GET THE APP
Monday, July 13, 2026

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

October 2, 2023
Jack Montgomery
News
Politics

Newt Gingrich Ratioed for Defending McCarthy, RINOs Against Matt Gaetz.

Former Speaker and thrice-married adulterer Newt Gingrich has been ratioed on X (formerly Twitter) for attacking America First conservative Matt Gaetz as a “destructive, irresponsible anti-Republican” and suggesting he should be expelled from the House Republican Conference.

Gingrich, 80, wrote that trying to expel the Florida Congressman from the House of Representatives altogether “may be a step too far” – if only because such a move would require a two-thirds majority in the House – but added that “expelling him from the House Republican Conference and eliminating all his committee assignments and all resources other than those an individual member is entitled to would be a rational response to his suicidal efforts to cripple the House GOP.”

Conservatives soon leaped to the defense of Gaetz, who has been challenging Speaker Kevin McCarthy for refusing to pursue an impeachment of Joe Biden in a meaningful way while failing to reduce aid for Ukraine or increase border security.

“Mr. Gingrich, The America First Patriots see this a lot differently. We are tired of seeing our hard earned money going to countries that do not deserve one red penny while we have homeless vets and people living on our streets,” said one X user.

“Memo to Gingrich: Maybe if you and your old guard cronies hadn’t set the precedent for failed promises, the America First Patriots wouldn’t feel so desperate,” said another.

“McCarthy LIED, he broke the deal, he needs to go, NOT Gaetz,” added a third.

Donald Trump is a strong supporter of Rep. Gaetz, telling The National Pulse editor-in-chief Raheem Kassam he is “a great guy,” “wonderful person,” and admirably “strong” in the face of concerted attacks in a recent interview.

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
By the way, Gingrich’s Twitter presence – sigh, I mean ‘X’ – is super weird
for exclusive members-only insights
By the way, Gingrich’s Twitter presence – sigh, I mean ‘X’ – is super weird show more
for exclusive members-only insights
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad
More From The Pulse

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

21 minutes ago
News
UK
War

Britain Finally Bans Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The British government has officially designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat, introducing new powers to prosecute individuals supporting the group and other foreign-linked operatives.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that Iran‘s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been designated a national security threat, with new laws making support for the group a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The measures also target two other groups, the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR) and the volunteer corps of Russia‘s GRU, to address espionage, sabotage, and foreign interference.
📺 DETAIL: Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the changes would ensure Britain is no longer “a playground for states who want to spread fear, division and violence,” adding that those carrying out hostile acts on behalf of foreign governments in Britain would face tougher prosecutions. If approved by Parliament, individuals convicted of sabotage, including arson, could face life imprisonment. The government said the IRGC has been linked to seven attacks targeting Jewish and Israeli-related sites in the United Kingdom, and MI5 has identified at least 20 potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots against people in Britain over the past year. Mahmood accused Iran and Russia of using proxies and criminal networks to carry out hostile activities on British soil and pledged to track down those working on their behalf. Notably, the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union have already designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization or equivalent security threat.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We will never let Britain be a playground for states who want to spread fear, division and violence on our streets.” – Sir Keir Starmer
🎯 IMPACT: If approved by Parliament, the legislation will make it easier to prosecute those linked to the IRGC and other foreign-linked operatives, removing the need to establish direct foreign power connections in every case.
📺 FLASHBACK: The IRGC has long been accused by Western nations of sponsoring terrorism and orchestrating crackdowns on dissent, both within Iran and abroad. The group has been on the U.S. terror list since 2019, and its belated designation by the British government comes after years of criticism for lagging behind its allies in addressing the threat.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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

show less

The British government has officially designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat, introducing new powers to prosecute individuals supporting the group and other foreign-linked operatives.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

1 hour ago
Crime
Immigration
News

Driver Shot Dead While ‘Trying to Hit ICE Officer’ with Car.

A fatal shooting involving an ICE officer occurred in Biddeford, Maine, after an alleged attempt to strike the officer with a vehicle.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A person was fatally shot in Biddeford, Maine, during an encounter with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Witnesses report that the individual who was shot appeared to be attempting to run over the ICE officer before the officer discharged his weapon.
📍 WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on Monday morning near Pool Street in Biddeford, Maine.
📺 DETAIL: Witness Lucas Scott described seeing the ICE officer exit an unmarked vehicle, order the driver to get out of his vehicle, and then open fire as the driver “was trying to hit the ICE officer” with his car. Witnesses also described a white vehicle having collided with a law enforcement vehicle at the scene, with gunshots were heard by nearby residents.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This morning a shooting occurred in Biddeford. A person was killed. ICE was involved. State Police and the Department of Public Safety are now on scene to gather details and would expect the FBI to investigate as well. These are the details that I have at this time.” – Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D)
🎯 IMPACT: State police, the Department of Public Safety, and potentially the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are expected to be involved in investigating the shooting. Anti-ICE activists quickly organized a demonstration following the incident.
📺 FLASHBACK: The shooting in Maine follows another deadly shooting involving ICE in Houston, Texas, last week. Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo is also accused of having “rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, refused to follow multiple verbal commands, and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer,” although this is disputed by passengers presented in the vehicle at the time. Mexico is attempting to sue the U.S. over the incident. 

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

show less

A fatal shooting involving an ICE officer occurred in Biddeford, Maine, after an alleged attempt to strike the officer with a vehicle.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

2 hours ago
News
War

Trump Vows U.S. Will Take Control of Strait of Hormuz and Get Paid ‘A Lot of Money’ for Guarding It.

President Donald J. Trump has vowed that the U.S. will take control of the Strait of Hormuz and get paid “a lot of money” for guarding it, as Iran is once again declaring that the key energy export route is closed.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced on Monday that the U.S. intends to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane for oil, natural gas, and fertilizer exports, and suggested that the U.S.-aligned exporting countries will pay the U.S. “a lot of money” for protecting the strait and keeping it open. This comes follows futher U.S. strikes on Iran, which has declared that the waterway is closed, on Sunday, followed by Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. bases in the region.
📺 DETAIL: Trump emphasized during an interview that the U.S. has guarded the strait for decades without compensation, stating, “We should be reimbursed for that… The other nations are very wealthy, and we can’t be expected to do that for nothing.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We’ll become the guardian of the Strait. Maybe we’ll call it the ‘Guardian Angel of the Strait,’ and we should be reimbursed for that.” – President Donald Trump
🎯 IMPACT: The proposal underscores the U.S.’s strategic interest in ensuring free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for a significant share of global oil shipments. However, it also signals a shift toward demanding financial contributions from allies for continued U.S. intervention in the region, potentially reshaping bilateral relations.
📈 DATA: Oil prices surged nearly five percent on Monday, with benchmark crude nearing $80 a barrel, reflecting market concerns over the escalating conflict and its impact on energy supplies.
📺 FLASHBACK: The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint in U.S.-Iran relations for decades, with Iranian threats to close or substantially disrupt traffic through the strait frequently deterring outside intervention against the regime in Tehran. A memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran was supposed to keep the waterway open, but collapsed earlier in July after continued Iranian attacks on commercial shipping, which prompted dozens of American retaliatory strikes.

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

show less

President Donald J. Trump has vowed that the U.S. will take control of the Strait of Hormuz and get paid "a lot of money" for guarding it, as Iran is once again declaring that the key energy export route is closed.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

2 hours ago
News
Politics

Lindsey Graham’s ‘Sudden’ Death Caused by Aortic Tear: Medical Examiner.

The death of Senator Lindsey Graham following a “brief and sudden” health crisis has been attributed to an aortic dissection by a preliminary medical examination.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The cause of death of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a famously pro-Israel and pro-Ukraine ally of President Donald J. Trump, on Saturday has been determined to be an aortic dissection caused by cardiovascular disease in a preliminary finding from the Washington, D.C., medical examiner. However, the death certificate remains “pending” until “toxicological and microscopic testing” are complete.
📺 DETAIL: Graham had recently returned from a trip to Kiev, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a day before his death. Zelensky called Graham “a true defender of freedom,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had lost “one of its greatest friends” and praised his strong support for the Jewish State. First elected to the Senate in 2002, Graham became one of Washington’s most influential voices on foreign policy, frequently advocating for U.S. military intervention abroad and backing the recent military action against Iran. Although he was once a vocal critic of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, Graham later positioned himself as one of the president’s closest Republican allies, supporting him through his impeachment trial and 2024 re-election campaign.
🎯 IMPACT: With Graham’s passing, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) is tasked with appointing a temporary replacement until a new senator is elected in the November midterm elections. Republicans currently hold a slim 53-47 Senate majority, making the replacement process and upcoming elections critical for both parties as they vie for control of the chamber.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable.” – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

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

show less

The death of Senator Lindsey Graham following a "brief and sudden" health crisis has been attributed to an aortic dissection by a preliminary medical examination.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

3 hours ago
Crime
News
UK

Suspect in Ann Widdecombe Murder Rearrested on Terrorism Charges.

The investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a prominent Reform UK and former Conservative politician, has taken a significant turn, with the authorities now treating the case as terrorism-related.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The killing of Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of State turned Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Reform UK immigration and justice spokeswoman, is now being investigated as a terrorist act following new evidence, according to Counter Terrorism Policing South East. A 28-year-old man, initially arrested on suspicion of murder, has been rearrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses. Notably, Devon and Cornwall Police initially said they had no evidence the killing had a political or terror motive.
📍 WHEN & WHERE: Miss Widdecombe, 78, was found dead last Thursday in her rural home in Haytor, a village in Devon, in southwest England. The suspect was arrested Saturday in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, over 200 miles from the scene of the crime.
📺 DETAIL: Police say they now have CCTV footage of the suspect getting into a car hours before Widdecombe’s murder. He is described as a white British man. Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP who later joined Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party, now Reform UK, was a larger-than-life character in British politics, known for expressing socially conservative views rooted in her Christian faith in a forthright, uncompromising manner, and her appearances on popular reality television shows such as Strictly Come Dancing.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation,” said Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing.
🎯 IMPACT: The case underscores growing concerns about politically and ideologically motivated violence in the United Kingdom, particularly targeting figures on the political right. Significantly, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been subject to a sustained smear campaign in recent months for accepting a £5 million gift before he became a Member of Parliament, which he argues he needs to pay for private security, as the government refuses to cover it at the level of other senior politicians.

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

show less

The investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a prominent Reform UK and former Conservative politician, has taken a significant turn, with the authorities now treating the case as terrorism-related.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

July 10, 2026
Immigration
News

Trump DOJ Sues Dem-Led Maryland Over Sanctuary State Policies.

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Maryland, challenging the state’s sanctuary policies that obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Maryland, targeting its “Community Trust Act,” which prohibits state and local agencies from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The DOJ argues that Maryland’s sanctuary policies obstruct federal immigration law enforcement and violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
📺 DETAIL: Maryland’s “Community Trust Act,” enacted this year, explicitly forbids local and state agencies from assisting ICE under any circumstances. The DOJ’s lawsuit accuses Maryland’s leadership, including Attorney General Anthony Brown, of impeding federal immigration enforcement and undermining President Donald J. Trump’s constitutional duty to enforce immigration laws passed by Congress. This lawsuit follows a series of similar actions against other sanctuary jurisdictions, including Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, and New York.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “When sanctuary jurisdictions enact laws to shield illegal aliens from federal law enforcement, it is not merely federal law that is violated, but the voices of everyday American voters silenced. Today’s suit proves that this Department will never stand for such lawless action from blue state leaders.” – Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward
🎯 IMPACT: The lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Democrat state governments over immigration policy, with the latter attempting to effectively veto federal law by creating sanctuary jurisdictions in which state officials refuse to assist federal law enforcement. While the DOJ has filed numerous lawsuits against similar policies nationwide, challenges remain, as lower courts helmed have occasionally sided with sanctuary states.
📺 FLASHBACK: Sanctuary policies have been a flashpoint in immigration debates for years, particularly under the first and second Trump administrations. The legal battles initiated over sanctuary policies reflect broader disputes over state sovereignty versus federal authority in immigration enforcement, which is typically regarded as a federal matter.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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

show less

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Maryland, challenging the state's sanctuary policies that obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

July 10, 2026
News
TECH

Apple Sues ‘Rotten’ OpenAI for Alleged Theft of Trade Secrets.

Apple has filed a federal lawsuit accusing OpenAI of misappropriating confidential information through former Apple employees.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Apple has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the company engaged in “a pattern of theft” of trade secrets by hiring former Apple employees. The lawsuit claims OpenAI and its recent acquisition, io Products, exploited confidential Apple information to advance their hardware efforts, alleging the business “rests on the shakiest of foundations, rotten to its core by its illegal reliance on misappropriated trade secrets.”
📺 DETAIL: The lawsuit names two former Apple employees, Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan, who allegedly accessed sensitive company information before joining OpenAI. Apple accuses OpenAI of using this information as part of a broader strategy to enter the consumer hardware market, including instructing job candidates to bring Apple components to interviews. OpenAI denies the allegations, stating that it is not interested in rival tech firms’ trade secrets and that it is reviewing the complaint.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets.” – Drew Pusateri, OpenAI spokesman
🎯 IMPACT: The lawsuit represents a significant escalation in tensions between Apple and OpenAI, as Apple seeks to block OpenAI from using any allegedly misappropriated information. OpenAI’s upcoming hardware launch and plans to go public could be affected if the court grants Apple’s request for immediate restrictions and damages.
📺 FLASHBACK: OpenAI’s ties to Apple were previously seen as collaborative, with Apple integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into its devices. However, Apple has since shifted to using Google’s Gemini model for AI features, signaling a pivot away from OpenAI.

Image by Jernej Furman.

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

show less

Apple has filed a federal lawsuit accusing OpenAI of misappropriating confidential information through former Apple employees.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

July 10, 2026
Crime
Immigration
News

Trump Deports Convicted Child Rapist Tim Walz Tried to Protect Through Pardon Powers.

President Trump has deported a convicted child rapist after Minnesota Democrats attempted to shield him from deportation.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump successfully deported Tou Lue Vang, a convicted child rapist, after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) and Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) pardoned him in a last-ditch attempt to prevent his deportation.
📰 DETAIL: Vang, a Laotian national, was convicted of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl in Minnesota and had his deportation ordered by an immigration judge in 2006. Despite this, Walz and Ellison pardoned him when the Trump administration moved to execute the deportation order against him, in hopes of eliminating the grounds for his removal. Vang had defended his abuse as a “minor thing” and within the cultural norms of his community. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained in a video statement that he had circumvented the Minnesota Democrats’ pardon of Vang by revoking his legal status, allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to seize him and remove him from the country.
🎯 IMPACT: The Trump administration expressed fury at the Democrats for attempting to shield an immigrant who had committed a heinous crime from deportation, with White House Border Czar Tom Homan saying in an interview, “Who pardons a child rapist? That’s how much [Tim Walz] supports illegal aliens over U.S. citizen children.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Under President Trump, criminal illegal aliens who rape children will be found, arrested, and removed—and Democrat politicians will not stand in the way.” – White House statement

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

show less

President Trump has deported a convicted child rapist after Minnesota Democrats attempted to shield him from deportation.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

July 10, 2026
News
War

Trump Leaves Instructions for Unprecedented Retaliation If Iran Assassinates Him.

President Donald J. Trump disclosed that he has left instructions to strike Iran if Tehran succeeds in its alleged attempts to assassinate him.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump stated in an interview on Friday that he has left instructions to retaliate against Iran with unprecedented force should its regime succeed in assassinating him. Trump’s remarks come amid reports that Israel flagged an Iranian plot to target him, though the President stated that Tehran has long sought his death following his authorization of a 2020 strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander General Qasem Soleimani.
📺 DETAIL: Trump stressed that Iran has consistently targeted him since the Soleimani strike. “No, no, Israel came up with nothing,” Trump said of the reports that Israel had detected a threat against him, explaining: “I’ve been number one [on Iran’s kill list] for a long time, and it’s the way life is, you know.” The President also reiterated his stance, first articulated at the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this week, that the ceasefire with Iran is over due to its failure to keep to its agreements, calling its leaders “scum”.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The only thing is, I’ve left instructions, if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before.” – President Trump
🎯 IMPACT: Trump’s comments underscore the ongoing volatility in U.S.-Iran relations, particularly following the recent resumption of hostilities following Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces have struck dozens of Iranian targets in retaliation, apparently focusing on speed boats, drone facilities, and other infrastructure the Iranians have used against commercial shipping.

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

show less

President Donald J. Trump disclosed that he has left instructions to strike Iran if Tehran succeeds in its alleged attempts to assassinate him.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.

July 10, 2026
Immigration
News

American Flag Flown Upside-Down at Somali Independence Day Event in Minnesota.

The supposedly accidental display of an upside-down American flag during a Somali Independence Day event in Minnesota has prompted backlash, and apologies from organizers and city officials.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: During a Somali Independence Day event at Lake George Park Pavilion in St. Cloud, Minnesota, an American flag was displayed upside down on a city flagpole, sparking outrage. The incident occurred on July 3, the day before the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.
📺 DETAIL: Video of the event circulated widely on social media, leading some residents and local officials to question how the supposed error could have gone unnoticed despite hundreds of attendees, political speakers, and sponsoring organizations being present. St. Cloud City Councilman Scott Brodeen said he was disturbed that the flag remained upside down during the celebration, arguing it should have been noticed and corrected sooner, particularly ahead of the nation’s 250th Independence Day anniversary. Mayor Jake Anderson claimed the city takes the proper display of the American flag seriously, saying organizers apologized. The event permit was issued to local nonprofit Internal Housing Assistant, whose executive director, Omar Podi, accepted full responsibility and claimed the upside-down flag was an accident that was never intended as a sign of disrespect toward the United States, its veterans, or attendees.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “If it was accidental, how could it not have been caught by organizers or politicians that were down there campaigning?” – St. Cloud City Councilman Scott Brodeen
🎯 IMPACT: The incident has reignited conversations about patriotism and migrant integration in a city with one of the largest Somali populations in the U.S.
📺 FLASHBACK: Minnesota has previously faced scrutiny over issues of Somali integration and widespread fraud involving its immigrant communities, which have amplified public suspicion in incidents like this one.

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

show less

The supposedly accidental display of an upside-down American flag during a Somali Independence Day event in Minnesota has prompted backlash, and apologies from organizers and city officials.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Pulse Ad
Pulse Ad