Free Republic

Gone are the days of university freshmen reading classical philosophers like Plato or contemporary pedagogues like Ta-Nehisi Coates. These days, incoming college students are lucky if they can get through Judy Blume’s “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.” According to a new “Survey of Adult Skills” conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development — a forum for 38 high-income, predominantly Western countries — a not insignificant number of adult students enrolled in higher education are now reading and doing math at a level which, in a more functional society, would be alarming for a middle schooler. The survey,...

WASHINGTON — DC was a little too busy going full America for this New York Times reporter. A famed ex-NPR host-turned-podcaster for the Gray Lady ignited a social media firestorm for railing against the dozens of military flyovers that roared across DC’s skies to mark America’s 250th birthday. Lulu Garcia-Navarro, who hosts “The Interview” for The Times, decried the awe-inspiring display of America’s awesome military and engineering genius as “nerve-wracking,” triggering widespread social media mockery. “Why are we having so many jets scorching over DC? Nerve-wracking. I get 250 celebrations, but it feels like the apocalypse,” Garcia-Navarro groused on X...

A Lifelong Catholic's Appeal to Bishops: Aren't We Trying to Square the CircleA Catholic from New Zealand sent a letter to the bishops of his country some time ago, hoping for a response. Having received nothing, not so much as a polite acknowledgment, he sent the letter to me and asked if I might publish it. I am pleased to do so, as this humble layman speaks for a million others who could have written the same thing. Until the bishops choose to unstop their ears and listen to the cry of the poor, the Church’s decline will be credited...

"The National Education Association will call for the impeachment, conviction, and removal of Donald Trump from the US Presidency." They want a "National March on Washington D.C. to remove Trump before the November 2026 midterm election" The business item would cost $5,236,193.

A draft report inside the Treasury Department is set to warn of the risks posed by the artificial intelligence market, likening key aspects of it to the dotcom bubble that upended the U.S. economy when it burst in the early 2000s. The document, the existence and contents of which have not been previously reported but was obtained by NOTUS, is a significant departure from the Trump administration’s public tone, which has focused on encouraging unrelenting investment to unlock exponential growth. Career Treasury analysts found that AI firms are more deeply entrenched in the U.S. economy than their dotcom predecessors and...

BREAKING NEWS 📰📰📰: Police Release Sketch of Joe Biden's Autopen (My Title)

I wish I had discovered this a few days ago to post this past July 4 but I only found out about it this morning and it is amazing.Many/Most of us are already familiar with the miraculous coincidence of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the second and third presidents, one of whom (Adams) was most instrumental in pushing for the Declaration of Independence and the other one (Jefferson) who wrote it both died on the same day, July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence. This was taken by many/most Americans as a positive sign for America...

ust before climbing steps outside the U.S. Capitol, the Air Force major predicted what his protest would cost him. “In the grand scheme of things, I’m just a nobody,” he told reporters. “What matters far more than who I am is what I have to say and the price I’m willing to pay to say it.” He had demonstrated before against President Donald Trump — for 22 days last year as part of a hunger strike, but that was anonymous. Every day, he wore a skintight white mask and a white jumpsuit as he silently sat in a lawn chair...

My husband and I are honored and thrilled to participate in the Invest America program and gift a share of our SpaceX stock to a Trump Account for each of more than two million children across our great nation. Every American child under 18 can benefit from having a Trump Account, but our gift specifically goes to the Accounts of children (ages 11-17) that live in areas with lower average household incomes with a bit more emphasis for those that live near our central Texas home. We have been fortunate in our careers and hope this gift encourages the next...

Charlie Kirk's accused killer, Tyler Robinson, is back in court this week as prosecutors begin presenting evidence during his preliminary hearing. Robinson is charged with assassinating Kirk, and the weeklong hearing is expected to include surveillance video, forensic evidence, digital records, and testimony aimed at determining whether there is enough evidence for the case to move to trial. Kirk's parents and widow are expected to attend the proceedings, while court officials have implemented heightened security for the high-profile case.

The Ukrainian Air Force says a "serious shortage" of interceptor missiles meant none of the 23 ballistic missiles fired by Russia at Kyiv on Sunday night were shot down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed for allies to take "strong decisions" at this week's Nato summit to provide Kyiv with air defences. After the strikes, he said the Ukrainian military had been successful in intercepting cruise missiles and drones – but not ballistic missiles. Zelensky warned that Moscow would continue to hit residential buildings as long as defensive Patriot missiles "remain in our allies' stockpiles".

The plan wasn’t working. Less than a year into President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration’s signature initiative — facilitating the mass deportation of “millions and millions” of immigrants, as he once put it — had become a political liability. A surge of federal agents to Minnesota proved to be the apex of a flashy, combative strategy that tried to steamroll any opposition — and failed. But now, according to The New York Times, the seeming lull in arrests that followed the winter’s chaos has given way to a renewed effort to round up as many immigrants for deportation as...

For generations, Americans have been told to celebrate diversity, honor every culture, and preserve the stories that shaped the nation. Yet when it comes to Christianity--the single greatest influence on America's founding and development--many of the same voices suddenly insist that history be edited, minimized, or investigated. That contradiction was on full display this week. Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva vowed that if Democrats regain control of the House, they will investigate the prominent inclusion of Christianity in America's 250th birthday celebrations organized under President Donald Trump. Think about that for a moment. As America approaches one of the most significant...

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) found himself on the sharp end of some backlash on Sunday after posting an image of himself wearing a Mexico jersey at a World Cup Watch Party, supporting the co-hosting nation as it faced off against England. Kelly took to X, posting images of himself wearing Mexico’s green as he cheered on the team: It didn’t take long for the pile-on to begin on the platform. The post quickly went viral online, garnering millions of views and thousands of replies from frustrated USMNT fans who were furious that a sitting U.S. senator had chosen to jump...

Tyler Toler has suffered through the trifecta of bacterial STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis. While the corresponding itching, burning, and rash felt bad enough, the pain of treatment and the social fallout that often followed were worse. Toler dreaded the awkward conversation with his partners, admitting he may have exposed them to an infection. “Some people are like, ‘Yeah, cool, thank you for letting me know,’” Toler said. “And then there’s some people that think you’re the dirtiest person on the face of the planet.” ... Doxy PEP, or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, is an antibiotic taken within 72 hours of condomless...

President Trump restarted his feud with Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over the weekend, deploying a meme-based attack to imply that she is obsessed with him. On Sunday, Trump posted an image of Meloni gazing up at him with a beatific smile under the caption “Restraining order needed,” recalling their stunning war of words that erupted last month following the G7 summit in France. The president had disparaged Meloni in an interview with Italian broadcaster La7, saying: “She’s probably happy I talked to her. She wanted a photo with me so much. I wouldn’t have even done it, but I...

President Donald Trump reportedly pushed for FIFA to allow United States striker Folarin Balogun to play on Monday against Belgium. FIFA stunned the soccer world with its announcement Sunday that Balogun's one-match ban for his straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup Round of 32 had been suspended and he would be allowed to play in the Round of 16. Sunday afternoon, several reports emerged that Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday and asked for the World Cup governing body to review Balogun's ban. According to The Athletic, FIFA has granted Belgium the ability...

Celebrate America 250 and Firearm Freedom month by building a modern-day musket and America’s Rifle, which is in common use. SNIP Brownells , the parts suppliers to shooters, professional gunsmiths, hobbyists, military/law enforcement armorers, hunters, and gun tinkerers for over 75 years, recently produced a short video entitled: Why You Should Build An AR15. They listed out a number of very good reasons why you should roll up your sleeves, and get yourself a lower receiver and parts kit, and build what Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor termed as “commonly available” and as Supreme Court Justice Kagan referred to as “the...

BART says fare evasion is on the decline at its 50 stations, and a new viral video appears to show one reason why.

Much has been said about Mt. Rushmore this week, and the greatness continues to astound. However, we should leave it as is. Rather, we need a second one.