2 months ago
4
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: A judge allowed a defamation lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump to proceed.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron Brown, Korey Wise, and Judge Wendy Beetlestone.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
📍 Where & When: Philadelphia, ruling made on Thursday.
💬 Key Quote: “The Plaintiffs seek to correct the record and clear their names once again,” said Shanin Specter, lawyer for the plaintiffs.
⚠️ Impact: The case looks to address Trump’s statements about the plaintiffs during the 2024 presidential election.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump is facing a defamation lawsuit concerning statements about the Central Park Five after a federal judge on Thursday determined the legal action can proceed. Philadelphia-based U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone ruled that the claims presented sufficient evidence to advance.
The lawsuit was initiated in October by five individuals—Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron Brown, and Korey Wise—who were convicted in 1989 of brutally attacking and sexually assaulting a female jogger in Central Park. They were exonerated in 2002 after a confession by another man, accompanied by DNA evidence linking him to the victim’s sexual assault—although it remains unclear whether others may have played a role in the attack prior to the sexual assault.
The victim remains convinced that more than one person was involved, and police and prosecutors have defended their case against the Five.
The legal action claims that Trump made false and damaging statements about the group. In the past, Trump had publicly advocated for the death penalty for the men. During the 2024 presidential campaign, he asserted that the Five had confessed to murder—a claim they deny. Trump’s legal defense maintains that his remarks are shielded by First Amendment rights.
The controversy was a focal topic during a presidential debate between Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump insisted that the Central Park Five had admitted guilt, linking them to severe violence against a victim and suggesting contradictions in their pleas.
However, Judge Beetlestone believes that “an objective assessment” would classify Trump’s statement as false. The plaintiffs’ attorney, Shanin Specter, reiterated the group’s efforts to rectify public perception and clear their reputations following the lawsuit’s filing.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March showed a decrease of 0.1 percent month-over-month, leading to a year-over-year increase of 2.4 percent, below expectations. Core CPI also reported lower than anticipated figures, rising only 0.1 percent month-over-month.
👥 Who’s Involved: The report, used by economic policymakers, notably involves Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell as part of their assessment for monetary policy adjustments.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
📍 Where & When: The data pertains to the United States, specifically for March, as reported today.
💬 Key Quote: “Just out: ‘INFLATION IS DOWN!!!'” — President Donald J. Trump on Truth Social.
⚠️ Impact: These figures are crucial for understanding inflation trends, potentially influencing Federal Reserve policy, the financial markets, and economic decisions.
IN FULL:
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March showed a decline, indicating that inflation continues to subside. Notably, this suggests that the tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump in February and March, ahead of his “Liberation Day” tariffs imposed on April 2, caused little, if any, inflationary pressure.
According to the data, the headline CPI fell by 0.1 percent month-over-month, diverging from the anticipated 0.1 percent increase. Over the past year, the CPI rose by 2.4 percent, slightly below the predicted 2.5 percent gain and the lowest year-over-year increase since September.
The White is celebrating the positive economic news, with President Donald J. Trump posting on Truth Social: “Just out: ‘INFLATION IS DOWN!!!'”
Falling energy prices had a notable impact, easing inflationary pressure as the energy CPI dropped by 2.4 percent in March. This decrease was driven to a significant extent by a 6.3 percent reduction in gasoline prices, offsetting hikes in electricity and natural gas costs.
The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased just 0.1 percent in March, also below expectations of a 0.3 percent rise. On a yearly basis, the core CPI saw a 2.8 percent increase, the lowest since March 2021. Within the core CPI, sectors such as personal care, medical care, education, and apparel experienced price rises, while airline fares and used car prices declined.
The subdued inflation figures come amid economic discussions around tariff impacts and potential recession risks tied to energy prices. These CPI results are significant for the Federal Reserve, which closely monitors inflation to inform interest rate decisions. Lower-than-expected inflation may move the central bank to begin reducing interest rates.
show less
English (US) ·