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Tuesday, March 24, 2026

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2 hours ago
Culture
News

Trump Installs Christopher Columbus Statue at White House.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A statue of Christopher Columbus was installed on the White House grounds.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump and White House officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 23, 2026, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero,” a spokesman said.

🎯IMPACT: The installation is part of a broader effort to restore historical monuments.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has installed a new statue of Christopher Columbus on the White House grounds. The statue is located just outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the west side of the White House complex, and is visible from Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street NW.

Notably, the statue is a reconstruction of a monument first unveiled by President Ronald Reagan in Baltimore in 1984. The original was infamously torn down and dumped into the Baltimore harbor in the summer of 2020 during the violent Black Lives Matter (BLM) riots. At the statue’s base is a plaque referencing its history, stating that the monument was “Destroyed July 4, 2020” and later restored.

“In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero,” a White House spokesman said of the statue’s rededication.

Importantly, the Columbus statue’s installation is part of a broader project, pushed by President Trump, to add classical art and statuary paying tribute to historic figures who had a critical impact on American history on the White House grounds and other federal property across the country. Earlier this month, President Trump unveiled several new statues honoring great American leaders and cultural figures in the Rose Garden.

In addition, the Trump administration plans to install a much larger sculpture display, called the “Garden of Heroes.” The proposed site is in the Black Hills near Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, and will include dozens of statues and sculptures honoring American heroes.

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1 hour ago
News

Trump Task Force Slashes Crime Rates.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, to highlight the significant reductions in crime achieved by his administration’s Memphis Safe Task Force.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, the Memphis Safe Task Force, the National Guard, and various federal agencies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday, in Memphis, Tennessee.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These are not just minor improvements; these are lives saved, families protected, and communities reclaimed from the grip of violence.” – Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Crime in Memphis has dropped over 43 percent, with significant reductions in homicides, assaults, and motor vehicle thefts.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump visited Memphis, Tennessee, today to highlight substantial reductions in violent crime achieved in a city once ranked among the most dangerous in the nation. His administration’s Memphis Safe Task Force, which brought together the National Guard and federal agencies, has carried out a strategy of tough enforcement and zero tolerance for criminal activity.

The task force has made more than 7,400 arrests, many involving suspects tied to homicides, gang violence, sexual offenses, and drug trafficking. It has also seized 1,219 illegal firearms and located 150 missing children, reuniting them with their families.

Memphis has recorded an overall crime decline of more than 43 percent compared with the same period last year. Motor vehicle thefts have fallen 67 percent, sexual assaults by 38 percent, and aggravated assaults by 31 percent. The city saw fewer than 200 murders last year for the first time since 2019, with shootings dropping nearly 40 percent.

“These are not just minor improvements; these are lives saved, families protected, and communities reclaimed from the grip of violence,” said Trump. He previously achieved substantial crime reductions in Washington, D.C., by deploying the National Guard, although efforts to deploy similar tactics in crime-ridden cities in Democrat-led states have been largely thwarted by Democrat state officials.

The Memphis mission has proved more successful because, while the city leadership is Democratic, the Republican state leadership supports the President.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Election Integrity
Politics

Trump Demands Senate Include the SAVE America Act in DHS Funding Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is urging Republican lawmakers to insist that any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding deal include passage of the SAVE America Act, an election integrity bill with broad public support that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a voter ID to cast a ballot in federal elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and the United States Senate.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday, Washington, D.C., with Trump speaking in Memphis, Tennessee.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The most important thing we can have is called the SAVE America Act.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The DHS shutdown continues to disrupt operations, with TSA staffing issues worsening and no resolution in sight.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump raised the stakes on Monday for ongoing negotiations in Congress to end the Senate Democrats’ 38-day Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. The President urged Republican lawmakers to insist that any DHS funding deal include passage of the SAVE America Act, an election integrity bill with broad public support that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a voter ID to cast a ballot in federal elections.

“We want voter ID, we want proof of citizenship as part of our funding. We want to merge them so that we can get the great, big, beautiful bill in action,” Trump said during a roundtable event in Memphis, Tennessee, early Monday afternoon. “I’m suggesting strongly to the Republican Party, don’t make any deal on anything. The most important thing we can have is what’s called the SAVE America Act. Don’t make any deal on anything unless you include voter ID, and you have to be a citizen to vote,” he added.

The President reiterated his position during a second event later in the afternoon, stating, “I’m requesting that the Republican senators do that immediately. You don’t have to take a fast vote, don’t worry about Easter, or going home. In fact, make this one for Jesus.”

Despite broad, bipartisan voter support—and its adoption by the House of Representatives—the SAVE America Act has struggled to gain traction in the Senate despite intense pressure for Trump and his MAGA political base. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has already thrown cold water on the prospect of attaching the election integrity bill to a DHS funding deal, contending, “Despite widespread GOP support for the SAVE America Act, the idea that the Senate would have to guarantee the bill’s passage to reopen the government isn’t realistic.”

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) claimed President Trump’s new bargaining position has derailed the funding negotiations in the upper chamber. “We hope that Donald Trump will stop derailing these talks and let negotiations continue,” Schumer said.

Over the weekend, Democrat lawmakers believed they were poised to peel off several Republicans to back a vote to provide partial funding for non-immigration-enforcement components of DHS.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Lawfare
TECH

Musk Vows to Appeal After Jury Finds He Misled Shareholders.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk plans to appeal a federal jury verdict that found him liable for misleading Twitter shareholders by driving down the platform’s stock price ahead of his $44 billion acquisition in 2022.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, Twitter shareholders, and the plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Molumphy.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 20, 2026, in a federal court ruling related to events surrounding Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I think the jury’s verdict sends a strong message that just because you’re a rich and powerful person, you still have to obey the law, and no man is above the law.” – Mark Molumphy

🎯IMPACT: The verdict stems from a class-action lawsuit filed by a group of Twitter investors just after Musk acquired the company for $44 billion.

IN FULL

Technology billionaire Elon Musk plans to appeal a March 20 federal jury verdict that found the SpaceX and Tesla CEO liable for misleading Twitter shareholders in an effort to drive down the company’s stock value several months before he moved to acquire the social media platform in 2022. The verdict stems from a class-action lawsuit filed by a group of Twitter investors just after Musk acquired the company for $44 billion.

In April 2022, Musk announced he had agreed to buy Twitter at $54.20 per share. However, the technology billionaire subsequently attempted to back out of the acquisition, prompting the company to file legal action to enforce the agreement. Musk’s purchase was completed in late October 2022, and he quickly moved to rebrand the company as “X.”

The federal civil action filed by a group of Twitter’s shareholders alleged that Musk made misleading statements after agreeing to the purchase, leading them to sell their shares. Jurors found Musk liable for two social media posts, including one stating the deal was “temporarily on hold” and another suggesting that bots could account for over 20 percent of the platform’s users, contrary to Twitter’s claims of less than five percent.

However, the federal jury also found that the plaintiffs failed to prove Musk had engaged in a scheme to defraud investors. Attorney Mark Molumphy, representing the plaintiffs, described the verdict as an “important victory” for investors and public markets. Musk’s legal team announced plans to appeal, stating they anticipate vindication upon further legal review.

Musk also faces a lawsuit from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which accuses him of violating federal securities laws by delaying disclosure of his Twitter stock acquisition in March 2022. The SEC claims this delay allowed Musk to buy shares at lower prices, avoiding at least $150 million in costs. Musk has filed to dismiss the case.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
News

Cornyn is ‘Dead Man Walking’ Says Top MAGA Reporter.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Republican-in-name-only Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) is increasingly regarded as a “dead man walking” ahead of his upcoming GOP primary runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), according to Matthew Boyle, Washington Bureau Chief for Breitbart News.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and Matthew Boyle.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 23, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The sense in Washington is that John Cornyn is a dead man walking politically speaking, barring some random miracle like a significant over performance in the runoff.” – Matthew Boyle

🎯IMPACT: GOP insiders are preparing for a Paxton general election campaign, confident in his potential victory over far-left Democrat candidate James Talarico.

IN FULL

Republican-in-name-only (RINO) Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) is increasingly regarded as a “dead man walking” ahead of his upcoming GOP primary runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), according to Matthew Boyle, Washington Bureau Chief for Breitbart News.

“The sense in Washington is that John Cornyn is a dead man walking politically speaking, barring some random miracle like a significant over performance in the runoff or some last second super hardcore Trump endorsement that at this stage does not appear to be coming ever,” Boye reported in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Notably, Cornyn has a long history of backstabbing President Donald J. Trump. At the same time, Paxton is a longtime supporter of the President and the America First movement, complicating the GOP establishment’s efforts to rally the White House to Cornyn’s side.

Boyle added that “Insiders think the chances of Cornyn making a comeback against Ken Paxton are close to zero. Party movers and shakers I’m talking to are adjusting GOP strategy to prepare for a Paxton general election campaign. They feel confident Paxton can and will win against [Democrat candidate James] Talarico.”

Cornyn’s camp swiftly alienated supporters of Representative Wesley Hunt (R-TX), who placed third in the first round of the Texas primary, after it was over, and polls now indicate that Paxton is far more popular with Republican voters than Cornyn and is viewed less unfavorably by independents. Moreover, Paxton’s popularity among Republicans is so firm that polls project he would defeat Cornyn in the runoff even if President Trump endorsed the incumbent.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
News
UK

Farage Vows to Scrap ‘Puritanical’ New Smoking Ban.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The British Parliament is poised to pass a “generational smoking ban,” which will ban people born after 2008 from buying cigarettes. Nigel Farage has vowed to scrap it if his Reform Party takes power.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The ban was initially proposed by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and has been carried forward by incumbent Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ban is being debated in the British Parliament at present.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The puritanical spirit of Oliver Cromwell again stalks the land.” – Nigel Farage

🎯IMPACT: The ban is expected to fuel the illicit cigarette trade and is seen as a move away from personal freedoms. As it does not cover vaping, it will also likely increase the spread of vape stores tied to organized crime across the country.

IN FULL

The British Parliament is on the verge of passing a “generational smoking ban” as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill,  which would gradually prohibit tobacco sales to anyone born after 2008. Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s Reform Party, has branded it unjust and unworkable, and vowed to scrap it if his party supplants Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party at the next general election.

“Ten years from now, a 27-year-old will not be legally able to buy cigarettes, but a 28-year-old will,” Farage noted in an article for The Telegraph. “A decade later 37-year-olds will not be deemed old enough to smoke, but 38-year-olds will be free to do so. And so forth.”

Farage observed that enforcement of the generational smoking ban will be pushed onto the shopkeeper, who will face a fine of £200 (~$270) if he “fails to carry out his duty as some kind of health policeman.”

“Maybe the much-debated—and much-disliked—plan for digital ID cards is meant to help with enforcement,” he cautioned.

Farage argued that the ban represents not only an erosion of Britons’ personal freedoms—”the puritanical spirit of Oliver Cromwell again stalks the land,” he wrote, referencing the 17th-century Lord Protector who oversaw bans on Christmas and Easter celebrations, traditional dancing, and ale houses, among other “sinful” pleasures—but will also boost the black market for tobacco, as seen in countries like Australia, where high cigarette prices have fueled illicit trade.

Vape stores, often unregistered and proliferating across Britain in increasingly large numbers, are already a major source of illegal cigarettes, along with counterfeit goods, drugs, and other dangerous products. Significantly, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill does not ban vapes generally, only tobacco products—despite the fact that it is vape stores, not traditional tobacconist shops, that are proven hubs of organized crime and illegal immigrant activity in Britain.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Culture
Lawfare

Architecture Groups Sue to Stop Trump Kennedy Center Renovations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A coalition of architecture and cultural organizations has filed a lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center board over planned renovations to the arts complex.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the D.C. Preservation League, and others, alongside President Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center board.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed on Monday at the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “President Trump is committed to making the Trump-Kennedy Center the finest performing arts facility in the world. We look forward to ultimate victory on the issue.” – The White House

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit challenges the legality of the renovations and argues that federal preservation laws have been ignored.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump is being sued by eight architectural and cultural groups over planned renovations to the Trump Kennedy Center. The plaintiffs, which include the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the D.C. Preservation League, filed the lawsuit in federal court on Monday seeking to ensure President Trump and the center’s board comply with historical preservation laws and secure Congressional approval before the renovations can proceed.

In their filing with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the plaintiffs allege that President Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center’s board of trustees intend “to fundamentally alter this iconic property without complying with bedrock federal historic preservation and environmental laws, and without securing the necessary Congressional authorization.” They further contend the event and cultural venue stands “as a living memorial to a slain president, a national gathering place for the arts and a defining landmark within the monumental core of the Nation’s capital. Its Modernist design, grand public spaces, and role as a premier cultural institution together form an irreplaceable legacy of history, architecture, and civic purpose.”

The lawsuit cites Trump’s assertion that the Trump Kennedy Center will undergo a “complete rebuilding” as a significant concern. Further, the plaintiffs contend that the President’s demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for renovations and the construction of a large-capacity ballroom is evidence that the Trump Kennedy Center’s renovations could be far more extensive than publicly claimed. While not dismissing the lawsuit outright, the White House responded to the filing, stating, “President Trump is committed to making the Trump-Kennedy Center the finest performing arts facility in the world. We look forward to ultimate victory on the issue.”

In February, The National Pulse reported that the Trump Kennedy Center will close for a two-year period starting July 4, 2026, to allow for comprehensive renovations. Last Monday, the center’s board approved the closure. Architectural plans for the renovation have not yet been made public.

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5 hours ago
Politics

Trump Set to Miss CPAC, Breaking Decade-Long Streak.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald Trump is not currently scheduled to attend this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas, marking the first time in a decade he may miss the event.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, CPAC organizers, and a roster of administration officials, including Border Czar Tom Homan and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

📍WHEN & WHERE: CPAC will be held from Thursday to Saturday in Grapevine, Texas, near Dallas.

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s potential absence would mark a significant shift for CPAC, eroding its reputation as a major platform for his political messaging and influence within the Republican Party.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump is planning to skip this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas, according to the White House. Still, administration officials note that his plans could change at the last minute.

The absence would mark the first time in a decade that President Trump has missed the annual, corporate-financed political conference. In 2016, he skipped CPAC to focus on his campaign during the Republican primary. Since then, he has been a regular presence at CPAC, using it to rally supporters, refine his political messaging, and solidify his influence within the Republican Party.

This year’s CPAC, held in Grapevine, Texas, comes as the Trump White House navigates fractures in the President’s political base amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and ongoing American economic struggles with prices and lackluster jobs numbers. The Iran strikes have revived old divisions in the Republican Party, with more hawkish elements—including Trump himself—facing mounting resistance from the MAGA base, which tends to embrace a more America First, noninterventionist foreign policy stance.

The National Pulse reported last week that Trump-friendly pollster JL Partners had found that the President’s approval rating has dropped to just 42 percent, the lowest of his presidency. According to the survey, the Iran war and inflation fears are key reasons for the decline. Twenty-eight percent of respondents disapproved of Trump’s handling of the Middle East, up from 20 percent earlier this month. Among Trump voters, support for the war has decreased from 75 percent to 61 percent, while opposition has risen to 22 percent.

Still, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed claims of internal division among Trump supporters, stating, “As I’ve said repeatedly, Americans trust President Trump as their Commander-in-Chief and support his efforts to eliminate terrorist threats and keep us safe.”

CPAC will still feature numerous administration officials and allies, including White House Border Czar Tom Homan, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
Economy
War

Energy Agency Urges Slower Driving and Avoiding Air Travel to Conserve Energy Due to Iran Conflict.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The International Energy Agency (IEA) proposed ten measures to reduce global energy consumption, citing the ongoing Iran conflict as a significant factor in high energy prices.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The IEA, led by executive director Fatih Birol, along with its 32 member nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The recommendations were issued recently amidst the Gulf conflict, with global implications for energy markets.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I believe the world has not yet well understood the depth of the energy security challenge we are facing,” said Fatih Birol.

🎯IMPACT: The proposals aim to alleviate global energy challenges, though Birol warned recovery could take months even if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

IN FULL

The world’s top globalist intergovernmental energy organization, the International Energy Agency (IEA), is urging nations to adopt new policy measures to curb fuel consumption as the oil market continues to experience price volatility amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The IEA has outlined 10 suggestions, including reducing driving speed limits, promoting public transportation, avoiding air travel, and encouraging remote work.

Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director, described the current situation—with the effective closure of the vital oil and gas shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz—as “the greatest global energy security threat in history.” He emphasized the need for governments to take proactive steps, acknowledging that such measures could be politically challenging but necessary given the circumstances.

“I believe the world has not yet well understood the depth of the energy security challenge we are facing,” Birol stated, adding, “It is much bigger than what we had in the 1970s… It is also bigger than the natural gas price shock we experienced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

Several Asian nations have already implemented emergency measures to conserve energy. For example, air conditioning temperatures are restricted in Bangladesh and Thailand, while Pakistan and the Philippines have introduced four-day workweeks for public servants. Other recommendations include car-sharing initiatives, limiting air travel, and switching to electric cooking to preserve liquid petroleum gas for essential uses.

Birol noted that IEA member nations recently agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves, with the possibility of additional releases to ease economic strain. He pointed to historical responses to energy crises, such as the development of nuclear power plants and advancements in fuel efficiency, as examples of effective strategies.

Looking ahead, Birol expects increased investment in renewable energy, battery technology, and nuclear power. However, he stressed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is the “single most important solution” to the current crisis. However, even with restored access, it could take months for the region’s energy infrastructure to fully recover from Iranian missile and drone strikes.

Image by IAEA Imagebank.

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6 hours ago
News

Ex-CBS Man Scott MacFarlane Joins Far-Left, Diddy-Linked ‘MeidasTouch’ Network.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Scott MacFarlane announced his move from CBS News to the far-left MeidasTouch Network as its chief Washington correspondent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Scott MacFarlane and the MeidasTouch Network.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made Monday via social media platform X.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’m not an opinionist, not an editorialist. I’m far from a politician. I’m an enterprise reporter. Have been for a quarter century,” MacFarlane claimed.

🎯IMPACT: MacFarlane will anchor a daily program and contribute to the far-left platform’s “pro-democracy” messaging.

IN FULL

Former CBS News correspondent Scott MacFarlane announced on Monday that he is joining the MeidasTouch Network as its chief Washington correspondent. The media group, which describes itself as a “pro-democracy news network,” has a podcast that has been rated “hyper-partisan left” with “unreliable” and “problematic” reliability by independent media bias evaluators. It is widely known for spreading hoaxes about President Donald J. Trump during the 2024 election campaign, and was praised by the former Biden government as the “front lines” of their anti-Trump efforts.

MeidasTouch was founded by the Meiselas brothers, whose father, Kenny Meiselas, represented Sean “Diddy” Combs as his personal attorney for over 20 years. Co-founder Ben Meiselas interned for Combs and facilitated his entry into Democratic politics. Notably, Democrat megadonor and Epstein Island visitor Reid Hoffman was an early funder of the network, and Soros Fund Management has expressed interest in bankrolling it.

MacFarlane will anchor a daily program titled Scott MacFarlane Reports and contribute his enterprise reporting to the platform. In a message posted on X, MacFarlane claimed, “I’m not an opinionist, not an editorialist. I’m far from a politician. I’m an enterprise reporter. Have been for a quarter century.”

However, he also declared he aligns with the MeidasTouch Network’s principles, saying, “It’s important when we underscore how significant this moment is, this moment of unique political toxicity and unique political danger. MeidasTouch and I have long shared this same philosophy—you don’t platform lies. You don’t platform conspiracy theories. And you don’t allow for the whitewashing of history.”

Far from not being an outlet that editorializes, MeidasTouch’s Editor-in-Chief, Ron Filipkowski, has likened his organization’s behavior on social media to political arson and asked why the Democrats do not spread more “deceptive clips” online.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
Politics
World

Meloni Loses Referendum on Italian Judicial Reform.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Italian voters rejected a judicial reform backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with the “No” camp securing 54 percent of the vote.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Giorgia Meloni, her right-wing governing coalition, Italian opposition parties, and Italian voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The referendum results were released on Monday in Italy.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Italian voters have decided and we respect their decision,” said Giorgia Meloni.

🎯IMPACT: The defeat raises questions about the stability of Meloni’s coalition and the future of her leadership.

IN FULL

Italian voters handed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government a clear defeat by rejecting her proposed judicial reforms in a referendum. Figures released by the Italian Interior Ministry showed the “No” side taking 54 percent of the vote against 46 percent for the government-backed “Yes” campaign.

Participation reached an unexpectedly high of nearly 59 percent after an intense campaign. Opposition parties and civil society organizations claimed the reform threatened judicial independence, while Meloni’s coalition described it as essential to addressing chronic issues in Italy’s court system.

The proposal would have separated the professional paths of judges and prosecutors and restructured the High Judicial Council that oversees magistrates. Critics maintained that the changes risked concentrating too much authority in the executive branch and weakening the system of checks and balances.

In a video posted on Instagram, Meloni stated, “Italian voters have decided and we respect their decision.” She reaffirmed her commitment to serving out her full mandate through 2027. Even so, the outcome has laid bare divisions inside her coalition and raised questions about its viability.

Left-wing commentators feared Meloni, who campaigned on a strong pro-borders, anti-mass migration platform, would be the most right-wing leader in Europe since Benito Mussolini when she entered office in late 2022, but her record has been patchy. While illegal immigration to Italy has reduced significantly in recent months, it surged dramatically in her first year in office. Legal immigration has also increased. Much of her early focus was on supporting Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine—an issue of relatively marginal concern to her core voters.

In 2023, former President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz bragged that the European Union (EU) had “disciplined” Meloni into abandoning much of her election platform.

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