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Saturday, August 30, 2025
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Economy

Labor Day Gas Prices Hit Five-Year Low Under Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Americans are seeing the lowest gas prices for Labor Day weekend in at least five years, with additional savings on airfare, hotels, and car rentals.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and GasBuddy analysts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Labor Day weekend 2025, across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “President Trump campaigned on lowering costs and this Labor Day Weekend, the American people will see the results firsthand at the gas pump—with the lowest gas prices in years.” — Secretary of Energy Chris Wright

🎯IMPACT: Families are saving money on travel and gas, with analysts forecasting further price drops in the coming weeks.

IN FULL

American motorists traveling over the Labor Day holiday weekend will pay the lowest gas prices in at least five years, alongside reduced costs for airfare, hotels, and car rentals. The Trump White House is touting a new report from GasBuddy, which states consumers will pay “the lowest price at the pump on Labor Day since 2020.” The administration says further relief is expected in the coming weeks.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt credited President Donald J. Trump’s energy policies, stating, “Thanks to President Trump fully unleashing American energy dominance, gas prices this summer are at five-year lows and families are saving significant money at the pump. President Trump ended Joe Biden’s Green New Scam policies and is making America affordable again.”

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright echoed the sentiment, highlighting the administration’s achievements, saying, “President Trump campaigned on lowering costs, and this Labor Day Weekend, the American people will see the results firsthand at the gas pump—with the lowest gas prices in years. His approach is simple and commonsense: more American energy means lower costs, more jobs, and more prosperity.”

GasBuddy predicts prices could drop below $3 per gallon on average this fall. Additionally, hotel rates have fallen by 11 percent, domestic airfares by six percent, and car rental costs by three percent compared to last year. The White House contends these reductions come as a result of President Donald J. Trump’s focus on revitalizing America’s energy sector and dismantling restrictive policies from the Joe Biden era.

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13 hours ago
Health
News

RFK Jr. Cancels $122M in LGBT and Diversity Grants.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. implemented significant budget cuts to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants focusing on LGBT initiatives and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: RFK Jr., HHS, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and various grant recipients.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Cuts began in March 2025, with additional reductions continuing through August 2025.

🎯IMPACT: Nearly $122 million in funding for 195 projects was eliminated, affecting grants across universities and research institutions.

IN FULL

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has eliminated nearly $122 million in federal funding tied to LGBT initiatives and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, marking a significant shift in agency priorities under the Trump administration. The cuts, which began in March 2025, targeted 195 projects that Kennedy and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) deemed overly focused on race, gender, and sexual orientation.

Among the programs cut was a $5.5 million grant to Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s “Vanderbilt FIRST” initiative, which aimed to recruit tenure-track faculty from so-called racially and ethnically minoritized groups, i.e., everyone but white people. Drexel University also lost $4.6 million in funding meant to support DEI hiring efforts in health disparities research. Other grants affected included $2.4 million for the University of Virginia, focused on so-called gender-diverse individuals, and $1.1 million for the University of Michigan, focused on Asian American and Latino populations.

The White House has backed Kennedy’s efforts, brushing aside criticism from activist groups and some academic institutions. Sources inside the administration say the move is part of a broader effort to remove ideological bias from publicly funded research.

The Trump administration has made similar moves elsewhere in recent months. In May, for instance, the Department of Justice (DOJ) redirected more than $800 million in DEI and transgender-related grants toward law enforcement and public safety programs.

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to proceed with $783 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant cuts tied to DEI-focused research. In a 5–4 decision, the Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to cancel the grants. Although the ruling included some limits on future federal DEI guidelines, it upheld the administration’s authority to redirect funds away from identity-based programs.

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14 hours ago
Crime
Religion

Data Reveals Sharp Rise in Attacks on American Churches.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A sharp rise in hostile incidents targeting American churches was recorded in 2024, with 436 documented cases, up from 315 in 2023 and nearly double the 230 in 2022, according to the Family Research Council.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Churches across 43 states were affected, with incidents ranging from vandalism to arson and gun-related threats. The Family Research Council compiled the data.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred throughout 2024, with California seeing the highest number (40), followed by Pennsylvania (29), with Florida and New York tied at 25 each.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Family Research Council identified 415 hostile incidents in 2024, affecting a total of 383 churches.” – Family Research Council

🎯IMPACT: The data highlights ongoing challenges to places of worship in America, as societal shifts and political disagreements contribute to rising hostility.

IN FULL

In 2024, attacks on churches across the United States surged to unprecedented levels, with 436 incidents reported, marking a steep rise from 315 in 2023 and close to doubling the 230 recorded in 2022. The numbers, compiled by the Family Research Council (FRC), highlight a troubling pattern of growing hostility toward Christian places of worship.

These incidents spanned 43 states and included a wide range of offenses. Vandalism topped the list with 284 documented cases, including property damage, defacement, burglary, and ransacking. Arson followed with 55 instances, some confirmed and others under investigation. Gun-related incidents more than doubled from the previous year, rising to 28 from just 12 in 2023. There were also 14 bomb threats, mostly hoaxes, and 47 other violent acts, including assaults during church break-ins.

California reported the most attacks with 40, followed by Pennsylvania with 29. Florida and New York each recorded 25 incidents. The Family Research Council, which tracks these incidents, has itself been controversially labeled an anti-LGBT “hate group” by the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center.

While statistics for 2025 are not yet available, Catholic children were targeted in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week in a mass shooting perpetrated by a transgender gunman who decorated his weapons with Satanic pentagrams.

The growing hostility to Christians is not limited to the United States. Europe has seen a disturbing wave of similar attacks. In just three weeks during the late summer of 2024, nine churches across Germany, France, and the Netherlands were struck by arson attacks. Across France, nearly 1,000 anti-Christian hate crimes were recorded in 2023 alone, with that number rising further into 2024.

Germany reported a 105 percent increase in politically motivated crimes against Christians, while violent attacks and vandalism targeting churches have also become common in countries like Spain and Belgium.

Image by Farragutful.

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15 hours ago
Crime
Religion

Newsom Faces Backlash for Mocking Prayers of Children Shot by Trans Gunman.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) mocked the “power of prayer” after a mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where children were praying at the time of the attack.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gavin Newsom, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and other Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: California, following the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church by a transgender gunman in Minneapolis this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These children were literally praying as they got shot at.” – Gavin Newsom

🎯IMPACT: Newsom’s thoughtless comments have sparked backlash and debates about faith, prayer, and gun control legislation.

IN FULL

In the aftermath of the recent mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that left two young children dead and 17 others wounded, Democrat leaders have sparked backlash for mocking prayer in the wake of the tragedy. Notably, California Governor Gavin Newsom mockingly responded to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s comments on the “power of prayer” by posting on X (formerly Twitter): “These children were literally praying as they got shot at.”

The remark drew strong condemnation from conservatives and faith leaders. However, Democrat Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey struck a similar tone to Newsom, telling reporters, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school, they were in a church.” Frey exploited the moment to call for more gun control, despite Minnesota already having red flag laws on the books.

Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester, a native of Minnesota, slammed Frey’s remarks as “completely asinine,” explaining: “To claim that because children were praying and were not delivered from harm means that prayer is ineffective is to misunderstand the purpose of prayer completely.”

“These kids died in a church. They died as martyrs. That should never be mocked,” he added.

Vice President J.D. Vance also weighed in, calling the reaction from Democrats “shocking and bizarre,” and defending prayer as a source of hope, not a shield from all harm.

The shooter, a transgender who decorated his weapons with Satanic pentagrams and remarks such as ‘Where is your God?’, has been identified as having posted anti-Catholic rhetoric online before the attack.

Governor Newsom has a history of clashing with religious groups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration banned even small religious gatherings in private homes, a move later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, despite holding questionable gatherings himself. He has also promoted California as an abortion tourism destination, offering taxpayer-funded travel to women from states with pro-life laws.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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16 hours ago
Politics
UK

J.D. Vance Urges English Patriots to ‘Push Back’ Against Suppression of St. George’s Cross.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is encouraging British campaigners to resist attempts to suppress England’s Saint George’s Cross flag, amidst backlash from municipal governments.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: J.D. Vance, British municipal governments, and patriots raising English and British flags in public places as part of “Operation Raise the Colours.”

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent weeks across England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We should push back against the crazies who say we should be so ashamed of our culture and of our heritage that we shouldn’t be willing to fly a flag. It’s craziness.” – J.D. Vance

🎯IMPACT: The debate has intensified over cultural pride and free speech, with councils removing flags and activists urging resistance to such actions.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance has called on British patriots to “push back against the crazies” who oppose flying the St. George’s Cross flag in public. The Vice President emphasized the importance of cultural pride and heritage amidst criticism of “Operation Raise the Colours,” a grassroots campaign that has seen English and British flags raised in public places across England, from municipal governments.

Hundreds of St. George’s Cross and Union flags have been raised across the United Kingdom in recent weeks, sparking backlash from local politicians. Some councils, including those for Tower Hamlets in London and England’s second city of Birmingham, have moved to pull down the flags, with the municipal government for Essex sending an email to workers claiming the national symbols can “evoke feelings of discomfort and be associated with anti-immigration rhetoric.” In Bromsgrove, a police investigation has been launched after a St George’s Cross was painted on a mini-roundabout.

“It’s OK to be proud of your country. It’s, in fact, a good thing to be proud of your country,” Vance stated. He also warned against the growing trend of cultural shame, recalling an incident in which a friend of his was afraid to fly the American flag during the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020. “We’ve got to call that craziness out. I’d encourage our European friends to follow suit,” he added.

Vance’s remarks echoed his previously expressed concerns about European censorship, which he outlined in Germany and repeated during a recent visit to the United Kingdom.

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16 hours ago
News
Politics

Trump Moves $4.9 Billion ‘Pocket Rescission’ to Cut ‘Woke and Weaponized’ Foreign Aid.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has proposed a $4.9 billion cut to foreign aid funds using a rarely invoked maneuver known as a pocket rescission.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was announced in late August 2025, with the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “For the first time in nearly 50 years, the President is using his authority under the Impoundment Control Act to deploy a pocket rescission, cancelling $4.9 billion in woke and weaponized foreign aid money that violates the President’s America First priorities,” said an OMB spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The pocket rescission would defund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), climate change, and LGBT propaganda abroad, but will face resistance from Democrats and Republicans-in-name-only on Capitol Hill.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has moved to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid funding previously approved by Congress, using a rarely invoked tactic under the Impoundment Control Act known as a “pocket rescission.” The action, announced just weeks before the end of the fiscal year, blocks the funds from being spent by allowing them to expire on September 30 without a congressional vote.

The targeted funds were allocated to the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and international assistance programs. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the move reflects Trump’s commitment to his “America First” agenda.

“For the first time in nearly 50 years, the President is using his authority under the Impoundment Control Act to deploy a pocket rescission, cancelling $4.9 billion in woke and weaponized foreign aid money,” an OMB spokesman said.

The rescinded accounts include USAID’s $3.2 billion Development Assistance Fund, which supported controversial programs on climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and LGBT initiatives, such as $4 million for global LGBT awareness and $2 million for feminist organizing in Africa.

The $322 million Democracy Fund, criticized for promoting “gender responsive governance” and LGBT projects abroad, was also cut. Funding was withdrawn from UNESCO and the World Trade Organization (WTO) due to their globalist agendas and failure to align with U.S. interests.

U.S. contributions to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations were also slashed, including $393 million for general peacekeeping and $445 million for specific operations, amid concerns over inefficiency, sexual exploitation by peacekeepers, and other abuses. These funds had backed projects including infrastructure for foreign militaries.

The decision has drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans-in-name-only (RINOs) in the GOP. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called the move an attempt to sidestep Congress. “Given that this package was sent to Congress very close to the end of the fiscal year when the funds are scheduled to expire, this is an apparent attempt to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval,” Collins said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the action undermines bipartisan cooperation. “Reasonable Republicans don’t have to go along with the madness; Republicans don’t have to be a rubber stamp for this carnage,” Schumer complained.

The pocket rescission comes amid a broader overhaul of U.S. foreign aid under Trump. Earlier this year, the administration dismantled USAID’s global development programs, terminating billions in contracts and shifting remaining operations to the State Department. In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that “tens of billions of USAID contracts” had been cut. In July, Trump signed the Rescissions Act of 2025, eliminating an additional $8.3 billion in foreign assistance.

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17 hours ago
Economy

Trump Tariff Triumph: U.S. Sees Record Revenue, Lower Goods Prices, Stable Inflation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Inflation in July held steady, with the Federal Reserve’s preferred price gauge showing a slight deceleration in cost pressures, defying earlier predictions of tariff-driven price increases.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the Federal Reserve led by Chairman Jerome Powell, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data for July 2025, released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on Friday.

🎯IMPACT: Despite fearmongering over tariffs, inflationary pressures have remained manageable, with consumer prices for goods showing minimal increases.

IN FULL

Inflation in July remained muted, with the personal consumption expenditures price index rising 2.6 percent from a year earlier, matching June’s annual pace. Monthly inflation rose by 0.2 percent, slightly down from the previous month’s 0.3 percent increase, according to data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Core prices, which exclude food and energy costs, increased by 2.9 percent annually and 0.3 percent for the month, aligning with Wall Street expectations. Services prices, the primary driver of inflation, rose 3.6 percent annually, while goods prices increased by just 0.5 percent.

Meanwhile, goods prices fell 0.1 percent in July, with energy costs dropping 1.1 percent and durable goods declining 0.1 percent. Over the past year, energy prices have dropped 2.7 percent, while durable goods prices rose modestly by 1.1 percent. These figures challenge earlier warnings from Federal Reserve officials about the inflationary effects of tariffs.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell previously stated, “Tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation,” and warned of potentially persistent inflationary effects. However, consumer prices for durable and nondurable goods—the categories most affected by tariffs—have shown minimal increases despite trade tensions.

Consumer spending increased by 0.5 percent in July, driven by purchases of motor vehicles, financial services, and housing-related expenses. Personal income rose 0.4 percent, reflecting higher wages and employer contributions to employee benefits. After taxes and inflation, real disposable income edged up by 0.2 percent, providing consumers with modest additional purchasing power.

The National Pulse reported last week that a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis projects President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies could slash federal deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade through increased revenue.

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18 hours ago
TECH

Trump Moves to Restrict Chinese Access to Key American Technology.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has revoked special authorizations for foreign chipmakers in China, requiring licenses for access to American semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix, Intel, and U.S. equipment suppliers like KLA Corp., Lam Research, and Applied Materials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The new restrictions were announced recently and will take effect in 120 days, applying to operations in China.

🎯IMPACT: The decision could benefit U.S. semiconductor firms like Micron and Intel.

IN FULL

The Trump White House has tightened export restrictions on foreign chipmakers operating in China, revoking special authorizations that previously allowed South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix to access American semiconductor manufacturing equipment without individual licenses. The move was announced in a Federal Register notice and ends exemptions granted in 2022 when sweeping limits on U.S. technology sales to China were first imposed.

Under the new rules, companies will now need licenses to obtain U.S. equipment for their Chinese facilities. Intel also appeared on the list of firms losing authorization, though it sold its Dalian facility in China earlier this year. The Commerce Department stated that licenses would be approved to maintain existing operations, but would not cover expansions or technology upgrades.

U.S. equipment suppliers like KLA Corp., Lam Research, and Applied Materials are the most likely domestic companies to be impacted by the new export restrictions, which could limit their sales to China. Shares of Lam Research fell by four percent, Applied Materials dropped 2.8 percent, and KLA slipped 2.4 percent on the news.

The restrictions come amid ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, with both nations still operating under a tariff truce set to last until November. Notably, South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix—both reliant on Chinese semiconductor facilities—had previously benefited from a Validated End User status, which streamlined equipment shipments from U.S. suppliers. With the designation now revoked, the companies must operate under the same licensing rules as other foreign firms.

The revocations will not take effect for 120 days, giving businesses time to adjust.

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18 hours ago
Politics

TX Gov. Signs Redistricting Bill, Cutting Five Democrat House Seats.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed a new redistricting bill to redraw the state’s congressional map, favoring Republicans.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Abbott, Texas legislators, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bill was signed on Friday in Texas following approval by the state house and senate.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!! Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The new map will increase Republican-majority districts from 25 to 30, removing several Democratic-majority districts.

IN FULL

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has signed a new redistricting bill that favors Republicans in the state’s congressional map. The bill, signed on Friday, follows a contentious process during which state Democrats staged a weeks-long walkout earlier this month.

In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Abbott described the bill as creating “the one big, beautiful map that ensures fairer representation in the United States Congress for Texas.” The bill was approved by the Texas House of Representatives in an 88-52 party-line vote before being passed by the Texas Senate early last Saturday.

President Donald J. Trump, whose request for new congressional maps prompted the redistricting, celebrated the move last week on Truth Social, writing: “Big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!! Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself.” He added, “Texas never lets us down. Florida, Indiana, and others are looking to do the same thing.”

The new map increases Republican-majority districts from 25 to 30 out of Texas’s 38 districts. It also eliminates Democrat-majority districts in key urban areas such as Houston, Austin, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

However, the move has drawn backlash from Democrat-aligned election and lawfare groups. Demetria McCain, policy director for the Legal Defense Fund, stated, “Black voters are not a tool for legislators to use to cut up maps as they see fit. This redistricting process in Texas is a shameful power grab at the expense of Black voices.”

Oni Blair, executive director of the ACLU Texas chapter, also condemned the move, calling it “disgraceful.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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19 hours ago
Immigration

Trump DOJ Loosens Qualifications for Temporary Judges to Tackle Immigration Backlog.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a rule change allowing attorneys without immigration law experience to serve as temporary immigration judges.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The DOJ’s Office of Immigration Review, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and immigration judges.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The rule was published on Thursday in the Federal Register and applies to immigration courts nationwide.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Immigration law experience is not always a strong predictor of success as an [immigration judge],” the DOJ stated in the Federal Register.

🎯IMPACT: The new rule aims to address a backlog of over three million immigration cases by expanding the pool of eligible judges.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a rule change to allow attorneys without immigration law experience to act as temporary immigration judges as part of an effort to clear a backlog of immigration cases numbering in the millions. On Thursday, the DOJ’s Office of Immigration Review published the rule in the Federal Register removing the requirement that temporary immigration judges have substantive prior experience in immigration law.

According to the rule change, Attorney General Pam Bondi will hold authority over the approval of jurists appointed to serve as immigration judges. This represents a significant shift following the dismissal or buyout of over 100 judges by the Trump administration earlier this year, amid concerns that many had an anti-deportation bias.

The Federal Register rule change states that the DOJ “no longer believes the restriction of TIJs to current department employees with a threshold level of immigration law experience serves EOIR’s interests,” adding: “Immigration law experience is not always a strong predictor of success as an [immigration judge] and EOIR has hired individuals from other federal agencies and Department components without prior immigration experience who have become successful and exemplary [immigration judges].” It further explained that the change allows for “the greatest degree of flexibility” in finding qualified candidates.

In addition, the rule notes that attorneys with experience in prominent courts or those who have clerked for the Supreme Court should not be disqualified from serving in an immigration-related capacity.

The DOJ emphasized that the need for assistance in adjudicating immigration cases has significantly increased since the original plan to utilize temporary immigration judges was introduced in 2014.

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