GET THE APP
Thursday, March 26, 2026

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

43 minutes ago
Election Integrity

WATCH: O’Keefe Lays Bare Fresh Election Fraud Scheme.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: James O’Keefe published undercover footage showing a scheme where homeless people were paid to forge voter signatures on ballot petitions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: James O’Keefe, petition circulators, homeless people, and disenfranchised voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Los Angeles, California, March 26, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “You only write what I tell you to write.”

🎯IMPACT: Potential violations of felony statutes and outrage among voters whose signatures were forged.

IN FULL

In an undercover investigation, James O’Keefe has exposed a significant election fraud operation occurring on Skid Row in Los Angeles, California. The scheme involves petition circulators who pay homeless people small amounts of money to forge signatures of real registered voters on ballot petitions.

The footage, part of the Cash for Ballots series, shows these circulators providing lists of voters’ names and addresses, instructing the homeless on what to write, and overseeing the process to ensure the information matches, enabling them to receive payment.

Statements from the video reveal the circulators’ control over the process, with one saying, “You only write what I tell you to write,” and another emphasizing, “If you mess up, I can’t get paid.”

This activity appears to contravene several California felony statutes, including those against signing another person’s name to a petition and forgery. O’Keefe’s team, along with Cam Higby, has corroborated these findings by visiting addresses linked to the forged signatures.

One resident confirmed that a voter listed had not resided at their address for nearly a decade, yet election mail was still being sent there, raising concerns about ongoing fraudulent activities. The investigation is set to continue, with more footage expected to be released.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad
More From The Pulse

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

8 minutes ago
Crime
News

‘Big Tish’ James in Hot Water Again.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) was hit with two federal criminal referrals alleging she may have committed homeowners’ insurance fraud.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte, U.S. Attorneys Andrew Boutros and Jason Reding Quinones, and Letitia James.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Referrals were filed on Wednesday with U.S. Attorneys in Florida and Illinois, concerning incidents tied to a property in Norfolk, Virginia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[I]t appears Ms. James may have defrauded the Illinois-based insurance company.” – William Pulte

🎯IMPACT: The referrals add to ongoing legal scrutiny of James; her attorney has dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.

IN FULL

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) has received two federal criminal referrals accusing her of possibly providing false information in homeowner insurance applications. William Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, sent the referrals to U.S. Attorneys Andrew Boutros in Illinois and Jason Reding Quinones in Florida. The claims focus on insurance documents filed with Allstate Insurance Company and Universal Property Insurance.

The referrals followed the posting of documents on social media that appeared to show inconsistencies in James’s filings. Pulte’s referral alleges that James misrepresented the occupancy of a Norfolk, Virginia, property she bought in 2020, claiming it would house a single adult when it was allegedly occupied by four people, including three children and her niece. A separate allegation claims she falsely stated the property would sit empty for five months each year, even though it was reportedly occupied year-round.

A Justice Department spokesman confirmed that the referrals had been received. James’s attorney Abbe Lowell—who has also represented Hunter Biden—rejected the accusations as elements of a politically motivated “revenge campaign,” charging that opponents were simply recycling baseless claims. “These desperate tactics will fail—just as every previous attempt has failed,” said Lowell.

Notably, this is not the first time James has faced legal action. A federal judge dismissed a mortgage fraud case against her last November, ruling that the interim U.S. Attorney assigned to the matter had been improperly appointed. Two federal grand juries declined to issue new indictments on related charges. The current referrals concern the same Norfolk property that was central to the earlier case.

Image by DVSROSS.

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.

1 hour ago
News

Ticketmaster Raises Fees After DOJ Antitrust Settlement.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ticketmaster increased various fees as a response to new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations banning hidden charges.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Entertainment, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and multiple venues.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Changes were made in response to new FTC rules after May 2025, impacting venues across the U.S.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Ticketmaster may effectively still be charging the fee, just disguising it as something else.” – Former FTC economist John Newman

🎯IMPACT: Ticketmaster’s fee adjustments have raised concerns about compliance with FTC rules and transparency to consumers.

IN FULL

Ticketmaster, coming off a questionable antitrust settlement deal with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), has quietly increased certain upfront charges to offset the loss of revenue from “surprise” or “hidden” fees that had appeared at the end of transactions. Last May, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) imposed new rules requiring upfront pricing and eliminating surprise fees at checkout. However, the latest fee scheme by Ticketmaster appears to still violate these regulations.

“To account for the loss of order processing revenue, we must adjust fees to offset the revenue loss,” the company wrote in a contract with the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona, last year. The contract explained that Ticketmaster was offsetting revenue losses from the elimination of a $6 processing fee by increasing its service fee on each ticket.

The change appears to violate the new FTC regulations. “Ticketmaster may effectively still be charging the fee, just disguising it as something else. That type of behavior can run afoul of the FTC rule,” Former FTC economist John Newman explained.

Notably, Ticketmaster is owned by Live Nation Entertainment, which settled a DOJ antitrust case earlier this month after allegedly extensive lobbying of the department by the company’s proxies, including attorney Mike Davis. The settlement includes a $280 million civil penalty to be paid to a number of 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.

Importantly, around 30 state governments have opted to continue their antitrust litigation and did not sign on to the DOJ settlement, which does little to actually address Live Nation’s monopoly over ticket sales. 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.”

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.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

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

2 hours ago
Crime
UK

Predators Targeting Girls as Young as 11 at Vape Shops, Mini-Marts.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senior British politicians have called for an urgent investigation following allegations of child sexual exploitation linked to mini-marts and vape shops in England’s West Midlands.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: West Midlands Police, local council officials, victims, and political leaders, including Reform Party Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Allegations span from 2019 onwards, centered around high streets in the West Midlands.

💬KEY QUOTE: Reform Party Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf called the reports “sickening,” and said West Midlands Police’s initial dismissal of the concerns amounted to a “complete collapse of duty.”

🎯IMPACT: Authorities face mounting pressure to investigate the allegations, as public concern over child safety grows.

IN FULL

Senior British politicians are demanding an immediate inquiry into claims of child sexual exploitation connected to mini-marts and vape stores across the West Midlands. The push follows repeated warnings from a municipal government employee about children as young as 11 being put at risk of abuse.

West Midlands Police originally insisted there was “no evidence” to back the allegations, but after revisiting the information, they said it was being “actioned appropriately.” This echoes Britain’s notorious grooming gangs scandal, in which police forces across the country initially resisted investigating Pakistani Muslims preying on white children, acting only after significant media coverage.

Intelligence updates issued between 2019 and 2024 highlighted concerns that youngsters were being targeted for exploitation after being offered drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes at these premises. One former employee at a mini-mart in the area described being sexually assaulted by another worker, stating, “I screamed and ran out of the shop.” She added that she had been harassed and propositioned for sex on multiple occasions by staff at different locations.

Reform Party Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf called the reports “sickening,” and said West Midlands Police’s initial dismissal of the concerns amounted to a “complete collapse of duty.”

Mini-marts and vape shops are known hubs of criminality in Britain, with an investigation late last year spanning locations from Dundee, Scotland, to south Devon, England, revealing that a Kurdish organized crime network was allowing migrants to illegally operate premises generating profits from black market cigarettes and vapes, some of them sold to children.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

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

2 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

More Victims of Migrant Accused of High School Sexual Assault Spree Come Forward.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An adult illegal immigrant in Virginia, already facing multiple charges for sexually assaulting female classmates at a high school, now faces additional accusations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Israel Flores Ortiz, 18, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, and female students at Fairfax High School.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Reports surfaced on March 5, 2026, at Fairfax High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. Ortiz turned himself in on March 7.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s terrifying as a parent because when I send my daughters to school, I think they’re safe in the care of the school,” said parent Stacy Langton.

🎯IMPACT: Ortiz is being held without bond, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has filed a detainer to remove him from the country. Parents have expressed outrage over safety concerns at the school.

IN FULL

Israel Flores Ortiz, an adult illegal immigrant from El Salvador, is facing additional assault and battery charges, following previous charges for a sexual assault spree targeting girls at Fairfax High School in Virginia. He was originally charged with nine counts, but authorities have added four more as further victims have come forward during the ongoing investigation.

Fairfax County police first learned of the incidents on March 5, 2024, and obtained an arrest warrant. Ortiz surrendered to authorities on March 7 and remains in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, held without bond. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on him in order to remove him from the United States.

Local parents have voiced outrage and concern. “It’s terrifying as a parent because when I send my daughters to school, I think they’re safe in the care of the school,” said Stacy Langton, whose daughters attend Fairfax High School. “In this case, they absolutely were not safe.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement pressing Fairfax County to honor the ICE detainer. “We are calling on Fairfax County to honor our detainer to ensure this violent criminal is removed from our country so he can never claim another victim again,” the department said.

“We prioritize student and staff safety, and we fully investigate any time someone shares that an incident has occurred at school, or that they do not feel safe at school,” Fairfax County Public Schools district stated.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

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

3 hours ago
Corruption
Election Integrity

Trump Shares Report on Alleged Ukrainian Plot to Fund Biden Campaign.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. intelligence reportedly intercepted Ukrainian government communications discussing a scheme to divert U.S. taxpayer dollars meant for clean energy projects in Ukraine to fund President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), according to a report shared by President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Ukrainian government, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and unnamed U.S. subcontractors allegedly participated in the scheme. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has called for further investigation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The intercepted communications date back to late 2022, with the alleged plot involving USAID operations in Kiev, Ukraine.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Ukrainian Government and unspecified U.S. Government personnel, through USAID in Kyiv, reportedly developed a plan that would provide hundreds of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund an infrastructure project for Ukraine that would be used as a cover to send approximately 90 percent of funds allocated to the DNC to fund Joe Biden’s reelection campaign,” the declassified report stated.

🎯IMPACT: The allegations raise concerns about foreign interference on behalf of the Democrats and the potential misuse of taxpayer funds.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump shared a report about an alleged Ukrainian plot to funnel money to former President Joe Biden on Thursday, based on intercepted communications involving Ukrainian officials that outlined a scheme to redirect U.S. taxpayer funds designated for clean energy projects in Ukraine. The money was reportedly intended to bolster then-President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has directed USAID to examine its records to establish whether the plan was put into action and whether a criminal referral to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is appropriate. Officials indicated that the intercepted messages are not believed to be Russian disinformation and that no comprehensive investigation appears to have taken place during the Biden presidency.

The declassified document summarizes raw U.S. intelligence intercepts dating from late 2022. It described an arrangement in which American taxpayer dollars routed through USAID’s office in Kiev would be disguised as support for an infrastructure project in Ukraine. About 90 percent of the funds were allegedly slated to be siphoned off to the DNC and Biden’s campaign, with U.S. subcontractors brought in to mask the transfers.

The episode also revives earlier accusations surrounding Hunter Biden and Burisma, a Ukrainian energy firm. Hunter Biden’s seat on Burisma’s board and the payments made to the Biden family have been the focus of Republican-led probes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to face scrutiny amid persistent corruption allegations.

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.

4 hours ago
Immigration

New Report Warns ‘No-Go Zones’ Fueled by Mass Migration, Islamization, and State Weakness Are Spreading.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new report highlights the spread of “no-go zones” across the European Union (EU), linked to mass immigration and Islamization.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Charlie Weimers, Marion Maréchal, and Nicola Procaccini presented the report; The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief, Raheem Kassam, has been warning against “no-go zones” for many years.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The report was presented on Wednesday in Europe.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A wake-up call on the failures of uncontrolled immigration.” – Nicola Procaccini

🎯IMPACT: Broad demographic changes and weakening state control are fracturing European societies.

IN FULL

A new report, presented by conservative Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), is raising alarms over the growing number of “no-go zones” across the European Union (EU). It points to mass migration, growing Islamization, and the erosion of state authority in cities as the main drivers of the trend.

Unveiled by Sweden Democrats MEP Charlie Weimers, French nationalist MEP Marion Maréchal, and Brothers of Italy MEP Nicola Procaccini, the study contends that “parallel societies” are taking root in many parts of Europe. These areas, the report says, are ruled by codes of radicalization and violence instead of national laws.

Marion Maréchal noted that France is home to many such areas, stating, “Our study demonstrates that no-go zones develop according to two factors: immigration and Islamization—63 percent of Islamist terrorists are linked to these areas.”

The report employs a scoring system that weighs factors such as crime and violence, the existence of parallel societies, and evidence of state withdrawal. It examined 17 neighborhoods in seven EU countries, giving France’s Franc Moisin district the worst score. Other prominent examples cited include La Castellane in Marseilles, France, and Molenbeek in Brussels, Belgium. The findings reveal a clear link between no-go zones and elevated shares of foreign-born and Muslim residents, with the average Muslim population in these districts far above the EU-wide figure.

Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, has been warning against the emergence of parallel societies in Europe and the United States for years, releasing his book No Go Zones: How Sharia Law Is Coming to a Neighborhood Near You in 2017.

While more commonly associated with Europe, no-go zones are increasingly evident in the United States. Police in Dearborn, Michigan, now have Arabic patches, and the city’s Muslim mayor, Abdullah H. Hammoud, warned a Christian resident he was “not welcome” in the city last year when he expressed opposition to street signs honoring an Arab publisher accused of supporting terror.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

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

4 hours ago
Economy
World

European Union Politicians Approve Long-Delayed Trump Trade Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: European Union (EU) politicians approved a major trade deal with the United States, overcoming months of delays.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the European Parliament, and American negotiators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 26, 2026, at the European Parliament.

🎯IMPACT: The deal is expected to pass through remaining negotiations and approvals, strengthening U.S.-EU trade ties.

IN FULL

The European Parliament has approved key elements of a trade agreement between the United States and the European Union (EU). Notably, the move ends a months-long delay in adopting the frameworks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted 417 to 154 to advance the measure, with 71 abstentions. The movement on the trade deal comes on the heels of President Trump reimposing a global ten percent tariff through other trade laws outside of IEEPA authorities—effectively circumventing the Supreme Court ruling.

The deal includes the EU eliminating tariffs on American industrial goods and certain agricultural products. Still, lawmakers amended the legislation to include provisions that would allow it to be reversed if the Trump administration imposes new tariffs on the EU.

American negotiators have been pushing for weeks to adopt the framework, warning that the pause could risk the favorable pricing the EU receives for liquid natural gas (LNG) imports. Notably, the agreement maintains the United States’s 15 percent tariff rate on a number of EU products, and a 50 percent tariff rate on steel and aluminum.

Image © European Union 2017 – European Parliament.

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.

5 hours ago
War

U.S. ‘Needs Nothing From NATO,’ Which Has Done ‘Absolutely Nothing’ to Help With Iran: Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump criticized NATO for doing “absolutely nothing” to assist with Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, NATO member states, and Iran.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 26, 2026, on Truth Social.

💬KEY QUOTE: “NEEDS NOTHING FROM NATO, but ‘never forget’ this very important point in time!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: There are discussions among NATO countries about forming a coalition to secure the Hormuz Strait.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has renewed his criticism of the NATO alliance, criticizing its members for having failed to take any meaningful steps to help the U.S. with Iran. He said, “NATO NATIONS HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE LUNATIC NATION, NOW MILITARILY DECIMATED, OF IRAN.”

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “THE U.S.A. NEEDS NOTHING FROM NATO, BUT ‘NEVER FORGET’ THIS VERY IMPORTANT POINT IN TIME!” These latest remarks continue Trump’s long-standing critique of the alliance during the conflict. He previously stressed that “Without the USA, NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!”

Some NATO members—including the United Kingdom and France—are reportedly considering leading a “Hormuz coalition” aimed at protecting shipping in the critical Strait of Hormuz, which carries much of the world’s oil and fertilizer supplies. The Iranians have largely closed the strait, imposing a “toll booth” regime for select allies.

Other alliance countries have adopted a more combative stance towards the Trump administration, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stating through a spokesman that the Iran war has “nothing to do with NATO” and is “not NATO’s war.”

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, despite tentative moves towards assisting in Hormuz, has also been reluctant to get involved, with Trump complaining that he “really did not want” to send ships when requested. However, Starmer’s position largely reflects that of the British public, who are overwhelmingly opposed to British actions that are not “purely defensive,” such as shooting down Iranian drones.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

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

5 hours ago
War

Iran Imposes ‘Toll Booth’ Regime on Oil Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Iran is imposing restrictions on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, requiring documentation and clearance codes while proposing formal legislation to charge tolls.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iranian lawmakers, shipping companies, and maritime authorities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Strait of Hormuz, ongoing since March 2026, with legislative actions currently under review.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We provide its security, and it is natural that ships and oil tankers should pay such fees.” – Iranian lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi

🎯IMPACT: The move raises legal risks for shipping companies and could face opposition from Gulf Arab states and Western allies, challenging the strait’s status as an international waterway.

IN FULL

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is imposing a quasi-toll system on vessels seeking to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Ships are required to provide documentation, obtain clearance codes—apparently for a fee—and then receive an “escort” through the critical waterway.

The escort appears to imply that the Strait of Hormuz is, in fact, mined, though no ships that passed through without an IRGC escort have suffered mine damage. So far, ships have only been hit by anti-ship missiles and suicide drones. Still, elements of the Islamic Republic’s government, including its parliament, are pushing for the legal formalization of toll collection for ships moving through the strait.

“We provide its security, and it is natural that ships and oil tankers should pay such fees,” said Iranian lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi. Despite the imposition of the toll system, it appears only two ships—according to shipping journal Lloyd’s List—have actually paid the fee, which was collected in Chinese yuan. Still, most ships currently transiting the Strait of Hormuz are doing so under diplomatic pressure and not by paying Iranian fees.

Notably, just as Iran is attempting to impose the tolls, Israel announced it has successfully eliminated the naval commander of the IRGC. Alireza Tangsiri, widely believed to be the IRGC figure tasked with mining the Strait of Hormuz, was reportedly killed on Wednesday alongside other Iranian navy officials in an Israeli airstrike.

Legal experts warn that engaging with the Iranian system poses significant risks, as the IRGC is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States and the European Union. Payments to the IRGC could expose companies to criminal prosecution under anti-terrorism statutes.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered an international waterway, and any move to formalize tolls could provoke strong opposition from Gulf Arab states and their Western allies.

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.

6 hours ago
Immigration

Trump Crackdown Has Drastically Reduced Immigrant Numbers in Border Towns.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. population growth slowed significantly in 2025, with steep declines in metro areas along the southern border as immigration fell.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Census Bureau, President Donald Trump, and demographers, including Helen You and Kenneth Johnson.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data covers the one-year period ending July 2025, with key impacts in U.S. metro areas, including Laredo, Texas; Yuma, Arizona; and El Centro, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “After four years in which millions and millions of illegal aliens poured across our borders totally unfettered and unchecked, we now have the strongest and most secure border in American history, by far.” – President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Immigration declines have reshaped population trends, with border regions and major metro areas experiencing sharp drops.

IN FULL

New Census Bureau figures show a marked slowdown in overall U.S. population growth for the 12-month period that ended in July 2025. Metropolitan areas along the U.S.-Mexico border recorded some of the largest drops, driven by a steep fall in immigration after border policies were tightened at the start of President Donald J. Trump’s second term.

Laredo, Texas, saw its annual growth rate collapse from 3.2 percent to just 0.2 percent. Yuma, Arizona, fell from 3.3 percent to 1.4 percent, while El Centro, California, swung from 1.2 percent growth to a 0.7 percent loss. Major hubs for immigrants—including Miami-Dade County, Harris County in Texas, and Los Angeles County—also registered sharp reductions in immigration inflows, adding to the nationwide pattern.

“That pattern suggests a sharper rise-and-fall effect in border regions, where international migration plays a more central role in year-to-year population change,” said Helen You, interim director of the Texas Demographic Center. The Census Bureau reported that nine out of ten U.S. counties received fewer immigrants than in the previous year.

President Trump previously drew attention to these shifts in his State of the Union Address, stating, “In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States. But we will always allow people to come in legally, people that will love our country and will work hard to maintain our country.”

Although border metros lost momentum, solidly Republican states such as Texas and Florida still posted the strongest overall population increases nationwide. At the same time, natural disasters—Hurricanes Helene and Milton—drove population losses in counties along Florida’s Gulf Coast and in parts of North Carolina.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad