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Category: News
April 30, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
War
World

Zelensky Threatens Russian WW2 Victory Parade Which China’s Xi Will Attend.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made veiled threats to attack Russia’s Victory Day parade, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany, despite the fact foreign leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend.

👥 Who’s Involved: Volodymyr Zelensky, pro-Ukraine social media figures, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping.

📍 Where & When: Zelensky posted a video on social media on April 30.

💬 Key Quote: “Right now, they are worried about whether they can hold their military parade—and rightly so,” said President Zelensky.

⚠️ Impact: An attack on a parade attended by Putin, civilians, including elderly veterans, and Xi Jinping could provoke a massive response from Russia and draw China into the conflict, undermining President Trump’s attempts to secure a peace deal.

IN FULL:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a thinly veiled threat against Russia’s upcoming Victory Day parade, set for May 9. Zelensky stated that Russia was worried about attacks on the event, and was right to be. Set to be attended by thousands of Russian civilians, including elderly Second World War veterans, and world leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping, the May 9 Victory Parade celebrates the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany and its allies in the Second World War.

In a video published on April 30, Zelensky stated, “Right now, they are worried about whether they can hold their military parade—and rightly so. But what they should be worried about is that this war is still ongoing.” Some have pointed out that a large contingent of military personnel and equipment will take part in the parade, with pro-Ukrainian social media accounts calling for outright missile or drone strikes on a “legitimate military target.”

Caolan Robertson, a pro-Ukrainian media figure who has worked for the far-left Byline Times, stated, “Putin is terrified of Ukraine hitting his victory parade in Moscow. As he should be. Hundreds of tanks and missiles on display? That’s a great legitimate military target. I hope it gets wiped out.”

Robertson has travelled extensively to Ukraine and was in Syria shortly after the fall of Bashar Assad, posing with jihadists wearing Islamic State flags, something he seemed oblivious to at the time.

It is unclear how Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has called for a three-day ceasefire from May 8 to May 10, would react to an attack on the parade. Notably, China may regard such an attack as an act of war if it endangers Xi’s life.

President Donald J. Trump, who has accused Zelensky of trying to sabotage the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, could also react highly negatively to such actions.

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Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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April 30, 2025
Media

Trump Gives ANOTHER Interview to Fake News Media, Expresses Surprise at Dishonesty.

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❓What Happened: During an interview marking his 100th day in office, President Donald J. Trump expressed frustration and criticized ABC News anchor Terry Moran for his questions, particularly regarding an MS-13 tattoo on a deported illegal immigrant, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald Trump and ABC News anchor Terry Moran were the primary figures in the interview.

📍 Where & When: The interview took place in the Oval Office and was aired on April 29 as an hour-long special by ABC News under the title “President Trump: The First 100 Days: The Interview.”

💬 Key Quote: President Trump stated, “Why don’t you just say, ‘Yes, he does,’ and, you know, go on to something else,” during the tattoo debate with Moran.

⚠️ Impact: This interview highlighted ongoing tensions between the media and the Trump administration, underscoring issues of media trust and factual disputes in political reporting.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump slammed ABC News and its senior national correspondent, Terry Moran, arguing the corporate media network was spreading “fake news” regarding tattoos found on the hand of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran illegal immigrant alleged to be a member of the violent MS-13 gang who was recently deported to his home country. In a tense exchange, Moran insisted that an image showing the tattoos in question had actually been photoshopped, and photographs of Abrego Garcia in El Salvador did not show “M-S-1-3” tattooed across his knuckles.

An image posted to social media by President Trump had the text added above existing tattoos on the El Salvadoran national’s knuckles to denote what the inked symbols stood for. Abrego Garcia has a marijuana leaf, a smiley face with “x” over the eyes, a cross, and a skull tattooed across his knuckles, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and law enforcement officials contend are code representing M-S-1-3, the gang’s name.

“That was Photoshop? Terry, you can’t do that—he had—hey, they’re giving you the big break of a lifetime. You know, you’re doing the interview. I picked you because—frankly, I never heard of you, but that’s OK,” Trump said, responding to Moran’s assertion that the image of the tattoos had been doctored. The America First leader insisted, “He had MS-13 tattooed,” before Moran cut him off, asking that they move on to another subject.

“Terry. Do you want me to show the picture?” President Trump fired back, with Moran responding: “I saw the picture. We’ll—we’ll—we’ll agree to disagree.” After Trump continued to push back, the ABC News correspondent finally relented, conceding, “Fair enough, he did have tattoos that can be interpreted that way. I’m not an expert on them.”

Unsatisfied, President Trump continued to push Moran to acknowledge that the symbols tattooed on Abrego Garcia’s hand stood for MS-13. “Why don’t you just say, ‘Yes, he does,’ and, you know, go on to something else,” he told Moran, with the ABC News journalist responding: “It’s contested.”

As the interview progressed, Moran attempted to take several digs at the President, asking him: “I’m gonna ask—if I may, do you think the reputation of the United States has gone down under your presidency?” Exasperated, Trump replied: “I—no, I think it’s gone way up, and I think we’re a respected country again. We were laughed at all over the world. We had a president who couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs, couldn’t walk down a flight of stairs, couldn’t walk across a stage without falling. We had a president that was grossly incompetent. You knew it, I knew it, and everybody knew it. But you guys didn’t want to write it because you’re fake news.”

“And, by the way, ABC is one of the worst. I have to be honest with you,” Trump said as the interview concluded.

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April 30, 2025
Education
Politics

Mark Zuckerberg Closes Schools Aimed at Minority Communities.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Primary School, established by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, will permanently shut down at the end of the 2025–26 academic year, citing funding problems.

👥 Who’s Involved: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, The Primary School, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).

📍 Where & When: Schools located in East Palo Alto and the East Bay, to close by 2025–26.

💬 Key Quote: “After much deliberation, our schools in East Palo Alto and the East Bay will be closing at the end of the 2025–26 school year,” school officials announced.

⚠️ Impact: The closure affects families who relied on the school for education and support services. CZI will invest $50 million to assist communities in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and East Bay with transition aid.

IN FULL:

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan‘s educational initiative, The Primary School, is set to close by the end of the 2025–26 school year due to financial constraints. Launched in 2016, the private school aimed to provide tuition-free education and supportive services to “underserved” communities in Palo Alto and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

“After much deliberation, our schools in East Palo Alto and the East Bay will be closing at the end of the 2025–26 school year,” school officials said in a statement, adding: “This was a very difficult decision, and we are committed to ensuring a thoughtful and supportive transition for students and families over the next year. To sustain The Primary School’s legacy, [the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative] will make a $50M investment over the next few years in the East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and East Bay communities.”

The anticipated closure will affect local California families who have depended on The Primary School for educational resources and social services, especially healthcare and community welfare. The school’s founding principle emphasized collaborative child-rearing, involving educational professionals and healthcare providers.

“Though The Primary School as it exists today will be coming to an end, we sincerely hope that what we have learned and shown to be possible will live on,” the closure announcement states, continuing: “We will entrust our partners in this work—both our direct collaborators and our compatriots across the education and health fields—to carry the torch for all families, but especially the most vulnerable. Our belief in our guiding principle has not wavered, and we know that it will take all of us to work toward a future where our children and families can grow, learn, and thrive no matter the circumstances.”

The closure of the Zuckerberg-funded school comes amidst a broader fight between the Trump administration and far-left activists in academia who have pushed radical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and introduced sexually inappropriate content in the K-12 curriculum across the country. A number of academic institutions have ended their DEI programs, along with enacting policy changes barring biological males from competing in women’s sports, in order to comply with directives issued by President Donald J. Trump.

Earlier this year, Meta announced it would suspend its DEI programs.

Image by Anthony Quintano.

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April 30, 2025
Wake Up Right
Sports

Trans-Identifying Male Dominates U.S. Women’s Swim Nationals.

A biologically male swimmer identifying as female swept gold in five individual events at the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships.

The details: Ana Caldas, who has also competed under the names Hannah and Hugo Caldas, competed in the 45–49 women’s division and won every event he entered.

  • He won by margins as wide as four seconds—which is considered a blowout in elite short-distance swimming.

The rules: The U.S. Masters Swimming competition allows biological men to compete against women as long as they can show proof that they’ve received hormone therapy to reduce their testosterone levels.

Reality check: We know that there is no level of testosterone suppression that can undo the physical biological advantages that a man naturally has in sports — bone density, lung capacity, muscle fiber density, skeletal structure—especially for a man his age.

What Americans think: A poll from earlier this year found that 79 percent of Americans oppose letting biological men compete against women—including 67 percent of Democrats.

The last word goes to comedian Rob Schneider, who wrote on X: “Michael Jordan at 60 years old could suit up today and be the best ‘WOMAN’ in the [WNBA] and maybe THEN the stupid people in the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championship would SEE THEIR OWN INSANITY!”

Be sure to subscribe to the Wake Up Right newsletter! 

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

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A biologically male swimmer identifying as female swept gold in five individual events at the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships. show more
April 30, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

Marxist Turned Conservative Firebrand David Horowitz Passes Away at 86.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: David Horowitz, a prominent conservative commentator, author, and activist, passed away at 86 on April 29, 2025, after a long battle with cancer, as announced by the David Horowitz Freedom Center.

👥 Who’s Involved: David Horowitz, the David Horowitz Freedom Center, his son Benjamin Horowitz of Andreessen Horowitz, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Announced via social media by the David Horowitz Freedom Center on April 29, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: The center stated, “On behalf of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, we are very saddened to announce the passing of the Center’s founder, David Horowitz.”

⚠️ Impact: Horowitz’s death marks the loss of a prominent conservative voice whose advocacy for freedom and support for President Trump influenced generations, leaving a lasting impact on American political discourse.

IN FULL:

David Horowitz passed away on April 29, 2025, at the age of 86, after a prolonged battle with cancer. The David Horowitz Freedom Center, the think tank he established, shared the news on social media, stating, “On behalf of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, we are very saddened to announce the passing of the Center’s founder, David Horowitz.” His death closes a chapter for a man whose journey from Marxism to conservative activism shaped decades of political dialogue in America.

Born in Queens, New York, Horowitz earned a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and a Master’s from the University of California, Berkeley. Initially a Marxist, he later became a staunch defender of conservative values, authoring numerous books and founding the David Horowitz Freedom Center to oppose radical leftist and Islamic extremist ideologies. His son, Benjamin Horowitz, co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, posted an obituary on social media reflecting on his father’s career and his endorsement of President Donald J. Trump.

The obituary recounted a poignant moment from last year when Benjamin met President Trump and mentioned his father: “President Trump’s face immediately lit up and he insisted that Benjamin get David on the phone immediately.” Despite being hospitalized and frail, Horowitz was “delighted to speak with the President,” showcasing his enduring belief in the America First agenda.

Horowitz leaves behind his fourth wife, April Mullvain, sons Benjamin and Jonathan, and daughter Anne. His other daughter, Sarah Rose, passed away in 2008. The obituary states, “In the end, David helped countless people and expended every fiber of his being pushing society towards freedom. He may not have saved the world, but he most certainly made it a better place—especially for us. He was our super hero and we will love him forever.”

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Image by Mark Taylor.

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April 30, 2025
Politics
War

Trump Chief of Staff Gives Rare Interview Signaling Frustration With Ukraine, Russia.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles evaluated President Donald J. Trump’s first 100 days in office, highlighting various achievements and acknowledging areas needing improvement. Wiles specifically expressed frustration with Russian and Ukrainian resistance to peace talks, stating, “If peace is not achieved, it will be because it can’t be achieved. It just cannot.”

👥 Who’s Involved: Susie Wiles, President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and members of Trump’s administration.

📍 Where & When: The White House in Washington, D.C., during an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, April 29.

💬 Key Quote: Wiles stated, “The president has devoted 100 days and his very top people to Russia and Ukraine, and if peace is not achieved, it will be because it can’t be achieved. It just cannot.”

⚠️ Impact: Wiles outlined ongoing initiatives and future goals for Trump’s administration, including potential trade deals, legislative objectives, and the prospects of the U.S. government’s ongoing mediation of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

IN FULL:

Susie Wiles, the White House Chief of Staff, says President Donald J. Trump‘s first 100 days in office have been notably productive. Speaking to the New York Post on Tuesday, Wiles noted the America First leader has signed 142 executive orders since January 20 and mentioned the administration’s focus on trade agreements and curbing illegal immigration.

However, the first-ever female White House Chief of Staff did express consternation regarding the lack of progress in reaching a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting peace may not be achievable in the time frame President Trump wants. “The President has devoted 100 days and his very top people to Russia and Ukraine, and if peace is not achieved, it will be because it can’t be achieved. It just cannot,” Wiles said. She continued: “I don’t know whether that will be the case or not. I mean, it may well be that we can make some headway in the next couple of weeks, but nobody would have tried it but Donald Trump.”

“Nobody would have gotten these people to the table but Donald Trump. And if they want to continue to kill people, while it’s abhorrent, you know, he can’t stop that,” she added.

Despite the setbacks in ending the Russia-Ukraine war, Wiles still praised the administration’s productivity and credited President Trump’s decisive actions for the speed at which the White House agenda has been implemented. However, Wiles did acknowledge that the Trump White House has faced more resistance than anticipated in rolling back the expanded federal government left by former President Joe Biden.

“Where I would say there was not just sort of great, amazing success is perhaps our underestimation of the size and scope of the government that Joe Biden left us,” Wiles acknowledged, adding: “The economy, the war between Russia and Ukraine, the budget, the taxes writ large, which I consider to be different than the budget, the sort of institutional resistance to even recognizing that we’ve been ripped off by foreign nations that require us to do tariffs.”

The National Pulse reported on Tuesday that President Trump is “increasingly growing frustrated” with the Russian and Ukrainian governments’ resistance to peace talks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The National Pulse that Trump is increasingly concerned about “the amount of time” the administration is spending on Ukraine, implicitly at the cost of domestic priorities including federal government reforms, economic revival, and mass deportations.

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April 30, 2025
News

Destructive Derecho Claims 3 Lives, Leaves 700,000 Powerless.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A line of severe thunderstorms transformed into a derecho, resulting in intense wind gusts across the Ohio Valley and interior Northeast, causing fatalities and power outages.

👥 Who’s Involved: Residents and emergency services in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and particularly Pittsburgh, were affected.

📍 Where & When: The events unfolded Tuesday evening, impacting areas from Indianapolis eastward across western and central Pennsylvania.

💬 Key Quote: “Wind gusts in some areas were nearly 80 mph. For some communities, this derecho could be a once-in-10-year or even a once-in-20-year event,” stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Alan Reppert.

⚠️ Impact: There were at least three fatalities, significant property damage, and power outages for 700,000 customers, primarily in Pennsylvania. Strong winds reached 80 mph, toppling trees and power lines, causing disruptions.

IN FULL:

A swift-moving line of severe thunderstorms developed into a derecho on the evening of April 29, wreaking havoc across the Ohio Valley and the interior Northeast. This weather phenomenon resulted in at least three deaths and widespread power outages. Pennsylvania bore the brunt with the highest number of outages.

Particularly hard-hit areas included southeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Areas saw speeds typically associated with low-end tornadoes, but affected a broader region in this instance. “Wind gusts in some areas were nearly 80 mph. For some communities, this derecho could be a once-in-10-year or even a once-in-20-year event,” stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Alan Reppert.

In Pittsburgh, a man tragically lost his life due to electrocution from live wires, according to the public safety department. Emergency crews responding to St. Martin Street found the man deceased at the location. Another storm-related fatality was recorded in Allegheny County.

The severity of the derecho led to substantial disruptions, including 911 service outages in the Pittsburgh area. Public safety officials recommended that residents contact their local police if they experienced phone difficulties. Recorded wind gusts in Pittsburgh reached 71 mph.

A suspected tornado was also sighted south of State College while fierce storms ravaged parts of Pennsylvania. Central Pennsylvania faced substantial outages as trees and power lines were knocked down, affecting half a million customers across the state.

A tragic incident in State College claimed the life of a 22-year-old man who was electrocuted while attempting to put out a mulch fire near a damaged utility pole.

Experts categorize this as the first derecho of 2025. Derechos are long-lived storm lines causing straight-line wind damage over at least 400 miles, as this one did from near the Ohio-Indiana border to central Pennsylvania. The storm comes just over a month after powerful storms swept over the Midwest and South, leaving 42 people dead.

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April 30, 2025
Immigration

Kristi Noem Vows Immediate Deportation if Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to U.S.

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❓What Happened: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported Salvadoran illegal immigrant, would be immediately deported again if returned to the U.S.

👥 Who’s Involved: Kristi Noem, President Donald J. Trump, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, and CBS News reporters Tony Dokoupil and Caitlin Yilek.

📍 Where & When: CBS News interview, broadcast on April 30, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Noem stated, “If [Abrego Garcia] were to be brought back to the United States of America, we would immediately deport him again,” emphasizing the administration’s hardline stance against illegal immigrants.

⚠️ Impact: Noem’s remarks underscore Trump’s commitment to targeting alleged gang members, potentially intensifying legal battles over “due process” while prioritizing national security over judicial pushback.

IN FULL:

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has reaffirmed the Trump administration’s unwavering focus on deporting dangerous migrants, stating that Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a Salvadoran illegal immigrant deported to a mega-prison in El Salvador—would face immediate deportation again if returned to the U.S. In a CBS News interview on April 30, 2025, Noem stated, “We’re focused on going after the worst of the worst and doing it the right way.”

Her comments come amid scrutiny over the vetting process for migrants deported under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which the administration has used to send hundreds of alleged Venezuelan and Salvadoran gang members to the CECOT facility in El Salvador.

Abrego Garcia’s case has drawn significant attention due to a court order agreeing he was an illegal immigrant eligible for deportation, but putting a temporary hold on his removal to El Salvador, specifically, due to gang members there supposedly presenting a threat to his life.

Contrary to Democratic and media claims that Abrego Garcia is a simple “Maryland man” with no criminal history, judges have previously ruled that the authorities have presented “sufficient” evidence that he is a member of the terrorist-designated MS-13 gang, and he has previously been accused of domestic abuse by his wife and arrested on suspicion of human trafficking.

“If [Abrego Garcia] were to be brought back to the United States of America, we would immediately deport him again,” Noem told CBS, saying of a court order to “facilitate” his return to the U.S., “He is not under our control. He is an El Salvador citizen. He is home there in his country.”

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who initially ordered the facilitation of Abrego Garcia’s return, accused the Trump administration of making “no meaningful effort to comply” with her demand. Noem defended the administration’s stance, asserting, “President Trump and his administration has adhered to the court and respects the court and its decisions,” while reiterating, “This individual is not under the United States of America’s jurisdiction and he is not one of our citizens. He is home in his home country. And that’s up to that country to decide what to do.”

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has previously stated he will not send Abrego Garcia to the U.S., arguing this would be tantamount to smuggling a terrorist into an allied country.

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Migrant Crime
April 30, 2025
Immigration

ICE Deports 65,000 Illegal Immigrants in Trump’s First 100 Days.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed over 65,000 illegal immigrants during President Trump’s initial 100 days in office.

👥 Who’s Involved: ICE, President Trump, ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons, and ICE Deputy Director Madison D. Sheahan.

📍 Where & When: United States, during the first 100 days of President Trump’s administration.

💬 Key Quote: “The brave men and women of ICE protect our families, friends and neighbors by removing public safety and national security threats from our communities,” stated ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons.

⚠️ Impact: Arrested individuals included members of gangs and those with serious criminal charges, impacting both public safety and employment practices.

IN FULL:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported on Tuesday that it has removed 65,682 illegal immigrants from the United States during the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s administration. The agency revealed that a significant number of those arrested—66,463 in total—included individuals with prior criminal convictions or charges.

Three-quarters of the arrests were of criminal illegal immigrants, a point highlighted by ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons, who described the effort as a measure to ensure public safety and national security. “The brave men and women of ICE protect our families, friends and neighbors by removing threats to our communities,” Lyons stated.

Among those arrested, approximately 2,288 were identified as gang members from notorious groups such as MS-13, 18th Street, and Tren de Aragua. Additionally, the statistics revealed arrests of individuals convicted or accused of serious crimes, including 1,329 sex offenses and 498 murders. Furthermore, 9,639 faced charges or convictions for assaults, 6,398 for DWIs or DUIs, and 1,479 for weapon offenses.

ICE Deputy Director Madison D. Sheahan emphasized that efforts have also targeted workplaces employing illegal workers. Between January 20 and the time of reporting, over 1,000 illegal workers have been arrested, and fines exceeding $1 million have been proposed against non-compliant businesses. Sheahan also noted a recent operation that dismantled a human smuggling network, which allegedly facilitated the illegal entry of hundreds each year, bypassing governmental scrutiny.

Border Czar Tom Homan has previously said that the total number of deportations during President Trump’s first 100 days, including border removals, stood at around 139,000. However, border removals are trending downwards, as the administration’s strong border policies have slashed attempted border crossings.

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April 30, 2025
Crime
Immigration

New Bill Targets Fentanyl Dealers with Felony Murder Charges.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: New legislation was introduced in both the House and Senate to allow charging fentanyl dealers with felony murder if their distribution results in death.

👥 Who’s Involved: The bill was introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX).

📍 Where & When: The bill was unveiled on Tuesday, marking National Fentanyl Awareness Day, and will proceed to committees for markup and consideration in both chambers.

💬 Key Quote: “If you sell the drug and take an innocent life, justice will be delivered,” said Representative Tony Gonzales.

⚠️ Impact: The legislation aims to increase penalties for fentanyl dealers, with the crisis having claimed approximately 280,000 American lives since 2021.

IN FULL:

New legislation seeks to hold fentanyl dealers accountable for the dangerous drug they peddle by allowing them to be charged with felony murder if their distribution results in death. Introduced simultaneously in the House and Senate, the proposed law aims to increase the severity of punishment for those involved in fentanyl trafficking. Under existing U.S. law, such offenses currently carry a minimum 20-year prison sentence but are not prosecuted as murder cases.

The bill, titled the Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act, is being sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX). This legislative measure coincides with National Fentanyl Awareness Day and now heads to committees in both chambers for further consideration before moving to the House and Senate floors.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), fentanyl has resulted in the deaths of about 280,000 Americans since 2021. The rising fentanyl crisis has been linked to increased illicit drug trafficking across U.S. borders. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that around 64,000 pounds of fentanyl, which is enough to lethally dose billions of people, have been confiscated at the southern border.

“If you sell the drug and take an innocent life, justice will be delivered,” Rep. Gonzales said regarding the sentencing changes made by the legislation.

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