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October 10, 2025
William Upton
Economy
World

Trump: 100 Percent Tariff on Chinese Goods Starting November 1.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced a 100 percent tariff on China in response to planned export controls by the Chinese government.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump and the Chinese government.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made the announcement on Friday through his Truth Social platform.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is absolutely unheard of in International Trade, and a moral disgrace in dealing with other Nations,” Trump said of China’s actions.

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. plans to impose a 100 percent tariff and export controls in response to China’s actions, escalating trade tensions.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has followed through with his trade duty threat against China made earlier on Friday, announcing a 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods from November 1.

“It has just been learned that China has taken an extraordinarily aggressive position on Trade in sending an extremely hostile letter to the World, stating that they were going to, effective November 1st, 2025, impose large scale Export Controls on virtually every product they make, and some not even made by them,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “This affects ALL Countries, without exception, and was obviously a plan devised by them years ago. It is absolutely unheard of in International Trade, and a moral disgrace in dealing with other Nations.”

He continued, “Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position, and speaking only for the U.S.A., and not other Nations who were similarly threatened, starting November 1st, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a Tariff of 100% on China, over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying. Also on November 1st, we will impose Export Controls on any and all critical software.”

Trump concluded, “It is impossible to believe that China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is History. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

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1 minute ago
News
UK

Business Lobby Chief Admits UK Firms Not Interested in Rejoining EU.

Exactly ten years since Britain voted to leave the European Union, the Confederation of British Industry has made it clear that the British business community does not support re-joining the bloc.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the biggest business lobby group in the United Kingdom and a major supporter of the campaign against Brexit in 2016, has confirmed its members’ opposition to another referendum on British membership of the European Union (EU).
📺 DETAIL: Rain Newton-Smith, Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), stated that British businesses do not support reversing Brexit or re-joining the European Union. “Businesses aren’t looking to relitigate the referendum,” the CBI’s Director-General said on Tuesday. While Newton-Smith claimed that Brexit had increased business costs in some areas, the Director-General acknowledged that recent trade agreements with non-EU countries, such as the Gulf states, have altered the corporate landscape. Notably, EU member states are now allowed to negotiate trade deals independently. The Director-General also noted that while British businesses previously supported membership of the Customs Union, the EU’s trading area which eliminates all tariffs and quotas between member states, this is no longer the case. “Five years ago, businesses would have supported joining the Customs Union. But the reality is the world has changed. So, no, CBI members aren’t asking to join the customs union,” said Newton-Smith.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “None of the business leaders I speak to want to reopen that debate.” – Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Director-General.
🎯 IMPACT: Newton-Smith’s comments underscore a divide between the business community and political figures advocating for deeper EU engagement, including the likely next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and newly elected Labor Member of Parliament (MP), Andy Burnham. Newston-Smith’s comments are significant as they directly refute claims suggesting that British businesses want to rejoin the 27-country bloc.
📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this month, polling revealed that a clear majority of British people are opposed to economic integration with the EU if it means surrendering British control over British laws, even if doing so would benefit Britain’s economy. Only 27 percent of Britons support re-joining the Single Market—a free trade and shared regulatory zone, including “free movement” of migrant workers between members of the bloc—if it means compromising Britain’s sovereignty. Reflecting on the vote to leave the EU ten years on, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused the British political establishment of holding Leave voters in contempt and diluting the result.

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Exactly ten years since Britain voted to leave the European Union, the Confederation of British Industry has made it clear that the British business community does not support re-joining the bloc.

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By Popular Demand.
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54 minutes ago
News
UK

Farage Blasts Politicians’ ‘Sheer Contempt’ for Leave Voters Ten Years After Brexit Referendum.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, marked the ten-year anniversary of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union by criticizing the country’s political establishment for failing to deliver on promises made to Leave voters.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, accused the British political establishment of betraying Leave voters on the ten-year anniversary of the Brexit vote to leave the European Union (EU).
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I’m pretty angry ten years on that the realistic expectations that people had for less regulation on small businesses, for immigration to be reduced… I’m pretty angry that the Tories in particular threw that away.” – Nigel Farage
📺 DETAIL: Farage criticized the political establishment for what he described as “sheer contempt” toward Leave voters in an interview, accusing party leaders of attempting to overturn or dilute Brexit. “Ten years ago today, the British people, despite being told by the trade unions, big business, the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Lib Dems, not to vote for Brexit or the sky will fall in… In those ten years, most of our politicians have tried to either overturn the result out of their sheer contempt for the people or not implement it properly.” While Farage accused the British political establishment of failing to implement Brexit properly, he said he felt confident that a Remain-voting Prime Minister, such as Andy Burnham, is unlikely to fully reverse the vote to Leave for the foreseeable future. “If Andy Burnham says to the country at the next election, ‘I’m going to take you back into the EU’, he will not win a single seat in the north of England. Simple. As simple as.” In particular, Farage dismissed the idea of re-joining the EU, citing high costs, a potential commitment to adopt the euro, and the unpopularity of reigniting the Brexit debate among the British public. The Reform UK leader also expressed concerns about the Labour government’s decision to submit to EU food rules, suggesting it undermines the country’s independence.
🎯 IMPACT: Farage is internationally regarded as one of the key figureheads of the Brexit movement. Dubbed “Mr Brexit”, his comments carry significant weight in discussions surrounding UK-EU relations, particularly the vote to leave the EU, held exactly ten years ago today.
📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this month, polling revealed that a clear majority of British people are opposed to closer co-operation with the EU if it means surrendering British sovereignty. Specifically, the YouGov survey revealed that roughly 60 percent of British people are unwilling to exchange control over British laws for economic integration with the EU. Only 27 percent of Britons support re-joining the Single Market—a free trade and shared regulatory zone, including “free movement” of migrant workers between members of the bloc—in exchange for ceding control over British laws.

Image by Owain.davies.

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Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, marked the ten-year anniversary of Britain's vote to leave the European Union by criticizing the country's political establishment for failing to deliver on promises made to Leave voters.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
NatSec
News

Two More Arrests in White House UFC Drone and Sniper Plot.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has charged two further suspects after foiling a terror plot involving drones and snipers targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested William Lee Spartacus Falkner and Jordan Rincker, accusing them of conspiring to conduct a terror attack at the UFC Freedom 250 event using drones loaded with explosives and targeting political figures and fleeing attendees with sniper fire. The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged both men with conspiracy to commit murder following their arrests in Washington and Kansas City.
📺 DETAIL: The plot allegedly involved Falkner using his expertise in piloting drones and Rincker having a role in funding and logistics, including accepting $1,200 from the suspected ringleader, Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, allowed to stay in the U.S. thanks to former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Investigators discovered the plan through group chats and a tip from one suspect’s mother.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Law enforcement continues to do what it does—move to disrupt and hold accountable those allegedly plotting to do harm on the White House Grounds on June 14,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
🎯 IMPACT: The arrests highlight the FBI’s ongoing efforts to thwart domestic terror plots before they are carried out, particularly those involving advanced technology like drones. It arguably represents a fourth assassination attempt against President Donald J. Trump, who was in attendance at UFC Freedom 250, following previous attempts by Thomas Crooks and Ryan Routh in 2024 and an alleged attempt by Cole Allen at the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner earlier this year, although it was stopped before it could be put in motion.
📺 FLASHBACK: In recent years, the use of drones in criminal and terror-related activities has become a growing concern, with several thwarted plots involving drones targeting critical infrastructure and public events.

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has charged two further suspects after foiling a terror plot involving drones and snipers targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event.

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By Popular Demand.
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14 hours ago
Crime
Immigration
News

Florida Empties ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Due to Hurricane Threat.

The “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention facility, built by Governor Ron DeSantis (R) in Florida, is set to close due to hurricane safety concerns and high operational costs.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Florida officials have announced the closure of the “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention center due to hurricane threats and high operational costs.
📺 DETAIL: The 3,000-bed facility in the Everglades was evacuated earlier this month as a precaution against hurricanes, which are expected from June to November. The detainees have been relocated to other facilities. The detention center can only endure winds up to 74 miles per hour, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane or tropical storm. Constructed in eight days on the site of an abandoned airstrip approximately 40 miles from Miami, the center opened in July last year. Built by Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration in Florida, the center became an iconic symbol of the state’s efforts to assist the Trump administration crackdown on illegal immigration. The facility processed nearly 22,000 illegal immigrants for deportation. However, due to high operational costs, which are projected to exceed $1 billion, firms contracting with the center have been told to prepare for “full demobilization.”
🎯 IMPACT: Florida state officials have requested $608 million in federal reimbursements, although these reimbursements remain subject to legal review. It remains to be seen whether a new facility or project will be green-lit.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “If we shut the lights out tomorrow, we will be able to say it served its purpose,” said Governor Ron DeSantis regarding the future of Alligator Alcatraz in early May.
📺 FLASHBACK: Construction of Alligator Alcatraz was first announced in June last year. In September 2025, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals blocked an order by U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama-appointed judge, that would have closed the detention facility. Williams tried to shut down the facility using an environmental loophole, citing habitat loss and increased threats to endangered species in the area.

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The "Alligator Alcatraz" migrant detention facility, built by Governor Ron DeSantis (R) in Florida, is set to close due to hurricane safety concerns and high operational costs.

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By Popular Demand.
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15 hours ago
Health
News

Planned Parenthood Poised to Regain Federal Funding as Ban Nears Expiration.

Planned Parenthood is set to regain access to federal Medicaid funding after a one-year Republican-led funding ban expires without renewal.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Planned Parenthood is expected to regain federal Medicaid funding after a Republican-led funding ban, enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act budget reconciliation bill, expires. The one-year ban, which blocked Medicaid reimbursements to organizations that abort babies even for non-abortion “services,” was a significant victory for conservatives but appears to lack the votes for an extension.
📺 DETAIL: President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act prevented Medicaid reimbursements to organizations like Planned Parenthood, which lost $832 million in federal funding. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, an Obama administration-era appointee whom Trump has pushed the Senate GOP to remove, limited the ban to one year, and Republicans now lack the votes to extend it due to slim majorities in Congress. Many GOP lawmakers, under pressure from pro-life advocates, expressed frustration but admitted the political reality is that the chance of passing another ban is slim.
🎯 IMPACT: Planned Parenthood was hit hard by the funding loss, including the closure of 51 centers, but is now preparing to start taking Medicaid funding again. State-level opposition and logistical challenges could hinder the process.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I don’t think Planned Parenthood should receive federal funds, but it’s very challenging,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), highlighting the difficulty of securing enough votes for an extension.
📈 DATA: Planned Parenthood complained that the funding cut eliminated 39 percent of its $2.14 billion annual revenue, leading to significant operational challenges.

Image by Mark Dixon.

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Planned Parenthood is set to regain access to federal Medicaid funding after a one-year Republican-led funding ban expires without renewal.

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By Popular Demand.
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15 hours ago
Data
War

DATA: Vast Majority of Americans Back Ending the Iran War.

A CBS News/YouGov poll has revealed widespread support for ending the Iran war in the United States, with a clear majority of Americans expressing concern about the cost of the war.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll has revealed that approximately three-quarters of Americans want the Iran war to end, with a clear majority saying it is not worth the cost.
📺 DETAIL: A new CBS/YouGov poll has revealed that 78 percent of Americans want the Iran war to end. This includes 69 percent of Americans who say the Iran war was not worth the cost of entering in the first place and roughly six in 10 respondents who regard the conflict as a net negative. The findings of the poll were published on Sunday following the announcement of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, subsequent peace talks in Switzerland, and renewed Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. The poll was conducted between June 17 and 19. The ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran has temporarily reduced tensions and lowered gas prices, the latter of which spiked following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint in the global oil trade. Approximately 20 percent of global oil exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “You close [the Strait of Hormuz] and you won’t have a country,” President Donald J. Trump reportedly told Iranian officials.
🎯 IMPACT: The findings of the poll suggest that a clear majority of Americans want to see peace in the Middle East, especially to alleviate the inflationary pressures created by the Iran war. As such, voters are likely to welcome the Trump administration’s attempt to facilitate a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.
📺 FLASHBACK: On Wednesday last week, the Trump administration outlined a memorandum of understanding with Iran, which included immediate waivers on Iranian oil exports and $300 billion for reconstruction and economic development. The agreement also establishes a 60-day negotiation period to finalize terms regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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A CBS News/YouGov poll has revealed widespread support for ending the Iran war in the United States, with a clear majority of Americans expressing concern about the cost of the war.

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By Popular Demand.
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16 hours ago
Immigration
News

Trump Ending Open Borders Has Cut Rent Costs.

President Donald J. Trump’s immigration policies have led to a historic drop in rents, offering financial relief to millions of American families.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Rents across the United States have fallen significantly for the first time in years, with major metro areas seeing steep declines. The drop coincides with President Donald J. Trump’s increased enforcement of immigration laws, which has dramatically reduced the influx of illegal immigrants competing for American housing.
📺 DETAIL: In a White House statement, the administration said national rents have declined from recent peaks while illegal border crossings and legal immigration both dropped sharply under Trump administration policies. The White House stressed reports showing the United States experienced net negative migration in 2025 for the first time in decades, a reversal the administration attributes to tougher border security and immigration enforcement measures. At the same time, Trump has pushed Congress to advance housing reforms aimed at boosting affordability, including legislation that would restrict large Wall Street investors from purchasing single-family homes and expand housing supply. The President has argued that reducing corporate competition for homes, combined with lower migration-driven demand, will help make both renting and homeownership more affordable for American families.
🎯 IMPACT: The policy shift has provided financial relief to millions of American renters and reduced strain on schools and hospitals. These changes highlight the broader benefits of controlled immigration policies on wages, housing affordability, and quality of life for U.S. citizens.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Rents in major metro areas have dropped significantly from their Biden-era peaks. In many cities, these declines mean hundreds of dollars back into family budgets every month — relief that was impossible under policies that flooded communities with millions of new arrivals.” – White House statement

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President Donald J. Trump's immigration policies have led to a historic drop in rents, offering financial relief to millions of American families.

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By Popular Demand.
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16 hours ago
Immigration
News

Trump DHS Proposes Steep Hike in Immigrant Naturalization Fees.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a proposal to significantly increase naturalization fees, potentially making citizenship less accessible for lower-income immigrants.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed significant fee increases for naturalization applications, including a jump from $760 to $1,330 for paper filings and from $710 to $1,280 for online filings. The proposal also eliminates reduced fees and fee waivers for most applicants, with exceptions only for military service members.
📺 DETAIL: DHS says the changes are necessary to cover the full cost of adjudication, including expanded background checks, screening, and vetting requirements, and argues that demand for citizenship is unlikely to decline significantly despite higher fees. The proposal would also end reduced fees and most hardship-based waivers currently available to low-income immigrants. The rule has been published in the Federal Register and is open for public comment before any final decision is made.
🎯 IMPACT: The fee increases could delay or deter naturalization for hundreds of thousands of immigrants, particularly lower-income immigrants, while shifting more of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) operating costs directly onto applicants. Notably, fewer naturalized immigrants would likely mean fewer citizens importing foreign family members through chain migration. Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted for 60 days following its publication in the Federal Register.

Image by Gulbenk.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a proposal to significantly increase naturalization fees, potentially making citizenship less accessible for lower-income immigrants.

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By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
Crime
News
UK

Pakistani Labour Party Candidate and Brothers Sentenced for Grooming Gang Crimes.

Three Pakistani brothers, including a former Labour candidate, have been convicted of grooming gang offenses in Sheffield, England, with ringleader Amar Ilyas sentenced in absentia after fleeing to Pakistan.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Three brothers, including a former Labour Party candidate, have been convicted of grooming gang crimes in Sheffield, England.
📺 DETAIL: On Monday, brothers Amar, Kamar, and Kamran Ilyas were sentenced for grooming gang offenses in Sheffield in northern England. Amar Ilyas is a former Labour candidate and youth worker who stood for Sheffield City Council in 2016. The three were convicted for abusing five victims. Amar, the ringleader and eldest brother, was sentenced to 27 years in prison plus one year on an extended license, while his brothers received sentences of just 10 and three years for their roles in the abuse. Amar was found guilty of 20 offenses, including the rape of a 13-year-old girl, while Kamar and Kamran were also convicted of sexual offenses against young girls, including a 12-year-old. Victim impact statements describe how Amar coerced and threatened his victims, including with firearms, to gang rape them with his younger brothers. Amar was sentenced in absentia, having fled to Pakistan before his trial. The judge at Sheffield Crown Court described Amar’s escape to Pakistan as “deliberately avoiding these proceedings for no other reason than cowardice.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “She and the other four have been heard and they have been believed.” – Mr Justice Hampton at Sheffield Crown Court, praising the bravery of the victims
🎯 IMPACT: The case raises significant questions about party selection processes and general safeguarding, considering that Amar is both a former candidate for the local council and a former social worker. This is just part of a much broader nationwide trend of largely Pakistani Muslim grooming gangs abusing thousands of girls across the country.
📺 FLASHBACK: This is not the first case of its kind. In early June this year, a boat migrant from Iran was convicted of sexually abusing children in Britain before going on the run. Sharam Muhamadi, a 21-year-old Iranian migrant who arrived in Britain via a small boat, was arrested with fellow grooming gang member Bawan Hawre, a 28-year-old Iraqi migrant. Their victims ranged from ages 12 to 16. 

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Three Pakistani brothers, including a former Labour candidate, have been convicted of grooming gang offenses in Sheffield, England, with ringleader Amar Ilyas sentenced in absentia after fleeing to Pakistan.

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By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
News
Politics
World

Trump-Endorsed Candidate Secures Colombian Presidency.

Colombia has elected the Trump-backed candidate, Abelardo De La Espriella, to serve as President, continuing Latin America’s recent rightward political shift.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Abelardo De La Espriella, a Colombian presidential candidate backed by President Donald J. Trump, has won the country’s presidential election.
📺 DETAIL: De La Espriella secured 49.66 percent of the vote in the run-off election against Senator Ivan Cepeda, who secured 48.70 percent of the vote. Whereas Cepeda campaigned to continue the far-left policies of outgoing far-left President Gustavo Petro, the first left-wing president of Colombia in recent history, De La Espriella vowed to crack down on terrorists and criminal organizations while cutting taxes and expanding the country’s oil and gas sector. “I will govern for all Colombians, for those who voted for me and for those who chose the other candidate,” De La Espriella announced to supporters following the results. Similar to President Trump’s election back in 2016, De La Espriella has no prior political experience, having previously worked as a businessman and a lawyer. Over 26 million Colombians voted in the run-off election, which took place over the weekend.
🎯 IMPACT: De La Espriella’s victory reflects a broader trend across Latin America, where right-wing candidates have recently gained power in several nations. Right-wing candidates have won recently in Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, and Paraguay, with conservative Keiko Fujimori, daughter of Alberto Fujimori, former President of Peru, also on track to win the presidency in Peru. This trend coincides with the decision of the Trump administration to slash funds given to far-left non-government organizations (NGOs) via the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Despite his victory in the run-off election, De La Espriella faces a fragmented Congress. At present, the Petro-founded, far-left Historic Pact party holds the largest number of seats in both Colombia’s Chamber of Representatives and the Senate, albeit without an outright majority in either. Colombia’s recent election comes during a time when the country faces significant challenges with public debt and has endured over 60 years of conflict involving leftist guerrilla organizations and drug-trafficking cartels.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I will govern for all Colombians, for those who voted for me and for those who chose the other candidate.” – Abelardo De La Espriella, President-elect of Colombia
📺 FLASHBACK: In March, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) directed federal prosecutors to open criminal investigations into Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s outgoing far-left president, over alleged meetings with drug traffickers as well as allegations that he accepted campaign contributions from criminal organizations.

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Colombia has elected the Trump-backed candidate, Abelardo De La Espriella, to serve as President, continuing Latin America's recent rightward political shift.

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By Popular Demand.
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