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Friday, January 9, 2026
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NatSec
War

U.S. Ready to Start Hitting Mexican Cartels on Land: Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump suggested the U.S. military could begin land strikes on drug cartels in Mexico.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Fox News host Sean Hannity.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Comments aired on January 8, 2026, during an interview with Sean Hannity.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’ve knocked out 97 percent of the drugs coming in by water. And we are going to start now hitting land, with regard to the cartels.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The remarks signal a potential escalation in U.S. military operations targeting drug cartels in Mexico.

IN FULL

During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity late Thursday, President Donald J. Trump stated that the military could begin land strikes on drug cartels in Mexico. “We’ve knocked out 97 percent of the drugs coming in by water. And we are going to start now hitting land, with regard to the cartels,” Trump shared during the segment.

“The cartels are running Mexico, it’s very sad to watch and see what’s happened to that country,” President Trump remarked, expressing concern that the cartel influence over Mexican government institutions poses a potential threat to the United States. The National Pulse reported last December that Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel is using teenagers to carry out targeted assassinations in the United States.

Meanwhile, in October, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed it had received credible intelligence that Mexican drug cartels were offering bounties to and communicating with left-wing, criminal U.S. domestic extremists to target and attack U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Chicago, Illinois.

The comments come shortly after U.S. forces conducted a high-profile strike in Venezuela, capturing the nation’s Marxist dictator, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Celia Flores. Additionally, the Trump administration has issued warnings of potential military actions in other countries involved in narcotics trafficking, including Cuba and Colombia, over the past week.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has not yet issued a public response to Trump’s remarks.

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34 minutes ago
Economy
News
World

Trump, Oil CEOs Meet to Discuss Return to Venezuela.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is meeting with Big Oil executives to discuss a potential return to Venezuela for U.S. energy companies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, American Petroleum Institute CEO Mike Summers, and top oil executives.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The meeting is scheduled for Friday at the White House.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There are gonna be parameters that have to be put in place before there’s a significant investment in Venezuela.” – Mike Summers

🎯IMPACT: The oil industry’s return to Venezuela will likely depend on political stability, financial guarantees, and the repeal of sanctions.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to host a meeting with senior executives from major U.S. oil companies on Friday at the White House. The gathering is aimed at encouraging American energy firms to invest in and help revive Venezuela‘s oil sector, following the recent U.S. military action that led to the capture of Marxist dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuela possesses some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves; however, its energy industry has suffered significantly from prolonged economic mismanagement, political instability, and infrastructure decay under previous socialist governance. Oil industry leaders remain cautious about pouring billions into repairs and expansion. Mike Summers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, stated, “There are gonna be parameters that have to be put in place before there’s a significant investment in Venezuela.” Key worries include unreliable rule of law, potential security threats, and an unpredictable political landscape.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has recognized these obstacles, saying, “To make the very big, long-term investments, we’ve got to get the government in a better place where they’ve got secure rule of law, national security, and that’s a process.” Executives have sought more concrete assurances from the administration regarding safety and long-term stability, but responses so far have fallen short.

The Trump administration has indicated it may ease certain sanctions to make it easier for U.S. firms to re-engage in Venezuela. Still, the country’s existing regulations—such as steep taxes, mandatory joint ventures with the state, and other restrictive terms—pose major barriers. “Venezuela has a very unfavorable fiscal regime—why would you go to a place like that?” said Luisa Palacios, the former Citgo chairwoman.

Industry observers note that, provided conditions improve significantly, Venezuela’s enormous reserves could draw substantial attention and capital from U.S. companies. Critical elements for success would include favorable fiscal arrangements, protective financial mechanisms, and sustained political security. “Fiscal terms, backstops and guarantees will all matter very much,” said Dan Pickering of Pickering Energy Partners.

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13 hours ago
Crime
News

State Auditor Uncovers MILLIONS in Overpayments by Daycare Oversight Agency.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An audit of Washington State’s $770 million child care subsidy program uncovered millions of dollars in overpayments, sparking concerns about fraud and accountability.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Representative Emily Randall (D-WA), State Auditor’s Office, Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), independent journalists, and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The audit covers payments made between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, in Washington State.

🎯IMPACT: The findings have raised concerns about transparency, accountability, and the potential misuse of taxpayer funds in government programs.

IN FULL

Independent journalists and government watchdogs are raising concerns about potential misuse of public funds in Washington State’s $770 million child care subsidy program following findings by the State Auditor’s Office that identified more than $2 million in overpayments. According to the audit, $2,092,513 in improper payments were made across 1,372 cases between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The overpayments were largely tied to missing attendance records and providers billing for more hours or days than children were present.

The program is overseen by the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), which has come under increased scrutiny as independent investigators and journalists reported alleged “ghost daycares” and inconsistencies between state records and on-the-ground observations. Critics argue the findings point to weak internal controls and insufficient oversight, particularly given the scale and speed at which funds are distributed.

The Office of Fraud and Accountability reported limited enforcement outcomes during the same period, noting just one criminal conviction related to fraud in fiscal year 2025. The controversy is unfolding amid heightened national attention on childcare fraud. Federal authorities recently halted billions of dollars in funding to several Democratic-led states amid allegations of widespread abuse in childcare subsidy programs.

In Minnesota, the FBI is investigating daycare centers linked to a broader fraud probe, and at least one daycare connected to the scandal has closed following public scrutiny.

Despite the Washington audit findings, Attorney General Nick Brown (D) dismissed claims of widespread fraud, calling the allegations “baseless.” Brown criticized independent journalists investigating the issue, labeling them “vigilantes” and “racist,” and said the fraud claims had been “debunked.” He also argued the controversy was being fueled by national political figures rather than evidence.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson (D) echoed that stance, referring to the journalists and activists raising concerns as “extremist influencers.”

The issue escalated further during a congressional hearing when Rep. Emily Randall (D-WA) drew backlash for remarks suggesting taxpayers should pay less attention to fraud allegations and instead focus scrutiny on U.S. citizens, particularly “white men.”

Image by Tiffany Von Arnim.

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14 hours ago
Corruption
News
World

Trump Admin Halts Aid to Somalia Amid Accusations of Theft and Fraud.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. halted food aid to Somalia following reports of theft and destruction of aid resources.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. State Department officials and Somali leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on January 8, 2026, concerning Somalia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance.” – State Department.

🎯IMPACT: Future aid is contingent on Somali government accountability and resolution of the theft issues.

IN FULL

The United States has suspended all assistance to Somalia’s government, the State Department has announced, amid allegations that Somali officials destroyed a U.S.-funded World Food Programme warehouse and unlawfully seized 76 metric tons of donor-provided food intended for people in need. “The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance,” the department said in a statement on social media. “Any resumption of assistance will be dependent upon the Somali Federal Government, taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps.”

Somali authorities have not publicly responded to the allegations. The aid suspension affects ongoing programs that directly benefit the Somali government; however, the total scope of suspended aid remains unclear amid overall reductions in U.S. foreign aid.

Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, has endured decades of civil conflict, recurring droughts, and corrupt, fragile governance, making international support crucial for basic services and humanitarian relief. The warehouse at the Mogadishu port was reportedly demolished without prior coordination with international donors, including the United States.

The decision to halt assistance comes against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of Somalis in the United States, especially in Minnesota. Federal and state law enforcement agencies have been investigating and prosecuting widespread fraud involving public assistance programs, many of which involved Somalis. Authorities have described sprawling fraud schemes affecting welfare, medical, and housing programs, and pandemic relief funds.

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14 hours ago
Economy
World

Trump Backs Bill Imposing 500% Tariff on India, China, and Brazil for Buying Russian Oil.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A bipartisan sanctions bill has been introduced to target countries purchasing Russian oil, threatening tariffs up to 500 percent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Russian oil purchasers like India, China, and Brazil.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Wednesday, with a vote expected as early as next week in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This bill will allow President Trump to punish countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine.” – Lindsey Graham

🎯IMPACT: The legislation could affect global oil markets and increase pressure on nations like India to reduce Russian oil imports.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump is backing legislation that would allow him to impose an unprecedented level of sanction-esque tariffs on countries like China, India, and Brazil for purchasing Russian oil. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced the bipartisan effort on Wednesday, which includes tariffs of up to 500 percent on buyers of Russian crude oil or uranium.

The legislation is designed to drastically increase pressure on nations that continue to trade with Russia despite existing U.S. sanctions. India, in particular, has faced criticism for increasing its imports of discounted Russian oil since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. According to Indian government data, Russian oil imports accounted for over 35 percent of the nation’s total oil imports last November, marking a six-month high.

“This bill will allow President Trump to punish countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine,” Senator Graham said, naming India, China, and Brazil as potential targets. The bill, which refers to the measures as “secondary sanctions,” has reportedly been in development for months as the Trump administration continues its push for a peace deal in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, last Sunday, President Trump warned India that higher trade tariffs could be imposed if the nation does not reduce its Russian oil imports. “We could raise tariffs on India if they don’t help on the Russian oil issue,” he stated.

The legislation is expected to come to a vote as early as next week, with Senator Graham expressing optimism for a “strong bipartisan vote.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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15 hours ago
Corruption
News

This Bill Bars Somali Officials From Accessing U.S. Funding.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced a bill aimed at preventing taxpayer funds from being accessed by entities controlled by agents of nations covered by President Donald J. Trump’s travel ban, including Somalia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Jim Banks, Somali officials, and U.S. taxpayers affected by fraud schemes.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bill was introduced on Thursday, following revelations of fraud in Minnesota and Ohio.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Somali fraud scandal has revealed how broken the system is. Foreign officials were able to take advantage of American taxpayers. This bill stops it and puts Americans first.” – Sen. Jim Banks

🎯IMPACT: The bill seeks to block taxpayer funding from being exploited by foreign agents tied to unreliable or hostile governments.

IN FULL

Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) has introduced legislation to prevent foreign officials tied to high-risk countries from exploiting U.S. taxpayer funds, following a series of fraud cases linked to Somali government figures and Somali-run organizations operating in the United States. The proposal, titled the “No Funding for Foreign Agents Act,” would bar entities owned or controlled by agents of countries covered by President Donald J. Trump’s travel ban, including Somalia, from receiving federal grants, contracts, or other forms of taxpayer-funded assistance.

The restrictions would apply to individuals registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as well as diplomats and lobbyists representing those governments. Banks said the legislation was prompted by revelations that senior Somali officials have held ownership stakes in, or operated, U.S.-based organizations funded by American taxpayers that were later implicated in fraudulent schemes. “The Somali fraud scandal has revealed how broken the system is,” Banks said. “Foreign officials were able to take advantage of American taxpayers. This bill stops it and puts Americans first.”

Federal and state investigations have focused heavily on Minnesota, which hosts the largest Somali community in the U.S. Prosecutors say large-scale fraud has occurred across multiple public assistance programs in the state, and authorities estimate that Somali-linked fraud could exceed $9 billion once all affected programs are fully reviewed. The schemes have involved Medicaid, pandemic-era nutrition programs, and COVID relief loans, among others.

Attorney General Pam Bondi recently confirmed that 85 suspects of Somali descent have been charged in Minnesota fraud cases, with approximately 60 convictions to date. Some of the cases have drawn scrutiny because of alleged connections between U.S.-based organizations and Somali political figures, including Abukar Dahir Osman, Somalia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, who has been linked to entities implicated in fraud.

Banks’s bill was introduced as Vice President J.D. Vance announced the creation of a new Assistant Attorney General position under Bondi to focus specifically on fraud investigations and prosecutions.

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15 hours ago
News

Renee Nicole Good Trained to Be Anti-ICE Activist, Friends Claim.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New evidence indicates that Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot while trying to run over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Wednesday, trained to be an anti-ICE activist through connections with other mothers and activists at her son’s charter school.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Renee Nicole Good, her partner Rebecca, federal immigration agents, and activists from ICE Watch.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The fatal shooting occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “She was a warrior. She died doing what was right,” insisted one acquaintance.

🎯IMPACT: The shooting highlights tensions between activists and federal immigration enforcement, inflamed by rhetoric from leading Democrats such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

IN FULL

Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old woman shot and killed after attempting to run over a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday, has been revealed by associates to be a trained anti-ICE activist. According to individuals close to Renee Good and her partner, Rebecca Good, in their Minneapolis community, she was involved with a group of activists aiming to “document and resist” immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

Good had become engaged with the activist community through her son’s school, the Southside Family Charter School, which emphasizes social justice and political activism. Her involvement led her to join “ICE Watch,” a coalition dedicated to opposing ICE operations in sanctuary cities.

“She was a warrior. She died doing what was right,” a mother of a child at the school told media on Thursday. The comments about Good’s activist appear to confirm Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s statement that the shooting was preceded by the woman having harassed ICE agents throughout the morning.

At the time of the shooting, Good’s partner, Rebecca, was outside the vehicle and filming Renee, inside their Honda Pilot SUV, blocking the roadway. The National Pulse reported that after the shooting, Rebecca Good confessed, “I made her come down here, it’s my fault,” and that she had encouraged her partner to confront ICE agents.

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16 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
Immigration

WATCH: Anti-ICE Agitator Attacks Border Patrol Commander Bovino.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An anti-immigration enforcement protestor was caught on camera obstructing and trying to attack Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, an unnamed protestor, and Border Patrol agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Minneapolis, footage shared on X on January 8.

💬KEY QUOTE: “How many agents have to be assaulted before the INSURRECTION ACT is invoked?! IT’S TIME!” – Journalist Nick Sortor.

🎯IMPACT: The attack comes amid serious tensions in Minneapolis between leftists and federal agents following the shooting of a woman while trying to run over an ICE agent on January 7.

IN FULL

Video circulating on social media shows an anti-immigration enforcement agitator in Minneapolis, Minnesota, obstructing and attacking Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino before being detained by federal agents, as tensions continue to rise following the shooting of a woman who was trying to run over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Wednesday.

Footage posted to X on January 8 appears to show a demonstrator stepping in front of Bovino and preventing him from moving as he works the streets alongside federal officers. Following a scuffle, multiple agents and demonstrators join the fracas before the instigator is detained.

The incident quickly drew attention online, with journalist Nick Sortor commenting on the footage on X, saying, “This is RIDICULOUS. How many agents have to be assaulted before the INSURRECTION ACT is invoked?! IT’S TIME! INVOKE THE INSURRECTION ACT!”

The confrontation comes amid unrest following the January 7 shooting of a woman by an ICE agent during a federal operation. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have stated that the agent acted in self-defense, with the woman attempting to run over officers on foot who had approached her vehicle. Notably, the officer who opened fire was previously dragged and injured by a car driven by an illegal immigrant pedophile he was apprehending.

Tensions between Minneapolis officials and federal immigration authorities predate the shooting. In December, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara urged members of the city’s Somali community to report encounters with masked or unidentified ICE agents, pledging that local police would intervene if residents believed civil rights were being violated. Minneapolis is a sanctuary city and does not cooperate with ICE on routine immigration enforcement, endangering the public.

WATCH:


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16 hours ago
William Upton
News

Wife of Woman Shot by ICE Identified as Far-Left Handywoman Who Hates Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by a U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while attempting to run over officers during an immigration enforcement operation. Good’s wife has been identified as Rebecca Good, a 40-year-old handywoman who has expressed disdain for President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Renee Nicole Good, her wife Rebecca Good, ICE agents, and local officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey (D) and Governor Tim Walz (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shooting occurred on Wednesday, January 8, 2026, in Minneapolis during an anti-ICE protest.

💬KEY QUOTE: “An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot to protect himself and the people around him.” – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

🎯IMPACT: The shooting has sparked protests and calls for ICE to leave Minnesota from Democrats, with over 2,000 officers deployed in the area.

IN FULL

The wife of Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed on Wednesday after attempting to run over a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, has been identified as Rebecca Good—a 40-year-old handywoman who has expressed deep disdain for President Donald J. Trump. “I made her come down here, it’s my fault,” Rebecca Good reportedly said in the aftermath of the shooting, in which her wife ignored federal agents who ordered her to exit the vehicle, instead accelerating at an officer in front of her, prompting him to open fire.

Notably, Rebecca Good was not in the vehicle—a Honda Pilot SUV—with her wife, but was, instead, among the anti-ICE protestors along the side of a Minneapolis street. The couple operated the B. Good Handywork LLC out of their home in Kansas City, Missouri, before moving to Canada around eight months ago in response to President Donald J. Trump’s landslide 2024 election victory. However, they recently decided to return to the United States and settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Witnesses told media that Rebecca and Renee Good were present as “legal observers” and were among the protestors filming the anti-ICE demonstration.

In response to the shooting, Democrat politicians have sought to inflame tensions between far-left demonstrators and ICE. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D)—without evidence—called the assertion that the ICE officer acted in self-defense “bulls**t” and “garbage.” Meanwhile, Governor Tim Walz said he was “angry” with federal agents.

Most shockingly, Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) declared, “It was an outright murder… This officer needs to not only be fired and suspended, but—based on the video—charged.”

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Image by Gage Skidmore (CC)
17 hours ago
William Upton
Breaking
Immigration

BREAKING: Tim Walz Calls Up National Guard.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) has authorized the National Guard to support local law enforcement in Minneapolis amid continued clashes between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and violent left-wing protestors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gov. Tim Walz, Minnesota National Guard, ICE agents, leftist protestors, and local law enforcement.

📍WHEN & WHERE: January 8, 2028, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Yesterday, I directed the National Guard to be ready should they be needed.” – Gov. Tim Walz

🎯IMPACT: The National Guard is on standby to ensure public safety and protect infrastructure amid protests.

IN FULL

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) has called up the state’s National Guard troops to assist local law enforcement as clashes between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and violent left-wing protestors continue in Minneapolis. According to the governor’s office and a report by CNN, the National Guard will “help protect critical infrastructure and maintain public safety.”

“Governor Tim Walz has authorized the Minnesota National Guard to be staged and ready to support local and state law enforcement in protecting critical infrastructure and maintaining public safety following a shooting involving federal immigration enforcement agents in south Minneapolis,” a press release issued on January 8 by Gov. Walz’s office states.

The statement continues: “Executive Order 26-01 provides the ability for the Minnesota National Guard to protect critical infrastructure and to assist local law enforcement with additional tasks as requested. The state is providing additional law enforcement resources in a coordinated response to aid local law enforcement. The Minnesota State Patrol has mobilized 85 members of its Mobile Response Team to support law enforcement efforts in the Twin Cities.”

On Wednesday, shortly after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed after attempting to run over an ICE officer, Walz stated he had put the Minnesota National Guard on standby for potential activation. It remains unclear whether the Minnesota Democrat will order Guard troops to interfere with federal immigration enforcement operations in the state.

“We have every reason to believe that peace will hold. Yesterday, I directed the National Guard to be ready should they be needed. They remain ready in the event they are needed to help keep the peace, ensure public safety, and allow for peaceful demonstrations,” Walz said on Thursday.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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