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Category: News
May 22, 2025
Crime
UK

‘Success’ in Chemically Castrating Sex Offenders, Pilot Scheme Suggests.

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❓What Happened: A pilot scheme for chemical castration of sex offenders in south-west England has shown “successful outcomes,” according to a prison officers’ union. The government plans a national rollout covering 20 prisons.

👥 Who’s Involved: The British government, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), and the Prison Reform Trust.

📍 Where & When: Initial trials in south-west England, with a national rollout planned for two regions and 20 prisons.

💬 Key Quote: Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood: “I’m not squeamish about taking these further measures… so that we can build the evidence base and make sure that we are using every tool at our disposal that can cut reoffending.”

⚠️ Impact: The scheme aims to reduce reoffending rates among sex offenders.

IN FULL:

The British government has announced plans to expand a pilot programme of chemical castration for sex offenders, following what has been described as “successful outcomes” in south-west England. The scheme, which involves administering medication to suppress the sex drive of offenders, will now be rolled out to two regions covering 20 prisons.

The clinical management of sexual arousal scheme began in 2022 across five prisons. The Prison Officers’ Association (POA), representing healthcare staff in prisons, stated that its members have encountered no difficulties in administering the treatment. POA Chairman Mark Fairhurst confirmed the union’s support for the expansion but declined to specify which sites would be included in the rollout.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, addressed Parliament on Thursday, highlighting studies suggesting a 60 percent reduction in reoffending through a combination of chemical suppressants and psychological interventions. “I’m not squeamish about taking these further measures,” she said, noting the government was considering forcing criminals to undergo the treatment.

The treatment, which includes hormonal drugs like anti-androgens and non-hormonal options such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is already in use in other countries like Germany and Denmark on a voluntary basis, and in Poland as mandatory for certain offenders. In the United Kingdom, it is currently delivered through a national program jointly commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS) and the Prison Service for offenders with complex needs.

Several U.S. states also practice chemical castration of sex offenders, including Louisiana, which passed a bill allowing judges to go even further and order the surgical castration of offenders who commit sex crimes against children.

Image by Julian Dunn.

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May 22, 2025
William Upton
Politics
SCOTUS

Fed’s Jerome Powell May be Out Sooner Than He Thinks, Thanks to SCOTUS.

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❓What Happened: The Supreme Court has granted a request by the Trump administration to stay the reinstatement of fired members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) by a lower court.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Supreme Court, President Donald J. Trump, federal government officials, and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

📍 Where & When: Decision issued on May 22, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Because the Constitution vests the executive power in the President, see Art. II, §1, cl. 1, he may remove without cause executive officers who exercise that power on his behalf, subject to narrow exceptions recognized by our precedents” — Supreme Court order.

⚠️ Impact: The fired officials will not be able to stay in post while their cases progress through the federal courts. Moreover, the Supreme Court’s decision signals it will likely rule in favor of the administration when the case reaches them, and that it may rule Congressional statutes restricting the executive’s power to fire federal employees “without cause”—potentially including Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell—are unconstitutional.

IN FULL:

The United States Supreme Court has granted the Trump administration a stay, effectively blocking several orders issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia enjoining the executive branch from firing several board members of so-called “independent” agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). While the decision by the high court only reinstates President Donald J. Trump’s decision to fire the Democrat-appointed officials and bars their reinstatement while the case is ongoing, the majority opinion suggests that as the case proceeds, the Supreme Court is likely to side with the President in its final determination.

“The application for stay presented to THE CHIEF JUSTICE and by him referred to the Court is granted,” the Supreme Court order reads, with the majority determining: “Because the Constitution vests the executive power in the President, see Art. II, §1, cl. 1, he may remove without cause executive officers who exercise that power on his behalf, subject to narrow exceptions recognized by our precedents, see Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 591 U. S. 197, 215−218 (2020).”

“The stay reflects our judgment that the Government is likely to show that both the NLRB and MSPB exercise considerable executive power. But we do not ultimately decide in this posture whether the NLRB or MSPB falls within such a recognized exception; that question is better left for resolution after full briefing and argument,” the justices in the majority continue, before making a potentially precedent-setting finding: “The stay also reflects our judgment that the Government faces greater risk of harm from an order allowing a removed officer to continue exercising the executive power than a wrongfully removed officer faces from being unable to perform her statutory duty.”

President Trump and his White House have signaled that they will push for a broad final ruling from the Supreme Court in arguments, with the aim of using a favorable decision to remove Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The central bank chief and Trump have clashed over interest rates and the former’s reluctance to slash borrowing costs and increase market liquidity.

Notably, the Federal Reserve Act—the law governing the central bank—does allow the U.S. president to remove the Federal Reserve board members “for cause” in cases of negligence of duty, misconduct, or corruption. However, the law does not allow top Fed officials to be fired over policy differences—a provision intended to ensure the central bank’s independence in managing the country’s monetary policy. However, a broad enough ruling in the current Trump v. Wilcox could reopen the question regarding Powell’s job security.

The National Pulse previously reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that the White House has decided on a six-month timeline to replace Powell as the Fed chairman, suggesting interviews for his replacement would occur “sometime in the fall.”

Jack Montgomery contributed to this report.

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May 22, 2025
Health
News

Pro-Lifers Cheer ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Slashing Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid Funding.

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❓What Happened: House Republicans passed a budget bill blocking Medicaid funds from being used for abortions, including funding for Planned Parenthood.

👥 Who’s Involved: House Republicans, President Donald J. Trump, Students for Life Action, SBA Pro-Life America, Reproductive Freedom for All.

📍 Where & When: U.S. House of Representatives, Thursday morning.

💬 Key Quote: “This is an historic win for Pro-Life Americans and children in the womb, as Planned Parenthood and Big Abortion has been cut out of the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ and has been told to go fund themselves.” – Kristan Hawkins, Students for Life Action.

⚠️ Impact: The bill now advances to the Senate, with potential implications for abortion funding and Planned Parenthood operations.

IN FULL:

The U.S. House of Representatives’ “big, beautiful” budget bill, championed by President Donald J. Trump, prohibits Medicaid funds from being used to orchestrate abortions, including through organizations like Planned Parenthood. The measure, supported by House Republicans and President Trump, now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Pro-life advocates welcomed the passage of the bill. Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life Action, described the move as a “historic win” for pro-life Americans. “Planned Parenthood and Big Abortion has been cut out of the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ and has been told to go fund themselves,” she said, emphasizing her organization’s commitment to urging the Senate to prioritize “life-saving care over the interests of the abortion lobby” when it considers the bill.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of SBA Pro-Life America, also praised the bill, calling it a “big step” toward ending taxpayer-funded support for the abortion industry. “Medicaid will be stronger for those who need it most,” Dannenfelser stated, adding that taxpayers should not be forced to support what a “scandal-ridden industry” focused on abortions, gender transitions, and political activism, rather than legitimate health services.

Dannenfelser urged Senate lawmakers to unite and move the legislation forward, stating that the lives of “more than 400,000 babies a year, their mothers, and countless American taxpayers” depend on its success.

Image by Robin Marty.

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May 22, 2025
News
TECH

REPORT: Microsoft Blocks ‘Palestine’ in Internal Emails.

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❓What Happened: Microsoft temporarily blocked emails containing terms like “Palestine,” “Gaza,” and “Genocide” from being sent by employees.

👥 Who’s Involved: Microsoft employees, the No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA) protest group, and Microsoft leadership.

📍 Where & When: Inside Microsoft’s email systems; protests occurred during the Microsoft Build developer conference this week.

💬 Key Quote: “NOAA believes this is an attempt by Microsoft to silence worker free speech and is a censorship enacted by Microsoft leadership to discriminate against Palestinian workers and their allies,” said NOAA organizer Hossam Nasr.

⚠️ Impact: Employee protests disrupted major company events, and Microsoft confirmed email restrictions to reduce politically charged internal messages.

IN FULL:

Microsoft employees have reported that internal emails containing terms such as “Palestine,” “Gaza,” and “Genocide” are being temporarily blocked from delivery, both internally and externally. The No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA) protest group claims that “dozens” of workers have experienced these restrictions, alleging that the company is targeting language critical of Israel.

Hossam Nasr, a NOAA organizer, accused Microsoft of attempting to stifle free speech and discriminating against Palestinian employees and their allies. “NOAA believes this is an attempt by Microsoft to silence worker free speech and is a censorship enacted by Microsoft leadership,” Nasr said.

Microsoft has confirmed that changes have been made to its email system to limit politically oriented communications. “Emailing large numbers of employees about any topic not related to work is not appropriate,” said spokesman Frank Shaw. “Over the past couple of days, a number of politically focused emails have been sent to tens of thousands of employees across the company, and we have taken measures to try and reduce those emails to those that have not opted in.”

The restrictions coincided with protests during Microsoft’s Build developer conference, where employees and former workers voiced opposition to the company’s contracts with the Israeli government. On Monday, an employee named Joe Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote, accusing Microsoft of enabling “Israeli war crimes” through its Azure cloud services. Lopez was later terminated after sending an email to thousands of employees.

Further disruptions occurred on subsequent days, including a protest by a Palestinian tech worker and an incident where two former employees interrupted a session.

Microsoft recently defended its contracts with Israel, stating that internal and external reviews found no evidence of its tools being used to harm civilians in Gaza.

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May 22, 2025
Education
Immigration

Trump Goes Even Further in Foreign Student Crackdown.

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❓What Happened: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked Harvard University’s student visa program over allegations of non-compliance with federal requests for records and “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”

👥 Who’s Involved: DHS, Harvard University, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

📍 Where & When: Harvard University, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year.

💬 Key Quote: “As a result of your brazen refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information… you have lost this privilege,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote.

⚠️ Impact: Harvard cannot enroll foreign students starting in the 2025-2026 school year, and current foreign students must transfer or leave the U.S. before the next academic year.

IN FULL:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked Harvard University‘s ability to host international students under the student visa program. The decision cites “pro-terrorist conduct” at campus protests and the university’s failure to comply with federal reporting requirements. The decision prohibits Harvard from enrolling foreign students for the 2025-2026 academic year, and current foreign students must transfer or leave the U.S. before the upcoming school year begins.

“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused.”

Meanwhile, in a letter to Maureen Martin, Harvard’s director of immigration services, Noem stated that the university’s “brazen refusal” to provide requested records and its perpetuation of an “unsafe campus environment” led to the decision. Noem accused the university of fostering a hostile atmosphere for Jewish students, promoting pro-Hamas rhetoric, and implementing discriminatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

DHS had previously requested footage of protest activity involving visa-holding students, along with disciplinary records for the past five years. According to Noem, Harvard provided responses deemed “insufficient, incomplete, and unacceptable,” despite multiple follow-up requests. The university has been given 72 hours to comply fully with DHS demands to potentially regain its visa program for the next academic year.

The crackdown follows a series of pro-Hamas protests on U.S. campuses after the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel. At least a dozen Harvard students have already had their visas revoked over protest-related activity. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress this week that “thousands” of student visas have likely been revoked nationwide, emphasizing that a visa is “a privilege, not a right.”

The Trump administration has also frozen nearly $3 billion in federal funding to Harvard, citing failures to address antisemitism and concerns over DEI policies. Investigations into the university are ongoing across multiple federal departments.

Currently, it is estimated that 27 percent of Harvard’s total enrolled student population is foreign, at just under 7,000. With the total cost for a foreign student to attend the Ivy League university estimated to be over $100,000 per year, the loss of those students could be a crippling financial blow to Harvard, in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Image by Adam Fagen.

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May 22, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Crime

Far-Leftist Who Assaulted Top MAGA Official in DC Charged.

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❓What Happened: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Emily Gabriella Sommer, who spat on then-Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin during a live interview earlier this month.

👤Who’s Involved: Emily Gabriella Sommer, Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, and DOJ prosecutors.

🧾Key Quote: “ED, that was me that spit in your face… A pleasure to hawk a dehydrated, pithy white foam spit into your face,” Sommer posted on X (formerly Twitter).

⚠️Fallout: Sommer now faces federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 111, which criminalizes assaulting or impeding U.S. officials, after publicly claiming responsibility in a vulgar, racially-charged online rant.

📌Significance: The incident exposes the increasingly aggressive behavior of leftist agitators targeting America First officials.

IN FULL:

Emily Gabriella Sommer, the woman caught on video spitting on then-Interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin during a live interview, has been formally charged with assaulting a federal official under 18 U.S.C. § 111. The law prohibits assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and employees of the United States. The DOJ confirmed the charge on Wednesday.

The now-viral incident occurred as Martin, who now serves as President Donald J. Trump’s Pardon Attorney and has a leadership role investigating the weaponization of government at the DOJ, was giving a live interview outside a D.C. courthouse earlier this month. Footage shows Sommer aggressively approaching Martin, shouting obscenities before spitting in his face. She shouts, “You’re a disgusting man!” before walking away.

In an uncensored video, Sommer can be heard screaming, “Who the f*ck are you?! You are Ed Martin!” moments before the assault.

In a pair of X posts made shortly after the incident, Sommer not only admitted to the assault but reveled in the act. Posting from the account @EmilyGabriellaS, she wrote: “ED, that was me that spit in your face today in front of your not USDC for D.C. Courthouse… A pleasure to hawk a dehydrated, pithy white foam spit into your face… I only apologize that this city left me so dehydrated… [Ed Martin] you punk ass bitch cuckold.”

She continued the rant in a second post: “That was meant exactly and every bit for your disgusting pig-headed swine blooded white privileged racist, misogynist… LOL. Bye, enjoy that spit on your $6k lapel, your other white bitch CRACKER. I’ll find that footage and laugh for a lifetime [sic].”

The attack on Martin—a prominent ally of President Trump—has reinforced concerns about the normalization of political violence from radicalized progressives, seemingly encouraged by the rhetoric of well-known figures like James Comey.

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May 22, 2025
News

Suspect Who Shot and Killed Israel Diplomats in DC Named.

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❓What Happened: An Israeli couple was fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening.

👥 Who’s Involved: Elias Rodriguez, 30, was arrested and accused of the murders of Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26.

📍 Where & When: The shooting occurred outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., following an event on May 21, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence,” said Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

⚠️ Impact: The attack has caused shock and mourning in the Jewish community and raised concerns about Islamist ideologies and pro-Hamas violence in the U.S.

IN FULL:

A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the barbaric murder of an Israeli couple outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night. Elias Rodriguez, believed to be from Chicago, is accused of killing Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, who both worked for the Israeli embassy.

Authorities say Rodriguez shouted “Free, free Palestine” as he was apprehended. Social media posts linked to him revealed extremist sentiments supporting Hamas and advocating for violence. One post on X (formerly Twitter) stated, “Don’t blame me, I voted for Hamas,” while another called for escalating violence in support of Hamas in Gaza.

Rodriguez’s alleged online activity also included a post referencing a truck bomb attack on The New York Times‘ headquarters, as well as messages featuring anti-American rhetoric and symbols associated with the Marxist-Leninist group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

A manifesto, believed to belong to Rodriguez, calls for violent action against the Israeli and U.S. governments. “Public opinion has shifted against the genocidal apartheid state, and the American government has simply shrugged, they’ll do without public opinion then, criminalize it where they can, suffocate it with bland reassurances that they’re doing all they can to restrain Israel where it cannot criminalize protest outright,” he allegedly wrote. The document goes on to state, “An armed action is not necessarily a military action. It usually is not. Usually it is theater and spectacle, a quality it shares with many unarmed actions.” He also argued that he believes some Americans will see his actions as “sane.”

The victims, Lischinsky and Milgrim, were attending an event at the museum when the suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, according to Metropolitan Police (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith. Officials confirmed the couple was planning to become engaged on an upcoming trip to Jerusalem. The shooting occurred amid heightened tensions related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which began when Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023.

Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the FBI, stated: “Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence.” On Thursday, the FBI raided Rodriguez’s home in Chicago’s East Albany Park neighborhood. Reportedly, the FBI has been interviewing the alleged shooter for over 12 hours as of the time of publication.

Rodriguez, who worked for a non-profit in the osteopathy field and held an English degree from the University of Illinois, was previously associated with the Party for Socialism. However, the group has distanced itself from him.

The American Jewish Committee, whose annual Young Diplomats reception appears to have been the target of the attack, expressed grief and solidarity with the victims’ families. Ted Deutch, the organization’s chief executive, remarked, “At this painful moment, we mourn with the victims’ families, loved ones, and all of Israel. May their memories be for a blessing.”

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May 22, 2025
Jack Montgomery
NatSec
News

Disaster As UK Hands Critical Diego Garcia Base Islands to China-Friendly Nation.

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❓What Happened: British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed a deal transferring the Chagos Islands’ sovereignty to Mauritius, with a 99-year leaseback of the Diego Garcia military base for £101m annually.

👥 Who’s Involved: British and Mauritian governments, U.S. military, Chagossian community, Sir Keir Starmer, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage and deputy leader Richard Tice.

📍 Where & When: Chagos Islands, Diego Garcia; agreement signed on Thursday in a virtual ceremony.

💬 Key Quote: “Why is Starmer so desperate to give away the islands? There is no legal need, it will cost us approximately £52 billion, and play into the hands of China. Why?” — Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

⚠️ Impact: The deal has sparked protests from Chagossians and raised concerns over Mauritius’ ties to China. Despite the Diego Garcia lease, the UK-U.S. base could still be undermined by Mauritius authorizing a Chinese base on a neighboring island in the archipelago.

IN FULL:

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has finalized a controversial agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia military base, a key UK-US strategic site, at a cost of £101 (~$135.5 million) per year.

The deal, signed on Thursday during a virtual ceremony, has faced sharp criticism from opposition politicians and Chagossians. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued, “We should not be paying to surrender British territory to Mauritius”—although her party also conducted talks with Mauritius on handing over the islands when it was in government.

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage demanded, “Why is Starmer so desperate to give away the islands? There is no legal need, it will cost us approximately £52 billion, and play into the hands of China. Why?” Reform deputy leader Richard Tice denounced the agreement as “another Starmer surrender sell-out.”

The Chagos Archipelago was separated from Mauritius when the latter ceased to be a British colony, becoming the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). However, Chagos had only been part of Mauritius for administrative purposes. The two island territories are around 1,200 miles apart, and the Chagossians, displaced from their islands in the late 1960s, oppose the islands’ transfer to Mauritius. Two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertice Pompe, even unsuccessfully challenged the agreement in court, arguing Chagossians were excluded from decision-making about their ancestral homeland.

The United Nations’ International Court of Justice (ICJ) and General Assembly had ruled that Britain should transfer Chagos to Mauritius, but these were non-binding decisions, and Starmer was under no obligation to obey them, much less pay Mauritius for the privilege of surrendering British sovereign territory. Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s largest island, has hosted a joint UK-U.S. military base since the late 1960s, and it remains a vital strategic hub in the Indian Ocean.

Notably, even though Britain will continue to lease the Diego Garcia base from Mauritius, the latter’s ties to China raise concerns that it could render Diego Garcia largely redundant by allowing the Chinese military to establish a base on another Chagossian island nearby.

Britain previously transferred Hong Kong, the bulk of which was leased to Britain in perpetuity in the 1840s, with the New Territories being leased for 99 years in 1898, to Communist China, despite the agreements on the territory having been concluded with the former Qing Empire. Promises that Hong Kongers’ liberties would be preserved under a one-country, two-systems policy have unravelled, and they are now subject to authoritarian rule with no outside oversight.

Similarly, U.S. influence over the America-built Panama Canal waned when the late President Jimmy Carter agreed to transfer the Panama Canal Zone to the Panamanian government, despite the U.S. having purchased control over the zone from the Panamanians “in perpetuity.” Carter’s deal resulted in a rise in Chinese influence at the expense of the U.S., which is only now being corrected by concerted action on the part of the Trump administration.

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May 22, 2025
Health
News

Taxpayer Cash Earmarked for Disease Prevention Was Used to ‘Queer’ Children Instead.

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❓What Happened: Federal funds intended for disease prevention were redirected by a California school district into LGBT student clubs promoting gender ideology and queer activism.

👥 Who’s Involved: Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) Network, children and parents.

📍 Where & When: Oakland, California; misuse of funds occurred between 2018 and 2023.

💬 Key Quote: “My child was lured into a confidential GSA club disguised as an Art Club… Parents were completely kept in the dark about what the club really was,” said Erin Lee, a concerned parent.

⚠️ Impact: Nearly $60,000 in CDC HIV prevention funds were used for LGBT-focused programming, with additional funding for similar initiatives at elementary schools. The CDC has since canceled OUSD’s grant.

IN FULL:

The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) in California reportedly misused federal funds meant for disease prevention to finance LGBT student clubs and gender activism programs. The funds, part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant designed to reduce HIV and sexually transmitted diseases among students, were instead funneled into woke Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) clubs.

Between 2018 and 2023, OUSD received over $3 million through the CDC’s “Healthy Oakland Teens” initiative. Nearly $60,000 of these funds were allocated to pay staff members, referred to as “LGBTQ Liaisons,” to oversee GSA clubs in middle and high schools and to promote “affirming” environments for LGBT students. An additional $50,000 was later directed toward similar programs for elementary school students. The GSA clubs, described as student-led but adult-supervised, focus on topics such as transgenderism, sexuality, and activism.

OUSD’s 2018 grant application cited reducing LGBT bullying as a key objective. However, $20,000 of the funds went to hire a consultant to organize an annual GSA Day for middle and high schools, while $10,000 was used to cover the event’s costs, including workshops and student-led advocacy.

Concerns have also been raised over OUSD’s “gender support plan,” which outlines how staff can facilitate a student’s gender transition at school without informing parents.

Erin Lee, a parent from Colorado, described her experience with a similar GSA club in her daughter’s school. “My child was lured into a confidential GSA club disguised as an Art Club in her 6th-grade classroom. She was deceived by her ‘trusted adult’ teacher about what the club entailed, and parents were completely kept in the dark about what the club really was,” she said. “They planted seeds of distrust towards parents… They lied to her. And they lied to us.”

Judges have previously ruled that schools secretly transitioning children are violating the rights of their parents. A Wisconsin judge banned schools from allowing or requiring staff to use names or pronouns at odds with the biological sex of children without their parents’ consent in 2023.

However, some whistleblowers have been charged for exposing the secret transitioning of children, such as Dr. Eithan Haim, who was charged by the former Biden government’s DOJ. President Donald J. Trump dropped the charges against Haim earlier this year.

Image by SF LGBT Center.

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May 22, 2025
News

Trump, Grenell Secure Release of US Air Force Veteran.

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❓What Happened: A U.S. Air Force veteran detained in Venezuela since November has been released.

👥 Who’s Involved: Joseph St. Clair, his parents Scott and Patti St. Clair, former Trump envoy Richard Grenell, and Venezuelan officials.

📍 Where & When: St. Clair was handed over during a diplomatic handoff on Tuesday in a neutral location.

💬 Key Quote: “This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” said St. Clair’s parents.

⚠️ Impact: St. Clair’s release is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts that have freed multiple Americans detained abroad.

IN FULL:

A U.S. Air Force veteran detained in Venezuela for nearly a year has been freed, according to his family and U.S. officials. Joseph St. Clair, a decorated language specialist who served four tours in Afghanistan, was handed over to former Trump administration envoy Richard Grenell during a diplomatic exchange on Tuesday.

“Joe St. Clair is back in America,” Grenell confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy,” he continued, adding that this was “only possible because [Donald Trump] puts Americans first.”

St. Clair’s parents, Scott and Patti St. Clair, expressed their relief in a statement: “This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.”

The veteran had traveled to South America seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when Venezuelan authorities detained him in November. No public charges were ever announced against him, according to his father’s prior comments to the press.

This release follows a series of quiet diplomatic negotiations involving Grenell, including the freeing of six other Americans detained by Venezuela’s government after its controversial presidential election in July. Grenell had previously met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas earlier this year, urging the return of Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. who had committed crimes. Hundreds of deportations have since occurred.

Maduro later thanked Grenell and President Donald J. Trump for facilitating the return of a young Venezuelan girl separated from her mother, calling it a “profoundly humane” act.

St. Clair’s safe return adds to a growing list of Americans released from foreign detention through focused diplomatic efforts.

Image via @RichardGrenell.

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