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Friday, September 11, 2026

Category: Politics
9 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

Trump-Hating Politician Planning Bid to Follow Sadiq Khan as London Mayor.

Anti-Trump former Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is allegedly planning to run for London Mayor if current Mayor Sadiq Khan stands down.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Anti-Trump Labour Member of Parliament (MP) David Lammy is reportedly floating a run for London Mayor.
📺 DETAIL: On Thursday, it was reported that David Lammy, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is considering a run for London Mayor. This follows reports earlier this month that Lammy could seek the Labour Party nomination if the incumbent, Sadiq Khan, stands down before the next mayoral election. Lammy allegedly hosted a SME4Labour (Small and Medium Enterprises for Labour) fundraising dinner on Wednesday night as a testing ground for a future mayoral bid. However, when pressed on the purpose of the event, Lammy claimed that the funds would go towards defending his Tottenham seat at the next general election. The former Deputy Prime Minister did not officially rule out running. “I am not sure he can even count on support from his local party in Tottenham for his future ambitions in London,” said a Labour Party source. Lammy is known for his extreme opposition to President Donald J. Trump. Lammy has characterized the U.S. President as a “neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath” and a “racist KKK and Nazi sympathizer.” He has also referred to the MAGA movement as a “cult of white supremacists.”
🎯 IMPACT: If Lammy decides to run, this will be his second run for London Mayor, having first sought to become the Labour candidate for the 2016 mayoral election. Lammy ultimately lost the nomination to Khan and placed fourth. In the event that Khan does stand down and Lammy manages to get the Labour nomination, there is a good chance that he will be elected as the next Mayor of London in 2028. This could further drive a wedge between the British capital and the U.S. President, who has repeatedly criticized Khan’s leadership.
📺 FLASHBACK: Prime Minister Andy Burnham endorsed Khan for a historic fourth term as London Mayor earlier this month. This is despite the fact that the vast majority of Londoners want him to resign. Specifically, according to a recent poll by YouGov, 56 percent of Londoners believe that Khan should step down as Mayor, including 31 percent of Londoners who voted for him in 2024. “He’s a disaster. He’s got a totally different ideology to what he’s supposed to have,” said President Trump regarding the Mayor last year.

Image via House of Commons.

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Anti-Trump former Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is allegedly planning to run for London Mayor if current Mayor Sadiq Khan stands down.

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11 hours ago
News
Politics
World

European Union Mulls Punishing German Region for Electing Populists.

The European Union is contemplating withholding funds from Saxony-Anhalt following Alternative for Germany’s win in its regional elections, alleging potential breaches of EU principles.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The European Union (EU) is considering freezing funds allocated to Saxony-Anhalt after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s election victory in the region.
📰 DETAIL: On Sunday, the AfD won its first state-wide victory ever in Saxony-Anhalt, as support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s notionally center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) plummeted. The AfD won almost 44 percent of the vote but fell three seats short of a majority in the Landtag, equivalent to a U.S. state legislature. Saxony-Anhalt is set to receive €2.95 billion (~$3.4 billion) from the EU’s 2021-27 budget. However, Daniel Freund, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Greens, a left-wing European party, has pushed to withhold the funds from the region. Freund argued that funds should be withheld from the region if an AfD-controlled state government legislates in a way contrary to so-called EU values. The EU has previously withheld funds from Hungary and Poland under similar circumstances.
🎯 IMPACT: Freezing EU funds could significantly affect Saxony-Anhalt’s regional development, impacting public infrastructure and services. The AfD has dismissed the EU’s potential actions as undemocratic, characterizing the idea as punishing the voters of Saxony-Anhalt. If the EU opts to freeze funds to the region or attempts to override state government decisions through financial pressure, this could increase hostility towards the EU and bolster support for the AfD. It is also possible that the EU goes ahead with defunding the region in order to slight President Donald J. Trump, who congratulated the AfD on their win earlier this week. “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!!!” wrote President Donald J. Trump on Truth Social
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We laugh at our partisan opponents, who are now also seeking to disadvantage us undemocratically at EU level.” – Bernd Baumann, AfD parliamentary managing director.

Image CC-BY-4.0: © European Union 2023– Source: EP.

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The European Union is contemplating withholding funds from Saxony-Anhalt following Alternative for Germany's win in its regional elections, alleging potential breaches of EU principles.

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September 9, 2026
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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September 9, 2026
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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September 9, 2026
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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September 9, 2026
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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September 9, 2026
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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