Free Republic

Film producers are planning a woke version of the Harry Potter movies in which the magical characters will be played by transgender and non-binary actors. In what will be seen by many as a challenge to J.K. Rowling, who was attacked for questioning the claim that trans women are identical to biological women, the filmmakers are seeking a more diverse line-up for the starring roles. They are insisting that some of the characters for the new versions – to be aired as a ‘web series’ – cannot be played by white actors, including the starring role of James Potter, father...

"Some people did something. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and the Biden administration have been slammed for refusing to properly describe the hostage situation in Texas, where a suspected Islamist jihadist took hostage a Jewish synagogue in Colleyville, a Fort Worth suburb. In a post on Twitter, Psaki wrote, “[The President of the United States] has been briefed about the developing hostage situation in the Dallas area.” “He will continue to receive updates from his senior team as the situation develops,” the Biden admin staffer added. “Senior members of the national security team are also in touch with federal...

"Virginia’s new Attorney General Jason Miyares fired 30 staff members and announced investigations into the Virginia Parole Board and Loudoun County Schools within hours of being sworn into office. Mr. Miyares was sworn in as Virginia’s Attorney General on Saturday and he’s already cleaning house. ..."

[1:08 video clip] [Virginia] Inaugural Ceremony and Spirit of Community Parade.

LONDON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The scandal engulfing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over his conduct during coronavirus lockdowns has helped the opposition Labour Party to pull into a 10 point lead over the ruling Conservatives in a new opinion poll released on Friday. Johnson apologised to parliament on Wednesday and to Queen Elizabeth on Friday following a series of parties or gatherings that were held in his Downing Street residence at times when the country was under strict pandemic curbs. Pollster Savanta ComRes said a survey of 2,151 adults on Thursday and Friday put Labour up 5 points to...

[2:13 video clip] "... We love this idea...of linkage between the donors and the base here..."

Train tracks used for freight-transport in Los Angeles resembled a garbage dump Thursday as thieves have been raiding cargo containers and leaving shipping packaging in their wake. The screwy scene at a section of Union Pacific train tracks was captured by CBSLA – which also filmed an apparent thief darting from the area while carrying packages. The sea of scrapped cardboard contained discarded items from Amazon, REI and other popular retailers, the outlet reported. Union Pacific acknowledged the “cargo thefts” in a statement to the news station and said they have taken steps to crack down on the crimes. The...

Djokovic confirms he is leaving: "I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open." In a statement released after his appeal was dismissed on Sunday, Novak Djokovic said he would cooperate with authorities in arranging his departure from the country and confirmed he would not be playing in the Australian Open. He said that while he was "extremely disappointed" in the judge's decision, "I respect the Court’s ruling and I'll cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from Australia." He will now take time to rest and recuperate, he added, wishing good luck to fans,...

We know that King Solomon fed his guests beef, lamb, venison, and poultry, in addition to bread, cakes, dates, and other delicacies. But … bananas?The amount of water needed to grow bananas makes them an unlikely fruit in ancient Israel, but a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported some unexpected remains were scraped off the teeth of Canaanites and Philistines who died in the late second millennia B.C., the period of Solomon’s reign. Teeth don’t lie: They ate bananas.The dietary evidence indicates “a dynamic and complex exchange network connecting the Mediterranean with South...

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." "And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." "And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on...

But in one sense, it doesn’t matter. Any complaint he has about the U.S. government, the case in question or even Israel doesn’t involve the individuals whose lives he has violated. Throughout the tense hours, the priority was the safe rescue of the hostages. Officers heroically stormed in and rescued them late Saturday, for which we should all be grateful. Now, it’s important to reflect with righteous anger, to acknowledge the evil done, name it and identify where it comes from. The innocent Colleyville congregants have nothing to do with the case of Aafia Siddiqui, whom the hostage-taker reportedly mentioned....

“The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:1-3).

The family of a young woman gunned down at a Manhattan Burger King demanded justice Saturday as they thanked supporters at a makeshift memorial. Kristal Bayron-Nieves, 19, was killed during a robbery while working the night shift last week. Her mother, Kristie Nieves, 36, clutched a big teddy bear handed to her by a supporter. She came to the crime scene, walking distance from the family’s home, with a sister, brother-in-law and cousins. She began speaking to reporters and well-wishers but did not get far. “Thank you everyone and everyone who supported me including my family” she said, growing increasingly...

Rep. Ruben Gallego isn’t mincing words about Jan. 6, 2021, rioters at the Capitol, saying in a new “Daily Show” interview: “F--- them.” “When it comes to insurrectionists? F--- them. I don’t give a f---,” the Arizona Democrat said in a clip airing Thursday on the Comedy Central show. Gallego’s comments were featured as part of a segment of “Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse” on the anniversary of the deadly riot at the Capitol, when a mob of supporters of then-President Trump stormed the building as Congress met to certify President Biden’s Electoral College win. “Look, I was scared for...

Dr. Meryl Nass, a Maine doctor with more than 40 years experience cannot practice after her medical license was suspended for ‘spreading Covid misinformation’ and treating Covid patients with Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine. Dr. Meryl Nass was also ordered to undergo a neuropsychological evaluation. “The information received by the Board demonstrates that Dr. Nass is or may be unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to her patients by reason of mental illness, alcohol intemperance, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, or as a result of a mental or physical condition interfering with the competent practice of medicine,” the evaluation...

Americans and people around the world are no longer buying the fear-mongering and propaganda being peddled by the so-called mainstream media, says Alex Newman in this interview with Liberty and Finance chief Dunagan Kaiser. “The media’s control over the narrative has all but imploded,” says Newman, arguing that a return to freedom could be coming, at least if people continue to break away from the mainstream. Still, the elites have many possible tricks up their sleeves, so Americans should not get complacent. The corruption of science and education are major topics addressed here, too, particularly as they relate to the...

The judge called the boy’s psychological reports scary The Loudoun County teenager charged with sexual assault at two separate high schools has been found guilty and sentenced to supervised probation in a residential treatment facility. The Loudoun County Juvenile Court had previously found the male student "not innocent" of charges of forcible sodomy and forcible fellatio against a female student in a May 28 incident at Stone Bridge High School. The same student pleaded "no contest" in a separate case to two charges of abduction and sexual battery involving an incident at Broad Run High School on October 6, Fox...

In France the "Pass Sanitaire (Health Pass)" is giving way to the new stricter "Pass Vaccinale (Vaccine Pass)". The new rules mean one must be "fully vaccinated" or recently recovered to be allowed into public venues in France with the testing option of the old pass gone. Final legislative action in France's National Assembly and Senate underway this weekend to make the Vaccine Pass law. The government's goal was to have the pass in place today (Saturday January 15th). A large crowd in Paris today but others protesting across the country including Pau in southwestern France. It looks to be...

The previous head of the Chemnitz Clinic Dr. Thomas Jendges is dead. He fell from the roof of the clinic to his death. In his farewell letter, he is said to have justified his step by saying, among other things, that he could no longer stand the “constant lies and cheating about supposedly harmless vaccinations” associated with Covid. In his lengthy farewell letter that Dr. Thomas Jendges wrote before his suicide and demanded its publication, he is said to have sharply criticized the governments' information policy in dealing with the danger of the Covid vaccinations. He could no longer stand...

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul hit back at YouTube "censors" on Saturday after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged that cloth masks do not work as well against the coronavirus as N95 makes. The Kentucky Republican wondered if YouTube would be apologizing for suspending him earlier this year for saying the same thing. "Does this mean snot-nosed censors at YouTube will come to my office and kiss my … and admit I was right?" Paul wrote. In August, YouTube suspended Paul over a three-minute video questioning the effectiveness of cloth masks, which several studies have shown are not effective...