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Monday, April 27, 2026

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2 hours ago
Lawfare
News

DOJ Cites WHCA Dinner Shooting in Push to End Lawsuit Against Trump Ballroom.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has demanded that a lawsuit opposing President Donald J. Trump’s White House ballroom project be dismissed, citing the recent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has demanded that the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) drop its lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump’s White House ballroom project, citing security risks after the Saturday assassination attempt targeting administration officials at the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner, hosted by the Washington Hilton hotel.
📺 DETAIL: The DOJ has called on the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) to drop its lawsuit against the construction of President Donald J. Trump’s White House ballroom. The NTHP filed a lawsuit against President Trump’s ballroom project in early December last year. The lawsuit argues that the President did not have the authority to demolish the East Wing of the White House complex without approval from Congress. President Trump’s $400 million ballroom project is privately funded and aims to reduce security risks to the President by eliminating the need to host high-profile events outside the White House. Following the recent assassination attempt on President Trump and other officials at the WHCA dinner at the Washington Hilton, the DOJ is emphasizing the need for the ballroom’s construction to be completed unimpeded.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Your lawsuit puts the lives of the president, his family, and his staff at grave risk. Enough is enough. Your client should voluntarily dismiss this frivolous lawsuit today in light of last night’s assassination attempt on President Trump,” said Brett Shumate, Assistant Attorney General at DOJ’s Civil Division, in a letter shared by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on X (formerly Twitter).
📺 CONTEXT: The assassination attempt against President Trump and his officials at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on Saturday was allegedly carried out by California teacher Cole Allen, who was able to be present at the site by booking himself in as a guest prior to the WHCA dinner. Notably, the late President Ronald Reagan—who first popularized the “Make America Great Again” slogan—was also targeted by a would-be assassin at the hotel, being shot while leaving the venue by John Hinckley Jr. in 1981. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the state ballroom earlier this year, and a federal judge declined to block construction in December last year.

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19 minutes ago
Economy
News

State Ballot Wealth Tax Amasses Enough Signatures.

Supporters of a proposed one-time tax on California billionaires say they have gathered enough signatures for the measure, opposed by Governor Gavin Newsom (D), to go to a public vote in November.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Proponents of a one-time five percent tax on billionaires in California claim they have gathered enough signatures to put the measure on a state ballot in November. The proposed tax would target businesses, stocks, and intellectual property, among other assets.
📺 DETAIL: On Monday, supporters of the billionaire tax announced that the measure has gained 1.6 million signatures of endorsement, enough for the measure to be placed on the state ballot, provided they can be verified. The proposal is sponsored by Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, a trade union representing roughly two million workers across healthcare, property services, and public services. Supporters claim the revenue raised from the proposed tax could be used to fund healthcare for low-income residents. Governor of California Gavin Newsom (D) has announced his opposition to the measure, citing economic concerns, such as a potential exodus of billionaires from the state. Newsom’s position has divided the left, with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) among those endorsing the tax.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This is not how I wanted to spend my last year.” – Gavin Newsom, January 2026
🎯 IMPACT: If Newsom decides to run for President in 2028, it is likely that his opposition to the measure, which is popular with grassroots Democrats and the left more broadly, will become a source of criticism. Newsom’s second term as Governor is scheduled to end in January 2027, with Trump-backed Republican candidate Steve Hilton currently leading in the packed race to replace him.
👀 IRONY: While proponents argue the billionaire tax will generate revenue to fund healthcare and welfare programs, the tax could do the opposite by incentivizing billionaires to leave the state, resulting in less tax revenue overall and fewer services for low-income Californians.

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Supporters of a proposed one-time tax on California billionaires say they have gathered enough signatures for the measure, opposed by Governor Gavin Newsom (D), to go to a public vote in November.

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By Popular Demand.
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59 minutes ago
Bonkers Britain
Crime
Immigration

Rapist Migrant Spared Prison After Agreeing to Take ‘Consent Classes.’

A boat migrant who raped a 14-year-old girl just months after arriving in Britain has avoided jail, prompting criticism of the British justice system and its permissive approach to predatory foreign nationals.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A 14-year-old Iranian migrant, who arrived in Britain last June illegally on a small boat, has avoided prison despite raping a teenage girl just three months after his arrival. He was instead given a rehabilitation order requiring him to attend classes “on the understanding of consent, boundaries, and victim awareness”.
📺 DETAIL: The attack occurred in September 2022 after the migrant, whose identity has been concealed by the courts, met the victim, also 14, at school in Bedfordshire, England. He forcibly led her to a secluded area and assaulted her, ignoring her protests. However, the sentencing judge handed down a non-custodial sentence, citing youth justice guidelines that prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration. The migrant was also issued a two-year exclusion order barring him from the crime scene. The family of the victim has called the sentence a joke. The Iranian rapist will not be deported as he is considered a child under British asylum law, and Iran is considered too dangerous to deport him to.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “There has been no punishment. This isn’t a deterrent at all. The rapist is still free and could just do it again. The victim has to carry this for the rest of her life, while he can just go out as if nothing has happened,” a source close to the victim’s family told the British press.
🎯 IMPACT: Many migrants who arrive in Britain on small boats from France are housed in hotels at taxpayers’ expense. Within those hotels, hundreds of migrants have been convicted of or charged with crimes, including rape. Notably, many of those claiming to be minors do not have paperwork confirming their real age, and testing to establish whether they are telling the truth is often lax or nonexistent, resulting in adults posing as minors being placed in schools with British children.

Image by Metro Centric.

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A boat migrant who raped a 14-year-old girl just months after arriving in Britain has avoided jail, prompting criticism of the British justice system and its permissive approach to predatory foreign nationals.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
War

Israel Breaks Lebanon Ceasefire With Wave of Airstrikes.

Despite a three-week ceasefire agreement, Israel has launched intensified airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Israel has launched a wave of airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon‘s Beqaa Valley and southern regions, marking the first strikes in the Beqaa since a ceasefire began three weeks ago. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strikes are in response to Hezbollah attacks, including a deadly drone strike on Israeli troops.
📺 DETAIL: The move comes as a fragile ceasefire, originally agreed on April 16 and later extended, has been repeatedly violated. Israeli officials have justified the continued attacks as defensive actions against militant infrastructure, while Hezbollah and the Lebanese government—which does not include Hezbollah—accuse Israel of undermining any chance of de-escalation. The conflict has already caused thousands of deaths and widespread displacement across Lebanon. Recent days have seen ongoing exchanges of fire, including drone interceptions and rocket attacks, despite the nominal pause in fighting. Analysts warn that strikes deeper into Lebanese territory risk collapsing the ceasefire entirely and triggering a wider regional escalation. Israel has previously stated it wants to seize a significant part of southern Lebanon, potentially displacing around a million people, many of them Christians who have lived in the area for over a thousand years.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “How long will the people of the south continue to pay the price for the wars of others on our land? If the war were for Lebanon, we would support it – but when its purpose is to serve the interests of others, I reject the war entirely.” – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun
🎯 IMPACT: The escalation risks dragging Lebanon deeper into the broader clash between Israel, the U.S., Iran, and its proxies. Notably, the ceasefire in Lebanon formed part of Iran’s demands for a ceasefire, and its collapse could reignite the conflict more broadly. Earlier this month, President Donald J. Trump has posted on Truth Social, “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”

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Despite a three-week ceasefire agreement, Israel has launched intensified airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Immigration
Media

Trump May Rename ‘ICE.’ Here’s The Suggested New Name, and Why.

President Donald J. Trump endorsed a proposal to rename Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the “National Immigration and Customs Enforcement” (NICE).

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump endorsed a proposal posted on X (formerly Twitter) to rename Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the “National Immigration and Customs Enforcement” (NICE). The idea was suggested as a humorous way to compel media outlets to refer to agents as “NICE agents.”
📺 DETAIL: The proposal was initially posted by former Project Veritas journalist Alyssa Marie, who joked in March that renaming ICE would force the media to repeatedly use the term “NICE agents.” Trump shared the post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, enthusiastically commenting, “GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT.” Marie later posted a screenshot of Trump’s response, stating, “I am more MAGA than ever.”
🎯 IMPACT: While the suggestion was likely in jest, it forms part of the ongoing debate around ICE’s role in executing the Trump administration’s deportation agenda, which has seen liberal journalists and leading Democrats, such as failed 2024 vice presidential candidate and Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz, compare them to Adolf Hitler’s Gestapo. Administration officials accuse journalists and Democrats pushing this rhetoric of inciting violent protests against ICE, and in some cases, targeted attacks, such as a sniper ambush at an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, last July that resulted in a police officer being shot in the neck.
📺 FLASHBACK: Scott Adams, the Dilbert cartoonist and prominent Trump supporter who passed away in January, first proposed renaming ICE to NICE in 2018, so that anti-ICE Democrats such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) would be forced to run on abolishing “NICE.”

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President Donald J. Trump endorsed a proposal to rename Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the "National Immigration and Customs Enforcement" (NICE).

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Crime
Immigration
UK

Data Confirms ‘Huge Overrepresentation’ of Foreign Nationals in London Sex Crimes.

Data shows there is “huge overrepresentation” of foreign nationals among accused sex offenders in London, Britain’s Office for National Statistics has confirmed.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A report by the Centre for Migration Control, based on a Freedom of Information Act request to the Metropolitan Police, found that between 40 percent and 47 percent of sexual offense charges in London in 2024 involved foreign nationals.
📰 DETAIL: Despite foreign nationals making up only about a quarter of London’s population, they were disproportionately represented in sexual offense charges. The Centre for Migration Control analyzed data from 2018 to 2024 last year, and found that of 7,798 arrests resulting in further action, 2,809 involved foreign nationals. In 2024 alone, 597 out of 1,601 arrests were of foreign nationals. On Friday, the Centre for Migration Control revealed an internal Office for National Statistics (ONS) memo showing the government department acknowledging “huge overrepresentation” of foreign nationals in the prosecution statistics.
🎯 IMPACT: The findings highlight concerns about the impact of mass migration on crime in London and the wider United Kingdom, particularly sex crimes, which impact women and girls disproportionately.
📈 DATA: The charge rate for British nationals was 6.5 per 10,000 of the population, indicating a significantly lower rate compared to foreign nationals. The British state does not publish complete data on conviction rates broken down by nationality, but the information that is available suggests Afghans offend at by far the highest rate, with countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa significantly overrepresented.

Image by James Mitchell.

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Data shows there is "huge overrepresentation" of foreign nationals among accused sex offenders in London, Britain's Office for National Statistics has confirmed.

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April 26, 2026
News

WHCA Shooter Sent Manifesto RIGHT BEFORE ATTACK, Detailing ‘Arrogant, Incompetent’ Security – ‘If I Was An Iranian Agent…’

Alleged gunman Cole Allen sent a “manifesto” detailing his intent to target Trump administration officials before opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, highlighting the security failures at the event in a document that appears to have been penned right before the attack.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The gunman identified as Cole Allen sent an anti-Trump manifesto to his family shortly before opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He expressed his intent to target Trump administration officials, accusing them of crimes and calling himself the “Friendly Federal Assassin.”
📺 DETAIL: In his manifesto, Allen outlined his grievances against the Trump administration, labeling its officials as criminals and justifying his actions as a form of resistance. He criticized the event’s security, mocking its “insane” lack of preparation and claiming it would have been easy for Iranian agents to infiltrate. Allen was reportedly part of a radical-left group and had attended “No Kings” protests in the recent past.
💬 KEY QUOTES: “Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes.” – Cole Allen, from his manifesto. “I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” Allen wrote. “Like, the one thing that I immediately noticed walking into the hotel is the sense of arrogance. I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat,” he wrote. “The security at the event is all outside, focused on protestors and current arrivals, because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before. Like, this level of incompetence is insane, and I very sincerely hope it’s corrected by the time this country gets actually competent leadership again. Like, if I was an Iranian agent, instead of an American citizen, I could have brought a damn Ma Deuce in here and no one would have noticed shit. Actually insane.”
📺 CONTEXT: The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has historically been a high-security event, often attended by sitting presidents and key officials, making this breach particularly alarming. Susan Crabtree of RealClearPolitics wrote: “A source familiar with presidential security protocals said White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles oversees the Secret Service and has let Curran remain in his job despite numerous failures on his watch.”

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Alleged gunman Cole Allen sent a "manifesto" detailing his intent to target Trump administration officials before opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, highlighting the security failures at the event in a document that appears to have been penned right before the attack.

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By Popular Demand.
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April 26, 2026
News

WHCA Shooter is ‘No Kings’ Protester With Anti-Christian Manifesto.

The suspect in the White House shooting, Cole Allen, is a “No Kings” protester with a manifesto, anti-Christian rhetoric, and a history of anti-Trump activism.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Cole Allen, the suspect in the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) shooting on Saturday night, allegedly produced a manifesto indicating his intent to target administration officials, according to Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich. His social media accounts were filled with anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric, and he had recently attended a “No Kings” protest with other far-leftists.
📰 DETAIL: Allen’s brother had reportedly alerted the New London Police Department in Connecticut about a manifesto Cole Allen sent to family members. Secret Service and Montgomery County Police interviewed Allen’s sister, who confirmed his radical statements and firearm purchases. Allen was part of a group called ‘The Wide Awakes’ – a far left activist group which promotes abortion, government funding for “arts,” and promotes anti-ICE propaganda.
🎯 QUOTED: “Confirmed ALLEN purchased two handguns and a shotgun from Cap Tactical Firearms and kept them stored at their parent’s home and that their parents were unaware that ALLEN was keeping the firearms in the home. ALLEN would regularly go to the shooting range to train with his firearms.” – Jacqui Heinrich.
This is a developing story.

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The suspect in the White House shooting, Cole Allen, is a "No Kings" protester with a manifesto, anti-Christian rhetoric, and a history of anti-Trump activism.

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By Popular Demand.
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April 26, 2026
NatSec
News

White House Press Dinner Gunman Identified, Trump Unhurt.

A gunman attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday, wounding a Secret Service agent before he was detained.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A gunman, identified as Cole Thomas Allen of California, is in detention after an assassination attempt against President Donald J. Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. The suspect, armed with “a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives,” according to the Metropolitan Police Department, was stopped by Secret Service agents after breaching a security checkpoint and firing several shots.
📰 DETAIL: The attack occurred approximately 60-100 yards from where President Trump and around 3,000 guests were gathered. Law enforcement says Allen, believed to be a California Institute of Technology graduate in his thirties, had no criminal record and was not under surveillance. He is believed to have been a guest at the hotel. President Trump confirmed at a press conference after the dinner was evacuated that one agent was shot “from a very close distance with a very powerful gun” during the attack, but saved by his bulletproof vest. Trump said that he has spoken with the agent and he is in “great shape” and “very high spirits.” He also shared security camera footage of the attack and a picture of the suspect in custody on his Truth Social platform.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition… I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days.” – President Trump
🎯 IMPACT: President Trump confirmed the dinner will be rescheduled, saying, “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society, we’re not going to cancel things out, because we can’t do that.” However, the incident further raises concerns about Trump’s security after two previous assassination attempts in Butler, Pennsylvania, and West Palm Beach, Florida. In September, far-left activists were able to come within a short distance of President Trump at a seafood restaurant in Washington, D.C., and heckle him, shouting, “Free D.C.! Free Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!”

Image via @realDonaldTrump on Truth Social.

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A gunman attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday, wounding a Secret Service agent before he was detained.

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By Popular Demand.
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April 25, 2026
Crime
Religion

Pope Pops Off At Trump Again, This Time Over the Death Penalty.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced plans to reinstate firing squads and other execution methods, with Roman Catholic leader Pope Leo XIV reiterating his opposition to the death penalty on Friday in another clash between the Supreme Pontiff and the Trump administration.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced plans on Friday to expand federal execution methods, including the reintroduction of firing squads. Pope Leo XIV, meanwhile, spoke out about his opposition to the death penalty—though it is not certain they were directly related to the announcement, as they were addressed to the 15th anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in his home state of Illinois.
📺 DETAIL: The perceived clash marks the latest in a broader series of disputes between the White House and the Vatican, with both sides exchanging sharp words over moral and political issues. President Donald J. Trump and Pope Leo have already clashed over the war with Iran, with President Trump accusing Pope Leo of wanting to see Iran have a nuclear weapon. The Pope, meanwhile, condemned warmongers, albeit without mentioning the Iran war or President Trump directly. Pope Leo’s comment on the death penalty is a continuation of Vatican policy under Pope Francis, who changed the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 2018 to state that the death penalty is “inadmissible.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “In this regard, we affirm that the dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed. Furthermore, effective systems of detention can be and have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption.” – Pope Leo XIV.
🎯 IMPACT: The timing of the DOJ announcement and the Pope’s comment on the death penalty could reignite tensions between the White House and the Vatican. President Trump has not hesitated to criticize the Pope, recently claiming that Pope Leo, an American, was selected last year by the College of Cardinals because of him.
📺 FLASHBACK: Historically, the death penalty was practiced in the former Papal States, where the Pope was the secular ruler, and the Vatican City State included capital punishment in its penal law from its founding in 1929 until 1969. In 2004, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger—the then-future Pope Benedict XVI—stated in his role as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that Catholics are permitted to disagree with the Pope about capital punishment and war, writing, “There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.”

Image by Edgar Beltrán, The Pillar.

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced plans to reinstate firing squads and other execution methods, with Roman Catholic leader Pope Leo XIV reiterating his opposition to the death penalty on Friday in another clash between the Supreme Pontiff and the Trump administration.

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By Popular Demand.
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April 24, 2026
The National Pulse
News

Argie-Bargie as the King Arrives – Friday, April 24, 2026.

This is the National Pulse nightly newsletter, which goes out to subscribers of The National Pulse every evening. On Fridays, I send it to my wider list, with the hopes you’ll all join and support our work. Thank you.
The National Pulse
Nightly.
Friday, April 24, 2026  •  Nº 12
Where MAGA goes to know.
— Tonight’s Cover —
King’s visit overshadowed by Iran-Falklands row.
Presented by  —  Advertise here: media@thenationalpulse.com
Photo of the Day
Photo of the Day
Travis Smith — who was born deaf, was diagnosed with the OTOG mutation, and received Regeneron’s experimental therapy at 18 months as part of a clinical trial — sprawls out on the floor of the Oval Office during a press event, April 23, 2026.
PHOTO: MOLLY RILEY
— From the Editor —
The flags are already up around the White House (the British flags, that is), so it’s probably too late for either nation to back out of an impending State Visit from King Charles on Monday — though secretly I reckon both the U.S. and UK wish this weren’t going on right this very minute.
With all the festivities of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) weekend having already kicked off, the parties will bleed into Monday and Tuesday, as the King arrives for a meeting with President Trump, as well as to deliver a speech to a joint session of Congress. I will be present, thanks to friends in medium to high places, and will report back from the inside.
There are a LOT of events all around town right now. On Wednesday, TownHall threw a party at Butterworth’s, featuring all manner of MAGA VIPs. There was also a very high-profile speech at the British Embassy that night, from historian Robert Hardman. Dignitaries in the room included Cabinet Secretaries and top-level admin staff.
Last night, I stopped in at the YouTube/C-SPAN party at the gorgeous Meridian Hill International Center, followed by the European Union Embassy party. The former was demure and delicate. The latter was tubthumpingly Euro, with many admin staff and D.C. dignitaries in attendance at both.
Tonight, the Daily Mail throws another party at the British Embassy, but the hottest ticket in town is the Executive Branch (Don Jr.’s private club) bash, featuring rapper Nelly. Tomorrow is the actual WHCA dinner, at which President Trump is due to speak. On Sunday, CNN is throwing a brunch at the British Embassy — and then there’s another Garden Party at the British Embassy on Monday, for the arrival of the King.
I hope to still be alive by midweek. Have a great weekend.
Raheem J. Kassam
Editor-in-Chief
Tonight’s Briefing
US-UK · Special Relationship
1. Rumored Memo Suggests U.S. Could Turn on UK Over Falkland Islands.
A leaked Pentagon email floats withdrawing U.S. support for European “imperial possessions” — punishment for NATO’s Iran-war refuseniks.
■ Pulse Points  /  Imperial Possessions
What Happened —  A leaked, rumored Pentagon email floated reviewing U.S. support for European “imperial possessions,” including Britain’s Falkland Islands, in retaliation for European governments refusing to support U.S. operations against Iran. Other measures include blocking nationals of “difficult” countries from senior NATO positions and suspending socialist-led Spain from the alliance altogether.
The Detail —  Britain, Spain, and Italy all denied the U.S. airspace and basing rights during Operation Epic Fury. The memo obtained by Reuters complained that “ABO” — access, basing, and overflight — should be “just the absolute baseline for NATO”. The National Pulse understands the document has not yet been seriously discussed at the highest level, though the President is understood to believe in ratcheting up pressure on allies.
Key Quote —  “The Prime Minister has been clear repeatedly that he will not be pressured. He will always take a strong position on the UK’s national interests, and the Falklands is no different… Sovereignty rests with the UK and self-determination is paramount.” – Downing Street spokesman
Flashback —  In 2013, Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British Overseas Territory — 99.8 percent in favor. Officially, the U.S. is neutral on the British and Argentine claims, though support was provided to the British when Argentina tried to take the islands by force in 1982.
● ● ●
NATO · Alliance
2. NATO Backs Spain Amid U.S. Ouster Rumors.
NATO official: the founding treaty “does not foresee any provision for suspension of NATO membership, or expulsion.”
■ Pulse Points  /  Paper Tiger
What Happened —  The rumored Pentagon email outlining potential retaliation against NATO allies who failed to support the U.S. in Iran suggested Spain could be suspended from the alliance. A NATO official has told the BBC the treaty “does not foresee any provision for suspension of NATO membership, or expulsion.”
The Detail —  The Socialist Party-led country, along with several other European NATO members, refused the U.S. access, basing, and overflight rights amid the war with Iran. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told reporters at an EU summit in Cyprus: “We do not work based on emails. We work with official documents and official positions taken, in this case, by the government of the United States.”
Key Quote —  “As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our NATO allies, they were not there for us. The War Department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger.” – Kingsley Wilson, Pentagon Press Secretary
● ● ●
Tariffs · Tech
3. Trump Threatens ‘Big Tariff’ on Britain Over Tech Tax.
British digital services levy raked in £800m last year — nearly all of it from U.S. tech giants.
■ Pulse Points  /  Drop the Tax
What Happened —  President Trump has warned the British government that the U.S. will impose significant tariffs if it does not repeal its digital services tax — a levy that falls heavily on U.S. tech firms due to their dominant international position.
The Detail —  The two percent levy is imposed on companies with digital revenues exceeding £500 million and over £25 million from British users. Heavy impact on Google, Apple, and Meta. PM Sir Keir Starmer has defended the tax as a necessary fiscal measure, generating £800 million in revenue during 2024-2025.
Key Quote —  “If they don’t drop the tax, we’ll probably put a big tariff on the UK.” – President Donald J. Trump
● ● ●
State Visit · New York
4. Mamdani Set to Meet King Charles in New York.
The pair will appear together at a 9/11 memorial wreath-laying ceremony during the King’s state visit.
■ Pulse Points  /  Manhattan Stop
What Happened —  King Charles III and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) are scheduled to appear together at a wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan next week, alongside other New York elected officials and members of the British royal family.
The Detail —  The state visit begins Monday with two days in Washington, D.C., followed by travel to New York and Virginia. Mamdani — whose Uganda-born father has built a career attacking the British Empire — will attend the joint ceremony but will not hold a private meeting with the King.
Impact —  The King’s four-day visit also includes a private meeting with President Trump and an address to Congress to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
● ● ●
DOJ · Death Penalty
5. Trump DOJ Reinstates Firing Squads for Federal Executions.
Reversing the Biden-era moratorium and the Garland commutations — 44 defendants currently face federal death sentences.
■ Pulse Points  /  The Ultimate Penalty
What Happened —  The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday it will reinstate firing squads as a method of federal execution, plus the pentobarbital lethal injection protocol used during the first Trump administration — reversing Biden-era policies obstructing the execution of the country’s worst criminals.
The Detail —  The DOJ recalled how the former Biden government had “imposed an indefinite moratorium on executions,” “declined to seek the death penalty in many horrific cases,” and “effectively empt[ied] federal death row by commuting the death sentences of 37 of 40 death-row inmates” based on Attorney General Garland’s personal opposition — without consulting all victims’ families.
Key Quote —  “The prior administration failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to pursue and carry out the ultimate punishment against the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, child murderers, and cop killers.” – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
Impact —  The shift potentially affects 44 defendants currently facing death sentences. The DOJ is also considering a rule to empower states to streamline federal habeas review of capital cases — which would “reduce by years the period between conviction and execution.”
● ● ●
Dark Money · Treasury
6. How the SPLC Indictment Will Change ‘Dark Money’ Operations Forever.
Treasury revising IRS Form 990 reporting requirements in the wake of the SPLC scandal — fraud and abuse “behind complicated non-profit arrangements” is the target.
■ Pulse Points  /  Manufactured Hate
What Happened —  The U.S. Treasury Department has announced changes to IRS Form 990 reporting requirements following allegations that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) misused tax-exempt money to fund extremist group leaders.
The Detail —  The DOJ indictment earlier this week alleges the SPLC funneled over $3 million over the course of a decade to leaders and organizers of the Ku Klux Klan, the American Nazi Party, and Aryan Nations — including organizers of the 2017 Unite the Right rally. In 2024, the SPLC reported $800 million in assets and $129 million in revenue. The Form 990 loophole has long allowed organizations to obscure donor identities and payment recipients.
Key Quote —  “Public money and tax-exempt status demand public accountability. We are ending the days of hiding fraud, abuse, and extremist activity behind complicated non-profit arrangements.” – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
Impact —  The changes target groups that allegedly manufacture “hate” in order to generate revenue — a pattern long alleged about the SPLC by conservative critics.
● ● ●
Congress · Corruption
7. Calls to Pardon Soldier Who Bet $400K on Maduro Capture.
Luna: “Members are illegally profiting every day.”
■ Pulse Points  /  Skewed Justice
What Happened —  Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) called for the pardon of active-duty soldier Gannon Ken van Dyke, who was arrested this week after profiting around $400,000 on Polymarket by betting on the fall of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro — using insider knowledge gained while helping plan Operation Absolute Resolve.
The Detail —  Van Dyke bet on the date of Maduro’s fall starting around December 26. U.S. forces captured Maduro on January 3. Luna acknowledges his actions were wrong and called for the winnings to be disgorged, but argues the pardon is warranted because of rampant congressional insider trading that goes unpunished. If not pardoned, Van Dyke could face up to 60 years in prison.
Key Quote —  “Maybe not a popular take but I am calling for this guy to be pardoned. Unless the DOJ plans on going after all the crooks in Congress currently insider trading, this is simply skewed justice.” – Rep. Anna Paulina Luna
● ● ●
Tech · China
8. Eric Trump-Backed Robot Startup Lands $24M Pentagon Deal.
Humanoid “Phantom” robots to break into enemy sites — and catch up with China’s rapidly advancing robotics sector.
■ Pulse Points  /  Phantom Menace
What Happened —  The Pentagon has awarded a $24 million contract to Foundation Future Industries to develop and test humanoid robots for military use. The heavy-duty robots are designed to break into enemy sites, reduce risk to American soldiers, and ensure the U.S. maintains a competitive edge against China. Eric Trump is chief strategy advisor at the firm.
The Detail —  Foundation Future Industries has developed the Phantom Mark 1, an early-production robot, and the Phantom Mark 2, a mass-manufacturing model. The deal lands as China continues to make significant strides in robotics, recently breaking human records in the half-marathon.
Key Quote —  “We are America First. We have to win this race. The uses are unlimited, and I think it’s a very beautiful thing, but we must win this race.” – Eric Trump
On This Day
In History.
1704
The Boston News-Letter, America’s first continuously published newspaper, begins publication.
1800
President John Adams establishes the Library of Congress with a $5,000 appropriation.
1953
Winston Churchill is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
1967
Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov dies on Soyuz 1 re-entry — the first human killed during spaceflight.
1980
Operation Eagle Claw, the U.S. attempt to rescue the Tehran hostages, ends in disaster — eight American servicemen killed.
1990
The Hubble Space Telescope launches aboard Space Shuttle Discovery.
2005
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope, taking the name Benedict XVI.
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