Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Illegal Aliens Caught Targeting CBP Helicopter with Laser in Portland.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Four illegal aliens were arrested for targeting a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter with a laser in Portland, Oregon.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Portland, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Protective Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the arrested illegals.

📍WHEN & WHERE: September 27, 2025, over Portland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The federal government will not tolerate violence against federal officers.” – FBI Portland

🎯IMPACT: All four suspects were placed into ICE custody.

IN FULL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Protective Service Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has netted four illegal aliens after searching a Portland, Oregon residence linked to the targeting of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter with a blinding laser. Another aircraft in the vicinity was also targeted.

“Agents made contact with the subject, as well as three other inhabitants who were at the residence. All four suspects are in the U.S. illegally, and were placed into the custody of [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Seattle] personnel,” the bureau announced in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter). 

“The laser that was used was acquired during the course of the investigation,” the statement continued, adding: “The federal government will not tolerate violence against federal officers, nor will we tolerate assaults on personal, commercial, or government aircraft.”

The incident underscores the growing dangers faced by law enforcement, particularly those engaged in immigration enforcement, such as ICE and CBP. The Trump administration complains that inflammatory rhetoric from leading Democrats such as Minnesota Governor and failed vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, who recently compared ICE to Adolf Hitler’s Gestapo, intensifies these dangers.

ICE facilities have been targeted in two sniper attacks in recent months, one of which saw a responding local police officer shot in the neck.

Image by Dave Newman.

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Harvard Professor Leads Double Life as Drag Queen ‘LaWhore Vagistan.’

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Harvard University has hired a visiting professor in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality department who also performs as a drag queen named “LaWhore Vagistan.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kareem Khubchandani, a Tufts University associate professor and drag performer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced in July, Khubchandani will teach at Harvard University.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I chose ‘LaWhore’ because my family traces its origins to Pakistan: Lahore is an important city in Pakistan, and, well, I’m a bit of a whore.” – Kareem Khubchandani

🎯IMPACT: The courses will explore drag, race, and gender topics, requiring students to attend drag shows and participate in performance-based exercises.

IN FULL

Harvard University has hired Kareem Khubchandani as a visiting professor in its Women, Gender, and Sexuality department. Khubchandani, who performs as a drag queen under the name “LaWhore Vagistan,” will teach courses on “Queer Ethnography” and “RuPaulitics: Drag, Race, and Desire.”

According to the Harvard course catalog, the “Queer Ethnography” course will examine “gender and sexual dissidents” in various settings, including “gay neighborhoods, trans raves, sex work, lesbian parties, BDSM dungeons, AIDS activism.” The “RuPaulitics” class will focus on “contemporary and historical drag archives” and provide students with tools to analyze drag. Students will also be required to attend drag shows and participate in performance-based exercises.

Khubchandani, who is an associate professor of theatre, dance, and performance studies at Tufts University, describes himself as “an educator, scholar, and performer invested in feminist, queer, and trans everyday-aesthetics.” His personal website states that his work focuses on “uplifting the creative ways that minoritarian subjects live inside of oppressive structures.”

In addition to his academic work, Khubchandani has authored books such as Decolonize Drag and Ishtyle: Accenting Gay Indian Nightlife. He has explained the origins of his drag persona’s name, saying, “I chose ‘LaWhore’ because my family traces its origins to Pakistan: Lahore is an important city in Pakistan, and, well, I’m a bit of a whore.”

Khubchandani added: “And Vagistan because I see the subcontinent as one, big, beautiful Vag … istan. Close your eyes and visualize it: India is the uterus-vagina, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the ovaries, Afghanistan, Nepal, Burma, and Bhutan are the fallopian tubes, and Sri Lanka is a little floating labia.”

Harvard and the Trump administration have been engaged in a protracted legal battle over the latter’s decision to revoke federal funding for the Ivy League university. In early September, U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs, appointed to the bench by former President Barack Obama, ordered that the Trump administration must reverse over $2.6 billion in funding cuts to Harvard University.

According to Judge Burroughs, the funding freeze was an act of retaliation against Harvard for rejecting changes the administration sought in the university’s governance and policies. Burroughs’s decision ensures that Harvard’s federal grants cannot be terminated for the time being, pending a possible appeal by the Trump administration.

Image by Adam Fagen.

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Trump Acquires Major Lithium Mine Stake for U.S. Government.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. government has taken a minority stake in Lithium Americas to support the development of one of the world’s largest lithium mines in northern Nevada.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Department of Energy, Lithium Americas, General Motors, and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The agreement was announced on October 1, focusing on the Thacker Pass project in northern Nevada.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This deal helps reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries for critical minerals by strengthening domestic supply chains and ensures better stewardship of American taxpayer dollars.” – Chris Wright

🎯IMPACT: The project aims to reduce U.S. reliance on China for lithium, with production set to grow exponentially, potentially powering 800,000 electric vehicles (EVs) annually in its first phase.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Energy has taken a five percent equity stake in Lithium Americas, a Vancouver-based company developing the Thacker Pass lithium project in northern Nevada. The site, considered one of the largest known lithium reserves in the United States, is central to efforts to reduce America’s reliance on China for critical minerals essential to electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy technologies.

Developed as a joint venture with General Motors, the Thacker Pass project is expected to produce 40,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually in its initial phase. That output would be enough to power approximately 800,000 electric vehicles per year. GM has committed over $900 million to the project, which is estimated to hold enough lithium to support batteries for one million electric vehicles (EVs) annually.

The Department of Energy also agreed to defer $182 million in debt service for the first five years of a $435 million federal loan issued to Lithium Americas. Additionally, recent amendments to a $2.3 billion loan agreement with the company have cleared the way for construction and production to move forward.

“This deal helps reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries for critical minerals by strengthening domestic supply chains and ensures better stewardship of American taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

The announcement sent Lithium Americas’ stock soaring more than 33 percent, signaling strong investor confidence. Dan Ives, an analyst with Wedbush Securities, described the project as a “massive opportunity” for the U.S. to reduce China’s near-total dominance of the global lithium processing market.

The federal government’s backing of Thacker Pass comes amid a broader push to secure domestic sources of critical minerals. That push has accelerated under the Trump administration, which has reversed several Biden-era climate policies while focusing on energy independence and resource development.

In recent months, the Trump administration has committed to expand domestic mining, processing, and battery production capacity, including support for companies like MP Materials. It has also imposed steep tariffs on key battery components from China, including a 160 percent combined duty on graphite anode materials.

Meanwhile, a minerals deal with Ukraine finalized earlier this year grants the U.S. preferential access to new mining licenses, with revenues shared through a joint reconstruction fund.

Image by chicabrandita.

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This Insurance Giant Could Soon Face a Federal Probe Over DEI Policies.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Insurance giant Chubb is facing calls for a federal investigation into its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and other practices over alleged violations of anti-discrimination laws and a Trump Executive Order.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chubb, Consumers’ Research, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The campaign was launched on Wednesday, with Chubb being a globally operating American-Swiss insurance conglomerate listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Chubb’s practices run counter not only to the colorblind policies of this administration, but very likely, to the Civil Rights Act and other federal anti-discrimination laws as well.” – Consumers’ Research Executive Director Will Hild

🎯IMPACT: Consumers’ Research has launched a nationwide campaign, including ads, billboards, and a website, to draw attention to Chubb’s policies and urge federal action.

IN FULL

American-Swiss insurance conglomerate Chubb could soon be subject to federal scrutiny over its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and other practices. Consumers’ Research, a consumer protection watchdog group, is petitioning the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Treasury Department to launch a probe into the insurance giant, alleging that Chubb’s policies may violate President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order prohibiting DEI programs and federal anti-discrimination laws.

Chubb, the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and part of Lloyds of London. Consumers’ Research, a nonprofit watchdog group, launched its campaign on Wednesday, labeling Chubb the “wokest insurance company” and urging the DOJ to investigate.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Consumers’ Research Executive Director Will Hild stated, “Chubb’s practices run counter not only to the colorblind policies of this administration, but very likely, to the Civil Rights Act and other federal anti-discrimination laws as well.” Hild also criticized Chubb’s DEI-driven philanthropic initiatives, such as the Chubb Rule of Law Fund and the Chubb Charitable Foundation.

Trump’s Executive Order—effectively barring the federal government from doing business with any companies that implement diversity quotas, affirmative action mandates, and other DEI-style policies—has resulted in numerous major U.S. corporations scrapping discriminatory programs. After Trump signed the order in January, Deloitte—a member of The Big Four accounting firms—notified its employees through a firm-wide e-mail that it would be ending its DEI initiatives.

Notably, The National Pulse reported in September that the House Oversight Committee is broadening its investigation into potential discrimination by insurance companies and financial institutions against individuals and entities with right-leaning political views. The probe also examines whether retirees’ pension accounts are being used to fund progressive policies without their consent.

Image by Tony Webster.

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Probe Opened Into Hunter S. Thompson’s 2005 Death.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Colorado authorities are reviewing the 2005 death of journalist Hunter S. Thompson, which was initially ruled a suicide.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione, and Thompson’s widow, Anita Thompson.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The 2025 review concerns Thompson’s death in February 2005 near Aspen, Colorado.

💬KEY QUOTE: “By bringing in an outside agency for a fresh look, we hope to provide a definitive and transparent review that may offer peace of mind to his family and the public.” – Sheriff Michael Buglione

🎯IMPACT: The review aims to address lingering questions and provide closure for Thompson’s family and the public.

IN FULL

The 2005 death of famed gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson is being reviewed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the request of his widow, Anita Thompson. Investigators originally ruled Thompson’s death, which occurred just outside Aspen in February 2005, a suicide. While Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione stated there is no new evidence suggesting foul play,  lingering questions remain regarding the writer’s death at the age of 67.

“We understand the profound impact Hunter S. Thompson had on this community and beyond,” Buglione said in a statement, adding: “By bringing in an outside agency for a fresh look, we hope to provide a definitive and transparent review that may offer peace of mind to his family and the public.”

The CBI did not provide a timeline for the review, which will focus on three incident reports prepared by Pitkin County investigators after Thompson’s death. All three reports concluded Thompson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a determination confirmed by an autopsy conducted at Aspen Valley Hospital. However, the coroner did not order a toxicology report, despite Thompson’s well-documented drug abuse and unconventional lifestyle.

Thompson’s unique memorial service saw his cremated remains shot out of a cannon on his Woody Creek property, accompanied by fireworks.

Image by Helen Davis / Denver Post / John Venzel.

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Epstein’s Ties to Banks and Hedge Funds Are Far More Extensive Than Previously Thought.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Newly reported documents have revealed Jeffrey Epstein’s extensive banking activities and transactions before his death.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeffrey Epstein, several banks, hedge funds, and known associates, including the former Bill Clinton-era Treasury Secretary and Barack Obama-era National Economic Council Director Larry Summers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Before Epstein’s death in 2019, involving banks and entities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

🎯IMPACT: The House Oversight Committee may issue subpoenas for bank records, potentially leading to further investigations.

IN FULL

Pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein‘s banking and investment activities were more extensive than previously known, involving multiple banks and major transactions with hedge funds. The true extent of Epstein’s investment portfolio and banking ties was revealed after his estate provided Congress with a list of over 20 banks where he held accounts.

Among the banks were Wells Fargo, TD Bank, and FirstBank Puerto Rico. JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank have already faced scrutiny and lawsuits due to their past associations with Epstein, although they claim to have severed ties in 2013 and 2018, respectively.

Documents reveal Epstein transferred significant sums, including $60 million to Honeycomb Partners and $13.5 million from a hedge fund led by Paul Tudor Jones. He also sold $15 million in shares to Blockchain Capital. These transactions occurred in the years leading up to his 2019 death, after his 2008 conviction for procuring a child for prostitution.

Epstein’s financial dealings involved a complex network of entities. Payments were made to known associates like Larry Summers, the former Bill Clinton-era Treasury Secretary and Barack Obama-era National Economic Council Director, who received $1,232.25 as a travel reimbursement.

The House Oversight Committee is expected to subpoena banks for further records, potentially uncovering more about Epstein’s financial network.

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More Charges in Major Nursing Diploma Fraud Case.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Fraud charges have been filed against 12 defendants involved in selling fake nursing diplomas and transcripts as part of Operation Nightingale.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The defendants include nursing school owners and employees, such as Herline Lochard, Carleen Noreus, and others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The charges were announced in Miami, Florida, with related activities occurring from January 2019 through September 2022.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The charges highlight the purpose of a professional nursing licensure: protecting the public from harm by ensuring that only qualified and competent practitioners provide nursing care.” – DOJ Press Release

🎯IMPACT: The fraudulent scheme resulted in approximately 7,300 fake diplomas, posing significant risks to public health and safety.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged 12 people with fraud-related offenses in Miami, Florida, as part of Phase II of Operation Nightingale. This operation exposed a scheme that sold fake nursing diplomas and transcripts, enabling unqualified individuals to bypass proper licensing and secure nursing jobs.

The accused, including owners and staff of nursing schools, allegedly conspired to provide fraudulent credentials, allowing buyers to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and obtain nursing licenses for employment nationwide. Among the defendants, Herline Lochard has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, while Carleen Noreus faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. These fake credentials helped unqualified people gain nursing positions and benefits from unsuspecting healthcare providers across the country.

The scheme operated through several now-closed for-profit nursing schools in Florida, issuing around 7,300 fake diplomas between January 2019 and September 2022. The charges highlight the importance of legitimate nursing licensure in ensuring public health and safety.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami are leading the investigation. The defendants face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy charges.

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UN Rapporteur Lobbies Against Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Francesca Albanese, a United Nations Special Rapporteur, criticized U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s proposed plan to end the Gaza conflict, labeling it the “Trap of the Century.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Francesca Albanese, Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The plan was introduced earlier this week, with ramifications for Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Trap of the Century.” — Francesca Albanese

🎯IMPACT: Albanese is the first notable international leader to openly oppose Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

IN FULL

The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for the so-called Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, is calling on Palestinians to reject U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s plan to rebuild Gaza and end the war between Israel and Hamas, dismissing it as the “Trap of the Century.”

Albanese, who has been associated with Greta Thunberg’s “flotilla” of anti-Israel activists attempting to reach Gaza, is the first significant international leader to publicly oppose the plan. This has placed her at odds with Arab and Muslim nations that have embraced it, as well as with the Palestinian Authority.

Trump introduced the peace plan earlier this week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The 20-point proposal includes a transitional governance system for Gaza, managed by a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee. This body would oversee public services and redevelopment efforts until the Palestinian Authority is prepared to assume control. This would be overseen by a “Board of Peace” chaired by President Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the controversial former Middle East Peace Envoy and Iraq War architect.

Additionally, the plan calls for the demilitarization of Gaza, with Hamas members given amnesty if they commit to peaceful coexistence and decommission their weapons. Trump’s plan further outlines economic redevelopment for Gaza, including the establishment of a special economic zone and international investment to rebuild infrastructure and create jobs. Aid would be sent immediately upon acceptance of the agreement, ensuring necessary supplies and resources reach the region.

The plan also proposes that the U.S. “will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF)” to train Palestinian police and secure Gaza’s borders in coordination with Israel and Egypt. Israel would progressively withdraw its forces as stability is achieved.

Hamas has yet to issue a formal response to the peace plan. Trump has given the group several days to decide before supporting an Israeli campaign to dismantle Hamas.

Image by WAFA / APAimages.

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The U.S. Air Force Is Moving Refueling Tankers and Other Assets to This Country—With a Warning.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A significant deployment of U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers has been observed moving into the Middle East, signaling increased military readiness amid rising tensions with Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Air Force, Iran, and regional actors including Israel, as well as analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Aircraft have been tracked in recent days departing from Atlantic bases and arriving at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a key U.S. Central Command hub.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The moment Israel starts a war, we will also enter a war with the United States.” – Major General Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

🎯IMPACT: The deployment underscores the potential for rapid escalation in the Middle East.

IN FULL
The U.S. Air Force has shifted a number of KC-135 Stratotankers to the Middle East over the last 48 hours. Data from flight trackers indicates planes leaving bases along the Atlantic and gathering at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which serves as the main hub for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). This move reflects a clear boost in American military preparedness and could signal renewed strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Tehran has threatened reprisals against potential strikes.
This abrupt influx of numerous KC-135 tankers occurs during a period of extreme instability in the region. Comparable major troop shifts occurred right before U.S. intervention in the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran in June, with the U.S. bombing sites critical to the Iranian nuclear program. By amassing refueling resources in Qatar, the U.S. ensures rapid deployment capabilities throughout the area. 
Iran has asserted its readiness for war, while claiming it won’t initiate hostilities. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, the deputy for inspections, stated that Tehran would expand its missile reach “to wherever necessary” and threatened a strong counteraction if targeted, rejecting demands from the U.S. and Europe to curb its missile production.

On Sunday, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, the former chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), cautioned that a lone Israeli attack might spark a broader regional conflict drawing in the U.S., declaring, “The moment Israel starts a war, we will also enter a war with the United States.” 

President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order warning that “The United States shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States.”

While this has been interpreted by many as a rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently launched an attack on Hamas targets in Qatar against U.S. wishes, it is likely also a warning to Iran, which launched missiles at the Gulf state after the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

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Nigel Farage Tops Popularity Charts Among British Teenagers.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Reform Party leader Nigel Farage is the most popular politician among British teenagers aged 13 to 17, surpassing rivals and even celebrities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nigel Farage, British teenagers, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Conservative (Tory) Party leader Kemi Badenoch, and other leading politicians.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The survey was conducted by Merlin Strategies, with findings relevant to the next British general election, which must be held sometime between now and 2029.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Gen-Z is very different. Very different to Millennials. I see a lot more ambition, I see a lot more rejection of what they’re being indoctrinated with at school and university.” – Nigel Farage

🎯IMPACT: Reform’s popularity among teens could significantly influence the next general election, with projections already showing the populist party on track to place first with 311 seats in the House of Commons.

IN FULL

The future of the British political landscape is shifting to the populist right, with a poll finding that Brexit champion and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage is by far the most popular politician among under-18s.

Despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s left-wing Labour Party attempting to smear Farage as a “racist” and the “single greatest threat” to the country’s “way of life,” these attacks do not appear to be resonating with the youth the way they have with older generations. According to a survey from Merlin Strategies for the New Statesman, of the 13 to 17-year-olds who intend on voting in the next general election—which must be held no later than 2029—33 per cent said that they would vote for Farage’s Reform party, compared to 27 per cent for Labour, and 12 per cent for formerly governing Conservatives (Tories) and the far-left Greens.

Farage’s personal popularity also stands out, with 38 percent of British teens viewing him favorably, compared to 25 percent for Prime Minister Starmer, 23 percent for far-left former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is attempting to launch a third party focused on Muslim issues, and just 16 percent for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

Notably, Farage’s friend and ally, President Donald J. Trump, is the second-most popular politician among British teens, at 28 percent.

“It’s happening. Gen-Z is very different. Very different to Millennials. I see a lot more ambition, I see a lot more rejection of what they’re being indoctrinated with at school and university,” Farage said of the British youth last June.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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