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Wednesday, April 1, 2026
7 minutes ago
Science

America’s Return to the Moon Appears Set to Begin Tonight With Artemis II Launch.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: NASA announced Artemis II, humanity’s first lunar mission since 1972, aiming for a quick lunar flyby and return.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will participate in the mission.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The mission is expected to launch in April, with a 10-day journey to and from the moon.

🎯IMPACT: The mission sets the stage for future lunar exploration and eventual settlement.

IN FULL

NASA’s return to lunar exploration is poised to begin with the Artemis II mission, which is currently sitting on the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. As of Wednesday morning, the superheavy rocket that will carry Artemis II into space is fueling and barring any issue—such as leaks—the launch will occur during a 2-hour window beginning at 6:24 PM this evening.

Artemis II will see a crew of four astronauts, three Americans and a Canadian, execute an orbital flyby of the moon, traveling thousands of miles through the void of space before returning to Earth. The entire mission is expected to last just under 10 days, though it will not include a lunar landing or extended orbit.

The Artemis II crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. Koch, who holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, and Glover, the first Black astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station, are joined by Hansen, a Canadian rookie astronaut, and Wiseman, the mission commander and a retired Navy captain.

Notably, the mission will utilize NASA‘s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which is more powerful than the Saturn V rocket used during the Apollo missions. However, the SLS has faced challenges, including hydrogen leaks that delayed previous tests. The Artemis II mission has also experienced delays due to similar technical issues.

Once launched, the crew will practice docking maneuvers before heading towards the moon. Their journey will follow a free-return trajectory, a method that uses gravity to minimize fuel use. On flight day six, the Orion spacecraft used in the mission will reach its farthest point from Earth, surpassing the distance record set by Apollo 13. The crew will then return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.

The National Pulse previously reported that Artemis II is the first stage of a long-term NASA plan to not only return to the moon but also establish permanent human habitation on the lunar surface.

Image by Taavi Niittee.

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55 minutes ago
William Upton
War

This NATO Member Just Instituted Emergency Measures to Curb Iran War Fuel Crisis.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Markup caps and export restrictions on fuel went into effect in Romania on April 1, as the country faces a growing energy crisis stemming in part from the ongoing U.S. military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the disruption of oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Romania, the wider European Union, Australia, the United States, and Iran.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The emergency measures went into effect on April 1, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: Since the start of the U.S. conflict with Iran, the cost of gasoline in Romania has risen by 17.6 percent, while diesel has jumped  25.2 percent.

IN FULL

Markup caps and export restrictions on fuel went into effect in Romania on April 1, as the country faces a growing energy crisis stemming in part from the ongoing U.S. military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the disruption of oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. The NATO member has also been exposed as having failed to keep up its refinery infrastructure, with the country having just one functioning refinery, Petrobrazi, operated by OMV Petrom.

Concerningly, the Petrobrazi refinery is only capable of producing—when operating at capacity—4.5 million tons of fuel per year. Meanwhile, Romanians consume an average of 8.4 million tons of fuel each year. This reliance on a single refinery has left Romania reliant on oil and gas imports for around 65 to 70 percent of its fuel.

This dependence on foreign fuel imports is a crisis impacting much of Europe and Australia as well. The chaos in Asian energy markets has pushed Australia toward the United States for fuel imports, with the nation expected to receive at least two tankers of diesel fuel in the coming days.

In Romania, the extraordinary measures to address the energy crisis will remain in effect until at least June 30. Since the start of the U.S. conflict with Iran, the cost of gasoline in Romania has risen by 17.6 percent, while diesel has jumped  25.2 percent.

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1 hour ago
News

Trump Questions U.S. NATO Membership Again – ‘They Weren’t There For Us.’

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Donald Trump expressed strong consideration for pulling the U.S. out of NATO after the alliance did not join his efforts against Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. President Donald Trump, NATO allies, and Sir Keir Starmer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent statements made to Connor Stringer at The Telegraph.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by Nato. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The statement signifies a potential shift in U.S. defense strategy and raises questions about NATO’s reliability as a defense partner.

IN FULL

U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a strong possibility of withdrawing the United States from NATO, criticizing the alliance for not joining his military efforts against Iran. The U.S. President described NATO as a “paper tiger” and indicated that the decision to pull out is “beyond reconsideration.”

This development comes as the White House expresses dissatisfaction with European allies, who rejected Trump’s request to deploy warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The strait has been effectively closed by Tehran, impacting global oil and gas prices.

In his remarks to The Telegraph, Trump questioned NATO’s commitment, stating, “Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by Nato. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”

Trump also criticized the UK, particularly Sir Keir Starmer, for not participating in the conflict, implying that the Royal Navy is inadequate. “You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” he commented.

When asked about defense spending, Trump said, “I’m not going to tell him what to do. He can do whatever he wants. It doesn’t matter. All Starmer wants is costly windmills that are driving your energy prices through the roof.”

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2 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Counterfeit Document Scheme.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Guatemalan national, Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho, was sentenced for his role in a counterfeit document-selling scheme in Michigan.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Vasquez-Mencho, two other Guatemalan nationals, and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The case originated in September 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan; sentencing occurred in March 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Vasquez-Mencho deserved to be prosecuted and punished. It is bad enough that he has repeatedly violated our immigration laws by crossing the border without permission. Worse than that, once he got here, he operated an illegal document business that enabled others like him to obtain employment illegally and claim taxpayer-supported public services. This conduct must stop.” – U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey

🎯IMPACT: Vasquez-Mencho will serve six months in federal prison before being deported to Guatemala for the third time.

IN FULL

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan reported the sentencing of 41-year-old Guatemalan illegal Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho. He was convicted of participating in an operation that sold counterfeit Social Security cards and permanent resident alien cards to other illegal immigrants in the Grand Rapids area.

Vasquez-Mencho received a six-month federal prison term. He is the second of three Guatemalan nationals charged in the scheme, which supplied fake documents so that illegals could secure jobs and obtain public services reserved for lawful residents. His specific responsibilities involved handing over the counterfeit items and collecting the payments from buyers.

U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey stated, “Vasquez-Mencho deserved to be prosecuted and punished. It is bad enough that he has repeatedly violated our immigration laws by crossing the border without permission. Worse than that, once he got here, he operated an illegal document business that enabled others like him to obtain employment illegally and claim taxpayer-supported public services. This conduct must stop.”

This was Vasquez-Mencho’s third time being caught unlawfully present in the United States. After the first incident, he was permitted to leave voluntarily. After the second, he was formally removed to Guatemala. Once he finishes serving his current sentence, he will be deported yet again.

The investigation began with a grand-jury indictment in Grand Rapids in September 2025 that named Vasquez-Mencho, Norma Yanari Ayala, and Rigoberto Vasquez-Vasquez. The three were accused of conspiring to produce and sell fake permanent resident cards and Social Security cards. On March 16, U.S. Attorney VerHey also announced the sentencing of Ayala—who had previously been deported four times—to eight months in federal prison for her part in the same scheme.

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16 hours ago
Samuel Martin
Crime
News

Dem Rep Complains Mural to Murdered Iryna Zarutska Doesn’t Reflect City’s ‘Values.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Democrat state Representative and mayoral candidate in Providence, Rhode Island, said a mural of murdered Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska does not reflect the city’s “values” and should be removed.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Democrat state Rep. and mayoral candidate David Morales, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley (D), and Republican state Senator Jessica de la Cruz.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Providence, Rhode Island, Monday evening.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Ultimately, we want to make sure that every community member that calls Providence home feels safe… this mural behind us does not reflect Providence’s values.” – David Morales

🎯IMPACT: Morales has faced backlash for demanding the removal of the mural, with some residents and fellow state officials criticizing the idea that remembering the dead is “divisive.”

IN FULL

David Morales, a Democrat state representative and mayoral candidate in Providence, Rhode Island, has called for a mural of Iryna Zarutska, the Ukrainian refugee murdered by a serial criminal in Charlotte, North Carolina, to be removed. Morales denounced the mural as being out-of-step with the city’s values, saying: “Ultimately, we want to make sure that every community member that calls Providence home feels safe… this mural behind us does not reflect Providence’s values.” 

Morales further characterized the mural as “divisive,” stating: “We’re seeing a right-wing movement that is exploiting the death of the refugee for the purposes of trying to spread division.” Painted on the wall of a gay club in Providence, Rhode Island, the mural is dedicated to Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death on August 22 in North Carolina, allegedly by DeCarlos Brown, a man with a history of criminal offenses—but often spared prison or released early due to liberal judges and prosecutors refusing to pursue more serious charges—who declared “I got that white girl” after the killing. Brown has been indicted for first-degree murder. 

Upon completion, the mural was protested and vandalized by far-left activists in Providence. Mayor of Providence Brett Smiley (D) has also called for its removal, stating, “The misguided, isolating intent of those funding murals like the one across the county is divisive and does not represent Providence.” 

Still, not everyone agrees with Providence’s far-left local officials. Rhode Island state senator Jessica de la Cruz (R) voiced her opposition to removing the mural, describing it as a form of free expression protected by the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect expression like this, even when it’s uncomfortable. Ordering it removed isn’t leadership. It’s censorship,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The mural is part of a nationwide project partially funded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who criticized the lack of coverage of the case from corporate media outlets. Notably, Providence officials have previously allowed George Floyd murals.   

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16 hours ago
News

Protesters Vandalize Larry Ellison’s Superyacht.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Activists renamed Larry Ellison’s private megayacht with a protest decal reading “The Trump Propagandist.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tech billionaire Larry Ellison and the British leftist political protest group Led By Donkeys.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred over the weekend in the French Riviera, where the yacht was docked.

💬KEY QUOTE: “And that is why we’ve renamed this superyacht ‘The Trump Propagandist.’” – Led By Donkeys

🎯IMPACT: The protest highlighted Ellison’s political influence and media acquisitions, sparking online debate.

IN FULL

Activists from the British far-leftist political campaign group “Led By Donkeys” targeted tech billionaire Larry Ellison’s $160 million megayacht over the weekend. The yacht, named Musashi, was docked in the French Riviera when activists placed a large decal on it, symbolically renaming it “The Trump Propagandist.” The group shared footage of the stunt, saying, “The yacht is called the Musashi, but not for long—because we’re about to rename it.”

Ellison, co-founder of Oracle and one of the world’s richest men, has become increasingly active in politics. He was recently appointed to President Donald J. Trump’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

He has also expanded his footprint in media and business. Reports indicate Ellison personally guaranteed $40.4 billion in a major deal tied to Warner Bros. Discovery, underscoring his growing role in the entertainment and news sectors. Meanwhile, Oracle has announced significant layoffs.

Led By Donkeys claimed the protest as a broader critique of billionaire influence. In their video, they stated, “The billionaires are buying up the news to support their friends, the politicians pitching our world into chaos and war. Then they jump on their superyachts, accountable to nobody.”

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17 hours ago
War

Another NATO Ally Denies U.S. Access to Bases for Iran Missions.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Italian government reportedly denied U.S. bombers permission to use a Sicilian air base as a stopover for operations in the Middle East.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Italian government and the U.S. military were involved in the incident.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The event occurred on March 27 at a Sicilian air base in Italy.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Italy acts in full compliance with existing international agreements and with the policy guidelines set out by ​the government to parliament.” – Italian government statement.

🎯IMPACT: The decision highlights growing tensions among NATO allies and comes after similar refusals by Spain regarding U.S. operations related to the Iran war.

IN FULL

The Italian government is believed to no longer be authorizing the U.S. Air Force to use a Sicilian air base as a stopover on the way to the Middle East amid the ongoing Iran war. According to a report from the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, U.S. bombers were denied permission to land at the base as they allegedly lacked prior authorization. The incident took place over the weekend on March 27.

“Italy acts in full compliance with existing international agreements and with the policy guidelines set out by ​the government to parliament,” the Italian government said in a statement following the incident.

The National Pulse previously reported on March 30 that Spain’s Defense Minister had announced that the country would no longer allow U.S. military planes to traverse its airspace to conduct operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. “Neither the bases are authorized, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorized for any actions related to the war in Iran,” Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated, adding, “This was made perfectly clear to the American military and forces from the very beginning.” She reiterated that Spain’s socialist government views the war in Iran as “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.”

Earlier this month, the United Kingdom finally authorized the U.S. to begin using some of its bases to launch aircraft to carry out strikes against Iran. A spokesman for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that government ministers condemned Iran’s targeting of international shipping and civilian infrastructure, describing such actions as reckless and dangerous.

The spokesman added, “They confirmed that the agreement for the U.S. to use UK bases in the collective self-defense of the region includes U.S. defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.”

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17 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Somali Fraudster Handed Soft Sentence in Minnesota.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Abdul Abubakar Ali, involved in a $3 million taxpayer fraud tied to the Feeding Our Future scandal, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Abdul Abubakar Ali, Judge Nancy Brasel, defense attorney Kevin Gregorius, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Murphy, and others implicated in the Feeding Our Future scandal.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sentencing occurred on Monday, March 31, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Your honor, I just want to say I’m sorry to everyone that my actions have hurt.” – Abdul Abubakar Ali

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights the largest pandemic-era fraud in Minnesota, undermining public trust in government programs and sparking outrage over the perceived leniency of the sentence.

IN FULL

Abdul Abubakar Ali, who pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of the Feeding Our Future scandal, has been sentenced to just one year and one day in federal prison. The case ranks among the biggest pandemic-related fraud operations in the country and involved diverting more than $3 million that was supposed to feed needy children. Ali admitted he used a nonprofit organization as a front to submit phony claims for 1.5 million meals that were never provided.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel—appointed by President Donald J. Trump during his first term—pointed to “aggravating factors” at Ali’s sentencing, including the damage to public trust in government assistance programs and Ali’s efforts to recruit others into the scheme. “This is part of a very large fraud scheme, the largest in the District of Minnesota and one of the largest ever in the country,” Brasel said—only to grant a relatively light sentence anyway.

Many people on social media reacted angrily to the sentence, calling it far too lenient. The Feeding Our Future operation stole hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money that had been allocated to feed poor children during the pandemic, with much of it spent on luxury items for the conspirators. So far, more than 60 people have been convicted in the scheme, many of them Somalis.

The scandal has drawn nationwide attention as the largest single fraud prosecution ever handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota.

Image by Katrin Bolovtsova.

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18 hours ago
Breaking

BREAKING: Trump to Sign Executive Order Restricting Mail-In Voting, White House Confirms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is expected to sign an Executive Order implementing new security measures against fraud through mail-in voting.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The White House, Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: The order aims to verify eligible U.S. voters through a DHS and Social Security Administration collaboration.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump will sign a new Executive Order late Tuesday to crack down on voter fraud enabled by mail-in ballots, according to the White House. Trump administration Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the President would sign the order in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The announcement and order signing comes as the SAVE America Act remains stalled in the U.S. Senate, with a group of Republican lawmakers refusing to either abolish or alter Senate filibuster rules in order to pass the election integrity legislation. Importantly, the bill would require specific proof of citizenship in order to vote in federal elections.

According to what is known about the new Executive Order, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be required to compile a list of verified U.S. citizens eligible to vote in each state. The DHS would work alongside the Social Security Administration (SSA) to accomplish this task, according to a White House fact sheet.

In addition, the order will restrict the United States Postal Service (USPS) so that it can only send mail-in ballots to individuals on the federally approved list. Meanwhile, mail-in ballots will require specific return envelopes and a tracking barcode.

The order stipulates that state election officials will be provided their respective approved mail-in lists no less than 60 days before each federal election. It also directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prioritize prosecuting instances of voter fraud.

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19 hours ago
William Upton
Economy
War

Are Apple Stores Less Safe Due to the Iran War?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday that it will begin targeting American-based technology companies operating in the Middle East, stating what it considers “legitimate targets are gradually expanding.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The IRGC, the Trump administration, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Tesla, and JPMorgan Chase.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: The IRGC contends that the United States has “ignored our repeated warnings about the need to stop terrorist operations, and today, a number of Iranian citizens were martyred in your and your Israeli allies’ terrorist attacks; Since the main element in designing and tracking terror targets are American ICT and AI companies, in response to this terrorist operation, from now on the main institutions effective in terrorist operations will be our legitimate targets.”

🎯IMPACT: Notably, it is unclear if Iran’s IRGC paramilitary forces intend to target these technology companies’ locations outside the Middle East, such as retail locations in Europe and the United States. Concerningly, evidence suggests a number of Hezbollah and IRGC-linked individuals were able to immigrate to the United States under former President Joe Biden.

IN FULL

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday that it will begin targeting American-based technology companies operating in the Middle East, stating what it considers “legitimate targets are gradually expanding.” Among the companies the IRGC listed as targets are Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, and Tesla—along with U.S. banking giant JPMorgan Chase.

Notably, it is unclear if Iran’s IRGC paramilitary forces intend to target these technology companies’ locations outside the Middle East, such as retail locations in Europe and the United States. Concerningly, evidence suggests a number of Hezbollah and IRGC-linked individuals were able to immigrate to the United States under former President Joe Biden. At the same time, the Islamist terror groups also appear to have established cells in Europe and Canada.

The IRGC contends around 18 Americans companies are acting spies for the United States, and that the Trump administration has “ignored our repeated warnings about the need to stop terrorist operations, and today, a number of Iranian citizens were martyred in your and your Israeli allies’ terrorist attacks; Since the main element in designing and tracking terror targets are American ICT and AI companies, in response to this terrorist operation, from now on the main institutions effective in terrorist operations will be our legitimate targets.”

The Iranian threat appears to mirror similar warnings made by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, stating the United States military would begin targeting critical energy and economic infrastructure in Iran unless the regime stops targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz. By threatening popular technology companies with a global retail footprint, the IRGC appears to be trying to match or at least mimic the scale of President Trump’s threat.

Already a Hezbollah-linked Lebanese national and naturalized U.S. citizen, Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, perpetrated a ramming attack against a Jewish synagogue in Michigan. Only Ghazali died in the attack, with the 150 adults and children at the synagogue being unharmed.

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, individuals suspected of ties to Iran’s paramilitary intelligence Quds Force were arrested for a firebomb attack targeting Jewish Community Ambulance Service ambulances outside a synagogue in Golders Green.

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