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May 10, 2024
William Upton
Lawfare

Trump Trial Day 11: Another Good Day For Trump in Court.

The eleventh day of former President Donald J. Trump‘s Manhattan-based hush money trial was abbreviated, ending before 1PM. Defense attorneys for the former President finished their cross-examination of Madeleine Westerhout, a former White House aide. Despite being a witness called by the prosecution, Westerhout — like many of the prosecution’s witnesses — proved relatively damaging to its case under cross-examination by Trump’s defense team.

Following the conclusion of Westerhout’s testimony, jurors heard from a series of custodial witnesses used by the prosecution to enter new evidence into the court record. These witnesses, themselves, held little bearing on the course of the trial.

Democrat-aligned Judge Juan Merchan, meanwhile, denied a defense motion to issue a gag order on Michael Cohen. The disgraced attorney has made frequent public statements on TikTok against former President Trump. Additionally, Cohen has used social media to profit directly from the trial.

WESTERHOUT SINKS CHECK THEORY.

The prosecution has tried to make much out of former President Trump’s attention to detail. Several of the witnesses brought by the District Attorney’s office have primarily served to establish the approval process for payments, statements, and other documents within the Trump Organization, the 2016 Trump campaign, and the Trump White House. The goal is to portray the former President as someone who pays careful attention to detail and would have either had pre-knowledge or inquired about the nature of the payments to disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen.

However, during her cross-examination, Trump‘s former personal assistant in the White House threw cold water on the prosecution’s strategy. While she did testify that the former President was very detail-oriented, she explained that the busy nature of running the country resulted in Trump often signing checks while he was engaged in other tasks, including phone calls or speaking with aides. This recollection appears to cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s assertion that Trump was aware of the purpose of the payments to Cohen.

In a separate moment, Westerhout again reinforced the Trump defense team’s assertion that the former President was motivated to protect his family, not the 2016 election. “My understanding was it would be hurtful to his family,” Westerhout said, noting that the Stormy Daniels affair allegations made Trump “very upset.”

PROSECUTORS GRASPING AT STRAWS. 

The prosecution‘s next witness was Daniel Dixon, a lead compliance analyst with AT&T. He testified as a records custodian, specifically regarding cell phone data relating to calls made between Michael Cohen and others. On the stand, Dixon spent most of his testimony establishing the veracity of cell phone call records submitted into evidence by the prosecution. These records allegedly show calls between Cohen and Trump that prosecutors allege revolved around the hush money payments.

Dixon’s questioning by the prosecution was short, though not as short nor as damaging as his cross-examination by former President Trump‘s defense team. Attorney Emil Bove handled the cross, immediately diving into the technical specifications of cell phone SIM cards.

CALL RECORDS REVEAL LITTLE.

Bove asked Dixon if a SIM card “can be pulled out of one phone and put into another?” Dixon responded, “Yes.” He next shifted to the nature of call records, pressing Dixon: “These records don’t reflect the content of these calls?” The AT&T analyst replied, “Correct.”

“You can’t tell from the records themselves who actually spoke?” Bove asked, Dixon again answering, “Correct.”

Casting doubt on the nature of the calls, Bove next asked Dixon: “You’re familiar with the concept of a pocket dial?” The analyst acknowledged that he was familiar with a pocket dial.

The next witness for the prosecution was Jennie Tomalin, a senior analyst with Verizon. Again, the prosecution called the witness primarily to introduce phone call records into evidence. One of the records concerns a call made involving Allen Weisselberg. The prosecution likely intends to bring up these records in later testimony by other individuals.

EVIDENTIARY WIN FOR TRUMP.

Just before the court took a brief break, former President Trump‘s defense attorney Emil Bove objected to a pending evidentiary exhibit by the prosecution. The Manhattan District Attorney‘s office intended to submit into evidence a 1999 interview between Trump and Larry King in which the subject of campaign finance law was discussed.

“There was extensive revisions to campaign finance laws in intervening period both statutory and by the Supreme Court,” Bove argued before Judge Juan Merchan. The defense attorney noted that the former President’s view on campaign finance law dating back to 1999 had little bearing on his views in 2016 or 2017. Prosecutors countered that the specific segment involved Trump’s opinion on the corporate contribution ban, which has been established law since 1907.

After the brief break, Judge Merchan ruled against the prosecution and denied the exhibit entrance into evidence.

MORE CUSTODIAL WITNESSES.

The prosecution next moved to recall Georgia Longstreet to the witness stand. Longstreet is a paralegal with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. While her direct testimony last week and today hasn’t been impactful on the direction of the trial, she — like the phone company analysts — has been used by prosecutors to enter additional evidence into the court record and, subsequently, juror review.

Longstreet testified about the process by which the District Attorney’s office preserved social media posts by former President Trump. Again, her testimony served as a vehicle for the prosecution to continue entering Trump tweets into the court record.

TRUMP’S TWEETS.

Prosecutors focused on a handful of Trump‘s social media posts, primarily from 2017 and 2018. Longstreet was asked to read a 2018 post from Trump regarding disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen shortly after the FBI raided the latter. “If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!” the former President wrote on Twitter. Another tweet entered into evidence regarded Paul Manafort — with Trump stating that he felt “very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family.”

Another post entered into evidence as a tweet addressing Cohen‘s monthly retainer and nondisclosure agreement. “Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a nondisclosure agreement, or NDA,” Trump posted on Twitter on May 3, 2018.

TEXTS WITH A TABLOID.

Next, prosecutors began showing Longstreet a series of texts between Stormy Daniels‘s then-publicist, Gina Rodriguez, and former National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard. The messages mostly revolved around whether Daniels would talk to the tabloid when she’d talk to the tabloid and if she’d go on the record regarding the alleged affair with Trump.

A series of texts prosecutors reviewed with Longstreet appear to reveal negotiations between Rodriguez and Howard over just how much the National Enquirer would pay Daniels. “I can get 100?” Howard asked Rodriguez. The publicist responded, “Lol,” but followed up with, “Okay, what about 150?” Howard countered, texting back the number “110.” Rodrigues replied to the counter with “125k.” Howard’s next response read, “lol,” though he followed up with “120.” Daniels’s then-publicist replied, “Sold.”

Additional text messages revolved around Rodriguez threatening to sell the story to the Daily Mail as Cohen dragged his feet in paying Daniels.

COHEN’S TIKTOK. 

Trump’s defense attorney, Todd Blanche, likewise took advantage of the custodial witness as the prosecution opened the door to discussing and reviewing social media accounts. Blanche asked Longstreet if she’d continued her work reviewing social media posts by individuals involved with the trial. He specifically mentioned posts by disgraced attorney Michael Cohen‘s TikTok, where he raised money off of the trial and continued to disparage former President Trump. Longstreet said that she had not seen the posts.

Moving past the TikTok posts, Blanche pivoted to the context of the communications reviewed by Longstreet. “When Ms. Rodriguez talks about offers from the Daily Mail and the timing of those offers, you have no knowledge of whether she was telling the truth, do you?” Blanche asked Longstreet. She replied, “No.”

“You just read what was written in the exhibit, correct?” Blanche asked the paralegal, continuing: “And that was different … from when Mr. Pecker is asked the reasoning behind text messages, correct?” Longstreet acknowledged that Pecker‘s testimony did contradict what was read from the text messages.

MORE PHONE RECORDS. 

The last witness of the day was another paralegal from District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s office. Prosecutors asked Jaden Jarmel-Schneider about the process of a report he prepared on calls between Michael Cohen and former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. Again, Jarmel-Schneider was a custodial witness, which allowed the prosecution to introduce phone call records between Cohen and individuals like Dylan Howard, David Pecker, Gina Rodriguez, Keith Schiller, and Allen Weisselberg.

Jarmel-Schneider’s testimony culminated in prosecutors using the custodial witness to introduce a chart summarizing the 34 business records they allege were falsified. Trump’s defense team objected to this exhibit, but Judge Merchan overruled their objection.

Under cross-examination by Emil Bove, Jarmel-Schneider acknowledged that some of the call records and text messages between various individuals were, in fact, deleted. However, the paralegal did take issue with Bove’s assertion that the missing data was “significant.” On re-direct by the prosecution, Jarmel-Schneider claimed the missing data was still in evidence elsewhere.

MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIES ON MONDAY.

The court adjourned early, wrapping up just before 1PM. Prosecutors and Trump‘s defense attorneys remained in the courtroom briefly to discuss some procedural matters ahead of Monday’s trial session, where it has been announced disgraced attorney Michael Cohen will testify.

Additionally, Democrat-aligned Judge Juan Merchan quashed a subpoena filed by Trump’s defense attorneys that would have compelled testimony from Mark Pomerantz, an attorney formerly with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Pomerantz, infamously, is one of the architects of the dubious legal theory being used by Alvin Bragg to prosecute Trump. Judge Merchan, in quashing the subpoena, called the request an “improper fishing expedition.”

National Pulse previously reported that Pomerantz refused to answer questions before a Congressional committee about his involvement in investigating former President Trump and whether he broke any laws in the course of that inquiry.

You can read The National Pulse’s Day Ten trial coverage here, and if you find our work worthwhile, consider joining up as a supporter.

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18 hours ago
Crime
Religion

Pope Pops Off At Trump Again, This Time Over the Death Penalty.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced plans to reinstate firing squads and other execution methods, with Roman Catholic leader Pope Leo XIV reiterating his opposition to the death penalty on Friday in another clash between the Supreme Pontiff and the Trump administration.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced plans on Friday to expand federal execution methods, including the reintroduction of firing squads. Pope Leo XIV, meanwhile, spoke out about his opposition to the death penalty—though it is not certain they were directly related to the announcement, as they were addressed to the 15th anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in his home state of Illinois.
📺 DETAIL: The perceived clash marks the latest in a broader series of disputes between the White House and the Vatican, with both sides exchanging sharp words over moral and political issues. President Donald J. Trump and Pope Leo have already clashed over the war with Iran, with President Trump accusing Pope Leo of wanting to see Iran have a nuclear weapon. The Pope, meanwhile, condemned warmongers, albeit without mentioning the Iran war or President Trump directly. Pope Leo’s comment on the death penalty is a continuation of Vatican policy under Pope Francis, who changed the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 2018 to state that the death penalty is “inadmissible.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “In this regard, we affirm that the dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed. Furthermore, effective systems of detention can be and have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption.” – Pope Leo XIV.
🎯 IMPACT: The timing of the DOJ announcement and the Pope’s comment on the death penalty could reignite tensions between the White House and the Vatican. President Trump has not hesitated to criticize the Pope, recently claiming that Pope Leo, an American, was selected last year by the College of Cardinals because of him.
📺 FLASHBACK: Historically, the death penalty was practiced in the former Papal States, where the Pope was the secular ruler, and the Vatican City State included capital punishment in its penal law from its founding in 1929 until 1969. In 2004, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger—the then-future Pope Benedict XVI—stated in his role as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that Catholics are permitted to disagree with the Pope about capital punishment and war, writing, “There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.”

Image by Edgar Beltrán, The Pillar.

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced plans to reinstate firing squads and other execution methods, with Roman Catholic leader Pope Leo XIV reiterating his opposition to the death penalty on Friday in another clash between the Supreme Pontiff and the Trump administration.

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April 24, 2026
The National Pulse
News

Argie-Bargie as the King Arrives – Friday, April 24, 2026.

This is the National Pulse nightly newsletter, which goes out to subscribers of The National Pulse every evening. On Fridays, I send it to my wider list, with the hopes you’ll all join and support our work. Thank you.
The National Pulse
Nightly.
Friday, April 24, 2026  •  Nº 12
Where MAGA goes to know.
— Tonight’s Cover —
King’s visit overshadowed by Iran-Falklands row.
Presented by  —  Advertise here: media@thenationalpulse.com
Photo of the Day
Photo of the Day
Travis Smith — who was born deaf, was diagnosed with the OTOG mutation, and received Regeneron’s experimental therapy at 18 months as part of a clinical trial — sprawls out on the floor of the Oval Office during a press event, April 23, 2026.
PHOTO: MOLLY RILEY
— From the Editor —
The flags are already up around the White House (the British flags, that is), so it’s probably too late for either nation to back out of an impending State Visit from King Charles on Monday — though secretly I reckon both the U.S. and UK wish this weren’t going on right this very minute.
With all the festivities of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) weekend having already kicked off, the parties will bleed into Monday and Tuesday, as the King arrives for a meeting with President Trump, as well as to deliver a speech to a joint session of Congress. I will be present, thanks to friends in medium to high places, and will report back from the inside.
There are a LOT of events all around town right now. On Wednesday, TownHall threw a party at Butterworth’s, featuring all manner of MAGA VIPs. There was also a very high-profile speech at the British Embassy that night, from historian Robert Hardman. Dignitaries in the room included Cabinet Secretaries and top-level admin staff.
Last night, I stopped in at the YouTube/C-SPAN party at the gorgeous Meridian Hill International Center, followed by the European Union Embassy party. The former was demure and delicate. The latter was tubthumpingly Euro, with many admin staff and D.C. dignitaries in attendance at both.
Tonight, the Daily Mail throws another party at the British Embassy, but the hottest ticket in town is the Executive Branch (Don Jr.’s private club) bash, featuring rapper Nelly. Tomorrow is the actual WHCA dinner, at which President Trump is due to speak. On Sunday, CNN is throwing a brunch at the British Embassy — and then there’s another Garden Party at the British Embassy on Monday, for the arrival of the King.
I hope to still be alive by midweek. Have a great weekend.
Raheem J. Kassam
Editor-in-Chief
Tonight’s Briefing
US-UK · Special Relationship
1. Rumored Memo Suggests U.S. Could Turn on UK Over Falkland Islands.
A leaked Pentagon email floats withdrawing U.S. support for European “imperial possessions” — punishment for NATO’s Iran-war refuseniks.
■ Pulse Points  /  Imperial Possessions
What Happened —  A leaked, rumored Pentagon email floated reviewing U.S. support for European “imperial possessions,” including Britain’s Falkland Islands, in retaliation for European governments refusing to support U.S. operations against Iran. Other measures include blocking nationals of “difficult” countries from senior NATO positions and suspending socialist-led Spain from the alliance altogether.
The Detail —  Britain, Spain, and Italy all denied the U.S. airspace and basing rights during Operation Epic Fury. The memo obtained by Reuters complained that “ABO” — access, basing, and overflight — should be “just the absolute baseline for NATO”. The National Pulse understands the document has not yet been seriously discussed at the highest level, though the President is understood to believe in ratcheting up pressure on allies.
Key Quote —  “The Prime Minister has been clear repeatedly that he will not be pressured. He will always take a strong position on the UK’s national interests, and the Falklands is no different… Sovereignty rests with the UK and self-determination is paramount.” – Downing Street spokesman
Flashback —  In 2013, Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British Overseas Territory — 99.8 percent in favor. Officially, the U.S. is neutral on the British and Argentine claims, though support was provided to the British when Argentina tried to take the islands by force in 1982.
● ● ●
NATO · Alliance
2. NATO Backs Spain Amid U.S. Ouster Rumors.
NATO official: the founding treaty “does not foresee any provision for suspension of NATO membership, or expulsion.”
■ Pulse Points  /  Paper Tiger
What Happened —  The rumored Pentagon email outlining potential retaliation against NATO allies who failed to support the U.S. in Iran suggested Spain could be suspended from the alliance. A NATO official has told the BBC the treaty “does not foresee any provision for suspension of NATO membership, or expulsion.”
The Detail —  The Socialist Party-led country, along with several other European NATO members, refused the U.S. access, basing, and overflight rights amid the war with Iran. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told reporters at an EU summit in Cyprus: “We do not work based on emails. We work with official documents and official positions taken, in this case, by the government of the United States.”
Key Quote —  “As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our NATO allies, they were not there for us. The War Department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger.” – Kingsley Wilson, Pentagon Press Secretary
● ● ●
Tariffs · Tech
3. Trump Threatens ‘Big Tariff’ on Britain Over Tech Tax.
British digital services levy raked in £800m last year — nearly all of it from U.S. tech giants.
■ Pulse Points  /  Drop the Tax
What Happened —  President Trump has warned the British government that the U.S. will impose significant tariffs if it does not repeal its digital services tax — a levy that falls heavily on U.S. tech firms due to their dominant international position.
The Detail —  The two percent levy is imposed on companies with digital revenues exceeding £500 million and over £25 million from British users. Heavy impact on Google, Apple, and Meta. PM Sir Keir Starmer has defended the tax as a necessary fiscal measure, generating £800 million in revenue during 2024-2025.
Key Quote —  “If they don’t drop the tax, we’ll probably put a big tariff on the UK.” – President Donald J. Trump
● ● ●
State Visit · New York
4. Mamdani Set to Meet King Charles in New York.
The pair will appear together at a 9/11 memorial wreath-laying ceremony during the King’s state visit.
■ Pulse Points  /  Manhattan Stop
What Happened —  King Charles III and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) are scheduled to appear together at a wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan next week, alongside other New York elected officials and members of the British royal family.
The Detail —  The state visit begins Monday with two days in Washington, D.C., followed by travel to New York and Virginia. Mamdani — whose Uganda-born father has built a career attacking the British Empire — will attend the joint ceremony but will not hold a private meeting with the King.
Impact —  The King’s four-day visit also includes a private meeting with President Trump and an address to Congress to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
● ● ●
DOJ · Death Penalty
5. Trump DOJ Reinstates Firing Squads for Federal Executions.
Reversing the Biden-era moratorium and the Garland commutations — 44 defendants currently face federal death sentences.
■ Pulse Points  /  The Ultimate Penalty
What Happened —  The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday it will reinstate firing squads as a method of federal execution, plus the pentobarbital lethal injection protocol used during the first Trump administration — reversing Biden-era policies obstructing the execution of the country’s worst criminals.
The Detail —  The DOJ recalled how the former Biden government had “imposed an indefinite moratorium on executions,” “declined to seek the death penalty in many horrific cases,” and “effectively empt[ied] federal death row by commuting the death sentences of 37 of 40 death-row inmates” based on Attorney General Garland’s personal opposition — without consulting all victims’ families.
Key Quote —  “The prior administration failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to pursue and carry out the ultimate punishment against the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, child murderers, and cop killers.” – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
Impact —  The shift potentially affects 44 defendants currently facing death sentences. The DOJ is also considering a rule to empower states to streamline federal habeas review of capital cases — which would “reduce by years the period between conviction and execution.”
● ● ●
Dark Money · Treasury
6. How the SPLC Indictment Will Change ‘Dark Money’ Operations Forever.
Treasury revising IRS Form 990 reporting requirements in the wake of the SPLC scandal — fraud and abuse “behind complicated non-profit arrangements” is the target.
■ Pulse Points  /  Manufactured Hate
What Happened —  The U.S. Treasury Department has announced changes to IRS Form 990 reporting requirements following allegations that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) misused tax-exempt money to fund extremist group leaders.
The Detail —  The DOJ indictment earlier this week alleges the SPLC funneled over $3 million over the course of a decade to leaders and organizers of the Ku Klux Klan, the American Nazi Party, and Aryan Nations — including organizers of the 2017 Unite the Right rally. In 2024, the SPLC reported $800 million in assets and $129 million in revenue. The Form 990 loophole has long allowed organizations to obscure donor identities and payment recipients.
Key Quote —  “Public money and tax-exempt status demand public accountability. We are ending the days of hiding fraud, abuse, and extremist activity behind complicated non-profit arrangements.” – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
Impact —  The changes target groups that allegedly manufacture “hate” in order to generate revenue — a pattern long alleged about the SPLC by conservative critics.
● ● ●
Congress · Corruption
7. Calls to Pardon Soldier Who Bet $400K on Maduro Capture.
Luna: “Members are illegally profiting every day.”
■ Pulse Points  /  Skewed Justice
What Happened —  Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) called for the pardon of active-duty soldier Gannon Ken van Dyke, who was arrested this week after profiting around $400,000 on Polymarket by betting on the fall of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro — using insider knowledge gained while helping plan Operation Absolute Resolve.
The Detail —  Van Dyke bet on the date of Maduro’s fall starting around December 26. U.S. forces captured Maduro on January 3. Luna acknowledges his actions were wrong and called for the winnings to be disgorged, but argues the pardon is warranted because of rampant congressional insider trading that goes unpunished. If not pardoned, Van Dyke could face up to 60 years in prison.
Key Quote —  “Maybe not a popular take but I am calling for this guy to be pardoned. Unless the DOJ plans on going after all the crooks in Congress currently insider trading, this is simply skewed justice.” – Rep. Anna Paulina Luna
● ● ●
Tech · China
8. Eric Trump-Backed Robot Startup Lands $24M Pentagon Deal.
Humanoid “Phantom” robots to break into enemy sites — and catch up with China’s rapidly advancing robotics sector.
■ Pulse Points  /  Phantom Menace
What Happened —  The Pentagon has awarded a $24 million contract to Foundation Future Industries to develop and test humanoid robots for military use. The heavy-duty robots are designed to break into enemy sites, reduce risk to American soldiers, and ensure the U.S. maintains a competitive edge against China. Eric Trump is chief strategy advisor at the firm.
The Detail —  Foundation Future Industries has developed the Phantom Mark 1, an early-production robot, and the Phantom Mark 2, a mass-manufacturing model. The deal lands as China continues to make significant strides in robotics, recently breaking human records in the half-marathon.
Key Quote —  “We are America First. We have to win this race. The uses are unlimited, and I think it’s a very beautiful thing, but we must win this race.” – Eric Trump
On This Day
In History.
1704
The Boston News-Letter, America’s first continuously published newspaper, begins publication.
1800
President John Adams establishes the Library of Congress with a $5,000 appropriation.
1953
Winston Churchill is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
1967
Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov dies on Soyuz 1 re-entry — the first human killed during spaceflight.
1980
Operation Eagle Claw, the U.S. attempt to rescue the Tehran hostages, ends in disaster — eight American servicemen killed.
1990
The Hubble Space Telescope launches aboard Space Shuttle Discovery.
2005
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope, taking the name Benedict XVI.
The National Pulse
Where MAGA Goes to Know.
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April 24, 2026
Economy
News
World

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Hits Record Low.

Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has plummeted to its lowest level since 1978, driven by economic uncertainties stemming from the Iran war.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Consumer sentiment crashed to a record low of 49.8 in April, according to the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index. This marks the lowest level since data collection began in 1978.
📰 DETAIL: The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index is a consumer confidence report published monthly by the university’s Institute for Social Research. The index incorporates data gathered through questions about individual economic circumstances, as well as short- and long-term economic expectations. In the most recent survey, published on Friday, the Index revealed that consumer confidence has dropped to just 49.8, the lowest since data collection began back in 1978 and down from 53.3 in March. The drop in consumer sentiment is attributed to rising fuel costs and inflationary pressures created by the ongoing war with Iran. Concern has endured despite the declaration of an extended ceasefire between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic. The Index further indicated that consumers expect a significant price rises in future, with gas prices anticipated to rise by almost 50 cents over the next year, and that compared with March, consumer predictions of inflation in a year’s time spiked to 4.7 percent. Growing economic pessimism cuts across political party, education, age, and socioeconomic lines, showing genuine, widespread concern.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The Iran conflict appears to influence consumer views primarily through shocks to gasoline and potentially other prices. Military and diplomatic developments that do not lift supply constraints or lower energy prices are unlikely to buoy consumers.” — Survey director Joanne Hsu
🎯 IMPACT: There is substantial evidence that the Iran war is creating economic uncertainty. The ongoing conflict has caused significant disruption to the airline industry and a spike in fertilizer costs, impacting already strained American farmers.

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Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has plummeted to its lowest level since 1978, driven by economic uncertainties stemming from the Iran war.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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April 24, 2026
News
UK
World

Mamdani Set to Meet King Charles in New York — But No Private Audience.

King Charles III and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) will meet during the British monarch’s state visit to the U.S., but there will be no private audience.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: King Charles III of the United Kingdom is scheduled to meet New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) during a wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan next week. However, while they will meet at the ceremony, there are no reported plans for a private meeting between the two.
📰 DETAIL: King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to visit the United States on Monday. The state visit will begin with two days in Washington, D.C., followed by travel to New York and Virginia. While the King is scheduled to take part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 memorial alongside Mamdani, the Uganda-born mayor—whose father has built a career around attacking the British Empire—will not hold a private meeting with the King, as per a statement from Mamdani’s team.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The mayor will not meet privately with King Charles. He was invited to join a number of New York elected officials next week at a wreath laying at the 9/11 memorial with members of the British royal family.” – Mamdani spokesman Joe Calvello
🎯 IMPACT: King Charles’s four-day state visit to the United States will include a private meeting with President Donald J. Trump and an address to Congress. The trip will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The President has voiced his optimism about the visit, viewing it as an opportunity to mend relations between the two countries, which have been clashing over Britain’s digital services tax on U.S. tech firms, censorship, the Iran war, and the Falkland Islands. 

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King Charles III and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) will meet during the British monarch's state visit to the U.S., but there will be no private audience.

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April 24, 2026
Corruption
News

How the SPLC Indictment Will Change ‘Dark Money’ Operations Forever.

The U.S. Treasury Department is revising Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reporting requirements for non-profits following allegations that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) gave millions to extremist groups.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Treasury Department has announced changes to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reporting requirements for nonprofits. The changes follow allegations that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) misused tax-exempt money to fund the leaders of extremist groups.
📺 DETAIL: On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced changes to IRS Form 990 reporting requirements. The changes are intended to increase the transparency of non-profits, particularly those claiming to combat extremism. The changes follow an indictment against the SPLC by federal authorities. The civil rights nonprofit has been accused of funneling millions of tax-exempt dollars to groups it claims to oppose. Specifically, it was uncovered that the SPLC gave money to the Ku Klux Klan, the American Nazi Party, and Aryan Nations. In 2024, the SPLC reported $800 million in assets and $129 million in revenue. The organization claims the funds were used for intelligence gathering, but the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed the funds were spent on leaders and organizers. IRS Form 990 is an annual return that most nonprofit organizations in the U.S. need to file in order to provide the IRS and the public with an overview of their activities. The form allows organizations to obscure donor identities and payment recipients, potentially acting as a loophole for misuse.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Public money and tax-exempt status demand public accountability. We are ending the days of hiding fraud, abuse, and extremist activity behind complicated non-profit arrangements.” – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
🎯 IMPACT: The changes aim to close loopholes that allow “dark money” to flow through non-profits. The changes aim to minimize the chances for anonymity provisions to be used for fraud while also addressing the growing concern that groups like the SPLC help manufacture “hate” in order to generate revenue.
📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an 11-count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) encompassing money laundering and fraud. Specifically, the indictment claims the SPLC funneled over $3 million over the course of a decade to the leaders and organizers of extremist groups, including organizers of the 2017 Unite the Right rally.

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The U.S. Treasury Department is revising Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reporting requirements for non-profits following allegations that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) gave millions to extremist groups.

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By Popular Demand.
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April 24, 2026
Crime

Trump DOJ Reinstates Firing Squads for Federal Executions.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the reinstatement of firing squads and the lethal injection protocol utilized during the first Trump Administration as methods for federal executions, reversing Biden-era policies.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday that it will reinstate firing squads as a method of federal execution, as part of a package of policies aimed at reversing Biden-era policies obstructing the execution of the country’s worst criminals.
📰 DETAIL: The department’s decision includes readopting the lethal injection protocol from the first Trump administration, using pentobarbital. It follows a January 2025 executive order by President Donald J. Trump to pursue federal death sentences and ensure states have sufficient lethal injection drugs, with the DOJ recalling in a Friday press release how the former Biden government had “imposed an indefinite moratorium on executions,” “declined to seek the death penalty in many horrific cases,” and “effectively empt[ied] federal death row by commuting the death sentences of 37 of 40 death-row inmates based on Attorney General Garland’s personal opposition to the death penalty without consulting all the victims’ families.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The prior administration failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to pursue and carry out the ultimate punishment against the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, child murderers, and cop killers. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice is once again enforcing the law and standing with victims.” – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
🎯 IMPACT: The reinstatement of these execution methods marks a significant shift from the Biden-era moratorium on federal executions, potentially affecting 44 defendants currently facing death sentences. The DOJ is also considering a “rule that will empower states to streamline federal habeas review of capital cases,” which would “reduce by years the period between conviction and execution in state capital cases.” Notably, Idaho, South Carolina, Utah, Mississippi, and Oklahoma already allow firing squads at the state level, with triple murderer Stephen Bryant being executed by one in South Carolina last November.

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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the reinstatement of firing squads and the lethal injection protocol utilized during the first Trump Administration as methods for federal executions, reversing Biden-era policies.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
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April 24, 2026
Bonkers Britain
News
World

London Mayor Sadiq Khan Says He’s ‘Scared’ That Britons Are Waking Up.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed alarm over polls suggesting the Labour Party could lose control of several borough councils in the British capital in the English local elections on May 7.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is afraid that Britain’s ruling Labour Party, of which he is a member, will lose its dominant position in the capital in municipal elections set for May 7. Khan expressed concern that his party could, according to polling released this week, lose up to 14 of the city’s borough councils, with Nigel Farage’s Reform Party and Zack Polanski’s far-left Green Party set to make considerable gains.
📺 DETAIL: At present, Labour controls 21 of London’s 32 borough councils. However, according to recent polling, widespread dissatisfaction with the party’s national leadership under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is likely to be reflected in the local elections scheduled for next month. YouGov published polling on April 22 suggesting Labour’s vote share in the capital will plummet from 42 percent during the 2022 borough elections to 26 percent next month. Khan blames Starmer’s appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson, a friend of deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, as ambassador to the U.S., and the appointment’s subsequent unraveling, for the situation, telling the British press, “I’m so angry in relation to this whole omnishambles in relation to Peter Mandelson’s appointment, knowing what we knew.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “[T]he polls scare me, the polls worry me because they don’t reflect my experience of what the councils are doing. They do reflect what I hear on the doorsteps when I knock on doors. People aren’t unhappy with me, people have concerns about the government, and they want to take it out on councils.” – Sadiq Khan
🎯 IMPACT: London has long been regarded as a Labour stronghold, and if it cannot maintain its strong position there, it is likely to face even heavier losses elsewhere in the May 7 elections. Notably, Khan’s mayoralty is not at risk, as he is not up for reelection until 2028.
📺 FLASHBACK: Khan and the Labour Party have attracted international criticism as well as domestic disdain. In December last year, President Donald J. Trump criticized Khan’s mayoralty, especially the impact of mass immigration on the capital. London has gained an international reputation for lawlessness, integration problems, and being unaffordable. Earlier this month, Khan decried online criticism of the city as “disinformation” and urged national governments and tech firms to pursue greater censorship.

Image by East London Mosque.

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed alarm over polls suggesting the Labour Party could lose control of several borough councils in the British capital in the English local elections on May 7.

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By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

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April 24, 2026
News
World

NATO Backs Spain Amidst U.S. Ouster Rumors.

NATO has backed Spain amid reports of a leaked, rumored Pentagon email discussing its possible suspension from the alliance.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A rumored email from the Pentagon outlined potential retaliation against NATO allies that did not support U.S. operations in the Iran war, suggesting that Spain could be suspended from the alliance. A NATO official told the BBC on Friday that the alliance’s founding treaty “does not foresee any provision for suspension of NATO membership, or expulsion.”
📰 DETAIL: A rumored Pentagon internal email, described to the media on Friday, floated the possibility of suspending Spain from NATO. The Socialist Party-led country, along with several other European NATO members, refused the U.S. access, basing, and overflight rights (ABO) amid the war with Iran, angering President Donald J. Trump. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said he is unconcerned by reports of the suspension discussions at the Pentagon, saying at a European Union (EU) summit in Cyprus on Friday, “We do not work based on emails. We work with official documents and official positions taken, in this case, by the government of the United States.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our NATO allies, they were not there for us. The War Department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part. We have no further comment on any internal deliberations to that effect.” – Kingsley Wilson, Pentagon Press Secretary.
🎯 IMPACT: Tensions between the United States and Europe have been running high since the onset of the Iran war. Beyond suspending Spain from NATO, other punitive measures, which The National Pulse understands have not yet been seriously discussed at a high level, were outlined, such as reviewing U.S. support for European “imperial possessions” like Britain’s Falkland Islands.
👀 FLASHBACK: Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, Spain drove 15 U.S. military aircraft out of their Spanish bases. Last month, Spain and other European countries reportedly began drawing up contingency plans to maintain the continent’s defense capabilities without U.S. involvement.

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NATO has backed Spain amid reports of a leaked, rumored Pentagon email discussing its possible suspension from the alliance.

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By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
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April 24, 2026
NatSec
War

Israeli Air Force Technicians Arrested for Spying for Iran.

Two Israeli air force technicians face espionage charges for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with Iran, amid concerns over a growing number of Israelis caught spying for Iran or other Israeli adversaries since 2023.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Two Israeli air force technicians, Asaf Shitrit and Sagi Haik, are accused of sharing sensitive military information with Iran, including engine diagrams and photos of an F-15 flight instructor. The charges may escalate to treason as authorities investigate further.
📺 DETAIL: The suspects, who worked on F-15 fighter jets at Tel Nof Airbase, allegedly maintained contact with Iranian intelligence operatives for months and carried out tasks in exchange for payment. Prosecutors say the pair passed along sensitive materials, including engine diagrams, base documentation, and images, violating military censorship rules, while also being tasked with gathering intelligence on senior Israeli figures. Authorities allege the men were recruited online and directed by Iranian handlers.
🎯 IMPACT: The case is one of more than 50 espionage-related indictments filed against Israelis since the October 7, 2023, terror raids against Israel by Hamas and the subsequent outbreak of the Gaza war. Israeli security commentators are reportedly describing the espionage issue as an “epidemic,” coining phrases such as hitpor’rut khevratit, meaning “social disintegration,” and mashehu ba-khevra ha-yisraelit nisdak, or “something has cracked in Israeli society,” to describe it.

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Two Israeli air force technicians face espionage charges for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with Iran, amid concerns over a growing number of Israelis caught spying for Iran or other Israeli adversaries since 2023.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

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April 24, 2026
Economy
News

DOJ Abandons Investigation Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Federal prosecutors have closed their investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, shifting focus to an Inspector General for the Federal Reserve review of the renovation of the central bank’s D.C. headquarters.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors have officially ended their investigation into Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve. The announcement came from Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on Friday. She also announced that the case will shift to the Federal Reserve’s Inspector General and examine the cost of renovating the central bank’s headquarters.
📺 DETAIL: Jeanine Pirro announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is closing the federal investigation into Powell, noting that while the investigation is now closed, her office is prepared to reopen the case if new evidence emerges. She emphasized that the Inspector General’s report is intended to resolve lingering questions about cost overruns in the renovation of the Federal Reserve’s D.C. headquarters. The investigation into Powell began in January, when the DOJ served subpoenas related to Powell’s testimony about renovations to Federal Reserve buildings.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I have directed my office to close our investigation as the IG undertakes this inquiry. Note well, however, that I will not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so.” – Jeanine Pirro
🎯 IMPACT: The end of the federal investigation into Powell removes a key hurdle for the confirmation of Kevin Warsh, President Donald J. Trump’s nomination to chair the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors. Warsh is on track to take over from Powell when the latter’s tenure ends in May, but the takeover has been obstructed by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), who objected to the investigation into Powell.
📺 FLASHBACK: President Trump has voiced considerable criticism of Powell, saying in November: “I’ll be honest, I’d love to fire his ass.” In particular, the President is critical of Powell’s reluctance to lower interest rates. When the investigation into Powell was first announced, Trump said: “I don’t know anything about it, but he’s certainly not very good at the Fed, and he’s not very good at building buildings.”

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Federal prosecutors have closed their investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, shifting focus to an Inspector General for the Federal Reserve review of the renovation of the central bank's D.C. headquarters.

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By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
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