GET THE APP
Monday, January 19, 2026

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

July 8, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Politics
World

Extreme Left Wins French Elections But Riots Anyway, Macron’s Prime Minister Resigns.

The extreme left has won the French legislative elections after striking an anti-populist pact with President Emmanuel Macron’s globalist Ensemble bloc. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) placed first in the election’s first round, with the far-left New Popular Front (NFP) coalition in second and the Macronists a distant third. The pact, which saw NFP candidates stand aside for Ensemble where they had the better chance of defeating RN, and vice versa, saw the far left rise to first place and the Macronists rise to second, with Le Pen’s party in third.

Jordan Bardella, the RN president who would have become Prime Minister had the populists won the election, called the “unnatural” left-globalist pact a “dishonorable alliance” that has “thrown France to Jean-Luc Melenchon’s extreme left,” referring to the leader of the France Unbowed party that the NPF centers on. Le Pen herself says the election shows the “tide is rising,” with more RN lawmakers in the National Assembly than ever. “Our victory has only been delayed,” she insists.

Meanwhile, the French far left, which rioted after RN won the election’s first round, rioted again, despite winning.

‘UNTENABLE.’

President Emmanuel Macron called the legislative election on short notice after RN won the European elections in France. He likely believed the populists lacked the resources to fight another election so soon and could be robbed of their momentum.

While Macron’s eleventh-hour alliance with the extreme left has successfully blocked a populist government, it may prove as damaging to him as to Le Pen. His handpicked prime minister, Gabriel Attal, is already tendering his resignation, though he will remain in post as a so-called caretaker for now.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, whose coalition partners include the French Communist Party, wants economic policies far to the left of Macron’s, including tens of billions of dollars in tax hikes, over a hundred billion dollars in additional spending, and reversing Macron’s increase of the state pension age from 62 to 64.

More concerningly for the European establishment, he is a staunch ally of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a critic of the European Union (EU), and favors leaving NATO. He also opposes arming Ukraine. In 2014, he supported Russia’s annexation of Crimea as a “protective measure against an adventurous putschist power.”

“The Russian nation cannot allow the North Americans and NATO to settle on their doorstep,” he added.

These differences guarantee a huge fight between the far left and the Macronists over the coming weeks, as neither have an outright majority in the National Assembly.

Macron’s presidential term does not expire until 2027 and he claims he will not resign. However, Le Pen believes his position is now “untenable.”

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.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad
More From The Pulse

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

23 minutes ago
Corruption
War

Top Ukrainian Lawmaker and Ex-PM Caught in Corruption Probe.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Anti-corruption investigators have accused Ukrainian lawmaker and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko of organizing a scheme to bribe MPs, including figures from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party, to undermine his government.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Yulia Tymoshenko, her Fatherland party, members of the Ukrainian legislature, and Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Investigations and raids occurred on Tuesday night, with announcements made on Wednesday in Ukraine.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It seems the elections are much closer than they appeared and someone has decided to start clearing out the competition.” – Yulia Tymoshenko

🎯IMPACT: The allegations heighten political tensions in Ukraine, as expectations of elections increase amidst ongoing corruption probes and the war with Russia.

IN FULL

Ukrainian opposition lawmaker and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is facing bribery charges from anti-corruption authorities, who allege she organized a scheme to pay lawmakers—including some from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party—in exchange for their votes in parliament.

The accusations emerged following raids late Tuesday on the offices of her Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Investigators claim the operation involved a systematic, long-term arrangement with advance payments to secure loyal voting behavior, including instructions sent via the Signal messaging app. NABU has released audio recordings and video footage showing U.S. dollar cash seized during the searches, describing it as part of a broader effort to influence parliamentary decisions and potentially undermine Zelensky’s majority.

Tymoshenko, whose party holds about 25 seats in the 450-member Verkhovna Rada, as the Ukrainian legislature is known, denied the claims in a Facebook statement. She rejected any link to the published audio recordings and called the probe politically driven, stating: “It seems the elections are much closer than they appeared and someone has decided to start clearing out the competition.” She pledged to demonstrate in court that the accusations against her are false.

The case follows NABU’s exposure in December 2025 of several lawmakers accepting improper benefits for votes, and coincides with other high-profile corruption investigations, including those involving figures close to Zelensky and issues at the state nuclear energy company Energoatom.

Notably, Tymoshenko had earlier backed legislation that would have weakened or dismantled NABU and SAPO—the very bodies now pursuing her.

Image via the European People’s Party.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

1 hour ago
Politics

Newsom’s Newest Move Against GOP House Majority Poses Serious Threat to Trump’s Agenda.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) scheduled a special election to fill the vacant seat of the late Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) on the latest possible date under state law.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gov. Gavin Newsom, late GOP Rep. Doug LaMalfa, and voters in Northern California.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The special election is set for August 4 in Northern California.

🎯IMPACT: The vacancy adds to the challenges faced by Republicans’ narrow House majority in passing President Donald J. Trump’s legislative agenda.

IN FULL

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA)—a leading contender for the 2028 Democrat presidential nomination—has scheduled a special election to fill the open seat of the late Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) on August 4, 2026. This is the last possible date permissible under state law for the vacancy to be filled.

Notably, the move by Newsom appears aimed at further complicating the legislative process for House Republicans on Capitol Hill, as the prolonged vacancy will deprive GOP leaders of a critical vote in their already slim majority. Republicans have faced an increasingly difficult time passing major legislation in the House, holding just 218 seats to the Democrats’ 213, with two Republican and two Democrat vacancies.

Further, Rep. Thomas Massie‘s penchant for defecting to the Democrats on critical votes means the House GOP effectively operates with an effective one- or two-vote majority on most floor action. The winner of the California special election will only serve the remaining months of the term, which expires in early January 2027. LaMalfa passed away on January 6 at the age of 65.

The delayed special election is just the latest maneuver by Newsom to position himself for a 2028 presidential primary run, by embracing hyperpartisan tactics to tilt the midterm election in the Democrats’ favor in an effort to appeal to the more radical elements of the party’s base. Last November, California voters backed Newsom’s Proposition 50, a ballot measure that temporarily suspends the state’s independent redistricting commission and allows the legislature to redraw congressional districts, potentially creating five additional Democratic seats ahead of the 2026 congressional midterm elections.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

2 hours ago
Politics

House Democrats Move to Block Funding for Greenland Purchase.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: House Democrats introduced a bill to block President Donald J. Trump from using federal funds to purchase Greenland.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Representative Gabe Amo (D-RI), over 20 House Democrat co-sponsors, President Donald, and Danish officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bill was introduced on Sunday, with discussions involving Greenland, Denmark, and U.S. officials occurring recently.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Greenland is not for sale, no matter what Trump says. That’s why I led 21 [House Democrats] in introducing the NO NATO for Purchase Act to make sure your taxpayer dollars aren’t spent on Trump’s next property boondoggle.” – Rep. Gabe Amo

🎯IMPACT: The bill is unlikely to pass in the Republican controlled House, though its introduction suggests Democrats are beginning to organize a more concerted effort against a possible acquisition of Greenland.

IN FULL

House Democrats are attempting to deprive President Donald J. Trump of critical leverage in his efforts to purchase the Arctic island of Greenland. Legislation introduced on Sunday by Representative Gabe Amo (D-RI) would bar the President from using federal funds to buy the island.

Already, Amo’s legislation has over 20 Democrat co-sponsors in the House. Entitled the “NO NATO for Purchase Act, Rep. Amo stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the bill makes clear, “Greenland is not for sale, no matter what Trump says. That’s why I led 21 [House Democrats] in introducing the NO NATO for Purchase Act to make sure your taxpayer dollars aren’t spent on Trump’s next property boondoggle.”

The legislative summary accompanying the bill contends its aim is “to prohibit actions or expenditure of funds to purchase a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member country or NATO-protected territory.” This comes as Trump continues to argue that acquiring Greenland is essential for U.S. national security.

On Sunday, President Trump reiterated his strong desire for the United States to gain “complete and total control” of Greenland, arguing that global security depends on it in a message to the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre. “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?” he demanded, adding: “There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.”

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Trump announced new tariffs on several European countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland, starting in February. The President stated that the trade levies are in response to their opposition to the U.S. acquisition of Greenland.

Image by Christoph Strässler.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

2 hours ago
Politics

Kamala Campaign Demanded to Know If Josh Shapiro Was an Israeli Agent.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Kamala Harris’s team reportedly asked Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) if he was an Israeli double agent during the 2024 vice presidential selection process, as detailed in Shapiro’s new memoir.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Shapiro, Dana Remus (former White House counsel), and Harris’s vetting team.

📍WHEN & WHERE: During the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, as Harris considered her vice presidential running mate options.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Had I been a double agent for Israel?” Shapiro wrote, expressing his surprise at the question from Harris’s team.

🎯IMPACT: The revelations in Shapiro’s book highlight tensions during Harris’s campaign, and likely mark the beginning of jockeying by potential 2028 Democrat presidential primary candidates.

IN FULL

In his new memoir, Where We Keep the Light, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) revealed that Kamala Harris’s team asked if he was an Israeli double agent during the 2024 vice presidential selection process. The question, posed by Dana Remus, a former White House counsel, left Shapiro, who served as an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) volunteer in his twenties, stunned. “Had I been a double agent for Israel?” he wrote, describing his reaction to the inquiry.

Shapiro stated that the vetting team justified the question by saying, “Well, we have to ask.” He also alleged that Harris’s team wanted to know if he had communicated with undercover Israeli agents. Shapiro responded, “If they were undercover, I responded, how the hell would I know?” He later reflected that the question “said a lot about some of the people around the VP.”

Harris ultimately chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) as her running mate, a decision criticized by some at the time, given Shapiro’s status as governor of Pennsylvania, a critical swing state. Shapiro’s memoir also recounts his frustration with other questions from Harris’s team, including whether he would soften his criticisms of student protests against Israeli actions in Gaza. Shapiro maintained his position, stating, “It nagged at me that their questions weren’t really about substance. Rather, they were questioning my ideology, my approach, my worldview.”

Shapiro also suggested that Harris disliked her own role as vice president, citing her complaints about the lack of authority and amenities associated with the position. “I was surprised by how much she seemed to dislike the role,” he wrote. Harris, in her own memoir 107 Days, offered a different perspective, accusing Shapiro of having an ambition for power that exceeded the typical responsibilities of a vice president and expressing concerns about his “lack of discretion.”

The vetting meetings appear to have left the Pennsylvania governor notably disinclined to serve as Harris’s running mate, to the point that the Harris campaign and Remus took a few parting shots in a follow-up conversation. In their final conversation, Remus is alleged to have emphasized the financial burden of the vice presidency and noted Shapiro’s lack of personal wealth. Harris’s team also insisted that Shapiro’s wife, Lori, would need to purchase an entirely new wardrobe, and that the couple would have to pay for “Second Lady-level hair and makeup,” as well as food and entertainment at the Naval Observatory. “Are you trying to convince me not to do this?” Gov. Shapiro claims to have responded.

Image by Tom Wolf.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

3 hours ago
News
Religion

DOJ Investigating Invasion of Church by Don Lemon and Anti-ICE Agitators.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A group of far-left extremist activists, accompanied by ex-CNN host Don Lemon, disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, as part of a protest called “Operation Pullup.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Activists led by Nekima Levy-Armstrong, Don Lemon, Cities Church congregants, and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sunday, January 18, at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The [Civil Rights Division] is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers” – Harmeet Dhillon

🎯IMPACT: The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into potential violations of the FACE Act, with Don Lemon possibly being a target.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened an investigation into a protest that disrupted a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, after leftist extremist activists entered the sanctuary and halted the service for roughly 30 minutes. The demonstration was led by activist Nekima Levy-Armstrong and organized by the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota under the name “Operation Pullup.” Disgraced former CNN host Don Lemon accompanied the group, embedded with the protesters, and conducted interviews during the disruption. Congregants were forced to flee as the unrest unfolded inside the church.

Lemon defended the extremists by comparing their tactics to those used during the civil rights movement and argued that the First Amendment protects such actions. “There is nothing in the Constitution that tells you what time you can protest. You can protest at any time,” he said.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said the incident is being reviewed for potential violations of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which also protects access to religious worship. Dhillon said, “The [Civil Rights Division] is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.”

The protest targeted Cities Church because activists allege that one of its pastors works for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Levy-Armstrong said, “They cannot pretend to be a house of God while harboring someone who is directing ICE agents to wreak havoc upon our community.” The church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, who is not the pastor accused of working for ICE, confronted Lemon during the protest and condemned the disruption, saying, “It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship.”

The incident has drawn national attention. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the protest and said President Donald J. Trump will not tolerate harassment of Christians in their places of worship.

The disruption comes amid a broader rise in hostility toward churches across the United States. Recent data has shown a sharp increase in attacks on American churches, including vandalism, arson, and intimidation, raising concerns among religious liberty advocates about the safety of worshippers.

Minnesota has also been the site of heightened unrest tied to immigration enforcement and law enforcement activity. Following a recent ICE-related shooting in Minneapolis, President Trump blamed the “radical left” for subsequent attacks on law enforcement and warned that continued instability could prompt extraordinary federal measures. Earlier this month, Trump said he was considering invoking the Insurrection Act in response to ongoing unrest in the state.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

3 hours ago
Immigration
Politics

Trump Calls for Ilhan Omar’s Imprisonment or Deportation to Somalia.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump criticized Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) in a Truth Social post, accusing her of having known about widespread social services fraud schemes linked to Minnesota’s Somali community and claiming she should face legal consequences or be sent back to Somalia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Rep. Omar, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump’s remarks were posted on Truth Social on Sunday night, January 18, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World,” Trump wrote.

🎯IMPACT: The remarks have sparked renewed controversy over Omar’s Somali background and her criticism of the U.S., especially amid the ongoing fraud investigations in Minnesota.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump, in a Truth Social post on Sunday night, accused Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) of being complicit in what he called “19 Billion Dollars in Minnesota Somalia Fraud.” Trump wrote, “Fake ‘Congresswoman’ Illhan Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know. She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World.”

Omar, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019, was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen in 2000. Notably, her father served in the Somali military under the country’s former dictator, Siad Barre, whose government fell in 1991 after decades of rights abuses, corruption, and the infamous Isaaq genocide. Rep. Omar is also accused of having committed visa fraud by engaging in a sham marriage with her brother.

Trump also blasted Minnesota’s opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offers in the state, writing, “ICE is removing some of the most violent criminals in the World from our Country, and bring them back home, where they belong. Why is Minnesota fighting this? Do they really want murderers and drug dealers to be ensconced in their community?”

The President further accused Omar and Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) of using protests against ICE to distract from what he alleged was massive fraud in the state. “The crooked Governor and ‘Congresswoman’ Omar, who married her brother, don’t mind because it keeps the focus of attention off the 18 Billion Dollar, Plus, FRAUD, that has taken place in the State! Don’t worry, we’re on it!” he added.

The controversy follows Omar’s recent tirade against the U.S., where she referred to the country negatively as the “U.S. Goddamn States.” This comment drew sharp backlash from Republican lawmakers, including Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), who questioned, “What should be the consequence of saying that?” Billionaire space and technology mogul Elon Musk responded, “Whatever the penalty is for treason.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

4 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Students Gang Raped, Sexually Assaulted in Migrant ‘Integration’ Experiment.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Students living alongside asylum seekers at Stek Oost in the Netherlands reported years of sexual assaults, violence, and harassment, according to an investigation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Students, migrants, local authorities, and Stadgenoot, the housing association managing Stek Oost.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Stek Oost in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; attacks reported from its opening in 2018 to present.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We were completely overwhelmed. We no longer wanted to be responsible for the safety of the complex.” – Mariëlle Foppen, Stadgenoot representative.

🎯IMPACT: Stek Oost is set to close by 2028, with reports of ongoing safety issues continuing to affect students and staff.

IN FULL

An investigation has found that Dutch students living at the Stek Oost housing complex in Amsterdam endured years of sexual assault, intimidation, and violence while sharing accommodation with migrants under a government-backed integration initiative. Stek Oost opened in 2018 with 125 students and 125 asylum seekers living side by side. The project promoted a “buddy” system intended to help migrants integrate into Dutch society.

Former residents told the investigative television program Zembla that instead of fostering safety and cooperation, the arrangement exposed students to repeated harassment, stalking, and violent and sexual crime.

One former resident, identified as Amanda, said she was raped in 2019 by a Syrian migrant after he invited her to his room to watch a movie. She reported the incident to police, but the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. The same man was arrested in 2022 and later convicted of raping two residents of the complex. He received a short three-year prison sentence in 2024. Students also reported other violent incidents, including a case in which a man said he was threatened with an eight-inch kitchen knife by a migrant.

Residents said they repeatedly raised concerns with authorities but felt their complaints were not taken seriously. Police confirmed receiving seven reports of sexual assault connected to Stek Oost, though they claim they have no record of a reported gang rape mentioned by students interviewed for a documentary about the site.

Stadgenoot, the housing association managing the complex, sought to close Stek Oost as early as 2023, citing ongoing safety risks. Local authorities initially opposed shutting it down, but the project is now scheduled to end in 2028 when its contract expires. Stadgenoot representative Mariëlle Foppen described the strain on staff, saying, “We were completely overwhelmed. We no longer wanted to be responsible for the safety of the complex.”

The revelations have renewed debate over migrant integration failures, coming amid wider scrutiny of migrant-linked sexual violence across Europe. Recent criminal cases and official statistics in several European countries have highlighted the disproportionate involvement of recently arrived migrants in serious sexual offences. However, in some instances, populist politicians have faced penalties for publicly citing government crime data related to migrant rape statistics.

Image by cottonbro studio.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

4 hours ago
Economy
News

Weight Loss Drugs Could Save Airlines Hundreds of Millions of Dollars, Here’s Why…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Airlines may see cost savings on fuel if weight loss drugs contribute to lighter passengers, according to a Jefferies Research Services analysis.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jefferies Research Services, major U.S. airlines including American, Delta, Southwest, and United, and weight loss drug manufacturers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The analysis comes as weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy gain popularity in the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Airlines have a long history of searching for unique methods to reduce the weight of the aircraft, in turn reducing fuel consumption and limiting an airline’s largest cost bucket,” analysts said in the report.

🎯IMPACT: A 10 percent slimmer society could lead to $580 million in annual fuel savings for the top four U.S. carriers.

IN FULL

Airlines could benefit financially if weight loss medications lead to lighter passengers, as fuel costs are directly tied to the weight of an aircraft. Jefferies Research Services—a global research, macro strategy, and equity insights firm that advises major investors—recently analyzed the potential savings and found that slimmer passengers could reduce fuel consumption and boost airline earnings.

The analysis notes that a 10 percent reduction in average passenger weight could lower total airline passenger weight by two percent, resulting in a 1.5 percent reduction in fuel costs and a four percent increase in earnings per share. For the top four U.S. airlines—American, Delta, Southwest, and United—this could mean $580 million in annual fuel savings.

Using a Boeing 737 Max 8 as an example, Jefferies calculated that a 10 percent slimmer passenger base would decrease the aircraft’s takeoff weight from 181,200 pounds to 177,996 pounds. This weight reduction translates into significant savings, as airlines spend billions annually on jet fuel, and profits are often dependent on the companies meeting very slim margins.

“Airlines have a long history of searching for unique methods to reduce the weight of the aircraft, in turn reducing fuel consumption and limiting an airline’s largest cost bucket,” the report noted. While airlines can control many aspects of weight reduction, passenger weight has always been beyond their control.

The analysis comes as weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy gain popularity and become more widely accessible. “With the drug now available in pill form and obesity rates falling, broader usage could have further implications for waistlines,” the analysis notes regarding the widespread availability of GLP-1 drugs. The National Pulse reported in November of last year that President Donald J. Trump cut a deal to bring down prices for select weight loss medications. “This is a triumph for American patients that will save lives and improve the health of millions and millions of Americans,” he said during an Oval Office announcement.

Image by Quintin Soloviev.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

5 hours ago
News

Trump Reiterates Need for ‘Complete and Total Control’ of Greenland in Message to Norwegian PM.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump reiterated the need for “total” U.S. control over Greenland in a message to the Prime Minister of Norway.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and various NATO figures.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The text exchange occurred recently, with follow-up meetings planned between NATO and Danish officials.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.” – President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s statements have intensified debate over U.S. foreign policy under Trump and the NATO alliance.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has reiterated his strong desire for the United States to gain “complete and total control” of Greenland, arguing that global security depends on it in a message to the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre. “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?” he demanded, adding: “There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.”

“I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States,” he continued, concluding: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”

Earlier in the message, the U.S. leader had warned, “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.” Prime Minister Støre subsequently complained that an independent committee awards Nobel Prizes, not the Norwegian government.

Støre confirmed receiving the message on Sunday, describing it as a reply to an earlier joint outreach from him and Finnish President Alexander Stubb after they had urged de-escalation amid the Greenland dispute. This followed Trump having threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff on goods from eight NATO allies—including Denmark, Norway, and others—starting February 1, with potential increases to 25 percent by June, unless progress is made toward U.S. acquisition of Greenland.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

23 hours ago
Breaking

BREAKING: ANOTHER British MP Defects to Reform Party, Joining Farage’s Growing Movement.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Andrew Rosindell, a long-time Tory, defected to the Reform Party.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Andrew Rosindell MP, Nigel Farage, and the Reform Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The defection was announced on Sunday, shortly after Robert Jenrick’s defection earlier in the week.

💬KEY QUOTE: Rosindell expressed his objections to Tory policy and leadership in a tweet.

🎯IMPACT: Rosindell’s move makes him the 7th MP to join Reform, with Farage setting a May deadline for further defections.

IN FULL

Following Robert Jenrick MP’s defection from the UK Conservative Party to the Reform Party earlier this week, Andrew Rosindell has also switched allegiances.

Rosindell, who has been a member of the Conservative Party since he was 14, cited his discontent with the party’s policies and leadership as reasons for his departure. He made his views known in a tweet on Sunday.

This makes Rosindell the 7th MP to join the Reform Party, which is led by Nigel Farage. Farage has issued a deadline in May for any further defections, including those from MPs and local councillors.

The move signals another shift in the UK political landscape, as the Reform Party continues to expand its influence and challenge the political establishment.

Rosindell’s decision to join Reform underscores ongoing dissatisfaction within the Conservative Party, potentially leading to more changes in the coming months.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
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.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad