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Saturday, February 7, 2026

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1 hour ago
Crime
News

Why is the DOJ Downgrading Felony Charges Against Anti-ICE Rioters?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has quietly downgraded the charges against almost half of the 16 anti-ICE agitators arrested for interfering with federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota from felonies to low-level misdemeanors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, federal agents, and 16 defendants, including Gillian Etherington and Emily Baierl.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The 16 anti-ICE protestors were arrested last week, with their prosecutions now entering preliminary stages.

💬KEY QUOTE: “NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law.” – Attorney General Pam Bondi

🎯IMPACT: Many cases were downgraded to misdemeanors, despite Bondi’s public assertions that the DOJ would pursue maximum penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 111.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have quietly downgraded felony charges against at least half of the 16 anti-ICE agitators arrested last week for allegedly assaulting or interfering with federal agents during immigration enforcement operations. While Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged to charge violent protestors under 18 U.S.C. § 111, which establishes a felony crime for anyone who “forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates or interferes” with government officials carrying out their duties, prosecutors have reduced many of the cases to lower-level misdemeanors.

Notably, Bondi herself traveled to Minnesota last week for the filing of the felony charges against the 16 anti-ICE protestors, posting at the time on X (formerly Twitter), “I am on the ground in Minneapolis today. Federal agents have arrested 16 Minnesota rioters for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement — people who have been resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement agents.”

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law,” she added.

While the DOJ has struggled in some more liberal jurisdictions to secure grand jury indictments carrying significant penalties against violent leftist agitators, the direct decision by federal prosecutors to downgrade charges appears to be a more recent development.

One of the Minnesota cases, against Gillian Etherington, was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor this past Tuesday without explanation. Last week, the DOJ alleged that Etherington “rammed her car into a United States Border Patrol vehicle and drove away,” with Border Patrol engaging in a pursuit before she proceeded to “drive into oncoming traffic” and strike “an unmarked law enforcement vehicle near a high school,” and even then continued to resist arrest.

In another instance, the DOJ dropped felony charges against Emily Baierl to misdemeanors despite Baierl having bitten the finger of a federal law enforcement agent during a demonstration after the death of Alex Pretti. While Baierl’s case is separate from the 16 filed last week, the downgrading of charges despite the clear instance of physical assault is puzzling.

However, one reason for the DOJ’s decision may be a contention raised by attorneys for a number of the defendants that Bondi’s aggressive public media campaign surrounding the arrests—including the release of photos and videos of defendants before trial—could violate internal department policies and risk prejudicing cases.

Image by Chad Davis.

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13 minutes ago
Crime
News

Young Woman Set on Fire by Career Criminal in Chicago Finally Leaves Hospital.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A woman who was set on fire on a Chicago subway train has been released from the hospital three months after the attack.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Victim Bethany MaGee, 26, and suspect Lawrence Reed, 50.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred in November 2025 on Chicago’s Blue Line subway; MaGee was hospitalized at Stroger Hospital.

💬KEY QUOTE: “My family and I are grateful to be able to celebrate this milestone, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who has offered support, kindness, and encouragement during this time.” – Bethany MaGee

🎯IMPACT: The attack has raised concerns about judicial leniency after the suspect, who has a lengthy criminal record, was released despite warnings from prosecutors.

IN FULL

Bethany MaGee, 26, has been released from Stroger Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, nearly three months after she was set on fire during a brutal, random attack on a CTA Blue Line subway train. MaGee suffered burns to roughly 60 percent of her body in the November 2025 attack, which prosecutors allege was carried out by Lawrence Reed, 50.

In a statement marking her discharge, MaGee expressed appreciation for those who supported her during her recovery. “My family and I are grateful to be able to celebrate this milestone, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who has offered support, kindness, and encouragement during this time,” she said. She also praised the medical staff, thanking the Stroger Hospital burn team for their “exceptional care, compassion, and expertise.”

Prosecutors say Reed poured gasoline on MaGee inside the subway car and ignited it while yelling, “Burn alive, b***h!” Surveillance video reportedly captured the attack. MaGee was able to escape the train at the Clark and Lake station, where bystanders rushed to help extinguish the flames and provide aid until emergency responders arrived.

Reed had a lengthy criminal history, with authorities saying he had been arrested more than 70 times prior to the attack. Prosecutors had previously warned that he posed a serious threat and that his next offense would “likely be violent.” Despite those warnings, he was released from custody by liberal Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez following an earlier arrest in August 2025, who said dismissively, “I understand your position, but I can’t keep everybody in jail because the State’s Attorney wants me to.”

The attack has intensified scrutiny of judicial decisions in Chicago, particularly regarding repeat offenders. Federal officials have warned city leaders that Chicago could risk losing federal transit funding if stronger safety measures are not implemented on public transportation following a series of violent incidents.

The case has also drawn comparisons to other high-profile transit crimes, including the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier in 2025, allegedly by a black male who shouted “I got that white girl” following the attack.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Politics

Rule Change Makes It Easier for Trump to Fire Federal Bureaucrats — Sort Of…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is restoring—in part—the Schedule F designation for federal workers, allowing the President to remove employees in permanent policy positions governed under the competitive service outside standard procedures and appeals.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), OPM Director Scott Kupor, and federal employees potentially affected by the rule.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The rule goes into effect on March 9, following its finalization this month.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Schedule Policy/Career restores a basic principle of democratic governance: those entrusted with shaping and executing policy must be accountable for results.” — OPM Director Scott Kupor

🎯IMPACT: The former Biden government implemented statutory roadblocks to Schedule F’s return, forcing the Trump administration to create workarounds, leading to a new designation with a few key differences from the original rule.

IN FULL

The Trump White House’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is finalizing a rule that will partially restore the Schedule F designation for federal workers in policy-influencing roles, allowing the President to remove or reassign them without the option to appeal under the labor statutes governing the career civil service. Titled “Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service,” the new rule will take effect on March 9.

Briefly in effect in late 2020, before its repeal by former President Joe Biden in January of 2021, Schedule F will now be called a Schedule Policy/Career designation. According to OMP, the federal employment designation could affect an estimated 50,000 positions in the federal government.

“Schedule Policy/Career restores a basic principle of democratic governance: those entrusted with shaping and executing policy must be accountable for results,” OPM Director Scott Kupor said late Thursday. He added, “This rule preserves merit-based hiring, veterans’ preference, and whistleblower protections while ensuring senior career officials responsible for advancing President Trump’s agenda can be held to the same performance expectations that exist throughout much of the American workforce.”

The National Pulse reported in April of 2024 that officials in the former Biden government implemented statutory roadblocks to Schedule F’s return in an attempt to prevent President Trump from effectively staffing the executive branch with employees who support his agenda. These changes have forced the Trump administration to create workarounds, leading to a new designation with a few key differences from the original Schedule F rule.

Notably, according to OPM, “roles will remain career positions and continue to be filled through merit-based hiring procedures, including application of veterans’ preference, but will no longer be subject to the removal procedures that have made accountability for poor performance and misconduct exceedingly rare.” This is a key difference from the original Schedule F designation, which allowed the President to reclassify positions from the competitive service (career government workers) to the excepted service, which includes political appointees and is more akin to at-will employment.

The changes appear to be the direct result of the Biden rule, which prevents career federal employees from being redesignated as political appointees or other at-will workers.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
NatSec
News

The FBI Has Captured a Major Suspect in the 2012 Benghazi Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Zubayr Al-Bakoush, a key suspect in the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack, on charges including murder, terrorism, and arson.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zubayr Al-Bakoush, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and U.S. Attorney Jeannine Pirro.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Al-Bakoush landed at Andrews Air Force Base early Friday morning; the charges date back to the 2012 Benghazi attack.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Hillary Clinton famously once said about Benghazi, ‘What difference, at this point, does it make?’ Well, it makes a difference to Donald Trump. It makes a difference to those families. And 14 years later, it makes a difference to law enforcement, who made the difference in this case.” – Pam Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: The arrest brings a key suspect to face American justice and highlights ongoing efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.

IN FULL

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Zubayr Al-Bakoush, a key suspect in the 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya. Al-Bakoush arrived at Andrews Air Force Base at approximately 3 AM on February 6 and is now in U.S. custody, facing charges including murder, terrorism, arson, and conspiracy.

Bondi said the arrest followed years of coordinated efforts by U.S. officials. “From day one, Kash and Dan would sit in meetings and say, ‘We’re going to get him,’” Bondi said. “And they did.” She added that the suspect “will face American justice on American soil.”

U.S. Attorney Jeannine Pirro, who will prosecute the case, said Al-Bakoush was first charged in 2015 under a sealed complaint. “[The eight count indictment] charges Bakoush with the murder of Ambassador Chris Stevens, the murder of State Department employee Sean Smith, the attempted murder of State Department Special Agent Scott Wickland and conspiracy to provide materials for terrorists and support that resulted in the death of four Americans, as well as arson at the special mission,” Pirro said.

The Benghazi attack occurred on September 11, 2012, when Islamist militants overran the U.S. Special Mission and later attacked a nearby CIA annex. Four Americans were killed, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. The incident led to multiple congressional investigations and became a central political controversy, particularly concerning U.S. diplomatic security and the Obama administration’s response.

Bondi referenced former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s remarks during congressional testimony on the attack. “Hillary Clinton famously once said about Benghazi, ‘What difference, at this point, does it make?’ Well, it makes a difference to Donald Trump. It makes a difference to those families. And 14 years later, it makes a difference to law enforcement, who made the difference in this case.”

The arrest marks a significant development in a case that has remained a symbol of unresolved accountability for more than a decade. Federal officials said the prosecution is intended to deliver long-awaited justice for the victims and reaffirm the U.S. government’s commitment to pursuing those responsible for attacks on American personnel abroad.

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3 hours ago
William Upton
Lawfare

Appeals Court Upholds Trump Order Ending Federal DEI Programs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit cleared the way for the Trump administration to move forward with plans to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal contracting and grant processes.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Chief Circuit Judge Albert Diaz, the City of Baltimore, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP),  the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), U.S. District Court Judge Adam B. Abelson, President Donald J. Trump, and federal department heads.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Friday, February 6, 2026, after a nearly year-long legal battle.

💬KEY QUOTE: “President Trump has decided that equity isn’t a priority in his administration and so has directed his subordinates to terminate funding that supports equity-related projects to the maximum extent allowed by law. Whether that’s sound policy or not isn’t our call.” — Fourth Circuit panel

🎯IMPACT: President Trump’s plans to end DEI requirements and programs for federal contractors and grant recipients have been in limbo since last February, when Joe Biden-appointed U.S. District Court Judge Adam B. Abelson issued an injunction against the administration.

IN FULL

A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit cleared the way for the Trump administration to move forward with plans to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal contracting and grant processes, vacating a district court injunction blocking the changes. In the unanimous ruling issued on Friday, the Fourth Circuit panel determined that the plaintiffs failed to establish their claim that two Executive Orders signed by President Donald J. Trump in January 2025, which ended federal support for DEI programs, violated their First Amendment free speech rights.

U.S. Chief Circuit Judge Albert Diaz, an Obama appointee, authored the court’s opinion, writing, “President Trump has decided that equity isn’t a priority in his administration and so has directed his subordinates to terminate funding that supports equity-related projects to the maximum extent allowed by law. Whether that’s sound policy or not isn’t our call. We ask only whether the policy is unconstitutionally vague for funding recipients.”

Notably, the court found that because President Trump‘s Executive Orders were directives issued to his Cabinet and did not attempt to govern the private conduct of federal grant recipients, the directives had no impact on the free speech rights of the plaintiffs. The Fourth Circuit panel admonished the plaintiffs and the lower court ruling, writing, “What plaintiffs are really asking us to do is read subtext into the Provision’s text. And what they’re really challenging is how the Administration and its agency actors interpret antidiscrimination law in relation to plaintiffs’ DEI programming.”

The Trump administration’s plans to end DEI requirements and programs for federal contractors and grant recipients have been in limbo since last February, when the City of Baltimore—joined by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE)—filed a lawsuit against the directives in Maryland federal court. Subsequently, U.S. District Court Judge Adam B. Abelson, appointed by former President Joe Biden, issued an injunction against the administration, preventing Trump’s Executive Orders from going into effect. In his ruling, Judge Abelson specifically found that President Trump’s detectives likely violated the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights.

Image by Katrin Bolovtsova.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
Politics

Ex-Amb to U.S. Peter Mandelson Has Properties Raided Amid Epstein Probe.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Police are investigating Lord Peter Mandelson for allegedly leaking confidential information to deceased pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while he was in the British government. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces backlash for appointing Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., despite a history of scandals and his ties to Epstein already being public knowledge.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Peter Mandelson, Keir Starmer, and Britain’s ruling Labour Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Police activity was observed at Mandelson’s Wiltshire property on Friday, February 6, 2026, and his central London residence.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am beyond being furious and appalled… To think that he was leaking the information to Epstein so he could help rich Americans make money on the UK government’s actions. It is treasonous,” said Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Emily Darlington.

🎯IMPACT: The scandal has caused significant political fallout, with Labour MPs calling for a complete overhaul of Starmer’s advisory team and potentially his resignation.

IN FULL

British police are investigating Lord Peter Mandelson over allegations that he leaked sensitive government information to the late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein when he was in government, with officers attending properties linked to him in both Wiltshire and central London on Friday. Witnesses reported one marked police vehicle and several unmarked cars outside Mandelson’s Wiltshire home, where media crews were also present. Separate reports said officers wearing body cameras entered his London residence as part of the same inquiry.

The allegations have reignited controversy surrounding Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson as the British ambassador to the United States, a role he was forced to leave only months after taking up the post. Many public figures, including The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam, had expressed strong opposition to Mandelson’s appointment, and now appear to be vindicated.

Mandelson, a former Cabinet member under Labour Party prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, as well as a European Commissioner, had acknowledged knowing Epstein socially in the past, but maintained he was unaware of his criminal activities at the time. Subsequent disclosures have revealed this was untrue, with Starmer later apologizing to Epstein’s victims and admitting the ambassadorship was a serious error.

Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) have reacted angrily to the scandal. Emily Darlington MP, for instance, described Mandelson’s alleged conduct as “treasonous,” saying, “I am beyond being furious and appalled… To think that he was leaking the information to Epstein so he could help rich Americans make money on the UK government’s actions.” She called for a full investigation into the potential financial cost to taxpayers.

Simon Opher, another Labour MP, called for Starmer’s advisory team to be fired, saying the Prime Minister has “been badly advised, and he’s been really let down, particularly on this decision.”

Image by Simon Dawson/10 Downing Street.

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4 hours ago
William Upton
Immigration
Religion

Mamdani, from Islam’s Extreme ‘Twelver’ Sect, Says He Supports Immigration Because It ‘Built’ His Religion.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), a member of the extremist “Twelver” sect of Shia Islam, invoked the Prophet Muhammad and the history of Islam to defend his support for even more expansive sanctuary laws while speaking before 400 faith leaders at the annual Interfaith Breakfast.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, illegal immigrants, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and New York residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Interfaith Breakfast occurred on Friday, February 6, 2026, in New York City.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I consider my own faith, Islam, a religion built upon a narrative of migration. The story of the Hijrah reminds us that Prophet Muhammad, was a stranger too, who fled Mecca and was welcomed in Medina.” — Zohran Mamdani

🎯IMPACT: While Mamdani likely intended to relate his protection of criminal illegal immigrants to a seemingly sympathetic story of faith and religious persecution, the Hijrah not only marks Muhammad’s flight from Mecca but also the start of the Early Muslim conquests of the Middle East, when Muhammad returned to Mecca with an army, with his successors going on to take over North Africa, Spain, and other territories by force of arms.

IN FULL

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), a member of the extremist “Twelver” sect of Shia Islam, invoked the Prophet Muhammad and the history of Islam to defend his support for even more expansive sanctuary laws while speaking before 400 faith leaders at the annual Interfaith Breakfast on Friday. Immediately following his address, the Ugandan immigrant socialist signed Executive Order 13, which bans U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from all city property—as well as hospitals, schools, homeless shelters, and municipal parking lots—unless they present a judicial warrant. Additionally, the measure orders city workers to refuse federal government requests for information about New York City residents unless required by law.

“I consider my own faith, Islam, a religion built upon a narrative of migration. The story of the Hijrah reminds us that Prophet Muhammad, was a stranger too, who fled Mecca and was welcomed in Medina,” Mamdani said before quoting the Quran. “Sura An-Nahl 16:42 tells us: ‘As for those who emigrated in the cause of Allah after being persecuted, we will surely bless them with a good home in this world,'” he said.

While Mamdani likely intended to relate his protection of criminal illegal immigrants to a seemingly sympathetic story of faith and religious persecution, the Hijrah, in which Muhammad and his followers fled to Medina after persecution in Mecca, marks the beginning Early Muslim conquests, which saw Muhammad establish the first Islamic state in Medina and initiate a series of violent conquests that captured Mecca and most of modern-day Saudi Arabia.


Over the next 130 years, Muhammad‘s successors, under the successive Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates, would wage war across most of the Middle East and North Africa. By 750 A.D., the conquests had spread Islam through warfare from Persia, which was formerly Zoroastrian, to Spain, and as far north as the Caucasus.

Mamdani’s own “Twelver” sect of Islam, shared by Iran’s ruling mullahs, believes that there is a 1,200-year-old living prophet who is still alive but currently in hiding, and he will emerge to spread Islam worldwide in the future.

Notably, the former Biden government’s open border policies have been criticized by many, including President Donald J. Trump and two-thirds of Americans, as having facilitated a foreign invasion of the United States by millions of illegal immigrants. While most of those who illegally entered the country under Biden originated from countries in Central and South America, the refugee crisis in Europe has seen a flood of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants coming from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Overwhelmingly Muslim men of military age, these so-called refugees have fueled a cultural and religious clash that has seen acts of terrorism, rape, and attacks on churches and synagogues.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Economy

Trump Economy: Consumer Confidence Up, Inflation Expectations Down.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Consumer sentiment increased for the second month in a row, surpassing economists’ expectations, as inflation expectations dropped to 3.5 percent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: University of Michigan economists, American consumers, and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 6, 2025, United States.

🎯IMPACT: The data suggests positive momentum for President Donald J. Trump’s economy, despite some concerns of softening in the labor market.

IN FULL

U.S. consumer sentiment has climbed for the second straight month, based on the latest figures from the University of Michigan. This uptick reflects receding concerns over inflation, with year-ahead inflation expectations down from four percent in January to 3.5 percent in February.

Notably, the improvements in sentiment signal some optimistic trends for consumers, including the dip in year-ahead inflation expectations, among other key economic indicators. The National Pulse reported in late January that the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which maintains the central bank’s GDP Now tracking system, estimates that the 4th Quarter gross domestic product (GDP) in the entire United States expanded by 5.3 percent.

Although the labor market has shown signs of cooling and the inflation rate remains slightly above the Federal Reserve’s two percent target, economic forecasts suggest several successive quarters of strong growth. The U.S. economy posted its strongest quarterly growth in two years this past fall, propelled by robust consumer spending. The unemployment rate has also ticked down, dropping to 4.4 percent in December from 4.6 percent in November, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics—a historically low level.

Still, the market has been volatile in recent days, with Bitcoin plunging and key tech stocks falling. However, these appear unrelated to Trump administration policies, with the latter being attributed in large part to Anthropic revealing a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that could render a number of current software products out of date.

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6 hours ago
Crime
News

Violent Trans Antifa Radical Jailed for Hammer Attacks on Right-Wingers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A transgender Antifa radical was sentenced to eight years in prison in Hungary for a series of violent far-left attacks in Budapest.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The German activist, known as “Maja T.,” and other members of the “Hammer Gang” Antifa cell.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attacks occurred in Budapest in February 2023; sentencing was this week at the Budapest Municipal Court.

🎯IMPACT: The case has sparked political backlash in Europe, with some accusing Hungary of political persecution while others highlight the violent nature of the crimes.

IN FULL

A Hungarian court has handed an eight-year prison sentence to “Maja T.,” a German national linked to a series of far-left assaults carried out in Budapest in February 2023. The attacks were attributed to a radical Antifa cell known as the “Hammer Gang,” which allegedly targeted people it accused of being “neo-Nazis.”

Prosecutors said the group ambushed victims in the street, striking them on the head with clubs and continuing to beat them after they fell. Several victims reportedly suffered skull fractures and other life-threatening injuries. Authorities said those attacked were selected based on suspicion of right-wing views, regardless of whether they were actually involved in any extremist activity.

The convict, who claims to be “non-binary,” was found guilty of life-threatening assault and membership in a criminal organization by the Budapest Municipal Court. The ruling is provisional and may be appealed.

Maja claimed the case was politically driven and aimed at satisfying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government has classified Antifa as a terrorist organization. “Of course, I see the Hungarian government’s efforts to influence the independence of the court,” Maja complained following the verdict.

Another alleged member of the Hammer Gang, Italian activist Ilaria Salis, was previously held under house arrest in Hungary, but later secured release after being elected to the European Parliament, gaining parliamentary immunity.

Antifa has been linked by authorities in multiple countries to acts of political violence. In recent years, governments and law enforcement agencies have cited Antifa-associated groups in connection with assaults, arson attacks, and major infrastructure sabotage.

Last year, President Trump declared several European Antifa groups as foreign terrorist organisations.

Image by Oompje.

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6 hours ago
NatSec
News

Canada, France Open Greenland Consulates in Challenge to Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Canada and France have opened consulates in Greenland, marking a significant diplomatic move against U.S. interest in acquiring the Danish territory.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Canadian and French officials, the Trump administration, and the governments of Greenland and Denmark.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The consulates were opened this week in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, following friction between the U.S. and Europe over the island from 2025 into 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Canada stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will determine their own future.” – Canadian Governor General Mary Simon.

🎯IMPACT: The consulates highlight attempts by European NATO members to push back against President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland.

IN FULL

Canada and France have formally opened new consulates in Greenland, a move widely seen as a signal of support for Danish sovereignty in the Arctic territory at a time of tension with the Trump administration over its future. President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark to boost national and regional security.

Until now, only the United States and Iceland have maintained permanent diplomatic outposts in Greenland. Officials from both Canada and France traveled to Nuuk for the openings, with Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon saying, “Canada stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will determine their own future.”

Notably, a majority of Greenlanders wish to separate from Denmark—few in the Inuit-majority territory are ethnic Danes—but a larger majority do not wish to do so if it means losing the Danish subsidies which currently cover around half the Greenlandic budget. Despite official resistance to joining the United States, it remains likely that the U.S. could make the Greenladers a substantially better offer than Denmark.

The Canadian consulate had originally been scheduled to open in late 2025, but was delayed due to severe weather. Its belated opening comes amid strained relations between Washington and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, was critical of Trump over Greenland and other geopolitical issues at the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump, in turn, has warned Canada of the possibility of 100 percent tariffs if it moves forward with a trade agreement with China.

Notably, Vice President J.D. Vance has said that quiet negotiations regarding Greenland—involving European governments and the United States over security and possibly access to critical minerals — have been far less hostile, with concessions to the U.S. position being made in private.

Image by NordForsk/Terje Heiestad.

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7 hours ago
Health
News

TrumpRx, Designed to Slash Drug Prices for Americans, Has Launched. Here’s How It Works:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced the launch of TrumpRx.gov, a platform offering significant discounts on high-cost prescription drugs.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, pharmaceutical manufacturers including AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: President Trump officially announced the launch of the TrumpRx website on Thursday evening.

💬KEY QUOTE: “American patients no longer have to pay high prices to subsidize low prices in the rest of the world.” – Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Millions of Americans will benefit from drastically reduced drug prices, with savings on key medications for diabetes, fertility, and more.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has officially rolled out TrumpRx.gov, a new online platform aimed at helping patients secure significant discounts on some of the priciest and most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. The site enables Americans to access prices aligned with those in other developed countries, under what’s known as most-favored-nation (MFN) pricing.

The launch involves partnerships with five leading drug companies—AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer—with more agreements anticipated soon. Users can obtain these savings via printable or digital coupons or through integrations directly with the manufacturers’ systems.

Among the standout reductions are drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, prescribed for diabetes and weight management, where monthly costs have fallen from over $1,000 to as little as $199, based on the dosage. Fertility treatments such as Gonal-F and Cetrotide are also seeing steep cuts, with some dropping to $22.50. Additional savings apply to asthma and COPD inhalers, insulin products, and medications for osteoporosis, all available at much lower rates.

This effort stems from an Executive Order President Trump signed in May 2025 to bring U.S. drug prices in line with those in comparable nations. Since then, 16 separate agreements have been secured with pharmaceutical companies, leading to price drops on a range of treatments.

On January 15, 2026, President Trump also called on Congress to approve The Great Healthcare Plan, which would make price reductions permanent, reduce insurance premiums, boost transparency in healthcare costs, and ensure greater accountability from insurance providers.

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