Free Republic

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah pharmacist is upset the man who admitted to breaking into his pharmacy has been let off the hook. On May 28, President Donald Trump pardoned 25-year-old rapper NBA YoungBoy, who had been sentenced to nearly two years in jail in Utah back in December 2024. The President didn’t explain why he pardoned the rap star. NBA YoungBoy’s record includes drug fraud and weapons charges, both federally and at the state level. “My very first gut reaction to hearing that pardon was what a terrible lesson to teach your boys,” Phil Cowley, a Utah pharmacist,...

When a head of state – such as the President of the United States, for example – wants to encourage certain behaviors in a foreign government, the toolbox is limited. There’s diplomacy, of course, but without something backing it up, diplomacy doesn’t mean much. So what are the tools that the diplomats have at their disposal? There’s war, of course, which can mean the threat of war, or the promise of defense, or an alliance in case of mutual concerns about a common enemy. There’s world opinion, and invitations to the right cocktail parties. And there’s trade – either a...

Father Hunger is an astonishingly insightful phrase that has been profoundly meaningful to me ever since I first heard it from my friend, poet Patrick McCauley, 2 or 3 decades ago. (Patrick is in mourning for the recent tragic loss of his deeply loved daughter, Eliza.) This morning, I made this little prayer at the side of St Patrick’s cathedral, Melbourne, where there is a wonderful statue of St Francis of Assisi: FATHER HUNGER, an old Aussie immensity, that touches us all. I am not sure if I know what Father Hunger is, but my instincts tell me that it’s...

How are businesses supposed to plan for the future if they have no idea what the rules of the game are going to be? Businesses thrive in a predictable environment, but we have entered a period of time of extreme uncertainty. One day we are facing high tariffs, the next day one court strikes them all down, and then the next day another court temporarily reverses that decision. How is anyone supposed to make solid business decisions in such an environment? Our economy has been heading in the wrong direction for a long time, and we need to take bold...

An IT specialist employed by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) was arrested today for attempting to transmit national defense information to an officer or agent of a foreign government. Nathan Vilas Laatsch, 28, of Alexandria, was arrested in northern Virginia and will make his initial court appearance tomorrow. According to court documents, Laatsch became a civilian employee of the DIA in 2019, where he works with the Insider Threat Division and holds a Top Secret security clearance. In March, the FBI commenced an operation after receiving a tip that an individual - now known to be Laatsch - offered to...

More than a quarter-million Chinese students attending college in the United States saw their futures plunged into uncertainty Wednesday when the Trump administration announced an aggressive crackdown on student visa holders from that country. With an estimated 277,398 students pursuing primarily undergraduate and graduate degrees, China ranks only behind India among foreign countries with the highest number of students attending college in the U.S., according to data from the Institute of International Education. Since China’s middle-class boom in the early aughts, its students have flocked to U.S. institutions, which in turn welcomed the enrollment boost and mostly unsubsidized tuition fees....

SummaryCompanies face uncertainty, paralyzing decision-making and affecting profit forecasts Economists predict final costs will be much higher than disclosed Tariffs impact automakers, airlines, and consumer goods importers significantly SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK/BENGALURU, May 29 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's trade war has cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs, according to a Reuters analysis of corporate disclosures, a toll that is expected to rise as ongoing uncertainty over tariffs paralyzes decision making at some of the world's largest companies. Across the United States, Asia and Europe, companies including Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab, Ford (F.N), opens...

Just announced by Greg Kelly - very somber and shocked.

Several Minneapolis police officers have expressed dismay over Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) running for vice president during the 2024 election. Speaking with Blaze Media for the fifth anniversary of the Black Lives Matter riots that were sparked by the murder of George Floyd, police officers said that Walz’s poor leadership made the situation worse. “I think he made some comments leading up to the last election to make it sound like he supports law enforcements, but I think his actions and indecision … back in 2020 proved otherwise,” one officer told the outlet.

In one of the nation’s first wrongful-death claims seeking to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its role in the changing climate, a Washington state woman is suing seven oil and gas companies, saying they contributed to an extraordinarily hot day that led to her mother’s fatal hyperthermia.

"The White House and some Republicans in Congress have accused NPR of promoting a liberal bias. How do you respond?" NPR CEO Katherine Maher: "We're a nonpartisan news organization. We do not seek to favor any political party at all." Does anyone actually believe this???

A rally and march are being held in support of a young Venezuelan immigrant who advocates say was duped into giving up his asylum status. Plus ICE agents being Doxxed.

~Favorite Kiss or Makeup Songs~ I walk the line – Johnny Cash*Video*The Beach Boys - Then I kissed Her *Video*

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley predicted that Harvard University would eventually lose its legal battles with the Trump administration Thursday on “Fox and Friends.” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced May 6 that Harvard would not receive future grants, saying the Ivy League university displayed a “systemic pattern of violating federal law,” citing its failure to address the antisemitic harassment and its efforts to continue using race as a factor for admissions. Turley said the sheer number of actions taken by the university would eventually allow the Trump administration to “prevail.” ... *** The Department of Homeland Security...

President Donald Trump has had a simple and bold plan to win the peace in the brutal war between Russia and Ukraine. In my opinion, Trump knew getting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainians to negotiate was never going to be the problem. But Russian President Vladimir Putin would be. So Trump seemingly castigated the Ukrainians at the very same time he extended a very welcoming hand to Putin, a nonthreatening and nonjudgmental one at that. Trump's maneuver was a brilliant one, including a peace deal that would start with both sides agreeing to an immediate ceasefire. As expected, Zelenskyy...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Religion Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind. Churchill: The Man Who Saved the Free World Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders....

In honor of the Revolution and Independence Day, I say the whole month should be dedicated to honoring America, Americans, the American Revolution, and American Patriotism. What should it be called? (It is currently called Disability Awareness month).

This could be awkward. The New York State Attorney General is bouncing from one hot seat to the next, and darn if that isn't an unpleasant mental picture. But she brought it all on herself. Already under fire for her creative accounting tricks and faulty memories while juggling paperwork for out-of-state properties while looking as if she was trying to avoid more city interference and fees on her Brooklyn residence - and who hasn't mistakenly said they married a parent on official documents? 🚨BREAKING: Letitia James is facing 30 years in federal prison and a 1 million dollar fine. She...

Since the November election, it has been evident that the Democratic party can be charitably described as "in disarray." Despite the posturing of those in the party and the aid of the media, the public has been progressively easing away from the party, with most of the evidence for that coming in the form of data. But now more signs are emerging that reveal just how dire things have become. Apart from static pieces of evidence like polling figures, approval numbers, and trending maps, it is becoming more stark as anecdotal examples are springing up displaying that internal rifts are...

Poor, poor Michelle Obama. The former First Lady has to decide which of her three multi-million dollar estates to spend the night in. She has to deal with a fawning leftist press that treats her like she’s some sort of goddess. Her husband was once one of the most widely adored politicians on the planet, she never has to work another day in her life if she doesn’t want to, and she has two grown children who are healthy and apparently happy.But it’s all so stressful.Lately, for reasons only known to herself, she’s been podcasting with her brother on a...