Free Republic

Illinois just gained another data point for its reputation for public corruption. New revelations found that nearly 400 state employees improperly obtained federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans intended to keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. PPP was created as part of the CARES Act to provide federally backed, forgivable loans to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was signed into law on March 27, 2020. According to the Illinois Office of the Executive Inspector General, investigators found “reasonable cause” in 378 PPP-fraud cases involving state workers through June 2025 — about three-quarters of all cases reviewed, the...

The looting spree by grifters imported from Somalia to transmogrify the demographics of Minnesota has reportedly reached $9 billion. A typical example of Somali fraud is child-free childcare centers. Despite often having heads shaped like light bulbs, Somalis are not known to be bright. How did they come up with such a lucrative scam? Maybe their enabler Tim Walz gave them the idea during the 2024 vice presidential debate. Watch him brag about making it easier to set up these operations and then get them financed on a coercive basis by taxpayers: video on link

The ongoing daycare fraud scandal in Minnesota dates back a decade as an unearthed 2015 video appeared to show parents pretending to drop their children off at an alleged phony center. The bombshell footage came to light as FBI Director Kash Patel revealed the bureau is cracking down on potential abuse after one daycare was accused of stealing $4 million in taxpayer's money. The video from Hennepin County - Minnesota's largest county by population - was recorded in March 2015, then uncovered in 2018 and has now resurfaced. It shows parents appearing to bring their kids in, purportedly to spend...

Agents with the Department of Homeland Security are on the ground going door-to-door at suspected Somali fraud sites in Minneapolis following journalist Nick Shirley’s viral video revealing rampant fraud in the Somali community. As previously reported, an angry Somali woman ‘working’ at a daycare – with no children inside – slammed the door as journalist Nick Shirley asked some simple questions about the so-called children’s center. Minnesota Childcare Center claims it takes care of 102 children, however, the facility is empty. “We’re just wondering where the children are,” David, a man who has been investigating the Somali fraud for years,...

"Coming to you from the pilot here in Nitro, West Virginia..." Yep they are foreigners when they are praying in the isle of the truck stop while they leave their truck at the pump.

CBS News’ chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford criticized the mainstream media’s coverage of the Supreme Court, calling it “dangerous” to claim the high court was “corrupt.” Crawford joined CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday to discuss what the panel considered the most underreported stories of the year. While some panelists cited the blanket use of pardons and cuts to the federal workforce as examples, Crawford instead pointed to a narrative she considered overreported: alleged political corruption in the Supreme Court. “You know, there is a narrative that the Supreme Court is corrupt,” Crawford said. “I mean, we saw that emerge...

One week ago, 23-year-old Nick Shirley was relatively unknown in the public sphere. But in recent days, he has gained hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of views, amplified by Elon Musk, Vice President JD Vance and FBI Director Kash Patel. The MAGA leaders promoted Shirley’s video of himself and a Minnesota activist investigating federally funded facilities in the state that allegedly posed as daycares without any children present. It’s part of what many on the right say is widespread government assistance fraud perpetuated by the Somali community there. Shirley’s experience could only happen in today’s media and political...

For the Founders, only the children of citizens are themselves “natural born citizens.”Who shall be considered natural-born citizens? The term “natural born citizen” first appears in Article II, Section 1, and Amendment XII of the Constitution. For the Framers to have used such a term without explanation means there must have been a commonly understood, contemporary definition—and, in fact, there was. This definition can be found in Book 1, Sections 212-217, of “Law of Nations,” by the Franco-Swiss political philosopher, Emerich de Vattel, and first published in 1758.§212. Citizens and natives. The citizens are the members of the civil society:...

The Candace Owens drama is still ongoing, but every month it seems like more people finally get tired of her nonsense. A couple weeks ago I pointed out that Matt Walsh had finally asked Owens to stop and made the case for Tyler Robinson being the shooter.But yesterday, one of Owen's biggest online supporters finally called it a day. His name is Evan Kilgore and as recently as a couple weeks ago, his X account looked like this:BREAKING:Candace Owens reveals the "Egyptian planes" have been turning off their transponders and flying in and out of Israel.She says she still believes...

In an interview with Politico, President Trump commented about the upcoming 2026 mid-term elections:I think it’s going to be about the success of our country. It’ll be about pricing. Because, you know, they (the Biden administration) gave us high pricing, and we’re bringing it down. Energy’s way down. Gasoline is way down.He also said he is confident Americans will be receptive to his economic message - that his administration is cleaning up the mess he inherited from Biden. Addressing inflation and blaming former President Biden is a smart strategy for getting out the GOP base and other Trump voters, which...

Instead of giving these workers additional employment benefits, the result is that they are less likely to be hired at all. The California SAC heard testimony from workers from a diverse array of industries offering their experiences with AB5, including court reporters, translators, cosmetology workers, and exotic dancers. Many of these workers were women, immigrants, people of color, and from other politically disadvantaged groups. Esther Hermida, a representative of the American Alliance of Professional Translators and Interpreters (AAPTI) testified about AB5’s impact on thousands of citizens in her industry comprised of 75 percent women. One professional translator, Ildiko Santana, reported...

Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro will soon become the top-earning governor in the U.S. after an automatic cost-of-living pay bump goes into effect on Jan. 1. Shapiro, a Democrat up for re-election next year who is often named as a 2028 presidential contender, was already the second-highest paid state leader after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. At about $245,000 this year, Shapiro earned about $5,000 less than Hochul, whose salary, according to state law, for the past few years has been $250,000. But along with dozens of other Keystone State officials of both major parties, the new year will bring Shapiro...

(Dec. 29, 2025) — New York State resident and registered voter Montgomery Blair Sibley, who challenged the claimed “natural born Citizen” status of former Vice President Kamala Harris, reported Monday on his Substack and website that the U.S. Supreme Court has docketed his petition for a Writ of Certiorari in his long-running “eligibility” case. The action came after Sibley appealed a dismissal from the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. ... continue reading at: https://www.thepostemail.com/2025/12/29/scotus-dockets-harris-eligibility-case/

Louis Gerstner, the executive who engineered one of the most important corporate turnarounds in the history of the high-technology sector, died at the age of 83 on Saturday. Gerstner took control over IBM in 1993 when it was at the brink of breakup and bankruptcy, rebuilt the company into a services-led enterprise, and restored its strategic relevance by 2002. Multiple prominent high-tech leaders worked at IBM under Gertner's leadership, spreading his skills across the industry nowadays. Lou Gerstner IBM's first CEO not from IBM Louis Gerstner was the first IBM chief executive — and so far, the only — to...

Biblical archaeologists are using ancient texts and modern technology to uncover possible clues to one of Christianity's biggest mysteries.When God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, the Bible says that he placed a cherubim and flaming sword at the entrance that scholars believe is used to guard against their return to this paradise on Earth. But this clear expulsion of human beings hasn’t stopped archaeologists, theologians, and tourists alike from trying to find their way back. The Bible’s vivid geographical description of Eden gave seekers a head start. Readers are initially told that the Eden is “in...

Israel has taken the controversial decision to recognise the breakaway state of Somaliland as an independent nation, sparking condemnation from many other countries. China is the latest to condemn the decision, with its foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian telling reporters: "No country should encourage or support other countries' internal separatist forces for its own selfish interests." China outlined its position ahead of the UN Security Council holding an emergency session to discuss Israel's decision. Israel on Friday became the first country in the world to acknowledge Somaliland as a standalone republic, more than 30 years after the region declared independence...

Just an interesting old soul living life

A daycare facility allegedly involved in Minnesota's ongoing fraud scandal has hit back at criticism over a misspelled sign as staff reportedly 'truck in' children. The Quality 'Learing' Center in Minneapolis was thrust into the spotlight last week after Nick Shirley shared footage of the facility apparently devoid of children despite receiving millions of dollars in funding. When video emerged of the childcare facility, eagle-eyed critics also noted the sign above the door misspelled the word 'learning.' On Monday, the New York Post observed staff 'trucking in' dozens of children, despite locals admitting they thought the facility had been 'permanently...

It’s hard to be optimistic about the future of Gaza. The cease-fire agreement brokered by the Trump administration is holding, but Israel continues to occupy more than half of the territory, and its forces have killed more than 350 Palestinians since the truce was reached on Oct. 10. Hamas, meanwhile, is resurging in Gaza—replacing key commanders killed in the two-year war with Israel; executing its Palestinian opponents; and hiding weapons and fighters in its tunnel system, more than half of which remains intact. So, where does that leave Palestinians and Israelis? And what does it mean for the rest of...

I have a five year old grandson who seems to have very much enjoyed the movie "White Christmas" with Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby a couple of days ago. I would like to put together a list of age appropriate classic movies to recommend for a weekly afternoon movie with grandpa. Keep in mind he is only 5 and as yet not polluted with the "common" culture or exposed to a public school. He lives with a stay at home mom and a working dad and goes to a private school. He and his two younger sisters are much loved...