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Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Category: News
19 hours ago
Health
News

Biden Financially Incentivized Child Gender Transitions: Report.

A federal report has highlighted how financial incentives drove childhood gender transition procedures under Biden.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report argues that hospitals promoted gender transition procedures for children under Biden-era policies that created financial incentives to promote transgenderism, creating “captive patients” requiring lifelong medical care.
📺 DETAIL: The report published last week, titled ‘Wolves in White Coats,’ noted that hospitals have billed nearly $120 million for childhood gender transition procedures since 2019 and highlighted how the former Biden regime expanded federal nondiscrimination protections to gender identity, while claiming falsely that the effects of puberty blockers and hormone therapy treatments on minors are reversible. The report also cites accounts from detransitioners who said doctors failed to address underlying abuse or mental health issues and instead presented gender transition as their only option. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has referred more than 200 medical entities to the HHS Inspector General for further investigation.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Hospitals and providers may have been defrauding Medicaid and private insurers.” – Vice President JD Vance
🎯 IMPACT: The report has prompted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to refer more than 200 medical entities to the HHS inspector general for investigation. Additionally, Vice President J.D. Vance has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate potential insurance fraud. A new federal rule barring Medicaid and CHIP funds from covering these procedures for children will take effect on October 13.
📺 FLASHBACK: The National Pulse previously reported on the ‘Wolves in White Coats’ report exposing possible fraud by hospitals and physicians profiting from gender transitions. Biden government’s policies expanded Obamacare’s nondiscrimination clause to cover gender identity, paving the way for many more gender transition procedures to be inflicted on minors.

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A federal report has highlighted how financial incentives drove childhood gender transition procedures under Biden.

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20 hours ago
News
World

Trump to Scale Down Future Military Exercises with South Korea, Citing Cost and Failure to Help with Iran.

President Trump has announced plans to reduce U.S.-South Korea military exercises, citing South Korea’s refusal to assist the U.S. in Iran and resistance to helping fund the cost of its defense by U.S. forces, while emphasizing his improved relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced on Sunday that he ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce upcoming joint military exercises with South Korea, citing its refusal to assist the U.S. with Iran and the cost of the exercises, alongside South Korea’s resistance to covering more of the cost of the U.S. deploying forces to the country. The President also expressed concerns that the exercises might send an “inappropriate and hostile” signal to North Korea, emphasizing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and saying Pyongyang had been “unthreatening and respectful” toward his administration.
📺 DETAIL: The President criticized South Korea for declining a U.S. request to assist the U.S. with Iran. “When I called recently, the President of South Korea… I said, ‘Would you like to give us a little hand? We don’t need help with Iran, but if you’d like, give us a hand with Iran.’ He said, ‘No, thanks.'” Trump stressed the fact that the U.S. has approximately 39,000 soldiers stationed in South Korea to protect the country from North Korea, emphasizing the lack of reciprocity from many of America’s allies. “Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea,” said the President. South Korea’s Defense Ministry has since confirmed that the exercises will proceed as planned despite the President’s remarks. North Korea had sharply condemned the exercises, accusing Washington and Seoul of using them as a rehearsal for an “aggressive war” and warning that the drills appeared more offensive than those conducted in recent years.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We can’t go around and protect all of these countries, especially when they’re not there to help us.” – President Trump
🎯 IMPACT: President Trump’s decision could signal an effort to revive direct diplomacy with Kim, although it remains unclear whether it is primarily aimed at Pyongyang, Seoul, or broader regional concerns. The move also comes as North Korea continues to expand and modernize its nuclear and military capabilities, potentially creating pressure for Washington to pursue renewed engagement with Kim.
📺 FLASHBACK: During his first term, the President made history by meeting directly with Kim on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

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President Trump has announced plans to reduce U.S.-South Korea military exercises, citing South Korea's refusal to assist the U.S. in Iran and resistance to helping fund the cost of its defense by U.S. forces, while emphasizing his improved relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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21 hours ago
Data
Health
News

Trump Achieves Historic 60-Year Low in Prescription Drug Prices.

The costs of prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and medical equipment and supplies have declined significantly under President Donald J. Trump.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Prescription drug prices in the United States have recorded their largest annual decline in over 60 years.
📺 DETAIL: Last week, it was revealed that prescription drugs in the U.S. have declined by 3.9 percent since President Donald J. Trump took office. This is the largest annual drop in prescription drug prices since 1963. The price reduction has been attributed to the Trump administration’s Most Favored Nation policy, which mandates that U.S. drug prices align with the lowest prices paid by comparable developed nations. This includes 17 of the largest branded drugmakers in the world, covering 86 percent of the market. The TrumpRx initiative has also been credited for the sharp decline in prices, especially among GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The price of various other medical resources, such as cholesterol treatments, fertility drugs, inhalers, and insulin, has declined by 50 to 90 percent. According to White House estimates, the decline in drug prices has saved Americans approximately $700 million. Prescription drug prices have fallen every month this year, with non-prescription drugs declining by 2.4 percent. The cost of medical equipment and supplies has also declined by 2.7 percent.
🎯 IMPACT: The newly released highlights the success of the Trump administration on health policy. This data is especially important as Americans rank the affordability of essential goods, such as prescription drugs and medical equipment, as one of their top priorities. As such, the administration’s record-breaking achievement is likely to influence voting behavior ahead of the midterm elections in November. The new figures build on previous reports showing a decline in drug prices. In November 2025, the Trump administration secured a deal to lower the price of GLP-1 anti-obesity drugs. As a result, the drugs, which originally cost over $1000 a month, subsequently cost as low as $149 a month. These stats are also likely to bolster the reputation of Secretary for Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

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The costs of prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and medical equipment and supplies have declined significantly under President Donald J. Trump.

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23 hours ago
Crime
Immigration
News

ICE Captured Wanted Murderer Right Before State Dems Passed Law Restricting Immigration Enforcement.

An illegal alien convicted of aggravated murder in Brazil was arrested in Massachusetts just two days before the state’s Democrat governor signed a law restricting ICE operations.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Maycon Souto Dos Reis, a Brazilian national convicted of aggravated murder, in Massachusetts on August 3. Dos Reis had fled Brazil after being sentenced to over 14 years in prison and entered the U.S. illegally in June 2024, where he was initially apprehended but released under Biden government policies.
📍 WHEN & WHERE: The arrest occurred in Massachusetts on August 3, 2024, just two days before Governor Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act, which imposes new restrictions on ICE operations in the Bay State.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This is yet another example of what the media often characterizes as a non-criminal, when in reality, many of these individuals are murderers, sexual predators, gang members, and more: They simply do not have a criminal record in the United States.” – David Wesling, Acting ICE ERO Boston Field Office Director
🎯 IMPACT: The arrest highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and state policies, particularly in so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions like Massachusetts. Conservatives argue that laws restricting ICE operations, such as the PROTECT Act, hinder efforts to remove dangerous migrants from American communities and make communities less safe.
📺 DETAIL: Dos Reis came to ICE’s attention after a May 29 arrest for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in Southborough, Massachusetts. He was later apprehended during a targeted operation at a local courthouse. The timing of his arrest coincided with Governor Healey’s signing of the PROTECT Act, which restricts ICE access to locations like schools, hospitals, and courthouses, while also allowing civil rights claims against government officials, including ICE agents, among other measures.

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An illegal alien convicted of aggravated murder in Brazil was arrested in Massachusetts just two days before the state's Democrat governor signed a law restricting ICE operations.

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24 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
Immigration
News

Somali Charged with Stabbing Welfare Officer at Migrant Hotel.

A Somali migrant who entered the United Kingdom illegally on a small boat allegedly stabbed a welfare officer multiple times at a hotel hosting asylum seekers.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A Somali small boat migrant has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a welfare officer multiple times at a hotel housing asylum seekers near Heathrow Airport.
📺 DETAIL: Abdifatah Adani, 22, is accused of attacking Aaron Gomes with a large kitchen knife at the Stanwell Hotel at around 6:30 PM on August 15. Prosecutor Lucy Lumsden told Staines Magistrates’ Court that Gomes was stabbed five times, suffering two wounds to his upper body and three to his leg. One injury was described as “significant” after the blade penetrated his chest cavity; Gomes reportedly lost a large amount of blood and repeatedly lost consciousness before escaping from the migrant. Police officers provided first aid before Gomes was taken to hospital, where he remains in stable condition. The court heard that Adani entered Britain illegally on a small boat and appeared in court assisted by a taxpayer-funded Somali interpreter.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “He had lost a significant amount of blood, was very pale and going in and out of consciousness,” – Prosecutor Lucy Lumsden, describing Gomes’s condition after the attack
🎯 IMPACT: The attack raises serious questions about the safety and management of asylum seeker facilities in the United Kingdom, as well as the vetting of migrants entering the country via small boats. Significantly, they are not detained at this taxpayer-funded accommodation while their claims are processed, instead being left at large among the public. Adani has been remanded in custody and is set to appear in court on September 17.

Image by David Pearson.

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A Somali migrant who entered the United Kingdom illegally on a small boat allegedly stabbed a welfare officer multiple times at a hotel hosting asylum seekers.

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August 17, 2026
Crime
News
Politics

Socialist New York Lawmaker Defends Shoplifting as a ‘Biological Need.’

New York Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher has claimed shoplifting is driven by “biological need,” sparking criticism from law enforcement.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A far-left New York State Assemblywoman claimed that shoplifting stems from a “biological need” and criticized the prosecution of shoplifters.
📺 DETAIL: On Thursday, New York State Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher (D), a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), claimed that most shoplifting stems from a “biological need” to acquire necessities, describing such crimes as “crimes of poverty.” She criticized the prosecution of shoplifters and claimed that the “true crime” is the wealth disparity in New York City. Gallagher’s comments have since sparked widespread criticism. “Suggesting that someone who steals toothpaste for the first time is automatically being thrown in jail creates a false picture of how the system actually works. Prosecution does not have to mean incarceration,” said Dave Aronberg, former Palm Beach County State Attorney. Gallagher also accused the justice system of prioritizing the interests of corporations, namely CVS and Walgreens. Gallagher called for an end to “broken windows policing,” which emphasizes addressing minor offenses to prevent escalation to larger crimes. “Broken Windows is a proven theory which holds people accountable for their actions and rightfully so… The tides are turning and everyday New Yorkers are getting sick and tired of this reckless narrative,” said retired New York Police Department Sergeant Joe Imperatrice.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Most of what we saw were crimes of poverty-people who are stealing things like toothpaste, people who were stealing things like, you know, soap. And that means if you’re stealing those things, you need them. And we are choosing to protect billion-dollar companies, like CVS and Walgreens, over the people who are struggling to get by. So I would say that the true crime is that there is such incredible wealth disparity in this city that there are people who can be thrown in jail simply for having a biological need.” – Emily Gallagher
🎯 IMPACT: Gallagher’s comments highlight the ongoing leftward drift of the Democrats on social policy, including law and order. Gallagher’s comments are likely to reinforce the perception shared by many moderate, Independent, and swing voters that the Democrats are soft on crime and that the party is inclined to prioritize the welfare of criminals over the wider, law-abiding community. As such, the remarks may hurt the party’s electoral prospects in the upcoming midterm elections in November.

Image by Marc A. Hermann / MTA.

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New York Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher has claimed shoplifting is driven by "biological need," sparking criticism from law enforcement.

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August 17, 2026
Data
Economy
News

Trump Economy: Manufacturing Hits Four-Year Peak, Manufacturing Employment at Three-Year High.

The United States manufacturing sector surged to its highest level in fours years, with manufacturing employment reaching a three-year high, primarily driven by robust order growth across multiple manufacturing industries.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: United States manufacturing reached a four-year high in July, according to a new report, with employment in the sector at a three-year high.
📺 DETAIL: According to data from the Institute for Supply Management, the world’s oldest and largest supply management association, manufacturing activity in the United States hit a four-year high last month. Specifically, the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a key indicator of the health of the manufacturing sector used by economic experts, reached 55.6 in July, an increase from 53.3 in June. This was the highest reading since May 2022. Notably, economists polled by Reuters predicted that the PMI would only rise to 54 in July. The increase in manufacturing activity was primarily driven by order growth and spanned 15 different industries, including appliances and components, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment, machinery, primary metals, and transportation equipment. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, in particular, experienced significant growth. This increase in manufacturing activity coincided with employment in the manufacturing sector reaching a three-year high.
🎯 IMPACT: The strong manufacturing data suggests continued economic resilience, despite concerns over inflation and the ongoing Iran war. This data also suggests that economists underestimated the U.S. manufacturing sector. The fact that the rise in manufacturing activity has been driven by order growth suggests there is an increase in demand for U.S.-made goods. This is likely a by-product of the Trump administration’s tariffs as well as reforms to the tax code. The rise in manufacturing employment reflects reports from last year, which revealed that major corporations intended to spend billions in investment to onshore production and create American jobs. The figures are likely to strengthen the Trump administration’s confidence in its economic agenda, which has placed the reshoring and restoration of American manufacturing at its heart. The rise in demand for U.S.-made goods also contextualizes the Federal Trade Commission’s crackdown on products falsely labeled as “Made in the USA.”

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The United States manufacturing sector surged to its highest level in fours years, with manufacturing employment reaching a three-year high, primarily driven by robust order growth across multiple manufacturing industries.

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August 17, 2026
News
War

Trump Threatens to ‘Bomb the S**t’ Out of Oman If It ‘Gets in the Way’ of Iran Objectives.

President Trump issued a stark warning to Oman as the U.S. truce with Iran officially expired.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump on Monday threatened to bomb Oman if the Gulf nation interferes with U.S. efforts to secure control of the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate a favorable peace agreement with Iran. In an interview with Trey Yingst, Trump was asked about parallel talks between Oman and Iran concerning the strategic waterway, which carries much of the world’s oil exports, and responded that if Oman “gets in the way,” the United States would “bomb the s**t out of them.”
📰 DETAIL: The comments come as Oman and Iran are reportedly near an agreement on managing the Strait of Hormuz, which the two nations straddle, in a deal that could limit U.S. influence over the vital energy transit route while giving Tehran greater leverage in its standoff with the Trump administration. The President’s remarks came as a 60-day window established under a June memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran expired. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that the deadline was “irrelevant,” claiming that negotiations never began because Washington resumed hostilities during the truce period. Significantly, U.S. strikes on the Islamic Republic came in response to its own continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
🎯 IMPACT: The expiration of the U.S. truce with Iran and President Trump’s warnings to Oman could further destabilize the region, affecting global oil markets and regional relationships. The U.S. has indicated it will maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, with Trump suggesting on Friday that “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz strait a territory of the United States.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s**t out of them.” – President Trump

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President Trump issued a stark warning to Oman as the U.S. truce with Iran officially expired.

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August 17, 2026
Economy
News
War

U.S. Petroleum Reserve Drained to 40‑Year Low, Storage Caverns at Risk.

The United States’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve has been depleted over the course of the Iran war, raising concerns about sustainability and potential damage to the salt caverns storing it.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The United States’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has reached its lowest level in 40 years.
📰 DETAIL: On Monday, it was revealed that the U.S. SPR had dropped below 300 million barrels due to ongoing withdrawals for the Iran war, which began in late February. The depletion of the country’s SPR has contributed to record-high gas prices for mid-August, with the national average reaching $4.07 per gallon, according to AAA Gas Prices. The SPR was initially designed to handle five full drawdowns over its lifespan, but it has undergone numerous cycles over the past 40 years. The crude oil is held in 60 salt caverns spanning four sites in Texas and Louisiana. The oil is extracted by pumping water into the caverns to force the oil upwards into intake pipes. However, the process increases the risk of a cave-in as water dissolves and thins the salt walls of the caverns, especially when the water-to-oil ratio surpasses a certain threshold. Some experts have suggested that ongoing withdrawals could result in permanent damage. “The practical operational floor for the crude inventory is between 250 million and 300 million barrels,” Siddharth Misra, Professor of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University, told CNBC.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The caverns are always full. All that changes is the ratio of oil and water that is filling them,” insisted Ben Dietderich, spokesman for the Department of Energy.
🎯 IMPACT: The depletion of the U.S. SPR has raised concerns about the reserve’s ability to function effectively in future emergencies. Reports from earlier in the year suggest that countries are hoarding oil reserves in response to the rising costs created by the Iran war. “If the Iran war does not end in the coming weeks and we don’t have the reopening of the Hormuz strait, I’m afraid a world recession could be on the table,” said Apostolos Tzitzikosta, Transport Commissioner for the European Union (EU), back in May.

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The United States' Strategic Petroleum Reserve has been depleted over the course of the Iran war, raising concerns about sustainability and potential damage to the salt caverns storing it.

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August 17, 2026
Data
News
UK

DATA: Public Support for the BBC Has Cratered.

A new survey has revealed a significant drop in British national pride over the past decade, alongside a crash in support for the BBC.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Support for the state-backed British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in the United Kingdom has tanked amid cratering national pride in Britain, according to a new report.
📺 DETAIL: According to a new poll commissioned by Demos, a non-partisan British think tank, only 47 percent of Britons are proud of their country in 2026, a stark drop from the 74 percent recorded in 2011. The collapse in national pride coincides with declining support for national institutions and symbols, such as the British flag, the monarchy, the legal system, the armed forces, and the BBC. Among the British institutions and symbols covered in the survey, the BBC has suffered the largest collapse in support from 2011 to 2026, dropping from a net approval of 48 percent to -11 percent. This means that the BBC has become as unpopular as Britain’s Parliament, which also has a net approval of -11 percent. Net approval of the monarchy has dropped from 54 percent to 25 percent, and pride in British history also declined from 65 percent to 39 percent, while pride in Britain’s place in the world dropped from 35 percent to just 13 percent. The poll surveyed 2,235 adults between 19 and 20 April.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Our research shows that Britain hasn’t stopped feeling proud. People still feel deep pride in the places they live and the communities around them. What has eroded is their confidence in Britain as a whole. When people lose that sense of shared ownership over what makes Britain great, trust breaks down and our politics becomes more fragmented,” said Polly Curtis, CEO of Demos.
🎯 IMPACT: The findings underscore the growing disconnect between Britons and their country’s institutions. The collapse in support for the BBC among Britons, who must fund the politically biased public broadcaster through a compulsory television license fee, stands out in particular. This reflects similar trends uncovered earlier this year. Back in July, it was reported that TV license sales had dropped by over 500,000 last year.

Image by Paul Harrop.

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A new survey has revealed a significant drop in British national pride over the past decade, alongside a crash in support for the BBC.

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