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October 8, 2025
William Upton
Breaking

BREAKING: Israel and Hamas Sign Off on Phase One of Trump Peace Plan.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced late Wednesday that negotiators for Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on phase one of his proposed peace plan.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, and negotiators for Israel and Hamas.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The agreement was reached late Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.” —  President Trump

🎯IMPACT: According to reports from Israeli television, the official signing event is scheduled for midday tomorrow in Sharm el-Sheikh.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced late Wednesday that negotiators for Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on phase one of his proposed peace plan. “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

He continued: “All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers, Trump added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently confirmed the agreement.

According to reports from Israeli television, the official signing event is scheduled for midday tomorrow in Sharm el-Sheikh. Meanwhile, Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, is reportedly in discussions with Egyptian intelligence officials to complete the roster of Palestinian detainees to be swapped in the deal. It is believed that the 20 surviving hostages in Hamas custody are expected to be freed either on Saturday or Sunday.

Starting at noon tomorrow, five border points for humanitarian aid will be activated to facilitate urgent supplies into Gaza.

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5 minutes ago
War
World

China Demands U.S. and Israel Halt Strikes on Iran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: China has expressed opposition to military strikes launched by Israel and the U.S. against Iran, calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and other international officials, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wang Yi intervened during a phone call on Tuesday following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Force cannot truly solve problems; instead, it often creates new ones and leaves serious long-term consequences,” said Wang Yi.

🎯IMPACT: Explosions in Tehran and Beirut, Lebanon, have disrupted global energy markets, with China calling for dialogue and negotiation to address the crisis.

IN FULL

China is officially demanding that the United States and Israel cease their military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed this stance during a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday, according to a statement from China‘s Foreign Ministry.

“Force cannot truly solve problems; instead, it often creates new ones and leaves serious long-term consequences. The real value of military power lies not on the battlefield but in preventing war,” Wang was quoted as saying during the call. Wang emphasized China’s commitment to resolving international and regional issues through dialogue and negotiation, pledging to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation.

In addition to his conversation with Saar, Wang held discussions with the foreign ministers of Iran, Oman, and France on Monday, urging Gulf nations to unite against external interference. He also spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday regarding the war. However, Wang has not yet communicated with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Notably, China purchases between 80 and 90 percent of Iranian oil—at a discount—because Western sanctions largely prevent the Islamic Republic from selling petroleum on the global market. Some estimates suggest that Iranian oil accounts for between 10 and 15 percent of China’s total energy imports, with Venezuela having accounted for another 10 to 15 percent until the U.S. removed dictator Nicolás Maduro from power.

The disruption of Iranian oil exports to China could have significant impacts on the Chinese economy—already reeling from U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs—though it is believed that China had built up some temporary reserves before the American and Israeli strikes against Iran began.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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35 minutes ago
News

WATCH: BLM Founder Filmed Fighting Woman at Resource Center.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Surveillance footage captured a physical altercation between Black Lives Matter (BLM) Lake County Founder Clyde McLemore and project manager Nyesha A. Hill in Waukegan. Police responded to another fight between the two in January.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Clyde McLemore, founder of Black Lives Matter Lake County, and Nyesha A. Hill, a project manager for the organization.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred in November and January at the Black Lives Matter Resource Center, 668 Lenox Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s not fair that I come here and I work and you running around taking care of other things that don’t got nothing to do with Black Lives Matter with Black Lives Matter money.” – Nyesha A. Hill.

🎯IMPACT: Police reports revealed conflicting statements; no arrests were made, but McLemore later obtained an emergency stalking no-contact order against Hill.

IN FULL

Black Lives Matter (BLM) Lake County founder and Executive Director Clyde McLemore and project manager Nyesha A. Hill were recorded on surveillance video fighting inside the group’s Resource Center at 668 Lenox Avenue in Waukegan, Illinois, in November. Police were called to the location again on January 12 for another physical altercation between the two.

The Waukegan Police Department responded after McLemore dialed 911, alleging battery. Body camera footage shows McLemore telling officers that Hill entered his office, demanding money and cigarettes. He said he refused, claiming he had neither, and alleged she attacked him when he would not comply.

Hill disputed that account, accusing McLemore of mishandling funds intended for Black Lives Matter activities and claiming she had not been paid for her work. She told officers, “It’s not fair that I come here and I work and you running around taking care of other things that don’t got nothing to do with Black Lives Matter with Black Lives Matter money.”

Both suffered minor injuries, but neither chose to press charges. Police cited conflicting statements and said there was not enough probable cause to make an arrest. McLemore, who has a prior legal history, later obtained an emergency stalking no-contact order against Hill. Hill, who also has a criminal record, has alleged that McLemore frequently misused organizational funds while failing to compensate her.

Black Lives Matter, founded in 2013 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin, grew into a national movement by 2020, fueling riots that saw the toppling of statues of Christopher Columbus, Confederate generals, and other historical figures in several cities. Recently, some monuments have been restored.

WATCH HERE:

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1 hour ago
William Upton
War
World

This Middle East Faction Could Be Key to Toppling Iran’s Islamist Regime.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Increasing evidence suggests the Kurds of Western Iran and Northern Iraq could play a pivotal role in destroying what remains of the regime forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Reza Pahlavi, Masoud Barzani, Bafel Talabani, Iran’s Artesh, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Israeli and U.S. military forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Reports of possible Kurdish armed operations began surfacing after joint-U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran began over the weekend.

💬KEY QUOTE: “To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Iran and its proxy Shia militias in Iraq have intensified attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan—suggesting the regime recognizes the possible threat from armed Kurds.

IN FULL

Increasing evidence suggests the Kurds of Western Iran and Northern Iraq could play a pivotal role in destroying what remains of the regime forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. President Donald J. Trump reportedly spoke by phone with Kurdish leaders in Iraq this past Sunday after the United States and Israel began joint airstrikes against Iranian political and military leaders and critical infrastructure used by the regime to launch missiles and drones.

It is believed that President Trump spoke with Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, the top leaders of the two largest Kurdish factions in Iraqi Kurdistan. Meanwhile, Britain’s ITV News claims that over the past year, Kurds in Northern Iraq have utilized smuggling routes once used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to smuggle terrorists and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) into Iraq to instead move weapons into Iran for use by the Kurdish population in the western territories of the Islamic Republic. These weapons and Kurdish militias could form an improvised ground force against what remains of the IRGC and Iran’s conventional army, called the Artesh.

Notably, the first wave of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed around 40 of Iran’s top political and military officials, including its Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The breakdown in Iran’s command-and-control structure has decentralized power within its military.

During an early morning address on Saturday, President Trump called on the soldiers in Iran’s Artesh and IRGC to “lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death.” Subsequently, U.S. strikes have targeted Iranian military figures throughout the chain of command, along with police stations and military facilities.

Meanwhile, Iran and its proxy Shia militias in Iraq have intensified attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan—suggesting the regime recognizes the possible threat from armed Kurds. Adding further credence to possible Kurdish military action is a video address posted by Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince, in which he calls upon Iran‘s Kurds and other minority groups to rise against the Islamic regime—promising a new government that will ensure secular governance, equal rights, and cultural protections.

Additional reports suggest the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been actively involved in efforts to arm Kurdish fighters within Iran.

Image by Hossein Zohrevand/Tasnim News Agency.

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2 hours ago
Crime

Foreign Service Officer Shot Dead by State Trooper Following Beltway Stabbings.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. State Department employee was fatally shot by a Virginia trooper after a stabbing on the Capital Beltway.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jared Llamado, a State Department employee, four women, a dog, and Virginia State Police.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sunday, March 1, on the southbound lanes of I-495 in Fairfax County, Virginia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.” – State Department spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: One woman and a dog were killed, three other women were hospitalized, and the suspect was fatally shot by police.

IN FULL

Virginia State Police responded to a crash on the southbound lanes of I-495 on Sunday, March 1, to find four women and a dog suffering from stab wounds. The suspect, Jared Llamado of McLean, Virginia, was armed with a knife and fatally shot by a state trooper in self-defense after confronting the officer.

The 32-year-old Llamado, who worked as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department, was confirmed deceased at a hospital following the shooting. According to his LinkedIn profile, he had been employed by the department for approximately a year and a half in a technology role.

Michelle Adams, 39, of Fairfax, succumbed to her injuries from the stabbing. Three other women, aged 36, 37, and 40, were hospitalized with serious injuries. A dog was also killed in the incident. Police stated that the stabbings occurred following a vehicle crash on the Beltway, which they are continuing to investigate.

A State Department spokesman commented, “We are aware of the tragic incident that involved a Foreign Service Officer and occurred on Sunday, March 1, in Fairfax County, Virginia. We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.”

While the motive behind the stabbings remains under investigation, authorities have indicated that the incident is not believed to be related to terrorism.

Image by Tony Alter.

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2 hours ago
Data
Politics

GOP Surges to Tie With Democrats as Midterms Approach.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll shows Republicans and Democrats tied in voter preference for congressional candidates, marking a significant improvement for the GOP.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The poll was conducted by the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard, the Harris Poll, and HarrisX.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The survey of 1,999 registered voters was conducted online between February 25 and 26.

🎯IMPACT: The poll reflects a surge in Republican support, with voters responding positively to the GOP’s messaging on crime, borders, and economic issues.

IN FULL

New data suggest the Democrat Party‘s lead on the generic congressional ballot, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections this coming fall, has been completely erased. According to the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS), the Harris Poll, and HarrisX, who surveyed 1,999 registered voters online between February 25 and 26, 50 percent of respondents now say they’d vote for a generic Republican candidate, while 50 percent say they’d vote for a generic Democrat if the midterms were held today.

Last month, the same poll found that voters preferred a generic Democrat candidate to a generic Republican by 54 to 46 percent. Notably, the survey indicates that the Trump administration’s messaging on the economy, crime, border security, and illegal immigration is beginning to resonate with voters.

Further, the shift in generic ballot preference could reflect broader shifts in opinions on the U.S. economy, which has increasingly been showing signs of recovery from its stagnation under former President Joe Biden. Inflation has inched down, falling to just 2.4 percent in January.

When respondents were presented with a hypothetical GOP campaign message emphasizing government responsibility, closing borders, and lowering energy costs, 54 percent found it credible. In contrast, only 48 percent of respondents found a Democratic message promising free government services and student loan forgiveness believable.

Interestingly, 61 percent of respondents indicated they would be receptive to a Democrat campaign focused on opposing President Donald J. Trump, including messaging describing him as a “runaway dictator.” Despite this, Trump’s net approval rating improved slightly, rising from -6 last month to -3 this month, implying that the Democrats’ anti-Trump messaging does not resonate as well among independents or Republican voters.

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3 hours ago
William Upton
War
World

Trump Admin Moves to Cover Shipping Insurance to Reopen Strait of Hormuz.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced Tuesday afternoon that the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will begin providing “political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the DFC, Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and global shipping insurers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.” – President Trump

🎯IMPACT: This move comes after a number of maritime insurers either suspended war coverage or announced significant, borderline crippling increases in rates for oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced Tuesday afternoon that the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will begin providing “political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.” This move comes after a number of maritime insurers either suspended war coverage or announced significant, borderline crippling increases in rates for oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He continued, “This will be available to all Shipping Lines. If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible.”

“No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. The United States’ ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH — More actions to come,” Trump concluded.

While Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has repeatedly claimed it is closing the critical strait that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the broader Arabian Sea, the Islamic Republic has only fired sporadic missiles at passing ships—unsuccessfully. The threat of possible Iranian attacks has caused ships to hold outside of the strait, though this is mostly due to the skyrocketing insurance costs and not direct actions by Iran.

There has been no indication of Iran attempting to mine the strait or of IRGC submarine activity. In fact, according to United States Central Command (CENTCOM), at least 11 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk in the Gulf of Oman, and satellite photos show significant fires raging at three of the IRGC’s major naval facilities.

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3 hours ago
War
World

U.S. Consulate in Dubai Hit by Iranian Drone.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Reports suggest the U.S. consulate in Dubai may have been struck by an Iranian drone.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Iran, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Videos of the attack were posted on social media on March 3, from Dubai.

🎯IMPACT: The attack follows a pattern of Iranian strikes against Israeli, U.S., and U.S.-aligned targets since the start of the “Operation Epic Fury.”

IN FULL

The U.S. Consulate in Dubai’s Al Seef district has been struck amid the rapidly escalating regional conflict between Iran, the United States, U.S.-aligned Middle Eastern states, and Israel. Videos shared online show plumes of smoke rising near the diplomatic compound, and residents described hearing explosions.

The reports come as Iran expands a campaign of ballistic missile and drone attacks across the Gulf following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that have killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other top officials. Tehran has targeted U.S. diplomatic and military facilities in several countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, in response, prompting evacuations and heightened security measures.

The U.S. Department of State on Monday urged American citizens across much of the Middle East to depart immediately, citing serious security risks and the potential for further escalation. Advisories cover more than a dozen countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Iran has also targeted oil infrastructure. In Saudi Arabia, authorities temporarily shut down operations at the Ras Tanura oil refinery after drone strikes caused fires, raising concerns about the war’s impact on global energy markets. Airspace disruptions and commercial flight suspensions have left some travelers stranded as governments assess ongoing threats.

President Donald J. Trump has declined to rule out the possibility of deploying U.S. ground forces if the conflict warrants it.

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4 hours ago
William Upton
War
World

Ex-Iran Prez Ahmadinejad May Have Survived U.S.-Israeli Decapitation Strikes.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, may have survived the joint-U.S.-Israeli decapitation strikes targeting Iran’s political and military leadership this past weekend.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian military and political leaders, Patrick Bet-David, Israel, and the United States.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Reports of Ahmadinejad’s possible survival surfaced on Monday and Tuesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Their team is telling us, this is not true, that he is not killed, he is alive. They [Israel] hit down the street from where he was at, and they didn’t kill him.” — Patrick Bet-David

🎯IMPACT: Several claims of his survival emerged on Monday and Tuesday, though no conclusive evidence that Ahmadinejad is alive has been presented.

IN FULL

Former Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, may have survived the joint-U.S.-Israeli decapitation strikes targeting Iran’s political and military leadership this past weekend. Several claims of his survival emerged on Monday and Tuesday, though no conclusive evidence that Ahmadinejad is alive has been presented.

On Monday, podcaster and Iranian-American businessman Patrick Bet-David contradicted claims made by the New York Post that Ahmadinejad had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. According to Bet-David, he had been attempting to record a podcast episode with Ahmadinejad—best known for his hardline views against the U.S. and Israel as well as his social commentary about American sports—for at least a year, with frequent communication with the former Iranian president’s staff.

“I got an update from his team, I’m telling you what his team told me,” Bet-David said, revealing, “Their team is telling us, this is not true, that he is not killed, he is alive. They [Israel] hit down the street from where he was at, and they didn’t kill him.”


This claim was repeated by unnamed sources to Iran International on Tuesday, insisting that Ahmadinejad was in fact alive and not dead. Ahmadinejad, who has largely been absent from the Iranian political scene for over a decade, is—or was—a member of the Principlists faction. This faction is heavily aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and proponents of building nuclear weapons.

A former mayor of Tehran and engineer, Ahmadinejad was infamous during his tenure as Iran’s president for leading “Death to America” chants. However, his post-political career saw the former president commenting on Western sports, including lamenting that former National Football League (NFL) quarterback Colin Kaepernick failed to make a team roster and cheering on the University of Michigan football team. “With a hard work ethic, Inshallah the U of M will return to its glory days,” Ahmadinejad wrote in an October 2018 post on X (formerly Twitter). In 2024, Michigan would win the College Football National Championship.

Image by Hamed Malekpour.

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5 hours ago
News
Religion

DID YOU KNOW: Iran’s Ayatollahs Are The Spiritual Heads of Mamdani’s Sect of Islam?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani identifies as a follower of Twelver Shia Islam, the same sect as Iran’s ruling ayatollahs.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the Iranian regime, and Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse.

💬KEY QUOTE: Twelver Muslims “believe that to this day there is a 1,200-year-old living prophet on Earth who is in hiding and is going to come out at some point soon, and proselytize Islam the world over,” Kassam noted last year.

🎯IMPACT: The media has been criticized for ignoring Mamdani’s religious beliefs and their implications.

IN FULL

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is a follower of the Twelver sect of Shia Islam. This sect counts Iran’s now-deceased Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and the country’s surviving ayatollahs as spiritual leaders, owed religious taxes like khums and zakat by ordinary Twelvers.

Iqbal Akhtar, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Florida International University, has noted: “The Mamdani family… is part of the Twelver community… whose Twelfth Imam is believed to be hidden from the world and only emerges in times of crisis. Twelvers believe he will help usher in an age of peace during end times.”

Though this Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is said to have disappeared into hiding in 874 AD, the Ayatollahs of Iran have taken up the mantle of leadership for the Twelver community.

Robert Spencer, head of the JihadWatch group, has described the sect as the official religion of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mamdani has described the strikes against Iran as “a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression.”

Per the Iran International website, “New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s aunt was a supporter of Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic,” though his father appears to have been less keen.

Tehran University Professor Foad Izadi told an audience in November 2025: “I met Mr. Mamdani’s father twenty years ago at a conference in New York. I was already familiar with his books and his belief in Twelver Shiism. When he realized we were Iranian and religious, he said, ‘I have a sister who always criticizes me for two things: first, that I don’t say my prayers properly; second, that I don’t show the devotion to Khomeini that I’m supposed to.'”

The reason he is “supposed to” is that Khomeini effectively declared himself the spiritual leader of the group upon the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.

 

Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, explained on former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon’s WarRoom show last June 2025 that Twelver Muslims like Mamdani and Khamenei “believe that to this day there is a 1,200-year-old living prophet on Earth who is in hiding and is going to come out at some point soon, and proselytize Islam the world over.”

Kassam has accused the corporate media of completely ignoring the relevance of Mamdani’s extremist beliefs, which are even more relevant now in like of the U.S. being at war with the mullahs, saying “I’ve yet to hear any reporters on the campaign trail in New York put these questions to him and say, ‘Hey… do you really believe in this stuff?’”

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5 hours ago
News

KASSAM in New York Times: ‘Trump Loves Finishing the Job His Predecessors Couldn’t Even Start.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump authorized military action against Iran over the weekend, with Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, offering his analysis of the decision on Monday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Raheem Kassam, and The New York Times.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The strikes on Iran began on Saturday, with the conflict spanning the wider region.

💬KEY QUOTE: “He loves the idea of finishing the job that his predecessors couldn’t even start,” Kassam said of Trump.

🎯IMPACT: The Iran war could heighten tensions within the MAGA movement or boost the President’s standing if it is concluded swiftly and successfully, although Kassam warns it could prove to be an unhelpful distraction from the administration’s domestic agenda.

IN FULL

Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, has told The New York Times that President Donald J. Trump’s strikes on Iran reflect the fact that “He loves the idea of finishing the job that his predecessors couldn’t even start,” referring to Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and other recent presidents’ failure to tackle Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs directly.

“It’s not something I would have done, but it is definitely something Trump would have done,” Kassam said, noting that the President’s supporters appear to trust him to finish the job in Iran cleanly with minimal U.S. casualties more than they trusted previous leaders. He warned, however, that “Operation Epic Fury” may become a problem for the administration if it becomes a distraction from domestic priorities.

Americans, Kassam explained, are “just starting to feel better about the economy” as the 2026 midterms loom, “because they spent too much time on Elon Musk’s failed DOGE project.”

Kassam noted that transformative government cuts had not been achieved by the SpaceX and Tesla tech mogul, adding. “I agree with the critics that it is a big problem.”

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was declared officially over by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in November, with Musk himself having left and started a vicious spat with President Trump months prior. While DOGE claimed it had achieved $214 billion in savings, independent analyses found that DOGE had overstated its savings by as much as 97 percent in some cases.

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