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Thursday, April 9, 2026

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3 hours ago
Economy

GDP Growth PLUNGED in Q4, Revised Numbers Reveal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. GDP grew at an annual rate of 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, short of an expected 0.7 percent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) produced the estimate.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Released on April 9, 2026, regarding the fourth quarter of 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Real GDP was revised down 0.2 percentage point from the second estimate, primarily reflecting a downward revision to investment,” said the BEA.

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. Dollar Index showed no immediate reaction, remaining near the previous closing level.

IN FULL

The U.S. economy grew more slowly than previously estimated in the final quarter of 2025. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) revised its figure for real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to an annual rate of 0.5 percent, down from the earlier estimate of 0.7 percent.

The downward revision was driven mainly by weaker investment numbers. According to the BEA, consumer spending and investment remained the primary supports for GDP growth during the quarter, though they were partly offset by declines in government spending and exports. A drop in imports, which subtracts from GDP, also played a role.

On the industry side, private services-producing industries recorded a 2.3 percent increase in real value added, helping to lift overall output. In contrast, government activities fell by 7.8 percent, and private goods-producing industries declined by 1.8 percent.

The strongest contributions to growth came from wholesale trade, information, and health care and social assistance. Real final sales to private domestic purchasers—which combines consumer spending and gross private fixed investment—rose 1.8 percent, slightly below earlier estimates.

Real gross domestic income (GDI) increased by 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter, slowing from a 3.5 percent gain in the third quarter. The average of real GDP and real GDI grew by 1.5 percent, down from four percent in the previous quarter.

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19 hours ago
The National Pulse
News

‘Now You Ceasefire, Now You Don’t?’ – The National Pulse for Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

Welcome to the first (and very much trial) roundup of the day’s news from The National Pulse team. I’m your Editor-in-Chief, Raheem Kassam. Read more about our format experimentation here.

1. Now You Ceasefire, Now You Don’t.

The global news focus is on the shaky ceasefire announced late last night, with details still changing minute by minute.

PULSE POINTS: IRAN WAR.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire, brokered in part by Pakistan, last night. Over the course of Wednesday, Israel’s military continued to strike Lebanon. Gulf nations reported continued Iranian and drone attacks post-ceasefire. Reports also emerged that while Iran had opened the Strait of Hormuz, it’s not as clear-cut as it seems. Reports of stoppages, blockages, and turn-arounds abounded on Wednesday. Benjamin Netanyahu gave a press statement at 1:15PM EST, with White House Press Secretary following up immediately after. President Trump announced new secondary tariffs of 50 percent on nations supplying weapons to Iran, effective immediately.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Iranian regime, Press Sec Karoline Leavitt, and the nation of Lebanon.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
💬KEY QUOTE: “There are still additional objectives for us to achieve, and we will achieve them… we are ready to resume the fighting at any moment, our finger is on the trigger… this is not the end of the war… The enriched uranium will be removed…” – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
🎯IMPACT: Markets opened stronger on Wednesday, and the Brent Crude oil price fell below $100 a barrel for the first time in weeks. Britain’s Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, traveled to Saudi Arabia for discussions on how to keep the Strait open. Vice President J.D Vance, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff are heading to Islamabad, Pakistan this weekend for further talks.

2. Dirty Dem Faces Life on Child Sex Charges.

PULSE POINTS: DEMON DEMOCRAT TARGETED 15-YEAR-OLD.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ex-North Carolina State Rep Cecil Brockman faces eight felony child sex crime charges, several carrying the potential for life in prison. Brockman was arrested in October 2025 after allegedly targeting a 15-year-old boy on the gay dating app Grindr. He had even been living with the minor, using his official position to report the teenager as missing to the police. Investigators later found incriminating videos on the victim’s phone. The alleged incidents occurred in August 2025.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cecil Brockman, a Democrat and former North Carolina State Representative.
📍WHEN & WHERE: New charges announced in April 2026, following initial arrest in October 2025.
💬KEY QUOTE: “I would like to know why lies are being accepted without there being a rebuttal to those lies.” – Cecil Brockman
🎯IMPACT: Following his arrest, Brockman resigned from his seat representing District 60 (High Point and parts of Guilford County) to avoid an expulsion vote. A grand jury later added more serious indictments, including multiple counts of statutory sex offense with a child 15 or younger, indecent liberties with a child, and first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
📺PICTURED: Brockman, for his mugshot.

3. Trump Staffer J6 Turncoat Under DOJ Investigation.

PULSE POINTS: SHE SAYS TRUMP LUNGED AT SECRET SERVICE TO HIJACK PRESIDENTIAL LIMO.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation into former Trump White House aide turned Democrat-led January 6 Committee ‘star witness’ Cassidy Hutchinson over allegations of perjury during her testimony before the committee in 2022. It is believed that the probe was kick-started after the DOJ received evidence and a referral from a member of Congress, and will be handled by the department’s Civil Rights Division. Hutchinson testified that Trump had lunged at a Secret Service agent in a presidential limo when he was supposedly told he could not join his supporters at the Capitol. These claims were later contradicted by other testimonies.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cassidy Hutchinson, the DOJ Civil Rights Division, the former January 6 Committee, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY), and President Donald J. Trump.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The probe reportedly began in recent weeks, following a referral from a member of Congress. Hutchinson’s testimony occurred in 2022.
🎯IMPACT: Liz Cheney—a rabidly anti-Trump Republican—was accused in a preliminary report issued by the House Administration Oversight Subcommittee of engaging in witness tampering while serving on the unlawfully constituted J6 Committee. According to the report, Cheney coached Hutchinson on her testimony and urged her to alter parts of her story. Consequently, the subcommittee report alleged Hutchinson committed perjury. Additional falsehoods peddled by Hutchinson and exposed by The National Pulse include her denial that she ever dated former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL). The National Pulse also revealed screenshots taken from Hutchinson’s phone, showing late-night FaceTime (video call) pillow talk with Gaetz that Hutchinson had sent to friends, bragging that the two were dating.

4. Bad Omen for Midterms as GOP Vote Shrinks Back.

PULSE POINTS: GEORGIA AND WISCONSIN.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrats won a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat by 20 points, with Democratic-backed Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor defeating Republican-backed Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar. Tuesday’s election result nearly doubled the margin of leftist Justice Susan Crawford’s win last year, indicating a growing liberal presence in the state judiciary. Notably, in the 2025 race, technology mogul Elon Musk spent an estimated $25 million supporting Brad Schimel, a former county circuit court judge and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney. Republicans held the GA-14 seat vacated by Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), but with a significantly reduced vote share.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chris Taylor, Maria Lazar, Clay Fuller, and Sean Harris.
💬KEY QUOTE: Fuller, a district attorney and Air National Guard lieutenant colonel, credited President Trump for his win in Georgia, stating, “He was the difference maker. He was the key factor in us winning,” though some argue his reduced vote share is a bad omen for Republican midterm hopes.
🎯IMPACT: Taylor’s victory in Wisconsin secures the Democrat-backed Appeals Court judge a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, while Fuller’s win helps preserve the slim Republican majority in the House, at least until November.
📺GRAPHIC: An animated GIF from the New York Times website, displaying the election results in both races.

5. Bill Gates, Howard Lutnick, Pam Bondi All Face Epstein Grilling.

PULSE POINTS: THE HOUSE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES APACE.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Billionaire globalist Bill Gates and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will sit for depositions before the House Oversight Committee in the coming weeks, as the committee continues its investigation into convicted pedophile sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick, a key figure in the Trump administration, confirmed earlier this year that he, his wife, four children, and nannies visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island, Little St. James, in December 2012—four years after the now deceased financier pleaded guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution. Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was also slated to testify, though the DOJ announced on Wednesday that she would no longer appear for the interview. Oversight Chairman James Comer’s office said, “The Committee will contact Pam Bondi’s personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.”
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bill Gates, Howard Lutnick, and Pam Bondi.
💬KEY QUOTE: “I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit.”  – Bill Gates on his time with Epstein.
🎯ADDED INFO: The Commerce Secretary will sit for a closed-door interview with lawmakers on May 6. Gates—who allegedly contracted a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) from “Russian girls,” according to an email authored by Epstein—will sit for a transcribed deposition on June 10. In February, during a town hall with Gates Foundation staff, the globalist billionaire admitted that it was a “huge mistake to spend time with Epstein,” but asserted, “I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit.” Gates claimed he initially believed Epstein could help advance his global health philanthropy efforts. However, he acknowledged that these efforts were ineffective and his meetings with Epstein were misguided. Gates stated, “In retrospect, I was foolish to spend any time with him. It was just a huge mistake.”

6. The CIA’s Incredible New Tech That Saved U.S. Airman in Iran.

PULSE POINTS: THE CIA CAN HEAR YOUR HEARTBEAT.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) used an advanced tool called “Ghost Murmur” to locate and rescue an American airman known as “Dude 44 Bravo” after his jet was shot down in southern Iran. Developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, the system relies on long-range quantum magnetometry to detect the electromagnetic signature of a human heartbeat from many miles away, and uses artificial intelligence (AI) to isolate the signal. Ghost Murmur picked up his heartbeat in a largely empty landscape with minimal background interference. A source familiar with the technology described it as “like hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert.”
📍WHEN & WHERE: The rescue took place on Easter Sunday in southern Iran.
💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s like finding a needle in a haystack, finding this pilot, and the CIA was unbelievable.” – President Trump
🎯DETAIL: This was the first time the CIA had deployed the system in an actual operation. It uses quantum magnetometry sensors based on microscopic defects in synthetic diamonds and can detect signals over long distances. Experts note that it performs best in remote, low-clutter areas but requires substantial processing time.

7. Iryna Zarutska’s Murderer May Be Let Off State Charges.

PULSE POINTS: SICKO IS ‘TOO PSYCHO’ FOR STATE ACCOUNTABILITY.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: DeCarlos Brown Jr., 35, has been ruled “incapable to proceed” on state murder charges in the death of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, 23. Brown, who allegedly shouted “I got that white girl” after stabbing Zarutska to death on a light-rail train in August, told police he has schizophrenia. He faces both state and federal murder charges. The finding was included in court filings submitted by his state public defender. Roberts asked the court to postpone Brown’s Rule 24 hearing, which determines whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty. Notably, North Carolina has had a de facto moratorium on executions for the past two decades. Under North Carolina law, a defendant is considered capable only if they can understand the charges against them, know their role in the courtroom, and rationally assist in their own defense.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Alleged murderer DeCarlos Brown Jr. and victim Iryna Zarutska.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The killing took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, in August; the court filings were made in Mecklenburg Superior Court on April 8, 2026.
🎯DETAIL: The state hearing is paused for six months; Brown remains in federal custody.
📺RELATED: A mural of Zarutska was recently covered up, and the mayor of Providence, RI, called it “divisive.”

8. RFK’s Starting a Podcast.

PULSE POINTS: HE’S RUNNING IN 2028, RIGHT?
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced the launch of a new health-focused podcast titled The Secretary Kennedy Podcast. 
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: HHS, Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and HHS Digital Director Liam Nahill.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The podcast will officially launch next week; a teaser trailer was released on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re going to name the names of the forces that obstruct the paths to public health.” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
🎯WHY? The podcast will serve as a platform for RFK Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda, and as an outreach arm for HHS. It will be the first podcast hosted by a sitting U.S. Cabinet secretary.

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Welcome to the first (and very much trial) roundup of the day's news from The National Pulse team. I'm your Editor-in-Chief, Raheem Kassam. Read more about our format experimentation here.
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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
The ceasefire isn’t going swimmingly, though no one promised it would, and these things rarely do
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The ceasefire isn’t going swimmingly, though no one promised it would, and these things rarely do show more
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April 8, 2026
Jack Montgomery
War

Trump Secures Two-Week Ceasefire with Iran, Strait of Hormuz to Reopen.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced a temporary ceasefire with Iran, pausing the conflict in the Middle East.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Iran and its regime, and Pakistan as a mediator.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ceasefire was announced 90 minutes before a U.S. deadline for devasting strikes to commence.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Markets responded positively, with oil prices dropping and stocks rising.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, pausing the 39-day conflict in the Middle East. The announcement came just 90 minutes before the deadline he had set for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating strikes.

Under the agreement, Iran will lift its blockade of the vital shipping lane in return for a temporary halt to American strikes on Iranian infrastructure. The deal was brokered with help from Pakistan.

In his statement, Trump made the conditional nature of the pause clear: “Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.”

In a subsequent post on Truth Social, the President added, “A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will.”

Trump also posted a statement from Iran:

The news triggered an immediate market reaction, with oil prices falling almost 17 percent and stock markets rising.

Although Iran has accepted the ceasefire, it has warned that it will restart attacks if the United States violates the truce. Talks aimed at securing a longer-term peace agreement are scheduled to continue in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

Trump expressed hope that the region could now enter what he called a “Golden Age of the Middle East!!!”

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April 7, 2026
Religion

Canada Pushes Law That Would Classify Bible Quotes as Hate Speech.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Canada’s proposed Bill C-9, known as the Combatting Hate Act, seeks to alter hate speech laws, raising concerns about potential criminal charges for quoting scripture.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Canadian Minister of Justice Sean Fraser, Canadian Christians, religious and advocacy groups.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Introduced in September 2025, passed the House of Commons on March 25, 2026, and is now heading to the Senate.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Bill C-9 makes it easier for people of faith and others to be criminally charged because of views that other people take offense to.” – Opposition lawmaker Andrew Lawton

🎯IMPACT: Critics argue the bill weakens freedom of expression and religion by removing the ‘good faith’ defense for religious texts.

IN FULL

A bill in Canada that could criminalize quoting the Bible as hate speech has sparked backlash from religious and conservative groups across the country. “Bill C-9 makes it easier for people of faith and others to be criminally charged because of views that other people take offense to,” warned Andrew Lawton, a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Conservative opposition.

Bill C-9, known as the Combatting Hate Act, was introduced by Minister for Justice and Attorney General Sean Fraser, and has already passed through the House of Commons, roughly equivalent to the U.S. House of Representatives. It will be debated in the Canadian Senate later this year.

The bill removes two sections of Canada’s criminal code: 319(3)(b) and 319(3.1)(b). Both specifically state that someone cannot be found guilty of hate speech if they “expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text”.

Marc Miller, an MP from the ruling Liberal Party who supports the bill, has cited passages from Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Romans condemning homosexual acts as examples of religious text that could be classed as hate speech. “How do we somehow constitute this as being said in good faith? Clearly, there are situations in these texts where statements are hateful. They should not… be a defense,” he said during a House Justice Committee hearing.

The proposed changes have drawn criticism from Christians in Canada. “This narrowly framed exemption has served for many years as an essential safeguard to ensure that Canadians are not criminally prosecuted for their sincere, truth-seeking expression of beliefs made without animus and grounded in long-standing religious traditions,” the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a letter last year.

Image by James Chan.

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April 7, 2026
Crime
Immigration

ICE Agents Shoot Fugitive Gang Member During Attempted Car Ramming.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot an 18th Street Gang member in California after he attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon against officers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE agents, Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: April 7, 2026, in Patterson, California, near an interstate overpass.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As officers approached the car, the wanted gang member weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over.” – Todd Lyons, ICE

🎯IMPACT: The suspect was hospitalized, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, a member of the 18th Street Gang, during a targeted vehicle stop in Patterson, California, on Tuesday. “As officers approached the car, the wanted gang member weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over. Following their training, our officers fired defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public,” said ICE Director Todd Lyons.

Hernandez allegedly attempted to hit the ICE agents with his vehicle before he was shot. After he was shot, he was taken to a local hospital. Hernandez is wanted for questioning in El Salvador in connection with a murder.

The 18th Street Gang is one of the largest street gangs in Los Angeles. The gang has somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 members across the United States, Mexico, and Central America. The gang is designated as a terrorist organization in the United States, El Salvador, and Guatemala. It is involved in various kinds of illegal activity, including murder, kidnapping, robbery, assault, drug trafficking, extortion, and prostitution. It is a multi-ethnic gang, although its membership draws heavily from Mexico and Central America.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office has said it will assist with the following investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will also assist with the investigation.

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April 7, 2026
Culture
Immigration

Florida Weighs Ban on ‘Stealth Jihad’ Cousin Marriages.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed banning first-cousin marriages in the state, a practice currently legal but prohibited in most states.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Florida lawmakers, and supporters of HB 733.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made during a Tampa signing ceremony on Monday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Florida doesn’t ban cousin marriage: That’s a hanging curveball for us to do; we need to do that.” – Ron DeSantis

🎯IMPACT: The proposal could reignite debate on cultural values, public health concerns, and immigration policies in Florida.

IN FULL

Florida is considering a potential ban on marriage between first cousins. “Florida doesn’t ban cousin marriage: That’s a hanging curveball for us to do; we need to do that,” said Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in Tampa on Monday.

He added, “Other states have done it. I don’t know why we wouldn’t, but obviously that feeds into some of the stealth jihad that we see, when you’re allowing things like that. It’s things that are coming in from other cultures that are not consistent with the United States culture, and certainly our culture here in Florida.”

The Sunshine State already bans marriages between many close relatives, such as siblings, parents, grandparents, nieces, and nephews, but has yet to ban marriage between first cousins, though it is already prohibited in most U.S. states.

In 2025, a proposal (HB 733) to ban marriage between first cousins was dropped by the state’s legislature. If passed, the proposal would have gone into effect on July 1 this year. Supporters of a ban on marriage between first cousins cite genetic disorders and muddled, potentially abusive, family dynamics.

President Donald J. Trump’s administration has already taken a hard line against cousin marriage. Earlier this year, the White House criticized the government of the United Kingdom for evading demands to ban cousin marriage, reflecting the administration’s “civilizational concerns” about the country, as outlined in its National Security Strategy late last year.

Image by F McGady.

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April 7, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Teen Boy Pleads ‘I Just Don’t Wanna Die’ Before Being Murdered by Illegal Immigrant.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Missouri teen, Miles Young, was lured into a deadly ambush and fatally shot after being deceived by suspects, including an illegal immigrant, prosecutors say.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Victim Miles Young, 15; suspects Yefry Archaga, 18, and Praize King, 18; and an unidentified juvenile.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The murder occurred on March 12, 2026, in Greene County, Missouri.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I just don’t wanna die.” – Miles Young, according to witnesses.

🎯IMPACT: Prosecutors have suggested that the attack may have been motivated by a previous homicide case in which Young was a witness set to testify.

IN FULL

Prosecutors have revealed that 15-year-old Miles Young pleaded for his life with illegal immigrant Yefry Archaga, 18, and his two accomplices before being fatally shot on March 12, 2026, in Greene County, Missouri. Young was lured into an ambush by the three suspects, who had convinced their victim that he was meeting up with a girl. According to witnesses, Young attempted to flee from his attackers but was chased down. He shouted, “I just don’t wanna die,” before being murdered.

Archaga and a second suspect, Praize King, 18, have both been charged with first-degree murder. Authorities believe another suspect, possibly a juvenile, remains unidentified.

According to court documents, Archaga orchestrated the ambush, making Young believe he was meeting a girl while tracking his location with others. The group reportedly used multiple vehicles to corner Young, who fled on foot before being chased and shot by Archaga.

On March 31, Archaga was arrested after a two-week manhunt and is currently being held on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer. Prosecutors have suggested that the attack may have been motivated by a previous homicide case in which Young was a witness set to testify. Archaga is scheduled to appear in court on April 13, and the investigation remains ongoing.

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April 7, 2026
Data
War

DATA: Iran War Costs $500 Million Daily.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The cost of U.S. military operations in Iran under President Donald J. Trump’s Operation Epic Fury has reached up to $31 billion over five weeks, according to research by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the Pentagon, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The operation has been ongoing since February 28, with significant costs incurred due to Iranian retaliatory strikes against Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Qatar.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Damaged equipment can sometimes be repaired in days, while some destroyed systems will take years to replace on a one-to-one basis,” said Elaine McCusker, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

🎯IMPACT: The operation has strained U.S. military resources, damaged key assets, and raised concerns about broader strategic vulnerabilities.

IN FULL

The ongoing war with the Islamic Republic of Iran—dubbed by the Trump administration as Operation Epic Fury—has cost the United States between $22.3 billion and $31 billion in just five weeks of action, according to research from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Launched by President Donald J. Trump on February 28, the military operation has incurred significant expenses for damaged and destroyed military equipment, as well as personnel losses, after retaliatory missile strikes on U.S. military bases and assets across the Middle East.

AEI estimates that replacing equipment damaged in Iranian retaliatory strikes has cost between $2.1 billion and $3.6 billion. “Damaged equipment can sometimes be repaired in days, while some destroyed systems will take years to replace on a one-to-one basis,” noted Elaine McCusker, a senior fellow at AEI.

Key U.S. military assets damaged or destroyed include a Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne warning system, multiple radar systems in Qatar and Jordan, and naval base facilities in Bahrain. Additionally, the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier experienced several issues with its waste facilities and will need repairs following its extended tour of duty in both the Caribbean and the eastern Mediterranean.

Additional analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates the war‘s daily cost at approximately $500 million, with $1.4 billion in losses recorded during the first six days of fighting alone. CISIS emphasized the urgency of replacing compromised radar systems, which are critical for detecting missile threats.

The operation has also seen the loss of several high-value assets, including more than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones, multiple F-15E fighter jets, and a KC-135 tanker. In addition to the financial toll, 13 U.S. soldiers have lost their lives, with 373 others injured.

Image by Hossein Zohrevand/Tasnim News Agency.

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April 7, 2026
William Upton
War

Price of Oil Hits All-Time High as Trump’s Iran War Deadline Nears.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Dated Brent crude—a short-term price benchmark for North Sea crude oil—hit an all-time high of $144.42, just hours before a ceasefire deadline with the Islamic Republic of Iran set by U.S. President Donald J. Trump is due to expire.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, oil traders, the Islamic Republic of Iran, European and Asian refiners, and the U.S. military.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “When there is a real, physical shortage, people ‌are not ⁠thinking about July delivery—June loading and hence June futures prices—but oil now.” – Oil trader Adi Imsirovic

🎯IMPACT: The price spike, nearing $150 per barrel, suggests the global energy crisis sparked by the Iran war has worsened, with European and ‌Asian refiners now paying well above the value of oil futures.

IN FULL

Dated Brent crude—a short-term price benchmark for North Sea crude oil—hit an all-time high of $144.42, just hours before a ceasefire deadline with the Islamic Republic of Iran set by U.S. President Donald J. Trump is due to expire. The price spike, nearing $150 per barrel, suggests the global energy crisis sparked by the Iran war has worsened, with European and ‌Asian refiners now paying well above the value of oil futures.

Notably, the war has resulted in the loss of an estimated two ​million barrels per day—roughly 12 percent of the global oil supply—due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran began targeting vessels attempting to traverse the critical waterway. According to oil trader Adi Imsirovic, the primary cause of the oil price spike is “panic.” Regarding the sudden jump in short-term prices, Imsirovic explains, “When there is a real, physical shortage, people ‌are not ⁠thinking about July delivery—June loading and hence June futures prices—but oil now.”

The surge in oil demand comes on the heels of President Trump’s early Tuesday warning that “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” Importantly, Trump’s statement alludes to looming military strikes against Iran’s power plants, desalination facilities, and other critical infrastructure if the Islamic Republic doesn’t agree to a ceasefire plan before 8:00 PM EST.

The National Pulse reported earlier on Tuesday that the U.S. military struck around 50 military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical oil export hub for the Islamist regime located in the northern Persian Gulf. While the strikes avoided hitting oil infrastructure, President Trump has warned in the past that he may order the entire island to be destroyed.

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April 7, 2026
War

Russia, China Block UN Authorization of Military Force to Open Strait of Hormuz.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution on opening the Strait of Hormuz failed after Russia and China vetoed it.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bahrain, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, Russia, China, and the United States.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, at the United Nations Security Council.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Security Council must take measures to ensure the protection of waterways, and we demand that the Security Council issue a resolution securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.” – Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

🎯IMPACT: The veto by Russia and China blocks international military action to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

IN FULL

A United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution brought by Bahrain calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the free flow of shipping and energy commerce through the critical waterway was blocked by Russia and China on Tuesday. The resolution would have authorized the use of military force under an international coalition to reopen the strait, which has been effectively closed due to skyrocketing shipping insurance rates after the Islamic Republic of Iran began targeting vessels attempting to traverse the waterway.

Notably, the resolution saw significant support from Security Council members, receiving 11 votes in favor. However, two of the five permanent members of the Security Council, Russia and China, exercised their veto power, blocking the resolution’s adoption. Several Gulf nations have, for weeks, been pushing for UN action, citing the repeated Iranian attacks on oil tankers and cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz and across the broader Persian Gulf.

Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stated earlier in the week, “Our countries are subjected to a sinful Iranian aggression, and GCC countries have a legitimate right to self-defense. The Security Council must take measures to ensure the protection of waterways, and we demand that the Security Council issue a resolution securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Russia and China, however, expressed concerns that the resolution invoked Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which could be interpreted as legitimizing the use of force without clear limits. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued that the measure would disrupt “very fragile chances for negotiations” and escalate tensions in the region. In March, Iranian officials claimed that both Russia and China were providing military “cooperation” to the Islamic Republic in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes.

The National Pulse reported earlier on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald J. Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that its “whole civilization will die tonight” if it fails to accept a ceasefire deal.

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April 7, 2026
News
War

REPORT: Israel’s Original Iran Plan Blasted as ‘Farcical’ by CIA, ‘Bullshit’ by Rubio.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. officials assessed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposals regarding Iran, deeming parts of them unrealistic, according to exclusive new reporting from the co-authors of the forthcoming book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, U.S. intelligence officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and General Dan Caine.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 12, Situation Room meeting with American officials.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Sir, this is, in my experience, standard operating procedure for the Israelis. They oversell, and their plans are not always well-developed.” – General Caine

🎯IMPACT: The assessment influenced President Trump’s consideration of military action against Iran.

IN FULL

During a high-stakes meeting in the Situation Room, U.S. officials evaluated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposals regarding Iran. These proposals included decapitation of the Iranian leadership, crippling Iran’s power projection capabilities, instigating a popular uprising, and full scale regime change.

The U.S. intelligence community found the first two objectives achievable but deemed the latter two, including a Kurdish ground invasion, unrealistic. CIA Director described the regime change scenarios as “farcical,” and Senator Rubio bluntly called them “bullshit.”

The news comes from an exclusive report by The New York Times‘s Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. On March 16, Haberman and Swan were spotted in the West Wing, with President Donald J. Trump reportedly answering their questions in the Oval Office for an hour. The pair are believed to have been working on the book for almost two years, conducting nearly 1000 interviews along the way. Haberman’s previous attempt at a Trump book fell extremely flat.

General Dan Caine, a top military adviser to President Trump, reportedly noted that Israeli plans often lacked development and required U.S. support. He cautioned against the unpredictability of conflict outcomes and the difficulty of achieving regime change.

President Trump was interested in the first two objectives but recognized that regime change would be “their problem,” indicating it would not influence his decision on military action against Iran.

General Caine also highlighted the challenges of a major campaign against Iran, including depleted U.S. weapon stockpiles and securing the Strait of Hormuz. Despite these concerns, President Trump believed a war would be swift, influenced by the limited reaction to previous U.S. actions. The full Times piece can be read here.

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