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Friday, March 20, 2026

Category: News
March 17, 2026
Immigration
News

School Restricts Lunch for All Students During Ramadan.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Canadian school implemented “food-free zones” in its cafeteria to support Muslim students observing Ramadan.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Fairview School in Calgary, Muslim students fasting for Ramadan, and the Calgary Board of Education.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The policy was introduced during Ramadan, which began February 17 and ends March 18, at Fairview School in Calgary, Canada.

💬KEY QUOTE: “To support students who may be fasting, we will be providing designated No Food Spaces during lunch.” – School email to parents.

🎯IMPACT: The decision faced criticism online, with many questioning the practicality and fairness of the policy.

IN FULL

Fairview School in Calgary, Canada, has introduced “food-free zones” in its cafeteria during Ramadan, when many Muslim students fast from dawn until sunset. The policy was shared with parents in an email explaining that it was meant to support those observing the fast.

The email stated: “To support students who may be fasting, we will be providing designated No Food Spaces during lunch.” Under the plan, students in Grades Four to Six cannot eat in the cafeteria during the first half of lunch, while those in Grades Seven to Nine are barred from eating in their lunchroom for the full hour. The policy quickly drew criticism online, with one user writing, “The true common sense solution would have been for the fasting students to avoid the cafeteria area.”

The Calgary Board of Education responded in a statement posted on Instagram, defending the move. It said, “During special cultural and religious observances, schools are able to make accommodations to support students, both in and out of classroom activities. This could include accommodations when students are fasting during Ramadan.” The board also claimed that “no changes have been made to these designated lunch areas,” despite the earlier email outlining the restrictions. Comments on the post were disabled.

In recent years, accommodations for Ramadan in the West have expanded beyond schools; the English soccer Premier League introduced Ramadan breaks, pausing matches to allow Muslim players to eat. The practice has been ongoing since 2021.

In 2024, a British government body even included “Hadiths of the Day” in London’s King’s Cross station during Ramadan. However, backlash led to the Hadiths, the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed, being removed.

Image by AwayWeGo210.

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March 17, 2026
Crime
News

Raids on Vape Stores See Four Arrests, Drugs and Millions in Cash Seized.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Four men were arrested and $2.3 million was seized during raids at vape stores in Kinston, North Carolina.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Fatehi Alshoabi, Khaled Almaqaleh, Ibrahim Nagi, and Emad Ali were arrested.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The raids took place in March 2026 in Kinston, involving 26 businesses and eight homes.

💬KEY QUOTE: “When we’re consistently getting complaints from our community members, specifically parents with children 15, 16, 17 years old going to these shops to buy illegal narcotics, we’re going to take it extremely seriously.” – Chief Keith Goyette

🎯IMPACT: The operation provides more evidence that vape stores are hubs for organized crime and dealing illegal narcotics, on both sides of the Atlantic.

IN FULL

Police in Kinston, North Carolina, conducted a series of raids at vape stores, resulting in the arrest of four men and the seizure of $2.347 million in cash. The operation, known as Operation Wintergreen, involved searches of 26 businesses and eight homes.

The arrested men are Fatehi Alshoabi, Khaled Almaqaleh, Ibrahim Nagi, and Emad Ali, all facing various charges related to drug possession and sales. Police confiscated nearly 110 pounds of THC and almost eight pounds of khat, an illegal stimulant popular in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region.

Kinston Police Chief Keith Goyette emphasized the operation’s focus on safeguarding youth from illegal narcotics. He stated, “When we’re consistently getting complaints from our community members, specifically parents with children 15, 16, 17 years old going to these shops to buy illegal narcotics, we’re going to take it extremely seriously.”

Goyette mentioned that more than 34 search warrants have been issued during the three-month operation, which is set to conclude next Tuesday. However, efforts to combat illegal drug activity will persist beyond the operation’s end.

Despite the raids, the targeted vape stores reportedly remain open, with Chief Goyette clarifying that the police aim to stop crime rather than closing businesses. However, vape stores on both sides of the Atlantic are frequently linked to organized crime, human trafficking, and illegal immigration. They are also frequently hazardous to their neighborhoods, with an unregistered vape store in Glasgow, Scotland, recently causing a fire that burned down a 175-year-old city landmark and caused Scotland’s largest railway station to close.

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March 17, 2026
News
War

Trump Warns He ‘Doesn’t Need Congress’ to Leave ‘One-Way’ NATO Alliance.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump criticized NATO allies on Tuesday for their reluctance to support U.S. actions against Iran and questioned the alliance’s reciprocal value.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, NATO allies, and European leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Statements made on Tuesday, including a Truth Social post, amid ongoing tensions over Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

💬KEY QUOTE: “When they don’t help us, it’s certainly something that we should think about. I don’t need Congress for that decision.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s remarks highlight growing tensions within NATO over burden-sharing and foreign policy priorities.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump criticized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on March 17, amid growing friction with European allies over the Iran conflict, on what he sees as an unequal commitment to collective defense. Responding to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump expressed frustration with the level of support from the alliance. “When they don’t help us, it’s certainly something that we should think about. I don’t need Congress for that decision,” he said, pointing to the financial burden carried by the United States.

While he added he has “nothing currently in mind” about changing the U.S. relationship with NATO, he noted he is “not exactly thrilled when we help them with Ukraine.”

In a Truth Social post earlier Tuesday, Trump argued NATO has operated as a one-sided arrangement. “I always considered NATO, where we spend Hundreds of Billions of Dollars per year protecting these same Countries, to be a one way street — We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need,” he wrote.

The comments follow resistance from several European nations to U.S.-led efforts targeting Iran’s Islamist regime, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil route. Germany has declined involvement, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stating, “This is not our war, we have not started it.” The standoff comes as rising oil prices add to global economic pressure.

The disagreement underscores broader concerns about NATO unity and burden-sharing. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has recently credited Trump with pushing member states to increase defense spending and strengthening the alliance, even acknowledging it might falter without such pressure. At the same time, figures within Trump’s circle have raised concerns that political and demographic changes in Europe could make some allies less dependable.

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March 17, 2026
News

Chief Justice Roberts Condemns Personal Attacks on Judges as ‘Dangerous.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Chief Justice John Roberts warned against personal attacks on judges, calling them “dangerous” and urging that such hostility “has got to stop.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chief Justice John Roberts, U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal, and unnamed critics of the judiciary.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Roberts made the remarks at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston on Tuesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Judges around the country work very hard to get it right, and if they don’t, their opinions are subject to criticism. But personally directed hostility is dangerous and it’s got to stop.” – Chief Justice John Roberts

🎯IMPACT: Roberts’ comments highlight growing concerns over threats and personal attacks aimed at federal judges, including Supreme Court justices.

IN FULL

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday warned against personal attacks on judges, describing such hostility as “dangerous” during a public event at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston. Roberts complained that while judicial opinions are open to scrutiny, focusing criticism on the judges behind the rulings rather than their legal reasoning is inappropriate.

“Judges around the country work very hard to get it right, and if they don’t, their opinions are subject to criticism,” Roberts stated. “But personally directed hostility is dangerous and it’s got to stop.” The chief justice made these remarks in response to a question from U.S. District Court Judge Lee Rosenthal—appointed by former President George H.W. Bush—who thanked him for defending lower court judges and acknowledged the importance of his support.

Roberts acknowledged that criticism of the Supreme Court‘s decisions is expected and even welcomed, noting, “We don’t believe we’re flawless in any way, and it’s important that our decisions are subjected to scrutiny, and they are.” However, he expressed concern about criticism shifting from legal analysis to personal attacks, which he described as “actually quite dangerous.”

Many are interpreting Roberts’s comments as directed at President Donald J. Trump, who has been vocally critical of several recent Supreme Court rulings. However, it should be noted that some of the most partisan and vitriolic criticism of the Roberts Court has come from Democrat lawmakers who continually condemn any pro-Trump ruling as the high court enabling “authoritarianism.”

Nicholas Roske, a transgender leftist who pleaded guilty last year to attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, was sentenced to eight years in prison. He was arrested in June 2022 near Justice Kavanaugh’s home, armed with weapons and reportedly planning to kill him due to his views on abortion. Court documents also revealed that Roske had considered targeting other Supreme Court justices.

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March 17, 2026
Crime
News

Austin Terror Suspect Was Previously Let Off With a Plea Deal for Hit-and-Run.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ndiaga Diagne—the 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal who was fatally shot by police after attacking Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin, Texas, on March 1 in what is a suspected act of terrorism—previously faced a felony charge that was later reduced to a misdemeanor and then ultimately dismissed.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen born in Senegal, was identified as the suspect. Victims include Savitha Shan, Ryder Harrington, and Jorge Pederson.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on March 1 outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin, Texas, shortly before 2 AM. Diagne’s prior arrest occurred in 2022, with his probation ending in 2024.

🎯IMPACT: Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that Diagne legally acquired the firearms used in the attack in San Antonio several years ago, something he may not have been able to do if the felony charge against him had been pursued.

IN FULL

Ndiaga Diagne—the 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal who was fatally shot by police after attacking  Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin, Texas, on March 1 in what is a suspected act of terrorism—previously faced a felony charge that was later reduced to a misdemeanor and then ultimately dismissed. The March 1 terrorist attack resulted in three fatalities, with 14 others injured.

According to court documents, Diagne had previously faced a felony charge related to a December 2022 hit-and-run, but pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge. He completed probation in July 2024, and the case was dismissed. The records state witnesses saw Diagne, who was driving a Black Cadillac Escalade at the time, erratically changing highway lanes before he collided with another vehicle, pushing the victim into the cable barriers in the median of the highway.

Diagne allegedly fled the scene and was later tracked down by law enforcement after witnesses provided his license plate number. When confronted by a Texas Highway Patrol officer, Diagne denied that he had caused the crash or fled the scene, instead claiming he had been traveling to Houston at the time. The incident report notes that the Black Cadillac Escalade present in Diagne’s driveway at the time had damage consistent with a hit-and-run.

Despite initially lying to law enforcement about his involvement in the crash, Diagne entered into a plea agreement to a lesser misdemeanor charge. A Texas judge also agreed to place Diagne on probation under deferred adjudication, meaning that if he completed his probationary terms, the finding of guilt would not be entered into his record. After successfully completing his probationary program in July 2024, the misdemeanor charge against Diagne was dismissed.

Following the March 1 terrorist attack, photos of Diagne’s corpse circulated on social media, revealing he was wearing a “Property of Allah” hooded sweatshirt and an Iranian flag t-shirt underneath. The attack left three people dead—Savitha Shan, 21, Ryder Harrington, 19, and Jorge Pedersen, 30—and injured over a dozen others. Meanwhile, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that Diagne legally acquired the firearms used in the attack in San Antonio several years ago, something he may not have been able to do if the felony charge against him had been pursued.

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March 17, 2026
Corruption
Crime

Newsom’s Former Chief of Staff Collected $62,000 in Taxpayer Dollars While Under FBI Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Chief of Staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), Dana Williamson, continued receiving taxpayer-funded payouts while on leave during an investigation into alleged corruption.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dana Williamson, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democratic lobbyist Greg Campbell, and Deputy Attorney General Sean McCluskie.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The taxpayer-funded payments occurred in 2025; Williamson was placed on leave in December 2024. Indictments were announced in California in November 2025.

🎯IMPACT: Raises concerns over California’s financial policies amid a $17.7 billion budget shortfall and ongoing corruption investigations.

IN FULL

Governor Gavin Newsom‘s (D-CA) former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, received over $62,000 in taxpayer dollars in 2025 despite being on leave as part of an ongoing criminal corruption investigation. This included $30,000 for unused vacation time and $22,000 for remaining time off, as allowed under California’s policy for cashing out unused vacation time.

The National Pulse reported last November that Williamson, who served as Newsom’s top aide until 2024, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and charged with public corruption. The charges, part of a federal indictment, accuse Williamson and her co-conspirators of engaging in a scheme involving wire and bank fraud.

The indictment names Greg Campbell, Sean McCluskie, and two others alongside Williamson, and alleges a conspiracy to divert funds from the dormant political campaign of former Biden Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for personal use. The indictment outlines 23 counts, each carrying significant penalties. Federal attorneys contend that Williamson conspired to divert approximately $225,000 in campaign funds between 2022 and 2024. Investigators reportedly recorded a 2024 high-level meeting with Williamson and two co-conspirators in which they discussed the scheme.

Notably, California’s fund for paying out unused vacation time is unfunded and owes workers $5.6 billion. This comes amid an estimated $17.7 billion budget shortfall, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Both Campbell and McCluskie have pleaded guilty to the charges. Meanwhile, Williamson is also accused of falsifying COVID Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and filing fraudulent tax forms to claim over $1 million in business deductions, which were allegedly used for personal expenses and vacations. Williamson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting her next court date, expected in April.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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March 17, 2026
News

Trump Delivers Ultimatum to Opponents of SAVE America Act.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald Trump J. declared he will never endorse any legislator opposing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made his statement on Truth Social on Tuesday. SAVE is currently before the U.S. Senate.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I WILL NEVER (EVER!) ENDORSE ANYONE WHO VOTES AGAINST ‘SAVE AMERICA!!!'” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The bill, which Thune has put before the Senate without removing the filibuster or attempting a talking filibuster, is almost certainly doomed, heightening tensions within the GOP.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has issued an ultimatum on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, declaring he will never endorse any lawmaker who votes against the legislation. In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump described the bill as one of the most significant pieces of legislation in congressional history. He positioned it as a critical safeguard against “RIGGED ELECTIONS” and made clear that opposition would cost his political backing.

He framed support for the measure as a test of sanity in Congress, stating: “The Save America Act is one of the most IMPORTANT & CONSEQUENTIAL pieces of legislation in the history of Congress, and America itself. NO MORE RIGGED ELECTIONS! Voter I.D., Proof of Citizenship, No Rigged Mail-In Voting (We are the only Country in the World that allows this!), No Men in Women’s Sports, No Transgender MUTILIZATION of our Children. 90% to 99% ISSUES ALL! Only sick, demented, or deranged people in the House or Senate could vote against THE SAVE AMERICA ACT. If they do, each one of these points, separately, will be used against the user in his/her political campaign for office – A guaranteed loss! Get your Senators, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, to VOTE ‘YES’ ON ‘THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.’ I WILL NEVER (EVER!) ENDORSE ANYONE WHO VOTES AGAINST ‘SAVE AMERICA!!!'”

The SAVE America Act would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and also includes provisions addressing the participation of males in women’s sports and the mutilation of children in transgender surgeries and drug “treatments.”

However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has rejected the bill, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD)—while officially promoting it—has declined to abolish the filibuster or attempt a talking filibuster to pass it, making its failure all but certain. Republicans do not currently have the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture and advance the measure.

In recent years, the Senate has operated under a “silent filibuster,” allowing bills to stall without extended floor debate. Shifting to a traditional “talking filibuster” would force Democrats to deliver prolonged speeches on the floor. Thune has resisted this approach because it would require Republicans to maintain a continuous 51-vote quorum to avoid adjournment.

The standoff is already influencing key political races. In Texas, the contentious Republican Senate primary runoff between anti-Trump incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and America First state Attorney General Ken Paxton has centered heavily on the issue. Cornyn, long a staunch defender of the 60-vote threshold, recently wrote in a New York Post op-ed claiming that he is now open to altering Senate rules to help pass the SAVE America Act. Paxton, a longtime supporter of the SAVE Act, has dismissed this shift as a last-minute, pressure-driven change to secure Trump’s backing.

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March 17, 2026
War

The Iran War is Wreaking Havoc on Asian Energy Markets.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Energy shortages are escalating across Asia and other regions due to disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, which has impacted oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governments in Asia, including Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, India, and Thailand.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The crisis has been unfolding since February 28, 2026, with significant impacts in Asia, particularly in nations reliant on energy imports through the Strait of Hormuz.

🎯IMPACT: Countries are rationing energy, releasing reserves, and grappling with rising costs, which are impacting households, businesses, and industrial production.

IN FULL

Asian nations are implementing extraordinary measures as the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran have disrupted global energy supply chains. Iranian attacks on oil and gas tanker vessels in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz have put a significant chokehold on an estimated 20 percent of worldwide petroleum shipments, with Asian markets being a primary destination for the tankers.

Over the last half-century, a number of Asian nations have built their economies on high-end, energy-intensive exports, especially in the technology sector. Countries like Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea are being hit especially hard by disruptions to oil tankers passing through the strait. In response to the energy supply crunch, these countries are implementing strict rationing measures.

In the Philippines, government officials have imposed a four-day workweek to cut electricity use and fuel consumption. Additionally, companies have been told their employees should shut off computers when not in use and keep the work area air conditioning set at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Vietnam, meanwhile, is pressing refiners to work in overdrive to keep up supply, while Thailand is attempting to stretch its two-month fuel reserve well past its anticipated depletion date. Both Thailand and Vietnam have implemented emergency subsidies to shield most households from spiking energy costs in the short term.

East Asian nations like Japan and South Korea are steadily releasing emergency fuel reserves, with oil and gas being critical to their manufacturing and technology sectors. Notably, Japan appears inclined to shift away from reliance on Middle East natural gas, with the country’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi slated to meet with U.S. President Donald J. Trump later this month to discuss increasing Japan’s purchase of American liquefied natural gas (LNG). Japan is also moving to restart several of its nuclear reactors.

Asia’s two most populous nations, China and India, are being especially hit hard. India is focusing on keeping prices down for residential consumers, mainly through subsidies. China, however, which accounted for 80 to 90 percent of Iran’s oil sales, has been forced to increase its price cap on gasoline and diesel. The new cap marks the highest increase since 2022.

Image by Tasnim News Agency.

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March 17, 2026
Economy
Immigration

Teamsters Back Trump, GOP Effort to Crack Down on Deadly Illegal Immigrant Truckers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has endorsed the Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act, a GOP-led effort to address unsafe practices in the trucking industry and shut down so-called “chameleon carriers” that often employ illegal immigrant drivers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien, Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY), and other congressional Republicans.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The legislation was introduced recently in Congress and is gaining traction with support from labor unions and lawmakers.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Chameleon carriers have gone unchecked for decades, harming and weakening America’s trucking industry. These unscrupulous operators jeopardize the safety of everyone on our roadways.” — Sean O’Brien.

🎯IMPACT: If passed, the SAFE Act would help detect and eliminate fraudulent trucking companies, improving safety and protecting rule-abiding truckers.

IN FULL

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has announced its endorsement of the Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act, legislation introduced by Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY), which aims to tackle the issue of “chameleon carriers,” trucking companies that repeatedly reopen under new identities to avoid enforcement after being shut down for violations. “Chameleon carriers have gone unchecked for decades, harming and weakening America’s trucking industry,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien stated, adding, “These unscrupulous operators jeopardize the safety of everyone on our roadways and threaten the livelihoods of truck drivers who follow the rules.”

American highways have seen a recent uptick in deadly vehicle accidents caused by illegal immigrant and noncitizen semi-truck drivers, many of whom received commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) from New York or California. The National Pulse reported in February that the Trump administration’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has shut down nearly 8,000 sham trucking schools in recent months as part of an effort to prevent illegal immigrant drivers from receiving CDL certifications. However, like fly-by-night trucking companies, these sham schools often reopen quickly under new names and false ownership.

Rep. Hageman’s SAFE Act would implement an automated tool to detect fraudulent carriers who have previously been shut down by regulators but are attempting to reopen under a new operating name and registration number, while still employing the same individuals and having the same ownership. If adopted, the bill would also enhance coordination between state and federal agencies, a key point of contention over several of the recent fatal crashes caused by illegal immigrants, with New York and California trying to blame federal databases for erroneously issued CDLs.

Importantly, the SAFE Act includes provisions to preserve due process, requiring human review for all registrations flagged. Rep. Hageman has emphasized the dangers posed by these companies, stating, “These companies game the system, ignore the law, and put American families at risk, all while punishing hardworking truckers who follow the rules.”

Image by Ofer Inbar.

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March 17, 2026
News
Politics

Jim Banks Invests Millions to Challenge Senators Opposing GOP Redistricting.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) is deploying $3 million to oppose seven Indiana state senators who voted against a redistricting bill.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senator Jim Banks and Indiana state senators, including Travis Holdman, James Buck, Spencer Deery, Greg Goode, and Greg Walker.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Current efforts in Indiana, following the recent redistricting vote.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Hoosiers deserve a more conservative state Senate.” – Jim Banks

🎯IMPACT: The move aims to strengthen Republican influence in the Indiana House by targeting senators who opposed the redistricting bill.

IN FULL

Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) is intensifying a political clash within Indiana by directing $3 million from his 501(c)(4), Hoosier Leadership for America, toward efforts to unseat members of his own party. The move targets seven Republican state senators who opposed a proposed redistricting plan that could have secured the GOP two additional U.S. House seats.

Those singled out include Travis Holdman, James Buck, Spencer Deery, Greg Goode, and Greg Walker. Their votes against the measure derailed a Trump-backed push to redraw district lines, exposing deep divisions within the Indiana Republican Party. “Hoosiers deserve a more conservative state Senate,” Banks said.

The redistricting effort, backed by President Donald J. Trump and which gained traction in late 2025, ultimately failed in the state senate despite pressure from national conservatives. Some Indiana Republicans were hesitant to revisit district boundaries, and reports suggested party leaders effectively abandoned the initiative after internal disagreements stalled progress.

Banks is now challenging what he sees as an unresponsive party establishment. Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Governor Mike Braun (R-IN), and former Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN) have all faced criticism from conservatives frustrated by the outcome. The dispute has also drawn attention from President Trump, who criticized Young’s political circle, including consultant Cam Savage, for opposing the effort. Trump also expressed disappointment in Braun, saying, “I got that guy elected, and he couldn’t deliver redistricting.”

Redistricting, the redrawing of electoral district boundaries, remains a powerful political tool, often shaping party control in Congress. While Indiana Republicans have struggled to advance their preferred map, Democrats have been more successful elsewhere. In Virginia, party leaders are pursuing a plan that could yield a 10–1 Democratic advantage in the state’s congressional delegation. Additionally, Democrats secured a favorable ruling at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year, strengthening their position in ongoing redistricting battles.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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