GET THE APP
Monday, June 16, 2025

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

6 hours ago
War
World

Iran Signals Openness to Ending Conflict with Israel, With Conditions on U.S. Non-Involvement.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Iranian officials reportedly signaled to Arab states that they are open to negotiations with the U.S. if it avoids joining the Israeli assault.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Iran, Arab states, U.S., Israel, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Israel and Iran, amid ongoing air strikes and missile assaults between the two countries.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The current regime is at stake in this conflict.” – Vladimir Putin

🎯IMPACT: The situation raises concerns about U.S. involvement and the possibility of escalating tensions in the Middle East.

IN FULL

Iranian officials have reportedly signaled to Arab states that they would be willing to negotiate with the U.S. if it refrains from joining the Israeli assault. The Islamic Republic is believed to be using the Arab states to pass along the message to the U.S. and Middle Eastern officials amid ongoing air strikes and missile assaults between Iran and Israel.

“The Iranians know the U.S. is supporting Israel in its defense, and they are sure the U.S. is supporting Israel logistically,” an anonymous Arab official told the Wall Street Journal on Monday, June 15. They added: “But they want guarantees the U.S. won’t join the attacks.”

Israel, last week, launched an air campaign against the Iranian nuclear program and key regime officials, leading to the current hostilities. Subsequently, Iran has responded with several waves of ballistic missile barrages, targeting predominantly residential areas and causing a number of casualties. Several of the missiles are believed to have struck critical energy infrastructure in Israel.

Following a conversation with U.S. President Donald J. Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly warned the Iranians that “the current regime is at stake in this conflict.” Putin appeared to heavily imply that unless Iran comes back to the negotiating table, the air campaign against their nuclear program would continue to escalate.

President Trump has repeatedly urged Tehran to resume negotiations, while hinting that the U.S. could become involved in the hostilities. The prospect of U.S. intervention, however, appears unpopular with Trump’s own supporters, many of whom backed him on his promise to end regime change wars in the Middle East.

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

By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad
More From The Pulse

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

23 minutes ago
TECH

CCP-Run Lab Launches First Neural Device to Control Computers With Your Brain.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: China launched its first clinical trial of an invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) device, enabling a patient to play video games using only his mind.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Researchers at the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence (CEBSIT) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, owned and operated by the Chinese Communist Party, and a 37-year-old man who previously lost all four limbs.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The trial was conducted in Shanghai, with future market availability projected by 2028.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The electrode is so soft that the force required to bend it is comparable to the interaction force between two neurons in the brain,” said Zhao Zhengtuo, a researcher at CEBSIT.

🎯IMPACT: The device aims to improve the quality of life for amputees and those with spinal cord injuries, and it has potential future applications in robotics and artificial intelligence.

IN FULL

China has initiated its first clinical trial for invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) devices, marking a significant step in the global race to develop advanced neural technology. The initial trial involved a 37-year-old man who previously lost all four limbs in a high-voltage electrical accident. Using the BCI device, the patient was able to play video games solely with his mind.

The research was conducted at the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence (CEBSIT) within the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This group answers directly to and is controlled by the Communist Party-run State Council of China.

The technology employs tiny electrodes inserted through a small opening in the skull to read brain activity. According to Zhao Zhengtuo, a researcher at CEBSIT, “The electrode is so soft that the force required to bend it is comparable to the interaction force between two neurons in the brain.” This design minimizes immune responses and rejection reactions, enabling long-term compatibility with brain tissue.

The research team aims to further develop the technology to control robotic arms or artificial intelligence (AI) agents. The CEBSIT device is reportedly smaller and more flexible than its U.S. counterpart, Neuralink, the brain-chip startup founded by Elon Musk. Neuralink has also been testing invasive BCI devices on human patients, with Musk envisioning millions of people using the technology within the next decade.

While Neuralink’s early trials have focused on assisting individuals with quadriplegia, Musk has suggested that the technology could eventually augment human intelligence and allow humans to merge with AI. Neuralink recently raised $650 million to expand its testing program globally and further its technological capabilities.

China’s CEBSIT anticipates its BCI device will be market-ready by 2028. The lab, based in Shanghai, targets medical applications for amputees and individuals with spinal cord injuries.

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

Image: Truyền hình Đà Nẵng I DaNangTV.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

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

1 hour ago
Crime
UK

Investigators Ignored Grooming Gang Demographics, Admits Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A report on grooming gangs in Britain revealed systemic failures and a pattern of blaming victims for crimes committed against them.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Baroness Louise Casey, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and police forces across Britain.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Report released on Monday, June 16, 2025, addressing grooming gang issues in Britain.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Children as young as 10 plied with drugs and alcohol, brutally raped by gangs of men and disgracefully let down again and again by the authorities who were meant to protect them.” – Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

🎯IMPACT: The government announced new measures, including statutory data collection on perpetrators’ nationality and ethnicity.

IN FULL

A “deeply disturbing” report by Baroness Louise Casey has exposed widespread institutional failings in how authorities handled grooming gang crimes across Britain. The review found that Asian and Pakistani-background men were vastly overrepresented among suspects involved in child sexual grooming gang activity.

The report also found victims—many girls aged just 10 to 15—were wrongly blamed, often dismissed as “wayward teenagers” instead of vulnerable children being raped and exploited.

“If we’d got this right years ago—seeing these girls as children raped rather than ‘wayward teenagers’ or collaborators in their abuse, collecting ethnicity data, and acknowledging as a system that we did not do a good enough job—then I doubt we’d be in this place now,” Baroness Casey wrote.

British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper—roughly equivalent to the Homeland Security Secretary in the U.S.—vowed swift action on 12 key recommendations, including a new time-limited national inquiry, treating grooming gang abuse as serious and organised crime, and tracking data on offenders’ ethnicity and nationality. The National Crime Agency (NCA) will reopen over 800 cold cases.

“This is one of the most horrific crimes,” Cooper told Members of Parliament (MPs), issuing an “unequivocal apology” to survivors. “Children as young as 10 plied with drugs and alcohol, brutally raped by gangs of men and disgracefully let down again and again by the authorities who were meant to protect them.”

Baroness Casey’s 200-page report criticised the historic refusal to collect ethnicity data and warned this silence had “only helped the bad people.” She also called for criminal records of victims coerced into illegal activity to be overturned and said stricter laws were needed to ensure men who have sex with under-16s face rape charges.

The inquiry comes after years of public outcry. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the new probe after facing mounting pressure from the right, including criticism from Elon Musk and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s warned against delaying reforms, urging the government to implement existing recommendations immediately. “Children and survivors have already been waiting many years for action,” said CEO Lynn Perry.

Grooming gang activity remains ongoing, with perpetrators now often targeting victims online or in vape shops, the report found.

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

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

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

2 hours ago
War

Here’s What America is Sending to the Middle East Now.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. aircraft carrier strike group is heading to the Middle East amid escalating tensions involving Iran and Israel.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The USS Nimitz strike group, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump, and Iran’s leadership.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The USS Nimitz is en route from the South China Sea to the Middle East, with a canceled stop in Vietnam, as of Sunday.

💬KEY QUOTE:  “We will have a second Holocaust—a nuclear Holocaust,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, justifying his country’s attacks on Iran. He added: “The Jewish state is not going to have the Holocaust on the Jewish people. Never again is now, and we have to act now.”

🎯IMPACT: The repositioning of U.S. military assets highlights ongoing regional tensions and the potential for further escalation.

IN FULL

The United States is diverting a large number of military assets to positions in Europe and the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group is heading to the Middle East from the South China Sea. The strike group includes nine squadrons flying F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2D Hawkeyes, C-2A Greyhounds, and MH-60R/S Sea Hawks.

Additionally, on Sunday, social media accounts tracked the flight paths of multiple KC-135 and KC-46 refueling aircraft heading to Europe. While the refueling tankers traveled with their flight transponders on, it is possible they towed other aircraft as part of the airlift, which did not have activated transponders. These could include B-2 bombers, capable of delivering the GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator)—a 30,000lb bunker buster bomb capable of destroying Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), which is located an estimated half-mile inside a mountain just outside the city of Qom.

Two anonymous American officials have stated that the aircraft were being repositioned to provide President Donald J. Trump with additional options. The Nimitz, set to be decommissioned next year, was initially scheduled to replace the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea but is now arriving ahead of schedule.

The deployment coincides with Israel’s ongoing offensive against Iran, aimed at destroying the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. “Once they go that route, it’s too late. We will have a second Holocaust—a nuclear Holocaust,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, justifying his country’s attacks on Iran. He added: “The Jewish state is not going to have the Holocaust on the Jewish people. Never again is now, and we have to act now.”

Netanyahu said Iran had been given an opportunity to reach a nuclear deal with President Trump, but it became evident that Iran was not serious. “They basically strung everyone along and it was clear to us that the talks were going nowhere,” he added. The Israeli Defense Forces announced that one-third of Iranian missile launchers have been destroyed, with Netanyahu confirming that the Israeli Air Force “controls the skies over Tehran.”

The National Pulse reported on Monday that Iran has signaled to neighboring Arab governments that it is willing to return to negotiations, on the condition that the United States remain on the sidelines and not directly involve itself with Israel’s air campaign. “The Iranians know the U.S. is supporting Israel in its defense, and they are sure the U.S. is supporting Israel logistically,” anonymous Arab officials stated. “But they want guarantees the U.S. won’t join the attacks.”

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

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

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

2 hours ago
Health
News

Democrat States Defy RFK, Continue Pushing Covid Vax on Children, Pregnant Women.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Officials from California, Oregon, and Washington state announced they will continue recommending COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and small children, diverging from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated guidance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Health officials from California, Oregon, Washington state, the CDC, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The joint statement was issued on June 12, following the CDC’s May update to its immunization schedule.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy, HHS is restoring the doctor-patient relationship. If a parent desires their healthy child to be vaccinated, their decision should be based on informed consent through the clinical judgment of their healthcare provider,” a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said.

🎯IMPACT: The decision highlights a growing divide over public health guidance, with states and medical organizations differing on vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and children.

IN FULL

Officials from three states—California, Oregon, and Washington—stated on June 12 that pregnant women and small children should still have access to COVID-19 vaccines. This position diverges from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recently removed its recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy from its immunization schedule.

The CDC’s updated guidance, issued in May, also removed a recommendation for healthy children to receive the vaccine. Insurers often rely on the CDC’s immunization schedules to determine vaccine coverage, raising concerns for Big Pharma The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has sided with vaccine manufacturers, with its president, Dr. Steven Fleischman, stating, “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe during pregnancy, and vaccination can protect our patients and their infants after birth.”

Despite the CDC’s changes, health officials in California, Oregon, and Washington still want to vaccinate pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. In a joint statement, officials from the Democrat-led states said they will “continue to recommend all individuals age six months and older should have access and the choice to receive currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines, with an emphasis on protecting higher risk individuals, such as infants and toddlers, pregnant individuals, and others with risks for serious disease.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has defended the CDC’s changes, emphasizing the importance of medical autonomy and informed consent. “Americans deserve to make health decisions based on their individual circumstances—not under pressure from politicized institutions or rigid, one-size-fits-all mandates,” an HHS spokesman said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women remains insufficient to assess risks. Known side effects of the vaccines include heart inflammation and other adverse reactions. Most Western European countries only recommend COVID-19 vaccines to children over six months old who are particularly at risk from the virus.

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

 

Image by ILO/Minette Rimando.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

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

3 hours ago
News
Politics

Randi Weingarten Resigns from Democratic National Committee.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat Randi Weingarten has quit the Democratic National Committee (DNC) after 23 years, citing conflict with the current leadership

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Randi Weingarten, DNC chair Ken Martin, former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Weingarten sent her resignation letter to the DNC in June 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I appear to be out of step with the leadership you are forging and I do not want to be the one who keeps questioning why we are not enlarging our tent and actively trying to engage more of our communities.” — Randi Weingarten.

🎯IMPACT: The resignation comes amid deep divisions in the Democratic Party leadership, underscoring the current rudderless direction of the Democrats.

IN FULL

Leftist American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten has quit the Democratic National Committee (DNC) after 23 years, over disagreements with current DNC Chair Ken Martin. Weingarten announced her departure from the DNC in a letter dated June 5, saying, “I appear to be out of step with the leadership you are forging and I do not want to be the one who keeps questioning why we are not enlarging our tent and actively trying to engage more of our communities.”

Randi Weingarten’s departure underscores the factional tensions within the Democratic Party following Kamala Harris’s 2024 election loss.

Weingarten had defended former DNC vice chair David Hogg, who was recently ousted after supporting primary challenges against incumbent Democrats in safe-blue districts. Hogg wished to purge the party of less progressive candidates and planned to spend millions on primary efforts. He was nominally ousted over gender policies.

Weingarten backed Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler for DNC leadership earlier this year. When current chair Martin assumed control, he removed Weingarten from the DNC’s rules and bylaws committee, where she had been since 2009.

The ongoing internal battles within the Democratic Party underline that the party has no clear leadership ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Republicans under President Donald J. Trump have made significant inroads with traditionally Democratic voting blocs like Hispanics and union workers.

A recent poll released earlier this month found that more and more voters are considering the Republicans the party of the American middle class, and will soon overtake Democrats. The polling also reveals voters now consider the Republicans the party of “strong leaders” and the party that “can get things done.”

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

Image by Hillel Steinberg.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

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

4 hours ago
News
War

Iranian Missile Blast Damages U.S. Embassy Branch.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Tel Aviv branch of the U.S. Embassy in Israel was lightly damaged by the shockwave from a nearby Iranian missile.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Iranian forces, the U.S. Embassy branch in Tel Aviv, and Ambassador Mike Huckabee.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tel Aviv, Israel; reported on Monday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “No U.S. facility has yet been directly attacked by Iran, though American citizens in Israel are in danger.” – Mike Huckabee

🎯IMPACT: The attack highlights the ongoing threat posed by Iran, though Israel’s air defenses intercepted roughly 90 percent of incoming missiles.

IN FULL

The Tel Aviv branch of the U.S. Embassy in Israel sustained damage from the shockwave of an Iranian missile strike nearby, Ambassador Mike Huckabee confirmed on Monday. No injuries were reported in the incident. “No U.S. facility has yet been directly attacked by Iran, though American citizens in Israel are in danger,” Huckabee said.

Previously serving as the main U.S. Embassy in Israel, the Tel Aviv branch now functions as a consular services location after President Donald J. Trump moved the embassy to Jerusalem during his first term.

According to the Israel Government Press Office, as of Monday, over 370 ballistic missiles had been launched by Iran, with 30 missile impact sites identified. Casualty reports include 24 fatalities and 592 injuries, with 10 in serious condition and 36 in moderate condition. Iran’s missile attacks have been largely mitigated by Israel’s air defenses, which intercepted approximately 90 percent of the incoming missiles.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that it had destroyed 120 missile launchers, which it estimates to be one-third of Iran’s total. However, Iranian forces are believed to still possess thousands of ballistic missiles, even if their ability to fire them may be diminishing.

Iran has not yet targeted any U.S. facility directly, and no successful drone strikes have been recorded. However, the threat to American citizens in Israel remains significant, according to Ambassador Huckabee.

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

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

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

5 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Trump Demands Major Deportation Initiative in Democrat-Led Sanctuary Cities.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced a plan to launch a mass deportation program targeting Democrat-run sanctuary cities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and other federal law enforcement agencies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Sunday evening on Truth Social, targeting cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These Radical Left Democrats are sick of mind, hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities—And they are doing a good job of it!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: ICE is reportedly preparing Special Response Teams to deploy to sanctuary cities, though a timeline has not been announced.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced Sunday evening his intention to launch what he described as the “single largest Mass Deportation Program in history.” The program will focus on Democrat-run sanctuary cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, with a significant deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

In a Truth Social post, Trump commended ICE personnel for their “incredible strength, determination, and courage,” and criticized sanctuary cities as “havens” for illegal immigrants and “centers of Democrat power.” He emphasized the need to expand efforts to detain and deport illegals in major cities where he claimed millions reside.

“In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside,” Trump wrote. He accused Democrats of using illegal immigrants to “expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens.”

Trump also criticized Democratic leadership in major cities, accusing them of fostering urban decay and undermining law enforcement. “These Radical Left Democrats are sick of mind, hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities — And they are doing a good job of it!” He stated that federal law enforcement agencies, including Border Patrol, would be mobilized to focus on “crime-ridden” cities with sanctuary policies.

Reports last week revealed that ICE is preparing to deploy Special Response Teams (SRTs) to five sanctuary cities, including Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and Northern Virginia. These units, trained for high-risk operations, have reportedly been instructed to “stand by.” However, an official timeline for these deployments has not been disclosed.

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.

5 hours ago
News

Trump Brands Walz ‘Grossly Incompetent’ Amid Minnesota Shootings.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A political assassination in Minnesota left two people dead, including state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D), and two others injured, sparking condemnation from President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Victims include Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark; suspect Vance Luther Boelter has been captured. President Trump and Governor Tim Walz (D) have also been involved in the aftermath.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shootings occurred early Saturday in Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz addressed the incident on June 14, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The incident has heightened concerns over political violence, with federal law enforcement involved in the investigation.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump said on Sunday that he “may” call Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) following a political assassination that shocked the state. Trump, who condemned the violence, described Walz as a “terrible governor” and “grossly incompetent.” Speaking to ABC’s Rachel Scott, Trump stated, “Well, it’s a terrible thing. I think he’s a terrible governor. I think he’s a grossly incompetent person. But I may, I may call him, I may call other people, too.”

The state of Minnesota is grappling with the aftermath of two shootings that claimed the lives of state Representative Melissa Hortman (D), a former speaker of the state House, and her husband, Mark. The attack also left a state senator and his wife injured. Authorities report that the suspect, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, disguised himself as a police officer. Boelter was taken into custody late Sunday night after a lengthy manhunt.

Governor Walz labeled the shootings an “act of targeted political violence.” A source close to Walz revealed that he and Vice President J.D. Vance have been in communication regarding the incident. The source added, “The Governor expressed appreciation for the ongoing coordination between federal law enforcement and Minnesota public safety officials.” However, another source noted that Trump had not yet contacted Walz.

Notably, Walz himself has been accused of turning up the political temperature regarding violent political rhetoric. The National Pulse reported in May that the Minnesota Democrat had compared U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Adolf Hitler’s Gestapo during a commencement speech.

The FBI and the Attorney General have launched an investigation, with the White House pledging to prosecute anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Police discovered a list in the suspect’s vehicle containing the names of dozens of Minnesota Democrats, raising concerns regarding the extent and scale of Boelter’s additional planned acts of terrorism.

This tragic event comes amid increasing worries over political violence in the U.S., following incidents such as the killing of Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, an arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home, and last summer’s two attempted assassinations of Trump. President Trump commented, “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place.”

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

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

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

6 hours ago
Crime
News

Suspect in Minnesota Lawmaker’s Assassination Captured.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another surrendered to police after a massive two-day manhunt.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Suspect Vance Luther Boelter, victims Melissa and Mark Hortman, and John and Yvette Hoffman.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shootings occurred early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs, with the suspect apprehended Sunday near his home in rural Sibley County.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences.” – Gov. Tim Walz.

🎯IMPACT: The attacks have heightened concerns over political violence and left the state mourning the loss of prominent leaders.

IN FULL

Vance Luther Boelter, the suspect in a series of shootings that left former Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark, dead, and injured Senator John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, was arrested Sunday, June 15. The arrest followed an extensive manhunt involving 20 tactical teams, helicopters, and officers on foot.

Authorities say Boelter posed as a police officer, using a vehicle altered to resemble a police car. He allegedly targeted the Hoffmans first, shooting them at their home in Champlin early Saturday. Hours later, he fatally shot the Hortmans at their home in Brooklyn Park as police arrived on the scene, prompting him to flee.

Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley described the operation to capture Boelter as “the largest manhunt in the state’s history.” Officers eventually located Boelter in the woods near his abandoned vehicle. He surrendered without incident, crawling to officers before being taken into custody.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, credited officers’ quick response at the Hortman residence with preventing further violence.

The attacks have drawn nationwide attention, with Gov. Tim Walz (D) condemning the violence and calling for unity, saying, “This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences.”

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) shared a statement from Yvette Hoffman, who expressed gratitude for public support, adding that both she and her husband are recovering from multiple gunshot wounds. “We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark,” Hoffman wrote.

The motivation for the attack remains unclear. Officials found “No Kings” fliers in the seat of the suspect’s vehicle, but a list of Democrat lawmakers and pro-abortion activists was also reportedly found. Writings, possibly some sort of manifesto, have also been reported, but investigators have released no details.

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

Image via Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.

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.

7 hours ago
News
War

Car Bombs Took Out Iranian Nuclear Scientists in Tehran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Iran has blamed Israel for multiple car bombs, which reportedly killed several Iranian nuclear scientists..

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iranian nuclear scientists.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bombings were reported on Sunday, June 15, by Iranian media.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons that make the bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima look tiny in comparison. We could not remain passive. This is truly an existential war.” – Benjamin Netanyahu

🎯IMPACT: The killings suggest that Israel still has agents operating covertly in Iran, adding another layer to the ongoing conflict.

IN FULL

Iranian authorities have blamed Israel for at least five car bombings that took place on June 15, with Iranian media additionally claiming that several nuclear scientists were killed as a result. The apparent killings come after Israel has specifically targeted nuclear scientists and senior Iranian military officials in recent days.

Since Friday, June 13, around 15 nuclear scientists have reportedly been killed in Israeli attacks as both Israel and Iran continue to trade blows. Israeli officials have denied being behind the car bombs in Tehran, however.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained why he gave the green light for strikes on Iran, which began last week, saying, “Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons that make the bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima look tiny in comparison. We could not remain passive. This is truly an existential war.”

The death toll on both sides has continued to rise since Friday, with reports in Iran claiming at least 224 deaths and 1,200 injured, while Israel has reported 24 people killed since the conflict between the two countries began. However, some activists claim as many as 406 people in Iran may have been killed in Israeli strikes.

Israel now claims to have air superiority over Tehran, Iran’s capital, with Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin stating that Israel has struck over 120 launch pads for missiles, destroying a third of them overall. Despite this, Iran has been able to attack Israeli targets and at times penetrate Israel’s multi-layered drone and missile defence systems.

So far, the United States is not offensively involved in the conflict, but President Donald J. Trump has warned Iran that the U.S. could become involved if Iran strikes U.S. targets in the region. President Trump said, “[If] we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.” Additionally, the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its carrier strike force are en route to the region.

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

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad