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Wednesday, October 8, 2025

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1 hour ago
Economy
World

Trump Nears Trade Deal with Canada Following White House Meeting with Carney.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney signaled progress on a potential trade agreement during a joint press appearance at the White House.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump and  Prime Minister Carney.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, during a meeting at the White House.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re going to be talking about tariffs, about trade, about a lot of things—but that’s for a little later on.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Both leaders expressed optimism for a trade agreement, signaling improved relations between the North American nations.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met at the White House on Tuesday, where both leaders indicated progress toward a potential trade agreement. During their joint press appearance, a more conciliatory Carney praised Trump’s foreign policy achievements, including his efforts in the Middle East and his economic policies.

Prime Minister Carney noted President Trump’s “transformation of the economy,” “peace agreements in the Middle East,” and “disabling Iran as a force of terror.” When asked about the trade discussions, Trump said, “We’re going to be talking about tariffs, about trade, about a lot of things—but that’s for a little later on.” He added that the people of Canada would “love us again” once an agreement is finalized.

President Trump also noted that both nations were aligned on the importance of peace in the Middle East, stating, “Our team is over there now. Literally every country in the world supports our plan.”

Carney began his remarks by highlighting what he called “the most important” of Trump’s achievements, prompting Trump to joke, “The merger of Canada and the United States.” Carney responded, “That wasn’t where I was going.”

The meeting concluded with Trump calling Carney “a great man and a world-class leader.” When a reporter asked why a deal had not yet been reached, Trump humorously replied, “Because I want to be a great man too.”


Earlier on Tuesday, The National Pulse reported that the European Commission has proposed a 50 percent tariff on steel imports exceeding a reduced annual quota, aiming to bolster the European Union’s (EU) struggling steel industry.

The move is largely seen as an attempt to head off China and India from dumping excess steel on the European market now that the former countries face steep U.S. tariffs.

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2 hours ago
Crime
News
War

Trump Halts Talks With Maduro as Alleged Cartel ‘Kill List’ Surfaces.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has halted diplomatic efforts with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, coinciding with the publication of an alleged Justice Department “kill list” containing cartel leaders and others.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, special envoy Richard “Ric” Grenell, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The United States, Venezuela, and the wider region, October 2025.

🎯IMPACT: The developments signal a potential escalation in U.S. military involvement in Latin America, as the Trump administration seeks to crush “narco-terrorists.”

IN FULL

The United States appears to be moving toward a new phase of military escalation in and around Venezuela, with President Donald J. Trump reportedly terminating diplomatic engagement with President Nicolás Maduro‘s regime and authorizing a series of military strikes in the region.

President Trump is said to have instructed special envoy Richard “Ric” Grenell to halt all outreach to Caracas, surprising even close allies like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Grenell had previously confirmed backchannel discussions with Maduro’s government, but those efforts have now been abruptly discontinued.

An alleged “kill list” containing drug cartel members and other drug traffickers was reportedly leaked to CNN, which published the claims on October 7, stating that the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel is behind the list. The list allegedly contains names of cartels not yet publicly declared terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.

Operations against drug traffickers are reportedly backed by a classified legal opinion from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, which argues that the President has sweeping authority to use deadly force against cartels considered an imminent threat to Americans.

Reports claim that some senior Trump administration officials, including Rubio and United States Homeland Security Advisor and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, are pushing for a military operation aimed at removing Maduro from power entirely. This comes amid allegations, including from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), that Maduro’s regime is facilitating the infiltration of the U.S. by foreign terrorist groups.

In the Caribbean, the U.S. military presence is growing, with at least eight warships, aircraft, and other assets deployed for counter-narcotics operations. The Pentagon has already carried out multiple targeted strikes on vessels involved in drug trafficking.

One of the most high-profile incidents occurred in early September, when U.S. forces killed 11 people aboard a boat allegedly tied to Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang with transnational reach. In response, Venezuela has reinforced coastal defenses, deployed drones and naval patrols, and mobilized troops along its borders.

Image by Miraflores Press.

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2 hours ago
Immigration
News

Southern Border Crossings Hit 55-Year Low.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Unlawful crossings at the southern border have dropped to their lowest level since 1970, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Border Patrol, President Donald J. Trump, DHS, and Latin American governments, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Fiscal year 2025, covering the U.S.-Mexico southern border and transit routes through Central and South America.

💬KEY QUOTE: “President Trump has overwhelmingly delivered on his promise to secure our Southern Border. As a result, Americans are safer—unvetted criminal illegal aliens and dangerous drugs are no longer pouring over our border unchecked.” – Abigail Jackson, White House spokeswoman

🎯IMPACT: The Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies have drastically reduced illegal border crossings.

IN FULL

Illegal crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border have fallen to their lowest level in over 50 years, according to newly released internal data from the Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Border Patrol recorded approximately 238,000 apprehensions in fiscal year 2025, a dramatic decline from the 2.2 million reported in fiscal year 2022 during the Biden-Harris regime.

The sharp drop has been widely attributed to the return of aggressive enforcement policies under President Donald J. Trump since he resumed office in January 2025. These measures include expanded military deployments along the border, restricted access to asylum, and accelerated deportation procedures.

“President Trump has overwhelmingly delivered on his promise to secure our Southern Border,” said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. “As a result, Americans are safer—unvetted criminal illegal aliens and dangerous drugs are no longer pouring over our border unchecked.”

Notably, more than 60 percent of the fiscal year’s apprehensions occurred in the final months of Joe Biden’s term. By September 2025, the number of monthly apprehensions had dropped to a record low of 8,400. Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, noted that “strict restrictions to access asylum at the border, coupled with new detention policies, are the two most important factors that have led to the recent decline in irregular [sic] migrant arrivals.”

The Trump administration has also expanded cooperation with regional governments, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala, to stem migration flows. Mexico has deployed troops to its southern and northern borders, while other countries in Central America have increased their own border enforcement efforts.

The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown extends beyond the southern border. Illegal crossings at the U.S.–Canada border have also plunged. In the Swanton Sector, which includes parts of New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, arrests dropped by 95 percent from March 2024 to March 2025. Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said, “There is now a clear message: You cannot come into the U.S. without consequence.”

Notably, Trump’s deportation strategy has driven a growing number of migrants to seek entry into Canada instead, with over 5,500 asylum claims filed at a single Quebec border crossing since July.

Domestically, the Trump administration has also increased prosecutions of illegal entrants. In June 2025 alone, over 3,000 migrants were charged with criminal reentry, a record high. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also ramped up deportations.

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3 hours ago
Crime
News

Drag Queen Charged Over ‘Sexual Misconduct’ with 13-Year-Old Boy.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A drag queen was removed from the Phoenix Pride Festival lineup after being charged with sexual misconduct involving a 13-year-old boy.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Michael Browder, also known as Aubrey Ghalichi, and a 13-year-old boy.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The charges stem from an investigation that began in June, with Browder’s arrest occurring in September. The incident relates to events in Phoenix, Arizona.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The crime alleged is one that we find reprehensible and entirely contrary to what Phoenix Pride stands for.” – Phoenix Pride statement.

🎯IMPACT: Browder was removed from the event lineup, and Phoenix Pride emphasized their commitment to a safe environment while noting he has not been convicted.

IN FULL

Michael Browder, a Phoenix-based drag queen who goes by the stage name Aubrey Ghalichi, has been removed from the upcoming Phoenix Pride Festival after being charged with two counts of sexual misconduct involving a minor. According to court documents, the charges follow a months-long investigation that began in June.

Investigators allege that Browder and another man met a 13-year-old boy through an online dating app. Messages found on the boy’s laptop reportedly led authorities to Browder, who was identified as “a known Phoenix drag queen.” During questioning, Browder allegedly admitted to the encounter but claimed he believed the boy was 18 or 19. He also claimed that the lighting in the apartment was too dark for him to realize the boy’s age.

In response to the charges, Phoenix Pride issued a statement confirming Browder’s removal from the festival, which is scheduled for October 18 and 19. “The crime alleged is one that we find reprehensible and entirely contrary to what Phoenix Pride stands for,” the organization said.

Browder is currently being held on a $10,000 secured appearance bond. If released, he will be required to wear an ankle monitor, avoid any contact with minors, and abstain from alcohol, drugs, and possession of weapons.

His case comes amid a spate of reports involving drag queens facing criminal allegations. In Wisconsin, drag performer Dwight Evan Chisolm, known on stage as “Sno Wight,” was arrested in early 2024 on charges of child enticement and exposure. Chisolm, a registered sex offender, has previous convictions related to sexual offenses with minors.

Another case from 2023 involved Shane Murnan, an Oklahoma elementary school principal who also performed in drag under the name “Ms. Shantel Mandalay.” Murnan had faced child pornography charges in the early 2000s but was not convicted. Despite the controversy, he was later hired as a principal at John Glenn Elementary School.

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3 hours ago
Crime
News

Transgender Who Tried to Assassinate Kavanaugh Denied Transfer to Women’s Prison.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nicholas Roske, the transgender who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, wants to be placed in a women’s prison. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced it will appeal the eight-year sentence given to him.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Attorney General Pam Bondi, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Judge Deborah Boardman, and Nicholas Roske.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Senate hearing on Tuesday; sentencing occurred in federal court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “That’s not going to happen in the Bureau of Prisons now.” – Pam Bondi, regarding whether Nicholas Roske would be placed in a women’s prison.

🎯IMPACT: The DOJ is appealing the sentence, and Roske will not be placed in a women’s prison.

IN FULL

Attorney General Pam Bondi assured the Senate on Tuesday that Nicholas Roske, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022, will not be serving his sentence in a women’s prison. “That’s not going to happen in the Bureau of Prisons now,” Bondi stated in response to concerns raised during a Senate hearing.

Roske was sentenced to just eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, who took into account Roske’s newly stated transgender identity. The Joe Biden appointee cited concerns that, under policies established during President Donald J. Trump’s administration, Roske might not have access to cross-sex hormone treatments in a men’s prison. Throughout the sentencing, Boardman referred to Roske using female pronouns, saying “she,” based on a statement from Roske’s attorneys that their client now identifies as a woman. However, no formal legal steps were taken to update court records or documentation to reflect this change.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) pressed Bondi during the hearing on whether Judge Boardman intended to see Roske housed in a women’s facility. Bondi firmly responded, “That’s not going to happen,” adding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is planning to appeal the sentence, which she described as “diminutive.”

Roske’s claim of a transgender identity came after he was jailed for his crimes. He was arrested in June 2022 near Justice Kavanaugh’s home, armed with weapons and reportedly planning to kill him due to his views on abortion. Court documents also revealed that Roske had considered targeting other Supreme Court justices.

Recent reports reveal that up to 15 percent of inmates in federal women’s prisons are men who identify as women. There have been allegations of female prisoners being sexually assaulted or impregnated by transgender inmates placed in women’s facilities.

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

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3 hours ago
News
World

Russia Meets With Taliban, Opposes Trump Takeover of Bagram.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Russia hosted a Taliban delegation in Moscow and warned against foreign military presence in Afghanistan or neighboring states.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and officials from China, India, Iran, and other regional nations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, during an international meeting on Afghanistan held in Moscow.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The deployment of military infrastructure of any third countries on the territory of Afghanistan… is categorically unacceptable under any pretext.” – Sergey Lavrov

🎯IMPACT: Russia’s recognition of the Taliban strengthens its regional influence, though the Taliban’s restrictions on women hinder broader international acceptance.

IN FULL

Russia hosted a high-level Taliban delegation in Moscow on Tuesday, October 7, issuing a strong warning against any foreign military presence in Afghanistan or nearby countries. The warning comes following recent comments by President Donald J. Trump, indicating he wishes to see Bagram airbase in Afghanistan return to U.S. control.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged the Taliban’s efforts to combat extremist groups like the Islamic State and to curb illegal drug activity. However, he was clear in his opposition to any renewed foreign military involvement in the region. “The deployment of military infrastructure of any third countries on the territory of Afghanistan, as well as on the territories of neighboring states, is categorically unacceptable under any pretext,” Lavrov said.

The warning appears particularly pointed as President Trump has recently expressed interest in reclaiming Bagram Airbase, a major U.S. military hub that was abandoned during the disastrous Biden government withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Trump called the move to give up Bagram “a mistake” and said efforts are underway to get it back. “We are trying to get it back, by the way,” he said in a recent interview. “We gave it for nothing. We are trying to get it back … that could be a little breaking news.” He emphasized Bagram’s strategic location, saying it is “an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”

Notably, Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has soured in recent months over Putin’s intransigence over peace talks in Ukraine. The Russian backing of Afghanistan over issues like the Bagram Airbase is likely to further inflame tensions between the two leaders.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi praised Russia for being the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government, calling it a “bold move” and urging others to do the same. He also claimed the Taliban has made significant progress in ensuring security and creating economic opportunities.

Russia officially removed the Taliban from its list of banned organizations in July, opening the door for formal diplomatic engagement. Lavrov used the meeting to criticize Western sanctions and asset freezes targeting Afghanistan, describing them as “hostile policies.”

Despite growing ties with Moscow and some regional actors, the Taliban remains internationally isolated due to its strict domestic policies. Since returning to power, the group has barred women from most public roles, restricted their access to education beyond sixth grade, and closed off many areas of civic life, drawing widespread condemnation.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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4 hours ago
William Upton
Crime

Suspects Who Ambushed and Rammed DHS Agents in Chicago RELEASED.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, the two suspects arrested for a violent vehicle ramming attack on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents in Chicago, Illinois, over the weekend, have been released from custody by a federal judge pending trial.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Marimar Martinez, Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, a Chicago judge, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred over the weekend, with the pre-trial hearing and release occurring late Monday.

💬KEY QUOTE: Martinez “took defensive fire from CBP agents and has been discharged from the hospital and is currently in the custody of the FBI,” DHS stated on Sunday, adding: “The driver of another vehicle, Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, involved in the ramming has been apprehended by law enforcement.”

🎯IMPACT: Despite the gravity of the charges, Martinez’s possession of a firearm during the attack, and her history of harassment of federal officials, the judge released both defendants back into he community.

IN FULL

Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, the two suspects arrested for a violent vehicle ramming attack on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents in Chicago, Illinois, over the weekend, have been released from custody by a federal judge pending trial. According to DHS, Martinez—who was shot five times by agents responding to the vehicular attack—was armed with a semi-automatic weapon and had previously doxxed federal agents.

The judge presiding over the case—during a pre-trial detention hearing—claimed that neither Martinez nor Ruiz posed a flight risk, ordering the two dangerous assailants to be freed until their trial date. While Martinez and Ruiz, along with their families, insist they do not know each other, the two executed what DHS describes as an “ambush” attack on agents in a government vehicle. Both were subsequently arrested.

Prosecutors described the duo’s actions as “extremely dangerous and extremely reckless,” adding that “the defendants weren’t in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Martinez “took defensive fire from CBP agents and has been discharged from the hospital and is currently in the custody of the FBI,” DHS stated on Sunday, adding: “The driver of another vehicle, Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, involved in the ramming has been apprehended by law enforcement.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel later announced that Martinez and Ruiz “have been charged for assaulting federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon.” However, despite the gravity of the charges, Martinez’s possession of a firearm during the attack, and her history of harassment of federal officials, the judge released both defendants back into he community.

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5 hours ago
Corruption
News

Biden Blocked CIA Report on Hunter’s Ukraine Ties in 2016.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Newly declassified memos reveal that Joe Biden’s team intervened in 2016 to prevent the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from disseminating an intelligence report regarding Ukrainian officials’ perceptions of Hunter Biden’s business dealings.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Then-Vice President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, the CIA, and senior Ukrainian officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 2016, concerning Biden’s December 2015 visit to Kiev, Ukraine.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I just spoke with VP/NSA and he would strongly prefer the report not/not be disseminated.” – Vice President’s Presidential Daily Brief briefer.

🎯IMPACT: The intervention was described as “extremely rare and unusual” and raises concerns about politicization within the intelligence community.

IN FULL

Newly declassified intelligence documents reveal that then–Vice President Joe Biden’s office took extraordinary steps in February 2016 to prevent the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from distributing a report detailing the reactions of senior Ukrainian officials to his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings. According to the documents, Biden’s national security advisor made a direct request to the intelligence community to withhold the report from other U.S. policymakers. A senior CIA official described the request as “extremely rare and unusual.” The CIA briefer who handled the Vice President’s Presidential Daily Brief stated, “I just spoke with VP/NSA and he would strongly prefer the report not/not be disseminated.”

The report, compiled after Biden’s December 2015 visit to Kiev, described how Ukrainian government leaders were frustrated by Biden’s lack of substantive discussions with then-President Petro Poroshenko and expressed concerns over U.S. media scrutiny of Hunter Biden’s role on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The CIA summary noted, “These officials viewed the alleged ties of the U.S. Vice President’s family to corruption in Ukraine as evidence of a double-standard within the United States Government towards matters of corruption and political power.”

The same trip coincided with Biden pressuring the Ukrainian government to fire Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, who was investigating Burisma at the time. Biden threatened to withhold a $1 billion U.S. loan guarantee unless Shokin was removed, a move that, according to the documents, ran counter to then-current assessments by the State Department and European Union (EU), which viewed Shokin’s anti-corruption reforms as adequate.

CIA officials asserted that the intelligence report met the threshold for distribution to U.S. officials and that political intervention of this nature was highly atypical. Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe, under the Trump administration, later released the document as part of a broader effort to address politicization within the intelligence community. “The CIA is being restructured at your direction to focus on our core mission and to eliminate the… well-documented politicization that has taken place in the intelligence community from bad actors in the past,” Ratcliffe said in a 2020 statement.

Additional developments have added to questions about the Biden family’s international business ties. Recently unsealed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) records show that Hunter Biden received payments from Ukrainian firm Burisma, Chinese energy conglomerate CEFC, and a Romanian businessman between 2014 and 2018.

In early 2024, Burisma also retroactively filed as a foreign agent for its 2016 activities, raising compliance concerns. More recently, newly released FBI files have alleged further instances of bribery involving the Biden family, though no formal charges have yet been filed.

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5 hours ago
News

Biggs Urges DOJ to End Obama-Era Surveillance of Maricopa Sheriff’s Office.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has called for an end to a federal court-ordered monitor overseeing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, citing excessive costs and prolonged oversight.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Andy Biggs, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), monitor Robert Warshaw, and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The oversight began in 2013 following a federal ruling and continues to impact Maricopa County, Arizona.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This regime of judicial overreach has cost taxpayers nearly $350 million since 2013 with no end in sight.” – Rep. Andy Biggs

🎯IMPACT: The prolonged oversight has drained taxpayer funds, impacted law enforcement morale, and led to deputies leaving the MCSO.

IN FULL

Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) is urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to end a federal court-ordered monitor on the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), which has been in place since 2013. The monitor was implemented following a 2012 lawsuit by the Obama administration’s DOJ, alleging racial profiling and discriminatory practices against Latinos by the MCSO under former Sheriff Joseph Arpaio.

Biggs criticized the monitor as costly and unnecessary in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, stating, “MCSO has worked tirelessly to comply with the court-ordered reforms, and it’s clear that the original goals of the oversight have been met.” According to Biggs, the oversight has cost taxpayers nearly $350 million since its inception, with no clear end in sight.

The court-appointed monitor, Robert Warshaw, has faced allegations of prolonging oversight unnecessarily. Biggs noted that the MCSO is now in nearly full compliance with the reforms, reaching 94 percent compliance in 12 of the 13 required areas. However, he argued that new standards and reporting requirements continue to emerge, creating additional burdens for the department.

Thomas Galvin, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, has echoed Biggs’s concerns. Galvin accused Warshaw of “moving the goalposts” and noted that $34 million has been paid to Warshaw and his firm. He also highlighted the negative impact of the oversight on law enforcement recruitment and retention, as deputies leave the MCSO for other opportunities.

Biggs concluded his letter to Bondi by stating, “Because of this and the multiplicity of burdens Warshaw’s continued monitoring of MCSO has placed on Maricopa County, I request that you move to resolve the case and end this more than decades-long overreach of the federal judiciary’s oversight activities.”

Image by Steve Fernie.

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6 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Texas National Guard Deploys to Chicago.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Texas National Guard troops have been deployed to the Chicago area, following a federal intervention order by the Trump administration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul (D), and U.S. District Court Judge April Perry.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Troops were mobilized on Monday and remain in Chicago, Illinois, as of Tuesday, including the suburb of Broadview.

💬KEY QUOTE: “City property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as staging grounds for these raids.” – Brandon Johnson

🎯IMPACT: The deployment has sparked legal challenges and local political resistance, with Illinois Democrats condemning the federal intervention despite violent anti-ICE riots and surging crime.

IN FULL

Texas National Guard troops have officially arrived in the Chicago area as part of an effort by the Trump administration to strengthen federal enforcement of immigration laws and crack down on violent crime in America’s major cities. The move follows weeks of increased immigration enforcement in the city, including violent anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots in Broadview, where law enforcement used tear gas and pepper gas against rioters.

The deployment proceeded after U.S. District Court Judge April Perry declined to block the mobilization late Monday, despite a lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul (D) and the city of Chicago. Raoul sought to prevent the use of Illinois National Guard troops and the involvement of other states’ forces, such as those from Texas. A federal judge blocked a similar deployment in Portland over the weekend.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) signed an executive order on Monday barring ICE agents from operating on city-owned properties. He stated, “City property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as staging grounds for these raids,” emphasizing that the city would resist unchecked federal actions. However, according to legal experts, Johnson’s order is likely illegal.

The Trump administration has defended the move as necessary for immigration enforcement and crime reduction. However, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) and other Illinois officials have criticized the deployment, with Pritzker stating, “Any kind of troops on the streets of an American city don’t belong unless there is an insurrection, unless there is truly an emergency.”

The National Pulse reported Tuesday morning that a Latin Kings gang member, Juan Espinoza Martinez, has been charged with allegedly placing a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino. Martinez, a Mexican national, was arrested on October 6, 2025, in Burr Ridge, Illinois, after a confidential source informed law enforcement that a “hit” had been placed on Bovino, who is overseeing the “Midway Blitz” immigration enforcement operation in Chicago, Illinois, where the violent criminal gang is based.

Additionally, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) is facing mounting scrutiny over a dispatch order telling officers to stand down and not report to the scene of ICE agents who were surrounded by violent rioters after having their vehicles rammed and boxed in. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said he is investigating the matter of the dispatch call and made it clear to rioters that federal, state, and local law enforcement are allowed and will defend themselves if attacked.

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7 hours ago
Corruption
News

FBI Disbands Corruption Unit, Fires Agents Following Surveillance of GOP Senators.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) terminated employees and disbanded the CR-15 squad following revelations of private communications and phone tracking of Republican lawmakers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Special Counsel Jack Smith, and several GOP lawmakers, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Josh Hawley (R-MO).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Actions were announced on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are cleaning up a diseased temple three decades in the making… restoring integrity to the FBI,” said Kash Patel.

🎯IMPACT: The FBI pledged further accountability measures, sparking renewed scrutiny of its practices and political neutrality.

IN FULL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says it has taken swift action, terminating employees and disbanding the CR-15 squad, following revelations that private communications and phone calls of Republican lawmakers were tracked. The firings follow reports on Monday that former Biden-Harris Department of Justice (DOJ) Special Counsel Jack Smith surveilled private phone calls—and tracked the private phones—of eight Republican lawmakers.

FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the issue on Tuesday, stating, “We are cleaning up a diseased temple three decades in the making—identifying the rot, removing those who weaponized law enforcement for political purposes and those who do not meet the standards of this mission while restoring integrity to the FBI. I promised reform, and I intend to deliver it.”

Patel also posted on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability, writing, “We terminated employees, we abolished the weaponized CR-15 squad, and we initiated an ongoing investigation with more accountability measures ahead.” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino echoed Patel’s sentiments, stating, “We promised you transparency and accountability. We will continue to deliver on those promises. You deserve better.”

The CR-15 squad, which was part of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s public corruption unit, had been involved in investigations led by former Special Counsel Jack Smith. Notably, the unit played a significant role in Smith’s investigation of President Donald J. Trump. Smith and his team, under the code name “Arctic Frost,” allegedly tracked the phone calls of nearly a dozen GOP lawmakers, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Josh Hawley (R-MO), as part of their inquiry into the January 6 Capitol riots.

Documents revealed that Smith’s team conducted toll analysis on phone records associated with these lawmakers. An FBI official confirmed that the tracking allowed Smith’s team to identify the phone numbers called, as well as the location of the calls. President Trump responded to the revelations on Truth Social, calling Smith “a real sleazebag” and accusing him of abusing his investigative powers.

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By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
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