GET THE APP
Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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
Bonkers Britain
Sports

Premier League, EFL Schedule Ramadan Breaks for Players.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The English Premier League, the highest league in professional soccer/football in the country, is set to continue to allow players “Ramadan breaks” so that Muslim players may break their fast while the match is paused.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana, Crystal Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyate, and other Muslim Premier League players.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ramadan breaks will take place throughout 2026 across the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL).

💬KEY QUOTE: “In the Premier League you are free to do whatever suits you. They will never do anything against [Islam] and this is great.” – Former player Abdoulaye Doucoure

🎯IMPACT: Clubs have made accommodations for Muslim players, including fasting breaks during matches and adjustments to training schedules.

IN FULL

The English Premier League, the highest league in professional soccer in England, is set to continue to allow players “Ramadan breaks” so that Muslim players may break their fast while the match is paused. In 2021, the Premier League agreed to let Muslim players briefly break their fast during matches when necessary. The first time this accommodation was visible on the field was in April of that year in a fixture between Leicester City and Crystal Palace, when play was halted at a goal-kick roughly 30 minutes in so that Leicester’s Wesley Fofana and Crystal Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyate could take fluids and energy gels.

Fasting during daylight hours throughout the Islamic month of Ramadan is a mandatory observance for able-bodied Muslim adults, forming one of the five foundational “pillars” of Islam. During Ramadan, Muslims worldwide abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset.

Muslim former Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré commented on the Premier League catering to Muslims in 2023, saying: “In the Premier League, you are free to do whatever suits you. They will never do anything against [Islam] and this is great.”

Clubs have adjusted to accommodate these needs. For example, former Liverpool star Sadio Mané revealed that during Ramadan, the club altered training schedules so that Muslim players could observe their fasts more comfortably.

Ramadan is increasingly prominent in Britain, with Muslim mayors like London’s Sadiq Khan setting up “Happy Ramadan” lights, while Britain’s officially Christian monarch, King Charles III, has handed out treats to celebrate the Muslim holiday.

Image by Kevin Walsh.

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

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

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

26 minutes ago
Health
News

America’s Northern Neighbor is Blowing Nearly A Billion Dollars a Year on Migrant Healthcare.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Canadians will spend approaching $1 billion on health-care premiums for asylum seekers this year, including those with rejected claims.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, asylum claimants, and the Conservative Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Across 2026, Canada.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Rejected asylum claimants are now receiving better health care than many Canadians who have paid into a system their entire life.” – Conservative lawmakers Dan Mazier and Michelle Rempel Garner.

🎯IMPACT: The cost of the Interim Federal Health Program is projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2029, with Canadians spending $6.2 billion by 2030.

IN FULL

Canada’s Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which provides health coverage to asylum seekers, is projected to cost approximately $750 million this year, up sharply from about $158 million six years ago. According to a recent report by the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, annual costs could rise to roughly $1.125 billion by 2029, with total spending on healthcare for refugees and refugee claimants expected to reach $4.65 billion by 2030.

The report, requested by the opposition Conservative Party, notes that the IFHP is available not only to active asylum claimants but also, in some cases, to migrants whose claims have been rejected but who remain in Canada. The program covers services such as dental care, vision care, and prescription medications—benefits that exceed what many Canadians receive through provincial health plans.

Conservatives Dan Mazier and Michelle Rempel Garner said the disparity is troubling at a time when millions of Canadians report difficulty accessing primary care. They argue that with long wait times and ongoing doctor shortages, the federal government should prioritize improving access for citizens.

“Rejected asylum claimants are now receiving better health care than many Canadians who have paid into a system their entire life,” the two politicians said.

Liberal Party Prime Minister Mark Carney‘s government has announced reforms to the Interim Federal Health Program set to take effect May 1. Under the changes, asylum claimants will supposedly be required to pay a portion of prescription drug and supplemental health costs. Even with those adjustments, the overall scope of coverage will remain broader than what many Canadians receive without private insurance.

Debate over migrant healthcare spending is not limited to Canada. In the United States and Britain, the cost of providing housing, medical care, and other support services to asylum seekers has become a contentious political issue. Reports in both countries have highlighted taxpayer-funded accommodations and access to publicly financed healthcare for migrants, amid strained public systems and long wait times for citizens.

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

show less
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.

46 minutes ago
Crime
News

Leftist Political Aide Arrested After Antifa Murder of Right-Wing Activist.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Four suspects, including a parliamentary assistant, were arrested in connection with the killing of conservative Catholic student Quentin Déranque in Lyon.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Quentin Déranque, suspects tied to Antifa’s Jeune Garde, and MP Raphaël Arnault’s assistant Jacques-Élie Favrot.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred last Thursday during a protest in Lyon; arrests were made on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Jean-Luc Mélenchon bears immense moral and political responsibility: his complicity with ultra-leftist groups… has opened the doors of the National Assembly to presumed murderers.” – Jordan Bardella

🎯IMPACT: The killing has intensified scrutiny of far-left groups and prompted calls to classify Antifa as a terrorist organization.

IN FULL

French authorities have arrested four people in connection with the death of 23-year-old student Quentin Déranque, who died after suffering severe brain injuries last week in Lyon. According to local reporting, those detained on Tuesday include Jacques-Élie Favrot, a parliamentary assistant to radical leftist legislator Raphaël Arnault, and Adrian Besseyre, a former intern for Arnault.

Déranque was providing informal protection for a protest organized by the right-wing feminist group Collectif Némésis outside Sciences Po Lyon, where a lecture by far-left Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Rima Hassan of La France Insoumise (France Unbowed/LFI) was taking place. The French press has previously indicated that six suspects identified by investigators are affiliated with the Jeune Garde, an Antifa-linked gang in Lyon that Arnault helped found before his election. Although the French government moved to ban Jeune Garde last year for inciting violence, questions remain about whether the cell truly disbanded or continues to operate.

The case has triggered fierce political condemnation. National Rally president Jordan Bardella said: “A parliamentary assistant to the LFI MP Raphaël Arnault is among those arrested in the investigation into the death of Quentin. Jean-Luc Mélenchon bears immense moral and political responsibility: his complicity with ultra-leftist groups, which he himself describes as ‘young comrades,’ has opened the doors of the National Assembly to presumed murderers.” Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin stated that “the Young Guard kills, and La France Insoumise should condemn it.”

Footage circulating online has also shown some on the left allegedly celebrating the fatal attack, with one individual shouting: “I’m in favour of Quentin’s death!” Figures such as Marine Le Pen have renewed calls to formally classify Antifa as a terrorist organization.

In recent years, Antifa-linked actors have been involved in high-profile violent confrontations in Europe and the United States. A violent transgender Antifa radical in Hungary was sentenced to eight years in prison earlier this year for hammer attacks on people perceived as right-wing that took place in 2023. Meanwhile, President Donald J. Trump, last November, declared several European Antifa groups as foreign terrorist organizations.

In the United States, the Trump administration designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization in September 2025, characterizing the movement as a “militarist, anarchist enterprise” that uses violence and intimidation to pursue political goals, and calling for federal resources to counter its activities. So far, very few European governments have pushed for similar designations.

Image by Oompje.

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

show less
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.

2 hours ago
Crime
News

New Trump Task Force Captures 500 in War on ‘ISIS of the Western Hemisphere.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s new Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) conducted a January “surge” operation, resulting in over 500 arrests and significant seizures of narcotics and weapons.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: HSTF, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), state and local law enforcement agencies, and federal departments, including the Coast Guard and Border Patrol.

📍WHEN & WHERE: January 2026, spanning locations across the U.S., including border towns and cities such as San Diego, Miami, and Las Cruces.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The President’s Homeland Security Task Forces are a landmark achievement that highlight what the federal government can achieve with a leader like President Trump who is willing to slash red tape, increase coordination, and put the safety of the American people first.” – White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson

🎯IMPACT: The operation led to 507 arrests, 16 indictments, the seizure of over 1,100 pounds of narcotics, and the identification of 257 victims, including 27 children.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s new Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) conducted a nationwide enforcement surge in January that resulted in more than 500 arrests, according to the White House. The task forces were established under Trump’s day-one executive order, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” and combine resources from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and state and local law enforcement agencies.

At the HSTF’s launch in October, Trump said, “It should now be clear to the entire world that the cartels are the ISIS of the Western Hemisphere.” Since its creation, the task force has also partnered with agencies such as the IRS and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said, “The President’s Homeland Security Task Forces are a landmark achievement that highlight what the federal government can achieve with a leader like President Trump who is willing to slash red tape, increase coordination, and put the safety of the American people first.” She added that the January operation made “tremendous progress toward getting criminals off the streets and protecting victims,” in keeping with Trump’s pledge to “Make America Safe Again.”

The operation targeted criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and cross-border smuggling networks, with a particular emphasis on crimes involving children. Authorities arrested 507 individuals during the surge. Of those, 231 face federal charges and 276 face state charges, and officials secured 16 federal indictments.

Law enforcement officers seized 1,109 pounds of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, and confiscated six weapons caches. In one case, the Coast Guard’s San Juan station worked with the task force to apprehend a suspected smuggler near Puerto Rico and seized 10 bales of cocaine valued at an estimated $5 million. Officials also reported that identified victims received approximately $491,000 in restitution.

The enforcement actions took place across the Lower 48 states, including cities such as Atlantic City, San Diego, Raleigh, and Miami, as well as border communities including San Ysidro, Nogales, and Laredo. Agencies involved ranged from local departments such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Police Department in Virginia to federal partners, including the United States Coast Guard.

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

show less
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.

4 hours ago
Immigration
Politics

Senate Democrats Want These Restrictions on ICE to End Their Latest Shutdown:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrats have sent a counteroffer to the White House and Republicans regarding immigration enforcement restrictions amid ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding negotiations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), President Donald J. Trump, Senate Democrats, and DHS agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Coast Guard.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Negotiations are ongoing as of Monday, with lawmakers currently on recess and funding for DHS having lapsed on Saturday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re going to protect law enforcement. We’re going to protect ICE.” — President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: DHS funding remains in limbo, affecting agencies such as TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA, whose employees are working without pay.

IN FULL

Senate Democrats have sent a counteroffer to the White House and Republicans on their desired immigration enforcement restrictions as part of ongoing negotiations over how to end the Democrat-initiated partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Funding for DHS, which oversees U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), lapsed on Saturday.

However, both federal immigration agencies were already almost entirely funded through President Donald J. Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ enacted last summer. The current DHS shutdown impacts almost exclusively key subagencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Coast Guard. Concerningly, TSA agents will soon begin missing paychecks, and without a resolution, absences at the agency could start to impact Spring Break travel, which usually kicks off at the end of February and stretches into March.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), facing intense pressure from his party’s radical base, confirmed that he sent his caucus’s counteroffer to the White House on Monday evening. However, the specifics of the offer remain unclear—though it is believed the Democrats are continuing to call for the end of roving ICE patrols, barring agents from certain areas, implementing a use-of-force code, and requiring agents to wear body cameras instead of masks.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress remains in recess as the negotiations continue, but lawmakers have been told to be ready to be called back into session at a moment’s notice. President Donald J. Trump, on Monday, just prior to receiving the latest counteroffer, signalled an openness to reaching a deal with Democrats, but emphasized, “We’re going to protect law enforcement. We’re going to protect ICE.”

On Tuesday, February 24, the President will deliver the State of the Union address. The speech could provide the America First leader with a bully pulpit to use against Senate Democrats, with Trump stating that he intends to deliver his address even if the funding lapse remains in limbo, “It wouldn’t bother me.”

Image via Jewish Democratic Council of America.

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

show less
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
William Upton
Crime

Man Armed With Shotgun Arrested Rushing Steps of U.S. Capitol.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man was arrested on Tuesday just after noon in Washington, D.C., after he was observed exiting a Mercedes sport utility vehicle (SUV) and abruptly running toward the U.S. Capitol building armed with a shotgun.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The unidentified shotgun-armed suspect, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan, and U.S. Capitol Police officers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrest occurred just after noon on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Just after noon today, a gentleman parked in the 100 block of Maryland Avenue in a white Mercedes SUV. He exited the vehicle with a shotgun and began running towards the Capitol, up the walkway. As he approached the Capitol, Capitol Police officers observed this individual, challenged him, and ordered him to drop the weapon and get on the ground. Which he did comply with.” — Michael Sullivan

🎯IMPACT: Sullivan stressed that he was currently unaware of a motive behind what appears to be an attempted attack on the Capitol.

IN FULL

A man was arrested on Tuesday just after noon in Washington, D.C., after he was observed exiting a Mercedes sport utility vehicle (SUV) and abruptly running toward the U.S. Capitol building armed with a shotgun. According to U.S. Capitol Police, officers intercepted the armed man before he could reach the building, and he was detained and arrested without further incident.

“Just after noon today, a gentleman parked in the 100 block of Maryland Avenue in a white Mercedes SUV. He exited the vehicle with a shotgun and began running towards the Capitol, up the walkway,” stated U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. He continued, “As he approached the Capitol, Capitol Police officers observed this individual, challenged him, and ordered him to drop the weapon and get on the ground. Which he did comply with.”

“He was then taken into custody by United States Capitol Police,” Sullivan added. The officer stated that he had not been briefed on whether the armed man said anything to police before or after his arrest. However, the officers who confronted the man appear to have determined the situation dangerous enough that they drew their firearms in response.


Sullivan stressed that he was currently unaware of a motive behind what appears to be an attempted attack on the Capitol. However, he did reveal that the armed man began his run from near the National Botanical Gardens, which is “several hundred yards” downhill from the Capitol Building itself and in an area frequented by numerous tourists. He was arrested by police on the steps of the Capitol Building that face the National Mall.

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

show less
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
Crime
Immigration

Haitian Migrants Charged With Presiding Over Fraud, Forced Labor, Patient Neglect at Adult Daycare.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two Haitian immigrants were indicted in Oregon for fraud, forcing their relatives into near-slave labor conditions, and patient neglect at their adult home daycare center.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Marie Gertrude Jean Valmont, 67, and her daughter, Yolandita Marie Andre, 31, along with three Haitian migrants who were their relatives.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Indictments were handed down in Tigard, Oregon. The daycare was licensed in December 2022, with violations cited in September 2023.

🎯IMPACT: The accused face up to 20 years in federal prison for each human trafficking count, with additional charges for fraud and neglect.

IN FULL

Two Haitian immigrants, Marie Gertrude Jean Valmont and her daughter Yolandita Marie Andre, have been indicted in Tigard, Oregon, on charges of forcing their immigrant relatives to work in near-slave conditions at their adult home daycare center. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) stated that the two women brought three Haitian immigrants—one of whom was a teenager and all of whom were family members—into the U.S. to staff their business.

Prosecutors allege the victims were forced to work 17-hour days for $2 a day and were required to sleep on Valmont’s living room floor. Additionally, the defendants allegedly threatened deportation and confiscated the victims’ legal documents and identification cards. The charges include forced labor, fraud, and patient neglect.

Federal prosecutors further accuse the pair of defrauding the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and Medicaid by falsely claiming they needed to pay additional employees for the care of foster residents with exceptional needs. Instead of properly compensating the three victims, the defendants allegedly kept the funds for themselves while paying the workers little or nothing.

State records indicate that the adult daycare operation, licensed in December 2022, was cited for violations in September 2023. At least one patient, who had dementia, suffered neglect, including a fall that resulted in a broken hip, bed sores, and mistreatment. Another patient required hospital care due to the conditions. Officials cited the business for being understaffed and failing to provide adequate care.

Valmont and Andre will face trial on May 11. If convicted, they could individually face 20 years in prison on each of the human trafficking charges.

Image by PortlandAppraisalBlog.

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

show less
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
ken paxton acquitted

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
Politics

Texas Early Voting Kicks Off as America First AG Paxton Seeks to Oust RINO Senator Cornyn.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Early voting for Texas’s March 3 primary contests begins on February 17 and ends on February 27, with key Republican and Democrat races being closely watched.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn, challengers such as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt, and Democrat candidates Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Texas, from Tuesday, February 17, through Friday, February 27, ahead of the March 3 primary elections.

🎯IMPACT: The results of these primaries could influence the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, with both parties vying for critical seats.

IN FULL

Early voting has kicked off in Texas ahead of its March 3 primary elections, with voters able to cast ballots from February 17 through February 27. While there are several key races in the state, most attention has focused on the contested Republican and Democrat U.S. Senate primaries.

Incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) faces a possible elimination in the first round of voting, according to recent polling. The Republican Senate primary, which features Cornyn facing off against U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt and state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), will likely head to a run-off election between the top two vote-getters. The National Pulse reported in early February that a poll conducted by J.L. Partners shows Cornyn falling to third place behind Paxton and Hunt. If this result holds on March 3, Cornyn will not advance to the run-off.

Meanwhile, on the Democrat side, Representative Jasmine Crockett faces off against Texas state Representative James Talarico (D). While polling in early January suggested that Talarico held a slight edge, more recent surveys have shown Crockett holding a one-point to 13-point lead in the primary race. Unlikely to go to a run-off, the winner of the March 3 Democrat primary will advance to the general election in November.

Paxton has largely emerged as the front-runner in the Republican race, despite Cornyn’s incumbency. First elected in 2002, Sen. Cornyn lacks support among the more MAGA Republican base and is largely seen as unsupportive of President Donald J. Trump. Conversely, in the Democrat primary, Crockett holds an advantage among more progressive voters, who comprise a significant portion of the Democrat base. However, this more radical voting bloc is unlikely to be enough to carry her in November’s general election.

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

show less
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.

7 hours ago
William Upton
Health
Science

Even The Atlantic Magazine Is Now Out AGAINST Child ‘Trans’ Genital Mutilation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Even the globalists at The Atlantic are publicly admitting medical and scientific research does not support claims made by pro-transgender advocacy groups in support of surgical and hormonal gender transition procedures for minors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Atlantic, staff writer Helen Lewis, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), GLAAD, and children.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today, though, the future of medical transition for minors is up for debate.” — The Atlantic 

🎯IMPACT: Unfortunately, the medical association’s recommendation changes—and a change in tune from some among the globalist elite—will come too little, too late for many of the children who have been subjected to irreversible surgical and chemical alterations.

IN FULL

Even the globalists at The Atlantic are publicly admitting medical and scientific research does not support claims made by pro-transgender advocacy groups in support of surgical and hormonal gender transition procedures for minor children. In the wake of a landmark lawsuit in New York State, which saw detransitioner Fox Varian awarded $2 million in damages for essentially being enabled and groomed by their doctor, major American medical trade associations are reversing course on their endorsement of invasive and often irreversible medical procedures for legal minors who claim to be transgender.

“Today, though, the future of medical transition for minors is up for debate,” staff writer Helen Lewis for The Atlantic declares, noting that the appeals to authority touted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and GLAAD in support of youth gender transition have collapsed in recent weeks. In early February, two of the medical associations most often cited by progressive and pro-transgender groups announced they now recommend invasive genital, breast, and facial structure surgeries be delayed until adulthood.

“ASPS recommends that surgeons delay gender-related breast/chest, genital, and facial surgery until a patient is at least 19 years old,” the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) announced on February 3. The Atlantic‘s Lewis notes ASPS’s position was almost immediately endorsed and echoed by the powerful American Medical Association (AMA), which stated, “In the absence of clear evidence, the A.M.A. agrees with A.S.P.S. that surgical interventions in minors should be generally deferred to adulthood.”

Importantly, the ASPS document announcing their shift in recommendations embraces the findings of the Cass Review and a 2025 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) inquiry—both of which found little scientific and medical evidence for the use of invasive procedures to gender transition minors. Still, the recommendation changes—and a change in tune from some among the globalist elite—will come too little too late for many of the children who have been subjected to irreversible surgical and chemical alterations.

Image by Silar.

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

show less
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.

8 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Teacher Killed By Illegal Immigrant Fleeing from ICE.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A teacher in Savannah, Georgia, was killed in a car crash by an illegal immigrant allegedly fleeing from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Linda Davis, a teacher at Hesse K-8 School; Oscar Vasquez Lopez, a Guatemalan illegal immigrant; and ICE officers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday morning, outside a Chatham County Police Department precinct in Savannah, Georgia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This vehicular homicide is an absolute tragedy and deadly consequence of politicians and the media constantly demonizing ICE officers and encouraging those here illegally to resist arrest—a felony.” – Outgoing DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin

🎯IMPACT: The crash resulted in the death of an innocent teacher, with the alleged perpetrator—an illegal immigrant—now facing charges of first-degree homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license.

IN FULL

An illegal immigrant who fled from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents is responsible for a crash that killed a teacher in Savannah, Georgia, on Monday. The Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) says it responded to the crash, which occurred outside one of its precincts around 7:45 AM. Hesse K-8 School teacher Linda Davis was killed in the crash.

“Dr. Linda Davis was a beloved member of our school family, and her loss has affected us deeply,” Hesse K-8 principal Alonna McMullen said in a post on social media. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE agents were attempting to detain Oscar Vasquez Lopez, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, who had been issued a final order of removal two years ago but had remained in the United States.

Vasquez Lopez is said to have initially complied with federal immigration agents but suddenly attempted to flee. Subsequently, the Guatemalan illegal immigrant made a U-turn, running a red light, and collided with Davis’s vehicle. Davis was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Meanwhile, Vasquez Lopez sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was arrested. The illegal immigrant now faces charges of first-degree homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license.

“This vehicular homicide is an absolute tragedy and deadly consequence of politicians and the media constantly demonizing ICE officers and encouraging those here illegally to resist arrest—a felony,” outgoing DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said following the fatal crash. McLaughlin stressed that fleeing from law enforcement poses a danger to civilians, officers, and the illegal immigrants themselves.

Local Democrat leaders were quick to blame federal immigration authorities for Davis’s death rather than Vasquez Lopez. Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis (D) stated, “I’m saying to the President on down to all of our national leaders, there’s a better way to do this.”

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

show less
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
News

Newsmax CEO Ruddy ‘Prepared to Litigate’ Against Trump Admin.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy announced his readiness to sue if the Federal Communications Commission removes a rule limiting local TV station ownership.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Christopher Ruddy, Federal Communications Commission, National Association of Broadcasters, Nexstar Media Group.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Remarks made at a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I believe that it’s a blatant violation of congressional law…” – Christopher Ruddy

🎯IMPACT: Potential legal battle over FCC’s authority and implications for TV ownership rules.

IN FULL

Newsmax founder and CEO Christopher Ruddy stated his willingness to litigate if President Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decides to lift a rule limiting the number of local TV stations a single company can own. This rule currently restricts the reach to no more than 39 percent of the American viewing audience.

Ruddy made these comments during prepared remarks before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, where he also took aim at the FCC’s hostility towards late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

He emphasized that the ownership cap was established by the Communications Act, passed by Congress, and that only federal lawmakers have the authority to eliminate it.

The FCC is considering removing this ownership cap, with Chairman Brendan Carr hearing from both sides on the matter.

Senator Ted Cruz, who organized the hearing, showed understanding towards Ruddy’s concerns, calling him a good friend. Ruddy has been a major donor to Cruz, who is believed to be gearing up for a 2028 presidential run. Ruddy has also previously donated to Hillary Clinton and once pledged $1M to the Clinton Foundation.

He has been lobbying President Trump to take his side on the matter, which is motivated by protecting Newsmax’s market share. His position, however, has proved deeply unpopular with both Democrats and Republicans.

show less
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