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Thursday, December 18, 2025
3 minutes ago
Health
Science

COVID Boosters Linked to Elevated Risk of Dementia-Linked Virus.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Scientists have identified a slight increase in shingles risk following COVID booster shots, according to a new study.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands analyzed data from over two million people.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Drug Safety in December 2025.

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly considering adding a ‘black box’ warning to COVID-19 vaccines to highlight potential side effects.

IN FULL

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands has found a small but measurable increase in the risk of shingles following COVID booster shots. The study analyzed electronic health records of over two million people aged 12 and older who had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

The findings revealed a seven percent increase in shingles risk within 28 days of vaccination when all doses were combined, and a 21 percent increase following the third, or booster, dose of mRNA vaccines. Shingles, a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is more likely to occur when immune cells are temporarily depleted, which researchers suggest may happen after repeated vaccine doses.

The study also highlighted a 38 percent higher risk of shingles among men who received vector-based vaccines. However, the authors emphasized that these increases are temporary and mostly limited to specific subgroups, with most cases being manageable without hospitalization.

Separate research has linked severe shingles cases to a higher likelihood of developing early-onset dementia, particularly among individuals aged 50 to 65. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly considering implementing a ‘black box‘ warning on COVID-19 vaccines, its most serious advisory, to inform the public about potential risks.

The study, published in the journal Drug Safety, noted that some countries and territories, including Hong Kong, have reported an increase in shingles cases following mRNA vaccinations.

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28 minutes ago
Crime
Immigration

$7 Million SNAP Fraud Scheme Uncovered, Run by Haitian Immigrant Duo.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors have charged two Haitian immigrants in Massachusetts with operating a $7 million food stamp fraud scheme.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Antonio Bonheur, 74, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Haiti, and Saul Alisme, 21, a lawful permanent resident.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The fraud occurred in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood, with charges filed by federal prosecutors on December 15, 2025, and announced on December 17.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Fraud is not isolated, but widespread.” – U.S. Attorney Leah Foley

🎯IMPACT: The case underscores systemic failures in welfare oversight, with taxpayers bearing the cost and legitimate recipients facing increased scrutiny.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced charges against two Haitian immigrants accused of perpetrating an estimated $7 million fraud scheme involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps. According to federal prosecutors in Massachusetts, Antonio Bonheur, a 74-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Haiti, and Saul Alisme, a 21-year-old lawful permanent resident, operated two small bodegas in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood where the fraud scheme took place.

Despite observably low inventory and minimal business transactions, one of the bodegas reportedly redeemed upwards of $500,000 in SNAP benefits in a single month. The figure, prosecutors note, is one that would be expected for a major retail grocery chain and not a small independent convenience store.

The DOJ indictment details how undercover federal agents visited the two stores and found that the establishments exchanged SNAP benefits for cash payments, exchanged liquor for SNAP benefits, sold international humanitarian aid food packages, and laundered the fraud profits through secondary bank accounts to avoid detection. Prosecutors allege that Bonheur fraudulently redeemed an estimated $6.8 million in SNAP benefits over the past three years alone.

“Fraud is not isolated, but widespread,” U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said of the scheme, while criticizing Massachusetts officials and other Democrat-controlled states who have refused to share SNAP data with the federal government.

Notably, the Massachusetts case comes on the heels of multiple sprawling social services fraud schemes being investigated in Minnesota. The National Pulse previously reported that state government whistleblowers accuse Governor Tim Walz (D) and his administration of having discovered the over $1 billion fraud schemes—connected to the Somali immigrant community—as early as 2019, but having done little to stop the criminal activity.

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48 minutes ago
Data
Politics

Former Fox Host, UK PM David Cameron Advisor Tops CA Governor Primary.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Fox News host Steve Hilton leads a new poll for California’s governor race, edging out Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (R) and Representative Eric Swalwell (D).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter, and other candidates in California’s jungle primary.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll conducted between November 30 and December 7, 2025, among California voters.

🎯IMPACT: If Hilton and Bianco advance, it could lead to a Republican governor in California for the first time since 2011.

IN FULL

Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host who served as an advisor to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, tops new polling of California’s gubernatorial jungle primary, taking a narrow one-point lead over Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (R) and Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA), with former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) falling to fourth place. The poll, commissioned by the California Issues Forum, has Hilton taking 18 percent of the vote, with both Bianco and Swalwell taking 17 percent. Porter, the one-time frontrunner who has been embroiled in personal scandals, has fallen to 13 percent of the vote.

The surprising results suggest that Hilton and Bianco could emerge as the top two candidates in the jungle primary, in which the two highest vote recipients, regardless of party, advance to the general election. This would mean Californians would choose between the two Republican candidates in the 2026 general election.

Notably, Swalwell’s entry into the governor’s race in November led to a collapse in support for Porter. The National Pulse previously reported that Porter, a former Democrat member of Congress, has faced a series of personal scandals involving her uncontrolled temper and mistreatment of staff.

The poll surveyed 821 likely voters between November 30 and December 7, 2025. It also found that in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup between Democratic candidates, Swalwell leads Porter 30 percent to 21 percent, with 20 percent undecided.

Meanwhile, California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) is rumored to be considering entering the race, which could further split the Democratic vote. Such a split would likely strengthen the position of Republican candidates Hilton and Bianco, making it more difficult for Democrats to consolidate support.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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1 hour ago
News

LGBTQ Group Leader Charged With Assaulting Foster Child.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The head of New Jersey’s most prominent LGBTQ rights organization, Christian Fuscarino, resigned after being charged with allegedly assaulting his foster son.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Christian Fuscarino, Garden State Equality, the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency, and Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on November 9 in Neptune City, New Jersey. Charges were filed in late November, and Fuscarino officially resigned earlier this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Out of respect, not for me, but for my family, I ask that this be seen for what it is: a private family moment, not a public spectacle.” – Christian Fuscarino

🎯IMPACT: Fuscarino has close ties to New Jersey’s governor-elect Mikie Sherrill (D) and other Democrat state officials.

IN FULL

Christian Fuscarino, the head of New Jersey’s most prominent LGBTQ rights organization, Garden State Equality, has resigned after being charged with child endangerment and simple assault. The charges stem from an incident on November 9, captured on home security footage, where Fuscarino allegedly pulled a foster child out of bed and struck him multiple times.

Court records allege that Fuscarino, 35, also shoved the child into a wall before striking him again. The incident was reported by another person in the home, and the child was subsequently taken to the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center. The New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency later obtained video evidence and notified authorities. Neptune City police arrested Fuscarino on November 21.

Garden State Equality says it placed Fuscarino on leave after the charges against him were filed. Consequently, Fuscarino resigned earlier this week, stating, “I resigned from Garden State Equality to ensure that the organization’s work is not impacted by a private family matter.” He further called the incident a “private family moment” and urged the public to respect his family’s privacy.

Fuscarino’s attorney, Mitchell Ansell, described the situation as a “difficult personal family moment” and assured the public that “everyone is safe and no physical harm was caused.” The organization, based in Asbury Park, has been a leading force in advancing LGBTQ policy initiatives in New Jersey, with Fuscarino serving as its executive director since 2016.

The charges and resignation leave Garden State Equality without its long-time leader, and the case continues to draw attention due to Fuscarino’s close ties to prominent Democrat officials, including Governor Phil Murphy and Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill.

Image by Silar.

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2 hours ago
Crime

Brown, MIT Shootings Possibly Linked, Investigation Suggests.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Police are investigating a potential connection between a mass shooting at Brown University and the assassination of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor, occurring two days apart.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Victims include Brown University students Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, along with MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents are searching for suspects.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Brown University shooting occurred on Saturday in Providence, Rhode Island, while the MIT professor was killed on Monday in Brookline, Boston.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This shocking loss for our community comes in a period of disturbing violence in many other places.” – MIT President Sally Kornbluth

🎯IMPACT: The incidents have left communities grieving and sparked an ongoing investigation into potential links between the two crimes.

IN FULL

Authorities are now investigating a potential connection between the mass shooting at Brown University and the assassination of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Professor Nuno Loureiro, which occurred two days apart. The Brown University shooting, which took place on Saturday in Providence, Rhode Island, resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to 12 others.

The victims, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, were killed during a study session at the Ivy League university’s School of Engineering Barus and Holley Building. The gunman fired 40 rounds before fleeing the scene. Two days later, Professor Loureiro was gunned down inside his Brookline, Boston home around 8:30 PM. Loureiro, a married father of three and director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, was remembered as a “wonderful man” by his neighbors and colleagues.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have released photographs and videos of persons of interest in the Brown University case, but have yet to identify a suspect. Meanwhile, Loureiro’s murder has left the academic community mourning. MIT President Sally Kornbluth stated, “This shocking loss for our community comes in a period of disturbing violence in many other places.”

The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office confirmed that no arrests have been made in either case, describing the investigation as “active and ongoing.” Investigators initially stated there was no connection between the two incidents, but new information reported by WPRI on Thursday suggests a possible link. The outlet did not provide further details on the nature of the connection.

Loureiro, a lauded theoretical physicist and fusion scientist, began his academic career in Portugal before earning his doctorate at Imperial College London. He later worked at Princeton and the UK Atomic Energy Authority before joining MIT in 2024.

Image by Bohao Zhao.

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2 hours ago
Health

Trump Expands Medical Marijuana and CBD Research, Orders DOJ to Expedite Cannabis Reclassification.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order to improve medical marijuana and cannabidiol research.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Congress.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Signed Thursday, December 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This move was requested by patients suffering from various conditions, including veterans, but recreational use remains unsafe.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The Executive Order aims to improve research, access, and guidance for medical marijuana and CBD products.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order on Thursday removing federal legal hurdles to medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) research, which will allow patients and healthcare providers to be better informed about alternative treatment options. Under the order, the Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are tasked with expediting the reclassification of marijuana as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Additionally, President Trump’s directive calls for greater White House cooperation with Congress to enact legislation ensuring Americans can access appropriate, full-spectrum CBD products while restricting items that pose health risks. Trump is also tasking the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to begin developing research methods and models to enhance access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products as allowable under federal law.

“This move was requested by patients suffering from various conditions, including veterans, but recreational use remains unsafe,” President Trump remarked after signing the Executive Order at the White House.

Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance, which is defined as having no accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and a lack of safety under medical supervision. The rescheduling to Schedule III aligns with a 2023 HHS recommendation that acknowledges marijuana’s medical utility. The reclassification will help facilitate research into its safety and efficacy, addressing the needs of the over six million registered medical marijuana patients in the U.S.

Hemp-derived CBD products, while not controlled under the CSA, face regulatory challenges that limit consistency and consumer protections. Studies indicate that CBD has potential benefits for managing chronic pain and other conditions, but the lack of clear Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines leaves patients and doctors without sufficient information for safe use.

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2 hours ago
News

Police Thwart Suspected Attack Plot, Arrest 7 Near Bondi Beach.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Heavily armed Australian police detained seven men after receiving intelligence suggesting a potential violent act near Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Australian police, seven detained men, and intelligence services; the men are believed to have possible links to a prior Islamic State-inspired attack.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Arrests occurred on Thursday in southwest Sydney and near Bondi Beach, following a deadly mass shooting last weekend.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Tactical Operations police responded to information received that a violent act was possibly being planned.” – New South Wales Police

🎯IMPACT: Authorities assured the public there is no ongoing risk, though investigations continue into the group’s intentions and potential connections to prior attacks.

IN FULL

Australian police detained seven men on Thursday following intelligence indicating they were planning a “violent act.” The arrests took place in southwest Sydney and near Bondi Beach, the site of a deadly attack last weekend targeting Jews at a Hanukkah celebration.

Authorities stopped a white car traveling from Victoria to Bondi Beach, using tactical operations to detain five men. Videos showed officers in camouflage gear zip-tying the suspects on a Sydney street. A second vehicle was stopped nearby, resulting in two additional arrests.

While police have not disclosed specific details about the arrests, New South Wales police confirmed they acted on intelligence about a potential violent act. “Tactical Operations police responded to information received that a violent act was possibly being planned,” officials stated.

The arrests follow a horrific attack last weekend, allegedly carried out by Sajid and Naveed Akram. The father and son are accused of killing 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration. Naveed, who pledged support for ISIS, had been previously investigated for ties to the Islamic State. Authorities say they have, so far, not identified any connection between the deadly Bondi Beach attack and Thursday’s arrests.

Local media reports that a weapon may have been recovered in one of the vehicles, though Australian police have not confirmed this.

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3 hours ago
Culture
News

Kennedy Center Renamed Trump Kennedy Center Following Unanimous Board Decision.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees has voted to rename the institution as The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Board of Trustees and the current Chairman.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Today, at the Trump Kennedy Center.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The unanimous vote recognizes that the current Chairman saved the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction.” – Trump Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi

🎯IMPACT: The new name reflects bipartisan support for the cultural center.

IN FULL

The Board of Trustees for the Kennedy Center has unanimously voted to change the venue’s name to The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The renaming highlights the contributions of President Trump, in his role as Chairman of the Kennedy Center, in addressing the center’s prior financial challenges and protecting it from structural harm.

Notably, Trump and President and Executive Director Richard “Ric” Grenell have nearly doubled the cultural institution’s fundraising since 2024. The America First leader has also pledged to bring the center “back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment,” stating in August, “It had fallen on hard times, physically, BUT WILL SOON BE MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK!!!”

Roma Daravi, the Trump Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, noted, “The unanimous vote recognizes that the current Chairman saved the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction.”

President Trump recently hosted an official, on-camera Kennedy Center Honors ceremony at the Oval Office, recognizing honorees including singer Gloria Gaynor and action movie star Sylvester Stallone.

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4 hours ago
News

Vanity Fair WH Writer is Registered Dem With Creepy Social Media History.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Vanity Fair writer Chris Whipple has been revealed as a highly partisan registered Democrat with a dubious social media history involving young women.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Various social media posts from 2016 to 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: Whipple has called President Trump a “Deathstar” and claimed he “diminishes and tarnishes everybody around him.”

🎯IMPACT: Whipple’s biases and social media activity raise questions about his objectivity in reporting and character.

IN FULL

Chris Whipple, a writer for Vanity Fair who has been accused of disingenuous reporting on the Trump White House in recent days, has come under scrutiny for his partisan political affiliations and questionable social media activity involving young women, including some who sell pornography online.

One of the young women Whipple follows on Instagram.

Whipple is a registered Democrat who has contributed over $2,700 to Democrat candidates and committees, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records. His social media history reveals a strong bias against President Donald J. Trump, whom he has described as a “Deathstar” and someone who “diminishes and tarnishes everybody around him.”

Whipple has also argued that Trump “doesn’t understand the job” of being President and attempted to blame him for former President Joe Biden’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. He lamented Biden’s “abdication” from the 2024 presidential race as a “tragedy.”

Whipple, a married man advanced in years, also boasts several controversial follows on Instagram. These include Julie Sunx, a small-time OnlyFans prostitute, female bodybuilder Jojo Lee, and various young women who post risqué images. He also appears to follow an under-18 ballet dancer who does not follow him back.

Julie Sunx, a small-time Only Fans pornographer followed by Whipple.

His Instagram account also shows him praising Democrats, such as New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is responsible for a sustained lawfare campaign against President Trump, and cheering for failed Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz at a political rally.

The revelations about Whipple’s political donations and his social media interactions raise questions about his ability to provide reliable and unbiased reporting, particularly given his history of derogatory comments about Trump and his administration.

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4 hours ago
News
TECH

Trump Media Sets $6 Billion Merger with Nuclear Fusion Innovator.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) announced a $6 billion merger with TAE Technologies to combine social media operations with nuclear fusion energy development.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: TMTG, led by Devin Nunes, and TAE Technologies, backed by Google and Chevron.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The merger is expected to be completed by mid-2026, with plans to begin building a fusion power plant next year.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Fusion power will be the most dramatic energy breakthrough since the onset of commercial nuclear energy in the 1950s—an innovation that will lower energy prices, boost supply, ensure America’s A.I.-supremacy, revive our manufacturing base, and bolster national defense.” – Devin Nunes

🎯IMPACT: The merger aims to address growing energy demands from AI technologies and establish U.S. dominance in clean energy innovation.

IN FULL

Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), the company behind President Donald J. Trump’s Truth Social platform, has revealed plans for a merger with TAE Technologies, a leading nuclear fusion energy developer, in an all-stock transaction valued at more than $6 billion. The deal aims to integrate TMTG’s social media platform with TAE’s advanced fusion research, with the combined company targeting a 2026 start to construction of a utility-scale fusion power plant.

Upon completion, shareholders of each firm will hold approximately 50 percent of the new entity on a fully diluted basis. TAE Technologies, supported by investors including Google and Chevron, works on affordable, clean fusion energy solutions to support surging power needs from artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

TMTG CEO Devin Nunes underscored the deal’s potential, saying, “Trump Media & Technology Group built uncancellable infrastructure to secure free expression online for Americans, and now we’re taking a big step forward toward a revolutionary technology that will cement America’s global energy dominance for generations.” He further noted that fusion could significantly reduce energy prices while enhancing national security.

The boards of both companies have approved the agreement, with closure anticipated in mid-2026. Nunes will co-lead the merged company as co-CEO with TAE’s Michl Binderbauer. The partnership targets the technology sector’s growing need for sustainable, reliable power amid rapid AI development.

Wedbush tech analyst Dan Ives observed that the merger establishes TMTG as a prominent force in fusion energy, commenting, “TAE will also clearly have major political support from President Trump in our view, and this importantly will create a major nuclear fusion US energy domestic bet over the coming years.”

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