Free Republic

Former President Donald Trump believed that he contracted COVID-19 last October from ex-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, according to a forthcoming book by journalist Michael Wolff. Shortly before Trump announced he tested positive coronavirus on October 2, he worked with Christie to prepare for the September 29 presidential debate against Joe Biden. Trump, a self-described germaphobe, had "seen the spittle" come out of Christie's mouth and "tried to duck from the droplets" as they sat across from each other at practice debate sessions, Wolff wrote in his book, "Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency." Trump later blamed his...

Given the volume of commentary describing Donald Trump as a uniquely polarizing figure—and the amount of time Democrats spend attempting to end his presidency—one might think he is among the most partisan Presidents in our history. But that’s not the message in the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal survey. Not that voters don’t give Mr. Trump a large share of the blame when asked who is responsible for “the partisanship that goes on in Washington.” In the June NBC/WSJ poll, 43% of respondents give the Trump administration “almost all” or “a major part” of the blame. When you consider that another...

Perry Lutz says his struggle to survive as a small businessman became a lot harder after California voters reduced theft penalties 1½ years ago. About a half-dozen times this year, shoplifters have stolen expensive drones or another of the remote-controlled toys he sells in HobbyTown USA, a small shop in Rocklin, northeast of Sacramento. "It's just pretty much open season," Lutz said. "They'll pick the $800 unit and just grab it and run out the door." Anything below $950 keeps the crime a misdemeanor — and likely means the thieves face no pursuit and no punishment, say retailers and law...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The melting of glaciers caused by the world's rising temperatures appears to be causing a slight slowing of the Earth's rotation in another illustration of the far-reaching impact of global climate change, scientists said on Friday. The driving force behind the modest but discernible changes in the Earth's rotation measured by satellites and astronomical methods is a global sea level rise fueled by an influx of meltwater into the oceans from glaciers, the researchers said. "Because glaciers are at high latitudes, when they melt they redistribute water from these high latitudes towards lower latitudes, and like a...

When Obamacare policies go into effect Jan. 1, some Americans may be surprised to learn that their favored doctors or specialists aren’t covered under new plans. But supporters of the health-care reform law argue that the blame for that won’t rest with the Obama administration. “Remember, this is the insurance industry that’s running this and the insurance industry always squeezes costs by eliminating possibilities of seeing people,” said former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” Mr. Dean is also the former head of the Democratic National Committee.

LEMOORE, Calif. (KFSN) -- An everyday piece of fruit is being blamed for causing severe burns on five young girls in the South Valley. The burns cover much of their bodies. The five little girls were simply enjoying a summer day in the backyard pool when they decided to make a lime and lemonade stand, little did anyone know that the lime juice would be so dangerous. --SNIP-- The diagnosis was phytophotodermatitis. The Mayo Clinic says it's caused by a photosynthesis inducing chemical in the lime and other fruits, plants and vegetables.

A jaguar that escaped from its cage at a Belize animal rescue center during Hurricane Richard has been blamed in the mauling death of a U.S. citizen whose body was found on Tuesday. The 4-year-old male jaguar named Max escaped when a tree fell on his cage on Sunday, the same day the Category 1 hurricane hit the country's Caribbean coast with howling winds and rain. Authorities found the victim's body near the animal center on Tuesday. It had bite marks on the forearm and neck, and the man had apparently been attacked the day before and dragged for some...

IsraelNN.com) United States General David Petraeus, head of U.S.Central Command (CENTCOM) whose area of responsibility includes Afghanistan and Iraq, set the record straight Wednesday regarding his statements about the Israeli-Arab conflict. In a talk given at St. Anselm College, Petraeus said that recent reports claiming he had blamed Israel for US military deaths were erroneous. INN had reported on March 18th that the rumors that the general had blamed Israel were based on an article by Yasser Arafat's former advisor, Mark Perry, on Foreign Policy's website, and were not credible. INN had surmised that this was a pro-Arab attempt to...

The attorney for William J. Jefferson tackled the "elephant in the room" in opening statements Tuesday, explaining the notorious $90,000 "cold cash" discovered in the former congressman's freezer as an FBI setup bid. Prosecutors, for their part, painted a portrait of a debt-ridden man selling out the public good. In his opening speech in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Jefferson attorney Robert Trout addressed the best-known detail in the case - the marked bills found by federal agents in Mr. Jefferson's freezer wrapped inside Pillsbury Pie Crust boxes. He described the money as the trial's "elephant in the room." He...

(IsraelNN.com) A survey conducted by the Boston Review in its May/June issue shows that nearly 25% of American non-Jews blame “the Jews” a moderate amount or more for the financial crisis. Furthermore, a total of 38.4% of the non-Jews in the U.S. attribute at least some level of blame to the group. Possibly most significant of all were the subconscious anti-Semitic tendencies revealed based on the way the questions were phrased to different groups.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Ted Stevens was clueless about the cost and scope of a pricey makeover of his Alaska cabin that led to federal corruption charges and threatened his lengthy career, his lawyer said Thursday at the opening of his trial.

WASHINGTON - Human activity such as driving and powering air conditioners is responsible for up to 60 percent of changes contributing to dwindling water supplies in the arid and growing West, a new study finds. Those changes are likely to accelerate, says the study published Thursday in Science magazine, portending "a coming crisis in water supply for the western United States." The study is likely to add to urgent calls for action already coming from Western states competing for the precious resource to irrigate farms and quench the thirst of growing populations. Devastating wildfires, avalanches and drought have also underscored...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - In what some scientists see as another alarming consequence of global warming, thousands of Pacific walruses above the Arctic Circle were killed in stampedes earlier this year after the disappearance of sea ice caused them to crowd onto the shoreline in extraordinary numbers. The deaths took place during the late summer and fall on the Russian side of the Bering Strait, which separates Alaska from Russia. "It was a pretty sobering year — tough on walruses," said Joel Garlach-Miller, a walrus expert for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unlike seals, walruses cannot swim indefinitely. The giant,...

RENO, Nev. - A couple authorities say were so obsessed with the Internet and video games that they left their babies starving and suffering other health problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect. The children of Michael and Iana Straw, a boy age 22 months and a girl age 11 months, were severely malnourished and near death last month when doctors saw them after social workers took them to a hospital, authorities said. Both children are doing well and gaining weight in foster care, prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal. Michael Straw, 25, and Iana Straw, 23, pleaded...

LANCASTER, Pa. -- It's the latest example of the trickle-down economics of ethanol -- beer is getting more expensive. Compared to this time last year, beer prices are up about 3 percent across the nation, according to the Labor Department. The increase marks the largest jump in more than two years. One big reason, according to some brewers, is the rising cost of barley. A high demand for corn-based ethanol has many farmers devoting more fields to their corn crop and less to barley. That has impacted many beer makers, including the Lancaster Brewing Company, which had to raise some...

SANTIAGO, Chile - Scientists on Tuesday blamed global warming for the disappearance of a glacial lake in remote southern Chile that faded away in just two months, leaving just a crater behind. The disappearance of the lake in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park was discovered in late May by park rangers, who were stunned to find a 130-foot deep crater where a large lake had been. After flying over the lake Monday scientists said they were able to draw preliminary conclusions that point to climate change as the leading culprit for the lake's disappearance. They suggested the melting of nearby glaciers...

Thick Arctic ice may be the reason for a precipitous drop in this spring's two-month gray whale count at Point Piedras Blancas. Only 115 gray whale calves were counted this year by scientists at Point Piedras Blancas, down dramatically from the 285 counted last year. It's the fourth-lowest count in the 14-year history of the cetacean census. The most gray whale calves ever counted at the point was 456 in 2004, just three years after the low of 87 in 2001. By counting calves swimming alongside their mothers, scientists said the health of the entire population can be assessed. Counts...

Violence is blamed on 'warrior gene' in the Maoris By Paul Chapman in Wellington (Filed: 10/08/2006) Maori leaders reacted furiously yesterday after a scientist said their race carried a "warrior gene" that predisposed them to violence and criminal behaviour. Dr Rod Lea, a genetic epidemiologist, told the International Conference of Human Genetics in Brisbane that Maori men were twice as likely as Europeans to bear monoamine oxidase, a gene that is also connected with risk-taking behaviour such as smoking and gambling. Performing arts group Pounamu Kai Tahu perform the haka He was reported as saying the discovery went "a long...

Ice Ages Blamed on Tilted Earth By Michael Schirber LiveScience Staff Writer posted: 30 March 2005 In the past million years, the Earth experienced a major ice age about every 100,000 years. Scientists have several theories to explain this glacial cycle, but new research suggests the primary driving force is all in how the planet leans. The Earth’s rotation axis is not perpendicular to the plane in which it orbits the Sun. It's offset by 23.5 degrees. This tilt, or obliquity, explains why we have seasons and why places above the Arctic Circle have 24-hour darkness in winter and constant...

Shia fury as Americans are blamed for murders at mosque By Oliver Poole, in Baghdad (Filed: 28/03/2006) The governor of Baghdad have severed all local government relations with the American military as outrage spread over claims that American troops attacked a Shia mosque, killing 20 worshippers and the 80-year-old imam. The bodies were laid out in a community hall in east Baghdad and throughout the day mourners shouted abuse at the United States, despite American insistence that its troops were not responsible. Bodies lie on stretchers in a morgue in Baghdad Further condemnation was expressed by a spokesman for the...