Free Republic

(1918-1985) Working name of US author born Edward Hamilton Waldo in New York City.

Justice Thomas gets New Jersey to admit it targeted pro-life center despite ‘no complaints’. Clarence Thomas devastated the case of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office against a pregnancy center, which it demanded ‘extensive documentation’ from despite no evidence of wrongdoing.

Recently, showrunner Steven S. DeKnight and actor Nick E. Tarabay opened up about pushing the boundaries of sex and violence on Spartacus: House of Ashur, the upcoming Starz spin-off. Speaking at the Heat Vision Live event, the duo discussed the creative freedoms behind the new series. At The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural Heat Vision Live event, showrunner Steven S. DeKnight and actor Nick E. Tarabay reflected on the creative risks behind Spartacus: House of Ashur. DeKnight noted that he has yet to encounter a creative boundary involving sex or violence that he is unwilling to test. He credited both Starz and...

Nigel Farage has erupted after the Labour government moved to cancel yet more elections next year. Voters in Essex, Hampshire, Sussex, Brighton, Norfolk and Suffolk were set to have their say on new mayors in 2026, as part of Labour’s commitment to more devolution. However it emerged last night that these elections are now being postponed until 2028, with ministers set to blame local council reorganisations for the delay. Nigel Farage has now condemned the move, branding it ‘despotic’. The Reform UK leader slammed: “For the second year running, this failing Labour government will now CANCEL elections in areas they...

In September the U.S. Justice Department Civil Rights Division filed federal lawsuits against six states for failure to produce their statewide voter registration lists upon request: — California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. As the Globe said at the time, “That the DOJ is hauling California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania into court for hiding their voter rolls is monumental, and specifically the accountability Americans have been clamoring for.” Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division did it again, but filed federal lawsuits against six additional states — Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island,...

Yasser Abu Shabab, an Arab militia commander who collaborated with Israeli forces in eastern Rafah, was murdered on Thursday in a violent scuffle in territory that is under Israeli military control. Defense officials estimate that the fight stemmed from internal disputes in the militia, which escalated over the past few weeks and became out of hand. Abu Shabab was punched and kicked by the members of his own militia. The defense establishment stresses that "Hamas terrorists were not involved." During the scuffle, Abu Shabab's second-in-command, Rasan a-Dahini, was injured. The two were evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. A-Dahini...

Jimmie “Chris” Duncan walked out of the Ouachita Parish Correctional Center and into the arms of his parents last week after spending the past 27 years on death row. Seven months ago, a Louisiana district court judge vacated his murder conviction for killing his former girlfriend’s toddler, citing doubts about the evidence used to convict him. The judge granted bail after multiple legal delays, including an unsuccessful request by prosecutors to the Louisiana Supreme Court to stop his release. Now free, Duncan spent Thanksgiving with his family — then celebrated his 57th birthday the next day. “We thank God for...

The Communist Party USA is requesting artistic submissions for a national project centered on working-class culture and themes of resistance, with contributed works intended for use in party educational programming. In a November 27 call to supporters, the CPUSA National Education Commission said it is seeking original content from creators across a wide array of artistic disciplines. The project is part of an effort to promote a “vibrant, joyful, optimistic mass working-class culture of resistance” during a time of great challenge. “We are issuing an emergency call for your original artwork,” the request reads. “Please send us all forms of...

Some of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress are warning that the party needs to sharpen its affordability message to voters heading into the 2026 elections — or risk big losses that would shackle him for the rest of his second term. “I would love him to get back to driving around in the garbage truck, going to McDonald’s. Go to a supermarket, go to a farm. That’s when he’s at his best,” Rep. Jeff Van Drew told CNN, recalling a message he conveyed to the president in a lengthy phone call earlier this week. “Next year, we got...

The Libertarian Party of Florida is seeking theme submissions for its 2026 state convention, taking place next February in Clearwater, and is again using the theme contest as an early fundraiser for the event. In a November 21 message to supporters, the party announced that its Convention Committee has set the official dates for February 20–21 at Aspirations Winery, a local winery and craft beverage venue. The committee said the Friday portion of the event will focus on registration and socializing, while Saturday will host the annual business meeting. Additional details, including speakers and a formal schedule, will be released...

New Mexico’s anti-gun politicians are again taking aim at lawful firearms dealers, pushing a proposal that Second Amendment advocates warn could deliver the “final death blow” to the gun industry by criminalizing shops for crimes committed by others. For longtime Albuquerque gun dealer Arnie Gallegos, the narrative pushed by these lawmakers is far removed from reality. Gallegos, who has owned ABQ Guns for 15 years, already keeps a vigilant eye out for anything suspicious. “If they’re buying, like, 15 ARs, or they’re ordering an AR every week or something like that, that’s kind of a red flag,” he said. If...

Portland leaders approved a measure Wednesday that could lead to big financial bills for the landlord of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in the South Waterfront neighborhood. The measure, passed in a 9-2 vote by the City Council, will create a new fee for private property owners who lease their buildings to be used as detention centers. Its aim, according to proponents, is to recoup costs incurred by city government, residents or businesses because of activities related to such facilities. While not named in the ordinance, the ICE facility near South Macadam Avenue is the only such building...

Fool's Ball, Week Pigskin Pickem Thread, Week 14 Your home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)

The Supreme Court has permitted Texas to keep its newly redistricted, GOP-favorable congressional map in 2026. Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson dissent.

We are shocked! The normally august Audie Cornish didn't go full Scarborough—someone known to drop f-bombs. Still, it was surprising to hear Cornish, the mannerly host of CNN This Morning, utter something out of character today. Mike Dubke, who served as White House Communications Director for three months during the first Trump term, suggested that one thing protecting Pete Hegseth from being fired is the difficulty that would be involved in the confirmation process for a replacement. Responded Cornish: "So, this is not a military term, but you're saying they're SOL. Basically, there's no other options out there." Get the...

Ruh-roh. Sounds like trouble in Democrat Land. Seems Josh Shapiro caught wind of some things Kamala Harris wrote about him in her memoir, things he considers LIES. --SNIP-- Harris wrote that the governor wanted to be “in the room for every decision” if she became president, adding that he often hijacked conversations and frequently needed to be told he wouldn’t have equal power.

Accused DC pipe-bomber Brian Cole Jr.’s face was revealed for the first time since he was busted for allegedly planting explosive devices outside the Republican and Democratic National Committees ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.

FOUR UNIDENTIFIED MILITARY-STYLE drones breached a no-fly zone and flew towards the flight path of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plane at sea near Dublin Airport late on Monday night, The Journal has learned. The plane landed, slightly ahead of schedule, just moments before the incident happened at about 11pm. The drones reached the location where Zelenskyy’s plane was expected to be at the exact moment it had been due to pass. The drones then orbited above an Irish Navy vessel that had secretly been deployed in the Irish Sea for the Zelenskyy visit. Sources have said that the drones took...

An Appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump can continue deploying the National Guard in Washington, D.C. The Washington D.C. Court of Appeals order is an administrative stay, not a ruling on the merits, according to the Dec. 4 order. “Ordered that the district court’s November 20, 2025 order be administratively stayed pending further order of this court. The purpose of this administrative stay is to give the court sufficient opportunity to consider the motion for stay pending appeal and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion.”

Our entire safety net is designed to catch people at the very bottom, but it sets a trap for anyone trying to climb out. As income rises from $40,000 to $100,000, benefits disappear faster than wages increase. I call this The Valley of Death. Let’s look at the transition for a family in New Jersey: 1. The View from $35,000 (The “Official” Poor) At this income, the family is struggling, but the state provides a floor. They qualify for Medicaid (free healthcare). They receive SNAP (food stamps). They receive heavy childcare subsidies. Their deficits are real, but capped. Every dollar...