Tuesday, March 10, 2026

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

Trump Proposes Funding Boost for Universities Promoting Conservative Perspectives.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is offering nine universities a deal to advance conservative ideas on campus in exchange for federal funding.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration and nine universities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The offer was sent from the White House on Wednesday to universities across the U.S.

💬KEY QUOTE: Participating universities will be required to scrap departments that “purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas.”

🎯IMPACT: So far, nine universities have been sent the proposal, which includes stipulations such as banning race or sex as factors in admissions and hiring, freezing tuition fees for five years, and capping international undergraduate students at 15 percent.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has proposed a 10-point “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” to nine top universities, requiring them to promote conservative ideas and meet other conditions in exchange for federal funding. The compact promises benefits such as “substantial and meaningful federal grants” for universities that comply.

The deal includes stipulations such as banning race or sex as factors in admissions and hiring, freezing tuition fees for five years, and capping foreign undergraduate students at 15 percent. Universities must also foster a “vibrant marketplace of ideas” and scrap departments that “purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas.”

So far, nine universities have been sent the proposal, including Vanderbilt University, Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, and others. May Mailman, a senior White House adviser, explained that these universities were selected because their leadership or boards have shown a commitment to higher-quality education.

Critics, such as Cornell William Brooks from Harvard Kennedy School, have condemned the compact as a “weapon to exert command and control.”

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.
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.

Illegal Alien Accused of Voting in SEVEN Elections.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrest of an illegal migrant accused of voting in seven federal elections since 2008.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mahady Sacko, an illegal migrant from Mauritania, and federal authorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sacko was arrested in Philadelphia; his alleged voting dates back to 2008.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Illegal aliens should NOT be electing American leaders. Our elections belong to American citizens, not foreign citizens,” said Deputy Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis.

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights concerns over election integrity and calls for legislative action like the SAVE America Act.

IN FULL

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported that Mahady Sacko, an illegal migrant from Mauritania accused of voter fraud, is now accused of voting in seven federal elections since 2008. Sacko, who was taken into custody in Philadelphia by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was previously believed to have voted in five elections.

DHS says the migrant has been charged with voter fraud. According to the department, Sacko originally entered the United States near Miami, Florida, and was deported in 2002 after all appeals of his removal order were exhausted. Authorities have not determined when he returned to the country.

“This criminal illegal alien committed a felony by voting in federal elections dating back to 2008. Illegal aliens should NOT be electing American leaders,” Deputy Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. She added, “Our elections belong to American citizens, not foreign citizens. Congress must pass the SAVE America Act immediately to secure our elections.”

Notably, President Donald J. Trump suggested this week that he would not sign any bills until the SAVE America Act, which mandated voter ID and other election integrity measures, is passed. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has even offered to drop out of a Senate primary race, where he is challenging Republican-in-name-only (RINO) incumbent John Cornyn, if the Senate passes the bill. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is resisting these overtures.

Sacko’s arrest follows a similar case earlier this year in New Jersey, where two Pakistani illegal migrants were charged with voter fraud after allegedly voting in the 2020 presidential election and making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship.

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.

State-Funded Trans Café Shuts Down Amid Sexual Abuse Allegations.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A gender identity support group in Bremen, Germany, has been shut down following allegations of sexual abuse.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trans Café group, visitors, and staff at the Rat & Tat Center for Queer Life.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Bremen, Germany, with incidents leading to closure announced in March 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Reopening was initially a test for us, and unfortunately, it failed.” – Trans Café statement

🎯IMPACT: The closure has raised questions about safety and responsibility within the community.

IN FULL

The Trans Café Bremen, a support group for transgenders in Germany, has permanently closed following serious allegations of sexual abuse. Hosted at the Rat & Tat Center for Queer Life, the state-funded initiative aimed to supposedly provide a “safe space” for the LGBT community.

In their statement, the group acknowledged that the community had inadvertently protected predators. The closure came after at least four known incidents of abuse, including one involving a staff member. The café had been temporarily closed earlier over safety concerns but reopened in December the previous year. “Reopening was initially a test for us, and unfortunately, it failed,” the café said in a statement.

Safety issues first arose in October, leading to a brief shutdown and calls for a new code of conduct. Post-reopening, further problems occurred, including a banned individual returning and a pepper spray attack. These culminated in the permanent closure announced in March 2026.

The Rat & Tat Center, which hosts the group, receives significant Bremen government funding, €446,470 (around $519,000) annually in recent years, and supports various initiatives, including for LGBT “refugees.”

The case reflects wider concerns about abuse among transgenders. In November 2025, New Hampshire Rep. Stacie Laughton, a male posing as female, pleaded guilty to federal child exploitation charges after soliciting and receiving explicit images of children aged 3–5 from a daycare-working partner, facing up to 30 years in prison.

In 2024, Bergen, Norway, saw transgenders Damien “Damia Rose” Baar and Even “Eevee” Seberg arrested alongside another man for the gang rape of a vulnerable girl during a Pride Festival.

Image via FCDO.

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.

Northern Threat: 700 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Members in Canada.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) has called on the Canadian government to deport an estimated 700 members of Iran’s terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) currently present in the country.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Conservative MP Shuv Majumdar, members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Canadian Liberal government.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Majumdar made his comments in the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, posting them to X on March 9.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There are an estimated 700 Iranian agents operating in Canada.” – Shuv Majumdar.

🎯IMPACT: The presence of at least 700 IRGC terrorists in Canada is a major security concern for both Canada and the U.S., given the length of the U.S border with Canada, which is unguarded in many areas.

IN FULL

Canadian Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Shuv Majumdar has warned that as many as 700 terrorist agents linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are operating inside Canada. He also called on the federal government to take stronger action to deport members of the IRGC, which was designated a terrorist group in 2024.

In a statement to Parliament posted on X on March 9, Majumdar said members of Canada’s Iranian diaspora continue to report intimidation and harassment connected to Tehran’s security apparatus. “There are an estimated 700 Iranian agents operating in Canada,” Majumdar said, noting, “An Iranian dissident has now gone missing, with police probing a possible Tehran-linked homicide,” he added.

His comments echo findings from Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which previously warned that hundreds of Iranian regime-linked individuals could be present in Canada.

Reports of illegal crossings along the U.S.–Canada border raise concerns about screening procedures and whether foreigners connected to hostile regimes could exploit weaknesses in northern border enforcement. However, under President Donald J. Trump, illegal crossings across the northern border have plummeted compared to the Biden regime.

Image by James Brooks.

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.

Trump Halts Small Business Loan Programs for Foreign Nationals.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a new policy barring foreign nationals from accessing its loan services.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and SBA loan program participants.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Friday, policy to take effect 30 days after the announcement.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Trump SBA is committed to driving economic growth and job creation for American citizens.” – Kelly Loeffler.

🎯IMPACT: The policy aims to prioritize American citizens in accessing limited SBA loan resources.

IN FULL

The Trump administration’s Small Business Administration (SBA) is implementing a new policy preventing foreign nationals and non-citizens from accessing its loan programs, part of a broader effort to direct federal resources toward American citizens and domestically owned businesses. “The Trump SBA is committed to driving economic growth and job creation for American citizens,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler last Friday.

The new rule applies to the agency’s Surety Bond and Microloan programs and expands earlier restrictions placed on the SBA’s major 504 and 7(a) loan programs. Those earlier changes barred businesses partially or wholly owned by foreign nationals from receiving SBA-backed financing.

The Surety Bond program helps small contractors obtain bonding required to compete for government contracts, while the Microloan program provides loans of up to $50,000 through third-party intermediaries to small businesses and startups.

“Last month, we made it clear that SBA would not allow foreign nationals to access our core small business loan programs—and today, we are expanding that policy to include all SBA-guaranteed loans,” Loeffler added.

Officials say the changes come as demand for small-business capital continues to rise, while the SBA’s lending authority remains limited. “The limited resource of SBA financing must prioritize American citizens who are building businesses and creating jobs here at home,” Loeffler said. The expanded policy will take effect 30 days after the announcement.

The tighter eligibility rules also arrive amid increased scrutiny over fraud in federally funded programs. Earlier this year, the federal government halted loans to roughly 7,000 borrowers in Minnesota after investigators flagged suspected fraud connected to pandemic-era assistance programs.

Federal officials have also raised broader concerns about the misuse of government benefits in the state. The U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently described Minnesota as “ground zero for fraud, which undermines American values,” citing several ongoing investigations.

Amid a separate federal investigation into fraud involving government aid programs, President Donald J. Trump has also argued that California may be “more corrupt than Minnesota,” pointing to additional allegations of large-scale misuse of taxpayer funds.

Image via Flickr.

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.

Encrypted Messaging App Warns Government and Journalist Accounts Are Being Compromised.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Premier encrypted messaging app Signal is warning that government officials and journalists have had their accounts compromised through phishing scams.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Signal users, including government officials, journalists, and attackers employing phishing tactics.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Monday, March 9, 2026, with incidents reported globally.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are aware of recent reports regarding targeted phishing attacks that have resulted in account takeovers of some Signal users, including government officials and journalists. We take this very seriously.” – Signal

🎯IMPACT: Signal emphasized user vigilance and warned against sharing SMS codes or PINs to prevent further breaches.

IN FULL

Signal, a premier encrypted messaging app, issued a warning on Monday that phishing scams have compromised the accounts of government officials and journalists. The company stated that these attacks were the result of social engineering rather than any breach of Signal’s encryption or infrastructure.

“We are aware of recent reports regarding targeted phishing attacks that have resulted in account takeovers of some Signal users, including government officials and journalists. We take this very seriously,” Signal announced in a statement, while noting, “To be clear: Signal’s encryption and infrastructure have not been compromised and remain robust. These attacks were executed via sophisticated phishing campaigns, designed to trick users into sharing information – SMS codes and/or Signal PIN.”

“These attacks, like all phishing, rely on social engineering. Attackers impersonate trusted contacts or services (such as the non-existent ‘Signal Support Bot’) to trick victims into handing over their login credentials or other information,” the encrypted messaging company added. Signal stressed that its support team would never contact users to request their verification codes or PINs. To further protect users, the app actively reminds them to keep these details private.

The National Pulse reported in April last year that former national security official Mike Waltz mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat discussing U.S. military operations in Yemen due to an iPhone mechanism that prompts contact updates automatically.

Image by Rahul Shah.

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.

AI Firm Anthropic Sues Trump Admin Over ‘Supply Chain Risk’ Designation.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Anthropic has filed a federal lawsuit against the Pentagon after being labeled a “supply chain risk” by the Trump administration, following the company’s refusal to allow its AI models to be used for autonomous weapons systems or for rapid counter-strikes in the case of a nuclear attack without permission from the company.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, President Donald J. Trump, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and various tech industry groups.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed on Monday in a California federal court, following the Pentagon’s designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Constitution does not allow ​the government to wield its enormous power to punish a company for its protected speech. Anthropic turns to the judiciary as a last resort to vindicate its rights and halt the Executive’s unlawful campaign of retaliation.” – Anthropic lawsuit

🎯IMPACT: The case could set a precedent for how the government interacts with AI companies, while Anthropic faces the potential loss of hundreds of millions in U.S. government contracts.

IN FULL

Anthropic, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies, is suing the U.S. Department of War after the Trump administration and War Secretary Pete Hegseth cancelled government contracts with the AI firm and labeled it a “supply chain risk.” The lawsuit was filed on Monday, March 9, in a federal court in California after Anthropic was ditched by the Trump White House and hit with the supply chain risk designation on February 27.

“The Constitution does not allow ​the government to wield its enormous power to punish a company for its protected speech,” Anthropic’s lawsuit states, adding, “Anthropic turns to the judiciary as a last resort to vindicate its rights and halt the Executive’s unlawful campaign of retaliation.”

Throughout February, the Department of War and Anthropic engaged in protracted negotiations over the use of the company’s artificial intelligence tools, including its Claude-based AI agents. Those talks broke down at the end of last month, with Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei erratically lashing out at the Trump administration; behavior deemed concerning by the Department of War. Among the key unresolved issues was the possible use of Anthropic’s AI technology in autonomous weapons systems and its use without the company’s permission during national emergencies, such as a hypothetical nuclear attack against the United States.

Notably, the supply chain risk designation issued by Secretary Hegseth came just hours after President Donald J. Trump announced that he was directing the federal government to cease using Anthropic’s tools. Combined, the directives could not only cost Anthropic hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts but could also force other companies that work with the U.S. government to end their own use of Anthropic’s technology.

Following the designation and contract cancellation, Amodei initially doubled down on his erratic attacks on the Trump administration, likening the President to a dictator. However, he has since attempted to backtrack on his remarks, stating, “We both are committed to advancing U.S. national security and defending the American people, and agree on the urgency of applying AI across the government.”

Image by TechCrunch.

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.

DATA: Paxton Beats Cornyn No Matter Who Trump Endorses.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: New poll results show Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) leading Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in the Texas Senate Republican runoff, regardless of who President Donald J. Trump endorses.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ken Paxton, John Cornyn, and President Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 9, 2026, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “John Cornyn is a coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster to pass [the SAVE America Act.]” – Ken Paxton

🎯IMPACT: Paxton’s lead indicates he is well-positioned for the May 26 runoff, with Trump’s endorsement still pending.

IN FULL

New poll numbers from the Texas Senate Republican runoff indicate that state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) has a significant lead over incumbent Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) among GOP voters. This lead holds firm regardless of whether President Donald J. Trump endorses either candidate.

In a direct matchup without any Trump endorsement, Paxton commands 49 percent support compared to Cornyn’s 41 percent, with 11 percent of voters undecided. If Trump endorses Paxton, the MAGA stalwart’s support rises to 58 percent, while Cornyn’s backing drops to 32 percent. However, even if Trump were to endorse Cornyn—who has a long history of backstabbing the President—Paxton retains a narrow lead, at 44 percent to Cornyn’s 43 percent, with 13 percent undecided.

Paxton recently received the endorsement of Texas Republican congressional candidate Steve Toth, who defeated anti-Trump Representative Dan Crenshaw in last week’s Republican primary. Toth said of Paxton, “Ken often served as the last line of defense for Texans during the Biden Administration years, securing major wins for border security, blocking COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and protecting our children. Ken Paxton is battle-tested.”

Meanwhile, Cornyn’s reputation as a Republican-in-name-only (RINO) has only grown in recent days, with The National Pulse exposing his top team’s hatred for Trump, love for George Floyd, and desire to “purge” the GOP of MAGA conservatives.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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.

Two Men Arrested at Synagogue Before U.S. Embassy Blast.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Two men were arrested at a synagogue in Oslo, Norway, charged with illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The arrested individuals are two men in their forties.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrests occurred on Friday afternoon at St. Hanshaugen in Oslo, near the Mosaic Faith Community, but were not reported until Monday due to an embargo.

🎯IMPACT: The incident occurred shortly before an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo.

IN FULL

On Friday afternoon, two men were arrested at the synagogue in St. Hanshaugen in Oslo, Norway. The arrests were made due to charges related to the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, violating Norway’s Penal Code.

The police operation took place near the Mosaic Faith Community, where a patrol on guard noticed a person familiar to law enforcement. This person was part of a work team engaged in maintenance activities at a nearby location for some time.

The incident occurred just over a day before an explosion in front of the U.S. embassy in Oslo, for which no arrests have been made so far.

There have been a slew of terrorist attacks and suspected terrorist attacks on in the U.S., against U.S. bases and embassies, and synagogues since the outbreak of the Iran war, most recently an attempt to bomb a crowd protesting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D)—a member of the same Twelver sect of Shia Islam as Iran’s ruling ayatollahs—allegedly by two men inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS).

There have also been attacks on a bar in Austin, Texas, by a man wearing a “Property of Allah” sweater, and an explosion at a synagogue in Liège, Belgium, among other incidents.

Image by Phil Evenden.

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.

Court Overturns Obama Judge’s ‘Constitutionally Suspect’ Injunction Against ICE Operations.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A federal appeals court overturned a preliminary injunction issued by a Barack Obama-appointed district court judge, ruling the lower court overstepped its authority in restricting immigration enforcement in Chicago.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and plaintiffs—including anti-ICE agitators and journalists.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was issued by the 7th Circuit Court late last week following a series of legal battles over immigration enforcement in Chicago, Illinois.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This case involved extraordinary circumstances. Working on a highly compressed timeline, the district court granted an overbroad, constitutionally suspect injunction.” — Seventh Circuit panel

🎯IMPACT: The ruling emphasized the separation of powers and prevented further judicial oversight of federal executive actions.

IN FULL

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit vacated a wide-ranging preliminary injunction against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents in Chicago, Illinois, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis—a Barack Obama appointee. The three-judge appellate panel, including two Trump appointees and a Reagan appointee, criticized the decision as “overbroad” and “constitutionally suspect.”

“This case involved extraordinary circumstances. Working on a highly compressed timeline, the district court granted an overbroad, constitutionally suspect injunction,” the majority wrote, continuing, “This decision was supported with hundreds of pages of factfinding, covering incidents from over a dozen locations around the Northern District of Illinois. That decision treated the claims of lead plaintiffs, class members, and non-class members as essentially interchangeable—both for Article III standing and for the merits.”

“Yet when this court stayed the district court’s order, the plaintiffs quickly and voluntarily withdrew their case. Vacatur is therefore proper to ensure the district court’s injunction order does not affect future litigation, which would present its own facts and legal issues,” the appellate panel added.

The National Pulse reported in November last year that Judge Ellis issued a preliminary injunction that prohibited immigration officials from using tear gas or other riot control tools at protests in Chicago, Illinois. Under Ellis’s order, such weapons were banned unless agents delivered two clear warnings and faced an immediate danger to safety. Additionally, federal agents were also required to activate body cameras going forward.

Importantly, the 7th Circuit’s decision noted that Ellis’s order demanded federal agencies submit all internal policies for judicial review, which it deemed an improper intrusion on the separation of powers. The panel concluded that the district court “likely abused its discretion” by issuing such a sweeping injunction.

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.

Ticketmaster Gets DOJ Slap on Wrist in Yet ANOTHER Antitrust Debacle.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, reached a settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) over antitrust charges.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Live Nation, Ticketmaster, the DOJ, and 40 U.S. states.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The settlement was announced on Monday, March 9, 2026, following an antitrust trial in New York.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This case is about power, the power of a monopolist to control competition” — David Dahlquist

🎯IMPACT: Live Nation will pay $280 million in civil penalties, sell some amphitheaters, and open Ticketmaster’s technology to competitors.

IN FULL

Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, has predictably reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in what was originally considered to be a possible landmark antitrust case. The settlement includes a $280 million civil penalty to be paid to 40 states and requires Live Nation to sell some of its amphitheaters. In addition, Ticketmaster will be required to open its technology to allow competing companies to access its resale platform.

However, the settlement does little to address Live Nation’s actual monopoly over ticket sales, as the company controls 86 percent of ticketing for major concert venues and about 78 percent of amphitheater ticketing. Still, the DOJ is portraying the settlement as a victory, with David Dahlquist, the Acting Deputy Director of Civil Litigation for the Antitrust Division, characterizing the case during opening arguments earlier this month, stating, “This case is about power, the power of a monopolist to control competition.”

The settlement, which was predicted by numerous antitrust experts critical of the ouster of the DOJ’s former antitrust chief, Gail Slater, appears to be a victory for lobbyist and attorney Mike Davis. Numerous sources close to the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and lobbying operations in Washington, D.C., who spoke with The National Pulse, claim Davis oversaw a public relations campaign targeting Slater on behalf of alleged clients, including Compass, Hewlett-Packard (HP), and Live Nation.

Davis is now likely to be the subject of a House Judiciary Committee inquiry into Slater’s ouster. The inquiry is likely to focus on Davis and his efforts to influence the DOJ, especially the Antitrust Division. Following Slater’s resignation, Davis took to social media, taking credit for her ouster—writing in one post, “Good riddance.”

Federal prosecutors and dozens of states filed a lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster in 2024, alleging antitrust violations. The DOJ accused the company of stifling competition, resulting in higher ticket prices for music fans and fewer options for concert venues.

Image by Warren LeMay.

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.