Free Republic

Lily Aravanis is fielding visitor questions, selling butterfly paraphernalia and on this Wednesday afternoon talking to a reporter all at once—still, she doesn’t skip a beat as she says that there are an estimated 3,500 monarch butterflies at Natural Bridges State Beach. It’s the busiest time of the year for the small visitor center according to Aravanis, a marine biologist who works behind the desk at Natural Bridges. From the end of October to December, people from around the world come to see the monarch butterflies that are flying around Santa Cruz, concentrated in a few groves around the city....

The White House on Wednesday took a victory lap after Democratic wins in Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio state elections, framing it as a validation of the president’s platform. “President Biden’s values and agenda won big across the country last night,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing with reporters. “In Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, voters once again sided with President Biden’s agenda.”

“Disappointed” Jon Voight blasted his estranged daughter, Angelina Jolie, for coming out in defense of Palestinians instead of Israelis. “I am very disappointed that my daughter, like so many, has no understanding of God’s honor, God’s truths,” he began his Instagram video. “This is about destroying the history of God’s land, the Holy Land, the Land of the Jews. This is justice for God’s children of the Holy Land.” Formerly a special envoy of the UN High Commission for Refugees, the “Maleficent” star accused Israel of “deliberately bombing” Gaza, which she described as an “open-air prison,” for “nearly two decades.”

SNIP The latest celebrity to spark outrage with her thoughts on the Israel-Hamas war is Angelina Jolie. On October 7, Hamas launched a deadly militant attack on Israel by land, sea and air. Israel has subsequently struck back at Hamas in Gaza. As of November 1, at least 1,400 people have been killed in Israel in the conflict, while over 8,500 people had been killed in Gaza, both figures according to the Associated Press. The actress shared a lengthy statement to Instagram on October 30, in which she expressed support for civilians on both sides of the conflict. "Like millions...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear secured another four years at the helm of Kentucky, defeating his republican challenger Daniel Cameron on election day. The race was one of the most closely watched in the country, believed provide clues about the 2024 presidential race. Kentucky picked up votes in several counties this election compared to his last run against Matt Bevin in 2019. The interactive map below shows how voters voted county by county.

Israel’s president Isaac Herzog has criticised Angelina Jolie over her stance on the conflict engulfing Israel and Gaza. Herzog, 63, said the 48-year-old Hollywood star hadn’t ‘seen the facts on the ground’ nor had she ‘visited Gaza’. Last month, Jolie accused Israel in an Instagram post of ‘deliberately bombing children, women, families, deprived of food, medicine and humanitarian aid’. Follow our live blog for latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war Jolie also called for a ceasefire, prompting Herzog to say in a new interview that the A-lister wasn’t ‘offering the Israeli people any ability to defend themselves’. Speaking to Piers...

Democrats flipping the Virginia House on Tuesday sparked a flood of mockery of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and his presidential ambitions. voters delivered a to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's presidential aspirations on Tuesday.On Tuesday night, Democrats maintained control of the State Senate and regained control of the House in Virginia. It was the opposite of what Youngkin wanted, which was a Republican trifecta that could help easily move his agenda through the legislature.The legislative elections served as a test of Youngkin's leadership amid speculation he may be considering a presidential campaign in either 2024 or 2028. The results sparked a flood...

The mogul also spoke to the need for more deals with the Disney-Charter bundle: “All media better figure out how to get together with old distribution and save each other’s ass."Liberty Global chairman John Malone said he was “ringing the alarm” on big tech’s entrance into the media ecosystem, saying they will “erode” the broadcast industry. Speaking at the Paley Media Summit in Manhattan Wednesday, Malone, a billionaire investor, pointed to Amazon’s purchase of Thursday Night Football as an example of an “upside down regulatory world,” which he said allows tech platforms like Amazon, who have deep pockets and don’t...

Young adults are having a hard time embracing the “adult.” A new survey revealed that Gen Z and millennial adults are facing more difficulties than their parents did when it comes to achieving milestones in the workforce. Of the 1,039 young adults surveyed, aged between 18 and 34, 55% said it’s “much harder” to buy a home, 44% said it’s harder to find a job, and 55% said it’s harder to get promoted, according to a Youth & Money in the USA poll by CNBC and Generation Lab.

Cody Hudson was interning in a medical office near his home in Florida, taking a gap year before beginning college in Arizona, when the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns went into effect and ended his internship. Like many American families, Cody and his family took the recommended precautions around COVID-19. But when the vaccines became available, his parents were skeptical, Cody told The Defender in an interview. As he began planning for college and started a short-term job at a coffee shop where everyone was vaccinated, Cody started researching the vaccine online and talking to people around him. He concluded the vaccine...

District under fire as some demand its reinstatementA group that studies and archives the history of local Filipino people—and provides educational materials of that history—on Wednesday suspended its work with Pajaro Valley Unified School District, alleging that the Board of Trustees erred when they rejected a contract renewal for a ethnic studies curriculum on Sept. 13. The Watsonville is in the Heart Research Initiative is a collaboration between the Tobera Project and the UCSC Humanities Institute. UC Santa Cruz Assistant History Professor Kathleen Gutierrez accused the trustees of “insufficient deliberation,” and said they should have delved more deeply into the...

(Bloomberg) -- Hyundai Motor Group, the world’s third-biggest automaker by sales, plans to build a facility in the US where its air mobility division Supernal will make flying electric taxis intended to be used by commuters. A prototype of the electric vertical take-off and landing craft will be shown at CES in Las Vegas in January, Supernal Chief Executive Officer Shin Jaiwon said. The eVTOL taxi will be capable of flying at 120 miles an hour (190 kph) and have capacity for one pilot and four passengers. December 2024 is the target for a test flight, with ambitions to start...

The Maricopa County Elections Department oversaw another third-world election on Tuesday, where polling locations closed early unannounced, and voters were forced to drive around town looking for a place to vote. Additionally, live cameras recording signature verification and counting of votes at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center were turned off or inaccessible, according to Maricopa County Republican Committee Chairman Craig Berland. Maricopa County even acknowledged the suspicious activity, alleging this was caused by a “network issue.” The Gateway Pundit will have more on this following our investigation. This all-mail election was for voters to elect local candidates in...

Western pundits like to make fun of the supposedly “no limits” partnership between China and Russia. But if they really want to know what no limits means in a state-to-state relationship and how tremendous self-harm can result, they need to look no further than that between the United States and Israel. What Israel wants, Israel gets; and does not even have to ask first when it comes to emergency financial aid and weapons. As Israel bombs its way across the Gaza Strip and Jewish settlers commit murder to seize Palestinian land in the West Bank, the weapons they are using...

While America struggles to buy groceries, President Joe Biden has a green slush fund worth billions of dollars, and he’s not afraid to use it.Recent revelations uncovered that the CEO and lobbyists of Rivian, an electric vehicle manufacturer, held a quiet meeting at the White House with Biden’s Climate Czar, John Podesta. That’s right, the same John Podesta who served as chairman of Hillary Clinton’s ill-fated 2016 presidential campaign before being pulled from the ranks of profitable green consulting to oversee distribution of $369 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Biden selected a political operative with green company ties...

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson joined the slew of anti-Trump Republicans in attributing Daniel Cameron’s loss in Kentucky to a bigger rejection of former President Donald Trump. “Last night the GOP lost Virginia legislative races and got beat in the Kentucky governor’s election,” Hutchinson began, doubting one of the emerging narratives that Democrats were carried to victory on the issue of abortion. Rather, he believes Republican loss is a reflection of the GOP’s sentiments toward Trump.

Angelina Jolie attacked Israel’s air and ground invasion in Gaza and called it ‘murder’ of Palestinians children and families, who have 'nowhere to flee'. Angelina Jolie has has termed Israeli air strikes in Gaza 'deliberate bombing of a trapped population'. The actor, who is known for her humanitarian work worldwide, posted a long statement on Instagram on Wednesday along with photo showing devastation from a recent deadly airstrike at Gaza’s largest refugee camp Jabalia. She also slammed Israel and its allies for dismissing persistent calls for a ceasefire from across the world. 'Whole families are being murdered'In the caption of...

Executives from the auto industry probably surprised many by announcing revisions to their EV plans.BloombergNEF: global EV sales are this year set to hit a record high, topping 14 million.MarketWatch: the U.S. has a broken EV charger problem.During the latest profit season, executives from the auto industry probably surprised many by announcing revisions to their EV plans.GM gave up its production targets. Tesla's Elon Musk warned about waning EV demand. Honda and GM canceled their joint venture that would have developed more affordable EVs. Cars are piling up in dealers' lots. Thousands of chargers are not working, and there are...

Authorities were combing New Jersey woods for a man wanted on charges related to the January 6 riot at the Capitol. The search for 46-year-old Gregory Yetman began around 9am on Main Street in Helmetta, as police were trying to serve a warrant. The FBI described him as a white man in his 40s wearing a red jacket and a ball cap. Yetman fled into a wooded area, according to officials, who said he may be armed. Spotswood Public Schools sheltered in place and local streets were closed. Tactical teams could be seen in the backyard of homes. Aerial footage...

Are you ready for a dose of cuteness overload? I've stumbled upon a video that will surely make your heart melt. This delightful footage, widely shared on Pinterest, showcases the remarkable synchronization between the dogs and their trainer as they effortlessly leap and skip the rope, achieving an impressive 11 skips in a mere 10 seconds.