GET THE APP
Thursday, June 25, 2026

Category: Politics
October 26, 2023
William Upton
Politics

Kim Jong-Un Had Higher Favorability in U.S. Than Bob Menendez Has In New Jersey.

Disgraced U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) appears to be more unpopular than North Korea’s communist dictator, Kim Jong-Un. In 2018, Ipsos polled Americans regarding the favorability of a number of celebrities and foreign leaders. North Korea’s Kim registered a 12 percent approval rating. Disgraced U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, according to a new Stockton University survey, has just an eight percent approval rating among New Jersey residents. An impressive 71 percent of respondents said Menendez should resign from the Senate.

The National Pulse previously reported that Menendez, age 69, was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with three counts: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. Federal prosectors argue Menendez worked to disrupt the prosecution of long-time donor and associate Jose Uribe and essentially acted as an unregistered foreign agent for Arab Republic of Egypt.

Menendez and his wife Nadine received payments in cash, gold bars, and a luxury vehicle for their efforts on behalf of Uribe and the Egyptian government. The scheme to ensure military aid for Egypt ran through Menendez’s wife and Wael “Will” Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman.

On October 13th Federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment alleging Menendez “provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt.” The new charges added by the DOJ could see the New Jersey Democrat face an additional two-years in prison for failing to register as a foreign agent on behalf of the Egyptian government.

show less
Disgraced U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) appears to be more unpopular than North Korea's communist dictator, Kim Jong-Un. In 2018, Ipsos polled Americans regarding the favorability of a number of celebrities and foreign leaders. North Korea's Kim registered a 12 percent approval rating. Disgraced U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, according to a new Stockton University survey, has just an eight percent approval rating among New Jersey residents. An impressive 71 percent of respondents said Menendez should resign from the Senate. show more
October 26, 2023
William Upton
Politics

Former US Senate Candidate Blake Masters Running For Congress in Arizona’s 8th.

Venture capitalist and former U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters has announced he intends to seek the Republican nomination for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. The deeply conservative Arizona seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is currently held by Rep. Debbie Lesko, a Republican, who has announced she will retire at the end of her term.

Prior to entering politics, Masters was a close colleague of billionaire tech-entrepreneur Peter Thiel. Masters served as the president of the Thiel Foundation and as the chief operating office for Thiel’s investment operation, Thiel Capital.

Masters won a divisive Republican primary for one of Arizona’s U.S. Senate seats in 2022, despite his opponents engaging in negative campaigns against him. Facing an uphill battle against popular incumbent Democrat Senator Mark Kelly, Masters received significant backing from both Thiel and former President Donald Trump. Masters ultimately lost to Sen. Kelly in the November general election. Kelly, a former NASA astronaut, is the husband of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords – who was nearly killed by a drug-addled, anti-Christian, anti-government conspiracy theorist named Jared Loughner at a campaign event in January of 2011. Six people attending the Giffords event were killed by Loughner.

Abe Hamadeh, the 2022 Republican candidate for Arizona Attorney General and a former prosecutor in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, is also expected to enter the Republican primary to replace Congresswoman Lesko. Early polling on the race indicates it is currently a toss up. A National Public Affairs poll hows Hamadeh up over Masters 31 to 24 percent. Ben Toma, who serves as the Speaker of Arizona’s State House of Representatives, comes in third place with just 11 percent. However, a Masters campaign internal poll by Data Orbital shows Masters ahead of Hamadeh by 15 points, with 33 percent to Hamadeh’s 18. Toma again comes in third with just 7 percent support.

show less
Venture capitalist and former U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters has announced he intends to seek the Republican nomination for Arizona's 8th Congressional District. The deeply conservative Arizona seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is currently held by Rep. Debbie Lesko, a Republican, who has announced she will retire at the end of her term. show more
October 26, 2023
William Upton
Politics

READ: Full Text of MTG’s Censure Of Rashida Tlaib.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has filed a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) over the Michigan Democrat’s statements in support of Hamas and the terrorist group’s barbaric October 7th attack on Israeli civilians. The resolution is considered ‘privileged’, giving it precedence over regular business – the censure resolution is expected to swiftly receive consideration on the House floor.

The resolution accuses Tlaib of engaging in “antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations, and leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol Complex.” Rep. Taylor Greene lays out a timeline of extremist statements made by Rep. Tlaib including a 2019 comment where the Michigan Democrat said the Holocaust – which resulted in the death of 6 million Jews at the hands of Nazi Germany – gave her a “calming feeling.”

The National Pulse reported a week ago that Rep. Taylor Greene was drawing up the censorship resolution against Tlaib. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) Taylor Greene called Tlaib an “Israel hating American hating woman who does not represent anything America stands for.”

Last week, pro-Hamas protestors stormed U.S. Congressional office buildings in Washington, D.C. Several protestors were arrested for assaulting a police office, while others were detained when they refused to vacate the federal building premises. Outside, on the Capitol grounds, additional protestors were egged on by a handful of Members of Congress including Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).

Tlaib once again falsely claimed that the Israeli military was responsible for the explosion at a Gaza hospital that resulted in civilian casualties. Tlaib also verbally attacked President Joe Biden, warning her party’s leader that American Muslims won’t forget his decision to back Israel: “A lot of people are not gonna forget this… the fact of the matter is, our lives aren’t safe with you.”

show less
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has filed a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) over the Michigan Democrat's statements in support of Hamas and the terrorist group's barbaric October 7th attack on Israeli civilians. The resolution is considered 'privileged', giving it precedence over regular business – the censure resolution is expected to swiftly receive consideration on the House floor. show more
October 26, 2023
Analysis
Politics

READ: ‘Sidney Powell Didn’t Flip on Trump or MAGA’.

A close associate to lawyer Sidney Powell has insisted that the election fraud assailant has not, in fact, “flipped on Trump,” writing on Substack this week:

It is alarming (although not surprising) to see the misinformation in headlines, new articles, and on social media about Sidney Powell’s plea in Georgia last week. Even good Republicans and MAGA supporters seem confused and misinformed about the facts of her plea, many believing she has disavowed her position on the 2020 election and betrayed her supporters or that she has “flipped” on Trump.

– Molly McCann Sanders, October 2023.

Powell pleaded guilty to six lesser charges involving efforts to allegedly overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Many outlets immediately began to speculate that Powell was actively cooperating against co-defendant Trump, perhaps intentionally ignoring the nuances highlighted by McCann Sanders:

First, let’s be very clear that Sidney did not plead guilty to a conspiracy with Donald Trump to unlawfully overturn the 2020 election. The RICO charge was dropped as part of Sidney’s plea. To repeat for absolute clarity, Sidney did not plead guilty to a charge that she unlawfully tried to overturn the 2020 election or otherwise “admit” that the claims the 2020 election were stolen were unsubstantiated.

– Molly McCann Sanders, October 2023.

Slate declared the plea deal to be ‘…so, so bad for Donald Trump’, while the New York Times speculated the agreement with prosecutors could be a ‘threat’ to Trump, noting: “For the first time, prosecutors have the cooperation of someone who was closely involved in Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in office after his election defeat.” Elie Honig, a legal analyst at CNN, called the deal a “really big breakthrough for prosecutors” and added that “There’s no such thing as halfway cooperation.”

But Powell’s plea agreement doesn’t impact former President Trump in any meaningful way, according to McCann Sanders, who added: “Sidney’s plea agreement is for conduct unrelated to Donald Trump and only tenuously related to even Sidney herself. Simply put: Sidney agreed to take the rap for the disputed access to Fulton County machines.”

READ THE FULL PIECE HERE.

show less
A close associate to lawyer Sidney Powell has insisted that the election fraud assailant has not, in fact, "flipped on Trump," writing on Substack this week: show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
Molly is right, as The National Pulse also implied in our reporting as soon as the plea deal came out
for exclusive members-only insights
Molly is right, as The National Pulse also implied in our reporting as soon as the plea deal came out show more
for exclusive members-only insights
October 26, 2023
Jack Montgomery
Politics

Even The Anti-Trump ACLU Says DC Gag Order Violates First Amendment.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has, despite its longstanding opposition to Donald Trump, agreed a gag order imposed on him and his lawyers by Jan 6 judge Tanya Chutkan violates his First Amendment rights, by placing restrictions on his ability to speak that are “too broad and too vague.”

While usually more concerned with far-left activities such as suing small towns over Christmas decorations featuring Christian symbols in recent years, the ACLU has given a rare nod to its former goal of upholding free speech by filing an amicus brief in Washington, D.C. in defense of Trump’s rights. The brief argues the limits placed on the 45 President’s ability to comment on Chutkan, special prosecutor Jack Smith, and court staff abridge his right to speech, and the public’s right “to hear what he has to say.”

While feeling it necessary to allege without evidence that “[n]o modern-day President did more damage to civil liberties and civil rights than President Trump,” the leftist organization goes on to warn that “if we allow his free speech rights to be abridged… other unpopular voices – even ones we agree with – will also be silenced.”

show less
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has, despite its longstanding opposition to Donald Trump, agreed a gag order imposed on him and his lawyers by Jan 6 judge Tanya Chutkan violates his First Amendment rights, by placing restrictions on his ability to speak that are "too broad and too vague." show more
October 26, 2023
Jack Montgomery
Culture
News
Politics

1 in 4 Americans Now Say ‘Patriots May Have to Resort to Violence to Save the Country’.

There has been a major increase in the number of Americans who agree that “Because things haven gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country” – with a sharper rise among Democrats and Independents than Republicans.

While only 15 percent of Americans agreed political violence may be necessary in 2021, the figure has risen to 23 percent as of 2023.

This sentiment is highest among Republicans, having risen from 28 percent to 33 percent, but the rise has been more significant among Democrats, almost doubling from seven percent to 13 percent. Independents have also seen a sharper rise, from 13 percent to 22 percent.

Similar changes can be observed when examining Americans’ religious and ethnic backgrounds. The feeling that political violence may be necessary is greatest among white evangelicals and mainline Protestants, having risen from 24 and 18 percent to 31 and 25 percent, respectively – but there has been a more pronounced rise among black Protestants, from 12 percent to 24 percent.

Hispanic Catholics are actually slightly more likely to believe political violence is necessary than white Catholics, at 21 percent versus 20 percent (up from 17 and 16 percent in 2021.)

People who describe themselves are religiously unaffiliated or religious but non-Christian have also seen steep rises, from 12 percent to 23 percent and from nine percent to 23 percent.

People in these groups were not broken down by ethnicity or by particular religions such as Islam, however.

Image

show less
There has been a major increase in the number of Americans who agree that "Because things haven gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country" – with a sharper rise among Democrats and Independents than Republicans. show more
October 25, 2023
Breaking
Politics

Rep. Bowman Pleads Guilty & Pays $1K Fine After Pulling Congress Fire Alarm.

Congressman Jamaal Bowman is facing a misdemeanour charge following an incident on September 30 at the Cannon House Office Building. Bowman, caught on security cameras, pulled a fire alarm as the House debated a short-term funding resolution to keep the government functioning amidst budget-related deliberations.

Bowman, who attributed pulling the fire alarm to the mistaken belief that it would open a nearby door, has reached a settlement pertaining to the charges. It involves a guilty plea, an apology, and the payment of the maximum allowable fine for the offence. With these conditions, the charges will be “dropped” in three months, according to statements made on Tuesday. “I am responsible for activating a fire alarm, I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped,” Bowman stated.

In the aftermath of the charged incident, the House pressed forward, voting on and approving a short-term funding resolution. Bowman, along with other Democrats, supported the bill. However, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy experienced a backlash from his Republican caucus, ultimately leading to his removal from speakership. After a three-week stalemate, Representative Mike Johnson was voted in as the new Speaker.

show less
Congressman Jamaal Bowman is facing a misdemeanour charge following an incident on September 30 at the Cannon House Office Building. Bowman, caught on security cameras, pulled a fire alarm as the House debated a short-term funding resolution to keep the government functioning amidst budget-related deliberations. show more
October 25, 2023
Jack Montgomery
Immigration
News
Politics

Up to 1,600 Migrants Arriving in Los Angeles Every Week.

Like New York City and Chicago before it, Los Angeles is beginning to be overrun by the Joe Biden-engineered migrant crisis, with Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) executive director Angelica Salas saying “we have between 1,000 and 1,600 people” arriving “every week”. The City of The Angels is “an immigrant city,” she added.

The Los Angeles City Council voted to make LA a “sanctuary city” for migrants as recently as June, and as with other Democrat-run “sanctuary cities” conservatives in Texas and other frontier states have begun taking them at their word by busing illegal aliens to their jurisdictions.

For now, bused migrants are still “a minority” of the arrivals LA is dealing with, according to Salas, with most still being “people who come through the California border and who walk here or get here on their own”.

While activists like Salas are for now still sympathetic to the migrants, working-class Californians are beginning to feel the negative effects of their presence, with hotel bosses accused of hiring them, possibly in violation of labor laws, to replace local workers striking for better pay and conditions.

show less
Like New York City and Chicago before it, Los Angeles is beginning to be overrun by the Joe Biden-engineered migrant crisis, with Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) executive director Angelica Salas saying "we have between 1,000 and 1,600 people" arriving "every week". The City of The Angels is "an immigrant city," she added. show more
October 25, 2023
Jake Welch
Politics

Dean Phillips is Running Against Joe Biden. Who Is He?

Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips (D-MI) is preparing to announce his intentions to become the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee before the end of the week, opposing an uncontested primary election in President Biden‘s favor.

Phillips, who represents Minnesota’s Third District, has been vocal about the need for someone to challenge Biden in the run-up to 2024 due to the President’s age and a sense that the American electorate “is begging for alternatives” to the octogenarian.

The Congressman, who entered the House of Representatives as a multimillionaire businessman after founding an ice cream company, recently stepped down as Democratic Policy and Communications Caucus (DPCC) co-chair and has reportedly begun reaching out to potential staffers about working in New Hampshire. He also called the Granite State’s Democratic Party Chair, Ray Buckley, to introduce himself.

“My convictions relative to the 2024 presidential race are incongruent with the majority of my caucus, and I felt it appropriate to step aside from elected leadership to avoid unnecessary distractions during a critical time for our country,” Phillips argued while stepping down from his co-chair position.

He will become the second challenger to President Biden after author Marianne Williamson.

show less
Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips (D-MI) is preparing to announce his intentions to become the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee before the end of the week, opposing an uncontested primary election in President Biden's favor. show more
desantis
October 25, 2023
Jack Montgomery
Politics

TIME’S UP: It’s Been 60 Days Since Ron DeSantis’s Team Said They Had 60 Days to Stop Trump.

It has been 60 days since Jeff Roe, the controversial leading man in Ron DeSantis’s ‘Never Back Down’ super PAC, told donors the Florida Governor had to start beating Trump within “the next 60 days”  while begging for $50 million. Far from overtaking the former president, he has now fallen significantly further behind.

Team Trump has been counting down Roe’s self-imposed deadline for weeks, and observed on Monday that DeSantis “trailed President Trump by 33 points with 21 percent support” when he first announced but “millions of dollars later” trails Trump by 47 points, falling to “an embarrassing 12 percent support.”

Far from attempting to pretend Roe’s deadline never existed, however, DeSantis’s “rapid response director” Christina Pushaw chose to highlight Trump campaign posts pointing out the Floridian’s failure, claiming it as evidence her team “broke them”.

Her boss, however, disagreed. DeSantis told reporters the deadline wasn’t a “very smart thing to do,” and tried to distance himself from his own PAC’s messaging.

“[Jeff Roe’s] not my adviser, and they do what they want to do. I think that that’s fine. I don’t think very many people think that that was a very smart thing to do with whatever was going on with that.”

– Ron DeSantis, October 2023.

While some DeSantis diehards joined in the bizarre defeat lap, others were unconvinced, with one social media noting the Tallahassee team “can’t even break 20 percent in the polls.”

show less
It has been 60 days since Jeff Roe, the controversial leading man in Ron DeSantis's 'Never Back Down' super PAC, told donors the Florida Governor had to start beating Trump within “the next 60 days”  while begging for $50 million. Far from overtaking the former president, he has now fallen significantly further behind. show more