Thursday, October 23, 2025

Notorious Antifa Site Announces Shutdown, Cites Fear of Trump.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A major Antifa news site has annouced it will be shutting down due to pressure from the Trump administration, following the desgination of Antifa as a terrorist group.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The It’s Going Down (IGD) website, Antifa, the Trump administration, and journalist Andy Ngo.

📍WHEN & WHERE: It’s Going Down annouced the shutting down of the site on October 18.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Over the years, ‘It’s Going Down’ has posted numerous claims of responsibility for domestic terrorist attacks, including an attempt by an Antifa militant to derail a train, which led to the website being mentioned in a federal criminal complaint. The website has also posted manuals on carrying out crimes and evading detection for terrorist attacks.” – Andy Ngo.

🎯IMPACT: The closure comes after the Trump administration began to seriously investigate the leftist terror group.

IN FULL

A prominent far-left Antifa website known for promoting anarchist ideologies has shut down, citing increasing federal pressure under the Trump administration. The site, It’s Going Down (IGD), announced its closure in a public statement on October 18, claiming it could no longer operate in what it described as a “dire” political climate. “The current administration is attempting to consolidate extreme authoritarian power,” the site’s extremist operators claimed.

The move follows the Trump administration’s crackdown on domestic extremist groups, particularly those associated with Antifa, including President Donald J. Trump formally designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. The executive order, issued on September 22, characterized Antifa as a “militarist, anarchist enterprise” that seeks to overthrow the U.S. government and law enforcement institutions.

The administration followed up with National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, directing federal agencies to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle left-wing extremist operations, including financial networks and affiliated nonprofit groups.

IGD, which has operated for years, gained notoriety for publishing content sympathetic to anarchist extremist groups and so-called direct action campaigns. It has previously been cited by federal authorities in connection with riots, vandalism, and sabotage. In a 2020 case, the Department of Justice (DOJ) referenced the site in a criminal complaint related to an attempt to derail a train in Washington state.

Andy Ngo, a journlaist who has covered Antifa extremists extensively,  commented on the closure saying, “Over the years, ‘It’s Going Down’ has posted numerous claims of responsibility for domestic terrorist attacks, including an attempt by an Antifa militant to derail a train, which led to the website being mentioned in a federal criminal complaint. The website has also posted manuals on carrying out crimes and evading detection for terrorist attacks.”

The Trump administration’s campaign against far-left extremism escalated in October when a federal grand jury indicted two alleged Antifa members for an armed attack on a federal immigration facility in Texas. The suspects were charged with terrorism-related offenses, including attempted murder of federal officers and providing material support for terrorism. The incident marked the first time alleged Antifa affiliates have been formally charged as domestic terrorists.

On October 16, the Treasury Department also instructed banks and financial institutions to begin monitoring transactions and donations linked to Antifa and other organizations flagged under the new domestic terrorism directive.

In a related development, Rutgers University professor Mark Bray, author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, announced he would be leaving the United States. Bray, a known defender of Antifa tactics, said he could no longer safely continue his work in the current political climate.

Image by Oompje.

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

show less
show more

FBI Probes Network Behind Kirk Assassination, Suspect May Have Had Help.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating whether an “extended network” helped Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tyler Robinson, Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel, and left-wing extremist groups.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The assassination occurred on September 10 at Utah Valley University.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are dedicating every asset to reaching out to anyone he [Robinson] contacted, called, and text-messaged and had chats online [on] social media platforms with.” – Kash Patel

🎯IMPACT: The investigation has expanded to include far-left groups and online communities that may have influenced or supported Robinson.

IN FULL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is indicating that Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the murder of Charlie Kirk, may have received assistance from an “extended network” to carry out the assassination. Robinson, 22, is facing charges including aggravated murder and the possibility of the death penalty.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated late Wednesday that the agency is “dedicating every asset” to identifying individuals or groups who may have aided Robinson. This includes examining his communications on social media and online platforms.

Law enforcement is investigating several groups, including the pro-transgender organization Armed Queers SLC, which reportedly removed its Instagram account following Kirk’s assassination. The group’s logo features high-powered rifle rounds similar to those used in the attack. Authorities are also scrutinizing the online gaming platform Steam and other communities where Robinson was active.

Robinson is believed to have been radicalized by far-left ideologies, and he possibly received material support from other left-wing and pro-transgender extremists online. He reportedly confessed to the murder in a message sent via the Discord platform and made a phone call shortly after the attack. Investigators are working to verify these claims and trace any further connections.

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

show less
show more

Kash Patel Ends FBI Collaboration with Far-Left Anti-Defamation League.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel announced that the bureau is cutting ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a relationship forged under indicted former FBI Director James Comey.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: FBI Director Kash Patel, former FBI Director James Comey, the Anti-Defamation League, Elon Musk, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), and the late Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) organization.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement follows recent backlash against the ADL for its controversial glossary of “extremist” groups, which included TPUSA.

💬KEY QUOTE: “James Comey disgraced the FBI by writing ‘love letters’ to the ADL and embedding agents with an extreme group functioning like a terrorist organization and the disgraceful operation they ran spying on Americans. That was not law enforcement, it was activism dressed up as counterterrorism, and it put Americans in danger,” said Patel.

🎯IMPACT: The FBI’s decision marks a significant shift in policy, distancing itself from the ADL amid widespread criticism of its bias against conservatives.

IN FULL

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has announced that the bureau will sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a relationship established under former FBI Director James Comey. Patel criticized Comey’s tenure, stating, “James Comey disgraced the FBI by writing ‘love letters’ to the ADL and embedding agents with an extreme group functioning like a terrorist organization and the disgraceful operation they ran spying on Americans.”

Comey had previously declared his “love” for the ADL during a 2017 speech at the organization’s National Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where he referred to a 2014 address as a “love letter to the ADL” and reaffirmed that the FBI was “still in love” with the group. He praised the ADL for its advocacy and partnership with the FBI, concluding the speech with the words, “Love, the FBI.”

The ADL has recently faced significant backlash for its controversial “Glossary of Extremism and Hate,” which included conservative organizations like Turning Point USA (TPUSA), founded and led by assassinated conservative organizer Charlie Kirk. Meanwhile, the ADL defended Antifa, recently designated as a domestic terrorist organization, insisting violence was not “the norm” for the movement.

Following criticism from figures such as Elon Musk and Republican lawmakers, the ADL removed the glossary, citing outdated entries and claiming they were victims of misrepresentation.

Elon Musk called the ADL “a hate group” in response to its classification of TPUSA, while Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) questioned the organization’s motives, stating, “Seems to me like if they don’t agree with you, they will label you a ‘hate group.’”

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

show less
show more

Efforts to Ban Top European Nation’s Populist Opposition Are Forging Ahead.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Germany has launched an effort to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party—the second-most popular party in the country—citing alleged extremism.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, the Federal Constitutional Court, and the AfD.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The SPD’s resolution was adopted during their three-day party congress in Berlin, Germany.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The moment at which domestic intelligence says this is a confirmed right-wing extremist party, there is no more room for tactics.” – Lars Klingbeil

🎯IMPACT: A ban would dissolve the AfD, confiscate its assets, and prohibit its re-establishment.

IN FULL

Germany’s leftist Social Democratic Party (SPD), which led the federal government until May, has officially launched an effort to ban the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. SPD delegates voted unanimously on June 29 to establish a “federal working group” to collect and present evidence of the anti-mass migration party’s alleged extremism, which they claim is already “overwhelming.”

The SPD accused the AfD, which placed second in this year’s federal elections, of undermining Germany’s constitution and eroding democracy, citing the party’s advocacy for “remigration” as a violation of human dignity. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil stated, “Based on historical experience, we have a constitution that provides the necessary instruments.” He added, “The moment at which domestic intelligence says this is a confirmed right-wing extremist party, there is no more room for tactics.”

In Germany, the European Union’s most populous country and top economy, only the Federal Constitutional Court can ban a political party, requiring a two-thirds majority of its Justices. If successful, a ban would dissolve the party, confiscate its assets, and outlaw its symbols and logos. Efforts to re-establish a banned party under a similar name would also be prohibited.

The legal push comes amid growing support for the AfD, particularly in eastern Germany, where recent elections have shown the party gaining significant traction. A recent survey placed the AfD at 32 percent, ahead of the SPD by nine points. Critics argue that the SPD is attempting to ban its political rival rather than compete with it democratically.

The move follows the designation of the AfD as an extremist group by Germany’s intelligence agency, the Bundesamt für Verfassungschutz (BfV), which enabled increased surveillance of the party. Critics, including X CEO Elon Musk, have condemned the proposed ban, labeling it “an extreme attack on democracy.” Newly elected Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of the notionally conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), formerly led by Angela Merkel, conceded, “Ten million AfD voters—you can’t ban them. You have to engage with them factually and on substance.”

The BfV decided to pause the classification after the AfD launched a lawsuit to appeal the move. Germany also came under pressure from the Trump administration, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating, “That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise. What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD—which took second in the recent election—but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes.”

Image by Olaf Kosinsky.

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

show less
show more

Germany Reverses Designation of Populist Party as ‘Right-Wing Extremist’ Following Lawsuit, Pressure from Trump.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Following a lawsuit and criticism from the Trump administration, Germany’s domestic spy agency has suspended its classification of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which placed second in the country’s recent federal elections, as a right-wing extremist organization.

👥 Who’s Involved: AfD, AfD leader Alice Weidel, co-leader Tino Chrupalla, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

📍 Where & When: The spy agency announced the move on May 8.

💬 Key Quote: “We are defending ourselves with all legal means against the upgrade by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.” — Weidel and Chrupalla.

⚠️ Impact: The German spy agency will not surveil members of the AfD or place informants in the party as general policy until the court case is resolved.

IN FULL:

The German domestic spy agency has suspended its labelling of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a right-wing extremist organization following pressure from the Trump administration and a new lawsuit. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution announced it would be suspending the classification on May 8 until a court decides on the outcome of the pending lawsuit.

The AfD is appealing the classification at the Cologne Administrative Court to reverse the spy agency’s decision. If the court does not rule in favour of the party, the spy agency will be able to surveil party members and use informants to infiltrate it at scale.

Following the announcement from the spy agency, AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla both claimed it as a victory, though the move will only become permanent after a ruling.

“We are defending ourselves with all legal means against the upgrade by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution,” the pair said in a statement. Their party placed second in Germany’s recent federal elections, and it is the leading party in several areas, particularly in the former East Germany.

Along with the lawsuit, the move comes after the German spy agency was widely criticised by members of Donald J. Trump’s administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise,” Rubio said.

Image by Markus Spiske.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more

State Govt Bans Populist Politicians From Overseas Trips.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Members of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party have been banned from taking part in overseas business trips by a state government after being declared a right-wing extremist organization.

👥 Who’s Involved: State of Hesse, Alternative for Germany (AfD) members.

📍 Where & When: Hesse’s Europe Minister, Manfred Pentz, announced the exclusion on May 4.

💬 Key Quote:  “My business trips abroad are aimed at promoting this location. I can’t achieve that if I travel with representatives of a secure right-wing extremist party.” — Minister Manfred Pentz.

⚠️ Impact: The move is part of the broader fallout from Germany’s domestic spy agency declaring the AfD an extremist group, despite the fact that it recently placed second in the country’s federal elections.

IN FULL:

A state government in Germany has banned members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) from taking part in foreign business trips. The move comes after Germany’s domestic spy agency declared the AfD a right-wing extremist organisation last week.

The German state of Hesse announced it would not include AfD members in foreign business trips due to the labelling of the party as extremists. The state’s Europe Minister, Manfred Pentz, announced the exclusion of the AfD members on May 4. Pentz stated, “After the classification of the AfD, I decided not to invite representatives of this party to my foreign business trips for the time being.”

The minister argued that having the AfD on trips dealing with countries like Israel would harm Germany’s reputation, despite the AfD having many pro-Israel members. “My business trips abroad are aimed at promoting [Hesse]. I can’t achieve that if I travel with representatives of a secure right-wing extremist party,” he insisted.

Germany’s actions to declare the AfD an extremist group mean that the domestic spy agency would be able to surveil party members. The move could also lead to the AfD being banned in the future.

Members of the Trump administration have outright condemned the moves against the AfD. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise.”

Image by Olaf Kosinsky.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more

Trump Admin Condemns Germany After Populist Opposition Designated as Extremist Org: ‘Tyranny in Disguise.’

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Germany’s domestic intelligence service classified the populist political party Alternative for Germany (AfD), which placed second in the recent federal elections, as an extremist organization. The Trump administration has condemned the move as tyrannical.

👥 Who’s Involved: “Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise.” — Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

📍 Where & When: Germany and the U.S., May 2.

💬 Key Quote: “This decision by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is complete nonsense in terms of substance, has nothing to do with law and justice, and is purely political in the fight between the cartel parties against the AfD.” — Stephan Brandner for the AfD.

⚠️ Impact: The decision could intensify discussions on potentially banning the AfD, in Germany, affecting its political activities through increased surveillance, and sour relations with the U.S.

IN FULL:

Germany’s domestic intelligence service has designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party an extremist organization. Authorities announced the designation on May 2, which permits the use of enhanced spying to monitor the party and its leaders. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany’s domestic spy agency, compiled a 1,100-page report to justify this classification, claiming that the AfD promotes an ethnocentric view of the population that discriminates against certain groups, particularly those with immigrant backgrounds. This perspective, according to Nancy Faeser, Germany’s leftist interior minister, conflicts with a constitutional decree.

On behalf of the Trump administration in the U.S., Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the move as tyrannical, saying, “Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise.”

“What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD—which took second in the recent election—but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes,” he added, warning, “Germany should reverse course.”

AfD leaders have criticized the extremist designation as a politically motivated attack. Notably, the classification not only impacts the public image of AfD, which is currently leading in some polls, but, as Rubio warns, it also allows for deeper surveillance and scrutiny of its members. This could potentially culminate in legislative actions aimed at limiting or banning the party’s political activities altogether.

German lawmakers have already tried to introduce motions to ban the AfD in the German legislature. However, a full ban requires an order from the country’s constitutional court.

Chris Tomlinson contributed to this report.

Image by Olaf Kosinsky.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more

Pentagon Expert Warns of ‘Sleeping Danger’ in US Military After NOLA Attack.

The author of a Pentagon report on extremism in the U.S. military has warned that there is a growing insider threat after a veteran who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State murdered 14 people in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. Bishop Garrison, the veteran leading efforts against extremist activity in the U.S. military under the Biden regime, has alerted officials to potential future domestic threats involving current or former military members.

The New Orleans attack involved former U.S. Army serviceman Shamsud-Din Jabbar driving a pickup truck into a crowd, killing 14, while in possession of an Islamic State. A separate incident on the same day saw Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty Green Beret, detonate a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, injuring several people. Both suspects served at Fort Bragg and were in Afghanistan at the same time, but no definitive connection between them had been identified as of the time of publication.

Garrison, a former White House liaison to the Defense Department under Barack Obama, led a 2021 report into extremism in the U.S. military. However, he now says, “As far as I know, there was never any implementation of our policies.” He fears incidents like those on New Year’s Day prove unresolved dangers within the military.

HEGSETH.

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, has also criticized anti-extremist efforts within the military, calling them a “sham.” However, he is critical of Garrison, accusing him of targeting Trump supporters in 2021.

“A 1619 project activist, a hard-core social justice Democrat. A man who believes all, all Trump supporters are racist and extremists. And what must we do to racists? We must define them and then we must purge them,” Hegseth said of him.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) recently accused Hegseth of having ties to extremism, saying he was pulled from protecting Joe Biden’s inauguration as a National Guardsman because his Christian tattoos mark him out as a potential “insider threat.”

Hegseth says criticisms of his tattoos are evidence of “anti-Christian bigotry.”

show less
The author of a Pentagon report on extremism in the U.S. military has warned that there is a growing insider threat after a veteran who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State murdered 14 people in New Orleans on New Year's Day. Bishop Garrison, the veteran leading efforts against extremist activity in the U.S. military under the Biden regime, has alerted officials to potential future domestic threats involving current or former military members. show more

Antifa Unveil Billboard Encouraging Terrorism Against Populists.

Members of the left-extremist Antifa organization in Germany have called on supporters to carry out violent acts against properties associated with the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and its supporters. The X (formerly Twitter) account Rote Flora, named for a well-known Antifa squat in Hamburg, posted a picture of a new billboard, which lists “13 things you can do against the AfD,” including attacking AfD members and links to a website suggesting additional violent actions.

“The AfD should not feel safe in public and should not be able to spread its agitation undisturbed,” the website “13:12 Things” states, while calling on supporters to disrupt political campaign booths. The site also provides a guide on how to attack and destroy properties associated with the AfD, including party offices, restaurants, and venues that allow the party to host events.

Along with smashing windows, the Antifa authors call for attacks with butyric acid. They also call for home invasions of AfD politicians, noting their addresses can be learned from research while warning against getting an address wrong. The political terrorist group also warns that while such actions can increase “repression,” they are “legitimate.”

The AfD is currently polling in the lead in two of three East German regional elections taking place next month. Antifa lists this as the reason for the website’s creation and call to action, with the authors admitting that much of what is on the website is illegal.

EUROPE’S ULTRA-VIOLENT ANTIFA MOVEMENT.

German Antifa extremists are known as some of the most violent far-left extremists in Europe, with one group known as the Hammerbande (Hammer Gang) carrying out maiming attacks with hammers across Germany and even abroad in Budapest, Hungary in 2023.

Hungarian authorities arrested an Italian national associated with the Hammerbande but the individual was later released and was elected to the European Parliament in May, granting her immunity from prosecution.

After former President Donald J. Trump suggested Antifa be labeled a terrorist group for their politically violent tactics, establishment figures in Europe expressed their support for the terror group, with some waving an Antifa flag in the European Parliament.

Image by Montecruz Foto.

show less
Members of the left-extremist Antifa organization in Germany have called on supporters to carry out violent acts against properties associated with the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and its supporters. The X (formerly Twitter) account Rote Flora, named for a well-known Antifa squat in Hamburg, posted a picture of a new billboard, which lists "13 things you can do against the AfD," including attacking AfD members and links to a website suggesting additional violent actions. show more