Monday, May 18, 2026

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Jimmy Carter’s Grandson Says 99-Year-Old Former President ‘Coming to the End.’

President Jimmy Carter, 99, has been in hospice care since February 2023. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, died aged 96 in November, and the Carter family now says the former president is also “coming to the end.”

Carter “has been in hospice, as you know, for almost a year and a half now, and he really is, I think, coming to the end that, as I’ve said before, there’s a part of this faith journey that is so important to him, and there’s a part of that faith journey that you only can live at the very end and I think he has been there in that space,” said his grandson, Jason Carter.

Carter, a Democrat, served one term from 1977 to 1981. He had previously been a Georgia lawmaker and governor and was nominated to the Trilateral Commission by the late David Rockefeller in 1973. He incorporated many Trilateral Commission members into his administration, including his vice president, Walter Mondale.

Carter is one of the more unpopular presidents in modern times. He faced a bruising primary challenge from the late Senator Edward ‘Ted’ Kennedy before losing his reelection fight against Ronald Reagan. However, 13 quarters into his term, Joe Biden polls worse than Carter did at the same point in his presidency. Biden polls worse than any president of the post-war era.

By Popular Demand.
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CBS: Up to 2/3rds of Americans Reject Trump Economy — ‘Making It Worse.’

A CBS News poll reveals widespread economic anxiety and dissatisfaction with President Trump’s economic policies.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A recent CBS News poll indicates that 65 percent of Americans believe President Donald J. Trump’s policies are making the U.S. economy worse in the short term, and 50 percent believe they are making the U.S. economy worse over the long term. This compares with 13 percent who believe the President is making the economy better in the short term and 29 percent who believe he is making it better over the long term.
📰 DETAIL: The poll of 2,064 U.S. adults, interviewed from May 13-15, highlights that three-quarters of Americans feel their incomes are not keeping pace with inflation, and 65 percent describe the economy as “uncertain.” Sixty-three percent regard the economy as “struggling,” against just 12 percent who believe it is “rebounding.” Concerns are high over rising gas prices and geopolitical tensions, particularly iin relation to Iran. Pluralities believe the Iran war has not been militarily or strategically successful, and an outright majority believe it has not been economically successful.
🎯 IMPACT: These economic concerns have led to a decline in President Trump’s approval ratings, particularly regarding his handling of inflation. Even among Republicans, there is a notable drop in support for his economic policies, including an 11 percent drop in approval of his handling of inflation since March. Republican approval of his handling of inflation is now over 20 points behind Republican approval of his handling of immigration and his presidency overall. This perception that the economy is being mishandled may hurt the Republicans heading into the November midterms, although neither the GOP nor the Democratic Party is viewed favorably in terms of addressing the cost of living, with a significant portion of the population feeling that neither side is offering viable solutions.

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A CBS News poll reveals widespread economic anxiety and dissatisfaction with President Trump's economic policies.

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By Popular Demand.
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Oil Prices Surge as Trump Warns Iran ‘Clock is Ticking’ for a Peace Deal.

Rising oil prices and stock market uncertainty follow escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with President Trump issuing a stark warning to Tehran.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Oil prices climbed to $110 per barrel on Monday as tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated. President Donald J. Trump warned Iran that time is running out for peace negotiations on Sunday, while Iran has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil, liquefied natural gas, and fertilizer transit route.
📍 WHEN & WHERE: The developments unfolded over the weekend, with oil market reactions and Wall Street adjustments observed on Monday morning.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” – President Trump
🎯 IMPACT: The rise in oil prices is directly affecting American consumers, with gas prices averaging $4.52 per gallon, a 52 percent increase since the conflict began. Investors are also bracing for potential economic fallout as inflationary pressures could deter the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates.
📺 DETAIL: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported drone strikes near a nuclear power plant in an “unprovoked terrorist attack,” further increasing tensions amid an increasingly tenuous ceasefire. Similar strikes on U.S.-aligned Gulf states such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia prior to the ceasefire caused huge disruption in global energy markets, and the effective Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the parallel U.S. blockade of Iranian ports have sparked a jet fuel crisis.

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Rising oil prices and stock market uncertainty follow escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with President Trump issuing a stark warning to Tehran.

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By Popular Demand.
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Another Syrian Migrant Has Been Convicted of Rape.

A Syrian man has been found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in a portable toilet on a British beach after offering her a ride home on his e-bike.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Mohammed Abdullah, a 19-year-old Syrian migrant, was convicted of rape and assault by penetration after attacking a young woman on Bournemouth Beach in Britain. The incident occurred after Abdullah offered the intoxicated victim a ride home on his e-bike, but instead lured her to a porta-potty, where the assault took place.
📍 WHEN & WHERE: The attack took place in the early hours of July 6, 2025, on Bournemouth Beach as the victim, celebrating her 19th birthday, became separated from friends and stranded without a working phone.
📺 DETAIL: Prosecutors said the victim, who had been drinking, accepted Abdullah’s offer of a lift before he took her to a portable toilet, locked the door, and attacked her despite her attempts to resist and escape. The woman later ran for help from passersby and contacted both her mother and police, with witnesses describing her as visibly distressed. Abdullah, who arrived in Britain in 2023 under a “family reunion” (chain migration) scheme, claimed the encounter was consensual, but jurors rejected his defense and convicted him of rape and assault by penetration. Judge Robert Pawson told the court the attack was deliberate and remanded Abdullah into custody ahead of sentencing on July 3, saying a prison sentence is inevitable.
💬 KEY QUOTE:She did not consent at all… she simply wanted to go home,” the prosecution told the court.
🎯 IMPACT: The conviction underscores migrants’ threat to public safety and issues with the vetting of migrants entering Britain under schemes like the Family Reunion Program. Migrant sex crimes in Britain and elsewhere in Europe have become more and more common in recent years.

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A Syrian man has been found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in a portable toilet on a British beach after offering her a ride home on his e-bike.

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By Popular Demand.
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ken paxton acquitted

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America’s Biggest Children’s Hospital Settles with Paxton, Trump Admin Over Transing Kids.

A multi-million dollar settlement ending so-called “gender affirming care” for minors in Texas marks a significant legal and cultural victory for the Trump administration and Ken Paxton.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The largest children’s hospital in the United States has agreed to a multi-million dollar settlement with the state of Texas and the Trump administration for imposing radical gender ideology on minors.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This historic settlement reflects an institutional and fundamental shift away from radical ‘gender’ ideology.” – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
📺 DETAIL: On Friday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced that the Texas Children’s Hospital had agreed to a $10 million settlementwith the state of Texas and the Trump administration. The hospital stated that it agreed to the settlement to avoid prolonged litigation. In addition to the multi-million dollar payment to the state’s Medicaid program, the settlement includes a ban on the hospital providing so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors and the dismissal of five doctors. The settlement follows years of investigation by Paxton and the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement is the culmination of a series of actions taken at the state and national level. In 2022, Governor Greg Abbott instructed the state’s child welfare agency to investigate so-called “gender-affirming care” as child abuse. A year later, following the findings of the investigation, the state of Texas banned the practice. The state’s ban was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2025. Similar bans exist in approximately 26 other states across the country. Around five million documents were produced over the course of the investigation into the hospital.
🎯 IMPACT: The settlement represents a major legal and cultural victory for the Trump administration and its state-level allies in combatting radical gender ideology and protecting children. As a result, Texas Children’s Hospital will now focus on other services, such as establishing a detransition clinic. Furthermore, any doctor henceforth found in violation of state law of gender transitions will lose their clinical privileges. This is not the first time that the Trump administration has shown its willingness to push back against gender ideology. In early May, the White House announced a crackdown on extremist pro-transgender groups and cells.

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A multi-million dollar settlement ending so-called "gender affirming care" for minors in Texas marks a significant legal and cultural victory for the Trump administration and Ken Paxton.

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By Popular Demand.
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‘Unprecedented Threat’ – An Underwater Bomb Found at an Alabama Dam.

An improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered at a critical water supply dam in Mobile, Alabama, raising concerns about infrastructure security.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Divers discovered a “grenade-type IED” at the base of the Converse Reservoir dam in Mobile, Alabama, during a routine maintenance inspection. The dam holds the drinking water supply for the entire city.
📺 DETAIL: The explosive device was safely detonated off-site by federal and local bomb squads, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Mobile Police Department. Officials believe the device was intentionally placed at the dam, which is part of critical infrastructure designated by the federal government. Surveillance cameras monitor the dam, but no suspect has been identified yet.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This is an unprecedented threat, and we are fortunate that this device was discovered before it could cause serious damage to our water supply or harm to individuals,” said Bud McCrory, director of Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.
🎯 IMPACT: The discovery has heightened concerns about the security of critical infrastructure, particularly water supplies, as officials work to enhance surveillance and preventive measures. The 17-billion-gallon reservoir is vital to Mobile’s water needs, and any breach could have had devastating consequences.

Image by James Willamor.

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An improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered at a critical water supply dam in Mobile, Alabama, raising concerns about infrastructure security.

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By Popular Demand.
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Governor Finally Commutes Sentence of Tina Peters.

Governor Jared Polis has commuted the sentence of Tina Peters, a former county clerk convicted over her role in examining voting machines after the 2020 election.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) has commuted the sentence of Tina Peters, a former county clerk aged 70, who was serving a nine-year sentence for her involvement in examining voting machines after the 2020 election. Peters was convicted in 2024 for attempting to prove that the machines were used to rig the election against President Donald J. Trump.
📰 DETAIL: Governor Polis claims that the commutation was not an attempt to appease Trump, but rather a response to what he viewed as an excessively harsh sentence for a nonviolent first-time offender. He emphasized that Peters’s beliefs, while in his view “dangerously incorrect,” should not have influenced her sentencing. Peters will be released on parole on June 1.
🎯 IMPACT: The decision to commute Peters’s sentence comes amid ongoing legal battles and appeals regarding her conviction. Last month, a Colorado appellate court upheld her conviction but overturned her nine-year sentence, ruling that the trial judge had infringed on her free speech rights by criticizing her belief that the 2020 election was stolen from President Trump. She was awaiting resentencing when Polis intervened, saying he agreed with the appellate court.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “She committed a crime; she deserves to be a convicted felon… [but] she was given an unusually harsh sentence.” – Governor Jared Polis

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Governor Jared Polis has commuted the sentence of Tina Peters, a former county clerk convicted over her role in examining voting machines after the 2020 election.

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By Popular Demand.
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Whistleblower Claims Ghislaine Maxwell Received VIP Treatment in Prison.

Whistleblower claims suggest Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell received special privileges in prison, sparking concerns over fairness in the system.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Whistleblower Noella Turnage alleged that convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell received special treatment while serving her sentence at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas. Maxwell reportedly enjoyed several privileges that were not afforded to other inmates.
📺 DETAIL: The claims include private family visits with snacks, bottled water deliveries to her cell, and special accommodations not typically granted to other inmates, with the whistleblower alleging prison staff and administrators gave Maxwell unusual privileges. The report said leaked emails described Maxwell boasting to relatives about her treatment inside the facility, while critics and former inmates claim complaints about the arrangement were discouraged or punished. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking network, has faced renewed scrutiny since her transfer to the lower-security prison camp last year. The allegations come amid broader political and public debate over whether Maxwell is seeking clemency or a commutation of her sentence, as she has been speaking with officials in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and others since President Donald J. Trump‘s second term began last year. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “What I can tell you is that the things that were being done for her were not common for any of the other inmates, not even the other high-profile inmates.” – Noella Turnage
🎯 IMPACT: The allegations highlight potential disparities in the treatment of Maxwell compared to others, sparking criticism of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. A spokesman for the Bureau stated that preferential treatment violates prison rules and that such allegations are investigated.

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Whistleblower claims suggest Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell received special privileges in prison, sparking concerns over fairness in the system.

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By Popular Demand.
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UK PM Starmer Doubles Down on Tommy Robinson Rally Crackdown.

The British government has barred 11 people from entering the country and participating in a rally organized by Tommy Robinson, claiming that the would-be attendees, including elected officials, are “peddling hatred and division.”

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The British government is doubling down on banning at least 11 people, denounced as “far-right agitators,” from entering the country for a Unite the Kingdom and the West rally, organized by anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson, set for this weekend in London. The rally, expected to draw around 50,000 participants, has prompted heightened security measures, including the deployment of 4,000 police officers and the use of full riot gear and facial recognition technology. Notably, a parallel pro-Palestinian march will not be subject to the same level of scrutiny.
📺 DETAIL: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government would not allow people to “spread hate on our streets.” He is being accused of selectively targeting political opponents, especially considering police in London have previously allowed Muslim protesters to call for “jihad” openly. The government is also under fire for its moving so strongly and publicly to keep European immigration skeptics out of the country, while rapist boat migrants and anti-white extremists with tenuous connections to Britain have had their entry into Britain facilitated by Border Force vessels and the Foreign Office. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We’re in a fight for the soul of this country, and the Unite the Kingdom march this weekend is a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against. Its organizers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple. We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence.” – Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
🎯 IMPACT: The bans and heightened policing at the Tommy Robinson rally underscore the perception that Starmer is presiding over a “two-tier” policing and justice system, with people perceived as “far right” treated far more harshly than Black Lives Matter, Islamic, and far-left demonstrators, who are given much greater leeway.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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The British government has barred 11 people from entering the country and participating in a rally organized by Tommy Robinson, claiming that the would-be attendees, including elected officials, are "peddling hatred and division."

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By Popular Demand.
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Coup Against UK PM Starmer Progresses as Biggest Rival Approved to Attempt Parliamentary Comeback.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s biggest rival for the leadership of the country’s governing Labour Party, Andy Burnham, has been cleared by the party’s National Executive Committee to apply to be a parliamentary candidate for an upcoming special election.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and leading challenger to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership of Britain’s governing Labour Party, has been approved to enter the candidate selection process for a parliamentary by-election (special election) in the Makerfield constituency (electoral district). Returning to Parliament after a roughly decade-long absence would allow him to challenge Starmer for Labour’s leadership and, by extension, the office of Prime Minister.
📺 DETAIL: Earlier this week, Josh Simons, the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Makerfield, announced that he would be stepping down in order to give Burnham an opportunity to return to the House of Commons. Following Simons’s resignation, Burnham confirmed his intention to put himself forward as a candidate. On Friday, Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) voted to allow Burnham to submit his application. This marks the second time this year that Burnham has applied for a seat. Back in February, a by-election was held in Gorton and Denton, but Burnham was blocked from standing by the NEC. Despite being approved to submit an application to run as the Labour candidate for Makerfield, the NEC will still choose the final candidate from among those who apply, with a decision set to be announced next Thursday.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee has today given permission to Andy Burnham to stand in the candidate selection process in the forthcoming by-election for the Makerfield constituency.” – Labour Party spokesman.
🎯 IMPACT: Burnham has significant support among Labour MPs, dozens of whom are calling for Starmer to resign following heavy losses in local and regional elections across Great Britain last week. A return to Parliament would allow him to mount a party leadership challenge, which, if successful, would almost certainly see Burnham replace Starmer as Prime Minister. Notably, prime ministers rely on majority support in the House of Commons to maintain their position, and can be replaced at any time if they lose it. However, it is not guaranteed that Burnham will be returned to Parliament even if he secures the Makerfield candidacy, with Nigel Farage’s Reform Party being well within striking distance of Labour in the constituency, and Farage vowing to mount a strong challenge for it. The by-election is scheduled for Thursday, June 18.

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's biggest rival for the leadership of the country's governing Labour Party, Andy Burnham, has been cleared by the party's National Executive Committee to apply to be a parliamentary candidate for an upcoming special election.

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By Popular Demand.
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Illegal Border Crossings Drop 94% as Trump Admin Hits 12 Months of Zero Releases.

The Department of Homeland Security is stressing a dramatic turnaround in border security after Biden, with illegal crossings plummeting under President Trump.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that April marked twelve consecutive months of zero releases of illegal aliens apprehended at the southwest border into the U.S. interior. This milestone reflects a significant shift from the situation under the former Biden-Harris regime.
📺 DETAIL: DHS reports a 94 percent drop in illegal border apprehensions compared to the former Biden regime, with daily crossings in April 2026 lower than what agents encountered in a single hour at the height of the border crisis in 2023. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that “the days of catch and release are over,” highlighting enforcement policies that send illegal aliens back to their home countries. Additionally, Border Patrol apprehensions for this fiscal year to date are down 95 percent compared to the same period in Fiscal Year 2024.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Every minute of every day, President Trump’s border security policies are making every American safer,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott.
🎯 IMPACT: The sharp drop in illegal crossings has allowed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to redirect resources to frontline enforcement, leading to a 61 percent increase in drug seizures compared to the same period in Fiscal Year 2024. This shift underscores the administration’s emphasis on border security and the dismantling of “catch-and-release” policies.
📺 FLASHBACK: Under the Biden regime, Border Patrol agents released more than 68,000 illegal aliens into the U.S. interior in a single month, a stark contrast to the zero-release policy now in effect.
📈 DATA: In April 2026, Border Patrol reported 8,943 apprehensions along the southwest border, a 94 percent decrease from the monthly average under the Biden government and 96 percent below the Biden-era peak in December 2023.

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The Department of Homeland Security is stressing a dramatic turnaround in border security after Biden, with illegal crossings plummeting under President Trump.

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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.