Thursday, December 4, 2025

Trump Considers Expanding Travel Ban to 32 Countries.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is considering expanding its travel ban to include 32 additional countries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement is expected soon, following the D.C. shooting last week.

🎯IMPACT: The current travel ban applies to 19 nations, with immigration applications from these countries already halted.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to expand its travel bans to include as many as 32 additional countries, according to sources. The push comes shortly after a recent shooting in Washington, D.C., in which two members of the National Guard were shot, one fatally. Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged for the attack and has pleaded not guilty.

In June 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation banning or restricting travel for citizens of 19 countries, citing national security concerns, including terrorism links, high visa overstay rates, unreliable identity documentation, and a lack of government cooperation with U.S. authorities. Under that order, 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen, are subject to full entry bans; seven others, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Laos, face partial restrictions.

According to a State Department cable, the proposed expansion under current consideration could add dozens more nations to the list of “countries of concern.” Officials argue the additional restrictions are needed because some countries “lack a competent or cooperative government authority to produce reliable identity documents,” or have histories of visa overstays, producing national security threats, or inadequate cooperation in repatriating citizens ordered removed from the U.S.

Government officials have said they expect to publish the updated list soon.

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House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Jack Smith for Deposition.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) subpoenaed former Special Counsel Jack Smith for a deposition regarding the Arctic Frost scandal.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jim Jordan, Jack Smith, House Judiciary Committee, and other House and Senate Republicans.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Subpoena issued on Wednesday; deposition scheduled for December 17, behind closed doors.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Due to your service as Special Counsel, the Committee believes that you possess information that is vital to its oversight of this matter.” – Jim Jordan

🎯IMPACT: The subpoena escalates Republican investigations into Jack Smith’s actions in the Arctic Frost scandal.

IN FULL

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) issued a subpoena to former Special Counsel Jack Smith on Wednesday, calling for his deposition to take place on December 17. The move comes as House Republicans prepare to ramp up their inquiry into Smith, the former Biden Department of Justice (DOJ), and U.S. District Court Judges James Boasberg and Beryl Howell over their involvement in the Arctic Frost scandal which saw Smith target President Donald J. Trump, numerous Republican lawmakers, and 430 Republican organizations and operatives in what appears to have been intended to be a massive RICO prosecution.

In a letter accompanying the subpoena, Jordan wrote, “Due to your service as Special Counsel, the Committee believes that you possess information that is vital to its oversight of this matter.” The deposition is set to occur behind closed doors, allowing committee members to question Smith for extended periods, unlike the five-minute intervals of public hearings.

Smith’s investigation into Trump included criminal charges related to the 2020 election and alleged retention of classified documents. Both cases were dropped following Trump’s 2024 presidential election victory, citing DOJ policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Smith has defended his work, which a number of Republicans have labeled as overly broad and politically motivated.

The subpoena also demands all documents and communications tied to Smith’s tenure as Special Counsel. This follows a November 12 letter from the DOJ to Smith’s legal team, authorizing him to provide unrestricted testimony to Congress despite potential privilege concerns. Smith had previously offered to testify publicly before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, but Jordan‘s preference for a deposition format aims to build a more comprehensive record.

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Venezuela Reopens to U.S. Deportation Flights Following Trump’s Airspace Ban.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Venezuela announced it will resume accepting deportation flights from the U.S. following discussions with the Trump administration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and Venezuelan migrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Tuesday, with deportation flights landing near Caracas, Venezuela.

🎯IMPACT: Over 13,000 migrants have been deported to Venezuela this year, with the flights marking one of the few areas of cooperation between the two nations.

IN FULL

Venezuela has announced it will continue to accept deportation flights originating from the United States at the request of President Donald J. Trump. Previously, Venezuela’s government had begun rejecting inbound flights from the U.S. carrying illegal immigrants after Trump announced the U.S. military had effectively closed airspace over the South American country.

Nicolás Maduro, the Marxist dictator of Venezuela, stated the flights would resume—likely in the hopes that the offer might garner favor with the Trump administration to hold off on an anticipated military intervention aimed at overthrowing him. The deportation flights have facilitated the return of over 13,000 immigrants to Venezuela this year.

When President Trump began his illegal immigration crackdown in the United States, Maduro’s regime initially refused to accept the return of illegals from Venezuela. However, after mounting pressure from the Trump White House, Venezuela relented and began receiving the deportation flights, which currently mark the only real area of ongoing diplomatic relations between the countries.

Currently, an estimated 30 percent of the U.S. Navy has been deployed to the Caribbean in an operation aimed at destroying drug cartels and smugglers operating in the region. Many of these narco-traffickers operate out of Venezuela, with Maduro himself accused of serving as the head of the Cartel de los Soles, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

The Trump administration has also increased military operations in the region, targeting narco-terrorists near Venezuela. “We know everything about them. We know where they live. We know where the bad ones live. And we’re going to start that very soon, too,” Trump remarked during a recent White House Cabinet meeting.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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Minneapolis Police Chief Calls on Somali Community to Report Masked ICE Agents, Pledges Intervention.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara urged Somalis to call 911 on masked individuals detaining people—clearly referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents—suggesting they might be kidnappers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the Somali community, ICE, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 3, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Folks that are masked—when people aren’t sure if they’re law enforcement, or if they may be kidnapping people—we have had those reports.” – Brian O’Hara

🎯IMPACT: Heightened tensions between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement, amid Trump’s recent remarks on Somali immigrants.

IN FULL

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara is urging members of the Minnesota city’s Somali and broader immigrant communities to stay alert and contact 911 if they witness masked individuals detaining people, warning that such encounters could involve kidnappers rather than legitimate law enforcement. O’Hara stressed the need for residents to be able to distinguish between authorized officers and potentially dangerous impersonators, saying the department will investigate every report and reminding officers of their obligation to intervene if they observe supposed human rights violations.

“Folks that are masked—when people aren’t sure if they’re law enforcement, or if they may be kidnapping people—we have had those reports. I want to be clear to the community: the community should know that if you see something like that and you don’t know whether someone is law enforcement, you should call 911 and provide as much information as possible,” O’Hara said.

His comments follow reports that a large federal immigration operation is being prepared in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, with more than 100 agents reportedly assigned to target Somalis.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) reiterated the city’s refusal to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on civil immigration enforcement, reaffirming a long-standing policy that blocks local involvement in federal immigration actions, despite the threat migrant criminals pose to the public.

President Donald J. Trump has strongly criticized Somali immigrants in recent days, linking them to crime and other social problems. “Somalians ripped off [Minnesota] for billions of dollars. Every year, billions of dollars, and they contribute nothing. The welfare is like 88 percent. I don’t want them in our country,” he said.

Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, with tens of thousands residing primarily in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Notably, the community has faced scrutiny amid investigations into public-assistance fraud involving Somali-run businesses or individuals. Somali medicaid fraud may have cost American taxpayers as much as a billion dollars or more, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Some of the money may even have been funneled to terrorist groups like the radical Islamist al-Shabaab organization.

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Anti-ICE LA Man Arrested for Hurling Molotov Cocktail at Federal Building.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal authorities released images of a man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails into a federal building in Los Angeles, California.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The suspect was identified as 54-year-old Jose Francisco Jovel, a Los Angeles resident.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred Monday morning at a federal building in downtown Los Angeles.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence. Irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists have real-world consequences. It must stop.” – First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli

🎯IMPACT: If convicted, Jovel faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison.

IN FULL

Federal authorities have identified 54-year-old Jose Francisco Jovel as the man accused of attempting to firebomb a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, California, on Monday. Prosecutors say he is scheduled to appear in federal court the afternoon of December 3 on a charge of attempted malicious damage of federal property.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Jovel admitted that he acted out of anger toward the federal government’s immigration policies and described the incident to investigators as “a terrorist attack.” He allegedly told officers, “You’re separating families,” and urged others to “start shooting these,” referring to law-enforcement personnel. Authorities released images showing Jovel on the steps of the building and the Molotov-style devices he is accused of trying to ignite, none of which detonated.

Investigators say that before heading to the federal complex, which houses agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jovel intentionally set fire to his rented apartment using an accelerant. He then allegedly threw incendiary bottles at two entry points of the federal building, an employee entrance and a public access door. The devices never fully ignited, and no injuries were reported.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli condemned the attack, stating, “This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence. Irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists have real-world consequences. It must stop.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials echoed this warning, with the head of the Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis, saying, “There can be zero tolerance for any targeting of law enforcement officials—let alone violent acts—and we’re lucky that the devices allegedly thrown by the subject did not physically injure anyone.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation.

The incident comes amid a broader rise in threats and violence against federal law enforcement personnel this year. Lawmakers have recently proposed new criminal penalties aimed at protecting immigration officers in response to escalating harassment and confrontations. Federal agents in multiple states have reported shootings, arson attempts, and other targeted attacks, while separate investigations are ongoing into vandalism and break-ins at U.S. Attorney facilities.

Officials say the convergence of heated political rhetoric and online calls for violence has created an increasingly volatile environment for federal employees.

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Top Federal Court Official Defends Boasberg in Arctic Frost Scandal.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A top federal court official defended U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg’s gag orders that concealed subpoenas targeting members of Congress during Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) special prosecutor Jack Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Judge James Boasberg, Special Counsel Jack Smith, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH), and the Biden DOJ.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Subpoenas were issued in 2023 during the Arctic Frost investigation, with responses continuing into 2024.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Smith’s apparent lack of candor is deeply troubling, and he needs to answer for his conduct.” – Sen. Grassley

🎯IMPACT: The subpoenas and gag orders have sparked criticism, raising concerns over judicial transparency, constitutional protections, and alleged partisan targeting.

IN FULL

The director of the administrative office for the federal courts has stepped in to defend U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg over the latter’s signing of gag orders, which concealed subpoenas targeting members of Congress during the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Special Counsel Jack Smith‘s Arctic Frost investigation. Robert Conrad Jr., the administrative office’s director, claimed the chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia often blindly signed gag order requests if they came directly from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In a letter from Conrad Jr. to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the administrative office’s director revealed that DOJ subpoena requests typically lack identifying details of the subject. He argued that Boasberg would not have known who the targets were. It is unclear if this same set of circumstances applies to U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell as well. The latter also approved a number of Jack Smith’s Arctic Frost subpoenas targeting Republican lawmakers.

Grassley, alongside Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), had demanded an explanation from Boasberg regarding the one-year gag orders that prevented phone companies from informing Republican lawmakers their records had been subpoenaed in 2023 by Smith. Conrad Jr. claimed that he could not address specific subpoenas and gag orders due to sealed materials, but provided insight into the general practices during Arctic Frost.

Grassley criticized the Biden DOJ for failing to notify Boasberg that the subpoenas targeted lawmakers, stating, “Smith went ahead with the congressional subpoenas anyway, and it appears he and his team didn’t apprise the court of member involvement.” Grassley noted that the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section had advised Smith to consider constitutional protections for lawmakers, but that Smith proceeded regardless.

Sen. Johnson expressed dissatisfaction with Boasberg’s response, calling it “an affront to transparency” and demanding that the judge lift the seal on the case and provide a full explanation. The National Pulse reported in late October that Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation was recklessly expanded with 197 subpoenas targeting 430 Republican-aligned groups and individuals having been issued. An examination of the subpoena targets suggests that Smith was looking to create a RICO case against a large part of the Republican Party’s election network, effectively hampering its ability to run candidates in the 2024 and future elections.

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New Fox News White House Correspondent Served as Board Member of UN Refugee Charity.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Fox News has named Pakistan-born Aishah Hasnie as its new White House correspondent, despite concerns about her ability to be impartial on the issues of immigration and the deportation of illegal immigrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Aishah Hasnie, Fox News, illegal immigrants, and the Trump White House.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 2025.

🎯IMPACT: Hasnie formerly moonlighted as a board member for USA for UNHCR, a globalist nonprofit group that supports the pro-open borders United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), signalling potential bias on topics concerning illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

IN FULL

Fox News has named Pakistan-born Aishah Hasnie as its new White House correspondent, despite concerns about her ability to be impartial on the issues of immigration and the deportation of illegal immigrants. Hasnie formerly moonlighted as a board member for USA for UNHCR, a globalist nonprofit group that supports the pro-open borders United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The National Pulse previously reported on Hasnie’s concerning ties in 2023 when she was named as the television news network’s congressional correspondent. Her now past affiliation with USA for UNHCR still raises questions regarding objectivity, especially as the Trump administration appears poised to enter its next phase of illegal immigrant deportations.

On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to focus on arresting and detaining illegal Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota. Meanwhile, ICE finalized a $29.9 million contract for the conceptual design of retrofitting large warehouses across the United States to serve as mega detention facilities. This comes as federal immigration judges have handed down a record 500,000 removal orders over the last year.

Based in Washington, D.C. and established in 1989, USA for UNHCR purports to work “…with refugees from their greatest time of need – from emergency or crisis and beyond through the months and likely years that many are displaced from their home countries.”

The charity’s financial disclosures reveal that it primarily acts as a fundraising vehicle for the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Refugees itself. In 2022, USA for UNHCR reported just over $234 million in revenue, with $182 million passed on as grants to the United Nations. The charity’s website even blurs the lines between its organization and the official U.N. refugee agency, listing U.N. efforts as if they were its own, and even replicating the U.N.’s logo.

Hasnie joined Fox News in 2019 and was named the network’s congressional correspondent in August 2021. She joined the board of USA for UNHCR on December 20, 2021. In an interview in late 2021, Hasnie described herself as “a deeply faithful person. I’m Muslim, and I pray five times a day.”

It is unclear when she left the board of the USA for UNHCR, though she is no longer listed on the nonprofit’s website as a member.

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GOP Holds Off Democrat Surge in Tennessee Special Election.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Republicans secured victory in a closely contested congressional election in Tennessee, maintaining their majority in the House of Representatives.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn, with involvement from prominent national figures like President Donald J. Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The election took place in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, with results projected on December 3, 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Running from Trump is how you lose, running with Trump is how you win.” – Matt Van Epps

🎯IMPACT: The election result signals potential challenges for Republicans in the upcoming midterms, despite retaining the seat.

IN FULL

Republican Matt Van Epps has won a tight race for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District seat. Viewed as a test of Democratic prospects for the next national contest in 2026, the election saw Van Epps beat Democrat Aftyn Behn by an estimated nine points.

Though the GOP was triumphant, the gap was much tighter than in past races, sparking unease among Republicans. “It was dangerous,” Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) observed about the unexpectedly slim margin.

The contest attracted intense national focus and hefty spending from both sides. President Donald J. Trump, with considerable sway in Tennessee, backed Van Epps through a virtual rally. Van Epps tied his bid tightly to Trump, warning the GOP, “Running from Trump is how you lose, running with Trump is how you win.”

Democrat Aftyn Behn, who campaigned on local concerns such as cost of living, called the narrow result a promising signal for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms. “The margin was close, and that can only be attributed to the thousands of volunteers who showed out,” she said.

The result has fueled talk about midterm tactics for 2026, as Republicans recognize the need for robust turnout efforts. “In a year, it’s going to be a turnout election, and the left will show up. Hate is a powerful motivator,” Cruz stressed.

Image by Sixflashphoto.

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Pentagon Cuts Off Routine Contact with Germany on Ukraine Amid Peace Push.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon has allegedly suspended routine contact with Germany’s Defence Ministry on Ukraine.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: German Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, the Pentagon, and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 2, 2025, in discussions between Berlin and Washington.

🎯IMPACT: Berlin now relays inquiries through its embassy in Washington, as the U.S. pushes a revised peace plan for Ukraine.

IN FULL

A senior German general said the U.S. Pentagon has halted its routine communications with Germany’s Defence Ministry regarding Ukraine. Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, who formerly oversaw Berlin’s Ukraine coordination efforts and now leads the German army, said that where he once enjoyed regular access to Pentagon officials, that access has now been “shut down.” As a result, Berlin now must rely on its embassy in Washington to seek updates from U.S. officials.

This pause in direct Pentagon–Berlin communications coincides with a shift in Washington’s approach to the war in Ukraine. A U.S.-proposed 28-point peace proposal, which has been undermined by European governments, has reportedly been trimmed to 22 points following consultations with both Ukraine and Russia. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is slated to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to continue efforts to negotiate a settlement.

The change in U.S. posture could have significant implications for European support for Ukraine. While the German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to build what it calls “the strongest conventional army in Europe,” Europe remains unwilling and largely unable to deploy soldiers directly to Ukraine without American support.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has described sending troops to Ukraine as a “remote question,” arguing that Germany’s armed forces are already committed elsewhere, notably with a brigade stationed in Lithuania under NATO obligations.

Image by Asten.

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ICE Nets Child Rapists, Armed Robbers Despite 1,150% Surge in Attacks on Officers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a series of criminal illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes on Monday, including child rape and armed robbery, as attacks on officers have increased by over 1,150 percent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE officers, criminal illegal immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, and Mexico, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Arrests occurred on Monday in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and California.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Despite a more than 1,153 percent increase in assaults against our law enforcement officers, they continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” – Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary.

🎯IMPACT: ICE continues to target and apprehend dangerous migrants despite a surge in violence against its officers, ensuring public safety in affected communities.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on December 1 the arrest of several migrants convicted of serious crimes, including child sexual assault and armed robbery. Among those taken into custody was a Honduran national, Juan Ramos-Ramos, convicted in Hudson, New Jersey, of multiple sexual offenses, including sexual assault of a minor and endangering a child.

Another detainee, Jorge Alberto Menjivar from El Salvador, was convicted in Woburn, Massachusetts, of multiple counts of aggravated child rape and rape by force. Other arrests included a Haitian national, Jean Saint-Cyr, convicted of assault in Brooklyn, New York; a Mexican national, Luis Angel Escobar-Negrete, convicted in Texas of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; and Raul Rodriguez-Martinez, also from Mexico, convicted of second-degree robbery with a firearm enhancement in Santa Ana, California.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that “despite a more than 1,153 percent increase in assaults against our law enforcement officers, they continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” She added that those detained include “pedophiles, sexual predators, and armed robbers,” underscoring the agency’s goal of removing dangerous migrants from American neighborhoods.

These arrests occur as part of a broader surge in immigration enforcement operations by DHS and ICE across the country. In Chicago, Illinois, for instance, a sweeping campaign known as Operation Midway Blitz, launched in early September, resulted in more than 800 arrests of illegal immigrants, including murderers, rapists, and gang members.

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