| Welcome to Issue 4 of The National Pulse’s nightly news round-up. It’s been a huge news day, with the Swalwell scandal deepening, Trump taking aim at “allies,” and more. If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to a friend and let them know they can sign up here. |
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1. New Swalwell Accuser Describes Being Raped – ‘I Thought I Died.’
Lonna Drewes has accused Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) of rape, alleging he spiked her drink and attacked her in a hotel room in 2018.
| PULSE POINTS: ‘I THOUGHT I DIED.’ |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Lonna Drewes, a former model and software company owner, has become the latest woman to come forward against Democrat Representative Eric Swalwell, accusing him of violently raping her in 2018. She made the allegations during a press conference in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. Swalwell resigned from Congress on Monday amid the growing scandal. 📺 DETAIL: Drewes alleges that she was “incapacitated” when Swalwell attacked her, recalling, “In 2018, while I was living and working as a model in Beverly Hills, and I also owned a fashion software company, I had contact with Eric Swalwell on three separate occasions… On the third occasion, I believe he drugged my drink.” She said she “knew he was married at the time and that his wife was pregnant” at the time of the attack, emphasizing that she would never have engaged in a consensual encounter with him, and that he choked her unconscious while raping her. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. And I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity.” – Lonna Drewes 🎯 IMPACT: Drewes’s attorney stated that a police report will be filed with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office “immediately.” Swalwell already faces an investigation in Manhattan for another alleged attack. The slew of allegations pushed him to end his bid for Governor of California and resign from Congress, although he denies any criminal wrongdoing. 📺 WATCH: Drewes’s press conference in full. |
2. Trump Blasts Italy’s Meloni, Calls NATO a ‘Paper Tiger.’
President Trump expressed disappointment in Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and NATO.
| PULSE POINTS: I THOUGHT SHE HAD COURAGE. |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has sharply criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of lacking courage and failing to support U.S. efforts in NATO and against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. 📺 DETAIL: Trump expressed his disappointment in an exclusive interview with Italy’s Corriere Della Sera. He stated that Meloni has not been supportive of U.S. initiatives within NATO. She recently distanced herself from him following a referendum defeat and his remarks about the Pope. He went on to criticize NATO as a “paper tiger” and suggested that Meloni’s stance could endanger Italy. He also mentioned the pair haven’t spoken recently, adding: “I’m shocked by her. I thought she had courage, I was wrong… it’s very different from what I thought.” 💬 KEY QUOTE: “She thinks America should do the work for her… She is the one who is unacceptable, because she doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if it had the chance.” – Donald Trump 🎯 IMPACT: Trump’s comments highlight a growing rift between him and Meloni, potentially affecting U.S.-Italy relations and NATO dynamics, especially concerning collective defense strategies. Meloni also suspended Italy’s defense pact with Israel on Monday, citing the safety of Italian UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon after allegations that Israelis opened fire on Italian troops. |
3. Trump Allies Form ‘Mass Deportation Coalition,’ Urging President to Go FURTHER.
The Mass Deportation Coalition is urging President Trump to adhere to his campaign promises amid concerns of waning deportation rhetoric.
| PULSE POINTS: PROMISES MADE… |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Mass Deportation Coalition is pushing President Donald J. Trump to fulfill his campaign promise of mass deportations, as the administration appears to be softening its stance on the issue. Notably, following the fatal shooting of two pro-illegal immigration agitators in Minnesota, the administration wound down its deportation mission in the state, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair reportedly told Republican lawmakers to deemphasize deporting all illegal immigrants rather than only dangerous criminals. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Our basic goal of the mass deportation coalition is to actually provide Trump with what we call kind of a right flank, saying, ‘No, Mr. President, you’re listening to the wrong people.’” – Mark Morgan, former head of ICE and CBP. 🎯 IMPACT: The coalition’s efforts highlight an emerging division between the Trump administration and its America First base, as the White House focuses on foreign policy objectives such as defeating Iran, and concerns grow among the base of flagging interest in deporting illegal immigrants at scale. 📺 DETAIL: Led by figures like Mike Howell of the Oversight Project, the Mass Deportation Coalition includes GOP think tanks and advocacy groups, aiming for at least one million deportations annually. They argue that public support for strict immigration enforcement remains high, despite opposition from liberal activists and donors who exploit foreign labor. 📺 FLASHBACK: In early March, James Blair posted on social media that “Republicans want to keep deporting the violent/criminal illegals that Joe Biden & the Democrats in Congress let in”—signaling a shift away from 2024 election promises that all illegal immigrants would be deported, in favor of a much narrower definition of “mass” deportations. |
4. Scandal: Biden DOJ Targeted Pro-Lifers.
New evidence reveals the extent to which the Biden-era DOJ used federal law enforcement to go after pro-life activists.
| PULSE POINTS: WEAPONIZED. |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: New details have emerged revealing how the Biden Department of Justice systematically targeted pro-life activists using federal law enforcement resources. The revelations raise further questions about the politicization of the DOJ under the previous administration. 🎯 IMPACT: The case adds to a growing body of evidence that the Biden DOJ weaponized federal agencies against political opponents, including the FBI’s targeting of concerned parents at school board meetings and the prosecution of peaceful pro-life demonstrators under the FACE Act. Read the full story here. |
5. Dems Push ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ to Silence Citizen Journalists Exposing Fraud.
Instead of clamping down on fraud, California Democrats are going after the citizen journalists exposing it.
| PULSE POINTS: THEY NAMED A BILL AFTER HIM. |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: California Democrats have voted for a highly controversial law that would clamp down on citizen journalists exposing fraud and abuse. Dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act” after the popular citizen journalist known for his undercover videos, the legislation would impose new restrictions on undercover recordings and hidden-camera investigations targeting government operations. 🎯 IMPACT: Critics say the bill is a direct attack on the First Amendment and an attempt to shield government fraud from public scrutiny. The fact that Democrats named the bill after a specific journalist underscores the personal nature of the legislative effort. Read the full story here. |
6. Authorities Claimed a Child Murderer Was Simply ‘Autistic.’ Then He Attacked, Killing Three.
An inquiry has found that multiple agencies failed to act on clear warnings about Axel Rudakubana’s violent tendencies, leading to the infamous child stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
| PULSE POINTS: THEY WERE WARNED. |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: An inquiry led by retired high court judge Sir Adrian Fulford found that warnings about child murderer Axel Rudakubana’s violent behavior were repeatedly ignored by various agencies in the lead up to a deadly stabbing attack on a children’s dance class in Southport, England, which killed three children and injured 10 others in 2024. Rudakubana was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum sentence of 52 years. 📺 DETAIL: The inquiry highlighted systemic failures in addressing Rudakubana’s behavior, which was often excused due to his autism diagnosis. Despite numerous red flags, including possession of weapons and violent outbursts, agencies failed to intervene effectively. Notably, his former school principal told the inquiry she had previously identified Rudakubana as “very high risk,” but was “shut down” by a mental health worker who accused her of racially profiling a “black boy with a knife.” 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Far from recognising that [Rudakubana] was responsible for his own actions… agencies regularly used his autism as an explanation or even an excuse for his conduct, including his violence. This was both unacceptable and superficial,” said Sir Adrian Fulford. 🎯 IMPACT: The failure to act on Rudakubana’s behavior resulted in the gruesome deaths of three young girls during the attack. The inquiry calls for a reevaluation of how agencies handle similar cases and stresses the need for better communication and accountability. ‼️ BLAME: Government agencies such as Lancashire Police, counterterrorism (PREVENT) officers, social services workers, and mental health staff in Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) were all held responsible by the inquiry. |
7. Spain is About to Give Amnesty to Half a Million Illegals.
The Spanish government is preparing to legalize hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in one of Europe’s largest amnesty programs.
| PULSE POINTS: SHAMNESTY, EUROPEAN EDITION. |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Spain’s socialist government is preparing to grant amnesty to approximately 500,000 illegal immigrants, making it one of the largest mass legalization programs in European history. The move comes as illegal immigration continues to surge across the continent. 🎯 IMPACT: Critics argue the amnesty will act as a magnet for further illegal immigration, rewarding those who broke the law while punishing legal immigrants who followed the process. The policy contrasts sharply with the Trump administration’s push for mass deportation and tougher border enforcement. Read the full story here. |
8. Clinton-Era Commerce Chief Says Iran War Could Cost $1 Trillion.
Professor Linda Bilmes of the Harvard Kennedy School warns that the true costs of the Iran war are being significantly underestimated.
| PULSE POINTS: THE TRILLION-DOLLAR WAR. |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A Harvard study estimates that the U.S.-Iran war could cost over $1 trillion. Early Pentagon-reported expenses hit $11.3 billion in just six days of conflict. Professor Linda Bilmes of the Harvard Kennedy School and former Assistant Secretary in the Clinton Commerce Department warns that the true costs, including replacement of military assets and long-term liabilities, are significantly underestimated. 📺 DETAIL: Bilmes’s analysis suggests that the Pentagon’s reported costs are based on outdated inventory values, underestimating actual replacement expenses. The cost of replenishing interceptors and missiles is far higher than the production costs of Iran’s cheaper drones. The study also highlights the long-term financial strain from rebuilding damaged infrastructure and providing disability benefits to troops exposed to hazards. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “The result is that the interest costs alone will add billions of dollars to the total cost of this war. And unlike the upfront costs, these are costs we are explicitly passing on to the next generation.” – Professor Linda Bilmes 🎯 IMPACT: The financial implications of the Iran war could lead to unprecedented military spending, with the White House requesting a defense budget increase to $1.5 trillion. Such an expansion would mark the largest military budget increase since the Second World War. 📺 FLASHBACK: The Iraq war cost over $2 trillion when U.S. public debt was under $4 trillion. The current U.S. debt exceeds $31 trillion, underscoring the significantly higher financial risks of the Iran conflict. |
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
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