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Monday, June 30, 2025

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May 2, 2025
William Upton
Economy

Jobs Report Beats Expectations for Second Straight Month, Indicating Trump Economy Remains Strong.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The U.S. added 177,000 jobs this April, beating employment forecasts for a second consecutive month. Notably, April saw significant job growth across several key economic sectors, with construction employment increasing for the third straight month. The transportation and warehousing, leisure and hospitality, and private education and health services industries also saw significant employment growth.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Department of Labor, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, various economists, and business figures.

📍 Where & When: The jobs numbers were released by the U.S. Department of Labor on Friday, May 2, and cover data from the month of April 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Gasoline just broke $1.98 a Gallon, lowest in years, groceries (and eggs!) down, energy down, mortgage rates down, employment strong, and much more good news, as Billions of Dollars pour in from Tariffs. Just like I said, and we’re only in a TRANSITION STAGE, just getting started!!!” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

⚠️ Impact: Labor force participation increased, real average hourly wages rose nearly four percent over the past year, and the federal government reduced jobs for the third month in a row. Additionally, the unemployment rate—currently near historic lows—remained unchanged at 4.2 percent.

IN FULL:

The U.S. Department of Labor announced that 177,000 new jobs were created in April, surpassing market expectations once again. This marks the second month in a row the report has shown stronger-than-expected job growth, with the Trump White House touting the data as evidence that the America First leader’s economic policies aimed at revitalizing the American labor market are working.

“Gasoline just broke $1.98 a Gallon, lowest in years, groceries (and eggs!) down, energy down, mortgage rates down, employment strong, and much more good news, as Billions of Dollars pour in from Tariffs. Just like I said, and we’re only in a TRANSITION STAGE, just getting started!!!” President Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform Friday morning. He added, “Consumers have been waiting for years to see pricing come down. NO INFLATION, THE FED SHOULD LOWER ITS RATE!!!”

April’s jobs numbers contradict the narrative pushed by the corporate media and Wall Street, which contend that President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on foreign imports will lead to layoffs, a declining economy, and even a potential recession. Notably, last month’s hirings surpassed the 12-month average of 152,000 jobs.

According to the data, several industries expected to see immediate negative impacts from the tariffs actually added jobs in April. Private education and health services saw over 70,000 new jobs created, while transportation and warehousing saw nearly 30,000. Additionally, the leisure and hospitality industry added over 24,000 jobs, and professional and business services added 17,000.

“This is the second month in a row where the jobs report has beat expectations. Wages are continuing to rise and labor force participation is increasing. This is exactly what we want to see. More Americans working for higher wages. More winning is on the way,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said after the report was released.

By Popular Demand.
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7 minutes ago
William Upton
Politics

Here’s Where the Big Beautiful Bill Currently Stands.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ is entering the homestretch toward passage in the United States Senate after narrowly clearing a procedural vote this past weekend. Once adopted by the upper chamber, the legislation will face a final vote in the House before heading to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats, and House Republicans.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Senate vote-a-rama on amendments began Monday, June 30, at 9:00 AM, and a vote on final passage is expected late tonight. The House is expected to vote on adopting the Senate changes on Wednesday, July 2.

🎯IMPACT: While the budget reconciliation bill is entering the homestretch, several hurdles remain, which could derail the legislation or delay its passage beyond July 4—President Trump’s deadline for the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ to land on his desk.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill‘ is entering the homestretch toward passage in the United States Senate after narrowly clearing a procedural vote this past weekend. The budget reconciliation bill, which enacts much of Trump’s domestic policy agenda, sat in limbo for several hours on Saturday as Senate Republican leadership and Vice President J.D. Vance worked to hammer out last-minute compromises to attain the 51 votes on a motion to proceed. Notably, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Rand Paul (R-KY) both voted with Democrats against the measure. At the same time, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) eventually switched his vote from “No” after protracted talks with Vance and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), giving the bill the support it needed to clear the procedural hurdle.

Typically, after legislation clears the “motion to proceed” hurdle, the Senate swiftly moves to debate and amendments. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) used a procedural motion to force the entire 900-page-plus bill to be read aloud by the Senate clerk, which—along with the Democrats’ 10 hours of debate time—took up much of Sunday.

As of 9:00 AM on Monday, the Senate had finally moved to the amendment phase before a vote on final passage. Under usual circumstances, the “vote-a-rama” is a highly orchestrated process tightly controlled by Senate leadership. However, the current vote-a-rama is being described as a far more “fluid” process with a number of key compromises and amendments enacting significant changes expected to be brought to the floor. Each amendment receives a 10-minute voting period. Should any of the compromise amendments or other modifications fail, it could erode support for President Trump’s signature legislation—as it only cleared the “motion to proceed” by a single vote.

Sens. Tillis and Paul appear poised to vote with Senate Democrats against the bill once again. However, the Republican duo may be joined by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who has indicated that while she supported the “motion to proceed,” she remains undecided on voting for passage. Concerningly, the combination of Tillis, Paul, and Collins would leave the Senate evenly split on the legislation, meaning Vice President Vance would be required to break the tie. Should the adoption or rejection of an amendment alienate any other Republican vote, Senate Republicans could face the very real possibility of losing majority support for the legislation. Barring any erosion in Republican support, the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ should see a vote on final passage late this evening—possibly as late as midnight.

Once adopted by the Senate, the budget reconciliation legislation will return to the House of Representatives, which will need to vote on it again to adopt the changes made to its text in the Senate. A notice from House Republican leadership, issued late Sunday, recalled lawmakers to Washington, D.C. for an expected vote on Wednesday, with Tuesday being reserved for the bill’s reading. Here again, the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ could face headwinds if members of the House Freedom Caucus or the New York Republican delegation balk at the Senate changes. However, lawmakers will likely be under intense pressure from the Trump White House to drop any opposition and back the bill.

President Trump has repeatedly stated that he expected the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ to clear Congress and be on his desk by July 4 for his signature. Barring any significant conflicts in the Senate today or in the House on Wednesday, the bill should land on Trump’s desk with about 24 hours to spare before the July 4 holiday.

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By Popular Demand.
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42 minutes ago
Health
Science

NIH Funded Hundreds of Genetically Engineered COVID Variants.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A peer-reviewed study revealed that U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded researchers created over 200 synthetic SARS-CoV-2 constructs using genetic engineering.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, funded by NIH grants, conducted the study.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Published January 15, 2025, in the journal Science Advances, research conducted in federally regulated BSL-3 labs.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We generated genetically BC [barcoded] SARS-CoV-2 viruses… We pooled >200 BC viruses and WT-D614G based on equal infectious viral titers,” the study stated.

🎯IMPACT: The study raises concerns about taxpayer-funded research creating transmissibility-enhanced pathogens despite the experience of the Wuhan virus pandemic.

IN FULL

A peer-reviewed study published earlier this year confirms that the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded researchers to create over 200 synthetic versions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These were developed using lab-based genetic engineering to construct novel entities not found in nature.

The study, published on January 15, 2025, in the journal Science Advances, was conducted at Washington University School of Medicine and supported by multiple NIH grants. The research team employed a reverse genetics system to assemble genetic material and created a pool of over 200 genetically barcoded versions of the virus, each carrying a unique tracking barcode.

The authors confirmed that these synthetic constructs do not resemble any naturally occurring SARS-CoV-2 lineage. “We generated genetically BC [barcoded] SARS-CoV-2 viruses… We pooled >200 BC viruses and WT-D614G based on equal infectious viral titers,” the study explained. The work adhered to NIH biosafety protocols and was carried out in federally regulated BSL-3 biocontainment labs.

Additionally, these constructs were engineered to include the D614G spike mutation, a genetic alteration associated with increased transmissibility in humans and animals. The study notes, “We also introduced a D614G mutation in the Spike gene of SARS-CoV-2.” This mutation has been linked to gain-of-function traits, enhancing the pathogen’s ability to bind to host cells and sustain transmission.

While researchers framed the project as a tool to study viral transmission, the creation of transmissibility-enhanced constructs raises serious safety questions. The COVID-19 pandemic is widely believed to have been caused by a leak following similar research at a lab in Wuhan, China.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
News

Two Firefighters Have Been Killed in a ‘Sniper Fire’ Ambush.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Firefighters responding to a blaze on Canfield Mountain in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, came under “active sniper fire,” resulting in at least two deaths.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Firefighters, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, and an unidentified suspect armed with a high-powered rifle.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident began around 1:21 PM local time on Sunday, June 29, on Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area in North Idaho.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We do believe the suspect started the fire, it was an ambush, and it was totally intentional. This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance,” Sheriff Bob Norris said.

🎯IMPACT: After a standoff lasting around 90 minutes, cell phone data suggested the shooter was no longer moving on the mountain, and he was discovered to be deceased by law enforcement. It remains unclear whether police killed the man or if he took his own life.

IN FULL

Authorities in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, took “active sniper fire” for nearly two hours after firefighters responded to a call reporting a fire on Canfield Mountain. At least two firefighters were killed, and one was critically injured. Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris stated the fire was reported at 1:21 PM local time, and shots were fired at first responders around 2 PM. After a lengthy standoff, law enforcement discovered the body of a man believed to have been the suspect, though it is unclear whether the police killed the suspect or if he took his own life.

“We do believe the suspect started the fire, it was an ambush, and it was totally intentional,” Norris said. “This was a total ambush,” Sheriff Norris said, adding: “These firefighters did not have a chance.” Law enforcement from local, state, and federal agencies responded to the scene, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dispatching a helicopter for aerial support.

Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Thank God it’s over. It’s so tragic,” Kootenai County Commissioner Bruce Mattare said late Sunday, adding, “The people we lost were absolutely top-notch professionals. It’s unheard of for something like this to happen in this community. People are still trying to process exactly what happened.”

The shooter’s identity remains unclear, and law enforcement continues to work the crime scene, gathering evidence before it is damaged or destroyed by fire. At this time, it is believed the suspect acted alone. The brush fire, believed to have been started by the suspect, has subsequently spread to about 20 acres and remains uncontained.

Image by Brandon Anderson.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
News

One of Zohran Mamdani’s Spiritual Leaders Just Issued a Fatwa Against Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A senior Iranian cleric, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, issued a fatwa declaring anyone who threatens Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an “enemy of God” in a de facto call to assassinate U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The fatwa was reported by Iran’s Mehr News Agency amid ongoing tensions following a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Any person or regime that threatens the Leader or Marja (May God forbid) is considered an enemy of God.” – Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi.

🎯IMPACT: The fatwa could escalate tensions between Iran and the U.S., with Shirazi, 98, potentially becoming subject to a targeted strike himself.

IN FULL

Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has issued a fatwa declaring that anyone who threatens Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a “Muharib,” i.e. “an enemy of God” and his messengers, according to state media reports. The fatwa specifically named U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, in response to their recent statements during heightened tensions. Notably, a “Muharib” is subject to the death penalty.

Shirazi, a senior leader in Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s sect of Shia Islam, issued the fatwa in response to an Estefta (formal query). Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that Shirazi, who helped to draft Iran’s constitution following the Islamic Revolution, called on Muslims worldwide “to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes.” The 98-year-old cleric emphasized that supporting such “enemies” is considered “haram” (forbidden) under Islamic law.

The declaration follows a 12-day war between Israel and Iran, during which President Trump said he knew Khamenei’s location and described him as an “easy target.” The fatwa comes despite Trump having stressed that he personally intervened to save Khamenei from an “ugly and ignominious death” at the hands of the Israeli military.

Khosro K. Isfahani, a senior research analyst at the National Union for Democracy in Iran, commented on X, formerly Twitter, that the fatwa is significant for having “directly named Trump.” He highlighted its similarity to previous fatwas that have resulted in violent outcomes.

Image via Tasnim News Agency.

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By Popular Demand.
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June 27, 2025
Crime
News

‘Anti-Natalist’ Fertility Clinic Bomber’s Accomplice Kills Himself in Prison.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Daniel Jongyon Park, accused of aiding an “anti-natalist,” “anti-pro-life” extremist who bombed a fertility clinic, died after reportedly jumping from a high balcony inside a prison facility.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Daniel Jongyon Park, Guy Edward Bartkus, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Park died in custody on June 24; the bombing occurred on May 17 at the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Bringing chaos and violence to a facility that exists to help women and mothers is a particularly cruel, disgusting crime that strikes at the very heart of our shared humanity.” – Attorney General Pam Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: The explosion destroyed the clinic, injured people, and highlighted the potential risks of domestic terrorism and extreme “anti-pro-life” ideology.

IN FULL

Daniel Jongyon Park, the alleged accomplice of the Palm Springs fertility bomber, reportedly died by suicide after jumping from a high balcony inside a prison facility. Park, who was accused of supplying chemicals to the Palm Springs fertility clinic bomber, Guy Edward Bartkus, was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at a hospital on June 24.

Bartkus died in the initial May 17 explosion outside the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in California. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the incident as an intentional act of terrorism, motivated by extreme “pro-mortalism, anti-natalism, and anti-pro-life ideology.”

Authorities said Park shipped 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate to Bartkus in January and another 90 pounds just days before the explosion.

The blast destroyed much of the clinic and shattered nearby windows. However, no embryos were harmed. Park, 33, was arrested on June 3 at JFK Airport and faced up to 15 years in federal prison for providing material support to Bartkus. The FBI’s Akil Davis said investigators found “an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing” in Park’s home.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a statement following Park’s arrest, said, “This defendant is charged with facilitating the horrific attack on a fertility center in California. Bringing chaos and violence to a facility that exists to help women and mothers is a particularly cruel, disgusting crime that strikes at the very heart of our shared humanity.”

“I just wanted to say, your god definitely doesn’t exist, but if he did, I’d choose satan over your evil god. Did you ever think that maybe the bible is just slander against satan, and that satan just realized what a f***ing creep your god is?” Bartkus said in his written manifesto.

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By Popular Demand.
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June 27, 2025
News
TECH

Euro Nation Urges Apple, Google to Block China’s DeepSeek AI.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: German authorities are pressuring Apple and Google to consider removing the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI_ app DeepSeek from their app stores over privacy concerns.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Germany, the European Union (EU), DeepSeek, China, Apple, Google.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Meike Kamp, called on the Big Tech corporations to take action this week.

🎯IMPACT: DeepSeek faces removal from another European country after Italy removed the app earlier this year, also due to privacy concerns.

IN FULL

Germany is urging tech giants Apple and Google to block access to the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek from app stores over concerns regarding user privacy. Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Meike Kamp alleges that DeepSeek transfers users’ personal data to Communist China, violating European Union (EU) data protection regulations.

Kamp claims that DeepSeek did not supply her office with sufficient evidence that the app conforms to EU privacy laws, warning, “Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies.”

German authorities now demand that DeepSeek either conform to EU data privacy laws or remove the app from the German market entirely. So far, DeepSeek has refused to take any action, Kamp claims. Other EU member states, like Italy, have made similar demands to DeepSeek and blocked the app from app stores in their countries.

DeepSeek is not the only Chinese app to be accused of violating user privacy. As early as 2021, the Netherlands sued TikTok for violating children’s privacy. In 2023, European regulators fined the company an additional $368 million, again for violating privacy laws.

The United States has long considered banning TikTok due to its links with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), passing legislation mandating that Chinese parent company ByteDance divest in order for it to keep doing business in the country.

President Donald J. Trump has delayed the ban while negotiations to sell the company remain ongoing.

Image by Abdelrahman Ahmed.

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By Popular Demand.
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June 27, 2025
War
World

WATCH: Trump Admin Oversees Signing of African Peace Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement aiming to end ongoing conflict and displacement in the region.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The governments of Rwanda and Congo, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and President Donald J. Trump’s administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The agreement was signed on Friday at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They were going at it for many years, and with machetes—it is one of the worst, one of the worst wars that anyone has ever seen. And I just happened to have somebody that was able to get it settled,” – Donald Trump.

🎯IMPACT: The deal includes a 90-day timeline for Rwandan troop withdrawal and a framework for regional economic integration and mineral trade.

IN FULL

A U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo was signed on Friday with the aim of ending a conflict that has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands this year. The Trump administration facilitated the agreement.

The foreign ministers of both nations signed the agreement at a ceremony overseen by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The deal outlines a 90-day timeline for Rwandan troops to withdraw from eastern Congo and commits both countries to launching a regional economic framework within the same period.

President Donald J. Trump commented on the agreement, emphasizing the severity of the conflict and his administration’s role in brokering peace. “They were going at it for many years, and with machetes—it is one of the worst, one of the worst wars that anyone has ever seen. And I just happened to have somebody that was able to get it settled,” Trump said.

He also highlighted economic benefits for the United States, noting, “We’re getting, for the United States, a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it. They’re so honored to be here. They never thought they’d be coming.”

The Congo is a key source of critical minerals, particularly cobalt, accounting for around 60 percent of supplies worldwide.

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By Popular Demand.
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June 27, 2025
William Upton
Crime
Media

Another Washington Post Journalist Has Been Arrested for Child Porn.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Thomas Pham LeGro, a Pulitzer Prize-winning video journalist with The Washington Post, has been arrested and charged by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with possession of child pornography.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Thomas Pham LeGro, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the DOJ, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

📍WHEN & WHERE: LeGro was arrested on Thursday, June 26, and appeared in federal court on Friday, June 27, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: The FBI found on LeGro’s work laptop a folder with “11 videos depicting child sexual abuse material.”

🎯IMPACT: LeGro is just the latest Washington Post employee to be charged with possession of child pornography. Earlier this year, the newspaper’s anti-Trump cartoonist, Darrin Bell, was also arrested on child porn allegations.

IN FULL

A Pulitzer Prize-winning video journalist with The Washington Post has been arrested and charged by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with possession of child pornography. Thomas Pham LeGro appeared on Friday in a U.S. District Court after the charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

The Washington Post journalist, who serves as the Jeff Bezos-owned newspaper’s Deputy Director of Video, was taken into custody by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on Thursday, June 26, following a raid on his residence. Inside LeGro’s home, the FBI found a work laptop which—upon examination—was discovered to contain a folder with “11 videos depicting child sexual abuse material.” Additionally, “agents observed what appeared to be fractured pieces of a hard drive in the hallway outside the room where LeGro’s work laptop was found.”

Notably, LeGro was part of a team of journalists at The Washington Post that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for their coverage of the U.S. Senate race in Alabama, which saw former state Supreme Court Justice and Republican candidate Roy Moore accused of sexually assaulting several women when they were underage. Moore denied the sexual assault allegations, though he acknowledged he may have dated teenagers when he was in his late twenties and early thirties.

This is not the first Washington Post journalist to face allegations of concerning behavior regarding legal minors. Disgraced former WaPo reporter Taylor Lorenz is also accused of inappropriately interacting with teenagers on social media, often featuring them in her stories. In January of this year, the newspaper’s anti-Trump cartoonist, Darrin Bell, was also arrested on child porn allegations. Investigators discovered 134 videos of child sex abuse material (CSAM) on an account Bell is linked to, along with AI-generated child pornography.

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June 27, 2025
Politics

NYC’s Mamdani Wants Higher Taxes for ‘Whiter Neighborhoods.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the far-left Democratic Party nominee in New York City’s mayoral race, has proposed shifting the city’s property tax burden to “whiter” neighborhoods.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN), New York billionaire Bill Ackman, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Mamdani’s policy memo was released ahead of New York City’s general mayoral election in November.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Shift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighborhoods.” – Zohran for New York City policy memo.

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani’s plans have drawn criticism from Republicans, moderates, and business leaders, with efforts underway to prevent his election.

IN FULL

Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the Muslim extremist Democratic nominee in New York City’s mayoral race, has proposed a controversial plan to “[s]hift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighborhoods.” His policy memo claims that the city’s current system favors homeowners in gentrifying areas, and he aims to raise taxes on properties more likely to be owned by affluent white people so he can lower them in lower-income neighborhoods. He is himself a Ugandan immigrant of Indian heritage, only becoming an American citizen in 2018.

Mamdani has also advocated for other radical measures, including city-owned grocery stores, defunding the police, and abolishing prisons. His proposals have sparked backlash from Republicans and moderates nationwide.

Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) has been particularly critical of Mamdani, even calling for him to be stripped of his American citizenship if it turns out he failed to disclose terrorist sympathies during his naturalization process. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Ogles accused Mamdani of expressing support for individuals linked to Hamas, stating, “Zohran ‘little muhammad’ Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York.”

Billionaire Bill Ackman has pledged significant financial resources to prevent Mamdani’s election. “There are hundreds of millions of dollars of capital available to back a competitor to Mamdani that can be put together overnight,” said Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital.

Mamdani, who defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in a surprising Democratic primary upset, will now face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, in November’s general election.

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By Popular Demand.
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June 27, 2025
News
War

Defending Israel Has Depleted America’s Anti-Missile Arsenal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. deployed a significant portion of its advanced THAAD anti-missile system to Israel during its 12-day conflict with Iran, which included strikes on nuclear facilities and retaliatory Iranian missile strikes.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The United States, Israel, Iran, and Iranian proxy groups such as Yemen’s Houthis.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The conflict occurred in June 2025, primarily in Israel and Iran.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Neither the U.S. nor the Israelis can continue to sit and intercept missiles all day… we cannot afford to sit and play catch.” – Tom Karako, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. used an estimated 15-20 percent of its global THAAD stockpile, costing over $800 million, and raising concerns about future readiness and supply chain challenges.

IN FULL

During the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, the U.S. deployed a significant portion of its Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system to bolster Israel’s defenses. The conflict included strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and retaliatory Iranian missile launches targeting Israeli cities.

The THAAD system, developed by Lockheed Martin, is critical for intercepting short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Unlike the Patriot system, it covers a larger area and comprises a launcher, interceptor, radar, and fire control unit. However, during the conflict, the THAAD system failed to intercept Houthi missiles on at least two occasions, with one missile striking near Tel Aviv‘s Ben Gurion International Airport.

Reports indicate that the U.S. used 15-20 percent of its global THAAD missile stockpile during the conflict, incurring costs exceeding $800 million. A single THAAD interceptor costs between $12 and $15 million. The deployment has raised concerns about the readiness of U.S. missile defense systems for future conflicts.

Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), commented on the situation, saying, “Neither the U.S. nor the Israelis can continue to sit and intercept missiles all day. The Israelis and their friends need to move with all deliberate haste to do whatever needs to be done, because we cannot afford to sit and play catch.”

As a result of the conflict, the U.S. will need to urgently restock its THAAD interceptors. This is not only vital for Israel but also for other regions where such systems may be required, including the Middle East, the Pacific, and Europe.

During the conflict, a similar report claimed that Israel had also begun to run low on ballistic missile interceptors. The report came shortly before both Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire.

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