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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Category: Politics
July 3, 2025
Politics

Musk’s DOGE Record in Question as Federal Workforce Is Down Barely 1%.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal workforce data reveals a reduction of over 23,000 positions under the Trump administration as part of efforts to streamline government operations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and career federal workers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data reflects changes between September 30, 2024, and March 31, 2025, across federal agencies in the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The American people deserve a government that is lean, efficient, and focused on core priorities.” – Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell

🎯IMPACT: The reduction, equivalent to around one percent of the federal workforce, marks a step toward President Trump’s goal of a smaller, more accountable government, but suggests Musk’s high-profile efforts at DOGE were lacklustre.

IN FULL

Federal workforce data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shows a reduction of more than 23,000 positions between September 30, 2024, and March 31, 2025. The total number of federal employees decreased from 2,313,216 to 2,289,472 during this period. This change reflects the Trump administration’s early efforts to streamline government operations and reduce bureaucracy.

“That’s just through the end of March. So I suspect those numbers will be higher by the end of September this year, which is when a lot of the early retirement packages–and buyouts–go into effect,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute. However, he added, “This is not enough shrinkage in the federal workforce.” Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell described the reduction as “the first measurable step toward President Trump’s vision of a disciplined, accountable federal workforce.”

The reduction follows an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump in February, directing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to coordinate with federal agencies to implement staffing cuts. OPM data indicates that while agencies averaged 23,000 new hires monthly from April 2024 to January 2025, that number dropped by nearly 70 percent to just 7,385 per month after the hiring freeze took effect.

Former DOGE frontman Elon Musk claimed he could reduce the federal workforce substantially, enjoying a high public profile for his efforts before leaving the administration and turning against President Trump. However, economists like Peter Morici have noted that, “Basically, Elon Musk poured a few teacups of ice water into the ocean to combat its rising temperature.”

OPM also reported that “hundreds of thousands more workers” are expected to leave in October 2025 under the Deferred Resignation Program. Notably, tens of thousands of employees remain on the payroll due to Democratic Party lawfare that has secured several federal court orders hampering the Trump administration’s efforts.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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July 2, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
Politics

The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Could Make Tens of Millions from Asylum Seekers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” will require asylum seekers to pay a $100 fee, which could generate millions of dollars.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Republicans in Congress, asylum seekers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The “One Big Beautiful Bill” was passed on July 1 in the Senate, and is now returning to the House of Representatives.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Massive tax cuts, especially no tax on tips and overtime. And most importantly, big money for border security. This is a big win for the American people,” Vice President J.D. Vance said of the bill.

🎯IMPACT: The new charge could generate millions of dollars in revenue for the U.S. government.

IN FULL

A new stipulation in the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” or OBBB, could generate millions of dollars from asylum seekers if it passes the House in its current form. The proposal, supported by President Donald J. Trump, includes a $100 fee for each asylum application. In 2024, the U.S. recorded 892,904 asylum applications. At $100 each, the federal government could collect nearly $90 million from applicants.

The original House of Representatives’ version of the bill, called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, proposed a $1,000 asylum application fee, but the Senate reduced it to $100. The bill has now been returned to the House, which could potentially raise the fee again.

Additional charges include a $100 annual fee on pending asylum cases, $550 for an initial work permit, $250 for special immigrant juvenile status, and a $500 fee for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applications. TPS offers refuge to those alleged to be facing danger in their home countries.

The Trump administration has already removed TPS for Venezuelan migrants and is seeking to end TPS for Haitians as well, paving the way for hundreds of thousands of deportations.

The bill includes $170 billion for immigration-related expenses, with $29.9 billion earmarked for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement and $45 billion for detention centers. Notably, the asylum application fees would be no guarantee against deportation for illegitimate applicants.

Vice President J.D. Vance, who cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the OBBB in the Senate, said of the legislation, “Massive tax cuts, especially no tax on tips and overtime. And most importantly, big money for border security. This is a big win for the American people.”

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July 1, 2025
Politics

DOGE Dividend Guru and Trump Ally Forms PAC to Counter Musk.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Investor and Trump ally James Fishback launched the “Full Support for Donald” (FSD) PAC to counter Elon Musk’s political “antics.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: James Fishback, Elon Musk, President Donald J. Trump, and key Republican figures.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The FSD PAC was launched on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If Elon actually launches a new party to take down Trump, I’m starting a Super PAC to defend the MAGA candidates he targets.” – James Fishback

🎯IMPACT: The PAC aims to protect Trump’s influence within the Republican Party and counter Musk’s potential third-party efforts.

IN FULL

James Fishback, a 30-year-old investor and ally of President Donald J. Trump, has launched the FSD PAC, a super PAC aimed at countering Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s political machinations. The PAC’s name, “Full Support for Donald,” is a direct jab at Tesla’s “Full Self Driving” technology.

Fishback, a former adviser for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) where Musk was also involved, stated that the PAC’s purpose is to ensure Musk does not undermine Trump’s influence within the Republican Party. “There’s real frustration in our movement with Elon and his antics,” Fishback told the media on Monday. He added that while he admires Musk’s private-sector accomplishments, he believes the South African immigrant is “dead wrong” in politics.

The move comes as Musk’s recent comments on X (formerly Twitter) reignited tensions with President Trump. Musk threatened to create a new political party, the “America Party,” in response to disagreements over Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ which enacts most of the America First leader’s domestic agenda, including stronger border security and immigration enforcement and tax cuts on tips and overtime. Fishback responded by pledging to defend Trump-endorsed candidates, saying, “If Elon actually launches a new party to take down Trump, I’m starting a Super PAC to defend the MAGA candidates he targets.”

Fishback, who founded the investment firm Azoria Partners, has committed $1 million of his own money to the PAC. He previously gained attention for his efforts to deliver DOGE dividends, which aimed to return savings from government cuts to taxpayers. His personal story, as the son of a bus driver and a Colombian immigrant, has also been a point of interest, with Fishback stating, “In ten years, I went from helping my dad sell watermelons on the side of the road to generating over $100 million in trading profits.”

Despite Fishback’s initiative, some GOP insiders downplayed Musk’s potential influence, noting his failed attempt to sway the Wisconsin Supreme Court race earlier this year. One Republican operative remarked, “He’s finished, done, gone. He polls terribly. People hate him.”

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Purchased by The National Pulse
July 1, 2025
Politics

Obama White House Aide Who Wished Death on Trump Joins Zohran Mamdani’s Team.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A former Obama administration staffer who wished death on President Donald J. Trump is now consulting for Zohran Kwame Mamdani’s mayoral campaign in New York City.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zara Rahim, Zohran Mamdani, and President Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: New York City, during Mamdani’s mayoral campaign in 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s been against my moral identity to tweet this for the past four years, but, I hope he dies.” – Zara Rahim, October 2020.

🎯IMPACT: Rahim’s hiring raises questions about Mamdani’s political extremism.

IN FULL

A former Obama White House staffer, Zara Rahim, who once publicly wished death on President Donald J. Trump, has taken on a new role as a communications consultant for Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate in New York City. Mamdani, a Uganda-born Muslim extremist who has advocated for “seizing the means of production,” recently secured the Democratic nomination for mayor, making him the frontrunner for the November general election. Campaign finance records show Rahim was paid $3,500 for her consulting work in May.

Rahim gained attention in October 2020 when she posted on X (formerly Twitter), “It’s been against my moral identity to tweet this for the past four years, but, I hope he dies,” referring to President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis at the time. Though she later deleted the post, her controversial statements have resurfaced as she works closely with Mamdani, including crafting campaign materials and assisting during his media appearances.

Rahim, a Bangladeshi immigrant, previously worked for Barack Obama’s Office of Digital Strategy and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Her other clients have included corporations like Netflix, Nike, and Uber. She has also been vocal on social media, criticizing America and expressing support for the “Defund the Police” movement, a position shared by Mamdani.

Other controversial figures in Mamdani’s campaign include Julian Gerson, his political director, who praised the alleged murderer of a healthcare executive, and Matthew Thomas, a former staffer with a criminal record for soliciting a minor.

Image by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

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July 1, 2025
News
Politics

The Democrats Are the Least Popular Lawmakers in Congress.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Polling has found the Democratic leadership is unpopular among the majority of the American public ahead of the 2026 midterm elections

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Democratic leadership in the House and Senate, American voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The polling was released on July 1.

🎯IMPACT: The poll shows lackluster support for the largely leaderless Democrats who are struggling to form a unified front ahead of next year’s pivotal elections.

IN FULL

Newly released polling indicates that the majority of the American public does not approve of the Democrats in Congress and how they are carrying out their duties. The Marist/NPR/PBS News poll, released on July 1, states that 58 percent of American voters disapprove of what the Democratic leaders are doing in Congress, with just 27 percent approving.

Even a majority of Democrats do not approve of the job the Democratic leaders are doing, with only 44 percent saying they back their party’s leaders and 43 percent saying they disapprove.

In contrast, 52 percent of voters say they disapprove of congressional Republicans’ leadership, which is down from 66 percent. Thirty-six percent of voters, including 73 percent of Republicans, say they approve of congressional Republicans’ performance, up from 26 percent in 2024.

While the Republican numbers are still negative overall, they still show that dissatisfaction with the Democrats, particularly among their own voters, runs far deeper, despite the fact that they are in opposition in both congressional chambers.

For months, the Democrats have been largely leaderless following the disastrous defeat of their 2024 presidential candidate, former Vice President Kamala Harris. The party has fractured with no clear figurehead as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 74, and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, lose relevance in their old age, and different factions are vying for influence ahead of the 2026 midterms.

An example was seen earlier this year when gun control activist David Hogg was selected as Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Soon after his election, Hogg announced he would spend millions of dollars to go after candidates not deemed woke or progressive enough. This led to strong criticism of Hogg and ultimately to his ouster from the position, on the pretext that his election had violated their gender equality policies.

Image by Victoria Pickering.

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July 1, 2025
Politics

This Trump Ally Was Just Tapped as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has nominated Alina Habba to serve a full four-year term as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Alina Habba, and the Senate.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Nomination announced Tuesday, July 1; Habba has been serving as Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey since March.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Alina will lead with the same diligence and conviction that has defined her career, and she will fight tirelessly to secure a Legal System that is both ‘Fair and Just’ for the wonderful people of New Jersey.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The nomination now heads to the Senate for consideration, as Habba continues to serve in her interim role.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has nominated Alina Habba to serve a full four-year term as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, the White House announced on Tuesday. Habba is one of over two dozen nominations sent to the Senate for their consideration.

In March, Trump appointed Habba as the Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, after the then-interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, John Giordani, was nominated to serve as the U.S  Ambassador to Namibia.

“It is with great pleasure that I am announcing Alina Habba, Esq., who is currently serving as Counselor to the President, and has represented me for a long time, will be our interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, her Home State, effective immediately,” Trump wrote at the time. “Alina will lead with the same diligence and conviction that has defined her career, and she will fight tirelessly to secure a Legal System that is both ‘Fair and Just’ for the wonderful people of New Jersey.”

During her time in the interim role, Habba oversaw charges brought against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), who was indicted on federal charges of forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers outside the Delaney Hall Federal Immigration Facility in Newark, New Jersey, on May 9.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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July 1, 2025
Politics

Tesla Shares Are Dipping Amid Musk-Trump Spending Bill Clash.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Tesla shares dropped sharply after a renewed public dispute between Elon Musk and President Donald J. Trump over the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tesla CEO Elon Musk, President Trump, and Tesla investors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The stock drop occurred on Tuesday morning, following Musk’s comments over the weekend and on Monday. The dispute has played out publicly on Musk’s X platform (formerly Twitter) and elsewhere.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The bill would destroy millions of jobs in America.” – Elon Musk

🎯IMPACT: Tesla’s stock dropped 7.1 percent in early trading and remains down 5.4 percent as of late afternoon. The ongoing dispute is causing investor concerns over government scrutiny of Musk’s ventures.

IN FULL

Tesla shares dipped Tuesday morning following a public spat between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald J. Trump over the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ which has passed the Senate and now heads back to the House for final approval. The electric vehicle company’s stock price fell 23 points in early trading, or 7.1 percent, and was down roughly 5.4 percent at $300.60 per share as of 1:50 PM EST.

Musk reignited the argument on Saturday by criticizing the bill, which President Trump is urging Congress to pass by July 4. Musk described the legislation as a “big, beautiful bill” that would “destroy millions of jobs in America.” On Monday, Musk escalated his rhetoric, suggesting he might form a new political party and support primary challenges against Republicans who vote in favor of the legislation.

President Trump responded Tuesday morning, highlighting the subsidies Musk’s companies receive from the government. He also suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk previously led before stepping down in May, might investigate government spending linked to Musk’s ventures.

Wedbush tech analyst Dan Ives noted in a report that investor concerns about increased scrutiny from the Trump administration could lead to weak trading early on, but he expects the situation to “settle at the end of the day.” Musk has previously called the reconciliation bill, which funds U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and border security while cutting taxes on tips, overtime, and social security, “pork-filled” and a “disgusting abomination.”

Tesla stock prices have fallen roughly 21 percent since the start of the year, with Musk’s involvement in political disputes becoming a significant issue for investors. The company is set to release its quarterly earnings tomorrow.

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July 1, 2025
Politics

The USAID ‘NGO Industrial Complex’ Is Officially Over.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will cease implementing foreign assistance programs, with the State Department taking over such efforts under the Trump administration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Trump administration, and USAID.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made Tuesday; changes effective July 1.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This era of government-sanctioned inefficiency has officially come to an end.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: Over 80 percent of USAID programs will be cut, with 5,200 of 6,200 programs canceled.

IN FULL

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will no longer implement foreign assistance programs, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday. Beginning July 1, the State Department will take over such programs under the Trump administration’s directive to prioritize America’s national interests.

Rubio stated that USAID has failed to meet development objectives for decades, often worsening instability and fostering anti-American sentiment. “Beyond creating a globe-spanning NGO industrial complex at taxpayer expense, USAID has little to show since the end of the Cold War,” Rubio remarked, adding: “This era of government-sanctioned inefficiency has officially come to an end.”

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently conducted a review of USAID’s operations, leading to the cancellation of over 80 percent of its programs. Rubio revealed that approximately 5,200 of USAID’s 6,200 programs will be terminated. Controversial funding decisions, such as a $1.5 million program to promote “diversity, equity, and inclusion” in Serbia and a $70,000 “DEI musical” in Ireland, contributed to the agency’s scrutiny.

Critics of the decision include Democrats and activists, with actress Charlize Theron voicing strong opposition. Theron claimed that foreign aid cuts have brought HIV and AIDS programs in South Africa to a halt, describing the situation as “absolutely heartbreaking.” She also criticized U.S. immigration policies and alleged a rollback of women’s and LGBTQ rights, stating, “Here in Los Angeles, in the U.S. and across the globe, we are moving backwards fast.” It is unclear whether Theron was voicing support for the violent, pro-illegal immigration riots in Los Angeles or just opposition to several large-scale U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across the city.

Despite the criticism, the Trump administration has maintained that the changes will ensure foreign funding aligns with American interests, emphasizing greater accountability and efficiency under the State Department’s oversight.

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July 1, 2025
News
Politics

Trump Brands NYC’s Mamdani ‘Terrible,’ ‘A True Communist.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump criticized far-left New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D) for refusing to condemn the term “globalize the intifada.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Zohran Mamdani, New York City residents.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Frankly, I’ve heard he’s a total nut job. I think the people in New York are crazy because they go this route.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s remarks highlight concerns about Mamdani’s political ideology and its implications for New York City.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump blasted New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D) after the Queens assemblyman refused to condemn the term “globalize the intifada.” The phrase is often used to support violent Palestinian action against Israelis and Jews generally, including terrorism.

“Frankly, I’ve heard he’s a total nut job,” Trump told reporters Tuesday morning. “I think the people in New York are crazy because they go this route. I think they’re crazy. We will have a communist in the for the first time, really a pure, true communist. He wants to operate the grocery stores. The department stores. What about the people that are there? I think it’s crazy.”

Mamdani, a Ugandan-born Muslim from the extreme “Twelver” sect of Shia Islam, won the Democratic Party’s primary for New York City mayor in June. During an interview on Sunday, Mamdani stated he didn’t want to condemn the term “globalize the intifada” because he didn’t want to “police language.”

“I think he’s terrible. He’s a communist,” Trump reiterated on Tuesday. The native New Yorker added that the “last thing we need is a communist. I said, there will never be socialism in the United States… I think it’s bad news.”

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July 1, 2025
William Upton
Politics

Senate GOP Fails to Restore Medicaid Cuts for Illegals to ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senate Republicans failed to restore a provision barring illegal immigrants from accessing Medicaid to the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ after it was thrown out by the Senate Parliamentarian.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Republicans, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ‘vote-a-rama’ on amendments to the budget reconciliation bill began on June 30 and was ongoing on the morning of July 1.

🎯IMPACT: The removal of key provisions found in the House of the legislation could push lawmakers in the lower chamber to either outright oppose or demand amendments to the Senate bill once it is passed. This could jeopardize the chances of passage or delay adoption of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ beyond President Trump’s July 4 deadline.

IN FULL

Senate Republicans failed to re-add a measure preventing illegal immigrants from accessing Medicaid to the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ during the longest ‘vote-a-rama’ in American political history. The measure was rejected with 56 Senators in favor and 44 opposed. Typically, the amendment would have needed only 51 votes to be adopted. However, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that the provision violated the Byrd Rule, which raises the vote threshold to 60 votes to break a filibuster.

The removal of the measure has angered conservatives who saw the provision as a key component of the budget reconciliation legislation. Notably, a number of policies that were adopted in the House version of the bill have been stripped in the Senate by the Parliamentarian.

While the core of the legislation remains intact, including the implementation of President Donald J. Trump‘s campaign promises of no tax on tips, no tax on social security income, no tax on overtime income, and making permanent the 2017 Trump tax cuts—other provisions that prevented Medicaid funds from being used for the gender transition of minors and the clawback of funding for Planned Parenthood were stripped by the Parliamenarian. Consequently, the more watered-down Senate legislation could be seen as unpalatable in the House.

Some “moderate” House Republicans are already balking at the Senate bill’s larger direct cuts to Medicaid. If they’re joined in opposition by conservative House Republicans, it may be difficult to find a path to bring both sides back to supporting the legislation, jeopardizing its final passage.

President Trump has said he wants to sign the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ into law on July 4, though as of the time of publication, the reconciliation legislation is still stuck in the Senate, so lawmakers on Capitol Hill are running quickly out of time.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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