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Category: News
August 19, 2025
Crime
Politics

WATCH: Drunken Democrat AG Threatens Cops, Resists Arrest.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Rhode Island Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan was arrested for alleged trespassing outside a Newport restaurant.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Devon Flanagan, Newport police, and Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday night outside the Clarke Cooke House on Bannister’s Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Office immediately began a review of the incident, which we anticipate will conclude within the next few days.” – Tim Rondeau, Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

🎯IMPACT: The incident has raised questions about accountability and conduct among public officials.

IN FULL

Law enforcement camera footage captured Rhode Island Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan (D) being arrested by Newport police last Thursday night. Flanagan was allegedly trespassing outside the Clarke Cooke House, a restaurant on Bannister’s Wharf in Newport.

The arrest video shows her appearing to be in a drunken state and repeatedly shouting, at least eleven times, “I’m an AG!” in an apparent attempt to avoid being detained.

Tim Rondeau, Director of Communications for Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, issued a statement confirming that the office is reviewing the incident. “The Office immediately began a review of the incident, which we anticipate will conclude within the next few days. At this time, we are unable to comment further on this matter as it relates to personnel issues,” the statement read.

Flanagan, a Democrat who has worked in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for seven years, serves in the Appellate Unit of the Criminal Division. During the arrest, Flanagan can be heard saying, “You’re going to regret this,” and requesting officers to turn off their body cameras, claiming it was her right as a citizen to demand this. Officers disregarded her request, as no such policy exists in Rhode Island.

In addition to Flanagan, her friend Veronica Hannan—a senior manager at PepsiCo who calls herself a “champion of diversity in STEM”—was also arrested. The body camera footage shows Hannan screaming and hissing at officers, and at one point twisting out of the officers’ grasp as they attempted to handcuff her.

Flanagan and Hannan are facing charges of willful trespass, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

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August 19, 2025
News
World

Lawmaker Commits Suicide in Parliament.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Eemeli Peltonen, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP), was found dead, reportedly from suicide, at the parliamentary building in Helsinki.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Eemeli Peltonen and fellow lawmakers, including Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday morning, at the Finnish Parliamentary building in Helsinki.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is truly sad news… we wish strength to his family, loved ones, and colleagues. This deeply touches all of us.” – Prime Minister Petteri Orpo

🎯IMPACT: The Finnish government suspended political discussions for the day out of respect.

IN FULL

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has spearheaded tributes to Eemeli Peltonen, a 30-year-old Member of Parliament (MP) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who was found dead on Tuesday morning in Helsinki’s parliamentary building. Authorities suspect suicide as the cause of death.

Emergency services responded at 11:06 local time. Officials currently believe no criminal activity was involved.

Despite his young age, Peltonen had a lengthy political pedigree, having engaged in local government since his teens. Elected to Parliament in 2023, he previously edited the SDP’s party newspaper and chaired a city council. He had been on sick leave for much of 2025 due to kidney disease.

The Finnish Parliament, deviating from its usual policy of not publicizing suicides, announced Peltonen’s death on Tuesday afternoon. The parliamentary security director verified the cause when pressed. With Parliament on summer recess, many of Peltonen’s colleagues were absent from the building.

Prime Minister Orpo offered condolences, saying, “Some time ago, we received truly shocking news from Parliament, our common workplace. That one of our colleagues has passed away on Parliament premises. This is truly sad news… we wish strength to his family, loved ones, and colleagues. This deeply touches all of us.”

Out of respect, the government paused political discussions at its summer retreat for the day.

Image by Hteink.min.

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August 19, 2025
News
TECH

Trump Admin Defeats British Demands for Access to Apple Customers’ Encrypted Data.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The British government has dropped its demand for Apple to provide “backdoor” access to encrypted customer data, according to U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The British government, Apple, President Donald J. Trump, Tulsi Gabbard, and U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The dispute has unfolded over the past several months across the United States and the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with our partners in the UK, alongside President Trump and Vice-President Vance, to ensure Americans’ private data remains private and our constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected.” – Tulsi Gabbard

🎯IMPACT: The decision should prevent unauthorized access to encrypted data, but questions remain about British customers’ data protection options.

IN FULL

The British government has reportedly abandoned its demands for Apple to provide law enforcement with “backdoor” access to encrypted data belonging to users in the United States. U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), signaling a potential end to the prolonged standoff involving Apple, British authorities, and the U.S. government.

The dispute began when the British Home Office issued a technical capability notice under the Investigatory Powers Act, demanding Apple’s cooperation in decrypting user data. Apple challenged the order in court, prompting a legal battle. Although the Home Office attempted to keep the case out of the public eye, judges later ruled that the proceedings must be made public.

“Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with our partners in the UK, alongside President Trump and Vice-President Vance, to ensure Americans’ private data remains private and our constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected,” Gabbard said.

President Donald J. Trump condemned the UK’s approach, likening it to surveillance tactics used by China. Vice-President JD Vance also voiced disapproval, saying, “I don’t want American citizens to be spied on,” and dismissed the notion of a backdoor as “crazy.”

In February, in response to the UK’s demands, Apple scaled back its advanced data protection features for new customers in the country. The company cited its firm stance on not weakening encryption, which meant UK users were excluded from end-to-end encryption features for iCloud Drive, photos, and notes, potentially exposing their data to greater risk. Civil liberties advocates warned that creating backdoor access could disproportionately impact vulnerable groups, including activists, politicians, and minorities.

While Gabbard has stated that the UK has now abandoned the request, the Home Office has neither confirmed nor denied the claim. “We do not comment on operational matters,” a spokesman said. The department reiterated its dedication to working with the U.S. on security threats, while upholding privacy and national sovereignty. Apple has not yet said whether UK users will regain access to its full suite of encrypted services.

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August 19, 2025
War

Trump Pledges No U.S. Troops in Ukraine.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President J. Donald Trump stated that no U.S. troops would be deployed to Ukraine’s border under any security guarantee in a peace deal to halt the country’s war with Russia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made the remarks on Fox & Friends on August 19, 2025, following a meeting at the White House on August 18.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There’ll be some kind of security… but it can’t be NATO,” Trump said, referencing Ukraine’s aspirations to join the alliance.

🎯IMPACT: Discussions center on territorial disputes and ensuring Ukraine’s security against future Russian aggression.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump clarified on Tuesday that no U.S. troops would be sent to Ukraine’s border under any security guarantee emerging from a peace deal to end Russia’s invasion. The remarks came during an interview with Fox, following Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday.

“There’ll be some form of security,” President Trump said, continuing: “It can’t be NATO, because that’s just not something that could ever, ever happen.”

The America First leader reiterated that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky will need to be flexible and open to concessions. “I hope President Putin is going to be good. If he’s not, that’s going to be a rough situation,” Trump said, adding: “And I hope Zelensky, President Zelensky, will do what he has to do. He has to show some flexibility, also. The thing is a mess.”

President Trump noted that European allies were willing to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a security guarantee, with the U.S. potentially providing air support. While a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has remained elusive, Monday’s White House summit, following Trump’s bilateral meeting with Putin last week, appears to have created new movement on the possibility.

President Trump has indicated he is now working to arrange a meeting between himself, Zelensky, and Putin in the hopes of furthering peace talks.

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August 18, 2025
William Upton
Education
Immigration

Thousands of Student Visas Are Being Revoked Under Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of State has revoked an estimated 6,000 student visas under new measures implemented by President Donald J. Trump, increasing the scrutiny of applicants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and foreign students.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The stricter visa reviews were implemented earlier this year, with visa revocations ongoing.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas.” — Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: Federal immigration officials and the State Department have increased the scrutiny under which student visa applicants are investigated, including reviewing their past social media posts for anti-American views or support for Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

IN FULL

An estimated 6,000 student visas have been revoked by the U.S. Department of State, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Since taking office in January, President Donald J. Trump has enacted a series of measures increasing scrutiny of foreign applicants for student visas, as well as moving to revoke existing visas for foreign students at several elite universities engaging in anti-American activities.

“The State Department has revoked over 6,000 student visas for overstays and law violations, the vast majority being assault, DUI, burglary, and support for terrorism,” a State Department official said. The official noted that an estimated 4,000 visas were revoked directly as a result of the foreign student having violated U.S. laws.

Under Secretary Rubio, the State Department has prioritized reviewing student visas currently held and requested by applicants from the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been accused of utilizing Chinese nationals studying in the United States and Europe to engage in corporate espionage and the surveillance of anti-CCP dissidents.

Federal immigration officials and the State Department have increased the scrutiny under which student visa applicants are investigated, including now reviewing their past social media posts for anti-American views or support for Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). “Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said in March.

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August 18, 2025
Health
News

The Much-Hyped Texas Measles Outbreak Is Over.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Texas health officials declared an end to a measles outbreak that was weaponized against Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Texas Department of State Health Services, health professionals, and Texans.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The outbreak began in late January 2025, with the last case reported on July 1, 2025, across multiple Texas counties.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I want to highlight the tireless work of the public health professionals across the state who contributed to the containment of one of the most contagious viruses,” said Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Jennifer Shuford.

🎯IMPACT: The outbreak ended with only two recorded deaths.

IN FULL

Texas health officials have officially declared the end of a much-hyped measles outbreak. While the virus did infect 762 people statewide, the situation was ultimately controlled, with the last case reported on July 1. No new infections have emerged in the affected areas for over six weeks, surpassing the standard threshold to declare an outbreak contained.

Initial headlines painted a dire picture, as cases tied to measles outbreaks in Canada and Mexico began to pop up across U.S. states, including Texas. Much of the epidemic was limited to local Mennonite communities in Texas.

The reaction was swift and widespread, with public warnings, emergency measures, and a renewed push for vaccinations. Around 100 hospitalizations were recorded—but only two deaths, for a fatality rate of just 0.26 percent out of the 762 recorded infections.

“I want to highlight the tireless work of the public health professionals across the state who contributed to the containment of one of the most contagious viruses,” commented Jennifer Shuford, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.

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August 18, 2025
1A
News

Germany Dismisses U.S. Free Speech Concerns Despite Rising Social Media Arrests.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: German officials have pushed back at a U.S. State Department human rights report that claims the country is suppressing free speech online.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: State Department, German government officials, German federal spokesman Steffen Meyer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 2025, Germany and the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A very high degree of freedom of expression prevails, and we will continue to defend this in every possible way,” claimed German federal spokesman Steffen Meyer.

🎯IMPACT: The pushback comes as German citizens continue to be arrested for social media posts branded hate speech or public insults by German government officials.

IN FULL

German authorities have dismissed accusations in a recent U.S. State Department human rights report that alleges the country is suppressing free expression, particularly on social media. The U.S. report expressed concern that German authorities are restricting public discourse in the name of combating hate speech.

“There is no censorship here in Germany,” said government spokesman Steffen Meyer, representing Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet. “A very high degree of freedom of expression prevails, and we will continue to defend this in every possible way,” Meyer claimed.

However, so-called hate speech against immigrants and other groups is indeed an arrestable offense in Germany, as are public insults, particularly against politicians and other officials. In one instance, a 64-year-old man was fined €825 (around $962) and police raided his home after he shared a meme that labeled former Economy Minister Robert Habeck a “professional idiot.”

In one particularly egregious case, a German woman was imprisoned for defamation after she called an immigrant gang rapist a “disgraceful rapist pig” and “disgusting freak”—getting a harsher punishment than the rapist himself, who received only a suspended sentence.

Vice President J.D. Vance has sharply criticized Europe’s handling of free speech, including in Germany. During a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, he asserted, “Across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.” He blamed European governments for using “ugly, Soviet‑era words like misinformation and disinformation” to suppress dissenting viewpoints, arguing that such practices protect entrenched interests, not democracy.

“The threat that I worry the most about vis‑à‑vis Europe is not Russia… It’s the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values,” he said. He emphasized that “democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters.”

Vance later questioned whether the U.S. taxpayer should continue defending Germany if “you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet.”

Image by Michael Lucan.

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August 18, 2025
Culture
News

Lit Prize Scrapped Because Author Defended JK Rowling on Transgenderism.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Polari Prize, an LGBT literature award, has been paused after pro-trans backlash against author John Boyne—who has supported J.K. Rowling—being included on the longlist.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Author John Boyne, other longlisted authors, the Polari Prize’s organizers, and pro-trans ideologues.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The controversy began after the longlist announcement on August 1, culminating in the prize’s cancellation.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[J.K.] Rowling’s critics claim she is transphobic, the greatest sin of our time, and use the usual tedious hyperbole to demonise her.” – John Boyne

🎯IMPACT: The Polari Prize will not be awarded this year, and organizers plan to increase trans and gender non-conforming representation on future judging panels.

IN FULL

The Polari Prize, a prominent LGBT literary award in Britain, has been cancelled for 2025 amid pro-trans backlash over author John Boyne’s inclusion on its longlist. Boyne, best known for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, drew criticism in July for writing a newspaper article supporting Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s views in favor of women’s rights over transgender ideology.

In the article, Boyne, who is openly gay, referred to himself as a “fellow Terf” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) and defended Rowling. “Rowling’s critics claim she is transphobic, the greatest sin of our time, and use the usual tedious hyperbole to demonise her,” he said. Boyne also defended Rowling’s stance on women having access to safe, male-free spaces, accusing some of her critics of being “astonishingly complicit in their own erasure.”

After the longlist was made public on August 1, multiple authors withdrew their names in protest, describing Boyne’s statements as “disgusting” and “abhorrent.” One of the prize’s judges, Nicola Dinan, also stepped down, citing alleged concerns about inclusion and representation.

Boyne has maintained his position, stating clearly that his “views on trans rights have never changed” despite “endless harassment at the hands of both strangers and fellow writers.” Rowling, for her part, has said she is “Thinking of setting up an annual prize to celebrate the most craven, bootlicking capitulation to the Gender Taliban by a supposedly liberal organisation,” adding that the Polari Prize is a “strong contender for 2025,” with the Edinburgh Fringe and National Library “running them close.”

The Edinburgh Fringe recently stirred controversy after inviting males and females to use whatever public restrooms they preferred at events. The National Library of Scotland removed a book critical of gender ideology featuring essays from writers including Rowling, following pressure from the institution’s internal “LGBTQ+ network.”

Image by Ross Burgess.

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August 18, 2025
News

Congress Receives Its First Batch of Epstein Files This Week.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to begin releasing Jeffrey Epstein-related materials to Congress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, the DOJ, and former Attorney General Bill Barr.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The release is expected to begin on Friday, following a subpoena issued less than two weeks ago.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Department will begin to provide Epstein-related records to the Oversight Committee this week on Friday.” – James Comer

🎯IMPACT: The release could increase transparency around Epstein and his activities as Congress reconvenes.

IN FULL

Congress is slated to receive its initial set of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents from the Department of Justice (DOJ), with the transfer scheduled to start this Friday. This follows a subpoena from House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, who shared the update on Monday.

Comer explained that while the handover is underway, it may take time to receive all documents, as the DOJ must redact victim identities and sensitive information to ensure proper disclosure. Comer described negotiations with the DOJ as “constructive” and “productive,” with the committee’s August 19 deadline in focus.

The release of these documents arrives at a critical moment, with Democrats—who showed no interest in disclosing more information on Epstein and his child sex trafficking activities under the Biden-Harris government—leveraging public disquiet over the situation to pressure Republicans.

The issue has also sparked some tensions within the GOP, with Attorney General Pam Bondi initially stating an Epstein “client list” was “on [her] desk” only to insist later that no such list exists. America First stalwarts such as WarRoom host and former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon have urged President Donald J. Trump to appoint a special counsel reporting directly to the White House to take control of the situation.

Also on Monday, former Attorney General Bill Barr testified before Comer’s committee, stating he has seen no evidence implicating President Trump in any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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August 18, 2025
Election Integrity
Politics

Court Blocks GOP Redistricting Reforms to Preserve Black ‘Voting Power.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Judges for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Louisiana’s request to enforce a congressional redistricting map, alleging it is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Louisiana’s Republican-majority legislature, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and other plaintiffs.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued recently, and the case centers on Louisiana’s congressional map drawn after the 2020 census.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is no legal basis for this proposition, and the state offers no evidence that conditions in Louisiana have changed,” the court stated.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling is a temporary win for the ACLU and plaintiffs, with the Supreme Court expected to issue the final decision.

IN FULL

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Louisiana‘s request to enforce its congressional redistricting map, initially passed by the Republican-majority legislature in 2022. Judges ruled the map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the votes of black residents through practices described as “packing” and “cracking” black voters, undermining their voting power.

Notably, 83 percent of black voters nationwide backed Democrat candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

The court rejected Louisiana’s argument that race-based remedies are no longer necessary, stating, “There is no legal basis for this proposition, and the state offers no evidence that conditions in Louisiana have changed.” One judge issued a stay before the decision could take effect, though the Supreme Court had already stayed the map earlier in the year.

The Supreme Court is also currently reviewing the case in Louisiana v. Callais and has requested additional arguments from both sides. The focus remains on whether Louisiana’s redistricting efforts were narrowly tailored to meet constitutional requirements. Justices are expected to weigh in further during the fall term.

The litigation comes amid broader redistricting battles across the country, with both Republican- and Democrat-led states revising their maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. States like Texas and California are engaged in legal and political fights over their congressional maps, and the outcomes of these disputes could significantly impact the balance of power in Congress during the next election cycle.

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