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Thursday, August 14, 2025

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1 hour ago
Immigration

Shuttered Prison Converted Into ICE Detention Center.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The town of Mason, Tennessee, approved plans to convert a former prison into a migrant detention facility operated by CoreCivic.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mason town officials, CoreCivic, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and local residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Mason, Tennessee, at a town meeting on Tuesday night.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’m looking for the best interest of the town,” said Mason Mayor Eddie Noeman, emphasizing the potential for job creation.

🎯IMPACT: The decision increased ICE’s capacity and could boost Mason’s economy.

IN FULL

The small town of Mason, Tennessee, has approved a plan to convert a former prison into a migrant detention facility for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following the approval of its contract, CoreCivic, a private prison company, will operate the site.

The facility, which had been closed since 2021 after former President Joe Biden ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to end contracts with private detention centers, is now being revived. On January 20, President Donald J. Trump rescinded Biden’s order, clearing the way for such facilities to reopen.

At an August 12 town meeting, tensions ran high as dozens of pro-illegal immigrant protesters descended. However, with a population of just 1,337 and a median household income of around $47,000, Mason sees the project as an economic opportunity. Mayor Eddie Noeman, an Egyptian-American immigrant, emphasized the town’s decision “has nothing to do with anything going on inside” the facility but is instead about “creating jobs and benefiting the town.”

As the Trump administration intensifies efforts to deport illegal immigrants, other states have also partnered with ICE to repurpose facilities. For instance, in Indiana, part of the Miami Correctional Center was recently transformed into a migrant detention site known as the “Speedway Slammer.” A site in Florida nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” has also been opened in recent weeks, with President Donald J. Trump personally inspecting it.

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1 minute ago
Economy

Manufacturing Surges Under Trump’s ‘Made in America’ Drive.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Multiple major companies announced billions of dollars in investments to expand U.S.-based manufacturing and create thousands of American jobs.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: AbbVie, Apple, Century Aluminum, Ford, GE Appliances, and President Donald J. Trump’s administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcements made over the past week, boosting U.S. manufacturing plants across multiple states.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Historic trade victories and pro-American policies are bringing factories, jobs, and prosperity back to our country like never before.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Significant job creation, increased manufacturing capacity, and billions in investments aimed at revitalizing American industry.

IN FULL

The American manufacturing economy is seeing a surge of investment driven by President Donald J. Trump’s tariff and deregulation policies. Over the past several weeks, numerous major companies—including AbbVie, Apple, Century Aluminum, Ford, and GE Appliances—have announced they will either shift production from overseas back to the United States or will expand existing domestic manufacturing facilities.

“Under President Donald J. Trump’s bold leadership and unwavering commitment to putting America First, our nation is witnessing an unprecedented surge in manufacturing investments and job creation,” the Trump White House said in a statement on Wednesday. “Historic trade victories and pro-American policies are bringing factories, jobs, and prosperity back to our country like never before—delivering big wins for hardworking Americans.”

AbbVie announced a $195 million investment to expand its American-based drug production capacity. Apple revealed plans to increase its U.S. investment to $600 billion over the next four years, bringing additional components of its supply chain and advanced manufacturing back home. This move will directly create 20,000 new American jobs and many thousands more across its suppliers.

Century Aluminum announced it will invest $50 million to revive its South Carolina manufacturing plant for the first time in a decade, returning its production to 2015 peak levels. Ford disclosed a $5 billion investment across its Kentucky and Michigan plants to develop a new midsize truck and advanced batteries.

Meanwhile, GE Appliances announced a $3 billion investment in its U.S.-based manufacturing, onshoring 1,000 jobs and expanding its plants across five states.

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By Popular Demand.
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30 minutes ago
News

Court Upholds State Ban on Transing Kids.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal appeals court overturned a block on an Arkansas law prohibiting transgender medical procedures for minors, allowing the legislation to take effect.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Arkansas lawmakers, and Republican officials, including Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on August 12 and pertains to Arkansas—the first state to pass such legislation.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a win for common sense—and for our kids,” Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

🎯IMPACT: The decision allows Arkansas to enforce its law, which has inspired similar legislation in over two dozen states.

IN FULL

An Arkansas law that bars medical professionals from inflicting transgender-related drug and hormone therapies or mutilation surgeries on minors can now be enforced, following a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. In an 8-2 ruling issued Tuesday, the court overturned a previous block on the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which was originally passed four years ago.

The SAFE Act prohibits doctors from performing surgeries such as breast or genital removal on minors, prescribing puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones, and referring children for such treatments. Lawmakers have cited the procedures’ often irreversible effects on fertility, bone density, and physical development as justification for the law.

“The question is whether this Nation’s history and tradition, as well as its historical understanding of ordered liberty, support the right of a parent to obtain for his or her child a medical treatment that, although the child desires it and a doctor approves, the state legislature deems inappropriate for minors. This court finds no such right in this Nation’s history and tradition,” the court’s majority wrote in their opinion.

The ruling closely follows a recent Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee’s similar ban on transgender procedures for minors. The Eighth Circuit judges referred to that case multiple times in their opinion.

The Arkansas law had been blocked since July 2021 by a district judge, following a lawsuit brought by four transgender minors and two medical providers. The plaintiffs argued the law violated the First Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses. However, the appeals court rejected their arguments, stating, “To the contrary, the Act does not classify based on transgender status. Like the Tennessee law upheld by the Supreme Court, the Act effectively divides minors into two groups. In one group are minors seeking drugs or surgeries for the purposes that the Act prohibits. In the other group are minors seeking drugs or surgeries for purposes the Act does not prohibit.”

Arkansas Republican leaders praised the court’s decision. “I applaud the court’s decision and am pleased that children in Arkansas will be protected from experimental procedures,” said Attorney General Tim Griffin.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders added, “Arkansas’ first-in-the-nation law to protect kids from life-altering gender experiments is back in effect!”

Image by Tim Evanson.

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2 hours ago
Immigration
Politics

Mamdani Pledges to Protect Illegals at Staten Island Rally.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, held an anti-Trump campaign event in Staten Island as part of his “Five Boroughs Against Trump” tour.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, Staten Island District Leader Jasmine Robinson, and Staten Island Democratic Association President Ali Ansari.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 13 at the Istanbul Bay Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant in Staten Island.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As we gather here on an island, where nearly 1 in 4 were born outside of this country, an island where 30 percent of its residents speak a language other than English, it’s an island that we know is not immune from this horrific crackdown,” Mamdami said of Trump’s deportation drive.

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani is setting himself up to turn America’s largest city into an anti-Trump stronghold should he claim the mayoralty.

IN FULL

Foreign-born Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani took his outspoken opposition to President Donald J. Trump’s immigration policies to Staten Island on Wednesday, continuing his citywide “Five Boroughs Against Trump” tour. The event was hosted at Istanbul Bay Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant, where Mamdani took aim at Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.

“As we gather here on an island where nearly one in four were born outside of this country, an island where 30 percent of its residents speak a language other than English, it’s an island that we know is not immune from this horrific crackdown,” Mamdani told the crowd. “And we know that it has nothing to do with safety. It has to do with punishment.”

A central pillar of Mamdani’s campaign has been shielding illegal immigrants from the law and confronting federal immigration efforts head-on. According to the Ugandan immigrant’s campaign platform, his policy proposals include removing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from all municipal properties and bolstering sanctuary protections across New York City.

Mamdani’s defiance of Trump’s immigration stance has become a driving force behind his candidacy, which surged following his win in the June Democratic primary. During the primary, the Muslim radical and self-described socialist aligned himself with New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who made headlines after being briefly detained by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents for disrupting an arrest involving a migrant.

Describing his goals for the city, Mamdani has said he envisions a New York that rejects “Donald Trump’s fascism,” and wants to put an end to mass deportations. Mamdani has also stated he is willing to abolish private property and prisons. He has previously called the New York City Police Department (NYPD) “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.”

The NYC election is scheduled for November 4. Mamdani will face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
1A
UK

Trump Admin Slams British Censorship Regime in Human Rights Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. State Department released its annual Human Rights Report, highlighting serious and growing restrictions on freedom of expression in the United Kingdom.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The State Department, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government in the United Kingdom, and individuals targeted by the British government for their speech.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The report was released on August 12, 2025, with the relevant sections focusing on events in the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Societies are strengthened by free expression of opinion, and government censorship is intolerable in a free society.” – State Department Press Secretary Tammy Bruce

🎯IMPACT: The report underscores growing concerns about free speech collapsing in Britain.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has raised concerns about the collapse of free speech protections in the United Kingdom, warning that government censorship is becoming more widespread. In its annual Human Rights Report, the U.S. State Department cited “credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression” in Britain, adding that the situation had “worsened” in 2024 following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s election win last July, returning the leftist Labour Party to power for the first time in 14 years.

The report criticized the United Kingdom’s controversial Online Safety Act, which allegedly aims to tackle harmful online content, such as child pornography, but has drawn criticism for stifling political speech on issues such as immigration. It also examines the British government’s response to the mass murder of young children by the son of two asylum seekers in Southport, England, accusing officials of using the incident to suppress speech.

While not named in the report, Lucy Connolly, a former childminder and wife of a Conservative Party councillor, was reportedly of interest to the White House. Connolly was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for a post on X after the Southport killings, in which she wrote: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f***ing hotels full of the bastards for all I care, while you’re at it, take the treacherous government and politicians with them. I feel physically sick knowing what these families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist, so be it.”

Critics claim her sentence is part of a “two-tier justice” system, with some voices facing harsher consequences than others for speech. For instance, Salman Iftikhar, a Pakistani businessman with the British equivalent of a green card, received only 15 months for physically accosting a white air stewardess and telling her she would be “dragged by [her] hair” from the specific hotel where cabin crew were staying and “gang raped and set on fire”. He added that “the white sheep-shagging bitch will be dead. The floor of [her] hotel will be blown up and it will disappear.”

The U.S. report also referenced Adam Smith-Connor, a 51-year-old veteran convicted in 2023 for silently praying outside an abortion clinic in memory of his aborted son. His case was cited by Vice President J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, where he warned that Britain was facing a “crisis of censorship.”

State Department Press Secretary Tammy Bruce said: “We consider freedom of expression to be a foundational component of a functioning democracy,” adding: “Societies are strengthened by free expression of opinion, and government censorship is intolerable in a free society.”

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3 hours ago
Lawfare
News

Trump Triumphs in DOGE Data Access Case.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal appeals court ruled 2-1 in favor of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), allowing access to sensitive data from federal agencies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: DOGE personnel, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, labor unions, and individual plaintiffs.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on August 12 by the Fourth Circuit.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Privacy Act does not prohibit sharing information with those whose jobs give them good reason to access it.” – Judge Julius Richardson

🎯IMPACT: The decision strengthens executive authority over data access and sets a legal precedent limiting challenges to similar policies.

IN FULL

The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been handed a legal victory by a divided federal appeals court, granting it the right to access sensitive personal data held by multiple federal agencies. In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed a lower court’s preliminary injunction that had previously blocked DOGE from gaining administrator-level access to systems and records from the Treasury Department, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Education.

The ruling centers on an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump on January 20, which created DOGE to modernize federal technology and software. The order mandated that agency leaders establish internal DOGE teams and give them “full and prompt access” to unclassified data and systems. DOGE, which was initially fronted by tech mogul Elon Musk, has been the subject of ongoing legal disputes and criticism, particularly related to data privacy and staff downsizing.

In the majority opinion, Judge Julius Richardson, joined by Judge G. Steven Agee, concluded that the executive order did not violate the Privacy Act. “The Privacy Act does not prohibit sharing information with those whose jobs give them good reason to access it,” Judge Richardson said.

The pair argued that DOGE’s role was comparable to “a consultant needing to survey systems for improvements.” The opinion also questioned whether the plaintiffs had proper legal standing, noting that they failed to show “that their specific records had been accessed.”

However, the dissenting judge strongly disagreed. In his opinion, Judge Robert King—a Bill Clinton appointee—claimed that the executive order effectively granted “unfettered, unprecedented, and apparently unnecessary access” to sensitive information.

The case will now return to a lower district court for further proceedings.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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4 hours ago
Corruption
News

Former Ilhan Omar ‘Enforcer’ Admits Guilt in Pandemic Fraud Scandal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A former associate of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) pleaded guilty to charges related to a COVID-19 pandemic food fraud scheme.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Guhaad Hashi Said, a former campaign “enforcer” for Rep. Omar, and others involved in the fraud conspiracy.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Minnesota, with fraudulent activities occurring from 2020 through 2022.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The scale of the fraud in Minnesota is staggering, and every rock we turn over reveals more.” – Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson

🎯IMPACT: Over $2.9 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds were fraudulently obtained, with funds used for personal purchases like real estate and cars.

IN FULL

Guhaad Hashi Said, a former associate and campaign “enforcer” for Democrat Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in connection with a pandemic-era food fraud scheme centered on the Somali community. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota announced that Said exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Said admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson emphasized the broader implications of the case, stating, “The scale of the fraud in Minnesota is staggering, and every rock we turn over reveals more. We must be honest and clear-eyed about the scope of this problem, because ending it will take an unyielding, all-hands-on-deck effort from all of us.”

According to court documents, between December 2020 and January 2022, Said operated a Federal Child Nutrition Program site under the name Advance Youth Athletic Development. During that time, he submitted fraudulent claims for having served more than one million meals to children, though only a small portion were actually provided. To support the false claims, he used fabricated attendance rosters, meal counts, and invoices, which led to more than $2.9 million in federal reimbursements.

Said and his co-conspirators also engaged in a money laundering scheme to conceal the illicit proceeds. They created nonprofits and shell companies to move and disguise the money, which was used to acquire real estate, cars, and other personal items. Between August and December 2021 alone, Said transferred over $2.1 million to S & S Catering for meals that were never served.

Said, who had previously announced a run for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018, now faces up to 25 years in prison.

Image by Fibonacci Blue.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Economy
Politics

Trump Admin Rejects UN Carbon Tax, Threatens Retaliation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration announced opposition to a United Nations (UN) proposal to impose a tax on the shipping industry to reduce carbon emissions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was approved by a UN committee in April and is set for a vote in October, with potential implementation in 2027.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Whatever its stated goals, the proposed framework is effectively a global carbon tax on Americans levied by an unaccountable UN organization.” – Trump administration statement

🎯IMPACT: The administration argues this proposal will increase costs for American consumers, energy providers, and shipping companies, and threatened retaliation against nations supporting the amendment.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has moved to oppose a United Nations (UN) proposal to impose a carbon emissions tax on the shipping industry, labeling it a “global carbon tax on Americans.” The proposal, known as the “Net-Zero Framework,” was approved by a committee of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) in April and is set for a vote in October. If implemented, it would go into effect in 2027.

The framework seeks to set new carbon emission standards for ships and introduce a global pricing mechanism for emissions. Ships exceeding the thresholds would face punitive fees, while those within the standards would receive financial incentives. The Trump administration has argued that this plan would raise costs for American consumers and businesses. “These fees will drive up energy and transportation and leisure cruise costs,” the administration’s statement warns.

In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the U.S. “unequivocally rejects this proposal” and will not accept any measures that increase costs for American citizens or businesses. The statement also warned that the U.S. would “not hesitate to retaliate or explore remedies” if the proposal is passed.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick criticized the framework in a separate statement, saying, “America is setting the terms on how our products are going to market. We have every right to refuse their ‘net-zero framework,’ which would be a tax on every shipment of American goods.” He added, “International bureaucrats can take their [woke] climate nonsense elsewhere.”

The Trump administration’s move to oppose the UN proposal aligns with its broader strategy to reduce foreign influence over American energy policy and deregulate the energy sector. Notably, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords on his first day in office.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to roll back Barack Obama-era climate regulations, which could save American businesses and families an estimated $1 trillion in hidden costs, according to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Immigration
UK

Migrant Smuggler Arrests Decline Despite UK PM’s ‘Smash the Gangs’ Pledge.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Arrests for organised immigration crime by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) fell by 16 percent in the year to April, despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledging to “smash the gangs” behind people smuggling.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The NCA, Keir Starmer, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data covers the year leading to April 2025, with incidents focused on the English Channel and British borders.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s never been easier to be a people smuggler.” – Shadow Attorney General Robert Jenrick

🎯IMPACT: Over 50,000 migrants have arrived in the United Kingdom via small boats since Labour entered office.

IN FULL

 The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) says arrests for organised immigration crime dropped by 16 percent in the year to April. This comes despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to “smash the gangs” driving people-smuggling.

Small boat migrant arrivals in the United Kingdom have surpassed 50,000 since Labour entered office, breaking records. Shadow Attorney General Robert Jenrick, of the formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party, criticized the government’s handling of the issue, stating, “It’s never been easier to be a people smuggler.” However, small boat crossings began in earnest under the previous Conservative government, growing progressively worse over time.

“As I predicted 5 years ago, unless we deport illegal migrants the invasion will be huge,” Reform Party leader Nigel Farage wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. “50,000 since our weak Prime Minister took office and there is no sign of it stopping.”

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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6 hours ago
William Upton
Lawfare

Appeals Court Sides With Trump, Allows Foreign Aid Freeze.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal appeals court overturned a lower court ruling that had ordered the Trump administration to continue foreign aid payments.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, President Donald J. Trump, and his administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was issued on Wednesday morning by the D.C. Circuit Court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The lower court erred in its decision to mandate the restoration of foreign aid payments,” the court stated.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling allows the Trump administration to halt the foreign aid payments in question, reversing the lower court’s directive.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump scored a major legal victory on Wednesday when a federal appeals court overturned a lower court’s ruling that required his administration to continue foreign aid payments approved by Congress. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, ruled that the District Court erred in issuing an injunction mandating the State Department restore the foreign assistance payments. Consequently, the lower court’s injunction against the Trump administration has been lifted.

“The district court erred in granting that relief because the grantees lack a cause of action to press their claim,” the three-judge panel’s decision states, continuing: “They may not bring a freestanding constitutional claim if the underlying alleged violation and claimed authority are statutory. Nor do the grantees have a cause of action under the APA because APA review is precluded by the Impoundment Control Act (ICA).”

“And the grantees may not reframe this fundamentally statutory dispute as an ultra vires claim either. Instead, the Comptroller General may bring suit as authorized by the ICA. Accordingly, we vacate the part of the district court’s preliminary injunction involving impoundment,” the ruling adds.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), law professor and legal commentator Jonathan Turley praised the decision. “The D.C. Circuit just handed the Trump Administration another victory in tossing aside the injunction requiring the State Department to make foreign aid payments. It is only the latest district court to be overruled on these injunctions as invasive of Article II authority,” Turley explained.

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6 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Immigration
UK

British Politician Faces Machete Threat at French Migrant Camp.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Britain’s Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, was pelted with bottles and confronted with a “curved machete” during a visit to a migrant camp near Calais, France.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Conservative (Tory) Party’s Chris Philp, Member of Parliament (MP) for Croydon South and Shadow Home Secretary, and migrants including an unnamed man wielding a machete.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday evening to Wednesday afternoon, in the “New Jungle” migrant camp outside Dunkirk, France.

💬KEY QUOTE: “People who pull knives, these people are on their way to the UK in dinghies and we were certainly seriously threatened just a few minutes ago.” – Chris Philp

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the escalating dangers at migrant camps and the threat to the British public posed by unvetted migrants crossing the English Channel in increasing numbers, with small boat crossings surpassing 50,000 since Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party entered office in mid-2024.

IN FULL

Chris Philp, the British Shadow Home Secretary and Member of Parliament (MP) for Croydon South, faced a violent confrontation during a visit to a migrant camp near Calais, France, where he was pelted with bottles and threatened with a “curved machete.”

The incident occurred at the “New Jungle” camp outside Dunkirk, where Philp traveled on Tuesday evening to assess the situation on the ground—with migrants having long camped along the French coast in large numbers while they wait to break into Britain by stowing away in trucks or, increasingly, via small boats. Successive British governments have paid the French hundreds of millions of pounds to police the area, but crossings have continued to increase.

Philp reported that a man brandished a machete at him, swinging it in the air to intimidate others in the camp. He described the experience as “pretty shocking” and noted the presence of up to around 2,000 migrants in the camp, many already carrying life jackets. The visit came as the number of such crossings since Labour took power last year exceeded 50,000.

Notably, Philp was a Minister of State at the Home Office—broadly responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, policing, and national security in the British government—and the previous Conservative government, which allowed the Channel crisis to take hold and grow progressively worse in the first place.

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage regularly criticized Philp for the Conservatives’ mismanagement of illegal immigration during his time in office, noting in 2021, “Our hopeless immigration minister Chris Philp is in Calais today. Making sure our recent 54 million pound donation to the French is being used to stop migrants leaving French beaches. 1,300 have come in the last 3 days! Minister, you have been mugged.”

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