GET THE APP
Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Category: Politics
10 hours ago
News
Politics

Dem Candidate El-Sayed Blamed Transgender’s Mass Shooting at Christian School on Anti-Trans Legislation.

Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, running for Senate, sparked controversy after blaming gun laws and “anti-trans” legislation for a school shooting carried out by a transgender.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing scrutiny over comments he made in 2023 that downplayed the role of transgender ideology in motivating a trans mass shooter who targeted a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. The far leftist instead blamed American gun rights and laws protecting women and children.
📺 DETAIL: In a 2023 episode of the podcast America Dissected, El-Sayed complained, “[R]ight-wing media have chosen to concentrate on the shooter, a former student at the school who identified as trans, arguing that the attack was some kind of broader attack in an escalating battle between trans people and Christians.” He also invoked his Muslim background, stating, “Look, y’all, I’m Muslim. I know what happens when people essentialize everyone with a particular identity based on the actions of one individual who happens to identify that way. And that’s a dangerous brew. Because the other thing that happened this week is that the Republicans in the legislature of the state of Kentucky forced through a draconian set of anti-trans laws overriding the veto of their Democratic governor.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “School shootings are not a trans problem, school shootings are a gun problem.” – Abdul El-Sayed
🎯 IMPACT: El-Sayed’s comments have seen him criticized for deflecting from the deliberate targeting of Christians in the Nashville attack. Reports indicate El-Sayed has hidden as many as 100 videos, including material in which he discussed abolishing the Second Amendment and scrapping Independence Day fireworks.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, running for Senate, sparked controversy after blaming gun laws and "anti-trans" legislation for a school shooting carried out by a transgender.

show more
12 hours ago
News
Politics

Senate Stalls $833 Monthly Boost for Disabled Veterans.

New legislation to provide severely disabled veterans and surviving military families with increased financial support has stalled in the Senate due to disagreements over funding mechanisms, raising concerns about legislative gridlock.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 6047) has been delayed by the Senate. Sharri Briley is a Gold Star widow, while Eric Edmundson is an Iraq War veteran.
📺 DETAIL: The legislation offers the first major increase in Special Monthly Compensation for disabled veterans in over 20 years. The legislation would also raise Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments for nearly 600,000 surviving spouses and family members. Specifically, payments to severely disabled veterans would rise by an additional $833 per month. However, despite bipartisan support and backing from over 20 veterans organizations, the legislation’s funding mechanism relies on shifting funds from other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs, which critics have characterized as benefitting certain groups of veterans at the expense of others. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives, but has stalled in the Senate. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Our nation can never fully repay the debt we owe to the heroes and families who have served and sacrificed for our freedom, but passing my bipartisan legislation today is further proof that we will never stop trying.” – Representative Tom Barrett (R-MI), an Iraq War veteran and a sponsor of the legislation
🎯 IMPACT: While the legislation is not dead, the Senate delay represents a disappointing setback to supporters. It also raises questions about how best to allocate VA resources and avoid dividing the veterans’ community. The delay leaves thousands of disabled veterans and their families in financial uncertainty, especially since many rely on the VA to cover the high costs of caregiving and medical equipment. There is no obvious plan for progression, although given the fact that the bill has already passed the House, and the amount of support behind it, a plan is likely to be unveiled at some point in the future.

Image by Ron Cogswell.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

New legislation to provide severely disabled veterans and surviving military families with increased financial support has stalled in the Senate due to disagreements over funding mechanisms, raising concerns about legislative gridlock.

show more
13 hours ago
News
Politics

Dem Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Deletes Podcast Where He Called to Scrap July 4th Fireworks and the Second Amendment.

Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is under fire for past remarks, including criticism of July 4 traditions and calls to abolish Americans’ Second Amendment right to bear arms.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed criticized July 4 fireworks and proposed abolishing Americans’ right to bear arms in a podcast episode.
📺 DETAIL: In a podcast episode from July 2024 that has since been made private, El-Sayed criticized July 4 fireworks. “Fireworks suck,” declared El-Sayed in a sub-section titled “Fireworks just aren’t worth it: hear us out.” Specifically, he took aim at the environmental impact of July 4 fireworks, among other things. El-Sayed also suggested removing the right to bear arms in favor of a right to healthcare. “What if we tweaked the Constitution, amended the amendment, and instead of the right to bear arms, we change it to the right to have health care?” said El-Sayed. He also dismissed the southern border as a priority, claiming that Republicans “love to flog” the issue and suggesting that illegal immigration was not an important issue to voters. This follows the uncovering of a recording of El-Sayed calling to “defund the police” in 2020. El-Sayed’s criticism of July 4 traditions was endorsed by The Marguerite Casey Foundation, a progressive grantmaking organization. El-Sayed’s campaign claims these remarks do not reflect his current views, although over 100 videos have been removed from his platforms since his Senate run began.
🎯 IMPACT: El-Sayed’s past remarks could become a focal point in the state’s general election. As Michigan is a swing state, many voters are likely to find El-Sayed’s extreme-left views off-putting. Republicans have sought to leverage El-Sayed’s past comments as a means to mobilize moderate voters against him. His nomination demonstrates the ongoing shift to the left within the Democrat Party and the mainstreaming of anti-American sentiment.
📺 FLASHBACK: El-Sayed’s comments reflect a similar sentiment expressed by Francesca Hong, a Democrat state representative in Wisconsin and member of the far-left Democratic Socialists of America. Hong called to “Cancel Thanksgiving” and said she felt “attacked” by a Christmas-themed computer background display in previous posts on X (formerly Twitter).

Image by Conlan Houston.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is under fire for past remarks, including criticism of July 4 traditions and calls to abolish Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms.

show more
17 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

WATCH: Far-Left Activists Caught Tearing Down Posters for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party Ahead of Election.

Far-left activists in Clacton-on-Sea, England, were caught on CCTV taking down boards showing support for Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, as he prepares to fight a parliamentary by-election (special election) on Thursday.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Far-left activists have been caught taking down signs showing support for Reform UK party Nigel Farage in the Clacton-on-Sea constituency (electoral district) in England.
📺 DETAIL: Revealed exclusively by The National Pulse on Tuesday, the CCTV footage shows far-left activists taking down signs expressing support for Farage ahead of the Clacton-on-Sea by-election (special election) on Thursday. The activists were caught in the act early Friday morning. One of the activists can be heard saying, “I’m only taking down Reform signs.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Far left activists have been caught ripping down Reform UK/Nigel Farage boards in Clacton-on-Sea in the dead of night. They were caught on CCTV early Friday morning. Local police have been notified and the incident underscores the dirty tricks the left get up to in places they know they can’t win.” – Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, on X (formerly Twitter).
🎯 IMPACT: Local police have been notified of the incident. The Clacton-on-Sea by-election was triggered after Nigel Farage, then-Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton, resigned to protest to a weaponized parliamentary probe against him. After announcing his resignation, Farage put his name forward for the resulting by-election, declaring that the people of Clacton, not the political establishment, should determine whether he is fit to represent the area. As Farage is on course to win the by-election by a comfortable margin, this story shows how the establishment-backed opposition has resorted to dirty tactics in a last-ditch attempt to hurt the Reform leader.
📺 FLASHBACK: The National Pulse previously revealed that Afghan migrants were distributing anti-Nigel Farage material around the Clacton-on-Sea constituency. “On the campaign trail today in Clacton, we encountered a group of recent Afghan migrants delivering leaflets on behalf of Dale Vince’s anti-Reform Babelfish newspaper. Vince, a Labour and Green Party donor, recently announced he intended to spend money campaigning against Farage, though hasn’t registered as a campaigner in the constituency. Not only is this legally murky, but ethically an obviously huge issue,” noted Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

Far-left activists in Clacton-on-Sea, England, were caught on CCTV taking down boards showing support for Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, as he prepares to fight a parliamentary by-election (special election) on Thursday.

show more
17 hours ago
Data
News
Politics

DATA: Harris Far Ahead of Newsom, AOC in New Poll.

A new poll shows former Vice President Kamala Harris leading California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among Democrat primary voters, suggesting the defeated 2024 presidential candidate is still seen as viable by the party grassroots.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Former Vice President Kamala Harris has topped a poll for the 2028 Democrat presidential primary.
📺 DETAIL: In a new poll from Rasmussen Reports, former Vice President Harris secured 37 percent, significantly outpacing Governor of California Gavin Newsom at 14 percent and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at nine percent. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) also polled at nine percent, while former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg secured ten percent. The poll revealed that Harris’s strongest support exists among black voters. The poll also showed that 53 percent of voters under 40 said they favored Harris, with support for the failed 2024 candidate dropping significantly with voters over 65. The poll was carried out between August 2 and August 4, 2026, on 504 likely Democrat primary voters.
🎯 IMPACT: Harris’s early lead suggests she remains a dominant figure among Democrats and Democrat-aligned voters, despite losing to President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Harris lost both the Electoral College and the popular vote. While Harris has topped this poll, other surveys show the former Vice President polling in the single digits. The new poll could suggest that Democrat voters view Harris as a unifying figure amid the party’s descent into civil war over whether to embrace the far-left politics of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It is interesting that AOC has fallen, given the rising star of democratic socialism in Democratic primaries. Maybe there is some buyer’s remorse that’s being reflected in that poll. It’s still very early, and my hunch remains that Kamala Harris’s support is soft (although she has a core of staunch supporters). I would expect to see some more formal or more serious declarations of interest after the mid-terms.” – Professor Grant Davis Reeher.
📺 FLASHBACK: Back in July, it was reported that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) had topped a New Hampshire Democrat primary poll, leading former Transportation Secretary Buttigieg by one percent. Harris polled at five percent.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

A new poll shows former Vice President Kamala Harris leading California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among Democrat primary voters, suggesting the defeated 2024 presidential candidate is still seen as viable by the party grassroots.

show more
August 7, 2026
News
Politics
UK

Donations to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Labour Party Collapse by 84 Percent.

The governing Labour Party’s latest financial report has revealed that donations fell drastically between in 2025, placing pressure on new Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Andy Burnham.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Funding for the United Kingdom’s governing Labour Party fell by over 80 percent in 2025.
📺 DETAIL: On Thursday, it was revealed that donations to the Labour Party fell by 84 percent in 2025 compared to the year prior. This represents the biggest drop-off among the three main parties. Donations to Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch’s Conservative Party fell by 46 percent, while donations to the Liberal Democrats, a progressive liberal party that supports re-joining the European Union and open borders, fell by 65 percent. Donations to “Count Binface,” the novelty candidate currently contesting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election, fell by 93 percent. These figures detailing the Labour Party’s financial collapse come just weeks into new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s tenure. Despite experiencing a momentary “Burnham Bounce” in the polls, the party still trails Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which experienced a 290 percent increase in funding between 2024 and 2025. Despite extensive media coverage, Zack Polanski’s far-left Green Party only increased donations by eight percent in the same period. The Labour Party secured £6.4m (~$8.6m) in donations. In contrast, Reform secured £22.8m (~$30.6m). The Conservatives received £15.2m (~$20.4m), the Greens received £2.7m (~$3.6m), and the Liberal Democrats received £2.6m (~$3.5m).
🎯 IMPACT: These findings likely reflect the widespread dissatisfaction with the current Labour-controlled British government. Since entering office in July 2024, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the party has declined in the polls due to unpopular economic policies, high-profile scandals, and the ongoing illegal immigration crisis. These figures also suggest a movement away from the two major parties: Labour and the Conservatives, the latter of which also experienced a significant drop in donations. By contrast, the figures show growing confidence in Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

The governing Labour Party's latest financial report has revealed that donations fell drastically between in 2025, placing pressure on new Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Andy Burnham.

show more
August 6, 2026
Immigration
News
Politics

RINO Governors Move to Counter Mass Deportations With State Work Permits for Migrants.

Two Republican governors are joining Democrats to advocate for state-issued work permits for migrants, undermining President Donald J. Trump’s federal immigration policy.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Two Republican-in-name-only (RINO) governors are working with the Democrats to issue work permits to migrants and bypass federal deportation orders.
📺 DETAIL: Governors Spencer Cox (R-UT) and Kevin Stitt (R-OK) have partnered with Governors Wes Moore (D-MD) and Matt Meyer (D-DE) to propose a plan allowing states to issue work permits to migrants, bypassing federal deportation processes. The proposal was introduced via the National Governors Association’s Task Force on Immigration Policy. “The reason I set this task force up is because I realized by talking to my colleagues that they’re having the same issues… Let’s actually have the governors issue workforce permits,” said Stitt. “We were really stunned that everybody had kind of the same opinions on what needed to be done,” added Cox. The governors’ proposal aims to address labor shortages in their respective states, especially in agriculture and construction.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We were together in February and having a conversation about immigration, and we were all shocked at the level of bipartisanship, cooperation, and agreement,” said Cox.
🎯 IMPACT: This shows how many prominent Republican politicians continue to prioritize cheap foreign labor over American workers. Cox’s comments in particular highlight how immigration liberalization unites the establishments of both parties, despite widespread support for lowering immigration among the American people. It is possible that this move by RINO governors to overtly align with Democrats will heighten tensions within the Republican coalition ahead of the midterms.
📺 FLASHBACK: This is not the first time that Republican governors have sought to undermine President Trump’s agenda. Last month, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) voiced opposition to President Trump’s plan to deport Haitian illegal migrants by stripping them of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a humanitarian immigration status that allows migrants to legally live and work in the United States. RINOs have also sought to undermine redistricting measures. For instance, the Republican-controlled South Carolina Senate voted against a new congressional map that sought to eliminate the state’s racially gerrymandered black-majority Democrat-voting district in May.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

Two Republican governors are joining Democrats to advocate for state-issued work permits for migrants, undermining President Donald J. Trump's federal immigration policy.

show more
August 6, 2026
News
Politics

McConnell Leaves Rehab, But Will Not Return to Senate Before Recess.

Senator Mitch McConnell has been discharged from a rehabilitation facility and will continue his physical therapy at home, with plans to finish his final Senate term after an upcoming recess.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) reports that he has been discharged from a rehabilitation facility but will continue physical therapy at home rather than immediately return to Congress. The 84-year-old has faced pressure to resign after weeks of speculation about his health and his ability to fulfill his congressional duties.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Elaine and I are grateful for the many well wishes and support from friends, colleagues, and Kentuckians, and for the attentive care I’ve received from excellent doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff,” McConnell said in a statement issued Thursday.
🎯 IMPACT: McConnell, who will not seek reelection in November, intends to return to the Senate to complete his final term, but is unlikely to resume his duties before the August recess. Republicans have nominated Representative Andy Barr (R-KY) as his successor for the upcoming election.
📺 DETAIL: McConnell’s decision not to seek reelection opens a new chapter for the Republican leadership, which McConnell had dominated for almost two decades, becoming the longest-serving Senate party leader in American history. He stepped down as GOP leader in the Senate only in January 2025, shortly before his longtime rival President Donald J. Trump’s second term began. He has often voted against the Trump administration’s agenda since the President returned to office, helping the Democrats to delay or block key appointments and legislative initiatives.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

Senator Mitch McConnell has been discharged from a rehabilitation facility and will continue his physical therapy at home, with plans to finish his final Senate term after an upcoming recess.

show more
August 6, 2026
News
Politics

Dem Candidate El-Sayed’s Campaign Funded by Members of Terror-Linked CAIR Organization.

Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign has received significant financial support from individuals tied to CAIR, a group scrutinized for alleged ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Michigan Democrat U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed received more than $115,000 in campaign contributions from at least 41 current or former officials and leaders affiliated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), according to a review of federal campaign finance records. The donors included members of CAIR’s national leadership and state chapters across the country, including El-Sayed’s father-in-law, Jukaku Tayeb, a CAIR-Michigan board member and reported supporter of a super PAC backing his campaign.
📺 DETAIL: El-Sayed has also appeared at CAIR events and was paid for a 2022 speaking engagement where he criticized Oklahoma’s ban on Sharia law, according to reports. CAIR, which describes itself as a Muslim civil rights organization, denies having ties to Hamas, terrorism, or the Muslim Brotherhood, but the group has faced longstanding scrutiny after being named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing case in 2007, while a federal court said there was “ample evidence” linking it to Hamas. Several CAIR officials have also drawn criticism for statements following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, including Executive Director Nihad Awad, whose remarks prompted the former Biden regime to end the group’s participation in its national anti-Semitism strategy initiative. Separately, the Department of Health and Human Services is investigating approximately $30 million in federal refugee resettlement funding awarded to CAIR affiliates in California and Washington, citing concerns about the organization’s business practices and potential connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, allegations CAIR disputes.
🎯 IMPACT: The financial and ideological ties between El-Sayed and CAIR raise questions about his candidacy, given CAIR’s controversial history and alleged links to terrorist organizations. This could become a focal point in the Michigan Senate race as voters scrutinize the influence of such organizations on political candidates.
📺 FLASHBACK: Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations in 2025.

Image by Conlan Houston.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's campaign has received significant financial support from individuals tied to CAIR, a group scrutinized for alleged ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

show more
August 6, 2026
News
Politics
UK

Home Office Denies Certifying Neo-Nazi Hired by Kemi Badenoch’s ‘Conservatives.’

Kemi Badenoch’s decision to appoint former neo-Nazi activist Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a counter-extremism advisor to the Conservative Party has brought his counter-extremist credentials into question.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The British Home Office has stated that it does not certify counter-extremism training, contradicting claims made by Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a neo-Nazi turned counter-extremist advisor to Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke “Kemi” Badenoch’s notionally center-right Conservative (Tory) Party.
📺 DETAIL: Bonehill-Paine is a former neo-Nazi activist with a range of criminal convictions, including racially-aggravated harassment of a former Member of Parliament. Bonehill-Paine was set to stand in next year’s local elections in Somerset, England, for the Conservatives. However, following backlash surrounding his criminal past, Bonehill-Paine withdrew his candidacy. However, he was swiftly appointed as an advisor to the Conservative Party’s Culture and Integration Commission, which helps formulate the party’s social policies. Bonehill-Paine will advise the party on combating radicalization and anti-Semitism. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch defended Bonehill-Paine, saying, “If we are going to stop extremism and anti-Semitism, we are going to need help from those people who were part of the problem, but have now changed and are being part of the solution.” The Conservatives leader’s decision was partially motivated by Bonehill-Paine’s claim that he received “Home Office certification” for “counter-extremism work” after leaving prison. This work supposedly involves traveling “across the country delivering training to police officers, probation services, schools, universities and many other organisations.” However, it has since been revealed that the Home Office does not certify individuals for counter-extremism training, though it funds organizations for such work.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The Home Office does not certify individuals to deliver training… We do provide funding to Civil Society Organisations, who may use individuals to deliver training on preventing extremism that is commissioned by local authorities.” – Home Office statement
🎯 IMPACT: Bonehill-Paine’s appointment has sparked backlash from Jewish community leaders. Reform UK have also been critical of the appointment. “Kemi claims the Tories have changed and they will have a new generation of candidates. It’s now clear what calibre of candidates they will be. Kemi claims to support the fight against antisemitism yet selects a convicted antisemite Nazi as a candidate. The hypocrisy is breathtaking,” said a spokesman for the party. The fact that Bonehill-Paine’s  counter-extremist credentials have since been thrown into doubt makes the appointment even more questionable.
📺 FLASHBACK: In 2014, Bonehill-Paine was convicted of assaulting a police officer, theft, and malicious communications. In 2015, Bonehill-Paine served time in prison for distributing anti-Semitic material. In 2016, Bonehill-Paine was convicted of racially aggravated harassment. “The branch and indeed party are fully aware of my past. Our chairman has been a vocal advocate and has supported me since I became a member of the party. I am very grateful for the support,” said Bonehill-Paine at the time.

Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.

show less

Kemi Badenoch's decision to appoint former neo-Nazi activist Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a counter-extremism advisor to the Conservative Party has brought his counter-extremist credentials into question.

show more