Free Republic

Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike will likely have brain damage after her botched execution, during which she chillingly lifted her head and asked if the pain she was feeling was normal. Pike, 50, was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after the Tennessee Department of Corrections administered two doses of the highly potent sedative, Pentobarbital, but it failed to kill her. The murderer, who was sentenced to death for the monstrous 1995 slaying of a classmate, was “being provided life-saving measures” in the hospital, her lawyers said – but she likely has a brain injury as a result. Emory University...

Russia said on Tuesday that a Tu-95 bomber crashed in one of its eastern regions. At least six crew members died during the crash, which occurred during training, per state media. The crash is a blow to Russia's nuclear bomber fleet, with Tu-95s now out of production. One of Russia's Tu-95 strategic bombers crashed during a training flight in the Amur region, killing six crew members, the country's defense ministry said on Tuesday. The plane was not carrying any ammunition, and a seventh crew member survived the initial crash and was hospitalized, the defense ministry added, per state media.

If you haven’t already heard about an Omani pilot’s attempt to crash a Dubai plane heading for Tel Aviv, you’ve missed a tale of complete evil, epic courage, and sheer luck that most would say could only have been dreamed up by a Hollywood script writer. It’s an amazing, “burning up the front page” story that honest news outlets should have been all over like white on rice

A 4-year-old Texas girl was shot and killed by her mother after the parent lost a custody battle, Lone Star State police say. The victim in the case has been identified as Vivian Savella, the family's attorney revealed in a statement on Tuesday. "Our family is devastated," the statement begins. "Vivian was four years old. She was loved without limit by her father, Aaron, and by everyone whose life she touched. There are no words for what has been taken from us." The mother has yet to be identified and is currently in the hospital after shooting herself, according to...

The U.S. can deport the leader of Wisconsin’s largest mosque on the grounds that he is a threat to national security, an immigration judge ruled Wednesday. Salah Sarsour was detained in Milwaukee in March by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. A federal judge ordered Sarsour’s release in June, saying he raised a “substantial” claim that the Trump administration was targeting him for speaking out against Israel and advocating for Palestinian rights. Sarsour called the ruling “deeply disappointing,” but said he intends to appeal. “I will continue fighting to defend the right to free speech and to stay in the...

The Omani copilot who stabbed the pilot on the flydubai flight yesterday discussed killing Jews on social media, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel.The official adds that the attacker asked the Emirati crew members to kill him, citing conversations with passengers on the flight. “This was a person who was willing to commit suicide,” says the official. “His social media accounts [say] clearly that he has been radicalized into jihadist ideology. He talks about killing Jews.”“We can’t say for sure until the investigation’s over,” the official continues, “but it certainly seems like he was a suicide actor who...

"[The Bereans] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). God honors spiritual discernment. On his second missionary journey, Paul, accompanied by Silas, preached the gospel of Jesus Christ in the city of Thessalonica. They weren't there long before the gospel took root and many turned from their idolatry to serve the true and living God (1 Thess. 1:9). In 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul says, "We also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's...

React19 reviewed free-text entries submitted to the CDC’s V-safe vaccine safety monitoring program to document reports in which participants asked for help, described suicidal thoughts, reported that they were dying or nearly died, or reported a death, and to document what participants said about the response they received. CDC V-safe free-text survey responses were produced under FOIA request 24-01322 and published by the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN) at icandecide.org/v-safe-data. The CDC released the data in twelve interim and final tranches. This audit uses ICAN’s updated files, which add the survey type, response ID, and response date to each entry....

Democrats are obsessing over high fuel costs, but the historical record and their policy platform strongly suggests that things would be even worse if they were in charge. As November’s midterm elections approach, Democrat candidates have obsessed over rising fuel costs, making the price at the pump the central issue in their closing message to voters as they lambast the so-called “war of choice” in Iran. With the national average approaching $4.50 per gallon, the cost of gas is indeed a real problem for American families – and the war with Iran is indeed the primary reason for it. The...

ennessee has a competence problem on its hands. After the state's attempt to execute Christa Pike went disastrously wrong Wednesday night, attention should now turn to the people and procedures responsible for carrying it out. This isn't complicated. The state knew the execution date. It controlled the drugs, equipment, personnel, and death chamber. It had an established protocol and months to prepare for one of the highest-profile executions Tennessee has carried out in decades. And Pike was still alive after the state tried to kill her. As of this report, Pike was sent to the hospital after the failed attempted...

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a challenge to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mass detention policy, Politico reported. The policy has faced several defeats in lower courts amid President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts. At least one federal appeals court, the Fifth Circuit, has backed the administration, while others have struck it down, creating what is known as a "circuit split." The Supreme Court typically, though not invariably, waits for such a development to hear major cases.

Student protests have escalated into widespread riots in France with schools set on fire and teachers beaten and doused in petrol. Rioters have unleashed chaos in major cities across the country after what started as largely peaceful demonstrations against the state of education descended into violent chaos. Protests began last Monday, when students and teaching staff alike took to French towns and cities to demand the replacement of absent teachers, an increase of educational resources, school renovations and 'decent' learning conditions. But disorder has spread since Tuesday with some 600 arrests and 85 police officers wounded. The unrest gathered pace...

The MONTHLY Victory Garden Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack...

1 October 2026 Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor on Thursday of week 26 in Ordinary Time Catholic parish of Headstone Lane, Harrow, UKReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingJob 19:21-27My Avenger lives and will set me close to him when I awakeJob said:Pity me, pity me, you, my friends, for the hand of God has struck me.Why do you hound me down like God, will you never have enough of my flesh?Ah, would that these words of mine were written down, inscribed on...

"Even if Congress were to enact a law clearly empowering Article III courts to vacate agency rules or regulations and automatically cause their erasure from the Code of Federal Regulations, vacatur would likely still be inconsistent with the limited nature of the judicial power and the non-delegability of core legislative power to the judiciary." ==================================================================== Judge Kathryn Mizelle of the Middle District of Florida issued an opinion finding that the "set aside" remedy under the APA is (likely) unconstitutional. Here is an excerpt from the opinion: Even if Congress were to enact a law clearly empowering Article III courts to...

Each year the federal government loses an estimated $233 billion to $521 billion to fraud. There is no single or simple solution to combat fraud in federal programs, including those administered by states. But, over the years, GAO has identified hundreds of actions federal agencies and Congress can take to better protect taxpayer money from fraudsters and increase public trust in government. Today’s WatchBlog post looks at nine key actions Congress can take. These actions include passing new legislation, as well as increasing oversight of agency counter fraud efforts. Millions of Americans receive payments from the federal government—including through Social...

The wife of slain New York Times executive Jonathan McKinsey and daughter of his accused killers was seen strolling with her three young children in their Bay Area neighborhood Wednesday. The sighting came about an hour after Candice Jang’s 77-year-old parents, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, made their first court appearance, each accused of murder and 11 other criminal counts for their alleged part in McKinsey’s shooting death in the parking lot of a local park Saturday afternoon. One of those counts includes 'lying in wait' – a charge that presumes premeditation and carries a life-in-prison sentence with no chance...

"He was going to down that plane." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו breaks down the harrowing details of the Flydubai terrorist attempt: • The copilot had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination. • He abandoned his seat to jam the instruments and force the plane down. • An Israeli hero plumber broke into the cockpit and yanked him away. • Crew restrained him using headset cords before plastic ties were secured. • While subdued, the attacker shouted "Kill me, kill me". Investigations are ongoing, but early indications point directly to a prevented suicidal terror attack, the prime minister says.

AUSTIN, Texas — A 40-year-old man was arrested in Texas early Wednesday on suspicion of plotting to attack the state Capitol, authorities said, in an act reportedly motivated by anger at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobby group. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said in a statement that it received “credible information about an individual planning a violent attack” for Thursday in Austin. Officials did not provide details about the alleged plot, citing an ongoing investigation. The tip came in Tuesday evening, and SWAT officers made the arrest at about 3 a.m. Wednesday...

Planned Parenthood’s largest affiliate has begun selling Botox and other beauty treatments at its centers that also kill babies in abortions, saying revenue shortfalls left it short of the money it needs to stay open. At least four Planned Parenthood Mar Monte locations in California — including sites in Sacramento, Stockton and nearby towns — now sell Botox injections alongside abortion, birth control and dangerous trans hormones. The Mar Monte affiliate of the Planned Parenthood abortion business oversees 30 centers in mid-California and Nevada. The affiliate said Medicaid reimbursement for its other business does not provide enough money for the...