GET THE APP
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
1 minute ago
Crime
News

Vance Will Lead Anti-Fraud Task Force Against Newsom’s California.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The White House is finalizing plans for a new anti-fraud task force targeting welfare abuse in California and other states.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Vice President J.D. Vance, Andrew Ferguson of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The task force is expected to be announced later this month via executive order from President Donald J. Trump.

🎯IMPACT: The task force aims to tackle billions of dollars in fraud.

IN FULL

The White House is in the final stages of organizing a new federal anti-fraud task force aimed at combating the abuse of welfare and other taxpayer-funded programs, particularly in California, according to multiple sources. President Donald J. Trump is expected to sign an executive order establishing the task force and appointing Vice President J.D. Vance as its chairman, signaling an increased emphasis on fraud enforcement across federal programs.

Andrew Ferguson, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is slated to serve as vice chairman and manage the task force’s day-to-day operations. Ferguson has led several high-profile consumer protection efforts, including a multibillion-dollar settlement with Amazon and antitrust actions against major technology companies.

The task force will also include Colin McDonald, a nominee for a newly created fraud investigator position at the Department of Justice. McDonald would report to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche while coordinating closely with Vance and Ferguson. Sources say the initiative was partly driven by internal frustration within the administration over what it views as resistance from career Justice Department officials to advancing certain enforcement priorities.

California has been a focal point in recent fraud investigations. State auditors previously identified billions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims and improper pandemic relief payments. Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has defended his state, claiming his administration has made efforts to recover funds and strengthen oversight.

Fraud concerns extend well beyond California, however. Federal investigators have estimated that welfare-related fraud tied to Somali networks operating in Minnesota could ultimately exceed $9 billion, following years of alleged abuse of housing and food assistance programs.

In another recent case, federal prosecutors in Chicago, Illinois, charged foreign nationals in a massive Medicare fraud scheme involving more than $1 billion in false claims submitted using stolen identities and fraudulent medical orders.

Separately, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently launched a broad investigation into H-1B visa fraud, alleging companies may have manipulated the federal program to use migrants to undercut American workers.

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

show less
show more
31 minutes ago
Politics

LGBT Activist Judge Charged With ‘Official Oppression.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Texas judge was arrested and charged with unlawful restraint and official oppression after allegedly handcuffing and detaining a defense attorney in her courtroom.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bexar County Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez and defense attorney Elizabeth Russell.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrest occurred on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, stemming from an incident that occurred in 2024 in a Bexar County courtroom, Texas.

🎯IMPACT: The arrest raises concerns about the stability and bias of activist judges in positions of power.

IN FULL

Bexar County, Texas Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez—an outspoken LGBTQ activist—has been arrested and charged with a felony count of unlawful restraint by a judicial officer and a misdemeanor count of official oppression. The charges stem from a 2024 incident where Gonzalez allegedly handcuffed and detained defense attorney Elizabeth Russell in the courtroom during a probation hearing.

During the hearing on a motion to revoke probation, which occurred in December 2024, Russell’s client—who the attorney claims suffers from cognitive issues—answered “true” to one of the allegations presented by prosecutors. This prompted Russell to interject during the questioning and request for a moment to confer with her client. After an ensuing argument between Russell and Gonzalez, the latter ordered her court officers to handcuff the defense attorney and confine her to the jury box.

Judge Gonzalez—known for her far-left political and LGBTQ activism—has had a controversial tenure on the bench, facing a number of legal and ethical issues. In 2022, she was fined for attempting to bring a loaded rainbow-painted firearm through airport security in her carry-on luggage. Earlier, in 2019, she was sanctioned for displaying Pride flags in her courtroom, violating the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.

Former staff members have accused Gonzalez of fostering a “hostile work environment” and exhibiting erratic and aggressive behavior, particularly toward defendants and litigants. Some described her as “unstable” and prone to violent outbursts.

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

show less
show more
Footer Ad
Footer Ad
1 hour ago
Media

Washington Post Closes Multiple Bureaus, Lays Off 300 Staff.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Washington Post laid off nearly 300 employees, terminated its current sports section, books section, and Post Reports podcast, and closed several international bureaus.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Washington Post‘s executive editor Matt Murray, human resources director Wayne Connell, and affected employees, including reporters and editors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The layoffs occurred on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, with employees informed via a Zoom webinar.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This wasn’t a financial decision, it was an ideological one” — Former Washington Post race and ethnicity reporter Emmanuel Felton

🎯IMPACT: The newspaper has struggled financially for years, with its budgetary situation becoming especially tenuous after the 2024 presidential election.

IN FULL

The Washington Post cut nearly 300 employees on Wednesday, eliminating its current sports section, books section, and the Post Reports podcast. The company also closed several international bureaus, including those in the Middle East, Asia, and Ukraine. Employees were informed of the layoffs during a Zoom webinar led by executive editor Matt Murray and human resources director Wayne Connell.

A number of the Jeff Bezos-owned newspaper’s employees took to social media to criticize the layoffs. Race and ethnicity reporter Emmanuel Felton argues the decision was “ideological,” noting that his job had been described as a subscription driver. “This wasn’t a financial decision, it was an ideological one,” he claimed. Other critics of the layoffs, including retired Washington Post editor Robert McCartney, slammed the loss of international coverage. McCartney noted, “Apparently, The Post has laid off every reporter and editor covering the Middle East. Jerusalem bureau closed. Also Ukraine bureau closed.”

The newspaper has struggled financially for years, with its budgetary situation becoming especially tenuous after the 2024 presidential election. The National Pulse previously reported that The Washington Post lost $100 million in revenue in 2024 alone. Notably, the newest round of layoffs follows earlier staff reductions in both 2025 and 2023.

The Post’s refusal to endorse Kamala Harris for President in 2024 and Bezos’s announcement last February that the newspaper’s editorial page would focus on promoting “personal liberties and free markets” previously led to tens of thousands of liberal readers cancelling their subscriptions.

Image by Dion Hinchcliffe.

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

show less
show more
2 hours ago
NatSec
World

Last Remaining U.S.-Russia Nuclear Proliferation Treaty Expires TOMORROW.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last remaining US-Russia nuclear treaty, is set to expire on February 5, 2026, leaving no formal limits on nuclear arsenals.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The United States, Russia, and experts such as Dr. Jim Walsh and John Erath have weighed in on the implications of the treaty’s expiration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The treaty will expire on February 5, 2026, with discussions spanning Washington, Moscow, and international forums.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There’ll be a turn of events a month from now, a year from now, five years from now. Things always happen in international affairs. There’ll be a war, there’ll be a crisis.” – Dr. Jim Walsh

🎯IMPACT: Experts warn that the expiration could lead to a renewed arms race and the erosion of decades of nuclear stability.

IN FULL

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), signed with Russia in 2010, is set to expire on February 5, 2026. New START limits the United States and Russia to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads each, has been a critical mechanism for maintaining nuclear stability between the two nations. Its expiration will mark the first time since the Cold War that no formal limits will exist on their nuclear arsenals.

Nuclear arms control experts caution that while the expiration of New START may not set off an immediate nuclear expansion by either the United States or Russia, it could set off a long-term chain reaction. “There’ll be a turn of events a month from now, a year from now, five years from now,” contends Dr. Jim Walsh, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Security Studies Program (SSP). “Things always happen in international affairs. There’ll be a war, there’ll be a crisis,” he continued, adding that such incidents could set off a new arms race.

While a number of past arms control agreements had indefinite extension provisions, New START allowed only one extension, which was exercised in 2021 under former President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Donald J. Trump had indicated he would let the treaty expire, stating, “If it expires, it expires. We’ll just do a better agreement.”

Russia currently holds the largest confirmed nuclear arsenal, with over 5,500 warheads, followed closely by the United States with approximately 5,044. Together, the two nations account for nearly 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons.

Image by Steve Jurvetson.

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

show less
show more
3 hours ago
Crime

Man Faces Charges for Doxing, Threatening FBI Agent and Family.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man in Illinois has been charged with doxing and threatening a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent using information stolen from federal vehicles in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jose Alberto Ramirez, the FBI agent (Victim A), and anti-ICE agitators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The threats originated from stolen documents in January; Ramirez is set to appear in federal court on Wednesday afternoon.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I know where your mom lives bro. And your dad. And your kids buddy. Get home safe and fast.” – Text message sent to the FBI agent.

🎯IMPACT: Ramirez faces federal charges for threatening an FBI agent and will appear for arraignment on Wednesday.

IN FULL

Jose Alberto Ramirez, an Illinois resident, has been charged with doxing and threatening a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent and his children after anti-ICE agitators stole documents from federal vehicles in Minneapolis last month. The documents contained personal information, including residential addresses, phone numbers, and emails, which were later posted on social media.

According to an affidavit filed with the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Ramirez allegedly sent a series of profanity-laced text messages to the FBI agent’s work phone. One message read, “I know where your mom lives bro. And your dad. And your kids buddy. Get home safe and fast.” Another message threatened to firebomb an address associated with the agent.

The affidavit also linked Ramirez to an incident at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois, where he was reported to police by his manager for threatening to shoot another employee. The phone number provided in that incident matched the one used to send the threatening messages to the FBI agent.

Ramirez, who will appear in court for arraignment late Wednesday afternoon, has a criminal history involving multiple felonies and misdemeanors, including domestic battery, burglary, and mob action.

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

show less
show more
3 hours ago
News
Politics

SCOTUS Allows Democrat-Drawn Districts Ahead of Midterms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Supreme Court decided to allow California Democrats to proceed with new, gerrymandered maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: California Democrats, the state GOP, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Justice Elena Kagan, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Wednesday, impacting California and the U.S. as a whole.

🎯IMPACT: The decision allows Proposition 50 to move forward, potentially reducing Republican congressional seats in California from nine to four.

IN FULL

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to block California’s new congressional district map, allowing the state to proceed with new, gerrymandered boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The decision rejects an emergency request from California Republicans and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking to halt implementation of the plan, known as Proposition 50.

Proposition 50 dismantled California’s independent redistricting commission and granted the Democratic-controlled legislature authority to redraw congressional lines. Supporters said the measure was intended to counter Republican redistricting efforts in other states and better reflect demographic changes, while critics argued it was designed to boost Democrat power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Under the new map, Republicans could lose as many as five congressional seats, reducing the number of GOP-held districts in California from nine to four. Republican officials and voters filed suit shortly after the ballot measure passed, claiming the new districts relied too heavily on racial considerations and violated the Constitution and federal voting laws.

The Justice Department joined the legal challenge, arguing that California lawmakers improperly used race as a tool to achieve partisan goals. A three-judge federal district court panel rejected those claims in January. Following that ruling, opponents of the map asked the Supreme Court to intervene. The application was initially submitted to Justice Elena Kagan and then referred to the full Court, which denied the request for an injunction without issuing a written opinion.

California officials argued that blocking the map so close to the 2026 election cycle would disrupt candidate filings, campaign planning, and voter outreach already underway. Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and other Democrats praised the Court’s decision.

The ruling comes amid heightened national disputes over redistricting. In a separate case, the Supreme Court recently allowed Texas to use a Republican-drawn congressional map that could add several GOP seats, despite lower court claims that the plan discriminated against minority voters.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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

show less
show more
Footer Ad
Footer Ad
4 hours ago
Immigration
Politics

Dems Release Their DHS Funding Demands, Including Gutting Immigration Enforcement.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrats outlined demands for changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations as Congress works to avoid a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and other Democrats; House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA); and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 4, 2026, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “When Americans see the pictures of these goons beating people, pushing people, and even shooting and killing people, they say this is not America… It is reminiscent of dictatorship.” — Chuck Schumer

🎯IMPACT: The debate over DHS funding and changes could lead to a shutdown, affecting sub-agencies such as FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard.

IN FULL

Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill released their list of demands for changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in exchange for the passage of long-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had their budgets largely appropriated in separate legislation over the summer, other DHS agencies like FEMA and the TSA remain unfunded for the fiscal year.

The looming DHS shutdown, set for February 13, is the result of Democrats demanding that the department’s budget be stripped from a package of appropriations bills adopted by Congress on Tuesday. By forcing the removal of DHS funding—replacing it with a two-week continuing resolution—the Democrats caused a brief government shutdown over the weekend but dropped their opposition to the larger appropriations package.

Democrats are now holding up a full-year appropriations bill until Republicans agree to their proposed immigration enforcement changes, which include mandatory body cameras, prohibiting immigration officers from wearing masks, tightening restrictions around warrants, and ending so-called “roving” patrols.

“When Americans see the pictures of these goons beating people, pushing people, and even shooting and killing people, they say this is not America,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said at a press conference on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, joined by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and a number of House and Senate Democrats. Schumer added, “It is reminiscent of dictatorship.”

The Democrat demands have already sparked opposition from Republicans. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) has already declared that requiring judicial warrants, rather than administrative warrants, for immigration enforcement actions is dead on arrival. “That is a road that we cannot or should not go down,” Johnson said.

Image by Adrian Hon.

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

show less
show more
5 hours ago
William Upton
Breaking

Attempted Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Receives Life Sentence.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump just before the 2024 election, has received a life sentence in prison.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ryan Routh, President Trump, and Judge Aileen Cannon.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in Florida.

🎯IMPACT: A federal jury in Florida found Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate Trump last September, prompting Routh to try to kill himself by stabbing a pen into his neck as the verdict was being announced.

IN FULL

Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump just before the 2024 election, has received a life sentence in prison. A federal jury in Florida found Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate Trump last September, prompting Routh to try to kill himself by stabbing a pen into his neck as the verdict was being announced.

Notably, early on in his trial, Routh fired his defense attorneys and represented himself—resulting in a number of bizarre incidents and behavior by the would-be assassin. He attempted to argue that he committed no crime as he never fired a shot. However, his rambling, 42-minute closing argument, which featured references to Ukraine, was shut down by Judge Aileen Cannon for being off-topic.

Before attempting to kill then-candidate Trump, Routh ran the International Volunteer Center in Ukraine and spent a great deal of time in Kiev over the past several years. Additionally, he appears to have been deeply involved with efforts to send Afghanistan military veterans, who fled the country after the Taliban retook power, to Ukraine to bolster the Eastern European nation’s efforts to halt the Russian invasion.

The National Pulse reported in September of 2024 that Routh had offered a $150,000 bounty to “whomever can complete the job” of assassinating President Trump, a task which he eventually took up himself as the President played a round of golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Routh was also hit with numerous state criminal charges in Florida, including an attempted felony murder charge for causing severe injuries to a six-year-old girl during his failed escape in the wake of the attempted assassination. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) has also charged Routh with first-degree attempted murder and a terrorism offense.

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

show less
show more
5 hours ago
Corruption

Top Mamdani Aide Ali Najmi Linked to Law Firm Accused of Major Fraud.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A close ally of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), Ali Najmi, who serves as chairman of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, is linked to a law firm accused of engaging in a massive insurance fraud scheme.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ali Najmi, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Liakas Law, PC, alongside critics like Tom Stebbins of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Najmi joined Liakas Law in October 2025, just before Mamdani’s election. The federal lawsuit against the firm was filed last week in Brooklyn.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The last thing they [New Yorkers] need is a Shelly Silver part two.” – Tom Stebbins

🎯IMPACT: Ethical concerns and potential conflicts of interest arise as Najmi holds sway over judicial nominees while connected to a law firm accused of fraud.

IN FULL

Ali Najmi, a key political ally to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) and chairman of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, is under scrutiny for his connection to Liakas Law, PC. The Manhattan-based personal injury firm is accused in a federal lawsuit of running a “fraudulent enterprise” targeting immigrants and vulnerable individuals through sham lawsuits and inflated medical bills.

Najmi, who joined Liakas Law as “Special Counsel” in October 2025, has denied involvement in the allegations, stating, “I am not associated with the frivolous litigation attack against the firm which started long before I joined.” However, critics, including Tom Stebbins of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York, have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest given Najmi’s dual roles with the city government and the firm.

“The last thing they New Yorkers need is a Shelly Silver part two,” Stebbins said, adding, “The potential conflicts of interest here are innumerable.” Sheldon Silver, the former New York Assembly speaker, faced corruption charges for his “Of Counsel” position at a law firm while steering judicial appointments and blocking tort reform.

The lawsuit against Liakas Law, filed in Brooklyn federal court last week, alleges that the firm recruited plaintiffs, including illegal immigrants, to fake accidents and injuries. The suit also claims the firm used falsified medical documentation to inflate claims, with examples of plaintiffs exaggerating injuries while later being photographed engaging in physical activities.

One plaintiff, who claimed he was unable to put on underwear without assistance, was reportedly seen celebrating at a bar and playing soccer shortly after his testimony. In addition to the fraud allegations, Liakas Law is facing a federal False Claims Act lawsuit for unlawfully obtaining $1.09 million in PPP loans, with damages potentially reaching $3.29 million.

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

show less
show more
6 hours ago
William Upton
Immigration
News

Trump Admin Pulls 23% of Feds in Minnesota as Focus Shifts After Protests.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it will begin a partial drawdown of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents in Minnesota.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: White House Border Czar Tom Homan, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D), ICE, CBP, illegal immigrants, and anti-ICE agitators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I keep hearing it and hearing it and hearing it—we are not surrendering the President’s mission on a mass deportation operation. If you are in the country illegally, if we find you, we’ll deport you.” — Tom Homan

🎯IMPACT: An estimated 2,000 agents will remain in the state to conduct ongoing immigration enforcement operations, with Homan stressing that the drawdown is only possible if Minnesota Democrats follow through with their commitment to honor ICE detainers.

IN FULL

The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it will begin a partial drawdown of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents in Minnesota. White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced the move during a press conference in Minneapolis, stating that “effective immediately,” around 700 federal law enforcement officers will be returned to their regions of jurisdiction, though an estimated 2,000 agents will remain in the state to conduct ongoing immigration enforcement operations. Importantly, Homan stressed the drawdown is only possible if Minnesota Democrats follow through with their commitment to honor ICE detainers.

“We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets,” Homan said, adding: “Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration, and as a result of the need of less law enforcement officers to do this work in a safer environment, I am announcing effective immediately, we will draw down 700 people.”


President Trump’s border czar, who was deployed to Minnesota late last month to reach an accord with Governor Tim Walz (D) and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) on cooperating with ICE detainers and lowering tensions in the state, emphasized that the mass deportations will continue. “I keep hearing it and hearing it and hearing it—we are not surrendering the President’s mission on a mass deportation operation. If you are in the country illegally, if we find you, we’ll deport you,” Homan insisted.

Early in January, the Trump administration was forced to surge hundreds of CBP agents and other federal law enforcement to the Minneapolis and St. Paul area amid growing violent anti-ICE protests and widespread interference in immigration enforcement operations by leftist agitators. Two anti-ICE activists were fatally shot amid attempts to interfere with and resist ICE and CBP agents, which caused the leftist demonstrations to become increasingly aggressive and hostile.


Image by Gage Skidmore.

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

show less
show more
Footer Ad
Footer Ad