GET THE APP
Thursday, May 21, 2026

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

35 minutes ago
Immigration
News
UK

UK Immigration Remains Over 800,000 a Year.

Britain’s Labour Party government is promoting new statistics showing net immigration fell in 2025, but gross immigration remains extremely high at over 800,000, and polling reveals most Britons believe it has increased.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Britain’s Labour Party government is touting a fall in long-term net immigration to 171,000 in provisional Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures for 2025, released on Thursday. However, this is partly a result of the number of British nationals leaving the country standing at almost 250,000 for the year, with gross immigration of non-European Union (EU) nationals remaining historically high at 627,000. Polling by British Future shows only 16 percent of Britons believe immigration is going down, while 49 percent believe it is increasing.
📺 DETAIL: Gross immigration for 2025 is estimated at 813,000. This is comprised of 627,000 non-EU migrants, 76,000 EU migrants, and 110,000 returning British citizens. Meanwhile, 278,000 non-EU nationals, 118,000 EU nationals, and 246,000 British nationals left the country. Notably, the statistics are provisional, with the ONS revising its provisional 2024 estimates for gross immigration up to over a million in the same report.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “246,000 Brits left last year. Net, 136,000 went. A city the size of Watford. Many are entrepreneurs, investors, small businesspeople. It’s the Starmer Exodus. Reform will Bring Brits Back.” – Robert Jenrick, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party
📺 FLASHBACK: Net immigration quintupled under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as a result of his Conservative Party government greatly decreasing the requirements to migrate to Britain following the COVID-19 pandemic. While the current influx is down significantly from this “Boriswave” period, annual arrivals remain near their highest levels in Britain’s history, particularly in gross terms.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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.

14 hours ago
News
Politics

State Dept Settles $1.5 Billion Lawsuit Over Biden Funding Palestinian Terrorists.

The billion-dollar settlement ensures the State Department will adhere to the Taylor Force Act, which prevents the United States from sending financial aid to the Palestinian Authority’s Martyrs Fund.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The State Department has settled a lawsuit regarding $1.5 billion dollars of taxpayer money given to the Palestinian Authority under the former Biden government.
📺 DETAIL: Filed in December 2022 by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), the parents of Taylor Force, and terror survivor Sarri Singer, the Biden government was accused of “unlawfully laundering U.S. taxpayer funds through non-governmental organizations to directly benefit the Palestinian Authority” in circumvention of the Taylor Force Act 2018, a law passed under President Donald J. Trump which prevents the United States from giving financial aid to the Palestinian Authority until it dissolves its Martyrs Fund. Critics have long argued that the fund incentivizes terrorism as it provides money to the families of those killed in attacks on Israelis. The law is named after Taylor Force, an American Army veteran murdered by a Palestinian terrorist while in Jaffa, Israel, in early 2016. “When President Trump signed the Taylor Force Act into law in 2018, the United States made clear it would not tolerate or reward terrorism—yet Joe Biden’s decision to ignore that law put American lives at risk,” said Rep. Jackson about the case. The settlement was secured by America First Legal, a non-profit public interest organization founded by Stephen Miller, the current White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “As a victim of terrorism and a survivor of a Hamas bus bombing, I have lived with the painful reality that the person who carried out the attack against me is not only honored, but that his family receives monthly payments… This settlement brings a level of accountability and helps ensure that the U.S. is not contributing, even indirectly, to incentivizing terror.” – Sarri Singer, a survivor of a Hamas bus bombing
🎯 IMPACT: The State Department will abide by the Taylor Force Act 2018 for the next 10 years. The Palestinian Authority’s Martyrs Fund, referred to by critics as a “Pay to Slay” scheme, will be impacted by the State Department’s renewed commitment to the act as the U.S. ceases financial aid.

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

show less

The billion-dollar settlement ensures the State Department will adhere to the Taylor Force Act, which prevents the United States from sending financial aid to the Palestinian Authority's Martyrs Fund.

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.

15 hours ago
Corruption
Lawfare
News

Ex-Prosecutor Charged With Stealing Trump Case Documents Authored by Jack Smith.

A former federal prosecutor is facing charges after allegedly stealing part of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report into the Department of Justice’s failed case against President Trump.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A former federal prosecutor has been indicted for allegedly stealing a section of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on his now-defunct criminal case against President Donald J. Trump.
📺 DETAIL: Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, a former federal prosecutor, has been accused of stealing a sealed portion of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on the Department of Justice’s defunct criminal case against President Donald J. Trump. In the four-count indictment, she is accused of saving a section of the report on her government-provided computer under the file name “Bundt_Cake_Recipe.pdf” and emailing the files from her DOJ account to her personal account in December 2025. At the time of the alleged crime, Lineberger was working as a managing Assistant U.S. Attorney in Fort Pierce, Florida. The report was part of the now defunct-case alleging that President Trump retained classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. The case against the President was dismissed by Aileen Cannon, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Cannon ruled that Jack Smith’s appointment violated the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution. After the President’s comeback election in 2024, the DOJ abandoned its attempt to appeal the ruling, citing policy against pursuing the prosecution of sitting presidents.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This afternoon, a former managing assistant U.S. Attorney who supported Jack Smith’s politicized investigation of President Trump has been charged with stealing the confidential investigation documents… This FBI will not hesitate to bring to account those who violated the trust of the American public in an investigation that should’ve never been brought to begin with.” – FBI Director Kash Patel
🎯 IMPACT: The charges against Lineberger, which include theft of government property and altering public records, validate concerns over officials’ handling of sensitive government materials. The indictment is likely to cast further doubt on the impartiality of the DOJ’s now-defunct case against President Trump. In February, it was revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under former President Joe Biden, subpoenaed the phone records of President Trump’s staff and allies. “It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records—along with those of now White House chief of staff Susie Wiles—using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight,” said FBI Director Patel at the time.

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

show less

A former federal prosecutor is facing charges after allegedly stealing part of former Special Counsel Jack Smith's report into the Department of Justice's failed case against President Trump.

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.

16 hours ago
Crime
News

FBI Reports Biggest Drop in Violent Crime Since 1937.

Preliminary FBI data shows a historic 9.3 percent drop in violent crime in 2025, marking the largest decrease in nearly 90 years.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Violent crime in the United States fell sharply in 2025, posting the largest annual decline in nearly 90 years, according to preliminary Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data released this week. The report found that overall violent crime dropped about 9.3 percent, while murders and non-negligent manslaughter fell by more than 18 percent.
📺 DETAIL: Aggravated assaults declined by over seven percent, rapes dropped roughly 7.6 percent, and property crime decreased an estimated 12.4 percent. FBI Director Kash Patel credited internal reforms implemented over the past 14 months under President Donald J. Trump’s administration, saying the bureau would continue efforts to “Back the Blue” and build on the crime reductions. The data was compiled through the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program using submissions from more than 17,000 law enforcement agencies representing about 96 percent of the U.S. population. FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division Assistant Director Tim Ferguson said the early release reflects the bureau’s commitment to transparency while allowing time for additional review before the final report is issued later in 2026. Overall, the FBI estimates roughly 1.1 million fewer violent crimes occurred in 2025 compared to the previous year.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The 2025 crime data in this report shows the single largest decrease in violent crime and murder since 1937 – as well as huge decreases across the board in terms of aggravated assault, rape, and robbery. Over the last 14 months, we made major transformations at the FBI, and these results show those changes are working.” – FBI Director Kash Patel
🎯 IMPACT: The significant reduction in violent crime is a major boost for law enforcement and public safety, with the data suggesting that reforms within the FBI and its collaboration with local agencies are yielding tangible results.

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

show less

Preliminary FBI data shows a historic 9.3 percent drop in violent crime in 2025, marking the largest decrease in nearly 90 years.

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.

17 hours ago
Corruption
News

CORRUPTION: Microsoft Hired Biden Staffers Who Regulated… Microsoft. 

A watchdog group is highlighting Microsoft’s hiring of former Biden regime officials tasked with regulating it, and urging the Department of Justice to investigate.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The American Accountability Foundation has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Microsoft‘s hiring of former Biden regime officials who previously oversaw, regulated, or investigated the company, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Notably, Microsoft provides critical tech services to federal agencies.
📺 DETAIL: The watchdog group argued that the hires raise potential conflict of interest concerns because Microsoft holds major federal cloud computing contracts and faced scrutiny over cybersecurity failures tied to Chinese hacking incidents. Among those named were former DOJ official Melinda Rogers, who reportedly approved the department’s use of Microsoft’s secure government cloud platform before later joining the company, and former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who now serves as Microsoft’s president of global affairs. The watchdog called for federal investigators to determine whether future employment prospects may have influenced official decisions while those individuals were still in government roles. Microsoft has denied any improper conduct and said all hiring decisions complied with ethics rules and federal regulations. The controversy comes as the company is facing scrutiny over cybersecurity breaches.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Public confidence in federal cybersecurity, in federal contracting, and in the impartial administration of federal law enforcement depends on the willingness of the institutions named in this letter to ask hard questions when the public record suggests they should be asked.” – Tom Jones, President of the American Accountability Foundation
🎯 IMPACT: The allegations raise critical questions about the intersection of government oversight and private sector employment, particularly as Microsoft continues to play a significant role in federal cybersecurity and cloud services. The case underscores broader concerns about the “revolving door” between government and industry, with potential implications for public trust.
📺 FLASHBACK: Microsoft faced significant cybersecurity breaches between 2019 and 2023, including a high-profile attack by Chinese hackers. A 2024 Cyber Safety Review Board report criticized the company’s “security culture” and identified numerous avoidable errors in its systems.

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

show less

A watchdog group is highlighting Microsoft's hiring of former Biden regime officials tasked with regulating it, and urging the Department of Justice to investigate.

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.

18 hours ago
Crime
News

DOJ Indicts Chinese Executive Over Global Price-Fixing Scheme.

The Department of Justice has charged seven Chinese executives and four major shipping container manufacturers with conspiring to inflate global shipping costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged seven Chinese business executives along with four major global shipping container companies in a sweeping antitrust case tied to COVID-19 era supply chain crisis. Federal prosecutors allege the group coordinated to limit production of standard shipping containers between late 2019 and early 2024, a move authorities say sharply inflated global transportation costs during the pandemic.
📺 DETAIL: Investigators say container prices doubled during the period while the manufacturers’ profits surged dramatically as demand for overseas goods skyrocketed. Court filings state that one of the accused, 54-year-old Vick Nam Hing Ma, was arrested in France in April and is currently facing extradition proceedings to the United States. The superseding indictment also identifies 10 additional alleged co-conspirators connected to the scheme. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the department is committed to pursuing companies and executives accused of manipulating markets and harming American consumers. Woodward also criticized the former Biden regime, arguing it focused on politically motivated prosecutions instead of targeting economic crimes linked to the pandemic.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This Department of Justice is ensuring that when American pocketbooks are pilfered, accountability will follow,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward
🎯 IMPACT: The alleged price-fixing scheme exacerbated global shipping challenges during a critical period, impacting supply chains and consumer costs worldwide. The indictment signals a crackdown on market manipulation that exploited the pandemic for financial gain.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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

show less

The Department of Justice has charged seven Chinese executives and four major shipping container manufacturers with conspiring to inflate global shipping costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

19 hours ago
Health
News

State Supreme Court Orders Children’s Hospital to Administer Gender Transition Drugs to Kids.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Children’s Hospital Colorado must resume offering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors, citing state anti-discrimination laws.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Colorado Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC) must resume offering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors identifying as transgender, determining that the hospital’s suspension of such treatments violated state anti-discrimination laws.
📺 DETAIL: The court found the hospital’s suspension of care likely violated Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws by denying treatment based on gender identity, with Justice William Hood writing that federal guidance from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. against transitioning children did not carry the force of law. The lawsuit was brought by families of transgender minors who argued the cutoff caused severe emotional and psychological harm. Dissenting justices warned the ruling downplayed the risk that the hospital could lose major federal funding if it continued offering the treatments. The case will now return to a lower court, which is expected to issue an injunction requiring the hospital to restart the services while broader legal battles over transgender medical treatments for minors continue nationwide.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “CHC’s decision to suspend medical gender-affirming care to youth denies petitioners the full and equal enjoyment of services based on gender identity.” – Justice William W. Hood III
🎯 IMPACT: The ruling forces CHC to resume providing these controversial treatments while a lower court finalizes an injunction. This decision sets a precedent for how state anti-discrimination laws can override federal guidance, raising concerns for healthcare providers navigating conflicting legal and ethical obligations.

Image by Silar.

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

show less

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Children’s Hospital Colorado must resume offering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors, citing state anti-discrimination laws.

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.

20 hours ago
News

WATCH: Acting AG Blanche Details Raul Castro Indictment – ‘If You Kill Americans, We Will Pursue You.’

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has provided details on the indictment of Raúl Castro for his involvement in the 1996 shootdown of two American planes, marking a significant move against Cuba’s leadership.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche detailed Wednesday’s indictment of former Cuban dictator Raúl Castro, brother of the late Fidel Castro, for his role in the 1996 shootdown of two American-operated humanitarian planes over international waters.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Over three decades later, we are committed to holding those accountable for the murders of four brave Americans: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales. For the first time in nearly 70 years, senior leadership of the Cuban regime has been charged in the United States for alleged acts of violence resulting in the deaths of American citizens. [President Donald J. Trump] and this [Justice Department] are committed to restoring a simple principle: if you kill Americans, we will pursue you. No matter who you are. No matter what title you hold.” – Todd Blanche, statement on X (formerly Twitter)
📰 DETAIL: The indictment, detailed by Blanche at a Wednesday press conference, represents a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure on the Cuban regime. It is already subjecting the Havana to a stringent energy embargo, with fuel reserves on the communist-ruled island running out, in large part due to the U.S. having cut off its supply of oil from Venezuela. President Trump has predicted he will have the “honor” of “taking Cuba,” although possibly in a “friendly” manner.

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

show less

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has provided details on the indictment of Raúl Castro for his involvement in the 1996 shootdown of two American planes, marking a significant move against Cuba's leadership.

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.

21 hours ago
Election Integrity
News

DHS Arrests Canadian for Voting Illegally in U.S. Elections.

A Canadian immigrant faces federal charges of voting without citizenship in several United States elections since 2008, including national elections and Democat primaries.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has charged a Canadian national for voting illegally in U.S. elections since 2008. 
📺 DETAIL: Sunny Manhertz, a 40-year-old Canadian, became a legal permanent resident in 1987, but he did not acquire citizenship. Nevertheless, Manhertz voted in more than a dozen national, state, and local-level contests since 2008, including three Democrat primaries since 2012. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative wing of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), discovered his voting record and lack of American citizenship while conducting a review of voter registration data. According to HSI, Manhertz knew that he was not a citizen. Despite this, he repeatedly and falsely claimed citizenship on voter registration forms. Voter registration forms require applicants to attest to their citizenship under penalty of perjury. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Manhertz knew that he was not a United States citizen.” – Statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts on Tuesday, provided by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Jeff Grimming
🎯 IMPACT: Manhertz faces two charges: one count of casting a fraudulent ballot and one count of illegal voting by an alien. This case strengthens the argument for stricter voter ID at elections. It also underscores the problem with relying on the honesty of applicants to confirm their citizenship. President Donald J. Trump has pursued a number of election integrity measures, including a ballot security executive order which a coalition of left-wing activist groups are trying to block via the courts. This followed reports earlier in the year that President Trump was previewing a drafted executive order proposing new election safeguards, including voter ID, a policy that is overwhelmingly popular with the American electorate, including over 70 percent of Democrat voters, but opposed by Democrat politicians.

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

show less

A Canadian immigrant faces federal charges of voting without citizenship in several United States elections since 2008, including national elections and Democat primaries.

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.

22 hours ago
News
Politics

South Carolina House Passes Redistricted Midterms Map.

The South Carolina House of Representatives has passed a new congressional map favoring Republicans, potentially eliminating the last Democrat-held seat in the state.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: South Carolina’s House of Representatives has officially approved the state’s redrawn congressional map, potentially giving Republicans a full seven-seat sweep at the midterms.
📰 DETAIL: House Bill 5683, which redraws South Carolina’s congressional map, was passed on Wednesday. The aim of the redraw was to dissolve the 6th Congressional District, currently held by Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Democrat and the only one of his party in the state’s congressional delegation. The redraw of South Carolina’s congressional map began on May 15, 2026, after Republican Governor Henry McMaster called for a special legislative session earlier in the month. It follows the Supreme Court ruling that racially gerrymandered majority-minority electoral districts, like Clyburn’s, are unconstitutional.
🎯 IMPACT: Governor McMaster summoned state legislators for a special session after a small number of Republican-in-name-only (RINO) state senators sided with the Democrats to block a previous redistricting measure. “Whatever we can do to see that we have a functioning Congress, we ought to do it,” said McMaster when asked by reporters about the decision to pursue a congressional redraw. The measure will now head to the state Senate. Notably, the previous attempt failed because a supermajority was required, but in the special session a simple majority will be sufficient. If approved by the state Senate, the new map will likely eliminate the Democrats’ only congressional district in the state, giving all seven seats to the Republicans. This would strengthen the Republicans’ electoral prospects in the midterms in November. Republican-controlled states like Texas and Florida have already pursued redraws favoring the GOP, while Democrat-controlled California and Virginia have sought to reduce Republican representation. However, not every state will redistrict before the elections in November.

Image by jpellgen.

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

show less

The South Carolina House of Representatives has passed a new congressional map favoring Republicans, potentially eliminating the last Democrat-held seat in the state.

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.

22 hours ago
News

BREAKING: Former Cuban Dictator Castro Indicted In U.S.

The U.S. indictment of Raúl Castro marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s communist regime.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Former Cuban President Raúl Castro, brother of the late Fidel Castro, has been indicted in the United States, according to a senior Trump administration official. This move is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to increase pressure on Cuba’s communist regime.
📰 DETAIL: The indictment is a rare instance of the U.S. pursuing criminal charges against a foreign leader, reminiscent of its case against now-former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was a key energy supplier to Cuba before his capture by U.S. forces earlier this year. Raúl Castro, who served as Cuba’s defense minister and later as president, remains influential in Cuban politics despite stepping down in 2018. He is accused of being involved in a 1996 incident in which Cuban jets shot down two American-operated planes operated by the Miami-based group Brothers to the Rescue.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Despite the [U.S.] embargo, sanctions and threats of the use of force, Cuba continues on a path of sovereignty towards its socialist development,” insisted Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.
🎯 IMPACT: The indictment could further strain U.S.-Cuba relations and is likely to be seen as an aggressive move by the Trump administration to push for regime change in Cuba. Notably, Cuba is currently experiencing an acute energy crisis, with the U.S. having successfully choked off much of its fuel supply from Venezuela and Mexico. Nevertheless, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez has threatened a “bloodbath” if the U.S. forcibly intervenes on the island, with reports that the regime has amassed hundreds of military drones capable of striking Florida and U.S. assets in Guantanamo Bay.

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

show less

The U.S. indictment of Raúl Castro marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Cuba's communist regime.

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