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Friday, February 27, 2026
8 hours ago
News

Greens Score Coup in UK Election by Leveraging Muslim Vote, As the Governing Labour Party Slumps Into THIRD.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A by-election (special election) for the Parliamentary constituency of Gorton and Denton, NW England, resulted in a shock win for the Green Party, which campaigned in foreign languages, targeting Muslim voters.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Candidates included Hannah Spencer (Green), Matthew Goodwin (Reform), and others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The election took place in Gorton and Denton, NW England, with results announced early morning UK time.

🎯IMPACT: Labour’s third-place finish raises questions about Keir Starmer’s leadership amidst diplomatic tensions.

IN FULL

The by-election in the UK parliamentary constituency of Gorton and Denton in NW England has concluded, with early morning results indicating a win for the Green Party.

The election was marred by sectarian campaigning, with the Green Party focusing on issues such as Gaza in a constituency with a significant Muslim population.

The results come as a stunning blow to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is currently embroiled in a diplomatic fracas with President Donald J. Trump over the fate of the Chagos Islands and the Diego Garcia military base.

While Starmer is unlikely to be deposed within his own party before May’s local elections across the country, he will almost certainly face a leadership challenge this summer.

GORTON.

In Gorton and Denton, a constituency that takes in parts of Manchester, complaints from independent election observers highlighted illegal “family voting” practices on polling day (Thursday), where family members were instructed on how to vote, a practice that is unlawful in Britain.

Labour, which previously held the seat with a large majority, saw its vote share collapse following the recent resignation of its MP over anti-Semitic messages. The Reform Party, led by Nigel Farage, fielded Matthew Goodwin – a well known academic and TV presenter – who finished a strong second.

The results were as follows:

A total of 36,814 valid votes were cast.

The Green Party’s strategy included campaigning in Urdu and Bengali and relying on postal voting. The victory is comparable to the Democratic Socialists of America outperforming the Democratic Party in the US.

Meanwhile, an anti-Reform Party, right-wing splinter group, ‘Advance UK,’ garnered fewer votes than the satirical Monster Raving Loony Party – achieving just 154 votes, or 0.4 percent.

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13 hours ago
Crime
Politics

Hillary Dodges Epstein Questions, Points to Musk Email About ‘Wild’ Island Party.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Hillary Clinton testified in a closed-door session regarding her connections to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, during which she accused Republicans of shielding President Donald J. Trump and referenced Elon Musk’s past email exchanges with Epstein.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hillary Clinton, Jeffrey Epstein, Elon Musk, House Oversight Committee members, and Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO).

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 26, 2026, at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Westchester County, New York.

💬KEY QUOTE: “You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.” – Hillary Clinton

🎯IMPACT: Clinton’s testimony reignited scrutiny over Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to powerful figures, including allegations involving Donald Trump and Elon Musk, while raising questions about the committee’s investigative priorities.

IN FULL

Hillary Clinton appeared before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday to testify about her connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The closed-door session, held at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center near her home in New York, saw Clinton repeatedly denying she had ever met Epstein, who supported the Clinton Foundation and lent it the use of his private jet, in person, while attempting to deflect allegations on others.

During the closed-door deposition, the former First Lady and wife of Epstein associate Bill Clinton, attempted to derail the questioning by pointing to an email exchange from 2012 in which Elon Musk asked Epstein about when to attend the “wildest party” on his private island. The National Pulse previously reported that in a November 25, 2012, email, Musk replied to a question from Epstein about how many people he planned to bring to the island, writing: “Probably just Talulah and me. What day/night will be the wildest party on =our [sic] island?” At that time, Musk was married to British actress Talulah Riley.

In a 2019 interview, Musk described Epstein as “obviously a creep” and said he repeatedly declined invitations to visit Epstein’s properties. However, the recently released Department of Justice (DOJ) files revealed cordial exchanges between the two men, including references to a potential SpaceX tour.

Clinton also accused Republicans of using the investigation to shield President J. Donald Trump, stating, “You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.”

Notably, the session was briefly disrupted when Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) took a photograph of Clinton, which was subsequently leaked online. Attorneys for Clinton demanded that the proceedings be halted, but the deposition resumed within an hour.

The Clintons initially resisted the subpoena to testify but agreed after being threatened with contempt charges. The committee, led by Republican lawmakers, has indicated it will release deposition videos and transcripts following legal review. Bill Clinton is expected to testify on Friday, with flight logs and photographs linking him to Epstein’s travels and multiple events.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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14 hours ago
Media
News

Netflix is OUT, Declines to Match Paramount’s Offer for Warner Bros.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Netflix decided not to increase its offer for Warner Bros.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Skydance, and the WBD Board of Directors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 26, 2026, in Hollywood, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’ve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the transaction is no longer financially attractive.” – Netflix

🎯IMPACT: Netflix will continue to focus on organic growth and invest $20 billion in quality films and series this year.

IN FULL

Netflix has announced it will not increase its offer for Warner Bros. This decision comes after Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) informed Netflix that its Board of Directors had assessed an offer from Paramount Skydance (PSKY) as superior.

“We have been responsive to Warner Bros. Discovery’s ‘Superior Proposal’ notice, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the deal would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we’ve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the transaction is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid,” Netflix said in a statement.

Netflix insisted that its business remains “healthy, strong and growing organically, powered by our slate and best-in-class streaming service.”

The Netflix-Warner Bros. merger was opposed by America First conservatives such as former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who wrote in The National Pulse in January, “This isn’t a merger to foster competition. The objective is outright control. Netflix already dominates streaming content. WBD already dominates content with a massive library and content creation ability at scale. Put them together and you don’t get ‘synergies.’ You get a vertically integrated behemoth that controls what gets made, what gets promoted, what loads fastest on your screen, and what quietly disappears.”

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14 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Judge Rules IRS Illegally Shared Taxpayer Data 43,000 Times.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ruled that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) illegally shared nearly 43,000 taxpayer addresses with U.S. immigration officials.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Thursday in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The IRS not only failed to ensure that ICE’s request for confidential taxpayer address information met the statutory requirements, but this failure led the IRS to disclose confidential taxpayer addresses to ICE in situations where ICE’s request for that information was patently deficient.” – Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly

🎯IMPACT: Judge Kollar-Kotelly has been one of several District Court judges enabling Democrat lawfare efforts to hinder President Donald J. Trump’s agenda. Last April, the judge blocked part of an election integrity Executive Order issued by President Trump requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

IN FULL

U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly—elevated by former President Bill Clinton but first appointed to the bench by former President Ronald Reagan—ruled on Thursday that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) unlawfully granted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to around 43,000 addresses contained in its records. The disclosure, according to the federal government, was part of an effort to integrate and share data across agencies.

“In other words, the IRS not only failed to ensure that ICE’s request for confidential taxpayer address information met the statutory requirements, but this failure led the IRS to disclose confidential taxpayer addresses to ICE in situations where ICE’s request for that information was patently deficient,” Judge Kollar-Kotelly wrote in her ruling. The decision is a significant blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to streamline intra-federal government data sharing, especially when it pertains to information that could assist federal immigration officials with identifying and detaining illegal immigrants.

Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling follows an earlier order issued by the judge in November that prohibited the Trump White House’s data-sharing policies. Notably, that ruling has been appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The National Pulse previously reported that Judge Kollar-Kotelly has been one of several District Court judges enabling Democrat lawfare efforts to hinder President Donald J. Trump’s agenda. Last April, the judge blocked part of an election integrity Executive Order issued by President Trump requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Image by Alpha Photo.

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15 hours ago
William Upton
Economy
TECH

Jack Dorsey’s Block, Inc. Laying Off Almost 50 Percent of Workforce Because of AI.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Block, Inc., the San Francisco-based technology company formerly known as Square—which owns Cash App—and founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, announced on Thursday that it is laying off nearly half of its workforce.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jack Dorsey, Jim McKelvey, Block, Inc. employees, Square, Cash App, and artificial intelligence tools.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re not making this decision because we’re in trouble. Our business is strong… but something has changed. We’re already seeing that the intelligence tools we’re creating and using, paired with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working which fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company.” — Jack Dorsey

🎯IMPACT: According to Dorsey, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), over 4,000 of the company’s approximately 10,000 employees will be impacted by the layoffs, with their workloads apparently being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

IN FULL

Block, Inc., the San Francisco-based technology company formerly known as Square—which owns Cash App—and founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, announced on Thursday that it is laying off nearly half of its workforce. According to Dorsey, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), over 4,000 of the company’s approximately 10,000 employees will be impacted by the layoffs, with their workloads apparently being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

“Today we’re making one of the hardest decisions in the history of our company: We’re reducing our organization by nearly half, from over 10,000 people to just under 6,000. that means over 4,000 of you are being asked to leave or entering into consultation,” Dorsey wrote in a message to Block employees. The former Twitter CEO went on to explain, “We’re not making this decision because we’re in trouble. Our business is strong… but something has changed. We’re already seeing that the intelligence tools we’re creating and using, paired with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working which fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company.”

Notably, Block, Inc.’s stock value surged on the news, jumping over 20 percent in after-market trading. Dorsey stated, “I had two options: cut gradually over months or years as this shift plays out, or be honest about where we are and act on it now. I chose the latter. Repeated rounds of cuts are destructive to morale, to focus, and to the trust that customers and shareholders place in our ability to lead.”

“I’d rather take a hard, clear action now and build from a position we believe in than manage a slow reduction of people toward the same outcome. A smaller company also gives us the space to grow our business the right way, on our own terms, instead of constantly reacting to market pressures,” he wrote.

The National Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam, during a segment on Stephen K. Bannon’s WarRoom show earlier on Thursday, warned regarding the rapidly changing AI environment and its likely impact on the American workforce, saying, “We are reaching an inflection point in the course of human history. You may not have to go sit at your desk and do your 9-5 every day. You may get a Moltbot that can make money for you while you luxuriate and enjoy the world. Or, you will be made extinct.”


In October of last year, The National Pulse reported that Amazon was looking to automate a significant portion of its operations, potentially allowing the company to avoid hiring over 600,000 U.S. workers by 2033. Leaked internal documents reveal that the Jeff Bezos-owned company aims to automate 75 percent of its operations, potentially saving $12.6 billion between 2025 and 2027.

Earlier this month, the leader of the Safeguards Research Team for Anthropic‘s Claude chatbot abruptly resigned, issuing a bizarre, poetry-laden letter that warned of a world “in peril.” Mrinank Sharma, who led the safety team since its inception in 2023, also indicated in his letter that internal pressure to ignore artificial intelligence (AI) safety protocols played a significant role in his decision to resign.

Image by Ryan Lash / TED.

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16 hours ago
News

‘We’ve Had Enough’ — Tampa Airport Pushes Pajamas Ban.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Tampa International Airport (TPA) suggested a ban on pajamas in a viral social media post.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tampa International Airport’s official @FlyTPA account on X and social media users.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 26, 2026, at Tampa International Airport.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The madness stops today. The movement starts now.” – Tampa International Airport

🎯IMPACT: The post sparked widespread amusement and debate online.

IN FULL

Tampa International Airport (TPA) is pushing for a ban on pajamas, following a previous push to ban Crocs. Writing on its official @FlyTPA account on X, the airport declared: “We’ve seen enough. We’ve had enough. It’s time to ban pajamas at Tampa International Airport.”

This follows a previous “ban” on Crocs shoes, with TPA claiming to be the “world’s first Crocs-free airport” and now aspiring to be both “Crocs-free AND pajama-free.”

“We know this decision could be disruptive to someone in your life. It’s time to have a difficult conversation with them. You can do this. We (and Phoebe) believe in you. The madness stops today. The movement starts now,” the post read.

TPA’s message concluded with a rallying cry: “DO YOUR PART. SAY NO TO PAJAMAS AT TPA.” The post quickly gained traction, garnering tens of thousands of likes, reposts, and comments, as users shared their thoughts on appropriate airport attire. While some defended comfort, others supported the idea of maintaining decorum.

TPA has confirmed that this is not an enforceable policy, and no firm changes to the dress code or enforcement measures have been put in place.

Image by Aero Icarus.

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16 hours ago
Politics

Chris LaCivita Picks Up Another Client Trump Refused to Endorse in the Primary.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) announced on Thursday that he has hired former Trump campaign chief and Republican National Committee (RNC) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chris LaCivita as a senior advisor.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gov. Brad Little, Chris LaCivita, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Thursday, February 26. 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’m excited to announce that [Chris LaCivita] has joined my re-election campaign as senior advisor.” — Brad Little

🎯IMPACT: Notably, Gov. Little was not endorsed by President Donald Trump during his 2021 primary run, with the America First leader instead backing then-Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin (R-ID).

IN FULL

Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) announced on Thursday that he has hired former Trump campaign chief and Republican National Committee (RNC) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chris LaCivita as a senior advisor. Notably, LaCivita—who has recently attacked a number of President Donald J. Trump’s long-time supporters, including calling the Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse an “illegal immigrant“—is also serving as a senior advisor to Senator John Cornyn‘s (R-TX) re-election campaign. Despite pro-Cornyn campaign groups spending millions on the U.S. Senate primary race in Texas, the anti-Trump incumbent has fallen to a distant second place—and even third place—in most polls ahead of the March 3 primary.

“I’m excited to announce that [Chris LaCivita] has joined my re-election campaign as senior advisor,” Little wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Notably, Gov. Little was not endorsed by President Donald J. Trump during his 2021 primary run, with the America First leader instead backing then-Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin (R-ID). However, late last year, Trump did back Little’s re-election bid.

The National Pulse reported last week that LaCivita abandoned a major defamation lawsuit against the left-wing Daily Beast after the outlet published a stunning report about him gouging nearly $20M from the campaign’s coffers. “The consulting firm of Donald Trump’s White House campaign’s co-manager has raked in $19.2 million and counting from the Republican nominee’s political operation in just two years,” the Beast reported in late 2024.

The Daily Beast did not retract or even have to change any part of its story. It also offered no apology or cash payment, both of which are common in settlements.

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17 hours ago
Crime

Another Victim of Transgender Ice Rink Shooter Dies.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A grandfather, Gerald “Gerry” Dorgan, became the third person to succumb to their injuries following a mass shooting at a youth hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, carried out by his daughter’s transgender ex-husband, Robert Dorgan.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gerald Dorgan, his daughter Rhonda Dorgan, and his grandson Aidan Dorgan were killed. Robert Dorgan, who also went by Roberta Esposito, was the shooter and took his own life after the shootings. Several others, including Gerald’s wife Linda Dorgan and Thomas Geruso, were injured.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shooting occurred on February 16, 2026, at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence.” – Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien

🎯IMPACT: The National Pulse previously reported that Robert Dorgan had a history of family conflicts tied to his gender identity.

IN FULL

Gerald “Gerry” Dorgan, 75, has died after being critically injured in a mass shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The shooting, carried out by his transgender ex-son-in-law, Robert Dorgan, targeted Gerald’s family members during a youth hockey game on February 16, 2026.

The attack also claimed the lives of Gerald’s daughter, Rhonda Dorgan, 52, and grandson, Aidan Dorgan, 23. Two others, Linda Dorgan—Gerald’s wife—and Thomas Geruso remain hospitalized in serious but stable condition. Robert Dorgan, a male-to-female transgender who also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, was reportedly targeting his family and died by suicide after being subdued by bystanders.

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien (D) expressed his condolences, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence.” Police confirmed the motive stemmed from a family dispute. The National Pulse previously reported that Robert Dorgan had a history of family conflicts tied to his gender identity. In 2020, he reported to North Providence police that he had undergone gender reassignment surgery, after which Gerald Dorgan demanded he leave the family home and used a derogatory term for transgenders. According to his daughter, Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, Robert Dorgan had a “vendetta” against his family.

Bystanders, including Michael Black, played a critical role in stopping the shooter. Black managed to jam the gun’s chamber with his hand and tackled Dorgan with assistance from others. Despite their efforts, Dorgan retrieved a second firearm and took his own life.

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

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ken paxton acquitted
18 hours ago
William Upton
News

Ken Paxton Secures ‘First-of-Its-Kind’ Antitrust Settlement Against Vanguard for ESG Practices.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced that the Vanguard Group has agreed to a “first-of-its-kind settlement”—effectively ending its defense in a multi-state antitrust lawsuit targeting the company along with BlackRock and State Street, alleging coordinated environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-driven market manipulation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ken Paxton, Vanguard Group, BlackRock, State Street, corporate shareholders, asset management clients, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The settlement was announced on February 26, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “While Vanguard has taken appropriate action to resolve this case, BlackRock and State Street have continued to ignore state laws, engage in anticompetitive schemes that hurt American energy, and undermine those who use their services to invest.” — Ken Paxton

🎯IMPACT: The decision by Vanguard to settle the case likely signals significant trouble for the asset management company’s former co-defendants, and, according to Paxton’s office, could mark a final ruling that “fundamentally resets the precedent for the conduct of large institutional investors.”

IN FULL

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced that the Vanguard Group has agreed to a “first-of-its-kind settlement”—effectively ending its defense in a multi-state antitrust lawsuit targeting the company along with BlackRock and State Street, alleging coordinated environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-driven market manipulation. The decision by Vanguard to settle the case likely signals significant trouble for the asset management company’s former co-defendants, and, according to Paxton’s office, could mark a final ruling that “fundamentally resets the precedent for the conduct of large institutional investors.”

“I am glad to see that Vanguard has chosen to protect investors and become the industry leader when it comes to empowering investors with proxy voting choice. This sets a new standard for institutional investors that every company should follow,” Paxton said, adding, “While Vanguard has taken appropriate action to resolve this case, BlackRock and State Street have continued to ignore state laws, engage in anticompetitive schemes that hurt American energy, and undermine those who use their services to invest.”

The antitrust litigation centers around allegations that “a BlackRock-led cartel that sought to drive up the price of coal under the guise of ‘green energy,'” and that “BlackRock’s efforts produced massive profits for itself and its co-conspirators and raised the prices of electricity on consumers throughout the United States.” The Texas Attorney General’s office further asserts that “To further profit on the back of Americans, BlackRock also deceived thousands of its investors who elected to invest in non-ESG funds.”

Importantly, as part of its settlement, Vanguard has agreed to no longer pursue an ESG agenda over profit motive for its clients. According to the Texas Attorney General, “Vanguard will not use its shareholdings to (a) direct its portfolio companies’ business strategies, (b) threaten its portfolio companies that it will withdraw from its holdings unless they agree to act (or not act) in some manner, or (c) nominate directors or shareholder proposals to its portfolio companies.” In addition, the company will pay $29.5 million in fines.

Notably, Paxton’s legal action against three asset management companies—with BlackRock as the primary defendant—was backed by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division and former Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater. However, following Slater’s ouster after a push by Republican lobbyist Mike Davis, who represented several clients under scrutiny for anticompetitive conduct, it is unclear where the department stands on Paxton’s litigation.

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19 hours ago
World

Rubio Doesn’t Trust Cuba’s ‘Highly Unusual’ Account of Deadly Shootout With U.S. Boat.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Cuba’s border guard engaged in a shootout with a U.S.-registered fishing boat, leaving four dead and six wounded. The incident is under investigation by both Cuban and U.S. authorities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cuban border guard forces, the U.S.-registered fishing boat’s occupants, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on Wednesday in Cuban territorial waters. Rubio addressed the matter while in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in the open sea like that. It’s not something that happens every day.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. is evaluating the facts before responding, while Cuba claims the fishing boat aimed to carry out terrorist activities.

IN FULL

Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed an alleged shootout between Cuba’s border guard and a U.S.-registered fishing boat, calling the situation “highly unusual.” President Donald J. Trump’s Secretary of State emphasized the need for the U.S. to evaluate the facts before issuing a response. Speaking from Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, Rubio stated, “We’re not going to base our conclusions on what they’ve told us. And I’m very, very confident that we will know the full story of what happened here, and we will know it soon.”

“Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in the open sea like that. It’s not something that happens every day,” Rubio added.

The National Pulse reported on Wednesday that Cuba’s Interior Ministry stated its border guard shot four dead and wounded six others aboard the 1981 Pro-Line 24-foot center-console fishing boat. The ministry claimed the boat carried ten armed individuals intending to conduct an infiltration for terrorist purposes. Among the deceased was Michel Ortega Casanova, while seven others have been identified, including Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez. The ministry also alleged that those aboard had a history of criminal activity and were Cuban nationals residing in the U.S.

Rubio refused to speculate on potential consequences for Cuba, stating that more analysis was required. Vice President J.D. Vance, who was briefed on the matter by Rubio, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear it could be, but I can’t say more because I just don’t know more.”

Cuba’s Interior Ministry claimed that weapons, bulletproof vests, and camouflage uniforms were found aboard the vessel. The Cuban Embassy in the U.S. alleged that the fishing boat crew fired on Cuban personnel, injuring their commander. “Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters,” the embassy stated.

The vessel, registered in Florida, was reported stolen by its Miami-based owner, who is not considered a suspect.

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