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Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Category: Politics
January 27, 2026
William Upton
Politics

Court Delivers MAJOR Blow to Democrat Gerrymander Efforts.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Virginia state appeals court has issued an injunction blocking the implementation of legislation adopted by Democrats in the state general assembly that would put a partisan gerrymandered congressional map on the state ballot as a referendum in late April.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Virginia Court of Appeals, the Virginia Supreme Court, Virginia Democrat lawmakers, voters, and Virginia Republicans.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The appellate ruling and injunction were handed down on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Therefore, any attempt to repeal Section 30-13 which does not comply with this Constitutional mandate, is NULL and VOID.” — Virginia Court of Appeals

🎯IMPACT: The ruling, while still subject to reversal by the state’s Supreme Court, is a significant blow to Virginia Democrats who have sought to implement a very Democrat-friendly congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

IN FULL

A Virginia state appeals court has issued an injunction blocking the implementation of legislation adopted by Democrats in the state general assembly that would put a partisan gerrymandered congressional map on the state ballot as a referendum in late April. The ruling will likely be appealed by Democrat lawmakers and set a final decision before Virginia’s Supreme Court.

The appellate court found that by adopting the legislation just four days before the state’s general election last November, lawmakers violated notice requirements under the state’s constitution. “The General Assembly has attempted or is attempting to repeal Section 30-13, which is fully within their power to do. However, under Article IV, Section 13 of the Constitution of Virginia, ‘All laws enacted at a regular session… shall take effect on the first day of July following the adjournment of the session of the General Assembly at which it has been enacted … unless in the case of an emergency (which emergency shall be expressed in the body of the bill) the General Assembly shall specify an earlier date by a vote of four-fifths of the members voting in each house…'” the judges stated.

They continued, “Therefore, any attempt to repeal Section 30-13 which does not comply with this Constitutional mandate, is NULL and VOID.” The ruling, while still subject to reversal by the state’s Supreme Court, is a significant blow to Virginia Democrats who have sought to implement a very Democrat-friendly congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. A number of legal observers have noted it is unlikely that the Virginia Supreme Court will reverse the appellate decision.

The National Pulse reported in December last year that Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D) was considering a plan to redraw the state’s Congressional maps in a way that could give Democrats a significant advantage, potentially shifting the current 6-5 delegation in favor of Republicans to a 10-1 Democratic majority. However, the latest ruling would prevent the implementation of any new maps until 2027, after the 2026 midterms.

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January 27, 2026
Lawfare
Politics

Appeals Court Overturns Biden Judge’s Ban on ICE Pepper Spraying, Arresting Agitators.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit lifted an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Katherin Menendez, which had restricted federal agents’ actions during Minneapolis protests.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump Administration, U.S. District Court Judge Katherin Menendez, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was issued by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals following a January 16 ruling by Judge Menendez in Minneapolis.

💬KEY QUOTE: “To the extent the injunction’s breadth and vagueness cause federal agents to hesitate in performing their lawful duties, it threatens to irreparably harm the government and undermine the public interest.” – Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

🎯IMPACT: The ruling allows federal agents to resume their duties without the restrictions imposed by the injunction, which the court found to be overly broad and vague.

IN FULL

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has overturned an injunction issued by U.S. District Court Judge Katherin Menendez blocking federal law enforcement from pepper spraying, detaining, arresting, or otherwise engaging with protestors in Minneapolis, Minnesota, without probable cause. Judge Menendez, a Joe Biden appointee, had ruled in favor of protesters suing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), claiming violations of their First and Fourth Amendment rights.

The Eighth Circuit decision emphasizes that Judge Menendez’s decision failed to consider the varied nature of the conduct and circumstances involved. The court stated, “We accessed and viewed the same videos the district court did. What they show is observers and protestors engaging in a wide range of conduct, some of it peaceful but much of it not. They also show federal agents responding in various ways.” The court further noted that the differences in conduct made it impossible to address all claims in “one stroke.”

Additionally, the panel criticized the injunction for being too vague, stating that it left federal agents in a precarious position of having to predict what might be considered “peaceful and unobstructive protest activity.” The court emphasized that the videos demonstrated a rapidly changing environment where peaceful and obstructive actions often overlapped, making it difficult for law enforcement to act decisively.

The court also warned that the injunction’s vagueness and breadth could lead federal agents to hesitate to perform their lawful duties, potentially harming the government and undermining the public interest. The ruling stated, “To the extent the injunction’s breadth and vagueness cause federal agents to hesitate in performing their lawful duties, it threatens to irreparably harm the government and undermine the public interest.”

Judge Menendez is also presiding over another case involving a broader motion to enjoin ICE operations, a filing by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison that has been criticized as constitutionally unfounded.

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January 27, 2026
William Upton
Immigration
Politics

Biden—Illegal Migration’s Favorite President Ever—Sends Moralizing Message Over Good, Pretti Deaths.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former President Joe Biden, 83, finally weighed in on the ongoing immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota, issuing a meandering and moralizing statement addressing the deaths of anti-ICE activists Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former President Joe Biden, President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), illegal immigrants, and anti-ICE activists Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Biden’s statement was posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “No single person can destroy what America stands for and believes in, not even a President, if we — all of America — stand up and speak out. We know who we are. It’s time to show the world. More importantly, it’s time to show ourselves.” — Joe Biden

🎯IMPACT: The surge in immigration enforcement operations under President Trump is a direct result of the open borders policies under Biden, which saw millions—potentially tens of millions—of illegal immigrants enter the United States over four years.

IN FULL

Former President Joe Biden, 83, finally weighed in on the ongoing immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota, issuing a meandering and moralizing statement addressing the deaths of anti-ICE activists Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. Notably, the surge in immigration enforcement operations under President Donald J. Trump is a direct result of the open borders policies under Biden, which saw millions—potentially tens of millions—of illegal immigrants enter the United States over four years.

“What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans. We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street,” Biden wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The octogenarian former president continued, “We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights. We are not a nation that tramples the 4th Amendment and tolerates our neighbors being terrorized.”

“No single person can destroy what America stands for and believes in, not even a President, if we — all of America — stand up and speak out. We know who we are. It’s time to show the world. More importantly, it’s time to show ourselves,” Biden stated, adding: “Jill and I are sending strength to the families and communities who love Alex Pretti and Renee Good as we all mourn their senseless deaths.”

Notably, one of the first actions of President Trump was to end the legal protections granted by the Biden government for illegal immigrants who utilized the CBP One app—with Trump later repurposing the app to facilitate self-deportation. It is estimated that over 900,000 illegal immigrants utilized the CBP One app under the former Biden government to enter the United States since it launched in January 2023.

The National Pulse reported in April 2024 that illegal immigration under Biden had—at that point—approached 9.4 million, close to the volume of all legal immigration processed at Ellis Island. The federal processing facility operated from 1892, when former Civil War colonel Benjamin Harrison was President, to 1954, when President Dwight Eisenhower’s government closed it down, during which time around 12 million legal immigrants passed through it.

Several surges in illegal border crossings and the Biden government’s parole policies likely resulted in millions more illegals entering the United States before Trump’s inauguration in January 2025. This means the total number of illegal immigrants that entered the United States under Biden likely ranges from 10 to 20 million.

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January 26, 2026
Politics

Elderly Democrat Congressional Delegate Tricked by Scammers Won’t Run for Re-Election.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Washington, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) announced she will not seek re-election in 2026, ending a 35-year tenure in Congress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Donna Brazile, and former staffer Trent Holbrook.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced via a Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing on Sunday, January 25, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I want to congratulate Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on a remarkable career… Her work embodies the unwavering resolve of a city that refuses to yield in its fight for equal representation,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

🎯IMPACT: Norton’s decision opens the door for new candidates, including former staffer Trent Holbrook, to vie for the D.C. delegate seat.

IN FULL

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the oldest member of the U.S. House of Representatives will not seek another term in the 2026 election. Norton, the 88-year-old non-voting delegate from Washington, D.C.,, filed a termination report with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Sunday, signaling the end of her 35-year tenure.

The National Pulse reported last October that Norton, who is believed to be suffering from a diminished cognitive state, fell victim to a scam at her D.C. home, losing thousands of dollars. Posing as HVAC workers, a group of people entered her apartment, charged her nearly $4,400 using her credit card, and left without performing any work. The fraud was discovered when Norton’s house manager, Jacqueline Pelt, reviewed security footage and called the police.

Following Norton’s decision not to run for re-election, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser paid tribute to the long-term Democrat lawmaker in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I want to congratulate Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on a remarkable career. For 35 years, Congresswoman Norton has been our Warrior on the Hill—from securing shutdown protection for the city and the creation of DCTAG, to defeating continued attacks on Home Rule and leading historic votes in the House for DC Statehood.” Bowser herself announced in November last year that she would not seek a fourth term as mayor.

Notably, a number of top Democrat officials have pushed for Norton to retire, especially following the October scamming incident. Late last year, former Democratic National Committee (DNC) acting chair and political strategist Donna Brazile called on the 88-year-old D.C. Delegate to Congress to retire. Writing in the Washington Post, Brazile stated, “It’s in her best interest, and the interest of D.C., for her to serve her current term but then end her extraordinary service in Congress and not seek reelection next year.”

Norton, who first assumed office in 1991, has held the delegate seat for over three decades. Several people, including former Norton staffer Trent Holbrook, have announced their candidacies for the position before her retirement. Holbrook remarked, “I think it’s evident that she’s not going to successfully run. Congresswoman Norton is one of the most successful lawmakers in American history.”

The D.C. delegate’s role does not include voting on legislation like regular House representatives but does allow for the introduction of legislation and participation in committees.

Image by Lorie Shaull.

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January 26, 2026
News
Politics

‘F*ck You, Ted!’ – Secret Recordings Reveal Trump Unloading on Cruz Over Impeachment.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Recordings reveal Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticizing Vice President J.D. Vance as a creature of former Fox Host Tucker Carlson, as well as pushing back on President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Tucker Carlson.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recordings from early to mid-2025, provided by a Republican source.

💬KEY QUOTE: “F**k you, Ted.” – President Donald J. Trump.

🎯IMPACT: The recordings highlight Cruz’s potential positioning for a 2028 primary campaign, as well as general dynamics within the GOP heading into the mid-term elections.

IN FULL

Secret recordings have revealed Senator Ted Cruz telling donors about his conversations with President Donald J. Trump on subjects ranging from tariffs to the mid-term elections to fresh impeachment proceedings, Axios has reported.

The tapes, almost 10 minutes long in total, feature Cruz casting aspersions on Vice President J.D. Vance, with Axios describing it as calling the VP “a pawn of conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson.”

“Tucker created JD. JD is Tucker’s protégé, and they are one and the same,” Cruz says.

Describing a phone call between President Trump and himself, Cruz detailed how the President was “yelling” and “cursing” at Cruz and other GOP lawmakers.

“Trump was in a bad mood,” Cruz said. “I’ve been in conversations where he was very happy. This was not one of them.”

The Texas Senator says he told Trump: “Mr. President, if we get to November of [2026] and people’s 401(k)s are down 30 percent and prices are up 10–20 percent at the supermarket, we’re going to go into Election Day, face a bloodbath… You’re going to lose the House, you’re going to lose the Senate, you’re going to spend the next two years being impeached every single week.”

Trump’s response, according to Cruz on the tapes, was simply: “F**k you, Ted.”

Cruz also told donors that he had banned his staff from using Trumpian trade rhetoric, especially the phrase “Liberation Day.”

“I’ve told my team if anyone uses those words, they will be terminated on the spot.”

The recordings are believed to have been made in early and mid 2025, with the President’s conversation with Cruz dating back to April 2025.

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January 23, 2026
Politics

Kash Patel Is Kicking Out FBI Agents Linked to Anti-Trump Lawfare.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has reportedly removed senior figures at the bureau connected to lawfare investigations into President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senior FBI leaders in Atlanta, New Orleans, New York, and Miami, along with FBI Director Kash Patel and former special counsel Jack Smith.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Reported on Friday, with actions spanning multiple field offices, including Atlanta, New Orleans, New York, and Miami.

🎯IMPACT: The precise number of departures remains unclear, and some dismissed agents have already filed lawsuits.

IN FULL

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has ordered the removal of a number of senior figures at the bureau who were either involved in or helped spearhead politically motivated actions against President Donald J. Trump. It is believed that senior field office leaders in Atlanta and New Orleans, as well as the acting assistant director overseeing the New York field office, were among those removed. Several of the agents have already filed lawsuits to attempt to prevent their removal.

Additionally, as many as six agents in Miami, Florida, were reportedly forced out due to their involvement in the FBI’s raid on Mar-a-Lago, which included authorization to use deadly force. Other agents removed were tied to the Biden-era Arctic Frost scandal, a corrupt investigation overseen by former FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault and, subsequently, by special counsel Jack Smith.

News of the firings follows Jack Smith testifying before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill. He was pressed on several instances of overreach, including the subpoenaing of phone toll records pertaining to then House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was bizarrely considered a flight risk.

On Thursday, Smith admitted that he expects to be indicted for his role in Arctic Frost, and was unable to explain why his investigative team considered McCarthy—who was the newly elected House Speaker—to be a possible risk for fleeing the country.

While Democrats have routinely called Smith the “Gold Standard” of federal prosecutors, Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI) noted that the former special counsel’s most high-profile cases against American political figures have either been thrown out by the Supreme Court, ended in mistrials, or, in the case of President Trump, dismissed.

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January 22, 2026
Christopher Tomlinson
Media
Politics

Trump FCC Clamps Down on Late-Night and Daytime TV Bias.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) head Brendan Carr has demanded that late-night and daytime TV hosts give equal time to political candidates after accusations of anti-Republican and anti-Trump bias.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: FCC Chair Brendan Carr, Jimmy Kimmel, Steven Colbert, Donald J. Trump, late-night and daytime TV hosts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Carr announced the move on X on Wednesday, January 21.

💬KEY QUOTE: “For years, legacy TV networks assumed that their late night & daytime talk shows qualify as ‘bona fide news’ programs — even when motivated by purely partisan political purposes.” – Brendan Carr.

🎯IMPACT: Broadcasters could now face penalties for not giving equal airtime to all sides of political debates.

IN FULL

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chief Brendan Carr issued new regulatory guidance on January 21, warning broadcasters that late-night and daytime talk shows must comply with federal equal time rules when featuring political candidates in a move to combat the clear leftist bias among many TV hosts. The guidance directs broadcast stations to ensure that political candidates are given equal opportunities on programs such as morning shows and late-night comedy, pushing back on what Carr described as a long-standing assumption that such shows automatically qualify as “bona fide news” programming.

Carr argued that this exemption has been stretched to cover content driven by partisan intent. “For years, legacy TV networks assumed that their late night & daytime talk shows qualify as ‘bona fide news’ programs — even when motivated by purely partisan political purposes,” Carr wrote in a post on X. “Today, the FCC reminded them of their obligation to provide all candidates with equal opportunities.”

Carr has previously cited ABC’s daytime program The View as an example of a show that could face scrutiny, and his comments follow earlier criticism of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On the eve of the 2024 election, Carr also accused Saturday Night Live of skirting equal time requirements when it featured then-Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, leading NBC to provide President Donald J. Trump airtime during NASCAR and NFL broadcasts.

Conservative attorney Daniel Suhr, who heads the Center for American Rights and has supported Carr’s agenda, praised the move and said it could apply broadly to late-night television. “Daytime TV like [The View] and late night shows like [Jimmy Kimmel Live!] & [The Late Show With Stephen Colbert] have consistently featured only Democratic candidates while shutting out Republicans,” Suhr wrote on X. “This [FCC] notice is an important step toward accountability for these legacy network shows.”

The guidance arrives amid heightened controversy surrounding late-night hosts. In recent years, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel have repeatedly clashed with Trump, with Colbert once telling the President to “go f**k yourself.” Kimmel has also faced mounting scrutiny, including a temporary suspension by ABC following backlash over comments about the murder of Charlie Kirk, implying conservatives were responsible for it.

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January 21, 2026
Immigration
Politics

Dem Leaders Move to Block Funding for ICE, DHS.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) announced a decision to vote against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Rep. Enrique “Henry” Cuellar (D-TX), and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was made on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in a closed-door meeting of House Democrats.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I signed off. Let’s go. Let’s move. And people will decide what they want to.” – Rep. Rosa DeLauro.

🎯IMPACT: The bill is expected to pass despite some Democratic opposition, with a group of moderate lawmakers expected to support it.

IN FULL

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) informed Democrats in a private meeting that they intend to vote against a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The move is largely seen as an attempt by Democrat leaders to placate a large bloc of their more progressive caucus members who are demanding the agency be defunded over ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting illegal immigrants across the country.

Despite their stated opposition, the Democratic leaders are not expected to actively whip against the bill. While a bulk of Democrats are anticipated to oppose the appropriations measure, it is expected that a small group of moderate Democrats will still support it. More radical progressive House Democrats have demanded the party oppose the DHS funding bill, ramping up their calls for resistance after anti-ICE activist Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot while attempting to run over an ICE agent in Minneapolis.

Rep. Enrique “Henry” Cuellar (D-TX), a key minority member on the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee, has called for his colleagues to support the bill, highlighting several Democrat victories within it. These include $20 million allocated for body cameras for ICE personnel, although the overall ICE budget remains unchanged.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), who helped negotiate the broader spending package, emphasized the urgency of passing the bill to prevent a government shutdown. While acknowledging the bill’s limitations in securing the progressive Democrat demands for substantial ICE reforms, she noted its benefits for other agencies like TSA and FEMA.

DeLauro explained the need to move forward despite the bill’s imperfections, saying, “I signed off. Let’s go. Let’s move. And people will decide what they want to.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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January 21, 2026
Politics

Radical Charged With Unhinged Threats to Kill Trump, ICE, and ‘MAGA Republicans.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An Oklahoma man was federally charged with threatening to kill U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, “MAGA Republicans,” and President Donald J. Trump in YouTube comments.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Taylor Ryan Prigmore, 30, federal prosecutors, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Comments were posted between May 9, 2025, and January 17, 2026; Prigmore was arrested on Monday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Hiding behind a screen will not protect you from severe legal consequences.” – Attorney General Pam Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: Prigmore faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

IN FULL

Taylor Ryan Prigmore, 30, has been arrested and federally charged after allegedly posting threats to kill U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, “MAGA Republicans,” and President Donald J. Trump on YouTube. According to federal prosecutors, the comments were made between May 9, 2025, and January 17, 2026.

“As attacks on law enforcement rise around the country, this Department of Justice will continue to identify and prosecute violent threats against the brave men and women who keep us safe,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said, adding, “Hiding behind a screen will not protect you from severe legal consequences.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was alerted by Google regarding the threats, which were posted on the company’s YouTube video platform under the username “Adrian Tepes”. According to the criminal complaint, Prigmore wrote threatening comments such as “C*vil w*r. I can’t wait for the opportunity to k*ll people like you. Tell your friends,” and “Prep for civil w*r. Prep for d*th c*mps. Prep for k*illing f*ederal *g*nts.” He also allegedly posted that President Trump “needs to die to save lives.”

FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the seriousness of the threats, stating, “If you threaten to harm law enforcement officers, the FBI and our partners will find you and hold you accountable. There will be no free passes for threats against the hard-working men and women who wear the badge and protect our communities.”

Prigmore has been ordered to be held in custody pending trial and faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines if convicted.

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January 20, 2026
William Upton
Crime
Politics

Anti-ICE Groups Could Be Stripped of Non-Profit Status. Here’s How.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A nonprofit watchdog group, the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), and Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee are urging the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to begin investigating the tax-exempt status of leftist nonprofits, especially those behind violent anti-ICE protests in Minnesota.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), the House Ways and Means Committee, the U.S. Treasury Department, the IRS, and various leftist nonprofit organizations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The letters were sent to the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Based on CCR’s fiscal sponsorship of an organization called, ‘Defend 612,’ we believe they may be in violation of one or more requirements for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), including, but not limited to, advocating for interference with federal immigration enforcement operations and advocating for ‘community defense’ against federal immigration authorities, insinuating the use of violence as a tactic.” — Center to Advance Security in America (CASA)

🎯IMPACT: Both the CASA and the House Ways and Means letters urge a broader federal approach that could result in a new framework for granting tax-exempt status and for how nonprofits operate in the United States.

IN FULL

A nonprofit watchdog group, the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), is pushing U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to launch an investigation into the tax-exempt status of a Minnesota group they allege has been integral to funding violent anti-ICE demonstrations in the state. At the same time, Bessent is also being urged by the House Ways and Means Committee’s Republican members to launch a similar investigation into leftist nonprofits and efforts to interfere with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

“We are writing to formally request that the Internal Revenue Service begin an investigation to review the tax-exempt status of the above-referenced organization, Cooperation Cannon River [CCR],” the CASA letter reads, continuing, “Based on CCR’s fiscal sponsorship of an organization called, ‘Defend 612,’ we believe they may be in violation of one or more requirements for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), including, but not limited to, advocating for interference with federal immigration enforcement operations and advocating for ‘community defense’ against federal immigration authorities, insinuating the use of violence as a tactic.”

“We believe that after a proper investigation, the facts will show that CCR’s support for ‘Defend 612’ and funding of its potentially illegal activity will be sufficient evidence to revoke its tax-exempt status,” the watchdog group’s letter contends.

Likewise, the House Ways and Means letter is asking Bessent and the IRS to investigate a broader swath of nonprofits, which they say exploit tax-exempt status to promote “anti-American and/or pro-terrorist ideals” and engage in fraudulent activities that misuse taxpayer funds. “As the Ways and Means Committee continues to investigate every corner of the tax-exempt sector to root out this waste, fraud, abuse, and illegal activity, it is now abundantly clear the system is in desperate need of an overhaul,” Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) wrote.

The National Pulse reported earlier this month that Secretary Bessent announced the IRS would soon form a task force charged with investigating instances of COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud and violations of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by nonprofits tied to the numerous Somali community-linked social services fraud schemes. However, both the CASA and the House Ways and Means letters urge a broader federal approach that could result in a new framework for granting tax-exempt status and for how nonprofits operate in the United States.

Already, the Ways and Means Committee has referred 11 nonprofits to the Treasury Department for investigation, citing allegations of antisemitism, terrorism ties, and illegal activities. Among those under scrutiny are The People’s Forum, accused of ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and other groups allegedly involved in anti-Israel protests and activities deemed unlawful.

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