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Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Category: Politics
3 hours ago
News
Politics

David Scott Becomes Fifth Sitting House Member to Die Since January 2025.

Representative David Scott (D-GA) has become the fifth House member to die in office since January 2025, raising concerns about the health and age of current lawmakers.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Representative David Scott (D-GA) has died at the age of 80, becoming the fifth member of the House of Representatives to pass away while in office since January 2025.
📰 DETAIL: Scott had served in Congress for more than two decades, representing Georgia’s 13th District since 2003. He was known for his work on agricultural policy and food assistance programs, as well as for his role in the Blue Dog coalition. Before his time in Congress, he served in the Georgia state legislature, beginning his political career in the 1970s. At the time of his death, he was seeking a 13th term despite facing primary challengers and questions about his health. His death slightly widens the Republican majority in the House ahead of the midterms in November. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We are all deeply saddened by the news of Rep. David Scott’s passing. For more than two decades, David faithfully served the people of Georgia’s 13th Congressional District and spent the majority of his life in service to others. We are lifting up David’s wife Alfredia, his two daughters, and his grandchildren in prayer as they mourn.” – House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
🎯 IMPACT: Scott’s death highlights ongoing concerns about the age and health of current lawmakers, as the number of deaths in office continues to rise. The worsening situation is likely to prompt discussions about the need for younger representation in Congress.

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Representative David Scott (D-GA) has become the fifth House member to die in office since January 2025, raising concerns about the health and age of current lawmakers.

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April 21, 2026
News
Politics

Top MAGA Lawyer Hands Trump a Killer Response to Virginia’s Gerrymandering.

President Donald J. Trump’s former lawyer, Chad R. Mizelle, has suggested a novel way Republicans can push back against Democrat gerrymandering in Virginia, which could turn the tide of the November midterms.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Former counsel for President Donald J. Trump, Chad R. Mizelle, has suggested he should counteract Virginia‘s Democrat-initiated congressional gerrymandering efforts by issuing an executive order putting parts of Virginia back under federal control for the first time since 1847.
📰 DETAIL: Mizelle explains in an April 21 article that both Arlington and the city of Alexandria were given to the District of Columbia in 1790, along with a piece of Maryland, to form Washington, D.C., but were given back to Virginia in 1847 when D.C. abolished slavery, while the Old Dominion did not. According to Mizelle, President Trump could declare that act unconstitutional through an executive order, as it was used to protect slavery. This move would then prevent Virginia Democrats from enacting a congressional redistricting scheme, which Virginians are voting on in a referendum today, though the issue would likely go to the Supreme Court first.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It will not only neutralize the president’s political opponents’ move to stack Congress against him—thus protecting him from another likely sham impeachment – but, most importantly, it will save a great number of red Virginians from having their votes canceled out by deep blue D.C.-adjacent liberals.” – Chad Mizelle.
🎯 IMPACT: If President Trump restores Alexandria and Arlington to D.C., it will remove a major section of blue voters from Virginia and provide more balance to the midterm elections. Without this, the redistricting scheme in Virginia could see the Democrats claim around 90 percent of the state’s congressional seats with only around half of the popular vote.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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President Donald J. Trump's former lawyer, Chad R. Mizelle, has suggested a novel way Republicans can push back against Democrat gerrymandering in Virginia, which could turn the tide of the November midterms.

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April 20, 2026
News
Politics

Virginia is Holding a Referendum to Gerrymander the House of Representatives TOMORROW.

Virginia is holding a redistricting referendum that could dramatically alter the state’s congressional map, with major implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Virginia voters are casting ballots in a redistricting referendum on April 21 that could dramatically reshape the state’s congressional districts, potentially giving Democrats a significant advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, the amendment could shift Virginia’s current 6-5 Democrat edge to an up to 10-1 edge.
📺 DETAIL: The redistricting push has sparked intense political and legal fights, including court challenges. Early voting trends show strong turnout in some Republican-leaning areas, although the Democrats maintain a financial advantage in the campaign. The referendum is part of a broader national strategy to redraw maps in states like Texas and California ahead of this year’s midterm elections.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Democrats’ illegal gerrymandering power grab is an affront to democracy and rigs our maps to turn Virginia into a one-party state. 65 percent of voters went to the polls in 2020 and rejected exactly what Democrats are trying to do now. Democrats’ power grab would create the worst, most partisan legislative map anywhere in the country. It has nothing to do with ‘fairness’ and is all about giving Democrats control over 91 percent of the seats with 50 percent of the vote.” – Virginia GOP statement
🎯 IMPACT: Approval of the amendment would mean a significant shift in Virginia’s congressional representation, likely leading to Democrats winning more House seats. As control of the House could hinge on just a few seats, the outcome in Virginia is likely to have outsized national implications.

Image by Adnan Masri.

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Virginia is holding a redistricting referendum that could dramatically alter the state’s congressional map, with major implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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April 16, 2026
News
Politics

Mamdani’s Wife Apologizes for Social Media Posts Praising Terrorists and Using Slurs.

Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), has apologized for controversial social media posts praising Palestinian terrorists and using racial slurs.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Rama Duwaji, wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), issued a public apology for old social media posts where she praised Palestinian terrorists and used offensive language, including racial slurs.
📺 DETAIL: Posts from Duwaji’s past were exposed in March, including one celebrating Shadia Abu Ghazaleh, an aircraft hijacker and member of the U.S.-designated terrorist group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Other posts included a racial slur for black people. Her X (formerly Twitter) and Tumblr accounts were deleted following the exposé. Duwaji, an artist, has also faced scrutiny for providing art for an essay by an author who praised October 7 and referred to “Jewish supremacist vampires.” Duwaji’s Instagram account has also been observed liking posts celebrating the October 7 attacks.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “When a tabloid recently published old tweets I wrote as a teenager, I felt a lot of shame being confronted with language I used that is so harmful to others; being 15 doesn’t excuse it.” – Rama Duwaji
🎯 IMPACT: Duwaji’s apology has reignited scrutiny of her and her Uganda-born Twelver Muslim husband, Zohran Mamdani, particularly regarding their views on Israel and the Middle East. The posts raise concerns for Jews in New York City and the influence Mamdani and his wife may have on various policies, considering his office.

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Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), has apologized for controversial social media posts praising Palestinian terrorists and using racial slurs.

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April 16, 2026
News
Politics

James Talarico Reports $27 Million Fundraising Haul.

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has announced a record-setting fundraising haul, as the Democrats push to challenge Republican dominance in the Lone Star State.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat Texas Senate candidate James Talarico announced a first-quarter fundraising total of over $27 million, marking one of the largest hauls reported by a U.S. Senate candidate this cycle. His campaign also reported raising $10 million since his March 3 primary victory over U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).
📺 DETAIL: The Talarico campaign claims that the majority of donations come from small-dollar contributors. Notably, Talarico’s fundraising significantly outpaces that of his potential Republican opponents, positioning him as a serious contender in what is expected to be a costly and competitive race in Texas. Campaign officials say the funds will be used to expand outreach and build statewide visibility in expensive media markets. However, high fundraising totals do not guarantee victory in a historically Republican-leaning state like Texas, and Talarico has been facing challenges over resurfaced clips in recent weeks, including one in which he states he “loves” trans children. 
🎯 IMPACT: Talarico’s fundraising success highlights Democrat efforts to flip seats in Texas, generally a reliably Republican state. The seat he is contesting is set to be a critical battleground in the 2024 Senate fight, where he will face either Senator John Cornyn or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is challenging the incumbent in a Republican primary runoff. Currently, polling suggests that Paxton, a longtime America First conservative, will defeat Cornyn, a Republican-in-name-only with a long history of backstabbing President Donald J. Trump.
📈 DATA: Talarico’s $27 million far exceeds the $6.8 million Beto O’Rourke had raised in the same period during his 2018 campaign.

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Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has announced a record-setting fundraising haul, as the Democrats push to challenge Republican dominance in the Lone Star State.

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April 15, 2026
News
Politics

New Hungarian PM Alleges Matt Schlapp’s CPAC Took Foreign Funds, Calls It a ‘Crime.’

Hungary’s incoming leader plans to investigate taxpayer funding of Matt Schlapp’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) by Viktor Orbán’s government.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Péter Magyar, announced plans to investigate the use of taxpayer funds under Viktor Orbán‘s administration, including financial support for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), organized by American Conservative Union (ACU) chairman Matt Schlapp. Magyar criticized the practice of using state funds to support political events, calling it a “crime.”
📺 DETAIL: Following his election victory, Péter Magyar delivered a series of statements emphasizing a “return to democratic norms.” He specifically highlighted concerns about past government spending on politically aligned international events, including CPAC Hungary. As part of this effort, Magyar vowed to task the National Office for the Recovery and Protection of Public Assets with thoroughly auditing previous government spending decisions. He added that CPAC would be welcome to return to Hungary if it is self-financed, with Schlapp responding on X (formerly Twitter) that he was “gratified” and would “take him up on that and work with people of Hungary to defend their sovereignty.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Mixing party financing with government spending from the state budget is, in my view, a criminal offense.” – Péter Magyar
🎯 IMPACT: Orbán’s government courted the American conservative movement. An investigation revealing misuse of public funds could complicate relations between U.S. conservatives and Hungary’s new government, potentially affecting future international collaborations.
📺 FLASHBACK: Matt Schlapp, head of the American Conservative Union, which runs CPAC, received compensation approaching $1 million annually while CPAC’s influence and attendance were reportedly declining, raising questions about financial mismanagement and priorities within the organization. Prior tax filings indicate a significant drop in CPAC-related revenues, with the lowest level since 2018. Schlapp has also been dogged by allegations of carrying out homosexual assaults against young men for years.

Image by Elekes Andor.

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Hungary's incoming leader plans to investigate taxpayer funding of Matt Schlapp's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) by Viktor Orbán's government.

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April 14, 2026
News
Politics

Ex Pence Advisor With Fauci Shrine Announces Run for Congress… as a Democrat.

Olivia Troye, once a Republican adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, is running for Congress in Virginia’s 7th District, as a Democrat.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Olivia Troye, an aide to former Vice President Mike Pence turned vocal critic of President Donald J. Trump, has announced her candidacy for Congress as a Democrat in Virginia’s 7th District. Troye claims she is “MAGA’s top enemy” and has “faced countless death threats from MAGA” and that she voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
📺 DETAIL: Troye previously worked for the Republican National Committee and the George W. Bush administration, left the Trump White House in 2020, claiming ethical concerns. She later endorsed Joe Biden. After leaving the Trump administration, she would appear on left-wing networks to attack the President, with a framed picture of now-former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Anthony Fauci hanging on her wall in the background.
🎯 IMPACT: Troye’s run tests the viability of “Never Trump” Republicans in Democrat politics. Notably, her congressional campaign is in a district that leans Democratic, with a redrawn map that significantly favors the party. While Pence, her former boss, has not defected, his political activism is now entirely focused on undermining the Trump administration’s tariffs and Make America Healthy Again agenda, as well as discouraging peace initiatives in Iran.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The evil I saw in that White House was staggering. In 2020, I finally said, ‘Enough.’ And they came for me.” – Olivia Troye
📺 FLASHBACK: The first Trump administration stated following Troye’s departure that she did not leave of her own volition, but was effectively let go “because she was no longer capable of keeping up with her day-to-day duties.” In the 2024 election campaign, she was one of around 200 former aides associated with uniparty figures, including Mitt Romney and John McCain, to sign a letter endorsing Kamala Harris.

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Olivia Troye, once a Republican adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, is running for Congress in Virginia's 7th District, as a Democrat.

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April 13, 2026
Politics

Massie Raises $2.5 Million as Trump Intensifies Primary Challenge.

Representative Thomas Massie is enjoying grassroots fundraising success amid a contentious Republican primary battle in Kentucky’s 4th District.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) raised over $2.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, with 76 percent of contributions coming from first-time donors. Massie faces a tough Republican primary battle on May 19 against Trump-endorsed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein.
📺 DETAIL: Massie’s campaign has raised a total of nearly $5 million this cycle, relying heavily on grassroots support with an average donation of $94. The Kentucky congressman has clashed with Trump on key issues, including voting against the President’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and opposing U.S. involvement in Iran, which has led Trump to label Massie “disloyal.” However, Gallrein, backed by Trump, has faced scrutiny for receiving significant donations from people with a history of supporting Democrats.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The good thing about being the number one target is that a lot of people have rallied to support me.” – Rep. Thomas Massie
🎯 IMPACT: Massie has warned the Trump administration and the GOP that it is “shrining the tent” by attacking anti-war voices such as himself, saying, “I’ve told them this already… when I see them in Congress personally that if I lose they’re gonna… alienate a big portion of the coalition that put us in the majority and put us in the White House.”
📺 FLASHBACK: Massie has previously been at odds with the MAGA movement for backing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis against Trump in the Republicans’ 2024 primary, and supporting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. However, his vocal opposition to the Iran war has seen him more aligned with non-interventionists in the MAGA base than elements of the administration in recent months.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Representative Thomas Massie is enjoying grassroots fundraising success amid a contentious Republican primary battle in Kentucky’s 4th District.

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April 13, 2026
Crime
Politics

Swalwell Abandons Gubernatorial Run Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Manhattan DA Investigating.

Eric Swalwell may be ejected from the House of Representatives, with fellow Democrats urging him to resign.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has suspended his campaign for Governor of California amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is investigating, and fellow Democrats are urging him to resign.
📺 DETAIL: A former staffer for Rep. Swalwell alleged in the San Francisco Chronicle that he sexually assaulted her in a New York hotel room after an event in 2024. The same woman also alleged he assaulted her in 2019, the same year now-Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) was National Campaign Chair for Swalwell’s presidential campaign. Hours after the Chronicle story appeared, three additional accusers came forward. The women alleged Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct, including sending explicit messages and unsolicited photos of his genitals. One unnamed woman said she went out for drinks when he visited her city, and he touched and kissed her as she became heavily intoxicated, later waking up in his hotel room unable to remember how she got there. Another woman alleged that Swalwell sent her unsolicited nude images in 2021.
👤 WHO WAS INVOLVED: Eric Swalwell, accusers and former staffers, and fellow Democratic lawmakers.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife and to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.” – Eric Swalwell
🎯 IMPACT: Multiple Democratic members of Congress, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), have publicly called for Swalwell to resign. In addition, more than 50 of his former staff members have signed a letter urging him to step down, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations against him. On Saturday, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office revealed an investigation was underway, urging “survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations” to contact its Special Victims Division.
📺 FLASHBACK: The National Pulse revealed in 2020 that Swalwell accepted campaign donations from Victoria Li, an employee of a Chinese Communist Party-owned company, in 2014 and 2015.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Eric Swalwell may be ejected from the House of Representatives, with fellow Democrats urging him to resign.

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April 7, 2026
Politics

Runoff to Fill Marjorie Taylor Greene’s House Seat is Underway.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Voters in northwest Georgia’s 14th Congressional District will decide a special runoff election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from Congress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Democrat Shawn Harris, a retired Army brigadier general, and Republican Clay Fuller, a district attorney with President Donald J. Trump’s endorsement.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The special runoff election is taking place on Tuesday in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.

🎯IMPACT: The outcome will affect the closely divided U.S. House, where Republicans hold a slim majority.

IN FULL

Voters in Georgia‘s 14th Congressional District will head to the polls today to decide the winner of a special runoff election, following a March 10 contest in which none of the 17 candidates captured a majority of the ballots cast. Tuesday’s runoff election features Republican candidate Clay Fuller—a district attorney backed by President Donald J. Trump—squaring off against Democrat candidate Shawn Harris, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general. In the March race, Harris finished in first place with 37 percent of the vote, while Fuller came in second with nearly 35 percent.

The winner of Tuesday’s election will serve out the remaining few months of former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene‘s term, who resigned from Congress this past January. Both Harris and Fuller are also seeking their respective party’s nomination in the May 19 primary to run for the seat in November’s congressional midterm election.

Georgia’s 14th Congressional District is considered a safe Republican seat, with a partisan rating of R+19—meaning GOP candidates typically win by nearly 20 points in most elections. President Trump captured 68 percent of the district’s vote in the 2024 presidential election. Still, a surprise upset could cause significant problems for House Republicans, who narrowly hold the lower chamber with a 217-214 majority.

Harris has raised significantly more funds than Fuller, with $6.4 million compared to Fuller’s $1.3 million. However, Trump’s endorsement is expected to bolster Fuller’s campaign, given the President’s strong support in the district. Turnout in special elections and runoffs is typically low, which could play a crucial role in determining the final outcome.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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