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Category: News
May 9, 2025
NatSec
War

Hegseth Sets Deadline for Transgenders to Depart from Military.

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❓What Happened: Transgenders in the U.S. military are being given between 30 and 60 days to self-separate after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to enforce a ban on their service.

👥 Who’s Involved: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, approximately 1,000 transgender service members, and the Supreme Court.

📍 Where & When: U.S. military, with deadlines for self-separation being set by June 6 for active duty and July 7 for reservists, according to a Department of Defense (DOD) memo published on Thursday, May 9, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “After a SCOTUS victory for [President Trump], TRANS is out at the DOD,” Hegseth announced on X (formerly Twitter).

⚠️ Impact: The ruling affects military readiness policies and a broader effort to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at the Department of Defense (DOD).

IN FULL:

The Department of Defense (DOD) has initiated a timeline for transgender service members to voluntarily separate from the military following a Supreme Court order clearing the way for a ban on their service in the U.S. military. A recent memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlines that approximately 1,000 service members who have identified as having gender dysphoria must begin the process of self-separation. Active duty members are required to exit by June 6, with reservists having until July 7 to comply.

This development follows the Supreme Court’s decision to stay a lower court ruling, effectively allowing the Trump administration’s ban on transgender troops to proceed. The administration argues that this policy is essential for maintaining military readiness, unit cohesion, and avoiding the disproportionate costs associated with transgenders’ need for often lifelong medical care.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating: “The Secretary is encouraged by the Supreme Court’s order staying the lower court’s injunction, allowing the Department of Defense to carry out its policies associated with ‘Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness.'”

Hegseth, in an announcement on X (formerly Twitter), declared, “After a SCOTUS victory for [President Trump], TRANS is out at the DOD.” He further noted that service members with a current diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria could choose to separate voluntarily by the set deadlines, or face involuntary removal if they fail to do so.

The Trump administration’s policy, initially introduced via Executive Order in January, mandates updates to medical standards to prioritize readiness and lethality. It also seeks to eliminate the use of invented and identification-based pronouns within the Department of Defense.

The Pentagon’s move is part of a broader initiative to eliminate policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and gender ideology. Hegseth recently announced that nearly all DEI-related policies have been removed from the Department, alongside efforts to standardize fitness tests for men and women.

From January 2016 to May 2021, the Department of Defense reportedly spent around $15 million on transgender treatments for active-duty service members. This financial aspect has been a point of contention in discussions about military spending and readiness.

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May 9, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Immigration
Lawfare

WATCH: Miller Says Trump Admin May Suspend Habeas Corpus for Illegals.

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❓What Happened: The Trump administration is considering suspending habeas corpus for illegal aliens, citing the constitutional allowance during cases of “invasion” due to the border crisis inherited from the Biden era.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, and federal courts.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., with statements made on Friday, May 9, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion. That’s an option we’re actively looking at,” Stephen Miller told the press.

⚠️ Impact: The move could streamline deportations and bolster border security, but it risks legal battles with activist judges, testing Trump’s resolve to restore immigration enforcement.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration is “actively looking at” suspending habeas corpus for illegal aliens. The constitutional principle, Latin for “you shall have the body,” allows detained persons to challenge their detention—but the Constitution states that the privilege of habeas corpus can be suspended “when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” The Trump administration’s position is that the illegal immigration crisis that gathered pace under former President Joe Biden amounts to an invasion.

“The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion. That’s an option we’re actively looking at,” White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller told the press on Friday. “A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” Miller said, arguing “radical rogue judges” are violating the Immigration and Nationality Act by intervening in immigration cases.

“By statute, the courts are stripped of jurisdiction from overruling a presidential determination… when courts stepped in, they were violating specific language that Congress had enacted saying they have no jurisdiction,” Miller added.

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May 9, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
Media

BBC Star Pleads Guilty to Terror Offenses Linked to Hezbollah.

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❓What Happened: A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) presenter has pleaded guilty to financial terror offences linked to the terrorist group Hezbollah.

👥 Who’s Involved: Oghenochuko ‘Ochuko’ Ojiri, Hezbollah, Nazem Ahmad, Metropolitan Police.

📍 Where & When: London, England on May 9.

💬 Key Quote: “Nazem Ahmad is a suspected terrorist financier and at the time of the business relationship between them it was directly within the knowledge of the defendant that Ahmad had been sanctioned as a terrorist financier of Hezbollah by the United States.” — The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

⚠️ Impact: The case is just the latest to see a BBC presenter pleading guilty to serious crimes in the United Kingdom.

IN FULL:

A Nigerian-British television star and art dealer has pleaded guilty to financial terrorism offences linked to the Islamist terrorist group Hezbollah following a police probe. Oghenochuko ‘Ochuko’ Ojiri, who starred in the BBC program Bargain Hunt, admitted to eight counts of “failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector” on May 9.

The guilty plea came just a day after Ojiri was charged by prosecutors in London for the offences between October 2020 and December 2021. London’s Metropolitan police said that the charges stemmed from Ojiri’s relationship with a man named Nazem Ahmad, who is suspected of being a source of funding for Hezbollah.

Ahmad, a dual citizen of Belgium and Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based, has previously been sanctioned by both the United Kingdom and the United States due to his links to the terror group. Ojiri sold art worth around $186,000 to Ahmad.

“Nazem Ahmad is a suspected terrorist financier and at the time of the business relationship between them it was directly within the knowledge of the defendant that Ahmad had been sanctioned as a terrorist financier of Hezbollah by the United States,” the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Sentencing for Ojiri is expected next month. So far, the BBC has yet to comment on the case, claiming that any comment would not be appropriate.

The case is just the latest to see a BBC personality prosecuted for serious crimes in recent months. Last year, former lead BBC news anchor Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children. Edwards, once the highest-paid news anchor at the BBC, was known worldwide for announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

In Australia, another BBC personality was jailed last August for ten years for raping and killing dozens of dogs. pleading guilty to 56 charges of bestiality and animal cruelty the year prior.

Image by Matt Cornock.

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May 9, 2025
News

Trump Grants Asylum to Dozens of White South Africans.

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❓What Happened: The U.S. has granted refugee status to 54 white Afrikaner South Africans, who are expected to arrive in Washington, D.C., soon.

👥 Who’s Involved: The U.S. and South African governments, President Donald J. Trump, and 54 Afrikaner refugees.

📍 Where & When: Expected arrival at Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C., as soon as Monday.

💬 Key Quote: “The Department of State is prioritising consideration for U.S. refugee resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination,” said a State Department spokesman.

⚠️ Impact: The move marks a significant shift in U.S. refugee policy, with expedited processing for Afrikaners, and raises questions about the treatment of South Africa’s centuries-old white minority.

IN FULL:

The United States has granted refugee status to 54 white Afrikaner South Africans,with their arrival in Washington, D.C. expected as early as Monday. This follows an executive order by President Donald J. Trump, who in February directed his administration to prioritize Afrikaners—descendants of mostly Dutch settlers whose presence in the country dates to 1652—citing government discrimination against them.

The U.S. refugee settlement program was suspended by Trump on his first day in office, leaving over 100,000 approved refugees from countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan in limbo. However, the recent executive order has expedited the process for Afrikaners, who face having their farmland expropriated from them by the state, without compensation, under new laws. Similar legislation passed in neighboring Zimbabwe by the late President Robert Mugabe saw whites driven from their land, and in some cases, killed en masse.

White farmers in South Africa already face a disproportionate number of home invasions and murders, with the authorities turning a blind eye to large-scale rallies calling for their extermination.

Sources indicate that U.S. officials are coordinating the logistics of the Afrikaners’ arrival, with a charter flight to Dulles International Airport being considered. High-level officials from the Departments of State and Homeland Security are expected to greet the refugees upon arrival, a relatively unusual gesture.

While the exact arrival date remains unconfirmed, the State Department has emphasized its focus on Afrikaners facing “unjust racial discrimination.” This expedited processing contrasts with the typical 18 to 24 months it usually takes for refugee resettlement in the U.S.

Image by Johnnyhurst.

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May 9, 2025
News
Religion

Pope Leo XIV Warns Against ‘Lack of Faith,’ ‘Crisis of the Family’ in Inaugural Vatican Mass.

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❓What Happened: Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Holy Mass as pontiff, emphasizing the need for the Church to act as a “beacon” in areas with a “lack of faith.”

👥 Who’s Involved: Pope Leo XIV, previously Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the Roman Catholic Church’s 267th pope and first American leader.

📍 Where & When: The first mass took place at the Vatican on May 9, following his election the previous day.

💬 Key Quote: “A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,” Pope Leo XIV said.

⚠️ Impact: The Pope’s call for unity and outreach is expected to influence the Church’s approach to addressing modern societal challenges and global conflicts.

IN FULL:

Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church, delivered his inaugural Holy Mass at the Vatican on Friday, urging the Church to act as a “beacon” in regions suffering from a “lack of faith.” Previously, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the 267th Pope and the first American to hold the position, was elected just a day prior in a historic conclave.

In his homily, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the Church‘s challenges, noting that many are turning away from faith and towards “technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.” He emphasized the need for missionary outreach in areas where Christian faith is seen as “absurd,” dominated by power and wealth.

The Pope remarked, “A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.” The Pope addressed the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, calling for unity and collaboration.

The mass itself was primarily said in Latin, the traditional language of the Roman Catholic Church, while the homily was said initially in English and Italian.

World leaders, including U.S. President Donald J. Trump, have congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election, with Trump calling it a “great honor” to have the first American pope.

Observers are keenly watching his upcoming public appearances, including Sunday’s Regina Coeli prayer and a Monday press conference, for indications of his leadership direction.

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May 9, 2025
NatSec
News

White House Blocks Biden Holdover at Pentagon After National Pulse Exposé.

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❓What Happened: Joe Biden holdover Ricky Buria has been blocked from becoming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s permanent chief of staff by the White House, after The National Pulse exposed his past attacks on President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.

👥 Who’s Involved: Ricky Buria, Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, President Trump, and Jennifer Hegseth.

💬 Key Quote: “There is an ideological component to this,” said a Buria critic.

⚠️ Impact: Buria’s rise has caused internal strife and raised concerns about security protocols and political alignment within the Pentagon.

IN FULL:

Pentagon aide Ricky Buria, known to some as “Rasputin Ricky,” has been blocked by the White House from becoming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff. The news comes after an exclusive exposé published by The National Pulse, which shed light on previously unknown background information about Buria.

On April 22, The National Pulse described how Buria, a former aide to Biden-era Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, was amassing power at the Pentagon. A donation in 2023 to Democratic candidate Mike O’Brien via the notorious ActBlue platform was noted, particularly as O’Brien also received an endorsement from VoteVets—a partisan group that alleges President Trump “hates veterans” and called for Hegseth to be fired over “Signalgate.”

Buria has disparaged President Trump and Vice President Vance on many occasions, describing the latter’s foreign policy stance as “wackamamie crazy” and “isolationist.” He also blasted President Trump’s moves to use the military to assist with immigration enforcement as “dumb.”

Buria’s recent rise had been marked by internal clashes, including his role in dismissing three top aides, including the anti-war Dan Caldwell.

“Hegseth [was] elevating a Democrat who does not share the Vice President or the President’s worldview and who weaponized his position to push out internal rivals, including people who had very strong histories of being supporters of the MAGA agenda,” one source told the New York Post.

Security concerns have also been raised, with reports of Buria flouting protocols by bringing personal devices into secure areas. His close relationship with Hegseth has drawn comparisons to the Russian mystic Rasputin, with Buria reportedly wielding significant influence over departmental decisions.

“This is without question the worst in a string of bad judgment calls recently by Secretary Hegseth,” said one source of Buria’s elevation.

Following The National Pulse’s report, the White House personnel office is understood to have assessed Buria’s credentials, ultimately refusing him the chief of staff position. It is currently unclear whether Buria will remain in the department at all.

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May 9, 2025
News

Trump Ousts Obama-Appointed Librarian of Congress.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump terminated Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Carla Hayden, Trent Morse, Robert Newlen, congressional Democrats, and the American Accountability Foundation.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C.; termination announced on Thursday.

💬 Key Quote: “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately.” – Trent Morse

⚠️ Impact: Democrats criticized the dismissal, claiming it undermines public service and could affect libraries nationwide.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has removed Carla Hayden from her position as the Librarian of Congress. The Obama appointee received an email informing her, “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump… your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” Robert Newlen, the Principal Deputy Librarian, informed library staff of the change, indicating he would temporarily assume the duties of the Librarian of Congress.

The American Accountability Foundation (AAF) had been calling for Hayden’s termination, writing in the hours before its announcement that she was “woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids.”

The first black person and the first woman to hold the position, her 10-year term had been set to expire next year. Her early removal has prompted strong reactions from Democrats. Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, a leading Democrat on the House Administration Committee, criticized the decision and plans to propose legislation ensuring Congress appoints future Librarians of Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also condemned the move, with Schumer also pushing for Congress to usurp the executive’s control over the appointment process.

Image by Library of Congress Life.

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May 9, 2025
News

Ric Grenell Issues Warning After Les Mis Actors Threaten Boycott of Kennedy Center Event with Trump.

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❓What Happened: Actors from a Kennedy Center production of Les Misérables threatened to boycott a performance attended by President Donald J. Trump.

👥 Who’s Involved: The cast of Les Misérables, Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, President Trump, and celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda.

📍 Where & When: The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., June 11.

💬 Key Quote: “The Kennedy Center will no longer fund this intolerance,” stated Ric Grenell.

⚠️ Impact: The Kennedy Center faces controversy over political affiliations and the potential impact on future performances and funding.

IN FULL:

A brewing controversy at the Kennedy Center has emerged as a significant number of actors from the touring company of Les Misérables have expressed their intent to boycott a performance scheduled for June 11, which President Donald J. Trump plans to attend. In response to a report by CNN, Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell issued a firm statement rejecting what he described as “intolerance.”

Grenell emphasized that the Kennedy Center would not support any form of intolerance, stating, “We haven’t heard this rumor, but the Kennedy Center will no longer fund this intolerance.” He further asserted that performers unwilling to entertain patrons regardless of political beliefs would not be welcome, suggesting that such behavior should be publicly acknowledged to inform future hiring decisions.

The Kennedy Center, under the Trump administration, has experienced efforts to revamp its operations, including the firing of the board of directors shortly after Trump took office. Some liberal figures, such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, have distanced themselves from the venue, with Miranda canceling a performance of Hamilton and criticizing what he referred to as the “Trump Kennedy Center.”

Grenell has dismissed such actions as mere “publicity stunts” that he believes will ultimately backfire. He maintained that the arts should be accessible to everyone, not just those who align with specific political views.

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May 9, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
News
UK

Prosecutors Claim Man ‘Harassed’ Islam by Burning Quran.

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❓What Happened: Prosecutors have charged a man for burning a Quran in England, which critics say could introduce blasphemy laws back to the country.

👥 Who’s Involved: Prosecutors, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, Hamit Coskun.

📍 Where & When: Charges were laid after Coskun burned the Quran as part of a protest earlier this year.

💬 Key Quote: “It is not for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or courts to create a blasphemy law in this country by the back door.” — Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Jenrick.

⚠️ Impact: If the prosecution continues and Coskun is found guilty, it could introduce a new de facto blasphemy law into the British legal system.

IN FULL:

British prosecutors have criminally charged a man under the Public Order Act after setting fire to a copy of the Islamic Quran, claiming that he was “harassing” the religion by doing so. Critics have warned that the case could set a precedent for a quasi-blasphemy law in the United Kingdom if the man is convicted.

Hamit Coskun has been charged with harassing the religion, which the prosecutor claims is an “institution” in Britain. It is the first time anyone has been charged with such an offense, as prior to the case, religions like Islam were not considered “persons.”

Shadow Justice Secretary and former Conservative Party leadership contender Robert Jenrick sharply criticised the move to prosecute Coskun. “Burning the Quran, like any religious text, is something that some people find very offensive and few people would condone, but that’s not the point. There are many things in our society that people find offensive, but that doesn’t make them criminal,” Jenrick said. 

He added that Britain scrapped blasphemy laws nearly two decades prior, saying it was “right to do so.” He insisted: “It is not for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or courts to create a blasphemy law in this country by the back door.”

The case came just months after another man in Manchester was admonished by a judge for tearing out a page of a Quran and burning it. According to the judge, the book was “sacred” and such actions were not permissible in a “tolerant” society.

Some Muslim lawmakers in Britain, including members of the ruling Labour Party, have called for blasphemy laws to return to the country. Tahir Ali MP urged the government to ban the desecration of religious texts, something Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out at the time.

Image by Frankie Fouganthin.

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May 8, 2025
Economy
News

Farmers Rally in Support of Trump’s Tariff Strategy.

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❓What Happened: American farmers are showing strong support for President Trump’s trade policies, expecting tariffs to bolster the agricultural sector.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, American farmers, Purdue University, and CME Group.

📍 Where & When: United States, April (latest data from Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer).

💬 Key Quote: “This month, one out of four respondents said it was a good time to make large investments.” — Perdue University study.

⚠️ Impact: Increased farmer optimism and investment intentions, with expectations of improved financial performance.

IN FULL:

Farmers across America are expressing robust support for President Donald J. Trump‘s trade policies, according to the latest data from the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The survey reveals that 70 percent of farmers believe the tariffs imposed under Trump’s administration will ultimately strengthen the agricultural sector. This optimistic outlook is reflected in the significant rise in farmer sentiment observed in April, with both current and future expectations showing marked improvement.

The Farm Capital Investment Index, a key measure of farmers‘ willingness to invest, has reached its highest level since May 2021. This surge in investment sentiment is underscored by the finding that one in four respondents considers it a favorable time to make substantial investments. This figure is nearly twice the percentage recorded in surveys conducted from May to October of the previous year.

Moreover, the Farm Financial Performance Index has remained above 100 for four consecutive months. This indicates that producers anticipate financial performance this year to be on par with, or slightly exceed, the levels seen last year.

The data underscores a growing confidence among American farmers in the Trump administration’s economic strategies. By focusing on restoring fairness in global trade and opening new markets for U.S. producers, the administration has garnered significant support within the agricultural community.

The optimism of farmers matches the similar sentiment expressed by those in the manufacturing industry, who have also praised President Trump’s tariff policies.

President Trump has said his new trade deal with the United Kingdom, announced Thursday, will significantly open the British market to American produce.

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