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August 19, 2025
Health
News

Doctors Defy Trump Admin, Push New COVID Shot for Kids.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended a new COVID-19 shot for children, diverging from federal government guidance for the first time in three decades.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The AAP, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and American children.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The AAP issued the guidelines two months after Secretary Kennedy overhauled the federal vaccine board.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them.” – AAP official Dr. James Campbell.

🎯IMPACT: The AAP’s decision has sparked debate over public health policies and vaccine guidelines.

IN FULL

For the first time in three decades, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a recommendation that diverges from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), endorsing a new COVID-19 vaccine for young children.

Dr. James Campbell, vice chairman of the AAP’s infectious diseases committee, addressed the shift, noting, “It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them.” The AAP’s alternative guidance promotes vaccinating children between just six months and two years old.

This follows a significant shake-up two months ago by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who restructured the federal vaccine advisory board. Kennedy, known for his vaccine skepticism, has taken a cautious approach toward recommending COVID vaccines for healthy children, instead encouraging parents to “consult with their doctors.”

Kennedy removed the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women from the CDC immunization schedule earlier this year. “Bottom line: it’s common sense and it’s good science. We are now one step closer to realizing [President Trump’s] promise to Make America Healthy Again,” RFK Jr. said of the reforms.

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19 minutes ago
Jack Montgomery
Breaking

BREAKING: DOJ Drops Transcripts, Audio of Ghislaine Maxwell Interviews.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has published transcripts and hours of audio from Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche’s recent interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted of trafficking children to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2021.

The interviews, published on the DOJ website, were set up amid public backlash over the agency’s release of a memo suggesting Epstein had no “client list,” despite Attorney General Pam Bondi previously stating that such a list was “on [her] desk.”

Maxwell claims to Blanche that she was not aware of Epstein attempting to record or blackmail people, and repeats that “there is no list, there’s no client list. Nothing like that.” She also says she does not believe the financier committed suicide, which is the government’s official position.

This story is developing…

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has published transcripts and hours of audio from Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche's recent interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted of trafficking children to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2021. show more
By Popular Demand.
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53 minutes ago
Crime

Trump Warns D.C. Mayor: Address Fake Crime Stats or Face Federal Takeover.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is threatening further federal intervention in Washington, D.C., if Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) do not address the alleged falsification of crime statistics.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Mayor Bowser, the Metropolitan Police Department, the D.C. Police Union, and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C., on Friday, with ongoing developments throughout the week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The DOJ is investigating allegations of manipulated crime statistics, with federal oversight of D.C. law enforcement under review.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump blasted Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in a Truth Social post on Friday for providing “false and highly inaccurate crime figures.” Trump, who has temporarily federalized law enforcement in the American capital, warned of a “complete and total Federal takeover of the City” if the issue is not addressed.

“Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN! The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard and Police are doing a fantastic job. They are out in force, and are NOT PLAYING GAMES!!! As bad as it sounds to say, there were no murders this week for the first time in memory,” Trump wrote. “Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City! Washington D.C. will soon be great again!!!”

The National Pulse reported on Thursday that the MPD is being sued by a veteran of its homicide unit who alleges the capital city’s law enforcement leaders manipulated crime data by misclassifying murders as accidental deaths and suicides. Meanwhile, the D.C. Police Union, representing 3,000 officers, has expressed skepticism over the accuracy of crime statistics reported by the MPD. Union President Gregg Pemberton stated, “What we know, what our members know, is that we go call to call to call out on the streets at night, going from robbery to carjacking to stabbing to shooting, and we just know that crime is ubiquitous, and it’s all in every quadrant of the city.”

Notably, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation into allegations of manipulated crime data, following reports of a D.C. police commander being placed on leave over accusations of falsifying statistics. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is leading the investigation, which may examine actions by multiple police officials.

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2 hours ago
Economy

Canada Folds, Lifts Numerous Retaliatory Tariffs Against U.S.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Canada announced the removal of many retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, bowing to the Trump administration’s prerequisite that the duties be ended before trade talks can resume.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and a White House official.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on August 22, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As we work intensively with the United States, our focus is squarely on the strategic sectors,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney.

🎯IMPACT: The decision is expected to ease trade tensions and could lead to further negotiations between the two nations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

IN FULL

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Friday that his country would remove many of its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, signaling progress in trade relations between the two nations. The announcement was made during a press conference in Ottawa, Ontario.

The tariffs, initially imposed in March, included a 25 percent levy on a wide range of U.S. products, mostly falling under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Beginning September 1, these trade duties will end, though similar tariffs imposed on Canada by the United States will remain in effect as negotiations continue. However, Canada will maintain its 25 percent tariffs on U.S. autos, steel, and aluminum.

“As we work intensively with the United States, our focus is squarely on the strategic sectors,” Carney stated during the press conference. He also noted that President Donald J. Trump assured him in a phone call that removing tariffs would pave the way for further negotiations.

A White House official described Canada’s decision as “long overdue” and expressed optimism about continued discussions on trade and national security concerns. The announcement comes as the USMCA, negotiated during Trump’s first term, is set for review later this year.

Canada’s counter-tariffs, originally imposed by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, targeted CA$30 billion (US$21.7 billion) worth of U.S. goods. The decision to ease tariffs follows a period of heightened tensions, during which Trump raised tariffs on Canadian goods to 35 percent, citing issues such as the continued flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and Canada’s lack of cooperation on the matter.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Immigration

Trump Targets Comprehensive Review of All 55 MILLION Visa Holders.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has announced plans to review the status of all 55 million foreign nationals in the U.S. holding valid visas, initiating a “continuous vetting” process aimed at identifying security threats and individuals supporting terrorism.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance.” – Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

🎯IMPACT: The new policy will include a “continuous vetting” process for all 55 million foreign nationals who hold valid visas in the United States.

IN FULL

The Trump administration says it will soon implement a “continuous vetting” process for all foreign nationals in the U.S. holding valid visas. The policy, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to identify legal immigrants who pose security risks or are involved in activities such as supporting terrorism.

“Things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organization” will serve as cause for visa revocation under the new policy, according to the State Department. The agency added: “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance.”

The State Department highlighted that since the beginning of Trump’s second term, it has revoked more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, compared to the same period last year. The administration has also targeted visa applicants for potential ties to anti-American or terrorist groups, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) monitoring foreign nationals participating in campus protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Secretary Rubio has also announced additional measures, including a halt on worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers, citing concerns over road safety and the impact on American truckers. “Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers,” Rubio wrote on X, adding that the move was necessary to protect American lives and livelihoods.

This follows the killing of three people by an illegal immigrant truck driver in Florida.

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3 hours ago
Health
News

RFK Jr. Moves to End Dependency on China for Pharma Supplies.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is taking steps to onshore the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and reduce reliance on China.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: This month, with ongoing efforts including new manufacturing partnerships in Virginia and Maryland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It really is a critical national security issue at this point when we have these trade wars and economic issues going on.” – John Knox

🎯IMPACT: Efforts aim to strengthen U.S. national security and reduce dependency on foreign pharmaceutical supply chains.

IN FULL

Officials at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have stated that the U.S. is taking concrete steps to reduce its reliance on foreign nations for critical drug ingredients, particularly China and India. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response John Knox said in a recent interview, “There’s a lot of levers that can be pulled and need to be used in order to bring onshoring back.”

According to Knox, 70 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and key drug-making materials used in the U.S. are sourced from China and India. He noted that China alone produces about 90 percent of the world’s antibiotics. “It really is a critical national security issue at this point when we have these trade wars and economic issues going on,” he said.

The U.S. dependence on Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing stems from years of cost-cutting by major drug companies, which moved production overseas due to lower labor costs and looser regulations. As a result, China has become the world’s largest supplier of generic drug ingredients and essential medicines. Experts have long warned that any disruption in China, whether due to trade wars, natural disasters, or political tensions, could severely impact America’s access to life-saving treatments.

To address this vulnerability, President Donald J. Trump recently signed an executive order to expand the Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve (SAPIR), a federal stockpile designed to secure a domestic supply of essential drug components. The White House said the move is part of a broader effort to “safeguard national health and security against global supply chain disruptions.”

Knox pointed to successful examples of domestic drug production, such as batch manufacturing facilities in Petersburg, Virginia, and rapid, on-demand pharmaceutical systems in Rockville, Maryland. “Over here at ASPR and through our IBMSC Program, we’re looking at innovative technologies [and] using that American ingenuity to create new ways to make these medications so that we’re not so dependent on foreign sources,” he said, expressing hope that future public-private partnerships will help restore U.S. pharmaceutical independence.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
UK

Britain Set for Nationwide Anti-Migration Protests This Weekend.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Multiple anti-migration protests are expected across Britain this weekend, as police also have to contend with the notoriously violent Afro-Caribbean Notting Hill Carnival in London.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anti-migration protesters, British police, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, the Labour Party government, and asylum seekers living in taxpayer-funded hotels.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The protests are scheduled to take place this weekend across Britain.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Our streets are becoming more dangerous, yet this disaster only gets worse. The public are right to be very angry with this government.” – Nigel Farage.

🎯IMPACT: The timing of the protests alongside the Notting Hill Carnival could stretch British police resources to their limit.

IN FULL

The United Kingdom is heading for a turbulent weekend, with demonstrations against mass migration set in numerous cities, including Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Leeds, and Perth. Anti-mass migration demonstrators and far-left pro-migration activists are expected to face off over the government’s ongoing use of taxpayer-funded hotels to house poorly vetted asylum seekers,  putting public safety at risk.

The wave of protests stems from a High Court injunction halting the use of a hotel in Epping Forest, England, to house migrants, which had also attracted protests after residents were accused of sexually assaulting local children. Further legal challenges against migrant hotels are now expected elsewhere in the country, as the government mounts its own legal efforts to overturn the Epping ruling.

The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels is estimated at over 32,000, an increase of eight percent during Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s first year in office. “New figures out today show record numbers claiming asylum under Labour. Our streets are becoming more dangerous, yet this disaster only gets worse,” commented Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, adding: “The public are right to be very angry with this government.”

Notably, the protests are expected to coincide with London’s Notting Hill Carnival, a massive annual cultural event drawing over a million attendees. While championed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and other diversity advocates, the Afro-Caribbean carnival always places significant pressure on police force. Last year’s carnival was marked by serious safety concerns: ten people were stabbed, two of them fatally, with police making at least 349 arrests during the event for offences ranging from drug possession to assaults on emergency workers. Sixty-one police officers were also assaulted.

The combined polcing demands of the protests, counter-protests, and carnival are raising concerns that law enforcement may struggle to maintain order this weekend.

Image by Bob Bob.

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4 hours ago
Economy

Is Jerome Powell Finally Poised to Cut Interest Rates?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled possible interest rate cuts amid ongoing economic uncertainty during his speech at the Fed’s annual Jackson Hole conference.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jerome Powell, Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members, and President Donald J. Trump, who has been vocal about his desire for lower rates.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Friday, August 22, 2025, at the Federal Reserve’s annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a potential interest rate cut being enacted in September.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[W]ith policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.” — Jerome Powell

🎯IMPACT: Powell’s remarks caused stocks to surge, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing over 600 points, while Treasury yields dropped significantly. Moreover, the Jackson Hole speech appears to tee up an interest rate cut at September’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

IN FULL

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell addressed potential interest rate cuts during his speech at the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole conference on Friday. He cited “sweeping changes” in tax, trade, and immigration policies as factors creating uncertainty for policymakers. Powell noted that while the labor market ostensibly remains strong, data suggest employment could be weakening and this may necessitate a change in the Fed’s interest rate policy.

“[W]ith policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance,” Powell said. Although he stopped short of explicitly endorsing a rate cut, Wall Street interpreted his comments as a sign of potential easing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained over 600 points following the speech, and the two-year Treasury note yield dropped by 0.08 percentage points.

Powell emphasized the independence of the Federal Reserve from elected officials, stating, “FOMC members will make these decisions, based solely on their assessment of the data and its implications for the economic outlook and the balance of risks. We will never deviate from that approach.” This comes amidst pressure from President Donald J. Trump, who has repeatedly called for aggressive rate cuts.

The Fed has maintained its benchmark borrowing rate between 4.25 percent and 4.5 percent since December, citing uncertainty over the long-term impact of tariffs on inflation. Powell expressed that while tariff impacts may be “short-lived,” current economic conditions allow the Fed to proceed cautiously.

Importantly, the Fed chairman finally acknowledged that the central bank’s current rate policy could be hampering employment. “This slowdown is much larger than assessed just a month ago, as the earlier figures for May and June were revised down substantially,” Powell said, with the caveat: “But it does not appear that the slowdown in job growth has opened up a large margin of slack in the labor market—an outcome we want to avoid.”

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5 hours ago
Crime

Biden Judge Frees Teens Accused of Brutal Assault on Ex-DOGE Staffer ‘Big Balls.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two teens charged with attempted carjacking and assaulting former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward “Big Balls” Coristine have been released by a Joe Biden-appointed judge.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A 15-year-old boy and girl from Maryland, Judge Kendra D. Biggs, prosecutors, and Coristine.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was made in Washington, D.C. in August 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A family court rehabilitation program of yoga and ice cream socials for hardened repeat offenders just doesn’t cut it.” – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro

🎯IMPACT: The decision has sparked backlash amid rising juvenile crime in D.C.

IN FULL

The two Maryland teens charged with an attempted carjacking and assaulting software engineer and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) saffer Edward “Big Balls” Coristine have been released under the orders of Joe Biden-appointed Washington, D.C. Superior Court Judge Kendra D. Biggs. The teens, aged 15, were previously held at D.C.’s Youth Services Center but have now been placed in alternative settings—a youth shelter for the girl and the custody of his mother for the boy.

Judge Biggs ordered a 24-hour curfew for the teens, allowing them to attend school and electronic monitoring. During the hearing, the teens’ parents confirmed their school enrollments, though the judge acknowledged that the girl had “major truancy issues” and had previously been reported missing from home.

The incident comes amid a surge in juvenile crime in Washington, D.C., with 56 percent of carjackings since 2023 attributed to minors, some as young as 12. Following the attack on Coristine, President Donald J. Trump federalized the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deployed federal law enforcement and National Guard troops to restore order. These measures have led to notable improvements in crime levels, including the first homicide-free week in the District since March.

Critics of the leniency shown to juvenile offenders, such as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, have spoken out. “A family court rehabilitation program of yoga and ice cream socials for hardened repeat offenders just doesn’t cut it,” she said.

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5 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Rubio Halts Truck Driver Visas After Illegal Kills Three.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a pause on worker visas for commercial drivers after an illegal immigrant trucker allegedly caused a fatal crash in Florida.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Marco Rubio, Harjinder Singh, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The crash occurred in Fort Pierce, Florida. Singh was extradited from California; investigations span multiple states.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: The move highlights concerns over public safety and the legality of commercial driver licensing for foreign workers.

IN FULL

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that foreign worker visas for commercial drivers would be paused “effective immediately.” The move follows a deadly incident where an illegal immigrant truck driver engaged in an unlawful U-turn, causing a crash that killed three people in Florida. Rubio cited public safety concerns as the primary reason for the decision.

“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” the Secretary of State wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) late Thursday.

The fatal crash involved Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old illegal immigrant driving a commercial truck with a trailer on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce. Authorities say Singh attempted a U-turn in an unauthorized area, causing the trailer to jackknife and collide with a minivan, killing all three passengers inside. Investigations revealed that Singh had not passed English or road tests before obtaining a commercial driver’s license, answering only two of 12 questions correctly in an English Language Proficiency test, and misidentifying three of four road traffic signs.

Singh was granted a full-term commercial driver’s license in Washington in July 2023, despite not being legally eligible. He also held a limited-term commercial driver’s license in California in 2024.

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have since engaged in a dispute over Singh’s licensing, with Newsom’s office falsely claiming Singh obtained a work permit during President Donald J. Trump‘s first term. However, DHS has clarified that Singh was denied in September 2020 under Trump but granted a permit in June 2021 under the Biden government.

“Three innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California Department of Motor Vehicles issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License—this state of governance is asinine,” commented DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, adding: “How many more innocent people must die before Gavin Newsom stops playing games with the safety of the American public?

Singh has been extradited to Florida from California and faces three counts of vehicular homicide.

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6 hours ago
TECH

Elon Musk, X Settle Lawsuit with Former Twitter Employees.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk and his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have reached a tentative settlement with former employees who sued for $500 million in severance pay.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, X (formerly Twitter), and former employees led by Courtney McMillian.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The settlement was reported on Wednesday in a court filing in San Francisco.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The parties have reached a settlement agreement in principle and began negotiating the terms of a long form settlement agreement,” according to court documents.

🎯IMPACT: The settlement, once finalized, could resolve disputes over severance pay for approximately 6,000 former employees.

IN FULL

Elon Musk and his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have tentatively settled a lawsuit with former employees seeking $500 million in severance payments. On Wednesday, a court filing showed that both sides asked a San Francisco U.S. appeals court to postpone an upcoming hearing to finalize the settlement documents.

The lawsuit, spearheaded by ex-Twitter employee Courtney McMillian, alleges that around 6,000 workers were denied benefits outlined in the company’s severance plan. Employees claimed the company offered some of them only one month’s severance pay at most, while others received none, despite promises of up to six months’ salary.

According to court filings, “the parties have reached a settlement agreement in principle and began negotiating the terms of a long form settlement agreement.” The settlement’s specifics remain undisclosed and await court approval.

The layoffs at Twitter followed Musk’s 2022 acquisition of the company, part of aggressive cost-cutting that slashed over half the workforce. This move preceded a broader tech industry trend, with companies like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft also cutting thousands of jobs over the following years.

Musk is known for using significant workforce reductions to lower costs. He attempted similar reforms to the federal workforce at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during the early months of the Trump administration, albeit with limited success.

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