Free Republic

Melania Trump's husband may be a vocal proponent of the second amendment, but the first lady doesn't seem to care much about baring arms. Her arms, that is. Since Donald Trump took office — in fact, since the 2016 campaign — the 48-year-old's fashion choices have featured one particularly striking difference from those of her predecessor. Unlike Michelle Obama, who frequently chose sleeveless dresses and tops that flaunted her famously toned arms, Melania appears to be partial to outfits with sleeves that that keep her arms and shoulders under wraps.(snip) Yet aside from a clear flair for fashion from both...

[FULL TITLE] Jackie Speier: Trump 'systematically trying to shut down every possible branch of government but the presidency' Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said she is worried that President Trump is attempting to "shut down" all vestiges of the federal government other than the presidency, effectively paving the way for a dictatorship. The congresswoman pointed to Trump's recent attacks against the Justice Department and FBI as evidence. "I am concerned that the president of the United States is systematically trying to shut down every possible branch of government but the presidency," Speier said on MSNBC on Tuesday. "So you got him...

Oh sure, the Fake News Media (in Castro’s pocket since 1957) went berserk with gratification and joy, hailing the December 17th 2014 diplomatic disgrace with Stalinist Cuba as an “opening!” a “landmark!” a diplomatic milestone!” a “legacy-builder!” blah…blah…blah… In fact, that infamous date marks a whimpering U.S. surrender to a terrorist regime that had kidnapped a U.S. hostage named Alan Gross. The snickering Cuban terrorists then dangled their hostage in front of the whimpering Obama, offering to exchange him upon the freeing and return to Stalinist Cuba of multi-convicted Castroite spy/terrorist/murderer (of American citizens) Gerardo Hernandez and his accomplices.This blackmail...

So there will be more empty seats round the Christmas table this year, after an "Australian citizen" mowed down pedestrians at the junction of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street in Melbourne. The casualties include "a pre-schooler with serious head injuries". The "Australian citizen" (I presume this designation is being used to emphasize that he's entirely eligible to serve in Mr Turnbull's cabinet) did it deliberately, but relax, lighten up, there's no need to worry because, according to Victoria's police commissioner, all this terrifying terror is "not terror-related". So he's not a crack operative with the Islamic State's Australian branch office,...

Rhyan Moody, a 14-year-old high school freshman from Colleyville, Texas, was killed when an illegal alien, apparently intoxicated, allegedly smashed an SUV into the car she was traveling in with her grandparents on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 23. Moody was in the back seat and died from blunt force trauma to her head. Her grandparents suffered numerous broken bones and are recovering. Needless to say, if the illegal alien had not been in this country, Moody would be alive today. Jose Victor Chaparro-Saenz, 38, was arrested in his vehicle not far from the accident. Alcohol was found in the vehicle and...

<p>The economy is booming, with the New York branch of the Federal Reserve now estimating it will grow at the pace of 3.98% in the fourth quarter. That would represent our third straight quarter above 3% economic growth, a feat not achieved in over a decade.</p>

Conventional wisdom is that Attorney General Jeff Sessions is asleep at the wheel – from recusing himself unnecessarily from the Trump-Russia collusion investigation to doing nothing about the politicization and weaponization of the Department of Justice. He also gave free rein to his deputy A.G., Rod Rosenstein, who is in turn allowing Special Counsel Robert Mueller unlimited time, money, and jurisdiction to investigate President Trump's entire life.

Text messages between FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page in 2016 that have been obtained by Fox News refer to then-candidate Donald Trump as a "loathsome human" and "an idiot." More than 10,000 texts between Strzok and Page were being reviewed by the Justice Department after Strzok was removed from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe after it was revealed that some of them contained anti-Trump content. The messages obtained by Fox News were sent during the 2016 campaign and contain multiple discussions about various candidates. On March 2, Strzok texted Page that someone "asked me who I’d vote...

Another former Facebook executive has spoken out about the harm the social network is doing to civil society around the world. Chamath Palihapitiya, who joined Facebook in 2007 and became its vice president for user growth, said he feels “tremendous guilt” about the company he helped make. “I think we have created tools that are ripping apart the social fabric of how society works,” he told an audience at Stanford Graduate School of Business, before recommending people take a “hard break” from social media. Palihapitiya’s criticisms were aimed not only at Facebook, but the wider online ecosystem. “The short-term, dopamine-driven...

In 1990, when liberal journalists still had some sense of obligation to the truth, Michael Kelly wrote the following for GQ: As [Carla] Gaviglio enters the room, the six-foot-two, 225-plus-pound [Sen. Ted] Kennedy grabs the five-foot-three, 103-pound waitress and throws her on the table. She lands on her back, scattering crystal, plates and cutlery and the lit candles. Several glasses and a crystal candlestick are broken. Kennedy then picks her up from the table and throws her on [Sen. Chris] Dodd, who is sprawled in a chair. With Gaviglio on Dodd's lap, Kennedy jumps on top and begins rubbing his...

An explosion has reportedly gone off at New York's main bus station - with terrified tourists seen "stampeding" from the scene. A bomb squad has been dispatched to Manhattan's Port Authority Bus Terminal following the reported blast, witnesses claim. Taking to Twitter this morning, one woman wrote: "Just was stuck in a running stampede at port authority bus terminal due to bomb scare." She added: "Cops EVERYWHERE." The reports are currently unconfirmed. We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

The government’s efforts to deport 92 Somali nationals — including some who lived in Georgia and Minnesota — did not go as planned this week, when the flight encountered some snags in Senegal and returned to the U.S. with all on board. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released statement Saturday, saying relief flight crew members were “unable to get sufficient rest due to issues with their hotel in Dakar.” “The aircraft, including the detainees and crew on board, remained parked at the airport to allow the relief crew time to rest,” ICE said in its statement. “During this time, the...

n the interview published on Saturday, Cotton compared the frivolous allegations against Moore to the frivolous allegations that came out against President Donald Trump before his landslide victory over Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton. Cotton said the voters would decide the veracity of the claims just like they deemed Trump to not be guilty last year, and that the news media should not determine whether or not people are guilty.

The Treasury Department paid $220,000 in a previously undisclosed agreement to settle a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment that involved Florida Democrat Alcee L. Hastings, according to documents obtained by Roll Call. Winsome Packer, a former staff member of a congressional commission that promotes international human rights, said in documents that the congressman touched her, made unwanted sexual advances, and threatened her job. At the time, Hastings was the chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, where Packer worked. Hastings has called Packer’s charges “ludicrous” and in documents said he never sexually harassed her. “Until this evening, I...

“I will…quickly and decisively bomb the hell out of ISIS,” Trump, who would name legendary Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis as secretary of defense, promised. “We will not have to listen to the politicians who are losing the war on terrorism." Just over a year later, ISIS has been routed from Iraq and Syria with an ease and speed that's surprised even the men and women who carried out the mission. Experts say it's a prime example of a campaign promise kept. President Trump scrapped his predecessor’s rules of engagement, which critics say hamstrung the military, and let battlefield decisions...

Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks is expected to resign from Congress, a source with knowledge told Roll Call. The 8th District congressman did not confirm or deny any plans to resign. He said he expected to make a statement Thursday. “We will have a statement a little bit later, but that’s all I can tell you right now,” Franks told Roll Call. “The statement will explain.” It is unclear exactly why Franks is stepping down, but one Arizona Republican said there had been rumors of inappropriate behavior. The Republican said the congressman had apparently been making plans to run for...

Actually, the Hillary Topper is ideal for the “Resistmas” tree. Yes, the Democratic holiday lexicon now includes the handy term “Resistmas” for those who still have not come to terms with the 2016 election. snip “She’s the First Lady of Christmas tree decorations. Christmas tree topper, angel, or fierce fairy — now she’s a woman to look up to,” the organization promises, though the prices for the pricey Hillary ornament start around $107 for a version suited for a typical tree.

A group of prominent lawyers representing teachers and students from poor performing schools sued California on Tuesday, arguing that the state has done nothing about a high number of schoolchildren who do not know how to read.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving often coincides with what Catholics know as the First Sunday in Advent. This year things are different because Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday and will double as the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Going back to its religious roots, Advent is a time of waiting for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, and for most Germans that first Sunday is the official “kick off” to the holiday season. It is common for families to have a beautifully decorated tabletop wreath with four candles in their homes, and one additional candle being lit every Sunday...

A prominent Anglican cleric and gay rights campaigner known for contentious gestures has urged believers to pray for Prince George — age 4, and third in line to the throne — to find the love “of a fine young gentleman” when he grows up so as to advance the cause of same-sex marriage in church. Coming just days after Prince Harry — George’s uncle, and fifth in line — announced his engagement to Meghan Markle, a divorced American actress, the suggestion by the Very Rev. Kelvin Holdsworth seemed to illuminate once more the role of royal romance in Britain’s imagination...