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Category: News
August 11, 2025
News
TECH

AOL Finally Kills Off Its Dial-Up Internet Offering.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: AOL announced the discontinuation of its dial-up Internet service.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: AOL, now part of Yahoo, and its parent company, Apollo Global Management.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The service will end on September 30, 2025, as announced on AOL’s website.

💬KEY QUOTE: “AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet. This service will no longer be available in AOL plans,” the company stated.

🎯IMPACT: The move marks the end of an era for a service that was synonymous with early Internet usage in the 1990s.

IN FULL

One-time Internet giant AOL (formerly America Online) will shutter its dial-up Internet service at the end of next month. The company—now a property of Yahoo—whose CD trial discs, “You’ve got mail” greeting, and AOL web browser were ubiquitous for those who lived through the 1990s, made the announcement on its website, stating its dial-up offering will be discontinued on September 30.

“AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet. This service will no longer be available in AOL plans,” the company said. With cable, fiber-optic, satellite, and wireless Internet technologies now dominating global markets, it is unsurprising that AOL’s dial-up service is shutting down.

Dial-up Internet utilizes a modem connected to a telephone line, and when connecting, generates a familiar—at least for those born before the late-1980s—series of chirps, beeps, and buzzes long associated with the World Wide Web. Along with its dial-up service, AOL says it will also be ending the AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser.

Throughout the 1990s, AOL—then known as America Online—was notorious for its never-ending stream of free trial discs that arrived in American mailboxes. In 2006, the company rebranded as AOL, and in 2015, Verizon acquired it. Subsequently, Verizon sold AOL, along with Yahoo, to Apollo Global Management—a private equity firm—in 2021 for $5 billion.

Image by Purple Wyrm.

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August 11, 2025
Economy
News

Bitcoin Is On Another Run, And Here’s The Target People Are Hoping For…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Bitcoin bulls made another attempt to break a key resistance level, potentially setting the stage for a rally to $140,000.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bitcoin traders, crypto derivatives exchange Deribit, and market strategist Marc Chandler.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Early Asian trading hours, with market data expected Tuesday.

🎯IMPACT: A successful hold above the resistance level could push Bitcoin toward $140,000, while failure may lead to a deeper correction.

IN FULL

Bitcoin traders are once again testing a crucial resistance level tied to the 1.618 percent Fibonacci extension, derived from the bear market lows of 2018 and 2022. This is the second time in recent weeks that bulls have attempted to breach this technical barrier. The first attempt failed last month, triggering a drop in Bitcoin’s price below $112,000. Currently, Bitcoin is trading around $122,000, having reached an intraday high of $122,171 during early Asian trading hours.

The Fibonacci extension is a key level used in technical analysis to project potential price targets or profit-taking levels. This level is often associated with the “golden ratio” and is closely watched by market participants for potential trend shifts. In the numerical series, as you progress further into the sequence, the ratio between consecutive numbers approaches 1.618, also known as the golden ratio or phi.

Should Bitcoin successfully maintain levels above this resistance, it may set the stage for a rally toward $140,000. That level is psychologically significant and aligns with a popular strike price on the crypto derivatives exchange Deribit, where more than $3 billion in notional open interest is currently concentrated. However, failure to hold above the current resistance could suggest weakening bullish momentum and potentially lead to a deeper correction.

Upcoming U.S. inflation data, expected on Tuesday, could also impact market sentiment. Economists are forecasting a 0.3 percent increase in the core Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July, following a 0.2 percent rise in June. While an upside surprise could stir short-term volatility, analysts believe it’s unlikely to alter the Federal Reserve’s leaning toward a rate cut in September.

Additionally, the softer-than-expected July jobs report has already shifted expectations toward a potential Fed rate cut, an outcome that could support risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Most prediction markets are now projecting high odds of at least a 25-basis-point cut next month.

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August 11, 2025
News
Sports

Paramount Secures Mega-Billions UFC Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Skydance’s Paramount has signed a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with TKO Group for exclusive U.S. media rights to UFC matches, starting in 2026.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Paramount, TKO Group, UFC, and Paramount Chairman David Ellison.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The deal begins in 2026, announced Monday, following Paramount’s recent acquisition of Skydance.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Partnering with a company that puts our premium content front and center without extra charges is a game changer,” said TKO President Mark Shapiro.

🎯IMPACT: The deal doubles UFC’s previous annual revenue and shifts the sport away from the pay-per-view model, aiming to boost viewership and subscriber growth.

IN FULL

Skydance’s Paramount has inked a seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with TKO Group, securing exclusive U.S. media rights for all Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events starting in 2026. This move signals a pivotal change in the mixed martial arts (MMA) landscape, shifting the industry leader away from the pay-per-view (PPV) model.

The agreement designates Paramount+ as the exclusive platform for the UFC’s 13 annual pay-per-view events and 30 “Fight Night” events. Select UFC bouts will also air on CBS during Saturday prime-time slots.

Financially, the deal will see Paramount committing to $1.1 billion annually—twice the $550 million per year from the previous ESPN contract. TKO President Mark Shapiro hailed the partnership as revolutionary, stating, “Partnering with a company that puts our premium content front and center without extra charges is a game changer.”

Paramount Chairman and CEO David Ellison underscored the deal’s strategic value, noting, “UFC’s year-round content is a powerful tool to drive engagement, revenue growth, and subscriber acquisitions for Paramount+.” He also indicated plans to pursue international UFC rights.

This agreement follows Paramount’s recent merger with Skydance and its firing of leftist talk show host Stephen Colbert. UFC President Dana White is a prominent supporter of President Donald J. Trump, who has attended a number of UFC events both as a candidate and as a sitting president.

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August 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Breaking
Crime

BREAKING: Trump Puts D.C. Metropolitan Police Under ‘Direct Federal Control,’ Deploys Guard.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced he is placing Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deploying the National Guard, invoking Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the National Guard, Washington, D.C. officials and residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C.; Monday morning press conference.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re going to take our capital back.” – President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Federal control of MPD and Guard deployment mark a significant shift in D.C. policing and governance, with immediate implications for public safety operations and local government.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has announced he is placing the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C. under federal control, declaring, “Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs, bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youths, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people. And we’re not going to let it happen anymore.”

“We’re going to take our capital back,” Trump vowed at a Monday morning press conference, pledging that he will “rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor, and worse.”

“Under the authorities vested in me as the President of the United States, I’m officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act… and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control,” he said, describing this as “Liberation Day” in the American capital.

President Trump also announced he is deploying the National Guard to help restore order, blaming the city’s Democrat-dominated local leadership for turning it into a “sanctuary for criminals.”

He referenced the brutal beating of former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward “Big Balls” Coristine while attempting to thwart a carjacking last week. He also referenced the murder of Mike Gill, an official in the first Trump administration, during a carjacking spree last year, saying, “I lost a very good person a while ago. He was shot waiting for his wife. He was in the car, they robbed his car, they shot him, they killed him like there was nothing to it.”

“Every American has a constitutional right to be able to access and petition their government in safety. And countless government officials and employees, likewise, have the right to carry out their jobs in peace without being shot,” the America First leader insisted.

This story is developing…

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August 11, 2025
Crime
News

Trump Issues Latest ‘Liberation’ Message for D.C.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced his plan to address crime and other issues in Washington, D.C.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Washington, D.C. officials, and residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on Monday via Truth Social.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER!” – Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump pledges to tackle crime and restore order in the nation’s capital.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump vowed that “Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today!” in a Monday morning social media post. “Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN!” he declared on his Truth Social platform.

“The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), D.C. is next!!!” he added. This precedes a press conference planned for 10 AM, at which it is speculated that the America First leader may move to federalize the Democrat-dominated U.S. capital.

In February, Trump posited a federal takeover of D.C., telling reporters, “I think that we should govern the District of Columbia… we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawlessly beautiful.”

The issue has gained prominence again following a violent assault on former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward Coristine, a.k.a. “Big Balls,” as he attempted to stop a carjacking. President Trump has already moved to bolster law enforcement in D.C. with personnel from federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Marshals Service.

In March, Trump signed an Executive Order titled ‘Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,’ declaring that “As the Federal capital city, Washington, D.C., is the only city that belongs to all Americans and… it should showcase beautiful, clean, and safe public spaces,” and establishing a D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.

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August 11, 2025
News

Brit Rockers Oasis Warned to ‘Stay Out of U.S. Politics’ During Tour.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Oasis has been advised to avoid criticizing President Trump as they prepare for their U.S. reunion tour.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis, and talent manager Jonathan Shalit.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The U.S. leg of their tour begins in Chicago in late August.

💬KEY QUOTE: “My advice to Oasis is simple: Stay out of American politics.” – Jonathan Shalit

🎯IMPACT: The warning aims to prevent potential disruptions during the band’s U.S. tour.

IN FULL

Brit rock band Oasis has been advised to avoid commenting on President Donald Trump as they prepare to kick off the U.S. leg of their reunion tour in Chicago this August. Veteran talent manager Jonathan Shalit, chairman of the InterTalent Rights Group, warned the Gallagher brothers to steer clear of American politics.

“My advice to Oasis is simple: Stay out of American politics,” Shalit told reporters. “If they want their US tour to go ahead without disruption, it would be wise to keep quiet on all things Trump.”

The Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, have previously expressed strong opinions about the former president. Speaking to Canada’s CBC, Noel once described Trump as “fucking hilarious” but added, “If it’s a toss-up between Hillary [Clinton] and Trump, American politics is in a worse fucking place than ours.”

Noel’s views shifted after Trump’s 2016 election win. He told Paste magazine he avoids most news but made an exception for Trump, citing concerns about his environmental policies: “His views on the environment are pretty fucking scary, and that will affect my children.”

Liam Gallagher, meanwhile, took a more personal approach during their long-running feud, comparing his brother Noel to Trump. Accepting an award at the NME Awards in London, Liam called Noel “worse than Donald Trump” and “the biggest liar and biggest faker in the business.”

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August 8, 2025
News
UK

UK’s Labour Govt Tanking Among Voters as Nigel Farage Soars.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New polling shows Keir Starmer’s lead over Nigel Farage as the preferred prime minister has significantly narrowed, reflecting a decline in public confidence.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch, Jeremy Corbyn, Ed Davey, and other political figures.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The polling data was collected earlier this month, reflecting public sentiment as of August 2025 in the United Kingdom.

🎯IMPACT: The data highlights growing dissatisfaction with Starmer’s leadership and signals potential shifts in voter preferences toward Farage ahead of future elections.

IN FULL

According to the latest polling, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer‘s lead over Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as the preferred prime minister has shrunk. In May, Starmer held a 44 percent to 29 percent advantage over Farage, but this has now fallen to 35 percent to 28 percent in August. The decline reflects a shift in public sentiment, particularly among left-of-center voters.

The polling also reveals that Starmer’s advantage against other political figures, such as Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal leader Ed Davey, has narrowed. When compared to Badenoch, Starmer’s lead has dropped from 36 percent to 30 percent, while support for Badenoch has also declined from 25 percent to 20 percent. Meanwhile, Starmer and Davey are now tied at 20 percent each, down from 27 percent to 25 percent in May.

Nigel Farage has also gained ground against other figures. For instance, Farage now leads Kemi Badenoch 23 percent to 21 percent, reversing her previous 29 percent to 25 percent advantage. Similarly, Ed Davey’s lead over Farage has dropped from 14 points in May to just 31 percent to 27 percent in the latest poll.

Public dissatisfaction with Starmer’s premiership is evident, with only 9 percent of Britons rating him as a great or good prime minister. The majority describe his performance as poor or terrible, and even among his own Labour Party voters, only 18 percent view him as above average. Nigel Farage scores the highest among potential leaders, with 24 percent of Britons believing he would be a good prime minister.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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August 8, 2025
Economy
News

India Halts U.S. Arms Deals in Response to Trump Tariffs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: India has reportedly paused arms purchases from the United States and canceled a visit by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to Washington following new tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Indian Defense Ministry.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The tariffs were imposed in August 2025, with the arms purchase developments emerging shortly after, according to Reuters.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is clarified that the various cases of procurement are being progressed as per the extant procedures,” said the Indian Defense Ministry, rejecting Reuters’ report.

🎯IMPACT: The situation could affect U.S.-India defense ties and trade negotiations amidst broader geopolitical shifts.

IN FULL

India has reportedly begun pushing back against the recent wave of tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump, with officials indicating that key defense agreements with the United States have been paused. According to three Indian government sources, New Delhi has temporarily shelved plans to acquire American military equipment and has also canceled a scheduled visit to Washington by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

These developments follow President Trump’s announcement earlier this month of sweeping trade measures targeting India. The White House introduced a blanket 25 percent tariff on Indian exports, along with a punitive 25 percent levy specifically aimed at Indian purchases of Russian crude oil. The combined 50 percent tariff burden is expected to take effect on August 26. Sources close to the matter suggest that the defense freeze could be lifted if the two nations reach a breakthrough in trade talks before the deadline.

In recent years, India has worked to diversify its defense partnerships, especially since the 2020 border clashes with China prompted a reassessment of its military readiness. While India has traditionally relied on Russian defense hardware, Washington made significant inroads under Trump’s previous term, securing over $24 billion in arms sales. However, this growing defense cooperation now faces uncertainty amid the escalating trade dispute.

Indian defense officials have reportedly halted negotiations on several major arms deals, including the Stryker armored vehicle, the Javelin anti-tank missile system, and the Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. The Stryker purchase had already encountered headwinds due to India’s ambition to develop local alternatives. Meanwhile, the P-8I deal was reportedly under review due to rising costs and evolving strategic priorities. Notably, Indian media had flagged delays in these procurement programs prior to the newest reports.

In response to the new reports, the Indian Defense Ministry strongly denied any freeze in defense talks, labeling the report as “false and fabricated.” In an official statement, the ministry asserted, “It is clarified that the various cases of procurement are being progressed as per the extant procedures,” and further emphasized that there is “no pause in talks related to buying U.S. arms.”

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August 8, 2025
News
Politics

Melania Trump Forces Carville Apology Over Epstein Smear.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democratic strategist James Carville issued a public apology after making a false claim about First Lady Melania Trump’s introduction to Donald Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: James Carville, Melania Trump, President Donald J. Trump, and leftist writer Judd Legum.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred during a recent episode of the Politics War Room podcast.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I also take back these statements and apologize.” – James Carville

🎯IMPACT: The video containing the false claims was removed, and Carville’s comments were edited out of the podcast episode.

IN FULL

Democratic strategist James Carville issued a public apology after claiming that First Lady Melania Trump was introduced to her husband, President Donald J. Trump, by convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The comments were made on the Politics War Room podcast during a discussion with leftist writer Judd Legum.

Following a letter from Melania Trump’s legal team, Carville stated, “In last week’s podcast episode, we spoke with Judd Legum. After the episode, we received a letter from Melania Trump’s lawyer. He took issue with our title of one of those YouTube videos from that episode and a couple of comments I made about the First Lady.”

Carville continued, “We took a look at what they complained about, and we took down the video and edited out those comments from the episode. I also take back these statements and apologize.”

The controversy follows a similar incident in late July when The Daily Beast removed an article alleging that a modeling agent connected to Epstein introduced Melania to Donald Trump. The claims, attributed to author Michael Wolff, were later retracted after Melania’s attorneys intervened.

In her 2024 memoir, Melania Trump clarified that she met Donald Trump in September 1998 at a Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Klub in New York City. She described the moment, writing, “I saw my friend wave at someone behind me. When I turned around, I noticed a man and an attractive blonde woman approaching us. ‘Hi. I’m Donald Trump,’ the man said when he reached my table.”

The long-time Democrat strategist, who worked for former President Bill Clinton, is well-known for blusterous comments. The “ragin’ cajun” had a meltdown last year when young voters refused to show enthusiasm about former President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign. In another instance, he labelled gun control activist David Hogg as a “contemptible little twerp” when Hogg announced plans to try to use Democratic National Committee money to oust Democrats not viewed as progressive and woke enough.

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August 8, 2025
Immigration
News

Trump Seeks SCOTUS Intervention to Restore Full ICE Powers in L.A.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s Solicitor General is asking the Supreme Court to override restrictions on ICE operations imposed by judges in Los Angeles and California.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Solicitor General D. John Sauer, U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Central District of California, with an appeal filed with the Supreme Court late Thursday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Every day that the district court’s order remains in effect, law-enforcement officers throughout the most populous district in the country are laboring under the threat of judicial contempt.” – D. John Sauer

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights a clash between enforcing federal immigration laws and judicial curbs that critics argue hinder ICE operations.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s legal team has taken its case to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to overturn judicial limitations on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in California. These limitations were put in place by Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong in the Central District of California and have sparked ongoing conflict between federal immigration officials and the courts.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer criticized the restrictions, claiming they have significantly disrupted federal immigration enforcement in an area that includes approximately two million illegal immigrants. He defended ICE’s discretion and decision-making during operations, remarking, “Needless to say, no one thinks that speaking Spanish or working in construction always creates reasonable suspicion.”

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Judge Frimpong’s ruling, agreeing that characteristics such as language, ethnicity, occupation, or race do not amount to reasonable grounds for initiating stops. According to the court, these elements form a generalized profile rather than pointing to particular unlawful behavior.

Sauer cautioned that the order continues to hamper law enforcement efforts in the most densely populated federal district in the nation, stating, “Every day that the district court’s order remains in effect, law-enforcement officers throughout the most populous district in the country are laboring under the threat of judicial contempt.” He further argued that such legal constraints hinder agents’ ability to fulfill their duties under federal law.

Supporters of the court-imposed limits, including Democratic lawmakers and some business sectors, argue that these measures benefit the economy by enabling access to lower-cost immigrant labor, rather than pushing companies toward higher wages or automation. In contrast, the Trump administration has maintained its commitment to fostering a high-wage, high-tech economy and opposing a system that relies on mass migration and lower wages.

Image by Billy Wilson.

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