Tuesday, July 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.

‘Let’s Talk About Something Else’ — Chinese ‘DeepSeek’ AI Refuses to Acknowledge Tiananmen Square Massacre.

The new artificial intelligence (AI) model unveiled by Chinese start-up DeepSeek over the weekend is raising eyebrows not just for its low cost and minimal computing requirements but also for its aggressive censorship of topics embarrassing to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)—including the Tiananmen Square massacre. DeepSeek’s R1 model—similar to ChatGPT—allegedly cost just $5.6 million to train and only requires 2,000 Nvidia specialty GPU chips to power. U.S. companies have spent hundreds of millions to billions of dollars to train their AI models and power them with tens of thousands of GPUs.

Despite the potentially earth-shaking breakthrough DeepSeek represents in AI cost—both in terms of investment and computing power—the chatbot’s aversion to and inability to discuss topics considered sensitive by the CCP are alarming many in the industry. When prompted to discuss “what happened in the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre” DeepSeek’s R1 model only replies with a pre-generated response reading: “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.”

The two-sentence script is used by the model to reply to several prompts that touch on events and subjects viewed as taboo by the CCP. Notably, several DeepSeek users have recorded videos that appear to show the chatbot generating an honest response before being overridden with the pre-generated script.

When asked to criticize Chinese dictator Xi Jinping, DeepSeek’s model again responds with the same pre-generated reply. However, when asked to criticize U.S. President Donald J. Trump, the Chinese chatbot is more than happy to provide a number of suggested criticisms. Additionally, DeepSeek appears more than willing to carry on a lengthy discussion about whether the United States is an evil nation.

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.
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.

Talarico Takes Funds from Epstein-Linked Billionaire, After Campaigning Against ‘Epstein Class.’

Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico has faced backlash for accepting significant donations from billionaire Reid Hoffman, a billionaire with connections to Jeffrey Epstein, despite his campaign’s criticism of billionaire influence in politics.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico has come under fire after accepting large donations from billionaire connected to Jeffrey Epstein. 
📺 DETAIL: Last week, it was revealed that James Talarico, Democrat candidate for the 2026 Senate election in Texas, took money from Reid Hoffman, a billionaire with connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Hoffman donated $11.5 million to Lone Star Rising, a super PAC supporting Talarico. He donated $10 million in June, approximately 80 percent of the PAC’s funds during the second quarter. Hoffman also made the maximum legal amount of $7,000 to Jon Ossoff, the Democrat Senator seeking re-election in Georgia. Hoffman is widely known as co-founder of LinkedIn, a networking and job search platform. Hoffman met Epstein in July 2013, almost five years after Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. He also visited Epstein’s island in 2014. That same year, according to The Wall Street Journal, Hoffman sent ice cream to Epstein, writing that it was for him and “the girls.” The following year, Hoffman attended a dinner with Epstein with several other high-profile figures, including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel. Hoffman has admitted that he “helped to repair [Epstein’s] reputation and perpetuate injustice.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Democrats like Jon Ossoff and James Talarico vilify corporate billionaires in one breath and accept their cash in the next… They’re fueling the same ‘money in politics’ gravy train they claim to oppose,” a Republican operative told the media.
🎯 IMPACT: The donations expose the gap between the rhetoric of Talarico’s campaign about the “Epstein Class” having “no place in Texas” and the reality of Talarico’s campaign, undermining his credibility on campaign finance reform and billionaires’ influence in politics.
📺 FLASHBACK: Back in April, it was reported that Talarico received over $27 million during the first quarter, marking one of the largest hauls reported by a Senate candidate this election cycle. This far exceeds the $6.8 million given to Beto O’Rourke during his 2018 campaign over the same period.

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

show less

Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico has faced backlash for accepting significant donations from billionaire Reid Hoffman, a billionaire with connections to Jeffrey Epstein, despite his campaign's criticism of billionaire influence in politics.

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.

Trump Treasury Blocks $99 Million in Fraudulent Payments to Dead People.

The Treasury Department’s verification system has already intercepted $99 million in improper payments, fulfilling a key Trump-era mandate to combat fraud and waste in federal spending.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Treasury Department announced Tuesday that it has implemented a new verification system designed to prevent federal payments from being issued to dead people, a move the agency says has already stopped approximately $99 million in improper payments. The system screens roughly 885 million federal payments against expanded death records, auditing nearly $2.7 trillion in payments and returning more than 4,900 transactions linked to deceased payees for further review.
📺 DETAIL: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the safeguard fulfills a key priority of President Donald J. Trump‘s efforts to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse while strengthening the integrity of the federal payment system. The initiative builds on Executive Order 14249, signed by Trump in March 2025, and relies on expanded access to the Social Security Administration’s Full Death Master File to identify potentially ineligible recipients before payments are issued. Treasury first received temporary access to the database through a 2021 pilot program that projected $330 million in net savings between 2024 and 2026, with Congress making that access permanent in February 2026 through the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act. The department said it will continue expanding the verification system across the federal government as part of a broader effort to prevent improper payments before taxpayer funds leave federal accounts. Additional anti-fraud initiatives are being announced in conjunction with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, and officials from the White House Anti-Fraud Task Force and the HHS Office of Inspector General.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Treasury has delivered on a key promise of President Trump’s mandate to stop improper payments and fraud before money leaves the Treasury,” said Bessent.
🎯 IMPACT: By modernizing the federal payment system, this initiative aims to ensure American taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and lawfully. The program forms part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to reduce waste and fraud in welfare, Medicaid, hospices, and daycares, among other vulnerable areas.
📺 FLASHBACK: In March 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14249, “Protecting America’s Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse,” which directed federal agencies to address improper payments.

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

show less

The Treasury Department's verification system has already intercepted $99 million in improper payments, fulfilling a key Trump-era mandate to combat fraud and waste in federal spending.

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.

Farage Warns of ‘Leftward Shift’ Under New UK Govt, Demands Snap Election.

Nigel Farage has criticized new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government for pursuing a “leftward shift” without a voter mandate and called for an immediate General Election.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage has called for an immediate General Election now Andy Burnham has become Britain‘s new Prime Minister, arguing that the new premier lacks a public mandate to pursue major political and economic reforms. Speaking to supporters in Norfolk, England, the Reform UK leader said Burnham’s administration would move the country “further to the left,” predicting higher taxes, increased government borrowing, and policies that would cost households the equivalent of thousands of pounds.
📺 DETAIL: Farage noted that Labour’s borrowing projections are already significantly off target and accused the Government of losing control of the public finances. He also warned Burnham would fail to address illegal immigration and crime, dismissing any prospect of tougher border enforcement or a comprehensive law-and-order strategy. Burnham, who succeeded Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, has begun forming his Cabinet, promoting the anti-Trump Ed Miliband to Foreign Secretary and returning Angela Rayner to her former Housing Secretary role. In his first address as Prime Minister, Burnham pledged to deliver a “massive change in our politics,” but Farage argued dramatic reforms should first be approved by voters. Comparing Burnham’s agenda to the socialist politics of the 1970s, Farage said only a new General Election could provide the democratic mandate needed for sweeping changes. He concluded by insisting the public, rather than Parliament, should decide whether Burnham remains in post.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Andy Burnham has no mandate whatsoever to bring about the biggest change for 40 years in British politics,” said Nigel Farage. “We want, and we demand a General Election… It’s right and proper that we have an election now.”
🎯 IMPACT: Farage warned that Burnham’s policies could lead to higher taxes, uncontrolled borrowing, and failure to address critical issues like illegal migration and crime. He argued Labour’s agenda would cost households thousands of pounds and criticized the government’s financial management.

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

show less

Nigel Farage has criticized new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government for pursuing a "leftward shift" without a voter mandate and called for an immediate General Election.

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.

Prosecutors Reveal Details of Ann Widdecombe’s Brutal Murder.

Reform UK immigration and justice spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe was killed after being struck over 20 times in the head with a hammer attack in her home, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Ann Widdecombe, the late Reform UK immigration and justice spokeswoman and former Conservative Member of Parliament and government minister, was struck 21 times in the head with a hammer, according to prosecutors.
📺 DETAIL: On Tuesday, prosecutors alleged that Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, entered Widdecombe’s home in Haytor, Devon, while she was eating lunch on July 9. Kerry allegedly entered through the front door wearing black gloves. Widdecombe was then struck in the head 21 times with a hammer and tipped out of her chair. Kerry allegedly took her wallet before driving away in a red Vauxhall Corsa. The savage attack lasted approximately two minutes. Widdecombe missed an online interview scheduled for approximately 13:00 BST, prompting her assistant to send a gardener to check on her. Widdecombe was discovered lying face down on the floor of her kitchen the day after the attack. She was pronounced dead at 12:20 BST on July 9. Security footage confirmed the attack occurred the day before her body was found.
🎯 IMPACT: This represents the first substantive allegation against Kerry since he was charged with murder on Monday. An inquest has since been opened into the circumstances of Widdecombe’s death. The post-mortem examination into the precise cause of her death is ongoing. The police investigation was taken over by Counter Terrorism Policing last week, which described the murder as a “targeted attack” with a potential political or ideological motive. It was recently revealed that Kerry kept newspaper clippings about Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, at his home. “I have it on good authority that the murder suspect was a hard-Left activist. He attended various marches and hated anyone with an opposing view. He had expressed his hatred of me on more than one occasion. He was an intolerant individual obsessed with Soviet communism. He may also have been known to the authorities,” wrote Farage on Saturday.

Image: European Union 2019.

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

show less

Reform UK immigration and justice spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe was killed after being struck over 20 times in the head with a hammer attack in her home, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

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.

Italy Riots: Dozens Injured Following Migrant’s Death in Scuffle With Police.

The death of Moroccan migrant Abderrahim Fakir while being restrained by police in the Italian city of Bologna has sparked protests from leftists and foreigners, leading to dozens of police injuries.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Thousands of people protested in Bologna, Italy, on July 20 after the death of 42-year-old Moroccan migrant Abderrahim Fakir, who was being restrained by police during an incident that has prompted a manslaughter investigation. Authorities said officers responded after reports that Fakir was behaving erratically and allegedly damaging property before using pepper spray and restraining him face down, with video showing him becoming unresponsive as emergency workers stood nearby.
📺 DETAIL: Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the two police officers involved as well as the medical personnel present. Fakir’s family has demanded accountability, with his sister saying he was “killed mercilessly” and his niece telling demonstrators he “deserved to be helped and heard.” The main protest remained relatively orderly, but a smaller group clashed with police, injuring 64 officers, according to prosecutors, and setting two vehicles on fire. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for a full investigation into Fakir’s death while condemning the violence against law enforcement, saying those responsible for the unrest are exploiting the situation rather than seeking justice. The national police union has defended the officers’ actions, arguing the available video suggested the restraint was conducted appropriately and that body camera footage had been turned over to investigators.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “You can’t die like this… They killed him mercilessly, and I want the truth.” – Khadija Fakir, sister of Abderrahim Fakir.
🎯 IMPACT: The incident has sparked protests in Bologna, with thousands gathering and groups rioting and clashing with police, resulting in injuries and property damage.

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

show less

The death of Moroccan migrant Abderrahim Fakir while being restrained by police in the Italian city of Bologna has sparked protests from leftists and foreigners, leading to dozens of police injuries.

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.

Trump Team Warned UK Against ‘Red’ Ed Miliband Before New PM Burnham Made Him Foreign Secretary.

The White House has expressed concerns about Ed Miliband’s appointment as Britain’s Foreign Secretary, citing his potential to create friction in British-American relations.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The White House has raised concerns over new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint Ed Miliband as his Foreign Secretary—roughly equivalent to U.S. Secretary of State—fearing it could strain the British-American “special relationship.” A senior official in the administration clearly signaled to the British press that Miliband’s elevation would be considered a “point of friction,” particularly with respect to the Foreign Secretary’s promotion of climate ideology.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The Trump administration took the extraordinary step of warning the new Prime Minister that the United States would view the appointment of ‘red diaper’ baby and self-described socialist Ed Miliband as very injurious to the ‘special relationship.’ Burnham could not care less—he appointed this twit anyway.” – War Room host Stephen K. Bannon
🎯 IMPACT: Miliband, a former leader of Burnham’s Labour Party nicknamed “Red Ed” in Britain, is known for his fanatical support of net zero and past criticism of President Donald J. Trump, stating in 2017 that the America First leader “lowered the bar for idiocy” and participating in a Stop Trump March in Sadiq Khan‘s London.
📰 DETAIL: Ed Miliband’s appointment comes after Andy Burnham’s Cabinet reshuffle, which saw the firing of the anti-Trump Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Attorney General Richard Hermer, who spearheaded efforts to surrender British islands hosting a strategic U.S. military base to an ally of China. In addition to his harsh criticism of President Trump, Miliband previously opposed U.S. military use of British bases for operations in the Middle East, and attacked U.S. climate policies. This raises questions about his capacity to manage relations with the U.S. effectively—a top priority for any British Foreign Secretary, with the two countries being each other’s largest investors and the mainstays of the Five Eyes alliance.
👀 FLASHBACK: Miliband also criticized President Trump in 2016, stating, “We must do our best at home and abroad to resist the worst of Trumpism.” The same year, he told the BBC, “The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper beggars belief.”

Image by Max Steyger / DESNZ.

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

show less

The White House has expressed concerns about Ed Miliband's appointment as Britain's Foreign Secretary, citing his potential to create friction in British-American relations.

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.

EU Hits China’s AliExpress with Record 550 Million-Euro Fine for Unsafe, Counterfeit Products.

The European Commission has imposed its largest-ever fine under the Digital Services Act, citing AliExpress for inadequate measures to prevent the sale of dangerous and counterfeit goods.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The European Commission fined AliExpress 550 million euros ($629 million) for failing to adequately tackle the sale of unsafe and counterfeit products on its platform. This penalty is the largest issued under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) to date.
📺 DETAIL: European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said the spread of counterfeit clothing, unsafe toys, dangerous cosmetics, and other illegal products reflected AliExpress’s failure to meet its obligations under the DSA, adding that the company must better identify and mitigate systemic risks regardless of its size. AliExpress claims it remains committed to complying with the DSA and has invested heavily in product safety, risk assessment, and consumer protection, but argued the fine is disproportionate and said it is reviewing the decision and considering its legal options. The penalty covers conduct through at least June 2025, when the Commission issued preliminary findings that AliExpress had not done enough to combat illegal products while accepting commitments from the company to strengthen its compliance measures. The Commission has ordered AliExpress to submit an action plan by October 20 detailing how it will address the identified shortcomings. The ruling comes less than three weeks after AliExpress parent company Alibaba agreed to pay $600 million to settle U.S. government allegations involving the sale and importation of illegal pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, regulated chemicals, and pill-making equipment into the United States.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Scale is not an excuse; risks must be identified and addressed systematically to ensure consumers can safely shop online.” – Henna Virkkunen, European Commission executive vice-president.
🎯 IMPACT: This record-setting fine underscores the EU’s commitment to enforcing the Digital Services Act and holding major online platforms accountable for consumer safety. It also highlights growing scrutiny of Chinese e-commerce platforms operating in Western markets.

Image by Grzegorz W. Tężycki.

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

show less

The European Commission has imposed its largest-ever fine under the Digital Services Act, citing AliExpress for inadequate measures to prevent the sale of dangerous and counterfeit goods.

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.

Asylum Seekers Receive Taxpayer-Funded Dance and Cricket Lessons.

Revelations about taxpayer-backed leisure programs at the Wethersfield Asylum Centre in Essex, England, have sparked community tensions, and plans to expand the site face opposition.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Hundreds of male asylum seekers housed at the Wethersfield Asylum Center in Essex, England, have received publicly funded activities including dance lessons, cricket coaching, art workshops, photography, gardening, English classes, and rambling through a combination of government grants and charitable funding.
📺 DETAIL: The revelations come as local residents oppose plans to expand the former Royal Air Force (RAF) airfield site from around 800 to approximately 1,245 occupants. Braintree District Council distributed a one-time Home Office grant of approximately $68,000 in 2024, with about $23,800 awarded to the St. Vincent de Paul Society for English classes, art, and gardening, roughly $19,200 to Art Refuge for dance sessions scheduled to continue through 2028, approximately $14,600 for sports activities, and about $10,400 for cricket coaching. Additional activities were supported by the Ben & Jerry’s UK Fund, the National Lottery, the Essex Community Foundation, and charities including Care4Calais and the Salvation Army. The funding came through the British government’s Asylum Large Sites and Vessels Grant program, which is intended to help local authorities manage pressures created by large-scale migrant housing facilities. Community opposition has intensified following reports that an asylum seeker from the site appeared in court charged with assaulting a woman at a local charity shop, and over plans to increase the facility’s capacity by more than 400 residents. Since 2023, Braintree District Council has received more than $5 million related to 1,078 asylum seeker beds, with the money supposedly intended to offset pressures on local services rather than directly fund the camp.
🎯 IMPACT: Taxpayer-funded leisure activities for migrants have stirred tensions in the rural community, and residents are protesting the site’s expansion. Concerns over the strain on local infrastructure and the recent criminal charge against an asylum seeker have fueled further discontent.

Image by Acabashi.

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

show less

Revelations about taxpayer-backed leisure programs at the Wethersfield Asylum Centre in Essex, England, have sparked community tensions, and plans to expand the site face opposition.

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.

Mexican Cartel Leader ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Gets Life Sentence in U.S.

Drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, has been sentenced to life in prison by a United States federal court amid the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on international drug trafficking.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, a major Mexican drug cartel, has been sentenced to life in prison in the United States.
📺 DETAIL: On Monday, in Brooklyn federal court, United States District Judge Brian Cogan sentenced Zambada to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to charges spanning racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, and decades of cartel leadership. Zambada pleaded guilty last year as part of a deal to avoid the death penalty. The 76-year-old co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel, a violent drug cartel in Mexico. He was arrested in 2024 alongside Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, another prominent Sinaloa Cartel leader who was given a life sentence in 2019. “The almost unimaginable amount of drugs attributable to him and the number of murders that we can document is enough to justify Congress’s decision to make this a ‌mandatory life sentence,” said Judge Cogan during the drug lord’s sentencing. Cogan suggested placing Zambada in a medical facility due to him suffering multiple severe health problems, although prosecutors have expressed security concerns. “To the ‌extent there’s doubt about what’s needed medically, give him the doubt,” Cogan added.
💬 KEY QUOTE:No one wins in a war like ​this. To the next generation, I say, choose ‌a different path,” said Zambada following his sentencing.
🎯 IMPACT: Zambada’s sentencing underscores the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to dismantle international drug cartels, especially those smuggling drugs into the U.S. across the southern border. Zambada’s sentencing is one of several high-profile prosecution cases as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on Mexican drug cartels. Back in April, Department of Justice prosecutors unsealed an indictment against Rubén Rocha Moya, state governor of Sinaloa, one of Mexico’s federal states and the home of the Sinaloa Cartel. The charges include bribery, kidnapping, and cooperating with the cartel. Zambada’s imprisonment represents a major blow to the Sinaloa Cartel, which is designated as a terrorist organization in the U.S., and a major victory for the Trump administration.

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

show less

Drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, has been sentenced to life in prison by a United States federal court amid the Trump administration's ongoing crackdown on international drug trafficking.

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.

Trump Imposes 50% Tariffs on Canadian Products, Ranging From Honey to Hockey Sticks.

President Trump has announced a 50 percent tariff on Canadian imports in response to discriminatory bans on U.S. exports.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has announced a 50 percent tariff on a wide range of Canadian imports.
📺 DETAIL: On Monday, President Trump announced tariffs on various Canadian imports in response to discriminatory trade practices targeting U.S. exports, mainly alcoholic beverages, but also cement, dairy products, electronics, hockey sticks, honey, vehicles, and other products. The tariffs will come into effect on August 19, 2026. Since last year, Canadian provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, have halted the purchase, distribution, and retailing of U.S. alcoholic beverages, resulting in an 81 percent drop in U.S. alcoholic beverage exports to Canada. The worth of U.S. alcoholic beverage exports to Canada shrank from $718 million to $137 million, while the country continues to import from other places, such as the European Union (EU) and South America. The Trump administration says that the tariffs will be imposed via Section 338 of the 1930 Trade Act. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the section “empowers the President to, among other things, impose duties of up to 50 percent on imports of a foreign country to offset the burden or disadvantage from a foreign country’s unequal imposition on or discrimination against the commerce of the United States.” Only two out of Canada’s 10 provinces did not boycott U.S. alcoholic beverage exports: Alberta and Saskatchewan, neighboring provinces in Canada’s western prairie. The provinces border Montana and North Dakota.
🎯 IMPACT: The new tariffs aim to protect U.S. producers and jobs, as well as encourage Canadian provinces to reverse their discriminatory policies. These tariffs add to the pre-existing tariffs on Canadian exports, such as steel, aluminum, copper, and softwood lumber. As such, this represents an escalation as part of the broader trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada. This follows a threat from President Trump to impose additional tariffs on Canada for neglecting its forests and allowing wildfire smoke to impact U.S. cities. “We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their forests and brush,” announced the President on Truth Social last week.

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

show less

President Trump has announced a 50 percent tariff on Canadian imports in response to discriminatory bans on U.S. exports.

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.