Free Republic

For some time, I’ve been scratching my head over much of the opposition to Donald Trump. I weigh the good and the bad of him becoming President again, and, though I know that true objectivity is possibly impossible in this world, I think I’ve got a fairly objective view of the man. I’ve voted for Trump three times now. I had originally become a big admirer of his “story” when I read his classic The Art of the Deal back in my Twenties. Merely reading it brought me a strong sense of confidence–stronger than I can remember feeling after reading...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21It’s frightening to think of those of whom Jesus is speaking. Imagine arriving before the throne of God upon your passing from this earthly life and you cry out to Him, “Lord, Lord!” And you expect Him to smile and welcome you, but instead you come face-to-face with the reality of your ongoing and obstinate disobedience to the will of God throughout your life. You suddenly realize that...

Police have sought a search warrant for a location in New York City where they believe the suspect may have been staying...

(CNN) Vivek Ramaswamy, the incoming co-chair of President-elect Donald Trump’s commission to cut government spending, has set his sights on money the Biden administration is dispersing in its final days in office, including a key loan to a rival company of his commission co-chair, Elon Musk. Last week, the Department of Energy announced a $6.6 billion conditional loan commitment to Rivian, the electric vehicle startup that is a nascent competitor to Tesla, Musk’s $1 trillion car company. Ramaswamy says that loan and others like it are “high on the list of items” that he will look to claw back once...

Spiders, as venomous creatures, rely on their chemical arsenal to capture prey or defend themselves. Their venom primarily contains small neurotoxins that attack the central nervous system of their targets. The venom cocktail of spiders – here the wolf spider Lycosa praegrandis – also contains enzymes that could be of interest for bioeconomic applications. Credit: Louis Roth Researchers at the LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG) have discovered a significant diversity of enzymes in spider venom, previously overshadowed by the focus on neurotoxins. These enzymes, found across 140 different families, could revolutionize industries by offering sustainable solutions in waste...

The mid-size luxury SUV segment is burgeoning with a wealth of choices, which can make it tough for shoppers to choose the right one for them. There are so many choices that come in all different sizes and shapes, but fortunately, they are all equipped with similar features, so it's hard to go wrong. Gone are the days when lackluster craftsmanship and questionable reliability were legitimate issues. Nowadays, luxury automakers imbue their cars with an impeccable quality that buyers are spoiled for choice. And if anyone is having trouble choosing, here are some of the best luxury mid-size SUVs in...

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that new technologies like Bitcoin and digital currencies cannot be effectively banned and will continue to evolve and grow in popularity. “We see processes with the use of other instruments. For instance, Bitcoin. Who can prohibit the use of it? No one,” said Putin, speaking during a keynote speech at the 15th VTB ‘Russia Calling’ Investment Forum in Moscow on Wednesday. “Or the use of other electronic ways of settlement. No one can ban the use of them,” Putin stressed. “These instruments will continue to develop because everyone will try to reduce costs and make...

A parliamentary session in the Bahamas has been dramatically suspended after an opposition MP threw a ceremonial mace out a window. Shanendon Cartwright, the deputy leader of the opposition, was restrained by police and officials following the incident. During the scuffle the deputy speaker was struck and taken to hospital, while a police officer suffered a leg injury, Speaker Patricia Deveaux told parliament. Local media said the melee was sparked when Ms Deveaux refused to allow Opposition Leader Michael Pintard to address allegations in a US indictment accusing federal police of involvement in drug trafficking.

The Air Line Pilots Association says Airbus is proposing adding a toilet to the flight deck of its aircraft to eliminate the need for relief pilots and pave the way for single-pilot operations or Extended Minimum Crew Operations (eMCO). According to paddleyourowncanoe.com, the planemaker wants to put the open potty behind the captain's seat and perhaps install a radio console beside it so the otherwise indisposed can stay in contact with the outside world. As might be expected, pilot unions are dumping all over the plan. "Think about that for a moment; that's no-pilot ops," the publication quoted an unnamed...

President Erdoğan stated the West’s progress is built on blood, tears, massacres, genocide, and exploitation and that the chapter of the West’s dominance is coming to a close…

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Those who use Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance will likely soon have to pay out of pocket for anesthesia services should their surgeries fall outside a specific time limit. This applies to patients in New York State, Missouri and Connecticut. Officials with BCBS announced that this would begin with claims processed on or after Feb. 1, 2025. According to BCBS, “We will utilize the CMS Physician Work Time values to target the number of minutes reported for anesthesia services.” Any surgery that goes beyond the set limit, will no longer be covered.

Protein has become a major focus in the American diet, and for good reason. Research shows that protein is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system, supporting weight management, and improving body composition. It's no wonder many of us are looking for ways to incorporate more healthy proteins into our daily meals. Protein is undeniably important, but simply eating more of it isn't the only factor to consider. The quantity, timing, and quality of your protein intake are all crucial in maximizing its benefits.

The United States is committed to ending female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C). If you believe you are at risk of FGM/C, know of someone at risk of FGM/C, have questions about FGM/C, or have undergone FGM/C and need help or further information, please contact the number below.

The Kosovo government has accused Serbia of blowing up a crucial pipeline that supplies water and electricity to the ethnically Serb population in the north of Kosovo. Even more troubling, some in Kosovo claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have even had a hand in it. "Serbia acts as a key player in the Kremlin’s bid for chaos in the Balkans, so Putin can have leverage over Western powers who do not want the violence to escalate further," Ivana Stradner, research fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital. Some experts are cautious as...

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The suspect in Wednesday’s killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson allegedly left a message on shell casings which consisted of the words “Defend,” “Deny,” “Depose.” Breitbart News reported 50-year-old Thompson was shot and killed outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan just after 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday. Hours after the killing, the NYPD held a press conference and made clear they believe the killing was targeted not random. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny pointed out that the suspect was wearing a “distinctive gray backpack,” black face mask, light brown jacket, and black and white sneakers. He said the suspect...

🚨Watch @WillCain go off in defense of @PeteHegseth against the military industrial complex and corporate media smear campaign that Republican Senators are buying into: “Any Republican Senator who wakes up this morning and is looking at Fox and Friends or a President who has a made a nomination probably needs to consider three options when it comes to why they wouldn’t support Pete Hegseth as their nominee. Number one, they choose to accept and align themselves on the side of anonymous reporters at NBC News, or the New Yorker, or the New York Times, and in my estimation put that...

Pantone has named an “evocative soft brown” its color of the year for 2025, continuing a tradition that has now run for more than a quarter of a century. In a statement published Thursday, the global color specialist said Mocha Mousse was “a mellow brown infused with a sensorial and comforting warmth.” “A warming rich brown hue, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse nurtures with its suggestion of the delectable quality of cacao, chocolate and coffee, appealing to our desire for comfort,” it added. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said the color evokes “thoughtful indulgence.” “Sophisticated and lush,...

Are conservatives willing to make this victory a part of their DNA moving forward? This remains to be seen. They haven’t had the heart for it in the past, which means the resurgence of America under Trump's leadership will be for naught if conservatives ignore the election’s Achilles Heel and abandon the grassroots movement that secured the victory that delivered us from evil.