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May 18, 2023
Jake Welch
News

READ: List of Attendees of Shadowy Bilderberg Meeting This Week.

The highly-secretive Bilderberg Group, which brings a handful of the world’s elite together to discuss geopolitics and international affairs, is preparing to meet this weekend in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Group was first established in the Netherlands in 1954 and operates under the Chatham House Rule, meaning, the identity nor affiliation of the speakers or participants in discussions can be revealed.

According to last year’s press release, however, some of the topics included geopolitical realignments, NATO challenges, China, Russia, continuity of government and the economy, disruption of the global financial system, disinformation, and post-pandemic health.

Unlike the World Economic Forum (WEF), which assembles thousands of politicians, economists, and academics, the Bilderberg Group is strictly limited to no more than 150 of the highest-ranking individuals, including aristocrats, heads of states, and businessmen – in what author Jordan Schachtel refers to as: “Davos on Steroids.”

Some of last year’s attendees included Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, Henry Kissinger, former United States Secretary of State, Sam Altman CEO of OpenAI, and Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities among many other positions in the British government.

Some of the attendees are not listed and are hidden from the public, however.

A full list of participants can be read, below: 

Abrams, Stacey (USA), CEO, Sage Works Production
Achleitner, Paul M. (DEU), Chair, Global Advisory Board, Deutsche Bank AG
Agrawal, Ajay (CAN), Professor of Economics, University of Toronto
Albares, José Manuel (ESP), Minister of Foreign Affairs
Altman, Sam (USA), CEO, OpenAI
Alverà, Marco (ITA), Co-Founder, zhero.net; CEO TES
Andersson, Magdalena (SWE), Leader, Social Democratic Party
Applebaum, Anne (USA), Staff Writer, The Atlantic 
Arnaut, José Luís (PRT), Managing Partner, CMS Rui Pena & Arnaut
Attal, Gabriel (FRA), Minister for Public Accounts
Balsemão, Francisco Pinto (PRT), Chair, Impresa Group
Barbizet, Patricia (FRA), Chair and CEO, Temaris & Associés SAS
Barroso, José Manuel (PRT), Chair, International Advisors, Goldman Sachs
Baudson, Valérie (FRA), CEO, Amundi SA
Beaune, Clément (FRA), Minister for Transport 
Benson, Sally (USA), Professor of Energy Science and Engineering, Stanford University
Beurden, Ben van (NLD), Special Advisor to the Board, Shell plc 
Borg, Anna (SWE), President and CEO, Vattenfall AB
Borrell, Josep (INT), Vice President, European Commission
Botín, Ana P. (ESP), Group Executive Chair, Banco Santander SA
Bourla, Albert (USA), Chair and CEO, Pfizer Inc.
Braathen, Kjerstin (NOR), CEO, DNB ASA
Brende, Børge (NOR), President, World Economic Forum
Brink, Dolf van den (NLD), CEO, Heineken NV
Brudermüller, Martin (DEU), CEO, BASF SE
Buberl, Thomas (FRA), CEO, AXA SA
Byrne, Thomas (IRL), Minister for Sport and Physical Education
Carney, Mark (CAN), Vice Chair, Brookfield Asset Management
Cassis, Ignazio (CHE), Federal Councillor, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Castries, Henri de (FRA), President, Institut Montaigne
Cavoli, Christopher (INT), Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Ceylan, Mehmet Fatih (TUR), President, Ankara Policy Center
Chhabra, Tarun (USA), Senior Director for Technology and National Security, National Security Council
Creuheras, José (ESP), Chair, Grupo Planeta and Atresmedia
Debackere, Koenraad (BEL), Chair, KBC Group NV
Deese, Brian (USA), Former Director, National Economic Council
Donohoe, Paschal (INT), President, Eurogroup
Döpfner, Mathias (DEU), Chair and CEO, Axel Springer SE
Easterly, Jen (USA), Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Economy, Elizabeth (USA), Senior Advisor for China, Department of Commerce
Ehrnrooth, Henrik (FIN), Chair, Otava Group
Émié, Bernard (FRA), Director General for External Security, Ministry of the Armed Forces
Empoli, Giuliano da (ITA), Political Scientist and Writer, Sciences Po
Entrecanales, José M. (ESP), Chair and CEO, Acciona SA
Eriksen, Øyvind (NOR), President and CEO, Aker ASA
Ferguson, Niall (USA), Milbank Family Senior Fellow, Stanford University
Fleming, Jeremy (GBR), Former Director, GCHQ
Frederiksen, Mette (DNK), Prime Minister
Freeland, Chrystia (CAN), Deputy Prime Minister
Garijo, Bélen (DEU), Chair and CEO, Merck KGaA
Gentiloni, Paolo (INT), Commissioner for Economy, European Commission
Gonzáles Pons, Esteban (ESP), Vice Chair, European People’s Party
Gosset-Grainville, Antoine (FRA), Chair, AXA
Goulimis, Nicky (GRC), Board Member and Co-Founder, Nova Credit Inc.
Griffin, Kenneth (USA), Founder and CEO, Citadel LLC
Gruber, Lilli (ITA), Anchor, La7 TV
Gürkaynak, Refet (TUR), Professor of Economics, Bilkent University
Haines, Avril D. (USA), Director of National Intelligence
Halberstadt, Victor (NLD), Professor of Economics, Leiden University
Hassabis, Demis (GBR), CEO, DeepMind
Hedegaard, Connie (DNK), Chair, KR Foundation
Hofreiter, Anton (DEU), MP; Chair Committee on European Affairs
Holzen, Madeleine von (CHE), Editor-in-Chief, Le Temps
Jensen, Kristian (DNK), CEO, Green Power Denmark
Joshi, Shashank (GBR), Defence Editor, The Economist
Kaag, Sigrid (NLD), Minister of Finance; Deputy Prime Minister
Karp, Alex (USA), CEO, Palantir Technologies Inc.
Kasparov, Garry (USA), Chair, Renew Democracy Initiative
Kieli, Kasia (POL), President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Discovery Poland
Kissinger, Henry A. (USA), Chairman, Kissinger Associates Inc.
Koç, Ömer (TUR), Chair, Koç Holding AS
Kolesnikov, Andrei (INT), Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Kostrzewa, Wojciech (POL), President, Polish Business Roundtable
Kotkin, Stephen (USA), Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Kravis, Henry R. (USA), Co-Chairman, KKR & Co. Inc.
Kravis, Marie-Josée (USA), Chair, The Museum of Modern Art
Kudelski, André (CHE), Chair and CEO, Kudelski Group SA
Kuleba, Dmytro (UKR), Minister of Foreign Affairs
Lammy, David (GBR), Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, House of Commons
Leysen, Thomas (BEL), Chair, Umicore and Mediahuis; Chair DSM-Firmenich AG
Liikanen, Erkki (FIN), Chair, IFRS Foundation Trustees 
Looney, Bernard (GBR), CEO, BP plc
Marin, Sanna (FIN), Prime Minister
Metsola, Roberta (INT), President, European Parliament
Micklethwait, John (USA), Editor-in-Chief, Bloomberg LP
Minton Beddoes, Zanny (GBR), Editor-in-Chief, The Economist
Moreira, Duarte (PRT), Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Zeno Partners
Moyo, Dambisa (GBR), Global Economist; Member, House of Lords
Mundie, Craig J. (USA), President, Mundie & Associates LLC
Nadella, Satya (USA), CEO, Microsoft Corporation
O’Leary, Michael (IRL), Group CEO, Ryanair Group
Orida, Deborah (CAN), President and CEO, PSP Investments
Özel, Soli (TUR), Professor, Kadir Has University
Papalexopoulos, Dimitri (GRC), Chair, TITAN Cement Group; Treasurer Bilderberg Meetings
Philippe, Édouard (FRA), Mayor, Le Havre
Pottinger, Matthew (USA), Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution
Pouyanné, Patrick (FRA), Chair and CEO, TotalEnergies SE
Rachman, Gideon (GBR), Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, The Financial Times
Ramírez, Pedro J. (ESP), Director, El Español
Rappard, Rolly van (NLD), Co-Founder and Co-Chair, CVC Capital Partners 
Reynders, Didier (INT), European Commissioner for Justice
Röttgen, Norbert (DEU), MP, German Bundestag
Rutte, Mark (NLD), Prime Minister
Salomon, Martina (AUT), Editor-in-Chief, Kurier
Sawers, John (GBR), Executive Chair, Newbridge Advisory Ltd. 
Schadlow, Nadia (USA), Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
Schallenberg, Alexander (AUT), Minister for European and International Affairs
Schmidt, Eric E. (USA), Former CEO and Chair, Google LLC
Schmidt, Wolfgang (DEU), Head of the Chancellery, Federal Minister for Special Tasks
Sebastião, Nuno (PRT), Chair and CEO, Feedzai
Sikorski, Radoslaw (POL), MEP, European Parliament
Silva, Filipe (PRT), CEO, Galp
Stilwell de Andrade, Miguel (PRT), CEO, EDP
Stoltenberg, Jens (INT), Secretary General, NATO
Subramanian, Arvind (INT), Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs, Brown University
Tellis, Ashley J. (USA), Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs, Carnegie Endowment
Thiel, Peter (USA), President, Thiel Capital LLC
Tsu, Jing (USA), Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures, Yale University
Tugendhat, Tom (GBR), Minister of State for Security
Vadera, Shriti (GBR), Chair, Prudential plc
Vassilakis, Eftichios (GRC), Chair, Aegean Group
Waldron, John (USA), President and COO, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Wallenberg, Marcus (SWE), Chair, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB
Wennink, Peter (NLD), President and CEO, ASML Holding NV
Wright, Thomas (USA), Senior Director for Strategic Planning, National Security Council
Yang, Yuan (GBR), Europe-China Correspondent, Financial Times
Yergin, Daniel (USA), Vice Chair, S&P Global    
Yinanç, Barçin (TUR), Journalist, T24 News Website

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9 hours ago
War
World

Ukrainian Arrested Over Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline attacks was arrested in Italy following a European warrant issued by German prosecutors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Serhii K., a 49-year-old former member of Ukraine’s Secret Service and special forces, along with German and Italian authorities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Arrested on Thursday in San Clemente, Italy, following the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage in the Baltic Sea.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I was in Ukraine during the Nord Stream sabotage,” Serhii reportedly told the appeal court while denying the charges.

🎯IMPACT: The arrest raises questions about Ukraine’s potential involvement in the pipeline attacks, which escalated Europe’s energy crisis.

IN FULL

Serhii K., a 49-year-old Ukrainian man, was arrested in northern Italy on Thursday after German prosecutors issued a European arrest warrant, suspecting his involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline attacks. He previously served in Ukraine’s Secret Service and special forces, though it remains unclear if he was still active during the sabotage.

Serhii was found at a hotel in San Clemente, Rimini, where he was on holiday with his family. Italian authorities apprehended him without resistance. He had entered Italy earlier in the week with a Ukrainian license-plated car and used his real identity, triggering an alert on police systems.

After his arrest, Serhii was detained in Rimini before being transferred to a prison in Bologna. He denied the charges, claiming he was in Ukraine during the Nord Stream sabotage and stressing that his visit to Italy was for family reasons. He also opposed extradition to Germany, where he faces charges of collusion to cause explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of infrastructure.

German prosecutors allege that Serhii was part of a group that planted explosives on the pipelines near Denmark’s Bornholm island. The attack, which severely damaged the Nord Stream pipelines, worsened Europe’s energy crisis. U.S. intelligence previously suggested a pro-Ukraine group was behind the sabotage, though no group has claimed responsibility.

A decision on Serhii’s extradition is expected at a hearing on September 3, and he will remain in custody until then. Italy’s anti-terrorism prosecutors are also investigating a possible link between the Nord Stream attacks and the sinking of a Russian oil tanker off Savona in February.

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10 hours ago
Economy
News

Trump Tariffs Projected to Cut Deficit by $4 Trillion.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that tariffs implemented by President Donald J. Trump could reduce total deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The updated projections were released by the CBO on Friday.

💬KEY QUOTE: CBO Director Phillip Swagel wrote: “If there are no further changes in tariff rates, we project that customs duties from new and existing tariffs will total about $200 billion this fiscal year.”

🎯IMPACT: The analysis suggests that maintaining Trump’s tariffs would reduce federal borrowing and interest costs, leading to significant deficit reductions.

IN FULL

A new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis projects that President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies could slash federal deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade. The CBO, Congress’s impartial fiscal analyst, shared these updated projections on Friday.

If President Trump’s tariff policies persist for the next 10 years, the CBO estimates a $3.3 trillion reduction in primary deficits. Furthermore, the increased tariff revenue would decrease the need for federal borrowing, cutting interest payments by $700 billion, collectively driving the total deficit reduction to $4 trillion.

These findings highlight the potential of Trump’s tariff strategy to significantly lower federal deficits and reduce dependence on borrowing, in addition to its primary goal of making American products more competitive against cheap, foreign goods produced in low-wage economies, encouraging the “reshoring” of jobs to the United States.

“If there are no further changes in tariff rates, we project that customs duties from new and existing tariffs will total about $200 billion this fiscal year,” noted CBO Director Phillip Swagel.

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11 hours ago
Crime

Trump Names Next U.S. City That Could See Federal Crime Crackdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump indicated that Chicago, Illinois, may be the next city where federal agents, officers, and troops, potentially including “regular military,” are deployed to restore order.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 22, 2025, in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Chicago’s a mess, you have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent. And we’ll straighten that one out probably next.” – President Trump

🎯IMPACT: The announcement signals potential federal intervention in Chicago and possibly other Democrat-run cities, including New York.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump stated on Friday that Chicago, Illinois, will “probably” be the next city to see federal agents, officers, and troops deployed by his administration. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump criticized the city’s Democrat mayor, Brandon Johnson, calling him “grossly incompetent.”

“Chicago’s a mess, you have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent,” the President told reporters. “And we’ll straighten that one out probably next. That’ll be our next one after this.”

President Trump also mentioned that residents of Chicago, which saw close to 200 homicides and over 1,000 shootings in the first six months of 2025, are “screaming for us to come.” He further suggested a willingness to deploy the “regular military” to American cities, hinting that New York could follow Chicago in receiving federal assistance.

The National Pulse reported earlier on Friday that the America First leader has warned that increased federal control over Washington, D.C., is under consideration unless the capital city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser (D), and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) rectify falsified crime statistics. Local officials and the MPD are currently facing a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation and at least one lawsuit over allegations that the city’s crime statistics have been repeatedly altered to make violent crime rates appear far lower than they are in reality.

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11 hours ago
NatSec

America’s Defense Intelligence Chief Was Just FIRED Amidst a Major Iran Leak.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), who conducted the leaked initial assessment of U.S. strikes on Iran earlier this year.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Pentagon officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The firing was announced on Friday in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It was preliminary, a day and a half after the actual strike… it admits itself, in writing, that it requires weeks to accumulate the necessary data to make such an assessment.” – Pete Hegseth on the leaked Iran strike assessment.

🎯IMPACT: A criminal investigation was previously launched to uncover the source of the DIA leak.

IN FULL

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday dismissed Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, the head of the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), according to White House and Pentagon officials. The announcement did not include a specific reason for Kruse’s removal, though Congressional officials cited a “lack of confidence”—likely stemming from the leaked initial assessment of the U.S. military strikes against Iran’s nuclear program earlier this year.

The leaked assessment appeared to contradict President Donald J. Trump’s claim that the facilities had been “obliterated,” suggesting, instead, the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities had only a limited impact. This preliminary assessment has since been discounted by both other U.S. intelligence sources, as well as Israeli and independent analysis.

The DIA’s preliminary report, conducted just 24 hours after the strikes, was marked as “low confidence” and stated that Iran’s nuclear program had been set back only by several months. Pentagon officials later criticized the report for being incomplete and uncoordinated with the broader intelligence community. Subsequently, a criminal investigation was launched to uncover the source of the leak.

“It was preliminary, a day and a half after the actual strike… it admits itself, in writing, that it requires weeks to accumulate the necessary data to make such an assessment,” Hegseth told reporters following the leak.

Kruse had served as the agency’s director since February 2024 and was expected to remain until 2027.

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12 hours ago
News

Trump Appoints Trusted Ally Sergio Gor as Ambassador to India.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Trump announced the promotion of his head of personnel, Sergio Gor, to a top new ambassadorial position.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump and Sergio Gor.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on President Trump’s Truth Social feed on Friday afternoon.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Sergio Gor will become the United States Ambassador to the Republic of India, pending confirmation.

IN FULL

President Trump announced the promotion of Sergio Gor to United States Ambassador to the Republic of India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs on Friday afternoon through Trump’s Truth Social feed.

As Director of Presidential Personnel, Gor and his team have hired nearly 4,000 personnel across various federal departments, achieving a 95% fill rate. He will continue in his current role at the White House until his confirmation as ambassador.

President Trump praised Gor as a long-time friend and crucial ally in his administration, noting Gor’s work on Trump’s presidential campaigns, his involvement in publishing Trump’s bestselling books, and his leadership of a major Super PAC supporting the movement.

Trump emphasized the importance of having someone he trusts in the ambassadorial role for the world’s most populous region, underscoring Gor’s ability to help advance the agenda of making America great again.

Trump concluded by expressing confidence in Gor’s future success as an ambassador, stating, “Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!”

The National Pulse understands Gor has been interested in a senior role in South Asia for some time. He previously worked on Capitol Hill for members such as Rand Paul and Steve King. Age 38, Gor was born Sergey Gorokhovsky in the former U.S.S.R. His family moved to the United States and Gor attended George Washington University. He recently helped President Trump launch Winning Team Publishing, and sits on the board of the Kennedy Center.

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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
Just don’t ask Sergio about Elon Musk, or vice versa! 😬
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13 hours ago
Crime

SecDef Hegseth Authorizes Thousands of ARMED National Guard to Patrol DC.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized 2,000 armed National Guard troops to patrol Washington, D.C. with service-issued weapons, if necessary.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the D.C. National Guard, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), federal law enforcement partners, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Authorization made on Thursday, in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, JTF-DC members supporting the mission to lower the crime rate in our nation’s capital will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training.” – a Defense Department official

🎯IMPACT: Armed National Guard troops will be visible in D.C. to assist in lowering crime but will not make arrests, instead detaining suspects temporarily before transferring them to law enforcement.

IN FULL

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized 2,000 National Guard troops to patrol Washington, D.C., with their service-issued weapons, if necessary, according to a Defense Department (DOD) official. Currently, they are supporting federal and federalized law enforcement in the American capital without firearms.

“At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, JTF-DC members supporting the mission to lower the crime rate in our nation’s capital will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training,” the DOD official said, adding: “The Interim Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard retains the authority to make any necessary force posture adjustments in coordination with the D.C. Metropolitan Police and Federal law enforcement partners. The D.C. National Guard remains committed to safeguarding the District of Columbia and serving those who live, work, and visit the District.”

While troops will not be making arrests, they will have the ability to temporarily detain individuals before transferring suspects to law enforcement. Armed National Guard personnel could be seen in the coming days.

President Donald J. Trump met with National Guardsmen and law enforcement officers in Washington, D.C., on Thursday at the U.S. Park Police Anacostia Operations Facility. Trump brought pizza and hamburgers for the officers, showing support for their efforts in restoring order in the capital city.

“We want to make this absolutely perfect. It’s our capital. And, I guess it used to be many years ago, safe, but it’s certainly not had a… very good run. And you got to be strong. You got to be tough. You got to do your job. Whatever it takes to do your job, you got to do your job,” Trump told the officers during his visit.

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13 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Judge Frees Kilmar Abrego Garcia, ICE Vows to Deport Him.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released from custody in Tennessee.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, his attorney Sean Hecker, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Released on Friday in Tennessee; previously deported to El Salvador and later detained in Maryland and Tennessee.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free.” – Sean Hecker

🎯IMPACT: ICE officials plan to re-arrest him and begin deportation proceedings after his release from U.S. Marshals’ custody.

IN FULL

Alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released from custody in Tennessee on Friday. The release followed the expiration of a judge’s 30-day pause on his case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Tennessee had ordered his release from a jail near Nashville, where he had been held since June after returning from El Salvador.

“Today, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free,” his attorney, Sean Hecker, said. Abrego Garcia had been deported to El Salvador earlier this year after being identified as a member of MS-13 by the Trump administration. Hecker claimed that the deportation and subsequent imprisonment were part of a “vindictive attack” and praised the courts for providing “meaningful due process.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, however, have indicated that they plan to re-arrest Abrego Garcia and begin deportation proceedings once he is no longer in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. The case has drawn significant political and media attention, including sympathetic support from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and other Democratic members of Congress, as well as misleading stories from The Atlantic and POLITICO, which described the illegal immigrant as a “Maryland father.”

Abrego Garcia was initially returned to the U.S. from El Salvador on human trafficking charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop. He was later detained in Tennessee after being indicted on human smuggling charges. His lawyers hired a firm with court-approved pre-trial transportation experience to bring him back to Maryland after his release.

Barack Obama-appointed U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis ordered that ICE must provide 72 hours of notice before initiating removal efforts.

Image by Victoria Pickering.

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14 hours 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
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14 hours 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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15 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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