Free Republic

The Trump administration is racing ahead with President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project, which is now rising from the ground even as a court case to stop the project continues. Recent photos of the ongoing construction, highlighted by the New York Times, show that crews have assembled the framing of the first floor of the East Wing, a minor milestone indicating construction has progressed from strictly bunker-related to above-ground. The ascent is occurring quickly – before a federal appeals court can rule whether or not the administration violated the law by knocking down the historic East Wing and beginning...

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff picked up a high-profile endorsement Tuesday from former U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican whose clashes with President Donald Trump prompted him to back other prominent Democrats. Flake said he still disagrees with Ossoff on key policy issues. But in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he said character outweighed those partisan differences. “I’m still a conservative Republican. But character matters. And I want someone in that seat who takes the institution seriously and will protect the institution,” Flake said.

The current trend of Democratic Socialists of America goobers going on Fox and proudly coming out for all the weird and stupid things they support is akin to the phenomenon of a few years ago where you had furries publicly and proudly proclaiming their bizarre identity, except the people pretending to be cartoon foxes and wombats were less embarrassing. As dumb and creepy as it is to dress up as an anime marsupial and admit that their furry fetish tops “sincere people” and “long walks on the beach” on their list of turn-ons, at least the furry strange-os didn’t murder...

I thought of various clever-seeming ways to organize this cornucopia of quotes from the diary of former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci. But that would mean cutting some of these gems. So here they are, in ascending order of embarrassing awfulness. 1. Anthony Fauci on Anthony Fauci: — “Apparently, a lot of people at the Pentagon admire me very much …” — “The nurses went absolutely wild to see me, they were squealing and laughing and clapping. It was something to behold.” — “Did I mention he’s easy on the eyes?” — Fauci,...

0:000 seconds When you run [music] out of luck and your life really sucks, just blame the juice. 0:055 seconds Lost [music] your keys, missed the train, stab your toe in the rain. 0:099 seconds Just blame the juice. [music] Economy's down, your football team's drowned. Just blame the juice. 0:1616 seconds Bend your [music] toast. Ghosted by the one you love most. Just blame the Jew. 0:2121 seconds One look in the mirror. Why question the facts? It's easier finding an old [music] schedule to attack. Every century's got one. The story is not new. 0:2929 seconds When truth...

Sunday saw the 10-year anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling against China’s nine-dash line. Fourteen countries reacted by reaffirming the ruling. China, predictably, reacted with saber-rattling. To recap the case: In 2012, prompted by a standoff at Scarborough Shoal, the Philippines sought international arbitration. China refused to participate in or recognize the process. It went ahead anyway, and the court ruling eviscerated China’s position, ruling its infamous nine-dash line invalid and faulting China on other points. China still refuses to recognize it and has tightened its grip over the area via salami-slicing gray-zone tactics. But the ruling stands....

Die Welt and other outlets broke a story about Chancellor Merz drawing up plans to isolate German states where AfD may win a majority in the future, so that Germany can retain its role as key central NATO transport hub in the war against Russia being stirred by European elites: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/30/merz-plan-to-prevent-putin-friendly-afd-state-blocking-nato/From the Telegraph piece above: Friedrich Merz is drawing up secret plans to prevent German pro-Kremlin “traitor states” from obstructing Nato’s plans to defend against a Russian invasion. German officials fear the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could frustrate the movement of allied forces through two eastern states it is...

RICHFIELD, Wis. — A 69-year-old man flew a helicopter from the Rosendale area to a Cabela’s store in Richfield on Saturday evening because “the drive was too long,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said. A sheriff’s deputy responded about 6 p.m. to a report that a helicopter had landed in the Cabela’s parking lot in the Village of Richfield. The deputy contacted the pilot, a 69-year-old Rosendale man, who said he had flown to the sporting goods store. The drive from Rosendale to Richfield takes about 50 minutes. The sheriff’s office said the pilot was properly licensed, landed safely and...

Cmdr. Joseph Sammur was relieved as the commanding officer of USS West Virginia (SSBN-736) (Blue Crew) last week due to a loss of confidence, the Navy announced Saturday Sammur’s relief follows an investigation into a maintenance issue, a Submarine Forces Public Affairs spokesperson told USNI News on Monday. West Virginia is currently in port for maintenance, according to the Navy’s Saturday news release. Cmdr. Luke Kelvington, Submarine Squadron 20 deputy for training, has temporarily assumed command of West Virginia’s Blue Crew. Sammur, who assumed command nearly a year ago on Aug. 14, 2025, has been temporarily reassigned to Submarine Group...

MADISON, Wis. -- Madison police and other city agencies began clearing the encampment Tuesday at the site where Corey Ruiz was shot and killed by a police officer. Madison Police Department spokesperson Stephanie Fryer told News 3 Now that, at around 5 a.m. Tuesday, city officials entered the encampment at the intersection of Williamson and Baldwin streets with a bullhorn and asked people to gather their belongings and leave. Fryer said that people in the encampment lit three fires, leading Madison Fire Department and police personnel to intervene. Some people grabbed candles from the memorial dedicated to Ruiz and threw...

Snapchat’s automated system flagged a private DM to three contacts and triggered an FBI alert in under 60 minutes, ending her teaching career Sixty minutes. That’s how long it took for a private Snapchat message to travel from Kristen Volpe’s phone to the FBI to the deputies standing in her elementary school hallway. On January 29, 2025, the 22-year-old student teacher at John L. Hensey Elementary in Washington, Illinois, vented to her boyfriend and two roommates — three people total — after a student closed her laptop mid-class and wiped her lesson plan. She referenced shooting the student or the...

Given the unchecked flood of illegal immigration now taking place across the European continent and Britain, the headline above asks a valid question: Will Europe in the future exist only as a territory, but not as a civilization and a culture? Spain is the latest flashpoint in Europe’s battle to maintain control over its borders. Last week’s stunning border break in Ceuta, a North African enclave that has been part of Spain for over 400 years, should be a wake-up call for all of Europe and the U.S., too. More than 60,000 migrants crossed en masse, with at least 57...

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God. . . . We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:7, 19). True love cannot be generated on the human level. It’s a gift from God. Scripture often makes seemingly impossible demands of us. For example, Jesus said, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). That's easy to say, but how is it possible? Our natural tendency is to love our friends and hate our enemies. But Jesus said, “If you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not...

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A Winter Haven pastor is facing more than 20 criminal charges, including allegations involving a minor as well as four felony counts accusing him of engaging in sexual activity without disclosing his HIV-positive status, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Grady Judd is scheduled to hold a 10 a.m. news conference Tuesday to release additional details surrounding the arrest of 42-year-old Timothy Chaneyfield, whom investigators identified as the pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven. The charges announced by the Sheriff’s Office include three counts of lewd battery...

🇺🇸Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem🇮🇱 (8/4/26)[Prayer]Personalities1 Samuel 28:3-25 Saul and the Medium at Endor 3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim...

Two years ago, California hit a milestone decades in the making: Nearly every person in the state qualified for health insurance, regardless of immigration status and income, pushing the state’s insured rate to a record 95%. Now that progress is unravelling.

• The original goal of Trump's peace plan was not to relocate Hamas's arsenal. It was to eliminate it permanently. • Weapons stored in warehouses remain weapons that function. Explosives stored today can be easily recovered tomorrow. Rocket factories that are preserved can resume production. Tunnels that are mapped rather than destroyed can be used again. • The issue has never been where Hamas keeps its weapons. The issue has always been Hamas having access them. • Transferring weapons from one Palestinian group to another is not demilitarization. • Even more disturbing is the new deal's assertion that "no weapons...

Outkick founder Clay Travis on Monday challenged the defending Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) champions, the Las Vegas Aces, to play a boys’ high school basketball team, offering to pay the winners $10 million. This offer significantly increases the $1 million wager Travis initially proposed in 2023, which was rejected by the Aces. “Important announcement: I am upping my offer, $10 million dollars for a head-to-head basketball game between the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces and a boy’s high school state title team of my choice,” Travis posted on X Monday. “If the Aces beat my team, I will...

4 August 2026 Saint John Mary Vianney, Priest on Tuesday of week 18 in Ordinary Time St. John Vianney Parish, Johnstown PA Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingJeremiah 30:1-2,12-15,18-22Your wound is incurable but I will heal youThe word addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord: the Lord, the God of Israel says this: Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.Yes, the Lord says this:Your wound is incurable,your injury past healing.There is no one to care for your sore,no medicine to make...

Inside Elections 2026 Midterm Forecast House: 🔴 Republicans: 215 🔵 Democrats: 206 🟡 Tossup: 14 Senate: 🔴 Republicans: 52 🔵 Democrats: 45 🟡 Tossup: 3 Swing States: Maine: 🔴 Tilt R Michigan: 🟡 Tossup Georgia: 🟡 Tossup North Carolina: 🟡 Tossup New Hampshire: 🔵 Tilt D