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Just now
Corruption
News

Bannon Slams Comey’s Special Treatment Before Court Appearance.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey was spared a “perp walk” ahead of his arrival in court on Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of making a false statement to Congress and obstruction of a congressional proceeding.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: James Comey, WarRoom host and former Trump White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon, Trump advisor Peter Navarro, and legal analysts, including Andrew McCarthy.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, following court proceedings involving Comey.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They slipped Comey in through another entrance, so he didn’t have to come through here. This is bulls**t.” – Stephen K. Bannon

🎯IMPACT: The disparity in treatment highlighted by Bannon raises questions about fairness and impartiality within the justice system.

IN FULL

WarRoom host and former Trump White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon criticized the preferential treatment of former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey. Speaking outside the courthouse, Bannon expressed frustration that Comey was allowed to enter the building through a private entrance, avoiding the “perp walk” and associated public and media attention that he and other Trump allies were subjected to during the Joe Biden-era lawfare campaign against President Donald J. Trump and his associates.

“They slipped Comey in through another entrance, so he didn’t have to come through here. This is bulls**t,” Bannon said. “Why is Comey not coming in from outside like everybody has to? There’s no way of taking you below a thing, and I don’t wanna hear ‘security.’ You don’t think there was higher security at taking out Steve Bannon or Peter Navarro, right, than James Comey?” he demanded.

Bannon, who served a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress, was clear that he had no issue with being “perp walked” during his case. “I proudly walked in there because I was proud of what I did, and I’m not gonna have the media… But they try to sit there and psychologically break you, so they got that image of you walking to court the entire time,” he explained.

“They allowed Comey to do something they didn’t allow anybody else to do. This is the problem. The problem is the system is rigged on this guy’s side, OK? It’s got to stop. Is Comey gonna be shackled? Is Comey gonna be strip-searched? … Comey’s there for felonies,” Bannon stressed.

Comey has pleaded not guilty to charges of making a false statement to Congress and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. The Trump Justice Department has opened a grand jury investigation into the origins of the Russiagate hoax more broadly, reportedly focused on whether prior probes into alleged ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia were politically motivated or improperly conducted.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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32 minutes ago
Corruption
Politics

Senator Demands a Special Prosecutor Investigate FBI Spying on GOP Lawmakers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged misuse of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resources by Jack Smith to spy on Republican lawmakers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senator Josh Hawley, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Biden FBI, Jack Smith, and whistleblowers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Hawley made the demand during a Senate hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday and in subsequent media interviews.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Madam Attorney General, I think we need a special prosecutor to be appointed, whose sole responsibility will be to get to the bottom of what has happened in every instance I have just named. I think we need to know exactly who approved the wire taps on United States senators, who knew about it.” – Senator Josh Hawley

🎯IMPACT: Hawley called for a special prosecutor and public hearings to investigate alleged corruption within the FBI and DOJ.

IN FULL

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley is demanding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the alleged misuse of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resources by Jack Smith and others in the former Biden government to spy on Republican lawmakers as well as everyday Americans. During a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Hawley pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi on appointing a special prosecutor, but received no firm commitment that it would happen.

“Madam Attorney General, I think we need a special prosecutor to be appointed, whose sole responsibility will be to get to the bottom of what has happened in every instance I have just named. I think we need to know exactly who approved the wire taps on United States senators, who knew about it,” Hawley said on Tuesday.


The Missouri Republican reiterated his stance late Tuesday evening, while discussing the “Arctic Frost” scandal on television. “They lied about it. They tried to hide it. And then, as it turns out, they got wiretaps essentially on eight Republican senators,” Hawley said, adding that conservative organizations such as Turning Point USA (TPUSA) were also targeted.

When asked what information was obtained, Hawley explained, “They were able to get the list of incoming calls, outgoing calls, my location, when the calls were received, the duration of the calls, as well as metadata associated with the phone, and Jesse, that’s just what we know about for sure.” He further alleged that the surveillance was politically motivated and aimed at undermining President Donald J. Trump and the Republican Party.

Hawley called for decisive action, saying, “What needs to happen is we need a special prosecutor who’s going to go at this hard. We need to get all of the corruption uncovered. What we have here is rot that goes all through the FBI, that goes all through the DOJ.” He also called for public hearings and accountability for those involved, including figures like Jack Smith, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and former FBI Director Christopher Wray.

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1 hour ago
William Upton
Breaking
War

BREAKING: Trump Likely Heading to Egypt on Sunday for Gaza Talks.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced Wednesday afternoon that he will likely be heading to Egypt either Saturday evening or Sunday morning in anticipation of the peace talks between Israel and Hamas entering their final phase.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, and Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The possible Sunday, October 12, trip was announced on Wednesday afternoon.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I may go there sometime toward the end of the week. Maybe on Sunday, actually.” —  President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s commitment to a possible trip to Egypt at the end of this week suggests that serious breakthroughs have been made in the Israeli-Hamas peace negotiations.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced Wednesday afternoon that he will likely be heading to Egypt either Saturday evening or Sunday morning in anticipation of the peace talks between Israel and Hamas entering the final phase. “I may go there sometime toward the end of the week. Maybe on Sunday, actually,” President Trump said during White House event.

He continued: “And we’ll see, but there’s a very good chance. Negotiations are going along very well. We’re dealing with Hamas, and many of the countries, as you know, all of the Muslim countries are included, all of the Arab countries are included.” President Trump went on to suggest he may actually depart for Egypt on Saturday evening if talks continue to go well.

Trump’s commitment to a possible trip to Egypt at the end of this week suggests that serious breakthroughs have been made in the Israeli-Hamas peace negotiations.

The National Pulse reported earlier on Wednesday that U.S. negotiators, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, joined key participants, including Qatar‘s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani and Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, in Egypt for the third day of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi described the involvement of Kushner and Witkoff as “very encouraging,” emphasizing their strong mandate from Trump to bring an end to the conflict. Talks have focused on hostages, prisoner exchanges, and the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

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2 hours ago
Immigration

U.S. Foreign-Born Population Drops by 2.2 Million Amid Deportations, Record Low Illegal Immigration.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A historic reduction in the foreign-born population in the U.S. occurred in the first seven months of President Donald J. Trump’s second term, attributed to record-low illegal immigration levels and migrants returning to their home countries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Steven Camarota and Karen Zeigler of the Center for Immigration Studies, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

📍WHEN & WHERE: January through August of this year, across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We think the evidence is strong that most or all of the decline in the foreign-born population shown in the CPS is real and primarily reflects a reduction in new arrivals and, in particular, a large increase in emigration.” – Steven Camarota and Karen Zeigler.

🎯IMPACT: Record-breaking reductions in illegal immigration, with 1.6 million illegal aliens self-deporting and over 400,000 deported by ICE, alongside historic lows in border apprehensions.

IN FULL

The United States has seen a historic decline in its foreign-born population in the first seven months of President Donald J.  Trump’s second term, due mainly to record-low rates of illegal border crossings and a significant number of foreign nationals choosing to return to their country of origin. The data comes from an analysis of the Current Population Survey (CPS) conducted by Steven Camarota and Karen Zeigler of the Center for Immigration Studies.

According to the researchers, the foreign-born population has dropped by 2.2 million across the United States from January through August of this year. Importantly, the analysis sheds light on how effective the Trump administration’s increased interior immigration enforcement operations have been, finding that the illegal immigrant population has declined by 1.6 million over the eight-month period.

The Center for Immigration Studies researchers note that while some might attribute the CPS data analysis to a “a statistical fluke,” the plummeting foreign-born population is likely driven by record-low illegal immigration levels as well as self-deportations  “We think the evidence is strong that most or all of the decline in the foreign-born population shown in the CPS is real and primarily reflects a reduction in new arrivals and, in particular, a large increase in emigration,” Camarota and Zeigler write.

In September, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that estimates suggest 1.6 million illegal immigrants have self-deported from the United States. Additionally, government data shows the Trump administration is on track to match or exceed the 300,000 peak annual deportations seen under former President Barack Obama—the most in a year in recent history. Some estimates place the total deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at more than 400,000.

The National Pulse reported on Tuesday that illegal crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border have fallen to their lowest level in over 50 years. 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 government.

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2 hours ago
Health
News

Acting CDC Boss Tells Big Pharma to Separate MMR Vax Into Three Shots.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Acting U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Jim O’Neill called for the MMR vaccine to be split into three separate shots, echoing comments made by President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jim O’Neill, Donald Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and vaccine manufacturers Merck and GSK.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Statements were made on social media and in interviews in October 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Break up the MMR shot into three totally separate shots (not mixed!)” – President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Spreading out measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations could reduce side effects and give children’s bodies more time to adjust to them, but the health establishment is complaining that it could disrupt adherence to immunization schedules and increase the risk of contracting one of the illnesses between shots.

IN FULL

Jim O’Neill, Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is advocating for separating the MMR vaccine, which inoculates against measles, mumps, and rubella, into three separate doses. His stance echoes a social media post by President Donald J. Trump last month, when he wrote, “BREAK UP THE MMR SHOT INTO THREE TOTALLY SEPARATE SHOTS (NOT MIXED!), TAKE CHICKEN P SHOT SEPARATELY, TAKE [HEPATITIS] B SHOT AT 12 YEARS OLD, OR OLDER, AND, IMPORTANTLY, TAKE VACCINE IN 5 SEPARATE MEDICAL VISITS!”

O’Neill has supported this view, stating, “Thank you POTUS for your leadership. I call on vaccine manufacturers to develop safe monovalent vaccines to replace the combined MMR.”

Introduced in 1971, the MMR vaccine, manufactured by Merck and GSK, combined three vaccines previously licensed in the 1960s, and has long been controversial, with skeptics linking it to autism. Andrew Nixon, Communications Director for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), noted, “Standalone vaccinations can potentially reduce the risk of side effects and can maximize parental choice in childhood immunizations.”

Image by Nicola Sap Di Mitri.

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3 hours ago
William Upton
Economy
TECH

Bank of England: AI Bubble Threatens Global Economy.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Bank of England has warned of a growing risk of a “sudden correction” in global financial markets due to overvaluation in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Bank of England, AI technology companies, financial analysts, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The warning was issued during a Wednesday meeting, with concerns spanning global markets, particularly the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The risk of a sharp market correction has increased,” said the Bank of England’s financial policy committee, noting that “equity market valuations appear stretched, particularly for technology companies focused on artificial intelligence.”

🎯IMPACT: A potential AI bubble burst could destabilize the global economy, with AI spending now accounting for a significant portion of the U.S. GDP.

IN FULL

The Bank of England (BoE) is joining a growing number of financial sector voices warning that an artificial intelligence (AI) sector-fueled bubble is increasingly likely and could trigger a “sudden correction” in global financial markets. “The risk of a sharp market correction has increased,” said the Bank of England’s financial policy committee during a Wednesday meeting, warning that “equity market valuations appear stretched, particularly for technology companies focused on artificial intelligence.”

In recent weeks, financial analysts have grown more concerned about an AI bubble and subsequent burst. At least one analysis has found that the potential AI bubble could be 17 times the size of the dotcom-era bubble. Concerningly, the same data found that an AI bubble-fueled financial crisis could be four times worse than 2008’s Great Recession.

The National Pulse reported in late September that former Facebook executive Julie Zhou warned that much of the AI technology industry’s growth is not being driven by robust data-driven business strategies, but rather by “good instincts and good vibes.” Zhou argued that while the AI industry has tremendous promise, the technology is still far from achieving what many adherents claim. This has left the AI technology sector rife with speculative investment on a scale that could potentially threaten the U.S. economy should the bubble burst.

Zhou’s concerns have even been echoed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has acknowledged that the AI sector’s revenue lags far behind expenses. Over 33 US-based AI startups raised $100 million or more in 2025 alone, though none have yet to turn a profit or demonstrate market viability. Many of these start-ups, along with more established companies, are reliant on technology from industry leaders like Nvidia—with the former making up nearly 10 percent of the S&P 500.

Even more troubling, a report by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers in August found that only five percent of AI pilot programs help businesses achieve “rapid revenue acceleration,” with the majority failing to deliver. Despite these concerns, generative AI now accounts for roughly 40 percent of the United States’ gross domestic product (GDP), making the economy heavily reliant on the industry’s stability.

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3 hours ago
War

Trump Envoys Join Gaza Peace Talks in Egypt.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are underway in Egypt, with U.S. envoys and regional leaders joining negotiations on Wednesday, aiming to end the Gaza conflict.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Key figures include Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, and Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Talks are taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East. It’s something even beyond the Gaza situation. We want a release of the hostages immediately.” – President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: The discussions aim to secure a ceasefire, exchange hostages, and determine Israeli troop withdrawal timelines.

IN FULL

The third day of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas is taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with U.S. envoys and regional leaders working to finalize a peace deal under President Donald J. Trump‘s guidance. U.S. negotiators, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, joined key participants, including Qatar‘s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani and Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi described the involvement of Kushner and Witkoff as “very encouraging,” emphasizing their strong mandate from Trump to bring an end to the conflict. Talks have focused on hostages, prisoner exchanges, and the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Notably, Hamas has submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released in exchange for hostages held in Gaza. The list includes prominent political figures and militants like Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat. Meanwhile, Israeli officials expressed “cautious optimism,” while Hamas representatives noted “necessary positivity” but acknowledged ongoing differences.

Trump struck a hopeful tone, stating, “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East. It’s something even beyond the Gaza situation. We want a release of the hostages immediately.” Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed his government is pushing Hamas to accept the plan, while also urging pressure on Israel to halt its attacks.

As negotiations continue, the Israeli military appears to have scaled back its ground offensive in Gaza.

Image by WAGA / APAimages.

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4 hours ago
Immigration
UK

Migrant Charged Over Farage Death Threats Refuses to Testify.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An Afghan illegal immigrant is accused of making a threat to kill Reform Party leader Nigel Farage in a TikTok post.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Fayaz Khan, 26, and Nigel Farage.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The threats were allegedly issued between October 12 and 15, 2022; the trial is being held at Southwark Crown Court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “He says he’s coming to England and he’s going to shoot me.” – Nigel Farage

🎯IMPACT: The jury has been sent out to consider their verdicts after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense.

IN FULL

Fayaz Khan, an Afghan illegal immigrant, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of making a threat to kill Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in a TikTok video posted between October 12 and 15, 2022. Khan, who crossed the English Channel on a small boat and livestreamed his illegal journey, was arrested on October 31. He has denied the charge and has chosen not to testify during the proceedings.

Prosecutor Peter Ratliff told the court that the video was “sinister and menacing” and should be taken as a serious threat rather than a joke or casual remark. He pointed to Khan’s refusal to give evidence, saying, “The prosecution suggest this is because there is no sensible defense he could give to that video.” Ratliff also highlighted Khan’s apparent fascination with guns, including tattoos of AK-47 rifles on his body.

Farage gave evidence, describing the video as “pretty chilling.” He told the jury, “He says he’s coming to England and he’s going to shoot me,” and voiced concern over Khan’s apparent obsession with firearms. Jurors were shown the TikTok video in question, which included the caption “I mean what I say,” along with other similar videos featuring gestures and sounds interpreted as threatening.

In a police interview, Khan said the video was never meant as a threat, explaining, “It was just a video, it was never an intention to threaten him.” He claimed his behavior reflected his online persona and was not serious.

Defending Khan, barrister Charles Royle argued the video was not a genuine threat but part of Khan’s bizarre and exaggerated online behavior. He described Khan’s actions as “remonstrating in his own idiosyncratic, moronic, comedic, eye-catching, attention-seeking way,” and urged jurors not to judge his client based on his immigration status or AK-47 tattoos. Royle also reminded the jury that Khan’s decision not to testify should not be taken as an admission of guilt.

The case comes amid growing concern over political violence. Farage has faced a string of attacks in recent years. In June 2024, he was assaulted with what appeared to be cement during a campaign event in Barnsley. Earlier, a drink was thrown at him as he left a pub in Clacton, after a spate of similar incidents.

Despite the rise in threats, the Labour Party-led British government reportedly slashed Farage’s security funding by 75 percent in October 2025, shortly after U.S. conservative organizer Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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5 hours ago
Crime

Suspect Nabbed for Devastating Palisades Fires in Los Angeles.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An arrest has been made in connection with the devastating Palisades Fires that destroyed homes and claimed lives in Los Angeles, California, earlier this year.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli, Jonathan Rinderknecht, first responders, and fire victims.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Fires broke out on January 7, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. Details on the arrest were revealed on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January.” — Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli

🎯IMPACT: The fires claimed 30 lives, destroyed thousands of homes, and exposed critical failures in California’s emergency responses.

IN FULL

California law enforcement has made an arrest in the case of the Palisades Fires that ravaged Los Angeles earlier this year, destroying homes and claiming lives. At a press conference on Wednesday, Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for Los Angeles named 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht the suspect, noting that the evidence points to Rinderknecht having intentionally set the fire.

“Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January,” Essayli wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding:  “Among the evidence that was collected from his digital devices was an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.”

The fires, which erupted on January 7, 2025, killed 12 people in Pacific Palisades and another 18 in Altadena. Over 6,000 homes and buildings were destroyed, including properties owned by high-profile figures such as Paris Hilton, Tom Hanks, and Mandy Moore. The fires burned for days, reducing neighborhoods to ash and rubble.

An outside review released in September pointed to a series of failures in Los Angeles County’s emergency response. The report highlighted outdated policies, inconsistent practices, and communication vulnerabilities that delayed evacuation orders, leaving residents to flee on their own as flames rapidly spread.

The first evacuation order for the Pacific Palisades fire came 40 minutes after some homes were already burning. Severe winds hindered aerial firefighting efforts, while water hydrants ran dry due to unprecedented demand. A nearby reservoir was empty because it was under repair, and fire commanders had not pre-deployed additional resources despite the forecasted conditions.

Despite these challenges, nearly all residents of Pacific Palisades managed to escape, thanks to their awareness of fire risks and the efforts of first responders. The fires were the most destructive in California’s history.

Image by FireEditorHomiee.

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5 hours ago
Corruption
Crime

Inside the Alleged Manipulation of Crime Statistics by DC Police:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The House Oversight Committee is investigating claims that Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) leadership is manipulating crime data to downplay violent crime in the city.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: MPD leadership, D.C. government officials, responding officers, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ongoing investigation with allegations spanning recent years, primarily in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They make you call an official, like a sergeant and the lieutenant on the scene to make that decision. Basically, to put people who have skin in the game with the crime stats in the business of deciding whether we should record the stat or not,” said a reserve officer with MPD.

🎯IMPACT: The alleged manipulation of crime data may mislead the public, create a false sense of security, and hinder accurate assessments of public safety in D.C.

IN FULL

The House Oversight Committee is conducting an inquiry into allegations that Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) leadership is deliberately manipulating crime statistics. Sources familiar with the process claim that city officials routinely minimize violent crime by downgrading charges, a practice they allege starts at the crime scene and continues through the court system.

A reserve officer with MPD disclosed that responding officers are not allowed to classify violent crimes independently, leaving those decisions to higher-ranking officials like sergeants or lieutenants. “They make you call an official, like a sergeant and the lieutenant on the scene to make that decision. Basically, to put people who have skin in the game with the crime stats in the business of deciding whether we should record the stat or not,” the officer explained. This process, the officer noted, disincentivizes officers from reporting violent crimes accurately.

The National Pulse reported in July that Michael Pulliam, a Washington, D.C. police commander, is under investigation for allegedly doctoring crime statistics. The investigation began after the Fraternal Order of Police complained that the department was deliberately falsifying crime data.

Further, the officer noted that a legal change in September 2023, driven by D.C. Council Democrats, introduced a new charge of “endangerment with a firearm” as a substitute for assault with a dangerous weapon. While both are felonies, only the latter is classified as a violent crime in MPD’s data. The officer claimed this distinction is often abused to artificially lower violent crime statistics.

A review of the data found 25 instances of “endangerment with a firearm” being used in arrests between September 2023 and late 2024, though the true number may be higher. This reclassification, alongside MPD’s selective use of crime categories, has raised questions about the city’s reported 35 percent decrease in violent crime from 2023 to 2024.

Additionally, the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew Graves, has faced criticism for declining to prosecute a significant number of cases, including assaults against police officers. In 2023, Graves’ office reportedly did not prosecute 42 percent of cases. After President Donald J. Trump was inaugurated for his second term in January 2025, Graves was removed from office and eventually replaced by Jeanine Pirro as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

Image by Elvert Barnes.

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6 hours ago
Politics

WATCH: California Gov. Front-Runner Katie Porter Implodes During Interview.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Representative Katie Porter (D-CA) grew angry and irate, and nearly walked out of an interview when pressed on how she plans to appeal to Trump voters in California.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Katie Porter, journalist Julie Watts of CBS News California Investigates, and California voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The exchange occurred last month during an interview with CBS News in California, with the footage of the exchange spreading on social media this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t want to keep doing this, I’m going to call it. Thank you.” – Katie Porter

🎯IMPACT: The tense exchange raises questions about Porter’s ability to connect with a broader voter base in her gubernatorial campaign and whether she even has the temperament to govern.

IN FULL

Former Representative Katie Porter (D-CA), considered a front-runner to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), may have seen her campaign end right out of the gate. Among political insiders in Washington, D.C., and California, Porter has long been known for her violent temper and narcissistic attitude, but those traits are now on full public display in an abortive interview with CBS Sacramento reporter Julie Watts in which the California Democrat berates the reporter for asking simple follow-up questions. Filmed last month, the footage of Porter’s meltdown spread across social media this week.

Watts questioned Porter about her stance toward the 6.1 million Californians who voted for President Donald J. Trump in 2024, prompting Porter to respond that she didn’t need their support if running against a Republican in the general election. “How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” Porter responded, seemingly unhappy with the question but chuckling for the camera, before going on to express certainty that she could pick up the remaining 60 percent of non-Trump votes. “I have stood on my own two feet and won Republican votes before, and that’s not something every candidate in this race can say,” Porter said, referring to her time representing “purple” Orange County.

However, she became visibly irritated when Watts pressed further on her dismissiveness toward Trump voters. Porter stated, “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is your question?” At one point, Porter lifts her hands as if to push Watts away.

After Watts explained that similar questions had been posed to other candidates, Porter said she would seek every vote she could win. However, she ended the interview shortly after, stating, “I don’t want to keep doing this. I’m going to call it. I want to have a pleasant, positive conversation.” She also objected to follow-up questions, adding, “I don’t want this all on camera.” Porter then reached for the mic pinned to her lapel and attempted to remove it while castigating Watts’s interview methods.


Porter is notorious for aggressive and narcissistic outbursts. In an infamous 2020 exchange during a congressional hearing with then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Porter became irate when Mnuchin revealed he was unaware of the then-Congresswoman’s law degree. Mnuchin had asked Porter, “Are you a lawyer?” after a series of terse exchanges regarding the Treasury Department‘s funding of Federal Reserve lending facilities.

Even more disturbing, documents filed in Porter’s divorce reveal a litany of claims of spousal abuse by Porter against her ex-husband, Matthew Hoffman. In one instance, Porter allegedly dumped scalding hot potatoes on Hoffman’s scalp.

Porter, who lost her bid for the Senate to Adam Schiff last year, is bidding to become California’s first-ever female governor. On the Republican side, her challengers include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton.

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