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Monday, April 20, 2026

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3 hours ago
News
World

Hungary’s New PM Just Pledged to Arrest Netanyahu.

Incoming Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar will reverse Viktor Orbán’s decision to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) and enforce an ICC arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, announced on Monday that he intends to halt the country’s departure from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and comply with its mandates, including the potential arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits Hungary.
📰 DETAIL: Outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán initiated Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC last year, but the break is not effective until June, and Magyar has signaled his intention to halt the process. While Orbán maintained a close alliance with Netanyahu, Magyar is emphasizing Hungary’s legal obligations under the ICC treaty, warning at a press conference that anyone with an ICC arrest warrant “must be detained” if they enter the territory of a member state. The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu for “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts” in November 2024, with respect to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
🎯 IMPACT: This move positions Hungary as a more compliant partner within the European and global institutions compared to Orbán, while potentially straining diplomatic relations with Israel. “We have a legal obligation to enforce the court’s rulings, and I’m sure he knows this,” Magyar said on Monday, in reference to Netanyahu possibly attending upcoming events commemorating Hungary’s 1956 uprising against its former communist regime.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I… made it clear to the Israeli prime minister that we will not back down, because my colleagues have examined it and we can still stop [Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC]… If someone is a member of the International Criminal Court and a person who is wanted enters the territory of our country, he or she must be detained.” – Péter Magyar

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25 minutes ago
News
Politics

Virginia is Holding a Referendum to Gerrymander the House of Representatives TOMORROW.

Virginia is holding a redistricting referendum that could dramatically alter the state’s congressional map, with major implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Virginia voters are casting ballots in a redistricting referendum on April 21 that could dramatically reshape the state’s congressional districts, potentially giving Democrats a significant advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, the amendment could shift Virginia’s current 6-5 Democrat edge to an up to 10-1 edge.
📺 DETAIL: The redistricting push has sparked intense political and legal fights, including court challenges. Early voting trends show strong turnout in some Republican-leaning areas, although the Democrats maintain a financial advantage in the campaign. The referendum is part of a broader national strategy to redraw maps in states like Texas and California ahead of this year’s midterm elections.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Democrats’ illegal gerrymandering power grab is an affront to democracy and rigs our maps to turn Virginia into a one-party state. 65 percent of voters went to the polls in 2020 and rejected exactly what Democrats are trying to do now. Democrats’ power grab would create the worst, most partisan legislative map anywhere in the country. It has nothing to do with ‘fairness’ and is all about giving Democrats control over 91 percent of the seats with 50 percent of the vote.” – Virginia GOP statement
🎯 IMPACT: Approval of the amendment would mean a significant shift in Virginia’s congressional representation, likely leading to Democrats winning more House seats. As control of the House could hinge on just a few seats, the outcome in Virginia is likely to have outsized national implications.

Image by Adnan Masri.

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Virginia is holding a redistricting referendum that could dramatically alter the state’s congressional map, with major implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
Media
News

Kash Patel Files $250M Defamation Suit Against The Atlantic Magazine.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has taken legal action against The Atlantic, stating that a recent article by the magazine defamed him with false allegations of misconduct.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic in the U.S. District of Columbia on Monday, accusing the magazine of fabricating allegations about his behavior in a recent article.
📺 DETAIL: Published on April 17, The Atlantic‘s report alleged Patel was at times intoxicated at work, erratic, missed meetings, and raised concerns among colleagues about national security. Patel has strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and defamatory, and his legal team argues the publication acted with “actual malice” by publishing claims it knew or should have known were inaccurate. The lawsuit states that both Patel and government officials warned the magazine about errors prior to publication, but the article was released anyway. Patel has received backing from officials within the FBI, the White House, and the Justice Department, who have publicly rejected the report’s allegations.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Defendants are of course free to criticize the leadership of the FBI, but they crossed the legal line by publishing an article replete with false and obviously fabricated allegations designed to destroy Director Patel’s reputation and drive him from office,” the lawsuit states.
🎯 IMPACT: The Atlantic says it stands by its reporting and will contest the lawsuit in court. Notably, The Atlantic does have a history of misleading reporting, including last year when the magazine quietly edited a piece about former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent, suggesting his “panzer” tattoo was a Nazi dog whistle, until The National Pulse revealed otherwise.

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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has taken legal action against The Atlantic, stating that a recent article by the magazine defamed him with false allegations of misconduct.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Immigration
UK

Reform UK Pledges Massive, Retroactive Reversal Of Asylum Status.

Nigel Farage’s Reform Party intends to review and potentially revoke asylum grants for over 400,000 migrants who entered Britain illegally, overstayed visas, or can now return to their country of origin safely.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage’s Reform Party has announced a policy to review all asylum grants to migrants who entered Britain illegally, overstayed their visas, or arrived from countries now deemed safe over the past five years. The policy, announced at a press conference in London on Monday, could result in the deportation of up to 400,000 migrants from the United Kingdom.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “For years, Tory and Labour governments have presided over an invasion of Britain. They have effectively operated an open borders policy. Instead of upholding the law, they have rewarded those who broke it by entering Britain illegally. Reform will reverse this. Today, we announce that a Reform government will review the previous five years of asylum grants, and anyone who broke into the country illegally or overstayed on another visa will be stripped of their status and deported.” – Reform Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf
📰 DETAIL: Reform’s plan involves revoking migrants’ “leave to remain” status, with those who do not leave voluntarily forced to leave by Deportation Command, an ICE-inspired body proposed by the party. It also reaffirms the party’s aim to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which is regularly used by judges to block the deportation of foreign criminals and illegal immigrants, and the outdated 1951 Refugee Convention, which disrupts immigration enforcement in a similar fashion. Notably, the asylum review comes on top of Reform’s promise to remove an estimated 600,000 migrants who remain in Britain despite their asylum claims being rejected.
🎯 IMPACT: The deportation plan could potentially save taxpayers £137 billion (~$185.4 billion) in net lifetime fiscal costs associated with supporting migrants. “The message has to be, if you come to Britain illegally, you will never be allowed to say,” Farage said in a statement on the policy posted to X (formerly Twitter).

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Nigel Farage's Reform Party intends to review and potentially revoke asylum grants for over 400,000 migrants who entered Britain illegally, overstayed visas, or can now return to their country of origin safely.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
UK

WATCH: Reform MP Ejected from Commons for Calling PM Starmer a Liar Over Epstein.

Lee Anderson, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, was ejected from the House of Commons after accusing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of lying about Jeffrey Epstein-linked Lord Peter Mandelson being appointed as ambassador to the U.S. despite failing security vetting.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Lee Anderson MP was ejected from the House of Commons on Monday after accusing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of lying about not knowing Lord Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting before he was appointed as Starmer’s ambassador to the U.S. Mandelson was forced out of his post after further details of his friendship with deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein—a relationship which was already public knowledge—came to light.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The problem is no one believes him. The public don’t believe him. The MPs on this side of the House don’t believe him. His own gullible backbenchers don’t believe him.” – Lee Anderson
📰 DETAIL: The exchange occurred during a heated parliamentary session in which Starmer addressed MPs on revelations that Mandelson failed his security vetting, but was granted clearance by the Foreign Office—roughly equivalent to the U.S. State Department—regardless, ostensibly at the behest of the department’s top bureaucrat, Sir Olly Robbins, without Starmer being told. Anderson is among many lawmakers and journalists who have said it is “hard to believe” Starmer, who pushed hard for Mandelson’s appointment despite his history of scandal, had no idea he had failed his vetting.
🎯 IMPACT: Anderson asked in the House of Commons, “Does the Prime Minister agree with me, he’s been lying?” He was asked to withdraw the comment by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, as parliamentarians are not allowed to call each other liars in the chamber, but Anderson declined, saying, “Mr Speaker, I have the greatest respect for you and your office, but I will not withdraw it. That man couldn’t lie straight in bed.” Hoyle then ordered him from the chamber. Zarah Sultana, a far-left MP who formerly sat with Starmer’s Labour Party, was also ejected after calling Starmer a “barefaced liar” who is “gaslighting the nation.” 
👀 FLASHBACK: Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, warned against Mandelson months before his ouster, telling the late Charlie Kirk that the appointment was a “great affront to President Trump [and] the American public and what they voted for” on his show in January 2025.

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Lee Anderson, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Nigel Farage's Reform Party, was ejected from the House of Commons after accusing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of lying about Jeffrey Epstein-linked Lord Peter Mandelson being appointed as ambassador to the U.S. despite failing security vetting.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Election Integrity

Ken Paxton is Suing Democrat Donor Platform ActBlue for ‘Rampant’ Fraud.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has filed a lawsuit against ActBlue, accusing the Democrat fundraising platform of facilitating “rampant” fraud.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Attorney General and U.S. Senate primary candidate Ken Paxton is taking legal action against ActBlue, alleging that the Democrat fundraising platform has engaged in “rampant donor fraud.” The lawsuit, filed in Tarrant County Court on Monday, seeks over $1 million in monetary relief.
📰 DETAIL: The lawsuit references reporting in early April that ActBlue misled Congress about the “multilayered” screening process it supposedly implemented to block unlawful foreign donations. Internal memos from law firm Covington & Burling, working for ActBlue, have revealed that ActBlue did not consistently implement the safeguards described to Congress, with the fundraising platform being warned of “a substantial risk that some of the funds received were impermissible contributions from foreign nationals.” Paxton’s filing notes that ActBlue resumed accepting gift card donations despite knowing that doing so could result in unlawful contributions from foreign nationals and other ineligible donors.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The radical left has relied on ActBlue as a way to funnel foreign donations and dark money into their political campaigns to subvert our laws and compromise the integrity of our elections. ActBlue lied to Congress and to the American people, and I will ensure justice is served. It has blatantly ignored state law that prohibits deceptive practices, and it must pay for its illegal conduct. Fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and I will work to ensure no illegal campaign donation flies under the radar.” – Ken Paxton
🎯 IMPACT: The lawsuit could have significant implications for ActBlue, which processed over $1.78 billion for Democrat campaigns and causes in 2025. The allegations, if proven, may lead to criminal charges. The case also bolsters Paxton’s credentials as a Republican who has pushed hard to advance the Trump administration’s America First agenda on election integrity, public health, and other priorities, in contrast with his primary rival, Senator John Cornyn, who has a long history of backstabbing President Donald J. Trump.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has filed a lawsuit against ActBlue, accusing the Democrat fundraising platform of facilitating "rampant" fraud.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Election Integrity
News

WATCH: Kash Patel Says 2020 Stolen Election Arrests Are ‘Coming Soon.’

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has announced that arrests related to 2020 voter fraud are “coming soon,” as the bureau has now gathered sufficient evidence for charges.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has announced that the bureau is preparing to make arrests in relation to voter fraud during the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Patel told Fox News on Sunday that the FBI has now gathered sufficient evidence of fraud to start making arrests.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “They tried to thwart our elections and rig the entire system, and that is not something I’m going to allow on my watch… I can announce on your show that we’ve got all the information we need; we’re working with our prosecutors, the Department of Justice under Attorney General Todd Blanche, and we are going to be making arrests, and it’s coming, and I promise you, it’s coming soon.” – Kash Patel

📰 DETAIL: On Sunday, Director Patel announced that the agency is ready to make arrests in connection with voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election. In recent weeks, the bureau has made efforts to gather evidence of systematic fraud during the 2020 presidential election, with ballots from Fulton County, Georgia, and election records from Maricopa County, Arizona, being seized. During the 2020 presidential election, former President Joe Biden supposedly received over 80 million votes, more than any other presidential candidate in U.S. history. This was a dramatic increase from the approximately 66 million votes received by Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016, and substantially higher than the roughly 75 million votes received by Democrat candidate Kamala Harris in 2024. This sparked concerns about voter fraud, especially given the widespread use of mail-in ballots in 2020.

🎯 IMPACT: Patel’s announcement of imminent arrests related to 2020 voter fraud follows President Donald J. Trump’s latest attempt to reform mail-in ballots through executive orders issued in late March, which are now the target of intense lawfare. Democrat officials strongly oppose strengthening election integrity through voter ID and other measures included in the proposed SAVE America Act, despite a large majority of voters across both major parties and all ethnic groups backing it.

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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has announced that arrests related to 2020 voter fraud are "coming soon," as the bureau has now gathered sufficient evidence for charges.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
War

Trump Says Hamas’s Oct 7 Terror Attack Made Him Hit Iran.

President Donald J. Trump has stated that the October 7, 2023, terror raids on Israel by Hamas convinced him to launch Operation Epic Fury against Iran, not the Israeli government.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump stated on Truth Social on Monday morning that his decision to launch Operation Epic Fury against the Islamic Republic of Iran in late February was not influenced by the Israeli government, but by the Hamas terror raids on Israel launched from Gaza on October 7, 2023.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did.” – Donald J. Trump
📰 DETAIL: President Trump also said he does not believe the polls suggesting the Iran war is unpopular, including among most Republican voters. “I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief. 90% of what they say are lies and made up stories, and the polls are rigged, much as the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged,” his post reads, adding: “Just like the results in Venezuela, which the media doesn’t like talking about, the results in Iran will be amazing – And if Iran’s new leaders (Regime Change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!”
🎯 IMPACT: Trump’s comments follow the resignation of Joe Kent, the now-former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, in March. Kent argued that Iran was not an imminent threat to the U.S., saying, “It is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” Polling by the Democracy Institute published later in March indicates that a majority of Republican voters and a larger majority of voters overall agree that launching the Iran war was a “costly mistake” rather than a “security necessity,” and that Israel has “too much influence over American foreign policy.”

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President Donald J. Trump has stated that the October 7, 2023, terror raids on Israel by Hamas convinced him to launch Operation Epic Fury against Iran, not the Israeli government.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
Religion
War

Israel Admits IDF Soldier Smashed Jesus Statue In Christian Village.

Israel has confirmed the authenticity of an image showing one of its soldiers striking the face of a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in Lebanon, sparking outrage and promises of an investigation.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday that an image posted on X on April 19 showing an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon, is authentic.
📰 DETAIL: The photo appears to show the soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head of a toppled statue of Christ crucified, in a Christian village near the Israeli border. Israel says it views the incident with “great severity,” insisting that the behavior contradicts its values and standards. Officials stated that the case is under investigation and that appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. Israeli authorities also indicated they may assist in repairing or restoring the damaged statue. The image spread rapidly on social media, drawing condemnation and outrage, particularly among Christians. The incident comes as Israel has launched major ground operations in southern Lebanon, clearing out entire villages up to the Litani river, arguing it needs the territory as a buffer zone to prevent attacks from Hezbollah.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Yesterday, like the overwhelming majority of Israelis, I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon. I condemn the act in the strongest terms. Military authorities are conducting a criminal probe of the matter and will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender. We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world.” – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
🎯 IMPACT: The incident has heightened tensions between Israel and Christians, both in the Holy Land and worldwide, and comes after a number of other controversies, including Israel’s prohibition of the Roman Catholic Latin Patriarch from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday earlier this month in Jerusalem.
👀 FLASHBACK: Lebanon was majority Christian until the late 20th century and still has one of the largest Christian populations in the Middle East, comprising around 25 percent of the general population. The country is governed by a sectarian National Pact, which stipulates that the presidet should be a Maronite Catholic, the prime minister should be a Sunni Muslim, and the parliamentary speaker should be a Shia Muslim.

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Israel has confirmed the authenticity of an image showing one of its soldiers striking the face of a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer in Lebanon, sparking outrage and promises of an investigation.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
News

Top Dem Strategist Lays Out ‘F**k It’ Plan to Rig America’s Elections Forever.

Veteran Democrat strategist James Carville has outlined his plans for the Democrats to secure permanent political dominance if they return to power, including statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and packing the Supreme Court.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: James Carville, a veteran Democrat strategist, has proposed that the Democrats should enact significant structural changes to the American political system if they regain control over the executive and the legislature, to entrench their party in power permanently. “If the Democrats win the presidency and both houses of Congress, I think on day one, they should make Puerto Rico [and] D.C. a state, and they should expand the Supreme Court to 13. F**k it. Eat our dust,” he said on his Politics War Room podcast, which he hosts with journalist Al Hunt, on April 16.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Don’t run on it. Don’t talk about it. Just do it.” – James Carville
📰 DETAIL: Carville emphasized the need for Democrats to act without publicizing their plans in advance to avoid political backlash. He also complained that states with small populations have too much representation in the Senate—a system designed to prevent large states from dominating smaller ones—but the Democrats would struggle to change this without a constitutional amendment.
🎯 IMPACT: Carville’s suggestions would, if implemented, significantly alter the political landscape by adding four Democrat Senate seats and shifting the ideological balance of the Supreme Court to the left. They demonstrate that Republicans’ present strategy of refusing to abolish safeguards such as the Senate filibuster, which the Democrats are currently using to block much of President Donald J. Trump’s agenda, is unwise, as top Democrats do not intend to restrain themselves from altering the status quo to suit their interests in the same way.
👀 FLASHBACK: Last August, Carville was forced to take down an episode of Politics War Room and issue a public apology after falsely stating that First Lady Melania Trump was introduced to President Trump by convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Image by JD Lasica.

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Veteran Democrat strategist James Carville has outlined his plans for the Democrats to secure permanent political dominance if they return to power, including statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and packing the Supreme Court.

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By Popular Demand.
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April 17, 2026
The National Pulse
News

War is Over (Probably?) – April 17th, 2026.

Tonight: Trump declares Strait of Hormuz reopen and Israel “PROHIBITED” from bombing Lebanon. Plus: young men driving a religious revival, Newsom’s PAC spent $1.5m buying his own book, Congress’s $18m sexual harassment slush fund, the FISA fight, D.C. crime plunging, Air Canada grounded, and more.

The National Pulse
Nightly.
Friday, April 17, 2026  •  Nº 7
Where MAGA goes to know.
Presented by  —  Advertise here: media@thenationalpulse.com
Photo of the Day
Photo of the Day
President Donald J. Trump participates in an interview with Fox’s Maria Bartiromo, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House.
PHOTO: JOYCE N. BOGHOSIAN
— From the Editor —
Markets are rebounding. Bitcoin’s back up. Oil prices are falling. Gas prices will soon follow. Still, the uncertainty around Trump’s imminent deal with Iran is causing distress in DC and beyond. We’ll follow the details along closely, and bring you the news, in brief, as ever.
Welcome to The National Pulse Nightly, which goes out every day to subscribed members, and every Friday to my wider audience (in the hopes that you’ll all sign up). Enjoy the real news.
Raheem J. Kassam
Editor-in-Chief
Tonight’s Briefing
Foreign Policy
1. Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz Reopen, Israel ‘PROHIBITED’ From Bombing Lebanon.
The president claims a “great victory” as Iran commits to reopening the strait — and tells Israel its Lebanon campaign is over.
■ Pulse Points  /  Make Lebanon Great Again?
What Happened —  President Trump declared a “great victory” in the Middle East, with Iran committing to “fully” reopen the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Trump also declared Israel is “PROHIBITED” from carrying out further attacks in Lebanon by the U.S.
The Detail —  The Strait of Hormuz is a key supply route for energy and fertilizer, and its closure by Iran caused fuel shortages and price rises worldwide. Trump insists the reopening is not tied to the Lebanon ceasefire, but announced on Truth Social that Israel “will not be bombing Lebanon any longer.” Israel had pushed for weeks of additional strikes against Hezbollah targets.
Key Quote —  “This deal is not tied, in any way, to Lebanon, but we will, MAKE LEBANON GREAT AGAIN!” – President Donald J. Trump
Impact —  The reopening could stabilize global oil markets and ease a jet fuel crisis threatening hundreds of thousands of flight cancellations. Oil and gas prices have already dropped, but the situation remains fragile, with claims the Lebanon ceasefire is already being violated. Trump responded negatively to a belated UK-France proposal for a multinational passage mission, writing that he “TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY.”
● ● ●
Religion · Data
2. Young Men Are Driving a Surprise Revival in Religious Faith.
Gallup finds young men now surpass young women in viewing religion as “very important” for the first time in 25 years.
■ Pulse Points  /  Bastion of Faith
What Happened —  A Gallup poll from 2024-2025 shows that 42 percent of young men now consider religion “very important,” a significant leap from 28 percent in 2022-2023, surpassing young women, who remain steady at 30 percent.
The Detail —  This marks a reversal of a long-standing trend. The change is largely concentrated among young Republicans, while religious participation among young Democrats has stayed the same or declined. Experts suggest social isolation, political identity, and the search for community may be driving the shift. The gender gap reversal is mainly limited to people under 30.
Key Quote —  “With the recent surge in their attachment to religion, young men have returned to the high point of their expressed religiosity of the past 25 years. By contrast, women of all age groups and older men are at or near their historical lows.” – Gallup
Impact —  Positive trends have been seen in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, Britain, and France, which recorded a record number of adult baptisms in 2026.
● ● ●
Democrats
3. Newsom PAC Spent Over $1.5m Boosting Sales of His Memoir With Donor Cash.
Two-thirds of the governor’s book sales were bulk purchases by his own political action committee.
■ Pulse Points  /  Young Man in a Hurry (to Buy His Own Book)
What Happened —  Gavin Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy Committee spent $1,561,875 purchasing copies of his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, and distributing them to donors who contributed any amount to his PAC.
The Detail —  The book distribution accounted for approximately two-thirds of the memoir’s total print sales, with about 67,000 copies sent to donors. The book appeared on the New York Times best-seller list but was marked with a dagger indicating a mix of organic and bulk sales. The $1.5 million was easily the single largest expense for Newsom’s federal PAC in Q1 2026.
Flashback —  The memoir glosses over Newsom’s controversial relationship with a 19-year-old college student when he was the 39-year-old Mayor of San Francisco. However, it does acknowledge that he destroyed the marriage of his deputy chief of staff by having an affair with the man’s wife.
● ● ●
Corruption
4. You Owe $18 Million to Cover for Congressional Sexual Harassment.
Congress quietly settled nearly 300 workplace disputes with taxpayer funds — and the names remain hidden.
■ Pulse Points  /  The Slush Fund
What Happened —  Between 1997 and 2019, Congress used over $18 million in taxpayer funds to settle nearly 300 workplace disputes, including claims of sexual harassment, through the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR).
The Detail —  Reforms in 2018 mandated that lawmakers repay settlement costs, but critics argue the system still lacks transparency, as the names of lawmakers involved are often hidden. House Oversight has moved to subpoena records of past settlements.
Key Quote —  “A friendly reminder that House Oversight subpoenaed the records of the congressional sexual harassment slush fund and we will be releasing them. Maybe we’ll see more resignations, you never know.” – Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL)
Impact —  The 2019 report is back in the spotlight following allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who has suspended a bid for Governor and resigned from Congress amid a slew of accusations of sexual harassment and rape.
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Surveillance
5. Senate Passes Brief Extension of FISA Surveillance Powers After Fight Among House GOP.
Twenty Republican holdouts forced a 10-day stopgap after derailing Speaker Johnson’s 18-month extension.
■ Pulse Points  /  Ten Days to Figure It Out
What Happened —  The House passed a 10-day extension of Section 702 of FISA early Friday after overnight votes in which 20 Republican lawmakers demanding reforms derailed a longer extension. The Senate passed the stopgap unanimously the same morning.
The Detail —  Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor non-citizen communications abroad without a standard warrant. House Republicans want reforms including warrant requirements to prevent abuses against U.S. citizens. Speaker Johnson pushed for an 18-month extension, but conservative opposition forced the shorter stopgap.
Flashback —  Trump backed the long-term extension despite FISA having been weaponized against him during the Russia collusion investigation. He wrote on Truth Social: “I am willing to risk the giving up of my Rights and Privileges as a Citizen for our Great Military and Country!”
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Crime
6. D.C. Sees Plunge in Murders, Carjackings, Under Tough-on-Crime Regime.
Murder rates on track for a historic low — down from 274 under Biden to a projected 42 this year.
■ Pulse Points  /  The Pirro Effect
What Happened —  Washington, D.C., is on track to record approximately 42 murders this year, the lowest since at least 1930 — a dramatic decrease from 274 murders two years ago under Biden. Carjackings have dropped 44 percent.
The Detail —  The decline is attributed to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who has prosecuted offenders much more aggressively than Biden-era predecessors, seeking capital punishment in the most severe cases. Federal law enforcement and the National Guard have been deployed to compensate for local police staffing cuts by the Democrat-dominated city council. A policy of not charging juveniles as adults has been reversed, pushing the arrest-to-offense ratio for carjackings from 25 percent to 58 percent.
Impact —  The Trump administration’s changes have created a significantly more hostile environment for criminals. However, a surge in killings in recent days, attributed to “interpersonal violence between groups,” suggests there is still work to do.
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Economy · Energy
7. Air Canada is Suspending Flights to New York.
Jet fuel costs have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, making the JFK route uneconomic.
■ Pulse Points  /  Grounded
What Happened —  Air Canada will suspend flights from Toronto and Montreal to JFK Airport between June 1 and October 25, citing unsustainable jet fuel costs driven by the Iran conflict. The airline will continue serving LaGuardia and Newark.
The Detail —  Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled during the Iran conflict, reaching $4.32 per gallon, up from $2.50 before the war. Airlines including Lufthansa and Delta have already announced cost-cutting measures. Although oil prices have shown some recent decline after the Strait of Hormuz was declared reopened, uncertainty remains.
Key Quote —  “As jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict and some lower profitability routes and flights are no longer economic, we are making schedule adjustments accordingly.” – Air Canada spokesman
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Immigration · Europe
8. Afghan Migrant Charged With Raping Rescue Animals.
A 19-year-old Afghan caught on camera abusing sheep and goats at a French educational farm near Marseille.
■ Pulse Points  /  Caught on Camera
What Happened —  A 19-year-old Afghan migrant was arrested in France for allegedly raping sheep and goats at an educational farm near Marseille. The animals were found tied up and injured, prompting farm owners to install cameras that captured the acts.
The Detail —  Police arrested the suspect on April 10 after catching him in the act. DNA evidence linked him to multiple abused animals. He arrived in France in November 2025 and was awaiting residency. He has been ordered held in pre-trial detention ahead of a trial scheduled for June 22.
Flashback —  The incident comes weeks after a case in Italy involving migrants who allegedly sexually abused a kitten in Rome, sparking major protests.
Featured
Video.
Jazz Night at Butterworth's
Watch
Raheem Kassam hosts jazz night at his Washington, D.C. bar and restaurant, Butterworth’s. Sammy Miller and the Congregation played in front of an audience including top D.C. movers and shakers, Congressional staff, White House and agency officials, and locals.
On This Day
In History.
1790
Benjamin Franklin dies in Philadelphia at the age of 84.
1861
Virginia secedes from the Union, becoming the eighth state to join the Confederacy.
1961
The Bay of Pigs invasion begins as CIA-trained Cuban exiles land at the Bahía de Cochinos. The operation is a disaster.
1969
Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
1970
The Apollo 13 crew splashes down safely in the Pacific after their harrowing ordeal. “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”
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Tonight: Trump declares Strait of Hormuz reopen and Israel "PROHIBITED" from bombing Lebanon. Plus: young men driving a religious revival, Newsom's PAC spent $1.5m buying his own book, Congress's $18m sexual harassment slush fund, the FISA fight, D.C. crime plunging, Air Canada grounded, and more.

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