Free Republic

When President Trump announced tariffs in April, officials in Kazakhstan were surprised to see their country on the list. Kazakhstan, a resource-rich country that borders Russia and China, does a minimal amount of trade with the United States. And based on how Kazakh government officials interpreted Mr. Trump’s new policies, more than 90 percent of its exports to the United States would be exempt from the tariff. American officials have spent much of the last decade promising money and support to prod the country to open up its economy, especially mining. "Many in the region saw the U.S. as a...

The kids aren’t alright. It’s no surprise that Gen Z — the generation born between 1997 and 2012 — isn’t the best with their money. A poll from Newsweek revealed that adult Zoomers have around $94,000 in personal debt — thanks to never-ending credit card spending. And the proof is in the pudding — according to the 2025 TIAA Institute-GFLEC finance and retirement report, most of Gen Z is financially illiterate. The report showed that on average, Zoomers score only 38% correct on financial literacy tests. Because of this, in the U.S., 29 states now require a personal finance course...

Click on link

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin brushed off concerns from Jewish Democrats on Wednesday about New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada.” Martin, elected to lead the DNC in February, suggested that his party welcomes users of the chant associated with violent uprisings against Israel, in an interview with PBS. “You know, there’s no candidate in this party that I agree 100% of the time with, to be honest with you,” Martin said, when asked by “PBS NewsHour” host Amna Nawaz about Mamdani’s repeated defense of the rallying cry for anti-Israel protesters....

I honestly think to get the OBBB passed he's had to give up certain positions. How else do you explain it? The endorsement of Lindsey Graham, too? The resumption of aid to Ukraine? It's all very odd and timely. I think Trump has (had) a lot invested in getting OBBB done. Think about it. It was his signature bill. They held it hostage and now you see why... There is (was) a lot at stake.

The Justice Department claimed on Monday that Jeffrey Epstein did not maintain a “client list" and said no more files related to the wealthy financier’s sex trafficking investigation would be made public. This was despite promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi that had raised the expectations of conservative influencers and conspiracy theorists. The claims have been met with fury from the far-right who claim they have been strung along by the Trump administration. Bondi previously said in a Fox News interview earlier this year that such a document was “sitting on my desk” for review. It comes after a Trump...

Federal immigration agents, assisted by members of the National Guard, carried out raids at two Southern California cannabis farms, arresting dozens, including undocumented minors, in an operation that drew several hundred protestors and violent clashes with officers. The immigration sweeps, one at Glass House Farms in Camarillo and another about 35 miles up the coast at another Glass House facility in Carpinteria, unfolded simultaneously at around 8:30 a.m. United States Attorney Bill Essayli confirmed the operation in a post to X. “Federal agents are executing a search warrant at this marijuana farm,” he wrote. “Agents have already arrested multiple individuals...

Lawyer Alan Dershowitz on Thursday said he knows the list of names in the Jeffrey Epstein files regarding alleged clients in his international sex trafficking ring. “I know the names of the individuals. I know why they’re being suppressed. I know who’s suppressing them,” Dershowitz said during an appearance on “The Sean Spicer Show.” “But I’m bound by confidentiality from a judge and cases, and I can’t disclose what I know,” he added, noting at one point he was falsely named as a client. The Trump administration vowed earlier this year to release the documents and names of individuals tied...

My latest song. Look for the lights.

U.S. House Representative Nancy Pelosi has exercised 20,000 call options on Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO) common stock, according to a disclosure notice filed Thursday. The call options, which were originally purchased on June 24, 2024, had a strike price of $80 per share. Pelosi exercised these options on June 20, 2025. The transaction value was reported to be between $1,000,001 and $5,000,000, according to the disclosure notice that was filed the same day as the transaction. Broadcom is a global technology company that designs, develops, and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions.

: The IMF said on Thursday (Jul 10) it was closely monitoring the latest US tariffs announcements, saying uncertainty about the global economic outlook remained high and urged countries to work constructively to facilitate a stable trade environment. The IMF said it would offer more details when it releases an update to its April World Economic Outlook in late July, ahead of the new August 1 deadline for trade negotiations. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday expanded a global trade war with a new 50 per cent tariff on US copper imports and a 50 per cent duty on goods...

A record 12.2 million university graduates enter China’s job market this summer - but for many, the future still feels out of reach.SHENZHEN: “I was confident at first but I feel numb now.” For Ou Muoli, a 23-year-old graduate from Chongqing searching for work in Shenzhen, July is not just graduation season - it marks the fourth straight month of her relentless job hunt. Ou, who graduated with a degree in international finance and trade from Henan University, knows what she wants: a decent monthly salary of around 5,000 yuan (US$697), full weekends off to rest and recuperate, and benefits...

President Donald Trump announced a 35 percent tariff on Canadian imports starting August 1. The president's bold move is aimed at reinforcing the principle of putting America first, ensuring that American businesses can compete on a level playing field, and that workers receive the support they deserve. On Thursday, Trump revealed that the new tariffs would target Canadian goods entering the U.S., framing the move in response to “Canada’s retaliation” and persistent trade obstacles. In an official letter, he explained the reasons behind the sharp increase in tariffs, accusing Canada of not cooperating on critical matters—especially the flow of fentanyl...

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (PA) broke ranks with his party once again after sharply condemning fellow Democrats who have called to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Fetterman warned that dismantling ICE would undermine national security and border enforcement, arguing that such calls play into harmful political rhetoric rather than addressing the real challenges of immigration reform. The rare voice of common sense within the party, Fetterman emphasized that ICE plays a vital role in protecting the United States. "ICE performs an important job for our country. Any calls to abolish ICE are [100 percent] inappropriate and outrageous," the senator...

As we reach the midpoint of 2025, it is evident that this year has been characterized by turbulence, uncertainty, and deepening despair for many in communist China.Six phenomena best capture the country’s current state: decline, fierce competition, political struggles, the “run” movement, random acts of violence, and the “lying flat” movement.They reveal the erosion of trust and a growing sense of disillusionment and unrest among the populace.DeclineFor many in China, 2025 is the most challenging year in nearly three decades, with numerous sectors of society experiencing a significant downturn. The real estate market is the most notable example.By the end...

CAMARILLO, Calif. - Several protesters and federal agents clashed during an immigration raid at a farm in Ventura ...Glass House Farms, a licensed cannabis facility... around 11 a.m. Another raid also occurred at another Glass House Farm in Carpinteria. Video from the scene in Camarillo showed multiple people confronting agents on the road near the field. Throughout the day, the protest continued to grow. Tear gas and smoke bombs were thrown into the crowd multiple times throughout the day. Federal personnel used gas to push back protesters who arrived on scene after getting word of a raid. Military helicopters were...

The Big Beautiful Bill Act (BBBA) will add trillions of dollars to the national debt over the next decade. Elon Musk is right that this is a turning point for American citizens. It is now clear that neither political party has the will to enact a fiscally responsible budget or solve the debt crisis. Musk threatens to form a third party if Congress kicks this can down the road. The budget process is broken, as special interests continue to carve out their bits of a spoils system. Congress is not even willing to discuss reforms in Social Security and Medicare....

Last week, after months of mounting pressure and speculation, the Department of Justice and FBI released what they thought would be the final word on the Epstein scandal. In a memo that many are calling a whitewash, the DOJ declared there’s no evidence of a client list, no blackmail network, and no coordinated effort to silence Epstein. The backlash was immediate and fierce. If the Trump administration thought this would put the controversy to rest, it was dead wrong. Instead of closing the book, the memo has only reignited public outrage and deepened suspicions that powerful people are still being...

The landmark Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti not only allowed states to protect children from predatory “transgender” medical interventions, but also stands as a massive rebuke of the medical “expert” class that kept insisting that mutilating children was good for them.As Justice Clarence Thomas said in a concurring opinion, “There are several problems with appealing and deferring to the authority of the expert class,” including that they absurdly claim that young children are capable of informed consent and that the alleged “evidence” for the “transition” interventions was “questionable” at best and the expert class “allowed ideology to influence...

BREAKING: CBP Commissioner reports that 10 illegal immigrant juvenile children, 8 of whom were unaccompanied, were found by federal agents during the operation at the cannabis farm in Camarillo today. Now being investigated for potential child labor violations. https://t.co/io5lPXHPXG— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) July 11, 2025...Here’s some breaking news: 10 juveniles were found at this marijuana facility - all illegal aliens, 8 of them unaccompanied. It’s now under investigation for child labor violations. This is Newsom’s California. https://t.co/Z1XoRMtBSN— CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott (@CBPCommissioner) July 11, 2025