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Category: News
February 11, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
War
World

Zelensky Offers Russia Territory Swap After Lacklustre Kursk Offensive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly open to exchanging territory with Russia after an attempted Ukrainian military offensive in Russia’s Kursk region. The Ukrainian leader has offered to return the land Ukrainian forces now occupy in Kursk in exchange for land Russia occupies. Zelensky was not specific about what territory he wished to regain in the trade.

“I don’t know, we will see. But all our territories are important, there is no priority,” Zelensky told the Guardian newspaper in an interview on Tuesday, February 11.

The announcement by Zelensky comes after Ukraine attempted a new offensive in the Kursk region earlier this month. Russian Defense Ministry sources claim that Russian military forces repelled the attack, while Ukrainian sources claim their forces had made some advances in the area.

President Zelensky recently expressed a desire to meet with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks. Putin and the Kremlin, meanwhile, refuse to recognize Zelensky as the legitimate leader of Ukraine, arguing that his term as president ended last year in May. Under Ukraine’s current martial law status, no new elections have been held.

President Donald J. Trump has stated that he spoke with President Putin this week on ending the conflict, but he did not go into detail on what was said. President Trump has vowed to end the war and negotiate a ceasefire.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly open to exchanging territory with Russia after an attempted Ukrainian military offensive in Russia's Kursk region. The Ukrainian leader has offered to return the land Ukrainian forces now occupy in Kursk in exchange for land Russia occupies. Zelensky was not specific about what territory he wished to regain in the trade. show more
February 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Lawfare

Bannon Avoids Prison, Sentenced to Conditional Discharge.

Former Trump White House Chief Strategist and War Room host Stephen K. Bannon has pled guilty to a charge related to the “We Build the Wall” campaign, but will avoid jail time under a plea agreement. The MAGA stalwart, who played a key role in Trump’s political rise, received a conditional discharge for three years.

The charges stemmed from accusations that Bannon and three other individuals defrauded donors who contributed to the fundraising effort aimed at constructing a private section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Despite the accusations of wrongdoing, Bannon’s legal team has maintained that he did not personally pocket any of the donations.

Bannon and his associates were charged with conspiracy and money laundering after being accused of deceiving donors. Prosecutors claimed that while Bannon presented himself as a volunteer, he funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to two associates. Under the terms of his plea, Bannon only pled guilty to one count of defrauding donors.

Bannon’s plea carries restrictions on leading non-profits in New York or raising money for charitable causes in the state.

George Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who previously prosecuted President Trump, celebrated the outcome. Bannon criticized both Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has also targeted President Trump in a dubious civil fraud case, branding her the “Queen of Lawfare.”

“I’m calling on, right now, the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to begin an immediate criminal investigation into Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, all of what they did to President Trump,” he said.

WATCH:

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Former Trump White House Chief Strategist and War Room host Stephen K. Bannon has pled guilty to a charge related to the "We Build the Wall" campaign, but will avoid jail time under a plea agreement. The MAGA stalwart, who played a key role in Trump’s political rise, received a conditional discharge for three years. show more
February 11, 2025
News
Politics

Showdown: FEMA Official Orders Grant Funding Freeze Despite Court Ruling.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is freezing funding for several programs despite a federal judge telling President Donald J. Trump’s administration not to. On Monday, Stacey Street, the director of FEMA’s Office of Grant Administration, issued a directive halting funding for multiple grant programs.

The directive calls for freezing all open awards from fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The action allegedly violates a court order by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell, who claims that federal grants are being blocked contrary to his earlier restraint.

Amid these events, four FEMA officials have been dismissed. Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), attributed the dismissals to unauthorized financial decisions linked to New York grants. She indicated these payments were for luxurious accommodations for migrants in hotels, contravening one of President Trump’s executive orders.

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk criticized FEMA via social media, alleging misuse of funds in temporary housing programs for migrants. He reported that $59 million had been improperly allocated for high-end hotel rooms for migrants, which should have supported American disaster relief efforts.

Under the former Biden-Harris regime, FEMA spent around a billion dollars on housing migrants. This led to the agency demanding extra funds for “disaster relief” last year.

Image by Bill Koplitz.

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is freezing funding for several programs despite a federal judge telling President Donald J. Trump's administration not to. On Monday, Stacey Street, the director of FEMA’s Office of Grant Administration, issued a directive halting funding for multiple grant programs. show more
February 11, 2025
William Upton
Lawfare
Politics

GOP Congressman Moves to Impeach Judge Blocking DOGE Access to Govt Payment System.

Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) is poised to introduce articles of impeachment against U.S. District Court Judge Paul Engelmayer over the latter’s order blocking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and—arguably—Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from accessing the Treasury Department’s federal payments system. The order, issued this past Saturday, has been the target of intense criticism from some in the legal community who argue it is a gross breach of the separation of powers, with the judicial branch interfering in actions purely under the purview of the executive.

“I’m drafting articles of impeachment for U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer. Partisan judges abusing their positions is a threat to democracy,” Rep. Crane announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The Arizona Republican added: “The left has done ‘irreparable harm’ to this country. President Trump and his team at [DOGE] are trying to fix it.”

“This is obviously judicial overreach. Judge Engelmayer is attempting to stop White House employees from accessing the very systems they oversee,” Rep. Crane continued, concluding: “Where in the constitution does it say a President and his team cannot root out obvious waste, fraud and abuse?”

The Arizona Congressman is not alone in his opinion that Judge Engelmayer’s order, enjoining DOGE employees and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from accessing the payment system, is judicial overreach. Professor Adrian Vermeule—the Ralph S. Tyler, Jr. Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School—wrote in a post on X, reacting to the ruling: “Judicial interference with legitimate acts of state, especially the internal functioning of a co-equal branch, is a violation of the separation of powers.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) is poised to introduce articles of impeachment against U.S. District Court Judge Paul Engelmayer over the latter's order blocking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and—arguably—Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from accessing the Treasury Department's federal payments system. The order, issued this past Saturday, has been the target of intense criticism from some in the legal community who argue it is a gross breach of the separation of powers, with the judicial branch interfering in actions purely under the purview of the executive. show more
big tech
February 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

Trump’s House Allies Introduce Bill to Repeal Impoundment Control Act to Assist DOGE.

A faction of House Republicans is working to expand President Donald J. Trump’s power over federal spending by repealing the Impoundment Control Act, enacted in 1974 under President Richard Nixon, to limit the executive’s authority in federal budget matters. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) seeks to empower President Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to create a more effective and efficient government.

Clyde’s bill has the backing of over 20 GOP co-sponsors in the House and a corresponding proposal in the Senate led by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT). Russell Vought, who recently assumed the role of Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has labeled the Impoundment Control Act unconstitutional—a sentiment echoed by Trump himself.

“Since the Empowered Control Act of ‘74, we have seen a tremendous increase in spending. And I think that’s part of the problem right there. The president is required now by law to spend the exact amount that Congress authorizes or appropriates for a specific program,” Clyde noted.

President Nixon had “impounded” money earmarked for various federal programs by Congress—that is, refused to spend it—but the Impoundment Control Act prohibited this practice. This practice undermined the chief executive’s control over the executive branch in a manner that some believe undermines the separation of powers in a constitutionally improper way.

The Trump administration has already moved to halt certain federal funds, including foreign aid, pending reviews. However, parts of his funding freezes have faced legal challenges, resulting in a judge ordering compliance with prior directives to restore funding and threatening the President with contempt.

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A faction of House Republicans is working to expand President Donald J. Trump's power over federal spending by repealing the Impoundment Control Act, enacted in 1974 under President Richard Nixon, to limit the executive's authority in federal budget matters. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) seeks to empower President Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to create a more effective and efficient government. show more
February 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

‘FEMA Should Be Terminated’ — Trump.

President Donald J. Trump has declared that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been a “disaster” and should be abolished, expressing particular displeasure with its treatment of North Carolinians. “FEMA spent tens of millions of dollars in Democrat areas, disobeying orders, but left the people of North Carolina high and dry,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that the agency “is now under review and investigation.”

“THE BIDEN RUN FEMA HAS BEEN A DISASTER,” the America First leader continued. “FEMA SHOULD BE TERMINATED! IT HAS BEEN SLOW AND TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE. INDIVIDUAL STATES SHOULD HANDLE STORMS, ETC., AS THEY COME. BIG SAVINGS, FAR MORE EFFICIENT!!!”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Kristi Noem, has already fired four employees after FEMA was alleged to have transferred tens of millions of dollars to luxury hotels being used to house illegal immigrants in defiance of one of President Trump’s executive orders.

The agency came in for heavy criticism in the final months of the Biden-Harris government after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton wrought devastation on Florida and North Carolina, in particular. FEMA workers in Florida were discovered to be skipping houses with Trump signs in the wake of the disaster, and they also refused to help Trump supporters in parts of North Carolina, claiming they felt threatened by them.

Elon Musk, who now leads the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), also accused FEMA of blocking and even seizing aid he was attempting to distribute to disaster victims through his companies.

Image by Bill Koplitz.

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President Donald J. Trump has declared that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been a "disaster" and should be abolished, expressing particular displeasure with its treatment of North Carolinians. "FEMA spent tens of millions of dollars in Democrat areas, disobeying orders, but left the people of North Carolina high and dry," he wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that the agency "is now under review and investigation." show more
February 11, 2025
News

Disney Halts DEI Programs Amid Investor Pressure.

The Walt Disney Company appears poised to be the latest major corporation to discontinue two of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid investor pressure. Yesterday, The National Pulse reported that Deloitte—the largest consulting firm in the world and holder of numerous contracts with the United States federal government—announced to staff it was ending its DEI programs.

According to its recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Disney will remove the “Reimagine Tomorrow” program from its 2024 SEC 10-K report’s DEI section. The “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative was featured in the 2023 report as a digital platform intended to amplify supposedly marginalized voices and outline Disney’s commitments to DEI. The decision to withdraw the program follows previous controversy that arose during a summit held last year, where discussions among company executives regarding increased LGBTQ+ content in Disney’s offerings were leaked.

As of the time of publication, the “Reimagine Tomorrow” program’s online presence remains. The current webpage also details racial and gender composition within Disney’s content and workforce, drawing from data as of 2021. It highlights the role of Business Employee Research Groups in representing a diverse employee base.

Disney’s decision regarding the future of its “Reimagine Tomorrow” program could signal a significant scaleback in the company’s push of DEI initiatives among its employees and public-facing programming. However, there are some concerns that the move may also be an attempt by Disney to merely conceal its DEI projects in the hopes of allaying public scrutiny.

Image by Joe Penniston.

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The Walt Disney Company appears poised to be the latest major corporation to discontinue two of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid investor pressure. Yesterday, The National Pulse reported that Deloitte—the largest consulting firm in the world and holder of numerous contracts with the United States federal government—announced to staff it was ending its DEI programs. show more
February 11, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
War
World

Woman Sentenced to 12 Years for Enslaving Children with ISIS.

A woman has sentenced a woman to 12 years in prison for taking part in the enslavement of children and women in Syria when she was a member of the Islamic State terrorist group. Lina Ishaq, 52, was found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes by a Stockholm court and was sentenced on Tuesday, February 11.

Ishaq was a member of the Islamic State terrorist group and lived in Raqqa, Syria, in 2015, when the group controlled that area of the country. During that time, she enslaved at least three women and six children belonging to the Yazidi minority.

The victims, who all appeared as plaintiffs in the case, stated they were all held for at least five months by the terrorist group after Islamic State fighters had initially captured them during a series of attacks on their villages in Iraq in August of 2014.

Ishaq is said to have forcibly converted the victims to Islam and made them recite the Quran and pray five times a day. The victims were also forced to do household chores, and some were held for years by human traffickers.

While the Islamic State no longer holds vast swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, and several of its leaders have been killed, the group remains a threat. Several recent terror attacks have seen perpetrators pledge allegiance to the group, including the New Orleans New Year’s Day terrorist.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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A woman has sentenced a woman to 12 years in prison for taking part in the enslavement of children and women in Syria when she was a member of the Islamic State terrorist group. Lina Ishaq, 52, was found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes by a Stockholm court and was sentenced on Tuesday, February 11. show more
February 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Corruption

Justice Department Drops Charges Against NYC Mayor, Citing Interference with Immigration Crackdown.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed federal prosecutors to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, asserting that the legal action hinders his ability to support President Donald J. Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove is ordering an immediate end to the bribery case against the Democrat mayor.

Bove emphasizes that the decision to drop the charges is not motivated by any perceived weakness in the case but by its timing—coming too close to Adams’ reelection campaign—and its impact on his capacity to address administration priorities. “The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to illegal immigration and violent crime,” Bove wrote.

The memo instructs New York prosecutors to halt any additional investigative actions against Adams until after the November mayoral election. However, it leaves the door ajar for potential charges to be refiled post-election.

Adams’s attorney, Alex Spiro, hailed the decision as a vindication. “Now, thankfully, the mayor and New York can put this unfortunate and misguided prosecution behind them,” Spiro suggested.

The charges against Adams, filed in September, accused him of accepting illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel perks exceeding $100,000—such as flight upgrades, opulent hotel stays, and a bathhouse visit—while he served as Brooklyn Borough President. Prosecutors alleged that a Turkish official who facilitated these trips later pressured Adams to influence the Fire Department to approve a new diplomatic building’s opening for a visit by Turkey’s president.

It was also alleged that Adams directed campaign staff to solicit and disguise foreign donations to exploit a city program matching small contributions with public funds, violating federal laws prohibiting foreign contributions to U.S. campaigns.

Image by Anthony Quintano.

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed federal prosecutors to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, asserting that the legal action hinders his ability to support President Donald J. Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove is ordering an immediate end to the bribery case against the Democrat mayor. show more
February 11, 2025
William Upton
Corruption
Immigration

DHS Fires FOUR Employees for Funneling Money to NYC Migrant Hotels in Violation of Trump EO.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it has fired four employees responsible for funneling $59 million to several New York City hotels to house illegal immigrants in contravention of an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump. Whether all four employees were with DHS or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is unclear.

Yesterday, The National Pulse reported that DHS said it would fire the individual—or individuals—responsible for paying $59 million to New York City for illegal immigrant housing. “Individuals who circumvented leadership and unilaterally made this payment will be fired and held accountable,” DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said, responding to revelations of the payments posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Elon Musk.

Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovered the payments early Monday, with the SpaceX chief posting on X: “The DOGE team just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants.”

“Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order,” Musk continued, adding: “That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high end hotels for illegals!”

“A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds,” Musk concluded.

According to New York City, the $59 million was part of funding authorized under the Biden government for the housing of illegal immigrants and other support. Of the total, $19 million was directly spent on hotel and housing costs, while the remainder covered food, clothing, and building security.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it has fired four employees responsible for funneling $59 million to several New York City hotels to house illegal immigrants in contravention of an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump. Whether all four employees were with DHS or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is unclear. show more