Free Republic

A Ukrainian soldier's account of the front line in Bakhmut has given rare insight into the tactics being employed by Russian soldiers in the eastern industrial city in the Donetsk region, which has, for months, been one of the war's hottest spots.The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a think tank based in Washington, noted in its daily assessment of the conflict that Ukraine's Joint Forces Task Force posted an interview on February 1 with a Ukrainian serviceman operating in Bakhmut.In his interview, the Ukrainian soldier said that the situation in Bakhmut has recently "radically changed." Russia has committed...

The U.S. labor market clocked a shockingly strong month in January, adding 517,000 jobs and dipping down to 3.4 percent unemployment, according to data released Friday by the Labor Department. The numbers blew past expectations. Analysts were projecting an increase of around 185,000 jobs and for the unemployment rate to edge up to 3.6 percent. In December, the unemployment rate dipped back down to 3.5 percent and added 260,000 new jobs, according to revised figures released Friday. “This is an unbelievably strong unemployment report, not to suggest there’s a problem with credibility. The unemployment rate takes out the recent historic...

3 February 20233Friday of week 4 in Ordinary Time St. Blaise, Bellingham, MA Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(I).First readingHebrews 13:1-8 ©Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and will be for everContinue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since you too are in the one body. Marriage is to be honoured by all, and...

After 21 seasons of sensational programming focused on everything from delinquent offspring to rampant substance abuse to extramarital affairs, Dr. Phil, the hit daytime talk show led by Dr. Phil McGraw, will end after its current season per the host’s choice, Variety reported Tuesday. It’s the end of an era for the authoritative, Southern-accented TV star, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology but is not a licensed therapist. For years, the show lured droves of audiences (and continues to average 2 million viewers per episode) with McGraw’s pointed interviews with troubled guests, which could be as hilarious as they...

By unanimous resolution last week, the city of San Diego declared that “housing is a human right.” But no one knows exactly what that means.The city went on to reaffirm “its commitment to providing more housing services geared toward putting a roof over the head of every San Diegan.”Quick to downplay the legal implications, city attorney Dan Eaton said of the resolution, “it’s pretty clear it doesn’t have any legal effect.” So, what does the declaration mean?The city council rightly values housing as “a component of a standard of living adequate for health and well-being.” The resolution affirms that “housing...

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called on President Joe Biden to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon "immediately," while suggesting that former President Donald Trump would have already done so. In a tweet late Thursday, Greene wrote: "Biden should shoot down the Chinese spy balloon immediately. "President Trump would have never tolerated this. President Trump would have never tolerated many things happening to America." On Thursday evening it was reported that the US military was tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon, first spotted over Montana, which it believes with "very high confidence" to be of Chinese origin.

As with so many of our national debates, the truth about the current debt limit fight is not just different from the narrative set forth by the corporate media; it's the opposite. The media narrative, to recap, is that the debt limit can and should be increased as a matter of course. Anything that veers from this automatic debt limit increase, the story goes, is just flat-out irresponsible. This narrative is being pushed not just in the media, but by Wall Street, corporate America, the Democrats in Congress, and even some Republicans. That's not surprising since those groups are increasingly...

The New York Times, self-proclaimed “paper of record,” waited more than 500 days before finally reporting it had authenticated critical emails from now-President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop. The Times allowed the false narrative that the Hunter Biden laptop was somehow “Russian disinformation” to permeate the public debate for over a year when it had obtained evidence to the contrary, according to emails obtained exclusively by Breitbart News. One email obtained by Breitbart News, that Times reporter Ken Vogel sent to attorneys for former Biden family business partner Tony Bobulinski, shows that on Oct. 15, 2020, at 5:20...

I know many of us have been commenting on threads that the belated searches of Biden properties for classified documents are just window dressing. I am only posting a separate comment about it because I don't think that fact is getting the attention it deserves. As much as it is difficult to overcome the gigantic megaphone of the MSM as the propaganda organ of the Democrat Party and Deep State, I believe it is essential to get this point as much attention as possible. The left is very adept at false narratives to control public opinion. Having these FBI searches...

Former President Donald Trump is calling for the Chinese spy balloon floating over the United States to be shot down. “SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!” Trump posted on Truth Social Friday morning, after the Pentagon confirmed Thursday evening that a Chinese spy balloon had been floating over the U.S. for several days. entagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Thursday: The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now. The U.S. government, to include NORAD, continues to track and monitor it closely. The balloon...

This list only includes destroyed vehicles and equipment of which photo or videographic evidence is available. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here. Small arms, ATGMs, MANPADS, loitering munitions, drones used as unmanned bait, civilian vehicles, trailers and derelict equipment are not included in this list. All possible effort has gone into avoiding duplicate entries and discerning the status of equipment between captured or abandoned. Many of the entries listed as 'abandoned' will likely end up captured or destroyed. Similarly, some of the captured equipment might be destroyed if it can't be recovered. When the...

THE HOUCK FAMILY Catholic pro-life activist Mark Houck, who was arrested in a highly publicized FBI raid and recently acquitted on charges that could have sent him to prison for 11 years, said he will look into "pressing charges" related to prosecutorial abuse. Houck appeared on Steve Bannon's Real America's Voice program "The War Room" Tuesday, one day after a jury in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, acquitted him on Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act charges. Houck first gained national attention after the FBI arrested him at his home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 23 for violating the...

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials are aware of reports of long-lasting problems following COVID-19 vaccination, an official recently disclosed. “With respect to reports of people experiencing debilitating illnesses, we are aware of these reports of people experiencing long-lasting health problems following COVID vaccination,” Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, director of the CDC’s Immunization Safety Office, said on Jan. 26. “In some cases, the clinical presentation of people suffering these health problems is variable and no specific medical cause for the symptoms have been found,” Shimabukuro added. “We understand that illness is disruptive and stressful, especially under those circumstances....

Aaron Rodgers to Vegas? I can dig it. Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is waiting to see who his quarterback will be in 2023, and he suggested on Twitter that that quarterback could be Aaron Rodgers — and they could be living in the same neighborhood as well. Adams was taking questions on Twitter when one user asked, “Which neighborhood is @AaronRodgers12 moving to?” referencing the rumors that Rodgers could soon be in Sin City. And Adams didn’t do anything but add fuel to the fire with a simple response. “Mine.” This would make complete sense for the...

A couple of days ago, I noticed ministry friends of mine sharing videos of a well-known pastoral voice, Senior Pastor Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church located in Alpharetta, Georgia. After looking around for the video myself, I discovered the video was an excerpt from the Drive Conference at North Point in 2022. Many people are familiar with this pastor in Georgia. Some of his statements diminishing the authority of Scripture, and his callous jest at Christians who think it more authoritative, led those in the Church to surmise that his issues with biblical authority indicate a much more...

Medical schools are in the process of abandoning all pretense of merit as the criteria for admissions.Via Association of American Medical Colleges:This year’s first-year class of medical students is more diverse than ever before. In fact, the number of Black or African American students who matriculated into medical school for the 2021-2022 academic year increased by 21%, according to data from the AAMC. But those numbers belie a disturbing history of bias and racial inequity in medical school admissions dating back more than a century — one that continues today and that can be overcome only with intentionality and less...

The Lead panel discusses.

Senate Democrats announced that they will begin an inquiry into the investigation by Special Council John Durham of the origins of the Russiagate investigation by the Department of Justice. The probe is a direct result of an article in the New York Times that accused Durham of “misconduct.” Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin says that Durham allegedly committed “outrageous” abuses.“These reports about abuses in Special Counsel Durham’s investigation — so outrageous that even his longtime colleagues quit in protest — are but one of many instances where former President Trump and his allies weaponized the Justice Department,” Durbin said in...

(Last Updated On: January 31, 2023) NATIONAL CARROT CAKE DAY National Carrot Cake Day on February 3rd, celebrates one of America’s favorite flavors of cake. In the carrot cake, we get to eat our cake and veggies, too! #NationalCarrotCakeDay Carrot cake closely resembles a quick bread from its preparation to its final consistency. Quick breads mix the wet and dry ingredients separately before combining, and the final product is coarser than a traditional cake. Creamy frosting separates the layers and often complements the spice of the cake. Cinnamon and nutmeg go well with the natural sweetness of carrots. Many bakers...

Jordon Trishton Walker, Pfizer Director of Research and Development, Strategic Operations - mRNA Scientific Planner: “There is something irregular about the menstrual cycles. So, people will have to investigate that down the line.” Walker: “The [COVID] vaccine shouldn’t be interfering with that [menstrual cycles]. So, we don’t really know.” Walker: “I hope we don’t find out that somehow this mRNA lingers in the body and like -- because it has to be affecting something hormonal to impact menstrual cycles.” Walker: “I hope we don’t discover something really bad down the line.” Walker: “If something were to happen downstream and it...