Free Republic

After the 2024 humiliation, the left is back. It could hurt the party in 2026. Kim Strassel speaks with law professor Jonathan Turley about why the charges were dismissed against James Comey and Letitia James and how Donald Trump is separately using the legal system to the executive branch’s benefit. What could get in the way of a coming 2026 Democratic wave, given history and the current public mood? Nothing but the Democratic Party itself, which is sitting placidly by as the progressives who lost them last year’s election mobilize to take over even more of the party. Bernie Sanders...

Since January 2025, over 250 attorneys—roughly 70%—have left, been reassigned, or accepted deferred resignation offers from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, signaling an unprecedented weakening of the agency responsible for enforcing federal civil rights law. This mass exodus follows the appointment of Trump ally Harmeet Dhillon, who has refocused the division’s priorities toward conservative causes such as voter fraud investigations and curbing transgender rights, while sidelining traditional civil rights enforcement in areas like housing discrimination, education, and police oversight. Entire sections, including Voting Rights and Title VI enforcement, have been reduced to fewer than five attorneys—or none...

The recent federal indictment of Dana Williamson — California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff — should come as no surprise: It’s the latest example of a thoroughly corrupt Sacramento political culture that afflicts both parties. But as bad as you may think the corruption is, I can tell you first-hand that it is much worse. For Democrats, supermajority status has resulted in a “might makes right” attitude of abusing their power to impose their will — and to help themselves. Worse, because Democrats control almost all the levers of state and local law enforcement (including the state attorney...

Representative Delia Ramirez, an Illinois Democrat, demanded on Thursday that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem either resign or face impeachment. The congresswoman requested that House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, carry out an investigation into Noem’s leadership of DHS, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agencies spearheading the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy. “Under Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has done irreversible harm to our constituents, trampling the rights of all people and disregarding...

They decked the halls — and each other. A ritzy Nantucket Christmas celebration erupted into mayhem as men decked out in “Ralph Lauren and Burberry” traded blows just moments after Santa Claus made his appearance, according to shocking footage. The wild brawl broke out on Federal Street on Saturday afternoon during the Massachusetts island’s 51st Annual Christmas Stroll, where hundreds had gathered to visit local businesses in one of America’s priciest small towns, the Nantucket Current reported. In dramatic video shared with the outlet, about a dozen men — ranging in age from 20s to 60s — were seen arguing...

They decked the halls — and each other. A ritzy Nantucket Christmas celebration erupted into mayhem as men decked out in “Ralph Lauren and Burberry” traded blows just moments after Santa Claus made his appearance, according to shocking footage. The wild brawl broke out on Federal Street Saturday afternoon during the Massachusetts island’s 51st Annual Christmas Stroll, where hundreds had gathered to visit local businesses in one of America’s priciest small towns, the Nantucket Current reported. In dramatic video shared with the outlet, about a dozen men — ranging in age from 20s to 60s — were seen arguing and...

A progressive group is targeting two Senate Democrats and an independent senator who voted to confirm some of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, promising to spend more than $1 million in hopes of pushing congressional Democrats to take a stronger stand against the Republican president. In a weeklong advertising campaign that began on Wednesday, Demand Justice is targeting only senators who aren’t up for reelection next year: Democrats John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, along with independent Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats. But the group’s president, Josh Orton, said the blitz is only...

… Among other requirements, Minneapolis' separation ordinance forbids Minneapolis police from taking part in immigration enforcement or assisting ICE agents. It also prevents city employees from investigating an individual when the only law they've violated is being in the United States illegally. City employees are also restricted from inquiring about immigration status except when required to do so by law. This week, the council presented a revised version of the separation ordinance with tougher language intended to combat ICE, amid a targeted immigration operation ordered by President Trump focused on the Somali community. The new ordinance declares the city will...

Kimball highlighted the political dynamics among younger voters: "Ohio voters who did not participate in the 2024 election, most of whom are under 30, are more likely to identify as Republicans rather than Democrats. In addition, 31% of voters under 30 align with independents or Democrats, while 38% identify with Republicans, though this group still breaks for Democrats on the ballot by about 12 points." President Donald Trump's job approval rating in Ohio stands at 46%, with a disapproval rating of 48%. Since August, Trump's approval has decreased by three points, while his disapproval has risen by six points. Gov....

Following her historic win in Tuesday night's Miami mayoral runoff election, Eileen Higgins outlined her agenda. “It feels heavy," Higgins said. "I know that people are expecting a lot from the City of Miami... On the issue of immigration, the city has previously signed the controversial 287g agreement with immigration officials Higgins gave her thoughts on that agreement. “The city should never entered into that agreement,” she said. “There is no reason in the city of Miami that...

Rep. Bennie Thompson described the horrific Thanksgiving Eve attack on National Guardsmen in Washington, DC, that killed one young National Guardswoman as an “unfortunate accident” during a disgusting line of questioning against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem testified alongside National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent and FBI National Security Branch Operations Director Michael Glasheen before the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday. “Madam Secretary, you and the gentleman from NCTC referenced the unfortunate accident that occurred with the National Guardsmen being killed,” Thompson, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said. Noem responded, “You think that was an unfortunate accident?...

Democrats want us to believe they care about the little guy, the working class, the average American. Yet. somehow, their policies always seem to hurt the people they claim to help and enrich the elites who fund their campaigns. On the campaign trail last year, President Trump proposed his No Tax on Tips plan, and the left freaked out. Though they claimed it was bad policy, Kamala Harris went on to steal the plan just a couple of months after him. No Tax on Tips became the law of the land with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill,...

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) took a page out of the authoritarian, theocratic Iranian regime’s playbook over the weekend, deeming the country he serves “The Great Satan” during a rant on The Dean Obeidallah Show. Johnson offered his evaluation of his country after host Dean Obeidallah submitted that President Donald Trump’s strikes on alleged drug runners in the Western Hemisphere were “defining us as some kind of-, like a Putin-esque type of nation.” “Yeah, we are the world’s No. 1 bully, and we’re using our immense, unrivaled power to rule over those who have less power. And we’re doing it with...

ATLANTA -- Democrat Eric Gisler claimed an upset victory Tuesday in a special election in a historically Republican Georgia state House district. Gisler said he was the winner of the contest, in which he was leading Republican Mack “Dutch” Guest by about 200 votes out of more than 11,000 in final unofficial returns. Robert Sinners, a spokesperson with the secretary of state's office, said there could be a few provisional ballots left before the tally is finalized. “I think we had the right message for the time,” Gisler told The Associated Press in a phone interview. He credited his win...

Minnesota’s embattled Democrat Governor Tim Walz earned a standing ovation at a party fundraiser in Seattle Tuesday when he promised to bring even more fraud-prone Somali migrants into his state. The failed Democrat nominee for vice president appeared at a fundraiser luncheon sponsored by Gov. Bob Ferguson (D-WA), where Walz told the audience that Somalis were being “demonized” by critics of the Minnesota Somali community’s billions in fraud and wholesale theft of state welfare funding. “These folks better not ever mistake our kindness for our weakness because we are going to defend our neighbors. These guys bring out the worst...

Either Americans win, or the criminals do. Pithy social critic David Burge said it best: “Journalism is about covering important stories — with a pillow, until they stop moving.” One of the important stories that “journalists” are covering up today is the Trump administration’s increasingly successful efforts to combat violent crime. At the end of July, the Department of Homeland Security released a report showing that violent crime rates had dropped significantly during the first six months of President Trump’s second term. Homicides were down 17%; gun assaults were down 21%; aggravated assaults were down 10%; sexual assaults were down...

A Dallas congresswoman opened her Senate campaign by telling voters that she “has gone toe to toe with Donald Trump.” Her Democratic primary opponent insisted that Americans are tired of “politics as a blood sport.” The divergent approach highlights how U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico are navigating a race where Democrats hope to break a three-decade losing streak in Texas. It also reflects a broader divide within the party, with some candidates continuing to focus on Trump while others barely mention his name on the trail. Figuring out the best approach will be critical for Democrats...

They call their newsletter "Politico Pro," but it can sound more like "Politico Promo." Take reporter Andrew Howard with his embarrassingly unskeptical pitch for funds on Monday, "Anti-Trump former Republicans have a multimillion-dollar plan to save House Democrats."When you hear the name "Lincoln Project" you should check your pocket to make sure the contents of your wallet are still intact. A co-founder of the Lincoln Project, Steve Schmidt, is back at the political money trough searching for funds using the name of the Save America Movement (SAM). And all they say they need is about $100 million.

BOMBSHELL: Information request unveils Tim Walz's Minnesota is funneling property taxes to NGOs "Ramsey County gave a whopping $38.4 million to a total of 213 NGOs!" "They proposed that for the next year's budget to increase property taxes by 9.75%. So they're spending $38.4 million on 213 NGOs, and now they want more!" "Property tax money does NOT belong in the coffers of NGOs. It just doesn't. And ultimately, I think that it's a gross misappropriation of funds!" "[The state is] not auditing these NGOs receiving property tax money from Ramsey County."

Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller won the runoff election and will lead Albuquerque for another four years, according to unofficial election results from Tuesday's municipal election. With 58% of the vote by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Keller — first elected in 2017 — bested challenger Darren White to become the city's first consecutive three-term mayor. The mayoral race focused largely on Albuquerque’s crime rate, homelessness, housing and economic development. Keller, a Democrat who has served as state auditor and in the state Legislature, defended his record and campaigned on the need for follow-through. White said he offered a changing of the guard...