Free Republic

There is growing optimism and hope that by virtue of ongoing immunization efforts, seasonality (declining infections through August), and naturally acquired immunity, by spring and early summer 2021 in the US there will be a substantial decline in the number of deaths and hospitalizations related to COVID-19. However, this optimism must be tempered by several important factors. The likelihood of achieving herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is low simply because not all individuals in the US are eligible to be vaccinated and a quarter of eligible individuals will likely decline to be immunized. Moreover, the vaccines do not provide full immunity...

A Michigan judge has ruled that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) broke state law when she unilaterally issued rules related to absentee balloting, legitimizing a key claim made by the Trump campaign in its legal challenges to the 2020 election. The Secretary of State thus usurped the constitutional role delegated to the state legislatures. It was an argument that was consistently made by Donald Trump when he contested election in a number of states, including Michigan. Michigan Court of Claims Chief Judge Christopher Murray ruled that Benson violated the state’s Administrative Procedures Act in the case Genetski v. Benson.

A survey by the University of Chicago finds that most Capitol Hill rioters had no ties to any fringe right-wing groups and were merely engaged people outraged by what they believed was a rigged election. While colorful weirdos with names such as QAnon Shaman and Baked Alaska stole the headlines, people who were arrested by federal officials during and after the riot were a “broader core of people” with a healthy skepticism about the veracity of the November 2020 election, according to the study. There was plenty of reason for the skepticism, considering the collusion between Big Tech, unions, lawfare,...

Given the level of insanity erupting at all levels in America, it wasn't really a shock when the huge, multinational corporation Unilever announced in early March that it was pulling the word "normal" from at least half of its products. No more soap for "normal skin care," or shampoo for "normal hair." It's offensive. A global study by Unilever found that the word "normal" made 56 percent of the respondents feel excluded and that 70 percent felt that using the word on packaging has a negative impact on people. So, "normal" has to go. Unilever has 400 brands in 190...

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday recommended the COVID-19 vaccine to his supporters, amid concerning recent polls showing Republicans are less likely to get vaccinated. In a phone interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, Trump said: “I would recommend [the vaccine]. And I would recommend it to a lot of people that don’t want to get it, and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly.” “And we have our freedoms and we have to live by that, and I agree with that also,” Trump added. “It’s a great vaccine and it’s a safe vaccine.” In the interview, Trump...

Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta invited people to pray for the safety of the Mediterranean island country as the number of coronavirus cases rises.VALLETTA, Malta — The Archdiocese of Malta and the Diocese of Gozo have suspended the celebration of public Masses through April 11, the Octave of Easter, as a measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The directives went into effect March 11. The Church is restricting religious functions “to protect the health of the people,” a press release said. Under the month-long suspension of public Masses, churches may remain open for private prayer. Funerals and wedding...

Before President Biden departed the White House for a visit to Chester, Pennsylvania, he took questions from reporters on a possible visit to the southern border and to which countries the U.S. might give COVID-19 vaccines.

....In fact, one logical explanation for the contrast would be that President Trump’s 1.5± million increase in vote totals from 2016 to 2020 came from people who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 or who sat out the 2016 election. Where could Biden’s 2.3± million increase over Clinton’s total in 2016 have come from? Note: as the team reports, “A statistical contrast is not proof of voting fraud, but a large contrast does point to situations that might merit closer examination.” And that is exactly the purpose of the team’s contrast analysis: to identify states in which vote tabulations could...

Democrats blocked a bill sponsored by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), which would require the federal government to test all illegal immigrants for coronavirus. Republicans introduced a motion to block the previous question on a piece of legislation Tuesday tht would allow for the consideration of Miller-Meeks’ legislation, the Requiring Every Alien to Receive a COVID-19 Test (REACT) Act. This bill would mandate that the Homeland Security Department (DHS) test all migrants crossing the border illegally that the DHS releases into the country. Miller-Meeks’ office noted that, as of March 8th, the federal government released 185 migrants into Brownsville, Texas, who...

In one of the largest efforts by an institution to atone for slavery, a prominent order of Catholic priests has vowed to raise $100 million to benefit the descendants of the enslaved people it once owned and to promote racial reconciliation initiatives across the United States. The move by the leaders of the Jesuit conference of priests represents the largest effort by the Roman Catholic Church to make amends for the buying, selling and enslavement of Black people, church officials and historians said. The pledge comes at a time when calls for reparations are ringing through Congress, college campuses, church...

Prayers will also be offered up in reparation for abortion.DUBLIN, Ireland, March 15, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) – Irish Catholics are set to gather in prayerful protest in Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day this week, in order to “reclaim” the day for the “Glory of the Most Holy Trinity.” They will be calling on the Irish government to permit worship once again and to cease the practice of abortion. This Wednesday marks St. Patrick’s Day, a day on which parades are normally held throughout the country to mark the nation’s patron saint. Due to COVID-related restrictions, all such events have been canceled...

CNA Staff, Mar 12, 2021 / 03:00 am MT (CNA).- A third of all German Catholics are considering leaving the Church, according to a new survey published on Thursday. The representative study, unveiled March 11, was conducted by the Erfurt-based opinion research institute INSA Consulere on behalf of the Catholic weekly newspaper Die Tagespost and the Protestant news agency Idea. It confirms a previous survey’s findings that indicated similar numbers. Of those surveyed who belong to the Catholic Church, 33% are considering leaving the church because of the ongoing scandals over the handling of clerical sex abuse cases, while 44%...

Less than half of all U.S. voters think President Biden is fit to hold the office of the presidency, according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen. Asked about a series of recent gaffes Biden has undergone during the course of his duties, those survey were invited to offer their opinion as to Biden's fitness for the office of the presidency. Forty-seven percent said the president is "fine and fit for office and the gaffes don't concern me," while 40% said they were "concerned President Biden is suffering from some sort of condition that contributes to...

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that a he is “not a fan” of Meghan Markle but that he hopes she launches her rumored 2024 presidential run. Trump was asked in a Fox News interview with Maria Bartiromo about his thoughts on a potential run for executive office by Prince Harry’s American spouse, following their blockbuster interview with Oprah Winfrey. “Well, I hope that happens because if that happened, then I think I’d have an even stronger feeling toward running,” Trump said. “I’m not a fan of hers. I think that what she talks about the royal family and...

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is set to become part-owner of the Boston Red Sox after becoming a partner in the Fenway Sports Group (FSG), according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

Last June, the city of Portland, Oregon, hopped on the “defund the police” bandwagon. Now, it is flooded with gun violence, and the mayor is already backtracking from his support for the cuts. Mayor Ted Wheeler has requested $2 million in emergency funding for the police department, pointing directly to the surge in gun violence. At this point last year, Portland had seen just one homicide. This year, that number is 20, with 208 shootings in the city so far. Wheeler backed the Portland City Council’s decision to cut $15 million from the police budget last June, which included disbanding...

Alcohol consumption has been on the rise since the pandemic struck, worrying health experts who focus on cancer prevention. An increase in the number of people drinking at home versus out at bars is a concern for Heather Hayes, the outpatient services supervisor at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Naples. “What concerns me more is at home drinking and how that has changed because secretiveness and isolation are all factors in addiction,” Hayes said. Alcohol abuse should be monitored closely, as it can lead to serious health issues and death. Advertisement According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse...

Authorities in metro Atlanta are investigating whether shootings at three massage parlors that left eight people dead and one wounded are connected. Two of the shootings were at spas across the street from each other in northeast Atlanta and the other was in Cherokee County to the northwest of the city. Officials in each jurisdiction said there were no immediate indications of motive and it is unclear whether the shootings were related. A suspect in the Cherokee County shootings was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles south of Atlanta, around 8:30 p.m. — about 3 1/2 hours...

The wife of Democratic Delaware Sen. Tom Carper purchased shares of semiconductor manufacturer Intel Corp. just days before President Biden issued an executive order aimed at addressing the global chip shortage.... If Sen. Carper knew that Biden would sign the executive order, then Martha Ann Stacy Carper’s share purchases were “certainly unethical,” said Hank Sheinkopf, president of the New York-based strategic communications firm Sheinkopf Communications Ltd. He added that while a causal relationship may not exist, it “doesn't look good” that Carper represents Delaware, Biden’s home state. Taking action to combat a global shortage of semiconductor chips has become a...

CONTROVERSIAL Tanzania president John Pombe Magufuli is now partially paralyzed and on life support, the country’s exiled opposition leader has alleged. Tundu Lissu was reportedly told by the country’s Intelligence and Security Service, TISS, that the Covid-19 denier ‘s condition was worsening. “VP Samia suggested today that the Dictator is sick somewhere. My own sources in TISS say he’s on life support with COVID and paralyzed on one side and from the waist down after a stroke. Tell the people the truth!” Lissu wrote in a tweet posted today, March 15. Magufuli has not been seen since late February and...