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Thursday, March 12, 2026
19 minutes ago
William Upton
News
War

Iran Escalates With Attacks on Tankers Hundreds of Miles from Strait of Hormuz.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Iran launched explosive suicide boats at fuel tankers off the coast of Basra, Iraq, escalating an oil crisis and setting two tankers ablaze.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), U.S. and European-linked vessels, Iran, and Iraq.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Attacks occurred late Wednesday in the Persian Gulf just off the coast of Basra, Iraq.

🎯IMPACT: Global energy prices have surged, with oil nearing $91 per barrel and gas prices rising to $3.6 per gallon.

IN FULL

Iranian suicide boats reportedly struck two oil tankers on March 11, the Safesea Vishnu and Zefyros, in Iraqi waters just off the coast of Basra, setting both vessels on fire and leaving at least one person dead. The attacks are a significant escalation from prior tanker attacks, which occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, as both ships were located about 500 to 600 miles northwest of the Strait in Iraqi territorial waters.

A video released by Iran appears to show explosions striking the Safesea Vishnu. In the footage, a man shouting in Farsi can be heard yelling: “Allah is the greatest!” The newest strikes bring the number of vessels attacked in the region to at least 16 since the conflict began.


The attacks suggest that Iran is no longer just targeting oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, but rather, is now hitting shipping that is moored anywhere in the Persian Gulf. Concerningly, Brent Crude oil prices climbed to over $95 follow the attack off the coast of Iraq. Meanwhile, average U.S. gasoline prices have risen to about $3.60 per gallon, up from roughly $2.90 before the conflict escalated. The price spike reflects growing concerns that sustained instability in the Gulf could disrupt global oil flows.

Notably, oil and gas prices were already climbing after the U.S. and Israel began military strikes against Iran’s Islamist regime on February 28. However, after the Islamic Republic’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began attacking ships directly in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, oil prices have seen extreme volatility. This volatility prompted the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Tuesday to announce the largest release of emergency oil stocks in its history, making 400 million barrels available to the global market to cushion price spikes and prevent potential temporary refinery closures—especially in Asia.

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59 minutes ago
Crime
Immigration

Haitian Man Admits to $6.7 Million SNAP Fraud Scheme.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Haitian man pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $6.7 million benefit fraud scheme through his Boston retail store.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Antonio Bonheur, 74, and a second defendant, Saul Alsime.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The scheme ran from February 2021 to December 2025 in Mattapan, Boston.

🎯IMPACT: Bonheur faces up to 20 years imprisonment, potential deportation, and financial penalties. A second defendant’s case is ongoing.

IN FULL

A Haitian man arrested last December in Boston and charged with orchestrating a $6.7 million fraud scheme involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and unauthorized use of benefits. Antonio Bonheur, a 74-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Haiti, ran the scheme through his small retail store, Jesula Variety Store, in the Mattapan area of Boston, Massachusetts.

The National Pulse previously reported that Bonheur and Saul Alisme, a 21-year-old lawful permanent resident, conspired to use their small bodegas in the Mattapan neighborhood as fronts where SNAP benefits could be exchanged for discounted cash payments. Despite observably low inventory and minimal business transactions, one of the bodegas reportedly redeemed upwards of $500,000 in SNAP benefits in a single month. The figure, prosecutors noted, is one that would be expected for a major retail grocery chain and not a small independent convenience store.

Charging documents highlighted a dramatic escalation in the scale of the fraud. Monthly redemptions surged from $6,467 in October 2023 to $157,937 by March 2024, peaking at $540,870 in August 2024. Throughout 2025, monthly totals consistently exceeded $200,000, with October alone reaching $358,472.

Bonheur faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment for the wire fraud charge, along with potential penalties including three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and mandatory restitution. The plea agreement also acknowledges that Bonheur may face denaturalization and deportation. As a result of the guilty plea, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley has agreed to recommend a sentence at the lower end of the federal guidelines.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 30 in Boston. Meanwhile, Saul Alsime’s case has been postponed until May.

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2 hours ago
War

U.S. Intel Suggests Iran Regime ‘Not in Danger’ of Collapse: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. intelligence reports indicate Iran’s government remains in control despite military strikes targeting senior leaders and commanders.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Iranian regime and U.S. and Israeli forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The conflict began on February 28, with ongoing strikes across Iran targeting key infrastructure and leadership.

💬KEY QUOTE: According to an intelligence community source speaking with the media, a “multitude” of analysis reports indicate “consistent analysis that the regime is not in danger” of falling and “retains control of the Iranian public.”

🎯IMPACT: Political pressure grows on President Donald J. Trump to conclude the military campaign amid rising oil prices and uncertainty over the war’s objectives.

IN FULL

Despite continued United States and Israeli air and missile strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamist regime remains in firm control of the country. An assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies suggests that Iran has lost dozens of senior political and military leaders, the Islamic Republic’s collapse may be a far way off.

According to an intelligence community source speaking with the media, a “multitude” of reports indicate “consistent analysis that the regime is not in danger” of falling and “retains control of the Iranian public.” Since the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, the U.S. and Israeli militaries have systemically targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities, police stations, and even killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to degrade the regime’s position of control.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has pushed for the Iranian people—when the time is right—to rise against the Islamist regime. At the same time, Trump has stressed that the main U.S. objectives are the destruction of Iran’s restarted nuclear weapons program and ballistic missile stockpiles.

After just 12 days, Operation Epic Fury has already become the second-largest U.S. military operation in Middle Eastern history, rivaled only by the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Image by Mahdi Zolfaghari.

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2 hours ago
News
War

Military Investigates Theft of High-Tech Military Drones from Base.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Four military drones were stolen from Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Fort Campbell, the U.S. Army, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The drones were stolen between November 21-24, 2025, at the 326th Division Engineer Battalion in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is offering a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the theft of four Skydio X10D Drone Systems.” – U.S. Army Fort Campbell Facebook Page

🎯IMPACT: The Army is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

IN FULL

Four Skydio X10D drone systems were stolen from a building used by the 326th Division Engineer Battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in an incident that occurred between November 21 and November 24, 2025. Authorities did not publicly disclose the theft until March 11, 2026, when the base asked the public for help identifying the suspects.

In a post on the Fort Campbell Facebook page, officials urged anyone with information about the stolen drones to contact investigators. “The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is offering a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the theft of four Skydio X10D Drone Systems,” the Facebook page states.

The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Investigators say they are actively seeking tips from the public as the search continues.

The Skydio X10D is a small unmanned aerial system designed for military and public safety operations. The drone features modular payload capabilities and advanced sensors, including thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras. The system has also been tested in tactical scenarios.

The disappearance of the drones comes as unmanned aerial systems are becoming increasingly central to modern warfare. Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war have pushed militaries to rapidly expand their drone capabilities. U.S. drone reliability and supply chains remain ongoing concerns, with Ukrainian forces often turning to Chinese-made drones after reporting that American systems experienced frequent malfunctions in combat conditions.

Notably, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently issued a bulletin warning law enforcement agencies in California about a potential drone threat linked to Iran.

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2 hours ago
News
Politics

Cornyn Lands Endorsement… From Karl Rove.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Karl Rove endorsed Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) in the upcoming Senate primary runoff.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Karl Rove, John Cornyn, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 12, 2026; Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Lone Star Republicans had better choose wisely if they want to keep Texas red.” – Karl Rove

🎯IMPACT: The outcome of the runoff could influence the Republican hold on Texas.

IN FULL

Karl Rove, the globalist former Deputy Chief of Staff in the George W. Bush administration, has thrown his support behind Republican-in-name-only (RINO) Texas Senator John Cornyn in the upcoming Senate primary runoff election. Cornyn is facing a challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a longtime supporter of President Donald J. Trump.

Rove, writing in The Wall Street Journal, opined, “To gauge Democratic chances for a statewide victory in Texas, it’s best to wait for the Republican Senate runoff,” adding: “The nomination of the scandal-ridden Attorney General Ken Paxton instead of Mr. Cornyn could let Democrats repeat in Texas what they did in a 2017 Alabama Senate special election.”

Rove did not spell out what “scandals” Paxton is supposed to be ridden with, although the Cornyn campaign is currently attempting to smear him with false claims that he once stole a pen.

Rove noted that neither candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary’s first round, and that the candidate who can best unite their party and appeal to non-primary voters would likely emerge victorious in November. That is unlikely to be Cornyn, with most supporters of third-placed candidate Wesley Hunt, whom the Cornyn camp viciously attacked following his loss, likely to break for Paxton.

President Trump is yet to endorse a candidate in the contest, but polls suggest Paxton has more support regardless of a Trump endorsement either way.

Alongside Rove, Cornyn—with a long history of backstabbing Trump—has also been rallying the support of pro-amnesty pastors with ties to George Soros in recent days.

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16 hours ago
Crime
News

Migrant Charged With Throwing Random Stangers Onto Subway Tracks.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Honduran migrant has been arrested at a homeless shelter for pushing two people onto subway tracks in New York City.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Suspect Bairon Hernandez, his two victims, and the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attacks took place last weekend, with Hernandez being arrested on March 10.

🎯IMPACT: The case is just the latest involving a migrant attacking random people on public transit in a major American city.

IN FULL

A Honduran migrant has been arrested for allegedly pushing two strangers, including an elderly man, onto subway tracks at a Manhattan station over the weekend. Authorities say Bairon Hernandez, 34, was taken into custody early Tuesday morning by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn.

Investigators say the incident occurred around noon Sunday at the Lexington Avenue–63rd Street subway station on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. According to police, Hernandez allegedly approached the victims from behind and shoved them onto the tracks without warning.

The victims, an 83-year-old man and a 31-year-old man who did not know each other, were left stranded on the rails below the platform after the attack, authorities said. Bystanders quickly rushed to help and were able to pull both men back onto the platform before a train entered the station.

Hernandez has been charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, assault, and reckless endangerment, police said. When reporters questioned him outside a Manhattan precinct following his arrest, Hernandez denied the accusations, repeatedly shaking his head and saying “no” when asked whether he pushed the two subway riders.

The attack has renewed concerns about violent incidents on public transit systems in major cities. In recent years, several high-profile cases involving migrants and transit violence have drawn national attention. In one widely circulated case, a migrant appealing deportation after prior sex crime convictions was accused of pushing a mail carrier in front of a train during an altercation. In another case, a migrant accused of setting a woman on fire allegedly avoided immediate federal immigration detention because of local sanctuary policies.

Such incidents have intensified political debate over public safety on transit networks, immigration enforcement, and the impact of sanctuary laws in major U.S. cities. Sanctuary restrictions on cooperation with federal immigration authorities undermine public safety by making it harder to take foreign criminals into custody.

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17 hours ago
Bonkers Britain
War

Iran’s New Supreme Leader Owns a £200m London Property Empire.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Reports have surfaced that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, owns a substantial property empire in London, prompting calls for sanctions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mojtaba Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and British government officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 11, 2026, various locations in London, England.

🎯IMPACT: Calls for increased sanctions on Iran and scrutiny over foreign property ownership in London.

IN FULL

The British government is facing growing calls to impose sanctions on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after reports surfaced that Mojtaba Khamenei, who has succeeded his slain father, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Supreme Leader of Iran, is linked to a multi-million-dollar property empire in London.

Among the assets highlighted are high-end apartments which look down on the Israeli embassy, and 11 mansions on Bishops Avenue—a.k.a. “Billionaire’s Row”—in Hampstead. Investigations suggest that these properties were acquired through individuals already subject to British sanctions for their alleged role in providing financial support to the IRGC. Collectively, the holdings are believed to be worth around $200 million.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has previously described Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as Supreme Leader as “unacceptable.” He has not been seen in public since his elevation, with Iranian state media suggesting he was seriously injured during early U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Dozens of Iranian political and military leaders besides the former Supreme Leader have been killed in the strikes, but the regime is continuing to launch retaliatory strikes at U.S. forces and allies across the Middle East, disrupting oil and fertilizer supplies globally.

Image by Mahmoud Hosseini / Tasnim News Agency.

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18 hours ago
William Upton
Election Integrity
Politics

Desperate Cornyn Now Claims He Supports Nuking the Filibuster to Pass SAVE Act.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has reversed his position on the Senate filibuster rule, advocating for its removal to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, which mandates voter ID for federal elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, President Donald J. Trump, and Senate Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Cornyn announced his U-turn in an op-ed published on Wednesday in the New York Post.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We can either unilaterally disarm, or we can stand and fight,” Cornyn wrote regarding the filibuster and the SAVE Act.

🎯IMPACT: Cornyn’s shift comes as polls show Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a longtime supporter of the SAVE Act, is beating him in the polls for the upcoming Senate primary runoff in the Lone Star State.

IN FULL

In an effort to save his re-election bid, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) says he has now changed his mind on preserving the Senate’s filibuster rule, writing in an op-ed published Monday that the obstruction tool being utilized by Democrats must be eliminated to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. The bill, which would require voter ID for federal elections, has emerged as a key priority for a large swath of the electorate and a top issue motivating much of President Donald J. Trump‘s MAGA base.

“For many years, I believed that if the U.S. Senate scrapped the filibuster, Texas and our nation would stand to lose more than we would gain… My fellow conservatives and I have proudly used the 60-vote threshold to protect the country from all sorts of bad ideas and dangerous policies,” Cornyn wrote. “Today, Democrats are weaponizing the Senate’s rules to block the SAVE America Act, defund the Department of Homeland Security, and hurt the American people—all to spite President Donald Trump. But they say openly that if these same rules ever get in Democrats’ way, they won’t hesitate to rip them up.”

“This leaves conservatives with two options. We can either unilaterally disarm, or we can stand and fight. The answer is clear: We need to stand, fight, and win,” Cornyn added, before declaring that he has changed his stance on the filibuster, “I respectfully urge the remaining handful of my Republican colleagues still holding on to the old position that I used to share to reassess the new reality and update their thinking.”

Still, he appeared less committed on Wednesday afternoon when pressed on his stance on Capitol Hill. “I said I’d be open to reforms,” Cornyn muttered when asked if he now supported “nuking” the filibuster, before declaring it wasn’t true that he had changed his position only to win President Trump’s endorsement in his Republican Senate primary runoff race against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. When pushed further, Cornyn bizarrely and aggressively shoved his hand in the reporter’s face and declared, “I think we’re done, go ahead, go away.”

Unlike Paxton, who has been a MAGA stalwart for years, Cornyn has a long history of backstabbing President Trump, and his top team included other Republicans-in-name-only (RINOs) who have said the MAGA movement should be “purged” from the GOP.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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19 hours ago
News
Sports

Iran Soccer Team Barred from U.S. World Cup, Tehran Confirms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Iran announced it will not compete in the FIFA World Cup following the killing of its now-former Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah ‌Ali Khamenei.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Iranian government, FIFA, the Iranian Football Federation, President Donald J. Trump, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The withdrawal was announced on March 1, 2026. The World Cup is scheduled to occur from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I really don’t care if Iran participates. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.” – President Donald J. Trump.

🎯IMPACT: Iran’s withdrawal raises questions about which nation might replace it in the tournament.

IN FULL

Iran has announced it will not take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali confirmed the decision during a broadcast on state television, saying the current environment makes participation impossible. “Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist,” Donyamali said. He also added that “considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup.”

The tournament, organized by FIFA, is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The upcoming competition will be the first World Cup featuring 48 teams, making it the largest edition in the tournament’s history.

Iran had already secured qualification after topping its Asian qualifying group, which would have marked the country’s fourth consecutive appearance and seventh overall at the World Cup. The team had been drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt. Iran was scheduled to play group matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field in Seattle.

Questions about Iran’s participation surfaced after U.S.–Israeli military strikes on Iran began in February, which reportedly killed Khamenei and triggered a wider regional crisis. The strikes intensified political tensions and raised doubts about whether Iranian players would travel to the United States for matches.

Earlier, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Iran would still be welcome at the tournament after discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump later commented on the issue, saying, “I really don’t care if Iran participates. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”

Iran’s withdrawal would mark the first time since the 1950 World Cup that a qualified nation has boycotted the finals for political reasons. FIFA must now determine how to fill the vacant spot in the tournament, with possible replacements including Italy or another team from the Asian Football Confederation, such as Iraq. However, FIFA’s rules do not clearly outline a procedure for replacing a qualified team that withdraws shortly before the competition.

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20 hours ago
News

Pam Bondi Moved to Military Housing Amid Cartel, Epstein Files Threats.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has relocated to a military base in the Washington area due to threats from both Central and South American drug cartels, as well as critics of her handling of the Epstein Files.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Pam Bondi, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Bondi moved to the military housing at some point during March 2026.

🎯IMPACT: It is not unusual for Cabinet officials, especially, to reside on military bases. Several past Department of Defense (now Department of War) secretaries and senior staff have resided on bases, including Jim Mattis and Robert Gates.

IN FULL

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has moved into housing on a military base in the Washington, D.C. area following an increasing number of threats against her by individuals believed to represent Central and South American drug cartels, as well as critics of her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files release. Notably, the threats against Bondi—according to senior officials in the Trump administration—saw a significant escalation after President Donald J. Trump ordered a military operation that resulted in the successful capture and extradition of Venezuelan narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro this past January.

Prior to relocating to military housing, Bondi had been living in an apartment in the nation’s capital. However, publicly accessible residences occupied by Trump administration officials have become increasingly difficult to secure—a concern exacerbated by the rise in leftist political violence against U.S. immigration agents and the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk last year.

In addition to Bondi, a number of other Trump White House officials and Cabinet members have opted for the more secure military housing over private residences in the D.C. area. These officials include White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.

Last year, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesman stated that Noem was paying “fair-market rent” for the military housing, though what that actually amounts to is unclear. Still, it is not unusual for Cabinet officials, especially, to reside on military bases. Several past Department of Defense (now Department of War) secretaries and senior staff have resided on bases, including Jim Mattis and Robert Gates.

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