Free Republic

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday said he used the wrong words in his comments about Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday, saying they were not a threat. Schumer's remarks on the Senate floor came after a slew of condemnations coming from Republicans -- including some who want to censure the New York Democrat -- and a rebuke from the high court's chief justice. "Now, I should not have used the words I used yesterday. They didn't come out the way I intended to," Schumer said Thursday morning. "My point was that there...

Italy says it's had 41 new COVID-19 deaths in just 24 hours. The country's civil protection agency said on Thursday evening that 3,858 people had been infected and 148 had died. It came as the UK and Switzerland announced their first deaths from the disease. Earlier on Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged people not to give up fighting the outbreak. It has now killed 3,281 people globally and infected more than 95,000. "This is not a drill, this is not a time to give up, this is not a time for excuses, this is a time for pulling...

A New Jersey woman beat a 55-year-old man to death with a tape dispenser and shower rod in a home they shared, authorities said. Mary Carbone, 56, allegedly attacked Frank Stochel, a local high school janitor, last month at a Manchester Township residence that the victim owned with his wife. His lifeless body was found on Feb. 24 and Carbone was arrested on murder charges Wednesday, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced Thursday.

An 18-year-old Wisconsin high school student was arrested Thursday for fourth-degree sexual assault, child enticement, and exposing his genitals to a child in the school’s gender-neutral bathroom. According to WSAW-TV, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office said Austin Sauer of Rhinelander High School in Wisconsin was arrested, but has not been charged. The sex of the child was not reported. State statute defines fourth-degree sexual assault as “sexual contact with a person without the consent of that person.” WAOW News reported Sunday that Sauer was released on a $1,500 signature bond. Captain Terri Hook said the school’s gender-neutral bathroom has been closed and an investigation is underway. Hook added...

Washington -- Last week, the Washington Times had an inspirational moment. On Thursday, the editors wrapped this venerable newspaper in a red-inked wrapper and presented readers with an evocative question. In the top half of the wrapper, they asked boldly: "Tired of being ... Lectured, Mocked, Lied to?" Now, whom do you think the Times -- we call it the Good Times -- was alluding to? I think we all know. The question was directed at attendees at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, better known as CPAC. Thousands of conservatives were pouring into the area, and the Good Times...

If you ever wanted to know exactly why Bill Clinton had an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, he's got an explanation for you now. The 42nd president reveals in the forthcoming Hulu documentary "Hillary" that he had the affair because it helped to "manage my anxieties," resulting from the pressures of the presidency. His affair, he claims, was a distraction from those pressures. "You feel like you're staggering around, you've been in a 15-round prize fight that was extended to 30 rounds and here's something that will take your mind off it for a while, that's what happens,"...

Attorney General William Barr and representatives from the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing network on Thursday introduced a set of voluntary principles aimed at combating online child sexual exploitation. The 11 recommendations, co-announced with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, includes reporting cases to relevant authorities, proactive identification of grooming and publishing data on efforts to curb content. “For the first time, the Five Countries are collaborating with tech companies to protect children against online sexual exploitation," Barr said in a statement. "We hope the Voluntary Principles will spur collective action on the part of industry to stop one of...

... He told Business Insider that he observed locals and Chinese officials understanding the potential severity of the growing virus and taking safety precautions. That contrasted heavily with his work colleagues' blase attitudes back in the US and a disorderly experience at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) upon his return from China on February 2. ...

Neither Terry Rolin or his daughter were ever charged with a crime, but that didn't stop the DEA from trying to seize more than $82,000 from them through civil asset forfeiture.The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will return more than $82,000 that it seized from an elderly Pittsburgh man and his daughter after a federal class-action lawsuit was filed on their behalf last month. The Institute for Justice, the libertarian-leaning public interest law firm that filed the lawsuit, announced today that the DEA will return $82,373 that it seized from Rebecca Brown six months ago at a Pittsburgh airport. The money...

“Bond King” and DoubleLine Capital CEO Jeffrey Gundlach said Thursday that he believes the Federal Reserve panicked in cutting interest rates earlier this week and that short-term U.S. rates are headed for zero. “If we look at history, once the Fed does a panic, inter-meeting rate cut, particularly when it’s 50 basis points ... they typically cut pretty quickly again,” Gundlach said. “I’m in the camp that the Fed is going to cut rates again, perhaps even in two weeks” during its regularly scheduled meeting.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the 2020 presidential race Thursday, ending a once front-running bid that never achieved its sky-high potential once voting actually began. Answering the "what happened" question is never a simple thing. Voters make up their minds for lots of different reasons -- some of which they are willing to articulate and some they simply won't. But generally speaking, there seem to be three reasons why Warren didn't get to where she wanted to go. 1) She peaked too soon: If the Iowa caucuses were October 3, Warren could have won going away. National polling...

Following increased interest in expanding access to paid family and medical leave, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., joined forces with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to promote the Family and Medical Insurance Leave, or FAMILY, Act. If we believe the act's supporters, it would cost close to nothing and provide essential benefits to employees who don't currently receive them. Unfortunately, these claims are bogus. Under the FAMILY Act, the federal government would offer 12 weeks of paid time off to enable workers to care for infants, recover from major illnesses and care for severely ill relatives. During that time, employees would receive...

"The word of the Lord [came] to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem" (Dan. 9:2). Effective prayer is always consistent with God’s will. It is characteristic of God's people to identify with God's purposes and conform their will to His. Learning to pray according to His will is a major step in that process because it drives you to the Word and demonstrates a humble, submissive heart. Jesus emphasized the priority of God's will when He said, "I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who...

Have you ever noticed how everyone seems to be an expert on something these days? Whether it be geopolitics, food, parenting, guns, knives, survival techniques, self-defense, basket weaving … you name it and someone can tell you all about it online in a two-minute YouTube video. Well, knife fighting is not immune to this. There are many untruths, myths and opinions about knife fighting, also known as edged-weapon defense. I can’t address them all in this short article, but let’s try to separate a few facts from fiction. I am a knife enthusiast, and I openly admit that I am...

"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" is a 1974 hit recording by MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) featuring vocals by The Three Degrees. A classic example of the Philadelphia soul genre, it was written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff as the theme for the American musical television program Soul Train, which specialized in African American musical performers. The single was released on the Philadelphia International label. It was the first television theme song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and it is arguably the first disco song to reach that position. The song is essentially an...

Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein is being moved to the North Infirmary Command at Rikers Island after undergoing a heart procedure, where he will remain through his sentencing on March 11. A rep for the disgraced movie mogul told Fox News on Thursday Weinstein is "is being moved to Rikers as we speak." He added that Weinstein, 67, underwent a heart procedure and "is now fit" to be moved to Rikers. Weinstein was found guilty of rape and sexual assault against two women before being led away in handcuffs on Feb. 24. While he was remanded to jail after the verdict...

3:09 PM PT -- Petty just appeared in court and pled not guilty. Prosecutors wanted Petty placed on house arrest, but his attorney objected and instead Petty is being required to wear an ankle monitor. He will also have a curfew. Petty's lawyer says he's going to post $100,000 bond later today. Petty will also be under pretrial supervision and has already surrendered his passport. His travel will be restricted to Southern California. Petty also can't use drugs, even marijuana from legal dispensaries in L.A. He has another hearing scheduled for March 23. Nicki Minaj's husband's past is coming back to...

For Democrats, diversity is their strength. Oh, wait… – Man, the pickings for mocking hypocritical, demented Democrat frauds sure are getting slim now. Tom Steyer – gone! Preacher Pete – gone! Klobuchar – gone! Mini-Mike – gone! And now, as of this morning, no more Fauxcahontas! No more Lieawatha! No more Princess Little Big Mouth Always Running! Gone, all gone! And in just the last 6 days! Democrats four years ago: “Trump is 69! He’s just another old white guy who’s too old to be president!!!!!!” Democrats as of today: “I’m voting for one of the 78 year-old pasty-faced white...

Once upon a time, it seemed possible that the Democratic Party would nominate a candidate who wasn't another older white man. Not anymore. Is there a better time than the start of Women's History Month to tell women that the latest woman’s bid for the presidency is, well, history? We began the race for the Democratic nomination with a record six women candidates, and now we’re down to - well, not counting the unviable, unreliable Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D- Hawaii, who was always less likely to win this thing than anyone but Marianne Williamson - zero. Remember that one flickering...

In a post on his Instagram feed, and concurrently on a website, former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock says he’s gay. He confirmed the post’s authenticity in a text message, and said he would let the statement speak for itself. The former Peoria Republican, who served on the city’s School Board, in the state Legislature, and into his fourth term in Congress, made the following post: I am gay. For those who know me and for many who only know of me, this will come as no surprise. For the past year, I have been working through a list of people...