GET THE APP
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Trump on Trial Day 2

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

April 23, 2024
William Upton
Lawfare

Trump Trial Day 2 Summary: Pecker Pokes Holes In Prosecution’s Case.

Day two of the Manhattan-based hush money trial of former President Donald Trump saw abbreviated testimony from the former National Enquirer CEO, David Pecker. The National Pulse’s editor-in-chief, Raheem Kassam, noted on X (formerly Twitter) that the tabloid newsman’s recounting of events did not go well for District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution. After briefly taking the stand on Monday — before the court adjourned around 12:30 PM ET — Pecker continued his testimony on Tuesday, delving into the substantive nature of the accusations leveled by Bragg’s office.

PECKER SCHEMED WITH COHEN ALONE. 

While Bragg and his prosecution team have insisted that Michael Cohen‘s payments to smut star Stormy Daniels were at the direction of former President Donald Trump, David Pecker directly undermined this aspect of the case. Pecker testified that he was the one who told Trump that women might come forward with false accusations of affairs since the former President had been a sought-after bachelor connected with multiple beautiful women.

According to Pecker, it was he and Cohen who planned the strategy of paying off accusers and having them sign non-disclosure agreements. The newsman insinuated that Trump himself was unaware of their scheme. Pecker’s testimony appears to represent a significant blow to Bragg’s prosecution, which is largely contingent on Trump having directed the payment scheme.

DID TRUMP VIOLATE THE GAG ORDER?

The only other significant courtroom action happened before Pecker’s testimony. Prosecutors and attorneys for the former President argued before Judge Juan Merchan as to whether Trump had violated a court-issued gag order. Bragg’s team told the judge that Trump had “willfully,” “flagrantly,” and “repeatedly” violated the order with both social media posts and comments made to the press outside the Manhattan courthouse. Todd Blanche, the lead attorney for Trump, fired back that the former President is “allowed to respond to political attacks.”

Democrat-aligned Judge Juan Merchan appeared frustrated with Blanche’s line of defense and repeatedly asked him to point to specific posts or comments by Michael Cohen or Stormy Daniels that constituted “political attacks.” Blanche offered a few examples and insisted that Trump has complied with Merchan’s gag order, which caused Merchan to become irate.

“You’re losing all credibility, I have to tell you right now,” the judge told Blanche, adding angrily:  “You’re losing all credibility with the court.” Despite his outburst, Merchant said he would not rule today on whether former President Trump had willfully violated the gag order.

You can read The National Pulse’s Day One trial coverage here, and if you find our work worthwhile, consider joining up as a supporter.

By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad
More From The Pulse

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

12 hours ago
Podcast

WATCH: Laura Loomer Explains Fresh Trump Admin Personnel Issues in Podcast With Tara Palmeri.

PULSE POINTS:

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Laura Loomer discusses how her intel prompted Donald Trump to fire multiple national security officials, bypassing his own adviser Mike Waltz, in a new podcast with Tara Palmeri.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Loomer, Trump, Waltz, and various NSC personnel; Loomer says Trump is her “biggest ally.”

🧾KEY QUOTES: “Trump said, ‘Hire her.’ They never do.” / “If you want loyalty in DC, get a dog—I have four.”

⚠️FALLOUT: Loomer alleges internal sabotage and persistent leaks.

📌SIGNIFICANCE: Loomer’s role highlights Trump’s ongoing trust issues inside his camp—and signals a chaotic personnel battle ahead of a second term.

IN FULL:

Laura Loomer revealed how her Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump led to the firing of multiple National Security Council officials—over the objections of Trump’s own national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz, in a new podcast with liberal reporter Tara Palmeri.

Despite multiple hiring directives from Trump himself, Loomer says his staff has repeatedly blocked her from joining the administration and leaked her visits to CNN. “He said, ‘Hire her,’” Loomer told Palmeri. “They never do.”

Loomer accused Waltz of promoting disloyal staff and said she attempted to show Trump a video of Waltz attacking him during the 2016 campaign—until Waltz walked into the room and interrupted the meeting. “What does a Mike Waltz vet entail?” Loomer asked. “He himself wouldn’t pass one.”

She warned of a vetting crisis inside Trump’s operation, alleging that senior aides are onboarding and shielding unvetted or ideologically hostile personnel.

The former congressional candidate and opposition researcher now runs Loomered Strategies, a consulting firm offering executive-level vetting.

WATCH: 

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

13 hours ago
Sports

Illinois Refuses to Comply With Key Trump Order.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has decided not to comply with an executive order from President Trump barring the participation of biological male athletes in female sports.

👥 Who’s Involved: The IHSA, President Donald J. Trump, IHSA President Dan Tully, Illinois state lawmakers, and State Representative Blaine Wilhour.

📍 Where & When: Illinois, United States. Current ongoing issue.

💬 Key Quote: IHSA President Dan Tully: “The Illinois Human Rights Act requires that transgender athletes be permitted to participate in events and programs aligning with the gender they identify.”

⚠️ Impact: The IHSA seeks clarity from state lawmakers and the Trump administration to resolve conflicting policies, while potential federal funding cuts loom over the state.

IN FULL:

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) says it will continue to ignore a federal directive barring the participation of biological male athletes in high school girls’ sports. Previously, the State of Maine announced it would not comply with the directive, issued as an Executive Order by President Donald J. Trump in February, and now faces a federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

ISHA’s president, Dan Tully, claims that state law preempts the federal restriction and requires Illinois high schools to accommodate so-called transgender athletes, who are biological males, by allowing their participation in girls’ sporting events. “The Illinois Human Rights Act requires that transgender athletes be permitted to participate in events and programs aligning with the gender they identify,” Tully states in a letter to Illinois Republican lawmakers. He argues that the ISHA, “simply desires to comply with the law and takes no position as to which of the foregoing is correct or whether there can be alignment between claimed federal and state law.”

According to the ISHA—which represents 809 schools and neither receives state nor federal funding—the participation of biological males in women’s sports is determined on a case-by-case basis, suggesting it is not a blanket policy. The association claims it considers whether the gender identity change is “bona fide and/or for the purpose of gaining competitive advantage.”

However, Republican lawmakers in Springfield aren’t sold on the ISHA’s decision, and are encouraging the federal government to launch a similar Title IX investigation to the one seen in Maine. “The whole policy is sick,” State Representative Blaine Wilhour said during a recent media appearance. He continued: “Either you believe in fair competition or you don’t. The Democrat Party today… does not believe in fair competition. They put their woke ideology over protecting girls in sports.”

“[The Trump administration is] going to have to engage here, and the leverage that they’ve got is federal funding,” he added.

In 2011, Democrat lawmakers in Illinois enshrined protections for biological males who choose to identify as female to participate in women’s sporting events. Notably, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL)’s cousin is billionaire James Pritzker, who identifies as “Jennifer.”

Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian. 

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

14 hours ago
NatSec

Biden-Era Security Lapse Saw Sensitive White House Blueprints Shared With 11,000+ People.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Sensitive documents, including White House blueprints, were improperly shared with thousands of federal employees after being accidentally uploaded through the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Google Drive.

👥 Who’s Involved: Employees of the General Services Administration (GSA).

📍 Where & When: The incident originated from the GSA in Washington, D.C.; it began in 2021 and was discovered last week.

💬 Key Quote: “Even if they were not formally classified … they would be closely held for obvious security reasons,” said Steven Aftergood, a former director for the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy.

⚠️ Impact: Potential security risk due to sharing sensitive information with upwards of 11,200 government workers; ongoing investigation and cybersecurity report filed.

IN FULL:

Personnel from the General Services Administration (GSA), responsible for managing federal buildings, unintentionally gave over 11,200 agency employees access to sensitive documents. The documents reportedly included blueprints for the White House.

The issue arose when a Google Drive folder was mistakenly uploaded with settings that allowed widespread access. This misconfiguration occurred in 2021 during the Biden government and was discovered only last week during a routine audit by the GSA’s IT team.

Subsequent to the discovery of the Biden-era Google Drive security issue at the GSA, the Trump administration posted three documents in the compromised folder, not knowing that the materials were widely accessible. Notably, one of the documents contained the banking information for a vendor contracted for work on a Trump administration press conference. The GSA’s IT department is conducting a detailed investigation, and a cybersecurity report has been filed regarding the incident.

Experts in government secrecy, including Steven Aftergood, have emphasized the potential risk posed by sharing certain documents even if they lack formal classification. “Even if they were not formally classified … they would be closely held for obvious security reasons,” said Aftergood, a former director for the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy.

Information about private passageways or security procedures could be considered classified under Executive Order 13526, which governs national security information.

The leak comes just weeks after a corporate media journalist was inadvertently added to a Signal chat with senior officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, about strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.

Photo by ajay_suresh.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

14 hours ago
Media

Larry David Lashes Out at Bill Maher in Tired, ‘Trump’s a Nazi’ NYT Op-Ed.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Larry David, creator of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” satirized Bill Maher’s recent dinner with Donald Trump in a New York Times op-ed titled “My Dinner With Adolf.”

👥 Who’s Involved: Larry David, Bill Maher, and Donald Trump.

📍 Where & When: The op-ed was published in the New York Times, and Maher’s comments were made during an April episode of “Real Time With Bill Maher.”

💬 Key Quote: Larry David wrote, “Suddenly he seemed so human… this private Hitler was a completely different animal.”

⚠️ Impact: None, to be honest.

IN FULL:

In a satirical op-ed titled “My Dinner With Adolf,” Larry David, known for his work on Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, openly critiqued Bill Maher’s recent dinner with President Donald J. Trump. The op-ed, featured in the New York Times, uses hypothetical historical context to analogize Maher’s encounter.

The piece riffs on Maher’s April discussion about his dinner with Trump. During his show “Real Time With Bill Maher,” Maher noted his unexpected experience with Trump, including the fact that he laughed during their interaction. David’s piece draws a tired and played-out parallel, imagining a dinner with Adolf Hitler in 1939, where he observed a different, more human side of the public figure.

The likely unrecognized irony of David’s piece, however, is that the New York Times itself once uncritically published excerpts from Hitler’s Mein Kampf in 1941. David made no mention of this in his piece:

Two hours later, the dinner was over, and the Führer escorted me to the door. “I am so glad to have met you. I hope I’m no longer the monster you thought I was.” “I must say, mein Führer, I’m so thankful I came. Although we disagree on many issues, it doesn’t mean that we have to hate each other.” And with that, I gave him a Nazi salute and walked out into the night.

The piece is unlikely to change Maher’s mind, though David happily shared a stage with Trump during a 2015 episode of Saturday Night Live.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

15 hours ago
Economy

Trump Blasts ‘Loser’ Powell for Delay in Interest Rate Cuts.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling for reduced interest rates amid claims of low inflation.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump and Jerome Powell.

📍 Where & When: On Truth Social, the morning of Monday, April 21.

💬 Key Quote: Trump remarked, “Powell has always been ‘Too Late,’ except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?”

⚠️ Impact: The U.S. economy has sent mixed signals that have left the Federal Reserve to adopt an overly cautious stance. However, recent indicators have suggested deflation could now be occurring, which may finally push Powell to reduce rates.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump is continuing his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, urging for immediate cuts to interest rates. Trump reiterated his position on Truth Social on Monday, stating, without providing evidence, that “preemptive cuts” to rates are being advocated by many as the economy faces what he described as “virtually No Inflation.”

“‘Preemptive Cuts’ in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden’s egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other ‘things’ trending down, there is virtually No Inflation,” Trump wrote, continuing: “With these costs trending so nicely downward, just what I predicted they would do, there can almost be no inflation, but there can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW. Europe has already ‘lowered’ seven times.”

“Powell has always been ‘Too Late,’ except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?” the America First leader added.

President Trump has increased pressure on the Federal Reserve chairman in recent weeks. Last week, Trump suggested Powell’s removal as the head of the U.S. central bank could be imminent, writing on Truth Social that, “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” However, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Powell is likely to be replaced as Fed chair later this year, with the target date being “sometime in the fall.”

The Federal Reserve has been slow to reduce interest rates, fixating on concerns that inflation could accelerate. However, a Consumer Price Index (CPI) print from early April had SuperCore CPI—a key indicator monitored by the central bank—showing possibly deflation. A deflationary cycle is far more of an economic concern than reigniting inflation, and may suggest a lack of liquidity in the market, meaning an interest rate cut may need to occur, whether Powell is ready for rate reductions or not.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

16 hours ago
Politics

Trump Backs Hegseth Despite New Signal Chat Leak Allegations.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly shared details about a military strike in Yemen through Signal chat groups with family and friends.

👥 Who’s Involved: Pete Hegseth, Karoline Leavitt, Jeffrey Goldberg, Mike Waltz, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: The incident surrounding the March strike was reported by various outlets in Washington, D.C., over Easter weekend 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” Karoline Leavitt stated.

⚠️ Impact: Questions have arisen about information security policies within the Pentagon. However, President Trump and his White House communications team stress that the media allegations are part of a broad effort by career Pentagon bureaucrats to undermine the America First Agenda.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump continues to “strongly” stand behind Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth despite a series of corporate media stories alleging that the Pentagon chief communicated details regarding military operations in Yemen through private messaging groups. Late Sunday, the New York Times reported that Hegseeth had sent details about a March strike against the Houthis via Signal chat to a group that included his family and personal attorney.

“The President stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said early Monday. She added: “This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and against the monumental change that you are trying to implement.”

Later in the day, during the White House Easter Egg Roll, President Trump also addressed the corporate media allegations, calling them a “waste of time” and—addressing Hesgesth specifically—stating, “He’s doing a great job.” The America First leader added: “Ask the Houthis how he’s doing.”

The controversy over the use of encrypted Signal messaging chats involving groups of administration officials began in March after The Atlantic’s editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to a group. That specific instance involved a Signal group dedicated to situational awareness and messaging cohesion regarding strikes against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen.

A forensic investigation shows Godlberg’s contact information was saved under the wrong contact on National Security Advisor Mike Waltz‘s phone. However, the White House has stressed that no war plans or classified materials were shared in the chat to which Goldbeg was inadvertently made privy.

DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

16 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Mexican Nationals Arrested for Trafficking 180,000 Rounds of Ammunition from Utah to Colorado.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Two Mexican nationals on nonimmigrant visas were arrested for transporting a large quantity of ammunition during a traffic stop in Colorado.

👥 Who’s Involved: Caesar Ramon Martinez Solis, 41, and Humberto Ivan Amador Gavira, 24, were arrested. The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Colorado, Fremont County detectives, and the Department of Homeland Security special agents are part of the investigation.

📍 Where & When: The incident occurred in Canon City, Colorado, on March 26.

💬 Key Quote: “[Martinez Solis] further explained that he did not know the intent with the ammunition but that he believed it was destined for Pueblo,” states an arrest affidavit.

⚠️ Impact: The case is part of a federal initiative, Operation Take Back America, which aims to address illegal immigration and combat transnational criminal organizations.

IN FULL:

Authorities have announced the arrest of two Mexican nationals found carrying a substantial supply of ammunition during a routine traffic stop in Colorado last month. Caesar Ramon Martinez Solis, 41, and Humberto Ivan Amador Gavira, 24, were apprehended in Canon City on March 26 while transporting approximately 180,000 rounds of ammunition.

The arrest resulted from a traffic violation after Fremont County detectives observed a white Chevrolet van failing to dim its headlights, contravening state law. Further, the van failed to signal at a turn and possessed a defective license plate lamp. These violations prompted the traffic stop, leading to the discovery of the ammunition stored in roughly 150 boxes of .308 and 30 boxes of 7.62 caliber rounds, each labeled to contain 1,000 bullets.

According to the arrest affidavit, Martinez Solis informed special agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that he and Amador Gavira, whom he identified as his brother-in-law, had traveled from Mexico to Denver to purchase a vehicle. Their journey also included a stop at a Salt Lake City firearms and ammunition store, where the ammunition was acquired.

“[Martinez Solis] further explained that he did not know the intent with the ammunition but that he believed it was destined for Pueblo,” law enforcement states in the affidavit.

Both men face charges of Unlawful Possession of Ammunition by Alien Admitted Under a Nonimmigrant Visa. The Denver Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, with support from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), is currently managing the case.

This arrest falls under Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative focused on addressing issues related to illegal immigration and dismantling cartel and criminal organization activities.

Image by 70023venus2009. 

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

18 hours ago
News

Trump Takes on Penn Station Overhaul.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The U.S. federal government plans to take control of Pennsylvania Station’s renovation efforts in Manhattan, aiming for a major upgrade.

👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, President Donald Trump’s administration, and New York political leaders.

📍 Where & When: Pennsylvania Station, Manhattan; announcement made on April 17.

💬 Key Quote: Sean P. Duffy stated the goal is to create a station that “reflects America’s greatness.”

⚠️ Impact: The initiative represents a significant federal intervention in an infrastructure project, potentially speeding up or complicating long-standing efforts.

IN FULL:

In a surprise declaration, the federal government announced its intention to redesign historic Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy revealed the plan on Thursday, marking a significant intervention by the federal administration after years of promises by local New York politicians to overhaul the station.

The station, often cited as the busiest rail hub in the United States, has been the subject of numerous renovation attempts over the years, each stalling due to political conflicts. Officials in New York have repeatedly announced ambitious plans to overhaul the facility, but successful execution has remained elusive.

Secretary Duffy emphasized transforming Penn Station into a safe and orderly environment intended to embody national pride in its aesthetics and functionality. “This project will result in a station that reflects America’s greatness,” he declared, signaling a shift from traditional bureaucratic approaches to more direct federal involvement.

For years, the intended renovation of Penn Station had been a subject of significant political negotiation and strategic planning, and it faced various hurdles. The federal control announcement marks the first time presidential power has been used so overtly in this context. The approach aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s strategy of aggressive negotiation and streamlined decision-making.

Transportation experts have expressed concerns regarding the project’s feasibility under typical timelines and budgets, noting that such comprehensive renovations would require years and potentially billions of dollars in funding. The federal government has the ability to take charge of renovations as it controls Amtrak, which runs through Penn Station.

President Trump has previously expressed interest in infrastructure projects and architecture. On his first day in office in January, he issued an executive order to promote traditional and classical architecture for federal public buildings.

 

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

18 hours ago
Immigration
World

Germany to Deport American, 3 EU Citizens Following Pro-Hamas Demonstration.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Four individuals, including three EU citizens and one American, are facing deportation from Germany due to their involvement in protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Their cases have not yet been adjudicated in court.

👥 Who’s Involved: The individuals comprise two Irish citizens, one Polish citizen, and one American citizen.

📍 Where & When: The protest occurred at Berlin’s Free University in October 2024. The deportation orders were served last month, with an April 21 deadline for voluntary departure.

💬 Key Quote: “We all feel very defiant and confident that this won’t pass through the legal system,” said Roberta Murray, one of the Irish citizens facing deportation.

⚠️ Impact: The move raises concerns about potential conflicts with EU laws on freedom of movement and has sparked discussion about Germany’s commitment to Israel.

IN FULL:

Berlin’s Immigration Office has issued deportation orders to four individuals for their participation in a pro-Hamas protest at Berlin’s Free University, which involved damage to property. The protesters, two from Ireland, one from Poland, and one from the United States, are accused of participating in the October 2024 demonstrations, which resulted in violence and property destruction.. They were instructed last month to leave the country by April 21 or face deportation.

The protestors allege that no formal charges have been communicated to them, though official statements cite ongoing criminal proceedings related to the incident. Their legal representative, Alexander Gorski, is challenging the orders, citing the lack of due process and expressing confidence that the individuals will be allowed to stay until their cases can be more thoroughly examined.

The European Union’s principle of freedom of movement is central to this issue. The deportation threats have prompted concerns about potential conflicts with this fundamental EU law, particularly as this involves citizens of EU member states. We all feel very defiant and confident that this won’t pass through the legal system,” said Roberta Murray, one of the Irish citizens facing deportation.

“I hadn’t expected it to go this way at all,” Cooper Longbottom—a 27-year-old graduate student from Seattle, Washington, slated to be removed from the EU country—said, adding: “I hadn’t gotten any charges in the mail. It’s just a complete mess and not how the order of criminal law and due process is supposed to go.”

German authorities point to the concept of “Staatsräson,” or Germany’s unwavering solidarity with Israel, as justification for the deportations. However, traditionally, “Staatsräson” has served as more of a political concept than a legal one. Longbottom has indicated he has no intention of leaving  Germany despite the deportation proceedings.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

20 hours ago
Immigration

White House Proposes ‘Reparations’ for Americans Affected by Illegal Immigration.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller proposed that Americans should be compensated for the harm caused by mass migration.

👥 Who’s Involved: Stephen Miller, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

📍 Where & When: The remarks were made during a Newsmax interview on Friday.

💬 Key Quote: Miller stated, “Where are the damages for Americans?”

⚠️ Impact: Miller’s comments add to the ongoing debate over immigration policy, highlighting rifts between the administration and its critics.

IN FULL:

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has opened a new front in the immigration debate by suggesting that reparations be paid to Americans for harm caused by mass illegal immigration. During a media appearance on Friday, Miller—responding to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-RI) proposal that the federal government should incur daily fines over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador—argued American citizens are those who deserve restitution.

“Where are the damages for Americans?” Miller countered, continuing: “I mean, for the love of God, where are the damages for Americans? Where do I even begin? Where do I even start?”

“We used to have a functioning public school system in his country. Then we had open borders. Now our schools are in chaos and disarray. We need hundreds of translators. Nobody is learning how to read or write,” Miller said, noting the havoc that millions of illegal immigrants who entered the country under former President Joe Biden have wrought on the United States.

“Look at Los Angeles, once a paradise of safety, security, and prosperity—entire neighborhoods occupied and controlled by foreign gangs,” Miller contended, adding: “Where do all of the residents who have been displaced—who have been forced out of Los Angeles—where do they go to get their reparations?”

Meanwhile, the comments come as Congressional Democrats ramp up their criticism of President Donald J. Trump‘s mass deportation policies and efforts to remove dangerous and criminal illegal immigrants from the United States. Last week, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) traveled to El Salvador in support of Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant who had previously been demonstrated to be a member of the violent MS-13 gang and ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge.

Image by Gage Skidmore. 

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad