Tuesday, August 5, 2025

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BREAKING: Chicago’s ‘Allahu Akbar’ Gunman Is Illegal Migrant Who Entered Under Kamala’s Open Border Rules.

The suspect in the shooting of a Jewish man in Chicago’s North Side has been named. Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, allegedly shot a 39-year-old man while shouting “Allahu Akbar!” on Saturday morning while the victim was walking to a synagogues. NY Post columnist Karol Markowicz reports he is an illegal immigrant from northwest Africa who entered the U.S. a year and a half ago.

Video has emerged of Abdallahi being gunned down by police after engaging first responders in a shootout. As of the time of publication, Abdallahi is still alive. He is charged with multiple serious offenses, including six counts of attempted first-degree murder and seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm. He is currently scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. His nationality and immigration background, if any, has not been disclosed.

Abdallahi is said to have opened fire on police and paramedics who arrived on the scene of the original shooting, hitting an ambulance but failing to injure any further victims before being shot by police.

The incident, which took place in West Ridge, a neighborhood known for its large Orthodox Jewish community, has sparked fears of an anti-Semitic, possibly terroristic attack.

So far, police have not filed hate crime charges, but the incident remains under investigation.

Abdallahi’s victim remains in critical condition.

By Popular Demand.
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Tommy Robinson Arrested Over Alleged Railway Station Assault.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: British anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson was arrested by police after a physical altercation at a train station in London.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tommy Robinson, British police, unidentified injured man.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The altercation took place on July 28, while Robinson’s arrest occurred several days later.

💬KEY QUOTE: “RELEASE THE FOOTAGE.” – Tommy Robinson on social media.

🎯IMPACT: The arrest could lead to potential charges and yet another possible prison sentence for Robsinson, who has been hounded by UK authorities for years.

IN FULL

British anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson was arrested on the night of August 4 on suspicion of assaulting a man at St. Pancras train station in London. The 42-year-old was detained by police at Luton Airport, just outside London, as he returned from Portugal.

Although police generally do not confirm the identities of individuals who haven’t been formally charged, the British Transport Police said in a statement that a 42-year-old Bedfordshire man had been arrested in connection with a July 28 assault at St. Pancras. The police later confirmed the man had been released on bail until September 2.

Footage published by British media showed police officers meeting Robinson as he exited the plane and escorting him into a waiting van.

Authorities had sought Robinson since July 28, when a man was discovered unconscious at the central London train station. A video circulated widely on social media shows Robinson walking nearby, but it does not reveal how the man was injured. In the clip, Robinson is heard telling someone off-camera, “He come at me, bruv.”

On Tuesday morning, a post on Robinson’s X account (formerly Twitter) read, “RELEASE THE FOOTAGE,” and tagged London’s Metropolitan Police Service.

Following the incident, British Transport Police issued a statement saying a man had suffered serious injuries in an assault at the station and was taken to the hospital. They also said the suspect had boarded a flight to Tenerife in the early hours of July 29, and urged witnesses to come forward with any information.

The case comes just months after Robinson was released from prison after serving time behind bars for contempt of court relating to a case involving a young Syrian asylum seeker. Robinson received an 18-month sentence for releasing a documentary that defended his own allegations against the Syrian migrant, which were previously ruled as libelous by a British court.

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By Popular Demand.
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Ghislaine Maxwell Fights to Keep Grand Jury Transcripts Sealed.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Ghislaine Maxwell’s legal team opposed the unsealing of grand jury transcripts in her criminal case.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ghislaine Maxwell, her defense attorneys, and the Trump Department of Justice.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Court proceedings on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Jeffrey Epstein is dead. Ghislaine Maxwell is not,” her attorney wrote.

🎯IMPACT: Maxwell’s appeal to the Supreme Court could be affected, and concerns over grand jury secrecy remain central.

IN FULL

Ghislaine Maxwell‘s defense team has voiced opposition to a judge’s potential decision to unseal grand jury transcripts in her criminal case. This move comes after the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) sought to make the documents public.

In court filings, Maxwell’s attorneys argued that unsealing the transcripts could jeopardize her appeal to the Supreme Court. They also emphasized that their client is unable to take an “informed position” on the matter since the court has not allowed her legal team to review the transcripts in advance.

“Jeffrey Epstein is dead. Ghislaine Maxwell is not,” her attorney wrote in the filings. “Whatever interest the public may have in Epstein, that interest cannot justify a broad intrusion into grand jury secrecy in a case where the defendant is alive, her legal options are viable, and her due process rights remain.”

While the implications of this decision could have a significant impact on her appeal, the ruling could potentially set precedent for the broader handling of grand jury materials in similar cases.

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A Federal Investigation is Raising Serious Concerns for Organ Donors.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A federal investigation has revealed that organ procurement teams have sometimes initiated procedures before death was fully established.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), organ procurement organizations (OPOs), and medical professionals across multiple states.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Findings were released in July 2025, with cases spanning across 19 states, including Kentucky and Alabama.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Hospitals allowed the organ procurement process to begin when patients showed signs of life, and this is horrifying.” – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

🎯IMPACT: Public trust in organ donation is at risk, with lawsuits and ethical concerns rising as donation after circulatory death (DCD) becomes more prevalent.

IN FULL

New evidence has emerged raising concerns about organ transplants, revealing that procurement teams have sometimes begun procedures before death was fully established. This practice, which has drawn sharp criticism, was confirmed in a July 2025 federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stated, “Hospitals allowed the organ procurement process to begin when patients showed signs of life, and this is horrifying.” The investigation uncovered at least 28 cases where patients may not have been dead when organ removal began. This has occurred under a protocol known as donation after circulatory death (DCD), which differs from donation after brain death. Unlike brain death, where all brain function has irreversibly ceased, DCD involves patients who are near death but not biologically confirmed as deceased.

The urgency to expand organ availability has led to significant growth in DCD procedures, which now account for a substantial share of transplants. However, the federal report highlighted disturbing cases, including 73 patients in Kentucky who exhibited neurological signs incompatible with organ donation but were still prepared for harvesting. In Alabama, a patient declared dead was found to have a beating heart and gasping respirations during surgery.

The ethical and philosophical implications of these practices have sparked broader concerns. Critics argue that the line between life and death is being treated as a flexible variable, driven by institutional performance metrics. Charles Camosy, a bioethicist, noted that many medical professionals lack the philosophical and theological training to navigate such profound decisions, leading to what he described as “moral anthropology made up on the fly.”

Public trust in the organ donation system is eroding. In Arkansas, advocates are suing to block a law requiring family authorization even when someone is a registered donor. Without transparency and accountability, the organ donation process’s legitimacy and individuals’ willingness to participate may collapse. As one surgical technician, who quit after witnessing a troubling case, said, “I felt like I was part of killing someone.”

Image by Focal Foto.

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By Popular Demand.
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Smartmatic OANN

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Smartmatic Co-Founder Charged with Bribing Top Venezuelan Official.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors accused Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate of bribing Venezuela’s top election official with a luxury residence in exchange for political favors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Roger Piñate, election chief Tibisay Lucena Ramírez, and unnamed co-conspirators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Allegedly between April and July 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We have always operated lawfully, ethically, and transparently. We stand by our two-decade track record of integrity.” – Smartmatic statement

🎯IMPACT: The allegations raise further scrutiny of Smartmatic’s business practices globally and its involvement in elections.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors have charged Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate with multiple counts of bribery and money laundering. They allege he provided a luxury residence in Caracas to Tibisay Lucena Ramírez, Venezuela’s top election official at the time, in exchange for political favors.

Prosecutors claim the property was transferred to Lucena Ramírez through a foreign shell company between April and July 2019, allegedly facilitated by an unnamed co-conspirator. This transfer reportedly occurred despite Smartmatic’s public claim that all business activities in Venezuela had ceased in 2017.

Smartmatic had pulled out of Venezuela after accusing the Maduro regime of committing electoral fraud during the 2017 National Constituent Assembly election. The company said it terminated operations in the country following that incident.

Prosecutors included these Venezuela-related allegations in a separate court filing connected to a $1 million bribery scheme involving Philippine election official Juan Andrés Donato Bautista. In that case, Piñate is accused of inflating the prices of voting machines and diverting the surplus into secret accounts used for bribes.

The U.S. government submitted the Venezuelan allegations to illustrate what they describe as a “pattern of alleged criminal behavior” by Piñate.

Smartmatic has strongly denied the claims. In a statement, the company said: “As an example, the government’s citation of an alleged bribe in Venezuela in 2019 is untethered from reality. Smartmatic ceased all operations in Venezuela in August 2017 after blowing the whistle on the government and has never sought to secure business there again.” The company added, “We have always operated lawfully, ethically, and transparently. We stand by our two-decade track record of integrity.”

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By Popular Demand.
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Woody Allen Likens Epstein’s Manhattan Home to ‘Castle Dracula’ in Newly Uncovered Letter.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: New photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan home were revealed, including a note from filmmaker Woody Allen and other personal items.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeffrey Epstein, Woody Allen, Donald Trump, Ehud Barak, Noam Chomsky, and others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Photos from Epstein’s seven-story Manhattan home were published on Tuesday by The New York Times.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I say well-served—often it’s by some professional houseman and just as often by several young women, reminding one of Castle Dracula where Lugosi has three young female vampires who service the place.” – Woody Allen

🎯IMPACT: The revelations add further scrutiny to Epstein’s associations with high-profile figures and his controversial lifestyle.

IN FULL

On Tuesday, new images from the late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein‘s residence in Manhattan were released, exposing new celebrity correspondence with the deceased billionaire. Among the photographs is a handwritten message from the contentious director Woody Allen, whose current wife, Soon-Yi Previn, is also his adopted daughter with ex-wife Mia Farrow.

Epstein, who passed away in 2019 amid accusations of sex trafficking, was notorious for organizing gatherings frequented by prominent individuals. Allen’s note likened these events to “Castle Dracula,” alluding to the young females who acted as servers. “I say well-served—often it’s by some professional houseman and just as often by several young women, reminding one of Castle Dracula, where Lugosi has three young female vampires who service the place,” Allen wrote.

Other items discovered within Epstein’s expansive seven-floor property were a rare first-edition copy of Vladimir Nabokov’s provocative book Lolita, an Israeli map, and a security camera positioned in what was reportedly his bedroom. Additionally, the residence included a massage area decorated with artwork depicting nude females.

The publication also drew attention to congratulatory notes sent to Epstein on his birthday from notable personalities. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, President Donald J. Trump purportedly drew an image of a nude woman and penned a birthday greeting to Epstein back in 2003. However, Trump refutes the claim and is pursuing legal action against the outlet. This alleged note is not among the new images, and The Wall Street Journal has yet to produce the actual letter or drawing.

Further correspondences include letters from Noam Chomsky, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Barak’s spouse, who referred to Epstein as a “collector of people.” In his message, Barak remarked, “There is no limit to your curiosity. You are like a closed book to many of them, but you know everything about everyone.”

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By Popular Demand.
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Titan Probe Faults Multiple Failures, ‘Toxic Workplace Culture’ in Submersible Disaster.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. Coast Guard report has concluded that a “toxic workplace culture” and negligence contributed to the implosion of the Titan submersible, which resulted in the deaths of five people.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The victims included Titan operator Stockton Rush, Pakistani nationals Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, British adventurer Hamish Harding, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on June 18, 2023, during a dive to the Titanic wreck, with the wreckage found five days later about 500 meters from the sunken ship.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The loss of five lives was preventable,” stated the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation in its report.

🎯IMPACT: The report identified eight primary causal factors, including negligence, regulatory failures, and a lack of proper oversight, raising concerns about future submersible operations.

IN FULL

A damning report by the U.S. Coast Guard has revealed that a “toxic workplace culture” and negligence at OceanGate contributed to the implosion of the Titan submersible on June 18, 2023. The tragedy claimed the lives of five individuals during a mission to explore the wreck of the Titanic.

The victims included Stockton Rush, the founder of OceanGate and operator of the Titan, along with Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman, British adventurer Hamish Harding, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet. The submersible’s wreckage was discovered five days after it went missing, approximately 500 meters from the Titanic.

The 335-page report from the Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) concluded that “the loss of five lives was preventable” and identified eight primary causal factors behind the incident. These included OceanGate’s flawed design and testing processes, a lack of proper inspections, and the continued use of the Titan despite prior incidents compromising its structural integrity.

In addition, the report also highlighted OceanGate’s “toxic workplace culture,” insufficient regulatory frameworks for novel submersible designs, and an ineffective whistleblower process. Investigators noted that Stockton Rush “exhibited negligence that contributed to the deaths of four individuals” and may have been subject to potential criminal liability. The National Pulse previously reported that Rush prioritized diversity over experience when putting together crews. “When I started business… other sub operators [were] out there but they typically [had] gentlemen who are ex-military submariners… a whole bunch of 50-year-old white guys,” he said during a 2020 interview.

Lead investigator Thomas Whalen and marine board chairman Jason Neubauer wrote, “By strategically creating and exploiting regulatory confusion and oversight challenges, OceanGate was ultimately able to operate Titan completely outside of the established deep-sea protocols.” The absence of third-party oversight and experienced staff during the 2023 operations was cited as a critical factor leading to the catastrophic event.

Image by Roderick Eime

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Texas Voter ID Law Upheld at Appeals Court.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A federal appeals court upheld a Texas law requiring voters using mail-in ballots to include a state ID number or partial Social Security number.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge James Ho, and the state of Texas.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued Monday, impacting Texas election laws.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Mail-in ballots are not secure.” – Judge James Ho

🎯IMPACT: The decision reinforces Texas’s voter ID requirements and aligns with prior rulings emphasizing election integrity.

IN FULL
On Monday, Texas saw a significant election integrity win as a federal appeals court affirmed a state statute mandating that voters submitting mail-in ballots must provide a state ID number or a portion of their Social Security number. A panel of three judges unanimously overturned a lower court’s ruling, determining that the provision does not infringe upon the Civil Rights Act of 1964, since it is relevant to verifying voter eligibility.
In the unanimous decision penned by Judge James Ho, he declared, “Mail-in ballots are not secure,” citing insights from Veasey v. Perry, which evolved into Veasey v. Abbott. The litigation emphasized that “mail-in ballot fraud is a significant threat,” an issue previously affirmed by the Fifth Circuit in earlier decisions.

Ho elaborated in the opinion that the ID number mandate is “obviously designed to confirm that each mail-in ballot voter is precisely who he claims he is.” He further noted that this stipulation is clearly pertinent to assessing voter eligibility according to state regulations. The court also followed the Third Circuit’s established ruling, which holds that materiality clauses are limited to evaluations of voter qualifications.

Although the plaintiffs contended that there was a lack of substantial proof demonstrating that the ID number rule would substantially curb voter fraud, Texas countered this view. “Our precedents compel us to side with Texas. We have made clear that states have a legitimate interest in combating voter fraud, and thus enjoy ‘considerable discretion in deciding what is an adequate level of effectiveness to serve [their] important interests in voter integrity,’” Ho stated.

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Oversight Committee Issues Subpoenas to Clintons and Trump’s DOJ in Epstein Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The House Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas to Bill and Hillary Clinton, along with others, for testimony regarding Jeffrey Epstein.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Robert Mueller, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, William Barr, Alberto Gonzales, and Ghislaine Maxwell, among others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Subpoenas issued on Tuesday; appearances scheduled between August and October, including Maxwell’s delayed deposition pending Supreme Court review.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Democrats have now seized on this as if they ever wanted transparency when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein, which is an asinine suggestion for any Democrat to make.” – Karoline Leavitt

🎯IMPACT: The subpoenas aim to uncover details about Epstein’s connections and alleged crimes, though cooperation from those subpoenaed remains uncertain.

IN FULL

The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday issued a slew of subpoenas regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are among those receiving the summons to testify. Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) issued the subpoenas, which also targeted the Department of Justice (DOJ) for records related to Epstein’s case.

Other individuals subpoenaed include former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller, as well as ex-Attorneys General Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Bill Barr, and Alberto Gonzales. The subpoenas follow a vote by a subcommittee panel last month, which also included a decision to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s close associate, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear on October 9, while Bill Clinton’s testimony is set for October 14. Other key figures, including Barr, Lynch, and Mueller, have various deposition dates between August and October. Maxwell’s deposition has been delayed pending the Supreme Court’s decision on her petition to overturn her conviction.

The DOJ has been given an August 19 deadline to provide records related to Epstein’s case. However, questions remain about how much information will be uncovered and whether those subpoenaed will cooperate. Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, remains a controversial figure due to his connections to high-profile individuals.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Democrats for their recent focus on the case, stating, “Democrats have now seized on this as if they ever wanted transparency when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein, which is an asinine suggestion for any Democrat to make.” She added that President Trump directed an exhaustive review of Epstein-related files during his administration.

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By Popular Demand.
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California Plans to Cut 5 GOP House Seats Through Gerrymandering.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: California Democrats are proposing new political maps that could reduce five Republican-held House seats while strengthening Democratic margins in battleground districts.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), California’s Democratic congressional delegation, and Republican Representatives Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Kevin Kiley, David Valadao, and Doug LaMalfa.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was discussed on Monday in California, with a potential special election planned for the first week of November.

💬KEY QUOTE: “California will not sit by idly and watch this democracy waste away,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

🎯IMPACT: If approved, the new maps could increase Democratic seats in California from 43 to 48, further tipping the balance of the U.S. House in their favor.

IN FULL

California Democrats are advancing a draft proposal to redraw the state’s congressional district lines in a way that could significantly weaken Republican representation, while shoring up Democratic advantages in competitive regions. If enacted, the changes could increase the number of Democratic-held seats in California’s 52-member U.S. House delegation from 43 to 48.

Though the plan hasn’t been formally unveiled, it’s expected to target several Republican-controlled districts by reducing the number of conservative voters and boosting liberal turnout in those areas. Districts currently held by GOP Representatives Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Kevin Kiley, David Valadao, and Doug LaMalfa would be among those affected. On the other hand, seats held by Democrats Dave Min, Mike Levin, and Derek Tran would likely become more secure under the proposed boundaries.

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has indicated he’s prepared to move forward with the partisan redistricting effort, including calling a statewide vote on the matter. “California will not sit by idly and watch this democracy waste away,” Newsom said on August 4, underscoring his frustration with redistricting moves in other states, particularly Texas. He added that a special election could be scheduled for early November to allow voters to weigh in. Still, he emphasized he would reconsider if Texas Republicans paused their redistricting campaign.

This effort comes as a direct response to Texas Republicans’ push to reshape their state’s congressional map, which some claim is being done in favor of the GOP ahead of the 2026 elections. Democrat lawmakers tried to disrupt the process by fleeing the state to avoid voting on the redistricting plans. In response, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the arrest and return of any member caught abandoning their duties.

California’s proposal aims to counterbalance those moves by strengthening Democratic margins in politically mixed regions such as Orange County, San Diego County, and parts of the Central Valley.

Still, the redistricting push faces hurdles. State lawmakers must approve the plan, and voters, who previously opted to hand over redistricting responsibilities to an independent commission, may be wary of what they perceive as a return to partisan gerrymandering.

Image by Gage Skidmore. 

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Trump Says New Tariff Plan on Semiconductors Incoming.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced plans to unveil new tariffs on semiconductors and chips within the next week.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump during an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box. 

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 5, 2025, during an interview on CNBC.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re going to be announcing on semiconductors and chips, which is a separate category, because we want them made in the United States.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The tariffs aim to prioritize U.S. manufacturing of semiconductors and chips, potentially affecting global trade dynamics.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump says a new round of trade tariffs will be announced as early as next week. The new trade duties will focus on semiconductors as part of a broader effort to boost U.S. manufacturing, especially on the high-tech front.

“We’re going to be announcing on semiconductors and chips, which is a separate category, because we want them made in the United States,” Trump said during an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box. According to the America First leader, the announcement will likely come  “within the next week or so.”

Trump emphasized that the tariff plans are still ongoing and that the semiconductor and chip tariffs represent a distinct focus on bolstering domestic manufacturing. The announcement follows an executive order Trump signed recently imposing new U.S. tariff rates on imports from around seventy countries. These trade duties will take effect on Thursday.

Already, a number of nations are scrambling to strike a trade deal with the Trump White House before the Thursday deadline, including Switzerland, which faces one of the highest rates, 39 percent, set to be imposed.

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