Free Republic

We have an update on the missing U.S. soldiers in Morocco. As WLT Report previously reported, two U.S. service members went missing during African Lion 2026, the annual training operation led by the U.S. Africa Command. Now, new details have emerged regarding how the soldiers went missing. According to an exclusive report by CBS News, one of the soldiers, while on a hike, fell into the ocean and, in an effort to save the soldier who fell, another soldier jumped into the ocean to rescue him, but was also swept away. CBS News provided exclusive details on how the soldiers...

Explanation: Orion is rarely seen like this. To achieve this majestic vista, you need a camera capable of taking such long duration exposures that faint features in the night sky become revealed. Iconic nebulas that appear include the Orion Nebula, the Flame Nebula, and Barnard's Loop. For contrast, it also helps to have a volcano on the foreground, in this case the Teide volcano on Tenerife on the Canary Islands of Spain. But if you want your Teide volcano snow-covered, you also need good timing -- because that only happens, typically, for a few days each year. Good timing also...

California used to be a place where you could get ahead. Work hard, save up, buy your first home, and build a life. That path is disappearing. A generation ago, buying your first home was something many Californians could imagine doing in their 20s. Today, the median first-time homebuyer is 40. Today, first-time buyers are being shut out of the market entirely. The homes that do get built are too big, too expensive, and completely out of reach for young, middle-class families. Starter homes, the foundation of a healthy housing market, have almost vanished. That’s not just a housing issue....

The demise of Spirit Airlines sent shock waves through the airline industry last week as United, Delta, and American Airlines were forced to accept the unthinkable, that Spirit customers may now choose to fly on the major carriers. Boardrooms have been in panic mode, with many predicting the end of air travel as we know it should Spirit passengers be inflicted upon the remaining airlines. The industry has faced threats in the past from crashes, parts falling off planes, and female pilots landing upside down, but none have been as serious or as potentially damaging as having to deal with...

At least some of the proposed terminations are related to an investigation the department conducted into the manipulation of crime data, officials said. Multiple high-ranking D.C. police officials have been served papers saying the department intends to fire them, according to three officials familiar with the situation. At least some of the proposed terminations are related to an investigation the department conducted into the manipulation of crime data following Republican-led probes into the matter, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive internal process. The terminations portend a potentially sweeping shake-up among top...

Bringing a dog into your life is a big commitment, especially when it comes to large dog breeds. While they can be loyal, loving companions, they also come with unique challenges that aren’t always obvious at first glance. Size, strength, temperament and health needs all play a major role in whether a big dog is the right fit for your lifestyle. That's why for new or even experienced pet parents, it's important to think beyond a pet's appearances and popularity. Just because a giant dog is well-known or beautiful doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your home. * *...

A list of the 30 greatest American living songwriters. on the list: Young Thug, Bad Bunny, Jay-Z and more!!!

[Catholic Caucus] On the traditional feast of Saint Pius V: “Quo Primum”APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONFrom the very first, upon Our elevation to the chief Apostleship, We gladly turned our mind and energies and directed all our thoughts to those matters which concerned the preservation of a pure liturgy, and We strove with God’s help, by every means in our power, to accomplish this purpose. For, besides other decrees of the sacred Council of Trent, there were stipulations for Us to revise and re-edit the sacred books: the Catechism, the Missal and the Breviary. With the Catechism published for the instruction of the...

The ceasefire in the Gulf is four weeks old and showing its age. The US and Iran's determination to keep the pressure on each other has put it in serious jeopardy. This is a dangerous moment. The ceasefire opened up a chance for diplomacy that looked for a short time as if it might make progress. Americans and Iranians faced each other across a conference table in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, but came away empty-handed. The Pakistanis are trying to revive the process, without much success so far. Both America and Iran want to have a deal. But they have different...

Filming has wrapped on “The Resurrection of the Christ,” the long-awaited sequel to "The Passion of the Christ," marking a major milestone for director Mel Gibson’s follow-up to one of the most commercially successful faith-based films of all time. Videos circulating on social media in recent days confirm that production has concluded in Italy on the two-part project, which has spent years in development amid script revisions, casting changes and ongoing speculation. The sequel, titled “The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One,” is scheduled for release on March 26, 2027, followed by “Part Two” on May 6, 2027. The dates...

A Mexican Navy Mil Mi-17 helicopter failed to take off in Mazatlán, Sinaloa after engine problems, and after a few seconds crashed to the ground. There were no casualties, but the helicopter broke its nose landing gear during the hard landing. 43 Second Video at link. They got lucky................

Delta is scrapping in-flight food and drink service on hundreds of flights to cut costs, as the collapse of Spirit Airlines sends ripples throughout the industry. The new measure will begin on May 19 and remove all food and beverage service from 450 daily flights. The airline specifically plans to target trips under 349 miles, typically under one hour, on routes such as Los Angeles to San Francisco. Passengers not in first class on those shorter flights will no longer receive food or beverage service. That means no snacks, no coffee, no tea - and, as critics pointed out, not...

In summary: PCWorld reports that a critical Linux vulnerability called ‘Copy Fail’ (CVE-2026-31431) allows unprivileged users to hijack system privileges by altering cached files. This straight-line logic flaw affects all major Linux distributions and represents the most severe Linux threat since 2022’s Dirty Pipe vulnerability. Patches are available in Linux kernel versions 7.0 and 6.19.12, making immediate system updates essential for security. SNIP

The alleged justification for subsidizing someone's food intake is that the person would otherwise starve or be malnourished. People who receive this subsidy are notoriously fatter than average and strenuously oppose being denied spending the benefits on chips, soda, and candy, as these are considered "must have" items in their diet. With government being the provider, it is not unreasonable to insist on a better diet. Nor is it unreasonable for the government to expect able-bodied recipients to perform some work in order to qualify for benefits. For generations the expenditures on these types of subsidies have grown. The federal...

There’s been a change of mood across the country – and not one that is favorable to the GOP. Last November, the prediction markets gave Republicans a 70 percent chance of keeping control of the Senate. Now their odds have deteriorated. It looks likely that the Democrats will win both the chambers – so what’s happened? The latest polls all tell the same story. The economy is no longer Trump’s superpower. Of those polled by Fox News, three- quarters rate the economy negatively, with 70 percent feeling it’s getting worse. Voters now trust Democrats on the economy more than Republicans...

Two U.S. Navy destroyers, the USS Truxtun and USS Mason, successfully fought their way through the Strait of Hormuz after repelling a massive coordinated barrage of Iranian missiles, drones, and fast-attack boats. Two U.S. Navy destroyers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday despite coming under a heavy, coordinated Iranian assault involving small boats, missiles, and drones, CBS News reported on Tuesday. The USS Truxtun (DDG-103) and USS Mason (DDG-87) entered the Persian Gulf while facing what defense officials described as a “sustained barrage.” The ships were supported by U.S. fighter aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, which helped neutralize...

AB 1608 would rename and expand the powers of the High-Speed Rail Authority’s Inspector General while creating broad exemptions to withhold records California’s high-speed rail project, originally pitched to voters as a $33.5 billion endeavor under Proposition 1A in 2008, has spiraled into a staggering taxpayer nightmare with estimates now exploding as high as $231 billion — a more than 700% increase. Against this backdrop of relentless cost overruns, Assembly Democrats are advancing legislation critics say is explicitly designed to conceal the extent of the waste and shield the failing project from public accountability. AB 1608, authored by Assemblywoman Lori...

A Maryland man was the first to come across one of two hikers seriously hurt in a Monday afternoon Yellowstone National Park grizzly attack, hearing the man call for help before coming across the man “tore up pretty bad.” “I was hiking up Mystic Falls Trail when I saw bear prints in the mud,” Craig Lerman told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday morning. “I kept walking a little further and saw a bloody hat with a watch torn off.” Lerman, from Baltimore, was hiking on the Mystic Falls Trail when he was the first person on the scene after the...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labels the new "Project Freedom" as a strictly defensive mission to bypass legal war power limits, while mocking Iran’s failed attempt to maintain the Hormuz blockade. In a special briefing today, top U.S. defense officials addressed the significant escalation of Iranian aggression that occurred overnight. General Caine provided a detailed account of the ceasefire violations, confirming that Iran launched attacks against Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and critical fuel facilities at the Port of Fujairah. According to General Caine, Iran directly targeted American naval assets during the surge. "Iran launched at least nine missiles toward American...

LMFAO 🤣 Marco Rubio finding out he has to run Spirit Airlines. This is an absolute masterpiece 😂