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Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Category: Politics
22 hours ago
News
Politics

Jasmine Crockett Joins Texas Senate Contest.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) officially filed paperwork to enter the Democrat primary for the U.S. Senate in Texas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Jasmine Crockett and other Texas politicians.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Crockett filed her paperwork on Monday in Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In the past few days, I’ve come to believe that a bruising Senate Democratic primary and runoff would prevent the Democratic Party from going into this critical election unified against the danger posed to our communities and our Constitution by Donald Trump and one of his Republican bootlickers [Ken] Paxton, [John] Cornyn, or Hunt.” – Colin Allred

🎯IMPACT: The Texas Senate race is expected to be one of the most expensive and competitive of the midterms.

IN FULL

Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) formally joined the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Texas on Monday by submitting her paperwork, stepping in just hours after Rep. Colin Allred ended his Senate bid. Allred announced earlier the same day that he would instead run for the House in the newly created 33rd congressional district.

In the Democratic primary, Crockett will now face state Rep. James Talarico of Austin. On the Republican side, the Republican field includes Republican-in-name-only three-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn, America First state Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt. The contest is expected to be one of the most expensive and closely followed Senate races of the 2026 midterms.

Allred explained his withdrawal by saying, “In the past few days, I’ve come to believe that a bruising Senate Democratic primary and runoff would prevent the Democratic Party from going into this critical election unified against the danger posed to our communities and our Constitution by Donald Trump and one of his Republican bootlickers [Ken] Paxton, [John] Cornyn, or [Wesley] Hunt.” He continued, “That’s why I’ve made the difficult decision to end my campaign for the U.S. Senate. But I’m nowhere near done serving my community and our state.”

Crockett, a prominent progressive voice and strident critic of President Donald J. Trump known for her outlandish statements and allegations, had previously said she would only enter the Senate race if polls showed a realistic path to victory in November. Recent surveys reportedly place her ahead in the Democratic primary field.

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December 5, 2025
1A
Politics

Trump Admin Brands Europe’s Fine on X an Assault All Americans.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The European Union’s unelected executive, the European Commission, fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) $140 million for alleged violations of the bloc’s Digital Services Act.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Elon Musk, and the European Commission.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The fine was announced on Friday by the European Commission.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on [X], it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments. The days of censoring Americans online are over.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: Rubio framed the fine as a broader attack on American technology companies and free speech, signaling growing tensions between the U.S. and EU over digital regulations and censorship.

IN FULL

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the European Commission’s decision to impose a $140 million fine on X (formerly Twitter) on December 5, saying the penalty is “not just an attack on [X], it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.” He added: “The days of censoring Americans online are over.”

Vice President J.D. Vance also commented on the situation the day prior, saying, “Rumors swirling that the EU [C]ommission will fine X hundreds of millions of dollars for not engaging in censorship. The EU should be supporting free speech not attacking American companies over garbage.”

The fine, the first under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), targets three alleged violations: supposedly deceptive use of X’s blue checkmark verification badge, insufficient transparency in its ad database, and blocking researchers’ access to certain public data.

The Commission, an unelected body that serves as the EU’s executive and the main initiator of EU-level legislation like the DSA, argued that by allowing users to purchase blue checkmarks, X misled others into believing those accounts were in some way officially verified. It also stated that the platform failed to meet the required transparency standards for advertising and data access, obligations set out in the DSA to ensure safety, accountability, and public interest oversight.

The DSA requires platforms operating in the EU to remove illegal or so-called harmful content, ensure transparency in advertising and moderation, and provide independent access to data for researchers and regulators.

Critics, including U.S. officials and some tech‑industry observers, argue that such regulation masks a censorship regime. For instance, the U.S. State Department recently denounced the DSA as “Orwellian,” saying it effectively enables European governments to police political expression online.

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December 5, 2025
Politics

Virginia House Speaker Proposes Redistricting for 10-1 Democratic Majority.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Virginia’s House Speaker has suggested redrawing Congressional maps to favor Democrats with a 10-1 advantage.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D) and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the UVA Center for Politics.

💬KEY QUOTE: “He’s bullying folks in these states to change the rules, and we have an obligation to stand up and do something different.” – Don Scott

🎯IMPACT: The proposed maps could shift the balance of Virginia’s Congressional delegation, though given the state’s population distribution and close partisan party registration, a 10-1 congressional map is unlikely to be realized.

IN FULL

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott says he’s 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.

Speaking at the UVA Center for Politics on Wednesday, December 3, Scott outlined the proposal as a response to what he described as “bullying” by President Donald J. Trump in states like Texas. “He’s bullying folks in these states to change the rules, and we have an obligation to stand up and do something different,” Scott said.

The suggestion comes amidst ongoing efforts by both major political parties to redraw state maps ahead of upcoming elections, including the midterms next year. Scott indicated that such a dramatic shift in the delegation’s composition “was not out of the realm” of possibility under the new maps.

However, given that Democrats only enjoyed a slight advantage in state-wide elections, and Virginia‘s population distribution—with a bulk of Democrat voters living in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. in the north of the state—Scott’s idea of a 10-1 map appears more of an exaggerated threat than a possible reality. Redrawing congressional lines in a manner that gives Democrats such an advantage would likely draw considerable legal challenges, as the districts would likely lack compactness, contiguity, and equal population.

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December 4, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Politics

Tim Walz Complains That Calling Him Retarded Will Lead to Violence.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) is worried that people calling him “retarded” could lead to violence.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tim Walz, President Donald J. Trump, and people calling Tim Walz retarded.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Walz expressed his concerns at a press conference on December 4.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’d never seen this before. People driving by my house and using the r-word [retard] in front of people.” – Tim Walz.

🎯IMPACT: Walz’s comments come despite much of the political violence in 2025 and 2024 being carried out by far-left extremists, such as the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk and the attempted assassinations of President Trump.

IN FULL

Minnesota Governor and failed 2024 vice presidential candidate Tim Walz (D) has complained that people are driving by his home and calling him a retard, claiming that such language could lead to violence, just days after President Donald J. Trump referred to him as “retarded.” During a press conference on December 4, Walz claimed, “This creates danger,” adding, “I’d never seen this before. People driving by my house and using the r-word [retard] in front of people. This is shameful.”

Walz further complained that he has yet to see any elected Republicans agree with him that such behavior is “shameful,” saying, “I’m worried. We know how these things go. They start with taunts, and they turn to violence.”

The comments come just days after President Trump referred to Walz as “seriously retarded” on Truth Social last week, following reports of Somali migrant crime, including accusations of over a billion dollars in fraud. “Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’ as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone,” President Trump said.

“The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both,” he noted.

The corporate media attempted to make President Trump walk back the comments aboard Air Force One on November 30, but the President doubled down, saying, “Yeah, I think there’s something wrong with him, absolutely, sure.”

He then referred to the Somali fraud case, where some money defrauded from U.S. taxpayers may have ended up funding the Islamist al-Qaeda franchise al-Shabaab. “Anybody that would do what [Walz] did, anybody that would allow those people into a state and pay billions of dollars [to] Somalia… It’s not even a country, because it doesn’t function like a country. It’s got a name, but it doesn’t function like a country. Yeah, there’s something wrong with Walz.”

Notably, hundreds of government workers in Walz’s own administration have accused him of covering up fraud by Somalis and retaliating against whistleblowers.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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December 4, 2025
Health
Politics

Senate Democrats Reveal Plan to Keep Obamacare on Life Support.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senate Democrats unveiled a plan to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies for three years without reforms, but Senate Republicans are unlikely to support it.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), and other Senate Republicans and Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was announced on Thursday, with a vote expected next Thursday, December 11, in the U.S. Senate.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If Republicans block our bill, there’s no going back. We won’t get another chance to halt these premium spikes before they kick in at the start of the New Year.” – Chuck Schumer

🎯IMPACT: The debate over the subsidies could affect healthcare premiums and whether reforms like income caps or abortion funding restrictions are included.

IN FULL

Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), revealed on Thursday their legislative proposal to extend Obamacare subsidies for three years without any changes or reforms. Schumer announced the legislation on the Senate floor, stating, “This is the bill, a clean, three-year extension of [Obamacare] tax credits that Democrats will bring to the floor of the Senate for a vote next Thursday. And every single Democrat will support it.”

Republicans, however, are already balking over the lack of reforms in the proposal. They have advocated for measures such as income caps and restrictions to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) indicated a willingness to consider proposals, but a bipartisan compromise has yet to emerge.

Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) have been working on a Republican alternative, which centers on redirecting subsidy funds into Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSAs) rather than paying insurance companies directly. Despite discussions during a closed-door meeting this week, no unified Republican strategy has been finalized.

Schumer warned that failure to pass the Democrats’ plan could lead to significant premium increases for Americans starting in January. He stated, “If Republicans block our bill, there’s no going back. We won’t get another chance to halt these premium spikes before they kick in at the start of the New Year.”

The Senate is expected to vote on the proposal by December 11, as Congress races to address a range of legislative priorities before the year ends.

Image by Adrian Hon.

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December 4, 2025
Corruption
Politics

Govt Watchdog Uncovers $94m in Obamacare Subsidies Fraudulently Paid for Dead People.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) uncovered fraud in Obamacare subsidies, including $94 million paid to insurers for dead people.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The GAO, House Ways and Means Committee, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Findings announced on December 3, 2025, covering data from several years prior, affecting the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) marketplaces.

💬KEY QUOTE: “GAO’s troubling report is the smoking gun that shows how this broken system, shielded by Democrat policies, has led to the federal government shoveling tens of billions of tax dollars to insurance companies through identity fraud and caused health care costs to skyrocket for all Americans.” – Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO)

🎯IMPACT: Taxpayers could be losing up to $27 billion annually due to improper Obamacare payments, while patients face higher costs and denied or delayed care.

IN FULL

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has revealed significant fraud in the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidy system, including $94 million paid to insurers for people who were dead. The findings, announced by the GOP-led House Ways and Means Committee, suggest there are systemic problems in how Obamacare is administered. In total, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the fraud costs taxpayers upwards of $27 billion annually.

According to the GAO, 58,000 Social Security Numbers (SSNs) that received advanced premium tax credits matched Social Security death data. Of these, at least 7,000 individuals were confirmed to have died before their coverage began. Investigators also created fictitious identities using fake or never-issued SSNs, all of which were approved for subsidized Obamacare coverage. Many of these approvals occurred without document verification, even when fake documents, including fake citizenship eligibility papers, were submitted.

The investigation found that monthly subsidies paid to health insurers on behalf of these fraudulent identities exceeded $12,300. In one case, a single SSN was used to apply for over 125 insurance policies, amounting to 26,000 days of coverage—equivalent to 71 years. In 2023 alone, 66,000 SSNs were associated with more than a year’s worth of subsidized coverage.

Additionally, the GAO discovered $21 billion in subsidies paid out in 2023 without evidence of tax reconciliation—accounting for about 23 percent of the $92 billion in total Obamacare subsidies that year. Complaints filed with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revealed 275,000 cases of Americans being enrolled in or switched to plans without their consent. Of these, 160,000 unauthorized changes were attributed to actions by three or more brokers.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) stated, “While Democrats defend waste, fraud, and abuse, Republicans are taking action to lower health care costs and protect care for all real, living Americans. GAO’s troubling report is the smoking gun that shows how this broken system, shielded by Democrat policies, has led to the federal government shoveling tens of billions of tax dollars to insurance companies through identity fraud and caused health care costs to skyrocket for all Americans.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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December 3, 2025
Politics

Mike Lindell Files Paperwork to Enter Minnesota Governor Race Against Tim Walz.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has filed paperwork to run for Governor of Minnesota, registering a campaign committee to begin raising funds.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mike Lindell, incumbent Governor Tim Walz (D), President Donald J. Trump, and the MAGA movement.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Lindell plans to announce his final decision at a December 11 news conference in Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: Lindell stated his candidacy is “not yet certain” but has begun preparations for a potential run.

🎯IMPACT: Lindell’s entry would reshape an already crowded Republican field.

IN FULL

Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow and a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, has filed paperwork to run for Governor of Minnesota against the Democrat incumbent, failed 2024 vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. The filing allows him to establish a campaign committee and begin raising funds.

Lindell has stated that his candidacy is not yet finalized. However, he plans to announce his decision during a news conference on December 11. His potential entry into the race could significantly impact the Republican primary field, which already includes several candidates.

Lindell’s involvement could bring heightened attention to the race, given his close ties to President Donald J. Trump and his active role in the MAGA movement.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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December 3, 2025
Politics

Trump Pardons Democrat Who Accused Him of Inciting Insurrection, Voted for Impeachment.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced a full pardon for Representative Enrique “Henry” Cuellar (D-TX), who faced bribery and money laundering charges.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Rep. Cuellar, Cuellar’s wife Imelda, and their daughters Christina and Catherine.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Wednesday on Truth Social.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!” – Donald Trump.

🎯IMPACT: The pardon ends legal proceedings against Cuellar and his wife, sparking reactions from both supporters and critics.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced Wednesday on Truth Social that he would pardon Representative Enrique “Henry” Cuellar (D-TX), who was indicted last year on charges of bribery and money laundering. The pardon also extends to Cuellar’s wife, Imelda, who faced related charges.

In the Truth Social post, Trump accused the former Biden government of having targeted Cuellar over his opposition to its mass immigration policies. “For years, the Biden Administration weaponized the Justice System against their Political Opponents, and anyone who disagreed with them. One of the clearest examples of this was when Crooked Joe used the FBI and DOJ to ‘take out’ a member of his own Party after Highly Respected Congressman Henry Cuellar bravely spoke out against Open Borders, and the Biden Border ‘Catastrophe,'” President Trump wrote.

“Sleepy Joe went after the Congressman, and even the Congressman’s wonderful wife, Imelda, simply for speaking the TRUTH. It is unAmerican and, as I previously stated, the Radical Left Democrats are a complete and total threat to Democracy!” Trump continued, adding: “Because of these facts, and others, I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!”

A letter from Cuellar’s daughters, Christina and Catherine, was posted by Trump to Truth Social. In it, they appealed for their father’s pardon, stating, “We believe that our father’s independence and honesty may have contributed to how this case began.” They also expressed empathy for Trump, referencing his own legal challenges, and wrote, “We prayed for you and your family — for your strength, your peace, and your faith to stay strong.”

In 2024, Cuellar and his wife were federally charged related to foreign corruption. In January 2022, federal agents raided Cuellar’s home and campaign office in Texas as part of an investigation into a group of U.S. businessmen with ties to Azerbaijan. At the time, the Texas Democrat pledged to cooperate with the federal investigation.

Despite Trump’s portrayal of Cuellar as a quasi-political ally, the Texas Democrat has been a longstanding critic of the President. Following the 2020 election, Cuellar wrote a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) stating, “Trump incited a violent mob to attack the Capitol. The case against him was simple and the evidence was overwhelming.”

“This insurrection against our democracy is why I voted to impeach Trump today. Upholding our American democracy depends on it,” Cuellar wrote on January 13, 2021.

He campaigned against Trump’s border wall throughout his first term, slamming it as “wasteful” and “ineffective.”

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December 3, 2025
William Upton
Politics

Stefanik Secures FBI Weaponization Provision in Defense Bill After Clash with Speaker Johnson.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) announced she secured the inclusion of a key weaponization provision in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after a public dispute with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Elise Stefanik, Speaker Mike Johnson, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on December 3, 2025, following discussions on December 2, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “After a productive discussion I had last night with President Trump and Speaker Johnson, the provision requiring Congressional disclosure when the FBI opens counterintelligence investigations into presidential and federal candidates seeking office will be included in the IAA/NDAA bill on the floor.” – Elise Stefanik

🎯IMPACT: The provision requires Congressional disclosure when the FBI opens counterintelligence investigations into presidential and federal candidates.

IN FULL

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) declared victory over Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) after securing the inclusion of a key provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which aims to prevent the illegal weaponization of federal agencies. This followed a public disagreement between the two over the amendment’s removal, allegedly at the behest of Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD).

“After a productive discussion I had last night with President Trump and Speaker Johnson, the provision requiring Congressional disclosure when the FBI opens counterintelligence investigations into presidential and federal candidates seeking office will be included in the IAA/NDAA bill on the floor,” Stefanik wrote in a December 3 post on X (formerly Twitter). “This is a significant legislative win delivered against the illegal weaponization of the deep state.”

On Tuesday, the spat between Johnson and Stefanik, the latter a member of the House Speaker’s own leadership team, became public. The New York Republican—a fierce ally of President Trump—and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) both threatened to vote against the defense bill unless Stefanik’s provision was included. With a narrow Republican House majority, losing both lawmakers could have resulted in an embarrassing defeat of the NDAA for Speaker Johnson.

The NDAA is expected to reach the House floor later this week, with Stefanik’s provision on weaponization included. If adopted, the Stefanik provision would require the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to notify Congress when investigations into presidential or other federal candidates are launched.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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December 3, 2025
William Upton
Media
Politics

New Fox News White House Correspondent Served as Board Member of UN Refugee Charity.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Fox News has named Pakistan-born Aishah Hasnie as its new White House correspondent, despite concerns about her ability to be impartial on the issues of immigration and the deportation of illegal immigrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Aishah Hasnie, Fox News, illegal immigrants, and the Trump White House.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December 2025.

🎯IMPACT: Hasnie formerly moonlighted as a board member for USA for UNHCR, a globalist nonprofit group that supports the pro-open borders United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), signalling potential bias on topics concerning illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

IN FULL

Fox News has named Pakistan-born Aishah Hasnie as its new White House correspondent, despite concerns about her ability to be impartial on the issues of immigration and the deportation of illegal immigrants. Hasnie formerly moonlighted as a board member for USA for UNHCR, a globalist nonprofit group that supports the pro-open borders United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The National Pulse previously reported on Hasnie’s concerning ties in 2023 when she was named as the television news network’s congressional correspondent. Her now past affiliation with USA for UNHCR still raises questions regarding objectivity, especially as the Trump administration appears poised to enter its next phase of illegal immigrant deportations.

On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to focus on arresting and detaining illegal Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota. Meanwhile, ICE finalized a $29.9 million contract for the conceptual design of retrofitting large warehouses across the United States to serve as mega detention facilities. This comes as federal immigration judges have handed down a record 500,000 removal orders over the last year.

Based in Washington, D.C. and established in 1989, USA for UNHCR purports to work “…with refugees from their greatest time of need – from emergency or crisis and beyond through the months and likely years that many are displaced from their home countries.”

The charity’s financial disclosures reveal that it primarily acts as a fundraising vehicle for the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Refugees itself. In 2022, USA for UNHCR reported just over $234 million in revenue, with $182 million passed on as grants to the United Nations. The charity’s website even blurs the lines between its organization and the official U.N. refugee agency, listing U.N. efforts as if they were its own, and even replicating the U.N.’s logo.

Hasnie joined Fox News in 2019 and was named the network’s congressional correspondent in August 2021. She joined the board of USA for UNHCR on December 20, 2021. In an interview in late 2021, Hasnie described herself as “a deeply faithful person. I’m Muslim, and I pray five times a day.”

It is unclear when she left the board of the USA for UNHCR, though she is no longer listed on the nonprofit’s website as a member.

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