The National Pulse

2 minutes ago

News

War

Iran Strikes CIA Sites, Russian Involvement Suspected.

U.S. intelligence is probing potential Russian assistance in Iran’s drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Middle East.

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Iranian drone attacks on Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) facilities in the Middle East have led U.S. intelligence analysts to investigate potential Russian involvement in providing targeting information or advanced drone technology to the Islamic Republic, following the breakdown of a ceasefire over attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

📰 DETAIL: The attacks, which occurred in March, targeted at least two CIA sites, including one in the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and another in eastern Iraq. The precision and effectiveness of the strikes have raised suspicions about possible Russian assistance, given their history of technical support to Iran, and Iran’s role in supplying Russia with drones for the Ukraine war. The Reuters news wire agency has cited sources claiming further strikes on additional, non-specified CIA sites.

🎯 IMPACT: If confirmed, Russian involvement in targeting CIA facilities would indicate a significant escalation in Moscow’s willingness to disrupt U.S. operations in the Middle East. Significantly, the U.S. has long provided critical intelligence to Ukraine, with Russia possibly viewing similar assistance to Iran as justified, despite official denials that it has, for instance, given the Islamic Republic access to its Kometa-M satellite navigation system.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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U.S. intelligence is probing potential Russian assistance in Iran's drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Middle East.

2 hours ago

News

TECH

World

EU Hits Google with €890M Fine for Anti-Competitive Practices.

The European Union has imposed a multi-million fine on Google under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, accusing the tech giant of unfairly prioritizing its own services over competitors.

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Google has been fined almost €1 billion (over $1 billion) by the European Union for allegedly favoring its own services over competitors.

📺 DETAIL: The European Union (EU) has fined Google €890 million (approximately $1 billion) for allegedly abusing its market dominance to prioritize its apps and other services over competitors. The EU’s fine includes €460 million for Google allegedly prioritizing its own services in search results and €430 million for measures that allegedly prevented users from finding cheaper offers outside Google’s marketplace. The fine was issued under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). “The best products should succeed because they’re better, not because they’re owned by the company running the search engine,” said Teresa Ribera, the EU’s Commissioner for Competition.

💬 KEY QUOTE: “To comply, we are having to strip away real-time Search features Europeans love – like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights and restaurants – and dismantle safety protections on Google Play… This isn’t fair competition.” – Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs at Google

🎯 IMPACT: This marks the first significant enforcement of the DMA by the European Commission, the EU’s executive body. The decision could set a precedent for the bloc’s dealings with multinational tech companies in the future. Following the decision, Google has 60 days to comply with EU regulations or challenge the fine in court. This decision represents a continuation of clashes between Google and the EU over tech regulations. “After this decision, we want to make sure that there is more competition and also other companies are able to innovate,” claimed Henna Virkunnen, the EU Commission’s vice president for technology. The EU’s fine against Google follows a similar action against AliExpress, a Chinese online marketplace. AliExpress was fined €550 million (~$629 million) for failing to sufficiently crack down on unsafe and counterfeit products on its platform. This fine is the largest ever issued under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

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The European Union has imposed a multi-million fine on Google under the bloc's Digital Markets Act, accusing the tech giant of unfairly prioritizing its own services over competitors.

2 hours ago

Data

News

World

Anti-Mass Migration Populists Take Record Poll Lead in Germany.

Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has reached a record polling lead over the governing party led by the widely unpopular Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has reached a record high, according to a new poll.

📺 DETAIL: According to Insa, a German polling company, support for the AfD has surged to 29 percent, constituting an 8.5-point lead over the governing Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), formerly led by Angela Merkel. This is the largest lead ever recorded for the AfD by the polling firm. The same poll revealed that support for the notionally center-right CDU/CSU fell to 20.5 percent. The CDU/CSU’s coalition partner, the left-wing Social Democrats (SD), polled in a distant 13 percent. The far-left Die Linke (The Left) party polled even worse on 10.5 percent. The findings put the establishment “Red and Black” coalition (the party colors of the SD and CDU, respectively) on a combined total of 33.5 percent. This represents a decline of nearly 12 points since the government was elected last year. This combined total is only four points ahead of the AfD on its own. The findings coincide with the widespread unpopularity of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Germany’s governing coalition’s popularity has been undermined by economic struggles, including soaring energy prices brought on by the loss of Russian gas and the premature phaseout of nuclear power, declining industrial competitiveness, and high immigration.

🎯 IMPACT: The findings of the poll suggest the establishment parties’ “firewall” against the AfD is waning, as the governing coalition fails to grapple with the problems facing the country. As Germany’s electoral system requires coalition-building between parties to form governments, the establishment parties from both the left and right typically form coalitions to keep the AfD out of government. At the state level, establishment parties, even the nominally conservative CDU, have also been known to form coalitions with the far-left just to prevent the AfD from getting into positions of power. However, as support for the populist party continues to grow, this strategy may cease to be viable, especially when the establishment parties make themselves the target of blame for Germany’s worsening economic and social circumstances.

📺 FLASHBACK: It was previously reported in August last year that the AfD had topped the German polls. The party polled at 26 percent among Germany voters, according to a survey conducted by the Forsa Institute for Social Research and Statistical Analysis.

Image by Olaf Kosinsky.

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Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has reached a record polling lead over the governing party led by the widely unpopular Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

3 hours ago

Data

News

Politics

AOC, Buttigieg Lead Democrat Poll — Newsom a Distant Fourth.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) early lead in New Hampshire over more moderate rivals signals the growing influence of far-left socialism within the Democratic Party.

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has topped a New Hampshire Democrat primary poll, narrowly leading former Biden government Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known as AOC, emerged as the favored Democrat candidate for President, with 22 percent support. Pete Buttigieg came in a close second with 21 percent. Meanwhile, Democrat Governor of California Gavin Newsom polled in a distant fourth, on eight percent, one point behind Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) on nine percent. Failed 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris is polling in sixth place, on five percent, behind Bernie Sanders, who will be 87 years old during the November 2028 presidential election, on six percent. Significantly, a separate Harvard CAPS/Harris poll shows that Vice President J.D. Vance is more popular than AOC. The poll similarly revealed that Governor Newsom was trailing other candidates.

🎯 IMPACT: New Hampshire holds significant weight in the presidential primaries. As one of the earliest states in the primary process, candidates who do well in New Hampshire gain early-race momentum. AOC’s lead underscores the growing influence of far-left socialism within the Democratic Party. This follows a comment from Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) encouraging the Democrats to embrace the term “socialist.” The minimum age to run for President is 35-years-old. Having previously been ineligible to run for President, come 2028, AOC will be old enough to stand as a candidate. Given the sizeable support the New York Representative has garnered, it is possible that polls such as these encourage her to pursue the nomination. However, given that AOC only has a narrow lead, closely followed by Buttigieg, who is viewed as more moderate, such findings could also indicate a growing rift within the Democrats over whether to turn leftward following their crushing defeat to President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 Presidential election.

Image by Matt Johnson.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-NY) early lead in New Hampshire over more moderate rivals signals the growing influence of far-left socialism within the Democratic Party.

4 hours ago

News

War

Secret Service Agent Accused of Leaking Sensitive Info About Vance.

A Secret Service agent has been placed on leave following allegations of leaking sensitive operational details about Vice President JD Vance and his family, raising concerns over potential security breaches.

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President JD Vance‘s protective detail has been placed on administrative leave and is under internal investigation after allegedly leaking information about the Vice President’s travel schedule and security operations. The reported disclosures included details about Vance’s family travel plans, complaints from agents over last-minute schedule changes, and the Secret Service codename used for the Vice President, prompting concern among White House officials over a potential security breach.

📺 DETAIL: Sources said the investigation was launched after the publication of a report describing Vance’s travel arrangements, including a planned Marine Corps helicopter flight with his son that was later canceled due to severe weather. The Secret Service has not publicly identified the agent, and it remains unclear whether they will face disciplinary action or criminal charges. In a statement, Deputy Director Matt Quinn said agents assigned to protective details understand the demands of the job, including long hours, frequent travel, and the need for constant flexibility, emphasizing that the role requires “absolute dedication and discipline.” Vance’s office said the Vice President and his family are grateful for this professionalism. The investigation comes as the Trump administration continues its broader effort to crack down on unauthorized disclosures of sensitive government information.

🎯 IMPACT: The leaks have raised serious concerns within the Secret Service, the FBI, and the White House, given the potential risks posed by unauthorized disclosures. The suspended agent’s future remains uncertain as the investigation continues, with potential administrative or criminal consequences on the table.

📺 FLASHBACK: The Trump administration previously vowed to crack down on unauthorized leaks, with reporters being subpoenaed earlier this month over disclosures regarding security features on President Trump’s aircraft.

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A Secret Service agent has been placed on leave following allegations of leaking sensitive operational details about Vice President JD Vance and his family, raising concerns over potential security breaches.

5 hours ago

Bonkers Britain

Immigration

News

Biggest-Ever Boatload of Migrants Reaches Britain Under New PM.

A record-breaking number of illegal migrants have arrived in the United Kingdom on a single boat, highlighting the escalating scale of the country’s illegal immigration crisis under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A vessel carrying a record-breaking number of illegal migrants across the English Channel has arrived in the United Kingdom, just days into new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s premiership.

📺 DETAIL: On Thursday, a vessel was intercepted by the United Kingdom’s Border Security Command. It was then taken to Dover on the southern coast of England, carrying a record-breaking 165 illegal migrants. The vessel was reportedly overcrowded and taking on water. Despite this, it was sent out to sea. French patrol ships provided life jackets and attempted to assist the illegal migrants, but they refused to disembark. This marks the second consecutive day of illegal crossings of the Channel by boats of illegal migrants, breaking an 11-day pause of such crossings from northern France.

💬 KEY QUOTE: “The situation is alarming, unique, and exceptional. Around 150 people are on board, and one of the floats is leaking. Despite this, the vessel continues on its way… The crew is constantly trying to inflate the side float, while taking in significant amounts of water,” said a French lifeboat service spokesman as the crisis was unfolding.

🎯 IMPACT: This marks a significant escalation in Britain’s illegal immigration crisis. The previous record for a single boat was set when 128 illegal migrants crossed the Channel on July 12. Despite the record-breaking arrival, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham had not addressed the situation as of the time of publication. The arrival is likely to put pressure on Burnham, as immigration control is among the most important priorities of the British electorate. The incident also casts further doubt on the effectiveness of the Labour government’s overall border strategy, and the reliability of the French authorities in preventing illegal crossings on their side of the Channel.

📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this week, it was reported that illegal crossings had recommenced under Prime Minister Burnham. This adds to the over 77,000 migrants that have illegally crossed the Channel since the Labour Party took power in July 2024 under now-former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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A record-breaking number of illegal migrants have arrived in the United Kingdom on a single boat, highlighting the escalating scale of the country's illegal immigration crisis under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

6 hours ago

News

War

House Votes to Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers After Four Republicans Join Dems.

House Democrats passed a resolution to curb military actions in Iran without congressional approval, with support from four House Republican rebels.

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution on Thursday aimed at limiting President Donald J. Trump’s ability to wage war against the Islamic Republic of Iran without congressional approval. The resolution passed in a 214-208 vote, with most lawmakers voting along party lines but four Republicans defectors flipping the chamber to the Democrats.

👤 WHO WAS INVOLVED: The measure was led by Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO) and Pramila Jayapal (D-A), with support from four Republicans: Reps. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tom Barrett (R-MI), and Thomas Massie (R-KY).

🎯 IMPACT: The vote is largely symbolic, with the resolution being unlikely to reach the President’s desk. However, it highlights divisions within the Republican Party over the Iran war and concerns about executive overreach in foreign interventions. The resolution also underscores the thin majorities for the GOP in the House and Senate. However, President Trump seems determined to see through the conflict, warning in a Truth Social post on Thursday morning that the U.S. could widen its strikes to target the Houthis in Yemen, who are currently moving to choke off the Red Sea as an alternative transit route for global oil, after Iran largely closed the Strait of Hormuz.

📺 DETAIL: The resolution’s passage follows criticism from some Republicans over what they describe as a lack of transparency from the White House regarding its military actions in Iran. Democrats, alongside a few Republican allies, have argued that Congress should have greater oversight over decisions that could lead to prolonged conflicts. The resolution echoes a similar measure passed earlier this year with the help of the same four Republican defectors.

💬 KEY QUOTE: “The President’s war with Iran has been an unmitigated disaster. The costs are rising every day, yet the President is choosing to double down on his failures,” claimed Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO).

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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House Democrats passed a resolution to curb military actions in Iran without congressional approval, with support from four House Republican rebels.

6 hours ago

News

UK

‘Instant Karma’ — Leftist Driver Crashes Car While Heckling Nigel Farage.

A woman crashed her car moments after swearing at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on the street in an act of “instant karma.”

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A woman crashed her car into a BMW immediately after shouting abuse at Nigel Farage while driving in Clacton, Essex, where the Reform UK party leader is on the campaign trail for an upcoming parliamentary by-election (special election). The incident was caught on video and shared online, showing the woman swearing at Farage before colliding with the vehicle in front of her.

💬 KEY QUOTE: “This lady shouted abuse at me and then crashed her own car. That’s what you might call instant karma!” – Nigel Farage

📰 DETAIL: The crash occurred as Farage was visiting his former constituency (electoral verdict). He recently resigned his seat in the House of Commons amid a sustained smear campaign over his finances, and is now contesting it again in a by-election so Clacton voters can render a verdict on his conduct. The Reform leader has often been subjected to abuse and threats by migrants and the far left, and even physical attacks. He has become more vocal about his security, which the British government previously cut, following the recent killing of Reform immigration and justice spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe, 78, in what appears to be a politically-motivated assassination.

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A woman crashed her car moments after swearing at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on the street in an act of "instant karma."

7 hours ago

News

Musk Regrets Getting ‘Too Involved’ in Politics.

Elon Musk now believes he got “too involved in politics”, admitting he “got carried away, frankly.”

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter) mogul Elon Musk admitted to the British press that he regrets getting “too involved” in politics, while simultaneously complaining that the public does not have enough faith in his predictions. “People don’t realize that what I’m saying will come to pass,” he told The Economist in an article published Thursday.

📰 DETAIL: Musk’s political engagement included backing Ron DeSantis’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. After the Florida governor was decisively defeated by President Donald J. Trump, he pivoted to supporting the Trump campaign, and briefly spearheaded the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) following Trump’s return to the White House. Musk tacitly acknowledged that DOGE achieved limited results in his interview, saying, “So, the, you know, the goal with the sort of DOGE stuff was to try to do something about the deficit, which is massive, where the interest payments exceed the amount of money spent on the Department of War… [W]e need to sort of take a close look at spending and make sure that money is being spent in sensible ways and that it is not wasted or spent on fraudulent activities.” Musk turned on Trump after he left the federal government, and even threatened to start an “America Party” to split the right-wing vote, but has since largely abandoned these efforts. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has become much more effective on fraud since Musk left the government, spurred by a task force led by Vice President Donald J. Trump and the efforts of citizen journalists such as Nick Shirley. Meanwhile, former DOGE employees are now forming startups and raising funds to win U.S. military cyber contracts, pivoting from trying to curb government spending to pursuing massive government contracts, like many former government employees and contractors.

💬 KEY QUOTE: “I think I got a little too involved in politics, got carried away, frankly.” – Elon Musk

🎯 IMPACT: Despite expressing regret over getting “too involved” in politics in the U.S., he is currently intervening in British politics, attempting to undermine Nigel Farage’s surging Reform UK party by backing Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain splinter faction. This has proved unsuccessful so far, with Restore far behind Reform in national polls and the overwhelming majority of by-elections (special elections) in which they have participated. Restore is not even attempting to field a candidate against Farage in Clacton, where the Reform leader is slated to face a special election in the coming months.

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Elon Musk now believes he got "too involved in politics", admitting he "got carried away, frankly."

9 hours ago

Immigration

News

DHS Imposes $84 Billion in Fines on Over 100,000 Illegal Migrants.

The Department of Homeland Security has escalated its efforts to induce illegal aliens to self-deport by issuing substantial daily fines, now totaling over $84 billion.

PULSE POINTS

❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a total of $84 billion in fines to 103,000 illegal aliens, charging them nearly $1,000 per day of illegal presence in the United States. This marks a significant increase from April, when a total of $36 billion in fines were levied against 65,000 migrants.

📺 DETAIL: The fines are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to enforce immigration laws and encourage self-deportation among illegal immigrants. Some migrants have received notices demanding payment of up to $1.8 million, leading to lawsuits and legal challenges from pro-illegal immigrant groups. Charles Moore, a lawyer with the so-called Public Justice organization, complained that the Trump administration “is just churning out as many fines as it can to intimidate and harass people into leaving the country.”

💬 KEY QUOTE: “Our message is clear: LEAVE NOW OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.” – DHS on X, responding to media coverage of the fines

🎯 IMPACT: The fines aim to pressure illegal migrants to leave voluntarily while addressing economic concerns such as wage suppression and housing costs caused by illegal migration. While it is highly unlikely that it will be possible to collect the fines in full, many long-term illegal immigrants do have cars, properties, and other assets that could be seized to defray their bills, and DHS reports that over $1.2 million had been collected as of July 16.

📺 FLASHBACK: Soon after President Donald J. Trump returned to the White House, his administration declared that it would start imposing daily fines of $998 on illegal immigrants who had received final deportation orders but did not leave the country voluntarily or otherwise comply with their removal.

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The Department of Homeland Security has escalated its efforts to induce illegal aliens to self-deport by issuing substantial daily fines, now totaling over $84 billion.

China’s Fentanyl Suppliers Eye Their Next American Market.

Vape Britain: Why is the Nation so Slow to Act Against an Industry Dominated by China?

Explaining Nigel Farage’s Re-Election (and ‘Count Binface’) for Americans.

Comcast-Owned ‘Sky News’ – Caught Hounding Farage’s Daughter – Run by Brother of Top Obama Staffer.

Iran Strikes CIA Sites, Russian Involvement Suspected.

EU Hits Google with €890M Fine for Anti-Competitive Practices.

Anti-Mass Migration Populists Take Record Poll Lead in Germany.

AOC, Buttigieg Lead Democrat Poll — Newsom a Distant Fourth.

Secret Service Agent Accused of Leaking Sensitive Info About Vance.

Biggest-Ever Boatload of Migrants Reaches Britain Under New PM.

House Votes to Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers After Four Republicans Join Dems.

‘Instant Karma’ — Leftist Driver Crashes Car While Heckling Nigel Farage.

Musk Regrets Getting ‘Too Involved’ in Politics.

DHS Imposes $84 Billion in Fines on Over 100,000 Illegal Migrants.

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