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August 7, 2025
News

Mahmoud Khalil to NYT: Palestinians ‘Couldn’t Avoid’ Oct. 7 Massacre.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil defended Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, calling it “unavoidable” and citing Palestinian grievances.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mahmoud Khalil, a former student activist, journalist Ezra Klein, the New York Times, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Statements were made during an interview this week, addressing the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Unfortunately, these horrible things happened, but we cannot ask Palestinians to be perfect victims.” – Mahmoud Khalil

🎯IMPACT: Khalil’s remarks have sparked backlash, with critics pointing to his history of supporting Palestinian terror groups and refusing to condemn Hamas.

IN FULL

Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and prominent pro-Hamas activist, described the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel as “unavoidable” during an interview with New York Times journalist Ezra Klein. Khalil, who narrowly avoided deportation earlier this year, claimed the attack stemmed from Israel’s alleged disregard for Palestinians and their grievances.

“To me, it felt frightening that we had to reach this moment in the Palestinian struggle,” Khalil said, referencing his experience as an intern with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) at the time of the attack. Khalil argued that Israel’s diplomatic progress with Saudi Arabia under the Abraham Accords ignored Palestinian concerns, which he claimed exacerbated tensions leading to the violence.

Khalil declined to call the attack a “mistake,” stating, “Unfortunately, these horrible things happened, but we cannot ask Palestinians to be perfect victims.” He further alleged that Israel’s actions, including the killing of Palestinians in the West Bank, contributed to the escalation. Khalil also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming he sought a response to justify further actions against Palestinians.

Khalil’s comments come amid scrutiny of his past activities, including leading the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Columbia and his refusal to condemn Hamas terrorism. In March, Khalil was detained by U.S. immigration authorities for over 100 days on accusations of engaging in activities aligned with Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Khalil, who entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2022, is now suing the federal government for $20 million over his detainment, alleging political motivation.

The October 7 Hamas attack, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli civilian deaths and widespread atrocities, has been described as one of the deadliest in recent history.

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35 minutes ago
Crime
Religion

Newsom Faces Backlash for Mocking Prayers of Children Shot by Trans Gunman.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) mocked the “power of prayer” after a mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where children were praying at the time of the attack.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gavin Newsom, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and other Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: California, following the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church by a transgender gunman in Minneapolis this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These children were literally praying as they got shot at.” – Gavin Newsom

🎯IMPACT: Newsom’s thoughtless comments have sparked backlash and debates about faith, prayer, and gun control legislation.

IN FULL

In the aftermath of the recent mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that left two young children dead and 17 others wounded, Democrat leaders have sparked backlash for mocking prayer in the wake of the tragedy. Notably, California Governor Gavin Newsom mockingly responded to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s comments on the “power of prayer” by posting on X (formerly Twitter): “These children were literally praying as they got shot at.”

The remark drew strong condemnation from conservatives and faith leaders. However, Democrat Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey struck a similar tone to Newsom, telling reporters, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school, they were in a church.” Frey exploited the moment to call for more gun control, despite Minnesota already having red flag laws on the books.

Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester, a native of Minnesota, slammed Frey’s remarks as “completely asinine,” explaining: “To claim that because children were praying and were not delivered from harm means that prayer is ineffective is to misunderstand the purpose of prayer completely.”

“These kids died in a church. They died as martyrs. That should never be mocked,” he added.

Vice President J.D. Vance also weighed in, calling the reaction from Democrats “shocking and bizarre,” and defending prayer as a source of hope, not a shield from all harm.

The shooter, a transgender who decorated his weapons with Satanic pentagrams and remarks such as ‘Where is your God?’, has been identified as having posted anti-Catholic rhetoric online before the attack.

Governor Newsom has a history of clashing with religious groups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration banned even small religious gatherings in private homes, a move later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, despite holding questionable gatherings himself. He has also promoted California as an abortion tourism destination, offering taxpayer-funded travel to women from states with pro-life laws.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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1 hour ago
Politics
UK

J.D. Vance Urges English Patriots to ‘Push Back’ Against Suppression of St. George’s Cross.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is encouraging British campaigners to resist attempts to suppress England’s Saint George’s Cross flag, amidst backlash from municipal governments.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: J.D. Vance, British municipal governments, and patriots raising English and British flags in public places as part of “Operation Raise the Colours.”

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent weeks across England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We should push back against the crazies who say we should be so ashamed of our culture and of our heritage that we shouldn’t be willing to fly a flag. It’s craziness.” – J.D. Vance

🎯IMPACT: The debate has intensified over cultural pride and free speech, with councils removing flags and activists urging resistance to such actions.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance has called on British patriots to “push back against the crazies” who oppose flying the St. George’s Cross flag in public. The Vice President emphasized the importance of cultural pride and heritage amidst criticism of “Operation Raise the Colours,” a grassroots campaign that has seen English and British flags raised in public places across England, from municipal governments.

Hundreds of St. George’s Cross and Union flags have been raised across the United Kingdom in recent weeks, sparking backlash from local politicians. Some councils, including those for Tower Hamlets in London and England’s second city of Birmingham, have moved to pull down the flags, with the municipal government for Essex sending an email to workers claiming the national symbols can “evoke feelings of discomfort and be associated with anti-immigration rhetoric.” In Bromsgrove, a police investigation has been launched after a St George’s Cross was painted on a mini-roundabout.

“It’s OK to be proud of your country. It’s, in fact, a good thing to be proud of your country,” Vance stated. He also warned against the growing trend of cultural shame, recalling an incident in which a friend of his was afraid to fly the American flag during the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020. “We’ve got to call that craziness out. I’d encourage our European friends to follow suit,” he added.

Vance’s remarks echoed his previously expressed concerns about European censorship, which he outlined in Germany and repeated during a recent visit to the United Kingdom.

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2 hours ago
News
Politics

Trump Moves $4.9 Billion ‘Pocket Rescission’ to Cut ‘Woke and Weaponized’ Foreign Aid.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has proposed a $4.9 billion cut to foreign aid funds using a rarely invoked maneuver known as a pocket rescission.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was announced in late August 2025, with the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “For the first time in nearly 50 years, the President is using his authority under the Impoundment Control Act to deploy a pocket rescission, cancelling $4.9 billion in woke and weaponized foreign aid money that violates the President’s America First priorities,” said an OMB spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The pocket rescission would defund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), climate change, and LGBT propaganda abroad, but will face resistance from Democrats and Republicans-in-name-only on Capitol Hill.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has moved to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid funding previously approved by Congress, using a rarely invoked tactic under the Impoundment Control Act known as a “pocket rescission.” The action, announced just weeks before the end of the fiscal year, blocks the funds from being spent by allowing them to expire on September 30 without a congressional vote.

The targeted funds were allocated to the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and international assistance programs. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the move reflects Trump’s commitment to his “America First” agenda.

“For the first time in nearly 50 years, the President is using his authority under the Impoundment Control Act to deploy a pocket rescission, cancelling $4.9 billion in woke and weaponized foreign aid money,” an OMB spokesman said.

The rescinded accounts include USAID’s $3.2 billion Development Assistance Fund, which supported controversial programs on climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and LGBT initiatives, such as $4 million for global LGBT awareness and $2 million for feminist organizing in Africa.

The $322 million Democracy Fund, criticized for promoting “gender responsive governance” and LGBT projects abroad, was also cut. Funding was withdrawn from UNESCO and the World Trade Organization (WTO) due to their globalist agendas and failure to align with U.S. interests.

U.S. contributions to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations were also slashed, including $393 million for general peacekeeping and $445 million for specific operations, amid concerns over inefficiency, sexual exploitation by peacekeepers, and other abuses. These funds had backed projects including infrastructure for foreign militaries.

The decision has drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans-in-name-only (RINOs) in the GOP. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called the move an attempt to sidestep Congress. “Given that this package was sent to Congress very close to the end of the fiscal year when the funds are scheduled to expire, this is an apparent attempt to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval,” Collins said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the action undermines bipartisan cooperation. “Reasonable Republicans don’t have to go along with the madness; Republicans don’t have to be a rubber stamp for this carnage,” Schumer complained.

The pocket rescission comes amid a broader overhaul of U.S. foreign aid under Trump. Earlier this year, the administration dismantled USAID’s global development programs, terminating billions in contracts and shifting remaining operations to the State Department. In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that “tens of billions of USAID contracts” had been cut. In July, Trump signed the Rescissions Act of 2025, eliminating an additional $8.3 billion in foreign assistance.

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3 hours ago
Economy

Trump Tariff Triumph: U.S. Sees Record Revenue, Lower Goods Prices, Stable Inflation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Inflation in July held steady, with the Federal Reserve’s preferred price gauge showing a slight deceleration in cost pressures, defying earlier predictions of tariff-driven price increases.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the Federal Reserve led by Chairman Jerome Powell, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data for July 2025, released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on Friday.

🎯IMPACT: Despite fearmongering over tariffs, inflationary pressures have remained manageable, with consumer prices for goods showing minimal increases.

IN FULL

Inflation in July remained muted, with the personal consumption expenditures price index rising 2.6 percent from a year earlier, matching June’s annual pace. Monthly inflation rose by 0.2 percent, slightly down from the previous month’s 0.3 percent increase, according to data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Core prices, which exclude food and energy costs, increased by 2.9 percent annually and 0.3 percent for the month, aligning with Wall Street expectations. Services prices, the primary driver of inflation, rose 3.6 percent annually, while goods prices increased by just 0.5 percent.

Meanwhile, goods prices fell 0.1 percent in July, with energy costs dropping 1.1 percent and durable goods declining 0.1 percent. Over the past year, energy prices have dropped 2.7 percent, while durable goods prices rose modestly by 1.1 percent. These figures challenge earlier warnings from Federal Reserve officials about the inflationary effects of tariffs.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell previously stated, “Tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation,” and warned of potentially persistent inflationary effects. However, consumer prices for durable and nondurable goods—the categories most affected by tariffs—have shown minimal increases despite trade tensions.

Consumer spending increased by 0.5 percent in July, driven by purchases of motor vehicles, financial services, and housing-related expenses. Personal income rose 0.4 percent, reflecting higher wages and employer contributions to employee benefits. After taxes and inflation, real disposable income edged up by 0.2 percent, providing consumers with modest additional purchasing power.

The National Pulse reported last week that a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis projects President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies could slash federal deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade through increased revenue.

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3 hours ago
TECH

Trump Moves to Restrict Chinese Access to Key American Technology.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has revoked special authorizations for foreign chipmakers in China, requiring licenses for access to American semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix, Intel, and U.S. equipment suppliers like KLA Corp., Lam Research, and Applied Materials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The new restrictions were announced recently and will take effect in 120 days, applying to operations in China.

🎯IMPACT: The decision could benefit U.S. semiconductor firms like Micron and Intel.

IN FULL

The Trump White House has tightened export restrictions on foreign chipmakers operating in China, revoking special authorizations that previously allowed South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix to access American semiconductor manufacturing equipment without individual licenses. The move was announced in a Federal Register notice and ends exemptions granted in 2022 when sweeping limits on U.S. technology sales to China were first imposed.

Under the new rules, companies will now need licenses to obtain U.S. equipment for their Chinese facilities. Intel also appeared on the list of firms losing authorization, though it sold its Dalian facility in China earlier this year. The Commerce Department stated that licenses would be approved to maintain existing operations, but would not cover expansions or technology upgrades.

U.S. equipment suppliers like KLA Corp., Lam Research, and Applied Materials are the most likely domestic companies to be impacted by the new export restrictions, which could limit their sales to China. Shares of Lam Research fell by four percent, Applied Materials dropped 2.8 percent, and KLA slipped 2.4 percent on the news.

The restrictions come amid ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, with both nations still operating under a tariff truce set to last until November. Notably, South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix—both reliant on Chinese semiconductor facilities—had previously benefited from a Validated End User status, which streamlined equipment shipments from U.S. suppliers. With the designation now revoked, the companies must operate under the same licensing rules as other foreign firms.

The revocations will not take effect for 120 days, giving businesses time to adjust.

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4 hours ago
Politics

TX Gov. Signs Redistricting Bill, Cutting Five Democrat House Seats.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed a new redistricting bill to redraw the state’s congressional map, favoring Republicans.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Abbott, Texas legislators, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bill was signed on Friday in Texas following approval by the state house and senate.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!! Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The new map will increase Republican-majority districts from 25 to 30, removing several Democratic-majority districts.

IN FULL

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has signed a new redistricting bill that favors Republicans in the state’s congressional map. The bill, signed on Friday, follows a contentious process during which state Democrats staged a weeks-long walkout earlier this month.

In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Abbott described the bill as creating “the one big, beautiful map that ensures fairer representation in the United States Congress for Texas.” The bill was approved by the Texas House of Representatives in an 88-52 party-line vote before being passed by the Texas Senate early last Saturday.

President Donald J. Trump, whose request for new congressional maps prompted the redistricting, celebrated the move last week on Truth Social, writing: “Big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!! Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself.” He added, “Texas never lets us down. Florida, Indiana, and others are looking to do the same thing.”

The new map increases Republican-majority districts from 25 to 30 out of Texas’s 38 districts. It also eliminates Democrat-majority districts in key urban areas such as Houston, Austin, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

However, the move has drawn backlash from Democrat-aligned election and lawfare groups. Demetria McCain, policy director for the Legal Defense Fund, stated, “Black voters are not a tool for legislators to use to cut up maps as they see fit. This redistricting process in Texas is a shameful power grab at the expense of Black voices.”

Oni Blair, executive director of the ACLU Texas chapter, also condemned the move, calling it “disgraceful.”

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5 hours ago
Immigration

Trump DOJ Loosens Qualifications for Temporary Judges to Tackle Immigration Backlog.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a rule change allowing attorneys without immigration law experience to serve as temporary immigration judges.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The DOJ’s Office of Immigration Review, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and immigration judges.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The rule was published on Thursday in the Federal Register and applies to immigration courts nationwide.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Immigration law experience is not always a strong predictor of success as an [immigration judge],” the DOJ stated in the Federal Register.

🎯IMPACT: The new rule aims to address a backlog of over three million immigration cases by expanding the pool of eligible judges.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a rule change to allow attorneys without immigration law experience to act as temporary immigration judges as part of an effort to clear a backlog of immigration cases numbering in the millions. On Thursday, the DOJ’s Office of Immigration Review published the rule in the Federal Register removing the requirement that temporary immigration judges have substantive prior experience in immigration law.

According to the rule change, Attorney General Pam Bondi will hold authority over the approval of jurists appointed to serve as immigration judges. This represents a significant shift following the dismissal or buyout of over 100 judges by the Trump administration earlier this year, amid concerns that many had an anti-deportation bias.

The Federal Register rule change states that the DOJ “no longer believes the restriction of TIJs to current department employees with a threshold level of immigration law experience serves EOIR’s interests,” adding: “Immigration law experience is not always a strong predictor of success as an [immigration judge] and EOIR has hired individuals from other federal agencies and Department components without prior immigration experience who have become successful and exemplary [immigration judges].” It further explained that the change allows for “the greatest degree of flexibility” in finding qualified candidates.

In addition, the rule notes that attorneys with experience in prominent courts or those who have clerked for the Supreme Court should not be disqualified from serving in an immigration-related capacity.

The DOJ emphasized that the need for assistance in adjudicating immigration cases has significantly increased since the original plan to utilize temporary immigration judges was introduced in 2014.

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5 hours ago
Immigration

ICE Has Tripled Arrests of Illegal Aliens in This Democrat City:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has tripled the rate of arrests of illegal immigrants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, compared to the Biden government’s final year in office.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE, Pittsburgh police, eight regional agencies, and illegal immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We continue to honor and protect our immigrant neighbors, who are an essential part of what makes Pittsburgh strong—through their contributions, cultures, and presence in our communities.” – Mayor Ed Gainey (D)

🎯IMPACT: ICE arrests have increased and leftist activists are protesting.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has surged agents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, taking about 580 illegal immigrants into custody in the city so far this year, compared with only 210 in the same time frame during former President Joe Biden’s final year in office. The surge in arrests comes despite Pittsburgh’s Democrat-enacted policy barring local police from assisting ICE in federal immigration enforcement actions.

Notably, the arrest data was compiled by the Deportation Data Project, a pro-open borders non-profit group that works with organizations providing aid to illegal immigrants. Estimates from both Pew and the Center for Migration Studies suggest around 300,000 illegal immigrants currently reside in Pennsylvania.

Despite Democrat-backed legal measures preventing assistance from the Pittsburgh police, at least eight other regional law enforcement agencies have approved ICE’s 287(g) cooperation agreements. The federally coordinated immigration enforcement operation has sparked backlash from far-left activists, who allege ICE raids have damaged several local businesses, including causing a restaurant kitchen fire. However, ICE contends the fire was caused by a group of illegal immigrants employed by the establishment.

According to an ICE spokesman, the “damage to the restaurant, including the small fire, was created by the illegal aliens themselves while they were trying to escape or hide from law enforcement officers.”

Despite Pittsburgh recently being removed from the Justice Department’s list of “sanctuary” jurisdictions, Democrat city mayor Ed Gainey has stressed that “It’s important to make clear that the City of Pittsburgh has not altered its policies or practices.”

“We continue to honor and protect our immigrant neighbors, who are an essential part of what makes Pittsburgh strong—through their contributions, cultures, and presence in our communities,” he added.

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6 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

ICE Captures Pedophile Living Illegally in California Daycare.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An illegal immigrant, convicted sex offender, and gang member was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being found living inside a daycare for children in California.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ezequiel Cruz-Rodriguez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico and a documented member of the Logan Heights gang.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Cruz-Rodriguez was arrested in San Diego, California, at an in-home daycare facility.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is sickening to think that this pedophile criminal illegal alien was residing inside the home where a daycare operates and hiding out in a sanctuary city.” – Senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official

🎯IMPACT: The arrest ensures highlights the threat to children and the wider American public posed by illegal aliens, particularly in sanctuary jurisdictions.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have arrested an illegal immigrant from Mexico with an extensive criminal record that includes convictions for sexual abuse of a child under 14, sexual battery, illegal possession of a firearm, robbery, and drunk driving. Ezequiel Cruz-Rodriguez, a documented member of the Logan Heights gang who was previously deported from the United States on three separate occasions, was discovered living with his wife, a DACA recipient, inside an in-home daycare for children in San Diego, California.

“It is sickening to think that this pedophile criminal illegal alien was residing inside the home where a daycare operates and hiding out in a sanctuary city,” a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official said in a statement, adding: “Thanks to the brave work of our ICE law enforcement officers, this criminal illegal alien, convicted pedophile, and known Logan Heights gang member—will no longer be able to prey on children inside a daycare.”

Cruz-Rodriguez was first ordered deported by a federal immigration judge in 1996 and was removed from the United States that same year. Subsequently, he reentered illegally and was deported again in 2003. A third deportation occurred in December 2012 after another illegal reentry. Following this, he reentered the U.S. again as an unknown “got-away.”

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6 hours ago
Politics
World

All German Political Parties Agree to Stay Silent on Immigration During Election—Except One.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Establishment political parties on both the left and the right in Cologne, Germany, have signed an agreement to promote positive messaging about immigration and not bring up its downsides during local elections. However, the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is not part of the pact.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Social Democratic Party (SPD), Greens, Free Democratic Party (FDP), Left Party, Volt, Die Partei, the Cologne Round Table for Integration association, and the AfD.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Cologne, Germany, ahead of local elections scheduled for September 14.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Our parties are so stupid that they don’t see the tactical disadvantage [in not discussing immigration] and are so weak-minded that they don’t see that they themselves are damaging our democracy by not wanting to talk about important issues.” – Political scientist Werner Patzelt

🎯IMPACT: The agreement suppresses debate on immigration but may inadvertently bolster the AfD, which has a strong stance against mass migration.

IN FULL

With local elections looming in Cologne, Germany, on September 14, all major political parties except the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) have signed an agreement to avoid criticizing immigration or linking it to social issues like crime, unemployment, or public safety. Infamously, Cologne was the epicenter of a series of mass sex attacks by migrant mobs on New Year’s Eve 2015-16, with 650 sexual assaults reported in the city, including 22 rapes.

The so-called “fairness agreement,” organized by the Cologne Round Table for Integration, was signed by the Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s notionally right-wing Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the leftist Social Democratic Party (SPD), the far-left Greens, the neoliberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), the Left Party, Volt, and Die Partei. The pledge commits signatories to speak positively about migration and to avoid blaming refugees or migrants for any local problems, despite their proven link to increased sexual offending and other criminality.

The pact also includes promises to fight racism and anti-Semitism, with church officials tasked with monitoring compliance. Citizens have been encouraged to report candidates or campaigners who break the rules.

Notably, the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was excluded from the agreement. Organizers stated the anti-mass migration party, currently the second-largest in Germany, “does not share their values.”

AfD Cologne spokesman Christer Cremer criticized the move: “I view this fairness agreement somewhat critically, because I believe it is intended to suppress debate. Especially during the election campaign, it must be possible to address all issues, including issues of migration.”

Political scientist Werner Patzelt echoed those concerns, calling the strategy “tactically stupid” and warning that it only boosts the AfD by erasing pressing concerns from the public discourse. “Our parties are so stupid that they don’t see the tactical disadvantage and are so weak-minded that they don’t see that they themselves are damaging our democracy by not wanting to talk about important issues,” he said.

Some signatories are already facing backlash. The CDU came under fire for allegedly violating the agreement after distributing a flyer opposing a planned refugee center in the Agnesviertel neighborhood. CDU leader Serap Güler dismissed the criticism as “absurd,” saying the flyer reflected concerns about the scale of the project, not hostility toward migrants.

The controversy comes as the AfD continues to surge in national polling. A Forsa poll released August 12 shows the AfD leading nationwide with 26 percent, ahead of Chancellor Merz’s CDU/CSU bloc at 24 percent.

This rise in the AfD’s support comes amid growing debate over whether the populist party should even be allowed to participate in Germany’s democratic system. In October 2023, lawmakers began crafting legislation aimed at banning the party, claiming it threatens the country’s constitutional order. But the idea has sparked fierce opposition: a July 2025 survey by the Allensbach Institute found a majority of Germans, 52 percent, oppose banning the AfD, with only 27 percent in favor.

The Trump administration in the United States has also warned against such a ban, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying of a previous move to designate the AfD as an extremist organization, “Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise.”

Image by Olaf Kosinsky.

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