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Tuesday, July 8, 2025
36 minutes ago
Immigration

Trump: ‘We’ve Got to Give the Farmers the People They Need’ — But No ‘Amnesty.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump said he is not considering any form of “amnesty” for illegal immigrants, but that farmers must be given “the people they need.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and agricultural and hospitality industry lobbyists.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made his remarks on Tuesday, following statements earlier in the day from Agriculture Secretary Rollins.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’ve got to give the farmers the people they need, but we’re not talking amnesty.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The announcement reinforces the administration’s stance on immigration enforcement and pushes back against lobbying efforts for amnesty.

IN FULL

On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump said that his administration will not entertain any “amnesty” deals for illegal immigrants, with mounting rumors that lawmakers on Capitol Hill—along with agricultural and hospitality industry lobbyists—are pursuing one. Both industries, in recent weeks, have ramped up political pressure for a carve-out to protect illegal immigrants in their respective workforces from ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the country.

“We’ve got to give the farmers the people they need, but we’re not talking amnesty,” Trump said, echoing remarks by his Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, who stated earlier on Tuesday that, “[T]here will be no amnesty, the mass deportations continue but in a strategic way, and we move the workforce towards automation and 100 percent American participation.”

The comments come amid an ongoing debate within the Trump White House over how to address the agricultural and hospitality industries’ push for exceptions to the illegal immigrant crackdown. Notably, in mid-June, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued guidance resulting in a brief pause on immigration enforcement actions targeting farms and hotels. However, after public and internal White House backlash, the guidance was withdrawn just days later.

On Monday, The National Pulse reported that Republican state lawmakers in California authored a letter urging President Trump to direct ICE to end its “sweeping raids” against illegal immigrants and instead open “a path to legal status” for “non-criminal undocumented immigrants [sic].”

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1 hour ago
Lawfare

Obama Judge Bizarrely Rules Congress Cannot Deprive Planned Parenthood of Funding.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Massachusetts federal judge temporarily blocked a provision in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” recently signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, that would have halted Medicaid funding to abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Planned Parenthood, Judge Indira Talwani, and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Massachusetts, the ruling was issued Monday, with a hearing set for July 21.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The fight is just beginning, and we look forward to our day in court!” – Planned Parenthood.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling temporarily ensures Medicaid funding continues to Planned Parenthood despite the new federal provision.

IN FULL

Planned Parenthood secured a temporary legal victory late Monday after a Barack Obama-appointed federal judge in Massachusetts moved to block a federal provision barring Medicaid funding for the abortion giant. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani’s ruling comes despite the provision in question being a part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” recently passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump. On the surface, it appears to be a grave encroachment by a federal judge into the powers of the legislative branch.

While the Hyde Amendment already bars most federal dollars from funding abortion services, like those offered by Planned Parenthood, the fungibility of said dollars has allowed the organization to remain a major Medicaid funding recipient. However, under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” healthcare providers who abort babies and received $800,000 or more in Medicaid funding in 2023 are barred from receiving additional funding for one year.

“Defendants, their agents, employees, appointees, successors, and anyone acting in concert or participation with Defendants shall take all steps necessary to ensure that Medicaid funding continues to be disbursed in the customary manner and timeframes to Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its members; Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts; and Planned Parenthood Association of Utah,” Judge Talwani wrote in her order which prevents the federal provision, already authorized by Congress, from taking effect for 14 days. Consequently, the judge has scheduled a hearing on the matter for July 21.

Planned Parenthood contends the provision—which does not single the organization out—explicitly targets them for what it maintains are legal activities. However, the nature of the legislative provision is that of a budgetary measure aimed at reducing Medicaid expenditures, and again, it does not single out Planned Parenthood specifically.

U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) slammed the ruling. “What part of the Constitution prohibits Congress from defunding Planned Parenthood?” the Utah Republican wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), continuing: “If any part of the Constitution somehow prohibits Congress from withdrawing federal funding from an entity like Planned Parenthood, I’m not familiar with that provision.”

“Unless I’m missing something, this is an abuse of judicial power,” Lee added.

Notably, the United States Supreme Court already ruled recently that state governments can move to restrict Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood.

Image by Robin Marty.

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2 hours ago
News

Trump Launches Farm Security Plan to Curb Foreign Threats.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senior Trump administration officials unveiled a plan to protect U.S. farmland from foreign threats, including Chinese ownership and agroterrorism risks.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials, and Chinese nationals linked to agroterrorism concerns.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made Tuesday during a press conference.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The farm’s produce is not just a commodity, it is a way of life that underpins America itself, and that’s exactly why it is under threat,” said Brooke Rollins.

🎯IMPACT: U.S. farmland security measures include canceling contracts with foreign entities and addressing agroterrorism vulnerabilities.

IN FULL

On Tuesday, high-ranking officials from the Trump administration unveiled a strategy to safeguard U.S. agricultural land from Chinese ownership and other risks to American farming resources.

“Every family, every home, every community depends upon what our farmers do, and they support and sustain us, not merely by keeping us materially fed, but by keeping us spiritually strong,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins during a press briefing.

“The farm’s produce is not just a commodity, it is a way of life that underpins America itself, and that’s exactly why it is under threat from criminals, from political adversaries, and from hostile regimes that understand our way of life as a profound and existential threat to themselves,” she further stated.

The initiative seeks to protect U.S. farmland from adversaries such as Communist China, strengthen the agricultural supply chain, and enhance the security of American agricultural research. Rollins disclosed that she had ended contracts or research collaborations involving 70 scientists from nations of concern, including China.

In June, two Chinese nationals in Michigan faced charges for attempting to illegally transport Fusarium graminearum, a fungus considered a potential agroterrorism weapon, into the U.S. The Justice Department indicated that researchers funded by federal grants employed these individuals.

Rollins has confirmed that her department terminated seven ongoing agreements with foreign entities deemed concerning.

This development follows a bipartisan effort last month, when Democratic Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) and Republican Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced legislation to enhance scrutiny of foreign purchases of U.S. farmland, particularly addressing concerns about Chinese ownership near critical military sites.

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3 hours ago
War

Houthi Strike on Cargo Ship Leaves 3 Dead.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked two cargo ships in the Red Sea, killing three mariners and wounding two others.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Houthi rebels, the European Union (EU)-led Operation Aspides, and the crews of the Liberian-flagged ships Eternity C and Magic Seas.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attacks occurred on July 7, 2025, in the Red Sea, a critical global trade route.

🎯IMPACT: The attacks raise concerns of a renewed Houthi campaign threatening vital shipping lanes and global trade.

IN FULL

On Monday, July 7, 2025, Houthi rebels launched a deadly assault on the Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged cargo ship Eternity C in the Red Sea, killing three crew members and injuring two, one of whom lost a leg, according to the EU’s Operation Aspides naval force. The attack involved explosive drones and small boats targeting the vessel en route to the Suez Canal.

Security personnel on board returned fire, but the ship was left adrift, with its crew unable to evacuate safely. The day prior, on Sunday, the Houthis targeted another Liberian-flagged vessel, Magic Seas, with missiles, drones, and gunfire, forcing its 22 crew members to abandon ship.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the ship sank, though this remains unverified. These attacks, the first since November 2024, signal a resurgence of Houthi aggression in the Red Sea, a critical trade route for $1 trillion in annual commerce.

The European Union (EU) naval force in the region confirmed the Eternity C attack but noted the Houthis have not officially claimed responsibility. The assaults followed Israeli airstrikes on Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen, which the rebels often cite as provocation, alongside their stated support for Palestinian militants since the Hamas-Israel conflict began in October 2023.

From November 2023 to January 2025, Houthi attacks struck over 100 merchant ships, sank two, and killed four sailors. A U.S.-led military operation earlier this year paused their activity, but these recent strikes raise concerns about renewed threats to global shipping.

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4 hours ago
NatSec
TECH

Foreign Diplomats, Govt Officials Targeted by AI-Generated Rubio Impostor.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An impostor used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacting senior U.S. officials and foreign ministers via Signal.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, senior U.S. officials, foreign ministers, and an unidentified impostor.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred in mid-June and were detailed in a State Department cable dated July 3.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The actor left voicemails on Signal for at least two targeted individuals and in one instance, sent a text message inviting the individual to communicate on Signal,” the State Department cable said.

🎯IMPACT: It is believed that the impostor used AI technology to mimic Rubio’s voice and writing style in an effort to gain access to sensitive government accounts or information. It is unclear at this time whether the impostor was acting independently or on behalf of a foreign government.

IN FULL

An unidentified impostor used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacting senior U.S. officials and foreign ministers through the Signal messaging application. According to a State Department cable issued on July 3, the individual sent voicemails and text messages to at least five individuals, including three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress.

It is believed that the impostor was attempting to manipulate their targets with the messages in an effort to gain access to sensitive government information or accounts. It remains unclear whether the perpetrator was acting alone or on behalf of a foreign government.

The impostor created a Signal account in mid-June under the display name “Marco.Rubio@state.gov,” which is not a legitimate email address used by the Secretary. According to the State Department, the impostor subsequently used the Signal app to leave voicemails using an AI-generated version of Sec. Rubio’s voice for at least two individuals. Meanwhile, one other individual received a text message from the Signal account inviting them to communicate further on the app.

In addition to impersonating Sec. Rubio, the diplomatic cable indicated that it is believed that other State Department officials have been impersonated using false email addresses as well. Notably, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned in May that it believed “malicious actors” were utilizing AI technology to impersonate U.S. government officials as part of an “ongoing malicious text and voice messaging campaign.” The bureau indicated that the scheme was targeting other U.S. government and foreign leaders in an effort to “elicit information or funds.”

Significant advances in AI-powered large language models (LLMs) and audio mimicry mean that malicious actors, in some instances, only need a handful of short clips of an individual’s voice and speech pattern to create a believable approximation of that person.

While the State Department has publicly confirmed that at least five individuals were targeted by the impostor, it is unknown whether any of the officials responded to the messages.

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4 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Eleven Arrests After Sniper Ambush at ICE Facility Saw Officer Shot in the Neck.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Eleven people were arrested after a “planned ambush” targeting corrections officers at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ten to 12 masked individuals dressed in black, law enforcement officers, and corrections officers at the Prairieland ICE detention facility.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Late at night on July 4, 2025, at the Prairieland ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Make no mistake; this was not a so-called ‘peaceful protest.’ It was, indeed, an ambush.” – Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson.

🎯IMPACT: Ten suspects face charges, including attempted murder of federal officers, with potential sentences ranging from ten years to life in prison. Another suspect faces charges related to evidence tampering.

IN FULL

Eleven suspects accused of orchestrating a violent attack on the Prairieland U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, have been arrested. The attack left a police officer with a gunshot wound to the neck; as of the time of publication, he is expected to recover.

The incident began around 10:37 PM when 10-12 suspects, some masked, defaced vehicles with graffiti reading “ICE pig” and “traitor” and set off fireworks near the facility. As two unarmed ICE corrections officers responded, an assailant fired 20-30 rounds at them, while another shot an arriving Alvarado police officer in the neck.

Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson explained that the vandalism and fireworks had been intended to lure federal agents into the open. Once law enforcement was drawn out, they were fired upon from a wooded area nearby.

“Today, my office has charged ten individuals with three counts of attempted murder of a federal officer,” Larson said. “Each of the ten are also charged with three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Each of these defendants faces a mandatory prison term of ten years and up to life in prison. An additional co-conspirator was charged with an obstruction of justice and conspiracy for attempting to conceal and destroy evidence in relation to the attack, and he faces up to ten years in prison.”

She stressed that the attack “was a planned ambush with the intent to kill ICE corrections officers. Make no mistake; this was not a so-called ‘peaceful protest.’ It was, indeed, an ambush.”

Authorities recovered AR-15 rifles, body armor, and materials like a ‘Resist Fascism’ flag, and ‘Fight ICE terror’ and ‘Organising for Attack! Insurrectionary Anarchy’ fliers, suggesting an organized effort.

Meanwhile, a gunman was killed on Monday after entering the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol building near McAllen International Airport, Texas, and opening fire.

These incidents come in the same week as Axios reported Democrats were telling them their base has become increasingly radical, particularly on immigration, with one unnamed lawmaker telling the news outlet, “Some of them have suggested … what we really need to do is be willing to get shot.”

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5 hours ago
News

Chinese Military Accused of Targeting NATO Aircraft With Laser.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Chinese military allegedly targeted a laser at a German aircraft involved in a European Union-led mission in the Red Sea.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: German aircraft, Chinese military, and the European Union’s Aspides mission.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred during a routine operation over the Red Sea.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Endangering German personnel (and) disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable.” – German foreign ministry

🎯IMPACT: The German aircraft’s mission was aborted, and the aircraft returned to a base in Djibouti.

IN FULL

Berlin has raised concerns over an incident in which the Chinese military allegedly targeted a German aircraft with a laser. The NATO country’s aircraft was participating in the European Union’s Aspides mission, which aims to safeguard marine traffic in the Red Sea.

The German foreign ministry took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the act, stating that “Endangering German personnel (and) disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable.” The ministry further revealed that the Chinese ambassador to Berlin had been summoned for discussions.

According to a spokesman from the German defense ministry, the aircraft was targeted “without reason or prior contact” during a routine mission. The Chinese vessel’s actions were described as posing a threat to both personnel and equipment.

Following the encounter, the German aircraft was forced to abandon its mission and return to its base in Djibouti. The nature of the laser, whether a weapon or a guidance system, remains unclear.

This development has sparked diplomatic tensions, with Germany demanding explanations and assurances from Beijing regarding the incident.

Image by Steve Webel.

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6 hours ago
War

Trump Resumes Military Aid to Ukraine.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced that the United States will resume sending defensive weapons to Ukraine, reversing a recent pause in shipments.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Pentagon officials, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on July 7, following escalating Russian attacks on Ukraine.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They’re getting hit very hard now,” said Trump, speaking from the White House.

🎯IMPACT: The resumption of defensive aid could increase pressure on Russia’s President Putin to renew peace negotiations with Ukraine; however, the move could also be seen as a reescalation and further prolong the conflict.

IN FULL

The Pentagon announced on Monday that it will resume sending defensive weapons to Ukraine at the request of President Donald J. Trump. This decision reverses a prior move to pause air defense shipments that were already en route to Ukraine.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the weapons would “ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure that the killing stops.” President Trump, speaking alongside U.S. and Israeli delegations at the White House, emphasized the need for Ukraine to be able to defend itself against escalating Russian air attacks. “They’re getting hit very hard now,” Trump said, adding that he was “disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped.”

Following a July 3 phone call between Trump and Putin, Russian forces launched what Ukrainian officials described as the largest airstrikes since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The Ukrainian air force reported over 539 drones and 11 missiles during the attacks, marking a record high.

In addition to the renewed flow of military aid, President Trump continues to float the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia. Additionally, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is pushing legislation in the U.S. Senate that would hit countries purchasing Russian oil with a 500 percent tariff—though it remains unclear just what level of support the South Carolina Republican has among his colleagues for the measure.

Ukraine’s reliance on air defense systems supplied by Western allies, including the Patriot missile system, has grown as Russian attacks intensify. Ukrainian officials were surprised when the Pentagon initially paused shipments of critical munitions, citing concerns that America’s stockpiles had been run down. However, the decision to resume aid follows a productive July 4 phone call between President Zelensky and President Trump. Zelensky described the conversation as “the best in all this time” and expressed gratitude for U.S. support in addressing air defense needs.

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6 hours ago
News

TSA Finally Ends ‘Shoes Off’ Rule.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that passengers will no longer need to remove their shoes during airport security screenings.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The TSA, passengers at U.S. airports, and Muslim convert Richard Reid, a.k.a. Abdul Raheem, the “Shoe Bomber.”

📍WHEN & WHERE: The change takes effect on July 13, 2024, and will apply to all U.S. airports.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I flew through LaGuardia this morning and when I went to take my shoes off, the TSA agent yelled at me like I was a crazy person doing something completely unexpected,” said one passenger on X (formerly Twitter).

🎯IMPACT: The change aims to streamline airport security processes, though some have raised concerns about potential security risks.

IN FULL

Passengers traveling through U.S. airports will no longer have to remove their shoes during security screenings, according to a new memo from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The policy change, which will take effect on July 13, was revealed in a message sent to TSA staff last week.

This adjustment comes after years of enforcement of the “no shoe rule,” implemented following an attempt by Muslim convert Richard Reid, a.k.a. Abdul Raheem, to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on American Airlines Flight 63 in December 2001. Reid’s actions, which occurred just months after the September 11 terror attacks, led to heightened security protocols, including mandatory shoe removal during screenings.

Passengers have already started noticing the change. CBS News reported that travelers at Los Angeles International Airport and New York City’s LaGuardia Airport were allowed to keep their shoes on during security checks earlier this week. Online, many passengers expressed relief, with one saying, “I flew through LaGuardia this morning and when I went to take my shoes off, the TSA agent yelled at me like I was a crazy person doing something completely unexpected.”

Some have voiced concerns over the potential security implications of the new policy. However, the TSA memo indicates that passengers who trigger security scanners will still be required to remove their shoes for additional screening.

The TSA has not yet issued an official public statement, though the policy is expected to be rolled out nationwide.

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19 hours ago
Crime
UK

Terrorists and Gangsters Are Teaching Each Other How to Make Bombs and Launder Money in Prison.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A study has revealed that terrorists and organized criminals in British prisons are exchanging dangerous skills, including bomb-making and money laundering techniques.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Islamic extremist inmates, gang members, prison officers, researchers, and researchers such as Dr. Hannah Bennett.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The study highlights ongoing issues within high-security prisons across the United Kingdom, including His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Frankland and HMP Belmarsh.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Some prisoners are coming out knowing how to make a bomb. Others are learning how to use the dark web or commit financial crime.” – Dr. Hannah Bennett

🎯IMPACT: The study warns of dangerous alliances forming in prisons, posing a threat both inside and outside prison if unchecked.

IN FULL

Islamist terrorists in British prisons are reportedly teaching organized criminals bomb-making skills. In exchange, the criminals are teaching the terrorists how to launder money. Gangsters are also said to be teaching inmates how to use the dark web and acquire weapons for terrorist attacks, according to a new study.

Interviews with prison officers, former prison governors, counter-terrorism officials, and prisoners themselves indicates that terrorists and other prisoners are less divided than they were previously. This means the terrorists may soon be able to fund their activities more extensively, while gangsters will be able to use more violent methods, such as bombings, in their turf wars.

“Some prisoners are coming out knowing how to make a bomb. Others are learning how to use the dark web or commit financial crime. For many, it’s about protection but it’s also about opportunity,” said study author Dr. Hannah Bennett.

The findings follow high-profile attacks on prison guards. These include an incident involving Hashem Abedi, Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi’s accomplice brother, who attacked three officers with makeshift knives and hot oil at HMP Frankland in April, and Southport mass murderer Axel Rudakubana, who scalded a guard with boiling water.

Dr. Bennett characterized maximum-security prisons as oppressive, “black hole”-like settings, marked by rampant corruption, pervasive violence, and inadequate oversight, increasing risks “exponentially.”

Britain’s prison system is highly overcrowded, due to previous Labour and Conservative governments failing to substantially increase capacity. The current leftist Labour government is releasing thousands of prisoners to ease the stress on the system.

As these criminals have been released, people who took part in anti-mass migration protests and riots or made approving comments about them on social media after the Southport killings have been receiving unusually lengthy sentences.

Image by JV.

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