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Thursday, February 26, 2026

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3 hours ago
William Upton
Lawfare

The Biden DOJ and Jack Smith ‘Arctic Frost’ Scandal Just Got a Lot Worse.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under former President Joe Biden subpoenaed the phone records of now-FBI Director Kash Patel and now-White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles during the Arctic Frost investigation into President Donald J. Trump and his allies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kash Patel, Susie Wiles, Joe Biden’s FBI leadership, and special counsel Jack Smith.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Subpoenas were issued in 2022 and 2023 during the Biden government.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records—along with those of now-White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.” – Kash Patel

🎯IMPACT: At least ten FBI employees were dismissed, and the FBI ended the ability to categorize certain files as “prohibited.”

IN FULL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as part of the former Biden government’s Arctic Frost investigation of President Donald J. Trump, subpoenaed the phone records of now-FBI Director Kash Patel and now-White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in 2022 and 2023, when both were private citizens. Concerningly, it also appears that the FBI recorded conversations between Wiles and her attorney. While the latter granted the bureau permission to do so, Florida is a two-party consent state, raising concerns that the FBI may have illegally obtained the recordings.

Notably, the FBI’s subpoenas and recording activities occurred as the Biden Department of Justice’s (DOJ) special counsel Jack Smith had taken over the Arctic Frost investigation into President Donald Trump and the Capitol riots on January 6. The National Pulse has previously reported that Smith is accused of abusing his power as special counsel to cast a wide net of subpoenas, including for phone toll records belonging to members of Congress. Subsequently, Smith used friendly judges like James Boasberg and Beryl Howell to attain orders preventing phone carriers from notifying the lawmakers that their records had been subpoenaed.

Even more troubling, it appears the Biden government attempted to hide the phone record files it possessed for Patel and Wiles, with the documents being found in files labeled “prohibited.” After the discovery, Director Patel has moved to fire ten current FBI employees involved in the subpoenas and has ended the bureau’s ability to categorize certain files as “prohibited.”

Patel called the discovery of the subpoenas and recording of Wiles’s meeting with her attorney “outrageous and deeply alarming.” He added, “It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records—along with those of now White House chief of staff Susie Wiles—using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight.”

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51 minutes ago
William Upton
Immigration
Lawfare

Trump Admin Again Asks Supreme Court to End Lower Court Lawfare Against Deportations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrian nationals.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump’s administration, the U.S. Supreme Court, and lower courts across the country.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This application marks the third time that the government has been compelled to seek a stay from this Court after lower Courts have baselessly blocked the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determinations regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) just before they took effect.” — Trump administration filing

🎯IMPACT: The administration argues that lower courts have overstepped their authority, delaying the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decisions.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is once again having to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to end lower court lawfare efforts hampering executive branch powers to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain groups of foreign nationals. In filings made on Thursday, the administration is seeking to appeal a lower court’s stay on ending TPS for Syrians. By removing the stay ruling, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be cleared to begin facilitating the return of Syrian nationals temporarily allowed to reside in the U.S. to their home country.

“This application marks the third time that the government has been compelled to seek a stay from this Court after lower Courts have baselessly blocked the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determinations regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) just before they took effect,” the Trump administration states in its filing with the Supreme Court. “The lower courts’ arrogation of core Executive Branch prerogatives irreparably harms the government, and respondents’ alleged harms were inherent in the temporary nature of the program that Congress designed.”

The National Pulse reported last May that the Trump administration was forced to go to the Supreme Court to end a lower court’s block on ending TPS for Venezuelan nationals. In August of last year, U.S. District Court Judge Trina L. Thompson ruled against the administration’s decision to terminate TPS designations for approximately 60,000 immigrants from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The judge alleged that the administration’s decision was influenced by discriminatory beliefs, including the notion that non-white immigrant groups could replace white Americans.

Subsequently, the Trump administration’s decision to end TPS for Haitian nationals was blocked by U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes, appointed by former President Joe Biden, earlier this month. Judge Reyes, a Harvard-educated Uruguayan immigrant, admitted that the TPS statute limits judicial review of the substantive decisions on country designations, but argued she could intervene regardless to examine whether the administrative process followed proper procedures.

Image by Billy Wilson.

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2 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Election Integrity
UK

Britain is Holding a Key Special Election Today. Voter ID is Required.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A parliamentary by-election (special election) in England on Thursday will be subject to voter ID requirements.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The British government, the Electoral Commission, and voters in Britain.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Voter ID requirements were introduced by the Elections Act 2022, affecting today’s Gorton and Denton by-election in Manchester, England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “At least 50,000 voters were initially turned away at polling stations [during the] 2024 general election, with 34,000 returning. This meant 16,000 did not return.” – House of Commons Library research briefing

🎯IMPACT: Britain’s in-person voting is more secure than America’s although Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s governing Labour Party is moving to weaken existing safeguards, and postal (mail-in) voting on-demand remains highly vulnerable.

IN FULL

Voters in the Gorton and Denton constituency (electoral district) in Greater Manchester, England, are heading to the polls for a by-election (special election) to choose a new Member of Parliament (MP), in what is expected to be a tight contest between Matt Goodwin, representing Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, and far-left candidates for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s ruling Labour Party and the Greens. Unlike in the United States, voters will be required to present a valid ID.

The Elections Act 2022 made photo ID compulsory for in-person voting in British Parliament elections and in English and Northern Irish local and regional elections, although Northern Ireland had required photo ID for much longer, with basic ID checks starting in 1985 and photo ID specifically mandated since 2003 to address concerns about electoral fraud. Elections to the Scottish Parliament or the Senedd (Welsh Parliament)—roughly equivalent to U.S. state legislatures—do not have voter ID requirements, nor do most of those countries’ local elections, which are subject to weaker regional regulations set by leftist regional governments.

Acceptable forms of photo ID are broad, including passports, driving licences, and bus passes. The document must be original (not a photocopy or photo on a phone), but it can be expired as long as the photo still resembles the voter reasonably well. For those without a suitable ID, the government provides a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC), which serves as an alternative form of photo ID. Applications can be made online or through local electoral offices.

Implementation has generally been smooth administratively, with low numbers of people ultimately unable to vote. According to a House of Commons Library research briefing, “At least 50,000 voters were initially turned away at polling stations [during the] 2024 general election, with 34,000 returning. This meant 16,000 did not return.” This suggests the regulations have thwarted some fraudulent voters.

The rules were introduced by the formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party, with the incumbent Labour Party opposed to them. Labour, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, now says it will not abolish the ID requirements, but does plan to expand the list of acceptable IDs in the future, potentially including bank cards, which the Electoral Commission has flagged as a safety risk.

As in the United States, mail-in or postal voting on demand remains a significant vulnerability, with historic cases of fraud on an “industrial scale” in Labour-voting Muslim communities. Judge Richard Mawrey QC, sitting as an election commissioner in one case, found that the postal voting system was “wide open to fraud and any would-be political fraudster knows that it’s wide open to fraud,” and would “disgrace a banana republic.”

Notably, Mawrey warned ahead of the 2020 elections in the United States that American mail-in voting has even fewer safeguards than British postal voting and could “easily” be rigged.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
NatSec
News
TECH

Massive Data Breach Exposes 26 MILLION Social Security Numbers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The social security numbers of at least 26 million Americans were exposed in a major data breach involving Conduent, a company managing data for corporations, healthcare providers, and state agencies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Conduent, an unauthorized third party, and impacted Americans across multiple states, including Texas, Oregon, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The breach occurred between October 21, 2024, and January 13, 2025, affecting individuals nationwide.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If any insurance giant cut corners or has information that could help us prevent breaches like this in the future, I will work to uncover it. My office is committed to uncovering exactly what went wrong, taking action to protect Texas families, and ensuring there is justice for any negligence.” – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

🎯IMPACT: The breach exposed sensitive personal information, including social security numbers and health records, with long-term risks for affected individuals.

IN FULL

The personal data of at least 26 million Americans has been exposed in what has been described as the largest data breach in U.S. history. Conduent, a company that handles sensitive information for corporations, healthcare providers, and state agencies, confirmed that an unauthorized third party accessed its systems between October 21, 2024, and January 13, 2025.

Over 15 million residents in Texas were affected, along with more than 10 million individuals in Oregon and hundreds of thousands in other states, including Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Notifications sent to those affected revealed that compromised data may have included names, Social Security numbers, medical information, and health insurance details. Conduent clarified that not all data elements were present for every individual.

While the breach was discovered on January 13, 2025, Conduent stated that it is unaware of any misuse of the stolen information at this time. Affected individuals have been notified, and a dedicated phone line has been set up to address questions and concerns at (855) 291-2605. The company emphasized that its network was secured, law enforcement was notified, and operations were safely restored following the incident.

Safepay, a ransomware group, has claimed responsibility for the attack, reportedly obtaining over eight terabytes of data. While it remains unclear if a ransom has been demanded, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) stated, “If any insurance giant cut corners or has information that could help us prevent breaches like this in the future, I will work to uncover it. My office is committed to uncovering exactly what went wrong, taking action to protect Texas families, and ensuring there is justice for any negligence.”

Experts warn that the long-term impact of this breach could be severe, as social security numbers and health records cannot be easily changed like credit card details. Affected individuals are advised to place credit freezes with major bureaus such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, request fraud alerts on their credit files, and monitor bank statements and credit reports for suspicious activity.

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4 hours ago
Corruption
News

World Economic Forum Chief Resigns Over Epstein Meetings.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Børge Brende, announced his resignation following scrutiny over past interactions with deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Børge Brende, the WEF co-chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink, and Jeffrey Epstein.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Brende announced his decision after more than eight years in his role, following an independent review of his meetings with Epstein in 2018 and 2019.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I believe now is the right moment for the forum to continue its important work without distractions.” – Børge Brende

🎯IMPACT: The resignation impacts the World Economic Forum’s already contentious reputation and future operations.

IN FULL

Børge Brende, president and chief executive of the globalist World Economic Forum (WEF), announced his resignation on Thursday amid scrutiny of his previous contacts with deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Brende acknowledged having dined with Epstein on three occasions during 2018 and 2019, long after his 2008 conviction as a child sex offender, but claimed he was unaware of Epstein’s highly-publicized criminal background at the time.

Recent disclosures by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) also showed communications, including emails and text messages, between the two men. The WEF subsequently initiated a supposedly independent external review, which insisted there were “no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.”

“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum. I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the forum to continue its important work without distractions,” Brende said in his resignation statement.

WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink released a joint statement commending Brende’s tenure, noting, “His dedication and leadership have been instrumental during a pivotal period of reforms for the organisation, leading to a successful annual meeting in Davos. We respect his decision to step down.”

Brende is one of several European leaders who have been caught in the fallout from the latest Epstein disclosures. Former British ambassador to the U.S. and Cabinet member Peter Mandelson has been arrested for misconduct in public office, as has the now-former Prince Andrew, related to them allegedly passing confidential information to the pedophile financier. Meanwhile, former Norwegian Prime Minister, head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland has attempted suicide amid corruption charges for his Epstein links.

Image by Eric Miller / World Economic Forum.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Immigration
War

Russia Uses Secret Tunnels to Infiltrate West with Migrants.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Russian proxy Belarus is reportedly using underground tunnels to send migrants into the European Union (EU) as part of a hybrid warfare strategy.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Russia, Belarus, Polish officials, Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov, and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The tactic has been ongoing since at least 2021, targeting Poland’s eastern border and other NATO states.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Illegal migration inflows are an instrument for hostile regimes to destabilize the European Union and the United Kingdom.” – Daniel Mitov

🎯IMPACT: The strategy aims to destabilize European welfare systems, increase social tensions, and divide NATO allies.

IN FULL

The Polish government is accusing Russia, through its proxy Belarus, of constructing and utilizing a network of underground tunnels under the Belarusian border to flood Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia with migrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia as part of a hybrid warfare strategy against Europe. The Polish officials contend that experts from the Middle East with “a high level of expertise” have been involved in designing and digging these tunnels—insinuating that Russia and Belarus may be employing current or former members of Hamas who oversaw the construction of the Islamist terror group’s tunnel network under Gaza.

The tactic forms part of Belarus’ ongoing efforts to channel tens of thousands of migrants toward Poland’s eastern frontier. Belarusian security forces have been accused of escorting migrants to the Polish border while blocking their retreat, a practice referred to as “instrumentalized migration.” Since 2021, Belarus has relaxed entry rules for migrants from the Middle East and Africa, encouraging them to move toward NATO borders after they arrive.

Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov stated that Russian security services are also aiding migrants in entering Britain and other European countries illegally. “They are aiming to destabilize the welfare systems, plus, of course, through smuggling radicalized individuals, they create security issues for us,” Mitov contends, while alleging that some European non-governmental organizations (NGOs) aid these operations, knowingly or not.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, echoed these concerns, saying, “It is clear that illegal migration into Europe and beyond is being driven not just by organized crime networks seeking to make a profit, but by hostile state actors seeking to destabilize Europe.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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19 hours ago
News

Vance Announces Suspension of Minnesota Medicaid Funds in Fraud Clampdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has temporarily halted certain Medicaid funding to Minnesota to address fraud concerns.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Vice President J.D. Vance, President Donald J. Trump, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re announcing today that we have decided to temporarily halt certain amounts of Medicaid funding that are going to the state of Minnesota in order to ensure that the state of Minnesota takes its obligations seriously to be good stewards of the American people’s tax money.” — Vice President Vance

🎯IMPACT: The decision aims to address fraud and ensure accountability in the use of taxpayer funds.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is moving to temporarily halt certain Medicaid funding to Minnesota amid ongoing investigations into widespread social services fraud linked to the state’s Somali immigrant community. Vice President J.D. Vance—along with Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS)—announced the funding suspension on Wednesday after President Donald J. Trump announced that Vance would oversee his administration’s anti-fraud efforts during the State of the Union address Tuesday evening.

“We’re announcing today that we have decided to temporarily halt certain amounts of Medicaid funding that are going to the state of Minnesota in order to ensure that the state of Minnesota takes its obligations seriously to be good stewards of the American people’s tax money,” Vance said. During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, President Trump declared a “war on fraud,” accusing some Minnesota Somalians of having “pillaged” billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars.

Meanwhile, Dr. Oz detailed some of the social fraud schemes uncovered by CMS investigators, stating, “There is a fraud scheme in Minnesota where criminals—soon to be criminals—pay moms $1,000, roughly, in order to enroll their children as being autistic, falsely and dishonestly claiming their children are autistic. They then bill Medicaid—this has already happened—millions of dollars for services that were never rendered.”

The National Pulse previously reported in January that the Trump administration revealed it had suspended nearly 7,000 borrowers from Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs in Minnesota over suspected fraud involving pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed last December that 85 members of the Minnesota Somali community have been charged as part of the ongoing and far-reaching social services fraud probe.

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20 hours ago
Economy
Sports

Trump Admin Probes Shift of Sports Broadcasting to Paid Streaming Platforms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated a public inquiry into the shift of sports broadcasting rights from free, over-the-air platforms to subscription-based streaming services.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, broadcast networks, and internet streaming services.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The FCC’s comment period runs through March 27, 2026, with reply comments due by April 13, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “For decades, Americans enjoyed turning on their TV & quickly finding the game they wanted to see. Yet watching your favorite team play isn’t as easy these days.” — Brendan Carr.

🎯IMPACT: The inquiry seeks to address concerns over consumer costs, market fragmentation, and public interest obligations of broadcasters.

IN FULL

The Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a public inquiry into the growing trend of sports broadcasting rights shifting from free, over-the-air platforms to subscription-based streaming services. This development has raised concerns among a number of lawmakers on Capitol Hill and President Donald J. Trump, particularly regarding accessibility and affordability for consumers.

According to the FCC, while streaming platforms have expanded access to sports, they have also contributed to market fragmentation. Notably, in 2025, National Football League (NFL) games were broadcast across 10 different services, potentially costing consumers over $1,500 to access all games, according to some estimates.

The bureau further noted that 20 NFL regular-season games and one playoff game were exclusively distributed on four streaming platforms—Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Peacock, and Netflix. This exclusivity has raised questions about broadcasters’ ability to fulfill their public-interest obligations.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated, “For decades, Americans enjoyed turning on their TV & quickly finding the game they wanted to see. Yet watching your favorite team play isn’t as easy these days. Many games are still on broadcast, but an increasing number are on a range of different online platforms.”

Carr continued, “We want to understand the marketplace today, the experience of consumers, and how the changes impact the ability of broadcast TV stations to continue delivering local news, information, and other programming.” The comment period is open until March 27, 2026, with reply comments due by April 13, 2026.

Image by Coltsfan.

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21 hours ago
William Upton
Corruption

Congress Begins Probe into Ouster of Antitrust Chief from Bondi’s DOJ.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The House Judiciary Committee is requesting a briefing from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the circumstances surrounding the ouster of Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, who oversaw the agency’s Antitrust Division.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The House Judiciary Committee, Gail Slater, Republican influencer Mike Davis, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, former DOJ staffers Roger Alford and Bill Rinner, along with Compass, Hewlett-Packard (HP), and Live Nation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Slater left the DOJ on February 19, 2026, and the House Judiciary requested a briefing on the matter on Wednesday, February 25.

💬KEY QUOTE: “With the departure of AAG Slater, it appears there are no longer any principled antitrust experts left to guard the antitrust division from this cascade of corruption.” — House Judiciary letter

🎯IMPACT: Slater’s abrupt resignation is steeped in allegations that Republican influencer Mike Davis—founder of the Article III Project (A3P) and the MRDLaw legal services firm—worked to undermine the DOJ antitrust chief’s standing with Attorney General Pam Bondi to the benefit of corporate clients he reportedly represents.

IN FULL

The House Judiciary Committee has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ouster of Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, who oversaw the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division until last week. Slater’s abrupt departure is steeped in allegations that Republican influencer Mike Davis—founder of the Article III Project (A3P) and the MRDLaw legal services firm—worked to undermine the DOJ antitrust chief’s standing with Attorney General Pam Bondi to the benefit of corporate clients he reportedly represents.

Slater, who came highly recommended after working in Vice President J.D. Vance’s old Senate office, is believed to have refused to roll over so that Republican influencers could make large amounts of cash lobbying for corporate America.

Numerous sources close to the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and lobbying operations in Washington, D.C., who spoke with The National Pulse, claim Davis oversaw a public relations campaign targeting Slater on behalf of alleged clients, including Compass, Hewlett-Packard (HP), and Live Nation. Multiple individuals pointed to a heated meeting last July after the firing of two of Slater’s lieutenants, Roger Alford and Bill Rinner, during which White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles admonished Bondi and her deputy, Todd Blanche, over Davis’s DOJ access and his role in instigating infighting within the department.

“With the departure of AAG Slater, it appears there are no longer any principled antitrust experts left to guard the antitrust division from this cascade of corruption,” the House Judiciary letter, sent to Attorney General Bondi on Wednesday, states. It adds, “The leadership vacuum is occurring just as the antitrust division is handling historic cases.”

The inquiry is likely to focus on Davis and his efforts to influence the DOJ, especially the Antitrust Division. Following Slater’s resignation, Davis took to social media, taking credit for her ouster—writing in one post, “Good riddance.”

In private messages reviewed by The National Pulse, Davis wrote, “I’ve done more than anyone here on the big tech antitrust fight. Gail was a disaster. I recommended her hiring. And her firing.” When The National Pulse reached out to Davis for comment following Slater’s ouster, he abruptly responded, “Go fuck yourself,” despite rising to fame on the back of Stephen K. Bannon’s War Room show, which was co-founded by The National Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief, Raheem J. Kassam.

Sources have suggested that Davis played a key role in pushing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to drop a case against Pepsi and Walmart involving allegations of price fixing. Davis is facing scrutiny over HP’s $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks as well, with U.S. District Court Judge Casey Pitts conducting a Tunney Act review of the case’s unusual settlement.

“What if I told you this was happening because greedy, fake-MAGA world grifters and lobbyists are upset that the antitrust team was actually doing their job instead of taking cash from big corporates to turn a blind eye to monopolistic practices?” The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam warned in a post on X (formerly Twitter) last July.

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21 hours ago
News

Cuban Coast Guard Kills Four, Wounds Six in Gunfight with US-Registered Vessel.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Four men aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat were killed after allegedly opening fire on a Cuban border guard vessel.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cuban border guards, a Florida-registered speedboat crew, and passengers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday morning near Cayo Falcones, off Cuba’s northern coast in Villa Clara province.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six injured.” – Cuban Interior Ministry

🎯IMPACT: The confrontation left four dead, six injured, and prompted an investigation into the incident.

IN FULL

The Cuban government says four men aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat were killed after engaging in a gun battle with a Cuban border guard vessel in the communist country’s territorial waters on Wednesday. According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the occupants of a U.S.-registered speedboat opened fire on its coast guard near Cayo Falcones, with the armed exchange resulting in four of the American vessel’s occupants being killed, while six other passengers were wounded and are currently receiving medical care.

“As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six injured,” the Cuban Interior Ministry said in a message published by the Caribbean island nation’s embassy in Washington, D.C. According to the Cuban government, the Florida-registered vessel, carrying at least 10 people, was detected in its territorial waters off the country’s northern coast in Villa Clara province. When five members of the Cuban border guard approached the speedboat to verify its identity, the crew allegedly opened fire, injuring a Cuban coast guard commander.

It is unclear if the boat’s occupants are American citizens or why it was in the communist country’s waters. Cuban officials said an investigation has been launched to “clarify” the circumstances of the incident. The speedboat was registered in Florida under the number FL7726SH.

The incident comes as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Saint Kitts and Nevis, an annual meeting of Caribbean nation leaders. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has increased economic pressure on Cuba—including a near-total blockade barring oil shipments to the island—as its nearly 67-year-old communist regime teeters on collapse.

UPDATE: According to publicly available information regarding the U.S. vessel’s registration number, the Cuban claim that the attack came from a speedboat may not be accurate. The FL7726SH appears to belong to a 1981 Pro-Line 24-foot center-console fishing boat.

Image by Pierre Marshall.

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22 hours ago
Crime
Politics

Ilhan Omar’s Guest Was Arrested at Trump’s State of the Union, Here’s Why:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A guest of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was arrested by Capitol Police during President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening for unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Ilhan Omar, her guest Aliya Rahman, Capitol Police, and President Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: During the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is illegal to disrupt the Congress and demonstrate in the Congressional Buildings.” – Capitol Police statement.

🎯IMPACT: Rahman was previously arrested last month after refusing lawful orders from federal immigration agents to move her vehicle in an apparent attempt to interfere with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.

IN FULL

Aliya Rahman, a guest of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), was arrested by Capitol Police during President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening for alleged unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress. Rahman, a Minneapolis, Minnesota resident, had been invited by Omar following her detention last month after refusing lawful orders from federal immigration agents to move her vehicle, in an apparent attempt to interfere with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.

At the time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Rahman “ignored multiple commands by an officer to move her vehicle away from the scene.” She was arrested along with six other alleged anti-ICE agitators, though Rahman insists she was actually en route to a medical appointment.

During the State of the Union address, Rahman was standing silently when officers asked her to sit down, which she refused, according to police. The Capitol Police stated, “The guest was told to sit down, but refused to obey our lawful orders. It is illegal to disrupt the Congress and demonstrate in the Congressional Buildings.” Rahman was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct. She was later taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment after allegedly sustaining injuries during the arrest.

Following her arrest on Tuesday, Rahman claimed she was not demonstrating but merely standing silently. “No buttons, no facial expressions, no gestures, no signs, not one sound,” she said. She added that she stood up when President Trump made remarks she described as “some of the most racist things I have heard come out of any leader’s mouth about the people of my city.”

Rep. Omar has called for an investigation into the arrest, stating that Rahman was “forcibly removed” despite warning officers about her injured shoulders. Omar said, “The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy.” However, the Capitol Police emphasized that all State of the Union tickets explicitly prohibit demonstrations, and Rahman’s actions were considered a violation of those rules.

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