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Category: News
January 10, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
TECH
UK

Grooming Gang Victim Says Musk is ‘Narcissistic’ and ‘Not Helpful.’

A victim of child grooming gangs in the United Kingdom has labeled tech billionaire Elon Musk “narcissistic” over his recent comments on grooming gangs but acknowledged there were positives for him highlighting the issue. Gaia Cooper, who was raped and exploited by a grooming gang at just 14 years old, spoke to the Telegraph newspaper and stated that Musk’s comments “weren’t helpful.”

She added that Musk was engaging in “trolling culture” by calling Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister for Safeguarding Jess Phillips a “child rape genocide sympathizer.”

Musk labeled Phillips, who once compared mass sex attacks by migrants in Cologne, Germany, to “heckling” in her home city, a “rape genocide apologist” on his X platform. This came after Phillips had refused to support a new inquiry into grooming gangs in the town of Oldham.

According to Cooper, Musk is “fighting fire with fire,” which is not useful to victims. “If you’re asking somebody to stand up and listen and fight for children using language like that, it’s not helpful,” she said.

“I don’t think they lose a wink of sleep over a survivor. It’s quite narcissistic to make it about them that they’re the heroes,” Cooper said, but added that it “can only be a good thing to highlight.”

While Cooper stated that she supports a new inquiry into grooming gangs, the governing Labour Party voted down a proposal for legislation to establish one in Parliament earlier this week.

The Labour government has also commented on Musk highlighting grooming gangs, threatening to cut security ties with the United States if President-elect Donald J. Trump does not distance himself from Musk.

Musk is expected to participate in the incoming Trump administration as part of the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Image by Bret Hartman/TED.

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A victim of child grooming gangs in the United Kingdom has labeled tech billionaire Elon Musk "narcissistic" over his recent comments on grooming gangs but acknowledged there were positives for him highlighting the issue. Gaia Cooper, who was raped and exploited by a grooming gang at just 14 years old, spoke to the Telegraph newspaper and stated that Musk's comments "weren't helpful." show more
January 10, 2025
News

CA Conscripts to Prisoners to Help Battle Raging LA Fires.

California has dispatched nearly 800 prisoners to complement the 7,500 personnel already combating the catastrophic wildfires raging around the greater Los Angeles area. In less than a week, the fires have destroyed thousands of residential and commercial structures and burned tens of thousands of acres of land. Among the firefighters, 783 are part of the Fire Camp program, alongside 88 support staff, according to California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

According to Bianca Tylek, the executive director of Worth Rises, an anti-prison labor group, incarcerated firefighters in California have been contributing since 1915, and their participation extends to responding to various emergencies nationwide for decades. Critics like Tylek argue that using inmates as firefighters can be exploitative. However, the state corrections department clarifies that participation in the program is voluntary. Participants earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with additional compensation in emergencies.

The controversial practice meets critical staffing needs, particularly as California faces prolonged and intense fire seasons due to brush and forestry mismanagement. On the first full day of the wildfires, multiple massive blazes quickly overwhelmed first responders.

California is among over a dozen states with conservation camps, known as fire camps, where incarcerated persons receive training to fight fires and address disasters. The program was expanded during World War II due to workforce shortages, establishing 41 camps. Currently, 35 minimum-security camps operate in California. Eligible participants are volunteers who demonstrate good behavior, have fewer than eight years remaining on their sentence, and are considered fit for the role.

Beyond firefighting, crews assist in flood responses and community service tasks. Prisoners in Fire Camp are not disciplined for opting out of the program, and they receive training in safety and first aid.

California voters rejected a ban on prisoner labor in a 2024 referendum.

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California has dispatched nearly 800 prisoners to complement the 7,500 personnel already combating the catastrophic wildfires raging around the greater Los Angeles area. In less than a week, the fires have destroyed thousands of residential and commercial structures and burned tens of thousands of acres of land. Among the firefighters, 783 are part of the Fire Camp program, alongside 88 support staff, according to California's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. show more
January 10, 2025
News
War

Trump and Putin Plan Meeting to End Ukraine War.

President-elect Donald J. Trump announced plans for a meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin late Thursday. At a press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump mentioned, “President Putin wants to meet” and noted that arrangements are underway. He emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict, describing it as “a bloody mess.” Previously, Trump suggested that he would aim to end the war in Ukraine, which is nearing its third anniversary, within 24 hours of taking office.

Russia has expressed willingness to engage in diplomatic talks. On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin is open to engaging with international leaders, including Trump, without preconditions, stressing the need for mutual political will.

While Moscow welcomes Trump’s attempts at dialogue, specifics regarding the meeting’s date remain undetermined.

Ukraine, facing battlefield setbacks, is attempting to resist Russian advances in its eastern regions. Still, Russian forces continue to make gains, recently claiming to have captured the front-line city of Kurakhove, near the key logistical hub of Pokrovsk.

Trump has adjusted his timeline for ending the conflict, now suggesting it can be resolved in six months, while his special envoy appointee, Keith Kellogg, targets 100 days.

Joe Biden announced an additional $500 million in military aid for Ukraine on Thursday.

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President-elect Donald J. Trump announced plans for a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin late Thursday. At a press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump mentioned, "President Putin wants to meet" and noted that arrangements are underway. He emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict, describing it as "a bloody mess." Previously, Trump suggested that he would aim to end the war in Ukraine, which is nearing its third anniversary, within 24 hours of taking office. show more
January 10, 2025
News

Lib Actor Attacks TRUMP over LA Fires, Gets Inauguration Date Wrong.

Actor Eric Braeden, a German immigrant known for his role in The Young and The Restless, has attacked President-elect Donald J. Trump for his response to the California wildfires. Braeden, who has had to evacuate his house as multiple fires burn thousands of acres and structures in the Golden State, told CNN the disaster is “the price we pay for living in this beautiful area.”

“California’s a fantastic state. It’s one of the most productive states in the nation—not according to the orange idiot who will take over on the 25th of January or whatever, but it is truly one of the most productive states ever in the United States,” said the 83-year-old, getting the date of Trump’s January 20 inauguration wrong.

“To be very frank with you, I think everyone is really trying to do their damn best, OK?” Braedan said of the management of the wildfires. “And some idiot—the orange idiot—went on television… and claimed all kinds of things about [California Governor Gavin] Newsom and California and the water distribution. All nonsense,” he added.

Trump has long argued that massive quantities of water could be diverted to areas of California prone to wildfires, but he says Newsom has blocked the proposed infrastructure changes to protect fish living in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.

State and local officials are also facing backlash for cutting fire budgets, reallocating fire spending to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring, and giving away fire equipment to Ukraine.

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Actor Eric Braeden, a German immigrant known for his role in The Young and The Restless, has attacked President-elect Donald J. Trump for his response to the California wildfires. Braeden, who has had to evacuate his house as multiple fires burn thousands of acres and structures in the Golden State, told CNN the disaster is "the price we pay for living in this beautiful area." show more
January 10, 2025
Crime
News

‘Pizzagate’ Gunman Shot Dead By Cop 9 Years After Diner Attack.

Edgar Welch, the gunman who fired a rifle inside the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria associated with “Pizzagate,” has been shot and killed during a traffic stop in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Welch, 36, discharged three shots inside the Washington, D.C., pizzeria in 2016. Pizzagate posited that the venue was linked to a child sex ring.

This past weekend, Kannapolis Police conducted a traffic stop where Welch was identified due to an outstanding warrant. According to a police statement, an officer approached the vehicle from the passenger side, intending to arrest Welch. Upon opening the door, Welch allegedly drew a handgun from his jacket and aimed it at the officer. Despite repeated commands to disarm, Welch did not comply, leading both officers at the scene to open fire. He died two days later.

“Pizzagate” began circulating in 2016 amid the U.S. presidential contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump. It linked Hillary Clinton’s campaign staff, particularly John Podesta, to a child trafficking ring supposedly run out of Comet Ping Pong.

Leaked emails between Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, and others were suspected of referring to children using “pizza,” “hot dogs,” and similar terms as codewords.

Image by Elizabeth Murphy.

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Edgar Welch, the gunman who fired a rifle inside the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria associated with "Pizzagate," has been shot and killed during a traffic stop in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Welch, 36, discharged three shots inside the Washington, D.C., pizzeria in 2016. Pizzagate posited that the venue was linked to a child sex ring. show more
Merchan Bragg
January 10, 2025
William Upton
Lawfare
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

Banana Republic: Judge Merchan Sentences President-Elect Trump in NY ‘Hush Money’ Case.

Democrat-aligned New York Judge Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald J. Trump on Friday for 34 counts of business record fraud. The court is imposing an ‘unconditional discharge,’ meaning that Trump will serve no prison time. However, the President-elect will now officially be a convicted felon just before he is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States—which appears to be the main aim of Merchan and his Democratic Party allies.

Late yesterday, the United States Supreme Court declined to intervene in the sentencing. In a 5-4 decision, the justices ruled that they would prefer to see the appeals process play out before involving themselves in the case. They also cited Merchan’s public pledge to impose only an ‘unconditional discharge’ as the sentence and not assign Trump any prison time.

Last year, a New York City jury found Trump guilty of dozens of counts of business record fraud, which had been elevated to felonies through a dubious legal theory pushed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The trial, which began on April 22, saw 17 days of witness testimony and arguments. Bragg, who brought the 34 felony charges against Trump, pinned much of his case on the testimony of serial perjurer and disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen.

The New York prosecution was part of a larger lawfare campaign brought against Trump by the Biden government and the Democratic Party. In addition to the Bragg prosecution, Trump also faced two federal trials and another state case in Georgia. However, only Bragg’s New York prosecution—arguably the weakest of the four cases—successfully resulted in a conviction and sentencing.

Merchan has repeatedly been criticized for his partisan alignment with the Democratic Party. The judge’s daughter, Loren Merchan, has deep ties to Democratic Party candidates and political groups, including those involved in partisan lawfare.

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Democrat-aligned New York Judge Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald J. Trump on Friday for 34 counts of business record fraud. The court is imposing an 'unconditional discharge,' meaning that Trump will serve no prison time. However, the President-elect will now officially be a convicted felon just before he is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States—which appears to be the main aim of Merchan and his Democratic Party allies. show more
January 10, 2025
News

U.S. ‘Adds’ 256,000 Jobs, But Are the Numbers Real, and Who’s Getting the Work?

In December, the U.S. labor market purportedly added 256,000 jobs, exceeding economists’ predictions. This performance appears to have surpassed the anticipated increase of just 153,000 jobs. Additionally, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent, defying expectations that it would hold at 4.2 percent.

However, as The National Pulse has previously reported, the Biden government has a track record of releasing fake employment numbers, only for them to be “revised down” in subsequent quarters.

Further analysis revealed most new jobs created under the Biden government are going to new migrants, rather than American workers.

Ger Doyle, U.S. country manager at ManpowerGroup, viewed the December jobs report positively, calling it a promising indicator. Nonetheless, Doyle cautioned that the labor market might face hurdles until inflation is more contained, potentially affecting hiring, layoffs, and job growth.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics highlighted that significant job gains occurred in the health care, government, and social assistance sectors. Retail companies also saw an increase in employment, following a decline in November.

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In December, the U.S. labor market purportedly added 256,000 jobs, exceeding economists' predictions. This performance appears to have surpassed the anticipated increase of just 153,000 jobs. Additionally, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent, defying expectations that it would hold at 4.2 percent. show more
Migrant Crime
January 9, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Five-Time Deportee Attempts Kidnapping at Alabama Store.

Yordy Noe Centeno-Melchor, who has been deported at least five times, was arrested on January 3 after allegedly attempting an abduction in Alabama. The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office charged Centeno-Melchor with second-degree attempted kidnapping after an incident on December 31 in Holtville, according to court records.

Law enforcement claims that Centeno-Melchor, aged 31, attempted to entice a 17-year-old girl into his vehicle at a Boy’s Store parking area by showing her something on his phone. Surveillance footage reportedly caught a bystander intervening, prompting Centeno-Melchor to abandon the alleged kidnapping attempt and leave the scene. The vehicle’s license plate was traced back to Centeno-Melchor, leading to his arrest when sheriff’s deputies stopped a 2017 black Mitsubishi in nearby Clanton for a traffic violation.

Centeno-Melchor was assigned a $100,000 cash bail during his initial court hearing. Sheriff Bill Franklin noted that Centeno-Melchor fitted the description of a man involved in a separate incident three days earlier at a Walmart in Prattville, where a teenage girl encountered a man in a women’s restroom.

Court documents reveal Centeno-Melchor’s prior encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), having been deported from the United States on multiple occasions. Sheriff Franklin disclosed that officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding his past deportations.

ICE has placed a hold on Centeno-Melchor, expressing intent to deport him again. However, local authorities in Alabama are advocating for him to face state charges first. Prosecutors are concerned that federal custody could hinder their ability to prosecute him for the recent charges in Elmore County. The outcome may depend on negotiations between ICE and local legal systems regarding jurisdiction over Centeno-Melchor’s case.

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Yordy Noe Centeno-Melchor, who has been deported at least five times, was arrested on January 3 after allegedly attempting an abduction in Alabama. The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office charged Centeno-Melchor with second-degree attempted kidnapping after an incident on December 31 in Holtville, according to court records. show more
January 9, 2025
News
Politics
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

HHS Secretary Warns Against Preemptive Pardons for Fauci and Others.

President Joe Biden‘s own Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary has warned against preemptive pardons for people like Dr. Anthony Fauci, arguing against the politicization of presidential pardons. The Biden government cabinet member highlighted the importance of preserving the dignity of presidential pardons, implying they should not become commonplace or politically driven.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra voiced his opinions during an interview, saying, “It sinks my heart to think that we’re going to use the pardon process in a way that will follow the whims of whoever’s in the White House.”

Becerra’s remarks come shortly after Joe Biden hinted that he is contemplating preemptive pardons for figures including Fauci and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY) before President-elect Donald J. Trump’s administration takes power.

Trump’s nominations for certain justice-focused positions, including Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Attorney General, have previously indicated they intend to pursue certain officials for wrongdoing. Some Trump-aligned advisers, including Elon Musk, have advocated prosecuting Fauci for his handling of the COVID pandemic and misleading the public about dangerous gain-of-function research, among other things.

Trump’s appointee to replace Becerra, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has also suggested legal action against Fauci.

Biden has previously granted a controversial pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, despite promising he would not do so before the presidential election.

Official White House photo by Erin Scott.

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President Joe Biden's own Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary has warned against preemptive pardons for people like Dr. Anthony Fauci, arguing against the politicization of presidential pardons. The Biden government cabinet member highlighted the importance of preserving the dignity of presidential pardons, implying they should not become commonplace or politically driven. show more
January 9, 2025
News
TECH

REVEALED: Zuckerberg Met With Trump Before Ending Biased Fact-Checking Program.

Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg met with President-elect Donald J. Trump just before announcing his social media platforms would end their relationships with “fact-checkers.” Instead, Zuckerberg says his companies will use a community notes model like that implemented on Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) revealed the timing of Trump’s meeting with the Meta CEO during a recent interview.

According to Mullin, the meeting took place the day before Zuckerberg’s announcement regarding the new moderation approach. Mullin states, “Mark met with President Trump the day before he announced that they were going to change the way that they do censorship, essentially.” He also noted that Zuckerberg had visited the President-elect on several occasions.

Additionally, Mullin shared a personal interaction with Zuckerberg, revealing that the Meta CEO had invited him to spar. Mullin, a former mixed martial arts fighter, stated that Zuckerberg had texted him several times, expressing interest in engaging in jiu-jitsu practice together. Zuckerberg conveyed his desire to spar in a cage fight scenario, saying he “would love” to train together.

Some observers have interpreted Zuckerberg’s policy shift away from “fact-checkers” as an attempt to strengthen his rapport with the President-elect. Speculation suggests this move could be influenced by a forthcoming antitrust trial scheduled for April.

Meanwhile, The National Pulse has reported that Zuckerberg has elevated Bush-era Republican strategist Joel Kaplan to Meta’s Head of Global Policy, replacing Sir Nick Clegg, the liberal former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Kaplan joins establishment GOP consultant Brian Baker who was brought on to improve Zuckerberg’s relations with Republican lawmakers late last year.

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Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg met with President-elect Donald J. Trump just before announcing his social media platforms would end their relationships with "fact-checkers." Instead, Zuckerberg says his companies will use a community notes model like that implemented on Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter). Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) revealed the timing of Trump's meeting with the Meta CEO during a recent interview. show more