No more news today. But if you’re looking for something to do besides fireworks and that light lager you people seem to enjoy so much, take a listen to the first episode of ‘The Campaign Trail’ podcast.
Otherwise, enjoy your day and happy 4th!
More From The Pulse
Illegal crossings of the English Channel by small boats filled with illegal immigrants have resumed just days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Illegal boat migrant crossings of the English Channel have resumed under new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, after a brief lull in the final days of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership. 📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, multiple small boats carrying illegal immigrants crossed the English Channel and arrived in Dover, Kent, on the southern coast of England. The boats had set off from northern France. Since the Labour Party came to power in July 2024 under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, over 77,000 migrants have crossed the Channel. Wednesday’s crossings are the first under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, following an 11-day pause in arrivals. There have been 12,469 illegal Channel crossings so far this year, according to Home Office data. Prime Minister Andy Burnham entered 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s official residence, on Monday after he won a parliamentary by-election (special election) to re-enter the House of Commons and ran uncontested for Labour leader. 🎯 IMPACT: The continuation of illegal Channel crossings shows the new Prime Minister has inherited unresolved problems at the border. The restarting of illegal crossings creates immediate pressure on Burnham. Earlier this month, it was reported that the new premier could water down Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s pending immigration restrictios to appease hard-left Labour Members of Parliament (MPs). Immigration control and reduction remains one of the top priorities of the British public. As such, the new Prime Minister’s handling of small boats is likely to be treated as a proxy for his broader approach to immigration, and whether it differs from the approach of his predecessor. |
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show lessIllegal crossings of the English Channel by small boats filled with illegal immigrants have resumed just days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office.
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Miatta Fahnbulleh, appointed as Andy Burnham’s Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, has a family history intertwined with radical politics and government upheavals in her native Liberia.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Former asylum seeker Miatta Fahnbulleh has been appointed as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero by newly installed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, drawing attention to her family’s controversial past in Liberia. 📰 DETAIL: Fahnbulleh’s family, known as “Vai aristocrats,” were involved in multiple government overthrow attempts in Liberia, fleeing to Britain in the 1980s. Her father, Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh Jr., served as foreign minister under Liberia’s former dictator Samuel Doe, who took power in a violent military coup in 1986 and suspended the constitution. By 1989, the country had fallen into civil war. Soldiers loyal to Doe massacred 600 civilians in a church in 1990, with the dictator being captured and put to death by insurgents later the same year. Fahnbulleh’s grandfather, Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh Sr., was convicted of treason over connections with Chinese communists in the late 1960s. This background draws parallels to figures like Rep. Ilhan Omar in the U.S., whose family also fled a regime they once served in Somalia. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Much like Rep. Ilhan Omar in America, Miatta’s family actually worked for the government they later fled… Her grandfather was even charged with treason for cavorting with Chinese communists in the late 1960s. Miatta is just another in a long line of anti-Western, far leftists.” – Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse 🎯 IMPACT: The appointment of Fahnbulleh could influence the direction of the British government’s net zero agenda under Burnham, potentially aligning them with more radical leftist ideologies. She was previously Director of Policy and Chief Executive of the left-wing Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and the New Economics Foundation, respectively, and has advocated for harsh windfall taxes on energy firms, a wealth tax, and imposing tax hikes on capital gains and higher earners, as well as pensioners. The commitment of Burnham’s predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, to net zero was a source of significant friction with the Trump administration in the U.S., with the President urging the then-Prime Minister to reopen the North Sea to oil and gas exploration to bring down the country’s sky-high energy prices. |
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show lessMiatta Fahnbulleh, appointed as Andy Burnham's Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, has a family history intertwined with radical politics and government upheavals in her native Liberia.
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President Trump has announced a new policy on retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting critical infrastructure for any attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump declared that the United States will retaliate against Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, warning in a Wednesday morning Truth Social post that one bridge or power plant will be destroyed every time the Islamic Republic opens fire on a commercial ship. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” – President Trump 🎯 IMPACT: This policy, if implemented, will mark a significant escalation in the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran, with strikes previously limited largely to high-profile Iranian political and military leaders and military assets and infrastructure. 📰 DETAIL: The announcement follows a series of U.S. strikes against Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran, despite a memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan in June aimed at ending the conflict, which first began in February. President Trump announced the ceasefire was “over” earlier this month after Iran broke it by firing on commercial ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil, natural gas, and fertilizer supplies. At least four U.S. service members have been confirmed killed since hostilities resumed at scale. |
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show lessPresident Trump has announced a new policy on retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting critical infrastructure for any attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
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A migrant from Ethiopia allegedly shot and killed three apartment staffers in Minnesota following a dispute over a parking contract.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Tsegaab Binessu, a 30-year-old migrant from Ethiopia, allegedly shot and killed three staff members at a St. Paul, Minnesota apartment complex after a dispute over his $65 per month parking garage contract, which he wanted to break. 📰 DETAIL: Binessu reportedly wanted to cancel his parking contract and join the U.S. Navy, but was told over the phone that he could not break the contract as he had already renewed it. The Ethiopian allegedly said he was going to go to the leasing office in person, and arrived armed, shooting Nansi Fuentes Zambrano, 25, Dena Silcox, 56, and Adam Wilwerding, 43, multiple times in an execution-style attack. “Binessu believes he was treated unfairly because he is black and an immigrant,” court documents reported Wednesday state, adding that he was disgruntled that he had been unable to import his wife and children to the U.S. through chain migration. “Binessu said life without his family no longer made sense,” the court documents state. 🎯 IMPACT: Binessu faces charges of second-degree murder, with potential sentences of 40 years for each count. The incident has left the community in shock, with the victims well-liked by residents at the apartment complex. “They were just good people, really good people, and you can tell because there’s residents that’s been here for years, and that says a lot,” said tenant Ashley Chester. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “This shocking act of violence has shaken our community, and we thank the Saint Paul Police Department and other assisting police agencies for their quick work to bring the suspect into custody. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the three victims who lost their lives, and we will do everything in our power to hold the accused accountable and seek justice for our community and victims.” – Ramsey County Attorney John Choi 📍 WHEN & WHERE: The shooting occurred on Monday at an apartment complex in St. Paul, Minnesota, with Binessu appearing in court on Wednesday. |
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show lessA migrant from Ethiopia allegedly shot and killed three apartment staffers in Minnesota following a dispute over a parking contract.
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A homelessness charity founder has dismissed new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s repeated promises to end rough sleeping, citing his track record of failure as Greater Manchester Mayor despite significant funding.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Sleep Out founder and former Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston criticized new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s renewed pledge to end homeless sleeping across Britain, arguing the promise lacks credibility because Burnham failed to achieve a similar goal during his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester. 📺 DETAIL: Preston said Burnham’s 2017 commitment to eradicate rough sleeping in Greater Manchester fell far short despite funding worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Preston noted Burnham repeatedly blamed factors such as “austerity” for missing the target, but said the results should now face renewed scrutiny. He said between 30 and 40 percent of people sleeping rough in England were born abroad, including some failed asylum seekers. Preston argued Burnham’s latest pledge was designed to appeal to voters because ending rough sleeping is a universally popular goal, while warning journalists should closely examine whether the government delivers measurable results. He said he wanted to see a detailed strategy rather than another broad commitment, adding that he believes Burnham currently lacks a credible plan to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping nationwide. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “He promised in 2017 a really bold, ambitious claim that he would end rough sleeping in Greater Manchester. He had hundreds of millions at his fingertips. And he failed. He failed miserably.” – Andy Preston, Sleep Out founder 🎯 IMPACT: Preston warned that Burnham’s renewed pledge could backfire, as journalists and critics may scrutinize his previous failures and the lack of a concrete plan. |
Image by Kirsty O’Connor / No 10 Downing Street.
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show lessA homelessness charity founder has dismissed new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's repeated promises to end rough sleeping, citing his track record of failure as Greater Manchester Mayor despite significant funding.
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New Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andy Burnham is preparing to dilute immigration reforms amid pressure from his party’s left-wing backbenchers.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Andy Burnham, the new British Prime Minister, will reportedly water down Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms to avoid backlash from left-wing Members of Parliament (MPs). 📺 DETAIL: On Tuesday, it was reported that Prime Minister Burnham would “tinker” with Home Secretary Mahmood’s proposed immigration reforms to avoid a rebellion from Labour MPs. Mahmood’s reforms would have doubled the time migrants must wait to gain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five years to 10 years, with retrospective application to those already in the United Kingdom, preventing millions of “Boriswave” migrants let in by the formerly governing Conservatives post-pandemic from accessing welfare benefits, at least for now. ILR, similar to permanent residency in the U.S., allows foreign nationals to live, work, and study in Britain without time limits or visa restrictions. However, it has been suggested that the new Prime Minister may exempt certain groups, such as social care and health workers, or reduce the proposed waiting period for ILR. This follows a demand from over 80 Labour MPs urging Prime Minister Burnham to water down the reforms contained in the Immigration and Asylum Bill. Labour MPs argue the reforms could alienate the party’s progressive voters. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Immigration is listed by many pollsters as the issue British voters are most concerned about. Yet Burnham did not mention it once in his first speech. He talks about listening to the people. He’s only listening to his insane open borders backbench MPs,” commented Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s Shadow Home Secretary. 🎯 IMPACT: The decision to water down the government’s immigration reforms would likely undermine Labour’s credibility on immigration with the British public, which overwhelmingly supports the proposed measures, including a large chunk of Labour voters. This builds on reports from last month suggesting that Burnham could potentially ditch Mahmood’s reforms. Dropping the reforms would result in migrants who came over during the so-called Boriswave, a period of unprecedented mass migration under former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson, remaining in the country, leading to massive cultural and economic damage. 📺 FLASHBACK: Reports of the government potentially watering down its immigration reforms coincide with a warning from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage that Britain’s government will lurch “further to the left” under the new Prime Minister. Farage warned that a Burnham-led government would result in higher taxes and uncontrolled immigration. |
Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.
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show lessNew Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andy Burnham is preparing to dilute immigration reforms amid pressure from his party's left-wing backbenchers.
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Social media posts first uncovered by The National Pulse show Matthew McGregor, former Director of Campaigns and Communications for Hope Not Hate turned top advisor to new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is virulently anti-Trump.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Matthew McGregor, Head of Political Strategy under newly-appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has an extensive history of attacking President Donald J. Trump. 📺 DETAIL: On June 29, 2024, McGregor posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Just saying this so I can tap the sign in the future – if Joe Biden is on the ballot in November, he’ll win and it won’t be especially close (albeit closer than comfortable given he’s up against a maniac with fascist tendencies.).” Two weeks later, President Trump was the target of an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Later the same year, on July 15, 2024, during the Republican National Convention, at which then-former President Trump gave his first major speech since his attempted assassination, McGregor posted: “Donald Trump might be America’s Hitler.” Earlier this year, following the start of the Iran War, on February 28, 2026, McGregor posted: “This is an illegal war launched with a barrage of lies. The British government should clearly and unambiguously oppose what Trump and Netanyahu have done.” During the inauguration of former President Joe Biden, on January 20, 2021, he posted: “Today is a day of celebration in the US, and around the world – that the nightmare of Trump in the White House is over, and the opportunity of kind, progressive leadership in the shape of Joe Biden. But while we should celebrate today, there’s so much work to do tomorrow.” Following the re-election of President Trump and a letter from King Charles III inviting the President for an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom, on March 1, 2025, in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer of 38 Degrees, a progressive activist group, McGregor posted: “More than 100,000 have now added their names calling for Trump’s state visit invite to be rescinded,” with a picture reading “No second state visit for Trump!” and a link to a 38 Degrees petition demanding the President be barred from the country. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Just saying this so I can tap the sign in the future – if Joe Biden is on the ballot in November, he’ll win and it won’t be especially close (albeit closer than comfortable given he’s up against a maniac with fascist tendencies.)” – Matthew McGregor, Head of Political Strategy at Number 10 Downing Street under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, as first reported by The National Pulse 🎯 IMPACT: As of Monday this week, McGregor has assumed his duties as Head of Political Strategy at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 10 Downing Street. The role is roughly equivalent to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. McGregor will influence the new Prime Minister’s relationship with and approach towards the White House. McGregor’s posts are notable for their explicit and intense hatred of President Trump. The posts also called for the British government to take action against the President and the United States, from demanding the British government to oppose U.S. foreign policy to personally steering a campaign to rescind the President’s second state visit invitation to the United Kingdom. Less than 24 hours after The National Pulse exposed his attacks on the President, McGregor deleted his X account. The appointment of McGregor is likely to worsen the already-strained relationship between Britain and the U.S. The White House has already raised concerns over Prime Minister Burnham’s decision to appoint Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary, roughly equivalent to U.S. Secretary of State. Miliband, known for his fanatical support for climate ideology and often referred to as “Red Ed,” is another aggressive critic of President Trump. “The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper beggars belief,” the newly-appointed Foreign Secretary said of the President back in 2016. |
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show lessSocial media posts first uncovered by The National Pulse show Matthew McGregor, former Director of Campaigns and Communications for Hope Not Hate turned top advisor to new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is virulently anti-Trump.
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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief of the armed forces following protests over his firing of the popular Defense Minister.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief of the armed forces, firing General Oleksandr Syrskyi. This decision follows days of protests triggered by Zelensky’s firing of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had clashed with Syrskyi over military strategy. 🎯 IMPACT: The appointment of General Drapatyi is expected to appease protesters who viewed the dismissal of Fedorov as a setback for military reform. Drapatyi’s alignment with Fedorov’s vision for modernizing Ukraine’s military could signal a shift towards a change in military strategy, as the Ukraine war grinds into its fifth year, longer than the First World War. 📰 DETAIL: General Drapatyi, known for his frontline leadership, has a decorated military career, including significant roles in counter-offensives against Russian forces. His appointment reflects a broader desire for change within Ukraine’s military leadership. Zelensky, serving far beyond the point his term should have ended thanks to martial law, faced widespread street protests for firing Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, an ally of Drapatyi, in support of the now-ousted Syrskyi starting last week. Fedorov’s removal was extremely unpopular, with one Ukrainian soldier telling Western media, “This is the worst mistake Zelensky has made during his entire presidency.” 💬 KEY QUOTE: “This is a breath of fresh air and a new source of hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice,” said former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, congratulating Drapatyi on his new role. |
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show lessUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief of the armed forces following protests over his firing of the popular Defense Minister.
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A new study has highlighted the apparent economic benefits of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, such as reducing long-term absences, saving money for employers and governments, and boosting productivity.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A new study has revealed that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs reduced long-term sick leave by almost 20 percent. 📺 DETAIL: According to a new study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, GLP-1 drugs reduced long-term sick leave by 17 percent. compared to those who did not take them. The study defined long-term sick leave as health-related absences longer than 30 days. The study analyzed data from Denmark, where long-term sick leave, which is also defined as longer than 30 days, is government-funded. The study found that reduced absences from work saved employers up to 1.5 percent of an individual’s salary, approximately $866 on average. GLP-1 drugs appear to improve certain health outcomes, including lowering the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular problems, which often lead to extended absences from work. As such, GLP-1 drugs are prescribed to those with obesity or diabetes. “Imagine you take two days off, your employer would still pay your salary… Now they still pay your salary, but you don’t take the time off,” said Jonathan Zhang, Professor at Duke University and one of the study’s co-authors. “There are fiscal benefits, but that doesn’t look like savings for the patient or the individual, because sick leave benefits are so generous,” Zhang added. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “In the U.S., which doesn’t have the generous sick leave policy of Denmark, people get sick and they go to work. They’re less productive because they feel crappy,” Zhang told CBS News. 🎯 IMPACT: In countries where long-term sick leave benefits are generous, GLP-1 drugs could potentially help employers and governments save money. Meanwhile, in countries in which long-term sick leave benefits are comparatively less generous, the drugs could help reduce “presenteeism,” when employees are unable to complete tasks at a normal rate due to health issues. They could also stop sick workers from spreading their illness to colleagues. As such, GLP-1 drugs could help boost productivity. GLP-1 drugs may also potentially save money for airlines and help reduce cancer. |
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show lessA new study has highlighted the apparent economic benefits of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, such as reducing long-term absences, saving money for employers and governments, and boosting productivity.
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The U.S. Military has identified North Carolina native Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton as the latest fatality in the war with Iran, noting that he was killed in Iraq while trying to disable an Iranian drone.
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❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. military has identified the soldier killed while disarming an Iranian drone in Iraq as Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Swinton died Sunday during a controlled detonation at an air base in Irbil, northern Iraq, while serving with the 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based at Fort Bragg. 📺 DETAIL: The military said the incident remains under investigation and that a second service member suffered a minor injury and is receiving medical treatment. Swinton will be posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge, and will be promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. His death came two days after 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, were killed while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan, marking the first U.S. troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since a ceasefire collapsed recently. The War Department said both soldiers had been deployed in support of the U.S. mission against the Islamic State group. Iranian authorities have claimed that U.S. strikes over the past three weeks have killed at least 50 people and injured more than 500, including eight fatalities in a bridge strike last Friday. The latest casualties have increased pressure on President Donald J. Trump to bring the conflict to a close and avoid a prolonged U.S. military engagement in the Middle East. 📺 FLASHBACK: Over the past three weeks, Iranian authorities have claimed U.S. strikes in the region have resulted in at least 50 deaths and more than 500 injuries. |
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show lessThe U.S. Military has identified North Carolina native Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton as the latest fatality in the war with Iran, noting that he was killed in Iraq while trying to disable an Iranian drone.
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