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Monday, June 22, 2026
7 minutes ago
Economy
News
World

Iranian Oil Exports Climb as Peace Deal Eases Trade Restrictions.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is exporting a record amount of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz following negotiations with the United States and an agreement to end blockades of the vital passage.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Iranian oil exports have sharply increased following the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. 
📺 DETAIL: The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint in the global oil trade, with approximately 20 percent of oil exports passing through it. The spike in Iranian crude oil exports follows the signing of the basic terms of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran last week. This coincided with negotiations in Switzerland on Sunday and followed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday last week. Among other actions, the deal ended both the U.S. blockade of Iran and the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The deal is part of a broader attempt to bring an end to the war between the U.S. and Iran, which began in late February following U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic. Approximately six million barrels on three U.S.-sanctioned supertankers passing through Hormuz early Monday reportedly headed for Singapore in southeast Asia. Iranian crude oil typically transits through Singapore for delivery to China, which depends heavily on Iranian oil and has served as a key trading partner for the Islamic Republic.
🎯 IMPACT: The resumption of Iranian oil exports signals a significant economic and geopolitical shift; specifically, that normalcy may be gradually returning to the region following months of conflict. It also suggests that the Islamic Republic is using the peace agreement to boost its energy trade.
📺 FLASHBACK: Just days before the peace deal between the U.S. and Iran was scheduled to be signed in Switzerland, two Iranian tankers successfully passed through the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting enforcement was easing. In response to news of a deal between Washington and Tehran, global oil prices fell earlier this month, relieving the inflationary pressures created by the conflict.

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The Islamic Republic of Iran is exporting a record amount of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz following negotiations with the United States and an agreement to end blockades of the vital passage.

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45 minutes ago
Crime
News

Trump Calls on Governor Pritzker to Ask for His Help After Deadly Juneteenth Weekend in Chicago.

A violent weekend in Chicago left seven dead and dozens injured, sparking criticism from President Donald J. Trump over Democrat Governor Pritzker’s refusal to accept federal assistance.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Chicago, Illinois, experienced a surge in violence over the Juneteenth weekend, with at least 24 shootings leaving seven people dead and 38 injured. Among the incidents was a drive-by shooting in Princeton Park that injured 12 people.
📺 DETAIL: President Donald J. Trump criticized Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) for refusing federal assistance to address Chicago’s crime crisis in a Truth Social post on Sunday. Trump highlighted his success in reducing crime in Washington, D.C., through a National Guard and federal law enforcement surge, and argued that similar measures could transform Chicago into a safe city in “ONE MONTH” and, within a year, one of the safest in the country. Pritzker has repeatedly rejected Trump’s offers to help, dismissing them as politically motivated and unnecessary.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Lots of Killing going on in Chicago. 22 people shot, at least 4 Dead. Why isn’t Governor Pritzker calling me for help. I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE YEAR, it would be one of the safest!!! D.C. went from one of the worst, to one of the safest cities in the U.S.” – President Trump
🎯 IMPACT: The violence underscores the serious public safety issues in Chicago, with President Trump pushing for federal intervention. The President previously deployed hundreds of National Guard members in Illinois, arguing they were necessary to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carrying out their duties, but patrols were blocked following sustained lawfare efforts by state and city Democrats.

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A violent weekend in Chicago left seven dead and dozens injured, sparking criticism from President Donald J. Trump over Democrat Governor Pritzker's refusal to accept federal assistance.

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1 hour ago
Crime
News

REPORT: A Rapist, Pedophile, and Killer Are Leading Lawsuit to Put Transgenders in Women’s Prisons.

A lawsuit in Oregon demanding the transfer of trans-identified male inmates to women’s prisons was brought by highly dangerous criminals, according to investigative reporters.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) demanding that trans-identified male inmates be housed in women’s prisons. The lawsuit, reportedly initiated by convicts with serious criminal backgrounds, claims that current housing policies violate constitutional rights.
📰 DETAIL: The suit, brought on behalf of inmates including “S.D.,” “J.F.,” “Z.Z.,” and “L.B.,” resulted in a federal judge’s late-April injunction ordering individualized assessments based on gender identity rather than biological sex. Court records investigated by Reduxx identify “J.F.” as Jessica Anne Marie Foust (formerly John Jay Chapman), convicted in 2008 of raping a developmentally disabled woman and later of assaulting officers. “Z.Z.,” identified as Zera Lola Zombie (born Daniel Lee Smith), is serving 35 years for the 2014 murder of his girlfriend, Samantha Brown, and has already been housed at times in a women’s facility after prior litigation. “L.B.,” known as Lillithia Moon Blood-Gaia (formerly Joseph Daniel Neilson), is a convicted pedophile sentenced to 24 years for sexually abusing a child he was babysitting in 2018. The plaintiffs allege repeated sexual abuse, harassment, and misgendering in men’s prisons. ODOC policy currently allows case-by-case transfers, supposedly only when they do not compromise safety.
🎯 IMPACT: The lawsuit could lead to significant changes in how trans-identified inmates are housed in Oregon, affecting women’s safety and prison management.

Image via FCDO.

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A lawsuit in Oregon demanding the transfer of trans-identified male inmates to women's prisons was brought by highly dangerous criminals, according to investigative reporters.

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2 hours ago
News
War

Iran Has Agreed to Nuclear Inspections: Vance.

Iran has agreed to permit International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to operate in the country again following negotiations with the Trump administration.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Iran has agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors back into the Islamic Republic following discussions with the Trump administration. The announcement was made amid discussions in Switzerland, with Vice President J.D. Vance describing the negotiations as challenging but productive.
📺 DETAIL: Vance said on Monday that the talks have resulted in significant progress on nuclear oversight measures and broader regional security issues. The negotiations build on a U.S.-backed diplomatic framework that reportedly includes sanctions relief, waivers for Iranian oil exports, and a proposed $300 billion reconstruction and investment package in exchange for Iran abandoning any pursuit of nuclear weapons and accepting long-term monitoring. The discussions also coincide with efforts to stabilize the region, including an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement aimed at reducing tensions linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah organization in Lebanon, and creating conditions for a broader peace settlement. U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to continue technical talks in the coming weeks as both sides work toward a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear activities, regional security, and economic normalization.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country. That is a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran,” said Vice President Vance.
🎯 IMPACT: This development represents a potential breakthrough in addressing U.S. and global concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

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Iran has agreed to permit International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to operate in the country again following negotiations with the Trump administration.

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3 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

Andy Burnham All But Certain to Replace Starmer as UK PM After Only Serious Rival Backs Him.

Former Health Secretary and previously rumored Labour Party leadership contender Wes Streeting has backed incoming Member of Parliament for Makerfield Andy Burnham for Labour leader, all but guaranteeing that Burnham will become Prime Minister.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Makerfield Andy Burnham has secured the backing of former Health Secretary and rumored Labour leadership rival Wes Streeting to replace Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, meaning Burnham is all but certain to assume the premiership in a matter of weeks.
📺 DETAIL: Streeting, once considered a potential contender for the Labour leadership, has thrown his support behind Burnham, urging his party to unite rather than focus on internal divisions. Streeting resigned as Health Secretary amid a wave of ministerial resignations and calls from Labour Party backbenchers for Starmer to resign last month. In his resignation letter, Streeting accused Starmer of a lack of vision following disastrous results for the Labour Party in May’s local elections, which saw Nigel Farage’s Reform UK make historic gains. “[May]’s election results were unprecedented – both in terms of the scale of the defeat and the consequences of that failure. For the first time in our country’s history, nationalists are in power in every corner of the United Kingdom – including a dangerous English nationalism represented by Nigel Farage and Reform UK… It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election and that Labour MPs and Labour Unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism. It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this,” wrote Streeting. On Monday, in another letter posted on X (formerly Twitter), the former Health Secretary declared that he felt confident that ideas of “progressive capitalism,” a “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” and “a new special relationship with Europe,” among other ideas, would be taken seriously under a Burnham-led government. “Having spoken at length with Andy in recent days, I’m convinced that there is a place for those ideas under his leadership; that he is committed to building an inclusive party that draws on the best of our political traditions; and that he can win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs. That is the choice that I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy too.” – Wes Streeting, former Health Secretary
🎯 IMPACT: Streeting’s endorsement paves the way for Burnham to be coronated as Labour Party leader uncontested and be installed as Prime Minister by September. The official nominations process for the Labour leadership contest is scheduled to begin on July 9. Prior to Streeting’s endorsement, Burnham was already the frontrunner by a wide margin. As such, even if Streeting did make a leadership bid, it is unlikely that he would have won, but the process of installing Burnham would have been stalled.
📺 FLASHBACK: Streeting’s endorsement follows the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer. The outgoing Prime Minister confirmed that he will remain in his position until a new leader is chosen. This follows the return of Andy Burnham, who had been serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester, to Parliament following a by-election (special election) in Makerfield, England. The former MP for the constituency (electoral district) resigned the seat following Labour’s local election losses to Reform in May specifically in order to allow Burnham to return to the House of Commons and supplant Starmer. 

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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Former Health Secretary and previously rumored Labour Party leadership contender Wes Streeting has backed incoming Member of Parliament for Makerfield Andy Burnham for Labour leader, all but guaranteeing that Burnham will become Prime Minister.

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3 hours ago
Economy
News

Former Fed Chief Alan Greenspan Passes Away at 100.

Alan Greenspan, the influential economist and Federal Reserve chairman of nearly two decades, has passed away at the age of 100 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has died at the age of 100, as confirmed by his widow, NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell. Greenspan passed away due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
👤 WHO WAS INVOLVED: Alan Greenspan, a prominent economist who served as Federal Reserve chairman under four U.S. presidents, namely Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, and his widow, Andrea Mitchell, an NBC correspondent.
📺 DETAIL: Greenspan served as chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1987 to 2006, making his tenure the second-longest in history. Appointed by the late President Ronald Reagan, he played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. economic policy for nearly two decades. His leadership spanned significant economic events, including the 1987 stock market crash and the dot-com bubble, with his legacy coming under scrutiny following the 2008 Great Recession, which occurred shortly after his departure.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “He was a giant of a man who helped shape the U.S. economy for decades under presidents of both parties, but was always honest in acknowledging his mistakes,” said Andrea Mitchell, Greenspan’s widow.
🎯 IMPACT: Greenspan’s policies and decisions left a lasting mark on the Federal Reserve and the broader U.S. economy, influencing monetary policy for decades. His tenure remains a key point of study for economists and policymakers alike, particularly in the context of the financial crises that followed his leadership.

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Alan Greenspan, the influential economist and Federal Reserve chairman of nearly two decades, has passed away at the age of 100 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.

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4 hours ago
News
UK

Burnham Declines to Rule Out Snap General Election in UK.

Incoming Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Andy Burnham, widely expected to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister, declined to rule out a snap general election on arriving in London to be sworn into the House of Commons.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Andy Burnham, the outgoing Mayor of Greater Manchester and incoming Labour MP for Makerfield, did not rule out a snap general election on Monday when asked if he would hold one following his expected installation as Labour leader and Prime Minister.
📰 DETAIL: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, following heavy losses to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party in local elections last month. Burnham, returning to the House of Commons with the express goal of supplanting Starmer following a parliamentary by-election (special election) last week, was pressed on whether he would hold a snap general election by the press on arriving in London to be sworn in. Burnham, who previously called for a snap election when the formerly governing Conservatives replaced Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, was evasive, but did not rule out a fresh election. Labour leadership nominations will officially open on July 9, but Burnham will be installed without a true party election if support for his candidacy is overwhelming.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “My priority today is be sworn in as the mayor [sic]… as the MP for Makerfield. And it’s been very kind of sad for me today to leave Greater Manchester. The people have been brilliant to me over the past few years. I’ve loved every minute of the role. I hope I leave Manchester in a better place. But thanks very much indeed.” – Andy Burnham
🎯 IMPACT: British prime ministers depend on being able to command a majority in the House of Commons to stay in post, and can generally be replaced by the largest party in the chamber—currently Labour—through internal processes between elections. The only other serious challenger to Starmer besides Burnham, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, threw his support behind Burnham on Monday, clearing the way for the Makerfield MP to take over as Prime Minister within a matter of weeks. Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage called for Burnham to hold a snap election on Monday to confirm Labour retains public support under new leadership. The government must hold an election by 2029, following the last general election in 2024, but can call one early if it chooses.

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Incoming Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Andy Burnham, widely expected to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister, declined to rule out a snap general election on arriving in London to be sworn into the House of Commons.

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8 hours ago
News
UK

BREAKING: Starmer Quits As UK Prime Minister, Farage Calls for General Election.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced he will step down as both the Prime Minister and leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party, citing an internal party revolt against his leadership.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Sir Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as the Prime Minister and leader of Britain’s Labour Party, stating he will remain in his position until a new leader is chosen. This follows heavy losses to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party in local elections last month, and the return of Labour politician Andy Burnham, touted by many in the party as a more electable replacement for Starmer, to the House of Commons.
📰 DETAIL: Starmer reflected on his tenure, noting he inherited a Labour Party that was “politically, financially, and morally bankrupt” from former leader Jeremy Corbyn. He claimed to have revitalized it by addressing issues such as anti-Semitism and restoring trust in key areas like the economy and defense, although his Secretary of Defense and Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces recently resigned, warning that he was leaving the military dangerously underfunded. Starmer acknowledged that Labour doubted his ability to lead them into the next general election after its losses in May’s local elections, and accepted their decision that new leadership is necessary. Nigel Farage has called for a snap general election to let the people render their own verdict on Starmer’s eventual replacement. The government has to call an election by 2029, but can call it early if it so chooses.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Reform demands an election, and we are ready to deliver radical change. If Labour thinks it can shove another professional politician into No 10, it has another thing coming.” – Nigel Farage
🎯 IMPACT: The Labour Party’s National Executive Committee is tasked with setting a timetable for leadership nominations, which will open on July 9, ensuring a new leader is in place before Parliament reconvenes in September. It is widely expected that Starmer will be replaced by Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester who was recently returned to Parliament after roughly a decade away in a parliamentary by-election (special election).

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Sir Keir Starmer has announced he will step down as both the Prime Minister and leader of Britain's governing Labour Party, citing an internal party revolt against his leadership.

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June 20, 2026
Bonkers Britain
Health

UK Approves Trans Puberty Blocker Experiments on Children as Young as 11.

Britain’s Labour Party government has allowed a contentious trial administering puberty blockers to children to restart, despite previous safety concerns and legal challenges.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved new protocols for the so-called Pathways trial, allowing children as young as 11 to receive puberty blockers. This decision comes after the trial was previously halted due to safety concerns.
🎯 IMPACT: The trial’s resumption has sparked significant controversy, with critics arguing that it poses unacceptable risks to children and lacks a strong evidence base. Legal actions are ongoing, and public figures have voiced strong opposition, highlighting the ethical concerns of involving minors in such experiments.
📰 DETAIL: The Pathways trial, led by King’s College London (KCL), aims to study the effects of puberty blockers on children with so-called gender dysphoria. Despite previous bans and safety warnings, the trial will proceed with a minimum age requirement of 11 for girls and 12 for boys. Critics argue that the trial is an unethical experiment on children who cannot give informed consent—under-18s in Britain are not allowed to smoke, drink alcohol, or even use tanning beds—to “treatments” that can permanently stunt growth and cause infertility.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It is already clear that puberty blockers are no solution to childhood gender distress, and that they cause unacceptable harm.” – Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters
‼️ CAVEAT: The trial’s continuation is subject to ongoing legal challenges, and recruitment has been paused until at least August 1 due to these proceedings.

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

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Britain's Labour Party government has allowed a contentious trial administering puberty blockers to children to restart, despite previous safety concerns and legal challenges.

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June 19, 2026
News
Religion

DOJ Challenges New York Law Forcing Nuns to House Men With Women.

The Justice Department is supporting a lawsuit by Catholic nuns challenging a New York law that forces them to violate their religious beliefs by housing biological men with women.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is intervening in a lawsuit filed by the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, a group of Catholic nuns, challenging a New York law that mandates long-term care facilities to house transgenders based on gender identity rather than biological sex. The DOJ argues that the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause by forcing religious organizations to act against their beliefs.
📺 DETAIL: The Catholic nuns, who operate Rosary Hill Home for indigent cancer patients, contend that the law conflicts with their religious beliefs by requiring them to place biological men in women’s rooms and use preferred names and pronouns. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the state cannot force religious organizations to abandon their faith-based convictions, warning that the law effectively compels the sisters to choose between their religious principles and their operating license. The Justice Department’s complaint supports the sisters’ claim that the policy infringes on their constitutional rights while they continue providing end-of-life care to patients.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “States should take notice that they cannot require Americans to abandon their religious beliefs in the name of woke gender ideology,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.
🎯 IMPACT: The DOJ’s support for the nuns’ lawsuit could set a significant precedent for protecting religious organizations from state-imposed mandates that conflict with their beliefs. A ruling in favor of the Dominican Sisters would reinforce First Amendment protections and undermine the enforceability of similar laws nationwide.

Image by Br. Christian Seno, OFM.

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The Justice Department is supporting a lawsuit by Catholic nuns challenging a New York law that forces them to violate their religious beliefs by housing biological men with women.

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