Wednesday, June 17, 2026

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

These Republicans Conspired With Democrats to Release Gaetz Ethics Report.

Two moderate Republicans on the House Ethics Committee are believed to have colluded with their Democrat colleagues in a secret vote to release the committee’s report on former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY)—both close allies of ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and named by him to the Ethics Committee in January of 2023—backed the report’s release, according to Axios.

The two Republican Congressmen were among a series of McCarthy lieutenants placed in key committees and tasked with imposing the then-Speaker’s will on the Republican-controlled House. However, it appears their charge changed after Rep. Gaetz toppled McCarthy’s speakership in October of 2023, using a motion to vacate against the California Republican. While both Joyce and Garbarino initially appear to have voted against releasing the ethics report—likely because current House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) weighed in against making the document public—their about-face suggests potential pressure from either McCarthy himself or his allies.

In November, several ex-McCarthy staffers and lawmakers aligned with the former Speaker celebrated when Gaetz was forced to withdraw from consideration for U.S. Attorney General. Rep. Michale Lawler (R-NY) declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “Justice has been served.” This was echoed by former McCarthy aide Brittany Martinez.

Meanwhile, Rep. Joyce appears to have serious ethical issues himself. The Ohio Republican is accused of 136 violations of the STOCK Act, which aims to prevent lawmakers from engaging in insider trading. While the House Ethics Committee has jurisdiction to take action against these violations, it appears Joyce has enjoyed an explicit lack of investigation into his stock trading. Even more troubling, Joyce was the lone member of the Ohio Republican Congressional delegation to vote against holding Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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.

Brazil’s Politicized Supreme Court Convicts Bolsonaro’s Son for Asking U.S. to Help His Father.

Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has been sentenced to over four years in prison for so-called coercion after lobbying the U.S. to help his father.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Brazil‘s Supreme Court has convicted Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, for “coercion” in connection with his father’s trial for an alleged coup attempt. Eduardo was sentenced to four years and two months in prison for lobbying the U.S. government to pressure Brazilian officials to halt the trial.
📰 DETAIL: Eduardo Bolsonaro has been residing in Texas since February 2025 and has not commented on the court’s decision. Jair Bolsonaro, 71, is currently serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup following his 2022 election loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which took place after Bolsonaro’s attempts to replace voting machines with traditional paper ballots was blocked. Eduardo denied wrongdoing, saying his efforts in the U.S. were intended to challenge unconstitutional actions by Brazilian officials rather than influence his father’s legal proceedings. The conviction follows a 2025 court order freezing Eduardo’s assets amid allegations that funds from his father were used to support lobbying activities in Washington. Eduardo said he was not properly notified of the legal process leading to his conviction. Jair Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, was temporarily moved to house arrest earlier this year because of health issues linked to a 2018 stabbing attack and a recent bout of pneumonia.
💬 KEY QUOTE: Controversial Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes accused the younger Bolsonaro of “lobby[ing] overseas against his own country.”
🎯 IMPACT: Eduardo’s brother, Flávio Bolsonaro, is expected to challenge President Lula in Brazil’s upcoming elections in October.

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

show less

Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has been sentenced to over four years in prison for so-called coercion after lobbying the U.S. to help his father.

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.

Labour is Rigging Mayoral Voting Rules to Try to Stop Farage’s Reform Party.

Britain’s governing Labour Party is making sudden changes to the mayoral voting system in an attempt to stop Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party from winning a possible contest in Greater Manchester.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Britain’s governing Labour Party has expedited changes to the voting system for regional mayors, switching from first-past-the-post to the supplementary vote (SV) systemexpected to benefit the leftist party in a potential Greater Manchester mayoral election.
📰 DETAIL: Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is standing for election in the Makerfield parliamentary by-election (special election) and will be forced to vacate his current post if he wins and enters Parliament, triggering a mayoral election. Local Government Minister Baroness Taylor insists the government has long supported supplementary voting for executive positions, but critics argue the timing of the planned change, with Reform strongly positioned to oust Labour under the current rules, is highly suspect. Taylor acknowledged a mayoral by-election could be required in Greater Manchester in the coming months and stressed the changes would be implemented at the earliest opportunity. A Greater Manchester mayoral by-election could cost nearly $6.8 million, though it would only be triggered if Burnham wins Makerfield, where polls suggest a close race between Labour and Reform.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This order is an attempt to prevent Reform winning the possible Greater Manchester mayoralty by-election,” said Lord Hayward, a Conservative Party member of the House of Lords and pollster.
🎯 IMPACT: The change could facilitate a coalition of left-leaning party supporters keeping out a Reform candidate by denying victory to the party with the most votes. The move has sparked accusations of electoral manipulation to secure Labour’s power in the region.
👀 FLASHBACK: The SV system was initially used for mayoral elections when first introduced in 2000 under former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, but was replaced by first-past-the-post in 2021 by former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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

show less

Britain's governing Labour Party is making sudden changes to the mayoral voting system in an attempt to stop Nigel Farage's Reform UK party from winning a possible contest in Greater Manchester.

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 Admin Offers Iran Oil Waivers, $300 Billion Framework in Peace Deal.

The Trump administration has disclosed the terms of a new memorandum of understanding with Iran, including immediate oil export waivers and a $300 billion economic framework.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has outlined a memorandum of understanding with Iran, which includes immediate waivers on Iranian oil exports and a framework for $300 billion in reconstruction and economic development. The agreement also sets a 60-day negotiation period to finalize terms on Iran’s nuclear program.
📰 DETAIL: The 14-point memorandum, shared with the press on Tuesday, allows Iranian crude oil exports to resume immediately, with the U.S. Treasury issuing waivers. The agreement also proposes a $300 billion plan for Iran’s economic development, contingent on a final deal and Iranian compliance, although the administration insists the U.S. does not have to invest in it. Notably, the memorandum does not resolve the nuclear issue, but commits to negotiating Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and future nuclear activities.
🎯 IMPACT: The immediate oil export waivers are intended to reduce global energy prices. However, broader sanctions relief is tied to Iran’s future compliance with nuclear commitments, addressing concerns over economic benefits without concessions. President Donald J. Trump argues that terms such as the $300 billion investment framework do not constitute major concession to Iran, stating, at the G7 in France, “Were not putting up money. Only if they’re doing things right. If they’re doing things right, if people want to invest, they can invest… remember this also, when you talk about ‘billions of dollars,’ they’ve had much more than a trillion dollars worth of damage done.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The U.S. Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives and all associated services including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc,” the agreement reportedly states.

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

show less

The Trump administration has disclosed the terms of a new memorandum of understanding with Iran, including immediate oil export waivers and a $300 billion economic framework.

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.

U.S. Retail Sales Beat Expectations in May, Here’s Why:

U.S. retail sales exceeded expectations in May, driven partly by higher spending at gas stations.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. retail sales rose by 0.9 percent in May, reaching $763.7 billion, surpassing the 0.5 percent increase anticipated by economists. This growth was largely driven by higher spending at gas stations amid elevated energy costs. However, core retail sales, which exclude autos, gasoline, building materials, and food services, also rose 0.7 percent, suggesting solid consumer demand and supporting expectations for stronger second-quarter economic growth.
📰 DETAIL: Sales in April were revised down to a 0.4 percent gain, while year-over-year retail sales increased 6.9 percent. Higher fuel costs contributed to the increase, with service station sales climbing 3.4 percent in May and 26.5 percent from a year earlier, though gasoline prices have since eased following the announcement of an imminent agreement between the U.S. and Iran to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The report adds to the evidence of resilience in the U.S. economy, alongside recent job growth data. Notably, consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, appears to be accelerating after slowing in the first quarter, with the Atlanta Fed forecasting 2.8 percent annualized growth in the second quarter. However, analysts caution that the recent spending surge may fade as the boost from larger tax refunds diminishes and inflation continues to outpace wage growth.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The strength of ​May’s retail sales report and the acceleration from April’s spending pace will raise more yellow flags at the Fed as it tries ⁠to tamp down consumer inflation pressures.” – Scott Anderson, chief U.S. economist at BMO Capital Markets.
🎯 IMPACT: The robust retail sales figures suggest that American consumers are not dramatically curbing spending despite rising prices, mitigating recession fears. However, sustained demand could complicate the Federal Reserve’s efforts to lower interest rates, which is a longstanding demand of President Donald J. Trump.

Image by Erik Mclean.

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

show less

U.S. retail sales exceeded expectations in May, driven partly by higher spending at gas stations.

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.

Court Upholds Conviction of Judge for Obstructing ICE.

A federal judge has ruled to uphold the conviction of former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan for obstructing immigration enforcement, rejecting arguments to overturn it.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The conviction of former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan has been upheld after she obstructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
📺 DETAIL: The decision to uphold Dugan’s conviction was announced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman. The former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge had previously been found guilty of obstruction of justice after helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal immigrant, evade ICE agents during a court appearance. The incident occurred in April last year when Dugan turned away ICE agents with a warrant to the chief judge’s office, falsely claiming the warrant was insufficient. She then led Flores-Ruiz out a private door. After a brief chase, Flores-Ruiz was apprehended by ICE and deported in November of the same year. Dugan’s sentencing was delayed to consider arguments for overturning her conviction. “The court’s decision is wrong,” claimed Dugan’s defense team at the time, arguing that her actions did not constitute obstruction as the ICE operation was not a “proceeding” as defined under federal law. However, the argument was ultimately rejected, with the judge ruling that the ICE operation was a valid proceeding, meaning Dugan’s actions constituted an obstruction of justice. Following her conviction, Dugan resigned from her post at Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Defendant argues that ICE was acting as a law enforcement agency here. But this ignores the fact that, unlike, say, the FBI, ICE can issue its own warrants and adjudicate and effectuate a removal, as it did with Flores-Ruiz, without the involvement of a court. This makes a difference,” wrote U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman.
🎯 IMPACT: The 67-year-old Dugan faces up to five years in prison. However, she is expected to receive probation under federal guidelines for non-violent offenders. This is the first time that a Wisconsin state judge has faced trial for obstructing immigration law enforcement agents. While she was convicted for obstruction of justice, Dugan was acquitted of a related misdemeanor charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.
📺 FLASHBACK: The conviction of Dugan was first reported in December last year. Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, the illegal immigrant whom Dugan aided to avoid ICE, was a violent criminal from Mexico. Flores-Ruiz was previously deported in 2013 and accused of multiple assaults in March 2025. “This case is serious for all involved, it is ultimately about a single day, a single bad day, in a public courthouse,” said U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel at the time. This story is similar to one from Logan, Utah, reported earlier this month, in which two court clerks allegedly helped an illegal immigrant evade ICE

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

show less

A federal judge has ruled to uphold the conviction of former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan for obstructing immigration enforcement, rejecting arguments to overturn it.

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.

BBC ‘Planted’ Boat Migrants to Attack Farage’s Reform Party on Flagship Debate Show.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has come under fire after allowing a pro-migration charity to coach asylum seekers with prewritten statements to attack Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf during Question Time, the BBC’s flagship debate show.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) conspired with a pro-migration charity to give prepared statements to boat migrants to confront Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf on Question Time, the BBC’s flagship debate show, in December.
📰 DETAIL: In an episode of Question Time, filmed on December 5, 2025, two asylum seekers confronted Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s Shadow Home Secretary, with prepared statements. The incident sparked over 1,000 complaints from viewers. On Wednesday, it was revealed that these asylum seekers were arranged, coached, and placed by a pro-migration charity, IMIX. Jenni Regan, the charity’s CEO, also participated in the show. The BBC defended its approach, claiming it sought diverse perspectives. Yusuf accused the BBC of ideological and political bias. This follows reports that pro-migration charities have been used by the BBC to shape its media content and promote pro-migration narratives, including in children’s programming and popular TV shows. One of the prepared statements criticized Reform UK’s policy to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which is regularly used by pro-migration charities to block the deportations of violent criminals and illegal immigrants.
💬 KEY QUOTE:The BBC is morally bankrupt. To deliberately plant men who broke into Britain illegally in the audience, allow them to be told what to say and let them launch into attacks on Reform and lecture the British people is disgusting behaviour.” – Zia Yusuf, Shadow Home Secretary for Reform UK
🎯 IMPACT: The incident has intensified scrutiny of the BBC, with accusations of bias and manipulation of public opinion on immigration, despite its legal obligation to remain impartial. Notably, everyone in Britain who watches live programming is required to fund the BBC via a license fee or face criminal fines backed by the threat of imprisonment, even if none of the content they watch is from the BBC. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Yusuf demanded an apology. “One of these men who broke into the country began reading a statement warning against Britain leaving the ECHR, even featuring the Northern Ireland protocol! One of them specifically attacked me and my family… To conceal it is even more outrageous. They should apologise immediately.” 

👀 FLASHBACK: This is not the first time this month the BBC has been accused of bias. On Newsnight, the BBC’s flagship current affairs show, a presenter recently claimed that Nigel Farage had called for “white cold rage” in response to the murder of white teenager Henry Nowak and his mistreatment by police officers, when in reality, the Reform leader had used the phrase “pure cold rage.” The BBC has since apologized to Farage. The Question Time revelations coincide with research that shows that global trust in the news has fallen to a record low. According to the latest Reuters Institute Digital News Report, only 37 percent of people trust the news, marking the lowest level since the study began. In the United Kingdom specifically, trust in the news dropped five percentage points over the past year to 30 percent, down 20 points from a decade ago. Researchers identified that audiences were frustrated with mainstream news coverage of immigration, among other matters.

Image by Matt Cornock.

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

show less

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has come under fire after allowing a pro-migration charity to coach asylum seekers with prewritten statements to attack Reform UK's Zia Yusuf during Question Time, the BBC's flagship debate show.

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.

British Public Views Social Media as More Harmful Than Beneficial.

A new survey from YouGov has revealed that British citizens have strong concerns over social media’s impact on children, adults, and society at large.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Just under half of British people think the negatives of social media outweigh the positives, according to a new survey.
📺 DETAIL: According to British polling firm YouGov, 43 percent of Britons believe the negatives of social media outweigh its positives. By contrast, only 22 percent believe that the positives of social media outweigh the negatives. While 81 percent of Britons believe that social media negatively affects children under 16, and 49 percent believe it is very negative for children, when asked about fully grown adults, the number describing social media as very negative drops to only nine percent. Also, when asked about “the average person,” 32 percent of respondents said the impact of social media use is neither positive nor negative, while 21 percent see it as positive. Eighteen percent of British adults think that the drawbacks of social media “greatly” outweigh the benefits. Moreover, 57 percent of Britons hold a negative view of social media companies. Despite these concerns, 90 percent of Britons use social media, although 46 percent want to use it less. Furthermore, 64 percent of respondents believe social media is not inherently harmful when used responsibly, while 28 percent believe it is inherently harmful regardless of use. The data was published on Wednesday, following the British government’s announcement earlier this week of a social media ban for children under 16.
🎯 IMPACT: The survey underscores growing public frustration with social media companies. Such findings are likely to be weaponized by the British government, which announced a ban on social media for children under 16 earlier this week. Significantly, the ban will require adults to upload ID to prove that they are old enough to use social media, curbing online anonymity and privacy, ostensibly to protect children from cyberbullying, endangerment, and mental health problems.

💬 KEY QUOTE: “While Britons overwhelmingly think social media has had a negative impact on children, the public are much more divided when it comes to adults.” – YouGov

📺 FLASHBACK: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the under-16s social media ban on Monday. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube will need to implement age-verification systems, such as facial recognition and ID checks, but messaging apps and educational platforms, including WhatsApp and Google Classroom, are excluded. “A full ban is the right choice… I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children,” said Starmer in a press conference. Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage has argued that, while the ban is “well-intentioned,” it is “unlikely to work given the mass adoption of VPNs,” while cautioning against “the introduction of Digital ID via the back door.”

Image by indra projects.

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

show less

A new survey from YouGov has revealed that British citizens have strong concerns over social media's impact on children, adults, and society at large.

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.

Victim of Attempted Beheading That Sparked Riots Wakes from Coma.

The victim of an attempted beheading in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has woken from his coma, following widespread protests, including riots, across the city and parts of the wider United Kingdom.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Stephen Ogilvie, the victim of an attempted beheading that sparked riots in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has revived from his coma, but he may remain blinded, according to his family.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We are relieved to share that Stephen is now out of his induced coma and continuing his recovery, although he still faces significant challenges ahead… With the loss of sight in his left eye and the possibility of losing sight in his right eye, your generosity will make a real difference to his future quality of life,” Ogilvie’s family shared via their GoFundMe page.
🎯 IMPACT: The update from Ogilvie’s family represents the most recent and reliable update on his condition since he was attacked, allegedy by a Sudanese migrant who entered the country illegally, earlier this month. Whether or not he remains blinded—reports indicate that one of his eyes was lost entirely in the attack—Ogilvie will have to grapple with life-altering injuries. The incident is widely regarded as having been an avoidable tragedy, caused by the United Kingdom’s lax asylum and immigration policies. Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage has previously suggested that social unrest may worsen if urgent policy changes are not made to prevent similar atrocities.
📺 DETAIL: Stephen Ogilvie, 44, suffered severe injuries to his neck, back, and face, including his eyes, after a Sudanese refugee allegedly attempted to behead him in the middle of Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, earlier this month. Ogilvie’s family confirmed that he had woken from his coma on Wednesday. The alleged assailant, 30-year-old Hadi Alodid, is reported to have traveled from Sudan to Paris, France, and then on to Dublin, Ireland, before taking a bus across the European Union member state’s open border with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Alodid was granted a visa soon after arriving in the United Kingdom in 2023, according to the Home Office, despite passing through multiple safe countries on his way to claim asylum. Ogilvie’s attempted beheading sparked days of protest in Belfast and parts of the wider United Kingdom, with houses believed to belong to migrants set on fire.

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

show less

The victim of an attempted beheading in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has woken from his coma, following widespread protests, including riots, across the city and parts of the wider United Kingdom.

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.

Iranian Ships Begin Passing U.S. Blockade as Deal Signing Nears.

Iranian tankers carrying millions of barrels of crude oil have bypassed a U.S. naval blockade, raising questions about the blockade’s enforcement ahead of a planned peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Two Iranian tankers have successfully passed through a United States blockade, suggesting enforcement may be easing ahead of the planned signing of a peace deal between Tehran and Washington.
📺 DETAIL: According to TankerTrackers, a shipping data website, the two tankers passed safely through the Strait. Named Diona and Hero 2, the tankers were carrying a combined 3.8 million barrels of crude oil. A third Iranian tanker carrying an additional one million barrels reportedly followed after. “At least two National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) VLCC supertankers named DIONA (9569695) and HERO2 (9362073) have exited the US Navy blockade perimeter carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil between them,” reported TankerTrackers on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “A 3rd NITC tanker, a Suezmax at that, has now exited the blockade line with 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil.” Both tankers are operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) and are technically subject to U.S. sanctions.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The main thing is that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. They fully agreed to that with strong policing powers, and they won’t have a nuclear weapon, which is what it was all about.” – President Donald J. Trump, during the ongoing G7 summit in France earlier this week.
🎯 IMPACT: This incident has occurred just days before the United States and Iran are set to sign a peace deal. The deal will reportedly include a ban on the Islamic Republic obtaining nuclear weapons. The deal will be signed at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland on Friday. In April this year, President Trump imposed the naval blockade after failed negotiations with Iran mediated by Pakistan. The blockade aimed to disrupt Iran’s ability to export oil and to interfere with international shipping, amid Iran’s own blockade of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. The tankers’ passage through the Strait raises questions about the extent to which the U.S. blockade is still in effect. The safe passage of ships through the Strait, along with retail gas prices dropping to $4 per gallon, the lowest since April, suggests that while the peace deal has yet to be signed, the global economy is already beginning to recover in anticipation.

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

show less

Iranian tankers carrying millions of barrels of crude oil have bypassed a U.S. naval blockade, raising questions about the blockade's enforcement ahead of a planned peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.

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 Moves to Delay Clayton’s DNI Confirmation in Renewed SAVE Act Push.

President Donald J. Trump has moved to delay Jay Clayton’s nomination as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) as part of a renewed effort to push the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump moved to delay the confirmation of Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on Wednesday morning, while tying the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to the passage of election integrity measures in the SAVE America Act. Trump stated on Truth Social that he will keep his previous nominee, Bill Pulte, as Acting DNI while Congress deliberates.
📺 DETAIL: Clayton, currently the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman, had been scheduled for a Senate confirmation hearing this week. The nomination had been fast-tracked amid disputes over the renewal of FISA, which recently expired. Democrats had previously indicated they would not support renewing the surveillance program while Pulte remained Trump’s nominee. However, Trump accuses Democrats of breaking an agreement related to FISA, and said he would not approve its renewal unless Congress also passes voter ID requirements in the SAVE AMERICA Act. The Republican-controlled Congress has ostensibly not advanced the bill due to insufficient support, particularly among Democrats.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “[F]or the Good of the Nation, and the People of our Country, I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it.” – President Trump.
🎯 IMPACT: The attempt to delay Clayton’s confirmation hearing and link FISA to the SAVE Act underscores the tension between President Trump and the GOP establishment over the importance of election integrity. Democrats oppose voter ID measures, despite an overwhelming majority of Americans, including Democrat voters, supporting them, claiming they are concerned by potential voter suppression. Significantly, past research indicates that when noncitizens vote unlawfully, they tend to vote Democrat, sometimes swinging elections in their favor decisively.

Image

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

show less

President Donald J. Trump has moved to delay Jay Clayton's nomination as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) as part of a renewed effort to push the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act.

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.