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Monday, April 28, 2025

Category: News
April 3, 2025
Economy
News

Support Swells for Trump’s America First Trade Strategy.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced a new set of tariffs aimed at reversing globalization’s impact on the U.S. industrial sector, introducing a universal 10 percent tariff and higher tariffs on countries with their own punishing tariff and non-tariff barriers against the U.S.

👥 Who’s Involved: The policy has garnered bipartisan support, including backing from Democrat Rep. Jared Golden and numerous industry leaders.

📍 Where & When: The announcement was made in the United States following Trump’s recent speech on economic policy.

💬 Key Quote: Rep. Jared Golden praised the tariff plan as “a good start to erasing our unsustainable trade deficits.”

⚠️ Impact: The tariffs are expected to boost American manufacturing, protect jobs, and correct trade imbalances.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump’s move to protect American businesses and workers from unfair trade has received widespread approval from various sectors, reflecting a significant shift in policy-making. Democratic Representative Jared Golden expressed his support, hailing the President’s tariff agenda as a necessary move to address economic challenges posed by globalization. Golden said President Trump’s tariffs align with proposals in the BUILT USA Act, underscoring the urgency of tackling trade imbalances and protecting American jobs.

The policy has also resonated with industry leaders. Zach Mottl, Chairman of the Coalition for a Prosperous America, said the Trump tariffs are “a game-changing shift that prioritizes American manufacturing, protects working-class jobs, and safeguards our economic security from adversaries like China.”

Philip K. Bell, President of the Steel Manufacturers Association, said Trump’s tariffs “have already started creating American jobs and bolstering the domestic steel industry.” He cited recent investments, including Hyundai Steel’s new plant in Louisiana, as evidence of the policy’s potential.

Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, said America’s “hardworking men and women have seen unfair trade cut the ground from beneath their feet for decades,” calling Trump’s tariffs a “necessary step.”

Analysts indicate that correcting trade disparities and strengthening domestic production could redefine America’s role in the global market. Supporters argue that the tariffs will ultimately lead to fairer trade deals and bolster the American workforce.

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April 3, 2025
Immigration
News
World

Trump to Host Bukele at White House for Strategic Talks.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump invited El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to the White House in a formal letter shared by Bukele.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald Trump, President Nayib Bukele, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.

📍 Where & When: The White House, Washington, D.C. The invitation is set for April 14.

💬 Key Quote: “Your support of my efforts to combat illegal immigration is greatly appreciated,” stated Trump.

⚠️ Impact: The invitation highlights cooperation between the U.S. and El Salvador in dealing with border security and gang issues, showing joint efforts against illegal activities.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has extended an invitation to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for a visit to the White House. The April 14 invitation was outlined in a letter, which Bukele shared on the social media platform X.

The invitation acknowledges Bukele’s participation in U.S. initiatives to combat illegal immigration. It also highlights his administration’s use of the newly built prison facilities for housing criminals from notorious gangs such as Tren de Aragua. Trump praised Bukele’s handling of these security matters as a model of leadership.

“Your support of my efforts to combat illegal immigration is greatly appreciated,” Trump told Bukele. “For far too long, our southern border has been an open door. With the assistance of friends like you, we have made great progress in protecting Americans from illegal border activity,” Trump said. Bukele responded with appreciation for Trump’s words, emphasizing continued cooperation.

This follows a joint military operation that resulted in the deportation of 17 dangerous gang criminals from the United States. According to Bukele, these individuals are high-profile offenders, including six charged with crimes against minors.

President Trump has faced push-back from U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, who has tried to block deportation flights of gang members. Late last month, President Trump announced he would be taking Boasberg to the U.S. Supreme Court to appeal Boasberg’s order barring the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport gang members.

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April 3, 2025
Media
News

Amazon Enters TikTok Acquisition Fray as Sale Deadline Nears.

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❓What Happened: The U.S. set an April 5 deadline for TikTok to sell or face a ban, with Amazon entering the bidding.

👥 Who’s Involved: Amazon, the Trump administration, ByteDance (TikTok’s Chinese parent company), AppLovin, Oracle, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: The situation is unfolding in the U.S., with a key deadline on April 5.

💬 Key Quote: President Trump mentioned there are multiple potential buyers and expressed a desire to keep TikTok operational.

⚠️ Impact: The ban on TikTok could proceed if no sale is agreed upon and approved by both the Trump administration and China.

IN FULL:

A number of Big Tech giants are intensifying their efforts to acquire the social media app TikTok as the deadline for its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest itself from the company or face its banning in the United States looms. While Oracle has long been considered the most likely serious buyer to acquire TikTok, the multinational software company may now face significant competition, with Amazon showing interest in purchasing the app. President Donald J. Trump has mandated that TikTok must be sold to a non-Chinese company by April 5, or the app will be banned from being downloaded in the United States due to national security concerns.

It is believed that Amazon has submitted a formal letter to President Trump declaring intent to enter the acquisition race. However, while Oracle and Amazon stand out as having the requisite capital to make significant bids to acquire TikTok, several other potential buyers could still make a last-minute push for ownership.

Notably, mobile tech firm AppLovin has placed a bid to acquire TikTok. Meanwhile, Kevin O’Leary—a Canadian businessman and host of the popular Shark Tank reality show—joined with real estate developer and Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt to make a purchase offer this past January.

President Trump recently stated that he would prefer TikTok to remain available to U.S. users, suggesting he hopes one of the potential buyers will be able to reach a deal with ByteDance to acquire the app. Additionally, Trump indicated that he may extend the timeframe for TikTok’s sale if negotiations need more time.

Image by Steve Jurvetson.

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April 3, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Lawfare
World

Even the Globalist ‘Economist’ Magazine Says France’s Le Pen Shouldn’t Be Banned from Office.

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❓What Happened: The globalist magazine The Economist has defended Marine Le Pen’s right to run for office, recently stripped away by a court ruling.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Economist, Marine Le Pen, French courts.

📍 Where & When: The article appeared in The Economist on April 1.

💬 Key Quote: “The aim should be to punish the offender without also punishing French democracy,” the magazine argues.

⚠️ Impact: One of the major media outlets for globalists, the stance could reflect a shift against the lawfare deployed against populists in recent years.

IN FULL:

The globalist magazine The Economist has come out to defend populist French politician Marine Le Pen, who has been barred from running for office in France for five years and placed under house arrest for two years. The sentences came after Le Pen and several other members of her party, the National Rally, were found guilty of supposedly misusing European Union (EU) funds while serving as Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

The magazine questions whether Le Pen should be barred from running for office in the upcoming 2027 presidential election, noting that she is the current leader in the polls.

“The danger of courts aggressively sentencing politicians is that both the law and the courts become seen as partisan. Judiciaries rely on citizens accepting verdicts with which they disagree,” the magazine warns. Barely half, just 56 percent, of the French public believe Le Pen was treated in an unbiased manner.

While the magazine argues that Le Pen should serve two years of house arrest, it states that she should be allowed to run for president in 2027. “The aim should be to punish the offender without also punishing French democracy,” the magazine states.

The court ruling to ban Le Pen from running for office comes after she and other National Rally members were found guilty of embezzling European Union funds by using EU-funded parliamentary assistants to perform domestic party work. Le Pen argued that the charges were bogus lawfare, as parliamentary assistants are “political assistants to elected officials, political by definition.”

Many observers, including liberal journalists, have noted that parliamentary assistants performing political work is commonplace in the European Parliament, meaning Le Pen was almost certainly singled out for her political views.

Image by Blandine Le Cain.

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April 3, 2025
News

DOGE Data: Almost 50% of National Jobs Cuts are DC Govt Workers.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Layoffs announced by employers in the U.S. increased significantly in March—but almost half are Washington, D.C. bureaucrats, according to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

👥 Who’s Involved: Federal workers and contractors, DOGE, and DOGE frontman Elon Musk.

📍 Where & When: These developments occurred in Washington D.C. during March.

💬 Key Quote: Andrew Challenger of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas noted, “Job cut announcements were dominated last month by Department of Government Efficiency plans to eliminate positions in the federal government.”

⚠️ Impact: With 497,052 layoffs in the first three months of the year, this represents the highest first-quarter total since 2009, with significant implications for federal agencies and leftist non-profits.

IN FULL:

U.S. employers announced layoffs in March at levels unprecedented since the pandemic-induced recession—but this was driven largely by sizable cuts among federal workers and contractors. Data released by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas on Thursday indicated a 60 percent surge in planned job reductions, amounting to 275,240 positions last month. This figure marks the highest since May 2020, positioning it as the third-largest monthly total recorded.

These reductions were significantly concentrated in Washington, D.C., attributed mainly to the federal government sector. Over the past two months, approximately 280,253 planned federal worker and contractor layoffs have impacted 27 agencies as the Trump administration seeks to eliminate waste and inefficiency and bring federal spending under control. The ripple effect of terminating federal aid or contracts further contributed to 4,429 job cuts, notably affecting non-profits—often engaged in leftist activism—and health-oriented organizations, possibly due to the administration’s efforts to defund abortions and transgenderism.

Andrew Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas commented, “Job cut announcements were dominated last month by Department of Government Efficiency plans to eliminate positions in the federal government.”

Judicial orders have facilitated the reinstatement of around 24,000 workers. Reports indicate a significant reshuffle within federal ranks is ongoing, documenting 3,972 rehired policymakers as part of March’s hiring plans.

An anticipated governmental employment report suggests an addition of 135,000 nonfarm payroll jobs for March, maintaining an unemployment rate of 4.1 percent.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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April 3, 2025
Election Integrity
News

Obama Judge DENIES Bid to Strengthen Election Integrity.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg ruled to dismiss a case challenging Georgia’s electronic voting system, citing a lack of standing, despite recognizing substantial concerns about the system’s security and administration.

👥 Who’s Involved: The ruling affects plaintiffs including the Coalition for Good Governance and various Georgia voters. The case, Curling v. Raffensperger, has been ongoing since 2017.

📍 Where & When: The decision was issued in the Northern District of Georgia on a late Monday.

💬 Key Quote: “Plaintiffs lack standing to pursue their claims because neither of these asserted injuries constitute an invasion of a legally protected interest under governing precedent,” Judge Totenberg wrote.

⚠️ Impact: The dismissal leaves Georgia’s use of the Ballot Marking Device system in place despite security concerns, while plaintiffs consider exploring an appeal.

IN FULL:

In Georgia, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg has dismissed a long-standing case aiming to move the state’s election system to hand-marked paper ballots. The case, Curling v. Raffensperger, initiated in 2017, sought to replace the electronic voting system currently in use, citing risks regarding the security and accuracy of the Ballot Marking Device (BMD) system. The Barack Obama-appointed judge’s decision, issued late on April 1, found the plaintiffs lacked legal standing—despite acknowledging significant concerns about the electronic voting system’s administration and security.

“Plaintiffs lack standing to pursue their claims because neither of these asserted injuries constitute an invasion of a legally protected interest under governing precedent,” Judge Totenberg said.

The plaintiffs in this case included the Coalition for Good Governance and several Georgia voters. They have argued that the existing system, which relies on a QR code to tally votes, does not allow voters to verify that the system recorded their intentions accurately.

The QR code used on ballots is not readable to voters, prompting concerns over the integrity of the vote tabulation. Judge Totenberg, referencing the plaintiffs’ injuries as not legally actionable, stated that these concerns do not invade a legally protected interest.

A major point of contention for the plaintiffs was the system’s vulnerability to potential manipulation. Dr. J. Alex Halderman, a computer science expert, provided testimony during the trial demonstrating how the system could be exploited, including altering QR codes to change voter selections and accessing the system via simple physical manipulation.

Despite these concerns, the ruling affirms the use of Georgia’s electronic voting system for the time being, leaving the future of the voting system’s security unresolved.

The ruling comes just days after the Trump administration and Attorney General Pam Bondi dropped a lawsuit against electoral reform in Georgia, initiated by the former Biden government. That lawsuit had demanded that Georgia scrap its voting laws passed after the 2020 elections. This included measures such as stricter voter ID requirements for mail-in ballots and more.

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April 3, 2025
Lawfare

DOGE Employee Takes Helm at U.S. Institute of Peace, Court Filing Reveals.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A court filing revealed that a Trump administration official from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is overseeing the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP).

👥 Who’s Involved: Nate Cavanaugh, an official of the Department of Government Efficiency, alongside board members from the U.S. Institute of Peace.

📍 Where & When: The developments were filed in federal court, with a status hearing conducted on Tuesday.

💬 Key Quote: “The deal is no longer merely ‘proposed’ but done, rendering plaintiffs’ requested relief moot as to that property,” said Judge Beryl Howell.

⚠️ Impact: The property of the U.S. Institute of Peace is in the process of being transferred to the General Services Administration, a move which could conclude despite judicial intervention efforts.

IN FULL:

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) official Nate Cavanaugh has been appointed to replace the U.S. Institute of Peace’s temporary president, according to a recent court filing. The appointment, authorized by two of the institute’s board members, was revealed during a status hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell on Tuesday.

Established by Congress in 1984, the U.S. Institute of Peace has operated as a quasi-non-governmental organization (NGO) for decades—despite it ostensibly falling under the authority of the federal government’s executive branch. In February, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order mandating the institute downsize its activities to a “statutory minimum.” However, the organization’s far-left leadership dismissed the order, arguing that the institute is a congressionally chartered NGO and not technically part of the executive branch.

The rejection of Trump’s executive order resulted in the institute’s leadership and staff being removed by police last month, with the Trump White House appointing an acting president to oversee its operations. In response to President Trump’s actions, the former leadership of the U.S. Institute of Peace filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming the Trump administration had engaged in an illegal attempt to seize control of the institute. The filing asked Judge Howell to halt the reorganization in order to stop what they allege is a “takeover by force.”

Despite the litigation, Cavanaugh has begun transferring the institute’s property to the General Services Administration (GSA), the government agency that oversees federal contracts and assets. Notably, the GSA has already terminated several federal leases at the urging of DOGE.

Tuesday’s status hearing regarding the request to halt the institute’s reorganization lasted for several hours. Judge Howell eventually ruled that the former leadership’s claims to the institute’s property were moot. “The deal is no longer merely ‘proposed’ but done, rendering plaintiffs’ requested relief moot as to that property,” the judge determined.

Image via USIP.

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April 2, 2025
Education
Immigration
News

Israel-Hating Cornell Student Evades ICE, Self-Deports.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Momodou Taal, a student from Cornell University, left the United States after his student visa was revoked due to involvement in anti-Israel demonstrations.

👥 Who’s Involved: Momodou Taal, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Gambia; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); the Trump administration.

📍 Where & When: Cornell University in Ithaca, New York; Taal’s departure occurred after a recent federal court decision.

💬 Key Quote: “I have lost faith I could walk the streets without being abducted,” Taal said online.

⚠️ Impact: Taal’s departure sheds light on the increased deportation measures for foreign students involved in political agitating. Other international students facing similar issues include Columbia University’s Mahmoud Khalil and Georgetown University’s Badar Khan Suri.

IN FULL:

According to his own online statements, a Cornell University student whose visa was rescinded due to participation in anti-Israel activism has fled the United States. Momodou Taal, a 31-year-old citizen of the Gambia and the United Kingdom, disclosed that he left voluntarily. He cited fears of detention by immigration authorities. He also stated that his decision followed a recent federal ruling that refused to intervene against potential detention while he contested his deportation order.

“I have lost faith I could walk the streets without being abducted,” Taal claimed. U.S. authorities attributed Taal’s recent visa cancelation to his involvement in anti-Semitic campus demonstrations. They were also said to be a violation of university policies, which fostered a hostile setting for Jewish students.

Taal recently attempted to challenge his deportation, asserting his actions should be protected by free speech. However, he reported that the first motion in his lawsuit was denied. He expressed skepticism about remaining in the country without apprehension by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Taal’s case is just one of several cases involving students who were ordered to leave amid allegations of involvement in anti-Semitic protests. Notably, Columbia University’s Mahmoud Khalil and Georgetown University’s Badar Khan Suri are entangled in similar disputes. President Donald J. Trump has pledged a strict stance on anti-Israel activism by foreigners at educational institutions, resulting in increased scrutiny and deportations.

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April 2, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Health
News

Fauci’s Wife, Conflicted on Wuhan Ethics, Terminated at NIH.

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❓What Happened: Christine Grady, a bioethicist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the wife of Anthony Fauci, was notified of a layoff amidst a restructuring at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

👥 Who’s Involved: Christine Grady, Anthony Fauci, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., NIH officials including Clifford Lane and Emily Erbelding.

📍 Where & When: The layoffs were announced on Tuesday; related locations include NIH and Indian Health Service field offices in Alaska, Montana, and Minnesota.

💬 Key Quote: An NIH official described Grady as “a good person with a major conflict of interest,” referring to ethical challenges faced during the suppression of the Wuhan lab leak hypothesis.

⚠️ Impact: The restructuring could mean significant changes in administration at NIH.

IN FULL:

Christine Grady, a prominent bioethicist and the wife of controversial former National Institutes of Health (NIH) official Anthony Fauci, is among several health officials who received layoff notifications on Tuesday, according to reports. This move comes as part of a post-pandemic restructuring effort by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

These layoffs aim to consolidate administrative roles and modify what has been perceived as an ineffective status quo in the U.S. health administration. Alongside Grady, Clifford Lane, deputy director of clinical research and special projects at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Emily Erbelding, director of the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, have also been dismissed.

Like her husband, Grady is controversial. In 2002, she co-authored a paper with him arguing for lower care standards for medical trial participants in the Third World. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in which her husband played a prominent role, she published a paper defending the ethics of corporations “pressuring employees to get vaccinated” and “embarrass[ing] vaccine resistors,” and pushed for children to be enrolled in vaccine trials.

An NIH official cited a potential conflict of interest involving Grady, stating her marriage to Fauci impacted the ability of NIH to address ethical issues openly, especially on critical episodes like the Wuhan lab leak—which he denied or minimized for years.

Anonymous comments by an NIH source revealed that Grady was caught in a “conflicted role” due to her personal ties. “One of the problems when the coverup was going on of the Wuhan lab leak, that whole fiasco, was that they were not listening to anyone giving ethics advice,” the source explained. “If they had had someone at the table with knowledge of this, they would have said: ‘Hey do you want to play it this way, or be more transparent?’… That’s something Christine Grady could have, or should have, done. She wasn’t able to do it because she was Fauci’s wife.”

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April 2, 2025
Education
Immigration

Colorado Universities Report DHS Has Revoked Several Student Visas.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked the F-1 visas of nine students from the University of Colorado and Colorado State University.

👥 Who’s Involved: The students affected were from the University of Colorado’s Boulder and Colorado Springs campuses, as well as Colorado State University.

📍 Where & When: Colorado; the situation was reported on April 1, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “If you lie to us and get a visa, then enter the United States, and with that visa, participate in that sort of activity, we’re going to take away your visa,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

⚠️ Impact: The visa revocations further demonstrate that the Trump administration is serious about removing foreign students engaging in political agitation.

IN FULL:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked the F-1 visas of nine international students attending universities in Colorado, according to statements from the University of Colorado (CU) and Colorado State University (CSU). The impacted students include four from CU and five from CSU.

Specific reasons for the revocations remain unclear, and it is not confirmed whether the students face any criminal accusations. However, last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed that over 300 student visas have been revoked by the Trump administration due to the students having participated in pro-Hamas demonstrations on university campuses.

“If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason why you’re coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, we’re not going to give you a visa,” Sec. Rubio said, adding: “If you lie to us and get a visa, then enter the United States, and with that visa, participate in that sort of activity, we’re going to take away your visa.”

Once an international student’s visa is revoked, they are no longer allowed to remain in the United States, and deportation proceedings can be initiated if they refuse to return to their country of origin. The National Pulse has previously reported on the attempted deportation of former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, allegedly a key instigator of anti-Semitic unrest and intimidation on the school’s campus. Khalil is currently suing the Trump administration to block his deportation and successfully secured a temporary order from a federal judge preventing his immediate removal.

Both CU and CSU have decided not to divulge the identities of the affected students.

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