Free Republic

Two of the Democratic Party’s rising stars have been thrust into the national spotlight this week after the bridge collapse in Baltimore. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, 45, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, 42 — both of whom considered likely candidates for higher office in the future — face a key test with their handling of the aftermath of the disaster, which took six lives and will require a bridge reconstruction and port reopening. “It is a bright reflection of the talent we have within the Democratic Party and their ability to lead in times of crisis,” said Antjuan Seawright, a...

Efforts to build a bridge where the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, stood until Tuesday are estimated to cost anywhere from $400 million to several billion dollars, according to reports. Punchbowl News reports — citing sources from the Biden administration, Capitol Hill, and Annapolis — that the undertaking to replace the bridge, which collapsed after a cargo ship named Dali crashed into one of its pier foundations, will cost “several billion dollars.”

A common theme used by advocates was that the immigrant workers died doing a job that Americans will not do.

Could it really take twice as long and four times as much money to replace the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge than it did to build it in the first place? The Key Bridge was built at a cost (adjusted for inflation) of about $200 million. Replacing it could take a decade and cost $400 million to $800 million dollars, according to experts in what has become a dismal field. “To actually recreate that whole transportation network" could take a decade or more, structural engineer Ben Schafer told USA Today on Wednesday. Huge projects, Schafer said, now take “rarely less...

The recent bridge collapse in Baltimore is an absolute nightmare, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this incredibly tough time. Beyond the heart-wrenching loss and the basic “whys” everyone’s dealing with, there’s one crucial question not many are asking: Can America rebuild the bridge? Sure, it might seem odd to wonder about our capability to build a bridge in 2024, but sadly, it’s a valid concern these days. When you consider how our nation is faltering under inept globalist rule, dragged down by dangerous DEI agendas that place “charity” over excellence, and watching the decimation...

When a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, last year, Pete Buttigieg drew criticism for not showing up right away. In responding to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge — a far different crisis, this time at the center of his portfolio — he’s not making that mistake again. On the day the bridge collapsed, Buttigieg had planned a trip to Wyoming and Montana — what would have amounted to his 47th and 48th states visited as Transportation secretary — to tour infrastructure projects. But before leaving from Dulles International Airport on Tuesday, his work cell phone buzzed...

Maryland lawmakers are expecting the federal government to cover the lion’s share of the cost of the collapse and subsequent rebuilding of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge — with Congress potentially on the hook for only a fraction of the total as talk about an emergency supplemental bill increases. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told reporters that roughly 90 percent of the bridge’s reconstruction will be paid for via the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency fund, which has about $950 million and is replenished yearly with $100 million. The state sent a letter to the federal government Wednesday saying it will...

President Joe Biden is being pressed to use the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore as an opportunity to remedy alleged racial discrimination against blacks in the construction industry. Biden said this week that he had told his administration officials to “move heaven and earth” to reopen the port of Baltimore and rebuild the bridge. The reconstruction efforts, however, may be complicated by demands that the project further leftwing ideas about racial justice, the treatment of immigrants, climate change, and wealth redistribution. An op-ed in The Hill underscores that some of these demands may be irreconcilable. For...

The pilot of the cargo ship that knocked down a highway bridge into Baltimore Harbor had radioed for tugboat help and reported a power loss minutes earlier, federal safety officials say, citing new data from the freight's recorder. (excerpt) NTSB's investigator in charge, Marcel Muise, said the recovered voyage data recorder (VDR) had helped them establish a timeline of events. He said the ship had departed from Seagirt Marine Terminal at around 12:39am and had entered the Fort McHenry Channel at 1:07am, before "numerous audible alarms" were recorded on the audio from the ship's bridge at 1:24am. At about the...

This is an article by a former Royal Navy officer giving his perspective on the tragic collision between the ship Dali and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. It is based, as he says, on the best information he had available at time of writing.

Advocates for more migration are exploiting the deaths of six migrant workers in the Baltimore bridge disaster to argue that more migration is essential for America. “We know we can and we will rebuild,” said a statement from Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, the Sri Lankan-born president of Global Refuge, an organization that is paid to help settle migrants in American communities. “The contributions of our immigrant brothers and sisters will continue to be essential in that effort.” “Our hearts are with every person impacted by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore,” said the United We Dream, a...

General Michael Flynn joins Alex Jones live to give his expert analysis of the Baltimore barge-bridge disaster. General Flynn said the ship violated multiple maritime SOPs and that he does not rule out terrorism. He also said the harbor master had a lot to answer for.

Dali cargo ship suffered 'severe electrical problem' while docked in Baltimore days prior to bridge collapse crash that saw it suffer 'total power failure, loss of engine failure', port worker saysThe Dali cargo ship which smashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge suffered a 'severe electrical problem' while docked in Baltimore days before, according to a port worker. Julie Mitchell, co-administrator of Container Royalty, a company which tracks cargo, told CNN the ship was anchored at the port for at least 48 hours prior to the deadly crash. 'And those two days, they were having serious power outages… they had...

EXCERPTS: East Coast ports have invested billions of dollars over the past decade to expand capacity and while the temporary closure at Baltimore may add time and cost for some companies, economists do not expect a significant macroeconomic impact. The dockworkers are day laborers, said Scott Cowan, head of the International Longshoreman's Association Local 333 in Baltimore, meaning they only work when there is cargo to be moved. He estimated there might be about a week's work clearing the existing inventory at the port.

"My expectation would be that ultimately there'll be insurance payments." 30 second video at link. Bonus clip: RNC Research @RNCResearch Treasury Sec. Janet Yellen claims Biden's priority is "getting the cost of living down" and "lowering energy prices." FACT: Overall prices are up 18.6%, electricity costs are up 28.4%, and gas prices are up 48% since Biden took office. https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1773031172810961263

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) on Wednesday called for “full accountability” following the collapse of the Francis Key Scott Bridge in Baltimore that left six people presumed dead. Moore said on CNN there “needs to be a full and thorough investigation.” “What led up to this? What made the ship lose power? What made them lose the ability to be ability to steer the ship? Do we have the right infrastructure that’s in place to be able to protect the people of our state,” he said. “So I think there needs to be a full reckoning, a full accountability, and...

Tuesday on FNC’s “Hannity,” host Sean Hannity’s monologue focused on President Joe Biden’s reaction to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Hannity criticized Biden for making the tragedy about him in his remarks regarding the incident. Partial transcript as follows: But we start with Joe Biden himself. Now, before the president and vice president departed on separate planes for an event in North Carolina — well, Joe did try to offer some brief remarks on the tragic bridge collapse that took place in Baltimore. Here is the sad and pathetic part, as per usual, Biden made it all...

A Republican candidate for governor of Utah has linked diversity, equity, and inclusion to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after the cargo ship Dali drifted into a bridge support. Among the reactions that looked past the immediate cause, state Rep. Phil Lyman appeared to indicate that the makeup of the commissioners for the Port of Baltimore was a factor in the incident. Lyman is challenging Gov. Spencer Cox for the Republican nomination... This is what happens when you have Governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens,”...

During an interview with ABC News on Tuesday, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) stated that while clearing the debris from Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from the harbor and then replacing the collapsed bridge will take time, “we can streamline it” compared to other projects and “cut through some red tape” that exists for other projects. Cardin said, “It’s going to take time, we don’t know how long. The rescue missions will be completed pretty quickly, we expect that. We then go in to assess what we can do to remove the debris. And it’s not stable, so we have...

Multiple intel sources: Baltimore bridge collapse was an “absolutely brilliant strategic attack” on US critical infrastructure - most likely cyber - & our intel agencies know it. In information warfare terms, they just divided the US along the Mason Dixon line exactly like the Civil War. Second busiest strategic roadway in the nation for hazardous material now down for 4-5 years - which is how long they say it will take to recover. Bridge was built specifically to move hazardous material - fuel, diesel, propane gas, nitrogen, highly flammable materials, chemicals and oversized cargo that cannot fit in the tunnels...