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Monday, March 9, 2026

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1 hour ago
News

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.

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11 minutes ago
NatSec
TECH

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.

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By Popular Demand.
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40 minutes ago
NatSec
TECH

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.”

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2 hours ago
News

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.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

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.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Corruption

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.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
William Upton
War

Trump: ‘I Think the War is Very Complete.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump said on Monday that the U.S. military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran is “very far” ahead of schedule and likely near completion.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the U.S. military, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday, March 9, 2026

💬KEY QUOTE: “I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no air force.” — Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Earlier on Monday, President Trump dismissed rumors of an impending ground invasion of Iran, stating, “We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it.”

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump said on Monday that the U.S. military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran is “very far” ahead of schedule and likely near completion. “I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no air force,” Trump said in a phone interview with CBS.

The President indicated that the success of joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes have placed the military action ahead of his initial timeline of four to five weeks for combat operations. Earlier on Monday, President Trump dismissed rumors of an impending ground invasion of Iran, stating, “We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it.”

Last week, The National Pulse reported that Trump announced the United States would only accept “unconditional surrender” from the Islamic Republic of Iran, stating that there will be “no deal” to end the conflict with the Islamist regime on any other grounds. He reiterated this stance again on Monday, stating he had no intention to talk with Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s deceased dictator, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: “I have no message for him. None, whatsoever.”

Since the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, U.S. and Israeli forces have engaged in a sustained bombardment of Iranian political and military targets, effectively decapitating the Islamist regime’s top leadership and crippling its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), navy, air force, and ballistic missile capabilities. Still, the threat of Iranian drone attacks has effectively resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—though President Trump suggested the U.S. Navy may move to secure the vital waterway.

“They’ve shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute or it’s going to be the end of that country,” Trump warned.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Politics

This Congressman Just Quit the GOP, Here’s What That Means for the House Majority.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) has announced he is leaving the Republican Party to become an independent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kevin Kiley, Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), and the GOP House caucus.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Monday, with changes effective immediately, impacting California’s 6th Congressional District.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today, I’m asking the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives to have that reflected in the official roster.” – Kevin Kiley

🎯IMPACT: Kiley will still caucus with the GOP, leaving the slim House majority unchanged for now.

IN FULL

Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) has announced he is leaving the Republican Party and will run for re-election as an independent. The announcement was made on Monday, with Kiley requesting the change be reflected in the official roster of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Today, I’m asking the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives to have that reflected in the official roster,” Kiley stated. Importantly, the California lawmaker clarified that he will continue to caucus with the GOP, ensuring the slim Republican majority in the House remains unaffected for now. The move comes as Kiley prepares to run for reelection under a “No Party Preference” designation in what will be a Democrat-leaning seat after California state Democrat lawmakers redraw congressional lines.

Kiley criticized gerrymandering, calling it “a plague on democracy, one that Gavin Newsom has brought back to California.” Notably, Kiley’s district will be split into six different parts under the new Democrat-drawn map.

The Republican congressman will now run in California’s 6th Congressional District, a Democrat-leaning area, as he continues his campaign for reelection.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Election Integrity

FBI Confiscates Arizona Voting Records as Election Fraud Investigation Expands.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has expanded its criminal investigation into suspected election fraud, issuing a grand jury subpoena to obtain voting records from Maricopa County, Arizona.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The FBI, election observers from both parties, Maricopa County officials, and House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent developments in Maricopa County, Arizona, following earlier FBI actions in Fulton County, Georgia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re digging back through those reports that were submitted by our election observers that were deployed across the country.” – Bryan Steil

🎯IMPACT: The investigation could expand to other states and may uncover further violations of federal election law.

IN FULL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe into alleged election fraud has expanded to Arizona, where agents recently confiscated a substantial amount of electronic election data from Maricopa County through a federal grand jury subpoena. The move follows an earlier raid by federal authorities on a warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia, where ballots tied to the 2020 election were reportedly seized.

Sources say investigators were alerted after election observers submitted a bipartisan report describing irregularities during the 2024 election cycle at a Maricopa County warehouse. The report allegedly included photographs of ballots and the facility, which observers said stored ballots from multiple states.

House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) confirmed that lawmakers are reviewing election observer reports submitted from across the country. “We’re digging back through those reports that were submitted by our election observers that were deployed across the country,” Steil said.

The FBI’s operation in Fulton County reportedly uncovered confirmed irregularities. In a sworn affidavit, Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans wrote that some allegations were substantiated, including admissions from Fulton County officials. Investigators are now examining whether the incidents constitute intentional violations of federal election law.

Maricopa County, Arizona’s largest county and one of the most closely watched election jurisdictions in the United States, has faced ongoing scrutiny over its election administration. A 2020 audit identified multiple concerns, including an estimate that over 200,000 ballots with mismatched signatures may have been counted without full verification.

Additional controversies have surfaced in recent years. In 2024, a temporary election worker allegedly stole a security fob and keys used to access election equipment at the county’s tabulation center.

The county has also faced legal challenges over election procedures. Lawsuits have accused Maricopa officials of failing to follow certain state election laws related to voter roll maintenance and election administration.

Questions surrounding voter registration have also fueled debate. Reports indicated that tens of thousands of Arizona voters, many in Maricopa County, were listed without documented proof of citizenship due to record-keeping issues, raising concerns among critics about voter verification processes.

Image by Neon Tommy.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
Immigration

British Flags Branded ‘Tools of Hate’ in Government Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A leaked draft of the British government’s social cohesion policy suggests the British, English, and Scottish flags can be “tools of hate.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The British government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, British patriots, and ethnic minorities offended by Britain’s national flags.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Leaked draft reported March 2026, in the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Absurdly, this says our national flag is a tool of hate used to intimidate. The whole paper is a divisive nonsense that should be consigned to the bin.” – Richard Tice MP, Deputy Leader of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party

🎯IMPACT: Proposals could inflame debates over free speech, identity politics, and national pride.

IN FULL

A leaked draft of the British government’s upcoming social cohesion strategy suggests that the country’s national flags, including the British, English, and Scottish flags, can be “tools of hate.” The 47-page document, titled Protecting What Matters, claims that during protests against migrant crime last summer, some national symbols were used to “exclude or intimidate,” adding that the “extreme right has tried to turn symbols of pride into tools of hate.”

Recent grassroots campaigns against mass migration and migrant crime have encouraged public displays of British flags. One initiative, Operation Raise the Colours, organized supporters online to hang British Union flags and English St. George’s Cross flags across the country as an expression of patriotism. In some areas, however, local authorities removed the flags, supposedly because they had been attached to public infrastructure without permission. Officials in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, for instance, took down English flags installed as part of the campaign, despite having previously left Palestinian flags in place.

Separately, as former Premier League soccer player Joey Barton was convicted over allegedly offensive social media posts directed at BBC presenters, a judge criticized him for wearing a scarf featuring the British flag, describing it as an attempt to make a political point.

Richard Tice MP, Deputy Leader of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, strongly criticized the government’s draft strategy, saying: “Absurdly, this says our national flag is a tool of hate used to intimidate. The whole paper is a divisive nonsense that should be consigned to the bin.”

The draft strategy also proposes appointing a “special representative” to address “hostility” toward Muslims and introducing a new definition of Islamophobia. Critics warn such measures could act as a de facto “blasphemy” law that further restricts free speech.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
NatSec
War

FBI Investigating ISIS-Style IED Attack on Anti-Mamdani Protest.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a formal terrorism investigation after improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were thrown at people protesting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at his official residence.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Two men from Pennsylvania, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested for throwing IEDs, while four others faced charges including pepper spray use and disorderly conduct. Mayor Mamdani and his wife were present inside their residence.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on Saturday outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence in New York City.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.” – Mayor Zohran Mamdani

🎯IMPACT: The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has launched an investigation, with search warrants expected in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Authorities are also probing potential extremist influences and overseas travel of the suspects.

IN FULL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a formal terrorism investigation after improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were ignited outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani‘s residence and thrown at right-wing demonstrators during a protest on Saturday. Two men from Pennsylvania, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested for their alleged involvement in throwing the explosive devices. Four others were also arrested on charges including pepper spray use and disorderly conduct.

The attack occurred during a counter-protest to an anti-Islam demonstration organized by individuals associated with Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6 protester. According to law enforcement sources, the IEDs were constructed with volatile materials, including triacetone triperoxide (TATP), and were designed to cause harm. The devices were reportedly made using sports drink bottles, glass jars, nuts, bolts, and M80-type fireworks.

“These were not hoax devices, nor smoke bombs, they were improvised explosive devices that could have caused serious injury or death,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Monday, confirming that the attack was “being investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.”

Videos from the scene show Balat allegedly throwing one of the devices while shouting “Allahu Akbar” before retrieving a second device from Kayumi. The first device extinguished itself after hitting a barrier, while the second was dropped before it could cause harm. Both suspects are U.S. citizens with documented overseas travel to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. Authorities are investigating potential extremist influences and their travel history.

A third suspicious device was discovered Sunday in a vehicle near Gracie Mansion, prompting evacuations. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) Bomb Squad safely removed the device for further testing. Mayor Mamdani and his wife were inside their residence at the time of the incident. In a statement, Mamdani condemned the violence: “The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has taken over the investigation, with search warrants executed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Investigators also state that the suspects were inspired by ISIS messaging and other extremist ideologies.

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By Popular Demand.
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