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May 27, 2023
News

DeSantis’s ‘Never Back Down’ PAC Advisor Backs Down, Leaves PAC.

Long-time Ron DeSantis advisor Phil Cox is “stepping down” from his role with the Florida governor’s presidential campaign political action committee: the ‘Never Back Down PAC’. The news comes one month after The National Pulse revealed that Cox was also a partner at the parent firm of pro-DeSantis pollster, Gp3, also known as ‘POS Strategies’.

Cox served as the political director for DeSantis’s reelection campaign just last year, and was described as leading “the strategy and messaging for the super PAC.”

A board member for Mitch McConnell’s Senate Leadership Fund, Cox’s reason for departure is still unknown, with POLITICO reporter Alex Isenstadt reporting: “Phil Cox is stepping down from his volunteer role at the pro-DeSantis Never Back Down super PAC, per person familiar. People close to Cox say he remains a supporter of DeSantis.”

Bizarrely, Cox was spotted golfing a few hours before Donald Trump himself teed off at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, on Thursday.

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
The scuttlebutt so far is that Jeff Roe, the chief strategist in Tallahassee, has been lumping the blame for the campaign’s missteps on Cox, and he had enough of it
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The scuttlebutt so far is that Jeff Roe, the chief strategist in Tallahassee, has been lumping the blame for the campaign’s missteps on Cox, and he had enough of it show more
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By Popular Demand.
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17 minutes ago
News
War

Graham Urges Trump to Arm Iranian Opposition Forces.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has called on President Donald J. Trump to commit to arming Iranian civilians and opposition groups in an effort to topple the Islamic regime, claiming Iranians want to overthrow the government but lack the weapons to do so.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has proposed arming Iranian citizens to help them resist and overthrow the Islamic Republic’s regime. He described this as a “Second Amendment solution” to empower Iranians against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in a Fox News interview on Monday.
📺 DETAIL: Graham framed the idea as consistent with American founding principles, claiming governments often disarm citizens to maintain control and that arming the population could “turn the tide” against Iran’s leadership. Graham suggested the U.S. and its allies weapons directly to Iranian citizens, describing them as “millions of boots on the ground” who currently lack the means to fight. He also argued such an approach would make life difficult for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps by forcing them to confront armed resistance from within the country. The comments come amid renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and similar remarks from President Donald J. Trump indicating that armed Iranian civilians could be more effective in resisting the regime. Trump previously attempted to arm Iranian protestors, only for Kurdish groups to appropriate the weapons for themselves.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I love the idea of empowering the Iranian people with weapons, a Second Amendment solution to make the Revolutionary Guard’s life hell.” – Senator Lindsey Graham
🎯 IMPACT: Graham’s proposal demonstrates that he remains set on trying to topple the Iranian regime, despite evidence that, internally, the country is not as divided as previously thought. While weapons flows could destabilize the country, it remains unclear if it could lead to a successful popular uprising, or merely descend the country into years of bloody civil war, similar to Libya and Syria.

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Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has called on President Donald J. Trump to commit to arming Iranian civilians and opposition groups in an effort to topple the Islamic regime, claiming Iranians want to overthrow the government but lack the weapons to do so.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
News
UK

REPORT: Lawmakers in UK PM Starmer’s Party Are Preparing to Oust Him.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing internal pressure from his party’s lawmakers, as it heads towards heavy losses in regional and local elections on May 7.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of its governing Labour Party, is reportedly facing pressure from Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) to resign as the party anticipates heavy losses in regional and local elections on May 7.
📺 DETAIL: On Tuesday, it was reported that backbench Labour MPs are making a coordinated effort to oust their leader. Some Labour MPs blame the Prime Minister for their party’s widespread unpopularity ahead of English local council elections and elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments—roughly equivalent to U.S. state legislatures. At present, the Labour Party is projected to suffer massive losses across the country, with Nigel Farage’s Reform Party and Zack Polanski’s far-left Green Party on track to make substantial gains, despite the latter’s recent dip in popularity. A growing number of Labour MPs are expected to call for Prime Minister Starmer’s resignation after the local elections on May 7. While some Cabinet ministers are said to be aware of the plot to oust the Prime Minister, they have not yet joined the effort. The plan involves an open letter demanding Starmer set a departure date, echoing a similar challenge to former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2006.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We can’t be like the Tories and doom scroll through leaders, it ends in annihilation.” – Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
🎯 IMPACT: It is highly likely that an attempt to oust Starmer after the local elections on Thursday, should Labour suffer heavy losses as projected. Labour is projected to lose a large number of its local councillors as well as control over multiple councils. The party is likely to lose seats in Northern England, the Midlands, and Wales to Reform, and lose ground in Londonand other left-wing strongholds to the Green Party. Unlike U.S. presidents, British prime ministers can be pushed out at any time should they lose the confidence of the House of Commons. In practice, this means that the largest party in that chamber usually controls who holds the office, much like the speakership in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing internal pressure from his party's lawmakers, as it heads towards heavy losses in regional and local elections on May 7.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
News
UK

Green Party Leader Polls PLUMMET After Attack on Cops Who Stopped Terrorist.

British Green Party leader Zack Polanski’s approval rating has crashed after he attacked police officers for stopping a man accused of stabbing two Jews in an anti-Semitic terror attack too “violently.”

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Zack Polanski, leader of Britain’s far-left Green Party, has seen his approval rating fall by 14 points following his response to an apparent anti-Semitic terror attack in Golders Green, according to a poll by More in Common published on Tuesday. His rating now stands at -27 percent, trailing behind Reform Party leader Nigel Farage but ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
📰 DETAIL: Polanski faced backlash after criticizing police actions during the arrest of an armed Somali following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, an area of London known for its large Jewish population, on April 29. Polanski shared a social media post showing police tasering the Somali and kicking him to make him release a knife, contending the officers were “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated.” This led to condemnation from other politicians and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley. Polanski later apologized for his comments, acknowledging that social media was not the right platform for such discussions.
🎯 IMPACT: The controversy has notably affected Polanski’s standing, as the Greens look to displace Starmer’s Labour Party on the British left in regional and local elections on May 7. Despite the drop, the Greens are still projected to make gains in London boroughs.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Police responses to emergency situations such as these do need later reflection in the right forums, but I accept that social media is not the appropriate channel for doing so.” – Zack Polanski

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British Green Party leader Zack Polanski's approval rating has crashed after he attacked police officers for stopping a man accused of stabbing two Jews in an anti-Semitic terror attack too "violently."

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
1A
News

Germany Investigates Christian YouTubers for Blasphemy Against Islam.

Two Christian YouTubers in Germany face prosecution under blasphemy laws after criticizing Islamic anti-Semitism and using Islamic religious texts to prove their case.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: German prosecutors are investigating Christian YouTubers Niko and Tino, hosts of the channel Eternal Life, for alleged blasphemy after they posted a video in December 2024 criticizing Islamic anti-Semitism. The charges fall under Article 166 of the German Criminal Code, which criminalizes “denigrating a religious community” and carries a potential prison sentence of up to three years.
📺 DETAIL: In the video, they condemned anti-Semitism and argued Islam promotes violence and hatred, statements that authorities say may violate Germany’s laws against denigrating religious communities. The Hamburg public prosecutor first opened an investigation into one of the YouTubers in early 2025, later expanding it to the second creator under Article 166 of the German Criminal Code, which provides penalties of up to three years in prison for statements that disturb public peace. The video has since been removed and reportedly flagged as dangerous by YouTube. The case comes amid several controversial court cases in Germany regarding online speech, including one last year in which a woman was charged for using an emoji in reaction to another person’s social media post.
🎯 IMPACT: The investigation highlights growing tensions in Germany over free speech, religious criticism, and anti-Semitism, especially in the context of recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Critics warn that blasphemy laws are being used to stifle legitimate debate, raising concerns over the balance between protecting religious communities and upholding free expression.
📺 FLASHBACK: Germany has faced criticism in the past for its enforcement of blasphemy laws, which some argue disproportionately target Christian and conservative voices while ignoring other forms of religious criticism.

Image by Markus Spiske.

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Two Christian YouTubers in Germany face prosecution under blasphemy laws after criticizing Islamic anti-Semitism and using Islamic religious texts to prove their case.

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By Popular Demand.
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16 hours ago
Crime
News

Arson Suspect Wanted to Target ‘The Rich’ in Deadly Palisades Fire, Court Hears.

Court filings reveal new details about the alleged motives of the suspect in one of California’s most destructive wildfires, compounding pre-existing fears about left-wing political violence.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Prosecutors say that Jonathan Rinderknecht, the 29-year-old charged with starting the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people across Pacific Palisades and Malibu, California, in January 2025, intended to target “the rich” and expressed intense anti-capitalist sentiment.
📺 DETAIL: On Monday, it was reported that prosecutors have alleged that Jonathan Rinderknecht, the 29-year-old charged with starting the Palisade Fires, sought to target wealthy residents, expressing anger at capitalism and dismay at personal issues on New Year’s Eve. The Palisades Fire killed 12 people and destroyed large areas of Pacific Palisades and Malibu, California, in January 2025. Rinderknecht was allegedly distraught over a failed relationship, as well as upset over a lack of New Year’s Eve plans. According to court filings, Rinderknecht made explicit reference to accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione during an interview with investigators back in January, and that he made similar references to Mangione during an intense anti-capitalist rant while working as an Uber driver. Prosecutors allege that Rinderknecht started an initial fire on New Year’s Day that smoldered undetected before reigniting and spreading roughly a week later. The defense maintains that he is being used as a scapegoat for the Los Angeles Fire Department, which it claims failed to extinguish the initial fire. Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “[Rinderknecht] responded that it would be out of resentment of the rich enjoying their money as ‘we’re basically being enslaved by them.'” – Summary of Rinderknecht’s answer to investigators when asked about a motive for the fire.
🎯 IMPACT: The Palisades Fire became one of California’s most destructive wildfires. The fire burned nearly 24,000 acres, killed 12 people, and caused $150 billion in damages. The alleged mention of Mangione raises pre-existing concerns regarding leftist violence. Mangione, who was accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024, has since become a far-left political icon. Mangione has amassed $40,000 in his jail commissary account, largely funded by his supporters. In 2025, it was reported that Rinderknecht frequently shared leftist and climate alarmist content on Facebook, and that when Rinderknecht was first arrested back, authorities found a ChatGPT-generated image of a burning city on his digital devices.

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Court filings reveal new details about the alleged motives of the suspect in one of California's most destructive wildfires, compounding pre-existing fears about left-wing political violence.

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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17 hours ago
News
World

European Capital Outlaws Ads for Burgers, Gas Cars, and Cruises.

Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, has implemented a new ban on advertising meat and fossil fuel products.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has implemented a ban on public adverts for meat and fossil fuel products. The ban’s restrictions apply to billboards, tram shelters, and metro stations.
📺 DETAIL: The city council of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has approved a ban on public advertising for meat and fossil fuel products, including burgers, gasoline cars, airlines, and cruises. The ban came into effect on Friday. The measure is part of the city council’s broader strategy to reduce meat consumption by 50 percent and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Similar bans have been enacted in other Dutch cities such as Haarlem, Utrecht, and Nijmegen. Dutch politicians have compared the ban to restrictions on tobacco adverts. The ban was proposed by two left-wing parties, the GreenLeft Party and Party for the Animals. The memo from the city council describes meat consumption as “harmful to the environment and generally undesirable from an animal welfare perspective” and argues that advertising fossil fuel products conflicts with pre-existing climate goals.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The climate crisis is very urgent. If you want to be leading in climate policies and you rent out your walls to exactly the opposite, then what are you doing?” –  Anneke Veenhoff of the GreenLeft Party.
🎯 IMPACT: The ban has sparked backlash, characterizing it as overly paternalistic and an expansion of the nanny state. Dutch trade organizations regard the restrictions as harmful and overkill. The Dutch Meat Association called it “an undesirable way to influence consumer behavior,” citing the essential nutrients provided by meat. According to the city’s own memo, Amsterdam earns over €12m a year from outdoor advertising contracts, and banning adverts for fossil fuel products could result in a revenue loss ranging from €456,000 (~$533,000) to €855,000 (~$1m). This is not the first time Amsterdam has served as a site for far-left social engineering programs. In early January, an investigation revealed that students living with asylum seekers as part of an integration experiment in Amsterdam reported years of sexual assaults, violence, and harassment.

Image by Jaggery.

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Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, has implemented a new ban on advertising meat and fossil fuel products.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
Crime
Election Integrity
Immigration

Multiple Immigrants Charged with Voting Illegally.

The Justice Department has charged four immigrants in New Jersey for allegedly voting illegally by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, strengthening the case for the SAVE America Act.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against four immigrants in New Jersey for allegedly voting illegally. The immigrants, from various countries, are accused of registering and voting in U.S. elections despite not being citizens.
📰 DETAIL: The immigrants charged are David Neewilly from Liberia, Jacenth Beadle Exum from Jamaica, Idan Choresh from Israel, and Abhinandan Vig from India. Prosecutors allege the defendants certified on voter registration forms that they were citizens, a legal requirement to participate in federal elections. After voting, each individual is accused of submitting naturalization applications in which they falsely stated under penalty of perjury that they had never registered or voted in any election. The charges include illegal voting, making false statements, and unlawful procurement of citizenship, with potential penalties ranging from several years to more than a decade in prison if convicted. The case was brought following an investigation by federal authorities, including an election integrity task force in New Jersey. Officials said the prosecutions underscore efforts to enforce election laws and maintain the integrity of the voting system. Other states have found thousands of nonvoters on their electoral rolls in recent months. Noncitizens voting in some blue states, like California, has been going on for decades.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This administration will not tolerate aliens who attempt to vote in our elections when they know they are not eligible,” said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
🎯 IMPACT: The charges highlight the Trump administration’s focus on voter fraud, particularly involving noncitizens, which undermines election integrity. The penalties for such offenses can be severe, including up to 10 years in prison for false statements leading to citizenship. Election integrity proponents say such cases prove the need for voter identification laws, such as the SAVE America Act.

Image by Tim Brown.

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The Justice Department has charged four immigrants in New Jersey for allegedly voting illegally by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, strengthening the case for the SAVE America Act.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
Election Integrity
UK

Revealed: Pakistani-Heritage UK Cabinet Minister’s Mail-In Ballot Was Investigated for Fraud.

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s mail-in ballot was scrutinized in a historic voter fraud case, raising questions ahead of the local elections.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood—whose Cabinet role is roughly equivalent to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary—had her postal (mail-in) ballot examined by a judge in connection with a vote-rigging scandal during the 2004 local elections in Birmingham, an English city with a large Muslim population.
📰 DETAIL: On Sunday, it was revealed that a postal ballot cast by Shabana Mahmood was examined in connection with a voter fraud scandal in 2004. In 2005, a special election court discovered that widespread voter fraud had taken place during the 2004 local elections in Birmingham, a major city with a large Muslim population. Notably, Mahmood has served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010. A High Court judge ruled that thousands of votes were faked, implicating Labor councilors. Five Labour councilors were convicted and there was a re-run of the election. Mahmood’s father, a former Labour election agent, was originally suspected but ultimately cleared of wrongdoing. While Mahmood was never accused of wrongdoing, it was revealed for the first time on Sunday night that she used different signatures on her declaration of identity document and her ballot application form.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Shabana signed both of these documents. As a student, aged 22, she signed two different documents, on different occasions, in different ways.” – Spokesman for Shabana Mahmood.
🎯 IMPACT: The revelation has reminded the public of the industrial-scale voter fraud scandal in Birmingham in 2004 ahead of this year’s local elections on May 7. According to recent polling, the governing Labour Party is on track for heavy losses later this week. The party is not only expected to lose votes to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party and Zack Polanski’s far-left Green Party as well as Muslim independents, particularly in cities like Birmingham. According to a recent poll from YouGov, the largest polling firm in Britain, Reform is on track to become the largest party in the West Midlands.

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British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's mail-in ballot was scrutinized in a historic voter fraud case, raising questions ahead of the local elections.

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By Popular Demand.
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19 hours ago
News

BREAKING: Secret Service Shoots Man Near Washington Monument, White House Locked Down.

A man was shot by the Secret Service near the Washington Monument, prompting a lockdown of the White House.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that its officers were involved in a shooting near the Washington Monument, resulting in one individual being wounded. The White House was temporarily put into lockdown as a precaution.
📍 WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred at 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “U.S. Secret Service personnel are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at 15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C. One individual was shot by law enforcement; their condition is currently unknown,” the Secret Service stated.
🎯 IMPACT: The shooting led to heightened security measures in the area, including a White House lockdown, underscoring the ongoing challenges of maintaining security in the nation’s capital. Notably, an event involving President Donald J. Trump and small business owners took place as planned, although journalists at the White House were taken to a briefing room for safety.
📺 DETAIL: The Secret Service has not yet disclosed the identity or condition of the individual who was shot, nor has it provided details on what led to the incident. The situation remains under investigation, and further updates are expected.

This story is developing…

Image by Anthony Quintano.

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A man was shot by the Secret Service near the Washington Monument, prompting a lockdown of the White House.

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By Popular Demand.
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20 hours ago
News
World

Trump Plans Further Troop Reductions in Europe.

President Donald J. Trump’s plan to cut U.S. troop levels in Europe beyond an initial 5,000-man withdrawal from Germany could face resistance from Congress.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has announced plans to significantly reduce U.S. troop levels in Europe, exceeding the 5,000-troop withdrawal already ordered from Germany on Friday.
📺 DETAIL: On Saturday, President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to significantly reduce the presence of U.S. troops in Europe, exceeding the 5,000 initially withdrawn from Germany on Friday. The withdrawal of 5,000 troops is scheduled to take place over the next six to 12 months, according to the Pentagon. The President’s mention of “cutting a lot further than 5,000” comes as the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 introduces a binding provision that prevents the Pentagon from cutting the number of U.S. troops in Europe below 76,000 for more than 45 days, and requires the Pentagon to certify that troop reductions below 76,000 in Europe will not harm U.S. or NATO security.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.” — President Donald J. Trump.
🎯 IMPACT: While the current withdrawal is nowhere near the 76,000 threshold, the President’s comments suggest the threshold could become more relevant. The move follows the administration’s growing frustration with Europe, including its reluctance to cooperate during the Iran war, which has compounded longstanding concerns about Europe’s reliance on the U.S. for protection while failing to make adequate NATO contributions. The withdrawal of troops reflects decisions made during the first Trump administration. In 2020, the President ordered the withdrawal of 12,000 troops from Germany, citing the country’s insufficient NATO contributions. The new withdrawal allows the U.S. to shift its military resources to other zones of interest.

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President Donald J. Trump's plan to cut U.S. troop levels in Europe beyond an initial 5,000-man withdrawal from Germany could face resistance from Congress.

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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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