Free Republic

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday appeared to backtrack on earlier criticism of former President Trump’s actions on Jan. 6 and suggested instead that his presidential immunity defense was “a legitimate claim” as he moves forward with various court battles. In an interview on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” Graham was pressed on whether he stands by his 2021 statement that Trump could still be prosecuted for wrongdoing and that “the president’s conduct is subject to the law of the land.”

The University of Minnesota’s website is no longer promoting a summer research program that excludes white students, after a conservative nonprofit advocacy group filed a complaint with federal civil rights officials last week. A link that previously directed “students of color and Native Americans” to apply for a “Multicultural Summer Research Opportunities Program” now leads users to a rebranded “Pathways to Graduate School: Summer Research Program.” The requirements for the program are no longer race-based, with applicants instead needing to show a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and “must be a US citizen or permanent resident,” according to the site.

President Joe Biden has backtracked on a campaign pledge to establish a police oversight commission as Black Lives Matter riots erupted Sunday in Minnesota following a police shooting.

Fox Business host Lou Dobbs aired a segment on Friday that amounted to a fact-checking refutation of claims that he and guests have made about an election tech company Smartmatic and its role in the 2020 presidential election, after the company threatened legal action. Other similar segments will be shown on Justice with Judge Jeanine on Saturday and Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, a Fox News spokesperson said. Lisa Boothe will host Judge Jeanine, as Jeanine Pirro is off for the holidays Earlier this week, Smartmatic announced that it had threatened legal action against Fox News, Newsmax and One...

Secretary of State John F. Kerry refused Tuesday to rule out putting U.S. troops on the ground in Syria, saying the president needs to retain the ability to send in forces in very select circumstances as the Obama administration officially began to make its case for retaliatory military strikes on the Assad regime. Testifying to the Senate, Mr. Kerry accused critics of “armchair isolationism” and said there are risks to acting, but that the risks of inaction are even worse. But asked whether President Obama would accept an authorization from Congress that specifically banned putting U.S. troops on the ground...

An UNRWA director has apologized after his comments on the “right of return” led to a backlash. Andrew Whitley, the outgoing head of UNRWA's New York office, had said that the Arab world's focus on “return” to Israel was a “cruel illusion.” On Wednesday, Whitley said he had realized his previous statements were “inappropriate and wrong.” The statements do not reflect UNRWA's views, he said. He sent a written apology to UNRWA headquarters, saying, “I wish to put this letter on the public record out of concern that what I said in Washington could be interpreted in ways that negatively...

Barack Obama has backtracked over his support for plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero. The U.S. President was hit by a furious backlash from victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks after he backed the highly controversial plans in a speech on Friday. (snip)Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son was killed at the World Trade Center, condemned the President for a 'gross lack of sensitivity to the 9/11 families and to the people who were lost'.

EU backtracks on CO2 targets for cleaner cars By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels and Charles Clover Last Updated: 1:50am GMT 08/02/2007 The European Union was accused yesterday of failing its first test on climate change less than a week after UN scientists warned that urgent action was needed to fight global warming. The European Commission said it was watering down plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cars in the face of intense pressure from car manufacturers. They have claimed the move would damage Europe's economy and force car manufacture overseas. Environmental groups said the concession in the plans, aimed...

N Korea backtracks on 'sea of fire' threats North Korea has denied the existence of a secret nuclear weapons programme or threatening to unleash a "sea of fire" on the US. The denial comes as a top US envoy arrived in South Korea for talks on diffusing the crisis. US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly is to meet president-elect Roh Moo-hyun. He also plans to meet foreign minister Choi Sung-hong and two presidential security advisers. Washington and its allies are intensifying efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the escalating confrontation with North Korea. Mr Kelly is to travel...