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Sunday, December 14, 2025
3 hours ago
News

Trump to WSJ: Economic Boost May Take More Time, Americans May Take ‘While’ to Realize.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Trump expressed uncertainty about the immediate impact of his economic policies on the upcoming midterm elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Wall Street Journal.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Interview with The Wall Street Journal, Oval Office, December 2025, Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t know when all of this money is going to kick in… I’ve created the greatest economy in history. But it may take people a while to figure all these things out.” – President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Concerns over the economy might affect Republican chances in the midterms.

IN FULL

President Trump, during an interview with The Wall Street Journal, expressed uncertainty about whether his economic policies would translate into political gains for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. Despite touting efforts to secure multibillion-dollar investments in the U.S., he acknowledged the unpredictability of these measures affecting voter sentiment.

The news comes after weeks of outlets such as The National Pulse warning about the time lags associated with specific economic measures that should have been prioritized over some international matters or endeavors like rebuilding the White House’s East Wing.

The president, in the interview, noted the steady expansion of the U.S. economy since he took office but admitted that the benefits have not been uniformly felt. Asked about Republican prospects in the midterms, Trump said, “I can’t tell you. I don’t know when all of this money is going to kick in.”

He added: “I think by the time we have to talk about the election, which is in another few months, I think our prices are in good shape… I’ve created the greatest economy in history. But it may take people a while to figure all these things out,” the President said.

“All this money that’s pouring into our country is building things right now—car plants, AI, lots of stuff. I cannot tell you how that’s going to equate to the voter, all I can do is do my job.”

The Wall Street Journal‘s Meredith McGraw asked POTUS if he would have done anything differently during his first year, to which he responded: “Overall, no… More money is invested in the United States than any country in history. Stock markets hit all-time highs. I closed the border.”

“We’ll see what happens. We should win. But, you know, statistically, it’s very tough to win. Yeah, it doesn’t make sense… All we’re going to do is, we’re going to try our best to win,” the President concluded

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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
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4 hours ago
News

11 Dead in Anti-Semitic Sydney Terror Shooting.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, killing at least 11 people and wounding 29 others in what Australian authorities have labeled an antisemitic terrorist attack.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Two gunmen—one killed by police and the other critically injured and in custody—targeted the Jewish community. One gunman is believed to be Naveed Akram, a Pakistani muslim migrant. Victims included Rabbi Eli Schlanger and an Israeli citizen, while bystander Ahmed al Ahmed disarmed one attacker.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on Saturday evening, December 14, 2025, at Bondi Beach, Sydney, during the “Chanukah by the Sea” event.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. An act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

🎯IMPACT: The attack, the deadliest in nearly three decades in Australia, has sparked worldwide condemnation and calls for increased security and action against rising antisemitism.

IN FULL

A Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, turned tragic on Sunday evening when two gunmen opened fire, killing at least 11 people and wounding 29 others. The attack, described as an antisemitic act of terrorism, targeted the Jewish “Chanukah by the Sea” event, which marked the start of the eight-day festival. Among the dead was the famed Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an organizer of the event, as well as an Israeli citizen.

One of the attackers was killed by police, while the other was critically injured and taken into custody. Authorities confirmed that one of the suspects was known to security services, but stated there was no specific threat ahead of the incident.

One of the alleged gunmen has been identified as Naveed Akram. A driver’s licence found at the scene listed an address in Bonnyrigg, Sydney’s southwest, which police raided on Sunday night. Reports indicate that the 24-year-old, a recently laid-off bricklayer originally from Lahore, Pakistan, was wearing a Pakistan cricket shirt in his driver’s license photo. He was shot dead by police.

Police also discovered improvised explosive devices in one suspect’s vehicle. The violence unfolded as thousands were enjoying a summer day at Bondi Beach, with video footage showing chaos as beachgoers fled the scene.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed the attack was deliberately aimed at Sydney’s Jewish community, calling it an act of “pure evil.” A bystander, identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, tackled and disarmed one of the attackers, an act Minns described as heroic.

Witnesses recounted scenes of horror, with bodies strewn across the area and panicked crowds seeking shelter. Among those injured was Arsen Ostrovsky, a lawyer grazed by a bullet, who described the event as a “bloodbath” reminiscent of previous acts of terrorism. Mr. Ostrovsky has previously written for publications edited by The National Pulse’s Raheem Kassam.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, stating, “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. An act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.”

International leaders, including King Charles III, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, expressed their shock and solidarity with the Jewish community.

Australia has seen a surge in antisemitic incidents in recent years, with attacks tripling in 2023 following the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Jewish community, concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne, has faced vandalism, threats, and violence, prompting calls for stronger action against antisemitism.

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5 hours ago
Bonkers Britain

86-Year-Old Targeted by Cops for… Spitting Out a Leaf.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An 86-year-old man was fined £250 for spitting out a leaf that blew into his mouth in Skegness, Lincolnshire.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Roy Marsh, local enforcement officers, and East Lindsey District Council.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 2023, South Parade Car Park, Skegness, Lincolnshire.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It was all unnecessary and all out of proportion.” – Roy Marsh

🎯IMPACT: The incident has sparked criticism of “heavy-handed” enforcement and calls for greater discretion in issuing fines.

IN FULL

Roy Marsh, an 86-year-old man, was fined £250 ($333) after allegedly spitting out a leaf that had blown into his mouth while walking through South Parade Car Park in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England. The incident appeared to occur in February, and Mr. Marsh described it as “unnecessary and all out of proportion.”

The information has only come to light in the past few years, with Mr. Marsh recalling to the BBC how he was resting when a gust of wind blew a reed into his mouth. After spitting it out, he was approached by two police officers who claimed they had seen him spit on the ground. Despite explaining the situation, Mr. Marsh was issued a £250 fine, which was later reduced to £150 upon appeal. He paid the reduced amount.

The story has drawn attention after Adrian Findley, a councillor representing Reform on Lincolnshire County Council, raised concerns about similar “heavy-handed” enforcement actions. “They [enforcement officers] are taking it too far. If I came here on holiday and was given a £250 fine, I wouldn’t want to risk coming back,” Findley said.

East Lindsey District Council defended its enforcement policies, stating that patrols are “not targeted at any specific demographic” and are intended to address environmental crimes such as littering and fly-tipping. Councillor Martin Foster emphasized the council’s goal of changing behavior to maintain a clean and safe environment.

Findley has called for more discretion in issuing fines, particularly in cases involving elderly individuals or accidental incidents. “If it looks like a genuine accident then give people opportunity to apologise and pick it up,” he added.

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December 13, 2025
Corruption
World

European Government Collapses Amid Anti-Tax and Anti-Corruption Protests.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov of Bulgaria, a European Union (EU) member state, has resigned following mass anti-tax and anti-corruption protests ahead of the country’s planned entry into the Eurozone.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, the Bulgarian parliament, President Rumen Radev, and tens of thousands of protesters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sofia, Bulgaria, with the resignation approved on Friday during ongoing nationwide protests.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Vox populi, vox Dei.” – Rosen Zhelyazkov.

🎯IMPACT: The resignation underscores Bulgaria’s political instability as it prepares to join the Eurozone, with new elections likely adding further uncertainty.

IN FULL

Bulgaria’s parliament overwhelmingly accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s coalition government on December 12 amid intensifying nationwide protests over tax hikes and corruption. Lawmakers in the 240-seat chamber voted 127-0 to approve the NATO and European Union (EU) government’s departure after weeks of demonstrations that have brought tens of thousands of mostly younger Bulgarians onto the streets.

Zhelyazkov’s minority government, which had survived six no-confidence votes since January, will continue to operate in a caretaker role until a successor is formed. Announcing his resignation a day earlier, the prime minister said, “Vox populi, vox Dei,” invoking the Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people is the voice of God” to acknowledge the public demand for his exit.

Under Bulgaria’s constitution, President Rumen Radev will first invite the largest parliamentary group to attempt to form a new governing majority. Should that effort fail, a second party will be given the opportunity, followed by the appointment of a caretaker Cabinet if no coalition can be assembled. Analysts warn that the deadlock may lead to yet another election, potentially the country’s eighth since 2021, further deepening political instability at a time when Bulgaria is preparing to deepen its EU integration by adopting the euro currency on January 1, 2026, becoming the 21st member of the Eurozone.

Recent Bulgarian legislative changes have drawn international attention, including the passage of amendments to the education law restricting LGBTQ-related content in schools. The provisions ban “the propaganda, promotion or incitement … of ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one.”

Foreign policy has also been a point of debate. President Radev has at times taken positions at odds with other European leaders, particularly on the war in Ukraine. In May 2024, he argued that a Ukrainian military triumph over Russia was “impossible,” urging greater emphasis on diplomatic efforts and cautioning against framing the conflict in terms of absolute victory. Notably, Bulgarian prime ministers have tended to take a more establishment, pro-Ukrainian view than the president.

Image by Sébastien Bertrand.

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December 12, 2025
Crime
Immigration

African Migrant Faces Charges After ‘Kidnapping’ of Homeland Security Agent in Walz’s Minnesota.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Nigerian migrant and a female accomplice were charged with assaulting a Homeland Security agent, following an incident that was initially described as a “kidnapping.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Oluwadamilola Ogooluwa Bamigboye, 24, and Rekeya Lionesha Lee Frazier, 23, along with a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred in the Twin Cities area, involving Plymouth and New Hope, Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Plymouth police responded to 911 calls regarding individuals in a vehicle moving from Plymouth into New Hope. Upon arriving at the New Hope City Center, Plymouth police officers confirmed that the incident stemmed from federal law enforcement activities, and Plymouth officers cleared themselves from the incident,” said the Plymouth Police Department.

🎯IMPACT: Federal assault charges have been filed against the suspects, and the agent involved was safely recovered.

IN FULL

Authorities in Minnesota have charged a 24-year-old Nigerian, Oluwadamilola Ogooluwa Bamigboye, and 23-year-old Twin Cities resident Rekeya Lionesha Lee Frazier with assaulting a federal agent in an incident that was initially reported as the “kidnapping” of a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officer.

Court documents show that HSI agents were conducting surveillance at a Plymouth apartment complex looking for Bamigboye, who had overstayed his visa. When Bamigboye and Frazier pulled up to the site in a car, agents approached, and the Nigerian leapt back into the car and allegedly told Frazier to drive off.

As they tried to flee, one agent leapt into the front passenger seat to stop the car while another attempted to pull Bamigboye out. The second agent was shoved out of the vehicle, but the first remained inside as the car sped away. A third agent pursued while calling 911; Frazier also dialed 911, claiming they were driving to the police station.

The vehicle was stopped at the New Hope Police Department, where the trapped agent was freed unharmed. “Plymouth police responded to 911 calls regarding individuals in a vehicle moving from Plymouth into New Hope. Upon arriving at the New Hope City Center, Plymouth police officers confirmed that the incident stemmed from federal law enforcement activities, and Plymouth officers cleared themselves from the incident,” the Plymouth Police Department said in a statement.

Bamigboye and Frazier now face federal charges of assault on a federal officer. The HSI agent was recovered without injury.

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December 12, 2025
Immigration

DHS Halts ‘Family Reunification’ Parole for Seven Countries Over Fraud, Security Risks.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is terminating “family reunification” (chain migration) parole (FRP) programs for immigrants from several nations and ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Friday via a Federal Register notice and DHS press release.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Parole was never intended to be used in this way, and DHS is returning parole to a case-by-case basis as intended by Congress.” – DHS news release.

🎯IMPACT: FRP programs for Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras will end, alongside TPS protections for Ethiopia, as part of a broader immigration crackdown.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has announced the termination of family reunification parole (FRP) programs for immigrants from several countries due to concerns over abuse of the humanitarian parole process. The affected nations include Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the decision in a statement released Friday.

“This administration is ending the abuse of humanitarian parole that allowed poorly vetted aliens to circumvent the traditional parole process,” DHS stated, adding: “Parole was never intended to be used in this way, and DHS is returning parole to a case-by-case basis as intended by Congress. Ending the FRP programs is a necessary return to common-sense policies and a return to America First.”

DHS also announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of Ethiopia. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem explained, “After reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies, the Secretary determined that Ethiopia no longer continues to meet the conditions for the designation of Temporary Protected Status.”

TPS is typically granted to migrants from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. The former Biden government extended protections to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans and Haitians, but these extensions were reversed by Noem in February, citing a lack of justification under current conditions.

The Trump administration has consistently emphasized a tougher stance on immigration, ending TPS for multiple nations, including Haiti, South Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela, and halting deportation protections for Somalis in Minnesota in November. DHS stated that national security and fraud prevention remain top priorities, outweighing the interests of family reunification under the FRP programs.

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December 12, 2025
Crime
News

Mother Stabbed by Homeless Maniac at Macy’s While Changing Baby.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A tourist was stabbed repeatedly by a homeless woman, seemingly at random, while changing her baby in the Macy’s department store in New York City.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The 38-year-old Californian victim and homeless suspect Kerri Aherne.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack took place in a restroom at Macy’s in New York City on December 11.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are deeply saddened about the incident that took place today as the safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority.” – Macy’s spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The attack is just the latest high-profile violent crime by a homeless person in New York City and comes amid growing uncertainty about safety in America’s most populous city.

IN FULL

A 38-year-old California woman was stabbed multiple times Thursday afternoon while changing her 10-month-old daughter in a seventh-floor restroom at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store in Midtown Manhattan, police said.

The attack occurred shortly after 3 PM when 43-year-old Kerri Aherne, a homeless woman originally from Massachusetts, allegedly approached the victim and began stabbing her in the back, shoulder, and right arm with a knife.

The victim, a civilian employee of a California sheriff’s department whose husband is a sworn deputy, was visiting New York City with her family. Aherne was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Macy’s issued a statement saying it was “deeply saddened” by the incident and that the safety of customers and employees remains its top priority. The stabbing took place during the peak holiday shopping season at one of the city’s busiest retail locations and has renewed concerns about public safety even in high-profile stores.

Violent crime in New York City continues to plague residents and visitors. Earlier this year, the outgoing Eric Adams administration announced plans to install hundreds of panic buttons in bodegas following a series of deadly attacks on store clerks. The city has also faced criticism over supervised drug-injection sites that opened in 2021; in July 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to cut federal funding for the facilities, calling them illegal drug dens that harm neighborhoods.

Separately, the state’s 2018 “Raise the Age” law, which ended automatic adult prosecution for most 16- and 17-year-olds, has been linked to a sharp rise in teen gun crime. Through September 2025, arrests of minors for shootings more than doubled compared to 2018 levels, prompting calls from law enforcement veterans to toughen penalties for juveniles.

Image by Themendous.

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December 12, 2025
Economy
Immigration

Democrats Are Suing Trump Over H-1B Visa Fee Protecting American Workers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat attorneys general from 19 states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The lawsuit is led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell (D), targeting the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was announced on Friday, with California and Massachusetts spearheading the effort.

💬KEY QUOTE: “President Trump’s illegal $100,000 H-1B visa fee creates unnecessary—and illegal—financial burdens on California public employers and other providers of vital services, exacerbating labor shortages in key sectors,” claimed California AG Rob Bonta.

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit challenges the fee as unconstitutional and claims it violates the Administrative Procedure Act, while the administration argues the fee is a lawful measure to prioritize American workers.

IN FULL

A group of Democrat attorneys general representing 19 states filed a lawsuit on Friday against the Trump administration in an effort to block a new $100,000 H-1B visa petition fee. Led by the attorneys general for California and Massachusetts, the plaintiffs contend the petition fee is unconstitutional, alleging it far exceeds the actual processing costs for an H-1B visa application and violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

“President Trump’s illegal $100,000 H-1B visa fee creates unnecessary—and illegal—financial burdens on California public employers and other providers of vital services, exacerbating labor shortages in key sectors,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) stated.

The Trump administration defended the fee, with White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers responding, “President Trump promised to put American workers first, and his commonsense action on H-1B visas does just that by discouraging companies from spamming the system and driving down American wages, while providing certainty to employers who need to bring the best talent from overseas. The Administration’s actions are lawful and are a necessary, initial, incremental step towards necessary reforms to the H-1B program.”

Originally, the H-1B visa program was designed to allow foreign nationals to fill a limited number of technical jobs that lacked a sufficient labor pool, with 65,000 new visas issued annually and an additional 20,000 for those holding advanced degrees from U.S. institutions. However, a presidential proclamation from September noted that the program has been “deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor” and has deviated from its intended purpose. Notably, the yearly H-1B visa cap of 85,000 is almost always exceeded through loopholes in the law.

The National Pulse reported in October that two major alleged H-1B visa mills, Cognizant and Tata Consultancy Services, were among the firms that announced they would be moving away from an over-reliance on cheap foreign labor in response to the new fee. Both companies have long been accused of abusing the H-1B system to outsource American jobs to foreign contractors.

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December 12, 2025
News
UK

Farage’s Reform Party Surpasses Leftist Ruling Party in Membership Numbers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage’s Reform Party claims it has become the largest political party in Britain by membership, surpassing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s ruling Labour Party.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nigel Farage, Keir Starmer, Reform, Labour, and other British political parties.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Membership figures reported in the United Kingdom, with Labour’s numbers reportedly dropping below 250,000.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As we have suspected for some time, Reform has overtaken Labour to become the largest political party in British politics—a huge milestone on our journey to win the next election.” – Nigel Farage

🎯IMPACT: The claim reflects a shift in Britain’s political dynamics, as Labour’s membership has steadily declined while Reform rises to the top of the polls.

IN FULL

Britain’s Reform Party, led by Nigel Farage, has declared itself the largest political party in Britain by membership, claiming more than 268,000 paid members. The announcement follows a report that membership in Britain’s ruling Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has fallen below 250,000. Notably, Labour has declined to confirm the figure, stating that it publishes official numbers annually in its accounts and is under no legal obligation to disclose them sooner.

Farage hailed the milestone, saying: “As we have suspected for some time, Reform has overtaken Labour to become the largest political party in British politics—a huge milestone on our journey to win the next election. The age of two-party politics is dead.”

Reform displays a live online counter that it says only counts those who have paid the £25 (~$33) annual membership fee.

Labour’s membership has collapsed since Sir Keir Starmer replaced Jeremy Corbyn as leader in 2020, dropping from over 530,000 to 333,235 by the end of 2023. According to recent reports, it has now further declined to under 250,000. Meanwhile, the ever-further left Green Party has tripled in size to more than 180,000 under co-leader Zack Polanski. The formerly governing Conservatives (Tories) are estimated at around 123,000 members, while Corbyn’s new, Islamo-leftist Your Party claims 55,000.

Reform’s rapid rise extends far beyond membership. A September 2025 Electoral Calculus MRP poll projected the party winning 36 percent of the vote and an 84-seat parliamentary majority at the next general election, with Labour on 21 percent and the Conservatives at 15 percent. The Labour government faced accusations of delaying local elections to forestall anticipated Reform victories.

Farage’s standing is also growing internationally. On December 10, French National Rally (RN) leader Jordan Bardella, the frontrunner for the 2027 French presidency, met Farage in London and pledged joint action to stop migrant boats, including French support for British pushbacks and tougher asylum policies.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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December 12, 2025
Economy
SCOTUS

Supreme Court Decision Could Cost U.S. $168 Billion in Tariffs Revenue.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States federal government could be forced to refund an estimated $168 billion in tariff payments to businesses if the Supreme Court rules that President Donald J. Trump improperly invoked an emergency powers law to impose the trade levies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, U.S. businesses, and Supreme Court justices.

📍WHEN & WHERE: A Supreme Court hearing in November, with potential implications for tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

💬KEY QUOTE: President Trump has called the pending Supreme Court ruling “literally, LIFE OR DEATH for our country.”

🎯IMPACT: A ruling against the tariffs could lead to refunds, potentially increasing federal debt.

IN FULL

The United States federal government could end up owing businesses upwards of $168 billion should the Supreme Court rule that President Donald J. Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on dozens of countries is unlawful. Notably, U.S. Treasury Department data indicates the Trump administration has collected $259 billion in tariff revenue through December 5, though not all of those collections stem from trade levies imposed under IEEPA authority.

Several of the Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical of the legality of President Trump’s use of the IEEPA to impose broad, global tariffs during oral arguments in November. The justices noted that the emergency law does not explicitly mention tariffs in its language, and its use to impose trade levies lacks prior precedent.

President Trump has called the pending case before the high court “literally, LIFE OR DEATH for our country,” adding that without the tariffs, the U.S. is “virtually defenseless against other countries who have, for years, taken advantage of us.” The Trump administration has consistently argued that the IEEPA grants the president broad powers to counter “unusual and extraordinary threats,” and that the levies serve as a critical tool for boosting U.S. manufacturing, creating jobs, and reducing the trade deficit. When he enacted the tariffs in April, President Trump argued that foreign trade deficits constituted a “national security crisis,” enabling him to invoke the emergency provisions under the IEEPA.

Notably, the U.S. trade deficit fell sharply in September due to the tariffs, declining 10.9 percent to $52.8 billion. Additionally, the bilateral trade deficit with China narrowed by $4.0 billion to $11.4 billion in September, as Chinese imports fell and U.S. exports to China rose slightly.

The National Pulse reported earlier this week that Chinese Premier Li Qiang—the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) second most powerful leader next to President Xi Jinping—claimed global trade tariffs have dealt a “severe blow” to the world economy. Implicit in Li’s remarks is the admission that U.S. tariffs enacted by the Trump administration have caused a significant negative impact on China’s export economy, which is highly reliant on selling goods to American consumers. Data released by Chinese customs officials shows that exports to the United States year-on-year fell by 28.7 percent in November.

Image by Joe Ravi.

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