GET THE APP
Monday, March 23, 2026

Category: News
February 11, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
War
World

Netanyahu Threatens to Resume War If Hostages Not Returned By Trump’s Deadline.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the terrorist group Hamas that his country will resume its war against the Islamist organization if hostages captured on October 7, 2023, are not released by a deadline set by President Donald J. Trump for Saturday at noon. “If Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated,” Netanyahu said following a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday, February 11.

Initially, Israel did not expect all nine remaining hostages to be released at noon on Saturday. However, they are now backing demands from President Donald J. Trump, who called on all nine to be freed by the noon deadline.

“In light of Hamas’s announcement of its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, I instructed the IDF last night to amass forces inside and around the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said. Israeli media reports that reservists have also been called up and deployed.

The move comes after Hamas claimed that Israel was violating the ceasefire deal, which President Trump helped to broker. As a result, the terror group stated it would postpone the release of hostages.

The initial ceasefire agreement called on Hamas to release all hostages in a three-phase plan. Hamas has already released some hostages who were held for over 500 days.

show less
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the terrorist group Hamas that his country will resume its war against the Islamist organization if hostages captured on October 7, 2023, are not released by a deadline set by President Donald J. Trump for Saturday at noon. "If Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated," Netanyahu said following a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday, February 11. show more
February 11, 2025
Election Integrity
Immigration

NY Dems Urge Court to Allow Noncitizen Voting.

The Court of Appeals of the State of New York—the highest judicial body in the state—is hearing arguments on a contentious law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. Legislation passed in 2022 would permit approximately 800,000 noncitizens, who are lawful permanent residents or authorized to work in the U.S., to vote in municipal elections if they have resided in New York City for at least 30 days.

Notably, the legislation was previously invalidated by the state’s Second Judicial Department, citing violations of the New York State Constitution and Municipal Home Rule Law. The decision upheld a lower court’s ruling. Concerns were raised that these noncitizens could represent as much as 15 percent or more of the electorate in some future elections, significantly impacting local election outcomes.

The move to enfranchise foreign nationals comes despite the Democrats claiming to be concerned about potential foreign interference in U.S. elections for years. Leading figures like Representative turned Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) have argued that “We must guard against and seek to deter all attempts at foreign interference, and ensure that American voters decide American elections.”

There is strong evidence that noncitizens voting in federal elections unlawfully due to poor vetting have changed election outcomes. For instance, researchers writing in the peer-reviewed Electoral Studies journal in 2014 estimated that 6.4 percent of noncitizens voted in the 2008 election, favoring the Democrats in numbers sufficient to materially alter the composition of the Senate.

Image by Norbert Nagel.

show less
The Court of Appeals of the State of New York—the highest judicial body in the state—is hearing arguments on a contentious law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. Legislation passed in 2022 would permit approximately 800,000 noncitizens, who are lawful permanent residents or authorized to work in the U.S., to vote in municipal elections if they have resided in New York City for at least 30 days. show more
February 11, 2025
William Upton
Crime
Politics

President Trump Expected to Sign EO to Clean Up D.C., Crack Down on Gun Crime in Capital.

President Donald J. Trump is expected to soon sign an executive order directing prosecutors in Washington, D.C. to seek federal charges against individuals arrested on gun offenses and ordering the removal of the city’s numerous homeless encampments. The order follows a pledge by Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign to restore the U.S. capital as a first-class American city after it desceneded into a “nightmare of murder and crime” under former President Joe Biden.

In addition to addressing gun crime and the city’s rampant homeless crisis, Trump’s executive order is expected to direct more stringent enforcement against so-called  quality of life crimes, which include criminal acts such as public intoxication, open-air illegal drug sales, vandalism, grafitti, and public urination. While the exact language of the executive order is not yet finalized, it is expected that Trump will issue the directive later this week.

Under Trump’s order, felons caught in possession of a gun—or guns—in Washington, D.C. can be held without bail. Additionally, the order clears the way for prosecutors to seek federal penalities for these individuals if convicted.

Over the last four years, under former President Biden, Washington, D.C. has seen an explosion in gun related crime. Last February, former Trump administration staffer Mike Gill was shot during a carjacking spree in the capital city. Gill later died of his wounds.

The explosion in Washington, D.C.’s homeless population will also be addressed in President Trump’s executive order. Over the past two years, the capital has seen an increasing number of homeless encampments across the city—with most being established in green areas near major roadways, public parks, and around Union Station. It expected the directive’s language will help clear restrictions on the city’s ability to clear and remove the encampments.

Image by Ted Eytan.

show less
President Donald J. Trump is expected to soon sign an executive order directing prosecutors in Washington, D.C. to seek federal charges against individuals arrested on gun offenses and ordering the removal of the city's numerous homeless encampments. The order follows a pledge by Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign to restore the U.S. capital as a first-class American city after it desceneded into a "nightmare of murder and crime" under former President Joe Biden. show more
February 11, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
War
World

Zelensky Offers Russia Territory Swap After Lacklustre Kursk Offensive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly open to exchanging territory with Russia after an attempted Ukrainian military offensive in Russia’s Kursk region. The Ukrainian leader has offered to return the land Ukrainian forces now occupy in Kursk in exchange for land Russia occupies. Zelensky was not specific about what territory he wished to regain in the trade.

“I don’t know, we will see. But all our territories are important, there is no priority,” Zelensky told the Guardian newspaper in an interview on Tuesday, February 11.

The announcement by Zelensky comes after Ukraine attempted a new offensive in the Kursk region earlier this month. Russian Defense Ministry sources claim that Russian military forces repelled the attack, while Ukrainian sources claim their forces had made some advances in the area.

President Zelensky recently expressed a desire to meet with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks. Putin and the Kremlin, meanwhile, refuse to recognize Zelensky as the legitimate leader of Ukraine, arguing that his term as president ended last year in May. Under Ukraine’s current martial law status, no new elections have been held.

President Donald J. Trump has stated that he spoke with President Putin this week on ending the conflict, but he did not go into detail on what was said. President Trump has vowed to end the war and negotiate a ceasefire.

show less
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly open to exchanging territory with Russia after an attempted Ukrainian military offensive in Russia's Kursk region. The Ukrainian leader has offered to return the land Ukrainian forces now occupy in Kursk in exchange for land Russia occupies. Zelensky was not specific about what territory he wished to regain in the trade. show more
February 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Lawfare

Bannon Avoids Prison, Sentenced to Conditional Discharge.

Former Trump White House Chief Strategist and War Room host Stephen K. Bannon has pled guilty to a charge related to the “We Build the Wall” campaign, but will avoid jail time under a plea agreement. The MAGA stalwart, who played a key role in Trump’s political rise, received a conditional discharge for three years.

The charges stemmed from accusations that Bannon and three other individuals defrauded donors who contributed to the fundraising effort aimed at constructing a private section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Despite the accusations of wrongdoing, Bannon’s legal team has maintained that he did not personally pocket any of the donations.

Bannon and his associates were charged with conspiracy and money laundering after being accused of deceiving donors. Prosecutors claimed that while Bannon presented himself as a volunteer, he funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to two associates. Under the terms of his plea, Bannon only pled guilty to one count of defrauding donors.

Bannon’s plea carries restrictions on leading non-profits in New York or raising money for charitable causes in the state.

George Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who previously prosecuted President Trump, celebrated the outcome. Bannon criticized both Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has also targeted President Trump in a dubious civil fraud case, branding her the “Queen of Lawfare.”

“I’m calling on, right now, the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to begin an immediate criminal investigation into Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, all of what they did to President Trump,” he said.

WATCH:

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less
Former Trump White House Chief Strategist and War Room host Stephen K. Bannon has pled guilty to a charge related to the "We Build the Wall" campaign, but will avoid jail time under a plea agreement. The MAGA stalwart, who played a key role in Trump’s political rise, received a conditional discharge for three years. show more
February 11, 2025
News
Politics

Showdown: FEMA Official Orders Grant Funding Freeze Despite Court Ruling.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is freezing funding for several programs despite a federal judge telling President Donald J. Trump’s administration not to. On Monday, Stacey Street, the director of FEMA’s Office of Grant Administration, issued a directive halting funding for multiple grant programs.

The directive calls for freezing all open awards from fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The action allegedly violates a court order by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell, who claims that federal grants are being blocked contrary to his earlier restraint.

Amid these events, four FEMA officials have been dismissed. Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), attributed the dismissals to unauthorized financial decisions linked to New York grants. She indicated these payments were for luxurious accommodations for migrants in hotels, contravening one of President Trump’s executive orders.

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk criticized FEMA via social media, alleging misuse of funds in temporary housing programs for migrants. He reported that $59 million had been improperly allocated for high-end hotel rooms for migrants, which should have supported American disaster relief efforts.

Under the former Biden-Harris regime, FEMA spent around a billion dollars on housing migrants. This led to the agency demanding extra funds for “disaster relief” last year.

Image by Bill Koplitz.

show less
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is freezing funding for several programs despite a federal judge telling President Donald J. Trump's administration not to. On Monday, Stacey Street, the director of FEMA’s Office of Grant Administration, issued a directive halting funding for multiple grant programs. show more
February 11, 2025
William Upton
Lawfare
Politics

GOP Congressman Moves to Impeach Judge Blocking DOGE Access to Govt Payment System.

Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) is poised to introduce articles of impeachment against U.S. District Court Judge Paul Engelmayer over the latter’s order blocking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and—arguably—Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from accessing the Treasury Department’s federal payments system. The order, issued this past Saturday, has been the target of intense criticism from some in the legal community who argue it is a gross breach of the separation of powers, with the judicial branch interfering in actions purely under the purview of the executive.

“I’m drafting articles of impeachment for U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer. Partisan judges abusing their positions is a threat to democracy,” Rep. Crane announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The Arizona Republican added: “The left has done ‘irreparable harm’ to this country. President Trump and his team at [DOGE] are trying to fix it.”

“This is obviously judicial overreach. Judge Engelmayer is attempting to stop White House employees from accessing the very systems they oversee,” Rep. Crane continued, concluding: “Where in the constitution does it say a President and his team cannot root out obvious waste, fraud and abuse?”

The Arizona Congressman is not alone in his opinion that Judge Engelmayer’s order, enjoining DOGE employees and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from accessing the payment system, is judicial overreach. Professor Adrian Vermeule—the Ralph S. Tyler, Jr. Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School—wrote in a post on X, reacting to the ruling: “Judicial interference with legitimate acts of state, especially the internal functioning of a co-equal branch, is a violation of the separation of powers.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less
Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) is poised to introduce articles of impeachment against U.S. District Court Judge Paul Engelmayer over the latter's order blocking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and—arguably—Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from accessing the Treasury Department's federal payments system. The order, issued this past Saturday, has been the target of intense criticism from some in the legal community who argue it is a gross breach of the separation of powers, with the judicial branch interfering in actions purely under the purview of the executive. show more
big tech
February 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

Trump’s House Allies Introduce Bill to Repeal Impoundment Control Act to Assist DOGE.

A faction of House Republicans is working to expand President Donald J. Trump’s power over federal spending by repealing the Impoundment Control Act, enacted in 1974 under President Richard Nixon, to limit the executive’s authority in federal budget matters. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) seeks to empower President Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to create a more effective and efficient government.

Clyde’s bill has the backing of over 20 GOP co-sponsors in the House and a corresponding proposal in the Senate led by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT). Russell Vought, who recently assumed the role of Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has labeled the Impoundment Control Act unconstitutional—a sentiment echoed by Trump himself.

“Since the Empowered Control Act of ‘74, we have seen a tremendous increase in spending. And I think that’s part of the problem right there. The president is required now by law to spend the exact amount that Congress authorizes or appropriates for a specific program,” Clyde noted.

President Nixon had “impounded” money earmarked for various federal programs by Congress—that is, refused to spend it—but the Impoundment Control Act prohibited this practice. This practice undermined the chief executive’s control over the executive branch in a manner that some believe undermines the separation of powers in a constitutionally improper way.

The Trump administration has already moved to halt certain federal funds, including foreign aid, pending reviews. However, parts of his funding freezes have faced legal challenges, resulting in a judge ordering compliance with prior directives to restore funding and threatening the President with contempt.

show less
A faction of House Republicans is working to expand President Donald J. Trump's power over federal spending by repealing the Impoundment Control Act, enacted in 1974 under President Richard Nixon, to limit the executive's authority in federal budget matters. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) seeks to empower President Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to create a more effective and efficient government. show more
February 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

‘FEMA Should Be Terminated’ — Trump.

President Donald J. Trump has declared that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been a “disaster” and should be abolished, expressing particular displeasure with its treatment of North Carolinians. “FEMA spent tens of millions of dollars in Democrat areas, disobeying orders, but left the people of North Carolina high and dry,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that the agency “is now under review and investigation.”

“THE BIDEN RUN FEMA HAS BEEN A DISASTER,” the America First leader continued. “FEMA SHOULD BE TERMINATED! IT HAS BEEN SLOW AND TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE. INDIVIDUAL STATES SHOULD HANDLE STORMS, ETC., AS THEY COME. BIG SAVINGS, FAR MORE EFFICIENT!!!”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Kristi Noem, has already fired four employees after FEMA was alleged to have transferred tens of millions of dollars to luxury hotels being used to house illegal immigrants in defiance of one of President Trump’s executive orders.

The agency came in for heavy criticism in the final months of the Biden-Harris government after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton wrought devastation on Florida and North Carolina, in particular. FEMA workers in Florida were discovered to be skipping houses with Trump signs in the wake of the disaster, and they also refused to help Trump supporters in parts of North Carolina, claiming they felt threatened by them.

Elon Musk, who now leads the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), also accused FEMA of blocking and even seizing aid he was attempting to distribute to disaster victims through his companies.

Image by Bill Koplitz.

show less
President Donald J. Trump has declared that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been a "disaster" and should be abolished, expressing particular displeasure with its treatment of North Carolinians. "FEMA spent tens of millions of dollars in Democrat areas, disobeying orders, but left the people of North Carolina high and dry," he wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that the agency "is now under review and investigation." show more
February 11, 2025
News

Disney Halts DEI Programs Amid Investor Pressure.

The Walt Disney Company appears poised to be the latest major corporation to discontinue two of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid investor pressure. Yesterday, The National Pulse reported that Deloitte—the largest consulting firm in the world and holder of numerous contracts with the United States federal government—announced to staff it was ending its DEI programs.

According to its recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Disney will remove the “Reimagine Tomorrow” program from its 2024 SEC 10-K report’s DEI section. The “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative was featured in the 2023 report as a digital platform intended to amplify supposedly marginalized voices and outline Disney’s commitments to DEI. The decision to withdraw the program follows previous controversy that arose during a summit held last year, where discussions among company executives regarding increased LGBTQ+ content in Disney’s offerings were leaked.

As of the time of publication, the “Reimagine Tomorrow” program’s online presence remains. The current webpage also details racial and gender composition within Disney’s content and workforce, drawing from data as of 2021. It highlights the role of Business Employee Research Groups in representing a diverse employee base.

Disney’s decision regarding the future of its “Reimagine Tomorrow” program could signal a significant scaleback in the company’s push of DEI initiatives among its employees and public-facing programming. However, there are some concerns that the move may also be an attempt by Disney to merely conceal its DEI projects in the hopes of allaying public scrutiny.

Image by Joe Penniston.

show less
The Walt Disney Company appears poised to be the latest major corporation to discontinue two of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid investor pressure. Yesterday, The National Pulse reported that Deloitte—the largest consulting firm in the world and holder of numerous contracts with the United States federal government—announced to staff it was ending its DEI programs. show more