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Sunday, December 14, 2025

Category: Politics
August 15, 2025
Politics

Senate Race: Cooper Leads Whatley by 8 Points.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll shows former Governor Roy Cooper (D-NC) leading Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), in the 2026 North Carolina U.S. Senate race.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll conducted Monday and Tuesday, results released Thursday, with North Carolina voters.

💬KEY QUOTE: “North Carolina’s race for Senate has only just begun, but the Whatley campaign appears to have a lot of legwork in front of them if they want to be competitive.” – Donald Bryson, Carolina Journal publisher.

🎯IMPACT: The poll highlights Cooper’s name recognition advantage and sets the stage for an expensive, competitive race.

IN FULL

The latest poll from Carolina Journal and Harper Polling shows former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper leading Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman Michael Whatley 47.3 percent to 39.1 percent in the 2026 U.S. Senate race in North Carolina. The poll surveyed 600 likely voters earlier this week, with a margin of error of +/- 3.98 percent and a 95 percent confidence level.

Cooper, who has won six statewide elections, enjoys significant name recognition, with only four percent of respondents saying they had “never heard of” him. In contrast, 51.3 percent of respondents said they had “never heard of” Whatley. Cooper’s favorability ratings were 47.3 percent favorable and 39.8 percent unfavorable, while Whatley registered 14.9 percent favorable and 11.3 percent unfavorable.

“North Carolina’s race for Senate has only just begun, but the Whatley campaign appears to have a lot of legwork in front of them if they want to be competitive,” said Donald Bryson, publisher of Carolina Journal and CEO of the John Locke Foundation. He added, “Cooper certainly has an advantage in this race, having held statewide office for 24 consecutive years.”

The race is expected to be one of the most expensive in the nation, with costs projected between $500 million and $750 million. Historically, North Carolina has leaned Republican in Senate races, with the GOP winning five consecutive contests over the past 15 years and seven of eight this century. However, Cooper’s track record of statewide victories make the race competitive.

Image via NC Dept of Public Safety.

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August 15, 2025
Politics
TECH

Google Caught Routing GOP Fundraiser Emails to Spam.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Republican consulting firm has raised concerns about Google’s Gmail disproportionately flagging Republican fundraising emails as spam while allowing Democratic emails to bypass filters.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Targeted Victory, Google, and political entities such as the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA), and Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The filtering concerns were observed in June and July 2025, with tests conducted on Gmail’s platform.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If Gmail is allowed to quietly suppress WinRed links while giving ActBlue a free pass, it will continue to tilt the playing field in ways that voters never see, but campaigns will feel every single day.” – Targeted Victory memo.

🎯IMPACT: The accusations raise further questions about tech companies’ influence over elections and voter outreach.

IN FULL

A Republican consulting firm, Targeted Victory, has accused Google of unfairly filtering Republican fundraising emails into Gmail spam folders while allowing similar Democratic emails to reach users’ inboxes. The claims, outlined in a memo, highlight ongoing concerns about potential political bias in tech platforms.

The memo revealed that emails containing links to the Republican platform WinRed were frequently flagged as spam, while identical emails with links to the Democratic platform ActBlue were delivered without issue. “The only difference between the two emails was the link,” the memo stated, adding that this pattern persisted even for high-profile accounts such as those of President Donald J. Trump and Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY). Targeted Victory warned: “If Gmail is allowed to quietly suppress WinRed links while giving ActBlue a free pass, it will continue to tilt the playing field in ways that voters never see, but campaigns will feel every single day.”

Google has denied the allegations, with company spokesman José Castañeda stating, “Email filter protections are in place to keep our users safe. They look at a variety of signals—like whether a user has previously marked an email as spam—and apply equally to all senders, regardless of political ideology.”

Research has previously identified disparities in email filtering practices. A 2022 study by North Carolina State University found Gmail flagged 59 percent more Republican fundraising emails as spam compared to Democratic ones during the 2020 election cycle. The study’s authors noted that spam filtering algorithms exhibited biases based on political affiliations.

Targeted Victory reported contacting Google on June 30 to address the issue, but alleged that Google initially deflected responsibility, attributing the filtering behavior to “local settings.” By July, Google acknowledged that WinRed links were flagged as “suspicious,” according to screenshots provided by the firm. The memo warned, “This should alarm every campaign and committee that relies on email to connect with voters.”

Image by Anthony Quintano.

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August 15, 2025
Politics

Here’s How Many Federal Workers Trump Expects to Lay Off by Year’s End:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) estimated that efforts to reduce the federal workforce would lead to 300,000 layoffs by year-end.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: OPM Director Scott Kupor and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The estimate was shared on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

🎯IMPACT: The administration targets a 12.5 percent reduction in the federal workforce, with most reductions coming from voluntary buyouts.

IN FULL

A new report from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) estimates that President Donald J. Trump‘s efforts to cut government waste and federal redundancies will result in an estimated 300,000 federal workers being laid off by the end of the year. According to OPM Director Scott Kupor, 80 percent of the workforce reduction number stems from personnel accepting voluntary buyouts, while 20 percent is the result of direct layoffs.

The Trump White House says its goal is a 12.5 percent reduction in the federal workforce. It has offered two rounds of buyouts so far. An initial round in February resulted in 75,000 federal employees accepting the offer, and a second round was offered in April.

Democrat-backed legal challenges to the buyouts and layoffs have been largely unsuccessful. Earlier this year, Massachusetts U.S. District Court Judge George O’Toole ruled against unions seeking to block the buyouts, stating they lack standing in the legal challenge. Additionally, Judge O’Toole determined his court lacked jurisdiction even to hear the matter.

Meanwhile, in July, jobs data showed that between January and May, the total number of government jobs in the Washington, D.C. area had been slashed by 22,000. The layoffs appear to have substantially accelerated after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court order earlier last month that had blocked the Trump administration from cutting workforces across 19 federal departments and agencies.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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August 15, 2025
Politics

This MAGA SuperPac Is Crushing Anti-Trump Massie’s Poll Numbers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Anti-Trump Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) has seen a sharp drop in polling numbers following a MAGA-backed campaign targeting him for defeat in an upcoming Republican primary.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Thomas Massie, MAGA Inc. SuperPAC, President Donald J. Trump, and McLaughlin and Associates.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The poll was conducted August 10-12, 2025, among likely Republican voters in Kentucky’s 4th congressional district.

💬KEY QUOTE: “MAGA Kentucky’s advertising campaign has turned Thomas Massie’s polling numbers up-side-down, leaving him exposed and extremely vulnerable in a Republican primary election for Congress,” the poll stated.

🎯IMPACT: The poll suggests Massie’s approval has dropped significantly, leaving him vulnerable to a Trump-endorsed challenger in the 2026 Republican primary.

IN FULL

Anti-Trump Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY)—once largely thought untouchable in Kentucky’s 4th congressional district—has seen his polling numbers turn upside down following a series of recent spats between himself and President Donald J. Trump. The Kentucky congressman’s opposition to Trump’s America First agenda is being emphasized in a series of advertisements and a voter education effort backed by the MAGA Inc. SuperPAC.

A new internal poll by McLaughlin and Associates shows Massie’s favorability rating dropped from 54 percent in June to 43 percent this month, while his unfavorability rating rose to 54 percent from 40 percent. President Trump himself highlighted the polling data in a post on Truth Social.


The Massie campaign is dismissing the data, calling it unreliable. “This poll does not reflect reality in Kentucky’s 4th district,” a campaign spokesman claimed following the McLaughlin poll.

They contend that MAGA Inc.’s campaign against Massie isn’t having an impact, alleging the SuperPAC is funded by “three socially liberal globalist billionaires who are upset Congressman Massie doesn’t vote for wars and foreign aid.” Notably, The National Pulse has reported that Elon Musk is still a major donor to MAGA Inc.

McLaughlin and Associates made a strong argument that MAGA Inc.‘s $1.8 million ad campaign is negatively impacting Massie’s voter support. “MAGA Kentucky’s advertising campaign has turned Thomas Massie’s polling numbers up-side-down, leaving him exposed and extremely vulnerable in a Republican primary election for Congress,” the pollster states.

The poll, conducted between August 10 and 12 among 500 likely Republican voters from Massie’s district, had a margin of error of ±4.4 percentage points. It also highlighted that 57 percent of GOP primary voters would be more likely to back a Trump-endorsed challenger, and Massie’s “reelect score” fell to 30 percent, below the 40 percent threshold considered safe for incumbents.

Massie has clashed with Trump on key issues, including airstrikes on Iran that crippled its nuclear weapons program and the U.S. debt ceiling. Earlier this year, Trump labeled him “lazy,” “disingenuous,” and the “worst Republican congressman” after Massie voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a signature Trump policy.

Trump has threatened to back a primary challenger against Massie for the 2026 midterms, and MAGA Inc. has been heavily involved in efforts to unseat him.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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August 14, 2025
Politics

Californians Reject Newsom’s Redistricting Plot, Poll Shows.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to transfer redistricting authority from an independent commission to the Democrat-dominated state legislature faces significant public opposition, according to a recent poll.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Gavin Newsom, California voters, and the state legislature.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll conducted between July 28 and August 12, 2025, across California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.” – Gavin Newsom

🎯IMPACT: The move could lead to intensified political battles over congressional maps and potential retaliation from other states.

IN FULL

A plan to further gerrymander California’s congressional districts, pushed by Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), is being widely panned by Golden State voters. According to a new Politico–Citrin Center–Possibility Lab poll, Newsom’s gerrymander proposal, seeking to shift redistricting authority from California’s independent commission—enshrined in the state constitution—to the California legislature, is opposed by nearly two-thirds of respondents. Notably, the change would require voter approval through a statewide referendum, scheduled for November.

The survey, conducted between July 28 and August 12 among 1,445 registered voters in California, revealed that Californians overwhelmingly favor the independent panel. Only 36 percent of respondents support Newsom‘s plan, including a mere 39 percent of Democrats and 34 percent of Republicans.

Newsom has framed his redistricting effort as a countermeasure to Republican-led initiatives in states like Texas, where GOP lawmakers are pursuing new congressional maps that could secure up to five additional House seats for Republicans. In response, Newsom stated, “If the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.”

Critics, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have questioned the impartiality of California’s current congressional maps, which some argue already favor Democrats. The Princeton University Gerrymandering Project rated California’s map a “B” overall but gave it an “F” for competitiveness. Republicans currently hold just 17 percent of the state’s congressional seats, despite Donald Trump securing 38.3 percent of the vote in the 2024 presidential election.

The redistricting debate comes as other Democrat-led states, such as Illinois and Maryland—two of the most heavily gerrymandered states in the country—signal their willingness to redraw their maps in response to Republican efforts.

Meanwhile, Texas House Democrats recently returned home after fleeing the state to block a GOP redistricting proposal; however, another special session on the matter is expected to be called soon.

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August 14, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
Politics

Newsom Seethes as Feds Arrest Illegals at His Rally.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents initiated an immigration enforcement action on Thursday outside a venue in downtown Los Angeles, California, where Governor Gavin Newsom (D) was holding a political rally.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), Gov. Gavin Newsom, Prof. Sara Sadhwani, and illegal immigrants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We have witnessed masked gunmen kidnapping our neighbors off the streets—and my understanding is they’re outside waiting to do it again.” — Sara Sadhwani, a former California redistricting commission member

🎯IMPACT: The enforcement action saw several arrests for suspected immigration law violations.

IN FULL

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents initiated an immigration enforcement action on Thursday outside a venue in downtown Los Angeles where Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) was holding a political rally in support of his plan to further gerrymander the state’s congressional districts in favor of Democrats. The enforcement action saw several arrests for suspected immigration law violations.


Inside the Democrat rally, Sara Sadhwani—a former California redistricting commission member and Pomona College political science professor—hysterically alerted attendees to the presence of CBP agents outside. “But these are extraordinary times, and extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. We have witnessed masked gunmen kidnapping our neighbors off the streets—and my understanding is they’re outside waiting to do it again,” Sadhwani declared.


Meanwhile, Gov. Newsom responded to the CBP enforcement action in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter). “Donald Trump has sent armed agents to our rally,” Newsom wrote, adding, “We will not be intimidated.”

In recent weeks, Los Angeles has seen a series of large-scale CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, though the actions currently require approval from U.S. District Court Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong per a court order she issued in July. The Trump administration has appealed Frimpong’s order to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Notably, the Los Angeles enforcement action comes just hours after the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) issued a directive instructing officers to cooperate with federal immigration agents in the nation’s capital. On August 11, President Donald J. Trump announced he had signed an Executive Order temporarily federalizing the MPD—and bolstering their ranks with federal law enforcement—as part of a sweeping crackdown on violent crime in the District of Columbia.

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August 14, 2025
Politics

Top Democrat Goes Absolutely Bonkers During Half-Naked Arrest.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Dash cam footage shows South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate William “Mullins” McLeod being arrested in May, wearing only underwear and shoes, while behaving erratically and making bizarre statements.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: William “Mullins” McLeod, South Carolina gubernatorial Democratic candidate, and Charleston police officers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrest occurred in May in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The footage was recently released through a Freedom of Information Act request.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’m one of the most just humans to ever walk this soil. Superman sounds good.” – William “Mullins” McLeod

🎯IMPACT: McLeod faces calls from his own party to withdraw from the 2026 gubernatorial race, with party leadership urging him to focus on his well-being.

IN FULL

A leading South Carolina Democratic Party candidate for governor is facing calls to drop out of the race despite having only announced his run on Monday, August 11. Prominent Charleston Democrat and attorney, William “Mullins” McLeod, is under mounting scrutiny after bizarre dash cam footage from his May arrest was released.

The footage, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA), shows McLeod being arrested in downtown Charleston while wearing only underwear and shoes. Police reports indicate he was “yelling at the top of his lungs” and exhibiting behavior consistent with being under the influence of a stimulant narcotic.

During the arrest, McLeod referred to himself as “God” and “Superman” and threatened to “kick [an opponent’s] f**king teeth in.” He also issued threats toward current and former South Carolina politicians, including Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson. McLeod repeatedly refused to provide his name to officers, stating, “It doesn’t matter, my friend, trust me. I’m one of the most just humans to ever walk this soil.”

McLeod, who launched his campaign for governor earlier this week, is facing calls from South Carolina Democratic Party leadership to step down. Christale Spain, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, stated, “After reviewing the transcript of the dash cam footage from his recent arrest, it is clear that Mr. McLeod is navigating profound challenges and should focus on his mental and emotional well-being instead of a campaign for governor.” At one point, McLeod can be heard saying the n-word in the dash camera footage.

McLeod has branded his arrest as “unlawful” and defended his actions, saying, “The only thing I’d ask the voters is to please give me a little bit of grace and know that long before we go to election day, they’ll know exactly what happened.” He added that his arrest was a violation of his “God-given, constitutional right to be in a public place.”

McLeod is currently facing misdemeanor charges for disorderly conduct.

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August 13, 2025
Immigration
Politics

Mamdani Pledges to Protect Illegals at Staten Island Rally.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, held an anti-Trump campaign event in Staten Island as part of his “Five Boroughs Against Trump” tour.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, Staten Island District Leader Jasmine Robinson, and Staten Island Democratic Association President Ali Ansari.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 13 at the Istanbul Bay Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant in Staten Island.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As we gather here on an island, where nearly 1 in 4 were born outside of this country, an island where 30 percent of its residents speak a language other than English, it’s an island that we know is not immune from this horrific crackdown,” Mamdani said of Trump’s deportation drive.

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani is setting himself up to turn America’s largest city into an anti-Trump stronghold should he claim the mayoralty.

IN FULL

Foreign-born Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani took his outspoken opposition to President Donald J. Trump’s immigration policies to Staten Island on Wednesday, continuing his citywide “Five Boroughs Against Trump” tour. The event was hosted at Istanbul Bay Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant, where Mamdani took aim at Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.

“As we gather here on an island where nearly one in four were born outside of this country, an island where 30 percent of its residents speak a language other than English, it’s an island that we know is not immune from this horrific crackdown,” Mamdani told the crowd. “And we know that it has nothing to do with safety. It has to do with punishment.”

A central pillar of Mamdani’s campaign has been shielding illegal immigrants from the law and confronting federal immigration efforts head-on. According to the Ugandan immigrant’s campaign platform, his policy proposals include removing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from all municipal properties and bolstering sanctuary protections across New York City.

Mamdani’s defiance of Trump’s immigration stance has become a driving force behind his candidacy, which surged following his win in the June Democratic primary. During the primary, the Muslim radical and self-described socialist aligned himself with New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who made headlines after being briefly detained by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents for disrupting an arrest involving a migrant.

Describing his goals for the city, Mamdani has said he envisions a New York that rejects “Donald Trump’s fascism,” and wants to put an end to mass deportations. Mamdani has also stated he is willing to abolish private property and prisons. He has previously called the New York City Police Department (NYPD) “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.”

The NYC election is scheduled for November 4. Mamdani will face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

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August 13, 2025
Economy
Politics

Trump Admin Rejects UN Carbon Tax, Threatens Retaliation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration announced opposition to a United Nations (UN) proposal to impose a tax on the shipping industry to reduce carbon emissions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was approved by a UN committee in April and is set for a vote in October, with potential implementation in 2027.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Whatever its stated goals, the proposed framework is effectively a global carbon tax on Americans levied by an unaccountable UN organization.” – Trump administration statement

🎯IMPACT: The administration argues this proposal will increase costs for American consumers, energy providers, and shipping companies, and threatened retaliation against nations supporting the amendment.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has moved to oppose a United Nations (UN) proposal to impose a carbon emissions tax on the shipping industry, labeling it a “global carbon tax on Americans.” The proposal, known as the “Net-Zero Framework,” was approved by a committee of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) in April and is set for a vote in October. If implemented, it would go into effect in 2027.

The framework seeks to set new carbon emission standards for ships and introduce a global pricing mechanism for emissions. Ships exceeding the thresholds would face punitive fees, while those within the standards would receive financial incentives. The Trump administration has argued that this plan would raise costs for American consumers and businesses. “These fees will drive up energy and transportation and leisure cruise costs,” the administration’s statement warns.

In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the U.S. “unequivocally rejects this proposal” and will not accept any measures that increase costs for American citizens or businesses. The statement also warned that the U.S. would “not hesitate to retaliate or explore remedies” if the proposal is passed.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick criticized the framework in a separate statement, saying, “America is setting the terms on how our products are going to market. We have every right to refuse their ‘net-zero framework,’ which would be a tax on every shipment of American goods.” He added, “International bureaucrats can take their [woke] climate nonsense elsewhere.”

The Trump administration’s move to oppose the UN proposal aligns with its broader strategy to reduce foreign influence over American energy policy and deregulate the energy sector. Notably, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords on his first day in office.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to roll back Barack Obama-era climate regulations, which could save American businesses and families an estimated $1 trillion in hidden costs, according to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

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August 13, 2025
William Upton
Crime
Politics

Anti-Trump Lunatic Shoots Veteran in Wheelchair.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An anti-Trump agitator is accused of shooting a wheelchair-bound man in the chest in Seattle, Washington, over an allegation of “stolen valor.” The gunman was previously arrested and charged in 2020 with criminal mischief, a second-degree misdemeanor, after he drove a vehicle into a Republican Party voter registration tent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Suspect Gregory William Timm, the 68-year-old wheelchair bound victim, and Seattle prosecutors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shooting took place on July 31, with Timm appearing in court this month.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The only reason this administration was getting away with these atrocious crimes is because we were rolling over and taking it.” — anti-Trump gunman Gregory William Timm

🎯IMPACT: The 68-year-old man, who survived the gunshot, says he was reaching to retrieve his military ID when Timm fired on him. Local news reports indicate the victim does appear to be a veteran.

IN FULL

An anti-Trump agitator is accused of shooting a wheelchair-bound man in the chest in Seattle, Washington, over an allegation of “stolen valor.” Gregory William Timm, 32, claimed the victim was pretending to be a veteran and confronted the 68-year-old wheelchair bound man on the busy Alaskan Way boardwalk on July 31.

Prosecutors allege Timm proceeded to rip a military patch off the victim, resulting in the victim producing a knife and an airsoft gun to defend himself. Subsequently, stepping back several feet, Timm pulled out a handgun and fired a shot into the victim’s chest while demanding to see his ID. The 68-year-old man, who survived the gunshot, says he was reaching to retrieve his military ID when Timm fired on him. Local media reports indicate he is indeed a veteran.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT


The July 31 shooting is not Timm’s first run-in with the law. In 2020, he was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, a second-degree misdemeanor, after he drove a vehicle into a Republican Party voter registration tent at the Kernan Village Shopping Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

While he initially fled the scene, local police were able to apprehend him, with Timm defending his actions, stating that the attack was his “duty” and that he “did not like President Trump.”

“The only reason this administration was getting away with these atrocious crimes is because we were rolling over and taking it,” Timm later said during a court appearance regarding the vehicle attack. President Trump personally responded to the attack at the time, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Be careful tough guys who you play with!”

While attorneys for Timm say his actions in Seattle last month were in self-defense, prosecutors have stated, “If you’re the one who’s the first aggressor who provokes an altercation, you lose the right to claim self-defense effectively under state law.” They cite Timm’s action of ripping off the victim’s military patch as having initiated the assault.

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