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Thursday, March 5, 2026
2 hours ago
William Upton
Breaking
War

Democrats’ Iran War Powers Resolution Fails in Senate.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States Senate took up a war powers resolution authored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) aimed at forcing the removal of U.S. armed forces from unauthorized hostilities against Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Senate, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. military, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The vote occurred on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: The attempt to discharge the resolution and bring it to the floor failed 48 to 52.

IN FULL

The United States Senate took up a war powers resolution authored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) aimed at forcing the removal of U.S. armed forces from unauthorized hostilities against Iran. In effect, the Democrat-backed resolution would require President Donald J. Trump to cease military action unless Congress passes a declaration of war or specific authorization; however, the measure failed on the floor after Kaine pushed for its discharge from committee.

Sen. Kaine’s resolution saw little support from Senate Republicans, with only Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) cosponsoring the measure, and receiving only 47 votes in favor on the floor. Notably, a number of lawmakers objected to the resolution’s overly constricting language that they contend would effectively and immediately end all military actions against Iran, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA).

Over the weekend, President Donald J. Trump authorized military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran, with initial U.S.-Israeli joint airstrikes killing around 40 of the Islamist regime’s top leaders—including its Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The ongoing military operation has significantly degraded Iran’s air defenses, air force, and navy, with the regime possibly facing incursions by Kurdish fighters from Iraq as well.

“The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. Naval and commercial vessels in international shipping lanes. It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer,” President Trump said on Saturday after the U.S. and Israeli strikes had begun.

Speaking to the Iranian people, Trump stated, “Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered, don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”

Image via Senate Democrats.

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2 hours ago
News
TECH

Cross-Spectrum Coalition Including Bannon, Ralph Nader Demands Human Oversight of AI.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A coalition of conservatives, progressives, labor unions, and faith groups released a joint declaration of principles on artificial intelligence (AI), addressing concerns over Silicon Valley’s deployment of the technology.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Stephen K. Bannon, Glenn Beck, labor unions, faith groups, and organizations like the Future of Life Institute, alongside individual signatories such as Ralph Nader and AI experts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The declaration was announced on Wednesday, coinciding with an $8 million advertising campaign targeting several U.S. states.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This declaration makes clear AI has incredible opportunities to help humanity flourish like never before.” – Max Tegmark, founder and chair of the Future of Life Institute

🎯IMPACT: The coalition aims to influence AI policy by promoting measures like banning legal personhood for AI systems and holding tech executives accountable for harm caused by their products.

IN FULL

A politically diverse alliance of American organizations and public figures has come together to call for stricter oversight of artificial intelligence (AI), warning that the technology is being advanced too quickly and with too little accountability. The initiative is being coordinated by the Future of Life Institute, which has released a declaration outlining 34 principles designed to guide the development and governance of AI.

The framework is organized around five broad priorities: ensuring humans remain in control of AI systems, preventing excessive concentration of technological power, safeguarding the human experience, protecting individual agency and liberty, and strengthening corporate responsibility.

According to Max Tegmark, founder and chair of the institute, the stakes are enormous. “This declaration makes clear AI has incredible opportunities to help humanity flourish like never before. But unfortunately, the path we’re on right now is this race to replace, where you have a small number of incredibly powerful companies very openly saying that they want to build super intelligence, which, by definition, can replace every human job.”

Among the specific proposals are a prohibition on granting legal personhood to AI systems, mandatory disclosure when content is AI-generated, and the possibility of criminal liability for technology executives whose products cause serious harm.

The campaign supporting the declaration includes an $8 million advertising effort aimed at voters in states such as Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina, regions where automation and AI-driven changes are already affecting local economies.

What distinguishes this effort is the ideological range of its supporters. Backers include conservative and populist commentators such as WarRoom host Stephen K. Bannon and Glenn Beck, as well as progressive figures and advocacy groups like Ralph Nader, Public Citizen, and the American Federation of Teachers. Religious organizations, including the Congress of Christian Leaders and the G20 Interfaith Forum Association, have also endorsed the initiative. Additional supporters include the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA and prominent AI researchers such as Stuart Russell and Yoshua Bengio.

Established in 2014, the Future of Life Institute has faced pushback from parts of Silicon Valley and from officials in Washington, who argue that such warnings amount to “AI doomerism” and risk slowing American innovation while competitors like China accelerate their own AI development. Nevertheless, the institute maintains that stronger guardrails are essential to ensure the technology benefits society, promoting its message under the banner: “Protect What’s Human.”

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4 hours ago
News
TECH

Musk Faces Trial Over ‘Scheme to Deceive the Market.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk is set to testify in a shareholder lawsuit accusing him of making misleading statements that impacted Twitter’s stock price before he purchased the platform for $44 billion in 2022.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, Twitter shareholders, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The trial is taking place in San Francisco, with the lawsuit originally filed in October 2022.

💬KEY QUOTE: “To try to renegotiate the price or delay the merger, Musk made materially false and misleading statements and omissions, and engaged in a scheme to deceive the market, all in violation of the law,” the lawsuit alleges.

🎯IMPACT: The case will consider how public statements from high-profile executives impact markets and shareholder rights.

IN FULL

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is expected to testify in a shareholder lawsuit in San Francisco stemming from his 2022 purchase of Twitter (now X). Filed in October 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the suit represents investors who sold Twitter shares between May 13 and October 4, 2022, before Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition.

Plaintiffs allege Musk violated federal securities laws by making statements that affected Twitter’s stock price. At the center of the case is his May 13, 2022, tweet declaring the deal “temporarily on hold” pending verification of spam and fake accounts. Shareholders argue the merger agreement did not allow him to pause the transaction unilaterally and say the post contributed to a sharp decline in the company’s share price.

“To try to renegotiate the price or delay the merger, Musk made materially false and misleading statements and omissions, and engaged in a scheme to deceive the market, all in violation of the law,” the suit states.

Musk continued raising concerns about bot and spam accounts in the following weeks, despite having waived due diligence when making his offer. In July 2022, he announced he was terminating the agreement, citing insufficient information about fake accounts, prompting further stock declines. Twitter sued to force completion of the deal, and Musk countersued.

On October 4, 2022, Musk agreed to proceed with the original $44 billion offer, and the acquisition closed later that month. After taking control, he implemented sweeping changes, including significant layoffs, restructuring of “trust and safety” operations, and revisions to content moderation policies. In July 2023, he rebranded Twitter as X.

This is not Musk’s first legal dispute over social media statements. In 2018, he faced trial over tweets about taking Tesla, Inc. private, but a jury found in his favor.

Musk, who also leads SpaceX, has recently drawn attention for Tesla’s reported plans to build a large-scale battery facility in China. Reports have also noted that Tesla filed thousands of H-1B visa labor applications in a single year, highlighting its reliance on specialized foreign workers.

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6 hours ago
News

The Top 6 Times Senator Cornyn Has Backstabbed Trump and MAGA.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) may be poised to receive President Donald J. Trump’s endorsement in a primary contest against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, despite the fact that he has repeatedly betrayed President Trump and the MAGA movement since 2016. The situation undermines Trump’s claims to value loyalty, and is infuriating his MAGA base in Texas and beyond.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senator John Cornyn, MAGA supporters, President Trump, and Ken Paxton.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Various instances from 2016 to 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Who is a worse Senator, John ‘The Stiff’ Cornyn of Texas, or Mitt ‘The Loser’ Romney of Massachusetts (Utah?)? They are both weak, ineffective, and very bad for the Republican Party, and our Nation.”  – Donald Trump, 2023

🎯IMPACT: Cornyn’s history is coming into sharp focus ahead of the Texas Senate primary run-off slated for May, and a much coveted Trump endorsement.

IN FULL

Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn, currently facing a primary run-off against Texas Attorney General and MAGA loyalist Ken Paxton, is reportedly on the cusp of receiving an endorsement from President Donald J. Trump, who will urge Paxton to drop out of the race. However, Cornyn has a long history of betraying Trump and scorning the MAGA base, leading many to wonder why the President would endorse him over a longtime ally like Paxton.

The matter is complicated further by the fact that Trump’s own 2024, including Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, are currently consulting for Cornyn, and creating an echo chamber around the President to limit him hearing from pro-Paxton voices.

Below, The National Pulse recalls six prominent examples of Cornyn backstabbing President Trump and his supporters:

1. Opposing Trump’s Border Wall.

Cornyn opposed President Trump’s border war as “naive” prior to his election in 2016, and boasted in 2020 that he had privately opposed his efforts to use national security funding to construct it after he entered office.

2. Refusing to Support Trump Against the Biden DOJ.

In July 2023, amid growing efforts by Joe Biden’s Department of Justice to have Trump indicted and potentially imprisoned, Cornyn declined to offer any support, saying, “I think that’s entirely within the purview of the Department of Justice and has nothing to do with the United States Senate.”

Asked if it would be “legitimate” for Jack Smith to charge Trump with attempting to overturn the 2020 election, he maintained a hands-off approach, insisting, “That’s going to depend on whether or not laws were broken. So clearly, I don’t know what they’re looking at. But I’m sure we’ll know in due time.”

3. Pushing Open Borders Policies.

After the Supreme Court ruled against the first attempt by the Trump administration to terminate DACA in 2020, Cornyn celebrated by taking to the Senate floor and saying, “DACA recipients must have a permanent legislative solution. They deserve nothing less. These young men and women have done nothing wrong.”

He continued by pushing amnesty for DACA illegals, declaring, “I believe the Supreme Court has thrust upon us a unique moment and an opportunity. We need to take action and pass legislation that will unequivocally allow these young men and women to stay in the only home, in the only country, they’ve known.”

4. Blaming Trump for January 6.

In the aftermath of the disorderly January 6, 2021, protests at the U.S. Capitol, Cornyn publicly denounced Trump for his “reckless and incendiary speech.”

Although he voted to acquit Trump during his Senate trial, he was scathing, about the President’s conduct, suggesting it would be his biggest legacy and arguing that “no consideration [was] given to what the impact would be on the people listening, no consideration given to the likelihood that there would be outside agitators trying to stoke the fire for the mob.”

5. Dissing Trump 2024:

In 2023, as Trump geared up for his 2024 run, Cornyn told reporters, “I think President Trump’s time has passed him by,” and urged the GOP to “move on” to a supposedly more electable candidate.

“I think what’s the most important thing for me is that we have a candidate who can actually win. I don’t think President Trump understands that when you run in a general election, you have to appeal to voters beyond your base,” the Texas Senator said.

Cornyn endorsed Trump only after the New Hampshire primary, when it became apparent that none of his rivals in the Republican primary had any hope of supplanting him.

6. No Recess Appointments.

During his failed run for Senate Majority Leader, Cornyn backed the use of recess appointments to quickly fill out Trump’s cabinet. However, just days later, he reversed course and told reporters, “Obviously, I don’t think we should be circumventing the Senate’s responsibilities, but I think it’s premature to be talking about recess appointments right now,” as he and his colleagues were blocking the appointment of former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as U.S. Attorney General.

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8 hours ago
Crime
News

Iran-Backed Pakistani on Trial Over Plot to Assassinate Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Pakistani national was accused of plotting with Iran to kill U.S. officials as part of a broader murder-for-hire scheme.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Asif Merchant, federal prosecutors, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, and unnamed informants. President Donald J. Trump and former President Joe Biden were mentioned as targets.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Merchant flew from Pakistan to the United States in an attempt to recruit hitmen, and was arrested one day before the assassination attempt against President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot was allegedly orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian regime’s playbook.” – Former FBI Director Christopher Wray

🎯IMPACT: Merchant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted. The trial highlights ongoing threats from the Iranian regime against U.S. interests.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors say Pakistani national Asif Merchant plotted with Iranian contacts to assassinate U.S. political figures, reportedly including President Donald J. Trump. Merchant is on trial in Brooklyn, New York, facing charges of attempting to commit terrorism and participating in a murder-for-hire scheme. Authorities allege Merchant was indicted in July 2024 after being recorded during a meeting with a confidential informant, where he outlined a plan on a napkin to kill an unnamed politician.

Prosecutors say he later attempted to hire two men to carry out the killing, offering $5,000 each. The would-be hitmen were undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents. Merchant was arrested as he attempted to leave the United States.

Court evidence also includes graphic images that Merchant allegedly shared online depicting violence against Trump, including a severed head and a gravestone bearing Trump’s name. Some posts dated back to 2020 and referenced former President Joe Biden. One image showed a mock wanted poster for Trump with the caption, “Iran issues an arrest warrant for Trump.”

The case comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran following military operations ordered by Trump targeting Iranian-linked interests. Critics have argued that some of those actions lacked clear congressional authorization, while others maintain that Trump acted within his Article II powers as commander-in-chief.

Then-FBI Director Christopher Wray said, “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot was allegedly orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian regime’s playbook.” Merchant’s defense team denies the allegations and contends the case is politically motivated.

Merchant’s prosecution follows other cases involving alleged threats against Trump. In February 2026, Ryan Routh,  accused of attempting to assassinate Trump, was sentenced to life in prison after authorities said he took substantial steps toward carrying out an attack. Months earlier, Routh reportedly sought transfer to a prison in a state permitting assisted suicide, stating he wished to pursue euthanasia while incarcerated.

In June 2025, authorities also charged an alleged Antifa-linked sharpshooter in connection with threats against Trump, accusing the suspect of making explicit statements about conducting a sniper-style attack before being apprehended.

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9 hours ago
Immigration
SCOTUS

Supreme Court UNANIMOUSLY Backs Trump Admin on Asylum.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously sided with the Trump administration in a case concerning the standard for reviewing asylum claims by illegal immigrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The case involved Salvadoran illegal immigrant Humberto Urias-Orellana and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on March 4, 2026, by the U.S. Supreme Court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We conclude that the statute requires application of the substantial-evidence standard to the agency’s conclusion that a given set of undisputed facts does not constitute persecution.” – Ketanji Brown Jackson

🎯IMPACT: The decision reinforces the substantial evidence standard for reviewing asylum claims, supporting the executive branch’s determinations.

IN FULL

In a firm and unanimous ruling, the United States Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a victory regarding its power to review asylum claims made by illegal immigrants. The high court in Urias-Orellana v. Bondi found that federal courts must defer to immigration agencies when deciding whether facts qualify as “persecution” in asylum cases. Importantly, this entails the application of the substantial-evidence standard, rather than the interpretation of individual jurists.

The case involves Humberto Urias-Orellana, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who unlawfully entered the United States in 2021 and filed for asylum. Urias-Orellana claimed that he faced persecution in El Salvador, but both an immigration judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals rejected his claims, determining the alleged violence he faced did not constitute persecution. The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this decision.

Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, writing for the court, stated that the statute requires the application of the substantial-evidence standard to the agency’s conclusion that the facts do not amount to persecution. “We conclude that the statute requires application of the substantial-evidence standard to the agency’s conclusion that a given set of undisputed facts does not constitute persecution. Accordingly, we affirm,” Justice Jackson wrote.

Notably, the case reinforces the deference given to the executive branch’s factual determinations in immigration cases. The substantial evidence standard is a highly deferential appellate review standard requiring that factual findings be upheld if they are supported by “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion”. It requires more than a mere scintilla of evidence but less than a preponderance.

Image by Joe Ravi.

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10 hours ago
Crime
News

No Felony Charges for Antifa Agitators Despite $1M Damage at University of Washington.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: King County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges against 33 agitators arrested for vandalizing the University of Washington’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, instead filing misdemeanor charges.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Thirty-three agitators, including members of the now-suspended group Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER UW), and University of Washington police investigators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: May 2025 at the University of Washington’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building; decision not to prosecute confirmed recently.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is an important step in ensuring accountability for those who perpetrated this occupation.” – UW spokesman Victor Balta

🎯IMPACT: Twenty-three students involved have already faced disciplinary suspensions.

IN FULL

Prosecutors in King County will not pursue felony charges against 33 Antifa agitators arrested in connection with last spring’s occupation and vandalism of the University of Washington’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building. Instead, nearly a year after the May 2025 incident, which caused more than $1 million in damage, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed 33 counts of Criminal Trespass in the First Degree, a gross misdemeanor.

Records show University of Washington police told prosecutors they lacked sufficient evidence to support felony charges such as burglary or malicious mischief. Investigators cited the absence of eyewitness testimony or surveillance footage capturing the vandalism. A forensic review of seized electronic devices also failed to tie specific suspects to the property destruction.

Police reports indicate the demonstration was organized by Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER UW), an anti-Israel student group later suspended by the university. According to authorities, individuals dressed in “Black Bloc” Antifa clothing entered the building after hours, barricaded exits, and damaged equipment. Officers issued dispersal orders and ultimately removed dozens of people, encountering resistance that included makeshift shields and protective gear.

Police Lieutenant Anthony Stewart said investigators believe two separate groups were involved: one that carried out the destruction and another, with university affiliations, that remained inside and “leverage[d] their status to avoid aggressive police responses.”

University spokesman Victor Balta confirmed that 23 of those charged were students who had already been disciplined.

The case unfolds amid broader national scrutiny of protest movements employing “Black Bloc” tactics associated with Antifa. In Texas, federal prosecutors have brought terrorism-related charges against individuals accused of attacking an ICE detention facility in 2025, marking one of the most aggressive uses of federal statutes in cases linked to alleged Antifa activity.

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10 hours ago
Corruption
Data

It’s NOT The Economy, Stupid! – The Issue That Most Americans List as Their TOP CONCERN Might Surprise Some.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Government and political leadership remained the top concern for Americans in February, with immigration rising sharply as the second most mentioned issue.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The responses reflect concerns from Democrats, Republicans, and independents, as well as broader dissatisfaction with political leadership and immigration policies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 2-16, 2025, across the United States, per a Gallup poll.

🎯IMPACT: The findings highlight continued dissatisfaction with government and an increased focus on immigration, reflecting partisan divides and differing priorities.

IN FULL

Government and political leadership remain Americans’ top concern, according to a Gallup poll conducted February 2-16. Immigration emerged as the second-most-cited issue, followed by the economy and inflation. Importantly, Gallup stresses that the survey was conducted before the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28.

According to the data, 29 percent of American adults said government or politics is the most important problem facing the United States. This is only a slight decline from 32 percent who said the same in January. Notably, immigration as an issue rose to 20 percent, up from 10 percent in January, while the economy was a concern of only 11 percent, and inflation was a concern for only eight percent of respondents.

Other notable issues included unifying the country (seven percent), problems with the judicial system (six percent), and concerns about elections and democracy (five percent). Race relations, crime, and healthcare were each cited by four percent of respondents.

A major factor in what respondents considered their top concern is partisan affiliation. According to Gallup, 44 percent of Democrats cited government as the top problem. Meanwhile government was only the top problem for 24 percent of independents and 19 percent of Republicans. The Democrat concerns, according to the data, are almost entirely driven by criticisms of the Trump White House. However, Republican respondents pointed to corruption—like the massive social services fraud scheme in Minnesota—or partisan gridlock as the most important problems plaguing government.

Mentions of immigration rose across all party groups in February, with 32 percent of Republicans, 18 percent of Democrats, and 15 percent of independents citing the issue. Republicans frequently focused on illegal immigration and border security, while Democrats highlighted humanitarian concerns and their criticism of federal immigration policy.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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11 hours ago
News
TECH

Jeff Bezos Gathers War Chest to Gobble Up AI-Hit Firms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Jeff Bezos’s artificial intelligence (AI) lab, Project Prometheus, is raising billions to acquire companies impacted by AI disruption.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeff Bezos, Robert Nelsen, Vikram Bajaj, Cristian Bodnar, Nal Kalchbrenner, Jamie Dimon, and sovereign wealth funds.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ongoing efforts, with a $6.2 billion fundraising round completed in late 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The pace of innovation in AI right now is truly hard to understate.” – Robert Nelsen, Arch Venture Partners

🎯IMPACT: Prometheus aims to transform manufacturing and industry, potentially consolidating major sectors under Bezos’s control.

IN FULL

Jeff Bezos is pursuing an ambitious plan via his artificial intelligence (AI) venture, Project Prometheus, by raising tens of billions of dollars to purchase companies facing challenges from AI-driven changes. Reports indicate that the project secured $6.2 billion in funding toward the end of 2025, resulting in a valuation of roughly $30 billion.

The effort centers on applying AI to “transform manufacturing and industry,” including plans for a dedicated holding company designed as a “manufacturing transformation vehicle.” This structure would target acquisitions in various manufacturing fields, such as those producing jet engines and computer chips. The initiative has attracted backing from prominent investors, including Jamie Dimon and sovereign wealth funds such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, as well as substantial involvement from Robert Nelsen of Arch Venture Partners.

Nelsen has called the project potentially “one of the most important companies in the world,” stating, “The pace of innovation in AI right now is truly hard to understate.” Bezos, who serves as co-chief executive, works alongside experienced figures such as former Google executive Vikram Bajaj and AI specialists Cristian Bodnar and Nal Kalchbrenner, both previously from Microsoft and Google.

Analysts have drawn parallels to J.P. Morgan’s historical tactics, where he consolidated struggling industrial businesses during periods of economic pressure to build giants like U.S. Steel.

Image by Daniel Oberhaus.

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12 hours ago
War
World

Here’s Who Iran’s Next Leader Might Be… If He Isn’t Killed First.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is expected to assume leadership of the country despite lacking an elected or appointed government role.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mojtaba Khamenei, the Iranian Assembly of Experts, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei during an Israeli airstrike on Saturday as part of Operation Epic Fury, in Iran.

🎯IMPACT: Mojtaba Khamenei’s potential rise highlights tensions within Iran’s leadership and raises questions about the Islamic Republic’s stance on hereditary rule.

IN FULL

Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old Twelver Muslim cleric and son of the deceased Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is poised to take over as Supreme Leader of Iran despite having no prior government role nor significant position within the religious sect. His rise is reportedly backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Assembly of Experts following the death of his father during joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.

The Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 Islamic scholars vetted for loyalty to the Supreme Leader, convened twice to discuss the succession. Some Iranian officials have claimed that Mojtaba was selected as the primary candidate, with the Assembly of Experts under pressure from the IRGC.

However, the legitimacy of the selection is already being called into question, especially in light of the Assembly of Experts allegedly being hit by an airstrike during its meeting. Leaving a U.S. Senate briefing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) alluded to the possibility that 80 or so of the Assembly of Experts members were killed in the strike.


Even if Mojtaba Khamenei becomes the new Supreme Leader, his tenure may be short. The U.S. Department of War and President Donald J. Trump say the U.S. Air Force has established air superiority over Iran—meaning U.S. and Israeli aircraft can strike Islamic Republic regime targets at will—and largely destroyed the regime’s navy. Additionally, the Iranian exile community is pushing several other candidates to lead the country, including Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah of Iran, and Maryam Rajavi, exiled leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)—a front for the Islamo-Marxist People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).

If Mojtaba Khamenei assumes the role, it will contradict the Islamic Republic’s long-standing criticism of hereditary rule.

Image by Mahmoud Hosseini / Tasnim News Agency.

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