GET THE APP
Wednesday, April 16, 2025

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

July 15, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Politics
World

The European Right Remains Divided. Here Are the Newest Factions.

A new populist bloc, the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN), has emerged in the European Parliament, announced by its freshly elected leader on Wednesday. The alliance, comprising 25 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), is spearheaded by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and Poland’s Confederation party.

ESN also includes members from Bulgaria’s Revival, France’s Reconquête (Reconquest), Slovakia’s Republic Movement, Hungary’s Our Homeland Movement, Lithuania’s People and Justice Union, and the Czech Republic’s Freedom and Direct Democracy.

On Monday, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz united to establish the Patriots for Europe group, replacing the disbanded Identity & Democracy group. The group has 84 MEPs.

Patriots for Europe saw Spain’s VOX, who left the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, join as well.

The group also contains Matteo Salvini’s League (Italy), Chega (Portugal), Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (Czech Republic), Oath and Motorists (Czech Republic), Christian Democratic People’s Party (Hungary), Freedom Party (Austria), Party for Freedom (Netherlands), Vlaams Belang (Belgium), Danish People’s Party, Voice of Reason (Greece), and Latvia First.

CAUSES OF DIVISION. 

ESN aims to take a more radical stance compared to the Patriots and came about after members of the AfD, the largest party in the group, were kicked out of the former Identity & Democracy group over alleged scandals involving AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, just prior to the European Parliament elections.

Krah himself is not a member of the ESN but remains a member of the AfD in the parliament.

However, globalist and left-wing blocs intend to impose a cordon sanitaire on both groups, aimed at limiting their influence over legislation for the next five years.

Despite their small sizes, one of the group leaders will attend the influential Conference of Presidents meetings, shaping the Parliament’s agenda and managing internal affairs.

Christine Anderson, an AfD MEP chosen as the group’s chief whip, described the founding meeting in Brussels as highly successful.

René Aust of the AfD emphasized the group’s commitment to shaping Europe’s future through strategic and decisive actions, stating, “We embark on this path not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary to realize our vision of a strong, united, and forward-looking Europe of Fatherlands.”

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.

39 minutes ago
News
Religion

GOP Proposes Easter Monday as New Federal Holiday.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Legislation is being proposed to make Easter Monday a federal holiday in the United States.

👥 Who’s Involved: The proposal is spearheaded by Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia.

📍 Where & When: The bill, introduced in the Senate, is currently referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Schmitt made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), citing a 2023 poll.

💬 Key Quote: Schmitt described the proposal as “a federal recognition of a tradition central to Western civilization.”

⚠️ Impact: If passed, the change might increase economic activity by $2 billion and provide families with a three-day weekend.

IN FULL:

An initiative to make Easter Monday a federal holiday is gathering attention in Washington, spearheaded by Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Representative Riley Moore (R-WV). The proposed legislation could align the U.S. with countries like Canada and Australia, where Easter Monday is already recognized as a public holiday. Citing a 2023 survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, Schmitt emphasized that 81 percent of Americans celebrate Easter, suggesting the proposal is not radical but a continuation of widely observed traditions in many Western countries.

In a social media post, Schmitt highlighted Easter Monday’s potential benefits as a public holiday, reasoning that the holiday marks the only two-month gap in the federal holiday calendar. Acknowledging Easter’s variability—it falls between March 22 and April 25, according to certain ecclesiastical rules—Schmitt pointed out how designating the following Monday as a federal holiday could fill this gap and offer a needed three-day weekend for American families. He further argued that this decision would be “Pro-worker, Pro-family, Pro-faith.”

From an economic standpoint, Schmitt noted Easter weekend already contributes approximately $15 billion to the U.S. economy. A three-day weekend could potentially boost economic revenues by 10-15 percent, amounting to an additional $2 billion while strengthening family bonds.

Currently, there are 11 federal public holidays in the United States. Schmitt pointed out that Christmas is the only religious holiday that is federally recognized. The most recent addition to the federal holiday list was Juneteenth, which acknowledges the abolition of slavery and was signed into law in 2021.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

1 hour ago
Crime
World

Kidnapped American Missionary Rescued After Deadly Gun Battle.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: An American missionary in South Africa was kidnapped and subsequently rescued by authorities following a deadly gun battle.

👥 Who’s Involved: Josh Sullivan, 45, the missionary; South African police; and multiple unidentified suspects.

📍 Where & When: The kidnapping occurred in Motherwell, near Gqeberha, South Africa, during a church service last Thursday. The rescue took place at a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha.

💬 Key Quote: “Josh has been released. I just got ‘the go ahead to let it be known,’” Pastor Tom Hatley stated.

⚠️ Impact: The incident underscores the dangerous kidnapping rates in South Africa and concerns over the safety of Christian missionaries.

IN FULL:

Authorities in South Africa have successfully rescued Josh Sullivan, an American missionary, who was kidnapped during a church service last week. The operation resulted in a deadly exchange of gunfire, leaving three suspects dead.

Sullivan’s abduction occurred at a Fellowship Baptist Church service in Motherwell last Thursday. Armed assailants entered the church, targeting Sullivan specifically. While approximately 30 attendees, including Sullivan’s family, were present, no others were harmed during the incident.

Police tracked Sullivan for five days before receiving a tip-off that led them to a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha. Upon their approach, suspects inside a vehicle opened fire, prompting a retaliatory response from the authorities. The confrontation ended with the fatal shooting of three suspects. Sullivan was discovered inside the vehicle, unharmed, and assessed by medical personnel, who confirmed he was in “excellent condition.”

Pastor Tom Hatley of Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, confirmed the rescue on social media. “Josh has been released. I just got ‘the go ahead to let it be known,'” he said.

Questions remain about the motives behind Sullivan’s kidnapping. International Christian Concern suggested religious reasons might be a factor, as the church had faced threats in the past. However, the Reverend Jeremy Hall, from the Gqeberha area, speculated that financial motives might be a more likely explanation.

South Africa has witnessed a notable surge in reported kidnappings, with instances rising by 264 percent over the past decade. The period from 2023 to 2024 alone saw over 17,000 recorded kidnappings, raising significant concerns about security in the region.

The successful rescue comes amid tensions between the United States and South Africa over seizures of the land of white farmers without compensation. Last month, President Donald J. Trump dismissed the South African ambassador, who had referred to the America First leader as a white supremacist.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

3 hours ago
Politics
World

J.D. Vance Heads to Italy, India. Here’s Why…

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Vice President J.D. Vance is set to begin an international trip to Italy and India, marking his third such journey with the Trump administration. The visit aims to discuss economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in both nations.

👥 Who’s Involved: Vice President J.D. Vance, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and members of the Second Family are involved.

📍 Where & When: The trip will take place starting Friday, with visits to Rome, New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra.

💬 Key Quote: A statement from Vance’s office noted the intent to “discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities.”

⚠️ Impact: The trip coincides with ongoing international interest in negotiating trade deals with the U.S. following the Trump administration’s tariff announcements, highlighting tensions over trade issues.

IN FULL:

Vice President J.D. Vance is preparing to embark on his third major international trip on Friday, heading to Italy and India, where he will meet with national political leaders to discuss critical U.S. economic and geopolitical priorities. While in Rome, Italy, the U.S. Vice President is scheduled to sit down with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Notably, the Vatican is considered a key communication channel in diplomatic circles. Its ambassadors typically have long tenures representing the Holy See in their host countries, allowing for significant political relationships to be forged.

After Italy, Vance will travel to three cities in India: New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. While in the South Asian nation, Vance is scheduled to meet with the country’s nationalist Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The Vice President’s office announced that the Second Family would also partake in cultural engagements at yet-to-be-specified sites.

The announcement of Vance’s travels comes amid significant global interest in negotiating trade agreements with the United States. This follows President Donald J. Trump’s April 2 imposition of a 10 percent global tariff and reciprocal tariffs targeting several nations and the European Union (EU), of which Italy is a member state. The bloc was hit with a 20 percent tariff, while Indian goods saw a 26 percent tariff. Subsequently, as countries moved to open trade talks with the U.S., President Trump declared a 90-day pause in the reciprocal tariffs on April 9, leaving only a 10 percent global tariff for everyone but China.

Prior to the meeting with Vance, Italy’s Meloni will be in Washington, D.C. on Thursday to open trade negotiations with President Trump and his Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent.

Vance has emerged as a key international representative of the Trump administration, having previously traveled to Germany for the Munich Security Conference, where he urged European nations to enhance their defense contributions and uphold free speech, and to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base, for defense reviews and to reiterate American’s continued interest acquiring the Arctic island from Denmark.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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.

3 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Health

WATCH: RFK Jr. Announces ‘Series of New Studies’ to Identify Toxins Causing Autism.

PULSE POINTS:

❓ What Happened: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new studies to identify environmental toxins causing autism, responding to rising childhood autism rates reported by the CDC.

👥 Who’s Involved: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

📍 Where & When: Announced by Kennedy in April 2025, following CDC data release, with a research completion pledge by September 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Kennedy stated, “The [autism] epidemic is real… We’re going to find the answer,” emphasizing a “thorough and comprehensive” approach.

⚠️ Impact: The studies could reshape the understanding of autism’s environmental causes, potentially influencing public health policies while raising debates over Kennedy’s controversial views on autism and vaccines.

IN FULL:

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a “series of new studies to identify precisely what the environmental toxins” responsible for autism are. “This has not been done before, and we’re going to do it in a thorough and comprehensive way,” he vowed.

Kennedy made the announcement in response to new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) figures showing that the childhood autism rate has now increased to one in 31. As recently as 1970, the rate was just one in 10,000.

“The [autism] epidemic is real,” Kennedy warned. “Only a very small percentage of it can be charged to better recognition or better diagnostic criteria,” he continued, calling the situation “catastrophic for our country” and promising, “We’re going to find the answer.”

The Make America Healthy Again frontman promised this answer would be found sooner rather than later, having pledged last week that a “massive testing and research effort” will be completed by September.

WATCH:

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

4 hours ago
William Upton
Politics

White House Unveils Major Overhaul of Federal Procurement System.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced significant changes to the Federal procurement policy to enhance competition, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. The existing Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) will be revamped through a comprehensive review by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, the Federal Acquisition Regulations Council, and OMB Senior Advisor Kevin Rhodes.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., with the announcement made on April 16.

💬 Key Quote: “This RFO will reduce more than 40 years of bureaucratic buildup that will unleash our procurement system with generational change and results. We are Making America Great Again,” said OMB Senior Advisor Kevin Rhodes.

⚠️ Impact: The anticipated overhaul aims to streamline the procurement process, lower entry barriers for new businesses, and eliminate inefficiencies for government contracts valued at nearly $1 trillion annually.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has unveiled an initiative to reform the Federal procurement system, significantly altering the rules surrounding government purchasing. Every year, a large portion of government waste is abetted by current procurement rules, which total over 2,000 pages and nearly 3,000 directives. These rules make it difficult for vendors to navigate and allow loopholes that can cause taxpayer dollars to be squandered.

According to the Trump White House, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will overhaul the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). The office is being tasked with streamlining procurement rules to remove redundant and conflicting regulations that have ballooned the total price of annual federal purchases to over $1 trillion over the years.

Under the current byzantine FAR procurement process, massive and bloated consulting firms, contractors, and other vendors hold the advantage because they can absorb the high costs of compliance, leaving new entrants at a disadvantage. The prohibitive compliance costs reduce competition for government contracts and increase the financial hit to taxpayers.

Key changes will include writing the FAR in simpler language, removing non-statutory and repetitive rules, and dismissing outdated requirements. Furthermore, a push for effective procurement is emphasized by discarding unnecessary items like paper straws and focusing on securing high-quality products and services at competitive prices.

“This RFO [Revolutionary FAR Overhaul] will reduce more than 40 years of bureaucratic buildup that will unleash our procurement system with generational change and results. We are Making America Great Again,” OMB Senior Advisor Kevin Rhodes said in a statement following the announcement of President Trump’s reform directive. The initiative complements efforts undertaken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce federal employee redundancies and government waste.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

5 hours ago
News
Politics
Sports

Trump Administration Sues Maine Over Transgenders in Girls’ Sports.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against Maine’s education department over the state’s handling of transgender athletes in girls’ sports.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Department of Education, Maine Governor Janet Mills (D), the Maine Department of Education,

📍 Where & When: The federal legal action against Maine was announced on Wednesday.

💬 Key Quote: “We’ll see you in court,” said Gov. Janet Mills in February during a contentious White House exchange with President Trump regarding Maine’s noncompliance with his Executive Order clarifying Title IX regulations barring biological males competing against women and girls.

⚠️ Impact: The case questions Maine’s adherence to a federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education, with potential implications for federal funding received by the state.

IN FULL:

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a legal action against the State of Maine’s Department of Education for continuing to allow biological males to compete in women’s sports. This comes after the DOJ announced on Monday that it would pursue an enforcement action against the state after receiving a formal referral following a Department of Education investigation.

“We have exhausted every other remedy. We tried to get Maine to comply. We don’t like standing up here and filing lawsuits, we want to get states to comply with us,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Wednesday, with the DOJ lawsuit stating: “The undeniable physiological differences between males and females provide boys with inherent advantages in strength, speed, and physicality that pre-determine the outcome of athletic contests.”

The court filing continues: “The results are stark: girls are displaced from podiums, lose opportunities for advancement to regional and national competitions, and miss out on critical visibility for college scholarships and recognition.”

In February, President Donald J. Trump and Maine’s Democrat Governor, Janet Mills, had a tense exchange during a White House event when the America First leader inquired whether the state would comply with his Executive Order clarifying Title IX to bar biological males from competing in women’s sports. When Mills insisted her state’s pro-transgender policies were already compliant, Trump alluded to possible legal action, with the Maine Democrat responding: “We’ll see you in court.”

The DOJ legal action follows a U.S. Department of Education investigation where Maine was afforded multiple opportunities to alter its state policies to align with the Trump administration’s interpretation of Title IX. “The Department has given Maine every opportunity to come into compliance with Title IX, but the state’s leaders have stubbornly refused to do so, choosing instead to prioritize an extremist ideological agenda over their students’ safety, privacy, and dignity,” the Department of Education’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said after referring the investigation to the DOJ.

Trainor continued: “The Maine Department of Education will now have to defend its discriminatory practices before a Department administrative law judge and in a federal court against the Justice Department. Governor Mills would have done well to adhere to the wisdom embedded in the old idiom—be careful what you wish for. Now she will see the Trump Administration in court.”

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

5 hours ago
Crime
NatSec
Politics

Unmasked: Man’s Disturbing Text Threats to Kill Tulsi Gabbard and Family.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Aliakbar Mohammad Amin, a Georgia resident, has been arrested for allegedly making death threats against the U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and her family.

👥 Who’s Involved: Aliakbar Mohammad Amin, Tulsi Gabbard, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

📍 Where & When: The threats were sent between March 29 and April 1, 2025. The arrest took place in Georgia, with the DOJ announcing it had filed federal charges against Amin on Monday.

💬 Key Quote: A threatening message included, “Death to America means death to America literally, Tulsi is living on borrowed time.”

⚠️ Impact: Amin faces charges of transmitting interstate threats. The case underscores ongoing concerns about targeted threats against Trump administration officials.

IN FULL:

A Georgia resident, Aliakbar Mohammad Amin, has been arrested following allegations of making death threats against Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence in the Trump White House, and her family. The threats were reportedly sent between March 29 and April 1, 2025, with personal photographs of Gabbard being used, which she had shared on social media.

These threats have been described as extreme in nature. One communication read, “You and your family are going to die soon… I will personally do the job if necessary,” alongside a text message stating: “Death to America means death to America literally, Tulsi is living on borrowed time.”

“The home you two own… is a legitimate target and will be hit at a time and place of our choosing,” another of the dozens of threats reads, while a fourth text communication warned: “Prepare to die, you, Tulsi, and everyone you hold dear. America will burn.”

In another instance, a threat sent by Amin indicates he may have been influenced by corporate media narratives critical of Gabbard’s less hawkish stance against Russia. “Tell your wife to always be on her best behavior and not to disobey Mr. Vladimir Putin’s orders. We are friendly bears [Russian Flag + Bear emoji]. But we can also be angry bears [Russian Flag + Bear emoji],” Amin wrote in a message sent to Gabbard’s husband, Abraham Williams. Disturbing images, including one showing a gun pointed at pictures of Gabbard and her family, were also part of the communications.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced two charges—relating to transmitting interstate threats—against Amin, 24, on Monday. In recent weeks, there have been several instances of political violence targeting public officials. Over the weekend, a disturbed man in Pennsylvania set fire to the home of Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA).

Additionally, several individuals have been arrested over arson attacks targeting Elon Musk’s Tesla electric vehicles and their showrooms. The National Pulse has also reported that a teenager in Wisconsin is being charged in the murder of his parent, allegedly as part of a plot to use his family’s financial resources to aid a conspiracy to assassinate President Donald J. Trump.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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

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

6 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Health

Trump EPA Taking ‘Immediate Action’ Against Climate Geoengineering Firm ‘Polluting the Air We Breathe.’

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: The Trump-led EPA has launched an investigation into Make Sunsets, a solar geoengineering startup, for releasing sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, prompting concerns about air quality violations under the Clean Air Act.

Who’s Involved: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Make Sunsets founders Luke Iseman and Andrew Song, and the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

Where & When: EPA Headquarters, Washington, D.C., April 14, 2025, with a public statement from Zeldin on April 15, 2025.

Key Quote: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated on X, “Make Sunsets is a startup that is geoengineering by injecting sulfur dioxide into the sky and then selling ‘cooling credits.’ This company is polluting the air we breathe.”

Impact: The EPA’s actions could lead to monetary penalties or criminal charges for Make Sunsets, potentially setting a precedent for regulating geoengineering activities in the U.S., amidst broader Trump administration efforts to deregulate climate policies.

IN FULL:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump’s Administrator Lee Zeldin, has initiated what it says will be a swift investigation into Make Sunsets, a startup accused of polluting the atmosphere through geoengineering. On April 14, 2025, the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation issued a letter to Make Sunsets founders Luke Iseman and Andrew Song, demanding information within 30 days to determine if the company’s activities violate the Clean Air Act.

Make Sunsets has been releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere via weather balloons, aiming to reflect sunlight and cool the planet—selling these balloon flights online in the form of so-called “cooling credits.” The Trump administration is acting against the startup due to its potential to degrade air quality, coupled with a lack of regulatory oversight.

Zeldin took to X (formerly Twitter) on April 15, 2025, to explain the situation, stating, “Make Sunsets is a startup that is geoengineering by injecting sulfur dioxide into the sky and then selling ‘cooling credits.’ This company is polluting the air we breathe. I’ve instructed my team that we need to quickly get to the bottom of this.”

The EPA’s letter, signed by Abigale Tardif, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of Air and Radiation, cites Section 114(a) of the Clean Air Act, which empowers the agency to demand information from entities suspected of impacting air quality. It warns of potential enforcement actions under Section 113 of the Act, which includes fines and criminal penalties for non-compliance or providing false information.

On behalf of Make Sunsets, Iseman previously argued, “It’s morally wrong… for us not to be doing this.” However, the company has already been banned in Mexico following unauthorized sulfur dioxide releases in Baja California in 2022. Notably, this prompted the Mexican government to prohibit solar geoengineering experiments altogether in 2023.

Make Sunsets later conducted launches in Nevada, which also drew scrutiny for failing to report to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) despite requirements under U.S. law. Critics, including environmentalists and scientists, have long warned that such geoengineering efforts lack sufficient scientific backing and international governance, posing unpredictable risks to the environment and public health.

The investigation into Make Sunsets could set a significant precedent for regulating geoengineering in the U.S., a field that remains largely ungoverned both domestically and internationally.

READ:

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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.

7 hours ago
Media

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Still Gets Oval Office Access, Despite Trashing the Admin All Day.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump and Salvadoran President Bukele discussed the fate of Kilmar Abrego Garcia during an Oval Office meeting. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, present during the meeting, trashed the administration’s handling of the case.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, and Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Pam Bondi and Stephen Miller also contributed to the discussion.

📍 Where & When: The encounter occurred during a meeting on April 15 at the White House, with further discussions on the CNN show The Source with Kaitlan Collins.

💬 Key Quote: “Why don’t you just say, ‘Isn’t it wonderful that we’re keeping criminals out of our country?’ Why can’t you just say that?” — President Trump.

⚠️ Impact: President Bukele has said he will not “smuggle” Garcia, an El Salvadoran citizen, back to the U.S.

IN FULL:

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins continues to have a White House press pass despite constant attacks on President Donald J. Trump. This week, Collins attacked the president over the deportation of an El Salvadoran national linked to the notorious MS-13 gang.

A dispute over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia was highlighted during the press portion of an Oval Office meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on April 15. Collins questioned Trump about the administration’s handling of Garcia’s deportation following a Supreme Court ruling on his case.

“Why don’t you just say, ‘Isn’t it wonderful that we’re keeping criminals out of our country?’ Why can’t you just say that?” President Trump said, branding members of the press lobbying for Garcia’s return “sick.”

Trump, when asked if he would seek Bukele’s assistance in Garcia’s return, referred the question to senior aides. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Stephen Miller reiterated Garcia’s illegal status and past court findings associating him with MS-13, a designated foreign terrorist organization, which they say bars him from staying in the United States under federal law.

“That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him. That’s not up to us,” AG Bondi said. Miller concurred, saying, “No version of this legally ends up with him ever living here because he is a citizen of El Salvador. That is the President of El Salvador. Your questions about per the court can only be directed to him.”

President Bukele responded to Collins, stating, “How can I return him to the United States? Like, if I smuggle him into the United States, or what do I do? Of course, I’m not going to do it.”

show less

PULSE POINTS:

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.

8 hours ago
Wake Up Right
Health

Trump Signs Order to Slash Prescription Drug Costs for Low-Income Americans.

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at slashing prescription drug costs—with insulin reduced to three cents for low-income Americans.

The details: Trump’s order takes aim at drug costs and Big Pharma from several angles:

  • Insulin: Prices drop to as low as three cents for low-income and uninsured patients.
  • Epinephrine: Injectable doses fall to $15.
  • Cancer drugs: Standardizing Medicare payments for prescription drugs, like cancer treatments, which can lower prices by 60 percent.
  • Generics: Boosted access to biosimilars, which can be up to 80 percent cheaper.
  • Middlemen: Order demands transparency from pharmacy benefit managers and pushes reforms to the entire supply chain.
  • Drug importation: States can import lower-cost meds, including for sickle cell.

Back up: In 2020, Trump launched a program to give seniors access to $35 per 30-day supply of insulin. Biden let the program expire and then rolled it into the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and took credit for it.

Eclipsing Biden: The IRA also created the Medicare Drug Pricing Negotiation Program, which allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly with pharma companies for high-cost prescription drugs.

  • In its first year in effect under Biden, the program netted a 22 percent reduction in prices. Trump’s order aims to “eclipse” that number.

Big picture: Roughly 68 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare—meaning these reforms will touch roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population.

Be sure to subscribe to the Wake Up Right newsletter! 

show less
President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at slashing prescription drug costs—with insulin reduced to three cents for low-income Americans. 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