Trump Economy: Manufacturing Hits Four-Year Peak, Manufacturing Employment at Three-Year High.
The United States manufacturing sector surged to its highest level in fours years, with manufacturing employment reachingathree-year high, primarily driven by robust ordergrowthacross multiple manufacturing. . .
The United States manufacturing sector surged to its highest level in fours years, with manufacturing employment reachingathree-year high, primarily driven by robust ordergrowthacross multiple manufacturing industries. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:United Statesmanufacturingreached a four-year high in July,according to a new report, with employment in the sector at athree-year high. 📺 DETAIL:According to data from the Institute for Supply Management, the world’soldest and largestsupply management association, manufacturing activity in the United Stateshit a four-year high last month. Specifically, the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), akey indicatorof the health of the manufacturing sector used by economic experts,reached 55. 6 in July,an increase from53. 3 in June. This was the highest reading since May 2022. Notably, economists polled by Reuters predicted that the PMI would only rise to 54 in July. The increase in manufacturing activity was primarily driven byorder growthand spanned15 different industries,including appliances and components, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment, machinery, primary metals, and transportation equipment. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, in particular, experienced significant growth. This increase in manufacturing activity coincided withemployment in the manufacturing sector reachinga three-year high. 🎯 IMPACT:The strong manufacturing data suggestscontinued economic resilience,despite concerns over inflation and the ongoing Iran war. This data also suggests that economists underestimated the U. S. manufacturing sector. The fact that the rise in manufacturing activity has been driven by order growth suggests there is an increase in demand for U. S. -made goods. This is likely a by-product ofthe Trump administration’s tariffsas well asreforms to the tax code. The rise in manufacturing employment reflects reports from last year, which revealed that major corporations intended tospend billions in investmenttoonshore production andcreate American jobs. The figures are likely to strengthen the Trump administration’s confidence in its economic agenda, which has placed thereshoring and restoration of American manufacturingat its heart. The rise in demand for U. S. -made goods also contextualizesthe Federal Trade Commission’scrackdown on productsfalsely labeledas“Made in the USA. ”JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. More From The PulsePresidentTrumpissued a stark warning to Oman as the U. S. truce with Iran officiallyexpired. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:PresidentDonald J. Trumpon Mondaythreatened to bomb Omanif the Gulf nation interferes with U. S. efforts to secure control of theStrait of Hormuzand negotiateafavorable peace agreement withIran. In an interview with Trey Yingst, Trump was asked about parallel talks between Oman and Iran concerning the strategic waterway, which carries much of the world’s oil exports, and responded thatif Oman “gets in the way,”the United States would “bomb the s**t out of them. ”📰 DETAIL:The comments come asOman and Iran are reportedly near an agreementon managing the Strait of Hormuz, which the two nations straddle, in a deal thatcouldlimit U. S. influence over the vital energy transit routewhile giving Tehran greater leverage in its standoff with the Trump administration. The President’s remarks came as a 60-day window established under a June memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iranexpired. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that the deadline was “irrelevant,” claiming that negotiations never began because Washington resumed hostilities during the truce period. Significantly, U. S. strikes on the Islamic Republic came in response to its owncontinued attacks on commercial shippingin the Strait of Hormuz. 🎯 IMPACT:The expiration of the U. S. truce with Iran and President Trump’s warnings to Oman could further destabilize the region,affecting global oil marketsand regional relationships. The U. S. has indicated it willmaintain a naval blockadeof Iran indefinitely, with Trump suggesting on Friday that “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll bedeclaring the Hormuz strait a territory of the United States. ”💬 KEY QUOTE:“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s**t out of them. ” – President Trump. @POTUSon parallel talks between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz: "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them. "pic. twitter. com/5dEXDOdAN4Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47)August 17, 2026JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. show lessPresident Trump issued a stark warning to Oman as the U. S. truce with Iran officially expired. show moreThe United States’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve has been depleted over the course of the Iranwar, raising concerns about sustainability and potential damage to the salt caverns storing it. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:The United States’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) hasreached its lowest level in 40 years. 📰 DETAIL:On Monday, it was revealed that the U. S. SPR haddropped below 300 million barrelsdue toongoing withdrawalsfor the Iran war, which began in late February. The depletion of the country’s SPR has contributed to record-high gas prices for mid-August, withthe national average reaching $4. 07 per gallon,according to AAA Gas Prices. The SPR was initiallydesigned to handle five full drawdownsover its lifespan, but it has undergone numerous cycles over the past 40 years. The crude oil is held in 60salt cavernsspanning four sites in Texas and Louisiana. The oil is extracted by pumping water into the caverns to force the oil upwards into intake pipes. However,the process increases the risk of a cave-in as waterdissolves and thins the salt wallsof the caverns, especially whenthe water-to-oil ratiosurpasses a certain threshold. Some experts have suggested that ongoing withdrawals could result inpermanent damage. “The practical operational floor for the crude inventory is between250 million and 300 million barrels,” Siddharth Misra, Professor of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University, told CNBC. 💬KEY QUOTE:“The caverns are always full. All that changes is the ratio of oil and water that is filling them,” insisted Ben Dietderich, spokesman for the Department of Energy. 🎯 IMPACT:The depletion of the U. S. SPR has raised concerns about the reserve’s ability tofunction effectively in future emergencies. Reports from earlier in the year suggest thatcountries are hoarding oil reservesin response to the rising costs created by the Iran war. “If the Iran war does not end in the coming weeks and we don’t have the reopening of theHormuz strait,I’m afraida world recession could be on the table,” said Apostolos Tzitzikosta, Transport Commissioner for the European Union (EU), back in May. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessThe United States' Strategic Petroleum Reserve has been depleted over the course of the Iran war, raising concerns about sustainability and potential damage to the salt caverns storing it. show moreA newsurveyhas revealed a significant drop in British nationalprideover the past decade, alongside a crash in support for the BBC. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:Support for the state-backed British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in the United Kingdom has tanked amidcratering national pride in Britain,according to a new report. 📺 DETAIL:According to a new pollcommissioned by Demos, a non-partisan British think tank,only 47 percent of Britonsare proud of their countryin 2026,astark dropfrom the74 percentrecorded in 2011. The collapse in national pride coincides with declining support fornational institutions and symbols,such as the British flag, the monarchy, the legal system, the armed forces, and theBBC. Among the British institutions and symbols covered in the survey, the BBC has suffered the largest collapse in support from 2011 to 2026, dropping from a net approval of 48 percent to-11 percent. This means that the BBC has becomeas unpopular as Britain’sParliament,which also has a net approval of -11 percent. Net approval of the monarchy hasdropped from 54 percent to 25 percent,andpride in British history also declinedfrom 65 percent to 39 percent, while pride in Britain’s place in the world dropped from 35 percent to just 13 percent. The pollsurveyed 2,235 adultsbetween 19 and 20 April. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“Our research shows that Britain hasn’t stopped feeling proud. People still feel deep pride in the places they live and the communities around them. What has eroded is theirconfidence in Britain as a whole. When people lose that sense of shared ownership over what makes Britain great,trust breaks down and our politics becomes more fragmented,” said Polly Curtis, CEO of Demos. 🎯 IMPACT:The findings underscore thegrowing disconnect between Britons and their country’s institutions. The collapse in support for theBBCamong Britons, who must fund thepolitically biasedpublic broadcaster through a compulsory television license fee, stands out in particular. This reflects similar trends uncovered earlier this year. Back in July, it was reported that TV license sales haddropped by over 500,000 last year. Image by Paul Harrop. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. show lessA new survey has revealed a significant drop in British national pride over the past decade, alongside a crash in support for the BBC. show moreBritish Prime Minister Andy Burnham was tricked into exchanging messages with someone impersonating White House aide Susie Wiles. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:British Prime MinisterAndyBurnhamexchanged several messages with someone impersonatingWhite HouseChief of StaffSusieWilesbefore becoming suspicious that the contact was illegitimate, according to four officials. Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s official residence, has refused to “comment on national security matters,” while one person briefed on the matter claimed the messages were of “no significance. ”📺 DETAIL:TheBritish Embassy in Washingtonreportedly raised concerns about the incident with the White House, amid fears in the British government that Wiles’s phone may have been compromised. A White House official said the incident was unrelated to any hacking of her devices. The episode follows a 2025 investigation by the White House and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intosimilarattempts toimpersonate Wiles, after several prominent Americans previously received fraudulent calls and messages. It remains unclear what Burnham and the impersonator discussed or exactly when the messages were exchanged. Burnham became Prime Minister on July 20 after emerging as the Labour Party’s chosen successor to SirKeirStarmer,who resigned after beingheavily defeated by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK partyin local elections. 🎯 IMPACT:The incident underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in cybersecurity for high-ranking officials and the potential diplomatic risks of such breaches. It also highlights theneed for improved communication protocolsto prevent similar impersonation attempts in the future. 📺 FLASHBACK:Last year, U. S. officials, senators, and business leaders weretargeted by impersonatorsafter Susie Wiles’s phone was hacked. Back in 2022, then-British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace wastrickedinto holding a video with a Russian impersonatorposing as the Ukrainian prime minister. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessBritish Prime Minister Andy Burnham was tricked into exchanging messages with someone impersonating White House aide Susie Wiles. show moreA CBS News/YouGovpollhas revealed a significant preference forsocialismover capitalism among Democrats, despite a preference for the latter among Americans generally, highlighting the party’s lurch to the left. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:Roughlysix in 10Democrats haveapositive view of socialism,according to a new poll. 📺 DETAIL:According to a pollcommissioned by CBS News and conducted by YouGov,58 percent of Democratshavea positive view of socialism. Incontrast, only 32 percent of Democrats said they viewcapitalismpositively. The survey indicates a 26-point gap in favor of socialism among Democrats. This makessocialism the preferred economic systemamong Democrats. The poll also revealed that50 percentof Democrats have a negative view of capitalism compared to only18 percentof Democrats who have a negative view of socialism. Democrats who registered having“no opinion”on socialism and capitalism were 24 percent and 18 percent, respectively. Overall, the poll found that46 percent of Americanshave apositiveview of capitalismand 35 percent have a positive view of socialism. In contrast,33 percenthave anegativeview of capitalism, and42 percent have a negative view of socialism. The poll surveyed 2,287 U. S. adults from August 12 to August 14. 🎯 IMPACT:This reflects similar findings reported earlier in the year. Back in July, it was revealed thatapproximately one-thirdof Democrats and Democrat-aligned adults describethemselves as Democratic Socialists. This includestwo-thirdsof Democrats and Democrat-aligned adultsunder the age of 45. This is despite the fact that the general public tends to view Democratic Socialism negatively. Earlier this month, it was revealed thatroughly 50 percentof New Yorkersoppose the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA),the far-left political organization currently taking over the Democrats. The CBS News/YouGov poll underscores thebroader ideological shiftamong Democrats towards socialism andfar-leftpolitics generally. This could create problems for the party as it seeks to win over moderate and Independent voters in national and state-wide elections. This is because support for Democratic Socialism is typically concentrated amongyounger votersliving inurban areas,with minimal appeal among older voters and voters living in suburban and rural areas. Image by Tony Northrup. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. show lessA CBS News/YouGov poll has revealed a significant preference for socialism over capitalism among Democrats, despite a preference for the latter among Americans generally, highlighting the party's lurch to the left. show moreThe DNC has passedaresolution calling for the abolition of ICE, highlighting the growing power of thefar leftwithin the party. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:The Democratic National Committee (DNC) passed aresolutionurging Congress toabolish U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)and overhaul immigration enforcement policies. The measure, adopted at the DNC’s summer meeting in Austin, Texas, also calls for ending private detention contracts andcurtailing enforcement activitiesnear schools, workplaces, and houses of worship. 📺 DETAIL:The resolution, passed on Saturday, proposes significant changes, including the abolition of ICE,ending mass detentionpractices, andrestricting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fundingunless detention is reduced. While the vote is non-binding and does not alter the party’s official platform, it underscores growing divisions within the Democratic Party on immigration policy, and the rising influence of the farleftwithin it. Some Democrats advocate for reforming ICE rather than abolishing it, citing concerns that voters do not favor effectively ending any pretense of enforcing federal immigration law, even against dangerous foreign criminals. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“Extreme radical Democrats want toabolish ICE and defund the police,” commented White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis, adding: “Instead of trying to abolish ICE, Democrats should be thanking ICE law enforcement officers for putting their lives on the line to arrest andremove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and gang membersfrom American communities. Many of these criminals werereleased from jails by Democrat radical politicians. ”🎯 IMPACT:The resolution is likely todeepen divisionswithin the Democratic Party, where Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) figures and other far leftists areon the rise, and could also alienate moderate voters ahead of the midterm elections in November. Public polling shows that while ICE tactics are controversial with some, the Republicans already enjoy a19-point leadover the Democrats in terms of which party is more trusted on border security and immigration. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessThe DNC has passed a resolution calling for the abolition of ICE, highlighting the growing power of the far left within the party. show moreA Dallas ISDpoliceofficer was critically injured after being shot by anillegalalien he found walking on a highway median. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:Jose Pantoja-Moraleshas been charged with shooting Dallas Independent School District (ISD) Police Department officerJustin Jones, who had offered him a ride after finding him walking on a highway median. Theillegal alienshot Jones in the leg with his own gun after a struggle, leaving him critically injured. 📺 DETAIL:Officer Jones, a 16-year police veteran, responded to a call about a manwalking on a highway medianinFar North Dallas on August 6. Pantoja-Morales, who had been offered a ride to a nearby Walmart, entered Jones’s patrol car, but began resisting when the officer noticed himbehaving suspiciouslyand pulled over, leading to a physical altercation. During the struggle, Pantoja-Morales allegedly took Jones’s firearm and shot him,hitting his femoral artery. Pantoja-Morales fled but was later captured after a police chase. 🎯 IMPACT:Officer Jones requiredemergencysurgery to save his lifeand remains in recovery. Pantoja-Morales, who faces charges ofaggravated assault on a public servant, is currently detained and under a U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold, underscoring thethreat to public safetyposed byillegal aliensat large in the community. 📺 FLASHBACK:“He was helping somebody in crisis, as we expect the officers to serve in the community. And we’re grateful to all the help that we have received. He’s in our prayers. We’re thankful. We thank Parkland, the amazing surgeons there at the trauma center that do what they do. ” – Dallas ISD Chief Albert MartinezJoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessA Dallas ISD police officer was critically injured after being shot by an illegal alien he found walking on a highway median. show moreA Colombianillegalalien has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for identity theft and voting fraud, highlighting issues with election integrity andimmigrationenforcement under previous administrations. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales, a 55-year-old Colombian illegal alien, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after being convicted ofaggravated identity theft, making false statements, and falsely claiming U. S. citizenship to vote in elections. 📺 DETAIL:Prosecutors revealed that Jaramillo-Grajalesstole an American citizen’s Social Security Numberto obtain a U. S. passport, a Florida driver’s license, andvoter registration. He used these fraudulent credentials tovote in the 2020 electionand others. After serving his sentence, he will be deported under a federal order. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“Because of his fraud, he was able to obtain a driver’s license andvote in our elections. Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of [Homeland Security Investigations], along with our federal partners, this criminal is out of our communities and, at the end of his sentence, will be removed from our country. DHS will always fight toprotect the integrity of our elections, because election security is national security. Only Americans should be electing American leaders. ” – DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin🎯 IMPACT:This case underscores vulnerabilities in the election system and the need for stronger safeguards to prevent non-citizens from participating in U. S. elections. It also highlights the role of fraudulent documentation in circumventing immigration laws. 📺 FLASHBACK:Jaramillo-Grajales previously used hisstolen Social Security Numberto pose as an American citizen andmarry another foreign nationalwho has since beennaturalized as a U. S. citizen,underscoring the weaknesses in U. S. vetting processes. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessA Colombian illegal alien has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for identity theft and voting fraud, highlighting issues with election integrity and immigration enforcement under previous administrations. show moreImam Amir Abdel Malik Ali’s controversial remarks about Islam’s historical presence in the Americas and his pastradicalrhetoric have drawn scrutiny. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:CaliforniaimamAmir Abdel Malik Aliclaimed during a sermon thatIslamexisted in the Americas beforeChristianityandasserted that Christopher Columbus saw a mosquewhen he arrived in the region, remarks that conflict with the historical record. 📺 DETAIL:A surviving abstract of Columbus’s October 29 journal entry describes a Cuban mountain as resembling “a graceful mosque,” referring to the landscape rather than an actual mosque. Ali used the abstract to argue that Muslims and Islam would play a major role in America’s future, saying Islam and the Koran and Sunnah contained the solution that would “save America. ” Ali, the longtime CEO and imam ofMasjid Al-IslaminOakland, has previously attracted controversy for statements about terrorism andIsrael. In a 2005 speech at theUniversity of California, Irvine, he appeared tojustifyPalestiniansuicide bomberswho attacked Israeli buses, calling them“freedom fighters. ”He also later said the United States and Israel would be defeated through “victory or martyrdom” and, in 2006,praisedHamasleadersAhmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi as “martyrs. ”💬 KEY QUOTE:“Islam was in the Americas before Christianitywas,” said Ali, adding, “Allah has given the Quran and the Sunnah, and that is what will save America. ”🎯 IMPACT:Ali’s remarks form part of a broader history of controversial statements, including past justifications of Palestinian suicide bombers and support for Hamas, which have drawn significant criticism. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessImam Amir Abdel Malik Ali's controversial remarks about Islam's historical presence in the Americas and his past radical rhetoric have drawn scrutiny. show moreThe Trump administration has stepped into a contentious surrogacycase, advocating for life-saving medical care for ababyborn with a severe heart defect amid legal and ethical disputes. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:TheTrumpadministrationhas warned twoTexashospitals that theymust provide life-savingcare to a newborn caught in an extraordinarylegal dispute between his surrogate and biological parents. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center thatfederal disability civil rights protections prohibit withholding medical treatment based on a patient’s disability. 📺 DETAIL:McKenna Westgave birth on Wednesday to Gabriel after refusing the demands of the couple who paid for her pregnancy that sheabortthe childfollowing an in-utero diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious but treatable congenital heart defect requiring multiple surgeries. Texas Attorney GeneralKenPaxtonobtained a court order requiring Gabriel to receive life-saving treatment after West fled to Dallas seeking specialized medical care. West has said she could face as much as $200,000 in financial and legal consequences, but refused to terminate the pregnancy, sayingthebaby’s life was worth more than any potential penalty. The biological parents,Nausheen GilkarandOmar Ahmed, have accused West and Paxton’s office ofinterfering in their parental rights. A California court has ruled that Gilkar and Ahmed are the baby’s legal parents, but West’s attorney maintains that because she gave birth to Gabriel in Texas, she should have parental and custody rights over him. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“His life doesn’t have a price tag on it. There’s nothing that they could try to come after me for that would be worth his life. ” –McKenna West🎯 IMPACT:The case raises significant ethical and legal questions aboutabortion clausesin surrogacy agreements, parental rights, and medical care for disabled newborns. The Trump administration’s involvement underscores its commitment toprotecting the rights of children with disabilities. 📺 FLASHBACK:Surrogacy agreements often include clauses regarding abortion, but surrogates cannot be legally forced to terminate a pregnancy. West’s decision to defy the biological parents’ desire to kill their child has drawn attention to theethical dilemmasinherent in such contracts. Image by Matt Hrkac. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. show lessThe Trump administration has stepped into a contentious surrogacy case, advocating for life-saving medical care for a baby born with a severe heart defect amid legal and ethical disputes. show more