GET THE APP
Friday, August 15, 2025

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
Lawfare

D.C. Files Lawfare Suit Against Trump Takeover.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The District of Columbia’s city government filed a lawsuit challenging federal control over its police department, following a directive from the Trump administration naming a federal official as the emergency head of the department.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) head Terry Cole, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed on Friday in Washington, D.C., following federal directives issued earlier in the week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call D.C. home. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.” – Brian Schwalb

🎯IMPACT: Federal forces, including National Guard troops, have been clamping down on crime in the American capital, but a successful legal challenge could disrupt this.

IN FULL

The District of Columbia has taken legal action against the Trump administration’s decision to place its police department under federal control. The lawsuit, filed by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb (D), argues that the administration’s move violates the autonomy of the district and its residents.

The legal challenge follows an announcement late Thursday by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who stated that Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) boss Terry Cole would assume the powers of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief of Police. Bondi’s directive also rescinded local policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and mandated that all new directives receive Cole’s approval.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith have pushed back against the federal actions. Bowser stated there is no legal basis for transferring the district’s personnel authority to a federal official, while Schwalb advised Smith to continue following orders from local leadership rather than federal officials.

The Trump administration has justified its actions as part of a broader crackdown on crime and illegal immigration, citing a state of emergency to bolster its authority. Federal forces, including National Guard troops and DEA agents, have been deployed across D.C., with visible patrols in high-traffic areas and checkpoints in popular nightlife districts.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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
William Upton
Crime

All 800 National Guard Troops Are Now Mobilized in D.C.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The National Guard has officially deployed all 800 troops mobilized as part of President Donald J. Trump’s 30-day federalization of law enforcement in Washington, D.C.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The National Guard, President Donald J. Trump, Department of Defense spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and criminals.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday evening, August 14, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As of today, all 800 Army and Air National Guardsmen are mobilized… as part of Joint Task Force D.C., and they are now here in our capital.” — Kingsley Wilson

🎯IMPACT: The deployment will last for at least 30 days, and could be extended if President Trump is able to secure the votes he needs in Congress.

IN FULL

The National Guard has officially deployed all 800 troops mobilized as part of President Donald J. Trump‘s 30-day federalization of law enforcement in Washington, D.C., aimed at cracking down on violent crime in the United States capital. According to the U.S. Army, the National Guard troops, while not engaging in direct policing, “[are] to provide a visible presence in key public areas, serving as a visible crime deterrent.”

“As of today, all 800 Army and Air National Guardsmen are mobilized… as part of Joint Task Force D.C., and they are now here in our capital,” Department of Defense spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson said, adding that they “will assist the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement partners with monument security, community safety patrols, protecting federal facilities and officers” and assisting with traffic stops.

Wilson went on to state that the National Guard troops “will remain until law and order has been restored in the District, as determined by the President.” The National Pulse reported on Thursday that President Trump will pursue “long-term extensions” from Congress to maintain control of Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

“We’re going to need a crime bill that we’re going to be putting in and it’s going to pertain initially to D.C. We’re going to be asking for extensions on that, long-term extensions, because you can’t have 30 days,” Trump said. While Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, at least seven Democratic votes would be needed in the Senate to meet the 60-vote threshold for passage.

Late Thursday evening, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi officially transferred the powers of the Washington, D.C. police chief to the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), solidifying federal control. The move prompted a response from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “We have followed the law… there is no statute that conveys the District’s personnel authority to a federal official.”

The Democrat D.C. Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, is challenging the transfer of powers in court.

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
Education
Lawfare

Judge Blocks Trump’s Move to Eliminate DEI in Schools.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge struck down Trump administration guidance aimed at curbing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in federally funded schools.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Judge Stephanie Gallagher, the Department of Education, and teachers’ groups, including the American Federation of Teachers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Thursday in a Maryland District Court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The administration is entitled to express its viewpoints and to promulgate policies aligned with those viewpoints. But it must do so within the procedural bounds Congress has outlined.” – Judge Stephanie Gallagher

🎯IMPACT: The ruling blocks the enforcement of guidance that sought to end racially-based DEI programs, raising constitutional concerns about procedural requirements.

IN FULL

Maryland District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher has struck down Trump administration guidance warning schools against adopting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that discriminate against white or Asian students. The decision also invalidates the Education Department’s requirement for schools to certify non-discrimination in their DEI initiatives.

“This Court takes no view as to whether the policies at issue in this case are good or bad, prudent or foolish, fair or unfair,” Gallagher stated. “But… it must closely scrutinize whether the government went about creating and implementing them in the manner the law requires. Here, it did not. And by leapfrogging important procedural requirements, the government has unwittingly run headfirst into serious constitutional problems,” she claimed.

The ruling follows a lawfare suit from the American Federation of Teachers and other teachers’ groups. Issued in February, the guidance required state education agencies to submit compliance certifications by April and threatened funding cuts for schools maintaining race-based DEI programs.

The Department of Education voiced disappointment with the ruling. “While the Department is disappointed in the judge’s ruling, judicial action enjoining or setting aside this guidance has not stopped our ability to enforce Title VI protections for students at an unprecedented level,” a spokesman said. “The Department remains committed to its responsibility to uphold students’ anti-discrimination protections under the law.”

The original guidance declared, “American educational institutions have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds and low-income families. These institutions’ embrace of pervasive and repugnant race-based preferences and other forms of racial discrimination have emanated throughout every facet of academia.”

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
Wake Up Right
War

What to Expect From Trump-Putin Alaska Summit:

President Donald J. Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska today—aiming to jumpstart a deal to end the Ukraine war.

The details: The heads of state will meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage at 3:30 PM ET. Their itinerary includes:

  • 1-on-1 meeting with interpreters only
  • Working lunch with delegations
  • Joint press conference

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a quick, impromptu photo-op/press gaggle before the 1-on-1.

Zoom out: Since taking office, just over 200 days ago, Trump has not been shy about his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. At times, he has voiced his frustrations with both parties—Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Why meet with Putin? Trump’s critics—both Democrats and RINOs—oppose his decision to meet with Putin. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended him, saying,

  • “The president feels like, ‘Look, I’ve got to look at this guy across the table. I need to see him face-to-face. I need to hear him one-on-one. I need to make an assessment by looking at him.”

What are the odds of a deal? Trump told Fox News Radio: “There is a 25 percent chance this meeting will not be a successful meeting.”

What is Putin saying? On the eve of these historic talks, the Russian leader said Trump “is making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the fighting, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in the conflict.”

What’s Zelensky up to? He flew to London yesterday to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer’s office said the Trump-Putin summit presents “a viable chance to make progress.”

The numbers: A new Gallup poll found that 69 percent of Ukrainians support seeking a negotiated peace to end the war as soon as possible—up from just 27 percent in 2023. Just 24 percent want to continue fighting.

The goal: The White House has already stated publicly that it does not expect to walk out of Anchorage with a deal. However, a senior official told Politico that Trump is “intent on delivering the beginnings of peace.”

What would happen next? Trump says, if the meeting goes well, he will return to D.C. and look to schedule a summit with Putin, Zelensky, and European leaders. If it doesn’t go well, he is “not calling anybody.”

Hillary said what? Failed presidential nominee Hillary Clinton recently said: “[H]onestly, if he could bring about the end to this terrible war… without putting Ukraine in a position where it had to concede its territory… I’d nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize.”

Real talk from G: Temper your expectations for today’s meeting. But don’t temper your appreciation for a president who is genuinely working to bring peace.

Be sure to subscribe to the Wake Up Right newsletter! 

show less
President Donald J. Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska today—aiming to jumpstart a deal to end the Ukraine war. 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.

15 hours ago
Health
News

‘Break-Bone Fever’ Is Entering the U.S. From Asia, Africa.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Hawaii has reported 12 cases of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness, prompting urgent warnings from health officials. Forty-six states and territories have reported thousands of cases nationwide.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Hawaii Department of Health confirmed the cases, including one resident of Oahu who contracted the virus during international travel.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The cases have been reported throughout 2025, with the most recent case confirmed on Oahu. Dengue is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions.

🎯IMPACT: Dengue fever cases in Hawaii are nearing last year’s total, reflecting a broader trend of increasing mosquito-borne illnesses in the U.S.

IN FULL

According to the Hawaii Department of Health, Hawaii has reported 12 cases of dengue fever so far in 2025. The most recent case involved a resident of Oahu who contracted the virus while traveling internationally to a region where dengue is common, such as Southeast Asia, South America, the Caribbean, or Africa. This brings the state’s case count close to the 16 total cases reported in all of 2024.

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has documented 2,725 cases of dengue fever across 46 states and territories in 2025. The disease is particularly prevalent in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Arizona, and California. Puerto Rico leads with 2,152 cases, followed by Florida with 115 and California with 62.

Dengue fever, also known as “break-bone fever,” is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms include high fever, severe joint and muscle pain, and, in rare cases, internal bleeding and difficulty breathing. Without treatment, the disease carries a mortality rate of 13 percent, though “rapid fluid replacement can reduce this to less than one percent.”

A vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) is available for children aged nine to 16. However, its manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, has stopped global production due to low demand. Remaining doses are still available in Puerto Rico, but are expected to run out by 2026.

The CDC advises travelers heading to high-risk areas to take precautions such as using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and staying in screened or air-conditioned accommodation. Travelers returning from dengue-endemic regions are urged to monitor for symptoms and consult a doctor if symptoms appear within two weeks.

Image by Raed Mansour.

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.

16 hours ago
Immigration
UK

Britain Has the Worst EMIGRATION Stat in the World.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Britain is set to lose a record number of millionaires in 2025, with 16,500 expected to emigrate as economic uncertainty grows and illegal immigration increases.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Wealthy residents leaving the United Kingdom, Britain’s governing Labour Party, Dr. Juerg Steffen of Henley & Partners.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The data pertains to 2025, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) becoming a top destination for millionaires while Britain sees record illegal boat arrivals.

💬KEY QUOTE: “2025 marks a pivotal moment. For the first time in a decade of tracking, a European country leads the world in millionaire outflows.” – Dr. Juerg Steffen

🎯IMPACT: The United Kingdom’s economic competitiveness and investment appeal are collapsing under the leftist Labour Party.

IN FULL

Britain is on course to lose 16,500 millionaires in 2025, the largest-ever exodus of wealthy residents from the country. This emigration wave coincides with a surge in small boat crossings of the English Channel by illegal immigrants, which are also breaking records under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leftist Labour Party.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands to gain the most from this outflow, with 9,800 millionaires expected to relocate there in 2025, bringing with them an estimated $63 billion in investable assets. Globally, 142,000 high-net-worth individuals are projected to move this year, a 16 percent increase compared to 2024.

Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners—which describes itself as “the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment”—emphasized the importance of this shift: “2025 marks a pivotal moment. For the first time in a decade of tracking, a European country leads the world in millionaire outflows. This isn’t just about changes to the tax regime. It reflects a deepening perception among the wealthy that greater opportunity, freedom, and stability lie elsewhere.”

The trend was reported earlier this year in Britain’s capital, London, when the financial hub dropped out of the five wealthiest cities in the world due to millionaires fleeing the hyper-diverse city.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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.

17 hours ago
Economy
News

India Faces More Tariffs If Trump-Putin Talks Fail.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports due to India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil. It faces further penalties depending on the outcome of talks between President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, President Donald J. Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tariffs were imposed on July 31 and August 6, with high-stakes meetings between Trump and Putin scheduled in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’ve put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, if things don’t go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up.” – Scott Bessent

🎯IMPACT: The tariffs threaten India’s key export sectors, including textiles and jewelry, and could lead to significant job losses in industries reliant on U.S. trade.

IN FULL

The United States has imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports in response to the country’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil. A 25 percent tariff was initially introduced on July 31, followed by another 25 percent on August 6, effectively raising the total tariff rate to 50 percent. Now, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that more penalties could follow if upcoming talks between President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin fail to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine.

“We’ve put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, if things don’t go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up,” Bessent said in an interview. He also called on European nations to align with the U.S. on sanctions, stressing their importance in maintaining pressure on Russia.

Trump, who is scheduled to meet Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, described the summit as a chance to “set the table” for future negotiations concerning Ukraine. He warned of “very severe consequences” if Putin does not agree to a truce, without providing details.

India, now the second-largest importer of Russian crude oil after China, has defended its stance, citing the need for cheap energy to support its economy. The Indian government labeled the U.S. tariffs as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable” and pledged to safeguard its national interests.

The new tariffs could severely impact India’s export-driven industries such as textiles, footwear, and jewelry, which together made up nearly $87 billion in trade with the U.S. last year. Experts warn that the heightened duties could erode the competitiveness of Indian exporters relative to counterparts in countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam, threatening millions of jobs in vital sectors.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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.

18 hours ago
News
Science

NASA Is Monitoring a House-Sized Asteroid Nearing Earth.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: NASA is tracking a house-sized asteroid, 2025 PR1, expected to pass Earth on August 16 at a speed of approximately 17,717 miles per hour.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and its Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The asteroid will make its closest approach on Saturday, August 16, at a distance of 609,000 miles from Earth.

🎯IMPACT: While the asteroid poses no immediate threat, its tracking highlights NASA’s ongoing efforts to monitor near-Earth objects.

IN FULL

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is closely monitoring an asteroid designated 2025 PR1, which is expected to make a relatively close approach to Earth on August 16. Traveling at approximately 17,717 miles per hour, the asteroid is about 55 feet wide, roughly the size of a house, and will pass at a distance of 609,000 miles from our planet.

In addition to 2025 PR1, three more near-Earth asteroids are projected to pass by Earth in the coming week. On August 17, asteroid 2025 PM, comparable in size to an airplane, will come within 654,000 miles. Following that, on August 20, the stadium-sized asteroid 1997 QK1, measuring around 990 feet across, is expected to pass at a distance of 1,870,000 miles. That same day, another asteroid, 2025 OV4, about 160 feet wide, will make its closest approach at 1,800,000 miles.

NASA notes that small asteroids, up to about 30 feet across, typically enter Earth’s atmosphere roughly once per decade. These asteroids often produce bright fireballs and sonic booms but rarely cause serious damage.

Earlier this year, NASA identified a larger potential threat: asteroid 2024 YR4. Initially calculated to have a 3.1 percent chance of impacting Earth in 2032, the highest probability ever recorded for an object of its size, refined orbital projections now indicate it’s more likely to collide with the Moon in December 2032.

“Asteroid 2024 YR4 is now too far away to observe with either space or ground-based telescopes. NASA expects to make further observations when the asteroid’s orbit around the Sun brings it back into the vicinity of Earth in 2028,” NASA stated. Updated data also shows the probability of a Moon impact has slightly increased, from 3.8 percent to 4.3 percent. Even in the event of such a collision, NASA notes that it “would not alter its orbit.”

Meanwhile, scientists in South Korea have been analyzing the potential impact of asteroid Bennu, a much larger object, roughly 1,640 feet wide, with a one-in-2,700 chance of hitting Earth in September 2182. Their research suggests that such an impact could lead to catastrophic effects, including widespread wildfires, earthquakes, and atmospheric changes severe enough to cause significant global cooling and a reduction in photosynthesis for several years.

Image by Joe Loong.

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.

18 hours ago
Politics

Californians Reject Newsom’s Redistricting Plot, Poll Shows.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to transfer redistricting authority from an independent commission to the Democrat-dominated state legislature faces significant public opposition, according to a recent poll.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Gavin Newsom, California voters, and the state legislature.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll conducted between July 28 and August 12, 2025, across California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.” – Gavin Newsom

🎯IMPACT: The move could lead to intensified political battles over congressional maps and potential retaliation from other states.

IN FULL

A plan to further gerrymander California’s congressional districts, pushed by Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), is being widely panned by Golden State voters. According to a new Politico–Citrin Center–Possibility Lab poll, Newsom’s gerrymander proposal, seeking to shift redistricting authority from California’s independent commission—enshrined in the state constitution—to the California legislature, is opposed by nearly two-thirds of respondents. Notably, the change would require voter approval through a statewide referendum, scheduled for November.

The survey, conducted between July 28 and August 12 among 1,445 registered voters in California, revealed that Californians overwhelmingly favor the independent panel. Only 36 percent of respondents support Newsom‘s plan, including a mere 39 percent of Democrats and 34 percent of Republicans.

Newsom has framed his redistricting effort as a countermeasure to Republican-led initiatives in states like Texas, where GOP lawmakers are pursuing new congressional maps that could secure up to five additional House seats for Republicans. In response, Newsom stated, “If the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will do the same. And American democracy will be better for it.”

Critics, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have questioned the impartiality of California’s current congressional maps, which some argue already favor Democrats. The Princeton University Gerrymandering Project rated California’s map a “B” overall but gave it an “F” for competitiveness. Republicans currently hold just 17 percent of the state’s congressional seats, despite Donald Trump securing 38.3 percent of the vote in the 2024 presidential election.

The redistricting debate comes as other Democrat-led states, such as Illinois and Maryland—two of the most heavily gerrymandered states in the country—signal their willingness to redraw their maps in response to Republican efforts.

Meanwhile, Texas House Democrats recently returned home after fleeing the state to block a GOP redistricting proposal; however, another special session on the matter is expected to be called soon.

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.

19 hours ago
News

British Government Funded Charities Driving Anti-Vance Campaign.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Aggressive protests targeting Vice President J.D. Vance and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk, featuring unflattering billboards and other imagery, were orchestrated by charities funded by the British government.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, Rainbow Migration, Hope Not Hate, the People vs Elon group, and the British government, particularly under the formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The protests and campaigns have been ongoing, with information on the charities the British government was involved with spanning from 2019 to 2024.

💬KEY QUOTE: “What on earth were the Conservative Party up to?” – Independent journalist Charlotte Gill.

🎯IMPACT: The involvement of charities in political campaigns raises questions about their role and government affiliations.

IN FULL

Aggressive protests against Vice President J.D. Vance and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk in the United Kingdom involved organizations directly linked to the British government. Independent journalist Charlotte Gill, building off research by Lewis Brackpool of the Restore Britain group, found that Rainbow Migration and Hope Not Hate, both part of a collective known as People vs Elon or Everyone Hates Elon, have received government advisory roles and funding.

“[T]he crucial thing to know here… is People vs Elon also goes by the name Everyone Hates Elon, and Everyone Hates Elon, if you go to its Instagram page, you will see it’s… behind all of the recent J.D. Vance nastiness,” Gill explained in a video posted to social media, referring to a billboard and poster campaign intended to harass the Vice President during a recent vacation in England’s Cotswolds.

Hope Not Hate, which claims to be an anti-fascist organization but spends much of its time doxxing and harassing people with popular right-leaning opinions, has a private wing funded by its charitable trust. Gill notes that this legally separate arm allows it to engage in political lobbying, despite its advisory role with the Home Office’s Counter Extremism Unit.

The involvement of the British government in propping up charities behind political campaigns against American political figures like Vance and Musk raises questions about the misuse of public funds for partisan politics. Gill stressed that much of the charities’ government links stem from the period when the Conservatives, rather than Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, were still in power.

“What on earth were the Conservative Party up to? It just shows what a complete mess the charity sector is that we have these organizations that have been really aggressive to the Vice President of the U.S. and they worked with a Conservative government,” she emphasized, adding, “You can’t make it up.”

President Donald J. Trump, speaking to Nigel Farage of the Reform Party—which is rapidly supplanting the Conservatives on the British right—observed in 2023, “[The Conservatives] really weren’t staying conservative… they were literally going far left. It never made sense.”

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.

19 hours ago
News

Melania Trump Wants to Sue Hunter Biden for $1 Billion, Here’s Why:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: First Lady Melania Trump has threatened to sue Hunter Biden for $1 billion over false claims linking her to deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Melania Trump, Hunter Biden, Jeffrey Epstein, and author Michael Wolff.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Comments aired during Biden’s interview with the Channel 5 podcast; lawsuit threats issued shortly after.

💬KEY QUOTE: “What I said is what I have heard and seen reported and written, primarily from Wolff.” – Hunter Biden

🎯IMPACT: Melania Trump alleges significant financial and reputational harm, while Biden is dismissing the lawsuit threat.

IN FULL

First Lady Melania Trump has initiated legal action against Hunter Biden, demanding $1 billion in damages for what her legal team describes as “false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements” linking her to deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The claims were made during Biden’s appearance on the Channel 5 podcast and YouTube show and have since been widely circulated on social media and various media outlets.

Hunter Biden alleged that Jeffrey Epstein introduced the First Lady to President Donald J. Trump, alleging it was “beyond a doubt” that Trump and Epstein were “very close friends” who spent significant time together. Biden attributed his claims to author Michael Wolff, whose credibility has been called into question by the Trump family in the past, with President Trump labeling him a “Third Rate Reporter.”

Melania Trump’s legal representative, Alejandro Brito, stated in a letter to former President Joe Biden’s son that his comments caused her “overwhelming financial and reputational harm.” Despite the threat of legal action, Hunter Biden has refused to apologize or retract his apparently false assertion, insisting, “What I said is what I have heard and seen reported and written, primarily from Wolff.”

Channel 5 even offered Biden a chance to retract his statements and apologize to Melania Trump to avoid the lawsuit, but Biden declined, dismissing the legal threat as a distraction. He added, “I don’t think these threats of a lawsuit add up to anything.”

President Trump and Melania have consistently related that they were introduced by Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agent, at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998. The National Pulse reported last week that Democratic strategist James Carville was forced to issue a public apology after making the same false claim as Biden.

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