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Tuesday, March 31, 2026
27 minutes 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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58 minutes 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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2 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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2 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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3 hours ago
War

The U.S. is Deploying a THIRD Aircraft Carrier as Iran War Continues.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The USS George H. W. Bush has departed from Naval Station Norfolk as the Iran war continues.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rear Admiral Alexis Walker, Vice Adm. John Gumbleton, and the crew of the USS George H. W. Bush.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 31, 2026, the carrier departed from Norfolk, Virginia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’ll be out there for however long it takes.” – Rear Adm. Alexis Walker

🎯IMPACT: The Bush is most likely heading to the Middle East to assist Operation Epic Fury, which suggests no immediate drawdown of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

IN FULL

The USS George H. W. Bush departed Norfolk, Virginia, on Tuesday as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran continues. Rear Admiral Alexis Walker, who commands the carrier strike group, did not specify its exact mission, but stated, “[W]ho knows how long it’s going to take. When our job is done around the world, then we’ll come home.”

“We’ll communicate with our families as we’re allowed to, but we’re out there to do a mission, and we’ll be out there for however long it takes, ”he added.

The USS Gerald R. Ford—another carrier based in Norfolk—was redirected to the Middle East in February and is now on the longest deployment for any U.S. carrier since the Vietnam War, even as it deals with challenges including sewage leaks and a laundry fire earlier this month. It is speculated that the Bush is intended to relieve it.

Vice Admiral John Gumbleton, Fleet Forces deputy commander, addressed the crew of the Bush prior to its departure, saying, “From the CNO [Chief of Naval Operations] on down, we are aware of the uncertainty of this deployment date, that’s caused anxiety and frustration. But no matter what the strategic outlook may be, you are ready for deployment.”

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4 hours ago
Economy
TECH

Oracle Announces Mass Layoffs as Billions Plowed Into Data Centers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Oracle, one of the largest tech companies in the U.S., sent emails to thousands of employees notifying them of their termination as part of a large layoff.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Oracle employees across regions, Oracle leadership, and billionaire chairman Larry Ellison.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The layoffs occurred on Tuesday, impacting employees in the United States, India, Canada, and other locations.

💬KEY QUOTE: “After careful consideration of Oracle’s current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change,” stated the termination email.

🎯IMPACT: The layoffs have sparked frustration and uncertainty among employees, with some criticizing Oracle’s approach and others warning of more cuts to come.

IN FULL

Oracle, one of the top ten technology companies in the United States with a market capitalization often exceeding $400–$900 billion, announced on Tuesday that it will lay off thousands of employees. In a 6:00 AM email to those workers impacted by the workforce reduction, the company wrote, “After careful consideration of Oracle’s current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change.” The employees were informed that Tuesday would be their last working day.

The layoffs affected employees across multiple regions, including the United States, India, and Canada. The termination emails, signed by “Oracle Leadership,” also asked employees to provide their personal email addresses for future correspondence. Those laid off were told they could receive severance packages after signing termination paperwork, subject to the terms of the severance plan.

Copies of the termination emails appeared on the Reddit group “employeesOfOracle,” where users expressed frustration and criticized the company’s handling of the layoffs. One user wrote, “They created widespread fear, frustration, and uncertainty among all employees, not just those directly impacted by the RIF.” Another shared the story of their father being laid off after 20 years with the company, just two years before his planned retirement, calling the process “evil.”

The layoffs come amid Oracle’s reported efforts to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) data center operations. In February, the company announced plans to raise $45 billion to $50 billion this year to expand its cloud infrastructure, leaving investors concerned about its rising debt. Reports suggest Oracle’s headcount dropped from 165,000 to 155,000 following the layoffs, with warnings that more cuts could follow.

Image by Jorge Cueva.

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4 hours ago
William Upton
Immigration
Lawfare

The Supreme Court Will Hear Arguments on Birthright Citizenship TOMORROW.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in what could become a landmark case, with President Donald J. Trump’s administration challenging the current interpretation of America’s birthright citizenship law derived from the 14th Amendment.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Supreme Court, President Trump, the children of illegal immigrants, the children of legal immigrants, and the lower federal courts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Oral arguments will be heard on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: A number of legal experts have suggested the high court could settle on a compromise ruling that would end birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants but keep it in place for the offspring of legal immigrants, based on the controversial “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” clause found in the 14th Amendment.

IN FULL

The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in what could become a landmark case with President Donald J. Trump‘s administration challenging the current interpretation of America’s birthright citizenship law derived from the 14th Amendment. Just days into his second term in the White House, President Trump issued an Executive Order ending birthright citizenship, the legal concept where anyone—no matter their immigration status—born on United States soil is granted American citizenship.

Shortly after being signed, Trump’s Executive Order was challenged in federal court, which resulted in a secondary case where the Supreme Court stepped in to limit the power of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions against executive branch policies. While not ruling on the merits of the birthright citizenship case at the time, the justices ruled that inferior federal courts could enjoin the executive branch—in most cases—only by establishing a class action lawsuit, not by issuing an injunction stemming from a single case.

In July, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Trump’s birthright citizenship order after a lower court upheld it. This ruling set the stage for the Supreme Court to give the issue some finality, announcing in December last year that it would hear the case at the start of April 2026.

At stake is a major loophole in U.S. immigration law, where even the children of illegal immigrants born on American soil become citizens—creating an anchor for the parents to dodge deportation and eventually become legal residents or citizens themselves. A number of legal experts have suggested the high court could settle on a compromise ruling that would end birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants but keep it in place for the offspring of legal immigrants based on the controversial “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” clause found in the 14th Amendment.

Such a ruling would likely center on the idea that illegal immigrants—due to their unlawful entry status—are not “subject” to American “jurisdiction,” whereas legal immigrants—due to holding a visa or green card, etc.—are subject to American jurisdiction. This already comports with how the U.S. generally treats criminal illegal immigrants, preferring to deport them to their country of origin due to complications with legal jurisdictions and diplomatic agreements.

The National Pulse reported in early February that President Trump warned that a ruling against his Executive Order restricting birthright citizenship would only benefit China. His comments came after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs he authorized under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Image by Billy Wilson.

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5 hours ago
Health
UK
War

Britain’s Socialized Health Service Facing Shortages Within Days Due to Hormuz Blockade.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United Kingdom is facing potential medicine shortages due to disruptions caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on the country.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: National Health Service (NHS) England Chief Executive Sir Jim Mackey, Independent Pharmacies Association Chief Executive Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, National Pharmacy Association Chief Executive Henry Gregg, and British patients.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The situation has developed over the past 12 to 18 months, with current impacts being reported in the UK as of late March 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are really worried about this. We’ve already had a couple of supply shocks in the last 12 to 18 months of key supplies.” – Sir Jim Mackey

🎯IMPACT: Britain could face medicine shortages within days, with wider implications for healthcare and economic stability.

IN FULL

Britain could soon face medicine shortages because of major disruptions to global shipping routes triggered by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on the country. National Health Service (NHS) England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey has warned that certain medical supplies might run out within days. “We are really worried about this. We’ve already had a couple of supply shocks in the last 12 to 18 months of key supplies,” he said.

Britain imports roughly 75 percent of its medicines and is therefore heavily dependent on international supply chains. Mackey noted that the NHS cannot simply stockpile large quantities indefinitely because many products are perishable and storage is expensive. A dedicated team has been set up to track risks across supply chains and take steps to limit any potential interruptions.

Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, called the situation a “perfect storm” created by rising energy costs, limited raw materials, and geopolitical instability. “The UK pharmacy sector depends heavily on imports, particularly from India and China, and ongoing pressures are already disrupting supply and risk worsening shortages without decisive action,” Hannbeck said.

Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said that while no medicine shortages have yet been directly linked to the conflict, price increases are already appearing and could point to bigger problems ahead. “The NHS has driven down the price of medicines over many years, which leaves the UK vulnerable in a global market,” Gregg added.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has also sparked concerns about potential fuel and food shortages, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stressing that the United Kingdom is particularly vulnerable to the wider economic fallout from the crisis. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government has said there are currently no confirmed medicine shortages caused by the Iran war, but that it is keeping a close watch on the situation.

Image by Maggie Jones.

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6 hours ago
1A
SCOTUS

Supreme Court Overturns Colorado’s Ban on Conversion Therapy.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Colorado’s law banning conversion therapy for minors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Supreme Court, Christian therapist Kaley Chiles, and Colorado state officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Tuesday and impacts Colorado and at least 20 other states with similar laws.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The First Amendment stands as a shield against any effort to enforce orthodoxy in thought or speech in this country.” – Justice Neil Gorsuch

🎯IMPACT: The ruling effectively overturns the Colorado ban and similar laws in over 20 states, asserting free speech protections for therapists.

IN FULL

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down Colorado‘s ban on conversion therapy for minors. In a surprising eight-to-one ruling in Chiles v. Salazar, the high court found in favor of Kaley Chiles, a Christian therapist who challenged the state’s ban. Attorneys for Chiles argued the Colorado law effectively infringed on her right to help young patients who sought to align their lives with their Christian faith.

“In cases like this, it censors speech based on viewpoint. Colorado may regard its policy as essential to public health and safety. Certainly, censorious governments throughout history have believed the same. But the First Amendment stands as a shield against any effort to enforce orthodoxy in thought or speech in this country,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority, continuing, “It reflects instead a judgment that every American possesses an inalienable right to think and speak freely, and a faith in the free marketplace of ideas as the best means for discovering truth.”

“However well-intentioned, any law that suppresses speech based on viewpoint represents an ‘egregious’ assault on both of those commitments,” the majority concluded, ordering the circuit court decision upholding the Colorado law reversed and remanded (effectively overturning the ban).

The law, adopted in 2019, prohibits “any practice or treatment” aimed at changing a minor’s “gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.” While the law has never been enforced, it includes fines of up to $5,000 per violation and potential suspension or revocation of a counselor’s license. Notably, it exempts religious ministry practices.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissenter, delivering a summary of her opposition from the bench. Notably, the ruling impacts over 20 other states with similar laws seeking to ban conversion therapy.

Image by Joe Ravi.

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7 hours ago
Samuel Martin
UK

UK Govt Suspends Elected Member Who Criticized the End of the Right to Jury Trials.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Karl Turner, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Britain’s governing Labour Party, was suspended after criticizing government plans to scrap jury trials.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Karl Turner, Labour Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds, and Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The suspension was communicated in recent days in the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am being told that I have had the whip suspended but I have not had any notification from the whips about this.” – Karl Turner

🎯IMPACT: The suspension highlights internal tensions within Labour over its controversial plans to scrap most jury trials.

IN FULL

Karl Turner, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Britain’s governing Labour Party, critical of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to scrap most trials by jury, has had the party whip suspended. The lawmaker stated, “I am being told that I have had the whip suspended but I have not had any notification from the whips about this. It seems journalists have been told but I have not.”

The Labour MP has been a prominent critic of Starmer’s plans to restrict jury trials to the most serious offenses. Turner has attributed his opposition to scrapping jury trials to his own acquittal by a jury after being falsely accused of a crime.

Turner, a barrister, previously criticized the decision to scrap jury trials as “undemocratic”. He also suggested David Lammy, who serves as Starmer’s Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice, was being “untruthful” when the latter said the decision was about fixing Britain’s backlog of legal casework.

Turner has also raised questions regarding the theft of a cell phone belonging to Starmer’s former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. The phone reportedly contained potentially sensitive messages to Lord Peter Mandelson, Starmer’s now-former ambassador to the U.S., who was appointed despite his known connections to deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. 

Mandelson has since been arrested following revelations in the Epstein Files suggesting he leaked confidential information to Epstein while serving in the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. 

Image by Chris McAndrew.

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