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Thursday, September 10, 2026

Category: Politics
4 hours ago
Data
News
Politics

Radical Democrat Abdul El-Sayed Trailing GOP Candidate in Senate Poll.

A new poll has given Republican candidate Mike Rogers a slight lead over his far-left Democrat rival, Abdul El-Sayed, in Michigan’s closely contested United States Senate race, signaling a toss-up.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Republican Mike Rogers is leading far-left Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race, according to a new poll.
📺 DETAIL: Conducted for Detroit News and WDIV-TV, the poll showed Rogers ahead on 45.8 percent of support, with El-Sayed closely behind on 44.4 percent. The same poll revealed that nine percent of voters are undecided. The poll surveyed 600 likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus four points. Support for Rogers is primarily concentrated among conservatives and voters over 40, with strong support among independents, leading his Democrat rival by roughly 14 points. By contrast, support for El-Sayed is strongest among younger voters, college graduates, and black voters. However, despite Rogers having a slight lead overall, El-Sayed voters are most committed to turning out in November. Specifically, El-Sayed polled at 46.7 percent among voters most likely to turnout on polling day, while Rogers secured 44.4 percent among the same group. The poll noted a ten-point enthusiasm gap between committed Republicans and committed Democrats.
🎯 IMPACT: The strong showing among independents for Rogers appears to affirm suspicions that El-Sayed’s far-left positions could alienate swing voters. The data also suggests that the outcome will be heavily determined by voter enthusiasm.
📺 FLASHBACK: Back in August, it was reported that El-Sayed was open to considering reparations for black Americans. This echoed other polarizing social positions taken by El-Sayed, such as calling for the cancellation of Thanksgiving and July 4 celebrations. El-Sayed has also voiced support for abolishing the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms.

Image by Conlan Houston.

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A new poll has given Republican candidate Mike Rogers a slight lead over his far-left Democrat rival, Abdul El-Sayed, in Michigan's closely contested United States Senate race, signaling a toss-up.

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8 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
News
Politics

British Police Arrest Over 62,000 People for Speech Crimes Across Five Years.

A new report has revealed that tens of thousands of Britons have been arrested for speech crimes over the past five years, raising concerns about free speech and the country’s censorship laws.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Over 62,000 people in the United Kingdom have been arrested for speech crimes over the past five years, according to a new report.
📺 DETAIL: According to a new report by Big Brother Watch, at least 62,199 people were arrested in the United Kingdom for speech crimes between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2025, averaging 34 arrests per day. The report was based on Freedom of Information Act request data from 38 of 45 territorial police forces. This suggests the actual number of arrests is much higher. If the missing data aligns with the national average, the actual number could be around 73,000, or one arrest for every 940 people in Britain. These arrests were made under Britain’s censorship laws, such as the Malicious Communications Act 1988, the Communications Act 2003, and the Online Safety Act 2023. “Why are the authorities spending so much time policing our tweets when they could be policing our streets? Shoplifting, mobile phone theft and sexual offences are all on the rise, yet the police seem increasingly obsessed with catching thought criminals. The sheer number of people being arrested for online offences, even though only one in five end up being convicted, cannot help but have a chilling effect on free speech,” commented Lord Toby Young, founder and director of Free Speech Union. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “People up and down the country daren’t say what they think about a whole range of issues for fear they’ll get a knock on their door at four in the morning by a couple of plainclothes officers wearing rainbow lanyards,” wrote Lord Young.
🎯 IMPACT: The findings suggest that Britain is heavily backsliding on freedom of speech. The report aligns with previous findings showing that Britons are worried about the state of free speech in their country. Specifically, back in August, a poll conducted by Deltapoll and commissioned by Liberty, another civil liberties organization, revealed that 51 percent of Britons believe that freedom of speech has worsened under the current Labour government. Significantly, Vice President JD Vance has previously spoken out against the erosion of free speech in Europe, warning that American troops will be reluctant to go to war to defend countries that do not uphold basic rights.

Image by Joshua Hayes.

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A new report has revealed that tens of thousands of Britons have been arrested for speech crimes over the past five years, raising concerns about free speech and the country's censorship laws.

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10 hours ago
Data
News
Politics

DATA: Most Americans Do Not Trust the Election Certification Process.

A new poll has revealed growing skepticism among Americans toward federal government information, especially when it comes to the certification of election results.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Approximately six in ten Americans do not trust information from the federal government, according to a new poll.
📺 DETAIL: According to a new survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USA Facts, trust in federal government information has declined significantly. The poll revealed that six in ten Americans have little or no trust in federal government information. Specifically, the poll showed that only 29 percent of Republicans and 44 percent of Democrats expressed a significant degree of trust in election result certifications. Only 34 percent of Americans overall trusted the process of certifying elections “a great deal” or “quite a bit.” This represents a decline from the 40 percent recorded in 2024. The poll surveyed 1,036 U.S. adults between July 29 and August 10, with a margin of error of ±4.1 percentage points.
🎯 IMPACT: The erosion of trust in federal government information could have significant consequences for public policy, especially during crises. The survey reflects similar findings published earlier this month. According to a recent Gallup poll, 89 percent of Americans believe that corruption is widespread in the federal government. The poll found that belief in widespread government corruption in the U.S. currently stands at a 30-year high. “Democrats’ perceptions appear closely linked to which party controls the administration. Republicans’ greater consistency on this measure—despite the 2024 election delivering them the White House and Congress—suggests a more underlying view of government corruption that depends less on the party in power,” Gallup noted. The findings offer justification for the Trump administration’s push for new election integrity measures, such as the SAVE America Act, to improve oversight and prevent voter fraud and boost public confidence.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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A new poll has revealed growing skepticism among Americans toward federal government information, especially when it comes to the certification of election results.

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11 hours ago
News
Politics
World

Trump Escalates War on Narco-Fleets.

The United States military has intensified its campaign against drug trafficking in Latin America by striking a number of large refueling vessels used by smugglers off the Ecuadorian coast.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. military has sunk six large fishing vessels accused of refueling drug-smuggling boats off the coast of Ecuador.
📰 DETAIL: United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) reported that the vessels were acting as refueling stations for smaller boats transporting drugs for the cartels. The large vessels have been linked to the refueling operations of the Los Choneros gang, a crime syndicate based in Ecuador, designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The strikes came on Tuesday night as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on Latin American drug-smuggling networks. The strikes came ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to Ecuador on Wednesday. The trip is expected to focus on facilitating military cooperation in South America to tackle drug-trafficking groups. U.S. officials have argued that targeting the larger refueling vessels is a more effective way of destroying the drug-trafficking networks, rather than focusing on the smaller boats importing drugs. “These interdictions cut off critical nodes in the narcotics logistics network,” read a statement from U.S. Southern Command. “Total systemic friction: The [Department of War], [SOUTHCOM], and the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition remain unwavering in their mission to defeat narco-terrorists in the Western Hemisphere and defend our homeland,” SOUTHCOM announced on X (formerly Twitter) earlier in September. “The Western Hemisphere is no longer a safe haven for narcoterrorism,” the Department of War added.
🎯 IMPACT: These recent strikes represent the culmination of two weeks of U.S. operations in the region. This comes approximately a month after Abelardo de la Espriella, the new President of Colombia, requested cooperation with the U.S. in conducting military operations against drug traffickers in Latin America. “Through the newly inaugurated… President El Tigre, Colombia has already requested that the Department of War join Colombia in its fight against narco-terrorism,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the time. This represents an escalation in the Trump administration’s crackdown on Latin American drug-trafficking, expanding its focus from drug boats to the wider infrastructure of the illegal drug trade.

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The United States military has intensified its campaign against drug trafficking in Latin America by striking a number of large refueling vessels used by smugglers off the Ecuadorian coast.

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12 hours ago
News
Politics
World

Trump Celebrates Populist Surge in German Election.

Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party surged to a historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt’s regional elections, drawing praise from President Donald J. Trump.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump praised Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) after the populist-right party won a major victory in Sunday’s state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, attributing its surge to its stance on immigration.
📺 DETAIL: The AfD won 43.8 percent of the vote and 39 of the 83 seats in the state parliament, more than doubling its 2021 vote share and finishing well ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which received just 17.2 percent and 15 seats. The result was the AfD’s strongest showing in a German state election and left it only three seats short of an outright majority. AfD officials have pointed to public dissatisfaction with the political status quo, particularly over immigration, but the CDU and other establishment parties have maintained that they will not form a coalition with the AfD. The AfD’s regional branch has been classified as extremist by Germany’s domestic intelligence service, a controversial designation the establishment parties have cited in maintaining a political “firewall” against the AfD.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Wow! The Populist Party in Germany just had a really big night… THEY ARE ON THE RISE, and not going to take it anymore! MGGA!!!” – President Donald J. Trump, writing on Truth Social
🎯 IMPACT:  The AfD’s 43.8 percent showing strengthens its position as a major force in German politics and increases pressure on Chancellor Merz and the CDU to respond to voter concerns over immigration, poor economic conditions, and dissatisfaction with the political establishment. Trump’s public praise also adds an international dimension to the result, potentially straining relations with Germany’s government but also highlighting the growing political influence of populist-right parties across Europe.

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Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party surged to a historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt's regional elections, drawing praise from President Donald J. Trump.

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September 8, 2026
News
Politics

9/11 Families Tell Mamdani to Stay Away From Memorial Ceremony.

Families of 9/11 victims and first responders have called on New York City’s Muslim immigrant mayor to skip the attacks’ memorial ceremony, citing his lack of support for their community.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A coalition of 9/11 family members, first responders, and elected officials have publicly asked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) not to attend this year’s September 11 memorial service.
📺 DETAIL: On Tuesday, during an event outside City Hall, 9/11 family members pleaded for the Mayor to abstain from attending the upcoming 25th anniversary commemoration service of the 9/11 attacks. “We don’t believe in what he believes in, and we really want us to be left alone… This 25th anniversary is for victims and survivors to blend in and pray that day for all the families—not have a circus around us,” said Giovanni Galante, whose wife was killed on 9/11. “If we feel that we don’t want someone at our world-class memorial museum that’s sacred and hallowed, we feel that that person should respect our wishes… He didn’t go to the 20th … so I don’t know why he’s so adamant about going to this one when we just ask that he just respect us from 7 to 11 and let us have our mourning,” said Monica Iken, whose husband was killed on 9/11. The event was attended by New York City Council Member Vickie Paladino (R), who announced the coalition’s intention to deliver a petition with 101,000 signatures to City Hall ahead of the service on Friday. “I am demanding that he not show his face at that sacred ground… He does not belong there… We the people do not care for Zohran Mamdani—101,000 names is not a drop in the bucket. Do not, Zohran Mamdani, take us New Yorkers for granted. We were there that day. The sky looked very similar to this. Stay put. Stay in City Hall and promote your propaganda,” said Paladino.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This mayor is not serving us… He’s serving himself. We are asking respectfully that he not show up… Even though there is going to be other politicians there, these are the politicians that helped us push beneficial laws through and literally held our hand during that time… Mayor Mamdani has not shown any of that, none of it. He just wants to be there because he wants to be there… So we are asking him to respect the fact that that trauma is revived during the ceremony. It is a private ceremony. It is not a public ceremony. Mayor Mamdani, please do not come,” said Charles Wolf, who lost his wife on 9/11.
🎯 IMPACT: The coalition has clarified that other politicians who have supported 9/11-related legislation and personally supported the victims’ families are welcome at the ceremony. This response shows that a sizeable portion of 9/11 families and others affected by the attacks do not believe that Mayor Mamdani supports them. The Twelver Muslim mayor, originally from Uganda, has made several comments and decisions in the past that have alienated survivors and victims of 9/11, from bemoaning the so-called “Islamophobia” after 9/11 to appointing lawyer Ramzi Kassem as Chief Counsel, after he previously stated that the attacks reflected “the resentment these terrorists felt,” and “the legacy of 9/11 ought to be recounted primarily through the stories of Muslims.”

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Families of 9/11 victims and first responders have called on New York City's Muslim immigrant mayor to skip the attacks' memorial ceremony, citing his lack of support for their community.

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September 8, 2026
News
Politics

Streamer Who Said ‘America Deserved 9/11’ Backs AOC for President Ahead of 25th Anniversary.

Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has affirmed his support for Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as Democrat politicians push to distance themselves from the Turkey-raised influencer.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker will endorse Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) for President in 2028 despite ongoing attempts by the wider Democratic Party to distance themselves from him.
📺 DETAIL: Piker has faced widespread criticism from both parties in recent weeks for various incendiary comments, including his past claim that the United States “deserved 9/11” and that violence “against Jews” will come about as a result of Jewish support for Israel. A growing number of Democrat lawmakers, politicians, and others in the party have disavowed the controversial streamer, encouraging colleagues to do the same ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in November. In an interview at Socialism Conference 2026 earlier this month in Chicago, Piker said that he intends to be “as careful as possible,” adding that his streams are the “perfect opportunity to create viral media moments.” “My job is not to make the Democratic Party look good,” said Piker. He endorsed Rep. Alexandria “AOC” Ocasio-Cortez for President in 2028. This follows the decision of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of which AOC is a member, to come to Piker’s defense earlier this month, describing him as “our Twitch streamer.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I think she’s great… She would have some difficulties, of course, but hurdles can be climbed over, and I think she can do it,” said Piker.
🎯 IMPACT: Piker’s rhetoric threatens to alienate moderate voters and could undermine Democrat support in key races, such as the Michigan Senate race, where far-left Democrat candidate Abdul El-Sayed has been scrutinized for his closeness to Piker. This underscores the growing division within the Democrats over whether to embrace the far-left politics of organizations like the DSA. Piker’s growing influence coincides with the rise in support for socialism among Democrats as well as the rise in Democrat-aligned adults self-describing as Democratic Socialists. It also demonstrates the willingness of Piker to utilize his platform to boost far-left Democrats.
📺 FLASHBACK: In late August, it was reported that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez had re-joined the DSA after a seven-year membership lapse, building speculation of a presidential run in 2028. “Democratic Socialists of America confirms Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a member in good standing of our organization, having recently rejoined in August 2026,” announced the DSA. In July, the New York representative topped a poll of potential Democrat candidates for President.

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Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has affirmed his support for Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as Democrat politicians push to distance themselves from the Turkey-raised influencer.

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September 8, 2026
News
Politics
Religion

WATCH: ‘Christian’ Talarico Argues Jesus and Allah Are ‘Equal Pathways to Truth.’

Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico has argued that Allah, the “Great Spirit,” and other religious concepts are “equal pathways to truth” alongside Jesus Christ, casting further doubt on his claims to be a Christian.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat Texas Senate candidate James Talarico is facing renewed scrutiny of his claims to be a Christian after a video resurfaced showing him describing Islam, Christianity, and other religions as “equal pathways to truth.” Talarico said he views the world’s religions as different paths leading toward the same “divine mystery,” specifically naming God, Yahweh, Allah, Nirvana, and the Great Spirit as “different pathways to the same fundamental truth of reality.”
📺 DETAIL: The comments contradict traditional Christian teachings that Jesus Christ is the exclusive path to salvation, with Christ stating in the New Testament that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Significantly, Talarico has made similar statements in the past, including a 2021 Texas House invocation that referenced the Torah, Quran, Gita, Dharma, and the First Epistle of John before concluding, “In all your many names, we pray.” More recently, Talarico said Islamic mystics and Muslim poet Rumi had influenced his supposed Christian faith as much as Christian writers. Talarico attends St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, which The National Pulse reported supports abortion and funds pro-abortion organizations, with Talarico having argued that the Bible’s account of the Virgin Mary’s consent to bear Christ informs his position on abortion. The Democrat candidate has separately faced criticism over previous comments describing Christianity as the “most violent” religion, saying it had done more damage to Islam than any other faith, and arguing that God is “beyond gender,” despite being described explicitly in masculine terms in the Bible. These comments have placed Talarico’s interpretation of Christianity at the center of continuing debate as he campaigns for the Democratic nomination in the Texas Senate race.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Whether it’s God or Yahweh or Allah or Nirvana, the Great Spirit, whatever you call it, this is all, you know, different pathways to the same kind of fundamental truth of reality.” – James Talarico
🎯 IMPACT: Talarico’s comments could make his religious views a significant issue in the Texas Senate campaign, particularly among Christian voters who believe Jesus Christ is not an optional extra to true faith. His statements also provide opponents with additional material to question the authenticity of his Christianity and the way he presents himself to the public.

Image by Lawrence OP.

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Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico has argued that Allah, the "Great Spirit," and other religious concepts are "equal pathways to truth" alongside Jesus Christ, casting further doubt on his claims to be a Christian.

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September 8, 2026
News
Politics

Populist Victory in Germany Shakes European Establishment.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has achieved a historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt, undermining the stability of Germany’s political establishment.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made a major advance in Sunday’s Saxony-Anhalt state elections, winning 44 percent of the vote and more than doubling its support from the previous election, although it fell short of the supermajority it had sought. Chancellor (Prime Minister) Friedrich Merz said the result had shaken his notionally center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, formerly led by migrant crisis architect Angela Merkel, “to its very foundations,” calling it his party’s most serious election defeat in decades and warning that it would have consequences far beyond Saxony-Anhalt.
📺 DETAIL: The result further challenges Germany’s political “Brandmauer,” or firewall, against allowing the eurosceptic, anti-mass migration AfD into governing coalitions, as the populist party has expanded its representation both at the state level and in the federal parliament. The outcome also reflects a broader trend across Europe, where populist-right parties have gained significant support and, in several countries, entered governing coalitions or become major opposition forces. In the European Parliament, which debates European Union-level legislation, three such political groupings collectively hold 196 seats, making them the second-largest force by combined seat count. National populist parties have influenced debates over immigration, Ukraine policy, and climate legislation. Analysts say the AfD’s support is driven largely by domestic concerns, including mass migration, stagnant wages, deindustrialization, and dissatisfaction with establishment parties. U.S. figures such as Vice President JD Vance have publicly supported the AfD and criticized Germany’s firewall as undemocratic. 
🎯 IMPACT: Upcoming elections in Berlin and the Mecklenburg region will further test whether the populist trend is a regional anomaly or part of a broader transformation of German politics.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It is the most severe election defeat the CDU has suffered in years, indeed in decades.” – Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor and CDU leader

Image by Olaf Kosinsky.

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The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has achieved a historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt, undermining the stability of Germany's political establishment.

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September 4, 2026
News
Politics
UK

UK PM Burnham Endorses Trump-Hating Sadiq Khan for Fourth Term as London Mayor.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has hinted at a potential 2028 re-election bid, despite most Londoners wanting him to resign and believing that the British capital has become a worse place to live since he entered office.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has endorsed Lord Sadiq Khan for a fourth term as Mayor of London, despite a majority of Londoners believing he should not continue in office.
📺 DETAIL: Khan has signaled that he will decide whether to stand for a fourth term next year. The next London mayoral election is scheduled for 2028. “Sadiq is a really exceptional politician, a real leader, and absolutely, I’d love him to stay here as long as he wants, and I would certainly be behind him,” the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Burnham endorsed Khan despite recent polling suggesting that the vast majority of Londoners want Khan to resign and not seek a fourth term. The poll revealed that 56 percent of Londoners think Khan should step down, including 31 percent of people who voted for him at the previous election in 2024. The same poll also revealed that 55 percent of Londoners believe that London has become a worse place under Khan.
🎯 IMPACT: Khan’s potential decision to run again could shape London’s political landscape and influence upcoming Labour Party strategies. In the event that Khan does not stand again for London mayor, several figures have been floated as potential Labour Party candidates, including former Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who was removed during the Cabinet reshuffle when Burnham became Prime Minister back in July. Lammy, like Khan, is explicitly opposed to President Donald J. Trump, previously calling the American leader a “neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath.”

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has hinted at a potential 2028 re-election bid, despite most Londoners wanting him to resign and believing that the British capital has become a worse place to live since he entered office.

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