Thursday, October 23, 2025

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

Biden State Dept Rushing to Enact DEI Initiatives in Embassies Before Trump Inauguration.

The U.S. State Department, under the leadership of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has issued a diplomatic cable that outlines new initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the agency. Dated November 19, the internal cable emphasizes initiatives including establishing “reflection rooms” and “all-gender restrooms” at American embassies abroad.

Circulated to all diplomatic and consular posts, the cable forms part of the Biden-Harris government’s broader efforts to entrench DEI initiatives within the federal government before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office in January. The message details the establishment of reflection rooms in both domestic and overseas facilities and encourages facility managers to identify opportunities for repurposing existing restrooms.

The initiatives are part of Blinken’s so-called Modernization Agenda, which advocates for a resilient and inclusive work environment. Specific processes are recommended for modifying restrooms while considering host country customs and norms.

The State Department has invested approximately $80 million in programs to advance racial equity and tackle supposed gender and sexuality discrimination. Internal discussions among career officials at the State Department are believed to be ongoing regarding preserving DEI initiatives against moves by President-elect Trump to end the radical, leftist programs.

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.

Grooming Gang Victims Demand Govt Minister Resign.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A group of survivors of Muslim grooming gangs has left an official government inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation, citing trust issues.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Survivors Ellie-Ann Reynolds, Fiona Goddard, Elizabeth Harper, and “Jessica,” alongside former police officer Jim Gamble, Baroness Louise Casey, and Jess Phillips, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent developments were discussed in Parliament and detailed in correspondence shared by survivors.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Being publicly contradicted and dismissed by a government minister when you are a survivor telling the truth takes you right back to that feeling of not being believed all over again.” – Survivors’ letter.

🎯IMPACT: The survivors have outlined conditions for their return to the inquiry, while the Labour Party government faces challenges in appointing someone to lead the inquiry.

IN FULL

Four survivors of Muslim grooming gang abuse in the United Kingdom, including Ellie-Ann Reynolds and Fiona Goddard, have criticised the British government’s inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation, saying it has been watered down to obscure the racial and religious factors behind their abuse. The women, who recently resigned from the inquiry’s advisory panel, said the investigation’s scope had been widened in a way that risks losing focus on the particular issues with Muslim, predominantly Pakistani-background grooming gangs targeting mostly underage white girls at scale.

In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood—roughly equivalent to the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary—the survivors set out several conditions for their return, including the resignation of the Jess Phillips, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, and the appointment of a judge to lead the inquiry, with survivor input, and guarantees that victims can speak freely without fear of reprisal.

The letter, shared publicly by Goddard, said: “Being publicly contradicted and dismissed by a government minister when you are a survivor telling the truth takes you right back to that feeling of not being believed all over again. It is a betrayal that has destroyed what little trust remained.”

Former police officer Jim Gamble also stepped down from consideration to lead the inquiry, saying some survivors lacked confidence in his role due to his past in policing. He called claims that he would align with a political agenda to protect institutions “nonsense,” but given police leaders’ central role in downplaying and covering up grooming gang abuses for decades, victims do not believe a current or former police officer should lead the inquiry.

Prime Minister Starmer has announced that Baroness Louise Casey will assist the inquiry. Casey previously led a national audit that found many public agencies avoided addressing ethnicity or cultural issues in grooming gang crimes because they feared being labelled racist.

The controversy follows years of public anger over how police and councils handled cases of organised sexual exploitation across towns such as Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford. Multiple investigations revealed that predominantly Pakistani-heritage men targeted vulnerable white girls, while officials failed to intervene for fear of damaging so-called community relations or being branded racist by the predators.

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.

NBA Rocked By Mafia-Linked Gambling Scandal, FBI Arrests 34.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers head coach, Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier—along with others—were arrested Thursday morning in connection with federal investigations into gambling.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Billups was arrested in Portland, Oregon, and Rozier in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday morning. Damon Jones was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is an operation that showcases to you that under President Trump’s administration, there is no room for any type of criminal behavior, be it on the world’s largest stage or in the back rooms of tiny parlors where card games were being played.” — FBI Director Kash Patel

🎯IMPACT: The arrests are renewing calls for Congress to step in and develop more uniform regulation for sports betting.

IN FULL

The NBA‘s Portland Trail Blazers head coach, Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier were arrested Thursday morning in connection with federal investigations into gambling, according to a law enforcement official. Former NBA player Damon Jones was also arrested in Las Vegas as part of the investigation, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announcing a total of 34 suspects were taken into custody across multiple states—with some having ties to the Bonano, Genovese, and Columbo organized crime families.

Billups, a former NBA player and five-time All-Star, was arrested in Portland, Oregon. He played 17 years in the league and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. He has been charged with partaking in an alleged illegal poker ring tied to the mafia, with rigged poker games being held in Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Rozier, a 10-year NBA veteran, was taken into custody in Orlando, Florida, following months of scrutiny over suspicious sports betting activity related to his play. Notably, Rozier was taken into custody just hours after the Heat lost to the Orlando Magic in a game he did not play in due to a coach’s decision.

Damon Jones, another former NBA player, was apprehended in Las Vegas. The arrests are part of a broader federal investigation into gambling activities involving high-profile people in professional sports.

“This is an operation that showcases to you that under President Trump‘s administration, there is no room for any type of criminal behavior, be it on the world’s largest stage or in the back rooms of tiny parlors where card games were being played,” FBI Director Kash Patel said during a press conference on Thursday.

Currently, 39 states allow some form of sports betting, but there has not been much federal regulation since the Supreme Court struck down the Congressional ban on state-sponsored sports betting. NBA commissioner Adam Silver called for Congress to step in and create uniform regulation earlier this week.

“I think, probably, there should be more regulation, frankly,” Silver said, adding: “I wish there was federal legislation rather than state by state. I think you’ve got to monitor the amount of promotion, the amount of advertising around it.”

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.

Illegal Immigrant-Owned Trucking Firm Profited from Taxpayer Before Deadly Crash.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: An illegal immigrant in Indiana, Borko Stankovic, was arrested after allegedly causing a fatal semi-truck crash that killed Jeffrey Eberly, 54.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Borko Stankovic, a 41-year-old illegal immigrant from the Balkans, and Jeffrey Eberly, his victim.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 20 in Portage, Indiana, on Wednesday, October 15.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This criminal illegal alien didn’t even have a valid commercial [driver’s] license (CDL). DHS is working with our state and local partners to get illegal alien truck drivers who often don’t know basic traffic laws off our highways.” – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin,

🎯IMPACT: Stankovic faces felony charges, and his illegal immigration status has raised concerns over access to taxpayer-funded PPP loans.

IN FULL

Borko Stankovic, an illegal immigrant living in Indiana, was arrested following a fatal semi-truck crash on U.S. Highway 20 in Portage on October 15. The crash resulted in the death of Jeffrey Eberly, 54, after Stankovic’s semi-truck failed to slow down, jackknifed, and struck multiple vehicles, according to law enforcement.

Stankovic, who has been in the U.S. illegally since his visa expired in February 2011, was driving without a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). Records show he used a suspended Illinois CDL belonging to a family member to unlawfully continue operating as a freight carrier. He has been charged with felony reckless homicide and felony criminal recklessness resulting in death.

“This criminal illegal alien didn’t even have a valid commercial [driver’s] license (CDL). DHS is working with our state and local partners to get illegal alien truck drivers who often don’t know basic traffic laws off our highways,” Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, said in a statement.

PPP loan records reveal that Stankovic owned two companies, Eclipse Trucking Inc. and ESD Team Inc., which collectively received over $36,000 in loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both loans were forgiven under the Biden government, despite the companies reportedly having only one employee each.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on Stankovic at the Porter County Jail.

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 Slams Israeli Move Towards Annexing West Bank as ‘Very Stupid,’ an ‘Insult’ to U.S.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Israel’s preliminary Knesset (Israeli legislature) vote to extend Israeli law to the West Bank, branding it insulting to the U.S. and “very stupid.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: J.D. Vance, Israel’s government, and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday at Ben Gurion Airport following a two-day visit to Israel.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.” – J.D. Vance

🎯IMPACT: The Trump administration reaffirmed its stance against annexation, emphasizing efforts to maintain peace in the region.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance warned Israel’s government against annexing the West Bank, criticizing a preliminary Knesset (Israeli legislature) vote on the matter during his two-day visit to the country. Speaking at Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday, Vance said he was told the vote was a “political stunt” and “purely symbolic,” but stressed that it was still “a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it.”

“The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel,” Vance emphasized. “The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel. That will continue to be our policy, and if people want to take symbolic votes they can do that, but we certainly weren’t happy about it.”

The Knesset had given preliminary approval to a bill on Wednesday that would extend Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, a move widely regarded as de facto annexation. This vote came shortly after President Donald J. Trump brokered a deal aimed at ending Israel’s two-year military offensive in Gaza.

Regarding the ceasefire in Gaza, Vance noted that both sides were adhering to it, with only minor exceptions. He remarked, “So far, the ceasefire is actually holding, the peace is actually holding and now we’re trying to figure out how to make it stick over the long term.”

Vance also highlighted the role of the new International Security Force in disarming Hamas and the ongoing coordination between the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and other partners. “Our message is do whatever you can do to work with us to make this peace stick,” he 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.

Christians Face Becoming a Minority in America by This Date as Atheism and Islam Rise.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Christianity in America is projected to lose its majority status by 2070, as Islam, other religions, and people with no religion increase.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Christians in America, Muslims, the irreligious, and Pew Research Center.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Families and churches today have relaxed standards for what constitutes Christianity, and parents aren’t raising their children in the church like they once were.” – Dr. George Barna, Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University

🎯IMPACT: The decline of Christianity and the rise of Islam could reshape America’s religious landscape within decades.

IN FULL

Christianity in the U.S. is facing steep declines, with the share of Americans identifying as Christian falling from about 90 percent in 1970 to 62 percent today, and projected to drop to 46 percent by 2070, according to the Pew Research Center. Meanwhile, Islam is growing, aided by a younger median age (35 versus 54 for Christians in the U.S.) and higher fertility rates. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of U.S. mosques rose 31 percent, while roughly 1,500 Christian churches closed during the same decade.

However, it is people of no religion, including atheists, agnostics, and the so-called unaffiliated, who are projected to first displace Christians as the largest group in America, comprising 52 percent of the population by 2070.

Christian leaders are warning that the faith’s slide is rooted in both cultural shifts and internal change within Christian communities. Pastor Brent Madaris of Hometown Hope Ministries, for instance, warned that seminaries “are certifying people to lead churches who have no business doing so.”

Dr. George Barna of the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University noted, “Families and churches today have relaxed standards for what constitutes Christianity, and parents aren’t raising their children in the church like they once were.”

At the same time, the religious landscape is shifting in other ways. President Donald J. Trump has spoken publicly about what he calls “anti‑Christian bias.” In February 2025, he announced an executive order creating a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias. “I created the first‑ever Department of Justice task force to eradicate anti‑Christian bias. You hear about anti‑Semitic, but you don’t hear about anti‑Christian,” he stressed.

In contrast, a European anti‑terror police recently raided a charity that supports Middle Eastern Christians, a case some say highlights how Christian communities face pressure globally as they lose majority status across the West.

There have been some signs of renewal, however, with young people in England increasingly embracing Catholicism, while the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has also sparked a renewal in interest in the faith.

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.

Oxford Union President-Elect Ousted After Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s Assassination.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The president-elect of the Oxford Union has been voted out after celebrating the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: George Abaraonye, Oxford Union members, and Charlie Kirk.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Oxford, England, with the vote occurring in October.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[Y]our public reaction to a fatal shooting displayed a callousness inconsistent with the Union President’s duty to safeguard free and open debate, rendering it untenable for you to accede to the Office of President.”  – Letter from former leaders of the Oxford Union to Abaraonye.

🎯IMPACT: Abaraonye will not assume the presidency, and the incident has led to donor withdrawals and criticism of the union.

IN FULL

George Abaraonye, the president-elect of the Oxford Union debating society, attached to England’s Oxford University, has been removed from his position following a no-confidence vote by members of the prestigious institution. The decision follwed the leak of a WhatsApp message and an Instagram post in which Abaraonye reacted to the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk by writing, “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f**king go.” The comment sparked immediate backlash, prompting an internal vote in which 1,228 members supported the motion to oust him, against 501 opposed.

Abaraonye, elected in June, had debated Kirk earlier this year at the Oxford Union on topics including “toxic masculinity” and male suicide. Abaraonye has denied that his comments reflected his true beliefs, stating, “In that moment of shock … I reacted impulsively … Those words did not reflect my values.” Despite submitting a motion of confidence in himself, the Union stated that he is “deemed to have resigned” following the result of the no-confidence vote.

An open letter signed by numerous Oxford Union alumni, including former presidents, condemned Abaraonye’s remarks on Kirk’s assassination and called for his resignation. The letter emphasized that while the signatories held diverse political views, they were unified in their opposition to his reaction to Kirk’s death.

“Your public reaction to a fatal shooting displayed a callousness inconsistent with the Union President’s duty to safeguard free and open debate, rendering it untenable for you to accede to the Office of President,” the letter stated.

Similar consequences have played out elsewhere following public reactions to Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Karen Attiah, a columnist for The Washington Post, was fired after social media posts criticizing what she called “excessive, false mourning” of Kirk. In Texas, over 100 teachers were suspended after celebrating or justifying the killing. A transgender writer also lost a comic book deal for making dismissive remarks about Kirk’s death, and MSNBC contributor Matthew Dowd was terminated following comments suggesting that so-called hate speech invited political violence.

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.

Trump Sanctions Russian Oil Firms, Citing ‘Lack of Serious Commitment’ to Peace.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed new sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector, specifically its two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Treasury Department, Rosneft Oil Company, Lukoil OAO, and their subsidiaries.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced today, impacting entities operating in Russia’s energy sector and U.S. financial systems.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

🎯IMPACT: These sanctions block property and restrict transactions involving the targeted entities, aiming to hinder Russia’s ability to fund its military operations.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced new sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector, citing “Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.” The sanctions specifically target Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft Oil Company and Lukoil OAO, along with their subsidiaries.

Rosneft and Lukoil are major players in the exploration, production, refining, and sale of oil and gas. The sanctions, enacted under Executive Order 14024, aim to block these companies’ access to U.S. financial systems and restrict their ability to raise revenue for Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.

“Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” stated Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. He added, “Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to support President Trump’s effort to end yet another war. We encourage our allies to join us in and adhere to these sanctions.”

The sanctions also extend to subsidiaries of Rosneft and Lukoil, including entities involved in oil and gas production, refining, and exploration. All property and interests in property of these companies under U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them unless specifically authorized.

OFAC emphasized that foreign financial institutions facilitating significant transactions with these entities risk secondary sanctions. The move is part of the broader effort to pressure Russia into negotiating a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, which has stalled since Trump staged a major in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August.

Russia may be stalling because it believes it is close to a significant military breakthrough in a war that has been stalemated for months, with reports indicating that Ukraine may be on the verge of retreating from the lynchpin fortress city of Pokrovsk, in the hotly contested Donbass (Donbas) region.

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.

Far-Left Prof’s Lawsuit Blocks Land Transfer for Trump Presidential Library.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A lawsuit has temporarily halted the transfer of downtown Miami, Florida, real estate intended for the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library,  with a far-left retired academic claiming that the Miami Dade College’s Board of Trustees violated a state transparency law.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dr. Marvin Dunn, a retired professor, filed the lawsuit against Miami Dade College’s Board of Trustees.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed in Miami, with a court ruling on the matter in October 2025.

🎯IMPACT: The court ruling has blocked the property transfer, requiring either an appeal or a new public vote.

IN FULL

An 85-year-old, far-left, retired college professor is the mastermind of a lawsuit based on a technicality in Florida’s Sunshine Law that has—for now—succeeded in temporarily blocking the transfer of a key piece of downtown Miami real estate designated for the future site of the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library. Marvin Dunn, who taught psychology at Florida International University (FIU) from 1972 until 2006, is a well-known Miami-area progressive political activist, frequently comparing President Trump to German dictator Adolf Hitler.

Dunn contends that Miami Dade College’s Board of Trustees breached Florida’s “Government in the Sunshine” law. He alleges the board did not provide adequate public notice before a meeting where the board voted to transfer a $66 million state-owned property to the Trump Foundation.

The property in question is a 2.63-acre parking lot adjacent to Miami’s historic Freedom Tower. It was approved for transfer by the state to the foundation overseeing Trump’s proposed library. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and his cabinet had endorsed the plan, describing the site as ideal for a significant cultural and tourist landmark.

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.

Narco-Terrorists Bombed Off Colombia as Anti-Cartel Strikes Expand to Pacific.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. military destroyed a boat off the coast of Colombia in its campaign against drug-trafficking “narco-terrorists.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. military forces, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and drug traffickers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Off the coast of Colombia, in the Pacific Ocean, during October 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Just as al-Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people.” – Pete Hegseth

🎯IMPACT: The strike marks an expansion of anti-cartel U.S. military operations into the Pacific Ocean.

IN FULL

The U.S. military has carried out a missile strike on a small boat off the coast of Colombia, marking the first such operation in the Pacific Ocean as part of its ongoing campaign against drug-trafficking cartels. The strike reportedly killed two people.

A video released by War Secretary Pete Hegseth showed the vessel carrying what appeared to be brown packages before it was destroyed. In a statement, Hegseth compared the drug traffickers to al-Qaeda, saying, “Just as al-Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people. There will be no refuge or forgiveness – only justice.”

This latest operation expands the Trump administration’s anti-cartel campaign, which had previously focused on the Caribbean region, particularly near Venezuela. The White House has not explained why the campaign has now shifted into the Pacific. Since September, the administration has conducted several strikes on maritime targets it claims were transporting narcotics, though specific details about the individuals or groups targeted have not been made public.

The Colombia strike follows a series of earlier military actions in South American waters. On October 3, Hegseth announced a previous attack on “narco-terrorists,” and less than two weeks later, on October 14, President Donald J. Trump confirmed another strike on a vessel near Venezuela, reportedly killing six people.

Notably, the Colombia strike comes as President Donald J. Trump and Colombia’s Marxist leader, Gustavo Petro, are engaged in a public feud, with President Trump branding the Colombian a “lunatic” and Petro suggesting he may attempt to “get rid of” the America First leader.

The U.A. operations are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to classify certain drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations in order to tackle them more robustly. Much of the intelligence used to select targets has reportedly come from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), but remains classified.

The Trump administration has defended the operations as a matter of national security, citing the President’s Article II powers to act in self-defense.

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.

Top Democrat Calls American Suffering ‘Leverage’ in Shutdown Showdown.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) says Democrats in Congress are deliberately leveraging the “suffering” of American families during the government shutdown.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Katherine Clark, the Democratic Party, President Donald J. Trump, and affected American families.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The government shutdown is ongoing as of October 2025, impacting the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There will be families that are going to suffer… but it is one of the few leverage times we have.” – Rep. Katherine Clark

🎯IMPACT: Federal employees remain unpaid, small businesses face challenges, and services like food stamps are at risk.

IN FULL

Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) has candidly admitted that the hardship faced by American families due to the ongoing shutdown offers a strategic advantage to the Democratic Party. “There will be families that are going to suffer… but it is one of the few leverage times we have,” Clark stated.

House and Senate Republicans have repeatedly attempted to pass legislation to fund the government, but they lack the 60 votes in the Senate required to stop Senate Democrats from preventing it from moving forward. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is demanding that key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act be changed before he will allow the government to be funded. Like Clark, Schumer appears to believe the ongoing hardship caused by the shutdown is working in his party’s favor, recently telling the press, “Every day gets better for us.”

The shutdown has impacted over a million federal workers, leaving them without paychecks and causing widespread disruptions. Airports are grappling with major delays, food stamp programs are running low on funds, and small businesses are fighting to survive. Tourists are also being turned away from Washington, D.C.’s iconic landmarks.

President Donald J. Trump has taken measures to ease the burden, ensuring military personnel continue to receive pay and maintaining funding for essential nutrition programs for low-income women and children.

The Democrats’ strategy has drawn sharp criticism, with many believing they are making a deliberate effort to amplify suffering for political advantage. They appear to be calculating that the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans, who hold majorities in both the House and Senate, will be blamed by the public for the shutdown, and not them. However, some polling suggests blame is beginning to shift towards the Democrats rather than the ruling party as the situation drags on.

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.