Free Republic

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Republican politicians, conservative pundits and fossil fuel industry leaders have accused President Biden of weakening the U.S.’s economic power against Russia by reducing oil and gas production. Last week, for example, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said, “Joe Biden has given up the best defense we had against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s evil vision for the world — energy independence.” But a data dashboard unveiled Wednesday by the Center for Western Priorities shows that the opposite is true. The federal government has been issuing oil and gas drilling permits more willingly than it...

The 4 p.m. remarks will come after Biden calls transatlantic leaders. President Joe Biden was set to speak to the nation Friday afternoon on what the White House said are U.S. efforts to ease tensions over Ukraine, amid increased shelling and possible false-flag attacks Russia could use to falsely justify an invasion. Biden will make remarks after he holds a call with translatlantic leaders to discuss continued efforts at deterrence and diplomacy and what the White House called "Russia's buildup of military troops on the border of Ukraine." -snip- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will participate in the call, along...

Former President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) on Monday, claiming her investigation into his business practices violates his constitutional rights, as the ex-president seeks to stem a growing trend of legal problems. * James has been overseeing a civil investigation into the Trump Organization to determine whether it purposely undervalued properties, according to reports. * James is reportedly set to subpoena Trump, asking him to appear for a deposition on January 7 as part of the investigation. * The suit was filed in federal court for the Northern District of New York,...

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie is facing backlash for a Christmas card photo he posted to social media showing him and every member of his family holding large guns in front of the holiday tree. "Merry Christmas!," Massie, R-Ky., said in the tweet with the photo he posted Friday. "ps. Santa, please bring ammo." The photo was posted just four days after a high school shooting in Oxford Township, Michigan, left four students dead and at least eight wounded. Prosecutors say the parents of the accused shooter, Ethan Crumbley, purchased the gun used in the shooting just days before it happened....