approval for a commercial service is still pending. Tesla is also seeking to expand its robotaxi operations in Florida and Arizona, where regulations are less stringent.

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5 hours ago
News

Soros-Backed Media Matters Is Facing Financial Ruin.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Media Matters, backed by anti-borders plutocrat George Soros, is facing significant financial challenges due to ongoing legal battles and investigations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Media Matters, George Soros, and major Democrat donors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Over the past 20 months, both in the United States and with international legal actions in Singapore and Ireland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Unlike some major media entities that have recently caved to pressure, we understand that this battle is larger than us.” – Angelo Carusone, President of Media Matters

🎯IMPACT: Media Matters has cut staff, faces donor hesitancy, and is considering closure amidst mounting legal costs.

IN FULL

Media Matters, a leading activist group in liberal politics backed by anti-borders plutocrat George Soros, may close down as it struggles to finance its extensive legal battles. The organization, which has long targeted conservative public figures and media, is now facing a severe financial crisis as it defends itself against lawsuits and investigations initiated by Elon Musk and allies of President Donald J. Trump.

With legal fees reaching approximately $15 million over the past 20 months, Media Matters has been forced to cut staff and seek additional funding from its donors. Despite these efforts, the group has been unable to reach a settlement with Musk, who accuses them of having “knowingly and maliciously fabricated side-by-side images” of major advertisers on his X (formerly Twitter) platform next to extremist content as part of a boycott campaign. He also brought cases in Singapore and Ireland.

Media Matters President Angelo Carusone has said he intends to fight this and other legal battles the organization is facing, stating, “Unlike some major media entities that have recently caved to pressure, we understand that this battle is larger than us.” However, the internal atmosphere at Media Matters is tense, with discussions about potential bankruptcy and strategic shifts to manage its ongoing legal challenges.

Democrat law firm Elias Law Group is also pursuing Media Matters for millions in fees related to the Musk case, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating them for the “reporting” on X that prompted the case. They have also faced state-level investigations, for instance, in Missouri, for allegedly undermining the First Amendment.

Founded in 2003 by David Brock, Media Matters has been a significant figure in Democratic politics for years. Its current legal and financial challenges mark a stark contrast to its previous influence.

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6 hours ago
Sports

Trump Signs Order to Preserve College Sports, Ban Pay-for-Play.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at protecting collegiate athletic scholarships and opportunities while regulating athlete compensation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, members of his Cabinet, and collegiate athletic departments.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The executive order was signed this week and applies to U.S. colleges and universities.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports must be preserved and, where possible, expanded.” – Executive Order

🎯IMPACT: The order seeks to balance athlete compensation with the preservation of non-revenue sports and scholarships.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order this week aimed at possibly making substantial changes to the name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies that have rocked collegiate athletics. The Trump White House contends the presidential directive will “protect student-athletes, collegiate athletic scholarships and opportunities” by addressing the balance between colleges paying athletes and maintaining non-revenue generating athletic programs. However, critics contend that the order is unlikely to result in significant changes to the NIL as it is likely outside federal purview.

The order, released by the White House late Thursday, directs members of Trump’s Cabinet to devise a plan within 30 days to preserve college sporting opportunities based on the revenue generated by athletic departments. It explicitly prohibits “third-party, pay-for-play payments” but allows for “legitimate, fair-market-value compensation” for activities such as brand endorsements.

The executive order also calls for revenue sharing between colleges and athletes, emphasizing that “opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports must be preserved and, where possible, expanded.” This comes as the NCAA has loosened its restrictions on athlete compensation in recent years, raising concerns about the potential loss of scholarships and programs in sports that generate little revenue.

The order specifies that athletic departments earning over $125,000,000 in revenue during the 2024-2025 season should increase scholarship opportunities and maximize roster spots for non-revenue sports. For departments with revenues under $50,000,000, the order states that scholarships and roster spots should not be disproportionately reduced based on a sport’s revenue.

“Collegiate athletic departments with greater than $125,000,000 in revenue during the 2024-2025 athletic season should provide more scholarship opportunities in non-revenue sports than during the 2024-2025 athletic season and should provide the maximum number of roster spots for non-revenue sports permitted under the applicable collegiate athletic rules,” the order reads.

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6 hours ago
Health
News

Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill Act’ Is Shuttering Abortionist Clinics.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Five Planned Parenthood facilities in California are being shuttered due to federal budget cuts following the signing of President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Planned Parenthood, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), and California Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Thursday, impacting clinics in Northern California and the Central Coast, including one in South San Francisco.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This law is clearly a back-door ban on abortion in reproductive freedom states,” complained Planned Parenthood Mar Monte.

🎯IMPACT: The closures show federal Medicaid funding cuts for abortionists are yielding pro-life results.

IN FULL

Five Planned Parenthood facilities in Northern California are being forced to close as a result of President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which prevents federally funded state Medicaid programs from bankrolling abortionists.

According to local media, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte announced Thursday that five clinics across Northern California and the Central Coast, including one in South San Francisco, will be shuttered due to the federal Medicaid funding cuts. These closures follow the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by Trump earlier this month, which eliminated Medicaid funding for medical care at organizations that abort babies.

“This law is clearly a back-door ban on abortion in reproductive freedom states,” Planned Parenthood Mar Monte complained in a statement released this week.

California, led by Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom and a Democrat-dominated state legislature, had positioned itself as a haven for abortion following the Supreme Court’s 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade. The state invested over $200 million and passed more than a dozen laws to facilitate abortions, but the federal budget cuts have undercut that pro-abortion policy.

Federal funding had previously flowed to Planned Parenthood despite Hyde Amendment restrictions on using federal taxpayers’ money to abort babies, due to the organization’s insistence that it provided other services. However, Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act has significantly tightened this loophole, dealing a significant blow to Planned Parenthood’s operations.

Image by Tim Evanson.

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