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Thursday, March 26, 2026

Category: News
March 4, 2026
Crime
News

No Felony Charges for Antifa Agitators Despite $1M Damage at University of Washington.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: King County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges against 33 agitators arrested for vandalizing the University of Washington’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, instead filing misdemeanor charges.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Thirty-three agitators, including members of the now-suspended group Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER UW), and University of Washington police investigators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: May 2025 at the University of Washington’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building; decision not to prosecute confirmed recently.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is an important step in ensuring accountability for those who perpetrated this occupation.” – UW spokesman Victor Balta

🎯IMPACT: Twenty-three students involved have already faced disciplinary suspensions.

IN FULL

Prosecutors in King County will not pursue felony charges against 33 Antifa agitators arrested in connection with last spring’s occupation and vandalism of the University of Washington’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building. Instead, nearly a year after the May 2025 incident, which caused more than $1 million in damage, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed 33 counts of Criminal Trespass in the First Degree, a gross misdemeanor.

Records show University of Washington police told prosecutors they lacked sufficient evidence to support felony charges such as burglary or malicious mischief. Investigators cited the absence of eyewitness testimony or surveillance footage capturing the vandalism. A forensic review of seized electronic devices also failed to tie specific suspects to the property destruction.

Police reports indicate the demonstration was organized by Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER UW), an anti-Israel student group later suspended by the university. According to authorities, individuals dressed in “Black Bloc” Antifa clothing entered the building after hours, barricaded exits, and damaged equipment. Officers issued dispersal orders and ultimately removed dozens of people, encountering resistance that included makeshift shields and protective gear.

Police Lieutenant Anthony Stewart said investigators believe two separate groups were involved: one that carried out the destruction and another, with university affiliations, that remained inside and “leverage[d] their status to avoid aggressive police responses.”

University spokesman Victor Balta confirmed that 23 of those charged were students who had already been disciplined.

The case unfolds amid broader national scrutiny of protest movements employing “Black Bloc” tactics associated with Antifa. In Texas, federal prosecutors have brought terrorism-related charges against individuals accused of attacking an ICE detention facility in 2025, marking one of the most aggressive uses of federal statutes in cases linked to alleged Antifa activity.

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March 4, 2026
Corruption
Data

It’s NOT The Economy, Stupid! – The Issue That Most Americans List as Their TOP CONCERN Might Surprise Some.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Government and political leadership remained the top concern for Americans in February, with immigration rising sharply as the second most mentioned issue.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The responses reflect concerns from Democrats, Republicans, and independents, as well as broader dissatisfaction with political leadership and immigration policies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 2-16, 2025, across the United States, per a Gallup poll.

🎯IMPACT: The findings highlight continued dissatisfaction with government and an increased focus on immigration, reflecting partisan divides and differing priorities.

IN FULL

Government and political leadership remain Americans’ top concern, according to a Gallup poll conducted February 2-16. Immigration emerged as the second-most-cited issue, followed by the economy and inflation. Importantly, Gallup stresses that the survey was conducted before the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28.

According to the data, 29 percent of American adults said government or politics is the most important problem facing the United States. This is only a slight decline from 32 percent who said the same in January. Notably, immigration as an issue rose to 20 percent, up from 10 percent in January, while the economy was a concern of only 11 percent, and inflation was a concern for only eight percent of respondents.

Other notable issues included unifying the country (seven percent), problems with the judicial system (six percent), and concerns about elections and democracy (five percent). Race relations, crime, and healthcare were each cited by four percent of respondents.

A major factor in what respondents considered their top concern is partisan affiliation. According to Gallup, 44 percent of Democrats cited government as the top problem. Meanwhile government was only the top problem for 24 percent of independents and 19 percent of Republicans. The Democrat concerns, according to the data, are almost entirely driven by criticisms of the Trump White House. However, Republican respondents pointed to corruption—like the massive social services fraud scheme in Minnesota—or partisan gridlock as the most important problems plaguing government.

Mentions of immigration rose across all party groups in February, with 32 percent of Republicans, 18 percent of Democrats, and 15 percent of independents citing the issue. Republicans frequently focused on illegal immigration and border security, while Democrats highlighted humanitarian concerns and their criticism of federal immigration policy.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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March 4, 2026
News
TECH

Jeff Bezos Gathers War Chest to Gobble Up AI-Hit Firms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Jeff Bezos’s artificial intelligence (AI) lab, Project Prometheus, is raising billions to acquire companies impacted by AI disruption.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeff Bezos, Robert Nelsen, Vikram Bajaj, Cristian Bodnar, Nal Kalchbrenner, Jamie Dimon, and sovereign wealth funds.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ongoing efforts, with a $6.2 billion fundraising round completed in late 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The pace of innovation in AI right now is truly hard to understate.” – Robert Nelsen, Arch Venture Partners

🎯IMPACT: Prometheus aims to transform manufacturing and industry, potentially consolidating major sectors under Bezos’s control.

IN FULL

Jeff Bezos is pursuing an ambitious plan via his artificial intelligence (AI) venture, Project Prometheus, by raising tens of billions of dollars to purchase companies facing challenges from AI-driven changes. Reports indicate that the project secured $6.2 billion in funding toward the end of 2025, resulting in a valuation of roughly $30 billion.

The effort centers on applying AI to “transform manufacturing and industry,” including plans for a dedicated holding company designed as a “manufacturing transformation vehicle.” This structure would target acquisitions in various manufacturing fields, such as those producing jet engines and computer chips. The initiative has attracted backing from prominent investors, including Jamie Dimon and sovereign wealth funds such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, as well as substantial involvement from Robert Nelsen of Arch Venture Partners.

Nelsen has called the project potentially “one of the most important companies in the world,” stating, “The pace of innovation in AI right now is truly hard to understate.” Bezos, who serves as co-chief executive, works alongside experienced figures such as former Google executive Vikram Bajaj and AI specialists Cristian Bodnar and Nal Kalchbrenner, both previously from Microsoft and Google.

Analysts have drawn parallels to J.P. Morgan’s historical tactics, where he consolidated struggling industrial businesses during periods of economic pressure to build giants like U.S. Steel.

Image by Daniel Oberhaus.

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March 4, 2026
War
World

Here’s Who Iran’s Next Leader Might Be… If He Isn’t Killed First.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is expected to assume leadership of the country despite lacking an elected or appointed government role.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mojtaba Khamenei, the Iranian Assembly of Experts, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei during an Israeli airstrike on Saturday as part of Operation Epic Fury, in Iran.

🎯IMPACT: Mojtaba Khamenei’s potential rise highlights tensions within Iran’s leadership and raises questions about the Islamic Republic’s stance on hereditary rule.

IN FULL

Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old Twelver Muslim cleric and son of the deceased Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is poised to take over as Supreme Leader of Iran despite having no prior government role nor significant position within the religious sect. His rise is reportedly backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Assembly of Experts following the death of his father during joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.

The Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 Islamic scholars vetted for loyalty to the Supreme Leader, convened twice to discuss the succession. Some Iranian officials have claimed that Mojtaba was selected as the primary candidate, with the Assembly of Experts under pressure from the IRGC.

However, the legitimacy of the selection is already being called into question, especially in light of the Assembly of Experts allegedly being hit by an airstrike during its meeting. Leaving a U.S. Senate briefing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) alluded to the possibility that 80 or so of the Assembly of Experts members were killed in the strike.


Even if Mojtaba Khamenei becomes the new Supreme Leader, his tenure may be short. The U.S. Department of War and President Donald J. Trump say the U.S. Air Force has established air superiority over Iran—meaning U.S. and Israeli aircraft can strike Islamic Republic regime targets at will—and largely destroyed the regime’s navy. Additionally, the Iranian exile community is pushing several other candidates to lead the country, including Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah of Iran, and Maryam Rajavi, exiled leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)—a front for the Islamo-Marxist People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).

If Mojtaba Khamenei assumes the role, it will contradict the Islamic Republic’s long-standing criticism of hereditary rule.

Image by Mahmoud Hosseini / Tasnim News Agency.

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March 4, 2026
News
Politics

Cornyn Camp Mocks, Belittles Wesley Hunt and His Voters.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) attacked Representative Wesley Hunt (R-TX) after his third-place finish in the Texas Republican primary for Senator John Cornyn’s seat, potentially alienating Hunt’s supporters ahead of a May run-off between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: SLF Executive Director Alex Latcham, Wesley Hunt, John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and GOP fundraiser Caroline Wren.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 2026, Texas Republican primary race.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Congratulations to Wesley Hunt on an abysmal third place finish in Texas’ Republican primary.” – Alex Latcham

🎯IMPACT: The statement by the SLF, which is backing Cornyn, may drive Hunt and his hundreds of thousands of supporters to back Paxton in the run-off.

IN FULL

The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), which is backing Republican-in-name-only (RINO) Senator John Cornyn in the primary race for his Texas seat, has taken a swipe at Wesley Hunt following his third-place finish in the first round of the contest. Observers believe this is likely to motivate Hunt and his supporters to back Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his head-to-head run-off with Cornyn.

SLF Executive Director Alex Latcham issued a statement belittling Hunt and, by extension, his supporters, saying, “Congratulations to Wesley Hunt on an abysmal third place finish in Texas’ Republican primary. Instead of fighting for President Trump and conservative priorities, Wesley launched a career-ending vanity tour without any substance or political reasoning. While Wesley’s amateur consultants got wealthy on his senseless campaign, Republican voters are now forced to endure an even longer primary runoff election.”

Paxton and Cornyn appear to have finished the first round of the primary neck-and-neck, within roughly one percent of each other. Hunt, while significantly behind the pair, still boasted around 14 percent of the vote share with approaching 300,000 voters—who will likely decide the run-off.

Caroline Wren, a prominent GOP fundraiser, questioned the wisdom of Cornyn’s camp alienating Hunt and his supporters ahead of the run-off, writing on social media, “Politics is a game of addition. And SLF just told 200,000+ Wesley Hunt voters to fuck off.”

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March 4, 2026
War

WATCH: U.S. Submarine Torpedoes Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. submarine launched a torpedo strike, sinking an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, killing at least 80 Iranians onboard.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Navy, the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, Sri Lankan officials, and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred late Tuesday night in international waters, approximately 44 nautical miles off the southern coast of Sri Lanka.

💬KEY QUOTE: “An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. It was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death—the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.” – Pete Hegseth

🎯IMPACT: The strike marks the first U.S. attack on Iranian military assets outside the Middle East since the conflict began.

IN FULL

The United States Department of War (DOW) has confirmed it carried out a submarine torpedo strike that sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth noted that the attack marked the first U.S. sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.

“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Sec. Hegseth said on Wednesday, continuing, “It was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death—the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.”

“Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win,” Hegseth added.

According to Hegseth, the Iranian frigate was targeted late Tuesday night while sailing in international waters. The vessel, described as the newest in Iran’s naval fleet, was equipped with surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedo launchers. At least 80 crew members were reported dead, with 32 survivors rescued and hospitalized in Galle, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Vijitha Herath, confirmed that the Sri Lankan coastguard responded to a distress call from the Iranian ship early Wednesday morning. Herath stated that Sri Lanka, as a signatory to the international convention on maritime search and rescue, dispatched two vessels to assist in rescue operations.

Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran have yet to officially comment on the incident. However, Sri Lankan officials reported that Iranian sources believe the ship’s defense systems were disabled by electromagnetic means prior to the torpedo strike. The attack occurred 44 nautical miles off the coastal city of Galle, within Sri Lanka’s economic zone but outside its territorial waters.

This strike follows days of joint U.S.-Israel operations against Iranian leadership and military targets in the Middle East, including the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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March 4, 2026
News
War

Trump Poised to Invoke Defense Production Act to Boost Munitions Production for Iran War.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is considering invoking the Defense Production Act to accelerate the production of munitions amid concerns over U.S. stockpiles during “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the U.S. military.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Discussions took place recently in Washington, D.C., as the U.S. military carries out operations in Iran and across the Middle East.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The U.S. military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and weapons stockpiles to achieve the goals of Operation Epic Fury laid out by President Trump—and beyond.” – Karoline Leavitt

🎯IMPACT: The move could ensure sufficient munitions for the ongoing conflict while replenishing stockpiles, but concerns remain about America’s long-term readiness and production capacity.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is considering invoking the Defense Production Act to ramp up the manufacturing of munitions, driven by worries about U.S. inventory levels during the ongoing “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran. This law permits the government to direct production priorities toward critical national security requirements; the idea of invoking it has surfaced in closed-door briefings on Capitol Hill, per people with knowledge of the discussions.

President Donald J. Trump has openly called on defense manufacturers to speed up output, stating, “We have unlimited middle and upper ammunition, which is really what we’re using in this war.” Trump further stated that defense firms are operating “under emergency orders” to fulfill military demands.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that the armed forces possess adequate supplies to fulfill the mission’s aims, declaring, “The U.S. military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and weapons stockpiles to achieve the goals of Operation Epic Fury laid out by President Trump—and beyond.”

Anxieties regarding reserves have grown due to America’s continued backing of partners such as Israel and Ukraine and the heavy use of defensive missile stockpiles to defend the former. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has privately raised concerns about shortages of air defense munitions during talks with the President and lawmakers.

Activating the Defense Production Act could tackle short-term requirements while also rebuilding inventories for potential future contingencies.

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March 3, 2026
Education
News

SCOTUS Suspends CA Law Hiding Student Gender Transitions From Parents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Supreme Court granted an emergency appeal, allowing California schools to notify parents if their children identify as transgender, overriding the need for student approval.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Supreme Court, the Thomas More Society representing Catholic parents, and the California state government.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was made on Monday, March 2, 2026, concerning California schools.

💬KEY QUOTE: Justice Samuel Alito described the matter as “an issue of great and growing national importance.”

🎯IMPACT: The decision blocks a California law banning automatic parental notification and reinstates a lower court order, pending further legal proceedings.

IN FULL

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily permitted public schools in California to notify parents if their children are identifying as transgender in class, even without the student’s consent. The order came after an emergency appeal by the Thomas More Society, which represented Catholic parents challenging the state’s policies.

The ruling blocks the enforcement of a California law that barred automatic parental notification when students change their pronouns or gender expression at school. A lower court order that previously halted the law will remain in effect while the case proceeds. Religious parents and educators argued that the state’s rules misled families and enabled social transitions at school without parental knowledge or approval.

California officials defended the policy as a safeguard for student privacy, particularly for children who may face rejection or conflict at home. However, the Supreme Court sided with the parents at this stage of the litigation. The decision aligns with arguments that the notification ban interfered with parental rights, especially where religious objections were raised.

The case reflects the Court’s broader engagement with disputes over transgenderism. Justice Samuel Alito previously observed that school policies around supposedly transgender students are of “great and growing national importance.”

In June 2025, the Court upheld a Tennessee law prohibiting transgender medical “treatments” for minors in United States v. Skrmetti. The majority concluded that the state’s restrictions did not violate the Equal Protection Clause, leaving such policy determinations to lawmakers. Subsequent lower court rulings have similarly upheld state bans on transing minors.

The Court has also addressed transgender participation in athletics and in the military. It allowed enforcement of a federal policy restricting transgenders from serving in the armed forces while litigation continues. Disputes over transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports remain active in federal courts.

In January, the Trump administration determined that California’s parental-notification restrictions violated parents’ rights to access their children’s education records. The Justice Department also launched legal action contending that the state’s transgender athlete policies, allowing males to compete against females, conflicted with federal civil rights law.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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March 3, 2026
War
World

China Demands U.S. and Israel Halt Strikes on Iran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: China has expressed opposition to military strikes launched by Israel and the U.S. against Iran, calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and other international officials, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wang Yi intervened during a phone call on Tuesday following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Force cannot truly solve problems; instead, it often creates new ones and leaves serious long-term consequences,” said Wang Yi.

🎯IMPACT: Explosions in Tehran and Beirut, Lebanon, have disrupted global energy markets, with China calling for dialogue and negotiation to address the crisis.

IN FULL

China is officially demanding that the United States and Israel cease their military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed this stance during a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday, according to a statement from China‘s Foreign Ministry.

“Force cannot truly solve problems; instead, it often creates new ones and leaves serious long-term consequences. The real value of military power lies not on the battlefield but in preventing war,” Wang was quoted as saying during the call. Wang emphasized China’s commitment to resolving international and regional issues through dialogue and negotiation, pledging to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation.

In addition to his conversation with Saar, Wang held discussions with the foreign ministers of Iran, Oman, and France on Monday, urging Gulf nations to unite against external interference. He also spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday regarding the war. However, Wang has not yet communicated with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Notably, China purchases between 80 and 90 percent of Iranian oil—at a discount—because Western sanctions largely prevent the Islamic Republic from selling petroleum on the global market. Some estimates suggest that Iranian oil accounts for between 10 and 15 percent of China’s total energy imports, with Venezuela having accounted for another 10 to 15 percent until the U.S. removed dictator Nicolás Maduro from power.

The disruption of Iranian oil exports to China could have significant impacts on the Chinese economy—already reeling from U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs—though it is believed that China had built up some temporary reserves before the American and Israeli strikes against Iran began.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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March 3, 2026
News

WATCH: BLM Founder Filmed Fighting Woman at Resource Center.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Surveillance footage captured a physical altercation between Black Lives Matter (BLM) Lake County Founder Clyde McLemore and project manager Nyesha A. Hill in Waukegan. Police responded to another fight between the two in January.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Clyde McLemore, founder of Black Lives Matter Lake County, and Nyesha A. Hill, a project manager for the organization.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred in November and January at the Black Lives Matter Resource Center, 668 Lenox Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s not fair that I come here and I work and you running around taking care of other things that don’t got nothing to do with Black Lives Matter with Black Lives Matter money.” – Nyesha A. Hill.

🎯IMPACT: Police reports revealed conflicting statements; no arrests were made, but McLemore later obtained an emergency stalking no-contact order against Hill.

IN FULL

Black Lives Matter (BLM) Lake County founder and Executive Director Clyde McLemore and project manager Nyesha A. Hill were recorded on surveillance video fighting inside the group’s Resource Center at 668 Lenox Avenue in Waukegan, Illinois, in November. Police were called to the location again on January 12 for another physical altercation between the two.

The Waukegan Police Department responded after McLemore dialed 911, alleging battery. Body camera footage shows McLemore telling officers that Hill entered his office, demanding money and cigarettes. He said he refused, claiming he had neither, and alleged she attacked him when he would not comply.

Hill disputed that account, accusing McLemore of mishandling funds intended for Black Lives Matter activities and claiming she had not been paid for her work. She told officers, “It’s not fair that I come here and I work and you running around taking care of other things that don’t got nothing to do with Black Lives Matter with Black Lives Matter money.”

Both suffered minor injuries, but neither chose to press charges. Police cited conflicting statements and said there was not enough probable cause to make an arrest. McLemore, who has a prior legal history, later obtained an emergency stalking no-contact order against Hill. Hill, who also has a criminal record, has alleged that McLemore frequently misused organizational funds while failing to compensate her.

Black Lives Matter, founded in 2013 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin, grew into a national movement by 2020, fueling riots that saw the toppling of statues of Christopher Columbus, Confederate generals, and other historical figures in several cities. Recently, some monuments have been restored.

WATCH HERE:

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