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February 23, 2026
War
World

U.S. Orders Partial Embassy Evacuation in Beirut as Iran War Looms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The State Department has ordered some U.S. Embassy staff in Beirut to evacuate Lebanon temporarily.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. State Department, non-emergency embassy personnel, and eligible family members.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 23, 2026, U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel.” — Senior State Department official

🎯IMPACT: Approximately 50 embassy staff are affected, amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of State has instructed certain U.S. Embassy staff in Beirut, Lebanon, to evacuate the country temporarily, amid escalating tensions in the region between the Trump administration and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Notably, the State Department directive only applies to non-emergency personnel and eligible family members, according to a senior official.

Still, the embassy says it remains operational with core staff in place. A senior State Department official explained, “We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel.”

The decision impacts around 50 staff members, as well as family members living in the country—usually spouses and children. A primary concern is the presence of the Iranian terror proxy Hezbollah, which acts as both a political party and Shia Islamist military force in Lebanon. While Hezbollah’s leadership was heavily degraded by Israeli air strikes in 2024—including one that killed its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah—it is believed the terror proxy remains operationally functional.

Meanwhile, indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to begin in Switzerland on Thursday. Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit Israel soon. On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed the idea of negotiations following any U.S. military action. “Does it make sense that they strike against us and we keep negotiating with them?” Baghaei stated.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
News

Trump Blasts Italy’s Meloni, Calls NATO a ‘Paper Tiger’ – ‘I Was Shocked.’

President Trump expressed disappointment in Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and NATO.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has sharply criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of lacking courage and failing to support U.S. efforts in NATO and against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
📰 DETAIL: Trump expressed his disappointment in an exclusive interview with Corriere Della Sera of Italy. He stated that Meloni has not been supportive of U.S. initiatives within NATO. She recently distanced herself from him following a referendum defeat and his remarks about the Pope. He went on to criticize NATO as a “paper tiger” and suggested that Meloni’s stance could endanger Italy. He also mentioned the pair haven’t spoken recently, adding: “I’m shocked by her. I thought she had courage, I was wrong… it’s very different from what I thought.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “She thinks America should do the work for her… She is the one who is unacceptable, because she doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if it had the chance.” – Donald Trump.
🎯 IMPACT: Trump’s comments highlight a growing rift between him and Meloni, potentially affecting U.S.-Italy relations and NATO dynamics, especially concerning collective defense strategies.

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President Trump expressed disappointment in Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and NATO.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
News
War

Clinton-Era Commerce Chief Says Iran War Could Cost $1 Trillion.

Professor Linda Bilmes of the Harvard Kennedy School warns that the true costs of the Iran war are being significantly underestimated, and could run to over $1 trillion.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A Harvard study estimates that the U.S.-Iran war could cost over $1 trillion. Notably, early Pentagon-reported expenses hit $11.3 billion in just six days of conflict. Professor Linda Bilmes of the Harvard Kennedy School and former Assistant Secretary and Chief Financial Officer in the Clinton Commerce Department warns that the true costs, including replacement of military assets and long-term liabilities, are significantly underestimated.
📰 DETAIL: Bilmes’s analysis suggests that the Pentagon’s reported costs are based on outdated inventory values, underestimating actual replacement expenses. For instance, the cost of replenishing interceptors and missiles is far higher than the production costs of Iran’s cheaper drones. The study also highlights the long-term financial strain from rebuilding damaged infrastructure and providing disability benefits to troops exposed to hazards.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The result is that the interest costs alone will add billions of dollars to the total cost of this war. And unlike the upfront costs, these are costs we are explicitly passing on to the next generation.” – Professor Linda Bilmes.
🎯 IMPACT: The financial implications of the Iran war could lead to unprecedented military spending, with the White House requesting a defense budget increase to $1.5 trillion. Such an expansion would mark the largest military budget increase since the Second World War, amid concerns over the current public debt.
📺 FLASHBACK: The Iraq war, which cost over $2 trillion, occurred when U.S. public debt was under $4 trillion. By contrast, the current U.S. debt exceeds $31 trillion, underscoring the significantly higher financial risks of the Iran conflict. Bilmes is also the co-author of The Three Trillion Dollar War, about the Iraq invasion.

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Professor Linda Bilmes of the Harvard Kennedy School warns that the true costs of the Iran war are being significantly underestimated, and could run to over $1 trillion.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
War
World

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni Suspends Defense Pact with Israel.

Italy’s suspension of its defense cooperation with Israel is part of a broader trend of European countries decoupling from the Jewish State.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the suspension of the automatic renewal of a long-standing defense agreement with Israel, citing the need to stabilize the Middle East and ensure the safety of Italian UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) soldiers. The announcement follows Israel’s continued military action in Lebanon following a ceasefire in Iran, and allegations that Israelis opened fire on Italian troops serving as UN peacekeepers in the country.
📺 DETAIL: Israeli officials have downplayed the significance of the suspended agreement, describing it as a non-substantive memorandum of understanding. The suspension of the agreement, dating back to 2003, is a major shift in Italian policy toward Israel and follows repeated criticisms from Meloni and her government. Prior criticism has included an incident in which Israeli troops struck a Catholic church in Gaza, killing three people, and a more recent incident in which the Catholic Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was stopped from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “In light of the complex reality we are experiencing, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel.” – Giorgia Meloni.
🎯 IMPACT: Meloni emphasized the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz for critical supplies, including fuel and fertilizers essential to Italy’s agricultural sector. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had earlier condemned Israeli attacks on UNIFIL troops, including Italians, and summoned Israel’s ambassador for an explanation. The suspension signals a shift in Italy’s relationship with Israel and comes after a decade of support for the country. It also reflects a broader European trend away from supporting Israel in the Middle East. Notably, Italy was also one of the European countries to obstruct the Trump administration from using air bases to conduct strikes on Iran, an operation coordinated alongside Israel.

Image via Cabinet Public Affairs Office.

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Italy's suspension of its defense cooperation with Israel is part of a broader trend of European countries decoupling from the Jewish State. show more
By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Crime
World

Concrete Giant Found Guilty of Financing ISIS.

Lafarge has become the first corporation to be convicted of financing terrorism in France.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: French cement giant Lafarge has been convicted of financing terrorism after paying $6.5 million to various jihadist groups, including the Islamic State (ISIS), to maintain operations at its Syrian plant during the civil war. Eight former employees, including ex-CEO Bruno Lafont, were also found guilty, with Lafont sentenced to six years in prison.
📺 DETAIL: Lafarge purchased the plant in Jalabiya, northern Syria, in 2008 for $680 million, beginning operations in 2010 just before the Syrian civil war erupted. Payments were made between 2013 and 2014 to secure safe passage and purchase materials from quarries under ISIS and other jihadist control. The court emphasized that these payments constituted a “commercial partnership” with terrorist groups, enabling them to finance attacks across the Middle East and Europe. In 2022, Lafarge admitted in a U.S. court to supporting terrorist groups and agreed to pay a $777.8 million penalty. The payments were made during a time when ISIS controlled significant territory in Syria and Iraq, declaring a so-called “caliphate.” Alongside ISIS, Lafarge also gave money to the al-Nusra front, an al-Qaeda affiliate whose former leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is now the President of Syria.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It is clear to the court that the sole purpose of the funding of a terrorist organization was to keep the Syrian plant running for economic reasons. Payments to terrorist entities enabled Lafarge to continue its operations.” – Judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez.
🎯 IMPACT: The ruling marks the first time a corporation has been convicted in France for financing terrorism, setting a new precedent for corporate accountability in an area that may be controlled by terrorists or other illegal and illegitimate entities. Lafarge, now owned by Swiss conglomerate Holcim, was also fined over €1 million, and a separate investigation into its complicity in crimes against humanity is ongoing.

Image by Thierry Ehrmann.

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Lafarge has become the first corporation to be convicted of financing terrorism in France. show more
By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
News
Politics

Ex Pence Advisor With Fauci Shrine Announces Run for Congress… as a Democrat.

Olivia Troye, once a Republican adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, is running for Congress in Virginia’s 7th District, as a Democrat.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Olivia Troye, an aide to former Vice President Mike Pence turned vocal critic of President Donald J. Trump, has announced her candidacy for Congress as a Democrat in Virginia’s 7th District. Troye claims she is “MAGA’s top enemy” and has “faced countless death threats from MAGA” and that she voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
📺 DETAIL: Troye previously worked for the Republican National Committee and the George W. Bush administration, left the Trump White House in 2020, claiming ethical concerns. She later endorsed Joe Biden. After leaving the Trump administration, she would appear on left-wing networks to attack the President, with a framed picture of now-former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Anthony Fauci hanging on her wall in the background.
🎯 IMPACT: Troye’s run tests the viability of “Never Trump” Republicans in Democrat politics. Notably, her congressional campaign is in a district that leans Democratic, with a redrawn map that significantly favors the party. While Pence, her former boss, has not defected, his political activism is now entirely focused on undermining the Trump administration’s tariffs and Make America Healthy Again agenda, as well as discouraging peace initiatives in Iran.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The evil I saw in that White House was staggering. In 2020, I finally said, ‘Enough.’ And they came for me.” – Olivia Troye
📺 FLASHBACK: The first Trump administration stated following Troye’s departure that she did not leave of her own volition, but was effectively let go “because she was no longer capable of keeping up with her day-to-day duties.” In the 2024 election campaign, she was one of around 200 former aides associated with uniparty figures, including Mitt Romney and John McCain, to sign a letter endorsing Kamala Harris.

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Olivia Troye, once a Republican adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, is running for Congress in Virginia's 7th District, as a Democrat.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Crime

New Swalwell Accuser Describes Being Raped – ‘I Thought I Died.’

Lonna Drewes has accused Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) of rape, alleging he spiked her drink and attacked her in a hotel room in 2018.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Lonna Drewes, a former model and software company owner, has become the latest woman to come forward against Democrat Representative Eric Swalwell, accusing him of violently raping her in 2018. She made these allegations during a press conference in Beverly Hills, California, on Tuesday.
📰 DETAIL: Drewes alleges that she was “incapacitated” when Swalwell attacked her, recalling, “In 2018, while I was living and working as a model in Beverly Hills, and I also owned a fashion software company, I had contact with Eric Swalwell on three separate occasions… On the third occasion, I believe he drugged my drink.” She said she “knew he was married at the time and that his wife was pregnant” at the time of the attack, emphasizing that she would never have engaged in a consensual encounter with him, and that he choked her unconscious while raping her.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. And I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity.” – Lonna Drewes
🎯 IMPACT: Drewes’s attorney stated that a police report will be filed with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office “immediately.” Swalwell already faces an investigation in Manhattan for another alleged attack. The slew of allegations against him have pushed him to end his bid for Governor of California and resign from Congress, although he denies any criminal wrongdoing.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Lonna Drewes has accused Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) of rape, alleging he spiked her drink and attacked her in a hotel room in 2018.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Calls to Impeach Judge Boasberg as Appeals Court Blocks ‘Improper’ Anti-Trump Contempt Crusade.

A federal appeals court has ordered an end to Judge James Boasberg’s contempt investigation into the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal immigrants.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered Judge James Boasberg to cease his “intrusive criminal contempt investigation” into Trump administration officials who used the Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal immigrants. The decision was made by a 2-1 vote, with Judges Rao and Walker, both appointed by President Donald J. Trump, in favor, and Judge Childs, appointed by former President Joe Biden, dissenting.
📰 DETAIL: Judge Boasberg had previously issued a vaguely-worded temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt the deportation of Venezuelan nationals linked to the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador mid-flight, accusing the administration of criminal contempt when it transferred custody of the migrants to Salvadoran authorities on arrival. The Barack Obama-appointed judge pursued his contempt investigation aggressively, even threatening to breach attorney-client privilege, based on his personal reinterpretation of what the order meant. The appeals court ruled strongly against him, stating, “The TRO simply said nothing about transferring custody… In our constitutional system of government, criminal liability cannot turn on the unstated intentions (or post hoc assertions) of a district court judge. The pursuit of this improper investigation is a clear abuse of discretion.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It’s clear: time to impeach Rogue Judge Boasberg.” – Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
🎯 IMPACT: The ruling effectively halts any further legal action against Trump officials regarding the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, in a significant legal victory for the administration. Senator Eric Schmitt, citing the appeal court’s ruling that Boasberg engaged in a “clear abuse of discretion,” took to social media to say it is now time to impeach the “rogue” judge. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) previously introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg for allowing Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) special counsel Jack Smith to target Republican lawmakers, operatives, and organizations in a politically motivated probe.

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A federal appeals court has ordered an end to Judge James Boasberg's contempt investigation into the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal immigrants.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
Immigration
World

Spain is About to Give Amnesty to Half a Million Illegals.

Spain’s government has approved a controversial plan to legalize 500,000 illegal migrants—meaning they will likely have access to all 27 member states of the European Union (EU) in time.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Spain’s socialist-led government, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has approved legislation granting legal status to approximately 500,000 illegal immigrants. Applicants must prove just five months of residency in Spain, along with a clean criminal record.
📺 DETAIL: Sánchez described the “extraordinary regularization,” via Royal Decree, as “An act of normalization, of recognizing the reality of nearly half a million people who already form part of our daily life,” as well as “an act of justice and a necessity.” He and his supporters argue that the regularized illegals will help sustain Spain’s public services and aging native population, although the evidence from Britain and other European countries suggests that low-skilled foreigners are generally a net drain on the public finances. The Funcas think-tank estimates there are around 840,000 illegal immigrants in Spain, most of whom are from Latin America.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The Spanish people have not given permission for this. If the illegals ‘already form part of our daily life’ it is only because you and the [formerly governing People’s Party] have let them in against our laws and against our interests. The people will not forgive it. Sooner rather than later you will have to pay for it.” – Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s populist nationalist VOX party
🎯 IMPACT: Supporters of the amnesty claim that integrating illegals will boost the economy, but critics warn it will only incentivize further illegal migration. Notably, as Spain is a member of the European Union (EU), its regularization of the migrants paves the way for them to eventually have access to all 27 of the bloc’s member states, under its Free Movement internal migration regime.
📺 FLASHBACK: Spain has previously implemented migrant amnesties under both Socialist and notionally center-right People’s Party (PP) governments, with the last major legalization occurring in 2005, granting residency to 577,000 migrants.

Image © European Union, 1998 – 2026.

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Spain's government has approved a controversial plan to legalize 500,000 illegal migrants—meaning they will likely have access to all 27 member states of the European Union (EU) in time.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
1A
Lawfare
News

SCANDAL: Biden DOJ Targeted Pro-Lifers.

An internal Department of Justice (DOJ) review reveals biased enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden government, including collaboration with pro-abortion groups and harsher penalties for pro-life activists.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A Department of Justice (DOJ) review has exposed significant bias in the enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act under the Biden government, including withholding evidence, targeting pro-life activists with aggressive arrest tactics, and seeking harsher penalties for them compared to pro-abortion defendants.
📺 DETAIL: The DOJ review, spanning over 700,000 records, revealed that the Biden-era DOJ collaborated with groups like Planned Parenthood, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and the National Abortion Federation to monitor and prosecute pro-life activists. Emails showed DOJ officials referring to Christian pro-lifers as “culty” and working to exclude them from jury pools, as well as complaining about a “very Catholic” magistrate who was “very particular” about “not infringing on [defendants’ First Amendment rights.” The review also highlighted that pro-life defendants faced an average of 26.8 months in prison, more than double the average of 12.3 months sought for pro-abortion defendants.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system.” – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
🎯 IMPACT: The review’s findings have prompted internal referrals for potential criminal prosecution or disciplinary action against DOJ employees involved. The revelations have also intensified scrutiny of the Biden government’s approach to justice and its apparent targeting of political and religious opponents.
📺 FLASHBACK: The FACE Act, enacted in 1994, was designed to protect access to abortion clinics and religious institutions. However, critics have long argued that its enforcement has been uneven, depending on the political leanings of those in power.

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An internal Department of Justice (DOJ) review reveals biased enforcement of the FACE Act under the Biden government, including collaboration with pro-abortion groups and harsher penalties for pro-life activists.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
News

Authorities Claimed a Child Murderer Was Simply Autistic. Then He Attacked, Killing Three.

An inquiry has found that multiple agencies failed to act on clear warnings about Axel Rudakubana’s violent tendencies, leading to his infamous child stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: An inquiry led by retired high court judge Sir Adrian Fulford found that warnings about child murderer Axel Rudakubana’s violent behavior were repeatedly ignored by various agencies in the lead up to a deadly stabbing attack on a children’s dance class in Southport, England, which killed three children and injured 10 others in 2024. Rudakubana was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum sentence of 52 years.
📺 DETAIL: The inquiry, concluded this week, highlighted systemic failures in addressing Rudakubana’s behavior, which was often excused due to his autism diagnosis. Despite numerous red flags, including possession of weapons and violent outbursts, agencies failed to intervene effectively. Notably, his former school principal, Joanne Hodson, told the inquiry she had previously identified Rudakubana as “very high risk,” but was “shut down” by a mental health worker who accused her of racially profiling a “black boy with a knife.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Far from recognising that [Rudakubana] was responsible for his own actions … agencies regularly used his autism as an explanation or even an excuse for his conduct, including his violence. This was both unacceptable and superficial,” said Sir Adrian Fulford.
🎯 IMPACT: The failure to act on Rudakubana’s behavior resulted in the gruesome deaths of three young girls during the attack. The inquiry calls for a reevaluation of how agencies handle similar cases and stresses the need for better communication and accountability.
‼️ BLAME: Government agencies such as Lancashire Police, counterterrorism (PREVENT) officers, social services workers, and mental health staff in Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) were all held responsible by the inquiry.

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An inquiry has found that multiple agencies failed to act on clear warnings about Axel Rudakubana's violent tendencies, leading to his infamous child stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

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By Popular Demand.
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