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Wednesday, September 16, 2026

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1 hour ago
News
War

Trump Admin Negotiating With the Houthis to Keep Red Sea Open.

U.S. diplomats met with Houthi representatives in Oman to discuss maintaining a ceasefire and ensuring the Bab al-Mandeb Strait remains open amid escalating regional tensions.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: American diplomats met with representatives of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend to keep the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait open, according to a regional source familiar with the talks. The meeting in Muscat was facilitated by the Omani government and focused on maintaining the May 2025 ceasefire between the United States and the Houthis, as well as ensuring freedom of navigation through the Red Sea chokepoint.
📰 DETAIL: The U.S. delegation consisted of embassy diplomats, while Houthi representatives reportedly said they want the ceasefire with Washington to continue. The Houthis also claimed their ongoing attacks in the region are directed only at Saudi ships amid renewed fighting with Saudi Arabia. They reportedly pledged to allow non-Saudi vessels to pass through the strait. Vice President JD Vance confirmed Monday that the U.S. has been holding direct talks with the Houthis, saying Washington believes it is “on top of the situation.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately spoke with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi on Tuesday about regional de-escalation efforts following weeks of heightened tensions. The talks come as fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has intensified, including Houthi drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi territory. Saudi airstrikes have failed to produce a decisive ground counteroffensive by allied Yemeni forces to undo Houthi advances.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We’ve also been engaged in direct conversations with the Houthis themselves, so we actually feel like we are on top of the situation.” – Vice President JD Vance.
🎯 IMPACT: The talks highlight the Trump administration’s effort to prevent the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis from disrupting one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, while avoiding a broader U.S. military commitment in Yemen. Keeping the Bab al-Mandeb Strait open could help protect global shipping and energy supplies, but renewed Houthi attacks or a collapse of the U.S.-Houthi ceasefire could increase regional instability and pressure Washington to become more directly involved.

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By Popular Demand.
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48 minutes ago
Economy
News

Trump Demands Major Interest Rate Cut Following Fed Hike.

President Donald J. Trump called for significant interest rate cuts following the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise rates for the first time in three years.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the rate from 3.75 percent to 4.00 percent, following a prolonged period of steady rates. President Donald J. Trump responded by urging the Fed to lower rates to one percent or less, citing the United States’ strong credit and booming investment climate.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Interest Rates in the United States should be 1%, or less, because we are the Best Credit in the World — BY FAR. Our Country is BOOMING with new Investment! If we stopped Trading with every country that we have a Deficit with, which is most of them, we would make, at least, 1.5 Trillion Dollars a year. The word ‘Deficit’ is nothing more than a fancy word for LOSS. We are ‘carrying’ almost every country in the World, and that cannot go on any longer. LOWER THE INTEREST RATES FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND FAST! – President Trump on Truth Social
🎯 IMPACT: Trump’s remarks highlight a sharp contrast with the Federal Reserve’s current monetary policy, which aims to combat inflation by raising rates. His call for drastic rate cuts underscores his belief that lower interest rates could further stimulate economic growth and reduce trade deficits with other countries.
📺 DETAIL: Trump has a long history of criticizing Federal Reserve policies, previously targeting former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell for hesitating to lower rates. However, his latest comments notably omit direct criticism of current Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh, whom he appointed earlier this year, signaling he is willing to give the central bank’s new leadership some leeway despite going against his wishes.

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President Donald J. Trump called for significant interest rate cuts following the Federal Reserve's decision to raise rates for the first time in three years.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Immigration
News

Trump Hits 16-Month Streak of Zero Border Releases.

The Trump administration has set a new record in border security, marking 16 months of zero releases at the U.S.-Mexico border while significantly reducing illegal crossings and increasing drug seizures.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has announced 16 consecutive months of zero releases at the U.S.-Mexico border.
📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, it was revealed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made zero releases at the border last month. This represents a record low and a decrease from the over 10,000 releases made under the Biden government in August 2024. CBP apprehended 8,870 migrants at the Southwest border in August, a five percent decrease from July. This also represents a 94 percent decline from the monthly average experienced under former President Joe Biden. “Border security starts with knowing who and what is entering our country – and controlling it on behalf of the American people… That means people who cross illegally are apprehended, detained and removed – not released into the United States. Our agents are enforcing that standard every day,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott. Moreover, drug seizures increased 61 percent compared to the average of last four years. Drug seizures also increased 73 percent compared with the Biden government during the same period. In particular, cocaine seizures increased by 28 percent, and precursor chemical seizures exceeded 120,000 pounds.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Catch and release is over, consequences are back, and illegal crossings have fallen to historic lows. President Trump made a promise to the American people that he would make America safe again, and he has done just that by giving us the most secure border in American history.” – Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin
🎯 IMPACT: This represents a major achievement for the Trump administration, which has put border enforcement and immigration control at the forefront of its policy program. The data draws a sharp contrast with the Biden government, which was widely criticized for its failure to curb illegal crossings of the U.S.-Mexico border.
📺 FLASHBACK: Back in June, CBP announced that it had a record-breaking 21,471 agents on staff, the highest in the agency’s history. “Surpassing 21,000 agents is a milestone, but we aren’t stopping here and are committed to growing our workforce and providing the tools and resources needed for CBP’s mission… Our focus is on bringing in top talent and supporting our agents so they can succeed,” said Human Resources Management Assistant Commissioner Andrea Bright.

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The Trump administration has set a new record in border security, marking 16 months of zero releases at the U.S.-Mexico border while significantly reducing illegal crossings and increasing drug seizures.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
News
Politics

Abdul El-Sayed Refuses to Return Donations From Groups Linked to Terrorism.

Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing scrutiny over campaign donations from individuals linked to organizations with known ties to terror groups, dismissing criticism as racially motivated.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed defended accepting campaign contributions from donors affiliated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), rejecting calls from Republican opponent Mike Rogers to return the money. On Tuesday, El-Sayed was asked whether he would give back donations from CAIR-linked individuals, and insisted he would not.
📺 DETAIL: El-Sayed’s campaign received more than $115,000 from at least 41 people who have worked for, previously worked for, or held leadership positions with CAIR. Rogers has argued that the contributions should be returned, citing CAIR’s history of alleged ties to Hamas and its designation as a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as Florida and Texas. CAIR was also named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the federal Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case. El-Sayed claims CAIR is a civil rights organization and accused Rogers of attempting to make the Senate race about his ethnicity and Muslim faith. The controversy comes as El-Sayed also faces scrutiny over his association with far-left streamer Hasan Piker, who has previously said “America deserved 9/11” and openly supported the terrorist Houthis. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “That civil rights organization [CAIR] exists because people like Mike Rogers want to make this race about the color of my skin or how I pray.” – Abdul El-Sayed
🎯 IMPACT: The controversy could intensify scrutiny of Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign financing and his relationships with Islamic advocacy groups as the Michigan Senate race moves toward its fall debates. It also gives Republicans an opportunity to focus the campaign on questions surrounding terrorism-related allegations and associations.

Image by Conlan Houston.

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Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing scrutiny over campaign donations from individuals linked to organizations with known ties to terror groups, dismissing criticism as racially motivated.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Economy
News

BREAKING: Fed Defies Trump, Hikes Interest Rates for First Time in Three Years.

The Federal Reserve has increased interest rates to combat persistent inflation, amid geopolitical issues and rising energy prices caused by the Iran and Ukraine wars.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate to a range of 3.75 percent to four percent, marking the first increase since July 2023. This decision was made unanimously by the central bank to address persistent inflation concerns.
📰 DETAIL: The Fed’s decision comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with Iran largely closing down the Strait of Hormuz following clashes with the U.S. and Israel and the Iran-backed Houthis disrupting oil exports from Saudi Arabia more broadly. The regional conflict has driven oil prices higher, contributing to inflationary pressures. Mutual, escalating strikes on energy infrastructure by Ukraine and Russia, particularly diesel-producing refineries in Russia, are likely to exacerbate this instability. The U.S. central bank anticipates one more rate hike this year, with officials divided on how many more are needed. Inflation is projected to rise to 3.7 percent on a headline basis, with core inflation at 3.4 percent.
🎯 IMPACT: The rate hike is intended to stabilize prices and support the Fed’s two percent inflation goal, though officials do not expect to reach this target until after 2028. The decision comes ahead of the November midterm elections, with President Donald J. Trump, who has consistently pushed for lower interest rates, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent likely to object to the timing and question the necessity of the rate increase.

This story is developing…

Image by Rafael Saldana.

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The Federal Reserve has increased interest rates to combat persistent inflation, amid geopolitical issues and rising energy prices caused by the Iran and Ukraine wars.

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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5 hours ago
Crime
News

Suspected Lockerbie Bomber to Stand Trial 38 Years After Pan Am Attack Killed 270.

The trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, accused of building the bomb responsible for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, is set to begin in January, following decades of investigation and legal delays.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The alleged Lockerbie bomber will finally face trial nearly four decades after the attack that killed 270 people, with prosecutors telling a U.S. court that Americans were the intended targets. During a preliminary hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Keil said the plot was designed to “inflict pain and horror that would be reported around the world.”
📺 DETAIL: Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, now in his mid-seventies, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of destroying an aircraft resulting in death, offenses carrying a potential life sentence. Prosecutors and defense attorneys told Judge Dabney Friedrich they would be ready to begin proceedings in January, with the trial expected to last about two months and jury selection potentially beginning January 19. Friedrich warned that she would not tolerate further delays after the trial was postponed three times, most recently when jury selection scheduled for August 26 was halted following the discovery of new evidence. The defense said the new material would add about a week to its case and require testimony from four additional expert witnesses, while prosecutors allege Al-Marimi previously admitted involvement in the bombing, a claim his lawyers dispute. Al-Marimi was extradited from Libya to the United States in 2022 and is accused of building the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
🎯 IMPACT: The long-delayed trial could provide new evidence and testimony about who was responsible for the Lockerbie bombing and the broader Libyan role in the attack. A conviction could also mark a significant development in the decades-long effort to establish accountability for the 270 deaths, while potentially shedding further light on disputed aspects of the case.
📺 FLASHBACK: The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 occurred on December 21, 1988, when the Boeing 747 exploded at 31,000 feet, just 38 minutes after leaving London Heathrow for New York. All 259 crew and passengers, the youngest just two months old, were killed, along with eleven people, three of them children as young as ten, in the Scottish town of Lockerbie, after the aircraft’s main wing box structure, loaded with roughly 200,000 pounds of aviation fuel, smashed into houses on the ground and exploded. Only one individual, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, was previously convicted for the attack in 2001, though he was released by the Scottish Government on so-called compassionate grounds in 2009, on the understanding that he was on the verge of death. He was welcomed back to Libya as a national hero and lived for several years, dying in 2012 following a civil war.

Image via Air Accident Investigation Branch.

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The trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, accused of building the bomb responsible for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, is set to begin in January, following decades of investigation and legal delays.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

Farage’s Reform Party Batters Establishment ‘Conservatives’ in Special Election.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has secured a significant local election victory over the Conservative Party.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has won a local by-election (special election) in Reform Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick’s constituency (electoral district).
📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, it was announced that Reform candidate Matthew Evans had won the East Markham ward (city council district) by-election. The ward is located in Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire, in England’s East Midlands region. The constituency is represented by Reform’s Robert Jenrick in the House of Commons. Reform secured 49.6 percent of the vote, while support for Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch’s nominally Conservative Party plummeted by 37.6 percent to 28.4 percent. The governing Labour Party came in third with 17.2 percent, a decline of 4.1 percent, while the far-left Green Party only won 4.8 percent. This was Reform’s first time contesting the seat. “An incredible 44% swing from Tory to Reform in Newark! So proud of our candidate, Matthew Evans and my hardworking team. Deeply honoured that my Newark constituents are backing Reform,” posted Jenrick on X (formerly Twitter).
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Excellent win in [Robert Jenrick’s] seat last night. While the Tories plummeted to 28.4%, Reform gained almost 50% on our first time standing there. The Conservative Party is dead.” — Nigel Farage
🎯 IMPACT: This constitutes another blow to the Conservative Party’s electoral prospects and another gain for Reform. Evans will serve as a councillor on Bassetlaw District Council. The result is likely to be viewed as an endorsement of Jenrick, who was originally elected as a member of the Conservative Party but defected to Reform earlier this year.
📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this year, Reform stormed to victory over the governing Labour Party in the country’s local elections, resulting in the resignation of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the installation of current Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

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Nigel Farage's Reform UK has secured a significant local election victory over the Conservative Party.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

Farage Threatens to Sever Union Funding Lifeline for Britain’s Governing Labour Party.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has pushed back against Labour’s proposal to retroactively ban donations to his party, warning of potential reforms targeting the Labour Party’s financial backing from the trade unions.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage has threatened to cut off the governing Labour Party’s funding lifeline from the country’s trade unions.
📺 DETAIL: Following back-to-back £36 million (~$48 million) donations to Reform from British cryptocurrency entrepreneurs Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, the Labour government announced plans to restrict donations to political parties. Among other measures, the British government has floated retroactively banning the donations from Delo and Harborne to Reform. In response, Farage highlighted Labour’s reliance on donations from trade unions, which have totaled over £53 million ($72 million) since 2010. The Reform leader also accused the Labour Party of using “old communist state” tactics as well as rewarding its donors with favorable legislation and government contracts. Farage warned that if Labour retroactively bans the combined £72 million (~$97 million) contribution from Delo and Harborne, a Reform-led government will introduce legislation to ban trade union donations to political parties. The Reform leader clarified that neither Delo nor Harborne would be given positions in the House of Lords, the upper house of Britain’s legislature, which is populated by political appointees. “Neither Ben Delo nor Christopher Harborne will be getting membership of the House of Lords. It isn’t happening. We’re not for sale,” Farage declared.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “If anybody is giving money to do political bidding, it’s the trade unions,” said Farage in a recent video posted on X (formerly Twitter).
🎯 IMPACT: If Labour succeeds in retroactively banning the donations, it could set a controversial precedent for rewriting laws to target political opponents. If Reform is elected and manages to pass legislation to ban donations from trade unions, the Labour Party would be cut off from its primary source of funding, radically altering the political landscape.
📺 FLASHBACK: Delo and Harborne announced their donations earlier this month. Both men argued that the large donations are necessary to help Reform overcome the inbuilt advantages afforded to the two main establishment parties, namely Labour and the Conservatives (Tories). This follows government legislation limiting donations from British expatriates to £100,000 (~$135,000), a move widely seen as targeting Delo and Harborne, who were based in Hong Kong and Thailand, respectively, but have since relocated to Britain.

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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has pushed back against Labour's proposal to retroactively ban donations to his party, warning of potential reforms targeting the Labour Party's financial backing from the trade unions.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
Economy
News
War

Saudis Halt Oil Shipments to Europe Following Houthi Attacks.

Houthi drone strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure disrupt global energy supplies, prompting international concern and potential military responses.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Saudi Arabia has been forced to suspend some oil shipments to Europe after drone attacks damaged its key East-West oil pipeline, which had provided a crucial alternative to the heavily disrupted Strait of Hormuz. Iraqi terrorists are suspected of carrying out the attack, while Iran-backed Houthi forces have continued targeting shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting a major route for global oil and commodity trade.
📺 DETAIL: Saudi officials told European customers Tuesday that some oil loadings at the Red Sea port of Yanbu had been suspended and that some September deliveries had been canceled. The kingdom has reportedly turned to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham for assistance in countering the Houthis and protecting its energy infrastructure, with the British government agreeing to send military advisers while considering further action. Burnham is expected to discuss the escalating conflict and its economic consequences with President Donald J. Trump when the two leaders meet next week, after Trump reportedly declined Saudi requests for military strikes against the Houthis. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright sought to reassure markets by saying crude would resume flowing through the pipeline within days, while Saudi Arabia is expected to increase the use of so-called dark shipments to maintain exports. The conflict has also intensified inside Saudi Arabia, with Jeddah Airport closed on Tuesday and Saudi authorities reporting that air defenses intercepted a Houthi drone approaching prohibited airspace over Mecca.
🎯 IMPACT: The attacks threaten to further disrupt global oil supplies by damaging a major Saudi export route that provides an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, potentially adding upward pressure to crude prices and energy costs worldwide. Continued Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure and Red Sea shipping could also deepen regional instability and increase risks to global trade and energy security.

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Houthi drone strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure disrupt global energy supplies, prompting international concern and potential military responses.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
News
Politics

Top ‘Conservative’ Downplays Grooming Gangs: Not a ‘Real Problem.’

Former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Rory Stewart called the grooming gangs scandal in Britain a “manageable problem” in a recent podcast appearance, sparking criticism of downplaying the issue and being out of touch.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Rory Stewart, a former Conservative (Tory) Party government minister and leadership contender, claimed that Britain’s grooming gangs scandal is not one of the “real problems” facing the country.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Were there horrible abuse and grooming gangs? Absolutely. Are there families living in Birmingham who I think are facing bad issues for their own families and society? Yes. Do I think that this is a big problem for Britain? No. This is a manageable problem. Including some very unpleasant things where the police did not act correctly, people behaved in an evil fashion, and they need to be prosecuted. But what are the real problems facing Britain? Not this.” – Rory Stewart
📺 DETAIL: Speaking on The Spectator‘s “Quite Right!” podcast to Michael Gove, another former senior Tory politician and leadership contender, Stewart downplayed the issue, characterizing it as a minor side issue. Stewart stood in the Conservative Party leadership race back in 2019 in a bid to obstruct Brexit, Britain’s democratic decision to leave the European Union (EU). After failing to win the leadership, Stewart resigned from Parliament that same year. In 2022, Stewart began co-hosting The Rest is Politics podcast with Alastair Campbell, the former Director of Communications for former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, linked closely to the Iraq War. “I wouldn’t have expected much else from him, to be honest. He is an elite man, he lives in an elite world. His political views are extremely liberal around his experiences. So, looking at this as a wider issue, he would say, ‘Well, it’s a few people, it’s specific areas, what has that got to do with the national story?’ And obviously and unfortunately, we are ruled by people like that,” commented academic Lisa McKenzie on Stewart’s grooming gangs remarks.
🎯 IMPACT: Stewart’s remarks are likely to reinforce perceptions that the grooming gangs scandal was allowed to happen because members of Britain’s political establishment, from both the ruling Labour Party and the formerly governing Conservatives, did not regard it as a legitimate problem, with some even characterizing it as a conspiracy theory. Notably, Stewart’s The Rest is Politics co-host Alastair Campbell previously circulated false claims about Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk supporting stoning homosexuals shortly after his assassination in September last year.

Image via No 10 Downing Street.

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Former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Rory Stewart called the grooming gangs scandal in Britain a "manageable problem" in a recent podcast appearance, sparking criticism of downplaying the issue and being out of touch.

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By Popular Demand.
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9 hours ago
News
War

Trump Admin Plans $2.8 Billion in Taxpayer-Subsidized Arms Sales to Israel.

The Trump administration is moving forward with a $2.8 billion arms deal to Israel, reigniting debates over U.S. military aid amid ongoing tensions in Gaza.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel that would include 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, weapons that the Biden government temporarily withheld in 2024 over concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza. The proposed deal reportedly includes 20,000 Mk84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117s, though the package has not yet been finalized.
📺 DETAIL: Congress has been informally notified of the proposed sale, which would largely be funded through U.S. foreign military financing. This allows Israel to use American taxpayer funds to purchase U.S.-made weapons. The potential sale follows several other moves by the Trump administration to expand Israel’s military capabilities, including a nearly $3 billion weapons package approved last year and additional sales worth $6.67 billion approved in January. The 2,000-pound bombs have different variants, including weapons designed to penetrate underground targets and others capable of causing extensive damage above ground. The U.S.-made bombs have previously been used against Hamas tunnel networks in Gaza. The proposal comes as Israel continues to face international pressure over its military campaign following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, terror raids against Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Although a fragile ceasefire has reduced the intensity of fighting, Israeli strikes and attacks by militants have continued, with Israel saying its operations respond to violations of the agreement. Gaza’s Hamas-aligned Health Ministry claims more than 73,264 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, including deaths reported after the ceasefire.
🎯 IMPACT: The proposed $2.8 billion weapons package would further strengthen Israel’s military capabilities while signaling continued U.S. support for its defense despite international pressure over the Gaza conflict.

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The Trump administration is moving forward with a $2.8 billion arms deal to Israel, reigniting debates over U.S. military aid amid ongoing tensions in Gaza.

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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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