GET THE APP
Thursday, September 18, 2025

Category: Culture
June 30, 2025
Culture
News

‘Death to the IDF’ Glastonbury Duo Dropped by Their Own Agents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED:  Talent agency UTA dropped punk duo Bob Vylan following for leading chants of “death, death to the IDF” at England’s Glastonbury Festival.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bob Vylan, UTA executives, Glastonbury organizers, and the BBC.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The performance took place on June 28 at Glastonbury’s West Holts stage, and the fallout occurred in the days following.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line.” – Emily Eavis, chief festival organizer.

🎯IMPACT: The BBC faced backlash for streaming the performance, and UTA removed Bob Vylan from its client roster.

IN FULL

UTA, a leading talent agency, has dropped punk duo Bob Vylan for leading crowds in chants of “death to IDF” at the Glastonbury Festival in England. During their June 28 set, Bobby Vylan complained about working for a “f***ing Zionist.” The performance also included the slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free,” streamed live on the BBC, which is widely understood as a call for the destruction of the State of Israel, which extends from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea.

Glastonbury Festival organizers, including chief Emily Eavis, condemned the statements, calling them anti-Semitic and unacceptable. “There is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,” Eavis said in a statement. UTA has since removed Bob Vylan from its website, declining to comment further.

Bob Vylan have also had their U.S. visas revoked by the U.S. State Department, with Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau warning that “foreigners who glorify violence and hatred” are not welcome in America.

The BBC also faced criticism for broadcasting the performance. The network issued a statement expressing regret, saying, “The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves.” The broadcaster admitted it should have cut the stream during the performance.

Bob Vylan also performed a song addressing native Britons with the lyrics “I heard you want your country back? Shut the f**k up… you can’t have that” during the performance.

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage reacted to the performance by saying, “If you vote Reform you can have your country back from these lunatics.”

Image by NMK Photography.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
June 27, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Culture

Hegseth Removes Pedophile’s Name from U.S. Navy Ship.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Navy will rename the U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk after World War II Medal of Honor recipient Oscar V. Peterson, removing the name of the controversial gay rights figure from the vessel.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, former San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, and Chief Petty Officer Oscar V. Peterson.

📍WHEN & WHERE: United States Navy announcement, June 2025

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are taking the politics out of ship naming.” – Pete Hegseth

🎯IMPACT: The decision reflects the Trump administration’s broader effort to eliminate DEI programs and remove political or activist figures from military honors, signaling a renewed emphasis on traditional military valor.

IN FULL

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the Navy will rename the U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk, a ship previously named for the Navy veteran, gay rights leader, and pedophile of the same name. The new name will honor Oscar V. Peterson, a chief petty officer posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Second World War.

“We are taking the politics out of ship naming,” Hegseth stated in a message posted on social media. While Harvey Milk is revered in Democrat circles as the first openly gay elected official in California, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1977 until his assassination in 1978, many conservatives object to his lionization as a supposed civil rights hero. This is due in large part to the unlawful sexual relationship he had with Jack Galen McKinley, an underage runaway boy, while he was in his thirties.

“We’re not renaming the ship to anything political; this is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration,” Hegseth stressed. “Instead, we’re renaming the ship after a United States Navy Congressional Medal of Honor recipient… People want to be proud of the ship they’re sailing in.”

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
June 19, 2025
Culture
News

Corporates Are Defunding Pride.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York’s annual Pride parade is seeking individual donations as corporate sponsors reportedly reduce or withdraw financial support.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: NYC Pride organizers, NYC Pride spokesman Kevin Kilbride, and corporations like Target.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The parade is scheduled for June 29, in New York City.

💬KEY QUOTE: “That [corporate funding] gap we’re trying to fill with a community fundraising campaign,” said Kilbride.

🎯IMPACT: Up to 25 percent of corporate sponsors have reportedly scaled back or withdrawn, prompting organizers to rely more heavily on community donations.

IN FULL

New York’s annual Pride parade, one of the largest LGBT gatherings in the United States, is now seeking individual cash donations as corporate sponsors reportedly reduce their financial support. According to organizers, as many as 25 percent of previous corporate donors have either canceled or scaled back their contributions.

NYC Pride spokesman Kevin Kilbride stated that the parade, scheduled for June 29, could draw as many as two million attendees. However, he noted that additional funding is needed, prompting a new community fundraising campaign launched in mid-May. “That gap we’re trying to fill with a community fundraising campaign,” Kilbride said, adding: “So in the middle of May, we launched a peer-to-peer campaign so folks can start their own fundraiser online, share it with their friends, and then have folks donate to that.”

Organizers claim the funding challenges stem from a broader rejection of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in both government and the private sector, which they attribute to President Donald J. Trump’s policies and influence. Kilbride added that the group is now “wanting to lean a little bit more into individual giving and support from the community.”

One prominent corporate sponsor, Target, reportedly adjusted its involvement with the event. The retailer initially requested to donate without publicity, but has since reinstated its float at the parade. Target has faced backlash and a dip in its stock price following leftist boycotts over its decisions to curtail certain diversity programs. Before this, it faced significant losses from conservative boycotts for selling children’s clothing promoting transgenderism.

Enthusiasm for Pride parades elsewhere has also declined. In Toronto, Canada’s largest city, organisers have complained they may need government assistance after reporting a $900,000 (CAD) shortfall. Organizers claim that while they have seen corporate sponsorships, corporate partnerships can be “fickle.”

Image by Following NYC.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less
show more
June 4, 2025
William Upton
Culture
Economy

Jaguar’s April Sales Crash After Woke Rebrand.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Jaguar reported selling just 49 total vehicles in Europe in the month of April, a record low. Some see the sales collapse as a consumer rejection of the company’s rebrand.

👥 Who’s Involved: Jaguar Land Rover, Jaguar, and European Union (EU) and United Kingdom consumers.

📍 Where & When: The EU and the United Kingdom in April 2025.

⚠️ Impact: While it appears the low sales numbers are likely the result of Jaguar drawing down its entire vehicle inventory before it rolls out its new line of cars next year, the shockingly low number of cars sold could portend long-term consumer rejection of the company over its new all-electric, woke brand.

IN FULL:

Jaguar sales in Europe have seen one of the most catastrophic April sales numbers on record. Just 49 cars were sold in the entirety of the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom, the latter being the company’s home market. This marks a nearly 98 percent decline from the company’s sales in April just one year ago, and a continued slide in popularity since Jaguar rolled out a rebrand that ditches the iconic “leaper” logo, uses a lower-case monogram, and focuses on electric vehicles. The rebrand has received stiff backlash, with automobile enthusiasts accusing Jaguar of becoming more of a fashion or luxury brand rather than a car company after its widely-panned inaugural commercial, which featured a series of bizarrely dressed, androgynous models and zero cars.

While the shockingly low sales numbers could portend long-term problems for Jaguar, some details suggest the concerns about the rebrand and the company’s sales position are overblown. The 49 total cars sold in April appear to be the result of Jaguar merely liquidating its remaining inventory before its redesigned vehicles, as part of its rebrand, begin production later this year and hit dealership showrooms in 2026. In essence, this means that consumers didn’t simply buy fewer Jaguar cars, but rather that there were far fewer Jaguar cars even available than in April 2024.

Jaguar’s parent company, Jaguar Land Rover, posted $3.39 billion in profits for the fiscal year 2025. The high profit margin of the company’s popular Land Rover brand gives it the cash stability to draw down its Jaguar inventory ahead of officially shifting to its rebranded vehicle line.

Still, it is inconceivable that Jaguar would have let its inventory become so low that it only had several dozen models available for sale before it rolls its new line of vehicles. This suggests that the company’s rebrand is likely having an adverse effect on sales, though to what degree remains to be seen.

Jaguar is set to reveal its first rebranded vehicle, an all-electric four-door GT, at the end of this year. It will hit showrooms in 2026.

WATCH:

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
June 4, 2025
Culture
Politics

Hegseth Directs Navy to Rename Ship Previously Honoring Harvey Milk.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the U.S. Navy to rename the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk, originally named after gay rights activist Harvey Milk, who had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old runaway boy while he was in his thirties.

👥 Who’s Involved: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the late Harvey Milk.

📍 Where & When: The renaming order was issued at the start of Pride Month in June of 2025, affecting a ship named in 2016 during a San Francisco ceremony.

⚠️ Impact: The decision has sparked criticism from Democratic leaders, but draws attention to Milk’s controversial relationship with underage boy Jack Galen McKinley. 

IN FULL:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the U.S. Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a ship named in honor of the late gay rights activist and politician. The order, issued at the start of Pride Month, was revealed through a memorandum issued by the Department of Defense (DoD).

The USNS Harvey Milk was named in 2016 during a ceremony in San Francisco. Milk, a Navy veteran, became the first openly gay elected official in California in 1977, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors before being assassinated in 1978. However, Milk also had a sexual relationship with an underage runaway, Jack Galen McKinley, while he was in his thirties, which has led many conservatives to challenge the status he has been awarded as a civil rights hero.

This renaming initiative is reportedly part of Hegseth’s broader efforts to “reestablish the warrior culture” within the military. Since assuming his role, Hegseth has worked to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, aiming to restore what he refers to as the “warrior ethos.”

In addition to the USNS Harvey Milk, other ships on a Navy renaming recommendation list include the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Harriet Tubman, USNS Dolores Huerta, USNS Lucy Stone, USNS Cesar Chavez, and USNS Medgar Evers.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic leaders. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) condemned the move, stating, “The reported decision by the Trump Administration to change the names of the USNS Harvey Milk and other ships in the John Lewis-class is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also expressed outrage, calling the renaming “disgusting, blatant discrimination—and during Pride Month to boot.” He added that Milk “served the U.S. Navy and his country honorably, and he was assassinated while serving the public and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.”

Schumer did not reference Milk’s unlawful relations with McKinley.

Jack Montgomery contributed to this report.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
June 4, 2025
Culture
News

Trump White House Will Not Issue ‘Pride’ Proclamation.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced there are no plans for a “Pride Month” proclamation under President Donald J. Trump.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and the Department of Education.

📍 Where & When: White House press briefing, June 3, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “There are no plans for a proclamation for the month of June,” said Leavitt, adding Trump is “proud to be a President for all Americans regardless of race, religion, or creed.”

⚠️ Impact: The Trump administration is shifting focus away from LGBT-centric policies to initiatives such as recognizing Title IX’s anniversary and addressing gender ideology in federal policy.

IN FULL:

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Tuesday that President Donald J. Trump’s administration has no plans to issue a “Pride Month” proclamation this June, marking a significant departure from his predecessor’s approach to LGBT-related celebrations.

“There are no plans for a proclamation for the month of June,” Leavitt stated during a press briefing, emphasizing that President Trump is “proud to be a president for all Americans regardless of race, religion, or creed.”

The announcement coincides with the Department of Education’s decision to designate June as “Title IX Month,” commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the landmark legislation prohibiting sex-based education discrimination.

This approach contrasts sharply with the policies of former President Joe Biden, who issued annual “Pride Month” proclamations and hosted high-profile LGBT events at the White House. Notably, a 2023 Pride event under Biden drew criticism after transgender activist Rose Montoya, a man claiming to be a woman, appeared topless in a video on the White House lawn. Biden also signed an executive order in 2022 to expand access to gender-transition procedures for adults and minors.

Since taking office, Trump has focused on rolling back “radical” gender ideology. In an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” the White House stated that erasing sex in language and policy undermines trust in government and societal stability.

The Trump administration has prioritized protecting children from irreversible gender procedures and ensuring fairness in women’s sports by barring biological males from competing. This marks a sharp pivot from the policies of the previous administration, reinforcing Trump’s commitment to “biological truth.”

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
June 3, 2025
Culture
News

Trump, Melania Set to Star at Star-Studded Kennedy Center Gala.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance will attend the opening night of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Usha Vance, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, and Kennedy Center officials.

📍 Where & When: Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., June 11.

💬 Key Quote: “The Kennedy Center is coming back,” President Trump said. “It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great.”

⚠️ Impact: The opening night performance is nearly sold out, with ticket sales exceeding $3 million, and the Kennedy Center is undergoing revitalization efforts under new leadership.

IN FULL:

According to officials, President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will join Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance for the opening night of the musical Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center on June 11. The production, a staple of Broadway and West End history, is set to make a significant debut at the Washington, D.C. venue.

President Trump, who has often played songs from Les Misérables at his rallies, expressed enthusiasm for the production. “I love the songs, I love the play,” Trump remarked. “I think it’s great—we may extend it.”

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell highlighted the excitement surrounding the event. “Les Misérables is proving to be a huge hit,” Grenell stated. “Opening night is going to be electric.”

Officials at the Kennedy Center have reported strong ticket sales, with the first two weeks of performances nearly sold out and generating over $3 million in revenue. A spokesman noted that sales have exceeded expectations, surpassing typical timelines.

The opening night will feature a red carpet event, with select media invited to attend. Attendees are also encouraged to walk the red carpet, adding to the evening’s grandeur.

Last month, a significant number of actors expressed an intent to boycott President Trump’s appearance at a performance of Les Misérables. Grenell reacted, suggesting that performers engaging in such boycotts would not be welcome. “[T]he Kennedy Center will no longer fund this intolerance,” he warned.

President Trump emphasized his commitment to restoring the Kennedy Center, which he described as previously neglected. “The Kennedy Center is coming back,” he said. “It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great.”

Under Trump’s personal chairmanship, the Kennedy Center is working to bolster its financial sustainability. The venue, which includes affiliates such as the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, is aiming for larger endowments and long-term growth.

Grenell announced the season’s performances last month, completely free of left-wing ideological performances like drag shows.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
June 1, 2025
Culture
Data

DATA: Republican Support for Gay Marriage Is Crashing.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Republican support for gay marriage has significantly dropped, according to a recent Gallup poll, but Democratic support remains high.

👥 Who’s Involved: Gallup poll respondents, including Republicans, Democrats, and independents; Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

📍 Where & When: United States; Gallup poll released Thursday, May 29, 2025.

⚠️ Impact: The poll reflects a growing partisan divide on gay marriage and related moral issues, with implications for future legal challenges and cultural debates.

IN FULL:

Support among Republicans for same-sex marriage has dropped sharply over the past three years, according to a new Gallup poll released Thursday. The survey found that just 41 percent of GOP voters now back the legalization of gay marriage, a significant decline from 55 percent in 2021 and 2022.

In contrast, 88 percent of Democrats expressed approval for same-sex marriage, marking a 47-point gap between the two parties—the largest divide recorded since Gallup began polling on the issue in 1996. Among independents, 76 percent voiced support for gay marriage.

Historical data from Gallup shows that in 1996, only 16 percent of Republicans, 33 percent of Democrats, and 32 percent of independents supported the legalization of same-sex unions.

The new poll also highlighted differences in moral perceptions of gay and lesbian relationships. While 86 percent of Democrats said such relationships are morally acceptable, only 38 percent of Republicans agreed—a sharp drop from 56 percent in 2022. Among Americans who attend religious services weekly, 33 percent found same-sex marriage morally acceptable, with only 24 percent deeming gay and lesbian relationships socially acceptable.

The issue of same-sex marriage has also been revisited in legal debates. Justice Clarence Thomas, in his concurring opinion in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, called for reconsideration of substantive due process precedents, including Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case that established a constitutional right to gay marriage.

Thomas argued that the legal principle of substantive due process, which has been used to protect unenumerated rights like privacy and same-sex marriage, lacks constitutional grounding. He described it as “an oxymoron that lack[s] any basis in the Constitution,” and emphasized that such decisions should be revisited to determine whether other constitutional provisions might support the rights they claim to protect.

“Substantive due process exalts judges at the expense of the People from whom they derive their authority,” Thomas wrote, adding that it has led to “constitutionally unmoored policy judgments.”

Image by Tim Evanson.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
May 27, 2025
Culture
Sports

Trump Moves to Strip Top Liberal State’s Federal Funding.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump threatened to cut federal funding to California if transgender athletes continue competing in women’s sports.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and California high school athletes.

📍 Where & When: California, following a weekend high school track meet; Trump’s statement was posted Tuesday on Truth Social.

💬 Key Quote: Trump wrote, “California continues to ILLEGALLY allow MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS… This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!”

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s threats could affect billions of dollars in federal funding to California.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday to criticize California’s policies on transgender athletes, threatening to withdraw federal funding if the state continues to permit biological males to compete against women and girls. Trump’s remarks were directed at Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and referenced a recent high school sports event where a transgender won the girls’ long jump and triple jump titles during the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Masters Meet.

“California continues to ILLEGALLY allow MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS,” Trump posted. “I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!”

This marks the second time in recent weeks that Trump has targeted a state over the participation of biological males in women’s sports. Last month, he initiated steps to withdraw federal education funding from Maine over a similar dispute with Governor Janet Mills (D), a conflict that has since escalated into legal proceedings.

Gov. Newsom, eyeing a 2028 bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, has sought to distance himself from the transgender athlete issue in recent months. In April, Newsom labeled it “deeply unfair” for biological males to compete in women’s sports but insisted the issue involves only a small number of athletes. He also accused conservatives of politicizing the matter, stating, “To the extent that someone could find that right balance, I would embrace those conversations and the dignity that hopefully presents themselves in that conversation.”

President Trump’s post raises questions about the potential loss of significant federal funding for California. The Golden State has previously clashed with the Trump administration over policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more
May 21, 2025
Culture
Economy

L.A. Mayor Follows in Trump’s Tariff Footsteps – Make Hollywood American Again!

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to simplify filming processes in the city.

👥 Who’s Involved: Mayor Karen Bass, President Donald J. Trump, entertainment professionals, and the Department of Commerce.

📍 Where & When: Los Angeles, California; announcement made Tuesday, May 20, two weeks after President Trump’s tariff declaration.

💬 Key Quote: “Keeping entertainment production in L.A. means keeping good-paying jobs in L.A., and that’s what we are fighting for,” said Bass.

⚠️ Impact: The directive seeks to retain entertainment jobs in Los Angeles amidst competition from other U.S. locations and foreign countries.

IN FULL:

Democratic Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order on Tuesday designed to streamline the filmmaking process in Los Angeles, declaring her intent to keep entertainment production within the city. The announcement comes over two weeks after President Donald J. Trump revealed plans for a 100 percent tariff on foreign-produced movies, citing concerns over national security and economic harm.

Bass’s announcement appears to largely align with Trump’s push to reshore film productions, running counter to efforts by national Democratic Party leaders to undermine the President’s trade agenda. The National Pulse previously reported that Trump’s film tariff announcement also received backing from the Teamsters.

Bass’s directive aims to cut bureaucratic hurdles for filmmakers, making it easier to shoot at popular Los Angeles locations such as the Griffith Observatory, the L.A. Central Library, and the Port of Los Angeles. Additionally, the order reduces the requirement for city employees to be present during filming to just one, a move intended to lower costs for production teams.

“We are going to fight now,” Bass stated, continuing: “While we push for the tax credits to be passed in Sacramento, we need to do what we can today to impact building in Los Angeles.” She added: “Keeping entertainment production in L.A. means keeping good-paying jobs in L.A., and that’s what we are fighting for.”

The executive order comes amid increasing competition from other U.S. cities and foreign countries offering more affordable and accessible production options.

President Trump recently criticized Hollywood’s reliance on foreign incentives, describing it as a “national security threat” and a source of economic devastation. In a Truth Social post earlier this month, Trump explained his decision to authorize a 100 percent tariff on foreign-made films, stating, “Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated… WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

Trump also highlighted the role of foreign film incentives in what he called “messaging and propaganda,” instructing the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to initiate the tariff process.

Image via U.S. Institute of Peace.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more