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Friday, April 19, 2024

Category: Politics
February 8, 2024
Ed Kozak
Politics
World

Netherlands STILL Has No Govt Despite Election Winner Wilders Making MASSIVE Concessions in Coalition Talks.

Attempts to form a populist-right government in the Netherlands helmed by Geert Wilders have failed despite Wilders making massive concessions to potential coalition partners.

Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV) claimed victory in the country’s November parliamentary elections, campaigning on a populist platform that included cutting immigration and de-Islamification efforts. He was in talks with Pieter Omtzigt, leader of the New Social Contract party, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, who helms the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and Caroline van der Plas, leader of the Farmer Citizen Movement (BBB). Were a coalition agreement to be reached, it would have given the partners a comfortable majority in the lower house of the Dutch parliament.

In January, Wilders made significant concessions to his potential governing partners, withdrawing draft legislation that included bans on mosques, Islamic schools, and the Quran.

The talks came to a premature end after Omtzigt withdrew from the process, a move that shocked Wilders, Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, and van der Plas. “Incredibly disappointing. The Netherlands wants this Cabinet and now Pieter Omtzigt is throwing in the towel while we were still in discussions until today. I don’t understand it at all,” Wilders wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday night before telling reporters Wednesday that he was “shocked and surprised” by Omtzigt’s move.

However, Omtzigt has not entirely ruled out involvement in the next government, saying that his party “continues to work constructively but carefully to form a government that effectively tackles the country’s urgent problems. This can be done, for example, by providing constructive support to a minority Cabinet or a broad extra-parliamentary Cabinet.”

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Attempts to form a populist-right government in the Netherlands helmed by Geert Wilders have failed despite Wilders making massive concessions to potential coalition partners. show more
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February 8, 2024
Politics
World

REPORT: Italy’s Meloni Convinced Hungary’s Orban to Back Ukraine.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has emerged as a critical partner for European Union (EU) elites. She has reportedly turned her back on the populist-nationalist philosophy that got her elected and is working to temper other European leaders’ conservative instincts. Meloni campaigned as an anti-EU nationalist but has governed as a pro-EU moderate.

When Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vowed to block a new round of EU funding for Ukraine late last month, Meloni stepped in and got the Hungarian leader to back down. The two leaders met for drinks just before the European Union summit, where it was believed Orban would attempt to derail the EU’s Ukraine fund. The Hungarian told Meloni he felt other European leaders singled him out over his embrace of political populism and Hungarian nationalism. Meloni played a sympathetic ear to Orban, telling him she had experienced similar ostracism.

Meloni, however, encouraged Orban to work within the EU — insisting the European political right could achieve its goals within the group rather than without. This strategy led to decades of disappointment for the United Kingdom, which voted to leave the European Union after achieving no reforms over 20+ years. Orban dropped his opposition to the Ukraine funding plan at the start of the summit on February 1st.

The European political elite increasingly sees Meloni as someone who can help diffuse and head off potential political conflicts with the continent’s increasingly nationalist political right. Over the past year, she’s backed EU-supported electric car subsidies and dropped her support for curbing legal immigration to Europe. Meloni has also established herself as one of Europe’s most hawkish leaders in support of Ukraine.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has emerged as a critical partner for European Union (EU) elites. She has reportedly turned her back on the populist-nationalist philosophy that got her elected and is working to temper other European leaders' conservative instincts. Meloni campaigned as an anti-EU nationalist but has governed as a pro-EU moderate. show more
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February 7, 2024
Wake Up Right
Politics
TECH

Biden WH Developing AI to Censor Americans.

The Biden regime is spending millions to create AI tools that can be used to “combat mis/disinformation” on social media, targeting veterans and people in rural communities.

The details: House Republicans released a report yesterday highlighting how the regime’s National Sciences Foundation (NSF) has distributed millions of dollars in funding to elite universities under a program called “Trust & Authenticity in Communication Systems.”

Their goal is to create tools that can identify “misinformation” that targets people with “vulnerabilities to disinformation methods.”

Who are those people with ‘vulnerabilities’? One MIT researcher on the project specifically referred to “military veterans, older adults, military families” and those in “rural and indigenous communities.” So conservatives…

  • This researcher told the NSF that “broad swaths of the public cannot effectively sort truth from fiction online.”

What sort of “misinformation” are they targeting? A researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison said they were focused on “skepticism regarding the integrity of U.S. elections and hesitancy related to COVID-19 vaccines.”

Big picture: While we don’t know what the timeline or end game is for this project, the legitimate concern is that it could be deployed by social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube ahead of the 2024 election to censor information that the regime deems unfavorable – just like they did with the Hunter Biden laptop story days before the 2020 election.

What happens next? House Republicans have subpoenaed the Biden regime agency, demanding their director Sethuraman Panchanathan “hand over all internal records discussing the suppression or restriction of online content.”

This article is adapted from the free ‘Wake Up Right’ newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.

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February 7, 2024
Ed Kozak
News
Politics

McConnell Says He’ll Cling On, Says Haters ‘Had Their Shot.’

Despite recent calls from his Republican colleagues to step down as Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has expressed his intention to remain in power.

“I’ve had a small group of persistent critics the whole time I’ve been in this job. They had their shot,” McConnell said in an interview with POLITICO, referring to Sen. Rick Scott’s (R-FL) challenge to his leadership in 2022.

Much has changed since 2022, however. McConnell now faces increasing criticism from his Republican colleagues regarding the Ukraine-Border supplemental funding bill. The Senate Minority Leader blamed the same “persistent critics” for the bill’s lack of hope of passage in the Senate.

“The reason we’ve been talking about the border is because they wanted to, the persistent critics,” said McConnell. “You can’t pass a bill without dealing with a Democratic president and a Democratic Senate.”

McConnell’s critics contend, however, that the ‘deal’ negotiated under McConnell’s watch contained nothing for Republicans to rally behind. While the ‘border bill’ provides billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine and Israel, it does little to secure the border.

“I think a Republican leader should actually lead this conference and should advance the priorities of Republicans,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)  said during a Tuesday press conference in which he called for McConnell to step down. Last year, a poll found that 75 percent of Republicans wanted McConnell to relinquish his Senate leadership position.

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Despite recent calls from his Republican colleagues to step down as Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has expressed his intention to remain in power. show more
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February 7, 2024
Ed Kozak
Culture
Politics

OK GOP Seeks Ban on State Promotion of ‘Pride.’

Oklahoma Republicans have introduced a bill that would ban state funding of the promotion of radical LGBTQ+ ideology, including so-called ‘pride’ celebrations, and prohibit the display of flags associated with the radical LGBTQ+ movement from being displayed on state property.

The “Patriotism Not Pride Act,” HB 3217, introduced by Oklahoma state Rep. Kevin West (R) and state Sen. David Bullard (R), prohibits state funds being “used by any agency to develop, organize, administer, engage in, promote, or endorse any activity, including any event, initiative, official communication, social media post, educational program, or public campaign, that aims to promote or recognize Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Pride Month or any event with a similar theme.”

The act further states that “No flag that represents sexual orientation or gender identity may be displayed by an agency on state property or grounds.”

“Oklahoma taxpayer dollars should not be used to promote or recognize activities that are not in line with the values of most Oklahomans,” said West. “These groups would still have the freedom to express their views or opinions or tell the world about their lifestyle choices, they would simply not be able to use state resources to do so,” he explained.

The bill marks Oklahoma as the third state — after Florida and Tennessee — to introduce legislation to curtail state sponsorship of radical LGTBQ+ ideology, as Americans are increasingly pushing back against a movement many believe is trying to groom children for sexual exploitation.

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Oklahoma Republicans have introduced a bill that would ban state funding of the promotion of radical LGBTQ+ ideology, including so-called 'pride' celebrations, and prohibit the display of flags associated with the radical LGBTQ+ movement from being displayed on state property. show more
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jeff roe
February 7, 2024
William Upton
News
Politics

Speaker Johnson Dumps DeSantis PAC Consultant Jeff Roe.

House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) re-election campaign quietly cut ties in late October with its fundraising consulting firm, Fundraising, Inc. The Republican-aligned fundraising company is a subsidiary of Jeff Roe’s Axiom Strategies. Shortly after winning the Speakership, Johnson was told by several House Republican colleagues — at the urging of Trump campaign aides Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles — that it would be prudent to end his campaign’s use of Roe-affiliated companies.

The departure of Johnson as a client of a Jeff Roe-controlled campaign firm is a significant blow to the high-profile Republican political consultant and Axiom Strategies. Meanwhile, some in former President Donald Trump’s inner circle are ramping up efforts to encourage Republican candidates to drop Roe, who had run the Ron DeSantis campaign-aligned SuperPAC Never Back Down. Roe resigned from his role with the SuperPAC in mid-December after infighting between Roe and DeSantis confidant Scott Wagner became public — effectively sidelining the massive pro-DeSantis operation just before the Iowa Caucus. DeSantis dropped out of the Republican presidential primary just one month later.

Roe, known for his bravado, has increasingly rubbed some in Republican Party political circles the wrong way. Critics allege Roe cares more about money than winning his client’s campaigns. They point to his penchant for bragging to potential business investors that Axiom’s network of companies can capture most of a candidate’s campaign spending.

While Roe and his Axiom team ran Never Back Down, nearly half of the SuperPAC’s spending flowed through Roe’s companies. Campaign finance data suggests the pro-DeSantis operation squandered millions in donor dollars paying political consultants — dangerously bloating the SuperPAC’s operating costs. Only a fraction of the budget was spent on tangible campaign efforts.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) re-election campaign quietly cut ties in late October with its fundraising consulting firm, Fundraising, Inc. The Republican-aligned fundraising company is a subsidiary of Jeff Roe's Axiom Strategies. Shortly after winning the Speakership, Johnson was told by several House Republican colleagues — at the urging of Trump campaign aides Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles — that it would be prudent to end his campaign's use of Roe-affiliated companies. show more
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massie
February 7, 2024
William Upton
Politics

Top DeSantis Ally Rep. Massie Calls McCarthy Ouster ‘An Unmitigated Disaster.’

Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) said on Wednesday that the successful effort last October to oust Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Speaker of the House “has officially turned into an unmitigated disaster.” The Kentucky Republican — a top ally of Ron DeSantis’s failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination — made the remark in a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing frustration with the leadership of new House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

“Getting rid of Speaker McCarthy has officially turned into an unmitigated disaster,” Massie said before claiming McCarthy’s ouster derailed the House Republican agenda: “All work on separate spending bills has ceased. Spending reductions have been traded for spending increases. Warrantless spying has been temporarily extended. Our majority has shrunk.”

After receiving some pushback for seemingly expressing his support for McCarthy’s leadership as Speaker, the Kentucky Congressman challenged his critics to “[n]ame one thing that’s improved under the new Speaker.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz, who led the effort to remove McCarthy as Speaker, responded to Massie’s challenge, pointing to the fact Speaker Jonhnson has thus far resisted efforts to pass renewed funding for Ukraine — a measure backed by McCarthy. Following his initial response, Gaetz added: “McCarthy lied to us, made secret side deals, increased spending, got rolled by Biden, and shrunk our majority by quitting when he couldn’t run the place.” Other social media users pointed to Speaker Johnson upholding his promise to release the January 6th U.S. Capitol security camera footage to the public.

At the start of the new Congress, Massie described himself as a “barely Kevin” when asked if he’d back McCarthy’s bid for Speaker. He voted in favor of McCarthy fifteen times during the January 2023 election for House Speaker.

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Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) said on Wednesday that the successful effort last October to oust Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Speaker of the House “has officially turned into an unmitigated disaster.” The Kentucky Republican — a top ally of Ron DeSantis’s failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination — made the remark in a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing frustration with the leadership of new House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). show more
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February 7, 2024
Jack Montgomery
News
Politics
UK

CPAC Hands Main Stage Speech to Liberal Democrat Trans ‘Ally,’ Ex-UK PM Liz Truss.

Matt Schlapp’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has invited Liz Truss, the British former Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat, and LGBT+ “ally,” to speak at their Washington D.C. conference in February.

Truss was Prime Minister for only 49 days, being ousted by Conservative party politicians after a botched “mini-budget” caused market turmoil. They replaced her with incumbent premier Rishi Sunak, who had been rejected by the party grassroots in a leadership election only weeks before.

Before her brief stint as Conservative Party leader and her post-premiership reinvention as a eurosceptic, tax-cutting culture warrior, Truss was firmly on the left of the party. Initially, she was a senior member of the far-left Liberal Democrat party.

The British politician campaigned vigorously against Brexit in 2016, helping then-Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne launch a campaign threatening voters with financial ruin if they voted to leave the European Union.

Despite recent statements against “left-wing extremists” involved in “supporting LGBT people or groups of ethnic minorities,” Truss was also a staunch “LGBT+ ally” as Minister for Women and Equalities.

She marked “International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia,” hosted conferences on advancing LGBT rights worldwide, and backed a ban on so-called conversion therapy, “spiritual or otherwise.”

CPAC has limited social media users’ ability to comment on its announcement of Truss as a guest.

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Matt Schlapp's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has invited Liz Truss, the British former Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat, and LGBT+ "ally," to speak at their Washington D.C. conference in February. show more
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Editor’s Notes

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

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
To be fair, Matt Schlapp is something of an LGBT ally himself 👀
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To be fair, Matt Schlapp is something of an LGBT ally himself 👀 show more
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February 6, 2024
Crime
Politics

Eric Adams’ Associate Pleads Guilty to Straw Donor Scheme for NY Mayor.

Dwayne Montgomery, a former NYPD colleague of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, pleaded guilty on Monday to orchestrating a straw donor scheme that funneled tens of thousands of dollars to Adams’ 2021 campaign. Montgomery pleaded guilty to one conspiracy charge, according to a copy of the agreement released by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Montgomery’s plea deal, pending approval by a Manhattan Criminal Court judge, would see him receive a discharge provided he completes 200 hours of community service and pays a fine of $500.

The original allegations contain charges of conspiracy with several individuals to channel excess contributions to Mayor Adams’ 2021 campaign through straw donors — a process of bypassing donation limits by reimbursing individuals who donate on an offender’s behalf.

News of the plea deal arrives amidst a media wave of donor-related controversy surrounding Mayor Adams. Media outlets, including The City and Politico, uncovered multiple individuals listed as donors to Adams’ 2021 campaign who claim they never donated. Adams is also under federal scrutiny for potential collusion with the government of Turkey during his mayoral campaign last year.

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Dwayne Montgomery, a former NYPD colleague of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, pleaded guilty on Monday to orchestrating a straw donor scheme that funneled tens of thousands of dollars to Adams’ 2021 campaign. Montgomery pleaded guilty to one conspiracy charge, according to a copy of the agreement released by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

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February 6, 2024
William Upton
Immigration
Politics

Biden Admits Defeat to Trump on ‘Border’ Bill Which Prioritizes Ukraine And Encourages MORE Migration.

In remarks delivered at the White House on Tuesday, President Joe Biden acknowledged his efforts to pressure the Senate to pass the Ukraine aid and U.S. border security supplemental funding bill have likely failed. Biden credited former President Donald Trump for rallying Senate Republicans to oppose the legislation, which Congressional Democrats largely backed.

“All indications are this bill won’t even move forward to the Senate floor,” President Biden said before continuing: “Why? A simple reason: Donald Trump.” Biden repeatedly tried to spin his defeat by claiming Trump scuttled the deal to keep the border crisis in play as a 2024 presidential campaign issue.  

“Because Donald Trump thinks it’s bad for him politically, therefore … even if it helps the country, he’s not for it, he’d rather weaponize this issue than actually solve it,” the 81-year-old Democrat said, continuing: “So for the last 24 hours, he’s done nothing, I’m told, than reach out to Republicans in the House and the Senate and threaten them and try to intimidate them to vote against this proposal. It looks like they’re caving. Frankly, they owe it to the American people to show some spine and do what they know to be right.”

House and Senate Republican opponents of the Biden-backed legislation have argued the President already has the statutory authority to restrict the flow of immigrants at the southern border. They have also sharply criticized it for prioritizing Democrat proposals to expand guest worker programs and empower Biden government bureaucrats to make asylum decisions instead of immigration courts. Additionally, as The National Pulse reported last week, a provision that Democrats claim would allow Biden to close the border would actually limit the executive authority to do so.

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In remarks delivered at the White House on Tuesday, President Joe Biden acknowledged his efforts to pressure the Senate to pass the Ukraine aid and U.S. border security supplemental funding bill have likely failed. Biden credited former President Donald Trump for rallying Senate Republicans to oppose the legislation, which Congressional Democrats largely backed. show more
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