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Category: Politics
May 13, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Politics
World

Trump Ending Sanctions on Syria to ‘Give Them a Chance at Greatness.’

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced the cessation of sanctions against Syria at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, aiming to normalize relations with the regime led by former al-Qaeda operative Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa and stabilize the war-torn nation.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Syria’s leader Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, a.k.a. Abu Mohammad al-Julani.

📍 Where & When: Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump declared.

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s move could help stabilize Syria and pave the way for migrant returns. Engaging with al-Sharaa’s controversial regime risks backlash over minority persecutions, but could create diplomatic leverage that the administration can leverage to protect minorities.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has announced he “will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness” at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum. The America First leader said Syria had “seen so much misery and death” over its years of civil war, and that he hoped the new regime would “hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace.”

“[T]hey’ve had their share of travesty, war, killing [for] many years,” Trump remarked on Tuesday, saying his administration had already taken steps towards normalizing relations with the country. He revealed that the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed Bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had played a significant role in persuading him to make these moves.

“Oh, the things I do for the Crown Prince,” Trump joked after the sanctions announcement was met with sustained cheers.

The decision to normalize relations with Syria, now led by former al-Qaeda operative and wanted terrorist Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, a.k.a. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, will prove controversial, given his track record and reports of atrocities against Syria’s Alawite and Christian minorities under his leadership.

However, the reality on the ground is that al-Sharaa is in complete control of the country’s capital and heartlands, and he is already being welcomed on official visits by other countries, such as France. Officially recognizing al-Sharaa’s government may give the Trump administration more leverage to persuade al-Sharaa’s regime not to persecute minorities, and make it possible to return tens of thousands of Syrian migrants to their homeland.

Earlier in his visit, President Trump announced he had secured $600 billion in Saudi investments.

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May 12, 2025
William Upton
Politics

House Republicans Unveil Tax Provisions in Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ Including No Tax on Tips and Overtime.

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❓What Happened:  House Republicans have unveiled the sweeping tax provisions that will be included in their budget reconciliation legislation, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The measures will permanently enshrine key elements of the 2017 Trump tax cuts while adding new deductions for tips, overtime, car loan interest, school choice scholarship contributions, and more.

👥 Who’s Involved: The amendment was filed by Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Many of the provisions reflect President Donald J. Trump’s 2024 campaign pledges, providing relief for American workers.

📍 Where & When: The tax provisions were filed on Monday, May 12, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “This week the Republicans are meeting in the Tax, Energy, and Agriculture Committees on major pieces of ‘THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Monday, adding: “Republicans need to UNIFY behind their Highly Respected Chairmen, Jason Smith, Brett Guthrie, and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Remember, these are men that truly strive to do what is RIGHT for America.”

⚠️ Impact: The bill enacts a number of President Trump’s 2024 campaign promises, providing tax relief for American workers through no tax on tips and no tax on overtime provisions. Additionally, other tax changes aim to boost domestic industry and make permanent Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.

IN FULL:

House Republicans have unveiled the tax portion of what President Donald J. Trump has dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill“—budget reconciliation legislation that will implement much of the America First leader’s White House agenda. Filed by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) as an amendment to the overall budget bill, the legislative measure contains provisions making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, and expands them with a bevy of new deductions aimed at workers, families, car buyers, and donors to private education initiatives.

“This week the Republicans are meeting in the Tax, Energy, and Agriculture Committees on major pieces of ‘THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social earlier on Monday, adding: “Republicans need to UNIFY behind their Highly Respected Chairmen, Jason Smith, Brett Guthrie, and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Remember, these are men that truly strive to do what is RIGHT for America.”

Critically, the Ways and Means amendment that will be incorporated into the larger reconciliation bill begins by eliminating the 2025 sunset provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Under the new framework, lower individual tax rates would remain in place permanently, and the increased standard deduction would be retained and boosted through 2028. The Child Tax Credit would increase from $2,000 to $2,500 between 2025 and 2028, then remain indexed to inflation thereafter. Eligibility for the credit would require each child to possess a valid Social Security Number—a change likely aimed at curbing fraudulent filings involving non-citizens.

The bill also introduces a new set of work-based incentives. Cash tips would become non-taxable in qualifying service industries. Overtime wages would be newly deductible for workers through 2028. Senior citizens would receive an additional $4,000 standard deduction, phased out at higher income levels. Another provision allows car buyers to deduct loan interest payments, provided the vehicle was assembled in the United States.

Education reforms also receive a significant boost. The bill offers a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for donations to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations that support private and religious schooling. A nationwide cap of $5 billion would apply. Five hundred and twenty-nine savings plans would also be expanded to include homeschool expenses, tutors, special education therapies, and educational materials. The adoption tax credit is enhanced and made partially refundable, with new language recognizing tribal government input in determining children with special needs.

Notably, the estate tax exemption would rise to $15 million per person, effective permanently, providing additional protections to family farms. The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) thresholds would be extended indefinitely. High-income earners would face a return of the so-called Pease limitation on itemized deductions, kicking in on incomes over $400,000.

Overall, the tax provisions reflect President Trump’s America First agenda, rewarding work, family formation, religious schooling, and domestic manufacturing. The Ways and Means Committee amendment’s text is 389 pages long, though the final full reconciliation bill is expected to be far longer.

While House and Senate Democrats have already expressed their opposition to the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” under the rules of the budget reconciliation process, the legislation only requires a majority in each chamber of Congress for passage. Additionally, a budget bill moved under the reconciliation process is not subject to Senate filibuster rules, meaning Republicans will not need to reach the 60-vote threshold to invoke cloture.

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May 12, 2025
William Upton
Politics

AOC Eyes Schumer Ouster, 2028 Presidential Bid.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is using a series of cross-country rallies with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to consolidate support among progressive Democrats ahead of a potential primary challenge against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), or even a possible 2028 presidential run. The New York Congresswoman raised nearly $10 million in campaign cash during the first quarter of 2025.

👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Chuck Schumer, President Donald J. Trump, Democratic voters.

📍 Where & When: Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders kicked off their Fighting Oligarchy Tour in February with recent rallies in Colorado, California, and Arizona.

💬 Key Quote: “We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez argued at a recent rally in Tempe, Arizona. “I want you to look at every level of office around and support Democrats who fight, because those are the ones who can actually win against Republicans.”

⚠️ Impact: The Fighting Oligarchy Tour has positioned Ocasio-Cortez, a radical progressive, as a leading anti-Trump voice in the Democratic Party, fueling speculation she may soon launch a primary challenge to Sen. Schumer or launch a 2028 presidential bid.

IN FULL:

Disaffected Democrats and political progressives are rallying around the far-left populist message espoused by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), fueling increasing speculation that the 35-year-old New York Democrat may mount a primary challenge to 74-year-old Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) or even launch a 2028 presidential bid. Since late February, Ocasio-Cortez—often referred to as AOC—has been holding large rallies across the country with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as part of the Fighting Oligarchy Tour, resulting in the progressive Congresswoman raising nearly $10 million in the first quarter of 2025.

In March, a Fighting Oligarchy Tour rally in Denver, Colorado, featuring AOC and Sanders, drew a reported 34,000 attendees—eclipsing the crowds drawn during Sen. Sanders’s previous two presidential campaigns and dwarfing all other Democratic Party events that month. Subsequently, an April rally in Los Angeles, California, drew an estimated 36,000 people. The rallies often feature calls for Rep. Ocasio-Cortez to primary Sen. Chuck Schumer. AOC and progressive Democrats contend he was too quick to cave to President Trump and Congressional Republicans on a government funding bill.

“We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez argued at a recent rally in Tempe, Arizona. “I want you to look at every level of office around and support Democrats who fight, because those are the ones who can actually win against Republicans.”

While AOC’s cross-country tour and rallies with Sanders have energized the Democratic Party’s far-left progressive faction, more moderate party leaders worry that the New York Congresswoman’s radical message will alienate independent voters. However, absent any other standard bearers stepping forward and gaining traction, Ocasio-Cortez, with the backing of Sanders, appears to be quickly consolidating her position as one of the Democratic Party’s most vocal anti-Trump leaders.

Despite not having ruled out a potential 2028 bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, AOC is believed to be best positioned to challenge Schumer for his Senate seat. Several House Democrats have encouraged their progressive colleague to mount a primary campaign, with Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) stating, “I’ve already said it: Senate looks good.”

Image by Matt Johnson.

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May 12, 2025
William Upton
Health
Politics

President Trump Signs ‘Most Favored Nation’ EO, Slashing Prescription Drug Costs.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order implementing a “most favored nation” prescription drug pricing policy that could cut pharmaceutical costs by anywhere between 30 and 80 percent for Americans.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Medicare, foreign nations, the pharmaceutical industry.

📍 Where & When: The order was signed on Monday, May 12, 2025, at the White House.

💬 Key Quote: “We are going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. Whoever is paying the lowest price, that is the price we’re going to get—so we’re no longer paying ten times more than another country,” President Trump said after signing the Executive Order.

⚠️ Impact: The new drug pricing plan aims to significantly lower the costs for prescription drugs purchased through Medicare, providing savings for both the U.S. government and Americans enrolled in the federal health insurance program.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order establishing a “most favored nation” policy that will tie Medicare payments for pharmaceuticals administered by a medical doctor to the lowest price paid by other countries. The directive aims to bring down the cost of prescription drugs in the United States and provide significant savings to the federal government through reduced Medicare costs. Notably, the Trump White House contends the policy could cut pharmaceutical costs by anywhere between 30 and 80 percent for Americans.

The “most favored nation” pricing policy has been a long-standing goal for President Trump. An attempt to implement the plan late in his first term was sidelined after a federal court blocked the directive. However, according to Trump, the newest iteration will not only be implemented through his Executive Order but will also be codified into law as part of the budget reconciliation bill taking form in Congress.

“We are going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. Whoever is paying the lowest price, that is the price we’re going to get—so we’re no longer paying ten times more than another country,” Trump said after signing the order in the Oval Office on Monday. He continued: “I’m doing this against the most powerful lobby in the world, probably—the drug lobby and pharmaceutical lobby—but it’s one of the most important orders, I think, that’s ever been signed.”

The America First leader added: “Big Pharma will either abide by this principle voluntarily, or we’ll use the power of the federal government to ensure that we are paying the same price as other countries.”


While the specifics of the Executive Order and legislative provisions are not entirely known as of the time of publication, a “most favored nation” pricing policy essentially means the United States government will only pay pharmaceutical companies for a drug covered under Medicare at the lowest rate paid by similar advanced nations. For instance, while a pharmaceutical company might charge the federal government $300 for a specific medication, if that same medication is sold to the German government for just $30, by law, the U.S. government will only pay $30 instead of the higher price.

It is expected that Trump’s Executive Order will face a number of legal challenges from the pharmaceutical industry.

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May 12, 2025
Politics
The Resistance

DDT Network Emerges as Hub for Never Trump Operatives.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Defending Democracy Together (DDT), a Never Trump advocacy group, has expanded into a network of left-leaning political action committees (PACs), policy nonprofits, and media properties, raising at least $151 million since 2018.

👥 Who’s Involved: Former Republicans Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell, who lead the DDT Network.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C.; network activities and fundraising have been ongoing since 2018.

💬 Key Quote: The New York Times described Kristol as “someone who has probably picked over as many greenroom fruit plates as anyone in Washington.”

⚠️ Impact: The DDT Network resembles a political party infrastructure and has directed significant funds towards opposing President Donald J. Trump and supporting Democratic causes.

IN FULL:

Defending Democracy Together (DDT), a Never Trump advocacy group spearheaded by former Republicans Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell, has evolved into a substantial network comprising left-leaning political action committees (PACs), policy nonprofits, and media entities. Since its inception in 2018, the network has successfully raised over $151 million, with its financial momentum showing no signs of slowing down. A recent report from the Capital Research Center (CRC) has revealed the Never Trump organization’s vast network of far-left funders and affiliations with a web of anti-Trump political groups.

Kristol, a veteran of Washington politics and staunch neoconservative, serves as the principal officer, while Longwell is the executive director of both Defending Democracy Together and the Defending Democracy Together Institute (DDTI). The duo also oversees the Republican Accountability PAC, a political action committee (PAC).

In 2020, the network’s efforts to defeat President Donald J. Trump were bolstered by a $10,050,000 grant from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, part of the far-left Arabella Advisors dark money network. The network’s financial transparency remains limited, with a significant portion of its backing sourced from anonymous contributions.

Prominent donors to the DDT Network include Democracy Fund Voice, backed by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, and American Future Republic, connected to LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. These contributions have enabled the network to direct substantial resources towards opposing Trump and supporting Democratic candidates, with Hoffman contributing $9.5 million directly to the Republican Accountability PAC. Other significant donors to the PAC include Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who has given $6.9 million; John Pritzker, a San Francisco real estate mogul and member of the Pritzker family, who has contributed $3 million; and the leftist daughter-in-law of Rupert Murdoch, Kathryn Murdoch, who gave $2 million.

The DDT Network has also funneled funds into media ventures such as The Bulwark, a Never Trump website, and The Liberal Patriot, a platform that critiques the Democratic Party’s focus on “woke” culture and climate issues. Additionally, the network supports groups like George Conway‘s Society for the Rule of Law (SFL) and the Never Trump group Principles First.

Sarah Longwell’s consulting firm, Longwell Partners, has received over $21 million as a contractor for the DDT Network, suggesting the network also serves as a significant income conduit for its leaders.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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May 9, 2025
Crime
News
Politics

US Marshals Set to Arrest DC Woman for Spitting on Ed Martin During Live Interview.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Ed Martin, President Donald J. Trump’s initial nominee for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, was spat on by a woman during a Newsmax interview. The U.S. Marshals have identified the woman and plan to arrest her.

👥 Who’s Involved: Acting U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin, the woman who spat on him, U.S. Marshals, and Daily Caller reporter Vince Coglianese.

📍 Where & When: The incident took place during a Newsmax interview, shortly after Trump’s decision to withdraw Martin’s nomination for a top prosecutor role in Washington, D.C.

💬 Key Quote: “Ed Martin tells me the U.S. Marshals do know who the woman is who spit on him yesterday during a Newsmax appearance,” Vince Coglianese reported.

⚠️ Impact: The footage has gone viral, with many calling for legal action against the woman.

IN FULL:

Ed Martin, President Donald J. Trump‘s initial nominee for a top federal prosecutor position in Washington, D.C., was the target of a spitting assault during an interview on May 9. The woman involved has been identified by the U.S. Marshals, who are preparing to arrest her.

The event unfolded while Martin was speaking with reporters, and the woman, while passing by, angrily identified him by name before spitting on him. She further insulted Martin, calling him a “disgusting man,” while walking her small dog.

The incident quickly gained traction online, with the video being viewed by millions. Many have criticized the woman, labeling her as a “psychotic lib” and a “feral leftist.” There are calls for her to face legal consequences.

“Ed Martin tells me the U.S. Marshals do know who the woman is who spit on him yesterday during a Newsmax appearance,” radio host Vince Coglianese said.

The backdrop to this incident is President Trump’s recent decision to withdraw Martin’s nomination for the federal prosecutor role. This decision came after Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) expressed his unwillingness to support Martin over his handling of January 6 cases. Tillis remarked, “I have no tolerance for anybody that entered the building on January 6, and that’s probably where most of the friction was.” Martin’s interim term as U.S. Attorney expires on May 20.

Following the withdrawal, Trump nominated Judge Jeanine Pirro. Martin will now serve as the Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney in the Justice Department.

Trump praised Martin’s work as interim U.S. Attorney and expressed confidence in his new role, stating that Martin would “provide much needed Justice” for victims of government weaponization under the current administration.

The spitting incident is just the latest act of leftist violence. It comes just days after Antifa militants assaulted people in Seattle with feces and threatened elderly people at a Turning Point USA event.

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May 8, 2025
William Upton
Politics

With Ed Martin Nomination Stalled, Trump May Name Judge Jeanine as U.S. Attorney for D.C. Instead.

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❓What Happened: With Ed Martin’s nomination as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia stalled in the Senate, it is widely speculated that President Donald J. Trump will announce former judge, prosecutor, and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as his new pick.

👥 Who’s Involved: Current Interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin; Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro; President Donald J. Trump, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), the U.S. Senate.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., May 8, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “He is a terrific person. He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump said of the stalled Martin nomination, adding: “I’m very disappointed in that. But I have so many different things that I’m doing now with the trade [negotiations]. One person, I can only lift that little phone so many times in a day. But we have somebody else that will be great.”

⚠️ Impact: Pirro is seen as a staunch ally of Trump, who, like Martin, will continue to carry out the America First leader’s agenda in the District of Columbia.

IN FULL:

It is believed that President Donald J. Trump will soon tap former judge, prosecutor, and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the new Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. The move comes as the push to confirm the current interim prosecutor, Ed Martin, has stalled out in the U.S. Senate after drawing opposition from Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), an establishment figure often accused of catering to the political goals of multinational corporations over Americans.

Earlier on Thursday, after signing a landmark trade deal with the United Kingdom, President Trump addressed the current situation with Martin’s nomination, expressing his frustration with the senators opposing his pick but signaling that the White House would be moving on to another choice. “He is a terrific person. He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump said, adding: “I’m very disappointed in that. But I have so many different things that I’m doing now with the trade [negotiations]. One person, I can only lift that little phone so many times in a day. But we have somebody else that will be great.”

Trump went on to reemphasize that his White House has “somebody else that we’ll be announcing over the next two days who’s gonna be great.”

Jeanine Pirro has been a staunch ally of Trump, even before either was on the national political stage. Notably, Pirro was an early backer of Trump’s successful 2016 presidential bid and served as a quasi-surrogate, pushing back against attacks on him in the media.

Image by Michael IVadon.

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May 8, 2025
William Upton
Politics
Religion

Pope Leo XIV Is a Registered Republican and Cast Ballots in Past GOP Primaries.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: U.S. voting data shows that the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV—formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, Illinois—is a registered Republican and has voted in a number of Republican primary elections in the past. Additionally, voter modeling suggests he is a conservative Republican voter.

👥 Who’s Involved: Pope Leo XIV.

📍 Where & When: May 8, 2025, the Vatican in Rome, Italy.

💬 Key Quote: Our Turning Point Action team pulled the voting history for Pope Leo XIV. He’s a registered Republican who has voted in Republican primaries when not living abroad,” Turning Point Action’s Charlie Kirk wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He added: “Our data shows he’s a strong Republican, and he’s pro-life.”

⚠️ Impact: While not conclusive as to what the theological and ideological temperament of Pope Leo XIV might be, the data suggests that the new pontiff does represent a break from the more progressive excesses of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.

IN FULL:

With the election of Chicago-born American Cardinal Robert Prevost to the papacy, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, we can, for the first time, actually know—to an extent—the political voting history of a pontiff in American elections. An American citizen, Pope Leo XIV is a registered member of the Republican Party and cast Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016.

“Our Turning Point Action team pulled the voting history for Pope Leo XIV. He’s a registered Republican who has voted in Republican primaries when not living abroad,” Turning Point Action’s Charlie Kirk wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Our data shows he’s a strong Republican, and he’s pro-life.”

Notably, the new pontiff has also cast ballots in a number of general elections in the United States in both presidential and midterm cycles. Pope Leo XIV voted in all U.S. general elections between 2000 and 2008, casting a ballot again in 2012 and 2014, and in 2018 and 2024. Additionally, according to voter modeling by Turning Point Action, Pope Leo XIV is categorized as having a generally conservative political ideology and a strong Republican partisanship rating.

The election and modeling data may provide hope for some of the more traditionalist factions in the Catholic Church, who want the new pontiff to provide a reprieve from the late Pope Francis‘s more “progressive” papacy. However, it is important to note that outside the modeling, it is unknown which candidates for public office were actually supported by Pope Leo XIV, with more moderate Republicans being just as likely as more conservative candidates.

Throwing some cold water on the idea that Pope Leo XIV may in some ways embody a more American conservative style of Catholicism is his history of criticism of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance over their immigration policy on social media. The National Pulse reported earlier on Thursday that then-Cardinal Robert Prevost had shared several articles on X attacking both Trump and Vance over their deportation and immigration restriction policies.

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May 7, 2025
Politics

House Democrats Are Begging Pam Bondi Not to Cut DOJ ‘Race Relations’ Office.

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❓What Happened: House Democrats are urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to preserve the Community Relations Service, a civil rights-era office under threat of closure. The program, ostensibly intended to resolve ethnic tensions, was deployed twice in Minneapolis during the George Floyd riots with little effect.

👥 Who’s Involved: Over two dozen House Democrats, including Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), have reached out to Bondi and the Justice Department (DOJ).

📍 Where & When: The letter was sent on Wednesday, May 7, 2024, with concerns stemming from a Justice Department memo reviewed last month.

💬 Key Quote: “We strongly urge you to abandon any plans of dissolving the work of the Community Relations Service,” wrote the House Democrats.

⚠️ Impact: Supporters contend that closing the office could increase the risk of racial unrest and legal challenges, while detractors contend it can exacerbate racial grievances.

IN FULL:

House Democrats are formally appealing to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to maintain the Community Relations Service, a non-investigative and nonprosecutorial office established under the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the civil rights era. This office, often termed the “peacemakers program,” faces potential closure according to a DOJ memo issued last month.

Created under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Community Relations Service ostensibly aims to mediate and resolve racial and ethnic tensions, conflicts, and civil disturbances, fostering racial harmony and stability. Notably, the office was twice deployed to Minneapolis during the George Floyd riots but appears to have had little impact.

“We are aware that during the previous Trump Administration there was a similar effort to abandon the valuable work of the Community Relations Service by recommending its elimination in budget proposals and reducing staffing,” the letter, spearheaded by Represenative Bobby Scott (D-VA), reads, adding: “We strongly urge you to abandon any plans of dissolving the work of the Community Relations Service.”

While the Community Relations Service, expanded under the 2008 Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, does not possess law enforcement authority—instead offering confidential and free services to communities—the program received a budget of $24 million in the 2024 fiscal year. Notably, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has recommended the elimination of similar programs at other federal agencies to cut government waste.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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May 7, 2025
Politics

J.D. Vance’s Brother Secures Spot in Cincinnati Mayoral Race.

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❓What Happened: Cory Bowman, half-brother of Vice President J.D. Vance, advanced to the Cincinnati mayoral general election in November with 13 percent of the vote.

👥 Who’s Involved: Cory Bowman, Aftab Pureval, Brian Frank, J.D. Vance.

📍 Where & When: Cincinnati, Ohio; with the nonpartisan primary occurring on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Bowman stated, “As I was flying back here from the inauguration, it occurred to me that I could do something to serve the community.”

⚠️ Impact: Bowman will square off against Cincinnati’s incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval in the Democrat-leaning city during the November 4 election.

IN FULL:

Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President J.D. Vance, has secured a spot in the upcoming general election for Cincinnati‘s mayoral race. Garnering 13 percent of the vote in the recent nonpartisan primary, Bowman, a Republican, will face off against Democratic incumbent Aftab Pureval, who commanded a significant 82.5 percent of the vote. Only the top two vote recipients in the city’s nonpartisan primary advance to the November general election. A second Republican candidate, Brian Frank, was eliminated after receiving just 4.6 percent of the vote.

The city of Cincinnati, known for its Democratic leanings, has not seen a Republican candidate in its mayoral elections since 2009, when former Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) was defeated by Mark Mallory. In the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris secured 76 percent of the vote compared to President Donald J. Trump‘s 24 percent. Currently, all nine members of the Cincinnati City Council are Democrats.

Bowman, a pastor at River Church and owner of Kings Arms Coffee Shop, is making his first foray into public office. Inspired after attending the inauguration of President Trump and Vice President Vance, he expressed a desire to serve his community, stating, “As I was flying back here from the inauguration, it occurred to me that I could do something to serve the community.”

While Vice President Vance has not actively campaigned for Bowman, he did offer support via social media, describing Bowman as “a good guy with a heart for serving his community.”

Reacting to the primary results, Bowman acknowledged Pureval’s strong start but remained optimistic about closing the gap, noting, “We’re kind of catching up a little bit.”

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