Free Republic

One of the mysteries of January 6, 2021 was why National Guard troops were not called up to protect the Capitol that day. If that had happened, the story of the lightly defended Capitol on January 6 would likely have been very different.Well, Politico senior editor Michael Schaffer thinks he knows the reason: Trump's fault. Yes, that all-purpose liberal blame game excuse has come to the fore again as Schaffer puts it forward on Friday in "Trump Politicized the Military. Was That the Real Problem With the Jan. 6 Response?"

Italian general: US official bragged Benedict would be ‘forced’ to resign weeks after 2005 electionThe Italian general alleges that a US official of 'the highest ranks' had bragged in 2005 that Pope Benedict XVI would be forced to resign.On the eve of Pope Benedict XVI’s burial, Piero Laporta, a retired Italian brigadier general, published a stunning piece on his own blog.This Catholic author, who previously lobbied to have Benedict participate (and influence) the controversial Synod on the Family some eight years ago, is now revealing that in the first weeks after the election of Joseph Ratzinger to the papal throne...

HACHITA, N.M. — A Border Patrol agent wearing body armor was struck by gunfire but avoided serious injury Thursday while confronting the occupants of a vehicle suspected of migrant smuggling in New Mexico, federal authorities said. Six people were taken into custody after the vehicle later crashed, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. The agency added that the agent was shot in the chest multiple times and was released after a medical examination.

This is no surprise to me, and relates to the piece I started the day with: the rate at which scientists produce groundbreaking research has slowed dramatically in recent years. This phenomenon has been quietly discussed among both scientists and social science researchers in recent years, and there has been a great deal of speculation about the reasons for the decline. To me, the reasons are pretty obvious. First, the data. Carlson School of Management Associate Professor Russell Funk, doctoral student Michael Park and Professor Erin Leahey of the University of Arizona collaborated in a project to analyze the rate...

An Insider Tell-All Is About to Rip Pope Francis a New OnePope Emeritus Benedict XVI is dead. His right-hand man is about to come out swinging.Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had been dead for just two days when it was revealed that his personal secretary, a striking and influential cleric nicknamed “Gorgeous Georg” by the international press, was publishing a tell-all book that promised to avenge his former boss—and lambast the current pope.The news came as a shock in the world of Vatican observers. In part, that was because it arrived as the faithful were still, literally, mourning the pontiff at...

• Kamilah Moore, chair of California's Reparations Task Force, said black homeless people should receive the most aid through compensation for slavery • She said the state's housing discrimination and homelessness were also listed as one of the 'five state sanction atrocities' against black people • The latest federal and state data show California has more than 172,000 homeless people, with about 34 to 40 percent of them being black Moore argued that the compensation would boost the economy • Economists in the task force initially recommended a $1million payout per person, but the group will make its final recommendation...

TULSA, Okla. — Police in Tulsa say a 9-year-old boy has been stabbed to death by his 12-year-old sister. Police said in a statement Friday that officers were called to a home in south Tulsa late Thursday and that the boy was taken to a hospital where he died.

If Jim Harbaugh is indeed staying with Michigan football for 2023, per his statement on Thursday afternoon, he’ll apparently have to deal with a Level I violation of NCAA regulations. The Detroit Free Press has confirmed that Michigan is expected to receive an official notice of allegations from the NCAA soon, charging the program with four Level II violations — those deemed “more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage” according to a description adopted in 2019 — and Harbaugh himself with a Level I violation — a “severe breach of conduct”...

Norwegian ferry operator Fjord Line says high LNG prices is forcing it to rebuild two LNG-powered ferries to run on traditional marine gas oil (MGO). Despite a strong peak season in 2022, Fjord Line says that increases in the price of LNG fuel has led to a “non-sustainable financial situation” for the company.

"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book." "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." John, Chapter 20 1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in the Moscow Kremlin to attend the overnight Orthodox Christmas service there. Last year, Putin delivered his Orthodox Christmas greetings from the Saint Nicholas Church on Lipno Island, near the western Russian city of Veliky Novgorod.

Recently, the department announced most employers in Alabama will receive a 54% tax cut in their 2023 unemployment insurance taxes and the state has dropped into the lowest tax rate schedule. Rosemary Elebash, Alabama director of the National Federation of Independent, said the announcement is welcome news for Alabama’s small businesses.

WASHINGTON -- Amid all the division in Washington, Friday marks two years since the deadly January 6 siege on Capitol Hill. There is a new lawsuit from the estate of a Capitol police officer who died during the attack. It was filed by the family of Officer Brian Sicknick, who was from New Jersey. The lawsuit accuses former President Donald Trump of being responsible for Sicknick's death. It also names two men who were charged with assaulting him with a chemical spray. The suit is seeking over $10 million in damages.

Mark 1:7–11 Friends, today's Gospel tells the story of the baptism of Jesus. The first thing we must keep in mind about the baptism of Jesus was that it was embarrassing. Here is the one that the first Christians maintained was the Son of God, the sinless lamb who takes away the sins of the world, the Word made flesh. So why is he seeking a baptism of repentance?There is no way around it: John was working in the country north of Jerusalem, along the banks of the Jordan river. And his theme was unambiguous: repent. Those who came to...

There is new evidence that a 50-year-old blood pressure drug could find new purpose as a treatment to mitigate PTSD, scientists say. Clonidine is commonly used as a high blood pressure medication and for ADHD. It's also already been studied in PTSD because clonidine works on adrenergic receptors in the brain, likely best known for their role in "fight or flight," a heightened state of response that helps keep us safe. These receptors are thought to be activated in PTSD and to have a role in consolidating a traumatic memory. Clonidine's sister drug guanfacine, which also activates these receptors, also...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The nation is in shock today following reports of representatives in Congress showing up to work for the 4th day in a row. Sources in Washington say this may be a new record, as most members of the House are used to showing up maybe once or twice per month while spending most of their time drinking cocktails with lobbyists and talking to CNN. Medical personnel has been dispatched to the Capitol Building to tend to any elderly reps in attendance, who aren't used to working this hard, while experts warn many of them may not last...

“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness, how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” —Dr. Seuss Here we are at that time again where I get out my prediction hat and give my replay of the year past, but also my predictions for the year ahead. These are just MY predictions based on my understanding of both geopolitical and biblical goings-on. I'm not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet. Neither am I a date-setter, or the son of...

Flight 38 Sol 667 Date Jan. 4, 2023 Horizontal Distance 110.84 m ~364 ft. Max. Altitude 10 m ~33 ft. Max. Groundspeed 3.50 m/s ~7.8 mph Duration 74.3 seconds Route of Flight Airfield Y Airfield Z*** Flight Log Flights 38 (as of 1/4/23)Distance Flown 7,690 meters (~25,230 ft)Highest Altitude 14 meters (~46 ft)Fastest Ground Speed 5.50 m/s (12.3 mph)Flight Time ~63.0 minutes (3,781 seconds)

WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wouldn’t commit to meeting New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ request for $1 billion to handle the migrant influx into the city while seeming to acknowledge that the Big Apple has become a “border city” after record-breaking illegal border crossings. Jean-Pierre name-dropped Adams at her regular briefing, noting that he “has been critical … of us” before touting a new “parole” program to facilitate a lawful 30,000 migrants per month from four countries in a bid to reduce illegal entries — without noting his persistent request for more federal funds. The Post...

The House of Representatives voted to adjourn until 10 p.m. Friday, shortly after Republican California Rep. Kevin McCarthy flipped the votes of 15 of his GOP detractors. Republican leaders called for the vote, which passed along party lines, to give McCarthy supporters Ken Buck of Colorado and Wesley Hunt of Texas time to return to the Capitol. Buck was absent for the early votes due to a medical issue, while Hunt returned home following the birth of his son. (RELATED: Here’s Why 15 Republicans Flipped Their Support To Kevin McCarthy) McCarthy peeled off 14 “no” votes on the twelfth ballot...