Free Republic

Last December, in a piece called “The Data Center Backlash Is Global,” I reported that residents around the world were rising up against Big Tech just as they have risen up against Big Wind and Big Solar, rejecting applications to use land.Sure, AI may be a world-changing technology, but the rush to build massive new data centers has resulted in dozens of rejections or restrictions on projects from Indianapolis to Dublin, Ireland. People are worried about property values, water usage, electricity costs and what it means for the neighborhood: “quality-of-life impacts,” as a member of the Indianapolis council, who led...

In Africa an ebola outbreak reported with 65 deaths... Air raid alerts and explosions in several cities in Ukraine... US federal prosecutors attempting to indict Cuban officials including former president... An Iraqi national suspecting of ordering attacks in Europe arrested... Six killed including three paramedics in an Israeli air attack in southern Lebanon... Israel says it killed a top Hamas commander linked to... US President Donald Trump with a statement on Taiwan opposing Taiwan independence from China... The US Supreme Court deciding not to overturn a Virginia... In Colorado Democrat Governor Jared Polis commuting the sentence of election worker Tina...

A stomach-churning viral video appears to show a McDonald’s employee shoveling french fries in her mouth and then putting them back in a box, possibly to serve to customers — and police are investigating. “So you want french fries today, right?” the woman says to the camera, before placing the fries in her mouth while a co-worker laughs behind her in the kitchen of the East Main Street McDonald’s in Southbridge, Mass., according to the disgusting video obtained by Boston 25 News. The employee then puts the fries back in the box, the vile video shows. “That’s disgusting, are you...

Canadian rapper Drake surprised fans by releasing three new albums first thing Friday morning. The White House wasted no time appropriating art from one of those projects to promote the MAGA movement. The trio of recordings are titled “Maid of Honour,” Habibti” and “Iceman.” The album cover of the last features a sparkling glove against a black backdrop. It was introduced with a social media post titled “ICEMAN.” The White House’s X account responded by posting that same glove holding a diamond encrusted “MAGA” necklace. Its caption reads, “ICED OUT.”

About a dozen years ago, having wandered for decades, I returned to the Catholic Church into which I was, as an infant, baptized in 1959. Therein lies my proprietary interest. I’ve long found Fox News host Sean Hannity to be a voice of common sense, when most in the political media sphere reliably tote woke Democrats’ water. But I wholeheartedly disagree with lifelong Catholic Sean’s April decision to leave our Church (while remaining Christian). He cited current officials hiding wrongdoings and their pursuit of popularity over traditional doctrine as causal factors. “I left the Catholic Church in large part due...

More Iranian militia types are in the news, sad to say. Even worse, they're not doing their thing on their home turf - they're in the export business. Breaking News: An Iran-backed militia commander was arrested and charged with plotting to attack Jewish sites in the U.S., including one in New York. Prosecutors say he is a leader of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia with ties to Iran. https://t.co/5FyiNgseXk— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 15, 2026Iran-backed Iraqi terrorists Kata’ib Hezbollah are reportedly seeking negotiations with the Iraqi government for the release of kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson.The group is...

A brief moment at Donald Trump’s high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping has sparked fresh attention after the U.S. leader was seen raising a glass and appearing to take a sip during a formal reception. Footage from the event shows Trump holding a stemmed glass alongside Xi and other officials before bringing it to his lips. The moment stands out because the president has presented himself as a lifelong teetotaler—making even routine diplomatic gestures open to closer scrutiny. The reception formed part of a tightly choreographed state visit, where symbolism and protocol carry as much weight as policy discussions....

Secretary Markwayne Mullin @SecMullinDHS Twelve straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under @POTUS Trump’s leadership, the days of catch and release are over. We are enforcing our nation’s laws and sending illegal aliens BACK to their home countries. Image Homeland Security and The White House

California remains the largest offender of DHS sanctuary jurisdictions violations House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Chairman Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) chaired a high-stakes hearing Thursday exposing the deadly consequences of so-called sanctuary policies, using Fairfax County, Virginia, as a case study in how local officials prioritize illegal aliens over public safety. In his opening statement and pointed questioning, McClintock dismantled the “nullification” doctrine embraced by sanctuary jurisdictions, likening it to John C. Calhoun’s failed states’ rights theory that once threatened the Republic. “These nullification or sanctuary jurisdictions now extend to 11 states–coincidentally the same number as...

NOW: Gov. Ron DeSantis just had ghetto Rep. Angie Nixon (D) ARRESTED after she did an illegal "SIT-IN" at his office because of the 2026 Florida House map that adds +4 GOP seats. She melted down, and FAFO'd! LMAO!! Florida is the best. DeSantis plays no games. This is the SAME Rep. who stormed the House aisle with a bullhorn as the map passed. Leftist psychos ENDLESSLY LOSE in our state DeSantis' chief of staff confirmed it: "Arrested." h/t @FBSaunders

A suspected terrorist with ties to Iran’s military has been arrested and hauled to New York to face charges of carrying out and plotting nearly 20 attacks across Europe and Canada – with plans to blow up a Big Apple synagogue – to punish Americans and Jews over the Iran war. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an accused commander in a terrorist organization linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, allegedly orchestrated the firebombing of the Bank of New York Mellon in Amsterdam, the stabbing of two Jewish victims in London and other foiled counter-attacks in the US in response...

Mayor Zohran Mamdani was blasted for “corrupting history” about the creation of Israel in a vile social media post paying tribute to Palestinians – sent out just before Jewish New Yorkers observed Shabbat. Mamdani, a staunch critic of Israel, honored “Nakba Day” – marking what Palestinians call the “catastrophe” of the Jewish State’s declaration of independence on May 14, 1948 – in a Friday night post, that included a polished video interview with “Nakba survivor” and city resident Inea Bushnaq. “Today marks Nakba Day, an annual remembrance to commemorate the expulsion of more than 700,000 Palestinians between 1947 and 1949...

Guns kill people. It's just a proven fact. Watch this exclusive coverage from The Babylon Bee of frightening but 100% true facts about the weapons of war on our streets otherwise known as guns. Frightening But 100% True Facts About Guns

t's a rough time to be working at Facebook, Instagram, or one of Meta's many other properties. Mark Zuckerberg's social media giant will reportedly hand out roughly 8,000 pink slips on Wednesday, May 20, eliminating about 10% of its global workforce. Notably, though, these cuts will arrive on the heels of one of the most lucrative quarters in the company's history: $56.31 billion in revenue and $26.8 billion in net income (1) for the first three months of 2026, per Meta's Q1 earnings filing. For many Meta employees, that stark contrast is apparently driving morale into the dirt. According to...

***** Tunes For Our Troops ~ The Freeper Canteen Music Dedication Presents: The Letter "Z" *****~ Support The Artists You Hear Throughout The Canteen ! ~ ***** Warning: Not all music may be appropriate for children! Please click with caution. Thank you! Tunes For The Troops This music is provided for the entertainment of our Troops, Veterans, Allies & their families! Enjoy the variety of musical selections that the Canteen DJs provide throughout the thread. Please ping any DJ with your requests for the Troops! All music is removed on Monday.Thanks to all the DJs for their time &...

-The UK government will introduce legislation banning new North Sea oil and gas exploration licences as part of its Energy Independence Bill. -Critics argue the policy will increase Britain’s reliance on imported fossil fuels while damaging Scotland’s oil and gas industry. -Rising oil prices and disruptions tied to the Iran conflict have intensified political pressure on Labour to reconsider the ban. The government will make it illegal to grant new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, the King said at the state opening of Parliament, in a sign ministers are refusing to buckle in the face of a...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A candidate for a Louisville-based Kentucky State House seat recently admitted to taking mail out of the mailbox of a potential voter. Max Morley is running to replace Daniel Grossberg as Kentucky State Representative in the 30th House District, which includes parts of Jefferson County. In a home security camera video reviewed by WHAS11, Morley is seen approaching a porch and ringing the doorbell and knocking on the door. "While campaigning, I exhibited a lack of judgment. This isn’t acceptable, and it’s something I’m deeply sorry for. I apologize to the homeowner. I want one thing to...

RIP Donald. Thank you, you were awesome and an 80's icon. Star of our childhood. "NERDS!" America! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xVcMgF-fHV0 Sadly we lost Robert Carradine in February.

A New York man was convicted Wednesday of helping operate a secret Chinese government-linked police station in Manhattan used to monitor dissidents, federal prosecutors said. Lu Jianwang, 64, a U.S. citizen also known as "Harry Lu" from the Bronx, was convicted by a jury on two counts related to operating an overseas police station in New York City on behalf of China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS), as well as obstruction of justice for destroying evidence. According to prosecutors, Lu and his co-defendant, Chen Jinping, acted as illegal agents of the Chinese government beginning in 2022 and established what authorities...

[Catholic/Devotional] Novena to the Holy GhostSharing this link to the Novena to the Holy Ghost which is often prayed starting today until Pentecost. Holy Ghost NovenaPray especially starting on the day after Ascension Thursday, ending on the PentecostFirst Day: Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all our sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us Thy sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of...