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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

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28 minutes ago
Economy
News

Wholesale Inflation Surges, Putting Pressure on Companies to Hike Prices.

Wholesale inflation in the U.S. reached its highest level in several years, primarily driven by rising energy costs linked to the Iran war, signifying economic pressure on producers that could be passed on to consumers.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. wholesale inflation rose by six percent year-over-year in April, marking the highest increase since December 2022.
📺 DETAIL: U.S. wholesale inflation is measured by the Producer Price Index (PPI), which tracks average changes in wholesale prices. It draws on price quotations from thousands of businesses, collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is widely used to gauge inflation trends. The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, the Department of Commerce’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, is heavily influenced by the PPI. According to PPI data released by the Department of Labor on Wednesday, U.S. wholesale inflation have increased by six percent, marking the highest year-over-year increase since December 2022. Economists had forecast more moderate increases, but rising energy costs, driven by the Iran war, have pushed up production costs. In addition to an increase in wholesale inflation, monthly inflation surged by 1.4 percent, the largest spike since March 2022.
🎯 IMPACT: Sharp increases in production costs mean higher prices for consumers, which tend to damage consumer confidence. U.S. consumer confidence was at its lowest on record last month, according to the Consumer Sentiment Index, produced by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. The report tracks short- and long-term economic expectations, and revealed that consumer confidence has dropped to just 49.8, the lowest since records began in 1978. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a metric estimating the average price of goods and services, also shows inflationary pressure, with costs rising 3.8 percent year-over-year in April. This is the largest increase in over three years, according to data released by the Department of Labor on Tuesday.

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By Popular Demand.
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59 minutes ago
News
Politics

Louisiana GOP Advances New Congressional Map.

Louisiana’s Republican-controlled Senate has advanced a new congressional map that could shift the state’s congressional delegation from a 4-2 to a 5-1 Republican majority, following a Supreme Court decision against racial gerrymandering.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Louisiana Senate has moved forward with a new congressional map favoring Republicans, potentially increasing their delegation to five seats compared to one for Democrats. This follows a Supreme Court decision striking down the previous map, which included a racially gerrymandered, Democrat-leaning black-majority district, as unconstitutional.
📺 DETAIL: The proposal, approved by a state Senate committee after hours of overnight testimony, would likely force Democratic Reps. Troy Carter and Cleo Fields into the same district. The redistricting push follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened aspects of the Voting Rights Act mandating racial gerrymandering in favor of minorities, and opened the door for Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps in a number of states. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) previously delayed congressional primaries to give lawmakers time to adopt a new map. The proposal now heads to the full Senate and, if approved, would move to the state House and then to Governor Landry for final approval.
📺 FLASHBACK: The Supreme Court previously ruled that Louisiana’s 2022 congressional maps violated constitutional protections by relying on racial data to draw districts, mandating the creation of a second majority-Black district. This marks the third redistricting effort in Louisiana since the last census.
🎯 IMPACT: If approved, the map could have significant implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives come the November midterms. Redistricting efforts are intensifying across the country ahead of these elections, with the Democrats moving to redraw maps in their favor in states like California and Virginia, and the Republicans doing the same in states like Louisiana, Tennessee, and Florida.

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Louisiana's Republican-controlled Senate has advanced a new congressional map that could shift the state's congressional delegation from a 4-2 to a 5-1 Republican majority, following a Supreme Court decision against racial gerrymandering.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
News

State RINOs Derail Trump-Backed Electoral Map.

South Carolina’s state senate failed to pass a redistricting proposal supported by President Donald J. Trump, after five Republicans joined with the Democrats to block it—including state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Republican state senators Sean Bennett, Chip Campsen, Tom David, and Greg Hembree, and Shane Massey—the Majority Leader—joined with the Democrats in South Carolina to block a redistricting proposal aimed at redrawing the state’s congressional map to favor the GOP, following a Supreme Court ruling against Democrat-leaning, racially gerrymandered black-majority districts. President Donald J. Trump had publicly backed the new map, but despite a GOP supermajority in the state senate, Massey and his contingent of Republicans-in-name-only (RINOs) caused the redistricting initiative to fall two votes short of the two-thirds majority required to proceed.
📺 DETAIL: The redistricting effort was seen as a way to strengthen Republican advantages in South Carolina, as the Democrats have moved to redistrict congressional maps in their favor in states like California and Virginia, with mixed success. President Trump had urged South Carolina Republicans to back the new map, writing on Truth Social that “Republicans across the Country… are counting on their Elected Leaders to use every Legal and Constitutional authority they have to stop the Radical Left Democrats from destroying our Country, including leveling the playing field against their decades of egregious Gerrymandering and Census Rigging.” However, Massey, in a 45-minute speech to the state senate, insisted that preserving Democrat representation in South Carolina’s congressional delegation was a good thing. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Republicans are stronger when the Democrat Party is vibrant and viable.” – Republican Majority Leader Shane Massey
🎯 IMPACT: Massey and his cohorts are facing backlash from fellow Republicans and the Republican base. The majority leader acknowledged “There are likely consequences for me, personally, taking the position that I am right now,” but said he is “comfortable with that… My conscience is clear on this one.”
📺 FLASHBACK: Similar GOP sabotage of redistricting plans previously took place in Indiana, where state senators blocked a new map in December. Trump later supported primary challengers against those responsible, resulting in the ousting of five incumbents.

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South Carolina's state senate failed to pass a redistricting proposal supported by President Donald J. Trump, after five Republicans joined with the Democrats to block it—including state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
News
UK

REPORT: UK PM Starmer to Face Leadership Challenge as Soon as Tomorrow.

British Health Secretary Wes Streeting is reportedly on the cusp of resigning from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government and challenging him for the leadership of the country’s governing Labour Party.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: British Health Secretary Wes Streeting held a brief meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at his official residence in London on Wednesday morning, as dozens of lawmakers from the governing Labour Party are urging the premier to resign. Following heavy losses in English, Scottish, and Welsh local and regional elections last week, Starmer’s premiership is in jeopardy, with many detractors looking to Streeting to mount a leadership challenge.
📺 DETAIL: The BBC and other British media outlets report that allies of Streeting say he is preparing to quit as soon as Thursday. Over 80 Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) have signed a letter calling on Starmer to resign, and if they back a specific challenger, such as Streeting, a leadership contest process will be activated under party rules. Officially, Starmer’s office is saying the Prime Minister has “full confidence” in Streeting. A spokesman for Streeting has said, “He is not planning to say anything following his meeting with the Prime Minister that might distract from the King’s Speech,” referring to the Wednesday morning speech in Parliament by King Charles III setting out the Starmer government’s legislative agenda. However, this does not rule out Streeting making a move against Starmer on Thursday, following Wednesday’s coverage of the King’s Speech.
💬 KEY QUOTE: A Streeting ally has told the BBC that, if the Health Secretary does not mount a leadership challenge, “we’ll have knifed ourselves for nothing.” Notably, several junior government ministers and ministerial aides have already resigned from Starmer’s government, although Streeting would be the first Cabinet-level resignation.
🎯 IMPACT: Notably, a British prime minister is not directly elected by the public, instead depending on his ability to command a majority in the House of Commons—roughly equivalent to the U.S. House of Representatives, but with the ability to override the Senate-equivalent House of Lords. In practice, this usually means that the largest party in the Commons can replace the Prime Minister at any time, and this has happened with multiple recent prime ministers, including Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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British Health Secretary Wes Streeting is reportedly on the cusp of resigning from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's government and challenging him for the leadership of the country's governing Labour Party.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
News

UK Govt Proceeds With Digital ID Scheme Despite Public Opposition.

King Charles III’s announcement of a Digital ID initiative faces significant public opposition and political challenges.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: King Charles III announced the introduction of a Digital ID system during the 2026 state opening of Parliament in the United Kingdom, as part of the Labour government’s Digital Access to Services Bill.
📰 DETAIL: The King’s speech, traditionally written by the government, was delivered on behalf of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, which is currently facing political challenges after losing numerous council seats to Reform UK. The Digital ID proposal is controversial, with significant opposition from the public and political figures like Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, who has campaigned against it.
🎯 IMPACT: If implemented, the Digital ID system could change how citizens interact with public services, but its future is uncertain given the public’s opposition and the potential for a Reform UK government to cancel the policy if they win the 2029 election.

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King Charles III's announcement of a Digital ID initiative faces significant public opposition and political challenges. show more
By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
Immigration
News

ICE Flags 10,000-Plus Foreign Student Fraud Cases.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified nearly 10,000 cases of alleged fraud among students enrolled in a work permit initiative, including the use of fake employers.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified over 10,000 potential fraud cases linked to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows foreign students to work in the U.S. post-graduation.
📰 DETAIL: ICE Director Todd Lyons described the program as a “magnet for fraud,” reporting that investigators uncovered shell companies, some reportedly operated from India, that were used to help international students maintain legal status and employment authorization. The agency said investigators found cases involving nonexistent offices, locked buildings, and questionable job placements, raising concerns about oversight and abuse of the visa system. The OPT program, created under President George W. Bush and later expanded by the Obama administration, has long faced criticism from immigration hardliners who argue it undercuts American workers and lacks proper congressional authorization. ICE officials said enforcement efforts will include increased site visits and investigations into employers participating in the program
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Our nation will not tolerate security threats originating from the foreign student program,” said ICE acting Director Todd Lyons.
🎯 IMPACT: The findings are expected to bolster calls from immigration restrictionists for reforms to visa programs used to bypass hiring American graduates. The Trump administration had already initiated a crackdown on such programs, leading to legal challenges from affected students.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified nearly 10,000 cases of alleged fraud among students enrolled in a work permit initiative, including the use of fake employers.

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.

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18 hours ago
Crime
News

Trans Student Used Bathroom Access to Take Photos and Videos of Dozens of Girls.

A notoriously woke Virginia school district faces backlash after allegations of a transgender student taking inappropriate photos and videos in school bathrooms of over 40 other students.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A transgender student at Freedom High School in Loudoun County, Virginia, is under investigation for allegedly filming and photographing over 40 classmates in school bathrooms. The incidents, reportedly occurring over three years, have sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of the school district’s woke gender policies.
📺 DETAIL: Principal Tania Brown informed parents in late April that administrators were coordinating with law enforcement, while advising families to discuss appropriate technology use with students. The incident has renewed scrutiny of the district’s policies allowing transgender students to use opposite sex bathrooms, an issue that previously placed the district at odds with the Trump administration’s interpretation of Title IX protections for women and girls based on biological sex. Education Secretary Linda McMahon previously warned northern Virginia school districts they could risk losing federal funding if found to be in violation of federal law. The district has faced repeated controversy since a 2021 sexual assault case at Stone Bridge High School, where former superintendent Scott Ziegler was criticized for initially denying knowledge of assaults despite internal emails showing otherwise. Ziegler was later fired amid concerns over his handling of multiple incidents.
🎯 IMPACT: The allegations have reignited debates over LCPS’s handling of privacy concerns and its adherence to federal Title IX regulations. The district’s policies have previously placed it at odds with both federal interpretations and parental concerns, raising questions about accountability and student safety.

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

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A notoriously woke Virginia school district faces backlash after allegations of a transgender student taking inappropriate photos and videos in school bathrooms of over 40 other students.

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.
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18 hours ago
Economy
News
War

Treasury Ramps Up ‘Economic Fury’ Sanctions on China-Iran Network.

The U.S. Treasury has more sanctioned individuals and entities tied to a network facilitating Iranian oil sales to China.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on a dozen individuals and entities for their involvement in facilitating Iranian oil sales to China in a May 11 press release.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “As Iran’s military desperately tries to regroup, Economic Fury will continue to deprive the regime of funding for its weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions. Treasury will continue to cut the Iranian regime off from the financial networks it uses to carry out terrorist acts and to destabilize the global economy.” – Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.
📰 DETAIL: Since February last year, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned over 1,000 individuals, vessels, and other entities linked to Iran. The latest sanctions are part of Operation Economic Fury, a mirror campaign of Operation Epic Fury. On Monday, the U.S. Treasury designated another 12 individuals and entities. The most recent sanctions specifically relate to the shipment of Iranian oil by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to China. The newly sanctioned individuals include three senior officials based at the IRGC’s Shahid Purja’fari Oil Headquarters: headquarters chief Ahmad Mohammadi Zadeh, head of finance Samad Fathi Salami, and head of commerce Mohammadreza Ashrafi Ghehi. The sanctioned entities include front companies based in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Blue Ocean Ltd, Hong Kong Sanmu Ltd, Jiandi HK Ltd, Max Honor International Trade Co Ltd), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Atic Energy FZE), Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (Ocean Allianz Shipping LLC, Universal Fortune Trading LLC, Blanca Goods Wholesaler LLC), and Oman (Zeus Logistics Group). These front companies are used to obscure the IRGC’s role in selling crude oil, facilitating oil shipments, arranging vessels for shipments, and acting as a front for the National Iranian Oil Company, the country’s government-owned oil producer. The entities are capable of laundering tens of millions of dollars in revenue.
🎯 IMPACT: The sanctions aim to cut off the IRGC’s access to international financial systems. By cutting off Iran from international oil markets, the Islamic Republic’s ability to fund its military, foreign proxies, and terrorist activities is limited. On top of the most recent sanctions, the U.S. Treasury warned that it is willing to impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions involved in facilitating oil shipments from Iran to China.

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The U.S. Treasury has more sanctioned individuals and entities tied to a network facilitating Iranian oil sales to China.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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19 hours ago
News
War

Iran War Cost Hits $29bn as Tehran Threatens to Enrich Uranium to Weapons-Grade.

Iran is threatening to expand its nuclear program and enrich uranium to weapons-grade purity as the costs of the war have reached $29 billion overall.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war appear stalled after President Donald J. Trump rejected Tehran’s “garbage” response to a U.S. peace proposal as “unacceptable.” The Pentagon reports the cost of the war has hit at least $29 billion, and, in response to suggestions that the U.S. could resume military operations against Iran, Iranian officials have warned they could begin enriching uranium to nuclear weapons-grade.
📺 DETAIL: Trump, speaking ahead of a major summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, said he did not need China’s help to resolve the Iran war, but acknowledged the issue would likely be discussed during the visit. The conflict has increasingly drawn in China because of its economic ties to Iran and dependence on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing has publicly backed mediation efforts while resisting U.S. pressure to cut ties with Tehran, even as Washington is imposing sanctions on Chinese firms accused of aiding Iran’s military capabilities. Analysts say the summit between Trump and Xi could become a key test of whether the two powers can cooperate on containing the crisis while managing broader tensions over trade, Taiwan, and security in the Indo-Pacific. Iran has continued to reject U.S. demands it views as tantamount to surrender, with officials insisting any agreement must preserve the country’s sovereignty and nuclear ambitions.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “One of Iran’s options in the event of another attack could be 90 percent enrichment. We will review it in the parliament.” – Iranian parliamentary official Ebrahim Rezaei
🎯 IMPACT: The rising financial burden of the Iran war and heightened nuclear threats from Tehran underscore the fragility of the ceasefire, which Trump called “unbelievably weak” on Monday, and raise questions about the U.S. administration’s strategy in the Middle East.

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Iran is threatening to expand its nuclear program and enrich uranium to weapons-grade purity as the costs of the war have reached $29 billion overall.

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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.
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20 hours ago
Health
News

DNI Gabbard Targets Secretive US-Funded Foreign Biolabs.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is probing over 120 U.S.-funded biolabs worldwide to halt risky gain-of-function research amid growing biosecurity concerns.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard confirmed an investigation into more than 120 taxpayer-funded overseas biolabs on Monday.
📰 DETAIL: In May last year, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order targeting gain-of-function research in Iran, China, and other nations. Subsequently, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has announced an investigation into U.S. taxpayer-funded biolabs in foreign countries. There are more than 120 of these biolabs in total. The investigation will reportedly identify the locations, pathogens, and research activities of these biolabs. According to ODNI officials, these biolabs exist in over 30 countries, with more than 40 of them based in Ukraine, raising concerns about the threat posed by the ongoing war with Russia. The investigation emphasizes the potential risks of gain-of-function experiments. These experiments involve genetically altering pathogens to enhance their transmissibility and other properties. The research is currently part of the Department of War’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, an initiative aimed at preventing future outbreaks and studying pathogens.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the catastrophic global impact research on dangerous pathogens in biolabs can have. Yet despite these obvious dangers, politicians, so-called health professionals, like Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, and entities within the Biden administration’s national security team lied to the American people about the existence of these U.S.-funded and supported biolabs and threatened those who attempted to expose the truth.” – Tulsi Gabbard
🎯 IMPACT: The review could lead to significant changes in how the U.S. funds and manages overseas biolabs, especially those handling gain-of-function research. The investigation could potentially end risky experiments that threaten U.S. biosecurity. The Biden government denied the existence of U.S.-funded biolabs in Ukraine in 2022, although a congressional testimony from Victoria Nuland, then-Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs at the Department of State, said that “Ukraine has biological research facilities which, in fact, we are now quite concerned Russian troops, Russian forces, may be seeking to gain control of.” The review of gain-of-function research follows criticism that such experiments lack sufficient transparency and oversight, especially since they are simultaneously funded by U.S. taxpayers and potentially harm the U.S. public.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is probing over 120 U.S.-funded biolabs worldwide to halt risky gain-of-function research amid growing biosecurity concerns.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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21 hours ago
Crime
Immigration
News

Young Woman Raped in Vape Shop.

A young woman was raped by an employee in a vape shop, underscoring the businesses’ increasing association with criminality and sexual predation.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A young woman was raped inside a vape shop on East Arbors Drive in Charlotte, North Carolina, leading her mother to speak out about the incident to warn others. The accused, Yasir Khater, an employee at the shop, has been charged in connection with the assault.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “No mother wants to see their child hurting like that; it’s been super hard. She is devastated. It has been very, very hard.” – Victim’s mother
📰 DETAIL: The victim was the only customer in the store when Khater, 44, allegedly lured her to the back of the shop under the pretense of showing her something, where the assault occurred. Despite Khater’s denial of any sexual contact, police found physical evidence to the contrary. The victim’s mother emphasized her daughter was simply trying to make a purchase. Police urged anyone with additional information related to the case to come forward as detectives continue gathering evidence. The mother said she wants other families to understand how quickly dangerous situations can develop and emphasized the importance of staying vigilant.
🎯 IMPACT: The incident has left the victim traumatized and has raised concerns about the safety of women in vape shops, forming part of a growing trend of criminality in and around vape shops, often run by immigrant-background owners.

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A young woman was raped by an employee in a vape shop, underscoring the businesses' increasing association with criminality and sexual predation.

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.
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