Saturday, September 20, 2025

Musk Backing Down on ‘America Party’ to Build Ties With Vance: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk appears to have paused plans to launch a political party to challenge President Donald J. Trump and the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterms.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Andrew Yang, Mark Cuban, and Libertarian National Committee chairman Steven Nekhaila.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent weeks, with new developments reported by The Wall Street Journal.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “It doesn’t seem like anything has been in action, neither at the state level or at the ground level,” Nekhaila said of Musk’s proposed ‘America Party.’

🎯IMPACT: Musk may shift focus back to his companies and rebuild ties with Republican leaders, particularly Vice President Vance, ahead of his possible 2028 presidential run.

IN FULL

Former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk appears to be reaching for a rapprochement with President Donald J. Trump, with public outbursts against the America First leader dwindling and public support for his federalization of law enforcement in Washington, D.C. A Wall Street Journal report suggests Musk has also scaled back plans to form an ‘America Party’ to challenge Trump and the GOP in the 2026 midterms, focusing on building ties with Vice President J.D. Vance ahead of a possible presidential run in 2028.

The WSJ reports that Musk is considering backing Vance’s potential 2028 run financially, having already spent nearly $300 million in support of Trump and other Republicans in 2024. Despite this, and a prominent public-facing role in the early days of Trump’s second administration, the pair fell out over the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, aimed at expanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and cutting taxes for American workers, with Musk complaining it would increase the deficit.

Musk has acknowledged that forming a third party “would damage his relationship with the Vice President,” according to the WSJ. Steven Nekhaila, chairman of the Libertarian National Committee, laments that Musk’s team has shown “eerie silence” on the America Party, with no activity at either the state or ground level. Meetings with third-party organizers, including former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and Democrat donor Mark Cuban, were reportedly canceled.

Vance recently said that his it was “a mistake for [Musk] to try to break from the President,” expressing his “hope… that by the time of the midterms, he’s kind of come back into the fold.” Notably, Musk’s popularity cratered after he turned on President Trump, with his previous support for the MAGA kingpin having already damaged his standing with liberals.

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Trump Moves to Bar Immigrants Engaged in ‘Anti-Americanism.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its guidance on discretionary factors in benefit requests, focusing on anti-American and anti-Semitic activity.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: USCIS and spokesman Matthew Tragesser.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 19, 2025, USCIS Policy Manual update.

💬KEY QUOTE: “America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies.” – Matthew Tragesser

🎯IMPACT: Enhanced vetting on social media for anti-American activities, affecting benefit requests.

IN FULL

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will now place additional scrutiny on “certain benefit requests where an exercise of discretion is required,” including whether an applicant has “any involvement in anti-American or terrorist organizations.” The updated guidance also expands USCIS reviews to social media vetting for benefit requests, incorporating reviews for anti-American activities. According to the agency, such activities will be considered overwhelmingly negative in any discretionary analysis.

Matthew Tragesser, a spokesman for USCIS, stated, “America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is committed to implementing policies and procedures that root out anti-Americanism and supporting the enforcement of rigorous screening and vetting measures to the fullest extent possible.”

“Immigration benefits—including to live and work in the United States—remain a privilege, not a right,” he added.

The guidance emphasizes that compliance with immigration laws is crucial in determining favorable discretion. It also updates the Policy Manual to provide additional guidance for cases involving support for terrorist organizations, anti-American ideologies, anti-Semitic terrorism, and related activities.

In addition, USCIS states that the new guidance will “clarify how an exercise of discretion is applied when adjudicating an EB-5 investor petition or application in cases involving threats to the national interest, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, and criminal misuse.”

While U.S. immigration law already restricts certain benefits for foreign nationals with ties to certain political ideologies and terrorist groups, the new measures aim to increase the scrutiny of these associations.

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DOJ Investigates Manipulation of Crime Stats by D.C. Police Leaders.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating whether the leadership of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has manipulated crime data to make rates appear lower.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The investigation involves the U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, and focuses on Commander Michael Pulliam, among other officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The probe, revealed on Tuesday, August 19, follows the suspension of MPD Commander Pulliam earlier this year.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety. This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing!” — President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: The investigation raises broader questions about the reliability of crime statistics in Democrat-run jurisdictions.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a formal investigation into allegations that the leadership of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) manipulated crime data to present a lower crime rate, according to two senior law enforcement officials. The investigation is being led by the U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, following the suspension of MPD Commander Michael Pulliam after he was accused by the D.C. Police Union of altering crime statistics earlier this year. Pulliam has denied the accusations.

President Donald J. Trump addressed the investigation on Truth Social, writing, “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety. This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing!” He also touted his administration’s efforts to increase safety in the area through federal law enforcement and National Guard mobilization.

Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has defended the city’s crime statistics, claiming violent crime has decreased by 26 percent compared to last year. However, Gregg Pemberton, head of the D.C. Police Union, expressed skepticism last week during a media interview. “I think there are some concerns about the accuracy of the numbers,” Pemberton said, suggesting there may be a pattern of manipulating data to downplay crime levels.

“What we know, what our members know, is that we go call to call to call out on the streets at night, going from robbery to carjacking to stabbing to shooting, and we just know that crime is ubiquitous, and it’s all in every quadrant of the city,” Pemberton stressed. He described recorded decreases in crime as “preposterous” and unreflective of the reality on the ground.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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MS-13 Gangster Caught in D.C. After Trump Takeover.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federalized law enforcement, under the direction of President Donald J. Trump, made 52 arrests in Washington, D.C.—including an MS-13 gang member with prior convictions—on Monday night as part of a broader crime crackdown.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Federal and local law enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Trump administration, with criticism from Democrat D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Brian Schwalb.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C., on Monday night, August 18, 2025, as part of ongoing operations since August 7, 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “At the direction of [President Trump], our nation’s capital is a SAFER place—and we are just getting started.” – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi

🎯IMPACT: Over 450 arrests have been made since August 7, despite significant pushback from local Democratic leaders over federal involvement in D.C.’s policing.

IN FULL

Monday night saw a new round of arrests totalling 52 suspects by federal and local law enforcement in Washington, D.C., under the direction of President Donald J. Trump. Among those apprehended is an alleged member of the violent Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang with prior convictions for driving while intoxicated and drug possession. Notably, MS-13 was declared a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by President Trump in February.

“At the direction of [President Trump], our nation’s capital is a SAFER place—and we are just getting started. [Fifty-two] arrests were made last night, including an MS-13 gang member, and [nine] firearms were taken off the streets,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. She added, “Since our mission began, there have been a total of 465 arrests, 68 guns seized, and charges for homicide, narcotics, and firearm offenses. Nearly half of these arrests occurred in the high-crime areas of D.C. Residents and tourists alike appreciate this extraordinary effort by our DC and Federal law enforcement partners.”

The White House reported that out of 212 non-immigration arrests, 101 occurred in Wards 7 and 8, areas known for higher crime rates. Federal authorities also cleared four homeless encampments on Monday.

Meanwhile, Washington D.C.’s Democrat mayor, Muriel Bowser, criticized the federalization of the city’s police force, calling it “an intrusion on our autonomy.” Speaking at a community town hall, she urged residents to resist what she described as an “authoritarian push” and to work towards electing a Democratic-controlled Congress to counter the Trump White House. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb echoed her concerns, tweeting that the deployment of armed soldiers undermines public safety and democracy.

The Trump administration has defended its actions, with Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stating that ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have been deployed to “clean up the streets of our nation’s capital.” She added, “Our message is clear: Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States.” Bondi also recently issued an order overriding D.C.’s sanctuary policies, ensuring compliance between local police and federal immigration authorities.

The D.C. Police Union also appears happy with the Trump takeover, noting that serious crimes such as carjacking are down by as much as 83 percent.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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Trump Pledges No U.S. Troops in Ukraine.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: President J. Donald Trump stated that no U.S. troops would be deployed to Ukraine’s border under any security guarantee in a peace deal to halt the country’s war with Russia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made the remarks on Fox & Friends on August 19, 2025, following a meeting at the White House on August 18.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “There’ll be some kind of security… but it can’t be NATO,” Trump said, referencing Ukraine’s aspirations to join the alliance.

🎯IMPACT: Discussions center on territorial disputes and ensuring Ukraine’s security against future Russian aggression.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump clarified on Tuesday that no U.S. troops would be sent to Ukraine’s border under any security guarantee emerging from a peace deal to end Russia’s invasion. The remarks came during an interview with Fox, following Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday.

“There’ll be some form of security,” President Trump said, continuing: “It can’t be NATO, because that’s just not something that could ever, ever happen.”

The America First leader reiterated that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky will need to be flexible and open to concessions. “I hope President Putin is going to be good. If he’s not, that’s going to be a rough situation,” Trump said, adding: “And I hope Zelensky, President Zelensky, will do what he has to do. He has to show some flexibility, also. The thing is a mess.”

President Trump noted that European allies were willing to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a security guarantee, with the U.S. potentially providing air support. While a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has remained elusive, Monday’s White House summit, following Trump’s bilateral meeting with Putin last week, appears to have created new movement on the possibility.

President Trump has indicated he is now working to arrange a meeting between himself, Zelensky, and Putin in the hopes of furthering peace talks.

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Thousands of Student Visas Are Being Revoked Under Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of State has revoked an estimated 6,000 student visas under new measures implemented by President Donald J. Trump, increasing the scrutiny of applicants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and foreign students.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The stricter visa reviews were implemented earlier this year, with visa revocations ongoing.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas.” — Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: Federal immigration officials and the State Department have increased the scrutiny under which student visa applicants are investigated, including reviewing their past social media posts for anti-American views or support for Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

IN FULL

An estimated 6,000 student visas have been revoked by the U.S. Department of State, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Since taking office in January, President Donald J. Trump has enacted a series of measures increasing scrutiny of foreign applicants for student visas, as well as moving to revoke existing visas for foreign students at several elite universities engaging in anti-American activities.

“The State Department has revoked over 6,000 student visas for overstays and law violations, the vast majority being assault, DUI, burglary, and support for terrorism,” a State Department official said. The official noted that an estimated 4,000 visas were revoked directly as a result of the foreign student having violated U.S. laws.

Under Secretary Rubio, the State Department has prioritized reviewing student visas currently held and requested by applicants from the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been accused of utilizing Chinese nationals studying in the United States and Europe to engage in corporate espionage and the surveillance of anti-CCP dissidents.

Federal immigration officials and the State Department have increased the scrutiny under which student visa applicants are investigated, including now reviewing their past social media posts for anti-American views or support for Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). “Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” Rubio said in March.

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European Leaders Praise Trump for Breaking ‘Deadlock’ With Russia.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed optimism about ending the war in Ukraine, praising President Donald J. Trump for breaking the “deadlock” with Russia alongside other European leaders.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, President Donald J. Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and other European leaders at a White House summit.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 18, 2025, at the White House.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The fact that you have said I’m willing to participate in security guarantees is a big step, is really a breakthrough, and it makes all the difference.” – Mark Rutte

🎯IMPACT: The discussions focused on security guarantees and the potential for ending the war, with positive remarks from all leaders involved.

IN FULL

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed optimism about ending the ongoing war in Ukraine during a meeting of European leaders at the White House. The former Dutch prime minister emphasized the importance of making the most out of the current situation, stating, “Let’s make the best out of today and make sure that from today onwards, we get this thing to an end as soon as possible.”

Rutte, speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and various European NATO leaders, thanked President Donald J. Trump for breaking the “deadlock” with Russia by “starting the dialogue” with President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week.

He highlighted the significance of President Trump’s willingness to participate in security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace deal, calling it “a big step” and “really a breakthrough.”

Despite previous friction with Zelensky, Trump described their discussion ahead of the wider meeting with European leaders as “very good.” Zelensky, too, said their meeting “really was the best one, or sorry, maybe the best one will be in the future,” adding that they would “speak more about security guarantees.”

Finnish President Alexander Stubb was among the European leaders to praise President Trump’s efforts, noting that more progress had been made towards peace in the past two weeks “than we have in the past three and a half years.”

Stubb referenced his own country’s clashes with the Soviet Union during the Winter War and Continuation War, which took place amid the Second World War, saying, “We found a solution in 1944, and I’m sure that we’ll be able to find a solution in 2025, too.”

Notably, Finland brought its conflict with the Soviets to an end by making territorial concessions.

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Trump Wants Trialateral Meeting With Putin, Zelensky to End the War.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump says he hopes today’s bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and summit with major European leaders will result in a trilateral meeting between Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and himself to negotiate an end to the war between the two Eastern European countries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the leaders of the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, NATO, and the European Union (EU).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The White House in Washington, D.C. on Monday, August 18, 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “If everything works out well today, we’ll have a trilat—and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that.” — President Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: President Trump emphasized that any trilateral meeting must be aimed at securing an enduring and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has said he hopes today’s bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and summit with major European leaders will pave the way for a trilateral meeting between Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and himself to negotiate an end to the war between the two Eastern European countries. Zelensky—and the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, NATO, and the European Union (EU)—gathered for an unprecedented summit at the White House on Monday after President Trump held bilateral discussions with Putin last Friday in what could mark a significant breakthrough towards ending the Ukraine war.

“If everything works out well today, we’ll have a trilat—and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that,” President Trump said. The America First leader emphasized that any trilateral meeting must be aimed at securing an enduring and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

While the last time Zelensky met with Trump at the White House, the meeting erupted into a diplomatic row, with the Ukrainian leader aggressively arguing with Vice President J.D. Vance on live television, Zelensky appeared far calmer and conciliatory this time. Since their initial rocky start, Trump and Zelensky have held several meetings, including one at the Vatican.

Last Friday, President Trump met with Putin at an American military base in Alaska. The leaders discussed a potential trilateral meeting and possible Russian concessions to end the conflict.

Movement by Russia on its demands and openness to Ukraine receiving security guarantees from the West are believed to have sparked today’s Ukrainian bilateral and European summit in Washington, D.C.

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The Data Shows Trump Takeover Has Crushed Crime in DC:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal and local law enforcement agents in Washington, D.C., made 68 arrests on Saturday night, with over 300 arrests since President Donald J. Trump federalized D.C. law enforcement and deployed National Guard troops on August 11. D.C. Police Union data shows significant declines in D.C. crime, particularly carjackings and robberies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, National Guard troops, and federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the D.C. Police Union, and D.C. residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C., Saturday night, with ongoing efforts since August 11.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Just last night, our federal and D.C. law enforcement partners made 68 arrests and seized 15 illegal firearms. Homicide suspects, drug traffickers, and more are being charged.” – Pam Bondi

🎯IMPACT: The increased law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C. appears to be improving public safety and cutting crime.

IN FULL

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that federal agents, working alongside the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), arrested 68 crime suspects on Saturday night, bringing the total to over 300 since President Donald J. Trump announced his crime crackdown on August 11. Meanwhile, the D.C. Police Union has released data showing massive declines in several crime categories.

Overall, police union data shows crime is down by eight percent—but the fall in carjackings, which have become particularly prevalent in the Democrat-dominated city, is far more dramatic, with an 83 percent decline. Robberies are also down by 46 percent, with a smaller but still significant 22 percent decline in violent crime generally.

Last week, President Trump federalized the MPD and mobilized National Guard units to the District of Columbia alongside personnel from federal law enforcement agencies as part of a 30-day initiative to curb violent crime in the American capital.

The National Guard troops and MPD are working alongside federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Additionally, the MPD, under federalization, has agreed to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when detaining illegal immigrants.

“Just last night, our federal and D.C. law enforcement partners made 68 arrests and seized 15 illegal firearms. Homicide suspects, drug traffickers, and more are being charged,” Bondi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Late Friday, a federal court temporarily blocked the federalization of the D.C. police, but relented after the Department of Justice (DOJ) revised part of its directive to allow the city’s police chief to remain in place. President Trump has expressed a desire to work with the GOP-controlled Congress to extend his control over the capital city beyond the 30-day emergency authority.

Currently, about 800 National Guard troops are stationed in D.C., with an additional 700 expected to arrive from Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia this week.

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Trump Mounts Campaign to Ban Mail-In Ballots and Voting Machines.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced a campaign to eliminate mail-in voting and replace voting machines with more secure, traditional voting methods.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Democrats, and voters in the United States.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Monday morning on Truth Social.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The proposed changes aim to address concerns over election integrity and prevent alleged voter fraud.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump unveiled a new initiative on his Truth Social platform early Monday to eliminate mail-in ballots, denouncing their widespread use as a source of “MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD.”

The expansion of mail-in voting surged before the 2020 election, with Democrats citing the COVID-19 pandemic as their rationale for its necessity. While states like Colorado and Washington already relied on mail-in voting, others were unprepared with adequate safeguards to ensure election integrity for the surge in remote ballots.

“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES,” Trump declared. He proposed adopting “accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper” to streamline the voting process and ensure more precise election results.

Trump warned that Democrats, whom he accused of depending on these systems to secure victories, would fiercely resist efforts to abolish mail-in voting and problematic voting machines. “ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS,” he asserted.

The America First leader also revealed plans to issue an executive order to promote “HONESTY” in the 2026 midterm elections, insisting that states must adhere to federal mandates to protect election integrity. “Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do,” he argued, concluding: “REMEMBER, WITHOUT FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS, AND STRONG AND POWERFUL BORDERS, YOU DON’T HAVE EVEN A SEMBLANCE OF A COUNTRY.”

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