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Thursday, October 23, 2025

Category: News
August 1, 2025
Economy
News

Trump Ousts Biden-Appointed Labor Stats Chief Following Disputed Jobs Revision.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has fired Erika McEntarfer, the Joe Biden-appointed Commissioner of Labor Statistics, after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released multiple jobs reports dating back to well before the 2024 election that overstate labor market growth.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Erika McEntarfer, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and Fed Governor Christopher Waller.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Statements were made via Truth Social on August 1, 2025, addressing July 2025 jobs data and jobs reports leading up to the 2024 election.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can’t be manipulated for political purposes.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The controversy has reignited debates over the politicization of economic data and the Federal Reserve’s continued obstinacy toward reducing interest rates.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has taken aim at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and its now former Commissioner, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, claiming that job numbers have been continually and intentionally manipulated to favor Democrats since before the 2024 election. Trump announced McEntarfer’s firing via Truth Social, citing significant errors in job data revisions.

“I was just informed that our Country’s ‘Jobs Numbers’ are being produced by a Biden Appointee, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, who faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala’s chances of Victory,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He highlighted that the BLS overstated job growth by 818,000 in March 2024 and by 112,000 in August and September 2024, calling these errors “records” and unacceptable.

Trump further stated, “Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can’t be manipulated for political purposes.” He also criticized Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who—along with the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)—once again declined to lower interest rates during the FOMC’s July meeting. “Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell should also be put ‘out to pasture,’” Trump added.

Earlier on Friday, the BLS released significant downward revisions to labor market data for May and June. Meanwhile, July’s jobs numbers fell well below expectations. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, a member of the FOMC, made the unprecedented move to publish an official statement blasting his colleagues’ hesitancy to slash borrowing costs. “When labor markets turn, they often turn fast. If we find ourselves needing to support the economy, waiting may unduly delay moving toward appropriate policy,” Waller warned.

The Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, backed President Trump’s decision to oust McEntarfer. “A recent string of major revisions has come to light and raised concerns about decisions being made by the Biden-appointed Labor Commissioner,” Chavez-DeRemer wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting possible malfeasance by McEntarfer. She continued: “I support the President’s decision to replace Biden’s Commissioner and ensure the American People can trust the important and influential data coming from BLS.”

“During the search for a replacement, Deputy Commissioner William Wiatrowski will serve as Acting Commissioner,” the Labor Secretary announced.

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August 1, 2025
News

Jury Orders Tesla to Pay $329 Million After Fatal Autopilot Crash.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal jury in Miami, Florida, ordered Tesla to pay $329 million in damages to victims of a crash involving its Autopilot technology.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tesla and the victims of the crash.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The verdict was delivered on Friday in Miami after a four-year-long legal battle.

🎯IMPACT: The decision could lead to further costly lawsuits against Tesla and challenges to its safety reputation.

IN FULL

A jury in Miami, Florida, has ordered Tesla to pay $329 million to victims of a deadly crash involving the company’s Autopilot driver assist technology. The federal jury determined that Tesla’s technology bore significant responsibility for the crash.

Many similar lawsuits against Tesla have been dismissed or settled out of court to avoid public scrutiny. This decision could set a precedent for future legal challenges to Tesla’s Autopilot and other driver-assist technologies.

The crash involved a young couple who were struck while stargazing, and the jury’s decision underscores the potential risks associated with the use of semi-autonomous driving systems. Tesla has often marketed its vehicles as being safe and capable of autonomous driving, but this verdict raises questions about the reliability of such claims.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has been actively promoting the idea of driverless taxis and expanding the company’s autonomous driving capabilities in several cities. However, this legal setback could complicate those plans and impact consumer confidence in the technology.

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August 1, 2025
Crime
News

Ghislaine Maxwell Secures Transfer to Minimum-Security Facility, Eyes Pardon.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Child sex trafficker and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was transferred from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security facility in Texas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ghislaine Maxwell, her lawyer David Oscar Markus, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The transfer occurred this week from a Florida prison to the Federal Prison Camp Bryan in southeast Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Ms. Maxwell cannot risk further criminal exposure in a politically charged environment without formal immunity.” – David Oscar Markus

🎯IMPACT: The move has sparked further questions about Maxwell’s cooperation with authorities and her appeal for a potential pardon.

IN FULL

Ghislaine Maxwell has been discreetly relocated from the low-security Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Tallahassee, Florida, to Federal Prison Camp Bryan, a minimum-security facility in southeast Texas. The Jeffrey Epstein associate’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, confirmed the transfer, which represents a notable shift for the 63-year-old as she continues to serve a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking.

What makes this transfer stand out is that it was reportedly managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons rather than the U.S. Marshals Service, an uncommon procedural move. Before arriving in Texas, Maxwell spent a short time at a federal facility in Oakdale, Louisiana. Her new prison placement is known for housing mostly nonviolent offenders. At Bryan, Maxwell will have access to various commissary items such as cosmetics.

Maxwell’s legal team has made it known that she is pursuing a pardon from President Donald J. Trump. Her lawyer emphasized that she is prepared to speak “openly and honestly” to members of Congress, provided she is granted immunity in return for her testimony. The House Oversight Committee recently issued a subpoena requiring Maxwell to give a deposition on August 11. However, Markus warned that she would remain silent without immunity.

“Ms. Maxwell cannot risk further criminal exposure in a politically charged environment without formal immunity. Nor is a prison setting conducive to eliciting truthful and complete testimony,” Markus said.

When asked about potentially granting Maxwell a pardon, Trump responded, “Well, I’m allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody’s approached me with it.”

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche visited Maxwell in Florida last week to question her about Jeffrey Epstein. According to Markus, officials asked about “maybe 100 different people” during that meeting. Despite growing public demand for transparency, the Justice Department recently reaffirmed that it will not release further records tied to the Epstein case, asserting that no so-called “client list” for Epstein exists, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi previously saying it was “sitting on [her] desk.”

Maxwell is pursuing an appeal of her conviction, claiming that a 2008 agreement made with Epstein by federal prosecutors should have also granted her protection from prosecution.

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August 1, 2025
Immigration
Lawfare

Radical Biden Judge Blocks Trump Deportations, Says Policy Motivated by ‘Great Replacement’ Theory.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ruled against the Trump administration’s plans to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua—bizarrely claiming, without evidence, that the administration’s policy change is motivated by racial animosity and fear of the white population’s replacement.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Trina L. Thompson, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, and plaintiffs representing TPS immigrants from the affected nations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Thursday, with the case continuing as protections remain in place. A hearing is set for November 18.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The freedom to live fearlessly, the opportunity of liberty, and the American dream. That is all Plaintiffs seek. Instead, they are told to atone for their race, leave because of their names, and purify their blood.” – Judge Trina L. Thompson

🎯IMPACT: TPS protections for the affected groups will remain in place while the case proceeds, miring the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts in further legal battles.

IN FULL

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson ruled against the Trump administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 60,000 immigrants from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The judge stated that the administration’s decision was influenced by discriminatory beliefs, including the notion that non-white immigrant groups could replace white Americans.

“The freedom to live fearlessly, the opportunity of liberty, and the American dream. That is all Plaintiffs seek. Instead, they are told to atone for their race, leave because of their names, and purify their blood,” Judge Thompson wrote in her order, arguing without evidence that the decision to end TPS for certain immigrants is motivated by a “discriminatory belief that certain immigrant populations will replace the white population.”

Judge Thompson, appointed by former President Joe Biden to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, further pontificated: “Color is neither a poison nor a crime.”

TPS allows immigrants to live and work for a brief period in the United States if their home countries are deemed unsafe. However, the former Obama and Biden governments abused the TPS designation, extending the deportation protection far past its intended expiration and well after the crisis impacting the migrants’ nations of origin ended.

The Trump administration had already ended protections for immigrants from countries including Venezuela, Haiti, and Afghanistan. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued that conditions in Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua no longer warranted protections, but the court disagreed.

Judge Thompson argued that the administration failed to conduct an “objective review of the country conditions,” claiming political violence in Honduras and the aftermath of hurricanes in Nicaragua were grounds to extend the TPS designation. She also editorialized that, in her opinion, the decision seemed tied to broader campaign rhetoric rather than legitimate policy analysis.

The protections for the affected immigrants will remain in place as the case continues, with the next hearing scheduled for November 18.

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August 1, 2025
William Upton
Media

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Is Dead.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The congressionally funded nonprofit Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)—which provides financial support for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR)—announced it will cease operations by January 2026 after being defunded by the Trump administration and Congress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), National Public Radio (NPR), CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison, Congress, and the Trump White House.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on August 1, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations.” — CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison

🎯IMPACT:  Most CPB staff positions will be eliminated by September 30, 2025, with a small number of employees remaining in place through January 2026 to “closeout” its operations.

IN FULL

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private but congressionally funded nonprofit that financially supports the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR), announced it has begun the process of ending its operations as a result of the Trump White House’s rescissions request adopted by Congress in July. The rescissions package clawed back much of the CPB’s government funding, with future financial backing being dropped entirely in the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) appropriations legislation.

“Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said in a statement. She continued: “CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.”

“Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country. We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people,” Harrison added.

According to the CPB, it has informed most of its staff that their positions will be eliminated by September 30, 2025, the conclusion of the fiscal year. However, the taxpayer-funded nonprofit says a small number of employees will remain in place through January 2026 to “closeout” its operations.

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August 1, 2025
War
World

Zelensky Confirms Talks with Trump on Major Arms Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced progress toward a major arms agreement with the United States, following discussions with President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump, and European Union (EU) leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Zelensky’s address took place Wednesday evening; discussions with Trump occurred recently, with the EU negotiations ongoing.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Large-scale agreements, I talked about them with President Trump, and I very, very much hope that we will be able to implement all of this.” – Volodymyr Zelensky

🎯IMPACT: The agreements could bolster Ukraine’s military capacity, while also solidifying U.S. and EU support amid ongoing conflict with Russia.

IN FULL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed during an address in Kiev this week that his country is close to finalizing a significant arms agreement with the United States. He revealed that he presented President Donald J. Trump with Ukraine’s “main principles” for future weapons deals, but did not confirm whether Trump had agreed to these terms.

“Today, I also agreed on the main principles of our agreements with America, Ukraine—the United States—on arms,” Zelensky said. He continued: “Large-scale agreements, I talked about them with President Trump, and I very, very much hope that we will be able to implement all of this. This will definitely strengthen both of our countries, and therefore—our allies, our partners.”

Last week, the Trump administration approved arms sales to Ukraine totaling $650 million, but it remains unclear if these are the same “large-scale” deals mentioned by Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader emphasized the importance of these agreements as a step toward ending the war with Russia. “Right now we need to act to force Russia to peace,” he said, adding that sanctions and economic pressure could also play a significant role.

Trump also highlighted a recent agreement with the European Union (EU), under which the EU would pay “100% of the cost of all military equipment” provided by the U.S. “They’re going to ship it to the European Union, and then they’ll distribute it, and much of it will go to Ukraine,” Trump stated. Additionally, the EU will fund U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems sent to Ukraine, whether directly or through European nations. Trump has described the arrangement as economically beneficial, stating, “This will be a business for us.”

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August 1, 2025
News
War

Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines in Response to Russian Official’s ‘Foolish and Inflammatory’ Remarks.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two nuclear submarines have been ordered to strategic positions in response to provocative statements made by Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dmitry Medvedev, Former Russian President and current Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement followed Medvedev’s recent statements, with submarines reportedly deployed to “appropriate regions.”

💬KEY QUOTE: “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The move underscores heightened tensions and the potential for unintended escalations in light of provocative rhetoric.

IN FULL

Two nuclear submarines have been ordered to strategic locations by President Donald J. Trump in response to comments made by leading Russian official Dmitry Medvedev. “Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” the President announced on his Truth Social platform.

“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances,” Trump continued, adding, “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

On July 28, Medvedev had threatened the U.S. over Trump’s decision to shorten a deadline for Russia to make peace with Russia, or else face stronger economic measures, including secondary sanctions.

“Trump’s playing the ultimatum game with Russia… Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran,” Medvedev posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don’t go down the Sleepy Joe [Biden] road!”

Despite its lackluster military performance in Ukraine, Russia remains a potent nuclear power—although a Ukrainian surprise attack recently degraded its strategic bomber fleet.

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August 1, 2025
Immigration
News

Border Apprehensions Hit Another Historic Low.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Border Patrol reported a new record low in apprehensions at the southwest border for July 2025.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks announced the figures.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The report covers the border for the month of July 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Plus, ZERO releases for 3 months in a row!!” – Mike Banks

🎯IMPACT: The figures suggest President Donald J. Trump’s border measures are rapidly closing down illegal crossings, fulfilling a key campaign pledge.

IN FULL

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks has reported another record monthly low for apprehensions at the southwest border, with only 4,399 incidents recorded in July 2025. Banks also noted that no migrants have been paroled into the U.S. following their apprehension, stressing, “ZERO releases for 3 months in a row!!”

The average number of apprehensions per day in July was 141. In stark contrast, December 2023 under former President Joe Biden’s government saw a record 249,785 apprehensions—the majority of which resulted in releases—for an average of over 8,057 crossings per day.

The collapse in crossings signals that President Donald J. Trump’s border policies are rapidly closing down illegal immigration. This is also reflected in news that the treacherous Darien Gap, a key route for illegals on the way to the U.S. through Central America, saw only around ten migrants pass through in June, compared to almost 40,000 in February 2024.

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August 1, 2025
News

West Point Delayed Correcting False Statement on Hegseth Admission.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: E-mails released via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit reveal West Point confirmed Pete Hegseth’s acceptance into the academy in 1999 but delayed correcting a false statement to the media that he never applied.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: West Point, Pete Hegseth, ProPublica, and the Center to Advance Security in America.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 10-11, 2024, at West Point and online.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is clear that while West Point quickly provided false information on the record that they were reluctant to correct the record, allowed false information to mislead the American public in the midst of the contentious confirmation hearing, and even falsely accused Secretary Hegseth of creating an illegitimate letter.” – Center to Advance Security in America

🎯IMPACT: The incident raises concerns about political partisanship at the military academy during Hegseth’s nomination as Defense Secretary.

IN FULL

Newly disclosed e-mails, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit by the Center to Advance Security in America, have brought to light that West Point confirmed Pete Hegseth‘s acceptance into the U.S. Military Academy in 1999 on December 10, 2024. Despite this, the academy hesitated to correct an initial false statement provided to ProPublica earlier on December 10, asserting that he had never even applied. Hegseth himself shared his acceptance letter publicly on X (formerly Twitter) the very next day.

“It is clear that while West Point quickly provided false information on the record that they were reluctant to correct the record, allowed false information to mislead the American public in the midst of the contentious confirmation hearing, and even falsely accused Secretary Hegseth of creating an illegitimate letter,” the Center to Advance Security in America said in a statement.

The situation unfolded after ProPublica questioned Hegseth’s admission claims on December 6, 2024. On December 10, West Point’s media relations chief, Theresa Brinkerhoff, mistakenly asserted that Hegseth had never applied. ProPublica approached Hegseth’s team, who insisted he had applied and been accepted, causing ProPublica to return to West Point for confirmation. Although internal confirmation of his acceptance was achieved at West Point later that day, officials refrained from updating the media, with one official whose identity has been redacted advising against confirming or denying the information with any media outlet.

This reluctance resulted in Hegseth preemptively posting his acceptance letter on December 11. West Point communications director Terence Kelley acknowledged the misstep off-the-record but delayed providing an official correction until 10:46 AM on December 11, several hours after Hegseth’s public post and nearly a day after the internal confirmation.

The academy later issued an apology, attributing the error to an “administrative error” and a failure to review archived databases. However, it is now clear that a deliberate decision was made not to correct the false information supplied to ProPublica until after Hegseth went public.

The incident garnered attention in light of Hegseth’s nomination as Defense Secretary by President Donald J. Trump, with West Point’s actions suggesting political partisanship at the military academy.

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July 31, 2025
Immigration
News

Trump Migration Crackdown Slashes Migrants Crossing Darien Gap to Near Zero.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Panama’s Darien Gap, a dangerous but once-busy route for migrants heading to the U.S., is now nearly deserted due to President Donald J. Trump’s immigration crackdown.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, and U.S. border officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: June 2025, Darien Gap, Panama.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In Panama’s Darien Gap, migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border—only 10 migrants crossed in June,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

🎯IMPACT: Migrant crossings in the Darien Gap have dropped to nearly zero, reflecting the effectiveness of the Trump administration’s border policies.

IN FULL

Once a major corridor for U.S.-bound migration, Panama’s treacherous Darién Gap has seen a dramatic decline in crossings. According to Panama’s migration authorities, only 10 individuals crossed the dense jungle in June 2025, marking a near-total collapse in traffic along what became a heavily used migrant route under former President Joe Biden.

The sudden drop follows the return of President Donald J. Trump’s hardline immigration policies, which include greatly strengthened border enforcement and efforts to orchestrate mass deportations. These measures stand in sharp contrast to conditions under the former Biden regime, when crossings through the region, once deemed impassable, surged.

In February 2024 alone, 37,166 migrants passed through the Darién Gap, and in 2022, the weekly average reached approximately 16,400. In 2023, over 530,000 migrants traversed the route, usually aided by organized smuggling networks.

Highlighting the change, U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted, “In Panama’s Darien Gap, migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border—only 10 migrants crossed in June. The world is hearing our message that America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers.”

This view is supported by figures from the U.S. southern border, where apprehensions of illegal migrants have sharply declined. Border Patrol agents reported only about 6,000 arrests in June, none of whom were released into the country. This is a steep drop compared to previous years: 83,000 in June 2024, 99,000 in June 2023, and 192,000 in June 2022, per U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.

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