Friday, May 22, 2026

Dem Candidate Linked to Chinese Communist Donor Funding.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, a 2026 Democrat candidate for Lieutenant Governor, accepted significant campaign donations from individuals and groups with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A Democrat candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California accepted over $100,000 from individuals and organizations connected to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
📺 DETAIL: According to a recent investigation, California Treasurer Fiona Ma received over $100,000 in campaign contributions tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)In September 2022, Ma received $2,500 from Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California, who resigned this month after admitting to being a foreign agent for China. The same year, Ma received $2,750 from the U.S.-Zhejiang General Chamber of Commerce (USZJGCC) and $1,000 from businessman Xuan Guojun. Both are connected to the United Front Work Department (UFWD), an organ of the CCP’s Central Committee known for conducting intelligence and influence operations in foreign countries. Furthermore, since 2004, Ma has received $5,750 from Florence Fang, an overseas advisor to the CCP-backed All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC), and since 2018, Ma has received a total of $12,500 from Simon Pang, co-founder of Royal Business Bank, the executives of which also have connections to the UFWD. From 2024 onward, Ma received $8,805 in total from Tina Yao, who serves as an executive director at the China Overseas Friendship Association (COFA), an organization operating under the UFWD. During her race for Lieutenant Governor, Ma received $13,600 from Eric Zhang & Associates LLP, a tax firm that, according to a 2023 probe conducted by the U.S. House Select Committee, employs accountants working with the UFWD. Ma has also received $12,000 from Oriza Ventures, the North American branch of Oriza Holdings, which is owned and controlled by the Suzhou Industrial Park, a Chinese municipal government entity. These are just some of the donations that Ma has taken from CCP-linked sources. Ma is associated with Pegasus California School, founded by her campaign finance chair. The school is controversial due to allegations of unlawfully issuing diplomas to Chinese nationals.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “When a politician accepts an award, a donation, or a speaking platform connected to organizations operating under the umbrella of these friendship and trade groups, a Chinese intelligence officer is, in my assessment, very likely involved in an influence operation designed to subvert American democracy.” – Investigative journalist Sam Cooper
🎯 IMPACT: These revelations have raised alarms about foreign influence in U.S. state politics, especially since Ma is currently a leading candidate in California’s 2026 Lieutenant Governor race. This is not the first time a California Democrat has been found to have links to the CCP. Earlier this month, authorities uncovered that Eileen Wang, former Mayor of Arcadia, California, and an aforementioned donor to Ma, worked with Chinese officials between 2020 and 2022 to spread pro-Beijing propaganda. The content spread by Wang included denial of human rights violations in China. She ultimately agreed to plead guilty to one felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, a 2026 Democrat candidate for Lieutenant Governor, accepted significant campaign donations from individuals and groups with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

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DNC Finally Releases Kamala’s 2024 Election Autopsy.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin released an autopsy report on the party’s 2024 election defeat, blaming inconsistent messaging, poor planning, and misaligned voter outreach for Democrat losses, and highlighting Kamala Harris’s underperformance with key demographics.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Ken Martin released a 192-page autopsy report analyzing the party’s loss in the 2024 presidential election, but declined to endorse its findings. The report, based on input from over 300 organizations and individuals, highlighted chronic challenges for Democrats, including “vacillating between stagnation and retrogression” since 2008, inconsistent messaging, poor planning, and overreliance on running against controversial Republicans.
📰 DETAIL: The report found that former Vice President Kamala Harris underperformed compared with other Democrat candidates, struggling with rural voters, young minority men, and new voters, while focusing too heavily on college-educated suburban areas. The report suggested winning requires strong urban support, competitive suburbs, and limited rural losses, noting examples like North Carolina Governor Josh Stein’s success. It also flagged deficiencies in outreach to younger voters and late messaging to key demographics. Annotations throughout the report questioned the accuracy of some claims, citing a lack of underlying data and unsourced assertions. Notably, the report lacks sections such as a comprehensive national overview or a detailed “what happened” analysis of the 2024 election. Some Democrats welcomed the transparency, but many criticized the report’s flaws and incomplete analysis. Martin acknowledged the report did not meet his standards but released it unedited to provide public access to its findings.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I am not proud of this product; it does not meet my standards, and it won’t meet your standards. I don’t endorse what’s in this report, or what’s left out of it.” – Ken Martin
🎯 IMPACT: The release of the report, with its disclaimer about unverifiable claims, will fuel further debate within the Democratic Party about the reasons for their 2024 defeat and the transparency of their internal processes.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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DNC Chairman Ken Martin released an autopsy report on the party's 2024 election defeat, blaming inconsistent messaging, poor planning, and misaligned voter outreach for Democrat losses, and highlighting Kamala Harris’s underperformance with key demographics.

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Democrat Says Zionists Should be Held in ICE Detention Centers.

Democrat congressional candidate Maureen Galindo said Zionists and former ICE officers should be detained, sparking condemnation from her own party and national leaders.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Maureen Galindo, a Democrat candidate for Texas‘s 35th Congressional District, proposed detaining “American Zionists” in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, alongside former ICE officers. The comments have drawn condemnation from the Texas Democratic Party, national Democrat leaders, and her primary opponent, Johnny Garcia.
📺 DETAIL: Galindo, a sex therapist and housing activist, is in a tight primary runoff for the state’s 35th Congressional District against Bexar County sheriff’s deputy Johnny Garcia, with voting set for May 26. Her comments, made on Texas Public Radio and via her campaign’s Instagram account earlier this month, suggested imprisoning American Zionists and former ICE officers. Galindo has defended her remarks, insisting they targeted only “billionaire Zionists,” while Garcia and members of San Antonio’s Jewish community said her rhetoric discourages voter participation and damages the Democratic Party. The Texas Democratic Party, alongside national figures including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene denounced her statements as hateful, anti-Semitic, and disqualifying. The controversy has intensified scrutiny as Galindo and Garcia compete to replace progressive Democrat Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) and face potential Republican opponents John Lujan or Carlos De La Cruz in the general election in November.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “[I will] turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking. (It will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles which will probably be most of the Zionists).” – Maureen Galindo
🎯 IMPACT: The controversy has fueled calls for Galindo’s disqualification, with Democratic leaders pledging to expel her from Congress if elected. The backlash also highlights divisions within the Democratic Party over Israel.

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Democrat congressional candidate Maureen Galindo said Zionists and former ICE officers should be detained, sparking condemnation from her own party and national leaders.

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Karl Rove Says Trump is Sinking GOP Mid Term Hopes.

GOP strategist Karl Rove warns that President Donald J. Trump’s actions and messaging could harm Republican chances in the upcoming midterm elections.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: GOP strategist Karl Rove expressed concerns that President Donald J. Trump‘s declining approval ratings and messaging could jeopardize Republican chances in the November midterms. In a Wall Street Journal column, he cited polling data showing Democrats leading on the generic congressional ballot and criticized Trump’s recent public statements and actions.
📺 DETAIL: Rove argued that redistricting alone won’t secure GOP victories, citing Democrats’ lead on the generic congressional ballot by 6.6 points in Nate Silver’s average and 11 points in the New York Times/Siena survey. He attributed the widening gap to Trump’s declining approval, which hit 39.8 percent in the RealClearPolitics average, and criticized the administration’s inconsistent messaging on the Iran war. Rove also criticized Trump’s late-night social media posts and domestic plans, such as promoting a White House ballroom project amid public concern over rising gas prices. While praising Trump’s announcement on lowering healthcare costs with 600 generic drugs, Rove said other issues have overshadowed the win. He advised the President to continue fundraising but to avoid personally campaigning, so GOP candidates can distance themselves from some of his initiatives. Rove specifically urged letting candidates disagree with Trump’s $1 billion ballroom and $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, which could potentially provide January 6 defendants with compensation.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The more Mr. Trump thrusts himself into the campaign, the more damage he’ll do to Republicans and his own cause,” Rove wrote.
🎯 IMPACT: Rove’s critique highlights internal GOP tensions over Trump’s role in the party’s strategy. His warning underscores the challenge of balancing Trump’s influence with the need to appeal to a broader electorate.

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GOP strategist Karl Rove warns that President Donald J. Trump's actions and messaging could harm Republican chances in the upcoming midterm elections.

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China is Now Spain’s Leading Supplier.

China surpassed Germany as Spain’s leading supplier of goods in early 2026, raising concerns over a widening trade deficit and growing economic dependence on Beijing.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: China has overtaken Germany as Spain‘s top supplier of goods during the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 11.6 percent of Spain’s imports compared to Germany’s 11.4 percent. This marks a significant shift in trade dynamics, as Germany has historically held this position.
📺 DETAIL: Key imports from China include electronics, machinery, and textiles, which have steadily gained market share in Spain, led by the Socialist Party under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. German exports, meanwhile, have been impacted by rising energy costs, driven by left-wing policies such as net-zero targets and the shutdown of nuclear power plants, as well as logistical challenges. Economists warn that Spain’s reliance on a single non-European supplier may carry risks amid geopolitical tensions. Trade data shows that overall imports from Asia to Spain continue to outpace those from other regions.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “That’s why it’s dangerous… because it’s not reciprocal. China competes with us in third-party markets, entering them just as it does in Spain.” – Alicia García Herrero, economist at Natixis
🎯 IMPACT: The growing trade imbalance raises concerns about Spain’s economic dependence on China, which some experts warn could lead to “hyper-dependence” and reduced competitiveness. While Spain benefits from balanced trade relationships with Germany, its trade with China primarily consists of substitute imports, offering little reciprocal benefit to Spanish industries. Overreliance on China for a range of key goods, such as personal protection equipment (PPE) and medicines, left many Western nations vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Image by Hummelhummel.

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China surpassed Germany as Spain's leading supplier of goods in early 2026, raising concerns over a widening trade deficit and growing economic dependence on Beijing.

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5 Arrested in Election Fraud Scheme.

Greater Manchester Police have arrested five people on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud in connection with irregularities during the May 7 local election in Ashton-under-Lyne, England.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Britain’s Greater Manchester Police (GMP) arrested five people, four men and one woman aged between 23 and 47, on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud in connection with the local election held on May 7 in the St Peter’s ward of Ashton-under-Lyne, during England’s local elections.
📍 WHEN & WHERE: The arrests occurred in Tameside, Greater Manchester, on the morning of May 21, as part of an ongoing investigation into the May 7 election.
📺 DETAIL: The arrests follow reports and an investigation into how candidates were nominated and represented, with particular concern over claims that fake independent candidates were put forward to split the vote. All five remain in custody for questioning as GMP works with the Electoral Commission and local partners. The ward was won by Atta Ul-Rasool, of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, ahead of Reform UK’s Gaynor Francis and three independents. Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson called the alleged actions “a disgrace” and urged swift police and Electoral Commission action. A Labour Party spokesman denied any involvement by the party in any potential wrongdoing. The investigation aims to determine whether the nomination process complied with election laws and procedures. The May 7 elections saw a major breakthrough for Nigel Farage and Reform UK, which won the most seats of any single party.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “If these allegations are true, then it’s a disgrace and the people involved should feel the full force of the law. Ordinary voters are sick and tired of politicians and activists thinking the rules don’t apply to them. Elections in Britain must be free, fair and beyond reproach.” – Lee Anderson, Reform UK chairman.
🎯 IMPACT: The investigation could have significant implications in Greater Manchester, with proven electoral fraud potentially leading to results being overturned.

Image by Bondegezou.

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Greater Manchester Police have arrested five people on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud in connection with irregularities during the May 7 local election in Ashton-under-Lyne, England.

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They’re Still Trying to Get Ukraine into the EU.

A fresh proposal from European Union leaders aims to gradually integrate Ukraine into the bloc as an “associate” member.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: European Union (EU) officials have considered making Ukraine an “Associate Member” of the EU, in the latest attempt to secure the country’s accession to the bloc.
📺 DETAIL: In a letter to fellow European Union (EU) leaders, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed granting Ukraine associate membership of the EU. As an associate member, it would lack voting rights in the European Commission, European Council, and European Parliament, but would gain access to EU-funded programs with an aim to become a full member over time. More importantly, associate membership would provide the war-torn country with a defense guarantee. Under Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, member states must come to the defense of fellow members when they are attacked, similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). “This is essential not only for Ukraine’s but for the entire continent’s security,” the letter claims. The proposal has reportedly been seen by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It is obvious that we will not be able to complete the accession process shortly, given the countless hurdles as well as the political complexities of ratification processes… What I envisage is a political solution that brings Ukraine substantially closer to the European Union and its core institutions immediately.” – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
🎯 IMPACT: If adopted, this proposal could accelerate Ukraine’s integration into the EU. However, the EU’s accession process is lengthy and rife with significant political, economic, legal, and technical questions. It is highly likely that extensive, entrenched corruption in Ukraine will prove a stumbling block to the process. Nevertheless, associate membership would constitute a major step towards recognizing the ambition of the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who has long called for an expedited accession process. Meanwhile, in late April, Zelensky pushed legislation to extend martial law in Ukraine. The continued suspension of elections after his term should have expired, restrictions on the media, and bans on opposition parties have stirred controversy abroad.

Image by European Union 2023 – Source: EP.

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A fresh proposal from European Union leaders aims to gradually integrate Ukraine into the bloc as an "associate" member.

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The New York Times is Suing the Pentagon Again.

The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon, claiming its new press escort policy infringes on First Amendment rights.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The New York Times has filed another lawsuit against the Pentagon, challenging a March policy requiring reporters to be escorted by Department of War officials in order to prevent leaks and other potentially unlawful activity. The outlet argues that the policy is “patently retaliatory” and violates First Amendment protections, restricting journalists’ ability to gather information independently.
📺 DETAIL: The lawsuit follows a prior legal challenge by the NYT in December, which led to Clinton-appointed District Judge Paul L. Friedman blocking an earlier Pentagon policy limiting press access. The new escort requirement was introduced after the Pentagon lost its appeal. The Pentagon argues the policy is necessary to address security risks, such as the passing of sensitive information to journalists.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon — the people do. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules — or go home.” – Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, September 2025
🎯 IMPACT: If upheld, the Pentagon’s policy would limit reporters’ ability to interact with government employees willing to leak confidential information to them. Secretary Hegseth explained in a memo last year, “While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect [classified national intelligence information] and sensitive information – the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of U.S. Service members in danger.”

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The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon, claiming its new press escort policy infringes on First Amendment rights.

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‘Conservatives’ Ally With Far-Left ‘Greens’ in ANOTHER UK Town in Desperate Ploy to Stop Farage’s Reform UK.

Nigel Farage’s Reform Party has assumed minority leadership of Bradford Council, but the Conservative Party has helped block them from taking control of key posts, empowering the far-left Green Party instead.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK became the largest party on Bradford Council following local elections earlier this month, securing 28 seats, but fell short of an outright majority. Reform Councillor Stephen Place was elected leader of the council on Tuesday, but opposition parties, including the notionally center-right Conservatives (Tories), abstained from voting for him, and subsequently blocked Reform’s attempts to secure key committee positions.
📺 DETAIL: Reform UK accused the Conservatives of forming a “backroom pact” with the far-left Green Party and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party to deny them influence on council committees. The council remains under minority control, with no party or coalition of parties holding overall control to enact a particular agenda.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The Conservative group on Bradford Council has entered into a grubby backroom pact with the Green Party and Labour in a desperate attempt to block Reform UK from positions on the council’s committees. As part of this unholy alliance, the Green Party was handed control of the Staffing Committee and the Regulatory & Appeals Committee, while also securing deputy chair positions on the Licensing Committee and the Regeneration & Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Every single Reform UK nomination was blocked by the Conservative-Green alliance.” – Reform UK statement issued on Wednesday
🎯 IMPACT: The situation in Bradford underlines the issues faced by Reform, the major winner in municipal elections across England earlier this month, in areas where it has made a significant breakthrough but lacks an outright majority. The Conservatives, despite positioning themselves as a center-right party, seem unwilling to ally with Reform to implement right-leaning policies, instead preferring to align with leftist parties to hamstring their populist-nationalist rivals. Commenting on the Conservatives behavior in Bradford, Reform UK Deputy Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Richard Tice commented, “The Conservatives have done it again. In their desperation to stop Reform, they are now crawling into coalition with the Green Party to seize power in local councils.”
📺 FLASHBACK: The Conservatives recently teamed up with the Green Party to force Reform out of leadership on Worcestershire County Council, causing significant backlash.

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Nigel Farage's Reform Party has assumed minority leadership of Bradford Council, but the Conservative Party has helped block them from taking control of key posts, empowering the far-left Green Party instead.

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Far-Left Journo Admits to Stalking Politician.

A British freelance journalist has pleaded guilty to stalking former Chancellor George Osborne and his wife, Thea Rogers, in a case regarding false allegations and harassment.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A British journalist has admitted to stalking former Chancellor of the Exchequer (Treasury Secretary) George Osborne and his wife for more than a year.
📺 DETAIL: Lydia Suffield, a 29-year-old freelance journalist from Liverpool, England, has admitted to two counts of stalking George Osborne, former Conservative Party finance minister, and his wife, Thea Rogers. Suffield allegedly sent harassing emails and Instagram messages to the couple, and made false referrals to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), a charity dedicated to tackling child abuse. According to prosecutors, Suffield stalked the former Chancellor and his wife for more than a year between June 8, 2022, and July 5, 2023. Furthermore, Suffield is accused of making baseless allegations of drug abuse, contacting the family, friends, and colleagues of Osborne and Rogers, and even sending a gift to the couple’s young children. After initially denying two more serious charges of stalking to cause harm and distress, Suffield pleaded guilty to two lesser offenses of stalking in court on Thursday. While the more serious charges are not being pursued by the prosecution, they will remain on file.
🎯 IMPACT: Suffield is scheduled for sentencing on July 3, 2026. She has been granted bail on the condition that she does not contact Osborne or Rogers. Osborne served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2010 to 2016 during the premiership of former Prime Minister David Cameron. Osborne supported the failed campaign to keep Britain in the European Union (EU) back in 2016 and left frontline politics in 2017. The case raises questions about the security of former high-profile politicians. There are similar issues in the United States, where, back in June 2024, it was revealed that Democrat activists were stalking conservative Supreme Court justices. Specifically, far-left activist Lauren Windsor posed as a Catholic conservative to stalk and record Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife at an event in Washington, D.C.

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A British freelance journalist has pleaded guilty to stalking former Chancellor George Osborne and his wife, Thea Rogers, in a case regarding false allegations and harassment.

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Ex-CDC Chief Says Ebola Could Be Significant Pandemic.

Former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Robert Redfield has warned that this month’s Ebola outbreak in Africa could escalate into a significant pandemic.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Experts have warned that the current Ebola outbreak could turn into significant pandemic as the disease spreads to several East African countries.
📰 DETAIL: On Wednesday, Robert Redfield, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warned that this month’s Ebola outbreak in Africa could become a very significant pandemic and a threat to global health. The warning follows news that the disease has likely spread to several East African countries, specifically Tanzania, South Sudan, and Rwanda. The vast majority of Ebola cases are caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which is historically concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, countries in Central and East Africa, respectively. There are 536 suspected cases and 134 suspected deaths from Ebola across the two countries. The former director also noted that experts were slow to recognize the outbreak, contributing to its rapid spread. “Normally when we have these Ebola outbreaks, and I had three of them when I was CDC director, all of which were in the DRC, normally we recognize them when we have five, ten cases, you know, at most… This one really wasn’t picked up until there was over 100 cases,” noted the former director.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I suspect this is going to become a very significant pandemic, probably going to leak into Tanzania, leak into Southern Sudan, maybe leak into Rwanda.” – Robert Redfield
🎯 IMPACT: May’s Ebola outbreak is the 17th to occur in the region within the past 50 years. The most recent outbreak ended in December last year. Nevertheless, the former director emphasized that it has the potential to become “very disruptive” and move very rapidly from country to country. Due to the rising number of cases and deaths, the U.S. State Department announced new travel advice on Thursday, including “enhanced public health screening” for U.S.-bound individuals who have visited the affected countries within 21 days of arrival. The enhanced screening will be carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the CDC. In late April, President Donald J. Trump signed a narrowly-approved bill funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) minus CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill was signed to end a 76-day partial shutdown of the federal government. Republicans are reportedly developing an alternate funding bill for the agencies, which will be crucial in ensuring proper health screening.

Image by Raed Mansour.

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Former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Robert Redfield has warned that this month's Ebola outbreak in Africa could escalate into a significant pandemic.

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Fox Poll Has Warning Sign for Trump on Economy.

Voters are growing more downbeat about the economy and President Trump’s performance on major issues.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Polling by Fox News shows public sentiment on President Donald J. Trump’s economy is souring, with 77 percent of voters now describing the economy as being in bad shape, up from 73 percent last month and 71 percent a year ago. Only 23 percent view it positively, the lowest share in more than a year. Trump’s overall economic approval rating now sits at 29 percent, down from 34 percent in April. Inflation is his weakest area, with approval at only 24 percent—a drop from 35 percent in January. Even Republicans give Trump’s economic performance majority disapproval, at 51 percent, while among independents and Democrats, disapproval stands at 85 percent and 96 percent, respectively.
📰 DETAIL: Cost of living remains voters’ dominant economic concern, cited by 58 percent as their top worry—an increase from 50 percent in February. The poll indicates a significant decline in support among several of Trump’s key demographics, including non-MAGA Republicans, white voters, and rural voters. Disapproval of Trump’s economic management has risen, with 71 percent expressing dissatisfaction, up from 66 percent the previous month and 56 percent a year earlier, driven by a seven-point rise in disapproval among Republicans. There is a significant split inside the Republican coalition, with non-MAGA Republicans giving Trump’s economic performance just 36 percent approval—closer to independents’ rating of 18 percent than to MAGA Republicans’ 74 percent.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Make no mistake; it’s all about affordability. Independents jumped ship in 2025, and now non-MAGA Republicans and other core constituencies are wavering.” – Republican pollster Daron Shaw.
🎯 IMPACT: The decline in approval ratings could diminish Trump’s influence within the Republican Party and his ability to rally support for future economic initiatives in Congress, especially as the November midterms grow nearer.
📈 DATA: The survey, conducted from May 15-18, included 1,002 registered voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

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Voters are growing more downbeat about the economy and President Trump’s performance on major issues.

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Somali Daycare Owner Hit with Federal Charges over $4.6 Million Fraud Scheme.

Fahima Egeh Mahamud, already implicated in a major fraud scandal, has been charged with additional federal offenses for allegedly misappropriating millions meant for children’s meals.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Fahima Egeh Mahamud, a Somali-background woman already linked to the $250 million Feeding Our Future scandal, faces new federal charges for allegedly pocketing an additional $4.6 million through a separate daycare subsidy fraud scheme.
📰 DETAIL: Mahamud, owner of Future Leaders Early Learning Center in south Minneapolis, was charged on May 20 with wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Federal prosecutors claim she submitted over $826,000 in false meal reimbursement claims to Feeding Our Future in 2021, while serving only a fraction of the meals reported. Investigators allege she used fake meal count sheets, fabricated child rosters, and inflated invoices to justify the payments. Mahamud is also accused of filing more than 13,000 claims with Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program without collecting required co-payments, resulting in roughly $4.6 million in improper reimbursements. Prosecutors say the funds were diverted for personal enrichment, including real estate purchases and transfers to affiliated businesses. Court records show Mahamud abruptly closed her center on February 10, 2026. Shortly after, she booked a trip to Britain.
🎯 IMPACT: The charges provide yet another example of a member of the Minnesota Somali community being indicted over fraud linked to child care, with some claiming the overall fraud may be in the billions of dollars.

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Fahima Egeh Mahamud, already implicated in a major fraud scandal, has been charged with additional federal offenses for allegedly misappropriating millions meant for children's meals.

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Migrant Crime Networks Are Operating Through Vape Stores, Barber Shops.

The British government is having to launch a major task force to tackle money laundering, illegal employment, and organized crime tied to vape stores and other dubious high street businesses.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The British government has unveiled a £30 million (~$40m) initiative to combat organized crime linked to high street businesses, particularly vape stores, barber shops, and mini-marts. The crackdown will involve raids, closures, and cash seizures targeting operations tied to money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal immigration and employment.
📺 DETAIL: The task force will consist of 75 officers from various British police forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA), roughly equivalent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Trading Standards departments, which enforce consumer protection regulations, will receive £6 million (~$8m) to enhance enforcement and identify fraudulent businesses, following incidents in which unlicensed vape shops selling unregulated vapes have caused fires and burned down historic buildings. The NCA estimates that £1 billion of the £12 billion in criminal cash generated annually in the United Kingdom is laundered through such establishments.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This criminal activity makes our communities less safe and less prosperous. It undermines legitimate business, deprives public services of tax revenues, and fuels a range of predicate offenses such as the drugs trade, illicit goods, trafficking, and organized immigration crime.” – Sal Melki, Deputy Director of Illicit Finance at the NCA
🎯 IMPACT: The initiative marks a significant shift in government policy, which has been accused of taking insufficient action against the huge number of vape stores, Turkish barber shops, phone repair stores, and so on, often staffed and owned by immigrant and immigrant-background individuals, that have proliferated across Britain in recent years. Critics have long complained that many are clearly fronts for organized criminals, existing in close proximity in numbers grossly out of proportion to the public demand for them. Vape stores, in particular, are also emerging as hubs for grooming and sexual predation.
📺 FLASHBACK: Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has been highlighting this issue for years, saying last year, “It’s money laundering, it’s a way of funneling large amounts of cash through, declare some of it to the taxman, and of course, the drugs trade is all cash.”

Image via National Crime Agency.

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The British government is having to launch a major task force to tackle money laundering, illegal employment, and organized crime tied to vape stores and other dubious high street businesses.

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UK Immigration Remains Over 800,000 a Year.

Britain’s Labour Party government is promoting new statistics showing net immigration fell in 2025, but gross immigration remains extremely high at over 800,000, and polling reveals most Britons believe it has increased.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Britain’s Labour Party government is touting a fall in long-term net immigration to 171,000 in provisional Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures for 2025, released on Thursday. However, this is partly a result of the number of British nationals leaving the country standing at almost 250,000 for the year, with gross immigration of non-European Union (EU) nationals remaining historically high at 627,000. Polling by British Future shows only 16 percent of Britons believe immigration is going down, while 49 percent believe it is increasing.
📺 DETAIL: Gross immigration for 2025 is estimated at 813,000. This is comprised of 627,000 non-EU migrants, 76,000 EU migrants, and 110,000 returning British citizens. Meanwhile, 278,000 non-EU nationals, 118,000 EU nationals, and 246,000 British nationals left the country. Notably, the statistics are provisional, with the ONS revising its provisional 2024 estimates for gross immigration up to over a million in the same report.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “246,000 Brits left last year. Net, 136,000 went. A city the size of Watford. Many are entrepreneurs, investors, small businesspeople. It’s the Starmer Exodus. Reform will Bring Brits Back.” – Robert Jenrick, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party
📺 FLASHBACK: Net immigration quintupled under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as a result of his Conservative Party government greatly decreasing the requirements to migrate to Britain following the COVID-19 pandemic. While the current influx is down significantly from this “Boriswave” period, annual arrivals remain near their highest levels in Britain’s history, particularly in gross terms.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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Britain's Labour Party government is promoting new statistics showing net immigration fell in 2025, but gross immigration remains extremely high at over 800,000, and polling reveals most Britons believe it has increased.

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State Dept Settles $1.5 Billion Lawsuit Over Biden Funding Palestinian Terrorists.

The billion-dollar settlement ensures the State Department will adhere to the Taylor Force Act, which prevents the United States from sending financial aid to the Palestinian Authority’s Martyrs Fund.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The State Department has settled a lawsuit regarding $1.5 billion dollars of taxpayer money given to the Palestinian Authority under the former Biden government.
📺 DETAIL: Filed in December 2022 by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), the parents of Taylor Force, and terror survivor Sarri Singer, the Biden government was accused of “unlawfully laundering U.S. taxpayer funds through non-governmental organizations to directly benefit the Palestinian Authority” in circumvention of the Taylor Force Act 2018, a law passed under President Donald J. Trump which prevents the United States from giving financial aid to the Palestinian Authority until it dissolves its Martyrs Fund. Critics have long argued that the fund incentivizes terrorism as it provides money to the families of those killed in attacks on Israelis. The law is named after Taylor Force, an American Army veteran murdered by a Palestinian terrorist while in Jaffa, Israel, in early 2016. “When President Trump signed the Taylor Force Act into law in 2018, the United States made clear it would not tolerate or reward terrorism—yet Joe Biden’s decision to ignore that law put American lives at risk,” said Rep. Jackson about the case. The settlement was secured by America First Legal, a non-profit public interest organization founded by Stephen Miller, the current White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “As a victim of terrorism and a survivor of a Hamas bus bombing, I have lived with the painful reality that the person who carried out the attack against me is not only honored, but that his family receives monthly payments… This settlement brings a level of accountability and helps ensure that the U.S. is not contributing, even indirectly, to incentivizing terror.” – Sarri Singer, a survivor of a Hamas bus bombing
🎯 IMPACT: The State Department will abide by the Taylor Force Act 2018 for the next 10 years. The Palestinian Authority’s Martyrs Fund, referred to by critics as a “Pay to Slay” scheme, will be impacted by the State Department’s renewed commitment to the act as the U.S. ceases financial aid.

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The billion-dollar settlement ensures the State Department will adhere to the Taylor Force Act, which prevents the United States from sending financial aid to the Palestinian Authority's Martyrs Fund.

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Ex-Prosecutor Charged With Stealing Trump Case Documents Authored by Jack Smith.

A former federal prosecutor is facing charges after allegedly stealing part of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report into the Department of Justice’s failed case against President Trump.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A former federal prosecutor has been indicted for allegedly stealing a section of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on his now-defunct criminal case against President Donald J. Trump.
📺 DETAIL: Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, a former federal prosecutor, has been accused of stealing a sealed portion of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on the Department of Justice’s defunct criminal case against President Donald J. Trump. In the four-count indictment, she is accused of saving a section of the report on her government-provided computer under the file name “Bundt_Cake_Recipe.pdf” and emailing the files from her DOJ account to her personal account in December 2025. At the time of the alleged crime, Lineberger was working as a managing Assistant U.S. Attorney in Fort Pierce, Florida. The report was part of the now defunct-case alleging that President Trump retained classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. The case against the President was dismissed by Aileen Cannon, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Cannon ruled that Jack Smith’s appointment violated the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution. After the President’s comeback election in 2024, the DOJ abandoned its attempt to appeal the ruling, citing policy against pursuing the prosecution of sitting presidents.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This afternoon, a former managing assistant U.S. Attorney who supported Jack Smith’s politicized investigation of President Trump has been charged with stealing the confidential investigation documents… This FBI will not hesitate to bring to account those who violated the trust of the American public in an investigation that should’ve never been brought to begin with.” – FBI Director Kash Patel
🎯 IMPACT: The charges against Lineberger, which include theft of government property and altering public records, validate concerns over officials’ handling of sensitive government materials. The indictment is likely to cast further doubt on the impartiality of the DOJ’s now-defunct case against President Trump. In February, it was revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under former President Joe Biden, subpoenaed the phone records of President Trump’s staff and allies. “It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records—along with those of now White House chief of staff Susie Wiles—using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight,” said FBI Director Patel at the time.

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A former federal prosecutor is facing charges after allegedly stealing part of former Special Counsel Jack Smith's report into the Department of Justice's failed case against President Trump.

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FBI Reports Biggest Drop in Violent Crime Since 1937.

Preliminary FBI data shows a historic 9.3 percent drop in violent crime in 2025, marking the largest decrease in nearly 90 years.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Violent crime in the United States fell sharply in 2025, posting the largest annual decline in nearly 90 years, according to preliminary Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data released this week. The report found that overall violent crime dropped about 9.3 percent, while murders and non-negligent manslaughter fell by more than 18 percent.
📺 DETAIL: Aggravated assaults declined by over seven percent, rapes dropped roughly 7.6 percent, and property crime decreased an estimated 12.4 percent. FBI Director Kash Patel credited internal reforms implemented over the past 14 months under President Donald J. Trump’s administration, saying the bureau would continue efforts to “Back the Blue” and build on the crime reductions. The data was compiled through the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program using submissions from more than 17,000 law enforcement agencies representing about 96 percent of the U.S. population. FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division Assistant Director Tim Ferguson said the early release reflects the bureau’s commitment to transparency while allowing time for additional review before the final report is issued later in 2026. Overall, the FBI estimates roughly 1.1 million fewer violent crimes occurred in 2025 compared to the previous year.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The 2025 crime data in this report shows the single largest decrease in violent crime and murder since 1937 – as well as huge decreases across the board in terms of aggravated assault, rape, and robbery. Over the last 14 months, we made major transformations at the FBI, and these results show those changes are working.” – FBI Director Kash Patel
🎯 IMPACT: The significant reduction in violent crime is a major boost for law enforcement and public safety, with the data suggesting that reforms within the FBI and its collaboration with local agencies are yielding tangible results.

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Preliminary FBI data shows a historic 9.3 percent drop in violent crime in 2025, marking the largest decrease in nearly 90 years.

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CORRUPTION: Microsoft Hired Biden Staffers Who Regulated… Microsoft. 

A watchdog group is highlighting Microsoft’s hiring of former Biden regime officials tasked with regulating it, and urging the Department of Justice to investigate.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The American Accountability Foundation has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Microsoft‘s hiring of former Biden regime officials who previously oversaw, regulated, or investigated the company, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Notably, Microsoft provides critical tech services to federal agencies.
📺 DETAIL: The watchdog group argued that the hires raise potential conflict of interest concerns because Microsoft holds major federal cloud computing contracts and faced scrutiny over cybersecurity failures tied to Chinese hacking incidents. Among those named were former DOJ official Melinda Rogers, who reportedly approved the department’s use of Microsoft’s secure government cloud platform before later joining the company, and former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who now serves as Microsoft’s president of global affairs. The watchdog called for federal investigators to determine whether future employment prospects may have influenced official decisions while those individuals were still in government roles. Microsoft has denied any improper conduct and said all hiring decisions complied with ethics rules and federal regulations. The controversy comes as the company is facing scrutiny over cybersecurity breaches.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Public confidence in federal cybersecurity, in federal contracting, and in the impartial administration of federal law enforcement depends on the willingness of the institutions named in this letter to ask hard questions when the public record suggests they should be asked.” – Tom Jones, President of the American Accountability Foundation
🎯 IMPACT: The allegations raise critical questions about the intersection of government oversight and private sector employment, particularly as Microsoft continues to play a significant role in federal cybersecurity and cloud services. The case underscores broader concerns about the “revolving door” between government and industry, with potential implications for public trust.
📺 FLASHBACK: Microsoft faced significant cybersecurity breaches between 2019 and 2023, including a high-profile attack by Chinese hackers. A 2024 Cyber Safety Review Board report criticized the company’s “security culture” and identified numerous avoidable errors in its systems.

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A watchdog group is highlighting Microsoft's hiring of former Biden regime officials tasked with regulating it, and urging the Department of Justice to investigate.

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DOJ Indicts Chinese Executive Over Global Price-Fixing Scheme.

The Department of Justice has charged seven Chinese executives and four major shipping container manufacturers with conspiring to inflate global shipping costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged seven Chinese business executives along with four major global shipping container companies in a sweeping antitrust case tied to COVID-19 era supply chain crisis. Federal prosecutors allege the group coordinated to limit production of standard shipping containers between late 2019 and early 2024, a move authorities say sharply inflated global transportation costs during the pandemic.
📺 DETAIL: Investigators say container prices doubled during the period while the manufacturers’ profits surged dramatically as demand for overseas goods skyrocketed. Court filings state that one of the accused, 54-year-old Vick Nam Hing Ma, was arrested in France in April and is currently facing extradition proceedings to the United States. The superseding indictment also identifies 10 additional alleged co-conspirators connected to the scheme. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the department is committed to pursuing companies and executives accused of manipulating markets and harming American consumers. Woodward also criticized the former Biden regime, arguing it focused on politically motivated prosecutions instead of targeting economic crimes linked to the pandemic.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This Department of Justice is ensuring that when American pocketbooks are pilfered, accountability will follow,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward
🎯 IMPACT: The alleged price-fixing scheme exacerbated global shipping challenges during a critical period, impacting supply chains and consumer costs worldwide. The indictment signals a crackdown on market manipulation that exploited the pandemic for financial gain.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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The Department of Justice has charged seven Chinese executives and four major shipping container manufacturers with conspiring to inflate global shipping costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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