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Thursday, September 17, 2026

Category: Politics
20 minutes ago
News
Politics
UK

Trump Admin Advised UK Govt to Release Grooming Gangs Transcripts and Revive African Deportation Scheme.

The British ambassador to the United States sought advice from the Trump administration on dealing with the British “far right,” with State Department officials recommending transparency concerning the country’s grooming gang scandal.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump White House advised the British government to release the transcripts related to the United Kingdom’s grooming gangs scandal.
📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, it was revealed that the British ambassador to the United States sought advice from the Trump administration on addressing the so-called “far right” in the United Kingdom. The Trump White House recommended that the British government publish transcripts related to the country’s grooming gang scandal. The administration also recommended reviving the Rwanda scheme, an initiative devised under the last Conservative-controlled government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda in central Africa for processing and settlement. The scheme was scrapped after former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the incumbent Labour Party came to power in 2024. Christian Turner, the British ambassador, met with officials from the Department of State, including Under Secretary of State Sarah Rogers, days before Andy Burnham became British Prime Minister back in July. Rogers reportedly recommended that the British government be more “transparent and honest” and “rebuild trust.” Concerns were also raised about the cost of acquiring the court transcripts of historic cases.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “As close allies, UK and US officials meet regularly to discuss shared priorities. We are committed to ensuring that our trade and security continues to deliver real benefits for hardworking people on both sides of the Atlantic.” – Spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), equivalent to the U.S. State Department
🎯 IMPACT: This report is likely to reinforce the perception that the British government is more preoccupied with the “far right” than the various problems facing the country, such as the grooming gangs scandal. This also shows that the Trump administration is aware of social and political developments in the United Kingdom.
📺 FLASHBACK: Back in June, the Department of State expressed concern about the rise of two-tier policing in Britain, particularly in reference to the case of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old white student who was handcuffed for a fake accusation of racism while he bled to death after being stabbed by a Sikh man. “Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilizational decline. They must be rejected across the West. The United States sends our condolences to the family of Henry Nowak and the people of the United Kingdom at this troubling time,” posted the State Department on X (formerly Twitter) at the time.

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The British ambassador to the United States sought advice from the Trump administration on dealing with the British "far right," with State Department officials recommending transparency concerning the country's grooming gang scandal.

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2 hours ago
News
Politics
World

Trump Warns EU, Canada of ‘Very Serious Tariffs’ Over ‘Hostile’ Alliance.

President Donald J. Trump has warned that the United States will impose tariffs on the European Union if its recent proposal to make Canada an “associate member” amounts to a “hostile act.”

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on the European Union (EU) if Canada becomes an “associate member” of the bloc.
📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, President Trump warned that he would impose “serious tariffs” on the European Union (EU) if he concludes that the proposal to make Canada an “associate member” of the bloc amounts to a “hostile act.” This coincides with a meeting between the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” said von der Leyen. Since then, the Canadian leader has signaled his support for the proposal, emphasizing collaboration on issues like defense, critical minerals, and energy security during his address to the European Parliament in Brussels, the EU’s de facto capital in Belgium. This comes amid an ongoing trade dispute between the United States and Canada.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Canada’s been a terrible trade partner… If I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things,” said President Trump.
🎯 IMPACT: While questions remain about what associate membership means in practice, if implemented, Canada would become the first-ever “associate member” of the EU. Trump has suggested he could refrain from imposing “very heavy tariffs on Europe” if convinced that the proposal has “a good intention,” although both Canada and the EU have recently strained their relationship with the U.S., from the former’s ongoing trade war with the United States to the latter’s longstanding failure to pay for its own defense.
📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this month, President Trump signed five proclamations to impose import bans and adjust tariffs on imports from Canada. The proclamations were issued in response to Canadian tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. exports, including steel, dairy, and agricultural equipment.

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President Donald J. Trump has warned that the United States will impose tariffs on the European Union if its recent proposal to make Canada an "associate member" amounts to a "hostile act."

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5 hours ago
News
Politics

DSA-Backed Hasan Piker Claims America is Responsible for More Terrorism Than Al-Qaeda.

Hasan Piker, a controversial far-left Twitch streamer, has claimed that the United States has “pound for pound” committed more terrorism than al-Qaeda, creating problems for far-left ally Democrat Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, an ally of far-left Democrat Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has claimed that the United States has committed more terrorism than al-Qaeda.
📺 DETAIL: During an interview on Thursday, Piker claimed that the U.S. was responsible for more terrorism than al-Qaeda. This follows the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, in which al-Qaeda terrorists crashed multiple passenger jets, three into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, resulting in the deaths of approximately 3,000 people. Piker has previously stated that the U.S. “deserved 9/11.” The Turkey-raised influencer also accused the U.S. of intentionally targeting civilians, including at a school in Iran, an incident which is in the process of being investigated by the Department of War. El-Sayed has tried to distance himself from Piker, although he has not outright disavowed him. “Conman [Abdul El-Sayed’s] running mate Hasan Piker just said that America is worse than Al-Qaeda… Abdul—enough is enough. Condemn Piker once and for all,” posted Mike Rogers, Republican Michigan Senate candidate and El-Sayed’s main rival, on X (formerly Twitter).
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes, we have caused tremendous terror all around the world.” – Hasan Piker
🎯 IMPACT: Piker’s comments have sparked widespread backlash. The controversy is likely to impact El-Sayed’s credibility with voters as he attempts to navigate criticism of his association with Piker. This is especially important in a swing state like Michigan, where El-Sayed will need to persuade many moderate and independent voters. El-Sayed’s closeness to Piker underscores the Democrats’ shift to the far left over the course of 2026.
📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this month, it was revealed that El-Sayed’s campaign received more than $115,000 from people connected to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an organization with connections to Hamas. CAIR has been designated a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The organization is also listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case.

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Hasan Piker, a controversial far-left Twitch streamer, has claimed that the United States has "pound for pound" committed more terrorism than al-Qaeda, creating problems for far-left ally Democrat Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

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21 hours ago
Data
News
Politics

POLL: Vance, Harris Are the Front-Runners for 2028 Presidential Nominations.

A new poll has revealed that Vice President JD Vance and former Vice President Kamala Harris are the Republican and Democrat frontrunners for their parties’ respective primaries.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President JD Vance and former Vice President Kamala Harris are their respective parties’ preferred candidates for the 2028 presidential election, according to a new poll.
📺 DETAIL: According to The Honest Poll, commissioned by Veteran Action, a veterans nonprofit organization, Vice President Vance has 41 percent support among Republicans, while former Vice President Harris has 32 percent support among Democrats. Among Republicans, Donald Trump Jr. secured 22 percent support, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio secured 17 percent. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received seven percent among Republicans, while Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley each received two percent. Among Democrats, California Governor Gavin Newsom secured 21 percent support, and former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg secured 13 percent. Various other Democrats received single-digit support. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) secured nine percent, Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) received six percent, and Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro received five percent.
🎯 IMPACT: The poll indicates that the 2028 presidential election could effectively be a rematch of the 2024 presidential election, which the former Vice President lost to President Donald J. Trump. Before former President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Harris was Vance’s opposite number in the contest. This suggests that there is still considerable support for Harris among Democrats despite her failure to win in 2024. Establishment Democrats continue to dominate the preferred candidates for President among the party’s base despite the gains of far-left Democrats throughout the 2026 election cycle. While Vice President Vance is the clear favorite among Republicans, the strong showing for Donald Trump Jr. underscores the personal popularity of President Trump and his family among the grassroots, as well as their impact on the party’s direction. This follows a poll published last month, which showed the former Vice President with 37 percent support. Findings from July showed that Vice President Vance was more popular than former Vice President Harris, putting the former in a relatively strong position if both end up being nominated by their respective parties for President in 2028. The fact that Harris is leading among Democrats is likely to encourage her to make a bid for the White House, which she is actively considering.

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A new poll has revealed that Vice President JD Vance and former Vice President Kamala Harris are the Republican and Democrat frontrunners for their parties' respective primaries.

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September 16, 2026
News
Politics

Abdul El-Sayed Refuses to Return Donations From Groups Linked to Terrorism.

Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing scrutiny over campaign donations from individuals linked to organizations with known ties to terror groups, dismissing criticism as racially motivated.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed defended accepting campaign contributions from donors affiliated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), rejecting calls from Republican opponent Mike Rogers to return the money. On Tuesday, El-Sayed was asked whether he would give back donations from CAIR-linked individuals, and insisted he would not.
📺 DETAIL: El-Sayed’s campaign received more than $115,000 from at least 41 people who have worked for, previously worked for, or held leadership positions with CAIR. Rogers has argued that the contributions should be returned, citing CAIR’s history of alleged ties to Hamas and its designation as a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as Florida and Texas. CAIR was also named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the federal Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case. El-Sayed claims CAIR is a civil rights organization and accused Rogers of attempting to make the Senate race about his ethnicity and Muslim faith. The controversy comes as El-Sayed also faces scrutiny over his association with far-left streamer Hasan Piker, who has previously said “America deserved 9/11” and openly supported the terrorist Houthis. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “That civil rights organization [CAIR] exists because people like Mike Rogers want to make this race about the color of my skin or how I pray.” – Abdul El-Sayed
🎯 IMPACT: The controversy could intensify scrutiny of Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign financing and his relationships with Islamic advocacy groups as the Michigan Senate race moves toward its fall debates. It also gives Republicans an opportunity to focus the campaign on questions surrounding terrorism-related allegations and associations.

Image by Conlan Houston.

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Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing scrutiny over campaign donations from individuals linked to organizations with known ties to terror groups, dismissing criticism as racially motivated.

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September 16, 2026
News
Politics
UK

Farage’s Reform Party Batters Establishment ‘Conservatives’ in Special Election.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has secured a significant local election victory over the Conservative Party.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has won a local by-election (special election) in Reform Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick’s constituency (electoral district).
📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, it was announced that Reform candidate Matthew Evans had won the East Markham ward (city council district) by-election. The ward is located in Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire, in England’s East Midlands region. The constituency is represented by Reform’s Robert Jenrick in the House of Commons. Reform secured 49.6 percent of the vote, while support for Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch’s nominally Conservative Party plummeted by 37.6 percent to 28.4 percent. The governing Labour Party came in third with 17.2 percent, a decline of 4.1 percent, while the far-left Green Party only won 4.8 percent. This was Reform’s first time contesting the seat. “An incredible 44% swing from Tory to Reform in Newark! So proud of our candidate, Matthew Evans and my hardworking team. Deeply honoured that my Newark constituents are backing Reform,” posted Jenrick on X (formerly Twitter).
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Excellent win in [Robert Jenrick’s] seat last night. While the Tories plummeted to 28.4%, Reform gained almost 50% on our first time standing there. The Conservative Party is dead.” — Nigel Farage
🎯 IMPACT: This constitutes another blow to the Conservative Party’s electoral prospects and another gain for Reform. Evans will serve as a councillor on Bassetlaw District Council. The result is likely to be viewed as an endorsement of Jenrick, who was originally elected as a member of the Conservative Party but defected to Reform earlier this year.
📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this year, Reform stormed to victory over the governing Labour Party in the country’s local elections, resulting in the resignation of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the installation of current Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

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Nigel Farage's Reform UK has secured a significant local election victory over the Conservative Party.

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September 16, 2026
News
Politics
UK

Farage Threatens to Sever Union Funding Lifeline for Britain’s Governing Labour Party.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has pushed back against Labour’s proposal to retroactively ban donations to his party, warning of potential reforms targeting the Labour Party’s financial backing from the trade unions.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage has threatened to cut off the governing Labour Party’s funding lifeline from the country’s trade unions.
📺 DETAIL: Following back-to-back £36 million (~$48 million) donations to Reform from British cryptocurrency entrepreneurs Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, the Labour government announced plans to restrict donations to political parties. Among other measures, the British government has floated retroactively banning the donations from Delo and Harborne to Reform. In response, Farage highlighted Labour’s reliance on donations from trade unions, which have totaled over £53 million ($72 million) since 2010. The Reform leader also accused the Labour Party of using “old communist state” tactics as well as rewarding its donors with favorable legislation and government contracts. Farage warned that if Labour retroactively bans the combined £72 million (~$97 million) contribution from Delo and Harborne, a Reform-led government will introduce legislation to ban trade union donations to political parties. The Reform leader clarified that neither Delo nor Harborne would be given positions in the House of Lords, the upper house of Britain’s legislature, which is populated by political appointees. “Neither Ben Delo nor Christopher Harborne will be getting membership of the House of Lords. It isn’t happening. We’re not for sale,” Farage declared.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “If anybody is giving money to do political bidding, it’s the trade unions,” said Farage in a recent video posted on X (formerly Twitter).
🎯 IMPACT: If Labour succeeds in retroactively banning the donations, it could set a controversial precedent for rewriting laws to target political opponents. If Reform is elected and manages to pass legislation to ban donations from trade unions, the Labour Party would be cut off from its primary source of funding, radically altering the political landscape.
📺 FLASHBACK: Delo and Harborne announced their donations earlier this month. Both men argued that the large donations are necessary to help Reform overcome the inbuilt advantages afforded to the two main establishment parties, namely Labour and the Conservatives (Tories). This follows government legislation limiting donations from British expatriates to £100,000 (~$135,000), a move widely seen as targeting Delo and Harborne, who were based in Hong Kong and Thailand, respectively, but have since relocated to Britain.

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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has pushed back against Labour's proposal to retroactively ban donations to his party, warning of potential reforms targeting the Labour Party's financial backing from the trade unions.

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September 16, 2026
Bonkers Britain
News
Politics

Top ‘Conservative’ Downplays Grooming Gangs: Not a ‘Real Problem.’

Former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Rory Stewart called the grooming gangs scandal in Britain a “manageable problem” in a recent podcast appearance, sparking criticism of downplaying the issue and being out of touch.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Rory Stewart, a former Conservative (Tory) Party government minister and leadership contender, claimed that Britain’s grooming gangs scandal is not one of the “real problems” facing the country.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Were there horrible abuse and grooming gangs? Absolutely. Are there families living in Birmingham who I think are facing bad issues for their own families and society? Yes. Do I think that this is a big problem for Britain? No. This is a manageable problem. Including some very unpleasant things where the police did not act correctly, people behaved in an evil fashion, and they need to be prosecuted. But what are the real problems facing Britain? Not this.” – Rory Stewart
📺 DETAIL: Speaking on The Spectator‘s “Quite Right!” podcast to Michael Gove, another former senior Tory politician and leadership contender, Stewart downplayed the issue, characterizing it as a minor side issue. Stewart stood in the Conservative Party leadership race back in 2019 in a bid to obstruct Brexit, Britain’s democratic decision to leave the European Union (EU). After failing to win the leadership, Stewart resigned from Parliament that same year. In 2022, Stewart began co-hosting The Rest is Politics podcast with Alastair Campbell, the former Director of Communications for former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, linked closely to the Iraq War. “I wouldn’t have expected much else from him, to be honest. He is an elite man, he lives in an elite world. His political views are extremely liberal around his experiences. So, looking at this as a wider issue, he would say, ‘Well, it’s a few people, it’s specific areas, what has that got to do with the national story?’ And obviously and unfortunately, we are ruled by people like that,” commented academic Lisa McKenzie on Stewart’s grooming gangs remarks.
🎯 IMPACT: Stewart’s remarks are likely to reinforce perceptions that the grooming gangs scandal was allowed to happen because members of Britain’s political establishment, from both the ruling Labour Party and the formerly governing Conservatives, did not regard it as a legitimate problem, with some even characterizing it as a conspiracy theory. Notably, Stewart’s The Rest is Politics co-host Alastair Campbell previously circulated false claims about Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk supporting stoning homosexuals shortly after his assassination in September last year.

Image via No 10 Downing Street.

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Former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Rory Stewart called the grooming gangs scandal in Britain a "manageable problem" in a recent podcast appearance, sparking criticism of downplaying the issue and being out of touch.

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September 14, 2026
News
Politics

Trump Doubles Down on $5,000 Dividend for Americans if GOP Wins Midterms.

President Donald J. Trump again pledged to deliver $5,000 checks to Americans if there is a Republican victory in the upcoming midterms.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has again pledged to distribute $5,000 checks to all American adults if Republicans secure a victory in the upcoming November midterm elections. He made this promise while speaking to reporters in Shannon, Ireland.
📰 DETAIL: Trump emphasized that the funds for these checks would come from the substantial revenue the country is generating, including tariffs. He compared this promise to previous initiatives he successfully implemented, such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and a $1,776 military bonus.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The $5,000 is going to happen, 100 percent. And the reason is because our country is taking in trillions and trillions of dollars, and it’s going to happen because the people deserve it, because they were treated so badly by the Democrats and by Biden. So remember, they said the great, Big, Beautiful Bill, which is basically 17 bills wrapped up into one, will never happen. It happened. They said, when I gave the military last year, $1,776—1776, like a certain date that’s quite important—they said that wasn’t going to happen. That happened. And what do you think? I think it’s going to happen.” – President Trump
🎯 IMPACT: If implemented, this initiative could significantly influence voter sentiment and potentially sway the midterm election results in favor of the GOP. The promise of financial relief may appeal to voters struggling with inflation and the cost of living, particularly with respect to energy and fuel, which have been impacted by the Iran war.

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President Donald J. Trump again pledged to deliver $5,000 checks to Americans if there is a Republican victory in the upcoming midterms.

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September 14, 2026
News
Politics

WATCH: Talarico Labels Parents ‘Abusive’ for Refusing to ‘Affirm’ Transgenderism.

Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico is facing scrutiny for comments made during a Texas legislature committee meeting suggesting that failure to affirm a child’s “gender identity” amounts to child abuse.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico described refusing to affirm a child’s “gender identity” as “abusive” in 2019.
📺 DETAIL: During a committee meeting in the Texas legislature in 2019, Talarico described refusing to affirm a child’s gender identity as “abusive.” “Some of us I think really do consider this abusive behavior… an unwillingness to identify, acknowledge a child’s gender identity. We consider that abusive to the child, abusive and destructive,” said Talarico at the time. The comments were made during a discussion on HB 1910, a bill aimed at ensuring that parental refusal to affirm a supposedly transgender child’s gender identity would not be considered child abuse in custody cases. Talarico opposed the measure, insisting that failure to consider it abusive could “harm some of our most vulnerable kids.” While the bill failed at the committee stage, a stronger bill ultimately became law in 2025. Talarico also opposed this bill and supported an amendment stating that “rejecting a child’s gender identity or sexual orientation is abuse.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Only perverts and pedophiles think about what is in little kids’ pants as much as James Talafreako. He is a truly sick individual for dedicating his life to pushing sex changes on other people’s kids,” said Zach Kraft, a Republican National Committee (RNC) spokesman.
🎯 IMPACT: The resurfaced remarks are likely to create problems for Talarico as he contests a conservative state. Currently, the Senate race between Talarico and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is practically neck-and-neck.
📺 FLASHBACK: This revelation comes roughly a week after it was revealed that Talarico, who claims to be a Christian, described Islam and certain other religions as “equal pathways to truth” in a resurfaced video.

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Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico is facing scrutiny for comments made during a Texas legislature committee meeting suggesting that failure to affirm a child's "gender identity" amounts to child abuse.

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