Free Republic

Pubs, clubs and restaurants will be able to open into the early hours as part of Labour’s drive for economic growth, a move which critics say will lead to more drunken disorder. Ministers are pushing ahead with plans to allow premises that sell alcohol to extend their opening hours in order to boost “the British night out” and help the hospitality sector. Keir Starmer is preparing to throw his weight behind the plan, which has been drawn up by leaders of the alcohol and hospitality industries and rubber-stamped by the Treasury. Critics are warning that the planned liberalisation of the...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — James Comey pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a criminal case that has highlighted the Justice Department’s efforts to target adversaries of President Donald Trump, with lawyers for the former FBI director saying they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed.The arraignment lasted less than half an hour, but it was nonetheless loaded with historical significance given that the case has amplified concerns the Justice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of the Republican president’s political enemies and is operating at the behest of an administration determined to seek retribution.Comey’s not guilty...

In a statement on October 4, officials at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada said that an aircraft 'was involved in an incident,' crashing in the desert just miles from the restricted zone around Area 51 on September 23. While the Air Force said that the craft was assigned to the base as part of the 432nd Wing, some on social media pointed out that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary flight restriction around the area for an entire week. The location of the flight restriction placed the crash roughly 12 miles east of the security boundary around...

A special election last month secured Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) the 218 votes needed to force a vote on releasing all Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein. But Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva has still not been sworn in, and Massie suspects Speaker Mike Johnson has a specific reason for the delay. Massie said in an X post he published Monday, “Contrary to what he says, Speaker Johnson is doing everything he can, including delaying the swearing in of the most recently elected member of Congress and spreading misinformation about the legislation, to block a vote in Congress on legislation to...

The Tyranny of Digital ID Digital ID is a trojan horse for an invasive surveillance state. The UK government recently announced plans to impose digital ID on every resident, raising alarms among citizens across the Western world. Promoted as a crackdown on “illegal working” and a convenient tool to access “vital government services,” the ID will be “mandatory as a means of proving your Right to Work,” officials said, concentrating power in a way that would make the Party in 1984 blush.Unlike a physical ID, a digital version records every use and provides the government with a record of...

Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene has been one of MAGA's favorite members of Congress, but that title may be waning. Greene has split from the bulk of her party, as well as President Donald Trump, on several key issues, including signing a petition to release the Epstein Files earlier this year, which she hasn't removed her name from despite reported requests to do so from Trump's allies. Just this week, Greene was praised by Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer who said on Tuesday, 'I think this is the first time I've said this, but on this issue, Representative Greene...

An alleged ranking member of a Chicago street gang has been charged in federal court with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official involved in the immigration enforcement operation known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”A criminal complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, of Chicago, with one count of murder-for-hire. Martinez was arrested and awaits his initial appearance in federal court.Court documents say that Martinez is a ranking member of the Latin Kings, a street gang that has engaged in acts of violence and other illicit activities in Chicago and elsewhere. Martinez stated...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ Until We See Each Other Again! The South Carolina National Guard conducts a deployment ceremony in Florence, South Carolina to recognize the 133rd Military Police Company's mobilization in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Approximately 150 U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with the 133rd Military Police Company, 51st Military Police Battalion, 59th Troop Command, South Carolina National Guard, will deploy to the Middle East for approximately nine months. While deployed, the 133rd Military Police Company's mission will be to provide support to customs operations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo...

Country legend Lee Greenwood has confirmed he would love to perform at the Super Bowl after House speaker Mike Johnson called for him to replace Bad Bunny.The Puerto Rican artist is set to sing at next year's end-of-season showpiece at Levi's Stadium - despite a backlash from Donald Trump and his allies.Johnson is among those to have criticized the decision to pick Bad Bunny, who has been accused of 'hating America'. Trump called the choice 'crazy' and 'absolutely ridiculous' and the singer sparked more anger this week after he opted not to stand for 'God Bless America' while at Yankee...

King Charles says he wants to inspire a "sense of determination" to protect the environment, as details are announced of a TV documentary in which he will explain his philosophy of "harmony" and the need "to work with rather than against nature".The King's Foundation says the feature-length TV film, provisionally titled Finding Harmony: A King's Vision, will be screened on Amazon's Prime Video early next year."Never has it been more important for the world to make a concerted effort to protect and prioritise our planet, and to restore our relationship with it," the monarch said about the project.In the film...

“The alleged pyromaniac accused of igniting the deadly Palisades Fire – Los Angeles’ most destructive wildfire – chipped in a tiny donation to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, records show. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, shelled out $2 to hybrid PAC ActBlue on two separate occasions just days apart in 2020 – $1 on Sept. 4 and another buck on Sept. 11, according to the Federal Election Commission. Records also show the alleged arsonist — born in France — was registered to vote in Florida, though he never declared a political party.”

Alaska's City of Fairbanks Mayor David Pruhs, a Republican, conceded to Mindy O'Neall, a Democrat, in the mayoral election on Tuesday night. According to unofficial election night results made available by the city of Fairbanks, O’Neall received 1,808 votes (54 percent) and Pruhs received 1,528 votes (45.7 percent). Newsweek has contacted Pruhs and O'Neall for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours. Why It Matters The ballot in mayoral elections in Fairbanks does not list party affiliations next to candidates’ names, but Republicans have held the role in Fairbanks for nearly a decade. Pruhs, a conservative backed by local...

Summary BLS loses senior leaders as Trump targets agency's integrity About 12 of 35 senior leaders have left amid Trump's criticism Modernizing data collection suggested to improve response rates WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's unwarranted attacks on the integrity of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics were undermining trust in economic data and had accelerated retirements of key personnel at the agency, former BLS commissioners said on Wednesday. During a discussion at the libertarian Cato Institute, Erica Groshen and William Beach, who headed the agency under presidents of both parties, said the BLS had lost 12...

Summary Trump threatens to jail mayor of Chicago, Illinois governor National Guard troops gather outside Chicago despite local opposition Ex-FBI chief Comey pleads not guilty in case Trump pushed for CHICAGO/WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Some 500 National Guard troops were deployed near Chicago on Wednesday on President Donald Trump's orders despite the objections of the Chicago mayor and Illinois governor, who decried the militarization of their city as an unnecessary provocation. Trump in turn called for the jailing of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, neither of whom has been accused of criminal wrongdoing. Both have...

[H/T Little Jeremiah]October 8, 2025

SAN FRANCISCO - The National Guard has been called to California's Golden City to neutralize a 600-foot-tall Katie Porter, who is apparently rampaging her way through San Francisco. Porter, a frontrunner in California's gubernatorial race, reportedly began roaring and growing to an unusual size after a reporter asked her a question. "You didn't ask her a question, did you? Oh no! She hates that!" cried Mayor Daniel Lurie as the hulking monstrosity smashed a giant hole in the the Transatlantic tower. "There's no stopping her now! Run! Run for your lives!" "BLLAAAAWWWRRRGGHHHHH!" responded Porter before swallowing a cable car....

The Parents Television Council was known for its campaigns against television shows By In the age of widespread internet use, many of the old fights about television’s depictions of sex, violence and profanity have fallen by the wayside. And now, one of the 2000s’ most prominent culture watchdogs is at its end as well. On Friday, the Parents Television Council declared bankruptcy. The Burbank-headquartered nonprofit filed for liquidation in Delaware’s federal bankruptcy court, revealing about $92,000 of assets and $285,000 of liabilities. The council’s revenue and cultural relevancy had dwindled since the aughts, when it sparked record-setting regulatory fines against...

I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this...

federal appeals court on Wednesday lifted a judge’s order blocking President Trump from federalizing Oregon National Guard Troops. On Saturday, Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, blocked President Trump’s National Guard deployment to Portland. Judge Immergut issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and blasted President Trump’s decision to deploy troops. The TRO will expire on October 18. The judge warned that Trump’s justification to deploy troops to Portland may send the country into a constitutional crisis. On Sunday, President Trump called up hundreds of California National Guard Troops to Portland to circumvent the judge’s order blocking Oregon National Guard Troop...

SKY NEWS ARABIA ON GAZA DEAL: The agreement includes a complete ceasefire with a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army from 70% of the sector and a simultaneous release of prisoners held by both sides.