Free Republic

Chevron Corp. turned out to be one of the top performing assets David Root included this year in the workplace retirement portfolios his firm manages for companies that offer employee 401k plans. And he makes no apologies for the investment. “If you didn’t have energy as part of your portfolio this year — which averaged 35% to 40% returns — you had no chance of outperforming the S&P 500,” said Mr. Root, CEO of DBR & Co., Downtown. Some fund managers guided by their environmental, social and governance values rather than pure financial considerations might have ruled out an investment...

They just can’t quit Kyle Rittenhouse. Forget the guy was arrested, charged, stood trial, and was found innocent by a jury of his peers … no no, since he’s a straight, white, conservative male he will forever be the ‘villain’ to ignorant people who care more about politics than reality and facts. Like Soledad O’Brien. We’re pretty sure she didn’t think this tweet through though. But then again, does she ever? Just take a look at her timeline. *************************************** Soledad O'Brien @soledadobrien · Follow For killing people. Yes. Kyle Rittenhouse @ThisIsKyleR People need to start being held accountable. 9:25 PM...

In case you hadn't noticed, it's cold at the moment in the UK. Very cold. Parts of the UK are blanketed in snow as temperatures hover only a few degrees above freezing in many places. But many are wondering how it can be cold enough for snow - and for the snow to last - even though the planet is heating up. The UK is already about 1°C hotter on average than in the 1950s. That shows in the fact we are getting less frost and snow. Cold spells are also becoming shorter and less frequent and they are on...

* Hundreds of migrants were filmed crossing illegally into El Paso, Texas from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico on Sunday night * It had been a busy weekend for CBP officials with reports by El Paso sector of more than 2,600 crossings in the 24 hours between Friday and Saturday * Ahead of the mass crossing, Mexican police brought 20 buses full of migrants back across the border into Ciudad Juarez, the city across from El Paso * It's thought many of those who were brought back into Mexico simply repeated the journey in crossing the Rio Grande river which separates the...

They are not elected to any office. But in the fight against global warming, the world’s billionaires have more influence than many heads of state. As government struggles to move quickly to contain greenhouse gases, ultrawealthy investors and philanthropists are increasingly grabbing the reins, using their fortunes to guide the transition to cleaner energy toward their favored projects and market strategies. They are men with household names like Jeff Bezos (net worth: $114 billion, according to Forbes), Mike Bloomberg ($77 billion) and Bill Gates ($106 billion), along with other billionaires who have lower profiles but equally large climate ambition. Their...

The final count is in: Republicans will hold a slim 222–213 majority in the House of Representatives, giving whoever lands the terrible job of speaker a four-seat cushion on any floor vote. That’s the exact margin that outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi has worked her formidable magic with for two years. Pelosi, however, had two things that her Republican counterpart will not: a caucus full of mostly sane team players, and a policy agenda less radioactive than graphite from an exploded nuclear reactor. It’s not like this is a new problem for the GOP. But previously, when House Republicans held majorities...

A retired U.S. Navy SEAL, who became famous after coming out as transgender, has announced he has “detransitioned” while revealing that going trans has “destroyed my life.” Chris Beck, formerly known as Kristin Beck, made headlines nearly 10 years ago after coming out as transgender. Beck’s story was celebrated by the liberal corporate media and used as “woke” propaganda to push for transgenders in the military. However, Beck now says the move was a big mistake and he’s calling on Americans to “wake up” about how transgender health services are hurting children. “Everything you see on CNN with my...

Governor of Luhansk region said Ukrainian forces attacked a hotel in Kadiivka Serhiy Gaidai said survivors face inadequate medical services to treat them Ukrainian officials also claim up to 200 Russian troops were killed in Melitopol But President Zelensky said situation 'remains very difficult' in frontline cities Serhiy Gaidai (pictured), the governor of the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, told Ukrainian television that Ukrainian forces have attacked a hotel where members of Russia's brutal private Wagner military group were based Ukrainian forces have attacked a hotel where members of Russia's brutal private Wagner military group were based, killing many, a local leader...

Holiday shopping could extend another month for Twitter's biggest fans. In mid-January, the social media giant will auction off some of the surplus office items at its San Francisco, California, headquarters — including statues, kitchen items, furniture and more. Along with standard office furniture, the auction will include some more advanced technology, such as smart TVs, mobile media centers and digital whiteboards, as well as commercial kitchen supplies, including ice machines, a heavy-duty griddle and espresso machines. Some of the most unique items available, however, represent Twitter itself – a more than 3-foot tall Twitter bird statue and a massive...

The Pentagon has given its tacit endorsement of Ukrainian attacks inside Russian territory and no longer fears such operations could lead to a “dramatic” Russian escalation, The Times reported on Friday, citing unnamed US defense officials. The US position appears to only be based on the fact that up to this point, Russia hasn’t responded to attacks on its territory with nuclear weapons or by attacking NATO countries. The Times report reads: “Moscow’s revenge attacks have to date all involved conventional missile strikes against civilian targets. Previously, the Pentagon was warier of Ukraine attacking Russia because it feared the Kremlin...

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare for the District of Columbia and other major cities that public transit was a lifeline for essential workers and that even modest fares could be a burden to them. So the nation’s capital is introducing a groundbreaking plan: It will begin offering free bus fares to residents next summer. Other cities, including Los Angeles and Kansas City, Missouri, suspended fare collection during the height of the pandemic to minimize human contact and ensure that residents with no other travel options could reach jobs and services at hospitals, grocery stores and offices. But D.C.‘s permanent free...

NATIONAL AMBROSIA DAY Right in the middle of the holiday season, National Ambrosia Day brings a refreshing salad to the celebration table. On December 12th, bring ambrosia to your holiday dinner or celebration and go home with an empty bowl. #NationalAmbrosiaDay Ambrosia, according to Greek mythology, is the nectar of the gods, endowing strength and immortality to those who eat it. The term itself can mean something especially delectable to taste or smell. The earliest recipes for ambrosia salad appeared around the 1800s. The recipes called for citrus fruit, coconut, and sugar. However, those who find coconut disagreeable leave it...

The administration is aiding and abetting an invasion of the Southern border. Our rights are being stripped away. We are at war and the enemy is within. In response to this existential threat, we’re told that we need to entrust a congressman previously recognized as the “tech industry’s best friend” as our leader. That’s boneheaded. Kevin McCarthy is not the right leader for the moment. Fortunately, enough Republicans recognize that and mean to stop him from being the next Speaker of the House. Five House Republicans, including myself, have announced that we will not vote for McCarthy during the January...

Fun week ahead. US inflation numbers are out on Tuesday (forecast? CPI YoY = 7.3%, Core CPI YoY = 6.1%) and The Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) rate decision is on Wendesday. So, where are we sitting on Monday? First, the US Treasury 10Y-2Y yield curve has been inverted (a precursor to recession) for 116 straight days). Second, the likelihood of recession in 2023 is 100%. Third, with the forecast of core inflation at a still numbing 6.1%, The Fed seems dead set on raising their target rate by 50 basis points to 4.50% on Wednesday. dddd So, as...

VLADIMIR Putin has cancelled his annual press conference for the first time in 10 years and axed his New Year's Eve party at the Kremlin. It comes amid ongoing rumours about his poor health and his struggles with Russia's disastrous war in Ukraine. Putin has been speculated to be suffering ailments from cancer to Parkinson's - and has repeatedly appeared unwell on camera. And meanwhile, there is growing dissatisfaction with his failing war as Russia fast approaches 100,000 casualties in Ukraine. Since 2012, the final press conference of the President of Russia has always been held in December. The seemingly...

Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and just about everyone else who has been in corporate media the last decade has done a story glorifying Chris “Kristin” Beck, the former Navy SEAL who made a ruckus in 2013 by coming out as transgender. Here’s a video from just a few years ago: VIDEO at link............. Zero Blog Thirty @ZeroBlog30 · Follow Navy Seal Kristin Beck fought for freedom and liberty; she won’t tolerate people trying to strip hers. To hear the full interview with @valor4us listen to today's pod: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/zero-blog-thirty/id1151856991?mt=2 *********************************************************** Today, Chris is trying to be just Chris again and very...

CHICAGO -- At least six people were killed and 19 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago since Friday evening. Gunfire broke out outside a Belmont Cragin bar early Sunday, killing three people and wounding a woman, Chicago police said. A fight inside the bar spilled onto the street outside around 2:30 a.m. near Central Avenue and School Street. Someone opened fire in the 5500 block of West School and struck two men and two women, he said. The shooter fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV and has not been arrested, Brennan said. The men, 50 and 26, were...

Radicalized by conspiracy theories, some activists see the farmers in the Netherlands as the latest victims of an assault on Western civilization itself. AALTEN, The Netherlands — Erik Luiten seems an unlikely person to be fighting a conspiracy to destroy Western society. The tall, affable and soft-spoken man is more likely found tending to 150 dairy cows at his farm in the windswept green flatness of the eastern Netherlands. A sixth-generation farmer on this land, he knows the name of each cow and that of its parents. The vast barn echoes to pop classics, including “Never Gonna Give You Up”...

The claims made here are serious. The evidence already gathered and compiled is substantial. When the win forecast in pre-election polling for Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake did not materialize on Election Day, the tabulator and printer issues in Maricopa County were widely believed to be the culprit. These widespread issues in Maricopa County were expected to form much of the basis of the Lake campaign's anticipated challenge to the election, though what additional claims form the basis of the suit was anyone's guess. The suspense ended on December 9, 2022, when Lake filed her formal election contest in...

Pray For The Peace of JerusalemMatthew 18The Parable of the Wandering Sheep 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] [a] 12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about...