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Monday, December 8, 2025
28 minutes ago
News
War

Trump Brokered Peace Deal Collapses.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Thailand launched airstrikes along its disputed border with Cambodia following accusations by both nations of violating a ceasefire.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The governments and militaries of Thailand and Cambodia, and U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Clashes began Sunday near the border provinces of Si Sa Ket in Thailand and Preah Vihear in Cambodia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Cambodia urges that Thailand immediately stop all hostile activities that threaten peace and stability in the region.” – Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesman Maly Socheata.

🎯IMPACT: At least five people were killed, tens of thousands displaced, and escalating violence threatens broader regional stability.

IN FULL

Thailand carried out airstrikes along its contested border with Cambodia, as the two countries blame each other for violating a ceasefire arranged by U.S. President Donald Trump. The recent fighting has killed at least one Thai soldier and four Cambodian civilians, while displacing tens of thousands of people from the border regions. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said, “Thailand has never wished for violence. I’d like to reiterate that Thailand has never initiated a fight or an invasion, but will never tolerate a violation of its sovereignty.”

The previous ceasefire was signed about six weeks ago at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur, with facilitation from Trump and Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim. It was initially welcomed by the prime ministers of both Cambodia and Thailand, but relations soon deteriorated. Last month, Thai soldiers suffered injuries from landmines, leading Bangkok to pause the agreement’s implementation without a set end date.

Thai military spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree has said Cambodian forces opened fire first, resulting in one Thai soldier’s death and injuries to eight more. Thailand then conducted airstrikes on Cambodian military sites, as well as a casino, which they say was being used as a storage site for heavy weapons. In response, Cambodian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata insisted that Thailand started the attack and that Cambodian troops held their fire during the opening exchange.

The longstanding border conflict traces back to a 1907 map created during Cambodia’s time as a French colony and a 1962 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that granted Cambodia sovereignty over the Preah Vihear temple area.

The renewed clashes have raised alarms for regional security, prompting International SOS to recommend avoiding travel within 30 miles of the border.

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1 hour ago
News

‘Lack of LOYALTY’ — Democrat Pardoned by Trump Declines to Change Party.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump criticized a Congressman for planning a reelection bid as a Democrat after receiving a pardon.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Representative Enrique “Henry” Cuellar, and his wife Imelda.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 8, 2025, United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Something that Texas Voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like. Oh well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The decision has implications for the 2026 midterm elections and party dynamics in Texas.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump criticized Texas Representative Enrique “Henry” Cuellar for deciding to seek reelection as a Democrat after receiving a presidential pardon. Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, had faced allegations of taking bribes from an oil and gas company connected to Azerbaijan, following a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation started under the former Biden government.

The pair maintained their innocence, with their trial scheduled for April until President Trump’s pardon was issued earlier this week. The move had raised eyebrows, with Cuellar having previously accused Trump of inciting an insurrection, voting to impeach him, and opposing his border wall throughout his first term. The America First leader had apparently anticipated that Cuellar would switch to the Republican Party following the pardon, but he expressed disappointment upon learning that Cuellar intended to stay a Democrat regardless.

“I never spoke to the Congressman, his wife, or his daughters, but felt very good about fighting for a family that was tormented by very sick and deranged people – They were treated sooo BADLY!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Such a lack of LOYALTY, something that Texas Voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like. Oh well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy!”

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20 hours ago
Culture

Kennedy Center Fundraising SKYROCKETS to $23M, Doubling Biden Era Figures.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Kennedy Center Honors raised a record $23 million for its 48th annual celebration, nearly doubling last year’s total.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi, and the 2025 honorees, including George Strait, KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, and Sylvester Stallone.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The weekend of the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors, with events including an Oval Office ceremony and a gala in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The record-breaking $23 million in contributions to the Kennedy Center Honors is a testament to the extraordinary support for our mission and affirms a vibrant future for this beloved American institution.” – Roma Daravi

🎯IMPACT: The event set a new fundraising record, introduced redesigned medallions, and marked a historic Oval Office ceremony under Trump’s leadership.

IN FULL

The Kennedy Center Honors raised a staggering $23 million during its 48th annual celebration, a record-breaking amount nearly doubling the $12.7 million raised last year, as initially reported by Fox News and confirmed by The National Pulse. This milestone comes as President Donald Trump begins his tenure as chairman of the Kennedy Center, marking a new chapter for the institution.

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell highlighted the achievement, stating, “The center nearly doubled last year’s fundraising, reaching a historic $23 million,” and described the Honors as “one of our nation’s highest celebrations of the performing arts.” Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations, added that the contributions reflect “unprecedented donor enthusiasm.”

Trump hosted the first official, on-camera Oval Office ceremony recognizing the 2025 honorees this weekend. This year’s honorees include George Strait, KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, and Sylvester Stallone.

Trump also unveiled redesigned medallions for the Honors, created in collaboration with Tiffany & Co.

The gala capped off a weekend of events celebrating decades of American cultural achievement, including a State Department reception and ongoing renovations to the Kennedy Center. Officials emphasized that these developments signal a vibrant future for the institution under Trump’s leadership.

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December 6, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Health
News

Canada Estimated to Have Killed Nearly 100k Citizens by Assisted Suicide.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Canada’s euthanasia program may have killed up to 92,000 people, according to new estimates.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Canadian government, Canadian medical professionals, and the Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Alex Schadenberg.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The estimate was published on December 5.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Canada is becoming the world leader in killing its citizens. It is normalizing and medicalizing killing.” – Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Alex Schadenberg

🎯IMPACT: Medically assisted suicide has become a leading cause of death in Canada and now accounts for five percent of all deaths nationwide when abortion is not taken into consideration.

IN FULL

Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) program continues to grow, with estimates suggesting that more than 92,000 people have died through the practice since its legalization in 2016. Official federal data reported 16,499 MAID deaths in 2024, a 6.9 percent increase from the previous year. That brought the confirmed national total to 76,475 through the end of 2024, but analysts say the pace of cases in 2025 likely pushed the true cumulative figure past 92,000.

MAID now accounts for just over five percent of all annual deaths in Canada. The vast majority of cases involve people whose natural death is considered reasonably foreseeable, though a smaller share of patients qualify under an expanded track for those whose death is not imminent. “Canada is becoming the world leader in killing its citizens. It is normalizing and medicalizing killing,” Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Alex Schadenberg said.

The rising number of requests has prompted concern from some medical professionals, who report that demand is straining available resources and contributing to long wait times for assessments. According to recent reports, providers in several regions say the number of applicants has outpaced the capacity of clinicians willing or able to participate.

Critics argue that MAID eligibility criteria have broadened too quickly and that vulnerable people may face subtle pressure to consider MAID when support services are limited or unavailable. Several disabled Canadians, including veterans, have been offered MAID despite not suffering from any deadly illness or disease.

Image by Dr. Frank Gaeth.

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December 6, 2025
Crime
News

Ukrainian Refugee Tortured, Burned Alive for Crypto.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Ukrainian student was burned alive in his father’s Mercedes in Vienna, Austria, with police suspecting extortion over cryptocurrency.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Danilo Kuzmin, a 21-year-old student, and two Ukrainian suspects, aged 19 and 45, who were arrested in connection with the murder.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred last Wednesday in Vienna, under a bridge where the burned car was found.

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights concerns over cryptocurrency-related crimes and cross-border cooperation in criminal justice.

IN FULL

Austrian authorities are investigating the killing of 21-year-old Ukrainian student Danilo Kuzmin, who was found burned in the back seat of his father’s Mercedes beneath a bridge in Vienna. Police believe he was attacked and forced to transfer a significant sum in cryptocurrency shortly before his death.

Kuzmin, the son of Sergei Kuzmin, the deputy mayor of Kharkov (Kharkiv), had lived in Vienna for several years after fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. His body was so badly burned that investigators initially could not identify him; confirmation came only after friends and relatives filed missing-persons reports.

A post-mortem examination showed that he suffered blunt-force injuries, including trauma to the head and broken teeth. Forensic officers concluded he likely died from suffocation or heat shock caused by the fire. A melted petrol canister was found inside the vehicle, which runs on diesel, leading investigators to conclude the blaze was set intentionally.

Detectives believe Kuzmin was lured to an underground garage at a luxury hotel, where he was beaten and forced into the car. A large cryptocurrency transfer was detected leaving his digital wallet around the time of the attack, and security footage captured a 19-year-old suspect buying a petrol canister shortly before the murder. A second suspect, aged 45, was later identified. Both men fled to Ukraine immediately after the killing but were arrested by local police the following evening.

Austrian officials have agreed to allow Ukraine to prosecute the suspects domestically, while Viennese investigators continue to collect evidence to support the case.

The suspected extortion fits into a wider pattern of criminals targeting victims through digital assets. In recent years, cryptocurrency-related crime has surged, with U.S. authorities reporting billions in losses tied to fraud, extortion, and investment schemes. Americans lost more than $5.6 billion to crypto-related scams in 2023 as criminals increasingly exploited the speed and irreversibility of blockchain transactions. Law enforcement agencies have warned that the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency, combined with its global reach, makes recovering stolen funds extremely difficult once a transfer is executed.

The broader cryptocurrency market has also faced sharp volatility. Global digital asset valuations recently plunged by more than a trillion dollars within a matter of weeks amid concerns about speculative excess and fears that an artificial intelligence-driven bubble could trigger deeper instability.

Image by NathanWert.

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December 5, 2025
News
War

U.S. Weapons Abandoned by Biden Are Now the ‘Core’ of Taliban’s Military Machine: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The former Biden government left billions in military equipment in Afghanistan, now forming the “core” of the Taliban military.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. government, the Taliban, and the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Following the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Despite nearly $90 billion in U.S. appropriations for security-sector assistance, Afghan security forces ultimately collapsed quickly without a sustained U.S. military presence.” – Acting SIGAR Gene Aloise

🎯IMPACT: Billions in U.S. taxpayer-funded military equipment are now in Taliban hands.

IN FULL

The office overseeing U.S. reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan has released a final forensic audit concluding that billions of dollars in American weaponry and military infrastructure, left behind after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal, now form the “core” of the Taliban’s military force.

The audit, by the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR), finds that U.S.-supplied weapons, vehicles, aircraft, and other equipment worth at least $7.1 billion ended up in Taliban hands. These were provided over two decades of war and reconstruction, spanning four U.S. administrations after the 2001 invasion triggered by the 9/11 attacks.

According to SIGAR, the U.S. had poured roughly $144.7 billion into Afghanistan between 2002 and mid-2021. Some of those funds went toward building roads, schools, and infrastructure. However, the bulk of this spending, nearly $90 billion, was devoted to security assistance: equipping and sustaining the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) with weapons, vehicles, training, pay, bases, and other support.

Between 2002 and 2021, the U.S. gave the ANDSF hundreds of thousands of weapons, tens of thousands of vehicles, and more than 160 aircraft. Pentagon records from late July 2021, about two weeks before the Taliban seized Kabul, showed the Afghan Air Force had 162 U.S.-supplied aircraft, 131 of them functional.

As U.S. forces withdrew in August 2021 amid a botched evacuation by then-President Joe Biden, the ANDSF collapsed almost immediately. SIGAR’s 2025 report points out that after two decades and massive investment, Afghan forces were never able to operate independently.

With the U.S. withdrawal, morale collapsed, bases were abandoned, and the Taliban easily absorbed the leftover arsenal. Any remaining equipment, facilities, or stockpiles evidently fell under Taliban control—a major bone of contention for President Donald J. Trump, who believes strongly that the equipment should have been evacuated.

Even after the Taliban takeover, the U.S. continued sending humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan, millions more dollars, some of which reportedly benefited the Taliban-controlled government.

In light of these findings, SIGAR will cease operations in January 2026, per the conditions of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

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December 5, 2025
Corruption

Trump Admin Probes Race-Based Federal Contractor Program Over Rampant Fraud and Abuse.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Small Business Administration (SBA) has mandated that companies benefiting from minority contracting preferences must submit detailed financial records to address potential fraud and abuse within the program.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and federal contractors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The directive was issued on Friday, with compliance required by January 5. The program review began in June 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re committed to thoroughly reviewing every federal contract, contracting officer, and contractor—while working alongside federal law enforcement.” – Kelly Loeffler

🎯IMPACT: Companies failing to comply with the new requirements risk losing their eligibility for federal contracts. The program may also face broader re-evaluation due to recent legal challenges.

IN FULL

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has implemented a new policy requiring companies benefiting from the 8(a) minority contracting program to submit detailed financial records. This move comes as part of efforts to address long-standing concerns of fraud and abuse within the program, which many have criticized as a discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative and a vehicle for corruption.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler stated that the program, which was expanded under the Biden government to allocate 15 percent of contracting dollars to minorities, has been misused as a “pass-through vehicle for rampant abuse and fraud.” The agency plans to work with federal law enforcement to ensure compliance and transparency.

The new requirements, which include uploading bank statements, payroll registers, and subcontracting agreements in a computer-friendly format, aim to identify companies that subcontract work to non-disadvantaged firms while keeping a cut as middlemen. Firms failing to comply by January 5 risk losing their eligibility for federal contracts.

The program has faced scrutiny following investigative reports, including a video exposé by James O’Keefe, which revealed that firms like ATI Government Solutions acted as “pass-through” entities. ATI received a $100 million contract, retained $65 million, and subcontracted the actual work for $35 million. Following the revelations, the SBA suspended ATI and related firms.

Additionally, recent criminal cases have highlighted the misuse of the program. In one instance, a USAID official and two contractors pleaded guilty to fraud involving over $500 million in contracts.

Image via Flickr.

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December 5, 2025
Crime
News

Federal Judge Grants DOJ Request to Release Epstein Grand Jury Documents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge in Florida ordered the release of grand jury transcripts from the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficking cases, citing a new federal law.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Rodney Smith, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the Justice Department.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was made on Friday in Florida, with a December 19 deadline for full compliance under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

💬KEY QUOTE: The law “explicitly bars withholding records solely to prevent embarrassment or reputational harm to public figures, government officials or foreign dignitaries.”

🎯IMPACT: This marks the first successful unsealing of Epstein-related grand jury records under the law, with further cases pending in New York.

IN FULL

A federal judge in Florida has ordered the release of grand jury transcripts from the original 2006–2007 federal investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, ruling that a newly enacted law overrides longstanding secrecy rules.

On December 5, Rodney Smith, a U.S. District Court Judge, granted the request from the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) to unseal documents from the grand jury proceedings. The approval marks a reversal of an earlier decision this year, when another federal judge declined a similar DOJ request.

The ruling is a direct result of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a new law signed in November 2025 by President Donald J. Trump, which requires the release of nearly all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein’s case. The law also allows redactions to protect victims’ identities and sensitive or ongoing investigations, but bars the government from withholding material simply to spare public figures embarrassment.

With the Florida transcripts cleared for release, attention shifts to two pending requests concerning other major Epstein-related cases: the 2019 federal sex-trafficking case against Epstein in New York and the 2021 case against his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The Justice Department must respond by Monday to filings from victims, Epstein’s estate, and Maxwell’s legal team outlining their objections. Those cases have yet to see final rulings.

It remains unclear exactly when the now-approved transcripts will be made public, but the law sets a deadline of December 19 for the wider release of related materials.

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December 5, 2025
Immigration
SCOTUS

Supreme Court to Decide Constitutionality of Birthright Citizenship.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Supreme Court will decide on President Donald J. Trump’s plan to end automatic birthright citizenship.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Solicitor General D. John Sauer, and the Supreme Court justices.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Friday, with arguments likely to take place in April and a decision expected by the end of June.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted to grant citizenship to freed slaves and their children, not to the children of illegal aliens, birth tourists, and temporary visitors.” – D. John Sauer

🎯IMPACT: The decision could redefine birthright citizenship and affect immigration policy in the U.S.

IN FULL

The Supreme Court is set to rule on President Donald J. Trump’s initiative to end automatic birthright citizenship for children born on U.S. soil, a move that has sparked significant debate and legal challenges. The justices announced their decision to take up the case, with arguments anticipated in April and a ruling expected by the end of June.

“The Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted to grant citizenship to freed slaves and their children, not to the children of illegal aliens, birth tourists, and temporary visitors,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in a court filing on behalf of the Trump administration. He added: “Yet, long after the Clause’s adoption, the mistaken view that birth on U.S. territory confers citizenship on anyone subject to the regulatory reach of U.S. law became pervasive, with destructive consequences.”

President Trump, shortly after his inauguration, signed an Executive Order aimed at denying U.S. citizenship to children of illegal immigrants and foreigners on temporary visas. The administration argued that the order was necessary to deter illegal immigration and “birth tourism.”

However, the policy was immediately met with legal challenges. In July, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that found the birthright citizenship order unconstitutional, citing an 1898 Supreme Court decision that has long been interpreted as ensuring citizenship to nearly everyone born in the U.S. Subsequently, the Department of Justice filed an appeal with the Supreme Court.

Image by Billy Wilson.

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December 5, 2025
Media

Vanity Fair and Olivia Nuzzi Part Ways.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Vanity Fair will not renew Olivia Nuzzi’s contract following a series of controversies and a problematic book launch.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Olivia Nuzzi, Vanity Fair, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Ryan Lizza, and Mark Sanford.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Nuzzi’s contract is set to expire at the end of 2025; controversies span the last year.

🎯IMPACT: The decision highlights growing scrutiny of journalistic ethics and conflicts of interest within media.

IN FULL

Disgraced journalist Olivia Nuzzi and Vanity Fair magazine have mutually agreed to part ways when her contract expires at the end of this year. Nuzzi, who has faced a series of scandalous allegations involving Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC), was dismissed from her position as the Washington correspondent for New York magazine last October over lapses in journalistic ethics.

While Nuzzi‘s alleged digital romantic relationship with Kennedy Jr. caused her departure from New York magazine, it appears allegations leveled by her ex-fiancé, Ryan Lizza, that she slept with Mark Sanford during his brief two-month-long 2020 presidential campaign had a role in her latest employment change. Nuzzi, in her newly released book, American Canto, details her digital “affair” with Kennedy Jr, which she states only existed in the form of phone calls and text messages. She makes no direct mention of Sanford. The book has received overwhelmingly negative reviews.

In a series of posts on Substack, Lizza accuses Nuzzi of both professional and personal misconduct. Besides the alleged affairs, Lizza claims his ex-fiancée attempted to “catch and kill” negative stories about Kennedy Jr. and fancied herself an informal advisor to his independent presidential campaign.

Vanity Fair hired Nuzzi in September on a short-term contract to serve as the magazine’s West Coast editor.

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