GET THE APP
Monday, December 22, 2025

Category: News
November 4, 2025
Crime
UK

Nineteen Arrested in Another Grooming Gang Scandal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nineteen men were arrested in connection with historic child sexual abuse allegations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: West Yorkshire Police, five alleged victims, and the 19 arrested suspects.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Arrests were made in England last month across Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford, and areas outside the force’s jurisdiction. Alleged offences occurred between 2000 and 2009, primarily in Kirklees.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Safeguarding children and bringing to justice those involved in child sexual abuse remains a key focus for West Yorkshire Police.” – Detective Chief Inspector Rob Stevens

🎯IMPACT: The investigation highlights ongoing efforts to address both recent and historic child sexual abuse cases in West Yorkshire.

IN FULL

England’s West Yorkshire Police force has arrested 19 men as part of a major investigation into historic child sexual abuse across several districts. The arrests were made last month at addresses in Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford, and outside the force’s area. The men are facing charges that include rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking. According to police, five women have come forward alleging that they were raped, trafficked, and abused as children between 2000 and 2009, with most of the offences said to have taken place in the Kirklees area.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Stevens, who is leading the investigation, described the alleged crimes as “abhorrent and heinous.” He said: “Safeguarding children and bringing to justice those involved in child sexual abuse remains a key focus for West Yorkshire Police, and this large-scale enquiry demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investigating both current and non-recent sexual offences.”

Stevens urged victims of abuse to come forward, assuring them: “Please be assured that you will be listened to, taken seriously, and supported by professionals with experience of dealing with these kinds of offences.” Historically, West Midlands Police and other British police forces and authorities badly failed grooming gang victims, leaving them “at the mercy” of predators.

The arrests come amid continuing scrutiny of grooming gangs, which are disproportionately Muslim and Pakistani by background, victimizing mostly white, working-class girls. Notably, no information on the identity of the 19 arrested men has been released as of the time of publication.

In recent years, a series of investigations exposed widespread failures by authorities to prevent and respond to organized child sexual exploitation, with some cases involving hundreds of victims. Reports have highlighted how, in towns such as Rotherham and Telford, police and local councils ignored or downplayed abuse due to fears of being labelled racist or damaging so-called “community relations.”

According to recent government reviews, group-based child sexual exploitation remains a significant national issue. A 2025 report found that many offences went unrecorded or were inadequately investigated for years, leaving victims without justice. In some instances, police officers themselves were accused of participating in or covering up abuse. The scandal has led to renewed calls for accountability, with an official inquiry being organized but already running into problems, with victims saying they are being silenced.

Image by Basher Eyre.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
November 4, 2025
Immigration
UK

Asylum Claims Surge to Highest Number Ever in Britain.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Britain recorded 108,000 asylum applications in 2024, marking the highest number ever, according to new Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government, Border Force personnel, and asylum seekers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The data covers 2024, with the United Kingdom surpassing previous records and facing increased crossings of the English Channel by boat migrants.

🎯IMPACT: The figures add to the ongoing migration crisis in Britain, with rising crossings and public demand for stricter deportation measures.

IN FULL

Britain has recorded the highest number of asylum claims in Europe, as new figures reveal a record 108,000 applications were made in 2024. The data, released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), shows a 28 percent increase from the previous year’s 84,000, marking the largest total ever documented in the United Kingdom. The previous peak was in 2002, when 103,000 people sought asylum.

While Britain’s numbers surged, several European neighbours experienced declines. Germany, traditionally one of the largest destinations for asylum seekers, saw applications fall by nearly 100,000 to around 230,000. France also reported a decrease, while Spain and Italy received 164,000 and 151,000 claims, respectively. Although both totals were higher than Britain’s in absolute terms, their growth rates were far lower.

The OECD also reported around 44,000 unauthorised attempts to enter the United Kingdom in 2024, mostly through small boat crossings of the English Channel. That figure was up from 37,000 in 2023. Pakistani nationals accounted for the largest group of asylum seekers, submitting more than 10,000 applications, followed by Afghans and Iranians, who each filed over 8,000 claims.

The surge in migration has intensified pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leftist Labour government, which faces growing criticism over its handling of border control. The situation has worsened over 2025, with more than 35,000 migrants crossing the Channel, a 25 percent rise compared to the same period last year.

Broader migration trends continue to stir public concern. Former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick warned in 2024 that “mass immigration is crushing national prosperity, not raising it,” stressing that the pace of arrivals is placing a serious strain on housing and public services. Official data indicate that Britain’s population grew by more than 750,000 in the year to mid-2024, with net migration accounting for almost all of that increase.

The recent appointment of far-left Muslim Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary, roughly equivalent to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, in September 2025 has also drawn attention. Her promotion places her in charge of border security and migration policy, though some commentators have described her as a figure whose priorities may focus more on leftist ideas like “social justice” than immigration enforcement.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
November 3, 2025
News

Judge Sets Trial for Ex-DOJ Staffer Who Pelted CBP Agent With Sandwich: ‘Simplest Case in the World.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Sean Charles Dunn is on trial for assault after throwing a sandwich at a federal agent during President Donald J. Trump’s law-enforcement surge in Washington, D.C.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former Department of Justice (DOJ) staffer Sean Charles Dunn, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, and federal law enforcement agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Jury selection began Monday, November 1, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s the simplest case in the world.”  — Judge Carl Nichols

🎯IMPACT: Federal prosecutors are now attempting to secure a conviction, despite a D.C. grand jury’s earlier refusal to indict Dunn on felony charges.

IN FULL

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of Sean Charles Dunn for assaulting a federal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent by throwing a sandwich in the officer’s face in protest of President Donald J. Trump’s cime crackdown in Washington, D.C. Federal prosecutors are now attempting to secure a conviction, despite a D.C. grand jury’s earlier refusal to indict Dunn on felony charges.

The incident occurred on August 10, 2023, outside a nightclub hosting “Latin Night,” where Dunn was recorded throwing a “submarine-style sandwich” at a CBP agent. The video, which went viral, showed Dunn calling the agents “fascists” and “racists” before throwing the sandwich and yelling, “Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!”

U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, acknowledged the simplicity of the case, stating it should last no more than two days, adding, “because it’s the simplest case in the world.” Dunn, who worked in the Justice Department, was subsequently fired by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who referred to him as “an example of the Deep State.”

Dunn’s defense team has argued that the prosecution is politically motivated, citing statements by Bondi and the White House as evidence of targeting. Julia Gatto, one of Dunn’s attorneys, questioned why the Department of Justice (DOJ) is pursuing this case, contrasting it with President Trump’s pardons and dismissals of cases related to the January 6 Capitol riots. “The answer is they have different politics. And that’s selective prosecution,” she said during a hearing.

Prosecutors, however, maintain that Dunn’s political views do not shield him from accountability for assaulting a federal officer. “The defendant is being prosecuted for the obvious reason that he was recorded throwing a sandwich at a federal officer at point-blank range,” they stated.

Dunn faces charges of assaulting, resisting, and interfering with a federal officer, among others.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
November 3, 2025
Crime
News

Mexican President Declines U.S. Aid Following Mayor’s Assassination.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected a U.S. offer for enhanced security cooperation after the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Uruapan Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, and Michoacan Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The assassination occurred on November 2, during Day of the Dead celebrations in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We accept help in information, in intelligence, but not intervention.” – Claudia Sheinbaum

🎯IMPACT: The incident has raised further concerns over security and the influence of criminal groups in Mexico while prompting debate over U.S.-Mexico cooperation on combating violence.

IN FULL

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declined an offer from U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to expand bilateral security cooperation following the assassination of Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán. The 40-year-old mayor was shot in the historic centre of Uruapan during Day of the Dead celebrations and later died in hospital; the gunman was killed at the scene. Manzo had been under protection since December 2024, and in May 2025, his security detail was reinforced, including the deployment of troops from the National Guard of Mexico.

President Sheinbaum defended her administration’s current security approach, rejecting proposals for greater militarization and instead saying she was focused on intelligence-gathering, investigative work, and tackling the so-called root causes of violence. “Some are calling for militarization and war, as happened with the war on drugs. That didn’t work,” she insisted. The leftist leader stressed that while Mexico would “accept help in information, in intelligence, but not intervention.”

In the months before his killing, Mayor Manzo had publicly appealed to Sheinbaum for federal help against the criminal groups operating in Michoacán. He also accused the state’s governor, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, and the state police of corruption and failing to confront cartel activity in the region. Sheinbaum reiterated that investigations will be carried out to ensure “there will be no impunity.”

The U.S. has taken new actions to combat transnational organised crime linked to Mexican cartels under President Donald J. Trump. For example, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) designated three Mexican financial institutions as primary money-laundering concerns in connection with illicit opioid trafficking, under the FEND Off Fentanyl Act and the Fentanyl Sanctions Act.

The banks included CIBanco S.A., Intercam Banco S.A., and brokerage firm Vector Casa de Bolsa S.A. de C.V.. The Treasury alleged these institutions facilitated laundering for cartels such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Gulf Cartel, and the Sinaloa Cartel, including funds used to procure precursor chemicals for fentanyl production. Mexico’s finance ministry, however, claimed it had not received conclusive evidence to act.

On another front, in June 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously rejected a lawsuit by Mexico seeking to hold U.S. gun manufacturers liable for gang and cartel violence in Mexico, citing the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). Justice Elena Kagan wrote that Mexico’s claim “does not plausibly allege that the defendant manufacturers aided and abetted gun dealers’ unlawful sales of firearms to Mexican traffickers.”

Image by Maritza Ríos / Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
November 3, 2025
News
Politics

DOJ Investigates Mamdani Campaign for Alleged Foreign Interference.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reviewing concerns about a campaign event involving the Democrats’ New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who participated in phone banking for Mamdani’s campaign.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, Jeremy Corbyn, the Democratic Socialists of America, and the DOJ.

📍WHEN & WHERE: November 2, during a phone-banking event organized by the NYC Democratic Socialists of America.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’m hosting a phone bank with [New York City Democratic Socialists of America] to Get Out The Vote for [Zohran Mamdani] today at 6 PM ET. Let’s get Zohran over the finish line for a New York that’s affordable for all!” – Jeremy Corbyn.

🎯IMPACT: The event has raised questions about the legality of foreign nationals participating in U.S. election campaigns, prompting a review by the DOJ.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reviewing concerns surrounding a campaign event that featured the Democrats’ New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn, still a Member of Parliament (MP) in Britain and the figurehead of the pro-Gaza ‘Your Party’ faction in the House of Commons, joined a phone-banking session on November 2 to encourage voters to support Mamdani ahead of the November 4 New York City mayoral election. The event was organized by the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America using the Action Network platform.

Corbyn publicly announced his participation on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing: “I’m hosting a phone bank with [New York City Democratic Socialists of America] to Get Out The Vote for [Zohran Mamdani] today at 6 PM ET. Let’s get Zohran over the finish line for a New York that’s affordable for all!”

The far-left Briton’s involvement has raised questions about U.S. election laws that restrict foreign nationals from participating in certain political campaign activities. Under federal law, foreign nationals are prohibited from contributing money or engaging in decision-making for campaigns. However, Federal Election Commission guidelines allow unpaid volunteer work in limited circumstances.

Legal experts say Corbyn’s participation likely does not violate federal law. Stu Smith of the Manhattan Institute wrote on X: “It’s technically legal under FEC rules as long as Corbyn isn’t compensated.” Still, Smith added that the event highlights how political groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America blur the line between domestic organizing and international collaboration.

The Justice Department has not launched a formal investigation, but the review underscores the heightened scrutiny that even limited gestures of so-called international solidarity can attract under American election laws.

Separately, Mamdani’s campaign has faced scrutiny over alleged foreign donations. Watchdog groups have reportedly filed criminal referrals to the Department of Justice and the Manhattan District Attorney, claiming that the campaign received more than $12,000 in questionable contributions from overseas donors. While Mamdani’s campaign denies wrongdoing, the allegations have drawn further attention to the legal boundaries governing foreign participation in U.S. political activity.

Image by Eden, Janine, and Jim.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
November 3, 2025
Crime
News

Antifa Torch Politician’s Car, Vow ‘MAGA Freaks’ Will ‘Follow Charlie Kirk to Hell.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A car belonging to Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Bernd Baumann was set on fire in Hamburg, with Antifa claiming responsibility and vowing to send “MAGAfreaks… to hell” with assassinated Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bernd Baumann, Antifa, and residents in the Hamburg, Germany, area.

📍WHEN & WHERE: November 3, 2025, in the Othmarschen district of Hamburg.

💬KEY QUOTE: “All you damn’ MAGAfreaks [sic], you will follow [Charlie] Kirk to hell!” – Antifa statement.

🎯IMPACT: Antifa claimed responsibility, heightening concerns about politically motivated violence.

IN FULL

In the early hours of November 3, a car belonging to Bernd Baumann, a senior politician from Germany’s populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was set on fire in Hamburg’s upscale Othmarschen district. The blaze reportedly began around 3:20 AM, when residents were awakened by several loud bangs and saw flames coming from the street.

At about 3:27 PM the same day, far-left Antifa terrorists claimed responsibility for the attack in a post on the website Indymedia. The statement opened with a greeting to “antifascists” and included a threat to Trump supporters, saying, “All you damn’ MAGAfreaks [sic], you will follow [Charlie] Kirk to hell!”

Baumann was informed of the incident by state security officials at around 5:00 AM. Firefighters arrived to find four vehicles burning, including a BMW belonging to Baumann’s partner. Despite an extensive search involving several patrol units, no suspects have been identified. The investigation has been taken over by the State Security Service, which handles politically motivated crimes.

The attack has raised fresh concerns about the rise in politically motivated violence in Germany, particularly against AfD members and supporters. Similar arson attacks and acts of vandalism and violence targeting party officials have been reported in several German cities this year.

In the United States, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order in September 2025 designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organisation and directing federal agencies to investigate and disrupt its activities. Several European nations, including Hungary, have expressed support for similar measures, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán calling Antifa “a terrorist organisation.”

A secret recording published in October 2025 appeared to show Antifa members in the Netherlands justifying political violence. In the recording, one participant said, “When violence is justified is all up to you as a person.”

Image by Oompje.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
November 3, 2025
News
Politics

Watchdog Urges DHS to Cut Ties with Microsoft for Hiring ‘Arctic Frost’ Lawyer.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A watchdog group has called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to review its contracts with Microsoft due to concerns over the hiring of former Biden government lawyer Lisa Monaco, a central figure in the Arctic Frost scandal.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), Microsoft, Lisa Monaco, the Department of Homeland Security, Jack Smith, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The concerns were raised following Monaco’s appointment earlier this year as Microsoft’s President of Global Affairs, with CASA’s letter sent on October 31 during the ongoing fallout of the Arctic Frost probe.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Monaco has been shockingly hired as the President of Global Affairs for Microsoft, in a very senior role with access to Highly Sensitive Information. Monaco’s having that kind of access is unacceptable, and cannot be allowed to stand.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: The letter has intensified scrutiny of Monaco’s role at Microsoft and her access to sensitive government information, with calls for DHS to investigate and potentially terminate contracts with the tech giant.

IN FULL

The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) is urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to review its contracts with Microsoft after the company hired Lisa Monaco, a former Biden government Department of Justice (DOJ) official, as its President of Global Affairs. Monaco was a central figure in the Arctic Frost scandal, which saw former special counsel Jack Smith abuse Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resources to collect the phone records of Republican lawmakers, as well as over 430 Republican campaign operatives, leaders, and organizations. The National Pulse previously reported that Monaco—along with former Attorney General Merrick Garland and former FBI Director Christoper Wray—provided the initial approval for Arctic Frost.

CASA’s letter to DHS contends Monaco’s position poses a national security risk, citing her access to sensitive information shared between Microsoft and the federal government. “The risk that Monaco could again use access to information contained in Department contracts to turn against her political opponents, or even those Microsoft users within the government with whom she disagrees, is great given her past outrageous behavior,” CASA Director James Fitzpatrick wrote, pushing DHS to investigate Microsoft’s contracts and consider their termination.

“Given Lisa Monaco’s leadership role in weaponizing the Biden Department of Justice against its political enemies, as evidenced in the recently released documents detailing ‘Arctic Frost’, it is wholly inappropriate and a risk to national security for Monaco to have any role whatsoever in the oversight of DHS contracts at Microsoft,” Fitzpatrick said separately in a statement.

President Donald J. Trump has also weighed in on the matter, writing in a post on Truth Social, “Monaco has been shockingly hired as the President of Global Affairs for Microsoft, in a very senior role with access to Highly Sensitive Information. Monaco’s having that kind of access is unacceptable, and cannot be allowed to stand. She is a menace to U.S. National Security, especially given the major contracts that Microsoft has with the United States Government.” Trump previously rescinded Monaco’s security clearance in March, citing similar concerns.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
November 3, 2025
Health
News

21 Democrat States Are Refusing to Turn Over Illegal Immigrant SNAP Data: USDA Secretary.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that 29 states complied with a federal request to share Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data to ensure illegal immigrants are not receiving benefits, while 21 states refused.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Brooke Rollins, 29 states that complied, 21 states that refused, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Rollins discussed the issue on November 2, following a February letter sent to state governors.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is time to drastically reform this program so that we can make sure that those who are truly needy, truly vulnerable, are getting what they need.” – Brooke Rollins

🎯IMPACT: Thousands of instances of illegal SNAP use were uncovered, with 700,000 people removed from the program since Trump’s inauguration, and over 118 arrests made for fraud.

IN FULL

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced this week that 29 states have complied with a federal request to share Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data in order to ensure that illegal immigrants are not receiving benefits. Twenty-one Democrat-run states refused to provide the requested information, according to Rollins.

Rollins stated on November 2 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent letters to all 50 governors in February, reminding them that federal law prohibits illegal immigrants from accessing SNAP and requesting state data for a nationwide review. She noted that participation in the SNAP climbed by nearly 40 percent under the former Biden regime.

Rollins said the data-sharing initiative uncovered “thousands” of cases of illegal SNAP use, including fraudulent activity involving Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. She reported that nearly 700,000 people have been removed from the program since President Donald J. Trump returned to office, with more than 118 arrests tied to ongoing investigations into fraud.

“What this country has allowed is a national spotlight on a broken and corrupt program,” Rollins said. She also revealed that investigators found over 5,000 cases of people continuing to receive benefits after their death. “It is time to drastically reform this program so that we can make sure that those who are truly needy, truly vulnerable, are getting what they need,” she added.

In a post on X, Rollins reiterated that 21 blue states declined to share data and said that two of them have sued the USDA over the request. The SNAP program, commonly known as food stamps, has been a central issue during the ongoing government shutdown. A federal judge recently ruled that benefits must continue for the 42 million Americans who rely on them, although the Trump administration is seeking clarification on how the program can be legally funded during the shutdown.

According to the USDA, SNAP enrollment dropped by over 600,000 people between January and May 2025, from roughly 42.38 million to 41.74 million, a decline the Trump administration highlighted as evidence of reducing food stamp dependence.

The issue of illegal immigrants receiving government benefits has also drawn national attention. The administration has pursued several actions aimed at preventing noncitizens from accessing taxpayer-funded aid, including blocking illegal immigrants from collecting Social Security benefits and suing states such as Minnesota for offering tuition assistance to illegals. The White House recently reported uncovering dozens of criminal noncitizens who were receiving Medicaid benefits.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
November 3, 2025
Media
News

Whistleblower Reveals BBC Doctored Trump Speech to Look Like He Incited Riot.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A whistleblower revealed that the BBC altered footage of a speech by President Donald J. Trump to make it appear he was inciting a riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The BBC, Donald Trump, and Michael Prescott, a former BBC standards committee adviser.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The BBC Panorama programme Trump: A Second Chance? including the doctored speech aired in October 2024, with the report on the scandal emerging in November 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It was completely misleading to edit the clip in the way Panorama aired it.” – Michael Prescott

🎯IMPACT: The revelation could affect the BBC’s relationship with the White House.

IN FULL

An internal whistleblowing memo has revealed that the BBC edited footage of a speech by President Donald J. Trump, making it appear as though he was encouraging a riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. This information, contained in a 19-page whistleblowing memo, reveals that the BBC Panorama programme Trump: A Second Chance? misled viewers by splicing together different parts of Trump’s speech to create a false narrative.

“The spliced together version of Trump’s comments aired by Panorama made it seem that [President] said: ‘We’re gonna walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be with you and we fight. We fight like hell and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not gonna have a country anymore,'” reads the whistleblowing memo on the scandal, which was sent to BBC managers.

“In reality, the first part of Trump’s speech: ‘We’re gonna walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be with you,’ came 15 minutes into the speech. The second half of the sentence that was aired by Panorama, ‘and we fight. We fight like hell…’ came 54 minutes later,” it notes, adding: “Fifteen minutes into the speech, Trump actually said: ‘We are gonna walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be with you. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.'”

The memo brands Panorama‘s spliced clip “completely misleading,” stressing that the “fact that [President Trump] did not explicitly exhort supporters to go down and fight at Capitol Hill was one of the reasons there were no federal charges for incitement to riot.”

Notably, the Panorama programme also cuts in footage of men marching on the Capitol following Trump’s speech, when in fact they marched on the Capitol before the President began speaking.

Michael Prescott, a former member of the BBC’s standards committee, authored the memo. He criticized the BBC for ignoring serious complaints about the programme’s bias and for failing to address the issue. Notably, Prescott sent his findings to the BBC’s board and chairman, India-born Samir Shah, urging them to address the problem, but he received no response.

Prescott also raised issues about the programme’s clear anti-Trump bias, with ten critics interviewed for it against just one supporter, and no similar programme examining Trump’s rival, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, being produced. As a compulsory television license fee funds it, the BBC is required to be balanced and impartial in its coverage—although there is little enforcement of this requirement, and it is widely regarded as having an institutional left-wing bias.

Image by Matt Cornock.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
November 3, 2025
News
Politics

Fetterman Admits Democrats Are to Blame for Government Shutdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) admitted that Democrats are responsible for the government shutdown.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Fetterman, CNN’s Jake Tapper, the Trump White House, and Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: November 2025, on CNN.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I feel like the Democrats really need to own the shutdown.” – John Fetterman

🎯IMPACT: The admission highlights internal conflict among Democrats over the strategy of shutting down the federal government to make tax subsidies permanent.

IN FULL

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) admitted during a recent interview that his party bears responsibility for the ongoing federal government shutdown. Fetterman said, “I feel like the Democrats really need to own the shutdown. I mean, we’re shutting it down. I know why. They claim because they want to address the tax credits. And I fully support that.”

The current budget impasse stems from Democrats’ push to make permanent certain COVID-era tax subsidies tied to the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. Republicans, meanwhile, have called for the passage of a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to reopen and fund the government before addressing the dispute over the subsidies.

Fetterman, who has generally supported measures to keep the government funded, emphasized his consistent record on such votes. “I voted for all of their CRs, our CRs, every single time,” he said, warning of the consequences of a prolonged shutdown. He highlighted the risks for millions of Americans dependent on federal nutrition assistance (SNAP), noting, “We can’t be putting 42 million people who rely on food stamps in danger because of political gridlock.”

Although Fetterman said he supports extending the Obamacare healthcare subsidies, he was sharply critical of his party’s tactics, arguing that using a shutdown as leverage is hypocritical. “It was wrong when the Republicans did it. It’s wrong now that we seem to be driving it,” he said.

The Pennsylvania senator’s remarks add to his growing reputation as one of the most outspoken and unconventional voices in the Democratic Party. Over the past year, Fetterman has taken several positions that have surprised members of both parties. In October, he said he would consider backing a Republican-led effort to abolish the Senate filibuster, calling the procedural tool “a weapon for gridlock.” Fetterman has also collaborated with Republican senators on legislation aimed at curbing Chinese influence in U.S. agriculture, particularly concerning the purchase of American farmland by companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Despite his occasional alignment with GOP priorities, Fetterman has repeatedly dismissed rumors that he might switch parties. In January, he called such speculation “amateur hour” and insisted, “It’s not gonna happen. Even if I wanted to do that, that is a rocket sled to Palookaville. I would make a pretty bad Republican.”

Image by Tom Wolf.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more