GET THE APP
Thursday, November 27, 2025

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

August 21, 2025
William Upton
Breaking
Lawfare

BREAKING: Appeals Court Throws Out New York Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A New York appellate court on Thursday threw out the state’s massive civil fraud penalty imposed on President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Judge Arthur Engoron, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and a New York appeals court.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday, August 21, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “While the injunctive relief ordered by the court is well crafted to curb defendants’ business culture, the court’s disgorgement order, which directs that defendants pay nearly half a billion dollars to the State of New York, is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the appeals panel wrote.

🎯IMPACT: Prior to today’s ruling, the penalty against Trump stood at an estimated $527 million, including accrued interest.

IN FULL

A New York appellate court on Thursday threw out the state’s massive civil fraud penalty imposed on President Donald J. Trump. The case, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), alleged that Trump and the Trump Organization, including sons Eric and Donald Jr., fraudulently misrepresented Trump’s wealth and property values to secure favorable loan and insurance terms. Last year, far-left New York Judge Arthur Engoron, a Democrat donor, imposed a $454 million civil judgment against Trump, as well as other legal sanctions against him, his sons, and the Trump Organization.

The panel of five Appellate Division judges determined that Judge Engoron’s penalties were “excessive” in nature. Legal commentators have held throughout the process that the penalties against President Trump were unusual, as the type of fraud case brought against him had no prior legal precedent.

“While the injunctive relief ordered by the court is well crafted to curb defendants’ business culture, the court’s disgorgement order, which directs that defendants pay nearly half a billion dollars to the State of New York, is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the appeals panel wrote.

Prior to today’s ruling, the penalty against Trump stood at an estimated $527 million, including accrued interest.

Image by Freelancers Union.

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.

8 hours ago
Crime
News

Judges Cut Sentence of Muslim Gang Rapist of Jewish Girl, 12, to Aid His ‘Reintegration.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Muslim teenager involved in the gang rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in France had his sentence reduced by the Versailles Court of Appeal.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Two teenage Muslims, one of whom was 13 at the time, were convicted of the crime; a third boy was too young to face prosecution.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred in Courbevoie, France, on June 15, 2022, with the original trial held in June 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is no doubt that [the victim] would not have been assaulted or raped if she had not been Jewish,” the original trial judge conceded.

🎯IMPACT: The decision has sparked outrage among those who believe justice for victims is taking a backseat to the supposed needs of offenders.

IN FULL

A French appeals court has reduced the prison sentence of a Muslim teenager convicted in the 2022 gang rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl from nine years to seven, citing the need to aid his future “reintegration” into society. The defendant was 13 at the time of the attack.

The assault took place on June 15, 2022, in Courbevoie, a suburb northwest of Paris. The victim was ambushed by three boys, dragged to a shed, and forced to perform sexual acts on two of them. She was threatened with death, called a “dirty Jew,” ordered to convert to Islam, and had a lighter held to her face in an attempt to burn her.

In the initial June 2025 trial, the two older defendants received seven and nine years for religiously aggravated gang rape of a minor under 15. The youngest boy, under 12 at the time, could not be criminally prosecuted due to his age and was placed in an educational facility for five years.

The presiding judge at the original trial stated: “There is no doubt that [the victim] would not have been assaulted or raped if she had not been Jewish.” The girl’s lawyers praised her courage, saying: “The main thing is that she has managed to bring the perpetrators of her attack to justice and that two of them are imprisoned.”

Speaking to French media after the verdict, the victim explained why she reported the crime: “It’s important for me to speak out because the very fact I spoke out meant he was quickly arrested and imprisoned. By doing this, I protect myself and I protect others; so they cannot do this to others.”

The reduced sentence has reignited accusations of two-tier justice in Europe, with courts and police often treating offenders from ethnic or religious minorities more leniently than native Europeans. Recent examples include new sentencing guidelines in Britain that attempted to urge judges to consider bail more favorably for ethnic minorities, and a suspended sentence handed to a migrant who sexually assaulted a white teenager.

Image by Continentaleurope.

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.

20 hours ago
News

Hegseth to Slash Support for ‘Genderless’ Scouts.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, faces potential severance of military ties due to concerns raised by War Secretary Pete Hegseth about the organization’s direction and values.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Scouting America, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Pentagon.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Draft memo obtained in 2025; potential policy changes could impact military support for events such as the National Jamboree in West Virginia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The organization once endorsed by President Theodore Roosevelt no longer supports the future of American boys.” – Pete Hegseth

🎯IMPACT: The proposed policy change could end over a century of military support for Scouting America, affecting recruitment and logistical aid.

IN FULL

War Secretary Pete Hegseth may sever the military ties of Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, according to a draft memo. Hegseth allegedly criticized the now-woke group for being “genderless” and failing to uphold “masculine values.”

The memo claims that Scouting America has moved away from its traditional merit-based structure and accuses the group of fostering “gender confusion.” Hegseth wrote, “The organization once endorsed by President Theodore Roosevelt no longer supports the future of American boys.” His proposal, which has not yet been sent to Congress, could end military logistical and medical support for the National Jamboree and prohibit Scout meetings on military installations.

The Pentagon has declined to comment on the memo, saying it “cannot authenticate” the document and noting that it may still be “pre-decisional.” Current law requires the military to provide trucks, ambulances, and medical personnel for the Jamboree, but Hegseth could withhold assistance if deemed “detrimental to national security.”

Hegseth, a vocal critic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and “woke” policies in the armed forces, has previously opposed the Scouts’ decision to admit girls and change the organization’s name. In 2018, he said the group had been “cratering itself for quite some time.”

Since becoming War Secretary, Hegseth has taken steps to remove DEI programs, enforce stricter military standards, and promote a “warrior ethos,” with recruitment reportedly rising under his leadership. He has also set deadlines for transgender service members to leave the military and dismissed officers he deemed insufficiently aligned with his policies.

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.

20 hours ago
World

Farmers, Truckers Blockade Roads, Rock Mexican Government Over Lack of Action Against Cartel Violence.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Farmers and truckers across Mexico have blocked major highways, demanding protection from cartel violence and extortion.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Farmers, truckers, Mexico’s ruling party MORENA, President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodriguez.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The blockades began this week across Mexico’s main highways.

🎯IMPACT: Commerce across Mexico has been virtually frozen, but officials say they are set to meet with protesters to address their demands.

IN FULL

Farmers and truckers throughout Mexico say they will continue highway blockades and protests throughout the country over the Claudia Sheinbaum government’s failure to protect them from drug cartel violence and extortion schemes. The blockades, which have been set up in over 20 of Mexico’s 31 states, have ground nearly all commerce to a halt.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum‘s far-left MORENA party contends the protests and blockades are not actually about cartel violence but instead politically-motivated acts. Figures in MORENA have claimed that rival political parties are actually organizing the protests, though they have offered little in the way of evidence.

Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodriguez further claimed that many of the people organizing the protests were the targets of prior federal investigations. Despite Rodriguez’s allegations, officials from her office will meet with some of the demonstrators later this week.

The protests began earlier this week when groups of farmers and truckers used blockades to shut down highways in Mexico. This followed large-scale student protests against Shienbaum in Mexico City earlier this month, which saw barricades around the presidential palace torn down and riot police used to disperse the crowd. Both groups of demonstrators have accused Sheinbaum’s government of failing to address the violence caused by Mexico’s cartels and allege that MORENA may actually be in league with the criminal organizations.

Sheinbaum has resisted calls for the Mexican government to use military force against the drug cartels, despite widespread evidence that they have engaged in extortion schemes, public corruption, and robberies and carjackings. According to MORENA officials, the use of the military would be illegal, as it would deprive cartel members of due process rights.

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.

21 hours ago
Crime
News

Venezuelan Migrants Charged in Fatal Stabbing in Chicago.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A homeless man was fatally stabbed in Chicago, Illinois, by three migrant teenagers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Wuinayker Rodriguez-Vasquez, 16, and two 14-year-olds, all reportedly from Venezuela, were charged in connection with the attack.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred early morning on November 23 in the Chicago Loop. Rodriguez-Vasquez appeared in court on Tuesday, November 25, while the two 14-year-olds appeared on Monday, November 24.

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights ongoing concerns about migrant crime in Chicago and the wider United States.

IN FULL

Three migrant teenagers have been charged in the fatal stabbing of a 49-year-old homeless man in Chicago, Illinois, over the weekend. A 16-year-old, identified as Wuinayker Rodriguez-Vasquez, is being prosecuted as an adult on a first-degree murder charge. Two 14-year-olds also face charges: one with first-degree murder and the other with armed robbery. All three remain in custody following court appearances earlier this week.

Prosecutors said the attack happened around 5:45 AM near the man’s sleeping area in the Chicago Loop. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the three teens approaching the victim, with one taking the man’s mask, another striking him with a metal rod, and Rodriguez-Vasquez kicking him. When the victim stood, Rodriguez-Vasquez allegedly stabbed him in the back, causing him to collapse. He later died at a hospital, where his death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators say Rodriguez-Vasquez was identified through surveillance images and was found carrying a knife. Prosecutors said the footage includes images of him “displaying a knife to the group, making stabbing motions, and wearing the victim’s skeleton mask on his head.” A Chicago police source described the assault as a “mob-style” attack and said the assailants appeared to be laughing afterward.

According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) records, Rodriguez-Vasquez entered the United States in September 2023 near Eagle Pass, Texas, with his mother. He was arrested at the border but later released. Prosecutors said the encounter was documented as an “alien inadmissibility” case, and he had no prior criminal history in Illinois.

The killing comes as Chicago faces intensified scrutiny over violent crime following a series of high-profile incidents, including a recent case in which a woman was set on fire aboard a city train. The attack, carried out by a repeat offender, prompted widespread criticism of Chicago’s criminal justice system, including from President Donald J. Trump.

The Democrat-run city has also been the focus of national debate over immigration enforcement after a federal judge ordered the release of hundreds of migrants detained during a large-scale enforcement operation earlier this month.

Image by Zol87.

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.

November 26, 2025
Breaking

BREAKING: National Guardsmen Shooter Entered Under Biden’s Special Afghan Visa Program.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two National Guardsmen were shot outside the White House in Washington, D.C. Law enforcement officials have described the attach as an “ambush” at a press conference. Sources claim the suspect was an Afghan national, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: National Guard members and law enforcement officials, as well as an Afghan suspect believed to be in police custody as of 2:58 PM EST.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Outside the White House, November 26, in the 2PM EST hour.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price!” – President Donald J. Trump.

🎯IMPACT: Increased security measures and restricted access around the White House, as well as major government departments and Capitol Hill.

IN FULL

Two National Guard members have been shot close to the White House in Washington, D.C. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially said both were from the Mountain State and had died, but later walked this back, citing “conflicting reports.”

Sources said  the shooter is an Afghan national, and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism. The shooter appears to have entered the United States under former President Joe Biden’s special immigrant visa program for Afghan nationals after his botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

At a press conference concluding shortly before 5 PM EST, FBI Director Kash Patel and local law enforcement officials confirmed the attack was an “ambush.” They suggested the victims were, contrary to Governor Morrisey, “critical” rather than dead.

The suspected gunman is said to have been subdued by other National Guard members and faces federal charges, with the FBI leading the investigation. There are no other suspects as of the time of publication.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth had also previously said the shooter was “targeting” the National Guard, with CBS and CNN also citing sources describing the shooting as a targeted attack. Hegseth has requested 500 additional troops in D.C. in response.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and President Trump have been briefed on the situation, with the latter in Palm Beach, Florida, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

At 3:23PM, President Trump posted on Truth Social: “The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”

Kellie Meyer of NewsNation reported significant police and Secret Service activity in the vicinity immediately after the incident, noting that sidewalks were entirely blocked off to both foot traffic and vehicles. The press was relocated to the briefing room inside the White House as authorities continued to gather more information on the situation, and the White House complex was placed on lockdown.

A massive police presence is currently downtown in Washington, D.C., as well as on Capitol Hill this afternoon, following the incident.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, receive exclusive email analyses, and support our important work.

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.

November 26, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Trump Border Czar Accuses Democrats of Enabling Mexican Cartel Crimes.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Border Czar Tom Homan accused Democrats of enabling Mexican cartels, arguing their open borders policies and attempts to hamper the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions make them complicit in the violence caused.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tom Homan and Congressional Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: This week, during a television interview.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If you support illegal immigration, then you support the criminal cartels in Mexico, because no one crosses the border illegally without paying a plaza fee to the criminal cartels.” – Tom Homan

🎯IMPACT: Homan highlighted the humanitarian and security crises caused by illegal immigration, accusing Democrats of complicity in these issues.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump‘s White House Border Czar, Tom Homan, accused Congressional Democrats of complicity in the ongoing criminal and violent acts of Mexico’s drug cartels during a television interview Tuesday evening. According to Homan, the Democratic Party’s open policies under the former Biden government and their ongoing efforts to hamper U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, especially through ICE tracking apps and legislative maneuvers, serve cartel interests.

“Bottom line is, if you support illegal immigration, then you support the criminal cartels in Mexico, because no one crosses the border illegally without paying a plaza fee to the criminal cartels,” Homan said. “And I’m going to remind everybody, and I’m going to keep reminding these Democrats, where were you the last four years, when we had over 10 million people come to our border, we had a quarter million Americans that died from fentanyl coming across the open border.”

“We had a record number of people in terrorist sponsor countries coming across the border. Sex trafficking, women, children are at historic high,” the Border Czar added.

Homan also noted that the former Biden government’s lack of border enforcement allowed the number of women and children being trafficked into the United States to reach historic highs. “You let half a million children be smuggled into the United States, you lost track of 300,000, you weren’t even looking for them,” he said concerning the Democrat and Biden government policies, alleging it is the “biggest national security failure” and “biggest humanitarian failure in the history of this nation.”

Responding to Congressional Democrat claims that illegal immigration is a minor crime, Homan remarked: “Illegal migration is not a victimless crime, and if they don’t know that, they’re just simply ignorant.”

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.

November 26, 2025
News

Detentions of This Category of Migrant Have Surged by 2,000% Under Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The number of immigration detainees without criminal records held in federal detention centers has surged by over 2,000 percent since January, according to official U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and detainees categorized as “immigration violators.”

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data reflects ICE detention as of November 16, 2025, across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The administration is targeting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens—including murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, and terrorists.” – Tricia McLaughlin, DHS spokeswoman.

🎯IMPACT: The data shows that the administration is determined to deport all illegals, not just after they have been convicted of crimes, but before they can perpetrate them.

IN FULL

The number of immigration detainees without criminal records has increased dramatically since the start of the second Trump administration, with federal data showing a rise of more than 2,000 percent between late January and mid-November. According to figures released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of a congressional transparency requirement, the agency reported detaining 65,135 people on November 16, the highest total it has ever publicly disclosed. Of those, 30,986 detainees, about 48 percent, were categorized as immigration violators with no U.S. criminal charges or convictions. Another 26 percent had criminal convictions, and 26 percent faced pending charges.

Notably, even in the absence of a conviction, crossing the U.S. border without permission is a crime, and while visa overstaying is only a civil violation, it is usually accompanied by criminal behavior, particularly if the overstayer is working illegally.

ICE data indicates that the number of non-convict detainees jumped from 945 on January 26 to 21,194 by November 16, marking a 2,143 percent surge. Detainees with criminal convictions have also increased by 73 percent during the period, and detainees with pending charges rose by 226 percent.

Officials overseeing immigration enforcement under President Donald J. Trump, including Border Czar Tom Homan and Acting ICE Director Matthew T. Albence, have repeatedly emphasized that anyone found living in the U.S. without legal status can be arrested, even if they were not the intended target of an operation.

“It’s not OK to violate the laws of this country,” Homan said earlier this year, stressing: “We have millions of people standing in line, taking the test, doing their background investigation, paying the fees that want to come in the right way. So if you’re in the country illegally, you got a problem.”

These arrests represent a shift from policies under the former Biden regime, which limited arrests of illegals and facilitated an unprecedented surge in border crossings.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said the administration’s main focus remains “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens—including murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, and terrorists.” She also emphasized that some detainees listed as non-criminals may have criminal histories from other countries or pose national security concerns.

ICE has also pointed to recent arrests of immigrants with violent and sexual offense histories as evidence that its enforcement efforts protect public safety. The agency has publicized operations capturing individuals convicted of crimes such as child sexual assault, homicide, and burglary, including cases involving repeatedly arrested offenders. Notably, also targeting illegals who have not yet been convicted of crimes proactively prevents them from victimizing anyone.

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.

November 26, 2025
News

Foreign Tourists Will Now Pay More than Americans to Visit National Parks.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The National Park Service announced new pricing for its annual pass, increasing costs for foreign visitors while keeping prices the same for Americans.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and the wider Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The pricing changes take effect January 1, 2026, and apply to all U.S. national parks.

💬KEY QUOTE: “President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first.” – Doug Burgum

🎯IMPACT: Revenue from new fees will fund maintenance, visitor facility upgrades, and improved services at national parks.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced changes to the pricing of the America the Beautiful annual pass, which allows access to national parks across the country. Starting January 1, 2026, foreign visitors will pay $250 for the digital annual pass, while the price for U.S. citizens remains at $80. This change is tied to a July Executive Order by President Donald J. Trump aimed at increasing revenue and improving the recreational experience at national parks.

In a statement, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said, “President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first. These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”

Foreign visitors without an annual pass will also face an additional $100 fee per person to access the 11 most-visited parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. At parks charging vehicle admission fees, the new pass will now cover up to two motorcycles, an increase from one, while the policy for other vehicles remains unchanged at one per pass. Revenue generated from these changes will be reinvested into essential maintenance, visitor facility upgrades, and improved services nationwide.

The announcement also introduced other digital passes, including benefits for military families, seniors, and children. Veterans and Gold Star families are eligible for free lifetime passes, while active military members and their families can purchase annual passes for $20. Seniors aged 62 and older can choose between a $20 annual pass or an $80 lifetime pass. Additionally, all American fourth graders will have free access to national parks through August 2026.

The passes will be available for purchase on Recreation.gov starting in the new year, with digital access provided through the website, mobile app, or mobile wallet. Physical passes will still be available for purchase and delivery. In 2026, there will also be eight days when entry to all national parks is free for Americans, starting with Presidents’ Day on February 16. Other dates include Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veterans Day, among others.

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.

November 26, 2025
News

Trump Considering Direct Talks With Maduro—Or Military Action.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the Dominican Republic to discuss combating drug trafficking, while President Donald J. Trump signaled openness to direct talks with Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump, Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Dominican officials, and U.S. military personnel.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Hegseth’s visit occurred on Wednesday in the Dominican Republic, amid U.S. military operations in the Caribbean.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The U.S. government could cause an incalculable number of deaths and create a scenario of violence and instability in the hemisphere that would be unimaginable.” – Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. is balancing diplomacy and military pressure to address drug trafficking and regional stability, with potential talks between Trump and Maduro marking a pivotal moment.

IN FULL

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the Dominican Republic on Wednesday to hold discussions with local officials on combating drug trafficking. This comes as tensions between the Trump administration and Venezuela remain elevated.

Despite the massive U.S naval buildup in the Caribbean, President Donald J. Trump has indicated his willingness to speak directly with Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has also expressed openness to dialogue, presenting a possible diplomatic solution—though military strikes against the regime still appear likely.

The U.S. has intensified its efforts to curb drug trafficking from Venezuela, with military operations targeting vessels used to smuggle narcotics. These actions have reportedly resulted in at least 83 deaths. Additionally, the U.S. State Department designated the Cartel de los Soles, a network of Venezuelan officials allegedly involved in drug trafficking, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). This designation grants the U.S. expanded legal authority to target people linked to the network, including Maduro, who is accused of heading the cartel.

Maduro, facing mounting U.S. pressure, has signaled a willingness to negotiate, and potentially offer crude oil shipments as a form of leverage. Most of Venezuela’s oil currently flows to China, but it could play a key role in any future discussions with Washington. Reports suggest that a direct call between Trump and Maduro is “in the planning stages,” though no date has been set. The call would follow weeks of U.S. maritime operations, including Operation Southern Spear, aimed at intercepting drug shipments.

Hegseth’s visit to Santo Domingo included meetings with Dominican President Luis Abinader and Defense Minister Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre. This trip highlights the regional dimension of the U.S. strategy, which also saw Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine recently visit Trinidad and Tobago to discuss transnational criminal threats. Cuba, however, has criticized the U.S. approach, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez warning that “the U.S. government could cause an incalculable number of deaths and create a scenario of violence and instability in the hemisphere that would be unimaginable.”

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.

November 26, 2025
William Upton
Breaking
Lawfare

BREAKING: Prosecutor Drops Fani Willis RICO Case Against Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A state prosecutor has moved to drop the racketeering case against President Donald J. Trump and his allies related to alleged efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Fani Willis, and Peter Skandalakis, among others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Georgia, with the case dismissed on Wednesday following a filing by Peter Skandalakis.

💬KEY QUOTE: Skandalakis stated that the alleged conduct was “federal, not state, charges” in his filing to drop the case.

🎯IMPACT: This decision likely marks the end of a historic series of criminal cases against Donald Trump in Georgia.

IN FULL

A Georgia prosecutor has moved to dismiss the racketeering case against President Donald J. Trump and his allies, which accused them of attempting to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. The case, originally brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, alleged a “criminal enterprise” involving a “fake elector” scheme, intimidation of election workers, and efforts to “find” votes needed for Trump to win the state.

Trump and over a dozen co-defendants, including Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark, and John Eastman, were charged under Georgia’s RICO Act. The charges stemmed from alleged efforts to subvert the election results, with some defendants, such as attorneys Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, and Sidney Powell, pleading guilty to certain charges in 2023 as part of plea deals.

However, Willis’s case faced significant complications, including allegations of conflicts of interest involving Willis and Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor with whom she was once romantically involved. Following court battles over these allegations, a state appellate court removed Willis from the case. This decision, coupled with Wade’s resignation, led to Peter Skandalakis, director of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia, assigning himself the case.

In his filing on Wednesday, Skandalakis argued that the alleged conduct fell under federal rather than state jurisdiction, prompting his decision to drop the charges. This development effectively ends the prosecution against Trump and his co-defendants in Georgia.

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