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Category: News
February 19, 2025
Jack Montgomery
War

Zelensky Bites the Hand that Feeds, Indicates He Will Refuse to Pay Back U.S. with Minerals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expressing anger over an apparent thaw in U.S.-Russian relations while indicating he will refuse to award the U.S. rights to Ukrainian minerals as compensation for the aid and military assistance he has received. The idea that Ukraine should be “giving back in minerals” to pay its debt to American taxpayers “is not a serious conversation,” Zelensky insists.

Zelensky, despite his heavy reliance on U.S. aid, says he is only willing to work on a “serious document” that includes “security guarantees” for Ukraine, presumably including a U.S. commitment to go to war with Russia to defend it.

The current draft agreement proposing a Reconstruction Investment Fund for Ukraine, put forward by the United States, stipulates that opportunities to develop Ukraine’s “mineral resources, oil and gas resources, ports, [and] other infrastructure (as agreed)” should be open to the U.S. rather than its competitors—as the U.S. has gifted Ukraine far more assistance than any other country.

“Look, we all want a victory, and we want Trump to win, and we want Ukraine to win, all of us to succeed… But I am protecting Ukraine. I can’t sell it away. I can’t sell our state,” Zelensky said, apparently believing that the U.S. should continue funding and supplying the Ukrainian military, paying the salaries of Ukrainian government workers, and subsidizing Ukrainian agriculture and businesses in exchange for nothing at all.

“OK, let’s do a deal. Let’s share [it], depending on the investment… but we need security guarantees,” he reiterated, also complaining about the U.S. wanting the Reconstruction Investment Fund agreement to be arbitrated according to New York law rather than “the laws of Ukraine.”

Trump has raised serious questions about the legitimacy of Zelensky’s leadership, considering his presidential term should have expired last May. The Ukrainian leader remains in post due to martial law and has previously banned at least 12 rival political parties, including the main opposition, alleging they were Russia sympathizers.

Image via the Presidential Office of Ukraine.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expressing anger over an apparent thaw in U.S.-Russian relations while indicating he will refuse to award the U.S. rights to Ukrainian minerals as compensation for the aid and military assistance he has received. The idea that Ukraine should be “giving back in minerals” to pay its debt to American taxpayers “is not a serious conversation,” Zelensky insists. show more
February 19, 2025
William Upton
Crime
NatSec

Trump Designates Tren de Aragua and Sinaloa Cartel as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

For the first time in United States history, a number of international drug cartels have been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), akin to groups like al-Qaeda, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the Islamic State. The move, announced by the Trump administration on Wednesday, is a significant escalation against the drug cartels—predominantly located in Mexico and South America. Additionally, the designation expands the type of actions the U.S. government has at its disposal to combat them.

Two of the most prominent cartel groups named in the designation are the violent Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel—one of the largest drug trafficking operations in the world. The National Pulse has previously reported that President Donald J. Trump and his administration have made the arrest and deportation of TdA members a priority as part of his mass deportation program. Several hundred TdA members have already been apprehended and either sent to the migrant facility located on the U.S. military installation at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, or returned to Venezuela.

Other gangs and cartels listed in the FTO designation include Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, United Cartels—also known as the La Resistencia gang, Cartel of the Northeast—a splinter group of the Zetas, the Gulf Cartel, and The New Michoacan Family.

The designations, issued by the State Department, come just after it was revealed the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has begun using MQ-9 Reaper drones over Mexico to monitor drug cartels and their activities. The presence of drones could portend U.S.-authorized strikes and other military actions against these criminal organizations.

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For the first time in United States history, a number of international drug cartels have been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), akin to groups like al-Qaeda, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the Islamic State. The move, announced by the Trump administration on Wednesday, is a significant escalation against the drug cartels—predominantly located in Mexico and South America. Additionally, the designation expands the type of actions the U.S. government has at its disposal to combat them. show more
February 19, 2025
Jack Montgomery
War

BREAKING: Trump Blasts Zelensky as ‘Dictator’ Who ‘Better Move Fast.’

President Donald J. Trump has branded Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who recently indicated he will refuse to repay the U.S. for its war support with access to Ukrainian minerals and other resources, as a “dictator” for refusing to hold fresh elections. “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and ‘TRUMP,’ will never be able to settle,” the America First leader wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us—We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation,” he continued, warning: “On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is ‘MISSING.’ He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden ‘like a fiddle.’ A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.”

Zelensky’s term expired in May 2024, but he remains in office under martial law and has banned what was his party’s main opposition, alongside over ten other parties he accuses of having Russian sympathies.

President Trump said that, while Zelensky is deciding on his next moves, the U.S. will continue “successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only ‘TRUMP,’ and the Trump Administration, can do.”

“Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ going,” he continued. “I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues…..”

His intervention comes as Zelensky has signaled he will not consent to a Reconstruction Investment Fund with the U.S. reserving the rights to develop Ukraine’s mineral and energy resources to the U.S. rather than its competitors. This would be a way of repaying American taxpayers for underwriting the Ukrainian military and government from 2022 onwards.

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President Donald J. Trump has branded Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who recently indicated he will refuse to repay the U.S. for its war support with access to Ukrainian minerals and other resources, as a "dictator" for refusing to hold fresh elections. "Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and 'TRUMP,' will never be able to settle," the America First leader wrote on his Truth Social platform. show more
February 19, 2025
Immigration

Mexico Reports 14,470 Migrants Deported by Trump.

President Donald J. Trump has overseen the deportation of 14,470 illegal immigrants to Mexico, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. As of January 20, over 11,000 of these individuals were Mexican nationals, while 3,091 came from other countries, primarily Central American nations such as Honduras or Guatemala.

U.S. Border Patrol is responsible for returning almost 500 migrants daily across the border into Mexico. In addition to Mexicans, other deported illegal immigrants include Chinese and Indian nationals. The U.S. has arranged illegal immigration flights to Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Panama, facilitating further travel for these migrants to their respective home countries. Additionally, the U.S. has organized direct flights to India to repatriate several groups of illegal immigrants from the subcontinent.

This increase in deportations corresponds with a decrease in new illegal immigrants encountered at the U.S. border, a trend influenced by agreements the Trump administration has reached with several Latin American nations to curb northward migration. Additionally, some foreign leaders have been urging their citizens to return home voluntarily.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for Colombian illegals to leave the U.S. and bolster the South American nation’s domestic workforce. Likewise, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness encouraged Jamaicans facing difficulties abroad to return, highlighting efforts to create a homeland they can be proud of.

Meanwhile, GOP leaders are planning to propose a bill to Congress seeking over $100 billion for border security, which would potentially enable the hiring of additional officers to expedite deportations. The current deportation operations remain limited by available resources and meddling from far-left activists who have tipped off areas with pending U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.

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President Donald J. Trump has overseen the deportation of 14,470 illegal immigrants to Mexico, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. As of January 20, over 11,000 of these individuals were Mexican nationals, while 3,091 came from other countries, primarily Central American nations such as Honduras or Guatemala. show more
February 19, 2025
Jack Montgomery
War

Trump Suggests Ukraine Elections Could Pave Way for Peace.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has suggested that Ukraine should conduct fresh elections to secure a place in the ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate on Tuesday, Trump explained, “We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law… where the leader—I hate to say it—he’s down to four percent approval rating.”

“It’s a country that’s been blown to smithereens. Most of the cities are laying on their side,” the America First leader continued, adding: “I would say that if they want a seat at the table, wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have to say, ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election’?”

“That’s not a Russia thing. That’s something coming from me and coming from many other countries also,” he stressed.

Ukrainian state media contested Trump’s remarks, insisting Zelensky is significantly more popular than Trump suggested. Zelensky, too, argued that Russian sources are misinforming the White House. “President Trump, whom we respect as a leader, is unfortunately living in a disinformation space,” he alleged.

Ukraine last held elections in 2019, and future elections are currently postponed until the war concludes. In the normal course of events, Zelensky’s term would have concluded in May 2024.

Even if fresh elections were held, the results might be questionable, with much of Ukraine now under Russian control and Zelensky having banned at least 12 rival parties, including his main opposition, after accusing them of having Russian sympathies.

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U.S. President Donald J. Trump has suggested that Ukraine should conduct fresh elections to secure a place in the ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate on Tuesday, Trump explained, “We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law... where the leader—I hate to say it—he’s down to four percent approval rating." show more
February 19, 2025
Immigration
NatSec

Mexico Seizes $40M in Meth Following Trump Pressure on Drug Trafficking.

Mexican authorities have seized approximately $40 million worth of methamphetamine in a recent operation amid heightened pressure from the United States to combat drug trafficking. The operation occurred over the weekend in Sinaloa, a region notoriously linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. During the crackdown, authorities confiscated around 440 pounds of meth and more than 3,170 gallons of chemical precursors utilized in meth production.

This significant drug seizure occurred shortly after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to enhance border security following tariff threats by U.S. President Donald J. Trump. These tariffs were set to affect all goods exported to the U.S., Mexico’s largest trading partner. As part of an agreement reached on February 3, Sheinbaum pledged to deploy 10,000 national guard soldiers to Mexico’s border with the U.S., focusing efforts on blocking fentanyl trafficking. President Trump, in return, agreed to delay the imposition of tariffs for a month while monitoring progress.

The issue of drug trafficking has been a focal point for Trump, who moved to designate Mexican drug cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, as foreign terrorist organizations. This designation was one of Trump’s first executive actions as he returned to office.

The battle against drug trafficking is further supported by initiatives such as a covert American drone program to identify fentanyl laboratories in Mexico. The National Pulse has previously reported the Mexican Senate approved a measure allowing U.S. military personnel to train Mexican counterparts, extending their presence until the end of March.

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Mexican authorities have seized approximately $40 million worth of methamphetamine in a recent operation amid heightened pressure from the United States to combat drug trafficking. The operation occurred over the weekend in Sinaloa, a region notoriously linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. During the crackdown, authorities confiscated around 440 pounds of meth and more than 3,170 gallons of chemical precursors utilized in meth production. show more
February 18, 2025
Crime

Judge Postpones Tupac Murder Trial to Next Year.

The scheduled murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the suspect charged in the 1996 death of Tupac Shakur, in Nevada has been postponed. The decision was announced on Tuesday by Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny, who cited recent defense developments and the necessity of ensuring a fair trial. Initially slated for next month, the prosecution is now rescheduled for February 9, 2026.

“It looks like there are quite a few things that are left to be done to get this case prepared so that Mr. Davis can have effective assistance of counsel,” Judge Kierny explained. The court has also mandated a status hearing to take place over the coming summer, requiring both prosecution and defense teams to attend.

This marks a significant extension in the long-running case concerning the 1992 murder of Tupac Shakur, whose death has been a subject of intrigue and speculation for decades. Davis, a former gang leader, remains the only individual to face charges in connection to the deadly drive-by shooting of the rapper, which also injured Marion “Suge” Knight.

Shakur and Davis’s nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, had been involved in a melee in a Las Vegas casino before the shooting.

Image by Scarlet Sappho.

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The scheduled murder trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the suspect charged in the 1996 death of Tupac Shakur, in Nevada has been postponed. The decision was announced on Tuesday by Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny, who cited recent defense developments and the necessity of ensuring a fair trial. Initially slated for next month, the prosecution is now rescheduled for February 9, 2026. show more
February 18, 2025
Immigration

Trump Border Czar Tom Homan Reports Significant Decrease in Daily Illegal Immigrant Encounters.

U.S. Border Patrol encounters along the Mexican frontier have dramatically decreased in the first two months of President Donald J. Trump’s second term in office. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, revealed the drop in illegal crossings in a post on social media. In the 24 hours before February 17, agents reported encountering just 229 individuals across the southwest border, a significant drop from the over 11,000 daily encounters counted under the Biden government.

“In the last 24 hours the U.S. Border Patrol has encountered a total of 229 aliens across the entire southwest border. That is down from a high of over 11,000 a day under Biden,” Homan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “I started as a Border Patrol Agent in 1984 and I don’t remember the numbers ever being that low. President Trump promised a secure border and he is delivering.”

Shortly after taking office on January 20, 2025, President Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration and securing the U.S.-Mexico border. Additionally, Trump has placed mounting pressure on the Mexican and Canadian governments to commit more resources to preventing illegal crossings into the United States and to curb the flow of illicit drugs.

The low encounter figures coincide with ongoing actions by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies to apprehend illegal immigrants nationwide. These operations have targeted individuals involved in transnational gangs, suspected terrorism, and those with criminal convictions. Last week, Texas authorities arrested a Venezuelan national linked to the Tren de Aragua prison gang, who had a prior conviction for attempting to smuggle firearms from the U.S.

Craig Larrabee, ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge, stated that this arrest underscores law enforcement’s diligence in addressing criminal activities and ensuring community safety.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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U.S. Border Patrol encounters along the Mexican frontier have dramatically decreased in the first two months of President Donald J. Trump's second term in office. Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, revealed the drop in illegal crossings in a post on social media. In the 24 hours before February 17, agents reported encountering just 229 individuals across the southwest border, a significant drop from the over 11,000 daily encounters counted under the Biden government. show more
February 18, 2025
News

DOGE Saves Taxpayers Billions in First Month.

President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced it has saved American taxpayers an estimated $55 billion over the first month of his second presidential term. The savings, reported on the doge.gov website, are based on data up to February 17 and are attributed to fraud detection, contract cancellations, asset sales, and regulatory reforms.

Key savings were identified at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Education (USAID), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Notable cuts include canceled contracts for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and corporate media subscription services, such as POLITICO Pro.

Elon Musk, at the helm of DOGE as a special government employee and senior adviser to President Trump, has faced public backlash, particularly from Democratic protestors. Detractors view Musk as an unelected figure with excessive influence over federal operations. However, in a court filing, the White House clarified Musk’s role, stating he is not the DOGE Service Administrator and holds the same authority as other senior advisers, without independent decision-making power in government matters.

President Trump has vocally endorsed Musk’s contributions to reducing government wastage, framing the efforts as a realization of his election promises to cut spending and federal workforce size. In a statement last week, Trump highlighted the importance of identifying and eliminating “fraud and abuse.”

Additionally, President Trump continues to express confidence in Musk’s work with DOGE. Along with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and border czar Tom Homan, Musk is a major figure in Trump’s initiative to overhaul the federal government’s handling of contracts, immigration, and spending.

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President Donald J. Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced it has saved American taxpayers an estimated $55 billion over the first month of his second presidential term. The savings, reported on the doge.gov website, are based on data up to February 17 and are attributed to fraud detection, contract cancellations, asset sales, and regulatory reforms. show more
February 18, 2025
News

New Trump Executive Order Seeks to Expand IVF Access.

On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump issued a new executive order to expand access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The signing occurred at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach. According to the directive, federal agencies will investigate the implementation of greater protections on IVF access and ways to reduce the cost of the procedures for families.

The executive order instructs the Domestic Policy Council to develop strategies to make IVF and similar fertility treatments more financially accessible to Americans. President Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that the order will significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for the costly fertility procedure, which can exceed $25,000 per cycle for some families.

During the Mar-a-Lago press conference, Trump’s senior aide, Will Scharf, explained that the order was necessary because many Americans find current IVF costs prohibitive. The policy move comes as President Trump navigates complex discussions on reproductive health, particularly among Evangelical Republicans and women. According to the Trump White House, the order—in part—seeks to help reverse declining fertility and birth rates among Americans.

The executive order was framed as part of Trump’s broader approach to reproductive health issues, which has previously focused on leaving decisions about abortion and embryonic rights to individual states. This position gained attention following an Alabama court ruling last year that classified frozen embryos as children, raising potential legal implications for those who destroy them.

Some Republican constituencies publicly oppose IVF procedures. Catholic opposition to IVF arises from the Church’s stance against practices involving the destruction of embryos. Several Evangelical and conservative Protestant organizations hold similar stances.

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On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump issued a new executive order to expand access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The signing occurred at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach. According to the directive, federal agencies will investigate the implementation of greater protections on IVF access and ways to reduce the cost of the procedures for families. show more