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Wednesday, February 11, 2026
26 minutes ago
Politics

Schumer, Democrats Opt to Cause Partial Shutdown Over DHS Funding.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senate Democrats are refusing to compromise on long-term Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, raising the likelihood of a partial government shutdown on February 14.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Democrats, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), and the Trump White House.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Negotiations are ongoing in Washington, D.C., with a funding deadline looming this Friday at midnight.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re 3 days away from a DHS shutdown, and Republicans have not gotten serious about negotiating a solution that reins in [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and stops the violence.” – Chuck Schumer

🎯IMPACT: A partial government shutdown could occur if a compromise is not reached, affecting DHS operations.

IN FULL

A partial government shutdown starting at midnight on February 14 is becoming increasingly likely as Senate Democrats continue to refuse compromise proposals that would secure long-term appropriations for most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). With just days remaining until the funding deadline, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced on Wednesday that his caucus would reject a short-term funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), unless their demands for significant changes to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations are met.

“We’re 3 days away from a DHS shutdown and Republicans have not gotten serious about negotiating a solution that reins in ICE and stops the violence. Democrats will not support a CR to extend the status quo,” Sen. Schumer wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill must adopt either a short-term or long-term funding bill for DHS by Friday before the department’s current funding lapses. Notably, the annual appropriation for DHS was stripped out of a package of funding bills last week as part of a deal that ended a brief government shutdown at the start of February.

While negotiations on DHS funding continue behind closed doors, the chances of an agreement in the Senate appear remote. Senate Democrats recently unveiled a 10-point proposal, but Republicans have criticized the plan, labeling some provisions as “red lines” for the White House and GOP lawmakers.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) had indicated optimism earlier this week, stating, “There’s going to be the legislative text coming over from the White House today. But I think it’s, like I said, the White House is operating in good faith.” Despite this, Democrats dismissed the GOP’s counteroffer as “sophomoric talking points.”

A DHS shutdown would affect key agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Coast Guard. However, ICE and other immigration enforcement agencies were already largely funded through the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill last summer.

Image by Anthony Quintano.

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1 hour ago
News

WATCH: Man Utd Owner Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe Lashes Out at Mass Migration.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Sir Jim Ratcliffe expressed concerns about mass migration impacting Britain.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder of INEOS and part-owner of Manchester United.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 2026, at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, the Netherlands.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?” – Sir Jim Ratcliffe

🎯IMPACT: Ratcliffe’s comments highlight the worsening tensions over mass migration in Britain, which increased fivefold under the formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party and remains near historic highs under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.

IN FULL

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a prominent British billionaire and part-owner of Manchester United, has voiced concerns over mass migration transforming the United Kingdom. He argued that the country has been “colonised” by immigrants, placing significant strain on state resources.

Ratcliffe, the founder of the INEOS chemicals group, highlighted the challenges Britain faces, including a substantial increase in immigration over recent years. He noted, “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in.”

“I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money,” Ratcliffe said. “The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it’s 70 million. That’s 12 million people,” he estimated.

Speaking at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, Ratcliffe also commented on Britain’s current political leadership, questioning whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer is the right person to lead the country. He said Nigel Farage, whose Reform Party currently tops the polls, is “an intelligent man [with] good intentions,” and suggested that the country requires someone willing to make unpopular decisions to address critical issues.

“I’ve been very unpopular at Manchester United because we’ve made lots of changes. But for the better, in my view. And I think we’re beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that’s beginning to pay off,” he said, explaining: “If you really want to deal with the major issues of immigration, with people opting to take benefits rather than working for a living, if you want to deal with that, then you’re going to have to do some things which are unpopular, and show some courage.”

Image by Alisdare Hickson.

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2 hours ago
TECH

Anthropic AI Safety Chief Resigns, Warning of World ‘In Peril.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An Anthropic researcher resigned in a cryptic, poetry-laden letter warning of a world “in peril.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mrinank Sharma, former head of Anthropic’s Safeguards Research Team, and other Anthropic employees.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Resignation announced earlier this week, with Sharma departing from Anthropic, a San Francisco-based AI company.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The world is in peril. And not just from AI, or bioweapons, but from a whole series of interconnected crises unfolding in this very moment.” – Mrinank Sharma

🎯IMPACT: Sharma’s warning raises concerns over AI’s societal effects and internal tensions at Anthropic, while fueling broader debates on the technology’s safety.

IN FULL

The leader of the Safeguards Research Team for Anthropic‘s Claude chatbot abruptly resigned this week, issuing a bizarre, poetry-laden letter that warned of a world “in peril.” Mrinank Sharma, who led the safety team since its inception in 2023, also indicated in his letter that internal pressure to ignore artificial intelligence (AI) safety protocols played a significant role in his decision to resign.

“Throughout my time here, I’ve repeatedly seen how hard it is to truly let our values govern our actions,” Sharma wrote, adding that employees “constantly face pressures to set aside what matters most.” He further warned, “The world is in peril. And not just from AI, or bioweapons, but from a whole series of interconnected crises unfolding in this very moment.”

“We appear to be approaching a threshold where our wisdom must grow in equal measure to our capacity to affect the world, lest we face the consequences,” Sharma added.

Sharma’s resignation comes as Anthropic faces scrutiny over its newly released Claude Cowork model, which sparked a stock market selloff amid fears it could disrupt software industries and automate white-collar jobs, particularly in legal roles. Employees reportedly expressed concerns in internal surveys, with one stating, “It kind of feels like I’m coming to work every day to put myself out of a job.”

Sharma’s departure follows a trend of high-profile resignations in the AI sector, often tied to safety concerns. A former OpenAI team member previously quit, accusing the company of prioritizing product launches over user safety. Similarly, ex-OpenAI researcher Tom Cunningham left after alleging the company discouraged publishing research critical of AI’s negative effects. In his parting note, Sharma hinted at a personal pivot, stating, “I hope to explore a poetry degree and devote myself to the practice of courageous speech.”

The National Pulse reported last May that former OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever allegedly discussed building a bunker in preparation for the release of artificial general intelligence (AGI). During a summer 2023 meeting, Sutskever reportedly stated, “We’re definitely going to build a bunker before we release AGI.” Two other individuals who attended the meeting corroborated the account, with one describing Sutskever’s AGI beliefs as akin to anticipating a “rapture.”

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3 hours ago
NatSec

Grand Jury Declines to Indict ‘Seditious Six’ Democrat Lawmakers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A grand jury in Washington, D.C., declined to indict six Democrat lawmakers over a video urging military and intelligence community members to defy “illegal orders.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), alongside U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The indictment decision occurred on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed.” – Elissa Slotkin

🎯IMPACT: The grand jury’s decision halts federal prosecution efforts, leaving the lawmakers unindicted for now.

IN FULL

A Washington, D.C. grand jury declined to hand down indictments for the six Democrat lawmakers who produced a video aimed at encouraging U.S. military personnel and members of the intelligence community to defy what they termed “illegal orders.” The federal indictment was pursued by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

The video, which was released last November following U.S. military strikes on drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, featured Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). In the video, the lawmakers stated, “We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now, Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens like us. You all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution.”

President Trump called the video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” in a post on Truth Social at the time. Federal prosecutors sought to charge the lawmakers under a law prohibiting interference with the U.S. military’s loyalty, morale, or discipline. Notably, the Department of War proceedings against Sen. Kelly—who is a retired Navy captain—remain ongoing.

In response to the grand jury’s decision, Sen. Slotkin posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a Grand Jury to indict me. This was in response to me organizing a 90-second video that simply quoted the law. Pirro did this at the direction of President Trump, who said repeatedly that I should be investigated, arrested, and hanged for sedition. Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed.”

The National Pulse reported last week that Slotkin stated that she will not comply with a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the video.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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4 hours ago
Crime

Ghislaine Maxwell Alleges 25 Men Settled with Epstein Victims, Protected by NDAs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ghislaine Maxwell has filed court papers claiming 25 men made secret settlements with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and implied they could face prosecution.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, four named co-conspirators, and 25 unnamed men.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The writ of habeas corpus was filed in court following Maxwell’s 2021 conviction.

💬KEY QUOTE: “New evidence reveals that there were 25 men with which the [accuser’s] lawyers reached secret settlements—that could equally be considered as co-conspirators.” — Maxwell’s habeas petition

🎯IMPACT: The claims could lead to scrutiny of influential individuals and potentially override nondisclosure agreements tied to the settlements.

IN FULL

Deceased pedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein’s associate and madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, has filed legal papers claiming that 25 men made “secret settlements” with Epstein‘s victims, suggesting these individuals could be prosecuted. The filings come as Maxwell seeks to overturn her 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.

The habeas petition, filed in late December, appears to be a last-ditch effort to entice a deal from the government that would secure her release. In the petition, she also implicated four of Epstein’s co-conspirators who allegedly helped recruit victims. Maxwell wrote, “New evidence reveals that there were 25 men with which the [accuser’s] lawyers reached secret settlements—that could equally be considered as co-conspirators.”

Maxwell has long maintained that she was unfairly targeted following Epstein’s death in 2019, which occurred under suspicious circumstances in a New York City jail while he awaited trial for sex trafficking. Epstein’s connections to influential figures, including former President Bill Clinton and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, have drawn significant attention, though these individuals deny knowledge of his criminal activities.

While the identities of the 25 men mentioned in Maxwell’s filing remain protected by alleged non-disclosure agreements, experts contend that the federal government could take steps to nullify those agreements and reveal their names. The release of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) files pertaining to Epstein has led to a series of high-profile allegations and resignations in recent weeks. The National Pulse reported last week that former British ambassador to the United States, Lord Peter Mandelson, is being investigated by British police over allegations that he leaked sensitive government information to the late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein when he was in government.

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4 hours ago
News

‘Gunperson’ in a Dress Responsible for Canadian School Shooting, Police Say.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A “gunperson” in a dress killed at least seven students and injured 25 others at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada. The attacker also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Students, staff, and first responders were directly affected.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, located in a small rural town in British Columbia, Canada.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today.” – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

🎯IMPACT: At least 10 people are dead, 25 injured, and the small community of Tumbler Ridge is left reeling from the tragedy.

IN FULL

A mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday has left nine people dead and at least 25 injured. Police have not identified the shooter as of the time of publication, citing “privacy,” but called the suspect a “gunperson,” fuelling speculation that the shooter may be transgender. Reports suggest the shooter was wearing a dress at the time of the shooting.

The attack began shortly after 1:20 PM local time when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received reports of an active shooter at the school. Officers responded quickly, issuing a public emergency alert instructing residents to shelter in place. The school entered lockdown, with students and staff barricading classrooms using desks and waiting in fear for more than two hours.

Police found six victims dead inside the school, with a seventh dying en route to the hospital. The suspect, described in the initial alert as a “female” wearing a dress with brown hair, was discovered dead at the scene from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigators later discovered two additional bodies at a local residence believed to be connected to the school shooting. If the suspect does prove to be transgender, the attack would be just the latest transgender school attack in recent years, following the 2023 Covenant school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, that saw six killed, and the 2025 Minneapolis Catholic School shooting targeting a morning Holy Mass, killing multiple children.

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5 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Walz Expects ICE to Leave Minnesota in ‘Matter of Days.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz (D) expressed optimism that a federal immigration crackdown in the state could conclude within “days, not weeks and months.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Tim Walz, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent discussions took place in late January and early February 2026, with updates provided during a press conference at The Market at Malcolm Yards in Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re very much in a trust but verify mode. It would be my hope that Mr. Homan goes out before Friday and announces that this thing is done.” — Gov. Walz

🎯IMPACT: The DHS confirmed it has arrested more than 4,000 illegal immigrants in Minnesota since the launch of Operation Metro Surge in late 2025.

IN FULL

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) says he believes the federal immigration enforcement actions in his state will wind down in a matter of days and not weeks. The Democrat governor and failed vice presidential candidate said this timeline was based on recent discussions with Trump White House Border Czar Tom Homan and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

“We’re very much in a trust but verify mode,” Walz said, continuing, “It would be my hope that Mr. Homan goes out before Friday and announces that this thing is done, and they’re bringing her down and they’re bringing her down in days.”

Walz confirmed that while 700 federal agents have left Minnesota, around 2,300 remain as part of ongoing immigration enforcement actions. The National Pulse previously reported that Homan attributed the drawdown of federal agents to increased cooperation from county jails in handing over illegal immigrants when they are detained by local law enforcement.

Still, Gov. Walz says he is demanding the federal government broaden its collaboration into the investigations of two fatal shootings of anti-ICE agitators by federal officers.

The National Pulse reported last week that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed it has arrested more than 4,000 illegal immigrants in Minnesota since the launch of Operation Metro Surge in late 2025. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “Despite coordinated attacks of violence against our law enforcement, our officers have made more than 4,000 arrests of illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and terrorists in Minnesota since Operation Metro Surge began.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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6 hours ago
NatSec

U.S. War Department Downs Mexican Cartel Drones Over El Paso.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The White House attributed the temporary closure of U.S. airspace over El Paso, Texas, to drone activity from Mexican drug cartels.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of War (DOW), and Mexican cartels.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday morning over El Paso, Texas, and parts of southern New Mexico.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones.” – White House statement to Newsweek.

🎯IMPACT: Airspace restrictions were lifted after authorities determined no remaining threat to commercial air travel.

IN FULL

The Trump White House is pointing to drone activity from Mexican drug cartels as the reason for the sudden closure of U.S. airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday morning. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting flights for ten days, but the airspace has since been reopened, with officials stating there is no ongoing threat to commercial aviation.

In a statement, the White House said, “Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones.” The FAA echoed this sentiment on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”

The NOTAM halted flights to and from El Paso International Airport and covered a significant portion of southern New Mexico.

Notably, the FAA applied “NTL defense airspace” considerations, warning that pilots who violated the order could face interception, detention, and questioning by law enforcement. Such an action over a major U.S. city is rare and has not occurred since the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

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6 hours ago
Economy

Trump Economy Revives as Jobs Numbers Beat Expectations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. labor market showed stronger-than-expected performance in January 2026, with unemployment ticking down and job creation exceeding Wall Street expectations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), President Donald J. Trump’s administration, and various employment sectors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: January 2026, with the report released on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: The jobs numbers provide a much-needed boost to the Trump administration’s economic messaging as the 2026 midterm elections loom.

IN FULL

The U.S. economy in January was far more robust than originally expected, with unemployment falling and the number of jobs added beating Wall Street expectations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. added 130,000 jobs over the month, far exceeding consensus forecasts of 70,000 jobs.

This marks a significant improvement compared to December’s 48,000 jobs and November’s 41,000, which were revised down by 17,000. January’s job growth is also higher than the 111,000 jobs added in January 2025, making it the strongest start to a year since 2023, when payrolls increased by 444,000 amid the pandemic recovery.

The unemployment rate dipped from 4.4 percent in December to 4.3 percent in January. The Trump administration had faced concerns over a potential economic slowdown, but these numbers suggest that the storm may have already been weathered.

The BLS attributed the job gains to growth in sectors such as health care, social assistance, and construction. Health care added 82,000 jobs, well above last year’s monthly average of 33,000. Social assistance and construction also saw significant increases, adding 42,000 and 33,000 jobs, respectively. Federal government employment decreased by 34,000 due to deferred resignations, and the financial activities sector lost 22,000 jobs, continuing its decline since May.

Image by Tony Webster.

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8 hours ago
Crime
Immigration
UK

Afghan Convicted for Kidnap and Repeated Rape of 12-Year-Old.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An Afghan asylum seeker was found guilty of abducting and raping a 12-year-old girl in a targeted attack in Nuneaton, England.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Afghan national Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was convicted of multiple offences. His co-defendant, Mohammad Kabir, was acquitted of all charges.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred last summer in Nuneaton. The trial took place at Warwick Crown Court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “He will plainly receive a substantial custodial sentence which will automatically make him liable for deportation at its conclusion.” – Judge Kristina Montgomery KC

🎯IMPACT: The case sparked protests and calls for more transparency from public figures regarding the immigration status of offenders.

IN FULL

Ahmad Mulakhil, a 23-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, has been convicted of multiple serious offences following a targeted attack on a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, England, last summer. A jury at Warwick Crown Court found him guilty of rape, two counts of sexual assault, child abduction, and taking an indecent video of the child. He had also admitted to an additional rape charge before the trial began.

Mulakhil arrived in Britain around four months before the attack after submitting an immigration application that referred to unspecified “problems” in Afghanistan. Although the jury was not told how he entered the country, it later emerged that he had arrived illegally on a small boat.

His co-defendant, Mohammad Kabir, also an Afghan asylum seeker, was cleared of all charges, including intentional strangulation, attempted child abduction, and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence. Kabir denied any wrongdoing, telling the court that he “never touched the victim and had no sexual intentions toward her.” He claimed to be 22, while court records listed his age as 24.

Remanding Mulakhil in custody ahead of sentencing, Judge Kristina Montgomery KC said, “He will plainly receive a substantial custodial sentence which will automatically make him liable for deportation at its conclusion.” This does not mean he definitely will be deported, however, with many foreign sex offenders in Britain able to use human rights laws to stay in the country.

The convictions drew sharp reactions from senior political figures. Reform Paarty leader Nigel Farage and Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch accused authorities of a “cover-up” over how details of the case were handled publicly. Farage renewed calls for police to routinely disclose the immigration status of criminal suspects, something that is not standard practice despite being permitted under current guidance “if deemed necessary for legitimate policing purposes.”

The case has added to wider debate following other recent reports involving Afghan nationals in the United Kingdom and the United States, including prosecutions for serious sexual offences, fatal stabbings, and alleged terror threats.

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