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April 10, 2025
NatSec

SecDef Hegseth Evaluating Space-Based ‘Golden Dome’ for U.S. Defense.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The U.S. government is reviewing plans for a space-based missile defense system, known as the “Golden Dome.”

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Stephen Whiting, and U.S. Space Command.

📍 Where & When: The plan was initiated in Washington, D.C., during Trump’s first week in office. The review process continues with involvement from the Department of Defense and Space Command.

💬 Key Quote: “The United States will provide for the common defense of its citizens and the Nation by deploying and maintaining a next-generation missile defense shield,” stated Trump in an executive order.

⚠️ Impact: If implemented, this would mark the first deployment of a space-based weapons system to destroy ground-launched missiles, enhancing U.S. defense capabilities against a variety of threats.

IN FULL:

Plans initiated by President Donald J. Trump for a comprehensive missile defense shield have reached the review stage under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The proposed “Golden Dome,” a next-generation missile defense system situated in space, aims to secure the United States from ballistic, hypersonic, and other advanced missile threats.

An Executive Order signed by Trump outlined the necessity for a robust defense shield employing space-based interceptors. The directive mandated the Department of Defense to propose recommendations within 60 days. General Stephen Whiting of the U.S. Space Command underscored the urgency for space-oriented defense measures at a recent event in Colorado, advocating for orbital interceptors to deter potential space conflicts.

Trump’s vision for an advanced missile defense system parallels Israel’s “Iron Dome,” albeit with capabilities extended to intercept targets from ground-based launch sites. The system’s integration with existing missile technologies and novel space capabilities characterizes its innovative design. This marks a move towards broadening U.S. defense strategies, potentially elevating the nation’s response options in light of modern aerial threats.

Development specifics, including potential costs and technical configurations, remain undisclosed. However, the initiative highlights a strategic pivot towards incorporating outer space as a tactical theater for national defense, as indicated by discussions from top officials involved in the project.

The establishment of such a defense system would represent a significant milestone in U.S. military strategy, emphasizing protection against peer, near-peer, and rogue threats.

Upon formal recommendations and if forthcoming implementation proceeds, the United States’s “Golden Dome” would become the first missile defense shield to deploy space-based interceptors, marking a pivotal expansion in missile defense capabilities.

By Popular Demand.
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10 hours ago
Immigration
Media

DHS Condemns D.C. Media for Alerting Public, Migrants to ICE Raids.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A pro-migration reporter warned illegal aliens in Washington, D.C., about upcoming U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) workplace inspections.

👥 Who’s Involved: Pablo Manriquez, founder of MigrantInsider.com, and Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security.

📍 Where & When: Washington D.C., inspections scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

💬 Key Quote: “It is sickening that this ‘reporter’ is putting law enforcement lives at risk,” said Tricia McLaughlin.

⚠️ Impact: Potential risks to law enforcement and heightened awareness of ICE activities among illegals in D.C.

IN FULL:

Illegal aliens in Washington, D.C., have been alerted to upcoming U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inspections at various workplaces, via Pablo Manriquez, founder of MigrantInsider.com. Manriquez, a Chilean-born pro-migration advocate, shared that sources informed him of planned ICE checks at Subway restaurants and among Door Dash and Uber Eats drivers, among others, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This information leak has drawn criticism from Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE’s parent agency. McLaughlin expressed concern over the potential danger posed to law enforcement, stating, “It is sickening that this ‘reporter’ is putting law enforcement lives at risk and doing the bidding of violent criminal aliens and gang members.”

Manriquez elaborated on the planned operations, indicating that ICE agents would conduct I-9 employment eligibility document inspections and position officers at the back of restaurants to intercept those attempting to flee. He also mentioned that bilingual public charter schools, including the Mundo Verde public charter school system, would be targeted.

In response to the anticipated raids, Manriquez urged migrants to be aware of their rights and advised them to contact the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights if detained. He encouraged sharing the information widely and announced that further updates would be available on MigrantInsider.com.

Manriquez, who describes himself as an immigrant outsider, has previously written in support of figures like the late Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva, whom he praised as a “voice of migrants, workers, Tribes, Latinos.” However, his recent actions have aligned him with insider elites, including corporate lawyers at Acacia, who offer legal aid to migrants.

This is not the first time illegals have been alerted to ICE raids and operations before they occur. In California, ICE planned an operation targeting known gang members and criminals in Los Angeles, but plans were leaked ahead of time. Border Czar Tom Homan blamed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel, who were also involved in the operation, and noted in February that a criminal investigation had been launched.

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By Popular Demand.
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10 hours ago
News

Traitor Pence Again Hits Trump on Tariffs, Russia Stance, and Jan. 6 Pardons.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized President Donald J. Trump’s second-term agenda in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.

👥 Who’s Involved: Mike Pence, President Trump, Kaitlan Collins, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

📍 Where & When: Interview at JFK Presidential Library, Boston, following Pence’s acceptance of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on Sunday, May 4, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “I do think this version of tariff policy that’s broad-based, indiscriminate, applies tariffs to friend and foe alike, is not a win for the American people,” said Pence.

⚠️ Impact: Pence continues to ramp up his attacks on President Trump and his administration, solidifying his role as a front man for the globalist political establishment.

IN FULL:

Former Vice President Mike Pence is continuing to act as the political establishment’s front man in attacking the polices of President Donald J. Trump. Speaking with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins—herself a quasi-conservative media figure turned corporate media apparatchik—Pence blasted Trump’s agenda from tariffs to the January 6 pardons to trying to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.

“I do think this version of tariff policy, that’s broad-based, indiscriminate, applies tariffs to friend and foe alike, is not a win for the American people. There may be a price shock in the economy,” Pence said. Notably, Pence has long been a mainstay with the pro-corporate and anti-Trump Club for Growth, using their donor summit in 2023 to put distance between himself and his former running mate.

Addressing President Trump’s decision to pardon—and in some instances commute the sentences of—the January 6 defendants, Pence told Collins: “I was deeply disappointed, it sent the wrong message.”

Meanwhile, while discussing the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Pence insisted that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not rest until all of Ukraine belongs to Russia. Notably, most experts on the region, while acknowledging Russian aims in Eastern Ukraine, are fairly emphatic that Russia would not be able to control or even desire control over Western Ukraine.

Lastly, the former Vice President continued to lament the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, citing the Kennedy clan scion’s abortion stance. However, Kennedy, in his confirmation, made certain guarantees not to allow his personal beliefs to interfere with his public duties. The National Pulse has previously reported that Pence and his allies worked behind the scenes to derail the Kennedy nomination.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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11 hours ago
William Upton
Crime
Politics

WATCH: Pro-Hamas Antifa Demonstrators Build Barricades, Set Fire to University Campus.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Pro-Hamas student protestors, along with Antifa, occupied a campus building at the University of Washington, setting fire to barricades and attacking police with projectiles. The demonstrators demanded that the university divest itself from Boeing over the company’s relationship with Israel.

👥 Who’s Involved: Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return UW (SUPER UW), Antifa, the University of Washington, Boeing, police.

📍 Where & When: Monday, May 5, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “We’re hoping to remove the influence of Boeing and other manufacturing companies from our educational space, period, and we’re hoping to expose the repressive tactics of the university,” Super UW spokesman Eric Horford said.

⚠️ Impact: Police reports indicate upwards of 32 individuals were arrested and face criminal trespass in the first degree—a gross misdemeanor. None of those arrested have been charged with a felony.

IN FULL:

Pro-Hamas demonstrators, believed to be affiliated with Antifa, took over and occupied a brand new engineering building on the University of Washington campus, building barricades, setting fires, and throwing projectiles at police. The violent display came as far-left groups gathered to protest against Boeing‘s funding of the university and its business arrangements with Israel.

Over two dozen pro-Hamas and Antifa demonstrators were ultimately arrested, with some reports putting the number of arrests as high as 32. The violent campus action was organized by Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return UW (SUPER UW).

“We’re hoping to remove the influence of Boeing and other manufacturing companies from our educational space, period, and we’re hoping to expose the repressive tactics of the university,” Super UW spokesman Eric Horford said in an interview with local media. He added: “We are here to negotiate with the university, and we are hoping they’ll hear us and speak with us.”

Notably, the faction of SUPER UW students appears to have been primarily responsible for the occupation of the engineering building. In contrast, a second faction of individuals clad in black bloc attire and alleged to be affiliated with Antifa were responsible for the fire and the construction of barricades. At one point, a fire that had been set came dangerously close to the campus building.

Following the arrests, police say the demonstrators have been charged with criminal trespass in the first degree—a gross misdemeanor. None of those arrested have been charged with a felony.

WATCH:

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By Popular Demand.
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12 hours ago
News

Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Protest Targets Trump’s Flag Day Parade.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Activists plan a protest on June 14 against a Flag Day parade organized by the Trump administration.

👥 Who’s Involved: The “No Kings” group, Black Voters Matter, the Declaration for American Democracy, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., June 14, coinciding with Flag Day and Trump’s birthday.

💬 Key Quote: “We have the greatest missiles in the world… And we’re going to celebrate it,” Trump stated.

⚠️ Impact: The event is expected to intensify tensions between patriots and leftists, with nationwide protests anticipated.

IN FULL:

Far-left activists are gearing up for a protest on June 14, a parade planned by the Trump administration celebrating Flag Day. The event, described by the White House as a “patriotic tribute,” also coincides with President Donald J. Trump‘s birthday. However, the group No Kings, which is organizing a mass demonstration against the parade, describes it as a “made-for-TV display of dominance.”

The “No Kings” coalition, along with partners such as Black Voters Matter and the Declaration for American Democracy, is mobilizing volunteers to voice opposition to what they perceive as an authoritarian display. The group aims to gather supporters “everywhere Trump isn’t” to emphasize their message of “no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s Flag Day parade plans include over 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands, and potentially 2,000 civilians. Meant as a celebration of the American military, President Trump has defended the cost of the event, which some estimate as high as $45 million, as “peanuts compared to the value of doing it.”

“We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we’re going to celebrate it,” Trump said. Meanwhile, Army spokesman Colonel Dave Butler expressed his desire for the event to be a national celebration, stating, “We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers.”

As the date approaches, the “No Kings” coalition is actively recruiting volunteers online and coordinating with local chapters across more than 30 states. Organizers anticipate that thousands will participate in the protest events. In response, law enforcement in Washington, D.C., is preparing for increased security, though specific plans remain undisclosed.

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By Popular Demand.
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12 hours ago
NatSec

Hegseth Slashes Pentagon Excess to Boost Warfighter Resources.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon will begin reducing administrative bloat, refocusing the Defense Department on warfighters and military readiness, starting with a 20 percent reduction in the number of four-star generals and admirals.

👥 Who’s Involved: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, President Donald J. Trump, the Pentagon, senior military officials.

📍 Where & When: Monday, May 5, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “We won World War II with seven four-star generals. Today we have 44. Do all of those directly contribute to warfighting success? Maybe they do—I don’t know—but it’s worth reviewing to make sure they do,” Hegseth said at a town hall earlier this year.

⚠️ Impact: The reforms are aimed at cutting administrative bloat in U.S. defense and refocusing efforts towards warfighters and military readiness, building a leaner and more prepared military.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump‘s Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, says the Pentagon will begin reducing administrative bloat, refocusing the Defense Department on warfighters and military readiness. As part of the first stage of this process, Hegseth announced late Monday that the U.S. military will reduce its number of four-star generals and admirals, aiming to cut senior staff by an estimated 20 percent. Additionally, Hegesth is directing the National Guard to reduce the number of general officers by 20 percent and to cut another 10 percent of all flag and general officers.

In the memo directing the cuts, Hegseth argues that in order to “drive innovation and operational excellence,” the U.S. military must be “unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness.” He explained that part of the plan to achieve this goal requires “removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions.”

The Defense Secretary, announcing the senior officer reductions in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stated: “We’re going to shift resources from bloated headquarters elements to our warfighters.”

Pentagon critics have long pointed to the department’s top-heavy bloat, with senior leaders behaving more like politicians than commanders, with some not having seen combat in decades. “We won World War II with seven four-star generals. Today we have 44,” Hegseth said in February, adding: “Do all of those directly contribute to warfighting success? Maybe they do—I don’t know—but it’s worth reviewing to make sure they do.”

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By Popular Demand.
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13 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
War

Trump Announces Houthis Have ‘Capitulated’ as Oman Confirms Ceasefire.

PULSE POINTS:

❓ What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced a ceasefire with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have agreed to halt attacks on Red Sea shipping after intense U.S. airstrikes. Oman mediated the deal, ensuring mutual non-aggression and safe passage for international trade.

👥  Who’s Involved: President Trump, the Houthis, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.

📍 Where & When: Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the White House, announced May 6, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “[The Houthis] just don’t want to fight, and we will honour that and we will stop the bombings, and they have capitulated,” Trump said.

⚠️  Impact: The agreement restores stability to a critical global trade route, potentially easing economic pressures, but skepticism remains about the Houthis’ compliance.

IN FULL:

President Donald Trump has secured a significant geopolitical win, securing a ceasefire with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis to halt their attacks on Red Sea shipping. Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the White House, Trump revealed that the Houthis had “capitulated” after relentless U.S. airstrikes, which targeted 1,000 sites in Yemen since March 2024. The deal, mediated by Oman, ensures neither side will target the other, safeguarding a vital artery for global trade.

“[The Houthis] just don’t want to fight, and we will honour that and we will stop the bombings, and they have capitulated,” Trump said, adding that the group “say they will not be blowing up ships anymore”—and that securing such an undertaking was the purpose of the strikes.

The America First leader underscored the importance of the agreement, noting it aligns with U.S. objectives to secure freedom of navigation. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed the deal, stating it guarantees “the smooth flow of international commercial shipping” through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The Houthis’ campaign of violence began in late 2023, ostensibly in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s military operations in Gaza following Hamas’s October 2023 terror raid against the Jewish State. Their barrage of missiles and drone strikes sank two vessels, and they seized another, killing or kidnapping a number of sailors and forcing major shipping firms to reroute around southern Africa. This disrupted nearly 15 percent of global seaborne trade, spiking costs and straining supply chains.

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greatly intensified U.S. military pressure on the group, culminating in their decision to stand down.

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By Popular Demand.
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14 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Breaking
War

BREAKING: India Strikes Pakistan, Cuts Off Water Supply — Reports.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: India launched missile strikes on three locations in Pakistan—Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Ahmed Pur East in Bahawalpur—citing Pakistan’s alleged role in a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, in Indian Kashmir. It has has also suspended the Indus Water Treaty, cutting off water to Pakistan.

👥 Who’s Involved: India’s military, Pakistan’s military, Pakistani Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

📍 Where & When: Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Bahawalpur District, Pakistan, on May 6, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Pakistan would respond to Indian attacks at the time and place of our own choosing. These attacks would not go unanswered,” Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated.

⚠️ Impact: The strikes heighten the risk of a broader conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors, with both sides on edge and diplomatic efforts struggling to de-escalate.

IN FULL:

India has launched missile strikes on three sites in Pakistan: Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Ahmed Pur East in Bahawalpur. The attacks, which Pakistan’s military called “unprovoked,” follow India’s claims that Pakistan was behind a brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, in Indian Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in one of the deadliest assaults since 2000.

According to Indian sources, including reports from The Times of India, New Delhi believes the Pahalgam attack bore hallmarks of Pakistan-backed militancy, pointing to alleged “cross-border linkages” involving groups operating from Pakistani soil. Indian officials have long accused Pakistan of harboring terrorists who infiltrate Indian Kashmir, which Pakistan claims, to destabilize the region. India’s decision to grant its military “operational freedom” reflects its frustration with what it sees as Pakistan’s complicity in fostering violence across the Line of Control.

Additionally, India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty, stopping the flow of water into Pakistan. “India’s water used to go outside; it will now stop for India’s interests and will be utilised for the country,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pakistan’s Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations, vowed that “Pakistan would respond to Indian attacks at the time and place of our own choosing.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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By Popular Demand.
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14 hours ago
William Upton
Economy
World

U.S.-UK Set to Sign Bilateral Trade Deal.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The United States and the United Kingdom are poised to sign a bilateral trade agreement this week.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and China.

📍 Where & When: In Washington, D.C., with the likely signing occurring the week of May 5, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before Congress on Tuesday that the trade deal could be announced “perhaps as early as this week.”

⚠️ Impact: The trade deal will increase pressure on the European Union (EU) to come to the table, while further restricting China’s access to global markets.

IN FULL:

The United States and the United Kingdom are set to sign a bilateral trade deal this week, marking significant progress in President Donald J. Trump‘s efforts to renegotiate global trade and its impact on American workers. It is believed the deal is one of 17 being prioritized out of over 100 negotiations and will increase pressure on the European Union (EU) to reach an agreement as well.

Among the concessions being made by the British are reductions in their digital services tax aimed at multinational technology companies based in the United States. The Labour government, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is also believed to be poised to cut its tariffs on American automobiles and steel imports and reduce trade duties on American agricultural goods.

Conversely, the United States—it is believed—has agreed to reduce its 25 percent tariff on British autos and steel, though the exact scale of the reduction is not yet public. However, the British government also says it will not adopt U.S. food production standards, meaning some U.S. agricultural exports, including hormone-treated beef and chicken, will still not be accepted in the British market.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before Congress on Tuesday that the trade deal could be announced “perhaps as early as this week.” However, it is important to note that agreements over the pharmaceutical trade remain a contentious sticking point and could delay a final deal. Despite the pharmaceutical hang-up, the Labour government remains under intense pressure from its domestic auto industry to reach an accord with President Trump. British auto makers have warned that the impact of the Trump tariffs on their sales has been “severe, significant, and immediate.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the United Kingdom and India announced they had reached a free trade deal, giving credence to the speculation that a coalition of nations is forming with the aim of boxing in China regarding its access to the global economy and markets.

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By Popular Demand.
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15 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
News

Matt Schlapp Tried to Sue an Ex-CPAC Employee. Today, He Lost In Court.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A Virginia judge acquitted former Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) finance director Ryan McGowan of wrongdoing in a $14,000 payout dispute, rejecting claims he overpaid departing staffers’ unused vacation time.

👥 Who’s Involved: Ryan McGowan, Alexandria Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Uston, CPAC executive Lynne Rasmussen, former CPAC general counsel David Safavian, former executive director Dan Schneider, and CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp.

📍 Where & When: Alexandria Circuit Court, Alexandria, Virginia, May 6, 2025.

⚠️ Impact: The ruling exposes CPAC leadership’s inconsistencies, potentially weakening its influence while strengthening McGowan’s rival conservative group amid ongoing fallout from the Schlapp scandal.

IN FULL:

A Virginia court has cleared former Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) finance director Ryan McGowan of allegations he improperly paid $14,000 in unused vacation time to five departing staffers, delivering a sharp rebuke to the Matt Schlapp-led outfit. The decision, handed down in Alexandria Circuit Court, highlights internal dysfunction at CPAC, which has also been rocked by homosexual scandals involving Schlapp for years.

Judge Kathleen Uston, in a 30-minute evidence review, pointed to glaring contradictions in the testimony of CPAC executive Lynne Rasmussen and former general counsel David Safavian.

Rasmussen claimed she emailed staff about a paid time off (PTO) limit but failed to produce the emails, and a text exchange showed her asking McGowan’s deputy for a 15 percent salary increase while keeping McGowan in the dark—contradicting her testimony that the deputy lacked such authority. The judge also noted the frustration of the Alexandria detective investigating the case, who was blindsided by details Rasmussen withheld.

The case, long followed by The National Pulse, was more to do with Schlapp pursuing a vendetta at those he perceived to undermine his leadership than any actual wrongdoing.

McGowan’s new conservative group, which grades lawmakers, has also drawn CPAC’s ire, though a civil suit against them was dismissed earlier this year.

Testimony also revealed McGowan had flagged a $50,000 legal bill CPAC paid for Schlapp during the scandal, reigniting scrutiny of Schlapp’s leadership.

CPAC and its parent organization, the American Conservative Union (ACU), has now shelled out vast swathes of donor cash, staff time, and attracted mountains of negative publicity as a result of Schlapp’s numerous escapades.

For years, The National Pulse has been at the forefront of exposing the corruption inside the organization, including contributions from Soros-linked groupsSoros-linked groups, as well as extreme financial improprieties.

The organization is now a shell of its former self, once hosting the largest annual conservative conference, now relegated to an afterthought.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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16 hours ago
News
Politics

German ‘Conservative’ Merz Becomes Chancellor After Historic Initial Failure.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Friedrich Merz failed to secure enough votes to become Germany’s Chancellor (Prime Minister) on an initial ballot in the German legislature, the first time such an event has occurred since the Second World War. However, he managed to secure sufficient votes after a second attempt.

👥 Who’s Involved: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), Social Democrats (SPD).

📍 Where & When: German Bundestag (Parliament), May 6.

💬 Key Quote: “It is an annoying process, but in a parliamentary democracy, in a liberal country, this is unfortunately one of the scenarios that you have to be prepared for,” complained Johann Wadepuhl, Merz’s prospective foreign minister, after he failed to pass the initial ballot.

⚠️ Impact: The failure to elect a chancellor on the first ballot was historic; there was a potential for new elections if a majority had not been reached within 14 days.

IN FULL:

Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany‘s notionally conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU)—formerly led by Angela Merkel—did not secure enough votes in the Bundestag to become Chancellor in an initial ballot. This marks the first time since World War II that a candidate for Chancellor has failed to win on the initial ballot in the German legislature.

Merz required a majority of 316 votes to succeed but fell short by six votes, obtaining only 310 out of 630. His coalition, which includes the CDU, its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the leftist Social Democrats, holds a slim majority with 328 seats. The secret ballot nature of the vote means it is unclear who within his coalition did not support him, although he managed to push through with 325 votes on his second attempt.

If Merz had not managed to secure a majority within 14 days, the German president, who generally plays a largely ceremonial head of state role in national politics, could have been forced to intervene and either appoint the candidate with the most votes as Chancellor or dissolve parliament, prompting a new national election.

Johann Wadepuhl, set to become Merz’s foreign minister, said of Merz’s initial failure, “It is an annoying process, but in a parliamentary democracy, in a liberal country, this is unfortunately one of the scenarios that you have to be prepared for.”

Meanwhile, Alice Weidel, co-leader of the largest opposition group, Alternative for Germany (AfD), criticized Merz’s coalition—roughly equivalent to a Republican-Democrat alliance—calling it a “weak foundation.” She has urged for Merz’s resignation and the initiation of new elections.

The vote comes less than a week after the German domestic intelligence service declared the AfD a right-wing extremist organization, allowing surveillance measures directed at all party members and the use of informants. The move was met with significant criticism from the Trump administration.

Image by Steffen Prößdorf.

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