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Thursday, April 23, 2026

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2 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration

92% of DACA Migrants Arrested Under Trump Have Criminal Convictions or Pending Charges.

Around 92 percent of arrested Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) migrants, protected from deportation under the former Biden regime, are either convicted criminals or face criminal charges.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Documents reveal that out of 270 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) migrants arrested under President Donald J. Trump after being protected from deportation under the former Biden regime, 250 are either convicted criminals or face pending criminal charges.
📺 DETAIL: A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document reveals that between January 1 and September 28 of last year, the Trump administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 270 DACA recipients and found that 130 were convicted criminals, 120 had charges pending, and a further 14 were in violation of immigration laws. During that timeframe, 174 DACA migrants were removed from the United States, 71 of whom were convicted criminals, and 66 of whom had pending criminal charges. DACA was introduced by former President Barack Obama in 2012 but was declared unlawful by a federal judge in September of 2023. The ruling was upheld in January 2025.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “DACA does NOT confer any form of legal status in this country. Any illegal alien who is a DACA recipient may be subject to arrest and deportation for a number of reasons, including if they’ve committed a crime.” – Department of Homeland Security statement.
🎯 IMPACT: The DHS data reveals that many criminal migrants were able to avoid deportation due to their DACA status and that, despite some media reports, the vast majority of those being arrested and deported are involved in criminal activity. President Donald J. Trump and his administration are likely to continue to deport DACA recipients in violation of U.S. laws going forward.

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By Popular Demand.
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33 minutes ago
Health
TECH
UK

500,000 Biobank Health Patients’ Data Are Being Sold in China.

Sensitive health data from the UK Biobank, involving 500,000 participants, was found listed for sale on Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce platform, raising concerns about international data security.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Sensitive medical data from 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank health data project was listed for sale on Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce platform, the British government confirmed on Thursday. The leak has prompted an investigation by UK Biobank and the British government. While the data did not include any names or contact details, it did include other types of personal information, such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and biological sample measures.
📺 DETAIL: Data from the UK Biobank, a major taxpayer-funded health research project which stores de-identified biological samples for half a million people, was found listed for sale on Alibaba, one of the largest retail companies in the world. The UK Biobank uses biological samples from volunteers to conduct research into diseases such as cancer, dementia, and Parkinson’s. The data was from participants aged between 40 and 69, who were recruited between 2006 and 2010. The breach was reported to the British government on Monday. The data was acquired legitimately by three accredited academic institutions, however, soon after it was downloaded, it appeared on Alibaba.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We want to reassure you that all the data are de-identified; they do not contain any personally identifying information,” claimed Professor Sir Rory Collins, UK Biobank’s chief executive.
🎯 IMPACT: The listings have since been removed from Alibaba, and the individuals involved in the leak have had their UK Biobank access suspended. In response to the breach, the charity has implemented stricter security measures, such as daily monitoring of file exports, and announced a full forensic investigation. The data breach constitutes a blatant violation of contractual agreements by the three academic institutions that requested the data. The breach also raises broader concerns about the security of sensitive health data and may affect people’s willingness to volunteer for medical projects, potentially slowing the pace of medical progress.
📺 FLASHBACK: In late 2021, the Chinese Communist Party penalized Alibaba for alerting the world to a highly threatening software vulnerability. In response, the Chinese Communist Party’s National Network Security Information Sharing Platform suspended Alibaba for informing the Chinese government first.

Image by David Lally.

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Sensitive health data from the UK Biobank, involving 500,000 participants, was found listed for sale on Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce platform, raising concerns about international data security.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
Crime
Immigration

Three Asylum Seekers Convicted of Beach Gang Rape.

Three asylum seekers, present in Britain despite their applications being rejected, have been found guilty of a brutal gang rape on Brighton Beach.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Three asylum seekers have been convicted of raping a woman on England’s Brighton Beach after she became separated from her friends during a night out. Abdulla Ahmadi, 25, Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, and Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, were found guilty at Hove Crown Court after a five-week trial. The attack was described as “cynical, predatory, and callous.”

📺 DETAIL: On Thursday, following 12 hours of deliberation and a five-week trial, Ahmadi, Al-Danasurt, and Alshafe were found guilty of gang raping a woman on Brighton Beach on the southern coast of England. In the early hours of early October last year, the three men led an incapacitated woman to a secluded area behind some beach huts, where she was assaulted. Ahmadi and Alshafe committed the rape while Al-Danasurt encouraged the attack and filmed it. The migrants falsely claimed that the interaction was consensual. Ahmadi and Alshafe were found guilty of two counts of rape each, while Al-Danasurt was convicted as a secondary party of four counts of rape.

💬 KEY QUOTE: “It wasn’t consensual, it was not consensual, they are evil and they have ruined my life… It’s the filmer’s face I see every time I close my eyes, laughing at me.” – Victim
🎯 IMPACT: The three men came to Britain as asylum seekers and were living in Home Office-provided asylum accommodation at the time of the attack. All three rapists had their asylum applications rejected, but remained at large in the country pending appeals. Ahmadi and Alshafe met while illegally entering Britain on small boats in June 2025. Al-Danasurt had arrived in Britain in late September 2024. Ahmadi is Iranian, while Al-Danasurt and Alshafe are both Egyptian. 
📺 FLASHBACK: Housing asylum seekers has reached a cost of up to around £15 million (~$20.3 million) a day in recent years. Those denied asylum have a chance to appeal, extending their time in the country, and they usually remain at large while their claims and appeals are processed. Even when a final rejection is made, failed asylum seekers regularly remain in the country for several years afterward, often never being deported at all.

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Three asylum seekers, present in Britain despite their applications being rejected, have been found guilty of a brutal gang rape on Brighton Beach.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
News

Senate Advances DHS, ICE Funding in Narrow 50-48 Vote.

The Senate narrowly passed a $70 billion budget plan to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, advancing efforts to end the Department of Homeland Security’s partial shutdown.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Senate passed a $70 billion budget plan for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol in a 50-48 vote, aiming to end a partial government shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill, advanced through reconciliation to bypass the filibuster, now heads to the House for further consideration.
📺 DETAIL: The budget plan includes funding for ICE and Border Patrol through the end of President Donald J. Trump’s term. The vote took place at 3:30 AM on Thursday, amidst ongoing negotiations to address the DHS shutdown that began on February 14. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rand Paul (R-KY) joined 46 Democrats in voting against the funding, while Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Mark Warner (R-VA) did not vote. Democrats have been pushing for restrictions on ICE operations, citing fatal shootings of anti-ICE agitators by federal law enforcement in Minnesota.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).
🎯 IMPACT: The bill’s passage by the Senate marks significant progress toward resolving the DHS shutdown. It will now go before the House of Representatives, where the Republicans have tight majority but are not constrained by the filibuster like their Senate counterparts.
📺 FLASHBACK: Last month, the Senate approved a bill to reopen DHS without ICE and Border Patrol funding, but it was blocked by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who insisted on including funding for both agencies.

Image by Ron Cogswell.

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The Senate narrowly passed a $70 billion budget plan to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, advancing efforts to end the Department of Homeland Security's partial shutdown.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Illegal Immigrant Jailed for Stealing Noem’s Gucci Bag, Committing Wire Fraud.

A Chilean illegal immigrant has been sentenced to three years in prison for wire fraud and theft, including stealing former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s handbag.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old Chilean illegal immigrant, was handed a three-year prison term for wire fraud and theft. Among his crimes was the theft of a Gucci handbag belonging to Kristi Noem, the former Homeland Security Secretary. He admitted guilt to three separate wire fraud charges plus one count of first-degree theft, after he preyed on women at restaurants in Washington, D.C., in April 2025.
📺 DETAIL: Leiva was caught on surveillance cameras methodically targeting women dining in restaurants, stealing their purses, and using their credit cards and personal information to make fraudulent purchases. Noem was dining at Capital Burger with her family when Leiva stole her purse, which contained several credit cards and $3,000 in cash. He later used Noem’s credit cards for unauthorized purchases, and prosecutors noted that Leiva’s actions were premeditated and executed with precision.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Bustamante Leiva came to Washington illegally to prey on citizens of the District. He methodically targeted women at restaurants, stealing their purses, and monetizing the stolen cards within minutes. His pattern of theft ends here. He will serve his prison term and be deported.” – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
🎯 IMPACT: Leiva faces deportation upon completing his prison sentence. The case highlights concerns about the risks posed by illegal immigrants engaging in criminal activity in the U.S., many of whom commit crimes far more serious than theft and fraud. For instance, new data released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier this month showed that 75 percent of defendants in Fairfax County, Virginia, murder trials so far in 2026 are illegal immigrants. In 2024, former President Joe Biden’s last full year in office, Chairman of the House National Security, Border, and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Glenn Grothman put the number of illegal aliens known to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with criminal records or pending criminal charges at 617,000, greater than the population of Wyoming.
Surveillance photo of Bustamante Leiva with Kristi Noem’s purse and wallet.

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A Chilean illegal immigrant has been sentenced to three years in prison for wire fraud and theft, including stealing former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's handbag.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Health
News

Trump Admin Reclassifies Medical Marijuana as Less Dangerous Drug.

President Donald J. Trump has reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana, easing restrictions on research and allowing tax deductions for state-licensed medical marijuana companies.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, signed an order on Thursday reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, marking a historic shift in federal drug policy.
📰 DETAIL: The reclassification does not legalize marijuana federally but changes its regulation, allowing for tax deductions for state-licensed medical marijuana companies and easing research barriers. This move aligns with President Trump’s directive to expedite the reclassification process, which had been stalled under the former Biden government. Blanche credited the move to Trump’s “decisive leadership.”
🎯 IMPACT: The order legitimizes medical marijuana programs in 40 states, providing a tax break for operators and facilitating research. It also sets up a system for state-licensed producers to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), potentially influencing future federal marijuana policies. In a social media post outlining the reform, Blanche said there would be “a new, expedited hearing with set deadlines, to fully reschedule marijuana” in the near future.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information.” – Todd Blanche
👀 FLASHBACK: The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 marked the beginning of federal marijuana prohibition, which has persisted despite widespread state-level decriminalization and legalization for medical and recreational use. President Trump signed an executive order removing federal legal hurdles to medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) research and tasking Blanche with expediting today’s rescheduling in December.

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President Donald J. Trump has reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana, easing restrictions on research and allowing tax deductions for state-licensed medical marijuana companies.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
Health

22 American Towns Implemented The Generational Smoking Ban Before Britain.

Britain’s new generational tobacco ban mirrors local ordinances first enacted in Massachusetts towns, and could set a new global precedent for officials who want to ban tobacco smoking entirely.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Britain passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on April 21, banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The ban aims to eliminate smoking in future generations and was hailed by Health Secretary Wes Streeting as “an historic moment for the nation’s health.”
📺 DETAIL: The British law follows a model first implemented in Massachusetts, where 22 towns have enacted “Nicotine Free Generation” ordinances. Brookline is recognized as the first in the nation to implement the policy, designed to gradually phase out smoking rather than impose an outright ban on current users. Supporters argue such laws reduce addiction rates and protect future generations from the harms of tobacco use, while critics contend they undermine personal freedom and create unequal legal standards based on age. Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has previously stated that he will repeal the legislation if his party takes power, likening it to the puritanical prohibitions imposed on the country by Oliver Cromwell.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Ten years from now, a 27-year-old will not be legally able to buy cigarettes, but a 28-year-old will. 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.” – Nigel Farage, March 2026
🎯 IMPACT: Britain’s generational ban could set a global precedent for stricter tobacco control, as many countries intensify restrictions on smokers, including outdoor smoking bans and indoor smoking bans.

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Britain's new generational tobacco ban mirrors local ordinances first enacted in Massachusetts towns, and could set a new global precedent for officials who want to ban tobacco smoking entirely.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
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19 hours ago
Immigration

Army Sgt Lashes Out at ICE for Detaining His Wife… Who Entered the Country Illegally… And Was Subject to Deportation Order.

A U.S. Army sergeant has said he does not understand why his wife was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite the fact that she is subject to a deportation order.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Jose Serrano’s wife, Deisy Rivera Ortega, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an appointment at an immigration office in El Paso, Texas, on April 14. Rivera Ortega, originally from El Salvador, has lived in the U.S. since 2016, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says she is a “criminal illegal alien” who has been subject to a deportation order since 2019. Nevertheless, Serrano announced on Wednesday that his wife would be released. 
📺 DETAIL: Serrano, a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, told the media, “I don’t really understand why [Ortega was detained], because she followed the rules of immigration by the T since day one,” adding: “ICE is out of control right now, sir, taking away rights, as soldiers, that we have.” However, a DHS spokesman has insisted Ortega was detained in accordance with a deportation order after receiving “full due process,” and that she is a “criminal illegal alien” convicted of illegal entry into the U.S.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “They said, ‘We cannot send her to El Salvador, but we gonna send her to Mexico.'” – Sgt. Jose Serrano
🎯 IMPACT: Ortega was granted protection under the Convention Against Torture at the same time as she was ordered deported, preventing removal to her native El Salvador. However, the Trump administration is using third-country deportation agreements to work around restrictions on sending illegals back to their home countries directly, most recently striking an agreement to transfer them to the Congo.

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A U.S. Army sergeant has said he does not understand why his wife was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite the fact that she is subject to a deportation order.

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By Popular Demand.
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20 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Politics

WATCH: How RNC Insiders Prioritized Cornyn & Lindsey Graham Over Virginia’s Gerrymandering.

The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam pointed the finger of blame squarely at former Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita in a stunning interview on War Room on Wednesday morning.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam blamed Chris LaCivita and other RINOs at the Republican National Committee (RNC) for spending large sums of money on the likes of John Cornyn (R-TX) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) instead of allocating resources to a crunch redistricting referendum in Virginia on Tuesday, which the Democrats narrowly won.
📺 DETAIL: Kassam blasted LaCivita, President Donald J. Trump‘s former campaign manager, arguing that he and others at the RNC spent far too much money on candidates like Cornyn, who has a long history of backstabbing Trump. Meanwhile, they neglected the Virginia vote, which was close despite the Democrats spending around three times as much per vote on the campaign. While spending only around $20 million in Virginia, LaCivita and others poured over $95 million into Cornyn’s race against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton—a race Cornyn is expected to lose.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “There is a specific set of people who are in charge of the RNC coffers that mismanage money time and again, and guess what? The people who are in charge of this money, like Chris LaCivita and his team, are also the chief campaign consultants for John Cornyn, for Lindsey Graham, and for a host of other RINOs up and down the country. That’s who these people are. They go around Washington, D.C., threatening people and throwing their weight around. It’s time this thing stopped.” – Raheem Kassam.
🎯 IMPACT: The gerrymandering of Virginia will likely hand the Democrats nearly all of the state’s House seats in November, potentially shifting the balance of power in Congress.

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The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam pointed the finger of blame squarely at former Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita in a stunning interview on War Room on Wednesday morning.

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By Popular Demand.
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20 hours ago
Breaking
News

BREAKING: Judge Blocks Virginia Redistricting Referendum Certification Over Constitutional Violations.

A Virginia judge has stopped the certification of a referendum on redistricting in Virginia, citing constitutional issues.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A Virginia judge has blocked the certification of the results of a redistricting referendum in Virginia, ruling both the referendum and the bill that initiated it were unconstitutional.
👤 WHO WAS INVOLVED: Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones confirmed his office’s intention to appeal the decision.
📰 DETAIL: The Tazewell Circuit Court issued the order, having previously blocked the referendum after siding with Republicans who filed multiple lawsuits challenging its constitutionality.
🎯 IMPACT: The decision halts the certification process, potentially blocking changes to Virginia’s congressional map, pending the outcome of the appeal. The new map, authorized in a close referendum on Tuesday, heavily favors the Democrats, likely handing the party another four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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A Virginia judge has stopped the certification of a referendum on redistricting in Virginia, citing constitutional issues.

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By Popular Demand.
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22 hours ago
News

Here’s How Republicans Can Quickly Respond to Virginia’s Gerrymandering.

Florida Republicans are convening a special session to consider redistricting following the Democrats’ gerrymandering of Virginia on Tuesday.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Following the Democrats’ successful gerrymandering referendum in Virginia on Wednesday, the Florida legislature will hold a special session. The session, which will run from April 28 to May, is being convened mainly “for the purpose of considering legislation related to the drawing of congressional districts,” alongside increased medical freedom and new consumer protections linked to artificial intelligence (AI).
📺 DETAIL: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a proclamation convening the special session shortly before the Virginia referendum, in which the GOP establishment allowed the Democrats to eke out a narrow victory by spending only around $20 million on the referendum campaign, while the Democrats spent $62.3 million. Redistricting in Florida could net Republicans four to five new House seats, balancing out the Democrats’ expected gain in Virginia, but would require a snap referendum and a 60 percent threshold under the state constitution—a high bar with only a few months until the November midterms. DeSantis’s office is expected to transmit a proposal to the Florida Senate, which will be filed as a bill for consideration.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Florida’s Constitution includes strict guidelines for what information the Legislature can and cannot consider when drawing new congressional districts. Regardless of the forum or format, we can only consider thoughts and feedback in keeping with constitutional standards. Senators should take care to insulate themselves from partisan-funded organizations and other interests that may intentionally or unintentionally attempt to inappropriately influence redistricting.” – Ben Albritton, President of the Florida Senate
🎯 IMPACT: Florida Senate President Ben Albritton (R) has warned state lawmakers that they cannot advance maps that “favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent,” and that anything they decide is likely to be subject to “significant litigation.” While hailing the Democrats’ gerrymandering in Virginia, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has branded the Florida redistricting effort an “illegal scheme” and vowed to “aggressively target” Republican Florida Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez, Kat Cammack, Anna Paulina Luna, Laurel Lee, Cory Mills, and Brian Mast.
📺 FLASHBACK: Redistricting has become a major issue in the run-up to the midterms in November. In mid-March, Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) invested millions to back GOP redistricting efforts. In December last year, the Supreme Court upheld a high-profile redistricting measure in Texas. In mid-January, the Democrats secured a legal victory at the Ninth Circuit to gerrymander the electoral map in California against Republicans.

Image by F McGady.

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Florida Republicans are convening a special session to consider redistricting following the Democrats' gerrymandering of Virginia on Tuesday.

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By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
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