Thursday, November 13, 2025

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Teachers Fired for Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s Assassination File Lawsuits.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Multiple teachers and education staff are suing their employers after being terminated or placed on leave for controversial social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Teachers, professors, and other school staff, alongside universities, school districts, and legal experts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Lawsuits have been filed in Indiana, Iowa, South Carolina, and South Dakota over the past two weeks.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I have no thoughts or prayers for this hate spreading nazi. A shrug, maybe.” — An art professor in South Dakota

🎯IMPACT: The cases could set significant legal precedents regarding public employees’ First Amendment rights and employers’ social media policies.

IN FULL

Several teachers and school district employees are attempting to challenge their firings over social media posts justifying or celebrating the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, and in some instances glorifying political violence more generally. The plaintiffs, across several lawsuits, claim their terminations violate their First Amendment rights.

One of the plaintiffs, a former staff member at Ball State University in Indiana, is suing the university after being dismissed for posting on Facebook, “Charlie Kirk’s death is a reflection of the violence, fear and hatred he sowed. It does not excuse his death, AND it’s a sad truth.” Similarly, an art teacher in Iowa filed a suit after being dismissed for posting “1 Nazi down” in reference to Kirk’s assassination.

In South Carolina, an elementary school teaching assistant is suing her district over what her lawsuit claims is an unconstitutional social media policy. She was fired after quoting Kirk on gun deaths and adding the phrase “thoughts and prayers.”

Meanwhile, an art professor in South Dakota is seeking to block his termination after posting, “Where was all this concern when the politicians in Minnesota were shot? And the school shootings? And capital police? I have no thoughts or prayers for this hate spreading nazi. A shrug, maybe.”

The lawsuits follow calls from many Americans urging employers to take action against people celebrating Kirk’s assassination. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon have both expressed support for firings in such cases.

The legal challenges are expected to test the boundaries of public employees’ First Amendment rights. Some legal experts contend that public employers—unlike the private sector—must demonstrate that social media posts caused significant disruption to justify termination.

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Noem Distributes $10,000 Bonuses to TSA Agents Who Worked Through Shutdown.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced $10,000 bonus checks for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who worked without pay during the Senate Democrats’ government shutdown.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, TSA agents, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced at a press conference on Thursday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are not only going to continue their paychecks like they should’ve received all along, but also they’re going to receive a bonus check for stepping up, taking on extra shifts, for showing up each and every day, for serving the American people.” – Kristi Noem

🎯IMPACT: TSA agents and air traffic controllers will receive financial recognition for their service during the shutdown, while air travel disruptions may persist temporarily.

IN FULL

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on November 13 that thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees will receive $10,000 bonus checks for their “exemplary service” during the recent record-breaking government shutdown. Standing beside TSA officers who continued working without pay, Noem said the payments would serve both as compensation and recognition for their dedication.

“We are not only going to continue their paychecks like they should’ve received all along, but also they’re going to receive a bonus check for stepping up, taking on extra shifts, for showing up each and every day, for serving the American people,” Noem said during the press conference. She distributed several checks to TSA agents at the event.

President Donald J. Trump made a similar promise earlier in the week, saying he would recommend $10,000 bonuses for air traffic controllers who remained on duty. “For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country,” Trump stated.

The shutdown, which began on October 1 and ended late Wednesday after 43 days, was the longest in U.S. history. It stemmed from a budget standoff between congressional Democrats and Republicans over government spending priorities. Senate Democrats blocked Republican measures that would have ensured continued pay for members of the military and federal employees during the funding lapse.

During the shutdown, millions of federal workers went without pay, and essential programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, faced disruptions. The Trump administration announced that SNAP would continue at 50 percent of its usual funding levels, prompting widespread concern among recipients. The standoff concluded when President Trump signed a short-term spending bill to reopen the government, allowing agencies to resume normal operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that staffing shortages during the shutdown forced a reduction of up to 10 percent in air traffic at 40 major airports nationwide. Despite missing paychecks, thousands of TSA agents and air traffic controllers continued to work to keep flights operating safely.

Noem emphasized that the administration aims to support those workers who endured financial hardship during the shutdown. “We will be looking at every single TSA official that helped serve during this government shutdown and do what we can to recognize that and help them financially with a bonus check to get them and their family back on their feet,” she said.

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U.S. Catholic Bishops Ban Gender Transition Treatments in Catholic Hospitals.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Catholic bishops voted to ban gender transition treatments in Catholic hospitals, formalizing a yearslong process to address transgender treatment options.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Catholic bishops, Catholic healthcare providers, Bishop Robert Barron, and the Catholic Health Association.

📍WHEN & WHERE: November 12, during a meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “With regard to the gender ideology, I think it’s very important the church makes a strong statement here.” – Bishop Robert Barron

🎯IMPACT: Catholic hospitals serving one in seven U.S. patients will now adhere to these revised directives.

IN FULL

U.S. Roman Catholic bishops gathered in Baltimore, Maryland, on Wednesday and voted to ban gender transition procedures in Catholic-run hospitals across the nation. The vote approved revisions to the Church’s healthcare directives, finalizing years of discussion about how Catholic institutions should handle gender-related treatments. The new rules affect thousands of hospitals and healthcare providers nationwide, many of which already do not provide transition-related care such as hormone therapy, surgeries, or psychological interventions.

Bishop Robert Barron of the Winona-Rochester diocese in Minnesota said during the meeting, “With regard to the gender ideology, I think it’s very important the Church makes a strong statement here.” The Catholic Health Association (CHA), representing numerous Catholic hospitals, thanked the bishops for incorporating their feedback and said that Catholic providers would continue to treat transgender patients “with dignity and respect, consistent with Catholic social teachings.”

The revised directives are consistent with previous Vatican guidance and a 2023 doctrinal note titled “Moral Limits to the Technological Manipulation of the Human Body.” That document instructs Catholic healthcare providers not to perform medical interventions intended to alter a person’s sexual characteristics. Catholic hospitals treat more than one in seven patients in the United States, according to the CHA, and in some regions, they are the only available medical facilities.

The decision comes as debates over gender transition procedures continue nationwide. Some research, including large-scale analyses published in recent years, suggests that surgical and hormonal interventions do not reliably improve long-term mental health outcomes for people who believe they are transgender. Other studies, such as those published in medical journals like JAMA Surgery, present more mixed findings, with some showing no measurable reduction in suicidal ideation or depression after surgery.

The policy change also comes amid broader political and legal battles over gender-related care. Earlier this year, New York Attorney General Letitia James reminded hospitals in her state that refusing services based on gender identity violates anti-discrimination laws. Her letter followed an executive order from President Donald J. Trump instructing federal agencies to stop funding “the transition of a child from one sex to another.” Several hospitals subsequently suspended youth transition treatments, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

Progressive religious leaders from other Christian denominations and other faiths have issued statements supporting transgenders, asserting that their traditions affirm a full spectrum of gender identities.

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By Popular Demand.
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ICE Hiring Bounty Hunters, Private Eyes, and Skip Tracers to Catch Illegals.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking to hire private investigators, bounty hunters, and skip tracers to locate and track immigrants for deportation purposes, according to government documents.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE, private contractors, and vendors tasked with skip tracing services under the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The contracts, which could total up to $180 million, involve operations across the United States and are part of ongoing efforts under the Trump administration.

💬KEY QUOTE: “To achieve a higher level of confidence, the vendor may physically verify the alien’s location and presence, preferably confirming their home or work location,” according to the documents.

🎯IMPACT: The initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand illegal immigration arrests and detentions across the country.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to hire private investigators, including bounty hunters and skip tracers, to locate tens of thousands of immigrants as part of an effort to expand deportations. Government documents indicate that ICE has an “immediate need” for services such as physical surveillance, skip tracing, and the collection of verification documents.

The contracts, which could amount to as much as $180 million, involve tracking over one million immigrant homes through what ICE refers to as “enhanced location research.” This includes gathering utility bills, photographs, and other documents to confirm an immigrant’s residency or employment status. Vendors would receive batches of 50,000 addresses to investigate and must provide time-stamped photographs and reports on the physical locations of targets.

Documents state that vendors are required to comply with all laws regarding data collection and privacy. The contracts also outline the potential use of surveillance technology for real-time tracking and emphasize the importance of transparency in the skip tracing process. “The vendor should prioritize locating the home address and only resort to employment location, failing that,” the documents add.

This effort is part of a larger push under the Trump administration to increase illegal immigration arrests and expand detention space. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division is also seeking to hire 10,000 new agents by next year.

The administration has allocated significant funding to immigration enforcement under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), making ICE one of the most well-funded policing agencies globally.

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White House Says Democrat Govt Shutdown Cost $15 Billion Per Week, Hurt GDP.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett provided an economic assessment of the recent government shutdown and its impact on GDP growth and employment.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kevin Hassett, President Donald J. Trump, and Senate Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday morning, following the reopening of the government through a continuing resolution (CR) signed by President Trump.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It costs about $15 billion a week, and it accumulates to maybe 1-1.5 percent of GDP when you account for multiplier effects.” – Kevin Hassett

🎯IMPACT: GDP growth for the fourth quarter is expected to be halved, with 60,000 Americans losing jobs due to reduced economic output.

IN FULL

The director of President Donald J. Trump‘s National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, revealed on Thursday that the Senate Democrats’ government shutdown is estimated to have cost the United States economy $15 billion each week of its duration. Hassett also warned that the funding lapse will likely reduce gross domestic product (GDP) growth by between one and 1.5 percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2025.

“Our Council of Economic Advisers said that it costs about $15 billion a week and it accumulates to maybe 1-1.5 percent of GDP when you account for multiplier effects,” Hassett said while speaking outside the White House. He continued: “Their current estimate is that 60,000 Americans, not government workers, have lost their jobs because of the reduced economic output.”

According to the top White House economic adviser, the 43-day government shutdown initiated by Democrats—the longest in U.S. history—will likely take a significant toll on the American economy. He warned that earlier GDP growth projections had forecast the economy expanding by three to four percent in the fourth quarter, similar to the two prior quarters, “Now, you’re looking at something about half of that.”

Additionally, Hassett confirmed that the October unemployment rate will remain unknown due to the shutdown, citing incomplete household surveys. “We will never know what the unemployment rate was in October because there wasn’t a household survey,” he stated, though he added that the September jobs data should be available soon.

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Poll Reveals 40% of Young Women Are Considering Leaving America.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A Gallup survey revealed a record number of young women in the U.S. expressing interest in moving abroad permanently.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gallup polling firm, young women ages 15 to 44, and young men for comparison.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Survey conducted in 2025; data reflects trends since 2007.

🎯IMPACT: Highlights a growing trend among young women tied to political and cultural shifts in the U.S.

IN FULL

A new Gallup survey reports that roughly one in five Americans say they would like to move permanently to another country. Among women aged 15 to 44, that number climbs dramatically to 40 percent, quadruple the share from 2014, when only about one in ten women in that age group said the same. This surge marks the highest gender divide Gallup has ever recorded on this question, with only 19 percent of men in the same age range expressing a desire to relocate abroad.

Gallup noted that the shift among young women first appeared in 2016, during Barack Obama’s final year as President. The change, the organization suggests, seems to stem more from cultural than purely political motivations, coinciding with years of intense debate over social identity, gender ideology, and abortion.

Those cultural and political divides were also visible in Virginia’s recent gubernatorial race, where Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. Spanberger captured about 65 percent of the female vote, compared to Earle-Sears’s 35 percent. The Democrat’s campaign emphasized her opponent’s pro-life stance.

A Spanberger spokesman stated, “The Republican nominee in this race has called abortion ‘wicked’ and just this year handwrote a note on Virginia’s proposed constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights in Virginia, making clear that she is ‘morally opposed.’” The contest reflected how access to abortion continues to shape gendered voting patterns, particularly since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Research has also found that nearly half of liberal women under 30 report having been diagnosed with a mental health condition, an unusually high rate that analysts link to social pressures, political polarization, and economic uncertainty. Notably, an estimated eight in 10 female voters under 30 cast a ballot for socialist Zohran Mamdani, helping fuel his victorious New York City mayoral campaign.

Surveys of Generation Z voters indicate diverging values along both political and gender lines. Young Trump supporters, especially men, are more likely to say they hope to marry and have children, while their counterparts who supported former Vice President Kamala Harris, predominantly women, tend not to want children at all.

Image by Mark Dixon.

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Swalwell Hit With Criminal Referral to DOJ Over Potential Fraud.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has been hit with a federal criminal referral for alleged mortgage and tax fraud related to the purchase of a $1.2 million home in Washington, D.C.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Swalwell, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The alleged fraud pertains to Swalwell’s Washington, D.C. residence, with the referral confirmed on Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As the most vocal critic of Donald Trump over the last decade… the only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me,” Swalwell said in a statement.

🎯IMPACT: The referral could lead to investigations into potential mortgage, insurance, and tax fraud, with FHFA’s inspector general already probing the matter.

IN FULL

Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is facing a federal criminal referral accusing him of mortgage and tax fraud linked to his $1.2 million residence in Washington, D.C. In a letter dated Wednesday, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to probe Swalwell’s purportedly deceptive claims during the property acquisition.

According to sources, Swalwell obtained millions in financing and subsequent refinancings by classifying the home as his principal dwelling—a move that investigators suggest may constitute mortgage fraud, insurance fraud, and violations of state and local tax rules. The referral has landed at the Department of Justice (DOJ), with the FHFA’s inspector general launching a parallel inquiry.

The California Democrat has dismissed the probe as political payback. “As the most vocal critic of Donald Trump over the last decade and as the only person who still has a surviving lawsuit against him, the only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me,” he said.

Swalwell added, “Like James Comey and John Bolton, Adam Schiff and Lisa Cook, Letitia James and the dozens more to come—I refuse to live in fear in what was once the freest country in the world.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Trump Sues to Block California’s Congressional Redistricting Plan.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit to block California’s newly approved congressional district boundaries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), and California voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: California, November 13, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Proposition 50.” – DOJ Lawsuit

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit could influence control of the U.S. House in the 2026 midterm elections.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that it is suing to block California’s newly approved congressional district boundaries, setting the stage for a legal battle that could shape the 2026 midterm elections. Filed in federal court, the lawsuit seeks to challenge Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment passed by California voters that temporarily suspends the state’s redistricting commission, allowing the legislature to redraw district lines.

In the filing—in which the DOJ is joining a lawsuit already being brought by the California Republican Party—the Trump administration accuses California of racial gerrymandering, alleging the state used race as a factor to favor Hispanic voters. “Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Proposition 50,” the lawsuit states. It seeks to prevent the state from using the new map in future elections.

Proposition 50, advanced by Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), aims to help Democrats gain five Republican-held seats in the House. Newsom’s move follows a Republican-led redistricting effort in Texas, supported by President Donald J. Trump. The outcome of the DOJ’s challenge could have significant implications for party control in the House of Representatives. Republicans currently hold 219 seats, while Democrats hold 214, leaving Democrats needing only a small gain to reclaim the majority.

The National Pulse reported earlier this month that Kansas Republicans abandoned efforts to hold a special legislative session in order to pass a redistricting plan that would have targeted Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS), the only Democrat member of the state’s congressional delegation. State Representative Dan Hawkins (R), the state House Speaker, announced on Tuesday that he lacked the votes to convene a special session without the approval of Governor Laura Kelly (D-KS).

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The Penny Ends Its 232 Year Run of Production.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The United States stopped minting pennies after 232 years of production.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach, President Donald J. Trump, and U.S. Mint officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The final pennies were minted this week at the Philadelphia Mint.

💬KEY QUOTE: “God bless America, and we’re going to save the taxpayers $56 million.” – Brandon Beach

🎯IMPACT: Billions of pennies remain in circulation as legal tender, but their production has officially ended.

IN FULL

The United States federal government ceased minting pennies on Wednesday, ending the coin’s 232-year use in the country. A final run of pennies was struck at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, with Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach marking the occasion, saying, “God bless America, and we’re going to save the taxpayers $56 million.”

While the penny’s production has been halted, there remain billions of the one-cent-denominated coin in circulation, and the coin will remain legal tender. Notably, this will be the first time since 1857 that the federal government has halted the minting of a coin. The half-cent piece was the last coin discontinued, just prior to the American Civil War.

In February, President Donald J. Trump signed an order directing the U.S. Mint to halt production of pennies. The administration contends the coin—which costs more to produce than its denominated value—is obsolete in the modern age. “For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents,” the America First leader wrote in a post on Truth Social, adding: “This is so wasteful!”

This past summer, the Mint began slowing down penny production, with the final coins struck this week. The U.S. is following in the footsteps of other nations, such as Canada, which stopped producing pennies in 2012, and Australia, which removed its one-cent coins in 1992.

Image by cweyant.

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Colombia’s Marxist President Rages Over ‘Barbarian’ Trump’s Drug Boat Strikes.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the suspension of intelligence sharing with the United States, raging about the U.S. military’s lethal strikes on cartel boats carrying illegal drugs.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made earlier this week in Bogotá, Colombia, amid escalating tensions over U.S. military actions in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Intelligence is not for killing.” – Gustavo Petro

🎯IMPACT: The comments mark a continued escalation in the Marxist leader’s feud with Trump over his use of military airstrikes to stop cartel drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean.

IN FULL

Colombia’s far-left President Gustavo Petro has announced that his government will no longer share intelligence with the United States, opposing lethal strikes on cartel boats carrying illegal drugs. In an interview with NBC News, Petro emphasized that “intelligence is not for killing,” and described the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean as “undoubtedly an aggression against Latin America.”

Petro’s decision follows a series of U.S. military strikes targeting boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which President J. Donald Trump has justified as part of an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. Trump contends that Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) are using these boats to flood American cities with deadly narcotics.

Petro labeled the attacks as “murder,” accusing Trump of being a “barbarian” and “lost on the issue of the real analysis of what is going on with cocaine in Colombia.”

In response to Petro’s criticism, Trump has accused the Colombian president of being directly involved in the drug trade, referring to him as an “illegal drug leader” on his Truth Social platform. Petro strongly denied these allegations, claiming that the people killed in the strikes are often impoverished boatmen hired by criminal organizations, rather than the traffickers themselves.

France has also expressed concerns over the legality of U.S. strikes, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot alleging that the actions “violate international law.” Despite the growing tensions, Petro did not express support for Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, who has been a secondary target of the Trump administration’s military actions. “No, I believe that there has been no legitimate leadership [in Venezuela] for some time,” the Colombian leader said.

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Fetterman Criticizes Democrats for Withholding Epstein Files Under Biden Presidency.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman criticized the former Biden government for not releasing files about deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein during its time in office.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. John Fetterman, Jeffrey Epstein, victims of Epstein, and the former Biden government.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The comments were made during a Thursday appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I think what’s going to happen is it’s entirely appropriate, you know, release everything and release all of them,” Fetterman said.

🎯IMPACT: A discharge petition regarding Epstein files has reached the threshold for a vote in the House of Representatives.

IN FULL

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) broke once again with his fellow Democrats on Thursday, criticizing the former Biden government for failing to release documents concerning deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking with MSNBC’s Morning Joe co-host Jonathan Lemire, the Pennsylvania Senator stated that while Democrats forcing the release of the Epstein files is “entirely appropriate,” he has questions on why his party sat on the documents while they were in power.

“You know, another one of my questions is like … we sat on those for four years, too. So, I mean, I don’t really understand, you know, either. I mean, there are a lot of questions,” Fetterman said. Late Wednesday, House Democrats secured the votes necessary for a discharge petition that will force a vote on releasing the files in the chamber.

Recently released documents from the Epstein estate contain emails from author and fabulist Michael Wolff that appear to show him advising Epstein on how to possibly blackmail President Donald J. Trump. While it was reported in May that Trump was told that his name did appear in the files, Virginia Giuffre—one of Epstein’s most prominent victims—did not accuse the President of any wrongdoing in her posthumous memoir released in October.

Other victims of Epstein told NBC News in September that they never witnessed any misconduct by Trump. Additionally, Bradley Edwards—an attorney representing several of the victims—has publicly attested to Trump’s assistance with his litigation. “The only thing that I can say about President Trump is that he is the only person who in 2009, when I served a lot of subpoenas against a lot of people… he is the only person that picked up the phone and said, ‘Let’s just talk, I’ll give ya as much time as you want, I’ll tell ya what you need to know,’” Edwards stated in a 2018 video.

Image by Tom Wolf.

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By Popular Demand.
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