GET THE APP
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
5 minutes ago
News
Politics

Cornyn Camp Mocks, Belittles Wesley Hunt and His Voters.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) attacked Representative Wesley Hunt (R-TX) after his third-place finish in the Texas Republican primary for Senator John Cornyn’s seat, potentially alienating Hunt’s supporters ahead of a May run-off between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: SLF Executive Director Alex Latcham, Wesley Hunt, John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and GOP fundraiser Caroline Wren.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 2026, Texas Republican primary race.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Congratulations to Wesley Hunt on an abysmal third place finish in Texas’ Republican primary.” – Alex Latcham

🎯IMPACT: The statement by the SLF, which is backing Cornyn, may drive Hunt and his hundreds of thousands of supporters to back Paxton in the run-off.

IN FULL

The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), which is backing Republican-in-name-only (RINO) Senator John Cornyn in the primary race for his Texas seat, has taken a swipe at Wesley Hunt following his third-place finish in the first round of the contest. Observers believe this is likely to motivate Hunt and his supporters to back Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his head-to-head run-off with Cornyn.

SLF Executive Director Alex Latcham issued a statement belittling Hunt and, by extension, his supporters, saying, “Congratulations to Wesley Hunt on an abysmal third place finish in Texas’ Republican primary. Instead of fighting for President Trump and conservative priorities, Wesley launched a career-ending vanity tour without any substance or political reasoning. While Wesley’s amateur consultants got wealthy on his senseless campaign, Republican voters are now forced to endure an even longer primary runoff election.”

Paxton and Cornyn appear to have finished the first round of the primary neck-and-neck, within roughly one percent of each other. Hunt, while significantly behind the pair, still boasted around 14 percent of the vote share with approaching 300,000 voters—who will likely decide the run-off.

Caroline Wren, a prominent GOP fundraiser, questioned the wisdom of Cornyn’s camp alienating Hunt and his supporters ahead of the run-off, writing on social media, “Politics is a game of addition. And SLF just told 200,000+ Wesley Hunt voters to fuck off.”

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

show less
show more
35 minutes ago
Politics

WATCH: GOP Senator Grills Kristi Noem Over $220M Taxpayer Ad Spend, Vendors.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced criticism over a $220 million ad campaign.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kristi Noem, Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The hearing took place on a Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The President approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you feature prominently?” – Sen. John Kennedy

🎯IMPACT: The ad campaign raised questions about spending priorities and the bidding process.

IN FULL

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem faced criticism from Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) during a hearing, as he questioned the effectiveness and intent of a $220 million ad campaign supposedly targeting illegal immigrants. Kennedy suggested the campaign was more about boosting Noem’s name recognition than promoting the Trump administration’s agenda.

“How do you square that concern for waste, which I share, with the fact that you have spent $220 million running television advertisements that feature you prominently?” Sen. Kennedy pressed during Sec. Noem’s appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Noem responded, “Sir, the President tasked me with getting the message out to the country and to other countries, where we were seeing the invasion come from, with putting commercials out that told them that if they were in this country illegally, they needed to leave.”

“The President asked you to run these advertisements. Is that correct?” Kennedy continued, with Noem stating that President Donald J. Trump did. The DHS Secretary further stated that the contracts to produce the ads went out to a competitive bid. When pressed further about whether the contractors who produced the television ads had formerly worked for her political operation in South Dakota, Noem insisted they had not, but did not clearly answer whether their subcontractors had.

Sen. Kenney again circled back to whether President Trump had approved Noem spending $220 million on the advertisement campaign “in which you [Noem] feature prominently?” Again, Sec. Noem answered in the affirmative and insisted the television ads had been effective.

“They were effective in your name recognition… To me, it puts the President in a terribly awkward spot—and I’m not saying you’re not telling the truth, it’s just hard for me to believe, knowing the President as I do, that you said, ‘Mr. President, here’s some ads I’ve cut, and I’m gonna spend $220 million running them,’ that he would have agreed to that,” Sen. Kennedy responded, adding, “I don’t think Russ Vought would’ve agreed to that. It’s something we have to defend… It troubles me. A quarter of a billion in taxpayer money when we’re scratching for every penny.”

The Strategy Group, a firm with ties to Noem and Corey Lewandowski, acted as a subcontractor on the ad campaign for Safe America Media, LLC, the firm initially awarded the contract. Safe America Media, LLC was formed just days before receiving the contract, bypassing the usual competitive bidding process due to a national emergency declaration. The Strategy Group’s involvement has drawn further scrutiny as its CEO is married to former DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin.

Following Kennedy’s comments, McLaughlin responded in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “[Sen. Kennedy], if you’re going to accuse someone of corruption, you better have your facts straight. No, my husband doesn’t own Safe America and is not apart of it. He nor his company have ever had a contract with DHS.”

WATCH HERE:

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

show less
show more
Footer Ad
Footer Ad
2 hours ago
War

WATCH: U.S. Submarine Torpedoes Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. submarine launched a torpedo strike, sinking an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, killing at least 80 Iranians onboard.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Navy, the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, Sri Lankan officials, and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred late Tuesday night in international waters, approximately 44 nautical miles off the southern coast of Sri Lanka.

💬KEY QUOTE: “An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. It was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death—the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.” – Pete Hegseth

🎯IMPACT: The strike marks the first U.S. attack on Iranian military assets outside the Middle East since the conflict began.

IN FULL

The United States Department of War (DOW) has confirmed it carried out a submarine torpedo strike that sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth noted that the attack marked the first U.S. sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.

“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Sec. Hegseth said on Wednesday, continuing, “It was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death—the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.”

“Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win,” Hegseth added.

According to Hegseth, the Iranian frigate was targeted late Tuesday night while sailing in international waters. The vessel, described as the newest in Iran’s naval fleet, was equipped with surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedo launchers. At least 80 crew members were reported dead, with 32 survivors rescued and hospitalized in Galle, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Vijitha Herath, confirmed that the Sri Lankan coastguard responded to a distress call from the Iranian ship early Wednesday morning. Herath stated that Sri Lanka, as a signatory to the international convention on maritime search and rescue, dispatched two vessels to assist in rescue operations.

Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran have yet to officially comment on the incident. However, Sri Lankan officials reported that Iranian sources believe the ship’s defense systems were disabled by electromagnetic means prior to the torpedo strike. The attack occurred 44 nautical miles off the coastal city of Galle, within Sri Lanka’s economic zone but outside its territorial waters.

This strike follows days of joint U.S.-Israel operations against Iranian leadership and military targets in the Middle East, including the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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

show less
show more
2 hours ago
News
War

Trump Poised to Invoke Defense Production Act to Boost Munitions Production for Iran War.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is considering invoking the Defense Production Act to accelerate the production of munitions amid concerns over U.S. stockpiles during “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the U.S. military.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Discussions took place recently in Washington, D.C., as the U.S. military carries out operations in Iran and across the Middle East.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The U.S. military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and weapons stockpiles to achieve the goals of Operation Epic Fury laid out by President Trump—and beyond.” – Karoline Leavitt

🎯IMPACT: The move could ensure sufficient munitions for the ongoing conflict while replenishing stockpiles, but concerns remain about America’s long-term readiness and production capacity.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is considering invoking the Defense Production Act to ramp up the manufacturing of munitions, driven by worries about U.S. inventory levels during the ongoing “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran. This law permits the government to direct production priorities toward critical national security requirements; the idea of invoking it has surfaced in closed-door briefings on Capitol Hill, per people with knowledge of the discussions.

President Donald J. Trump has openly called on defense manufacturers to speed up output, stating, “We have unlimited middle and upper ammunition, which is really what we’re using in this war.” Trump further stated that defense firms are operating “under emergency orders” to fulfill military demands.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that the armed forces possess adequate supplies to fulfill the mission’s aims, declaring, “The U.S. military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and weapons stockpiles to achieve the goals of Operation Epic Fury laid out by President Trump—and beyond.”

Anxieties regarding reserves have grown due to America’s continued backing of partners such as Israel and Ukraine and the heavy use of defensive missile stockpiles to defend the former. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has privately raised concerns about shortages of air defense munitions during talks with the President and lawmakers.

Activating the Defense Production Act could tackle short-term requirements while also rebuilding inventories for potential future contingencies.

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

show less
show more
13 hours ago
Breaking

Ratchet Rep Jasmine Crockett Loses Senate Primary and DOESN’T Get to Keep Her House Seat.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Jasmine Crockett lost the Democratic Primary for the U.S. Senate in Texas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jasmine Crockett, James Talarico, and Ahmad Hassan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Democratic Primary results were announced in Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Jasmine had to decline reelection for her present seat in the US House in order to run for Senate, so she’ll be OUT after this year.” — Nick Sortor

🎯IMPACT: Jasmine Crockett’s career in Congress will come to an end after this year.

IN FULL

In a significant political development, Jasmine Crockett has been defeated in the Democratic Primary for the U.S. Senate in Texas. This marks the end of her current congressional career.

Crockett had to forgo her reelection bid for her current U.S. House seat to pursue the Senate race, meaning she will not return to Congress after this year.

The latest results show James Talarico leading with 51.8% of the votes, amounting to 748,989 votes. Jasmine Crockett received 46.9%, translating to 678,600 votes. Ahmad Hassan garnered 1.2%, with 17,897 votes.

This outcome signifies a notable shift in the political landscape for Texas Democrats, as Crockett’s exit opens up her current House seat for new contenders.

Because she filed for the Senate race instead of reelection to the House, other Democrats are already competing for the Dallas-area seat she held.

Crockett has endorsed Frederick Haynes III, which could give him a boost in the primary.

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

show less
show more
14 hours ago
Breaking

BREAKING: ‘Eyepatch McCain’ Dan Crenshaw Loses in Humiliating GOP Primary.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Rep. Dan Crenshaw lost the Republican primary to Steve Toth.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dan Crenshaw, Steve Toth, Martin Etwop, and N. Plumb.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The primary took place in Texas, with 58% of votes reported at the time of publication.

🎯IMPACT: The result marks a significant shift in the political landscape for Texas Republicans.

IN FULL

In a humiliating turn of events, incumbent Rep. Dan Crenshaw has been defeated by challenger Steve Toth in the Republican primary.

With 58% of the votes counted, Toth has secured 57.6% of the vote, totalling 23,674 votes, while Crenshaw garnered 39.2%, with 16,117 votes.

Other candidates in the race included Martin Etwop, who received 1.8% of the vote, and N. Plumb, who captured 1.5%.

The total number of votes reported was 41,128, signaling a clear victory for Toth over the incumbent Crenshaw.

This outcome represents a significant upset and could have broader implications for the Republican Party’s direction in Texas.

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

show less
show more
Footer Ad
Footer Ad
17 hours ago
Education
News

SCOTUS Suspends CA Law Hiding Student Gender Transitions From Parents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Supreme Court granted an emergency appeal, allowing California schools to notify parents if their children identify as transgender, overriding the need for student approval.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Supreme Court, the Thomas More Society representing Catholic parents, and the California state government.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was made on Monday, March 2, 2026, concerning California schools.

💬KEY QUOTE: Justice Samuel Alito described the matter as “an issue of great and growing national importance.”

🎯IMPACT: The decision blocks a California law banning automatic parental notification and reinstates a lower court order, pending further legal proceedings.

IN FULL

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily permitted public schools in California to notify parents if their children are identifying as transgender in class, even without the student’s consent. The order came after an emergency appeal by the Thomas More Society, which represented Catholic parents challenging the state’s policies.

The ruling blocks the enforcement of a California law that barred automatic parental notification when students change their pronouns or gender expression at school. A lower court order that previously halted the law will remain in effect while the case proceeds. Religious parents and educators argued that the state’s rules misled families and enabled social transitions at school without parental knowledge or approval.

California officials defended the policy as a safeguard for student privacy, particularly for children who may face rejection or conflict at home. However, the Supreme Court sided with the parents at this stage of the litigation. The decision aligns with arguments that the notification ban interfered with parental rights, especially where religious objections were raised.

The case reflects the Court’s broader engagement with disputes over transgenderism. Justice Samuel Alito previously observed that school policies around supposedly transgender students are of “great and growing national importance.”

In June 2025, the Court upheld a Tennessee law prohibiting transgender medical “treatments” for minors in United States v. Skrmetti. The majority concluded that the state’s restrictions did not violate the Equal Protection Clause, leaving such policy determinations to lawmakers. Subsequent lower court rulings have similarly upheld state bans on transing minors.

The Court has also addressed transgender participation in athletics and in the military. It allowed enforcement of a federal policy restricting transgenders from serving in the armed forces while litigation continues. Disputes over transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports remain active in federal courts.

In January, the Trump administration determined that California’s parental-notification restrictions violated parents’ rights to access their children’s education records. The Justice Department also launched legal action contending that the state’s transgender athlete policies, allowing males to compete against females, conflicted with federal civil rights law.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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

show less
show more
17 hours ago
War
World

China Demands U.S. and Israel Halt Strikes on Iran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: China has expressed opposition to military strikes launched by Israel and the U.S. against Iran, calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and other international officials, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wang Yi intervened during a phone call on Tuesday following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Force cannot truly solve problems; instead, it often creates new ones and leaves serious long-term consequences,” said Wang Yi.

🎯IMPACT: Explosions in Tehran and Beirut, Lebanon, have disrupted global energy markets, with China calling for dialogue and negotiation to address the crisis.

IN FULL

China is officially demanding that the United States and Israel cease their military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed this stance during a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday, according to a statement from China‘s Foreign Ministry.

“Force cannot truly solve problems; instead, it often creates new ones and leaves serious long-term consequences. The real value of military power lies not on the battlefield but in preventing war,” Wang was quoted as saying during the call. Wang emphasized China’s commitment to resolving international and regional issues through dialogue and negotiation, pledging to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation.

In addition to his conversation with Saar, Wang held discussions with the foreign ministers of Iran, Oman, and France on Monday, urging Gulf nations to unite against external interference. He also spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday regarding the war. However, Wang has not yet communicated with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Notably, China purchases between 80 and 90 percent of Iranian oil—at a discount—because Western sanctions largely prevent the Islamic Republic from selling petroleum on the global market. Some estimates suggest that Iranian oil accounts for between 10 and 15 percent of China’s total energy imports, with Venezuela having accounted for another 10 to 15 percent until the U.S. removed dictator Nicolás Maduro from power.

The disruption of Iranian oil exports to China could have significant impacts on the Chinese economy—already reeling from U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs—though it is believed that China had built up some temporary reserves before the American and Israeli strikes against Iran began.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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

show less
show more
18 hours ago
News

WATCH: BLM Founder Filmed Fighting Woman at Resource Center.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Surveillance footage captured a physical altercation between Black Lives Matter (BLM) Lake County Founder Clyde McLemore and project manager Nyesha A. Hill in Waukegan. Police responded to another fight between the two in January.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Clyde McLemore, founder of Black Lives Matter Lake County, and Nyesha A. Hill, a project manager for the organization.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred in November and January at the Black Lives Matter Resource Center, 668 Lenox Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s not fair that I come here and I work and you running around taking care of other things that don’t got nothing to do with Black Lives Matter with Black Lives Matter money.” – Nyesha A. Hill.

🎯IMPACT: Police reports revealed conflicting statements; no arrests were made, but McLemore later obtained an emergency stalking no-contact order against Hill.

IN FULL

Black Lives Matter (BLM) Lake County founder and Executive Director Clyde McLemore and project manager Nyesha A. Hill were recorded on surveillance video fighting inside the group’s Resource Center at 668 Lenox Avenue in Waukegan, Illinois, in November. Police were called to the location again on January 12 for another physical altercation between the two.

The Waukegan Police Department responded after McLemore dialed 911, alleging battery. Body camera footage shows McLemore telling officers that Hill entered his office, demanding money and cigarettes. He said he refused, claiming he had neither, and alleged she attacked him when he would not comply.

Hill disputed that account, accusing McLemore of mishandling funds intended for Black Lives Matter activities and claiming she had not been paid for her work. She told officers, “It’s not fair that I come here and I work and you running around taking care of other things that don’t got nothing to do with Black Lives Matter with Black Lives Matter money.”

Both suffered minor injuries, but neither chose to press charges. Police cited conflicting statements and said there was not enough probable cause to make an arrest. McLemore, who has a prior legal history, later obtained an emergency stalking no-contact order against Hill. Hill, who also has a criminal record, has alleged that McLemore frequently misused organizational funds while failing to compensate her.

Black Lives Matter, founded in 2013 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin, grew into a national movement by 2020, fueling riots that saw the toppling of statues of Christopher Columbus, Confederate generals, and other historical figures in several cities. Recently, some monuments have been restored.

WATCH HERE:

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

show less
show more
18 hours ago
William Upton
War
World

This Middle East Faction Could Be Key to Toppling Iran’s Islamist Regime.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Increasing evidence suggests the Kurds of Western Iran and Northern Iraq could play a pivotal role in destroying what remains of the regime forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Reza Pahlavi, Masoud Barzani, Bafel Talabani, Iran’s Artesh, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Israeli and U.S. military forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Reports of possible Kurdish armed operations began surfacing after joint-U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran began over the weekend.

💬KEY QUOTE: “To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Iran and its proxy Shia militias in Iraq have intensified attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan—suggesting the regime recognizes the possible threat from armed Kurds.

IN FULL

Increasing evidence suggests the Kurds of Western Iran and Northern Iraq could play a pivotal role in destroying what remains of the regime forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. President Donald J. Trump reportedly spoke by phone with Kurdish leaders in Iraq this past Sunday after the United States and Israel began joint airstrikes against Iranian political and military leaders and critical infrastructure used by the regime to launch missiles and drones.

It is believed that President Trump spoke with Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, the top leaders of the two largest Kurdish factions in Iraqi Kurdistan. Meanwhile, Britain’s ITV News claims that over the past year, Kurds in Northern Iraq have utilized smuggling routes once used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to smuggle terrorists and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) into Iraq to instead move weapons into Iran for use by the Kurdish population in the western territories of the Islamic Republic. These weapons and Kurdish militias could form an improvised ground force against what remains of the IRGC and Iran’s conventional army, called the Artesh.

Notably, the first wave of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed around 40 of Iran’s top political and military officials, including its Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The breakdown in Iran’s command-and-control structure has decentralized power within its military.

During an early morning address on Saturday, President Trump called on the soldiers in Iran’s Artesh and IRGC to “lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death.” Subsequently, U.S. strikes have targeted Iranian military figures throughout the chain of command, along with police stations and military facilities.

Meanwhile, Iran and its proxy Shia militias in Iraq have intensified attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan—suggesting the regime recognizes the possible threat from armed Kurds. Adding further credence to possible Kurdish military action is a video address posted by Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince, in which he calls upon Iran‘s Kurds and other minority groups to rise against the Islamic regime—promising a new government that will ensure secular governance, equal rights, and cultural protections.

Additional reports suggest the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been actively involved in efforts to arm Kurdish fighters within Iran.

Image by Hossein Zohrevand/Tasnim News Agency.

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

show less
show more
Footer Ad
Footer Ad