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Friday, July 4, 2025

Category: News
July 1, 2025
News
Politics

The Democrats Are the Least Popular Lawmakers in Congress.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Polling has found the Democratic leadership is unpopular among the majority of the American public ahead of the 2026 midterm elections

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Democratic leadership in the House and Senate, American voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The polling was released on July 1.

🎯IMPACT: The poll shows lackluster support for the largely leaderless Democrats who are struggling to form a unified front ahead of next year’s pivotal elections.

IN FULL

Newly released polling indicates that the majority of the American public does not approve of the Democrats in Congress and how they are carrying out their duties. The Marist/NPR/PBS News poll, released on July 1, states that 58 percent of American voters disapprove of what the Democratic leaders are doing in Congress, with just 27 percent approving.

Even a majority of Democrats do not approve of the job the Democratic leaders are doing, with only 44 percent saying they back their party’s leaders and 43 percent saying they disapprove.

In contrast, 52 percent of voters say they disapprove of congressional Republicans’ leadership, which is down from 66 percent. Thirty-six percent of voters, including 73 percent of Republicans, say they approve of congressional Republicans’ performance, up from 26 percent in 2024.

While the Republican numbers are still negative overall, they still show that dissatisfaction with the Democrats, particularly among their own voters, runs far deeper, despite the fact that they are in opposition in both congressional chambers.

For months, the Democrats have been largely leaderless following the disastrous defeat of their 2024 presidential candidate, former Vice President Kamala Harris. The party has fractured with no clear figurehead as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 74, and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, lose relevance in their old age, and different factions are vying for influence ahead of the 2026 midterms.

An example was seen earlier this year when gun control activist David Hogg was selected as Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Soon after his election, Hogg announced he would spend millions of dollars to go after candidates not deemed woke or progressive enough. This led to strong criticism of Hogg and ultimately to his ouster from the position, on the pretext that his election had violated their gender equality policies.

Image by Victoria Pickering.

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July 1, 2025
Lawfare

This Biden Judge Is Blocking Trump’s HHS Reforms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge in Rhode Island blocked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from implementing mass layoffs and reorganizing its sub-agencies, alleging a lack of rational basis for the plans.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Judge Melissa DuBose, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 19 Democratic attorneys general, and officials from various federal health agencies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued in Rhode Island on July 1, after legal action was initiated in May following Kennedy’s March announcement of the restructuring plan.

💬KEY QUOTE: “HHS has failed to produce a shred of evidence that services to States and access to critical information would continue uninterrupted,” wrote Judge Melissa DuBose in her opinion.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling halts layoffs and restructuring efforts, leaving thousands of employees in limbo and challenging the executive’s authority to unilaterally reorganize federal agencies.

IN FULL

A federal judge in Rhode Island, appointed by former President Joe Biden, has issued a preliminary injunction against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), blocking a reorganization plan that included mass layoffs and the creation of a new agency. The ruling came after 19 Democratic state attorneys general and Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit in May, arguing that the restructuring would have severe and potentially irreversible consequences for public health services nationwide.

U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose, in her decision, stated that HHS had failed to provide evidence that critical services would remain uninterrupted during the reorganization. “Critical public health services have been interrupted, databases taken offline, status of grants thrown into chaos, technical assistance services gone, and training and consultation services curtailed. These are not unsubstantiated fears,” she claimed.

The restructuring plan, announced by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in March, included laying off approximately 10,000 employees and consolidating various offices under a new agency called the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). Many employees who received layoff notices remain on administrative leave and are still being paid as litigation continues. The judge’s ruling has temporarily halted these efforts, pending further court proceedings.

The plaintiffs expressed concerns about the impact of the reorganization on agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the FDA’s Tobacco Products Center, and the Office of Head Start. “HHS is the backbone of our nation’s public health and social safety net,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said following the ruling.

Kennedy, testifying before Congress, acknowledged the ongoing court battles and stated that planning for the reorganization continues. He also noted that some layoffs have been reversed, including those of some scientists and researchers, while further cuts might still be required depending on the outcome of the legal challenges. “At that point, we will make decisions,” he said.

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July 1, 2025
Immigration

Trump Is Now Detaining Illegals From Three Continents at Gitmo.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has expanded its use of Guantanamo Bay to house illegal immigrant detainees from many countries, including China, Jamaica, Liberia, and even the United Kingdom, according to internal U.S. government records.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, U.S. immigration authorities, detainees from multiple nations, and officials from the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Defense (DoD).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with reports of expanded transfers beginning in recent months.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The worst of the worst will be held at the base,” President Trump stated.

🎯IMPACT: The Trump White House emphasizes the use of Guantanamo Bay boosts deterrence against future illegal crossings into the United States and that the facility is being used to house high-risk detainees.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has recently expanded its use of the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba to house illegal immigrant detainees from a wide array of countries, including China, Jamaica, Liberia, and even the United Kingdom, according to internal U.S. government records. These detainees are held separately from the terrorism suspects who remain at the facility.

Officials have stated that most of the detainees are classified as “high-risk,” a designation given to migrants with serious criminal records, histories of disruptive behavior, or suspected gang affiliations. However, the administration has also utilized Guantanamo Bay to detain some migrants it deems “low-risk,” who lack significant criminal histories and are primarily held for civil immigration violations.

The decision to transfer detainees from regions such as Africa, Asia, and Europe to Guantanamo comes as the U.S. immigration detention system exceeds its congressionally funded capacity. However, the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ which is nearing final passage in Congress, would expand funding for federal detention facilities—along with increasing the number of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents—and provide greater capacity to detain illegals.

The administration’s use of Guantanamo Bay reflects its broader crackdown on illegal immigration. This includes the establishment of detention centers in other locations, such as the wetlands of the Everglades, where a facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” was unveiled by President Trump during a site visit on Tuesday.

The Department of Defense (DoD) reported spending $21 million on flights to transfer detainees to the Guantanamo base as of April.

Image by Paul Keller.

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July 1, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

Another Food Corp Is Ditching Synthetic Dyes Amid ‘MAHA’ Push.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Synthetic dyes will be removed from all Hershey’s snacks by the end of 2027, amid a push by the Trump administration and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hershey Co., Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX), state lawmakers in Texas and West Virginia.

📍WHEN & WHERE: United States, changes take effect between 2027 and 2028.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Removing these colors is a natural next step in our program to ensure consumers have options to fit their lifestyle while maintaining trust and confidence in our products.” – Hershey spokesman

🎯IMPACT: The removal of synthetic dyes by major food companies reflects growing pressure from the Trump administration, state governments, and consumers.

IN FULL

Hershey Co. will remove synthetic dyes from its snack products by the end of 2027, citing growing legislative pressure at the state level. The company said it aims to preempt regulations and ensure customer trust by voluntarily shifting away from artificial colorants in its chocolate, candy, and popcorn brands.

“There is a patchwork of state regulations emerging that is creating confusion and will ultimately increase consumer costs,” a Hershey spokesman said. “Removing these colors is a natural next step in our program to ensure consumers have options to fit their lifestyle while maintaining trust and confidence in our products.”

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has prioritized the removal of “poisonous” artificial dyes from U.S. foods, with an initial focus on encouraging voluntary removal and supporting state-level action. This includes a West Virginia law that will ban the sale of dyed foods starting in 2028 and a Texas law signed by Governor Greg Abbott (R) requiring warning labels on synthetic dye products beginning in 2027.

Hershey joins other major food corporations, such as Nestlé SA, Conagra Brands Inc., Kraft Heinz Co., and General Mills Inc., which have committed to removing dyes from their American product lines.

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July 1, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Trump Orders Revocation of Naturalized Criminals’ U.S. Citizenship.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a directive urging U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the denaturalization of foreign-born criminals to address crime and national security threats.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, and U.S. Attorneys.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The memo was issued in June 2025 and applies nationwide.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Department of Justice may institute civil proceedings to revoke a person’s United States citizenship if an individual either ‘illegally procured’ naturalization or procured naturalization by ‘concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.’” – Brett Shumate

🎯IMPACT: The directive aims to deport migrants who pose a threat to national security, combat financial fraud, and target those involved in crimes such as human trafficking and gang activity, even if they have acquired U.S. citizenship.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a memo directing U.S. Attorneys to “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings” as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to combat crime and protect national security. The memo, signed by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, outlines categories of individuals who should be targeted for denaturalization, including those tied to terrorism, espionage, or the unlawful export of sensitive goods and technology.

Shumate emphasized the importance of these proceedings in a written statement, noting, “The benefits of civil denaturalization include the government’s ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in the commission of war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or other serious human rights abuses; to remove naturalized criminals, gang members, or, indeed, any individuals convicted of crimes who pose an ongoing threat to the United States; and to prevent convicted terrorists from returning to U.S. soil or traveling internationally on a U.S. passport.”

The memo also directs U.S. Attorneys to pursue cases against migrants who committed financial fraud against the United States, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud and Medicare/Medicaid fraud, as well as those involved in violent crimes, human trafficking, and sex offenses. It further calls for action against migrants with criminal gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and drug cartels.

Two days after the memo was issued, the Justice Department announced it had successfully secured the denaturalization of a convicted distributor of child sexual abuse material.

Shumate has instructed the Civil Division of the Justice Department to “prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.”

Image by Steve Fernie.

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July 1, 2025
News
Politics

Trump Brands NYC’s Mamdani ‘Terrible,’ ‘A True Communist.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump criticized far-left New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D) for refusing to condemn the term “globalize the intifada.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Zohran Mamdani, New York City residents.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Frankly, I’ve heard he’s a total nut job. I think the people in New York are crazy because they go this route.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s remarks highlight concerns about Mamdani’s political ideology and its implications for New York City.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump blasted New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D) after the Queens assemblyman refused to condemn the term “globalize the intifada.” The phrase is often used to support violent Palestinian action against Israelis and Jews generally, including terrorism.

“Frankly, I’ve heard he’s a total nut job,” Trump told reporters Tuesday morning. “I think the people in New York are crazy because they go this route. I think they’re crazy. We will have a communist in the for the first time, really a pure, true communist. He wants to operate the grocery stores. The department stores. What about the people that are there? I think it’s crazy.”

Mamdani, a Ugandan-born Muslim from the extreme “Twelver” sect of Shia Islam, won the Democratic Party’s primary for New York City mayor in June. During an interview on Sunday, Mamdani stated he didn’t want to condemn the term “globalize the intifada” because he didn’t want to “police language.”

“I think he’s terrible. He’s a communist,” Trump reiterated on Tuesday. The native New Yorker added that the “last thing we need is a communist. I said, there will never be socialism in the United States… I think it’s bad news.”

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June 30, 2025
News

Mamdani’s Government Grocery Plan Unravels in Humiliating Fashion.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani has proposed socialist grocery stores, claiming they can be funded by redirecting city subsidies from private grocery stores.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Economic Development Corporation, and private grocery stores participating in the FRESH program.

📍WHEN & WHERE: New York City, during Mamdani’s mayoral campaign.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We will redirect city funds from corporate supermarkets to city-owned grocery stores whose mission is lower prices, not price-gouging.” – Zohran Mamdani

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani’s proposal is based on a misunderstanding of city subsidies, which would lead to mass fiscal mismanagement if implemented.

IN FULL

Zohran Mamdani, the New York Democratic mayoral nominee, has defended his proposal for socialist grocery stores by stating that they could be funded by cutting city subsidies to private grocery stores. However, his claim is based on a misinterpretation of the city’s current grocery subsidy program, as first revealed by reporter Tim Carney.

Mamdani has repeatedly cited a figure of $140 million, claiming it represents the amount the city spends on subsidizing private grocery stores under the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program. He has proposed redirecting half of this amount to fund his socialist grocery store initiative, which he estimates would cost $60 million.

The FRESH program, however, does not involve direct city spending of $140 million. Instead, it provides tax breaks and regulatory relief to grocery stores that invest in underserved areas, known as “food deserts.” Over the last six years, the program has cost the city approximately $20 million in waived tax revenue, rather than expenditure, averaging just $3.3 million per year. Furthermore, the $140 million figure cited by Mamdani refers to private investments made by grocery stores participating in the program, not government spending.

In a video, Mamdani argued, “We will redirect city funds from corporate supermarkets to city-owned grocery stores whose mission is lower prices, not price-gouging.” However, his misunderstanding of the FRESH program’s structure raises humiliating questions about the plan. Carney explains, “So, this program would take 42 years to cost the city the $140 million that Mamdani says “the city is set to spend” on it.”

This misrepresentation underscores a broader concern with Mamdani’s proposal: it appears to rely on a socialist framework that assumes private investment can be treated as public funds. Critics argue that such an approach would lead to fiscal mismanagement and actually undermine the city’s efforts to address food accessibility through public-private partnerships. This scenario would not just see government grocery stores with empty shelves, like North Korea, but also skew the market against private companies no longer incentivized to supply groceries to certain areas, leaving entire communities in new food deserts.

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June 30, 2025
News
World

Efforts to Ban Top European Nation’s Populist Opposition Are Forging Ahead.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Germany has launched an effort to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party—the second-most popular party in the country—citing alleged extremism.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, the Federal Constitutional Court, and the AfD.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The SPD’s resolution was adopted during their three-day party congress in Berlin, Germany.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The moment at which domestic intelligence says this is a confirmed right-wing extremist party, there is no more room for tactics.” – Lars Klingbeil

🎯IMPACT: A ban would dissolve the AfD, confiscate its assets, and prohibit its re-establishment.

IN FULL

Germany’s leftist Social Democratic Party (SPD), which led the federal government until May, has officially launched an effort to ban the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. SPD delegates voted unanimously on June 29 to establish a “federal working group” to collect and present evidence of the anti-mass migration party’s alleged extremism, which they claim is already “overwhelming.”

The SPD accused the AfD, which placed second in this year’s federal elections, of undermining Germany’s constitution and eroding democracy, citing the party’s advocacy for “remigration” as a violation of human dignity. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil stated, “Based on historical experience, we have a constitution that provides the necessary instruments.” He added, “The moment at which domestic intelligence says this is a confirmed right-wing extremist party, there is no more room for tactics.”

In Germany, the European Union’s most populous country and top economy, only the Federal Constitutional Court can ban a political party, requiring a two-thirds majority of its Justices. If successful, a ban would dissolve the party, confiscate its assets, and outlaw its symbols and logos. Efforts to re-establish a banned party under a similar name would also be prohibited.

The legal push comes amid growing support for the AfD, particularly in eastern Germany, where recent elections have shown the party gaining significant traction. A recent survey placed the AfD at 32 percent, ahead of the SPD by nine points. Critics argue that the SPD is attempting to ban its political rival rather than compete with it democratically.

The move follows the designation of the AfD as an extremist group by Germany’s intelligence agency, the Bundesamt für Verfassungschutz (BfV), which enabled increased surveillance of the party. Critics, including X CEO Elon Musk, have condemned the proposed ban, labeling it “an extreme attack on democracy.” Newly elected Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of the notionally conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), formerly led by Angela Merkel, conceded, “Ten million AfD voters—you can’t ban them. You have to engage with them factually and on substance.”

The BfV decided to pause the classification after the AfD launched a lawsuit to appeal the move. Germany also came under pressure from the Trump administration, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating, “That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise. What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD—which took second in the recent election—but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes.”

Image by Olaf Kosinsky.

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June 30, 2025
Crime
News

Germany Wants to Prosecute a Woman Over Emojis.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A German woman faces a €1,800 (~$2,120) fine for reacting with ‘thumbs up’ emojis to a social media post about a 15-year-old killing a rapist migrant. Prosecutors claim her emojis endorsed vigilantism.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A 64-year-old woman from Lohfelden, Hesse, and the Kassel public prosecutor’s office.

💬KEY QUOTE: “You were aware that in this way you publicly approved of an intentional killing by way of unauthorized vigilantism.” – Kassel prosecutor’s penalty order

🎯IMPACT: The case underscores Germany’s increasingly draconian policing of online speech, raising concerns about freedom of expression.

IN FULL

A German woman faces prosecution and a fine equivalent to around $2,120 for reacting with emojis to a social media post. The case highlights how even the most minimal forms of digital expression are now being scrutinized under Germany’s draconian anti-speech regime.

The 64-year-old from Lohfelden, Hesse, found herself under investigation after responding with three thumbs-up emojis beneath a post on X (formerly Twitter). The original post reported on a 15-year-old Swedish girl who had killed the migrant man who raped her, and included the comment, “Does he now have 77 virgins?”

According to the Kassel public prosecutor’s office, the woman’s emoji reaction amounted to endorsing the killing and expressing satisfaction that it had targeted a migrant. Months after her October 26 interaction, she received a formal penalty notice, ordering her to pay 60 daily rates of $35 each.

The penalty order, parts of which the woman has shared publicly, alleges: “You agreed with this post as a user (…) by clicking ‘thumbs up’ three times. You were aware that in this way you publicly approved of an intentional killing by way of unauthorized vigilantism, and you were particularly pleased that this vigilantism was perpetrated against a migrant.” Authorities also complain the “77 virgins” remark was intended to ridicule the dead rapist. This interpretation of her emoji use, entirely shaped by the prosecutor’s reading of intent, reflects a growing trend of criminalizing expressions of opinion online in Germany and Europe more generally.

The woman retains the right to appeal, and if she does, the case will proceed to a full trial. Germany’s crackdown on digital speech has seen several such incidents in recent years. Authorities have increasingly targeted individuals for online posts deemed offensive, including under Section 188 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits insults against politicians. One notable case involved a police search of a retiree’s home after he shared a meme labeling then-Economy Minister Robert Habeck a “Schwachkopf,” or “moron.”

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June 30, 2025
News

Another Poll Puts Trump Ally Farage on Track to Become Prime Minister.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A poll from Electoral Calculus projects that Britain’s Reform Party, led by Nigel Farage, could come within one seat of an outright parliamentary majority if a General Election were held today.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nigel Farage, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and the Reform Party, alongside the Starmer’s Labour Party and the formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll conducted between May 30 and June 26, 2023, across the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I try to make it water off a duck’s back as far as possible. Because otherwise I think you lose any ability to focus and you just spend your whole time worrying about it.” – Keir Starmer

🎯IMPACT: Reform’s surge could lead to a minority government or coalition, displacing Labour and the Conservatives from the premiership for the first time since 1922.

IN FULL

A poll of polls conducted by Electoral Calculus suggests that the populist Reform Party, led by Brexit champion and Donald Trump ally Nigel Farage, would win 325 seats in a General Election, just one seat shy of an outright parliamentary majority. The survey, which included 5,400 participants between May 30 and June 26, places Reform at 29.4 percent of the vote, ahead of the governing Labour Party’s 22.9 percent and the formerly governing Conservatives’ 18.2 percent.

The results indicate the possibility of a minority or coalition government, with potential alliances between Reform and the Conservatives, or Northern Ireland’s pro-Brexit and socially conservative Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). This could see Farage entering Number 10 as Prime Minister. The poll highlights significant challenges for Labour and the Conservatives, who have held the premiership ever since David Lloyd George left office in 1922.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader, acknowledged the situation but downplayed the impact of polling. Speaking to the press, he stated, “I try to make it water off a duck’s back as far as possible. Because otherwise I think you lose any ability to focus and you just spend your whole time worrying about it.”

Reform is gaining traction among Gen Z voters, particularly young men, driven by Farage’s strong presence on social media. Starmer’s visibility on platforms like China-linked TikTok, with a large youth audience, remains low, with Labour dedicating a significant portion of its overall social media content to attacking Farage and Reform.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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