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Blue Press Journal – The latest jobs report has delivered a devastating blow to US President Donald Trump’s promise to revive the country’s manufacturing sector. Despite his boasts of turning the US into a “manufacturing powerhouse,” the numbers tell a starkly different story. Since Trump’s tariff announcement on April 2, the manufacturing sector has lost a staggering 42,000 jobs, with job openings and new hires declining by 76,000 and 18,000, respectively.
The Center for American Progress (CAP) has slammed Trump’s tariff policies, stating that they have had a disproportionately negative impact on the manufacturing sector. “The manufacturing sector is struggling more than the rest of the labor market under Trump’s tariffs, and manufacturing workers’ wage growth is stagnating,” wrote policy analyst Kennedy Andara and economist Sara Estep. This grim assessment is a far cry from Trump’s campaign promises, which touted his tariff regime as a key component of his plan to revive American manufacturing.
Experts are unanimous in their criticism of Trump’s approach. Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, told the CBC that “no treasure trove of jobs” is likely to come out of Trump’s tariffs. The US Supreme Court is expected to review Trump’s tariffs soon, following a ruling by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that many of them are illegal.
The facts are clear: Trump’s tariffs have not created jobs or boosted manufacturing but have led to losses and stagnant wages.
Blue Press Journal (Michigan) – a stunning turn of events, Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has found himself at the center of a controversy that raises questions about his own credibility. Pulte, who has been vocal in his accusations against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, alleging fraud and misconduct, now faces scrutiny over similar claims made by his own family members. It appears that Pulte’s relatives have been claiming “homestead exemptions” on multiple properties, a practice that local tax officials deem questionable and potentially punishable.
According to records, Mark and Julie Pulte, Bill’s father and stepmother, have claimed homestead exemptions on residences in both Michigan and Florida, despite the fact that claiming more than one home as a primary residence is generally not allowed in these jurisdictions. The exemptions, which are meant to provide a tax discount for homeowners on their primary residence, have saved the Pultes an estimated $158,000 in taxes for 2025 on their Florida home alone.
The controversy came to light after Reuters contacted tax officials in Michigan, who promptly revoked the exemption on the Pultes’ residence in Bloomfield Township. Darrin Kraatz, director of assessing, stated that the township would revoke the exemption “as of today,” implying that the Pultes’ claim was no longer valid.
This revelation is particularly striking given Bill Pulte’s recent accusations against Lisa Cook, which led to her dismissal by President Trump. Pulte referred the matter to the attorney general, and in public statements, he has repeatedly accused Cook of defrauding mortgage lenders and the public. On social media, Pulte wrote, “Financial fraud is a big deal. Don’t do it!” – a statement that now seems hypocritical in light of his family’s own actions.
The question on everyone’s mind is: how can Bill Pulte justify his accusations against Lisa Cook when his own family members appear to be guilty of similar misconduct? The answer, it seems, lies in the lack of transparency and accountability that pervades the highest echelons of power. It is unacceptable that individuals in positions of authority, like Pulte, can wield their influence to attack others while their own families engage in questionable practices.
This controversy reminds us that those in power must adhere to the same standards as everyone else. If Bill Pulte’s family is found to have claimed multiple homestead exemptions, they should face consequences like anyone else. It’s time for Pulte to practice what he preaches and show commitment to transparency and accountability.
The Post’s editorial board, known for its conservative leanings, pulled no punches in their critique of Kennedy, stating that his “tinfoil hat is blocking out all sense” and that he “won’t be restoring sanity to our public-health bureaucracies.” The tabloid’s harsh words were a stark departure from its usual support for Trump and his administration.
Kennedy, a vocal vaccine skeptic, has been a lightning rod for controversy since his appointment as HHS Secretary. His views on vaccines have been widely criticized by the medical community, and his appearance at the Senate hearing only seemed to exacerbate concerns. According to the Post, Kennedy’s testimony was marked by a bizarre and uninformed approach to public health, with the secretary coming across as “a paranoid kook connecting red strings on a whiteboard.”
The editorial board argued that Kennedy’s leadership at HHS is a recipe for disaster, citing his refusal to acknowledge basic facts and his reliance on conspiracy theories. “America needs agencies like HHS and CDC moving toward a sane center, where decisions are based on data-informed evidence,” the Post concluded. “The more Kennedy opens his mouth, the more obvious it becomes that letting him call the shots is just trading one extreme for another.”
The Post’s brutal takedown of Kennedy is a significant blow to the embattled HHS Secretary, who has already faced intense criticism from lawmakers and health experts. As the debate over vaccine policy continues to rage, the Post’s editorial serves as a stark reminder that Kennedy’s views are not only misinformed but also dangerous. With the nation’s public health at stake, it remains to be seen whether Kennedy will heed the Post’s warning and adopt a more evidence-based approach to vaccine policy.
Blue Press Journal (DC) – The latest jobs report from the Labor Department has revealed a worrying trend in the US economy, with hiring decelerating to 79,000 in July, down from previous months. The unemployment rate has also ticked up to 4.3%, its highest level since 2021, exceeding expectations. This slump in job growth is a clear indication that President Donald Trump’s policies, including his trade wars, are creating uncertainty that is leaving managers reluctant to make hiring decisions.
So far in 2025, the economy has generated a mere 85,000 new jobs per month, a significant drop from the 168,000 jobs created last year under Biden and a far cry from the average 400,000 jobs per month during the hiring boom of 2021-2023. This boom was a result of the US economy recovering from COVID-19 lockdowns, but Trump’s policies seem to be reversing this progress.
According to Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, “The labor market is showing signs of cracking. It’s not a red siren alarm yet, but the signs keep growing that businesses are starting to cut workers.” The Labor Department’s report on Thursday also showed that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose to the highest level since June, although the number of claims remained within a healthy range.
In a surprising move, President Trump fired Erika McEntarfer, head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, following the weak July jobs report. Trump claimed the report was rigged against him, a statement that faced widespread criticism. This decision has raised concerns about the Bureau’s independence and the integrity of its data.
The latest jobs report indicates that Trump’s economic policies are failing. His trade wars and uncertain decisions are causing businesses to hesitate, slowing job growth.
The senator specifically pointed to the Smoot-Hawley tariff bill of 1930, which historians and economists widely believe exacerbated the global depression. He drew similarities between the protectionist policies of the 1930s and the current tariff disputes, warning of the potential consequences of such actions.
McConnell also noted the eerie resemblance between the “America First” ideology of the pre-WWII era and the isolationist sentiments prevalent today. Those who opposed U.S. intervention in Europe during the 1930s were dubbed “America First,” a phrase that has been revitalized in recent years. The senator cautioned that the U.S. is not adequately prepared to face the growing alliance of countries hostile to American interests, including North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, and its proxies.“These countries may be different in nature, but they share a common trait: they hate us,” McConnell said, emphasizing the need for increased preparedness.
His comments come at a time of escalating tensions with these nations, as the Trump administration’s policies are being fiercely criticized for their ineffectiveness in tackling these urgent global challenges.
McConnell’s remarks serve as a stark warning about the perils of the current geopolitical climate and the importance of U.S. leadership in maintaining global stability. As the country navigates complex relationships with adversarial nations, the senator’s words underscore the need for a coherent and robust foreign policy strategy to mitigate the risks of an increasingly volatile world.
Anouska De Georgiou, a woman who claims to have been abused by Epstein on his island in the Caribbean and elsewhere for years, spoke passionately about her experiences. “I am no longer weak, I am no longer powerless, and I am no longer alone,” she said. “And with your vote, neither will the next generation be.” De Georgiou directed her message to President Trump, urging him to use his influence and power to help the victims. “President Trump, you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us,” she said.
De Georgiou was joined by Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who have been leading the charge for transparency in the Epstein case. Massie emphasized that the Epstein scandal is not a hoax, but a real and serious issue that involves powerful and wealthy individuals who have been protected by their connections to the establishment in Washington, D.C. “This is not a hoax,” Massie said. “This is real. There are real survivors. There are real victims in this criminal enterprise, and the perpetrators are being protected because they’re rich and powerful and political donors to the establishment here in Washington, D.C.”
The press conference also featured Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a major Trump ally, who joined the call for transparency and accountability. The presence of such a large and diverse crowd, including media, activists, and onlookers, suggests that the Trump administration’s efforts to bury the story will not succeed.
One of the key issues at stake is the release of the Epstein files, which are currently being held by the Department of Justice (DOJ). While some pages have been released, they are heavily redacted, with some pages entirely blacked out. Massie criticized the DOJ’s handling of the documents, saying that they are allowing the department to “curate” the information that is being released. “If you’ve looked at the pages they’ve released so far, they’re heavily redacted,” Massie said. “Some pages are entirely redacted, and 97% of this is already in the public domain.”
The victims who spoke on Wednesday repeatedly rejected Trump’s claim that the Epstein scandal is a hoax. Annie Farmer, who was abused by Epstein and made some of the earliest police reports about his conduct, called Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, “a major architect” of Epstein’s trafficking and abuse. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking charges and is seeking a pardon from Trump.
De Georgiou, who claims to have been abused by both Epstein and Maxwell, said that Maxwell’s potential pardon is a “nightmare” scenario. “This woman abused children,” De Georgiou said. “I was abused by Epstein and Maxwell for over 10 years, and she was present for some of my abuse. She was present, complicit and enabling. It’s one of my worst nightmares that she not only be transferred but the possibility that is very much going around that she might be pardoned. This is not OK.”
The demand for transparency and accountability in the Epstein case is not going away. The victims and their supporters are determined to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible for the abuse and trafficking are held accountable. As De Georgiou said, “I am no longer weak, I am no longer powerless, and I am no longer alone.” The Epstein victims and their allies will continue to fight for the truth and for justice, and they will not be silenced.
Blue Press Journal – In an unprecedented move, over 1,000 current and former employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are calling for the resignation of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The demand comes after Kennedy’s ousting of the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other actions that the employees claim are “compromising the health of the nation.”
In a scathing letter sent to Kennedy and members of Congress on Wednesday, the group of employees expressed their deep concern over the direction of the department under Kennedy’s leadership. “We expect those in leadership to act when the health of Americans is at stake,” the letter states. The employees are urging Kennedy to step down, citing his actions as a threat to public health. Should he decline to resign, they are calling on the President and U.S. Congress to appoint a new Secretary of Health and Human Services, one who prioritizes independent and unbiased peer-reviewed science in shaping health policy.
The letter is the latest development in a growing crisis within the HHS. Last month, HHS staff called on Kennedy to do more to protect public health professionals following the August 8 shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta. Since then, an additional 887 HHS staff have signed on to the letter, bringing the total to over 1,000. The organizing group, Save HHS, reported that Kennedy has not responded to the letter, and instead, HHS released a statement accusing the employees of politicizing the tragedy.
The employees emphasized that they signed the letter in their personal capacities, with some choosing to remain anonymous due to “well-founded fear of retaliation and threats to personal safety.” This move highlights the deep-seated concerns and fears among HHS staff, who are speaking out against what they see as a dangerous and misguided leadership.
As the controversy over Kennedy’s leadership grows, it remains to be seen how the President and U.S. Congress will respond to HHS employees’ demands. One thing is clear: the health and well-being of the American people are at stake, and immediate action is imperative. The question is: will Kennedy resign, or will intervention be needed to restore trust in the department?
Blue Press Journal – In a shocking display of authoritarianism, US President Donald Trump has threatened to send troops to Chicago to “straighten that one out,” with New York City potentially next on the list. This move is not only a blatant disregard for the Constitution and the proper role of states, but also a clear attempt to grab power and undermine local governance.
The deployment of out-of-state troops to occupy cities is a blunt force tactic that cannot possibly promote public order. It is a cruel and heavy-handed approach that ignores the facts on the ground. For example, New York City remains one of the safest large cities in the nation, with crime rates dropping dramatically even this year, as Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch recently informed Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The Pentagon’s reported plan to use the Chicago deployment as a model for other cities is equally disturbing. The fact that the cities targeted by Trump are all governed by Democrats – Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, and Oakland – suggests a clear political motivation behind this move.
Moreover, the President’s threat to send troops is not even legally justifiable. To deploy the National Guard to police local crime, Trump would need to federalize them first, which requires statutory authority. However, there is no such authority to federalize the guard for this purpose.
As Bill Kristol, founder of The Bulwark and a longtime prominent Republican, aptly put it, “What we are seeing is not merely a ‘slide toward authoritarianism.’ It’s a march toward despotism. And it’s a march whose pace is accelerating.” This is not a matter of public safety, but a naked power grab by the President.
The American people must recognize this threat to our democracy and stand against it. We must reject Trump’s attempt to undermine the Constitution and the rule of law, and demand that our leaders respect the principles of federalism and local governance. The safety of our cities is not a pretext for authoritarianism, and we must not let Trump’s power grab go unchallenged.
In a significant blow to President Donald Trump’s authority, a federal judge has temporarily halted the deployment of the National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, citing a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer issued the preliminary injunction on Tuesday, following a three-day bench trial.
The Posse Comitatus Act, passed in 1878, prohibits the use of the U.S. military to execute domestic law. Judge Breyer found that the Trump administration willfully violated this law by sending troops to Los Angeles to quash protests over immigration raids. While acknowledging that some individuals engaged in violence during the protests, Breyer noted that there was no rebellion and civilian law enforcement was capable of responding to the situation.
The ruling is a clear rebuke of Trump’s actions, with Breyer stating that the Defense Department “knowingly contradicted their own training materials” and that the president’s deployment of troops was a “willful” violation of the law. California Attorney General Rob Bonta welcomed the ruling, saying that it “affirms that President Trump is not King, and the power of the executive is not boundless.”
Bonta criticized Trump’s use of National Guard troops and Marines as “pawns” to further his anti-immigrant agenda, and argued that they could be better utilized to tackle pressing issues such as fentanyl and wildfires. The ruling is a significant setback for Trump, who has faced widespread criticism for his handling of the situation in Los Angeles.
The temporary halt on the deployment of troops is a major victory for Governor Gavin Newsom, who had opposed the move from the outset. The ruling is likely to be appealed by the Trump administration, but for now, it represents a significant check on the president’s power and a reaffirmation of the importance of upholding the Posse Comitatus Act. As Bonta noted, “our military be apolitical and the activities of troops on U.S. soil be extremely limited to ensure civil liberties and protect against military overreach.”
The lawsuit was filed in response to reports that the Trump administration had reached an agreement with the Guatemalan government to repatriate the children, who are currently in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The administration’s move was widely criticized as an attempt to circumvent the legal process and deny the children their right to a fair hearing.
Judge Sooknanan’s order, issued just after 4:00 am on Sunday, found that the “exigent circumstances” described in the lawsuit warranted immediate action to maintain the status quo until a hearing can be set. The judge initially scheduled a virtual hearing on the matter for 3:00 pm on Sunday but later moved it up to 12:30 pm after being notified that some of the minors covered by the suit were in the process of being removed from the United States.
The Trump administration’s attempt to deport the children has been widely condemned by immigrant rights advocates, who argue that it is a clear violation of the children’s legal rights. “It is a dark and dangerous moment for this country when our government chooses to target orphaned 10-year-olds and denies them their most basic legal right to present their case before an immigration judge,” said Efrén C. Olivares, vice president of litigation and legal strategy at the NILC.
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