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Monday, August 17, 2026

Category: News
September 29, 2025
Crime
Religion

Trump White House: Michigan Church Shooter Motivated by Hatred for Mormons.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A gunman killed four people and injured eight at a Mormon church in Michigan before being killed in an exchange of gunfire with police.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The suspect was identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former Marine from Burton, Michigan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on Sunday at a church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.

💬KEY QUOTE: “From what I understand based on my conversation with the FBI director, all they know right now is that this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

🎯IMPACT: The attack has raised questions about the motive and planning, with federal authorities investigating the targeting of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

IN FULL

The deadly attack on a Mormon church in Michigan on Sunday that saw four killed and eight injured was motivated by the perpetrator’s hatred of Mormonism, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old former Marine from Burton, Michigan, has been identified by authorities as the gunman, with Sanford being neutralized by police at the scene.

“From what I understand based on my conversation with the FBI director, all they know right now is that this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith,” Leavitt said during a televised interview on Monday morning. “They are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note, all of those questions are yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI.”


Leavitt did not reveal whether the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had indicated whether Sanford had a personal connection to the church or specific members. According to police, Sanford drove his truck into the church in Grand Blanc Township before opening fire on hundreds attending the Mormon service. He is also believed to have set the building on fire using an accelerant. A bomb squad was dispatched after improvised explosive devices were discovered at the crime scene.

The Michigan shooting is the second violent attack targeting Christians in the U.S. in just over a month. On August 27, anti-Trump transgender Robin Westman, previously Robert, opened fire at a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which claimed the lives of two young children and left at least 17 others wounded. Westman killed himself at the scene.

Mormonism has long been the subject of religious persecution and targeted violence. Between May 1857 and July 1858, Mormon settlers and U.S. federal government troops faced off in the then-Utah territory in what is known as the Utah War. The conflict, sparked by Mormon fears that federal troops had been sent to forcibly remove them, stemmed in part from Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs’s (D) issuance of Missouri Executive Order 44, known as the Mormon Extermination Order, in 1838.

The order directed General John Bullock Clark and Missouri’s state militia to forcibly expel Mormons from the state. Notably, Boggs’s order remained on the books until it was formally rescinded in 1976.

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September 29, 2025
Immigration
News

Mamdani Pledges Extra $100M for Migrant Legal Aid to Stop Deportations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani pledged to allocate an additional $100 million in taxpayer funds for legal defense services for illegal immigrants facing deportation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, Mayor Eric Adams, Council Member Robert Holden, Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, and illegal immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: New York City, as part of Mamdani’s 2025 mayoral campaign proposals.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A cornerstone of our campaign is to increase funding for those very legal defense services by more than $100 million so that we can ensure we’re taking every step we can to keep New Yorkers safe, to keep New Yorkers together, and to show the world that they are welcome in this city,” said Zohran Mamdani.

🎯IMPACT: Critics argue the proposal unfairly burdens taxpayers and rewards lawbreaking, at the expense of legal immigrants and underfunded city priorities.

IN FULL

Democrat New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is calling for an additional $100 million in taxpayer funds to provide legal defense for illegal migrants facing deportation, describing the initiative as a “cornerstone” of his campaign during an interview. Mamdani claims that approximately 400,000 New York City residents are currently at risk of deportation and pointed out that fewer than 200 migrants received free legal representation last year.

“A cornerstone of our campaign is to increase funding for those very legal defense services by more than $100 million so that we can ensure we’re taking every step we can to keep New Yorkers safe, to keep New Yorkers together, and to show the world that they are welcome in this city,” Mamdani said.

New York City’s current budget already includes $54.5 million for migrant legal defense services. Mayor Eric Adams has said this amount is “more than any other major city in America.” Mamdani’s proposal would nearly triple that figure, but he has not outlined how the additional funds would be financed.

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa condemned the plan, saying, “It is unfair to taxpayers and to those who played by the rules to come here legally, and enough is enough.”

Even Council Member Robert Holden, a Democrat representing Queens, said, “New York is in a fiscal crisis, and Mamdani wants to rip another $100 million from taxpayers to bankroll deportation defense, rewarding lawbreaking while seniors, classrooms, sanitation, and public safety go without.”

Since 2022, the city’s migrant crisis has cost an estimated $12 billion, covering expenses such as housing, food, and legal aid.

Mamdani, currently a state assemblyman from Queens, is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and has built a reputation for pushing progressive and controversial policies. At a rally on Staten Island earlier this year, the Ugandan immigrant denounced deportation efforts and reinforced his support for sanctuary protections. “As we gather here on an island… where nearly one in four were born outside of this country … it’s an island that we know is not immune from this horrific crackdown,” he said.

Previously, Mamdani celebrated securing state funds for illegal immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it one of his “greatest victories.” He has also drawn criticism for advocating the abolition of private property and prisons.

Image by Bingjiefu He.

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September 29, 2025
Crime
War

U.S. Plans Military Strikes on Drug Traffickers INSIDE Venezuela.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. military officials are considering air strikes targeting drug traffickers inside Venezuela, potentially beginning in a matter of weeks.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, U.S. military officials, Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, and intermediaries from allied nations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Discussions are ongoing, with possible strikes in Venezuela in the coming weeks.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Venezuela is sending us their gang members, their drug dealers, and drugs. It’s not acceptable.” – President Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Potential escalation in U.S. military operations against drug trafficking and increased pressure on Venezuela’s leadership.

IN FULL

The U.S. military is reportedly preparing plans to strike drug traffickers within Venezuela, with operations potentially beginning in a few weeks. This development comes as part of the Trump administration’s intensified focus on combating drug trafficking and addressing its concerns with the Venezuelan government under dictator Nicolás Maduro.

In recent weeks, U.S. forces have already targeted Venezuelan vessels involved in drug trafficking. President Donald J.  Trump announced these actions on Truth Social and directed a larger contingent of U.S. air and naval power to be deployed to the Caribbean. Dominican Republic officials confirmed that drugs were recovered after one such strike.

The proposed plans reportedly include drone strikes targeting drug labs and leadership within trafficking organizations. Discussions also highlight frustrations with Maduro’s perceived failure to curb illegal drug flows out of Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly argued, “Venezuela is sending us their gang members, their drug dealers, and drugs. It’s not acceptable.”

A significant number of U.S. military aircraft have been moved to Puerto Rico, signaling readiness for further operations. However, prolonged deployments could strain other military commitments.

The Trump administration has not ruled out regime change as a potential outcome of its strategy, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly advocating for increased pressure on Maduro. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue, with intermediaries facilitating discussions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Maduro has denied involvement in drug trafficking and has accused the U.S. of attempting to undermine his government.

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September 28, 2025
News

Eric Adams Exits NYC Mayoral Race.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to drop out of the mayor’s race, according to sources.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Eric Adams, Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement expected Sunday; election in New York City.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am the only one that can beat [Zohran] Mamdani,” said Eric Adams during a Sept. 5 news conference.

🎯IMPACT: Adams’s departure leaves a three-way race between Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa for NYC mayor.

IN FULL

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to drop out of the mayor’s race on Sunday, according to sources cited by CBS News New York political reporter Marcia Kramer. This decision follows months of speculation regarding the mayor’s future in the race.

Adams’s departure sets the stage for a three-way contest between communist Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. Polling data consistently showed Adams trailing far behind Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, Cuomo, running as an independent, and Sliwa, the Republican candidate.

In a press conference on September 5, Adams had dismissed rumors of his withdrawal, stating, “I am the only one that can beat [Zohran] Mamdani,” and referring to Mamdani and Cuomo as “two spoiled brats.” Despite his statements, sources now indicate he will exit the race, although his name will still appear on the November ballot.

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September 28, 2025
News

FBI Fires Agents Who Knelt for BLM Photo.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The FBI has fired 15 agents linked to a 2020 kneeling incident during protests over George Floyd’s death.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: 15 FBI agents, FBI Director Kash Patel, and the FBI Agents Association.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The firings were announced on Friday, following a review of the 2020 incident in Washington, DC.

🎯IMPACT: The firings are part of an effort to address left-wing politicization within the FBI

IN FULL

The FBI has dismissed 15 agents tied to a 2020 incident where agents were photographed kneeling with protesters during demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. The decision follows a months-long review of the event, which had drawn criticism from conservative media and some retired agents.

The FBI Agents Association criticized the firings, stating they violated the agents’ due process rights and undermined trust within the bureau. “Patel’s dangerous new pattern of actions are weakening the Bureau because they eliminate valuable expertise and damage trust between leadership and the workforce,” the association said in a statement.

The original incident occurred in Washington, DC, during the summer of 2020, when a group of agents knelt in an effort to de-escalate tensions with protesters. While the move successfully calmed the situation, it sparked internal controversy, and photos of the event led to backlash.

Following the incident, initial reviews determined no policy violations had occurred. However, earlier this year, FBI leadership reassessed the situation, resulting in reassignments and eventual firings. The bureau has not commented on the recent dismissals.

Friday’s actions are reportedly part of a broader effort to address what the Trump administration has called “woke” and politicized elements within the FBI. This includes a review of agents involved in cases disfavored by the current administration, such as investigations into the president and his allies.

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September 27, 2025
News

Soros Money Man Howard Rubin Arrested on Sex Trafficking Charges.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors charged Howard Rubin with running a decade-long sex-trafficking operation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Howard Rubin, a retired financier, and his former assistant Jennifer Powers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Between 2009 and 2019, primarily in a Manhattan penthouse described as a “sex dungeon.”

💬KEY QUOTE: Rubin has been linked to George Soros, as he previously worked at Soros Fund Management and Bear Stearns.

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights allegations of abuse and misconduct tied to a high-profile financier with political connections.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors have charged 70-year-old Howard Rubin, a retired New York financier, with orchestrating a decade-long sex-trafficking scheme that allegedly preyed on dozens of women. Authorities say the abuse largely took place in a lavish Manhattan penthouse outfitted as a “sex dungeon,” where women were brought under false pretenses and, in some cases, drugged or heavily intoxicated before being assaulted.

Rubin’s former assistant, Jennifer Powers, is also facing charges for her alleged role in recruiting women between 2009 and 2019. Prosecutors claim she acted as a gatekeeper, luring victims into Rubin’s circle where they were exploited under the guise of business opportunities.

According to the New York Post, Rubin’s Wall Street pedigree is notable: he previously served as a top manager at Soros Fund Management, the investment firm founded by billionaire George Soros, a major donor to Democratic Party causes. Before that, Rubin worked at Bear Stearns, where he built his reputation in mortgage-backed securities.

The case has drawn national attention not only for the salacious details but also because of Rubin’s high-powered financial ties. If convicted, both Rubin and Powers face decades in prison for what prosecutors describe as a calculated, exploitative, and long-running criminal enterprise.

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September 27, 2025
Crime
Immigration

School District Superintendent Is Illegal Migrant Now Detained by ICE.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, an illegal alien with a prior weapons arrest who fled from officers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, an illegal alien from Guyana, ICE agents, and Iowa State Patrol.

📍WHEN & WHERE: September 26, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This should be a wake-up call for our communities to the great work that our officers are doing every day to remove public safety threats.” – Sam Olson, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) St. Paul Field Office Director.

🎯IMPACT: Roberts’s arrest raises concerns over hiring practices and public safety in Des Moines Public Schools.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have apprehended Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, after he was identified as an illegal alien from Guyana with a history of weapons-related charges. The arrest took place during a targeted enforcement operation.

Roberts reportedly fled in his vehicle when ICE agents revealed their identity, leading to a chase that ended with him abandoning his car and hiding in nearby shrubbery. He was eventually located and taken into custody with the assistance of an Iowa State Police K9 unit.

During the arrest, agents discovered a loaded Glock 19, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash in Roberts’s vehicle. The presence of these items has prompted an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), as federal law prohibits individuals without legal status from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Roberts, who entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, had been ordered to be removed from the country in May 2024. Despite this, he continued to serve as the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools without proper work authorization.

Sam Olson, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) St. Paul Field Office Director, expressed concern over how Roberts was hired despite his illegal status and prior charges, emphasizing the importance of federal officers’ ongoing efforts to ensure public safety.

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September 26, 2025
Immigration

Trump Admin Restricts Immigrants’ Access to Commercial Driver’s Licenses.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced new rules to tighten requirements for issuing commercial driver’s licenses, aiming to restrict access for migrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sean Duffy, the Transportation Department (DOT), and states such as California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The new rule was announced on Friday and is effective immediately across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “California has 30 days to comply with the new regulations, or my department will withhold federal highway funds starting at nearly $160 million,” said Sean Duffy.

🎯IMPACT: The rule closes loopholes, enforces immigration checks, and pressures states to comply with federal regulations on issuing commercial licenses.

IN FULL

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy announced new rules for issuing commercial driver’s licenses that seek to make it more difficult for immigrants to acquire the licenses. The Transportation Department, on Friday, stated that the new rule—”effective immediately”—is a response to an ongoing nationwide audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and “a recent series of horrific, fatal crashes caused by non-domiciled drivers.”

One notable incident involved an illegal immigrant truck driver last month in Florida. The driver, holding a commercial driver’s license from California, caused a fatal crash on the Florida Turnpike. The semi-truck’s trailer jackknifed during an unauthorized U-turn, leading to a collision that killed three occupants of a minivan.

The new rule mandates enforcement action against California for “gross negligence,” with the state given 30 days to comply or face withheld federal highway funds starting at $160 million. Sean Duffy also ordered California to halt issuing commercial licenses to immigrants and to identify non-compliant, unexpired licenses.

Immigrants will now be required to have an employment-based visa and undergo federal immigration checks through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system.

“California has 30 days to comply with the new regulations, or my department will withhold federal highway funds starting at nearly $160 million,” Duffy said.

Additional states, including Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington, have also failed to meet federal standards on issuing such licenses, according to the department. Duffy emphasized the nationwide impact of California’s licensing practices, as drivers often operate across state lines.

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September 26, 2025
Crime
News

Fugitive Black Liberation Army Terrorist Assata Shakur Dies in Cuba.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Joanne Chesimard, convicted of the 1973 murder of a New Jersey state trooper, has died in Havana, Cuba, decades after escaping U.S. custody and receiving asylum from Cuba’s communist regime.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Joanne Chesimard, a.k.a. Assata Shakur, the Communist Party of Cuba, New Jersey officials, and the family of slain State Trooper Werner Foerster.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Chesimard passed away on September 25, 2025, in Havana, Cuba. Her crimes and escape date back to the 1970s.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Sadly, it appears she has passed without being held fully accountable for her heinous crimes.” – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) and NJ State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan.

🎯IMPACT: Chesimard’s death refocuses attention on Cuba’s harboring of U.S. fugitives and the denial of justice to Trooper Werner Foerster’s family.

IN FULL

Cuban officials announced Friday that radical black nationalist Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, has died in Havana. Chesimard had been convicted in 1977 of the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster during a 1973 shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike. She escaped from prison in 1979 and fled to Cuba, where she was granted asylum by the communist regime in 1984.

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed her death, stating, “On September 25, 2025, American citizen Joanne Deborah Byron, ‘Assata Shakur,’ passed away in Havana, Cuba, due to health conditions and advanced age.” U.S. officials, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D), expressed frustration that Chesimard evaded justice for decades. “For years, we have worked with the State Department to bring Chesimard back to New Jersey, so she could face justice for the cold-blooded murder of an American hero,” Murphy and NJ State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan said in a joint statement.

Chesimard, a member of the Black Liberation Army, was added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Most Wanted Terrorists List in 2013. The FBI described the group as “one of the most violent militant organizations of the 1970s.” A $1 million reward for her capture had been offered by both the FBI and the New Jersey Attorney General’s office.

The death of Trooper Werner Foerster, who left behind a wife and young son, remains a deeply painful memory for his family and colleagues. “We mourn Trooper Foerster’s loss every day, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his widow, Rosie, their son, Eric, and the entire New Jersey State Police family,” Murphy and Callahan stated. They also emphasized their opposition to any repatriation of Chesimard’s remains to the U.S.

The Cuban government has long refused to extradite Chesimard and other U.S. fugitives, drawing criticism from Trump administration figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “The Cuban regime continues to provide a safe haven for terrorists and criminals, including fugitives from the United States,” Rubio said earlier this year.

The State Department echoed this sentiment, stating, “On behalf of her victims, we regret that the Cuban dictatorship for decades protected this fugitive and prevented her from facing justice in our nation.”

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September 26, 2025
Media

Sinclair and Nexstar Break, Add Jimmy Kimmel Back to Lineup.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar have reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live! after a week-long ban due to false statements Kimmel made regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jimmy Kimmel, Sinclair Broadcast Group, ABC, Disney, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The suspension occurred after Kimmel’s monologue on September 15, with his reinstatement announced on Friday. The show airs on ABC affiliates across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel claimed during his return monologue.

🎯IMPACT: Kimmel’s decision to spread a hoax that Kirk’s alleged assassin was MAGA, rather than a radical leftist, led to calls for accountability within Disney for his actions.

IN FULL

Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar announced on Friday that they will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their ABC affiliates after a week-long ban. The suspension followed remarks by Kimmel spreading disinformation about the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk. Sinclair, which owns numerous ABC stations across the U.S., stated the decision came after “thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders.”

Kimmel returned to air on Tuesday for a number of other ABC affiliates, appearing to express regret for his remarks on Kirk’s murder but not actually apologizing. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel claimed.

The backlash began after Kimmel’s September 15 monologue, in which he criticized President Donald J. Trump and his allies for their reactions to Kirk’s assassination and claimed the far-left alleged killer was actually a MAGA movement member. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump, suggested during a podcast interview that ABC’s broadcast license could be revoked. In response, Sinclair and Nexstar Media Group temporarily pulled Kimmel’s show from their stations, with ABC as a whole following.

Disney, ABC’s parent company, announced Kimmel’s return on Monday, though Sinclair and Nexstar initially maintained their blackout. Sinclair had called for “accountability” within Disney.

President Trump criticized ABC’s decision to reinstate Kimmel, writing on Truth Social, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back.”

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