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Saturday, August 29, 2026

Category: Politics
17 hours ago
News
Politics

Democrat Redistricting Effort Stalls After Successful Legal Challenge.

A Maryland judge ruled that Democrats violated state deadlines in their attempt to place a redistricting amendment on the November ballot, halting their effort to reshape congressional districts in their favor.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A Maryland judge has blocked a Democrat-backed effort to place a congressional redistricting amendment on the November ballot, dealing a setback to the party’s attempt to reshape the state’s congressional map. The proposed constitutional amendment would have allowed lawmakers to redraw congressional districts while removing existing requirements that districts remain compact and follow natural boundaries.
📺 DETAIL: Democrats currently hold seven of Maryland’s eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, with Republican Representative Andy Harris as the state’s lone GOP lawmaker on the Eastern Shore. Critics of the proposal argued that eliminating the mapmaking restrictions empowers the Democrats to redraw Harris’s district in a way that makes it more difficult for the Republican to retain. County Circuit Court Judge Robert Thompson ruled Wednesday that the measure missed a state deadline requiring ballot summaries to be certified by July 1. The Maryland Senate Republican Caucus welcomed the decision, arguing that the dispute was about enforcing election laws rather than preventing voters from having a say. The ruling comes amid a broader national battle over congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with both parties seeking to maximize their advantage. Similar Democratic redistricting efforts have faced legal setbacks in Virginia, while Republicans have pursued favorable maps in Texas and Democrats have backed a redistricting effort in California.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The case has never been about preventing Marylanders from having a voice, it’s been about ensuring that before voters are asked to amend the constitution, the state first complies with the constitution and the election procedures established by law.” – Maryland Senate Republican Caucus statement
🎯 IMPACT: The ruling temporarily preserves Maryland’s existing congressional map and prevents Democrats from using the proposed amendment to target the state’s lone Republican House district.

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A Maryland judge ruled that Democrats violated state deadlines in their attempt to place a redistricting amendment on the November ballot, halting their effort to reshape congressional districts in their favor.

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August 27, 2026
News
Politics

Missing Missouri Deputy AG Found Alive in Mountains.

Missouri Deputy Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang was located alive but dehydrated and disoriented in Wyoming’s Wind River Range after being classed as missing for six days.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Missouri Deputy Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang was found alive after being missing for six days.
📺 DETAIL: Mackelprang was found alive on Wednesday morning near Scott Lake in Wind River Range, Wyoming. This follows a search operation that lasted several days. Rescuers found Mackelprang dehydrated and disoriented. Mackelprang was pursuing a personal goal of reaching the highest points in all 50 states. Wyoming’s Gannet Peak has an elevation of 13,804 feet and is the 45th peak on Mackelprang’s list. Rescuers found he had signed the summit register, indicating his trouble began during the descent. The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office, Tip Top Search and Rescue, and other agencies used ground teams, drones, and a rescue helicopter to locate him. Mackelprang started from the Green River Lakes Trailhead on August 20, 2025. “We are thrilled to hear that Deputy Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang has been located… Our office is beyond grateful for everyone’s prayers and the steadfast work of the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office and drone team, Tip Top Search and Rescue’s volunteers and helicopter crew, and Wyoming State leaders,” said Catherine Hanaway (R), Missouri’s Attorney General on X (formerly Twitter).
💬 KEY QUOTE: “There’s only so much you can handle… So we just are so grateful for everything that everyone has done on his behalf.” – Romel Mackelprang, Shaun’s brother.
🎯 IMPACT: Mackelprang will now be able to resume his duties as Deputy Attorney General. This is particularly important as the November midterms loom. The rescue of Mackelprang comes a week after the Republican Party and President Donald J. Trump secured a victory in court allowing for the implementation of Missouri’s redrawn congressional map. This is likely to boost Republican representation in the House of Representatives at the midterm elections.

Image by Casey Goodlett.

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Missouri Deputy Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang was located alive but dehydrated and disoriented in Wyoming's Wind River Range after being classed as missing for six days.

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August 27, 2026
News
Politics

Ocasio-Cortez Rejoins Democratic Socialists of America.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has renewed her membership with the Democratic Socialists of America, sparking discussions about her potential 2028 presidential run.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has officially rejoined the far-left Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
📺 DETAIL: Ocasio-Cortez has re-joined the DSA after a seven-year lapse in her membership. She originally joined the DSA in 2018 with a one-year membership, which ended in 2019, only renewing her membership in August 2026. “Democratic Socialists of America confirms Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a member in good standing of our organization, having recently rejoined in August 2026… Previously, the representative joined DSA in 2018 with a one-year membership, which DSA’s national leadership recently noticed had lapsed, in 2019. She has since renewed her membership as of this month,” the DSA announced. The renewal of Ocasio-Cortez’s membership in the DSA coincides with growing speculation that she could run for President in 2028. “While it is atypical for DSA to address the membership status of individuals, ongoing discussions about the 2028 presidential campaign have prompted this release … With chapters and members campaigning to draft Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a potential Presidential Primary candidate, we believe that the status of her membership is essential information for members to have in their deliberations and discussions,” the DSA’s statement added. This follows a series of victories for DSA and adjacent far-left candidates in Democrat primaries ahead of the midterm elections.
🎯 IMPACT: The announcement has heightened speculation about Ocasio-Cortez’s Presidential ambitions. Rejoining the DSA, whose most prominent elected official is currently New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, allows Ocasio-Cortez to position herself as an outsider and challenge the Democrat establishment. The recent move also capitalizes on the recent victories of the DSA and the far left more broadly within the party. While r-joining the DSA aligns Ocasio-Cortez with an active and influential section of the Democrat grassroots, it is possible that the decision narrows her appeal to the wider country, which remains skeptical of the DSA. This also represents a reversal of the DSA’s decision to withdraw its endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez in 2024 over disagreements regarding Israel and anti-Semitism-related issues. This underscores the Democrats’ ongoing shift leftwards, with one in three now identifying as Democratic Socialists.
📺 FLASHBACK: Last month, Ocasio-Cortez topped a New Hampshire Democrat primary poll, securing 22 percent support. Pete Buttigieg, who served as Secretary of Transportation under former President Joe Biden, came in second on 21 percent.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has renewed her membership with the Democratic Socialists of America, sparking discussions about her potential 2028 presidential run.

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August 26, 2026
NatSec
News
Politics

Trump Moves to Designate ‘Palestine Action’ Network as Global Terrorists.

President Donald J. Trump plans to classify Palestine Action as a global terrorist organization, with U.S. officials accusing the group of enacting and promoting terrorism.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump intends to declare Palestine Action a global terrorist group.
📰 DETAIL: The new designation follows the imprisonment of four Palestine Action activists after they were found guilty of causing £1.2 million (~$1.6 million) of property damage to the site of an Israeli defense firm in Britain. The U.S. version of the group, officially known as Unity of Fields, formerly known as Palestine Action U.S., has also sought to disrupt and vandalize firms linked to Israel. It has also targeted the U.S. government and engaged in violent demonstrations. “The very idea that far-left terrorism could be a serious threat is treated as a right-wing fever dream, or worse, as a dangerous fascist conspiracy,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The UK-based Palestine Action has supported numerous acts of terrorism since July 2020, including acts that have physically injured UK law enforcement personnel, as well as acts intended to intimidate lawful commercial enterprise and coerce the British Government. Palestine Action has promoted its acts of terrorism on social media, encouraging the use of similar tactics internationally, including within the United States and along the U.S.-Mexican border. Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on US and foreign persons,” said a U.S. official to the British press.
🎯 IMPACT: If President Trump goes ahead with the designation, it will result in lifetime bans on the group’s founders and supporters entering the U.S. It will also freeze the group’s U.S. assets, such as bank accounts and properties. The new designation also means that U.S. citizens will be prohibited from engaging with Palestine Action, including donating money, goods, or services. This designation reflects a similar ban imposed in Britain last year.

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President Donald J. Trump plans to classify Palestine Action as a global terrorist organization, with U.S. officials accusing the group of enacting and promoting terrorism.

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August 26, 2026
Election Integrity
News
Politics

Democrat States Launch Another Lawsuit Against Trump’s Mail-In Voting Reforms.

More than two dozen Democrat state attorneys general have filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service over a rule implemented by President Donald J. Trump’s administration concerning mail-in ballot security.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A coalition of Democrat-controlled states has filed a federal lawsuit to block President Donald J. Trump’s executive order reforming mail-in ballots.
📺 DETAIL: The federal lawsuit was filed on Wednesday against the U.S. Postal Service. A total of 25 Democrat attorney generals filed the federal lawsuit against the Trump administration’s executive order. President Trump’s executive order mandates federal approval for the mail-in ballot process. Specifically, the U.S. Postal Service’s new rule clarifies that states must provide a list of eligible voters in order to receive mail ballots. The new rule also mandates federal approval of the design used for mail-in ballot envelopes. The White House has stated that the new rule aims to increase “the safety and security of our elections” and described the reforms as “commonsense measures that protect the security of mail-in ballots.” The U.S. Postal Service’s new rule for mail-in ballots was published on Friday.
🎯 IMPACT: This lawsuit marks the latest in a series of legal battles between Democrat states and the President over mail-in ballots since his return to office. This comes just days after the Supreme Court ruled to allow the President’s new measures to be implemented, at least provisionally. The new lawsuit represents another hurdle for the administration in establishing a State Citizenship List with federal data to ensure against non-citizen voting and other types of fraudulent voting. This represents just one of many election security initiatives pushed by the Trump administration, with other measures including a recently announced historic number of election monitors for the 2026 midterms in November.
📺 FLASHBACK: Back in April this year, a coalition of leftist organizations launched a lawfare campaign against President Trump’s executive order reforming mail-in ballots. Organizations involved included the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Brennan Center for Justice, the League of Women Voters, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Image by Joe Mabel.

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More than two dozen Democrat state attorneys general have filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service over a rule implemented by President Donald J. Trump's administration concerning mail-in ballot security.

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August 25, 2026
News
Politics

Radical Dem Candidate El-Sayed Says Discussing Reparations ‘Shouldn’t Be a Crazy Thing.’

Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed expressed support for a “conversation” about reparations, alleging historical injustices and systemic inequities.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Far-left Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed voiced support for a “conversation” about paying reparations to African Americans.
📺 DETAIL: In a Monday interview, El-Sayed said an “honest conversation” about reparations “shouldn’t be a crazy thing.” This follows reports from earlier this month that El-Sayed had called for reparations in the past. “We owe so much more than ‘thanks.’ Time for Reparations,” posted Abdul El-Sayed in a 2019 Thanksgiving post on X (formerly Twitter). This was among several other unearthed remarks by El-Sayed, including attacks on Thanksgiving, July 4 celebrations, and Michigan’s Mackinac Island. The unearthed posts were deleted following backlash. El-Sayed also suggested that reparations could resolve school funding in the state. “In the city of Detroit right now, they just had $700 million invested in their schools… They’re still $1.7 billion behind… a lot of that has to do with public policy… if public policy created a level in which black folks disproportionately suffer everything from maternal mortality and infant mortality to lack of access to jobs, I think it’s important for our country to have a conversation about how to make people whole,” said El-Sayed.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I think we need to have an honest conversation about the incredible debt that was put upon black folks as a function of slavery that we have yet to pay, and I just think that’s fair. Like if people are enslaved and forced into servitude, and then we don’t actually have a conversation about all that was owed that our own country agreed was owed. I just think that it’s past time to have that conversation.” – Abdul El-Sayed
🎯 IMPACT: This may add to the mounting pressure on El-Sayed, a far-left Democrat running in Michigan, a swing state with a large number of moderate and Independent voters. El-Sayed’s radical position is likely to alienate the voters whom he needs to win over come the midterm elections in November. El-Sayed framing his position in terms of having a “conversation” represents a superficial moderation of his past remarks explicitly calling for reparations, suggesting that El-Sayed is aware of how alienating the true position will be to many Michiganders. El-Sayed’s rise underscores the ongoing far-left capture of the Democrats during the 2026 election cycle.

Image by Conlan Houston.

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Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed expressed support for a "conversation" about reparations, alleging historical injustices and systemic inequities.

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August 24, 2026
Data
News
Politics

Communist Party USA Reports Massive Membership Surge Over Past Decade.

The Communist Party USA has claimed a significant rise in membership, particularly among younger Americans, over the past decade, despite the unpopularity of communism among the vast majority of Americans.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Communist Party USA (CPUSA) has reported a surge in membership over the past decade.
📺 DETAIL: The CPUSA claims to have recruited 20,000 members since 2016, coinciding with events such as Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns and the election of President Donald J. Trump. In an interview posted to the party’s YouTube channel, CPUSA Co-Chair Joe Sims attributed the growth to younger members who are more willing to publicly identify as communists. “We’ve always seen the young generation as the spark of the revolutionary movement, and that’s where the energy comes from. That’s where the motion is. We celebrate that and we want to encourage it,” said Sims. Despite this reported growth, communism remains largely unpopular among Americans. According to a poll commissioned by The Economist and conducted by YouGov, 18 percent of Americans view communists as a major threat. The poll also revealed that 25 percent view communism as a moderate threat, and 23 percent view it as a minor threat.
🎯 IMPACT: The reported rise in CPUSA membership signals a growing openness to communist ideology and far-left politics more broadly, especially among younger Americans. This reflects similar findings published throughout the year. For example, earlier this month, it was revealed that only 30 percent of New Yorkers support the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a far-left political organization operating within the Democratic Party. However, younger Americans living in urban areas, such as New York City, have a noticeably more favorable view of the DSA than older Americans and Americans living in rural and suburban areas. The month prior, another poll revealed that one in three Democrats and Democrat-aligned voters call themselves Democratic Socialists. These findings show that although far-left ideology is widely unpopular with the American electorate, it has a discernible, concentrated, and active support base, potentially capable of influencing election outcomes and politics generally.

Image by outinthestreets.

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The Communist Party USA has claimed a significant rise in membership, particularly among younger Americans, over the past decade, despite the unpopularity of communism among the vast majority of Americans.

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August 24, 2026
News
Politics
UK

Farage’s Reform Party Will Prioritize British Parents, Veterans, and Young People for Social Housing.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has unveiled a plan to prioritize British parents, veterans, and young workers over foreign nationals for social housing.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has announced a policy to prioritize British-born workers for social housing.
📺 DETAIL: The party announced on Monday that British-born young workers, married couples with children, and military veterans would be prioritized for public housing. Reform estimates that roughly 540,000 social homes are occupied by foreign nationals. “It’s not fair that young British working families can’t get on the housing ladder when overseas nationals have come to the UK and, because of the current rules based on need rather than suitability, they have jumped ahead in the queue. We just don’t think that’s right: I can’t think of another country where you rock up with a family and you expect the local taxpayer in that country to pay for your housing needs,” said Tice. The party also plans to raise £10 billion (~$13.6bn) to build 50,000 homes per year through measures such as reintroducing Right to Buy, a scheme first introduced by Margaret Thatcher which allows social housing occupants to buy their homes, and leveraging local government pension funds.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We’re saying that the first people we should be looking after are young, British workers—under 35, young British married couples, young British veterans—who have done the right thing. They’ve got a job, they’re doing their best, working in their community, setting a fine example, because the role of the British government is actually to look after British citizens first.” – Richard Tice, Reform Deputy Leader.
🎯 IMPACT: The proposal is the latest major announcement from Reform regarding welfare policy. Earlier this month, the party announced policies to limit most benefit payments to citizens in order to cut the state’s ballooning welfare bill. While the establishment parties have characterized Reform’s recent proposal as divisive, much of the British electorate is likely to support it, with much of the public viewing it as unfair for foreigners to receive social housing ahead of British citizens.
📺 FLASHBACK: Reform has said it plans to dismantle what it has characterized as an “international welfare state” and re-prioritize British-born workers. “What was once a national welfare state morphed into an international welfare state,” stressed Matthew Goodwin, an academic who served as a Reform parliamentary candidate earlier this year.

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Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has unveiled a plan to prioritize British parents, veterans, and young workers over foreign nationals for social housing.

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August 20, 2026
News
Politics

Win for Trump, GOP as Court Upholds Redistricted Map Ahead of Midterms.

A Missouri court decision has secured a Republican-drawn congressional map, in a decision that could shape the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A Missouri judge has rejected a Democrat-backed effort to challenge the state’s newly drawn congressional map, giving Republicans another boost ahead of the November midterms. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins was justified in refusing to certify a referendum petition targeting the map, though the decision is expected to be appealed.
📺 DETAIL: The ruling keeps in place a map supported by President Donald J. Trump and Missouri Republicans that significantly reshapes Democrat Representative Emanuel Cleaver’s 5th Congressional District by extending it into more conservative-leaning territory. The changes could put Cleaver against a stronger challenge from Republican state Senator Rick Brattin. Missouri is one of several states where redistricting battles are intensifying ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with Republicans pursuing potential gains in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Alabama. Democrats have pursued countervailing gains in California and Utah, while Maryland Democrats are seeking to potentially eliminate the state’s only Republican-held House district.
🎯 IMPACT: With Republicans currently holding a 218-212 House majority, even a handful of altered districts could have major consequences for control of Congress. If all projected changes materialize, Republicans could gain approximately ten additional seats.
📺 FLASHBACK: Similar redistricting victories for Republicans have occurred in states like Florida, Texas, and North Carolina, while Democrats have made gains in California and Maryland. These battles highlight the high stakes of redistricting in shaping the nation’s political landscape.

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A Missouri court decision has secured a Republican-drawn congressional map, in a decision that could shape the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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August 20, 2026
News
Politics

Canadian Liberal Lawmaker Caught Campaigning for the Democrats.

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather’s involvement in a U.S. election campaign raises questions about cross-border political activism on behalf of the Democrats.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Anthony Housefather, of Prime Minister Mark Carney‘s Liberal Party, traveled to Florida to campaign for Democrat Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, raising questions about foreign political activism as Canada remains engaged in contentious tariff and trade negotiations with the Trump administration. Housefather was photographed canvassing for Wasserman Schultz before celebrating her victory in Florida’s Democratic primary, writing that he was “always on Team DWS.”
📰 DETAIL: The Mount Royal MP’s participation in an American election campaign drew criticism from former Canadian Conservative candidate Neil Oberman, who questioned why a sitting Canadian parliamentarian was spending his summer campaigning for a U.S. politician while Canada faces significant economic pressure. Housefather’s post did not disclose who paid for his travel. Housefather and Wasserman Schultz have maintained a close political relationship through their joint work advocating for stronger social media policies concerning Zionism.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Nice to know your tax dollars that pay his salary goes towards him spending summer having his social media comms manager send out Party talking points while he’s down south doing photo ops and banging doors for a U.S. congressperson, huh?” – Neil Oberman, former Canadian Conservative candidate.
🎯 IMPACT: The incident raises concerns about a sitting Canadian MP actively campaigning for a U.S. opposition politician while Canada is navigating sensitive tariff and trade negotiations with Washington.

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Liberal MP Anthony Housefather's involvement in a U.S. election campaign raises questions about cross-border political activism on behalf of the Democrats.

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