Free Republic

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. -- Okaloosa County is reapplying for permits required to sink the SS United States.The county said they are reapplying for the permitting area where the SS United States will be deployed. This results in the original permit being modified.The historic ocean liner is set to become the world's largest artificial reef. The only thing standing in the way now is final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers."There's people that want to come from all over Europe, Australia, Asia all different locations wanting to hit it," says Mason Ousley, the manager at Dive Pros.>>>The ocean liner...

Red Lobster’s failed Ultimate Endless Shrimp promotion in 2023 is back in the spotlight in a new lawsuit launched against Thai Union by some of Red Lobster’s creditors. Red Lobster made all-you-can-eat shrimp a permanent fixture on its menu in June 2023 and, by the end of that year, was reporting a significant financial hit as a result. The promotional event, which sold unlimited shrimp for USD 20 (EUR 17.49), was later cited in Red Lobster’s bankruptcy filing in early 2024 and resulted in a dispute between the company and Thai Union, which was a minority owner of the restaurant...

Imagine a woman driving across state lines alone at night, fearful that her car might break down and leave her vulnerable. Or picture a truck driver hauling valuable cargo across the country. In states such as California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon – five of the ten states that refuse to recognize concealed handgun permits from other states – these travelers can find themselves defenseless. Nine states also either deny non-residents permits altogether or make them extremely difficult to obtain. Last week, President Trump again called for passage of national concealed carry reciprocity. The legislation would allow anyone...

President Donald Trump's plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appears to be working, as transits show the strongest signs yet of returning to normal operations. Commercial shipping is steadily increasing under the 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire, easing fears of prolonged global oil supply disruptions and driving crude prices lower. New maritime data shows vessel traffic through the strategic waterway has more than quadrupled over the past week as shipping companies cautiously resume voyages through the Persian Gulf. According to maritime intelligence platform Signal, the number of traceable daily voyages entering and leaving the Gulf increased from just one or two...

Pope Leo XIV has called on European leaders to rise to the "momentous challenge" of handling migration as he visited the Italian island of Lampedusa. The pontiff urged Europe to help new arrivals integrate better and improve conditions in their home countries, during a mass on the island, which receives tens of thousands of migrants a year. "Those who have lost their lives in this sea are victims both of decisions that were made and of decisions that were not made," the Pope said. Since becoming the head of the Catholic Church in May 2025, the Pope has repeatedly called...

There’s nothing like a heatwave to shine a light on the medieval lunacy of eco-alarmism. The minute the thermometer spikes, all the bourgeois doomsayers are on their soapboxes haranguing humankind. This is ‘hell on Earth’, they cry. It’s ‘global boiling’, they wail. A ‘hound from hell’ is dragging the heat of the ‘Underworld’ into our world, say media scribes, like absolute nutters, blissfully unaware of what faux-priestly, pre-modern fools they sound to the rest of us. And of course – you already know this – it’s all our fault. We brought this hell upon ourselves by flying and driving and...

The Iranian regime’s oligarchic clans are at war with each other – and this conflict may soon spiral beyond control. This fight is not over ideology or the future direction of the Islamic Republic: all the oligarchic clans are Islamist; some wear turbans, others wear military uniforms, and some wear suits. In other words, they all subscribe to the core tenets of Shia Islamism in Iran: the forceful imposition of Sharia law domestically, support for the so-called Axis of Resistance militia network, anti-Americanism, and the goal of eradicating the Israel (driven by innate anti-Semitism). But they are competing to protect...

The real story of the Declaration of Independence - the secret conversation between Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOOQfGWt8Hc

Extra special feature: Kate Smith leading the singing of "God Bless America." Dean Martin & Kate Smith - America Medley & Show Ending [video- with Barbara Eden, Mickey Rooney & Norm Crosby]

The rise of Nigel Farage has prompted political leaders across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to game the unthinkable: the breakup of the United Kingdom. Unionists who wish to save the union and nationalists who wish to end it are bracing for constitutional turmoil if Reform UK emerges triumphant – with Farage as prime minister or official leader of the opposition – after the next election. Representatives from each side believe a Farage-led government could trigger a hasty referendum on Irish unification and usher in Trump-style anti-immigration crackdowns that alienate the Celtic nations. The possibility of a strong Reform...

Video at link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pZ1brENIjw

In this video, The Electric Viking details Tesla's record-breaking Q2 2026 performance. Despite broader market skepticism, Tesla delivered 480,126 vehicles in the second quarter of 2026, marking a significant 25% year-over-year increase and crushing Wall Street's consensus estimates by roughly 74,000 units (0:13-0:28). Key takeaways from the report: Strong Rebound: This quarter marks Tesla's strongest second quarter ever and the first year-over-year growth following two straight years of decline (0:36-0:47). Production vs. Deliveries: Tesla delivered 480,126 vehicles while producing 451,758, indicating that they successfully cleared out excess inventory (0:51-1:03). Model Mix: Deliveries were heavily dominated by the Model Y and...

Daily Signal’s new documentary, “Sacred Honor: The Declaration That Defines a Nation,” is an in-depth investigation into America’s Declaration of Independence. Join Bradley Devlin, Victor Davis Hanson, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, Dr. Kevin Roberts, and many more, as they tell the story of one of the greatest political dramas in world history. Special Thanks to: The Heritage Foundation | Washington, D.C. Hillsdale College’s Steve and Amy Van Andel Graduate School of Government | Washington, D.C. The Museum of the American Revolution | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S. National Park Service | National Historic Park...

Young Washington is a 2026 American epic historical war drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Jon Erwin. It is based on the early life of the Founding Father and first president of the United States, George Washington and focuses on his experiences and command in the French and Indian War between 1753 and 1755. William Franklyn-Miller stars as the titular character, alongside Mary-Louise Parker, Kelsey Grammer, Andy Serkis and Ben Kingsley.The film premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 13, 2026, and was released in the United States by Angel Studios on July 3, 2026. The film received mixed...

Trump's speech a missed opportunity for unity.

President Donald Trump has been warning recently that communism will pose a threat to the U.S. if Democrats win in the upcoming midterm elections. Last week, he referred to Democrats as “hard core, godless Communists”. But experts say his claims, echoed by Vice President J.D. Vance and other Republican leaders, are off base. Here’s a closer look at the facts. THE FACTS: No candidate openly belonging to the U.S. Communist Party has ever been elected to state or federal office, according to experts. Although there are fringes of the Democratic Party that have expressed support for communist ideas, experts say...

Visegrád 24 @visegrad24 Palestine Action US founder Calla Walsh attends Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral and calls him the “greatest anti-Imperialist leader” in her lifetime. This is the brainwashing going on in the far-left, making them to unite with Islamists and terrorists.

Tomorrow is July 4, 2026, and if you’re a student of American history, you know what that means: It means I’ll be trying to recover from celebrating my 79th birthday, which is today. But it also means that tomorrow the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday, the anniversary of that fateful day in 1776 when the Founding Fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence, an act for which they could have been hanged. Imagine being that brave. Granted, you and I routinely accept “Terms of Service” agreements that, for all we know, give Google and Microsoft the right to harvest...

America 250 has become another front in the culture war, exposing a fundamental divide over patriotism and American exceptionalism. Earlier this week, I walked around the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Despite the heavy negative press coverage, I thought it was impressive and inspiring. The event boldly portrays American patriotism and exceptionalism across our great nation to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday. It runs from June 25 through July 10, featuring more than 150 exhibits from all 56 U.S. states and territories, along with businesses, innovators, and civic organizations. There is a towering Ferris...

The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence happens to also coincide with the 200th birthday of composer Stephen Collins Foster. A songwriter who achieved remarkable success in the late 1840s and 1850s with “Oh! Susanna,” “My Old Kentucky Home” and many others, Foster was born near Pittsburgh on July 4, 1826. A portrait of a young man with a comb-over, pursing his lips. Stephen Foster. University of Pittsburgh Library System, CC BY-SA Though he died destitute in 1864, his memory was revived in the 1890s, when he started variously being referred to as “America’s troubadour,” “America’s folk-song composer” and...