Free Republic

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is the biggest thing on the planet right now if you read the reviews and hype surrounding the tour. Chaos takes over in cities when the tour rolls in and fans come from far and wide to see the show. Local economies see an instant boost thanks to ‘Swifties’ spending money like there is no tomorrow.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve has noticed and has concluded that Taylor Swift’s concerts and her fans are single-handedly rescuing the hotel industry. Hotel revenues are their highest since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. No pressure, Taylor.The Philadelphia Federal...

I don’t know what Fox is thinking, considering how they have treated Tucker Carlson and his team. You drop your most popular host in a way that just antagonizes your viewers and shows no loyalty for all he has brought to the network.Now, Fox is reportedly showing that same attitude toward the remaining people who had worked for Carlson but who were still working for the network until Friday.According to Chadwick Moore, Carlson’s biographer, the remaining nine people who worked on Carlson’s show were going to be “frog marched” out of the building tonight after they finished the show on...

Planet Earth is plagued with terrible governments, most notably those of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. It is not difficult to argue that one of these is the world’s worst. My vote, however, goes to the current US government for this reason: When the most powerful and influential country in the world has a dysfunctional government like the one run by Joe Biden, the equilibrium of the entire world is threatened. We have the most powerful economic engine and the most lethal military machine. Such a colossus should demand a government of equivalent power and capability. No such luck....

After the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic unearthed newly redacted documents this week, a former State Department pandemic investigator suggested there is proof Dr. Anthony Fauci knew about the gain-of-function research. In the redacted documents, Fauci wrote a letter on February 1, 2020, to "folks,” suggesting that the viral sequence found in the coronavirus strain contained "mutations in the virus that would have been most unusual to have evolved naturally in bats," adding there had been "suspicion that this mutation was intentionally inserted.” He said it was possible the Coronavirus could have evolved naturally with these mutations. Additionally,...

The United States has given roughly twice as much military aid to Ukraine during the first year of Russia's invasion as European Union countries, a disparity that has renewed debate among U.S. lawmakers. The U.S. gave $47 billion in the first year, according Kiel Institute for the World Economy data reviewed by The New York Times. U.S. military assistance for Ukraine has been a domestic concern since Russia invaded the country in February 2022 and continues to be – as the war passes its 500-day mark and Congress attempts to pass the National Defense Authorization Act. On Thursday night, GOP...

If you’ve read much of my writing, you know that I consider myself an expert on Disney — not in the way that leftists who think you should wear masks in perpetuity are “experts” on pandemics, but a genuine expert. Disney has been part of my family life from the beginning. My parents honeymooned at Walt Disney World just months after it opened, and my siblings and I (and later my nieces) grew up on Disney movies and TV shows. Disney’s woke content and political meddling in Florida hurt us as a family. We’re not boycotters by nature, so even...

Soon after a World Economic Forum partner was caught calling for an “end” to private car ownership, a climate expert is warning that the push to cancel gas-powered cars is just a ploy to end private transport. The climate crisis is a hoax, but it’s such a darn useful hoax for authoritarian globalists.Climate Depot’s Marc Morano went on Fox Business Thursday and discussed how the Democrat and globalist push to replace gas cars with electric vehicles (EVs) isn’t about helping the environment but restricting Americans’ freedom of movement. “This really isn’t about them driving an electric car,” Morano said, highlighting...

Update from Ukraine | Ukraine stopped the Ruzzian forces in Avdiivka. New tactics for Ukrainian Army https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0Fsqu4-UG8 The summary of the situation of Russian re-invasion to Ukraine covering the last 48 hours, as of 12th July 2023 – 22:00 https://militaryland.net/news/invasion-day-504-summary/ *** Great interactive map with viewer controlled Map magnification tool to use for each Front! https://militaryland.net/maps/

[Catholic Caucus] In Blessing CCP Bishop, Francis Surrenders to the Spirit of the WorldToday, Pope Francis blessed the appointment of Joseph Shen Bin, who had been installed as Bishop of Shanghai by the Chinese Communist Party in April without the Vatican's consent. The unauthorized appointment violated the Vatican's agreement with the Chinese Communist Party, which calls for the Vatican to reach consensus with the CCP on bishop choices. Indeed, this the second unauthorized appointment in the past year. But the Vatican remains unfazed: it is "determined" to continue an "open dialogue" with the CCP. This approach, of course, contrasts with...

Allan Lichtman – famous for correctly predicting the outcome of every U.S. presidential election since 1984 (barring 2000) – says Donald Trump is now the mainstream in the Republican Party, and no other GOP presidential hopeful stands a chance of winning the party’s nomination. The American University professor, himself a fierce critic of Trump, said ex-MAGA rival Ron DeSantis was an “abysmal candidate” who lacks Trump’s appeal and personal charm. Lichtman was clear that other candidates, sometimes described as standard-bearers of the “Republican mainstream”, had no chance – and were no longer the mainstream. “Here’s another mistake that all the...

Some species are protected in Indonesia, but the black market for them persists. Collectors who pay thousands of dollars for a specimen say only they truly know the butterflies’ value. The programme Undercover Asia finds out what is at stake.At the Tefuya pub in Tokyo, which has been around for over 40 years, owner Kiyomi Kakizawa serves up more than booze and food. He also has about 5,000 dead butterfly specimens, all for sale. Over the years, the pub has become a draw for butterfly enthusiasts and collectors, who gather to pore over maps, admire the multicoloured specimens from all...

What are the first signs of young-onset Alzheimer’s disease? It isn't memory loss and mistaking the symptoms can put people off seeking medical help, says a University of Reading neuroscientist. Alzheimer’s disease is often thought of as a condition that only affects the elderly. But around 3.9 million people worldwide aged 30 to 64 live with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease - a form of dementia in which symptoms appear before the age of 65. English journalist and broadcaster Fiona Phillips, 62, recently revealed that she’d been diagnosed with it. In the interview, Phillips shared that the main symptoms she had experienced...

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China must build a "solid" security barrier around its internet under the supervision of the ruling Communist Party, in his latest call to safeguard online data and information. China must persist in managing, operating and ensuring access to the internet in accordance with the law, Xi said in instructions delivered to officials attending a two-day cybersecurity meeting in Beijing that ended on Saturday (Jul 15). "We must adhere to the Party's management of the internet and adhere to (the principle of) making the internet work for the people," state-run Xinhua news agency cited Xi as...

A flurry of economic data from China on Monday is expected to show its post-pandemic bounce is quickly fizzling out, raising expectations that Beijing needs to unveil more stimulus measures soon to shore up activity and shaky consumer confidence. After a strong start to the year following the dismantling of tough COVID-19 measures, recent data have pointed to a sharp loss of economic momentum due to weak demand at home and abroad and a protracted slump in the country's property market, traditionally a significant growth driver. The world's second-largest economy likely managed just 0.5 per cent growth in the second...

The man accused of shooting two family members and shooting at police during the ensuing standoff on Colby Avenue in Worcester pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Worcester District Court Tuesday. Caleb Boateng faces two counts each of armed assault with the intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, as well as charges of use of a firearm in felony, possession of a firearm without an FID card and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling. The charges relate to the Friday, July 7 incident that lasted more than 13 hours before Boateng...

President Emmanuel Macron showing his commitment to the Ukraine War Against Russia at the NATO summit in Lithuania this week. Macron announcing delivery of long-range "Scalp" missiles to Ukraine... And the honored guest at Bastille Day festivities on Friday in Paris India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Macron hugging Modi as the Indian leader arrived at the Elysee Palace... In the National Assembly a National Rally (RN) Deputy called on the government to prosecute Left National Assembly members for being at last weekend's rally protesting the police ove the 2016 death of Adama Traore. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti saying the RN...

Respecting and honoring the purity of women is one of the reasons human beings need to be free. Rembrandt (born 15 July, 1606) knew this. Enid Bennett was born on 15 July, 1893, in York, Western Australia. She went from the stage to an acting career in silent films in America. She was beautiful. Over the centuries, respecting women and admiring them as babes are two sides of the one coin.

Former Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake filed an appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court in her election case that alleges at least 8,000 unreadable ballots were misconfigured. The appeal, which was filed on Friday, can be read here: [link to appeal embedded in article] On page two of the appeal, Lake's legal team alleges that at least 8,000 ballots were unreadable and not "duplicated or counted." "The ballot-on-demand printer investigation report by former Chief Justice McGregor ('the McGregor Report') found that 'four printers randomly printed one or a few ‘fit to page’ ballots in the middle of printing a...

The family of an 11-year-old child who was killed in an allegedly drunken crash has slammed a Portland, Ore., judge for releasing the accused motorist without bail, a report said. Duprie Smith, 29, who suffered a gunshot and was driving himself to the hospital at the time of the crash, was released without bail by Judge Michael Greenlick, despite prosecutors requesting it be set at $100,000. Victim Ryan Ambrose’s family is now demanding justice for the little boy. “He was killed by a drunk driver and now this guy is in his house watching TV and my grandson is in...

"Baby Come Back" is a song by the British-American rock band Player. It was released in late 1977 as the lead single from their 1977 self-titled debut album, and was the breakthrough single for the band, gaining them mainstream success, hitting #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the three consecutive weeks of January 14, 21 and 28, 1978 and #10 on the R&B charts in 1978.[4] Their biggest hit single, the song was written and performed by Peter Beckett and J.C. Crowley, the founders of Player. As reported on the American Top 40 replay broadcast of November 5,...