...There was a group back in the 1990s — and they still exist.
There was a group in the 1990s that were malcontents, renegades, and off the mainstream plantation of conservatism as articulated by the party.
Those were the people that were the early participants in the website Free Republic.
They were known as Freepers. - Rush Limbaugh, July 3, 2013
Netflix has a documentary on the Dixie Chicks called SHUT UP AND SING.
Free Republic is mentioned there as a website leading the charge to get them banned from country music stations.
That and Rush’s mention today are the only two times I’ve seen FR mentioned in the media at large.