Free Republic

The Transportation Safety Administration is extending its requirement to wear a mask on all public transportation, including airports, train terminals, and bus stations to September 13. The mandate applies to both workers and passengers. The agency says it’s just following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control. If they keep doing that, we’ll be wearing masks going to grandma’s house for Christmas. This mania to control people is needlessly causing divisions. If someone wants to wear a mask, that’s fine. If someone doesn’t, that’s their choice. Forcing people to act a certain way has never worked in America and it’s...

We’ve locked down the economy instead of the virus. Jobs are recovering slower in New York and other states holding on to stringent COVID-19 restrictions than in states that fully reopened their economies, even though continued lockdown measures don’t appear to be saving lives, ... Measures like limiting travel, keeping restaurants operating below capacity and leaving non-essential businesses closed have kept unemployment in New York State among the highest in the nation, while states with fewer restrictions are seeing jobs bounce back faster from the pandemic-induced recession, the study shows. Tragically, the data also suggests lockdowns didn’t do much to...

Looks quite cool. Not sure of practical use, but gives some extra capability.

Gascón ally calls the actions "symbolic, pointless, and partisan attempts to aid a floundering recall effort.”. As organizers of an effort to recall Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón say they are working closely with county officials to finalize the petition, three more cities declared “no confidence” in the progressive prosecutor this week. “City leaders are beginning to see what citizens and victims have known: George Gascon threatens the safety of our communities with his pro-criminal policies and actions,” read an email blast from Victims of Violent Crime for the Recall of District Attorney Gascón. “Together, we can recall...

People living near George Floyd Square are reportedly asking when Minneapolis police officers will answer their calls for assistance, according to WCCO. “Early Thursday morning, a domestic assault victim called 911 for help. Even though she had been cut and was bleeding, she was told to relocate a block away so police could respond,” the outlet said. Other residents have also reportedly been wondering when police will get inside the “no-go zone” to provide assistance. “George Floyd Square has been a place for mourning and healing for the thousands who pay a visit. But for the people who live there,...

Candidates were required to obtain 50 percent or more of the vote in order to avoid a runoff election. Wright received 19 percent of the vote in the crowded, 23-person special election that will now head to a runoff. Democrats were shut out of the runoff as of Saturday night’s results, with Republican state legislator Jake Ellzey coming in second in the field. Democrat Jana Lynne Sanchez, who also ran for the 6th district in 2018, was left in 3rd place and will not advance to the runoff; Democrats will not be able to flip the seat.

WASHINGTON — About 8% of Americans who have received one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have not returned for their second shot. That’s according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert. He says it is important for those getting one of the two-dose vaccines to complete their course to gain maximum protection against the virus. Speaking during a White House briefing, he pointed to several scientific studies showing significant benefits of the second shot, including reducing the risk of infection and strengthening the response of the immune system to the virus. Says Fauci:...

No matter how you slice it, only one candidate can survive the potential “Steel Cage” political death-match brewing in Florida between three Republicans: Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. It’s a highly anticipated WWE-like event of epic proportions that assumes current Florida resident Donald Trump will not run for president in 2024. Of course, one never truly knows when it comes to Trump. There was the bizarre recent news report by Business Insider in which a Trump “adviser” declared that the former president “has lost 15 pounds since he left the White House.” One “veteran Republican...

MacGregor and her colleagues observed Proxima Centauri for 40 hours using nine telescopes on the ground and in space. In the process, they got a surprise: Proxima Centauri ejected a flare, or a burst of radiation that begins near the surface of a star, that ranks as one of the most violent seen anywhere in the galaxy..."The star went from normal to 14,000 times brighter when seen in ultraviolet wavelengths over the span of a few seconds," said MacGregor.

AFTERLIFE—In a statement issued from the afterlife, various Civil War soldiers said that while it was tragic that they had to experience the war that threatened the Republic, they were at least thankful that they weren't around on January 6, 2021, when the absolute worst attack on our democratic ideas occurred. (snip) "Yeah, we had it pretty rough -- but at least we weren't around when a few hundred people walked around the Capitol taking pictures," said John Rumplestin III, a Union soldier who was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. "That's when our democracy really died." (snip) At publishing...

My Dear "Vaxxed" Friend, What the Hell were you thinking!?! I mean, "Hi, How are you?". Okay, now that we've gotten the vapid pleasantries out of the way...WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!?!?! Blithely en passant your email mentions you got the "vaccine." Both shots. And now, NOW, you want to come over and shed on us. Frankly when I heard your glad tidings, I was furious. For twenty-four hours, I was so angry at you. Then quite unexpectedly, I burst into tears. That's when I remembered: anger is only a secondary emotion. The truth is, I'm grieving. Grieving for...

U.S. Navy SEAL and author of Lone Survivor was challenged to a shoot off by a civilian during SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas while promoting Team Never Quit ammo and products. Judging from the video title we were expecting an embarrassment but to our surprise, the civilian won. They both had a practice shot with an Axelson Tactical 5.56 SPR Combat Series rifle before the qualifying shot and Luttrell’s shot was the furthest from the target. Luttrell took his defeat like a champ and they guy walked away with a fond memory. Now let’s try that under enemy fire, guy.

Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins was "appalled" by the Utah GOP's censure vote on Saturday of Sen. Mitt Romney, who was met by a chorus of boos when he took the stage. Utah Republicans voted 798-711 to defeat the censure resolution toward the end of the party's meeting. Romney moved to "remove Trump from office in two illegitimate impeachment trials," which "hurt the constitution and hurt the party," said Davis County Del. Don Guymon, who wrote the resolution. Collins defended Romney on Sunday and said the party should not be helmed by "one person," potentially referring to former President Donald...

Council of Economic Advisers chair Cecilia Rouse said on this week’s broadcast of “Fox News Sunday” that they expect to see some “transitory inflation” as America is coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. Anchor Chris Wallace said, “Can you guarantee with all this spending that we are not going to have a new round of overheating the economy and serious inflation? She continued, “We know that there are some places where employers are struggling to workers because, let’s face it — we’re still in the middle of the pandemic. Some workers would like to go back to work but have...

Mississippi became more diverse during the past decade, but it is also one of only three states that lost population, according to 2020 Census numbers released Monday. The population loss was not large enough to cost Mississippi a congressional seat this time. The state dropped from five U.S. House seats to four after the 2000 Census because other states grew faster. It will remain at four seats after the 2020 Census. (snip) The Census numbers show that, from 2010 to 2019, Mississippi gained nearly 20,000 Black residents, about 16,700 Hispanic residents and about 4,500 Asian residents. The number of people...

Ya can’t make it up. Here – right here – is then-President Trump accusing then-former Secretary of State John Kerry of violating the Logan Act: The Logan Act, to remind, was passed in the long-ago dawn of the Republic in 1799 – when John Adams was busy being the second President of the United States! To crib from Wikipedia, the Logan Act “criminalizes negotiation by unauthorized American citizens with foreign governments having a dispute with the United States. The intent behind the Act is to prevent unauthorized negotiations from undermining the government’s position.” Violation of the Logan Act is a...

“I’m significantly concerned about how quickly the scales seem to have tipped from having a lot of demand and not enough supply, to having enough supply and not demand,” said Jared Moskowitz, the outgoing director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, who has overseen the state’s vaccination distribution. “This is something we all need to be concerned with, from the federal government on down… What do we do if half the population doesn’t get vaccinated?”

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Union organizers and workers at a Rochester restaurant are declaring victory over workers' decision to unionize. Those workers and organizers at Nani's Kitchen came together on Saturday to mark the decision, which is a first for Rochester. It's the first full-service restaurant to approve unionization through the vote of its employees. "Working in a restaurant is fun. But it also needs to be able to provide," says Andrea DePasquale, an employee and organizer..

Despite the letter being condemned by the government and the media, a new poll has found that a majority of the French people agree with its substance. A survey by Harris Interactive found that 58% of respondents “support the words of the soldiers,” reports Valeurs. A clear majority – 84% – said violence was increasing in society and 73% thought the country was disintegrating. Almost three quarters think the “anti-racism” movement is having the opposite impact and making race relations worse. Almost half (49%) also think that the military should be sent in to occupy problem areas, “which would act...

In a case little heralded outside North Texas and outside Episcopal Church insiders, the United States Supreme Court in February opened the door for more litigation nationwide over disputed church property as churches split over social issues such as women in ministry and LGBTQ inclusion. The U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 22 declined to take on any part of the issue — leaving in place a patchwork of state-by-state regulations that likely will continue to produce uneven outcomes. And by refusing the case, the high court left in place a ruling by the Texas Supreme Court that awarded $100 million...