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Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Category: News
19 hours ago
Election Integrity
Lawfare

Biden Judge Blocks Trump’s Order Barring Late Mail-In Ballots.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge blocked parts of President Donald J. Trump’s election reform executive order, including a provision setting Election Day as the deadline for mail-in votes.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, U.S. District Court Judge John H. Chun, Washington and Oregon state officials, and White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Friday in Washington State by Judge Chun, a Biden appointee.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Constitution assigns the states all authority to regulate the time, place, and manner of elections,” wrote Judge Chun in his ruling.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling limits the President’s power to impose changes on state election processes and is expected to be appealed by the Trump administration.

IN FULL

A federal judge in Washington State has issued an order blocking, in part, President Donald J. Trump‘s Executive Order enacting election integrity reforms. Late Friday, U.S. District Court Judge John H. Chun—a Joe Biden appointee—ruled that President Trump could not mandate Election Day as the deadline for receiving mail-in ballots, a key provision of the executive order issued in March.

The ruling comes after Washington and Oregon filed a lawsuit in April, arguing that the executive order violated the U.S. Constitution. Judge Chun stated in his 75-page decision that President Trump lacks the constitutional authority to impose such changes on state election processes. “The Constitution assigns the states all authority to regulate the time, place, and manner of elections,” Chun wrote, adding that the President’s authority to establish a national ballot-receipt deadline does not exist under the Constitution.

Trump’s March Executive Order also sought to withhold funding from states that do not require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. This provision was similarly blocked by the court. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown (D) called the ruling “a huge victory for voters in Washington and Oregon, and for the rule of law.”

President Trump has consistently criticized mail-in ballots as vulnerable to fraud. On Truth Social, Trump previously announced plans to end the use of mail-in ballots and voting machines, stating, “I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES.”

The White House has indicated that it will challenge the ruling, with Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson stating, “President Trump cares deeply about the integrity of our elections and his executive order takes lawful actions to ensure election security. This is not the final say on the matter, and the administration expects ultimate victory on the issue.” In November, the U.S. Supreme Court took up a separate case on the legality of accepting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, with oral arguments and a ruling expected sometime this year.

Image via League of Women Voters of California.

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20 hours ago
William Upton
Crime
Immigration

Trump’s FCC Closes Loophole Allowing Criminal Access to High-End Burner Phones.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Monday a significant change to a 2007 phone unlocking rule, which it says has inadvertently aided criminal enterprises that wish to use higher-end devices as difficult-to-trace burner phones.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The FCC, Verizon, TracFone, and criminal organizations, including drug cartels.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The rule change was announced on Monday, January 12, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Sophisticated criminal networks have exploited the FCC’s handset unlocking policies to carry out criminal acts—including transnational handset trafficking schemes and facilitating broader criminal enterprises like drug running and human smuggling.” — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr

🎯IMPACT: The FCC contends the rule change reduces access to difficult-to-trace “burner” style high-end phones for criminal operations.

IN FULL

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Monday a significant change to a 2007 phone unlocking rule, which it says has inadvertently aided criminal enterprises that wish to use higher-end devices as difficult-to-trace burner phones. According to the FCC, the nearly two-decade-old phone unlocking policy stipulates that Verizon phones—specifically—must become unlockable from the carrier no more than 60 days after activation. For other cellular carriers, their devices had to be configured so that consumers could unlock them after one year.

Federal officials contend that the significantly shorter unlocking timeline for Verizon—along with its acquisition of prepaid and no-contract mobile virtual network operator TracFone Wireless—created a perverse incentive for criminal elements to target Verizon stores to steal higher-end phones. “Sophisticated criminal networks have exploited the FCC’s handset unlocking policies to carry out criminal acts—including transnational handset trafficking schemes and facilitating broader criminal enterprises like drug running and human smuggling,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said regarding the updated FCC rule. He continued, “By waiving a regulation that incentivized bad actors to target one particular carrier’s handsets for theft, we now have a uniform industry standard that can help stem the flow of handsets into the black market.”

Under the new waiver order, Verizon will be brought into alignment with the Cellular Telephone Industries Association (CTIA) Consumer Code for Wireless Service, established in 2013. The FCC contends this will better help reduce drug cartels and other criminal operations’ access to unlocked and difficult-to-trace “burner” style phones.

“Due to its unique unlocking responsibility, Verizon’s unlocked handsets have too often been effectively stolen and resold on the black market, commanding premium prices on the dark web, particularly in countries like Russia, China, and Cuba,” the FCC contends, adding, “The record demonstrates that the 60-day device locking period is insufficient for the company to effectively detect fraud before unlocking takes place… Time and again, federal and state law enforcement has investigated and prosecuted transnational handset trafficking schemes, finding they facilitate broader criminal enterprises like drug and human smuggling.”

The move by the FCC comes as the Trump administration continues to ramp up operations against Central and South American drug cartels and criminal illegal immigrant gangs operating within the United States. Notably, Verizon supports the FCC action, with Kathy Grillo, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, stating, “The FCC’s action will end bad actors’ ability to exploit the FCC’s unlocking rules to profit from easier access to expensive, heavily-subsidized devices in the U.S. that they traffic and sell to other parts of the world.”

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20 hours ago
News
UK

EU Wants ‘Farage Clause’ to Punish Britain If Reform Party Wins Power and Challenges Brussels.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The European Union (EU) is reportedly demanding a “Farage clause” in a so-called Brexit reset deal being negotiated by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, which would impose a financial penalty if a future government headed by Brexit champion Nigel Farage withdraws from the agreement.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The EU, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Nigel Farage.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Negotiations between Starmer and the EU are ongoing in Europe, with implications for the next British general election and beyond.

💬KEY QUOTE: “No Parliament may bind its successor and we will not honour any clause. If Starmer signs this, it’s a democratic outrage.” – Nigel Farage

🎯IMPACT: Critics argue the clause undermines British sovereignty, with Reform promising to overturn any such agreement if elected.

IN FULL

The European Union (EU) is said to be demanding a so-called “Farage clause” in its ongoing negotiations for a Brexit “reset” with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who previously campaigned against Brexit and in favor of a second referendum to overturn it. The “Farage clause” would require British taxpayers to pay substantial financial compensation if a future government, possibly headed by Brexit champion Nigel Farage, were to withdraw from any proposed deal.

Reports indicate that Brussels views the clause as a “safety provision to provide stability and a deterrent for Farage and Co,” with one unnamed EU diplomat telling British press that “The EU wants an agreement long-term and not only until 2029, should a change happen at the next election.” Notably, Britain’s next general election must be held no later than 2029, with recent polls consistently showing Nigel Farage’s Reform Party in first place.

Prime Minister Starmer is pursuing closer “alignment” with the EU in sectors including agriculture, food production, and energy, which would effectively mean handing over much of the control over the regulation of these sectors to EU control. Farage has condemned this approach of undoing Britain’s separation from the EU piecemeal as a “Brexit betrayal,” effectively handing sovereignty back to the EU and subjecting the country to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Farage has pledged to terminate any agreement with the EU signed by Starmer if Reform gains power. In response to reports that the EU is seeking to make this prohibitively expensive, Farage declared, “No Parliament may bind its successor and we will not honour any clause. If Starmer signs this, it’s a democratic outrage.”

Since Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016, a British political class and civil service largely opposed to cutting ties with the bloc has repeatedly sabotaged Brexit. The exit deal currently in place was negotiated largely by former Prime Minister Theresa May, who campaigned against Brexit, and civil servant Olly Robbins, who previously headed a club dedicated to transforming the EU into a federal union along the lines of the United States, with its member states giving up even more sovereignty. May’s successor, Boris Johnson, made only cosmetic changes to her deal, retaining contentious provisions such as an agreement to remain subject to the European Court of Human Rights, and to leave Northern Ireland effectively still inside the EU for most purposes.

Image by Owain.davies.

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21 hours ago
Immigration
News

Support Floods In for ICE Agent After Minneapolis Shooting.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Jonathan Ross, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who fatally shot anti-ICE agitator Renee Nicole Good when she attempted to run him over with her SUV, has raised $350,000 for his legal defense fund.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Renee Nicole Good and ICE agent Jonathan Ross.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shooting occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last Wednesday morning, sparking violent protests over the weekend.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am a big believer in our legal principle that one is innocent until proven guilty.” – Bill Ackman

🎯IMPACT: Protests erupted nationwide, and funding campaigns have been launched for both Good’s family and Ross’s legal defense.

IN FULL

Jonathan Ross, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who fatally shot anti-ICE agitator Renee Nicole Good when she attempted to run him over with her SUV, has raised $350,000 for his legal defense fund. The new high mark comes as hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman announced he has contributed $10,000 to Ross’s defense, stating, “I am a big believer in our legal principle that one is innocent until proven guilty.”

Ackman also expressed that he would contribute to the fundraiser for the family of Good, but noted the account had already closed after raising $1.5 million. Last Wednesday, Good was shot and killed after using her vehicle, at the admitted encouragement of her female partner, Rebecca Good, to block and harass federal law enforcement officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After being given a lawful order to stop and exit the vehicle, Renee Good accelerated forward toward Ross, prompting the ICE agent to fire upon her.

The corporate media at first attempted to portray Renee Good as merely a scared woman who was unaffiliated with the protests. However, numerous videos taken from the protest leading up to the shooting have subsequently shown Renee and Rebecca Good engaging in sustained interference against federal law enforcement.

Good’s death sparked a surge in violent anti-ICE protests in Minnesota, prompting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to announce the deployment of additional federal officers to the state to ensure the safety of ICE agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers already on site. This past weekend saw additional protests around the country, including in Washington, D.C., New York, and Seattle.

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21 hours ago
News

Barbie Launches Doll with ‘Flappy Hands’ and Off Center Gaze for Autists.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Mattel has introduced the first Barbie doll with autism as part of a diversity campaign.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mattel, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and autism charities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: January 12, 2026, internationally.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Seeing more depictions of autism is key to understanding and autism acceptance.” – Peter Watt, National Autistic Society

🎯IMPACT: The doll is intended to raise awareness and foster acceptance of autism among children.

IN FULL

Mattel has introduced an autistic Barbie doll as part of an ongoing push to make its toyline more “diverse.” The doll incorporates specific features like eyes that gaze slightly off to the side and more articulated joints in the elbows and wrists to help depict certain common autistic traits, such as the avoidance of direct eye contact and “hand flapping.” It also includes accessories, including noise-cancelling headphones and a fidget spinner, which some autistic children use to cope with sensory overload and hyperactivity.

“As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play,” said Lisa McKnight, Mattel’s executive vice president for Barbie and Dolls.

The autistic Barbie’s creation involved collaboration with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and is supported by multiple autism organizations. Britain’s National Autistic Society was among those to commend the doll, with managing director Peter Watt saying, “Seeing more depictions of autism is key to understanding and autism acceptance.”

The autistic Barbie follows earlier dolls in the line that have represented conditions including blindness, Down’s syndrome, and Type 1 diabetes. Mattel has also launched a range of Barbies aimed at increasing black representation, including a Rosa Parks Barbie and an Ida B. Wells Barbie.

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22 hours ago
News

Human Remains Discovered in Washington, D.C. Park.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Human remains were uncovered during construction at Volta Park in Georgetown, halting renovation work.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Georgetown residents, construction crews, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and the D.C. Archaeologist.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Volta Park, Georgetown, with the human remains first discovered last summer.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They have been left exposed for months, through rain and snow, and I have even seen dogs running over them. There are no tarps or coverings on the piles at all,” wrote a concerned resident to Popville.

🎯IMPACT: The site has been secured, and plans are underway to respectfully reinter the remains and complete renovations by spring 2026.

IN FULL

During construction at Volta Park in Georgetown this past summer, work came to a halt when human remains were discovered. Crews uncovered bones during renovation efforts, which were then collected and submitted to the D.C. Archaeologist‘s office for analysis.

Local residents raised concerns last week, writing to the neighborhood blog Popville about the lack of proper covering for the remains still in the park. One resident shared, “They have been left exposed for months, through rain and snow, and I have even seen dogs running over them. There are no tarps or coverings on the piles at all.”

Finally, last week, the human remains were covered with a tarp, and the site was marked with yellow flags. The Washington, D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) issued a statement confirming the site had been secured and that they are working with the D.C. Archaeologist and contracted archaeologists to develop a plan for respectfully reinterning the disarticulated remains.

“DPR anticipates completing drainage work by the end of winter, with field restoration underway for a spring reopening once the grass is established,” the statement read, concerning the timeline for the conclusion of renovations to the park. Volta Park is situated on the grounds of the former Presbyterian Burying Ground, a historic cemetery.

Image by Elvert Barnes.

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23 hours ago
News
UK

Former Senior Cabinet Member Backs Farage for Prime Minister.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Conservative (Tory) Party chairman and Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi announced his support for Reform Party leader Nigel Farage as a future prime minister.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nadhim Zahawi, Nigel Farage, and Tory former prime ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.

📍WHEN & WHERE: January 12, at a press conference in London.

💬KEY QUOTE: Zahawi said Britain “really does need Nigel Farage as Prime Minister.”

🎯IMPACT: Zahawi’s endorsement of Farage could shift party political dynamics ahead of the 2024 general election.

IN FULL

Former British Conservative (Tory) Party chairman and Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi announced on January 12 that he is endorsing Nigel Farage as Britain’s next leader, saying the country “really does need Nigel Farage as Prime Minister.” Zahawi, who was born in Baghdad in 1967 and left Iraq with his family during the 1970s, spoke about his journey from refugee to senior Cabinet minister during his announcement, saying, “I pinch myself every morning to wake up… This is the greatest country on earth.”

First elected as Member of Parliament (M) for England’s Stratford-upon-Avon constituency (electoral district) in 2010, Zahawi went on to hold a number of senior government roles. He played a central role in overseeing Britain’s controversial COVID-19 vaccine rollout and later served as Chancellor of the Exchequer—roughly equivalent to U.S. Treasury Secretary—under Boris Johnson.

Zahawi’s praise for Farage comes at a time when Reform, the party led by the veteran Brexit campaigner, has been gaining traction, consistently polling ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party and the Conservatives, who governed from 2010 to mid-2024. In recent months, Farage’s party has benefited from a series of high-profile defections, including sitting MPs, former ministers, and dozens of local councillors, particularly in London and southern England.

Polling and internal party surveys have also suggested growing support among Conservative voters for closer cooperation or even a merger with Reform, underscoring the Conservatives’ displacement by Reform on the British right.

Image by IAEA Imagebank.

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24 hours ago
Corruption
Economy

Federal Reserve Chairman Faces Criminal Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) served subpoenas over testimony he gave about renovations to Federal Reserve buildings.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jerome Powell, President Donald J. Trump, the DOJ, and members of the Senate Banking Committee.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Powell disclosed the investigation on Sunday, January 11, 2026; the probe is being overseen by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t know anything about it, but he’s certainly not very good at the Fed, and he’s not very good at building buildings.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: The federal investigation raises concerning allegations of financial mismanagement at the central bank, while critics claim the probe represents a threat to the Federal Reserve’s “independence.”

IN FULL

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell revealed on Sunday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal investigation into him, serving subpoenas over testimony he gave to a Senate committee regarding renovations to the central bank’s offices. Powell described the probe as “unprecedented” and suggested it stemmed from President Donald J. Trump‘s public campaign to pressure the Federal Reserve into lowering interest rates.

“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,” Powell said. He continued, “I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law, but this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure.”

Trump has denied any knowledge of the investigation, stating later on Sunday, “I don’t know anything about it, but he’s certainly not very good at the Fed, and he’s not very good at building buildings.” The Fed is currently modernizing two of its buildings, with renovations expected to cost $3.1 billion, exceeding initial projections of $2.5 billion. Trump has criticized the rising costs.

The investigation, overseen by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, has sparked bipartisan debate on Capitol Hill. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced opposition to any Fed nominations until the legal matter is resolved. Meanwhile, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) accused Trump of attempting to “install another sock puppet” to undermine the Fed’s “independence.”

The criminal probe comes as Powell prepares to step down in May, with Trump expected to name his successor soon. In December, the central bank enacted its third consecutive rate cut, although at the time, some economists suggested it could be the final cut for some time. However, job data released earlier this month suggests that the labor market continues to weaken, which will likely prompt the Federal Reserve to continue reducing rates.

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January 12, 2026
News
UK

Britain Considering Sending Military to Greenland.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly considering deploying British troops to Greenland, following remarks by President Donald J. Trump about acquiring the territory.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Starmer, President Trump, the governments of Denmark and Greenland.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday, January 12, 2026; discussions center on Greenland, a largely autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Discussions about securing the High North against Russia and China are part of NATO’s ‘business as usual’.” – British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander

🎯IMPACT: Concerns have been raised about Britain’s military being overstretched in what is likely an attempt at making a show of European solidarity against the Trump administration.

IN FULL

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly considering the possibility of deploying British troops to Greenland. This follows recent statements from former U.S. President Donald Trump about potentially taking control of the Danish territory.

The Prime Minister’s deliberations come soon after he committed to deploying troops to Ukraine to enforce a potential ceasefire, raising alarms among retired senior military concerned about the much-diministed British military’s ability to perform the tasks being considedred for it.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander characterized the conversations about Greenland as centering on NATO protecting the High North from threats posed by Russia and China, describing them as “business as usual.” However, the news comes soon after Starmer joined several other leaders in signing a letter claiming they would defend Denmark’s sovereignty in Greenland against the U.S.

Retired senior military officials have voiced serious concerns about Britain’s defense preparedness, citing years of cuts that have been exacerbated by the deployment of crucial materiel and munitions to Ukraine. They have emphasized shortages including a lack of howitzers, restricted availability of Royal Navy submarines, and insufficient Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots—likely worsened by anti-white recruitment policies—among other issues.

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January 9, 2026
Lawfare
News

Obama Judge Blocks Probe into Dem NY AG Letitia James.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge appointed by Barack Obama has disqualified a prosecutor from overseeing investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield, federal prosecutor John Sarcone, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Letitia James.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was made in January 2026 in the Northern District of New York.

🎯IMPACT: Subpoenas related to James’s high-profile lawfare suits against President Donald J. Trump’s business and the National Rifle Association (NRA) were invalidated, and Sarcone was barred from further involvement.

IN FULL

A federal court has removed a senior federal prosecutor from overseeing inquiries tied to Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James, concluding that his continued role violated federal appointment laws and rendered his actions invalid. U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield, originally appointed by Barack Obama, ruled that John Sarcone could not lawfully continue serving as acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York after his 120-day interim term expired.

Federal law requires that district judges decide whether an interim prosecutor may remain in office. In this case, judges declined to extend Sarcone’s tenure. The ruling claimed that the Justice Department (DOJ), led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, improperly attempted to preserve Sarcone’s authority by redesignating him as a “special attorney” and first assistant after his term lapsed. Judge Schofield said the move amounted to an unlawful attempt to bypass statutory limits on prosecutorial appointments.

Because Sarcone lacked legal authority, the court invalidated the subpoenas he issued and barred him from further participating in the investigations. Those subpoenas sought information related to James’ office and its prior litigation.

Sarcone worked on President Donald J. Trump’s 2016 campaign legal team and later served as a regional administrator at the General Services Administration during Trump’s first term. James’s office has argued that Sarcone’s involvement reflected a politically driven effort to retaliate against her for pursuing high-profile cases against Trump and conservative-aligned organizations.

James has built a national profile through aggressive legal actions, including a civil fraud case against Trump’s business empire and litigation against the pro-Second Amendment National Rifle Association (NRA).

James recently claimed a legal victory over the Department of Homeland Security, and another over the Department of Justice when a grand jury declined to re-indict her for mortgage fraud.

Image by Maryland GovPics.

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