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Tag: Donald Trump
August 11, 2025
Crime
Politics

House Democrat Promises to Block Trump’s War on D.C. Crime.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin plans to introduce a resolution to terminate President Donald J. Trump’s emergency powers over the Washington, D.C., police force.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), President Trump, House Democrats, D.C. Police Union, and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The resolution is expected to be introduced as early as Wednesday, with the House resuming legislative work in September.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is Liberation Day in D.C. and we’re gonna take our capital back,” President Trump stated during a White House briefing.

🎯IMPACT: The resolution faces near-certain failure in the Republican-controlled House but could create political challenges for moderate Democrats.

IN FULL

Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is preparing to introduce a resolution to terminate President Donald J. Trump’s emergency powers over the Washington, D.C., police force. The powers invoked Monday morning, granted under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, allow the President to assume control of the district’s law enforcement during emergencies.

Raskin, a vocal critic of Trump, told the media, “Of course, the President has a major political bone to pick with the people of Washington, D.C., who have voted 10-to-1 against him at every opportunity. So this is one more chance to exact revenge.”

President Trump invoked the Home Rule Act on Monday, citing “special conditions of an emergency nature.” The act permits federal control of D.C. police for 48 hours, extendable to 30 days with congressional notification. White House staff secretary Will Scharf confirmed that required notifications have been sent to relevant congressional committees.

Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), criticized the move. Jeffries claimed, “Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a 30-year low. Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department, and zero credibility on the issue of law and order.”

Meanwhile, D.C. Police Union President Gregg Pemberton supported Trump’s decision, stating, “Crime is out of control, and our officers are stretched beyond their limits.” Notably, a police commander in D.C. is currently under investigation for doctoring crime data to fake reductions.

Raskin’s resolution is unlikely to pass in the Republican-majority House.

Image by G. Edward Johnson.

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August 11, 2025
Breaking

BREAKING: Trump Delays China Tariff Hike Amid Ongoing Trade Talks.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order delaying the reimposition of high U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods for 90 days.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, U.S. trade negotiators, and their Chinese counterparts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 11, 2025, in Washington D.C., following trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden, last month.

🎯IMPACT: The decision provides additional time for trade negotiations and avoids an immediate tariff hike.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order that halts the reimposition of high U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods for another 90 days. The move comes as part of ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.

The Executive Order was signed just hours before a midnight deadline which would have seen the tariffs snap back into effect. The decision follows the latest round of talks between American and Chinese trade negotiators, held in Stockholm, Sweden, late last month.

A White House official stated that “the delay was the expected outcome from the latest round of talks,” signaling progress in discussions aimed at resolving trade tensions between the two countries.

The National Pulse reported in June that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had not lifted restrictions on rare earth minerals exports despite agreeing to do so in a tariff truce deal with President Trump. U.S. officials accused Beijing of violating a trade agreement reached in Geneva, Switzerland.

U.S. manufacturers have reported significant delays in securing rare earth shipments, with some suppliers demanding sensitive information, such as photos of end-user facilities, to complete applications.

This story is developing…

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August 11, 2025
News

Trump Considers Downgrading Marijuana on Federal Drug List.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced that he is considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, White House officials, and industry groups.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday at a White House press conference.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re looking at reclassification, and we’ll make a determination over, I’d say, the next few weeks.” – Donald Trump.

🎯IMPACT: Reclassification could reduce criminal penalties, open research opportunities, and provide tax breaks for marijuana businesses.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump stated on Monday that his administration is considering reclassifying marijuana to a less dangerous legal schedule under federal law. Speaking during a White House press conference, Trump said, “We’re looking at reclassification, and we’ll make a determination over, I’d say, the next few weeks.”

“We’re looking at reclassification,” Trump stated, while cautioning that “it’s early” and the issue is “very complicated.” He expressed concerns about marijuana’s effects on children, but said he had been hearing “great things” about its medical applications.

The Biden government had started the process to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug in 2024, but did not finalize it. A Schedule III designation would reduce criminal penalties, encourage medical research, and allow pharmaceutical companies to participate in the legal marijuana market. It would also enable certain marijuana businesses to qualify for tax deductions.

Since 1971, marijuana has been federally classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside substances like heroin and LSD, which are considered to have a high potential for abuse. Schedule III drugs, on the other hand, include substances like ketamine, anabolic steroids, and Tylenol with codeine, which are deemed less dangerous under federal regulations.

Currently, businesses handling Schedule I or Schedule II substances are unable to claim ordinary business deductions or receive federal tax credits, a restriction that would be lifted for marijuana businesses under a Schedule III classification.

Several states have already legalized the selling of marijuana commercially, including California and New York. Canada legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2018, which led to an explosion of marijuana stores across the country. Use of the drug also increased, according to a 2023 report, which suggested that around 22 percent of the public aged over 15 used cannabis in the past year as of 2021.

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August 11, 2025
Economy
World

Trump Strikes Deal With Nvidia, AMD: Share of China Chip Sales Will Go to U.S. Government.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nvidia and AMD agreed to pay 15 percent of their China chip sales revenues to the U.S. government in exchange for export licenses.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nvidia, AMD, the Trump administration, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The export licenses were granted last week, following negotiations earlier this year.

🎯IMPACT: This unprecedented revenue-sharing arrangement changes the nature of U.S. export policy but may have implications for national security.

IN FULL

Nvidia and AMD, major chipmakers, have reportedly agreed to allocate 15 percent of their China chip sale revenues to the U.S. government to secure export licenses from the Trump administration. The White House finalized an agreement with Nvidia and AMD, mandating a 15 percent revenue share from their chip sales in China to obtain export licenses for the Chinese market, issued last week.

Sources, including a U.S. official, indicate Nvidia will contribute 15 percent of its H20 chip sales revenue in China, and AMD will do the same for its MI308 chip sales. The administration’s use of these funds remains undecided.

This deal marks a first, as no U.S. company has previously agreed to share revenues for export licenses. It reflects President Trump’s approach of encouraging companies to invest domestically to boost U.S. jobs and revenue in exchange for tariff exemptions.

While in Beijing, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang lauded Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) advancements at the International Supply Chain Expo, specifically praising DeepSeek’s AI research, saying, “It is incredibly well written. It is absolutely A-plus quality science and A-plus quality engineering.”

DeepSeek’s creators are believed to have achieved the AI’s current performance by acquiring more American chips than they were supposed to and misrepresenting its technical specifications.

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August 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Breaking
Crime

BREAKING: Trump Puts D.C. Metropolitan Police Under ‘Direct Federal Control,’ Deploys Guard.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced he is placing Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deploying the National Guard, invoking Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the National Guard, Washington, D.C. officials and residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C.; Monday morning press conference.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re going to take our capital back.” – President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Federal control of MPD and Guard deployment mark a significant shift in D.C. policing and governance, with immediate implications for public safety operations and local government.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has announced he is placing the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C. under federal control, declaring, “Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs, bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youths, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people. And we’re not going to let it happen anymore.”

“We’re going to take our capital back,” Trump vowed at a Monday morning press conference, pledging that he will “rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor, and worse.”

“Under the authorities vested in me as the President of the United States, I’m officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act… and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control,” he said, describing this as “Liberation Day” in the American capital.

President Trump also announced he is deploying the National Guard to help restore order, blaming the city’s Democrat-dominated local leadership for turning it into a “sanctuary for criminals.”

He referenced the brutal beating of former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward “Big Balls” Coristine while attempting to thwart a carjacking last week. He also referenced the murder of Mike Gill, an official in the first Trump administration, during a carjacking spree last year, saying, “I lost a very good person a while ago. He was shot waiting for his wife. He was in the car, they robbed his car, they shot him, they killed him like there was nothing to it.”

“Every American has a constitutional right to be able to access and petition their government in safety. And countless government officials and employees, likewise, have the right to carry out their jobs in peace without being shot,” the America First leader insisted.

This story is developing…

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August 11, 2025
Politics

Vance Says Musk Made ‘Mistake,’ Urges MAGA-World Return for Midterms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has led to ongoing tensions between Musk and President Donald J. Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance is calling for reconciliation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, President Donald J. Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The fallout began in May with Musk’s departure from DOGE and has continued through recent months with public statements and interviews.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I really think it’s a mistake for [Musk] to try to break from the President. My hope is that by the time of the midterms, he’s kind of come back into the fold.” – J.D. Vance

🎯IMPACT: The strained relationship between Musk and Trump has implications for midterm election strategies, should the tech mogul follow through on his threats to field America Party candidates at scale.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance says he hopes that billionaire technology and aerospace mogul Elon Musk will reconcile with President Donald J. Trump ahead of the 2026 congressional midterm elections. While tension between Musk and the Trump White House has remained since the former’s rocky departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in late May—and Musk’s subsequent attacks on Trump’s budget proposal as a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled… disgusting abomination”—the billionaire has recently begun deleting social media posts critical of Trump and donated $15 million to pro-MAGA super PACs.

“I really think it’s a mistake for [Musk] to try to break from the President. My hope is that by the time of the midterms, he’s kind of come back into the fold,” Vice President Vance said during a media interview over the weekend.

During the falling out between Trump and Musk, beginning in May, the President threatened to pull SpaceX‘s government contracts, notably after Musk had threatened to end his company’s relationship with NASA. In addition, President Trump alluded to Musk as having pushed for greater government subsidies and other carveouts for his struggling electric car company, Tesla.

President Trump’s recent comments suggest a softened stance toward Musk. During an Oval Office press conference, Trump said, “I think he’s a good person, and I think he had a bad moment, a really bad moment, but he’s a good person. I believe that.”

Vance also warned Musk that his political future outside of the GOP is limited, saying, “My argument to Elon is, like, you’re not gonna be on the left, even if you wanted to be, and he doesn’t, they’re not gonna have you back. That ship has sailed.”

Musk has been in the initial stages of launching an “America Party” as an alternative to the Republicans and the GOP. However, such a party is unlikely to achieve anything beyond siphoning libertarian-leaning voters from the Republicans and putting the Democrats back in power.

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August 11, 2025
Crime
News

Trump Issues Latest ‘Liberation’ Message for D.C.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced his plan to address crime and other issues in Washington, D.C.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Washington, D.C. officials, and residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on Monday via Truth Social.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER!” – Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump pledges to tackle crime and restore order in the nation’s capital.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump vowed that “Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today!” in a Monday morning social media post. “Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN!” he declared on his Truth Social platform.

“The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), D.C. is next!!!” he added. This precedes a press conference planned for 10 AM, at which it is speculated that the America First leader may move to federalize the Democrat-dominated U.S. capital.

In February, Trump posited a federal takeover of D.C., telling reporters, “I think that we should govern the District of Columbia… we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawlessly beautiful.”

The issue has gained prominence again following a violent assault on former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward Coristine, a.k.a. “Big Balls,” as he attempted to stop a carjacking. President Trump has already moved to bolster law enforcement in D.C. with personnel from federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Marshals Service.

In March, Trump signed an Executive Order titled ‘Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,’ declaring that “As the Federal capital city, Washington, D.C., is the only city that belongs to all Americans and… it should showcase beautiful, clean, and safe public spaces,” and establishing a D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.

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August 8, 2025
Economy

Trump Admin Eyes IPOs for Mortgage Giants Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is reportedly planning to take Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public later this year, potentially raising $30 billion.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and market analysts tracking the mortgage giants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Expected later this year, with details surfacing on Friday, August 8, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a highly complicated potential transaction here… I’ve heard more years-long timelines with regards to bringing Fannie and Freddie public here.” – Analysts following the developments.

🎯IMPACT: Shares of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have risen, with Freddie up 3 percent and Fannie up 4.5 percent, amid speculation about the IPO timeline.

IN FULL

Speculation is mounting that the Trump administration is planning to take Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public later this year. The plans could involve selling between 5 percent and 15 percent of their stock, valuing the mortgage giants at approximately $500 billion.

The two companies, which have been under government control since the 2008 financial crisis, might remain under government conservatorship, though this detail remains unclear. Analysts suggest the transaction could raise $30 billion, but questions remain about the feasibility of the timeline.

“This is a highly complicated potential transaction here,” said one analyst, noting that most observers have anticipated a years-long timeline for such a move. The possibility of an IPO later this year has raised skepticism among those who have tracked the government-sponsored enterprises for years.

Shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have reacted positively to the news. Freddie Mac’s stock rose 3 percent, while Fannie Mae saw a 4.5 percent increase. The market appears to be pricing in optimism about the potential IPO and the two companies’ future.

Further developments are expected as the Trump administration finalizes its plans. The timeline and structure of the IPO, including whether the companies will go public as one entity or two separate ones, remain key details to watch.

Image by ehpien.

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August 8, 2025
News

Trump Warns of ‘Great Depression’ If Appeals Court Rules Against His Tariffs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump warned U.S. courts against blocking his tariff policy, citing its positive economic impact and potential consequences of a judicial reversal.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, U.S. courts, former House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Alan Wolff of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 8, 2025,  on Truth Social.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If a Radical Left Court ruled against us at this late date… it would be 1929 all over again, a GREAT DEPRESSION.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Markets have responded relatively positively to tariff policy shifts, with much of the impact now priced in to long-term projections. An abrupt change initiated by the federal courts could spark a return of market volatility.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to warn of the economic risks of potential judicial actions against his tariff policy. He declared that a court ruling against his administration could lead to a severe economic downturn, likening it to the Great Depression of 1929.

“Tariffs are having a huge positive impact on the Stock Market. Almost every day, new records are set. In addition, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars are pouring into our Country’s coffers. If a Radical Left Court ruled against us at this late date, in an attempt to bring down or disturb the largest amount of money, wealth creation and influence the U.S.A. has ever seen, it would be impossible to ever recover, or pay back, these massive sums of money and honor. It would be 1929 all over again, a GREAT DEPRESSION!” Trump wrote.

The America First leader continued: “If they were going to rule against the wealth, strength, and power of America, they should have done so LONG AGO, at the beginning of the case, where our entire Country, while never having a chance at this kind of GREATNESS again, would not have been put in 1929 style jeopardy.”

“Our Country deserves SUCCESS AND GREATNESS, NOT TURMOIL, FAILURE, AND DISGRACE,” Trump added.

The comments come as a federal appeals court deliberates on the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA). Specifically, President Trump’s global reciprocal tariffs are under review by the full 11-judge bench of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C.

The court will determine whether Trump exceeded his authority by imposing reciprocal tariffs on various U.S. trading partners. The appeal follows a May ruling by a three-judge panel of the Court of International Trade, which blocked the tariffs. That decision has been stayed pending the outcome of this new hearing.

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August 8, 2025
News

Trump Admin Ends Final Vestiges of Biden Govt’s Vax Policies for Federal Workers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to erase employees’ COVID-19 vaccine status from their records, including noncompliance with mandates and exemption requests.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), federal agencies, and Feds For Freedom, a nonprofit representing 9,000 federal employees.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The directive is expected to be issued Friday, following a settlement announced Wednesday involving the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Feds For Freedom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Things got out of hand during the pandemic, and federal workers were fired, punished, or sidelined for simply making a personal medical decision. That should never have happened.” – OPM Director Scott Kupor

🎯IMPACT: Federal agencies will no longer consider COVID-19 vaccine status in hiring, promotion, or disciplinary decisions, ensuring no lingering effects from prior mandates.

IN FULL

According to a federal government memo, the Trump administration is finalizing the removal of a Biden government-era policy by directing federal agencies to scrub employees’ COVID-19 vaccine status from their records. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is set to issue a directive instructing agencies to delete any data related to vaccine compliance, exemption requests, or noncompliance with mandates.

The guidance also prohibits agencies from considering an individual’s COVID-19 vaccine status in hiring or employment decisions. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we’re making sure the excesses of that era do not have lingering effects on federal workers,” OPM Director Scott Kupor stated.

The announcement follows a settlement reached Wednesday between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the nonprofit Feds For Freedom, which sued over the Biden government’s vaccine mandate for federal workers. The group, representing 9,000 federal employees, had successfully obtained an injunction in 2022 that paused the federal vaccine mandate, which President Biden formally revoked in May 2023.

Biden’s original Executive Order, issued shortly after he took office in 2021, required federal workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Following the revocation, OPM issued guidance advising agencies to ensure that job postings no longer included compliance with the rescinded mandate as a requirement.

The new OPM memo reiterates and expands upon prior guidance, stating that federal agencies “may not use an individual’s COVID-19 vaccine status, history of noncompliance with prior COVID-19 vaccine mandates, or requests for exemptions from such mandates in any employment-related decisions, including but not limited to hiring, promotion, discipline, or termination.”

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