Free Republic

The Supreme Court is slated to hear oral arguments in the tariffs case on Nov. 5.U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he may attend the Supreme Court's oral arguments in a major case where justices will consider whether he has the unilateral power to impose sweeping tariffs — a major aspect of his trade agenda.Speaking Wednesday from the Oval Office, President Trump called it "one of the most important cases ever brought" before the Supreme Court, arguing tariffs help protect American jobs and national security."That's why I think I'm going to go to the Supreme Court to watch it," he...

The Philadelphia Police Department is solving so many homicides and arresting suspects at nearly the same rate as the force was about four decades ago, according to a new report from The Philadelphia Inquirer. Homicide clearance rates have hovered between 86 and 91 percent this year, which is the highest it has since the department reached 95 percent in 1984. Technological advancements, including license plate readers and high-definition surveillance cameras have assisted the department greatly. The tools, along with social media and cell phone location analysis, not only provide more evidence for cases, but also make the crimes get solved...

Summary Washington DC and Illinois see largest percentage funding cuts DHS says changes based on risk analysis, not politics Federal judge blocks fund distribution pending legal challenge WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to shift terrorism prevention funding from Democratic-led states toward those led by Republicans, government records show, as it overhauls a $1 billion program created after the 9/11 attacks.Twelve Democratic-led states are suing to block the cuts, alleging that the Trump administration is trying to punish them for not cooperating with federal immigration agents.The Trump administration released estimates in late summer for how much money...

Fans of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer are prohibited from attending a Europa League game in Birmingham, England on Nov. 6. The team's English opponent, Aston Villa, who is hosting the game, made the announcement Thursday, citing safety concerns. Last year Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were attacked in Amsterdam at a game against Ajax. "The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision," Aston Villa said in a...

Safe-haven surge, Fed rate-cut bets drive gold beyond $4,300/ozFrom the article: Oct 16 (Reuters) - Gold hit a record high for the fourth straight session on Thursday and soared past $4,300 an ounce as investors flocked to the safe-haven metal on brewing U.S.-China trade tensions and the U.S. government shutdown, with rate cut bets fueling the momentum. (snip) The yellow metal has gained over 60% year-to-date, driven by geopolitical tensions, aggressive rate-cut bets, central bank buying, de-dollarisation and robust ETF inflows.

Ozzy Osbourne and Madonna ended up singing on the same song in 1983 - but Madonna wouldn't release itIn an age when musicians regularly plunder their studio archives for material to pad out expanded versions of albums you already own, seemingly happy for the recordings they never wanted you to hear first time round to be used as musical ballast in "deluxe edition" versions of the same thing, it's rare to hear about unreleased material that demands to be heard. Don Was has just such a track. Back in 1983, when his band Was (Not Was) were recording their...

National Guard troops are typically under the control of state governors, but federal law empowers the president to call them into federal service if there is a danger of foreign invasion or “rebellion against the authority of the government.”Trump has pointed to immigration-related protests in Chicago and other cities to justify his attempts to use the guard. But the 7th Circuit judges rejected that rationale.A protest does not transform into a “rebellion” just because protesters are well-organized, advocate to overhaul the structure of government or use civil disobedience, Judges Ilana Rovner, David Hamilton and Amy St. Eve wrote. Nor do...

Pennsylvania’s “Reasonable Independence for Children” bill pushes back on overzealous child neglect laws.When single mom of two and home health aide Alice (a pseudonym) needed to run a brief errand, she tasked her 13-year-old brother (whom she is also the caretaker for) with babysitting her nearly 1-year-old child. For this, she was placed on the state's child abuse registry.Mariel Mussack, an attorney with Community Legal Services, told Alice's story during testimony before the Pennsylvania House Children and Youth Committee in favor of H.B. 1873—known as Reasonable Independence for Children—on October 6. Similar bills have been passed in 11 states to...

Even on Jan 6, your Sergeant at Arms denied my urgent requests for over 70 minutes, while he was “running it up the chain” for your approval. The Pentagon offered National Guard assistance, but I had to decline because your SAA would not grant me the legal authority as required under federal law (2 U.S.C. §1970). @StephenM @RepLoudermilk @SpeakerJohnson Chief Sund’s Requests for National Guard Support *Jan 3 at 9:24am Pelosi’s SAA Irving “don’t like the optics” * Jan 3 at 11:53am Senate SAA Stenger concurs with Irving * Jan 6 at 12:58 pm Irving needs to “run it up...

Arik Marshall, a former guitarist with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has launched a GoFundMe to prevent him from homelessness. Marshall, who also served as Macy Gray’s guitarist, was a member of the rock legends for a brief period between 1992 and 1993 during their tour in support of their mainstream breakthrough album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Guitarist John Frusciante departed the group for the first time partway through the tour, which led to Marshall filling in. However, he didn’t contribute to a studio album, and Dave Navarro took over following the conclusion of the tour. Now, a GoFundMe page...

The U.S. budget deficit edged lower for 2025 as record-setting tariff collections helped offset what also were unprecedented numbers for payments on the spiraling national debt, the Treasury Department announced Thursday. In a year marked by a bruising trade war and high financing costs, the federal government managed to escape with a $1.78 trillion shortfall, some $41 billion, or 2.2%, less than in fiscal 2024. While that’s still on the high end historically, the red ink would have been still worse had it not been for a massive surge in customs duties and a September surplus of $198 billion that...

President Donald Trump's tariffs appear to be working.For Walmart's chief executive has confirmed that the company is increasing its investments in US-made products and suppliers. The retail giant is not the only major American company paying more attention to American manufacturing.Now that Trump has placed tariffs on most countries outside the US, with particularly high fees on imports from China and India, corporate America has been forced to search closer to home for alternatives. Boss John Furner said Walmart's investment in products generated on US turf is part of the company's long-standing strategic priority. 'Investing in US manufacturing and US...

The public release of a Young Republican group chat that included racist language, jokes about rape and flippant commentary on gas chambers prompted bipartisan calls for those involved to be removed from or resign their positions. The Young Republican National Federation, the GOP’s political organization for Republicans between 18 and 40, called for those involved to step down from the organization. The group described the exchanges, first reported by Politico, as “unbecoming of any Republican.” Republican Vice President JD Vance, however, has weighed in several times to speak out against what he characterized as “pearl clutching” over the leaked messages....

Major corporate giving platforms use the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to vet charities, effectively blocking donations to many conservative and faith-based nonprofits wrongly labeled as “hate groups.” Benevity, a platform used by hundreds of corporations to manage workplace donations, says it has processed more than $18.5 billion in transactions. Company materials show that the platform relies on the SPLC list to help determine which organizations employees are allowed to select for donations.... The SPLC has labeled right-leaning groups such as Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) as “hate groups,” listing them alongside the Ku Klux Klan...

US Supreme Court addresses race-based districting.The state of Louisiana has become the focal point of longstanding tensions between the well-intentioned goals of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prevent racial discrimination and the specific provisions of the Constitution mandating that all citizens be treated equally, regardless of skin color. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Oct. 15 in Louisiana v. Callais, a dispute that has profound implications for future elections in the United States.Voting Equality vs EquityMainstream media headlines inveigh against the conservative menace of “gutting” the Voting Rights Act. The political stakes of the Supreme Court’s resolution...

The Department of Justice charged voting machine company Smartmatic with conspiring to bribe foreign officials and money laundering in an alleged effort to win business in the Philippines. Several executives from the company allegedly bribed election officials in the Philippines with more than $1 million.The payments were made between 2015 and 2018 and were aimed at obtaining a contract with the country’s government for its 2016 presidential election and receiving payment for its work, a filing in a Miami federal court said. Smartmatic won contracts for nearly $200 million. The DOJ had added Smartmatic to its case against three Smartmatic...

Former Rep. John Ashbrook told FNC's "Outnumbered" that the Democratic candidate for governor in New Jersey, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, is acting like someone who expected to be winning but is not: JOHN ASHBROOK: It is so ridiculous, too. I’m not from New Jersey, but I have worked statewide campaigns for 20 years. I can tell you this has the telltale signs of a Democrat in trouble. She didn’t think she was in trouble. She is running a terrible race, and I talked to somebody with Ciattarelli’s campaign and they see trendlines moving in the positive direction. You know New Jersey...

The Trump administration is using an imagined enemy—“antifa”—to justify turning ICE into an ultra-violent, unaccountable army invading US cities. Portlanders deploying inflatable animal costumes, a brass band, mass ukulele renditions of “This Land Is Your Land,” naked bike rides, and other tactics in their ICE protests are undermining the Trump administration’s lurid claims that Portland, Oregon, is a “war-torn” city under siege by a violent left. It’s hard to portray someone dancing in an inflatable frog or chicken costume as a terrorist. This, of course, hasn’t stopped the Trump administration from officially designating antifa a domestic terrorist organization. Secretary of...

KISS legend Ace Frehley has died at the age of 74 after suffering a devastating brain bleed that left him on life support. After being hospitalized and placed on a ventilator, the iconic musician passed away Thursday when his family made the difficult decision to turn off life support, per TMZ. The musician reportedly collapsed in his home studio a few weeks ago, hitting his head in a frightening fall that triggered the medical crisis, per the outlet. Since then, his condition worsened, forcing the rock icon to cancel all remaining tour dates. Sources close to Frehley said he had...

I understand that congressional Democrats think they have the upper hand, albeit by a narrow margin, showing that voters blame the GOP more than them for the current government shutdown. Their talking point – that the Republicans control the White House and majorities of both chambers – apparently has resonance, at least so far. The margin is not great, however. And the public may start to catch up on the disingenuousness of our party’s constant use of the word “majority” to describe Congress. Every elected Democrat in Washington knows that it takes 60 votes to break their own filibuster in...