Friday, February 27, 2026

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

John Fetterman Endorses Marco Rubio for Secretary of State 🥴

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is crossing the aisle and supporting President-elect Donald J. Trump‘s rumored Secretary of State nominee, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). Although Trump has yet to make a formal announcement, Rubio is the subject of a whisper campaign to be his choice for the top diplomatic position.

Fetterman’s endorsement could pave the way for a smoother confirmation process for Rubio. With the recent election results, Republicans have secured a majority in the Senate, holding 52 seats (less one as Senator J.D. Vance will serve as Vice President). This gives Rubio a favorable outlook for confirmation, as he will only require a simple majority of 51 senators. Fetterman’s support indicates potential bipartisan backing, even if limited.

In a public statement, Fetterman addressed his decision on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He acknowledged the inherent political differences expected from nominees selected by the opposing party. Nonetheless, Fetterman expressed confidence in Rubio’s capabilities, stating, “my colleague [Marco Rubio] is a strong choice and I look forward to voting for his confirmation.”

Fetterman has emerged as a quasi-heterodox Democrat, often bucking the party line on foreign policy—especially regarding his support for Israel.

During the 2024 presidential election, as Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign struggled in Pennsylvania, it leaned heavily on Fetterman in an effort to win over working-class voters. Despite Fetterman entering the fray, Trump won the critical swing state.

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.
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.

OOPS! Chris LaCivita Text Confirms Anti-Bannon Op Linked to His RINO Candidate Cornyn in Texas.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Former Trump campaign chief and Republican National Committee (RNC) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chris LaCivita, in a text message sent to POLITICO, appeared to inadvertently confirm that the recent push to discredit WarRoom host and former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon is tied to Senator John Cornyn’s (R-TX) primary reelection campaign.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chris LaCivita, Sen. John Cornyn, and Stephen K. Bannon.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The POLITICO story was published on Friday, February 27, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Associating with Senator Cornyn is better than being a lacky [sic] for Epstein.” — Chris LaCivita

🎯IMPACT: The text message suggests the recent anti-Bannon push by paid social media influencers is tied not just to LaCivita but to Cornyn’s reelection operation, as first reported by Raheem Kassam here.

IN FULL

Former Trump campaign chief and Republican National Committee (RNC) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chris LaCivita, in a text message sent to POLITICO, appears to inadvertently confirm that the recent push to discredit WarRoom host and former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon is tied to U.S. Senator John Cornyn‘s (R-TX) primary reelection campaign, as first reported by The National Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief Raheem J. Kassam, here.

“Associating with Senator Cornyn is better than being a lacky [sic] for Epstein,” LaCivita wrote to the leftist corporate media outlet after Bannon admonished former Trump campaign aides for involving themselves in the contentious Senate primary in Texas, despite President Donald J. Trump himself remaining neutral.

A mock-up of how the conversation with POLITICO may have gone. For illustrative (and humorous) purposes only.

LaCivita’s paid social media campaign sought to misrepresent Bannon’s efforts to get Epstein on the record for a documentary titled The Monsters, which he was producing alongside Victory Films. During the filming, Epstein claimed he was a supporter of the “Time’s Up” and “Me Too” movements, which Bannon called – to his face – “a sop” to excuse “all of the depravity you’ve done against young women.”

TEXAS.

“My belief is the Trump team should have stayed out of this race, absolutely,” Bannon said of the Texas primary race, in which Sen. Cornyn—a 24-year incumbent—is locked in a three-way battle with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a staunch Trump ally, and Congressman Wesley Hunt (R-TX). LaCivita serves as a senior advisor to the pro-Cornyn super PAC, Texans for a Conservative Majority, while pollster Tony Fabrizio is also working for the Cornyn campaign.

The text message—which misspells “lackey”—is revealing, suggesting that the recent anti-Bannon push by some pro-Trump social media figures is likely tied not just to LaCivita but to Cornyn’s reelection operation itself. Bannon has been making a strong case for voters to back Paxton over both Cornyn and Hunt, arguing, “The Paxton situation is critical, because he has been the MAGA guy since Day One. He is a symbol of the heart of the grassroots MAGA movement.”

Notably, early voting in the Texas Republican primary ends on February 27, while in-person voting on election day will occur on March 3, 2026. At the start of early voting last week, some polls showed Cornyn had fallen to third place in the race, a position that would eliminate him as a candidate should the primary contest move to a runoff.

The National Pulse reported on Thursday that Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) had announced his reelection campaign is also retaining LaCivita as a senior advisor. Last week, when The National Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam called out the anti-Bannon operation as the machinations of LaCivita, the former Trump campaign chief lashed out, falsely referring to Kassam as an “illegal immigrant,“ in an embarrassing display of uncontrolled anger.

Join Pulse+ to comment below and receive exclusive email 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.

Kristi Noem Alleges Covert Surveillance of Trump Officials by DHS Employees.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem alleged that spyware was secretly installed on government-issued devices used by Trump administration officials, allowing for unauthorized surveillance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kristi Noem, DHS staff, Elon Musk and his team, and political appointees under the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Allegations emerged during Noem’s appearance on the “PBD Podcast.”

💬KEY QUOTE: “They helped me identify that some of my own employees in my department had downloaded software on my phone and my laptop to spy on me to record our meetings.” – Kristi Noem

🎯IMPACT: The allegations highlight potential deep state activities and the need for increased cybersecurity measures within government agencies.

IN FULL

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem is claiming that employees in her department secretly installed spyware on government-issued devices used by Trump administration officials, including her own phone and laptop. The surveillance reportedly allowed staff to monitor meetings and internal communications.

“I can’t believe what I found since I’ve been in this department. I just found the other day a whole room on this campus that was a secret SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) secure facility that had files nobody knew existed. So we just happened to have an employee walk by a door and wonder what it was, and started asking questions,” Noem revealed on a recent episode of the PBD Podcast hosted by Patrick Bet-David. She went on to state that Elon Musk and his team helped uncover the unauthorized surveillance software: “They helped me identify that some of my own employees in my department had downloaded software on my phone and my laptop to spy on me to record our meetings.”

Regarding the secret SCIF, Noem explained, “We went in there. There was individuals working there that had secret files that nobody knew about on some of these most controversial topics like that, and now I’ve got that turned over to attorneys, and we’re getting to the bottom of what exactly happened there.”

Noem further stated that the spyware had been installed on the devices of “several of the politicals, and so we ended up bringing in people, and that was something that if you didn’t have those technology experts here in the department looking at all of our laptops and our phones and recognizing that kind of software, it would still be happening today.”

“I always believed when people talked about the deep state before, that it existed. I never would have dreamed that it was as bad as it is,” she said.

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.

Vance: ‘No Chance’ of Long War With Iran.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President J.D. Vance ruled out the possibility of a prolonged war with Iran as tensions rise amid nuclear negotiations and potential military action.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: J.D. Vance, President Donald J. Trump, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and U.S. military forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Vance made his comments aboard Air Force Two on Thursday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight – there is no chance that will happen.” – J.D. Vance

🎯IMPACT: The Trump administration continues to pressure Iran diplomatically and militarily, with the potential for escalation.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance has said there is “no chance” the United States will become involved in a war with Iran that lasts “for years,” as President Donald J. Trump weighs potential military action amid nuclear talks. Vance made the comments during an interview aboard Air Force Two on Thursday, stressing the administration’s preference for diplomatic solutions.

“The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight—there is no chance that will happen,” Vance said, citing the example of the Trump administration’s intervention in Venezuela, where now-former Marxist dictator Nicolás Maduro was captured in an overnight operation with no wider war being launched.

President Trump has given Tehran a tight window of 10 to 15 days to reach an agreement limiting its nuclear program, cautioning that failure to comply would bring “really bad things.” Discussions between American and Iranian officials in Geneva, Switzerland, have been strained, with the Iranian representatives insisting that talks should stick to nuclear matters and sanctions relief, while the U.S. side seeks to include wider issues like Iran’s missile arsenal and its regional influence.

U.S. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has reportedly warned that any military operation against Iran could result in substantial American casualties and risk turning into an extended conflict. Trump has pushed back against those accounts, while recognizing Caine’s reluctance to pursue war, and insisted that any conflict would be “easily won.”

The USS Gerald R. Ford—the world’s largest aircraft carrier—reached waters near Israel on Friday, adding to more than a dozen other U.S. warships positioned in the Arabian Sea.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated readiness to engage with “seriousness and flexibility,” despite the persistent differences between the parties. Technical-level meetings are slated for Vienna, Austria, next week to advance the discussions, though any breakthrough remains far from guaranteed.

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.

UK PM Vows to Stay in Power Despite Crashing to Third Place in Special Election.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Britain’s extreme-left Green Party won a historic parliamentary by-election (special election) in the Gorton and Denton constituency (electoral district) in Manchester, England, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s left-wing Labour Party crashing to third place behind Nigel Farage’s Reform Party in a seat Labour had held for nearly a century.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Labour leader Keir Starmer, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, winning candidate Hannah Spencer, and Reform Party candidate Matt Goodwin.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The by-election in Gorton and Denton, Greater Manchester, took place on Thursday, following the resignation of former Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Andrew Gwynne.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I will keep on fighting for those people for as long as I’ve got breath in my body.” – Sir Keir Starmer

🎯IMPACT: The result has raised questions about Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership and the Labour Party’s strategy, with growing criticism of the Prime Minister from within the party.

IN FULL

Britain’s ruling, left-wing Labour Party has taken a significant hit in a parliamentary by-election (special election) in the Gorton and Denton constituency (electoral district) in Greater Manchester, England, where the extreme-left Green Party defeated them in a seat they had controlled for almost a century. This historic win marks the Green Party’s first-ever victory in a parliamentary by-election and brings their total Members of Parliament (MPs) to five—and raises questions about the future of Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Starmer described the results, which saw Labour crash to third place behind Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, as “disappointing,” but pledged to press on, saying, “I came into politics late in life to fight for change for those people who need it… I will keep on fighting for those people for as long as I’ve got breath in my body.” The loss has fueled internal backlash within Labour, with MPs like Karl Turner and Richard Burgon raising concerns about Starmer’s direction and approach.

The victorious Green Party candidate, Hannah Spencer—a local councillor—hailed the result as “just the beginning.” Green Party leader Zack Polanski declared that the win proved the Greens “can win anywhere” and pushed back against claims that their approach, which saw the Greens court the Muslim and ethnic minority vote with pro-Gaza and anti-Trump ads in Urdu and Bangla, was divisive.

Reform candidate Matt Goodwin argued that the results demonstrated Labour’s rapidly weakening grip over its traditional heartland areas, but expressed concern about the Greens’ victory as a product of minority bloc voting and possibly electoral fraud, saying, “We are losing our country. A dangerous Muslim sectarianism has emerged. We have only one general election left to save Britain.”

Starmer and his party face upcoming regional elections in Scotland and Wales, as well as local elections across England, which he previously attempted to postpone. Some Labour MPs are now openly calling for Starmer to step down, while others resist the idea of a messy internal leadership challenge.

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.

Churchill Statue Vandalized with ‘Free Palestine,’ ‘Zionist War Criminal’ Graffiti.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was defaced with graffiti branding him a “Zionist war criminal” alongside other phrases such as “Globalise the Intifada!” and “Free Palestine”.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. The Dutch group Free the Filton 24 claimed responsibility for the act.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, February 27, at Parliament Square in Westminster, central London.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a disgraceful desecration of the statue of Britain’s greatest wartime leader,” said Zia Yusuf, for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.

🎯IMPACT: The statue’s vandalization, seemingly by a foreign national, underlines the growing disregard for Britain’s heritage in its increasingly hyper-diverse capital city.

IN FULL

Early on Friday morning, the statue of wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in London’s Parliament Square was vandalized with graffiti phrases including “Zionist War Criminal”, “Globalise the Intifada”, and “Free Palestine.” The Metropolitan Police arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage shortly after the incident was reported at 4:00 AM.

Officers arrived at the scene within two minutes. The statue was subsequently cordoned off and cleaned later that morning. A Dutch group called Free the Filton 24 claimed responsibility, posting a video on Instagram that appeared to show a man identified as Olax Outis defacing the statue.

This is not the first time the wartime prime minister’s statue has been targeted. During the Black Lives Matter disorder in 2020, it was regularly vandalized by agitators, often with accusations of racism. Other statues in Parliament Square were also targeted, including one depicting Abraham Lincoln.

The 12-foot monument, created by Ivor Roberts-Jones and unveiled in 1973 by Lady Churchill, is one of 12 statues in Parliament Square. It commemorates Churchill’s leadership during World War II and serves as a symbol of British history and values—which are being treated with increasing disregard in London, a hyper-diverse city where only an estimated 36.8 percent of the population is White British.

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.

Greens Score Coup in UK Election by Leveraging Muslim Vote, As the Governing Labour Party Slumps Into THIRD.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A by-election (special election) for the Parliamentary constituency of Gorton and Denton, NW England, resulted in a shock win for the Green Party, which campaigned in foreign languages, targeting Muslim voters.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Candidates included Hannah Spencer (Green), Matthew Goodwin (Reform), and others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The election took place in Gorton and Denton, NW England, with results announced early morning UK time.

🎯IMPACT: Labour’s third-place finish raises questions about Keir Starmer’s leadership amidst diplomatic tensions.

IN FULL

The by-election in the UK parliamentary constituency of Gorton and Denton in NW England has concluded, with early morning results indicating a win for the Green Party.

The election was marred by sectarian campaigning, with the Green Party focusing on issues such as Gaza in a constituency with a significant Muslim population.

The results come as a stunning blow to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is currently embroiled in a diplomatic fracas with President Donald J. Trump over the fate of the Chagos Islands and the Diego Garcia military base.

While Starmer is unlikely to be deposed within his own party before May’s local elections across the country, he will almost certainly face a leadership challenge this summer.

GORTON.

In Gorton and Denton, a constituency that takes in parts of Manchester, complaints from independent election observers highlighted illegal “family voting” practices on polling day (Thursday), where family members were instructed on how to vote, a practice that is unlawful in Britain.

Labour, which previously held the seat with a large majority, saw its vote share collapse following the recent resignation of its MP over anti-Semitic messages. The Reform Party, led by Nigel Farage, fielded Matthew Goodwin – a well known academic and TV presenter – who finished a strong second.

The results were as follows:

A total of 36,814 valid votes were cast.

The Green Party’s strategy included campaigning in Urdu and Bengali and relying on postal voting. The victory is comparable to the Democratic Socialists of America outperforming the Democratic Party in the US.

Meanwhile, an anti-Reform Party, right-wing splinter group, ‘Advance UK,’ garnered fewer votes than the satirical Monster Raving Loony Party – achieving just 154 votes, or 0.4 percent.

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.

Hillary Dodges Epstein Questions, Points to Musk Email About ‘Wild’ Island Party.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Hillary Clinton testified in a closed-door session regarding her connections to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, during which she accused Republicans of shielding President Donald J. Trump and referenced Elon Musk’s past email exchanges with Epstein.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hillary Clinton, Jeffrey Epstein, Elon Musk, House Oversight Committee members, and Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO).

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 26, 2026, at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Westchester County, New York.

💬KEY QUOTE: “You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.” – Hillary Clinton

🎯IMPACT: Clinton’s testimony reignited scrutiny over Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to powerful figures, including allegations involving Donald Trump and Elon Musk, while raising questions about the committee’s investigative priorities.

IN FULL

Hillary Clinton appeared before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday to testify about her connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The closed-door session, held at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center near her home in New York, saw Clinton repeatedly denying she had ever met Epstein, who supported the Clinton Foundation and lent it the use of his private jet, in person, while attempting to deflect allegations on others.

During the closed-door deposition, the former First Lady and wife of Epstein associate Bill Clinton, attempted to derail the questioning by pointing to an email exchange from 2012 in which Elon Musk asked Epstein about when to attend the “wildest party” on his private island. The National Pulse previously reported that in a November 25, 2012, email, Musk replied to a question from Epstein about how many people he planned to bring to the island, writing: “Probably just Talulah and me. What day/night will be the wildest party on =our [sic] island?” At that time, Musk was married to British actress Talulah Riley.

In a 2019 interview, Musk described Epstein as “obviously a creep” and said he repeatedly declined invitations to visit Epstein’s properties. However, the recently released Department of Justice (DOJ) files revealed cordial exchanges between the two men, including references to a potential SpaceX tour.

Clinton also accused Republicans of using the investigation to shield President J. Donald Trump, stating, “You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.”

Notably, the session was briefly disrupted when Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) took a photograph of Clinton, which was subsequently leaked online. Attorneys for Clinton demanded that the proceedings be halted, but the deposition resumed within an hour.

The Clintons initially resisted the subpoena to testify but agreed after being threatened with contempt charges. The committee, led by Republican lawmakers, has indicated it will release deposition videos and transcripts following legal review. Bill Clinton is expected to testify on Friday, with flight logs and photographs linking him to Epstein’s travels and multiple events.

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.

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

Netflix is OUT, Declines to Match Paramount’s Offer for Warner Bros.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Netflix decided not to increase its offer for Warner Bros.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Skydance, and the WBD Board of Directors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 26, 2026, in Hollywood, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’ve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the transaction is no longer financially attractive.” – Netflix

🎯IMPACT: Netflix will continue to focus on organic growth and invest $20 billion in quality films and series this year.

IN FULL

Netflix has announced it will not increase its offer for Warner Bros. This decision comes after Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) informed Netflix that its Board of Directors had assessed an offer from Paramount Skydance (PSKY) as superior.

“We have been responsive to Warner Bros. Discovery’s ‘Superior Proposal’ notice, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the deal would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we’ve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the transaction is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid,” Netflix said in a statement.

Netflix insisted that its business remains “healthy, strong and growing organically, powered by our slate and best-in-class streaming service.”

The Netflix-Warner Bros. merger was opposed by America First conservatives such as former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who wrote in The National Pulse in January, “This isn’t a merger to foster competition. The objective is outright control. Netflix already dominates streaming content. WBD already dominates content with a massive library and content creation ability at scale. Put them together and you don’t get ‘synergies.’ You get a vertically integrated behemoth that controls what gets made, what gets promoted, what loads fastest on your screen, and what quietly disappears.”

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.

Judge Rules IRS Illegally Shared Taxpayer Data 43,000 Times.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ruled that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) illegally shared nearly 43,000 taxpayer addresses with U.S. immigration officials.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Thursday in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The IRS not only failed to ensure that ICE’s request for confidential taxpayer address information met the statutory requirements, but this failure led the IRS to disclose confidential taxpayer addresses to ICE in situations where ICE’s request for that information was patently deficient.” – Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly

🎯IMPACT: Judge Kollar-Kotelly has been one of several District Court judges enabling Democrat lawfare efforts to hinder President Donald J. Trump’s agenda. Last April, the judge blocked part of an election integrity Executive Order issued by President Trump requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

IN FULL

U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly—elevated by former President Bill Clinton but first appointed to the bench by former President Ronald Reagan—ruled on Thursday that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) unlawfully granted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to around 43,000 addresses contained in its records. The disclosure, according to the federal government, was part of an effort to integrate and share data across agencies.

“In other words, the IRS not only failed to ensure that ICE’s request for confidential taxpayer address information met the statutory requirements, but this failure led the IRS to disclose confidential taxpayer addresses to ICE in situations where ICE’s request for that information was patently deficient,” Judge Kollar-Kotelly wrote in her ruling. The decision is a significant blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to streamline intra-federal government data sharing, especially when it pertains to information that could assist federal immigration officials with identifying and detaining illegal immigrants.

Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling follows an earlier order issued by the judge in November that prohibited the Trump White House’s data-sharing policies. Notably, that ruling has been appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The National Pulse previously reported that Judge Kollar-Kotelly has been one of several District Court judges enabling Democrat lawfare efforts to hinder President Donald J. Trump’s agenda. Last April, the judge blocked part of an election integrity Executive Order issued by President Trump requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Image by Alpha Photo.

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.

Jack Dorsey’s Block, Inc. Laying Off Almost 50 Percent of Workforce Because of AI.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Block, Inc., the San Francisco-based technology company formerly known as Square—which owns Cash App—and founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, announced on Thursday that it is laying off nearly half of its workforce.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jack Dorsey, Jim McKelvey, Block, Inc. employees, Square, Cash App, and artificial intelligence tools.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re not making this decision because we’re in trouble. Our business is strong… but something has changed. We’re already seeing that the intelligence tools we’re creating and using, paired with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working which fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company.” — Jack Dorsey

🎯IMPACT: According to Dorsey, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), over 4,000 of the company’s approximately 10,000 employees will be impacted by the layoffs, with their workloads apparently being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

IN FULL

Block, Inc., the San Francisco-based technology company formerly known as Square—which owns Cash App—and founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, announced on Thursday that it is laying off nearly half of its workforce. According to Dorsey, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), over 4,000 of the company’s approximately 10,000 employees will be impacted by the layoffs, with their workloads apparently being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

“Today we’re making one of the hardest decisions in the history of our company: We’re reducing our organization by nearly half, from over 10,000 people to just under 6,000. that means over 4,000 of you are being asked to leave or entering into consultation,” Dorsey wrote in a message to Block employees. The former Twitter CEO went on to explain, “We’re not making this decision because we’re in trouble. Our business is strong… but something has changed. We’re already seeing that the intelligence tools we’re creating and using, paired with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working which fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company.”

Notably, Block, Inc.’s stock value surged on the news, jumping over 20 percent in after-market trading. Dorsey stated, “I had two options: cut gradually over months or years as this shift plays out, or be honest about where we are and act on it now. I chose the latter. Repeated rounds of cuts are destructive to morale, to focus, and to the trust that customers and shareholders place in our ability to lead.”

“I’d rather take a hard, clear action now and build from a position we believe in than manage a slow reduction of people toward the same outcome. A smaller company also gives us the space to grow our business the right way, on our own terms, instead of constantly reacting to market pressures,” he wrote.

The National Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam, during a segment on Stephen K. Bannon’s WarRoom show earlier on Thursday, warned regarding the rapidly changing AI environment and its likely impact on the American workforce, saying, “We are reaching an inflection point in the course of human history. You may not have to go sit at your desk and do your 9-5 every day. You may get a Moltbot that can make money for you while you luxuriate and enjoy the world. Or, you will be made extinct.”


In October of last year, The National Pulse reported that Amazon was looking to automate a significant portion of its operations, potentially allowing the company to avoid hiring over 600,000 U.S. workers by 2033. Leaked internal documents reveal that the Jeff Bezos-owned company aims to automate 75 percent of its operations, potentially saving $12.6 billion between 2025 and 2027.

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

Image by Ryan Lash / TED.

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.