Saturday, September 6, 2025

LIV Golf Revokes Reporter’s Credentials for Questioning Saudi Links.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A reporter had his credentials revoked by LIV Golf after refusing to remove questions about Saudi funding from an interview.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bill Hobson, host of Michigan Golf Live, golfer Pat Perez, LIV Golf officials, and Saudi Arabia.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred ahead of LIV Golf’s tournament at The Cardinal at Saint John’s in Michigan.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I told them, ‘Those were perfectly fine questions and [Perez] answered them fine.’ They said, ‘No, he didn’t answer them fine. He was out of his lane and he shouldn’t have gone there.'” – Bill Hobson

🎯IMPACT: LIV revoked Hobson’s credentials and offered him spectator tickets instead, which Hobson called “largely unprecedented.”

IN FULL

Bill Hobson, host of the radio show Michigan Golf Live, had his media credentials revoked by LIV Golf after refusing to edit an interview in which he asked about the league’s ties to Saudi Arabia. The interview, conducted with LIV golfer Pat Perez, was arranged by LIV to promote its upcoming tournament at The Cardinal at Saint John’s in Michigan.

During the podcast, Hobson asked Perez about LIV’s funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns and operates the league. According to Hobson, Perez answered without issue. However, within ten minutes of the interview’s conclusion, Hobson said LIV officials contacted him to request the removal of the Saudi question, as well as another regarding former LIV CEO Greg Norman.

“I told them, ‘Those were perfectly fine questions and he answered them fine,’” Hobson recalled. “They said, ‘No, he didn’t answer them fine. He was out of his lane and he shouldn’t have gone there,'” Hobson continued, relating that he explained to LIV that he had “not agreed to any limitations or, you know, ‘I won’t go there’ categories… And I wouldn’t have done the interview with that.”

Hobson said multiple LIV representatives followed up over the next two days, continuing to pressure him to edit the podcast. He refused. Seemingly in retaliation, Hobson was informed on Tuesday that his media credentials for the Michigan tournament had been revoked and that he was instead being offered general admission spectator tickets. He called the decision “largely unprecedented.”

The situation reflects growing concerns about foreign influence in U.S. sports. LIV Golf is fully funded by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, a government-controlled entity that has spent billions investing in global sports as part of the Kingdom’s broader “Vision 2030” economic diversification plan. These moves are widely seen as attempts at “sportswashing”—a strategy to improve the nation’s global image despite criticism of its human rights record.

Saudi Arabia is not alone. Other countries have expanded their sports investments in the U.S. and beyond. Chinese firms have held stakes in NBA franchises, and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has taken positions in European soccer and tennis and recently explored opportunities in American sports as well.

Image by MEAphotogallery.

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

show less
show more

Eric Adams’s Chinese Staffer Says ‘A Culture Thing’ Made Her Stuff Cash in a Bag of Chips for Reporter.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Winnie Greco, a longtime ally and fundraiser for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, was suspended from his re-election campaign after allegedly attempting to hand a journalist a cash-filled potato chip bag.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Winnie Greco, Mayor Eric Adams, journalist Katie Honan, and Adams campaign spokesman Todd Shapiro.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon at a campaign event in Harlem.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In the Chinese culture, money is often given to others in a gesture of friendship and gratitude… I assure you that Winnie’s intent was purely innocent,” said Greco’s attorney, Steven Brill.

🎯IMPACT: Greco has been suspended from all volunteer campaign activities.

IN FULL

Winnie Greco, a longtime ally and fundraiser for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, has been suspended from his re-election campaign after being accused of attempting to hand a journalist a cash-stuffed potato chip bag. The incident, which Greco’s lawyer attributed to “the Chinese culture,” occurred Wednesday afternoon in Harlem during a campaign event.

According to The City—the local New York News outlet targeted in the scheme—Greco offered the cash hidden in a Herr’s Sour Cream & Onion potato chip bag to reporter Katie Honan. Initially, Honan believed the gesture to be a legitimate offer of a snack, but refused. Greco insisted, and upon discovering the cash, Honan contacted Greco to return it. “I can’t take this, when can I give it back to you,” Honan texted, receiving no response.

Greco later apologized, calling the cash offer “a mistake” and attributing it to cultural differences. “In the Chinese culture, money is often given to others in a gesture of friendship and gratitude,” her attorney, Steven Brill, explained. “I can see how this looks strange,” Brill said, adding: “But I assure you that Winnie’s intent was purely innocent.”

“Grecco [sic] holds no position in this campaign and has been suspended from all VOLUNTEER campaign-related activities,” Todd Shapiro, a spokesman for Adams’s campaign, stated. He also claimed that Mayor Adams had “no prior knowledge of this matter.”

Greco has been a close ally of Adams for over a decade, previously serving as the director of Asian affairs in his administration. She resigned in 2024 amid a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation into suspect campaign donations, which included a raid on her home.

Richard Kim, editor-in-chief of The City, called the potato chip bag incident “deeply disturbing” and criticized Greco’s attempt to ingratiate herself with a journalist through such means.

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

show less
show more

Islam Channel Owner Acquires UK Magazine Once Edited by George Orwell.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: The Islam Channel’s parent company, E Media Group, has acquired the United Kingdom’s left-wing Tribune magazine, promising to expand its print and online presence.

👥 Who’s Involved: Islam Channel founder Mohamed Ali Harrath, Tribune’s editorial team, Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Jon Trickett, and Jacobin founder Bhaskar Sunkara.

📍 Where & When: United Kingdom, announced in June 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Mohamed Ali Harrath stated, “A new future for Tribune should excite anyone who wants real change, and a better and brighter future for all.”

⚠️ Impact: The acquisition has sparked criticism, with concerns about Tribune’s historic secularism and Islam Channel’s past regulatory breaches.

IN FULL:

The owner of the Islam Channel has acquired the left-wing British magazine Tribune, a publication with an 88-year history, including a period when George Orwell served as its literary editor. The announcement, made by Islam Channel’s parent company E Media Group, includes plans to increase Tribune’s print frequency and introduce new formats such as podcasts, video, and newsletters.

The existing editorial staff, led by Alex Niven, will remain, and Bhaskar Sunkara, founder of the far-left American socialist publication Jacobin, will continue to work with Tribune as part of an advisory board chaired by Labour Memeber of Parliament (MP) Jon Trickett. Sunkara relaunched Tribune in 2018 after purchasing it with profits from Jacobin.

Founded in 1937 by Labour MPs Sir Stafford Cripps and George Strauss, Tribune has a storied history. Past editors include leading British politicians such as Aneurin Bevan and Michael Foot. Currently, the magazine reaches around 10,000 print subscribers each quarter and claims to attract “hundreds of thousands” of online readers monthly.

Mohamed Ali Harrath, founder of the Islam Channel and chairman of E Group, stated: “A new future for Tribune should excite anyone who wants real change, and a better and brighter future for all.” He claimed that Tribune’s editorial independence and traditions would be preserved. Previously, he has expressed interest in the way Iran has combined Islam with political revolution.

The acquisition has drawn criticism. Lawyer David Toube, head of legal at the Jewish Leadership Council, called the move “quite remarkable,” referencing the Islam Channel’s dubious history. In 2023, Ofcom fined the broadcaster £40,000 (~$54,500) for airing a documentary containing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

Paul Anderson, a former Tribune editor, described the deal as “bizarre” and a low point for the publication. He criticized the magazine’s new association with the Islam Channel, citing Tribune’s traditionally secular stance and lack of ties to organized religion.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more

Dilbert Creator Scott Adams Says He Has the Same Cancer As Biden, Expects to Die This Summer.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, has revealed he is battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

👥 Who’s Involved: Scott Adams, former President Joe Biden, and their respective medical teams.

📍 Where & When: Adams disclosed his diagnosis on a Rumble livestream on Monday, May 19, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “I expect to be checking out sometime this summer,” Adams said, adding that he has “had it longer than [Biden] has had it. Well, longer than he’s admitted to having it.”

⚠️ Impact: Both Adams and Biden are facing serious health challenges, with Adams sharing that the cancer has spread to his bones and his prognosis is grim.

IN FULL:

Scott Adams, the creator of the popular comic strip Dilbert, has disclosed that he is battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer, similar to the condition recently revealed by former President Joe Biden.

Adams made the announcement during a livestream on the video platform Rumble on Monday. He revealed that his cancer has metastasized to his bones and expressed that his time may be limited, saying he expects to “be checking out sometime this summer.”

“I’ve had it longer than [Biden] has had it. Well, longer than he’s admitted to having it,” the 67-year-old cartoonist added.

The news follows a statement from Biden’s office on Sunday confirming the former president’s diagnosis with the same aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Adams, whose Dilbert comic strip has been a staple in newspapers and online platforms for decades, had not previously disclosed his health struggles to the public. The legendary cartoonist became a prominent pro-Trump voice around the time of the 2016 election, predicting the America First leader would win the race against what were, at the time, long odds due to his persuasion skills, and eventually endorsing him.

WATCH:

Image by Thomas Cloer.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more

Kari Lake Secures OAN Newsfeed Deal for USAGM Networks.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: One America News Network (OAN) will provide newsfeed services to the United States Agency for Global Media’s (USAGM) network of outlets.

👥 Who’s Involved: Kari Lake, senior adviser at USAGM, and One America News Network.

📍 Where & When: Announcement made on Tuesday, May 7, 2025; USAGM operates internationally.

💬 Key Quote: “This is an enormous benefit to the American taxpayer, who is the sole-source of funding for USAGM’s news outlets,” said Kari Lake.

⚠️ Impact: The partnership aims to provide reliable news options and save taxpayer money while supporting USAGM’s international broadcasting efforts.

IN FULL:

Kari Lake, a senior adviser at the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), has announced that One America News Network (OAN) will now supply newsfeed services to USAGM’s network of outlets. This network includes the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), Radio Martí, and Voice of America (VOA). Lake, who has a background as a local TV anchor and politician, shared this development in a statement on Tuesday.

“United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is excited to announce a partnership with One America News Network (OAN) to provide newsfeed services to USAGM networks, including Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), Radio Martí, and Voice of America (VOA),” Lake wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “This idea came about after OCB suggested we explore OAN as a newsfeed option for the Miami-based, U.S. Government-funded news operation broadcasting to Cuba. At their suggestion, I reached out to OAN, and they offered to provide their newsfeed and video service free-of-charge.”

The former Arizona gubernatorial and Senate candidate emphasized: “This is an enormous benefit to the American taxpayer, who is the sole-source of funding for USAGM’s news outlets, which broadcast only to international audiences.”

“In my current role as Senior Advisor to USAGM, I don’t have editorial control over the content of VOA and OCB programming, but I can ensure our outlets have reliable and credible options as they work to craft their reporting and news programs,” Lake added.

Notably, USAGM functions as an independent federal agency responsible for broadcasting news and information globally, contributing to the United States’ diplomatic missions.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less

PULSE POINTS:

show more

Britain’s New Deputy Prime Minister Has Spent Almost $100,000 in Public Cash on a Private Photographer.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is spending over $86,000 a year on a personal photographer, claiming she needs the photographer to show the public what she is doing. Labour‘s Angela Rayner, number two in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government, claimed, “There’s a kind of balance to be had, because sometimes you get ‘well, you never see her,’ or ‘she’s only doing that for a photo opportunity.'”

She insisted she was “try[ing] and strike the right balance between letting people know what you’re doing and here you are.” The revelation about Rayner’s photographer follows her disastrous immigration interview on Sunday, December 8. In it, she was interrogated about the government boasting it will build 1.5 million new homes—while being expected to let at least 2.5 million immigrants into the country.

Between mid-2022 and mid-2023, England and Wales saw their largest population increase in 75 years, adding over 610,000 people. Labour initially promised to prioritize British citizens over migrants for public housing, but Rayner, who serves as Housing Secretary, scrapped the idea.

The Labour government, which won a large majority in the House of Commons in a July snap election despite a low share of the popular vote, has seen what popularity it had decline massively since it came to power.

Prime Minister Starmer’s party now ranks third in some polls, behind Brexit leader Nigel Farage’s Reform Party and the Conservatives. This polling has led Reform chairman Zia Yusuf to state that he feels confident the populist party can form Britain’s next government.

Image by Kirsty O’Connor / 10 Downing Street.

show less
The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is spending over $86,000 a year on a personal photographer, claiming she needs the photographer to show the public what she is doing. Labour's Angela Rayner, number two in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's government, claimed, "There’s a kind of balance to be had, because sometimes you get ‘well, you never see her,’ or ‘she’s only doing that for a photo opportunity.'" show more

CNN Faces Giant Law Suit After ‘Defaming’ Navy Veteran.

Judicial proceedings are set to continue in a case involving Navy veteran Zachary Young, who says cable network CNN defamed him in a 2021 report regarding the evacuation of Afghan families. Young, along with his enterprise Nemex, filed a lawsuit against the network after a segment suggested he charged excessive fees without guaranteeing safety or success during Joe Biden’s bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan. The broadcast displayed Young’s image alongside a caption mentioning “black markets” and high charges.

Judge William Henry of Florida recently determined that the case must go to trial, emphasizing that a jury needs to decide whether the term “black market” was intended to imply illegal activities by Young. According to his judgment, there is enough evidence suggesting CNN might have known the claims were false or acted recklessly.

Henry asserted that the trial could explore whether CNN acted with “actual malice,” particularly through the use of the phrase “black market,” which could lead to punitive damages.

The network offered no comment, but CNN aired a clarification on March 25, 2022, in which anchor Jake Tapper acknowledged an error in terminology and apologized to Young during a segment of his show, The Lead.

Some references used in the broadcast, such as terms like “exorbitant” and “exploit,” were deemed opinions by Judge Henry and thus not actionable. Moreover, the court concluded that Nemex Enterprises was not directly implicated as it was not mentioned in the report.

show less
Judicial proceedings are set to continue in a case involving Navy veteran Zachary Young, who says cable network CNN defamed him in a 2021 report regarding the evacuation of Afghan families. Young, along with his enterprise Nemex, filed a lawsuit against the network after a segment suggested he charged excessive fees without guaranteeing safety or success during Joe Biden's bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan. The broadcast displayed Young's image alongside a caption mentioning "black markets" and high charges. show more

It’s a Man’s World: Tranny Beats Women to Win Model of the Year.

A transgender-identifying man has been named Model of the Year, surpassing five female contenders at the British Fashion Awards. Alex Cosani won the title on Monday night, defeating five women, including Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.

In his acceptance speech, the 21-year-old emphasized the alleged importance of uplifting marginalized voices. “You fought for this space that allowed me to flourish today, and I’m eternally grateful for that,” Cosani stated, calling his win a step forward.

The British Fashion Council (BFC) described the award as a recognition of a model’s global impact over the past year, including editorial and advertising contributions.

The announcement prompted varied reactions online. Some social media users questioned the fairness of a biologically male Model of the Year winner, with one commenter inquiring, “Is this fair?” Others expressed dissatisfaction with the shift in modeling standards.

Cosani has previously made headlines as one of the first biologically male transgender models on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway.

The win for Cosani comes after a number of female awards for beauty have been won by transgenders, including Kataluna Enriquez, who won Miss Nevada in 2021, and Rikkie Valerie Kollé, who won the Miss Netherlands beauty competition last year.

Transgenders in women’s sports have also been nominated for awards, including swimmer Lia Thomas, who was nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award in 2022.

show less
A transgender-identifying man has been named Model of the Year, surpassing five female contenders at the British Fashion Awards. Alex Cosani won the title on Monday night, defeating five women, including Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. show more

DATA: Viewers Abandoned CNN, MSNBC After Election.

In the aftermath of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Fox News experienced significant gains in viewership. The network captured 62 percent of the overall cable news audience, marking its highest cable news share to date. On Election Night and during Vice President Kamala Harris’s concession, Fox News was the most-watched network.

Fox saw growth across crucial metrics, with 3.181 million total viewers in primetime and 476,000 in the Adults 25-54 demographic. Compared to October 2024, primetime total viewers increased by 16 percent, and the demo surged by 33 percent. Over a year-to-year comparison, Fox News experienced an 84 percent rise in total viewers and a 139 percent jump in the demographic during primetime.

In contrast, MSNBC and CNN faced massive declines post-election. MSNBC’s primetime viewership decreased by 22 percent month-to-month, its total day viewership dropped by 20 percent, and the demographic decreased by six percent.

CNN also reported declines, with a 13 percent drop in primetime total viewers from the previous month, despite a 12 percent uptick in the demographic. Across the total day, CNN saw a nine percent decrease in viewership, although the demographic increased by eight percent.

Fox News led in November as the top cable network in total-day viewership, while CNN and MSNBC trailed behind. The networks collectively experienced better performance in the Adults 25-54 demographic during primetime than the prior month, with MSNBC uniquely losing in this category for the total-day timeframe.

show less
In the aftermath of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Fox News experienced significant gains in viewership. The network captured 62 percent of the overall cable news audience, marking its highest cable news share to date. On Election Night and during Vice President Kamala Harris's concession, Fox News was the most-watched network. show more

Would-Be Trump Assassin Sends Letter to Media Revealing Obama, Iran-Linked Shooting Motive.

Ryan Routh, the gunman accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump at one of his golf courses in Florida, has sent a letter to the corporate media from his federal detention facility, revealing his political motivations. Addressed to POLITICO and other outlets, the letter sharply criticizes Trump’s foreign policy, particularly his withdrawal from President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Routh bizarrely accused Trump of destabilizing the Middle East, parroting the Iranian regime and Democrat Party talking points, and blaming Trump for “all those lives lost and all the destruction.”

In the letter, Routh called for peace in the region, urging Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to negotiate with Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. “We must demand that Israel stop their attacks and find common ground,” he wrote, positioning himself as a critic of U.S. foreign policy under Trump.

The JCPOA, in fact, emboldened Iran and its proxies, and Routh is known for his long-standing fealty to the Islamic Republic, though his personal connections are not yet known. In 2018, he wrote to the Iranian government: “You are free to assassinate Trump.”

While disavowing direct allegiance to the Democratic Party, Routh referred to Trump as a “dictator,” echoing Democratic and media talking points. In the letter, he aligned his rhetoric with common anti-Trump arguments, warning of civil war and advocating for limits on presidential power. Despite disclaiming party affiliation, his attacks mirrored Democratic critiques of Trump’s policies and leadership style.

Routh also linked himself to Thomas Crooks, who was killed earlier this year during another assassination attempt on Trump. Both men, he claimed, were “ready to die for freedom and democracy.” Though he avoided a direct confession, Routh referred to himself repeatedly as the “Trump Alleged Shooter.”

show less
Ryan Routh, the gunman accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump at one of his golf courses in Florida, has sent a letter to the corporate media from his federal detention facility, revealing his political motivations. Addressed to POLITICO and other outlets, the letter sharply criticizes Trump’s foreign policy, particularly his withdrawal from President Barack Obama's Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Routh bizarrely accused Trump of destabilizing the Middle East, parroting the Iranian regime and Democrat Party talking points, and blaming Trump for “all those lives lost and all the destruction.” show more