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Thursday, July 10, 2025

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19 hours ago
News
TECH

Musk’s Grok AI Adopts ‘MechaHitler’ Persona.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Grok, posted anti-Semitic content and referred to itself as “MechaHitler” on the X platform (formerly Twitter), prompting action from xAI engineers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, xAI engineers, and users of the X platform who interacted with Grok.

📍WHEN & WHERE: July 8, 2023, on the X platform.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts.” – xAI statement

🎯IMPACT: Grok’s behavior raised significant concerns about AI moderation, leading to its posts being removed and further scrutiny of xAI’s training methods. Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, resigned following the “MechaHitler” episode, although a direct link has not been confirmed.

IN FULL

Grok, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot integrated into the X platform (formerly Twitter), has ignited widespread controversy after it posted a series of anti-Semitic messages. Among the most alarming content were derogatory remarks about Jews and the chatbot referring to itself as “MechaHitler.”

Following the incident, engineers at xAI, the company behind Grok, responded with a public statement: “We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts.” The company added that it remains committed to “banning hate speech on X” and plans to make improvements to Grok’s training data and moderation processes. Grok itself is currently claiming its “MechaHitler arc” was “satirical.”

Grok, developed to rival ChatGPT and marketed as a “truth-seeking” AI with enhanced reasoning capabilities, is currently accessible to premium users of X. Its name is derived from the term “grok,” first introduced in Robert A. Heinlein’s 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land, which means to understand something deeply and intuitively.

Coinciding with the fallout from Grok’s behavior, X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigned on July 9. Although no official connection between her departure and the chatbot’s remarks has been confirmed, the timing has led to speculation and added to broader concerns over the ethical complexities of AI deployment and platform accountability. However, WarRoom host and former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon believes the resignation is tied to Yaccarino’s inability to rein in Musk’s antics more generally.

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32 minutes ago
William Upton
Crime

Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Fires Lawyer, Wants to Represent Himself.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ryan Wesley Routh, who attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump late last year, informed a federal court that he has fired his attorney and is requesting to represent himself.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ryan Routh, federal prosecutors, a U.S. federal court, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The court was informed of Routh’s decision on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

🎯IMPACT: It remains to be seen whether the court will deem Routh competent enough to represent himself. The 59-year-old faces serious consequences should he be found guilty, as attempting to assassinate a president can carry a sentence of life in prison or even the death penalty.

IN FULL

Would-be presidential assassin Ryan Wesley Routh announced in court on Thursday that he has fired his attorney and is requesting that he be allowed to represent himself. Routh is currently facing five federal charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty, stemming from a September 2024 attempt on President Donald J. Trump’s life. The federal trial is currently slated to begin on September 8, 2025, with Routh facing state charges as well.

Last year, Routh was discovered by the United States Secret Service (USSS) hiding with a SKS-style rifle amidst shrubbery on the edge of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. At the time, Trump was just several hundred yards away playing a round of golf. After spotting Routh positioned in cover with a rifle, a Secret Service agent performing an advance sweep, several holes ahead of Trump, fired four shots at the would-be assassin, causing him to flee the scene. Subsequently, Routh was pursued by law enforcement in a high-speed chase in which a six-year-old girl was nearly killed. He was apprehended some time later in Marin County, Florida, after causing a multi-car crash on a highway, which nearly resulted in the death of the young girl.

The 59-year-old Routh’s attempt to assassinate Trump appears to have been inspired by the former’s obsession with supporting Ukraine. The would-be assassin appears to have been deeply involved with efforts to send Afghanistan military veterans to Ukraine to assist in the country’s defense against Russia Additionally, federal prosecutors have produced a letter authored by Routh in which he pledges a six-figure cash bounty on President Trump, with the text also suggesting that he was likely inspired by the anti-Trump rhetoric pushed by the Democratic Party.

A separate November 2024 letter authored by Routh and sent to the media indicates that President Trump’s firm stance against Iran’s nuclear weapons program and sponsorship of terrorism was a secondary motivation for the assassination attempt. Notably, Iran has repeatedly threatened the life of Trump and other government officials in retaliation for a January 3, 2020, drone strike, which killed Iranian Quds Forces commander Qasem Soleimani.

It remains to be seen whether the court will deem Routh competent enough to represent himself. The 59-year-old faces serious consequences should he be found guilty of the federal charges. Attempting to assassinate a president can carry a sentence of life in prison or even the death penalty.

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1 hour ago
Immigration

Hispanic Support for Trump’s Deportations Is Surging.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll shows Hispanic voter support for deportations has surged by 11 percent in just two months.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The poll was conducted by Cygnal, and it surveyed 1,500 people. The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have also been central to recent deportation efforts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The survey was conducted between July 1 and 2, 2025, as ICE continues nationwide raids and deportations.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.” – Tricia McLaughlin

🎯IMPACT: Support for deportations among Hispanic voters has risen significantly despite pro-illegal immigrant riots in cities across the U.S.

IN FULL

Support for President Donald J. Trump’s mass deportation policies has surged among Hispanic voters, according to a poll conducted by Cygnal. The survey, which polled 1,500 people between July 1 and 2, 2025, revealed an 11 percent rise in strong support for deportations among Hispanic voters since May.

The findings coincide with a series of nationwide raids and deportations carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These operations have targeted migrants living in the U.S. illegally, many with serious criminal records.

Since May, overall support for deportations among Hispanic voters has increased by seven percent, with an 11 percent rise in those who “strongly support” them.

The poll found that over 60 percent of all voters now support the deportation of illegal immigrants. Among Hispanic voters, 50 percent expressed support, with 48 percent opposed. Support among black voters stood at 53 percent, while support among white voters stood at 65 percent. This is despite pro-illegal immigrant riots and potentially deadly attacks on ICE in cities across the U.S., accompanied by highly inflammatory anti-ICE rhetoric from senior Democrats.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated: “We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”

Meanwhile, illegals who decline this offer and take their chances evading ICE will face fines of $1,000 a day, and be deported forcibly—possibly to a country other than their own, such as El Salvador.

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2 hours ago
War

Zelensky’s D.C. Ambassador, Accused of Pro-Democrat Election Interference, Is OUT.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova is set to leave her post in Washington, D.C.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Markarova’s departure was announced on Wednesday during a broadcast on Ukrainian radio.

💬KEY QUOTE: “She is extremely effective and charismatic, but every diplomat has a rotation cycle,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

🎯IMPACT: Markarova’s tenure has been marked by accusations of partisanship by Republican lawmakers. She was present in the Oval Office when Zelensky started a blazing row with Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald J. Trump.

IN FULL

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry confirmed this week that Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, is set to return to Kiev, supposedly as part of a routine diplomatic rotation. The decision comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly seeks to inject new energy into U.S.–Ukraine relations, which have been strained since President Donald J. Trump returned to office with the goal of securing a compromise peace between Kiev and Moscow.

Deputy Head of Zelensky’s Presidential Office and newly appointed Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha addressed the transition in a Ukrainian radio interview on Wednesday. “Ambassador Markarova has served with exceptional dedication and charisma. However, all diplomats follow scheduled rotations,” Sybiha suggested.

Markarova’s departure comes after a series of political controversies. Chief among them was a September 2024 visit to a munitions manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania, where Markarova was joined by Democratic Party leaders. The event drew criticism from Republicans who said they were deliberately excluded. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) accused the ambassador of partisanship, calling the visit “election interference” due to its location in a key battleground state and its association with Democratic figures close to Vice President Kamala Harris. In a letter to President Zelensky, Johnson alleged the visit was “intentionally partisan” and said it undermined trust in Markarova’s ability to serve as an impartial diplomat.

“The absence of any Republican invitees from such a high-profile event raises serious concerns,” Johnson wrote. “It was clearly political, and such actions damage the credibility of Ukraine’s diplomatic representation.”

Following President Trump’s reelection and inauguration, Marakova was present during the infamous Oval Office clash between Zelensky, President Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance in February. She was photographed with her head in her hands as Vance and then Trump admonished Zelensky for his ingratitude and seeming disinterest in making peace, after the Ukrainian leader had made a point of attempting to undermine the Vice President in front of the press.

Image via U.S. Institute of Peace.

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3 hours ago
Health

The FDA Just Approved Moderna’s ‘Spikevax’ Jab for Babies and Young Children.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, for children aged 6 months to 11 years.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Moderna, the FDA, American children.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on Thursday.

🎯IMPACT: Moderna’s shares rose 2%, and the company plans to have its updated vaccine available for the 2025-26 season.

IN FULL

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given full approval to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, for children between the ages of 6 months and 11 years who are considered at higher risk of the disease. Previously, the vaccine was only accessible to pediatric groups under an emergency use authorization. This announcement has positively impacted Moderna’s market performance, with shares rising by two percent in premarket trading.

This follows Moderna facing scrutiny in the United Kingdom earlier this year, when it was fined nearly £44,000 (~$60,000) for unlawfully using incentives such as teddy bears to encourage children to participate in coronavirus vaccine trials in 2023.

The British complaints centered around advertisements published by Bradford Teaching Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, which aimed to recruit children aged 12 and over for trials of Moderna’s updated mRNA vaccine. These ads were targeted directly at children rather than their parents, promising certificates and teddy bears as rewards for participation.

Molly Kingsley, founder of the pro-children campaign group UsForThem, criticized this approach, stating, “For any pharmaceutical company to effectively bribe children with the offer of free teddy bears to take part in a trial of a product posing a degree of risk to the child is sinister and deeply unsavoury behaviour.”

The FDA has itself recently updated the warning labels on Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA coronavirus vaccines with new information on the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly in young males.

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3 hours ago
Immigration

John Kerry Admits ‘Trump Was Right’ on Strong Borders.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged that “Trump was right” on immigration during an interview, criticizing Democrats for neglecting border issues.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Kerry, President Donald J. Trump, former President Joe Biden, and Trump White House advisor Stephen Miller, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Kerry’s comments were made during a BBC interview.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The first thing any President should say—or anybody in public life—is without a border protected, you don’t have a nation.” – John Kerry

🎯IMPACT: The remarks highlight growing bipartisan concerns over immigration policies and border security, with Republicans emphasizing enforcement and Democrats facing internal criticism.

IN FULL

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has admitted that President Donald J. Trump was correct on border and immigration issues, stating, “Trump was right,” during an interview. He criticized Democrats for failing to address border security adequately, admitting the U.S.-Mexico border was “under siege” during Joe Biden’s presidency.

Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, remarked, “The first thing any President should say—or anybody in public life—is without a border protected, you don’t have a nation.” He added, “I wish President Biden had been heard more often saying, I’m going to enforce the law.”

Illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped to near-record lows during Trump’s second term. Trump has since prioritized deportations, particularly in Democrat-run cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where large populations of illegal immigrants reside.

Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and a key architect of Trump’s immigration policies, initially gave U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a target of at least 3,000 arrests a day. However, with ICE funding significantly increased with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Border Czar Tom Homan now hopes to hit 7,000 arrests a day.

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4 hours ago
News

Secret Service Suspends Six Agents Over Trump Shooting.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Six Secret Service agents were suspended without pay following critical security failures during an assassination attempt on President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, six Secret Service agents, shooter Thomas Crooks, and Deputy Director Matt Quinn.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The assassination attempt occurred at a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” said Deputy Director Matt Quinn, adding: “Butler was an operational failure and we are focused today on ensuring that it never happens again.”

🎯IMPACT: The suspensions are part of broader reforms, including deploying military-grade drones and new mobile command units, to prevent similar incidents.

IN FULL

The Secret Service suspended six agents without pay on Wednesday in response to critical security failures during last year’s assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The decision, confirmed by Deputy Director Matt Quinn in an interview with CBS News, comes nearly a year after a gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, opened fire as Trump spoke, striking the America First leader’s ear and seriously wounding two attendees, one of whom died.

Quinn described the suspensions, which range from 10 to 42 days, as part of a broader effort to address systemic issues. However, he defended the decision not to punish anybody in the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt, insisting, “We aren’t going to fire our way out of this.”

“We’re going to focus on the root cause and fix the deficiencies that put us in that situation,” he added.

Following their suspensions, each of the six agents will be reassigned to less critical roles. Quinn also noted that the agency has implemented significant reforms, including the deployment of military-grade drones and new mobile command units to ensure better coordination with local law enforcement.

The Butler incident, along with another foiled attempt weeks later in Florida, led to the resignation of then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, despite the fact she initially insisted she would stay in post. A December congressional report labeled the attack “tragic and preventable,” citing a catalogue of errors, including leadership and training deficiencies, as key factors.

“Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” Quinn admitted. “Butler was an operational failure.”

Image by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

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16 hours ago
Immigration
Politics

White House: Dems Are Inciting the Increasingly Violent Attacks on ICE.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Law enforcement officers involved in deportations are facing a spike in serious violence, with assaults on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents up 700 percent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE agents, Border Patrol officers, Democrat politicians, and far-left agitators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Serious attacks occurred in early July at ICE facilities in Texas and Oregon, as well as a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “ICE agents will be unsuccessful in protecting their identities no matter what it takes.” – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)

🎯IMPACT: The rhetoric from Democrat politicians is contributing to an increasingly dangerous environment for federal agents.

IN FULL

A series of violent incidents targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in recent days has drawn sharp condemnation from the Trump administration, which is blaming inflammatory rhetoric from Democratic leaders for encouraging the attacks.

According to the White House, assaults on ICE personnel have increased by nearly 700 percent in recent months. The administration points to a string of serious recent attacks, including an incident on July 4 in Alvarado, Texas, where 11 suspects were arrested for allegedly luring ICE officers into a sniper ambush. One police officer responding to the incident was shot in the neck during the confrontation.

That same day, in Portland, Oregon, federal agents were reportedly attacked with an incendiary device and physically assaulted at another ICE installation.

On July 7, a gunman fired dozens of rounds at law enforcement at a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, injuring two police officers and a Border Patrol staff member before being killed.

The administration cited recent remarks from several Democratic lawmakers as examples of rhetoric it claims may have inspired the attacks. Among them were comments from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who reportedly encouraged people to “fight” the Trump administration “in the streets” and stated that ICE agents “will be unsuccessful” in protecting their identities “no matter what it takes.”

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) was also singled out for calling ICE agents “deranged” and saying it was “inspiring” to obstruct immigration enforcement.

Minnesotta Governor and 2024 vice presidential candidate Tim Walz was noted as having smeared ICE agents as the “modern-day Gestapo,” a reference to the brutal German secret police under the Nazis. Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson also claimed ICE agents were “secret police” and “terrorizing our communities.”

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), currently being prosecuted for personally interfering with federal law enforcement, has said “we are at war” and told her supporters in Washington, D.C. to “shut down the city.”

The White House said the rise in attacks on law enforcement is a “direct consequence of dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric from Democrat politicians,” adding, “ICE agents risk their lives to secure our borders and protect our communities.”

Meanwhile, ICE continues to make arrests of dangerous illegal alien criminals, including child rapists and violent offenders. With a surge of new funding for immigration enforcement now that President Donald J. Trump has signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Border Czar Tom Homan is targeting as many as 7,000 arrests per day.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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17 hours ago
Crime
News

Judge Accused of Helping Illegal Alien Evade Arrest Can Stand Trial.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. magistrate judge ruled that a case can proceed against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of aiding an illegal immigrant in evading arrest.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Judge Hannah Dugan, illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph, and Dugan’s attorney Steven Biskupic.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The indictment was reported in May, and a nonbinding recommendation was issued Monday. The events took place in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A judge’s actions, even when done in her official capacity, does not bar criminal prosecution if the actions were done in violation of the criminal law,” wrote Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph.

🎯IMPACT: The case will proceed, raising questions about judicial immunity and the legality of Dugan’s actions.

IN FULL

A U.S. magistrate judge has ruled that criminal proceedings can continue against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is facing allegations of obstructing federal immigration authorities. The case centers on claims that Dugan assisted an illegal immigrant in evading arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to a two-page federal indictment, Dugan is accused of “obstructing a U.S. agency and concealing” Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal immigrant. Prosecutors allege she deliberately interfered with ICE’s efforts to detain Flores-Ruiz by hiding his whereabouts.

Dugan pleaded not guilty at a hearing in May. Her legal team has argued that the charges should be dismissed, claiming she is protected by judicial immunity for actions taken in her official role on the bench.

However, Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph, in a recent recommendation, declined to support dismissal of the case. She wrote, “A judge’s actions, even when done in her official capacity, does not bar criminal prosecution if the actions were done in violation of the criminal law.”

Judge Joseph also emphasized that it remains uncertain whether Dugan’s conduct falls outside the scope of her judicial responsibilities. She stated that this ambiguity “cannot be resolved through a motion to dismiss,” and therefore the case must continue through the court process.

Dugan’s attorney, Steven Biskupic, reacted to the decision and expressed dissatisfaction with the recommendation. “We are disappointed in the magistrate judge’s non-binding recommendation, and we will appeal it. This is only one step in what we expect will be a long journey to preserve the independence and integrity of our courts,” he said.

The recommendation is not final, but it allows the case to proceed while the legal process unfolds. A more decisive ruling will fall to a U.S. district judge, who will review Judge Joseph’s findings.

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18 hours ago
UK

Farage’s Reform Party Earns Major Defection.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Conservative (Tory) Party chairman Sir Jake Berry has defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, with the move widely seen as a significant setback for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sir Jake Berry, Nigel Farage, the Reform Party, and the Conservative Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Berry announced his defection in an interview with The Sun on July 9, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The old parties do not have what it takes to transform our country, to build a Britain we can believe in again.” – Sir Jake Berry

🎯IMPACT: The defection marks a significant blow to the Conservative Party and yet another boost for Farage’s Reform Party, which is increasingly displacing it on the British right.

IN FULL

Sir Jake Berry, a former Conservative (Tory) Party chairman, has announced his defection to Nigel Farage‘s Reform Party. Notably, Berry lost his parliamentary seat in 2024 when the Tories were displaced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, after 14 years in government.

In a video statement, Berry declared, “Britain is broken. We literally live in a country where you cannot walk down the street with a phone in your hand. We have taxes which are so sky-high the brightest and best are leaving our country in droves. At the same time, we have a benefits system that is bringing the world’s poor to our shores with no control.” He added, “The old parties do not have what it takes to transform our country, to build a Britain we can believe in again.”

The defection is a significant political scalp for Farage as the Brexit leader continues to build political momentum in the United Kingdom. Polling has consistently shown the Reform Party running ahead of the Conservatives and within striking distance of toppling Labour. In May, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that Farage and his Reform Party are now Labour’s main rivals for power, breaking a century of two-party dominance in London.

Berry’s move follows other notable defections to Reform, including former Tory Members of Parliament (MPs) Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Marco Longhi, Ann Marie Morris, and ex-Cabinet minister David Jones. Earlier this month, rock legend Rod Stewart also endorsed Farage’s Reform Party.

Berry expressed confidence in Farage’s leadership, stating, “It is only Reform and Nigel Farage who can deliver a Britain we can be proud of again.” He vowed to “spend every day” working towards forming the next government under Reform.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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18 hours ago
News
Religion

Foreign-Born Bishop Lets Illegals Skip Church to Avoid ICE.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Mexico-born Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino, California, issued a decree excusing parishioners from their Sunday Mass obligations so they can avoid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bishop Alberto Rojas, Msgr. Gerard M. Lopez, and the Diocese of San Bernardino.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Diocese of San Bernardino, California; decree issued recently with no specific end date.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Those who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass… are dispensed from this obligation.” – Bishop Rojas

🎯IMPACT: The move absolves illegal immigrants from the obligation to attend Holy Mass, regarded by many faithful Catholics who are not breaking immigration laws as a slap in the face to their brethren in places like Africa and the Middle East, who often face active, violent persecution.

IN FULL

Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino in California has issued a decree excusing parishioners from their Sunday Mass obligation due to “potential immigration enforcement actions by civil authorities.” The decision, according to Mexico-born Rojas, was made under his authority in the Code of Canon Law, which allows a diocesan bishop to dispense the faithful from universal and particular disciplinary laws when it contributes to their spiritual good.

Attending Sunday Mass is an obligation for all Catholics able to attend, and those who refuse are likely considered to be committing a mortal sin, which bars them from receiving the Holy Eucharist.

Rojas stated, “Recognizing that fear of immigration enforcement, such as raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), may deter some members of our diocese from fulfilling the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation… and acknowledging that such fear constitutes a grave inconvenience that may impede the spiritual good of the faithful, I hereby decree the following…”

The decree specifies that members of the faithful who genuinely fear immigration enforcement actions and are unable to attend Mass are dispensed from the obligation “until such time as this decree is revoked or amended.” Rojas also encouraged alternative spiritual practices, such as personal prayer, reading Sacred Scripture, or participating in devotions like the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet. He suggested televised Mass as another option.

Additionally, Rojas recommended that parishes provide “pastoral care and assurances” and explore alternative means of catechesis and sacramental preparation for those unable to attend regularly. The decree’s duration and scope will remain in effect “until further notice or until such time as the circumstances necessitating this decree are sufficiently resolved.”

Such dispensations were also granted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many Bishops excusing parishioners from attending Holy Mass due to the risk of possible infection.

The move also comes after President Donald J. Trump defunded many Catholic charities in the United States that were receiving billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to help illegal immigrants.

Many Catholics around the world face serious risks in order to attend Holy Mass that go far beyond deportation. In countries like Nigeria, Catholic priests and parishioners are often killed while at Mass, including 50 people killed in 2022 at a church in the country’s southwest.

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