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Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Category: News
9 hours ago
News
War

State Dept Tells Americans to Flee Middle East as Iran War Spreads.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. State Department has urged American citizens to leave most of the Middle East as the Iran war intensifies and fighting spreads across the region.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. nationals in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department, Iran, Israel, and U.S.-aligned Middle Eastern nations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The advisory was issued on Monday, covering countries including Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Depart now via commercial means.” – The State Department.

🎯IMPACT: Hundreds of thousands of Americans are potentially stranded as flights are canceled, with embassies offering limited assistance.

IN FULL

The U.S. State Department has issued an urgent advisory urging Americans to leave much of the Middle East immediately due to “serious safety risks” as the U.S.-Israeli confrontation with Iran intensifies. The alert covers Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen. U.S. citizens were told to “use commercial flights to leave,” though many routes have been canceled or suspended amid the escalating violence.

The warning follows joint U.S. and Israeli strikes inside Iran, which have triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting U.S.-allied nations across the region. Iran has struck targets as far afield as the British Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri in Cyprus.

The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem said it is “not currently able to assist American citizens in departing Israel,” while Israeli authorities have begun running shuttles to the Taba Border Crossing with Egypt to facilitate departures. With regional airspace closures and mounting security concerns, thousands of travelers and expatriates face limited evacuation options.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has described the military campaign as targeted and decisive, insisting it will not become a prolonged conflict. He characterized the operation as focused on dismantling Iran’s missile systems and strategic capabilities rather than engaging in an open-ended war.

Meanwhile, President Donald J. Trump has declined to rule out deploying U.S. ground forces if necessary, stating, “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground.”

The conflict has also affected global energy markets. Saudi Arabia was forced to shut down a major oil refinery after a reported Iranian drone strike, raising concerns about supply disruptions and further regional instability.

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10 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

What We Know About Austin Mass Shooter Ndiaga Diagne.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Authorities are investigating a mass shooting at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin, Texas, which left three people dead and more than a dozen injured.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The gunman, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was shot and killed by police. Victims include Savitha Shan, Ryder Harrington, and Jorge Pedersen.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shooting occurred early Sunday at a crowded bar in Austin’s busy nightlife district.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Any declarations on what led to that motive would be premature, right? We want to make sure we have our facts 100 percent correct.” – Alex Doran, FBI Special Agent

🎯IMPACT: Investigators are treating the incident as a potential act of terrorism.

IN FULL

Law enforcement has released new information about the perpetrator of Sunday’s mass shooting at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin, Texas. Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized immigrant originally from Senegal, has been officially confirmed as the gunman. Notably, while law enforcement still has not stated that the shooting was an act of terrorism, photos of Diagne’s corpse that have circulated on social media reveal he was wearing a “Property of Allah” hooded sweatshirt and an Iranian flag t-shirt underneath.

The attack left three people dead—Savitha Shan, 21, Ryder Harrington, 19, and Jorge Pedersen, 30—and injured over a dozen others. Meanwhile, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that Diagne legally acquired the firearms used in the attack in San Antonio several years ago.

Authorities also acknowledged they are now investigating the shooting as a possible act of terrorism, but Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent Alex Doran claims that it is too early to determine a motive. “Any declarations on what led to that motive would be premature, right? We want to make sure we have our facts 100 percent correct,” he stated.

After Diagne opened fire early Sunday morning, officers responded to reports of the shooting in just 57 seconds, confronting the gunman, who was armed with both a handgun and a rifle. Law enforcement engaged and killed Diagne at the scene.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that Diagne entered the United States on March 13, 2002, on a B-2 tourist visa. He became a lawful permanent resident in 2006 after marrying an American citizen and was naturalized in April of 2013.

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11 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Attorneys for Illegal Immigrants Have Flooded Federal Courts With Over 24,000 Lawsuits.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Immigration attorneys have increasingly turned to federal courts to challenge detention policies, flooding the system with 24,400 habeas claims.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Attorneys such as Dan Gividen and Jeremy McKinney, federal judges, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and illegal immigrants detained across the United States.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ongoing since January 2025, with cases filed in federal courts across the country.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The only way that the overwhelming majority of people that ICE is detaining right now is going to get out is through the habeas system.” – Dan Gividen

🎯IMPACT: Some federal judges have issued rulings rejecting the government’s interpretation of immigration law and granting the habeas claims, with hundreds of detainees released or granted bond hearings.

IN FULL

Immigration attorneys are increasingly turning to federal courts to challenge the detention of illegal immigrants, using habeas claims in an effort to force the release of illegal immigrants en masse. The U.S. Constitution provides the writ of habeas as a means of preventing the federal government from detaining Americans without justification, but the mechanism has increasingly been used by immigration attorneys to force bond hearings for illegal immigrant detainees.

“The only way that the overwhelming majority of people that ICE is detaining right now is going to get out is through the habeas system,” Dan Gividen, a former deputy chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who now represents illegal immigrants in federal court, stated in a recent interview. The number of habeas filings has risen to more than 24,400 since January 2025. Notably, the mass habeas filings have jammed up both the deportation process and the federal judiciary’s ability to address other non-immigration cases.

“We’re suing the federal government weekly,” Jeremy McKinney, former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said, adding, “We have to kick the door down.”

The National Pulse reported in May 2025 that the Trump White House was considering moves to suspend habeas corpus for illegal immigrants—effectively ending the writ of habeas mechanism currently being utilized by immigration attorneys. “The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion. That’s an option we’re actively looking at,” White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller said at the time, adding, “A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not.”

Still, the habeas filings have been complicated in some jurisdictions, especially in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, where the appellate court ruled that “unadmitted aliens apprehended anywhere in the United States are ineligible for release on bond, regardless of how long they have resided inside the United States.” This ruling has not stopped lower court judges from attempting workarounds.

Two federal district court judges in Texas—so far—believe they have identified a loophole in the appellate court ruling that allows lower courts to continue issuing bond releases for illegal immigrants based on constitutional grounds. District Court Judges Kathleen Cardone—a Bush appointee—and David Briones—a Clinton appointee—both contend in rulings made earlier this week that the Fifth Circuit ruling “has no bearing on this Court’s determination of whether [the petitioner] is being detained in violation of his constitutional right to procedural due process.”

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11 hours ago
William Upton
War

Pro-Terror Grifter Hasan Piker Tells Followers, ‘Just Make F**king Suicide Drones.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Far-left social media personality Hasan Piker, who has advocated for political violence and made veiled threats in the past, appears to be encouraging his millions of followers to build suicide drones.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hasan Piker and his millions of social media followers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The comments were made during a livestream of ongoing Iranian attacks against Israel, U.S. military bases, and Arab Gulf States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Just make f**king drones. You can purchase them from, you know, you can purchase them in the online marketplace. Like, China literally sells like explosive ordnance delivery mechanisms that you can put to a DJI drone that you can purchase, like, at virtually no significant cost in comparison to, like, sophisticated equipment that you need to put together.” — Hasan Piker

🎯IMPACT: Piker has made numerous violent threats in the past, including appearing to encourage his followers to shoot U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Rick Scott (R-FL) and saying “America deserved 9/11.” Recently, he appeared to electrocute his dog on a livestream.

IN FULL

Far-left social media personality Hasan Piker, who has advocated for political violence and made veiled threats in the past, appears to be encouraging his millions of followers to build suicide drones. While live-streaming Iranian attacks against Israel and the Arab Gulf States, the Turkish-American began discussing the declining need for suicide bombing as drone technology has advanced, specifically referencing devices like Iran‘s HESA Shahed 136 kamikaze attack drone.

“Again, that’s a Shahed drone, that’s crazy,” Piker excitedly says as an Iranian kamikaze drone slams into a target in a video. “Bro, you really actually don’t need, like—like I was thinking about this with, like, the Afghanistan, the Taliban-Pakistan fight that was taking place. And I was really thinking about this, you really don’t need suicide bombing anymore.”

“You really don’t need that anymore in drone warfare,” Piker continued, before telling those viewing his livestream: “Just make fucking drones. You can purchase them from, you know, you can purchase them in the online marketplace. Like, China literally sells like explosive ordnance delivery mechanisms that you can put to a DJI drone that you can purchase, like, at virtually no significant cost in comparison to, like, sophisticated equipment that you need to put together.”

“This is functionally, what you could get away with if you, if you facilitated, like, a somewhat difficult to pull off suicide bombing strike,” Piker added, in reference to the Shahed strike.


The National Pulse reported in 2024 on Piker appearing to encourage his social media followers to shoot Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR). In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Piker, a.k.a. ‘HasanAbi,’ responded to calls by Cotton for the average American to stand up to pro-Hamas demonstrators who block bridges and road traffic with an image of an improvised gun, which at least 1.6 million people viewed.

In March of 2025, Piker was briefly banned from Twitch after suggesting that Republican Florida Senator Rick Scott should be “killed.” The incident occurred during a stream where Piker reacted to a clip featuring House Speaker Mike Johnson discussing Medicaid fraud with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins. Piker declared, “If you cared about Medicare fraud or Medicaid fraud, you would kill Rick Scott, OK?”

Last October, Piker was accused of electrocuting his dog on a live stream.

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12 hours ago
Crime
UK

Stabbing Near UK Elementary School and Church in Muslim-Majority Area.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Multiple people are reported injured following a stabbing outside a primary (elementary) school and church in a Muslim-majority area of Birmingham, England.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A 32-year-old man has been arrested, with a woman also injured and eyewitnesses reporting a passer-by intervened.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on Bridge Road in the Pakistani-Muslim majority Alum Rock area of Birmingham on March 3, around 12:06 PM.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We understand how deeply distressing and concerning this incident is and we will have extra officers in the area to offer reassurance to the community,” said Detective Superintendent James Munro.

🎯IMPACT: The incident has left people shaken, with heightened police presence and appeals for information.

IN FULL

Authorities and medical teams arrived at the scene of a knife attack on Bridge Road in the Alum Rock neighborhood of Birmingham, England, on Tuesday morning. The attack occurred close to a primary (elementary) school and a church in the area, where Pakistani Muslims are the majority and white people are less than ten percent of the population and occasionally targeted with threatening graffiti. Police have detained a 32-year-old male suspect.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that a bystander tried to stop the assault by driving a vehicle into the perpetrator while he “repeatedly stabbed at his victim.” One injured person was observed on the ground in the road while police administered CPR.

After the assault, the alleged attacker escaped into a nearby apartment building. Some observers reported hearing sounds of gunfire coming from inside the structure, with footage provided to British media showing police officers with firearms moving into the location.

The West Midlands Police force stated: “We’ve arrested a man after another man was stabbed in Alum Rock this afternoon. Firearms officers were deployed to the incident as part of our response.”

Detective Superintendent James Munro added “We believe this to be a contained incident with a man in custody. We are reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to a number of people in the area.”

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March 2, 2026
2A
SCOTUS

SCOTUS Skeptical of Law Disarming Habitual Drug Users.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration urged the Supreme Court to uphold a law denying gun rights to habitual drug users, including marijuana users, but faced skepticism from justices.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, the Supreme Court, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The case was argued before the Supreme Court on Monday in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: The prosecution “falls well within Congress’ authority to temporarily disarm categories of dangerous persons—here, habitual drug users,” argued Solicitor General D. John Sauer

🎯IMPACT: The case could affect millions of Americans who own firearms and use marijuana or other controlled substances, potentially expanding or restricting the reach of criminal law.

IN FULL

On Monday, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to uphold a provision of the Gun Control Act of 1968 that bars firearm possession by “habitual users” of controlled substances, including marijuana. The case highlights tension between federal drug laws and the Second Amendment, and several justices appeared doubtful during oral arguments.

Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued that Congress determined it is dangerous to combine firearms and controlled substances and urged the Court to sustain the statute. Attorney Erin Murphy countered that gun owners were not clearly warned that occasional marijuana use could make them criminals under federal law.

The case involves Ali Hemani, who admitted to using marijuana regularly. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents found a Glock pistol and marijuana during a search of his home. A federal district court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed the gun charge, citing his Second Amendment rights and noting he was not under the influence at the time.

Notably, Hemani was also suspected of having family ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an Iranian terrorist organization.

The Justice Department says roughly 300 people annually face charges under the provision, including Hunter Biden, who was convicted of lying about his drug abuse on a firearm purchase form. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued the restriction aligns with historical precedents, such as laws disarming “habitual drunkards,” and should similarly apply to habitual drug users.

The prosecution “falls well within Congress’s authority to temporarily disarm categories of dangerous persons—here, habitual drug users,” Sauer said.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing Hemani, warned the government’s reading could criminalize millions. “Like tens of millions of Americans, Ali Hemani owned a handgun for self-defense, keeping it safely secured at home. Like many of those same Americans, he also consumed marijuana a few days a week,” the group wrote, arguing those facts alone should not trigger federal penalties.

The dispute comes as federal marijuana policy shifts. In 2024, the Justice Department moved to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, recognizing accepted medical uses and lower abuse potential. Then, in 2025, President Trump directed the DOJ to expedite that process and expand medical marijuana and CBD research.

Image by Billy Wilson.

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March 2, 2026
News
War

Socialist Spain Drives Out U.S. Military Aircraft.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Spain has driven 15 U.S. military aircraft out of its bases following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. military, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The aircraft left their bases in southern Spain since the weekend; maps showed their movement on Monday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Spanish bases are not being used for this operation,” said Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.

🎯IMPACT: Spain’s decision may strain relations with Washington.

IN FULL

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates that 15 U.S. military aircraft have departed from the Rota and Morón air bases in southern Spain following recent U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. The bases, including Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base, operate under Spanish sovereignty in cooperation with the United States. According to the tracking data, at least seven of the aircraft have landed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told broadcaster Telecinco, “Spanish bases are not being used for this operation,” underscoring the socialist government’s opposition to the attacks. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also condemned the U.S.–Israeli strikes.

Notably, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has argued the campaign will be limited in scope, saying, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” and describing a targeted strategy aimed at dismantling Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities. However, President Donald J. Trump has declined to rule out ground forces, suggesting he would be willing to deploy troops “if they were necessary.”

Elsewhere in Europe, Britain initially refused permission for its bases to be used for operations against Iran, but later allowed it under the principle of “collective self-defence” when Iran began launching missiles at regional allies.

Image via European Union.

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March 2, 2026
News
War

Jeb Bush Cheers Trump for Going to War with Iran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Florida Governor and Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush praised President Donald J. Trump’s Operation Epic Fury against Iran, calling it a “noble cause.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeb Bush, President Trump, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, U.S. and Israeli forces, and the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) organization.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The U.S.-Israeli strikes began early Saturday, with statements released through Monday. The war encompasses Iran, Israel, the U.S., and U.S. allies in the Middle East.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The President’s message to the heroic Iranian people is a message from all Americans: we aim to see Iran free, prosperous, and at peace. This is their time to take their great country back.” – Jeb Bush

🎯IMPACT: The war had already resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

IN FULL

Former Florida Governor and Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush praised former adversary President Donald J. Trump this week for launching Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign targeting Iran’s leadership and missile and nuclear infrastructure. Bush called the mission a “noble cause” and urged leaders in both parties to support it. The strikes reportedly resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In a video released by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), Bush described the campaign as “an incredible moment in history.” He later shared the video on X, writing, “I recorded a special video message with [UANI’s Mark D. Wallace] applauding [Donald Trump’s] historic Operation Epic Fury and calling on all American leaders from both parties to unite behind a noble cause: freedom for the great people of #Iran.”

“The President’s message to the heroic Iranian people is a message from all Americans: we aim to see Iran free, prosperous, and at peace. This is their time to take their great country back,” Bush said.

Bush, a former UANI chairman and longtime advocate of U.S. intervention in the Middle East, reiterated his warning that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions pose a serious threat to American security. He argued that past military actions in the region were “necessary to reassert American strength” and suggested that decisive action now could prevent further destabilization.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has said the campaign will not become an endless conflict, describing it as a “laser-focused” effort to dismantle the regime’s military and nuclear capabilities and key command structures. However, Trump has declined to rule out deploying U.S. ground troops if conditions warrant it. “I don’t have the yips about it,” he said when asked about the possibility of “boots on the ground,” signaling that all options remain on the table depending on Iran’s response.

Image by Marc Nozell.

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March 2, 2026
War
World

Saudis Forced to Shut Massive Oil Refinery After Iranian Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery shut down temporarily following an Iranian attack, reportedly involving drones.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Iranian armed forces, Saudi Aramco, and President Donald Trump were key figures in the unfolding events.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred over the weekend, with the shutdown confirmed on Monday, in Saudi Arabia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Aramco shut the 550,000 barrel-per-day Ras Tanura plant on Monday as a precaution while assessing damage,” Bloomberg shared.

🎯IMPACT: The attack has raised concerns about potential disruptions in global oil supply.

IN FULL

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura oil refinery on Monday after it was hit by multiple Iranian suicide drones. Images show smoke rising from the facility, though the scope of damage is not immediately clear.

Since joint United States and Israeli airstrikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran began over the weekend, Iranian forces have attempted to target civilian, economic, and energy infrastructure in the Gulf States—along with a number of attacks against U.S. military assets and Israel. The suicide drone strike against Ras Tanura is likely to have a short-term impact on Saudi oil production as the facility is capable of refining an estimated 550,000 barrels of oil per day.

Saudi officials shut down the Ras Tanura as a precaution and to assess damage. Workers were evacuated from the facility.

The attack appears to be part of a broader series of strikes used by the Iranian regime in the aftermath of the death of its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike over the weekend. Iranian missiles have also hit civilian targets, including hotels in Bahrain and the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition, Iran has fired a handful of missiles at oil tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz—while claiming it has closed the key waterway—though United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has indicated that at least 11 Islamic Republic naval vessels have been sunk at sea, with others destroyed in strikes on key Iranian naval installations along its coast.

Over the weekend, after an initial round of Iranian missile strikes, the Gulf States issued a rare joint public statement condemning the Islamic Republic and its attacks.

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March 2, 2026
Corruption
News

WATCH: House Oversight Committee Releases Clinton Deposition Videos.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. House Oversight Committee released videos of its depositions of former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, as part of their investigation into Clinton associate and deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The depositions were released on March 2, 2026, by the U.S. House Oversight Committee.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn’t do. I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong.” – Bill Clinton

🎯IMPACT: The release of these depositions adds transparency to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s elite connections.

IN FULL

The House Oversight Committee has made public the deposition videos of Jeffrey Epstein associate and former President Bill Clinton, along with his wife, Hillary Clinton. This move is part of the ongoing investigation into Epstein’s activities and connections.

Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced the release, stating, “I have released Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton’s deposition footage.”

Bill Clinton, who had multiple flights on Epstein’s “Lolita Express” plane, defended himself during his deposition, saying, “I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn’t do. I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong.”

Epstein, along with his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, visited the Clinton White House and supported the Clinton Foundation following the Clinton presidency.

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