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Tuesday, October 14, 2025

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3 hours ago
News

AG Paxton Is Pursuing Legal Action Against Islamic ‘EPIC City’ Developers, Here’s Why:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Evidence of violations of securities laws by the developers of “EPIC City,” a planned Islamic settlement in Texas, has been uncovered by Attorney General Ken Paxton.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and entities connected to the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) land development project.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made in Austin on October 14, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The bad actors behind this illegal scheme must be held accountable for ignoring state and federal regulations.” – Ken Paxton

🎯IMPACT: A lawsuit may be filed if the Texas State Securities Board refers the matter back to the Attorney General.

IN FULL

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has revealed that entities linked to the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) land development project have breached federal and state securities laws. The Attorney General has requested the Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) to review the findings and refer the case back to his office to pursue legal action.

Paxton’s investigation into the Islamic “EPIC City” scheme began in March. It was later expanded to include document requests from local municipalities and other entities potentially involved in the unlawful development. The investigation uncovered that certain individuals and entities associated with EPIC City violated securities laws.

“After a thorough investigation, it has become clear that the developers behind EPIC City flagrantly and undeniably violated the law,” Paxton stated. The Donald J. Trump ally emphasized that the “bad actors behind this illegal scheme must be held accountable for ignoring state and federal regulations.”

A referral from the TSSB is required for the Attorney General’s office to initiate a lawsuit. Paxton has invited Chairman E. Wally Kinney and Commissioner Travis J. Iles to assess the findings and evidence, urging them to refer the matter for further legal proceedings if they concur with his office’s conclusions.

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53 minutes ago
News

This State Wants to Ditch Power Grid Compact Over Spiking Electricity Costs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) has suggested the state may leave the PJM Interconnection, the largest regional electricity grid in the U.S., to address rising utility bills.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Josh Shapiro, PJM Interconnection, Pennsylvania lawmakers, and residents affected by rising utility costs.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Pennsylvania, with Gov. Shapiro ramping up efforts after comments made last month.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If they can’t move quickly, if they can’t reform themselves, we’re going to figure out how to do this on our own.” – Josh Shapiro

🎯IMPACT: Leaving PJM would require significant regulatory approval and could reshape the energy landscape for Pennsylvania and other states considering similar moves.

IN FULL

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) has announced that his state may leave the PJM Interconnection, a 13-state electricity grid network, in response to rising utility bills. The PJM network has been part of Pennsylvania’s energy infrastructure for nearly 70 years, but has recently faced criticism over increased costs and slow progress in adapting to modern energy demands.

Notably, electricity prices have spiked across the country over the past several years, due in large part to rapid expansion in demand for data centers for the artificial intelligence (AI) technology industry and the cryptocurrency sector. “PJM has kind of been a black box for too many years,” Shapiro stated last month. “And as a result of that, they are too darn slow and they are raising costs at really an alarming rate.” He emphasized that Pennsylvania is willing to leave the network if reforms are not implemented quickly, adding that PJM has “months, not years” to address these issues.

The potential departure follows PJM’s latest capacity auction, which projected electricity bill increases between 10 and 20 percent over the next three years for Pennsylvania residents. The rising costs are attributed to growing energy demand, driven in part by new technologies such as artificial intelligence and data centers. PJM estimates peak demand will have increased by 32 gigawatts from 2024 to 2030.

Shapiro highlighted that Pennsylvania has the ability to provide reliable energy at affordable rates but accused PJM of hindering the state’s progress. “If they can’t move quickly, if they can’t reform themselves, we’re going to figure out how to do this on our own,” he stated. PJM, meanwhile, has argued that addressing the evolving energy landscape requires collaboration among states, the industry, and the grid operator.

While Pennsylvania is not alone in considering a departure—New Jersey and Maryland lawmakers are also evaluating leaving the grid—such a move would require significant regulatory approval and pose logistical challenges. Texas, which maintains its own independent grid, illustrates the problems Pennsylvania and other states could face. During severe winter storms—like that which occurred in 2021—and other periods of high demand, Texas’s electrical grid has suffered both brownouts and blackouts, with the state unable to expand capacity by purchasing power from its neighbors during emergencies.

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2 hours ago
News
UK

Margaret Thatcher’s Legacy Celebrated on Her 100th Birthday.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister and a pivotal figure in 20th-century politics, would have turned 100 on October 13. To commemorate her legacy, economists and scholars from across the globe reflected on her impact.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Historians, economists, and political thinkers, including Patrick Minford, Madsen Pirie, Philipp Bagus, Alberto Mingardi, Leszek Balcerowicz, Weiying Zhang, Mark Skousen, Jesús Huerta de Soto, and Stefan Kooths.

📍WHEN & WHERE: October 13, reflections spanned the USA, Europe, and China.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Thatcher’s wide-ranging set of reforms across an economy that was so highly dysfunctional is without any real parallel in an advanced industrial country.” – Economist Patrick Minford.

🎯IMPACT: Thatcher’s reforms transformed Britain’s economy, reduced union dominance, and demonstrated the viability of free-market policies, serving as a model for reformers worldwide.

IN FULL

October 13 marked 100 years since the birth of Margaret Thatcher, prompting reflections from economists and scholars around the world on the late British prime minister’s lasting impact on Britain and global politics. German historian Rainer Zitelmann organized a centenary symposium with participants from the United States, Europe, and China, focusing on her economic reforms.

British economist Patrick Minford, who advised Thatcher during her time in office, described her transformation of Britain as unparalleled. “Thatcher’s wide-ranging set of reforms across an economy that was so highly dysfunctional is without any real parallel in an advanced industrial country,” he said. He credited her with rescuing the United Kingdom from economic stagnation and turning it into a more prosperous nation.

Madsen Pirie of the Adam Smith Institute pointed to her success in reducing the power of trade unions and fostering a more open economy. “She left Britain in a far better place than it was in when she first took office,” he said, noting how share ownership among ordinary citizens increased under her leadership and strike-related disruptions fell sharply.

Alberto Mingardi of Milan’s IULM University emphasized Thatcher’s belief in the moral underpinnings of a free market. “She thought a free economy was both the prerequisite and the consequence of a moral society,” he said.

Economist Mark Skousen highlighted Thatcher’s firm stance against welfare dependency, quoting her well-known remark: “The problem is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.” He credited her with reducing government control of the economy through privatizations, limiting union influence, and eliminating burdensome regulations.

In the Falkland Islands, January 10 continues to be observed as Margaret Thatcher Day, honoring her role in liberating the islands following their invasion by Argentina in 1982. Thatcher visited the islands on January 10, 1983, and 30 years later, in 2013, residents voted 99.8 percent in favor of remaining part of the United Kingdom.

President Donald J. Trump is a longtime admirer of Thatcher, posting on Twitter (now X) as long ago as 2013, “Margaret Thatcher was the Iron Lady of the West. She promoted freedom & democracy—a great leader & ally of America.”

Image by Downing Street.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Election Integrity
Politics

Is Obama Becoming an Election Denier?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former President Barack Obama appeared in an advertisement urging California voters to support Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) redistricting campaign, Proposition 50, ahead of a special election next month, claiming Republicans are stealing the 2026 midterm elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Barack Obama, Gov. Newsom, California voters, and Republican lawmakers targeted by the campaign.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ad began airing on Tuesday, with the special election set for November 4 in California.

💬KEY QUOTE: Obama’s ad accuses Republicans of attempting to “steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years.”

🎯IMPACT: If passed, Prop 50 would circumvent the state’s independent redistricting commission to target the districts of five GOP lawmakers in California, in the name of countering Republican redistricting efforts in other states.

IN FULL

Former President Barack Obama is urging California voters to back Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom‘s Proposition 50 redistricting campaign, claiming it is needed to stop Republicans from stealing the 2026 midterm congressional elections. In a 30-second advertisement released Tuesday, Obama stated, “California, the whole nation is counting on you. Democracy is on the ballot November 4.”

Obama’s ad accuses Republicans of attempting to “steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years.” He urges voters to approve Prop 50, claiming it would “stop Republicans in their tracks.”

The advertisement is drawing allegations that Obama is setting the stage for Democrats to deny and undermine the outcome of the midterm election results should Republicans retain control of Congress, while justifying Newsom’s bid to tilt the congressional map in the Democrats’ favor. Notably, the former Biden government moved to criminally prosecute Republicans, including President Donald J. Trump, for challenging the integrity of the 2020 elections.

Newsom launched the campaign earlier this year. It aims to overturn his state’s independent redistricting commission and allow the Democrat-controlled legislature to redraw California’s congressional map. Newsom and his allies are specifically targeting five California Republican congressmen, hoping to alter their districts to be more favorable to Democratic candidates.

While Democrats hold a financial advantage in the campaign, polling indicates that a majority of California voters oppose Proposition 50. At an August fundraiser, Obama acknowledged that “political gerrymandering” was not his “preference” but argued that Democrats must respond to President Trump and his congressional allies. He warned that GOP-controlled state governments and the White House “do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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3 hours ago
News

Pro-Trans, Anti-Trump Dem Governor Announces Senate Run Against Susan Collins.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Maine Democrat Governor Janet Mills announced her bid to challenge incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) for her Senate seat in the 2026 midterm elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME), Sen. Susan Collins, President Donald J. Trump, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Tuesday, with Mills targeting the 2026 Senate race in Maine.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’ve never backed down from a bully and I never will.” – Gov. Janet Mills

🎯IMPACT: The race is critical for Democrats’ efforts to regain the Senate majority, with Collins being the only Republican senator up for reelection in a state the Democrats carried in the presidential election.

IN FULL

Maine’s Governor Janet Mills (D) announced Tuesday that she will challenge incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) for her Senate seat in the 2026 midterm congressional elections. Mills, referencing President Donald J. Trump—who she has clashed with over her policy of allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports—stated she has “never backed down from a bully.”

Mills’s campaign video features a clip of Trump confronting her at the White House in February after she defied his executive order barring trans athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. Notably, the Maine Democrat’s campaign fundraising page and announcement video were both inadvertently posted and subsequently deleted last Friday in a gaffe that has drawn accusations that her staff is unprepared for a daunting campaign against Collins.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who is fighting to keep the federal government shutdown in the face of political pressure from his party’s far-left flank, has encouraged Mills to enter the race. Democrats view unseating Collins as a pivotal step in regaining a Senate majority.

The 77-year-old Mills, however, faces a competitive primary field. If successful in unseating Collins, she would become the oldest freshman senator in U.S. history. “Donald Trump is ripping away health care from millions, driving up costs, and giving corporate CEOs massive tax cuts. And Susan Collins is helping him,” Mills claimed in her campaign announcement.

In February, The National Pulse reported that during a White House event, President Trump took Gov. Mills to task over allowing high school male athletes, who claim to be transgender, to compete against girls. “Is Maine here, the Governor of Maine?” President Trump asked during the lunch event with a bipartisan group of governors, asking her, “Are you not going to comply?”

When Mills claimed she was complying with state and federal law, Trump pressed her from the podium, warning, “Well, we are the federal law… You’d better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.”

In April, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation and subsequently enforcement action against Maine, which is still pending in court.

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4 hours ago
Crime

Family of Elijah Wilks: Police Shooting ‘Justified.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Dashcam footage revealed that Elijah Wilks was shot by an off-duty Milwaukee police officer after striking him in the face with a pistol and aiming the weapon at him.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elijah Wilks, an off-duty Milwaukee police officer, and members of Wilks’s family.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on West Mill Road in Milwaukee, with footage released shortly after, ahead of the usual 15-day period.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The vantage point and resolution of the official dashcam video answers every question. The Wilks family has seen the truth for themselves. Now they want the public to see it too.” – B’Ivory LaMarr, attorney for the Wilks family.

🎯IMPACT: The release of the footage aims to combat misinformation and reduce the chances of “racial justice” rioting on behalf of Wilks, who was a black man.

IN FULL

The family of Elijah Wilks is backing an off-duty Milwaukee police officer’s decision to shoot their relative, stating it was “justified,” following the release of dashcam footage by authorities. The footage was shared earlier than the standard 15-day waiting period with the family’s permission to address misinformation surrounding the incident. Prior to the release, there were concerns in the community that far-left activists could try to turn the shooting into another George Floyd-esque moment and stoke violent riots in response.

The video, captured on the officer’s dashcam while he was on his way to work, shows Wilks swerving in front of the officer’s vehicle before both pulled over. Wilks exited his car, shouted expletives, and struck the officer in the face with a pistol. The footage then shows Wilks backing away, placing the gun in his pocket, and later retrieving it to aim at the officer, prompting the officer to open fire.

Wilks was pronounced dead at the scene. According to reports, he was heading to his uncle’s funeral later that day. The footage was released after low-quality surveillance videos led to confusion about the sequence of events. The family’s attorney, B’Ivory LaMarr, described the shooting as “justified” and emphasized the importance of transparency.

“The vantage point and resolution of the official dashcam video answers every question,” said LaMarr. “The Wilks family has seen the truth for themselves. Now they want the public to see it too. They are choosing truth over rumor—transparency over division.” He added that the case is about restoring public trust in law enforcement and ensuring accountability for all.

Wilks’s aunts, Latrice Bell and Andrea Ward, acknowledged the tragedy of the situation, with Bell stating, “That’s just something we have to live with.”

Ward added, “It could’ve been any one of us, any one of our kids, because we are all one seat away from making the wrong decision.”

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4 hours ago
William Upton
Health
Science

Canada’s Slippery Slope: Assisted Suicide Expands Into Organ Harvesting.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A 38-year-old Canadian man with Lou Gehrig’s disease was euthanized under Canada’s MAID program and his heart transplanted into a 59-year-old man in Pittsburgh—raising concerns that patients may be pressured into euthanasia by medical professionals looking to harvest their healthy organs.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The euthanized donor was a 38-year-old Canadian; the recipient was a 59-year-old man from Pittsburgh.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The euthanization happened in Canada in September, with the transplant conducted in Pittsburgh.

💬KEY QUOTE: “With the development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted, and people can live longer and longer, and even achieve immortality.” — Chinese President Xi Jinping

🎯IMPACT: The incident raises ethical concerns about increased pressure on vulnerable people to choose euthanasia.

IN FULL

Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) euthanasia program is running headlong into a multitude of ethical concerns, including broader controversies surrounding organ harvesting. Investigations in the United States by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)—a subagency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—have found over the past several years that some patients may not have been legally deceased when organ retrieval was initiated.

In at least 28 cases reviewed by the HRSA, patients showed neurological signs inconsistent with brain death at the start of procurement. In Canada, the MAiD law is raising further concerns that patients may be pressured into euthanasia by medical professionals looking to harvest their healthy organs.

One of the more high-profile Canadian cases involves a 38-year-old man with Lou Gehrig’s disease who was euthanized in September. His heart was subsequently transplanted into a 59-year-old man from Pittsburgh, who had congestive heart failure. The donor heart was harvested and attached to a machine to keep it viable, and then sent to Pittsburgh for the transplant. This procedure has been described as the “ultimate act of altruism,” though it raises substantial ethical concerns.

Critics argue that such practices could result in pressure on vulnerable people to choose euthanasia, especially if they know their organs could benefit others. The potential for coercion is a significant worry as the scope of who qualifies for assisted suicide continues to expand in Canada.

Canada’s assisted suicide law, enacted in 2016, has led to a growing number of deaths attributed to MAiD, with nearly five percent of all deaths in the country in 2023 falling under this category. The practice, once limited to terminally ill patients, now includes those with serious but non-life-threatening conditions. The law’s expansion to include people with mental illness further complicates the ethical landscape.

Disturbingly, The National Pulse reported in early September that Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean autocrat Kim Jong-Un were caught on hot mic during an event in Beijing discussing how harvesting organs could be used to prolong their lives to 150 years.

“With the development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted, and people can live longer and longer, and even achieve immortality,” Xi said.

Image by World Economic Forum / Sandra Blaser.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
War
World

Russia: Ukrainian Intelligence Is Working With the Islamic State.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Russian authorities claim to have foiled an Islamic State-led terrorist attack in Moscow, allegedly directed by Ukrainian intelligence.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Islamic State (ISIS) operatives, Ukrainian intelligence, and four suspects, including Saidakbar Gulomov.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The plot was thwarted in Moscow, Russia, on Monday, per FSB statements.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The FSB has prevented a sabotage and terrorist act against one of the senior officers of the Russian Defense Ministry, organized by Ukrainian special services in coordination with leaders of the international terrorist organization Islamic State,” said the FSB.

🎯IMPACT: Russian authorities allege the incident highlights cooperation between Ukrainian intelligence and international terrorist organizations.

IN FULL

Russia announced on Monday that a terrorist attack in Moscow, allegedly planned by the Islamic State (ISIS) under the direction of Ukrainian intelligence, has been thwarted by its Federal Security Service (FSB). According to the FSB, ISIS operatives intended to target a high-ranking Russian Defense Ministry official with an explosive device in a crowded area of the city.

Four suspects, including a Central Asian national, were detained in connection with the plot. The FSB alleged that the operation was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence and executed by a suicide bomber recruited by an ISIS operative named Saidakbar Gulomov. The agency claimed Gulomov remotely directed the attacker’s actions from Ukraine and Western Europe using various messaging platforms.

Gulomov is also accused of providing funds, target information, and explosive materials smuggled into Russia via drones. The FSB further alleged that Gulomov was involved in the assassination of Russian Lieutenant General Kirillov in December 2024, an incident they also attribute to Ukrainian intelligence.

“The FSB has prevented a sabotage and terrorist act against one of the senior officers of the Russian Defense Ministry, organized by Ukrainian special services in coordination with leaders of the international terrorist organization Islamic State (banned as a terrorist organization in Russia),” the agency stated.

The FSB emphasized that this incident “once again demonstrates the close coordination between the Kiev regime and international terrorist organizations.” Previous terror attacks, such as a March 2024 assault on a concert hall near Moscow that killed 145 people, were similarly blamed on ISIS and Ukrainian intelligence by Russian authorities.

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October 11, 2025
News

Leftist Mayor Tortured Almost to Death by Adopted Migrant Daughter.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: German mayor Iris Stalzer was reportedly tortured for hours by her adopted migrant daughter, who has not been arrested despite the severity of the crime.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Iris Stalzer, her 17-year-old adopted daughter, her 15-year-old adopted son, and local law enforcement in Herdecke, Germany.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on October 7, 2025, in Stalzer’s home in Herdecke, Germany.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Germans are being imprisoned for memes, while the daughter in this case will never appear before a court for her alleged heinous crimes.” – Austrian activist Martin Sellner

🎯IMPACT: The case is sparking outrage over perceived double standards in Germany’s justice system, with questions raised about why no charges have been filed.

IN FULL

New details have emerged in the case of Iris Stalzer, the Social Democrat (SPD) mayor of Herdecke, Germany, who was reportedly tortured for hours by her adopted 17-year-old migrant daughter. Despite the violent nature of the attack, no arrest warrants have been issued for the daughter or her 15-year-old brother, who is also believed to have been involved.

The incident occurred on October 7, 2025. Emergency services were called by the daughter, who initially claimed that her mother had been assaulted by “several men.” Police later determined that this version of events was fabricated to conceal the true nature of the attack. Investigators believe Stalzer was tortured in the basement of her home, where she was subjected to burns from deodorant spray ignited with a lighter and stabbed 13 times. One of the knives used in the attack was reportedly found in the brother’s backpack, along with bloody clothing, while another knife was discovered in his bedroom. Police also found evidence that blood had been scrubbed from parts of the crime scene.

Although the evidence suggests a deliberate and prolonged assault, prosecutors have not brought charges. According to statements, the fact that the daughter eventually called emergency services was taken as an indication that she did not intend to kill her adoptive mother. Both siblings have since been placed in the care of the Youth Welfare Office rather than facing detention or prosecution. The prosecutor also noted that the children’s father, once considered as a possible guardian, had also previously been a victim of violence by the daughter.

The case has sparked widespread public anger, with many critics accusing the justice system of a double standard. Austrian anti-mass migration activist Martin Sellner commented on the situation, saying, “Germans are being imprisoned for memes, while the daughter in this case will never appear before a court for her alleged heinous crimes.”

Concerns over selective prosecution in Germany have been growing. In recent months, authorities have faced criticism for criminal investigations and penalties targeting people over social media posts and political expression. One woman was prosecuted for reacting with ‘thumbs up’ emojis to a social media post about a 15-year-old killing a rapist migrant, while others were prevented from leaving Germany to attend a remigration conference abroad.

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October 10, 2025
William Upton
Economy
World

Democrat Govt Shutdown Delays Farm Relief Amid U.S.-China Trade War.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump White House says it will soon roll out relief to U.S. soybean farmers who are facing significant challenges due to a trade dispute with China, their largest export market, which has ceased purchasing U.S. soybeans.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. soybean farmers, President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Senate Democrats, and China.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The situation has been unfolding throughout 2025, with impacts felt across soybean-producing states like Minnesota, Illinois, and Arkansas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They politicized the soybean purchases. And most of them have gone to Brazil. We are not going to let that happen. And I believe that the Chinese will have to come back at the end of the season and buy soybeans.” — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

🎯IMPACT: Farmers are struggling with financial uncertainty, higher input costs, and the inability to sell their crops to their largest market, China, while relief is delayed due to the Senate Democrats’ government shutdown.

IN FULL

American soybean farmers across key agricultural states like Minnesota, Illinois, and Arkansas are nearing the completion of their annual harvest. However, they may not have any markets to export their product to. The ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China has seen soybean farmers take a hit as China, which typically purchases over $12 billion worth of American soybeans annually, has not bought any this year.

In the face of the trade dispute, President Donald J. Trump has indicated that soybean farmers impacted by tariffs may receive financial assistance, but no specific plan has been announced due to the ongoing Senate Democrats’ government shutdown. “President Trump, Secretary Bessent, and Secretary Rollins are always in touch about the needs of our farmers,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. “Unfortunately, Democrats in Congress have stalled progress on this issue with their prolonged shutdown to serve illegal immigrants instead of America’s farmers.”

Soybean farmers, particularly those in rural areas, face mounting challenges as input costs like fertilizer and seed rise, while prices for their crops remain stagnant. Many farmers are hoping for a trade deal with China that could stabilize the market.

The Chinese have tried to ramp up their side of the trade dispute ahead of this meeting in the hopes of maximizing leverage, though President Trump has thus far called Xi’s bluff. “They politicized the soybean purchases. And most of them have gone to Brazil. We are not going to let that happen. And I believe that the Chinese will have to come back at the end of the season and buy soybeans,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said during a television appearance earlier this week, suggesting both government relief and a long-term deal on soybeans with China is likely in the near future.

The American Soybean Association has urged the administration to resolve the trade dispute, warning that farmers are “standing at a trade and financial precipice.” While some farmers have alternative markets to sell their soybeans, many are left with limited options.

Republican lawmakers have expressed sympathy for the farmers, with Congressman James Comer (R-KY) stating, “They planted that crop assuming that those foreign markets were going to be there. I think we need to do something to help the soybean farmers.”

Image by Victoria Pickering.

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October 10, 2025
Health

County Reinstates Mask Mandate, Vaccine Guidance Over Supposed COVID Risk.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Sonoma County in California has issued a mask mandate for certain healthcare facilities and strengthened vaccine recommendations due to “greater risk” of COVID-19 and flu.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sonoma County Department of Public Health Interim Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith, local healthcare facilities, and members of the public.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The mask mandate begins November 1, 2025, and continues annually through March 31, 2026, in Sonoma County, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The rationale behind this order is to protect the most vulnerable populations (such as the elderly and cancer patients) and to try to prevent medical staff from getting sick and creating staffing problems for facilities.” – Sonoma County Department of Health spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The mandate and recommendations aim to protect vulnerable populations but contradict recent federal guidance from the CDC and HHS on COVID-19 vaccinations.

IN FULL

Sonoma County, California, has reimplemented a mask mandate for certain healthcare facilities and bolstered its vaccine recommendations, citing a “greater risk” of COVID-19 and flu during the season. The Sonoma County Department of Public Health’s Interim Health Officer, Dr. Karen Smith, announced the order, requiring masks in skilled nursing facilities, portions of long-term care facilities, acute and non-acute rehabilitation facilities, infusion centers, and dialysis centers.

“The rationale behind this order is to protect the most vulnerable populations (such as the elderly and cancer patients) and to try to prevent medical staff from getting sick and creating staffing problems for facilities,” a spokesman for the Sonoma County Department of Health stated. The mask mandate will run from November 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, and will be implemented annually unless rescinded. Exemptions are provided for individuals with medical conditions, mental health conditions, or disabilities preventing mask use, as well as those who rely on lip-reading for communication.

The order specifies acceptable masks, including surgical masks, KN95, KF94, or N95 respirators, while informal coverings such as scarves, bandanas, or masks with unfiltered exhaust valves are not permitted. Alongside the mandate, Dr. Smith has issued stronger guidance on COVID-19 and flu vaccines, recommending them for everyone aged just six months and older. She also advised both the vaccinated and unvaccinated to wear masks in indoor public spaces when the risk of COVID-19 or flu is high.

This guidance contrasts with recent federal recommendations. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have removed the recommendation for adults aged 65 and older to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. They now advise individuals aged six months to 64 years to consult with their doctors before making vaccination decisions. The HHS has also narrowed the approval scope for new COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing “science, safety, and common sense.”

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