Free Republic

Three recent papers authored by Ted Schuur, Regents' professor of biological sciences at Northern Arizona University, and other researchers around the world, organized through the Permafrost Carbon Network, investigate the biological processes taking place in the warming Arctic tundra and provide insight into what we can expect from that region as the climate continues to change. The world's most northern ecosystems, including the northern circumpolar permafrost region, are an important storage reservoir of organic carbon. Although this region, which includes the tundra and much of the boreal forest, contains only 15% of Earth's soil area, it stores around one-third of...

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin promised to “mirror measures” if the United States follows through on plans to station longer-range and hypersonic missiles in Germany — claiming the move would free Russia from a moratorium on deploying its own long-range, lethal weapons. Speaking Sunday at a naval parade in St. Petersburg, Putin said Russia may deploy the missiles in response to a US announcement earlier this month that it would affirm its commitment to NATO — and the defense of Europe — by installing its weapons in Germany, starting in 2026.

British television host Piers Morgan ripped into Vice President Harris, calling her the “most far-left senator in modern American history.” Morgan, speaking on “Fox News Saturday Night,” dismissed the scores of support Harris has received from Democrats since President Biden announced last Sunday that he would not seek reelection. “She’s getting a fantastically amazing honeymoon. It’s going to last about a week here, and then reality will kick in,” Morgan said Saturday. “And Donald Trump will start going very hard as he already is about her record. And her record is she’s literally probably the most far-left senator in modern...

Former Vice President Al Gore on Sunday endorsed Vice President Harris for president, joining a chorus of Democrats supporting her bid to replace President Biden as the party’s likely nominee. Gore, a prominent environmental activist, cited Harris’s past support for action addressing climate change in making his endorsement. “As a prosecutor, @KamalaHarris took on Big Oil companies – and won. As @VP, she cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the most significant investment in climate solutions in history, the Inflation Reduction Act,” Gore said in a statement on the social platform X. “That’s the kind of climate champion we need...

Google has hidden autocomplete suggestions related to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. By removing autocomplete suggestions, the Masters of the World are trying to make it more difficult for users to access information about the attempt on Trump’s life. This is just the latest act of election interference by the internet giant. Breitbart News tested Google’s search bar on Sunday, finding that typing in the words “assassination attempt” resulted in autocomplete suggestions of “truman,” “reagan,” “fidel castro,” “slovakia,” “bob marley,” “lenin,” “gerald ford,” “teddy roosevelt,” “saudi arabia,” “john paul ii,” and “franklin roosevelt.”

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine on Sunday said it struck an oil depot in southern Russia that supplies the Kremlin’s troops as Russian strikes in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, where Moscow claimed further gains, left five civilians dead and 15 others wounded. Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement Kyiv’s security services were responsible for a drone strike in Russia’s southern Kursk region that morning on an oil depot used to meet the needs of the Russian military, and contains 11 tanks with a total volume of 7,000 cubic meters (about 247,202 cubic feet), adding the attack prompted “powerful explosions...

Paris organizers defended the Olympics opening ceremony on Sunday amid backlash over the apparent mocking of The Last Supper during the performance. The opening ceremony drew condemnation from American leaders, world leaders, Christian groups and athletes alike over its depiction of one of the most revered events in Christianity. The ceremony’s segment appeared to resemble a depiction of The Last Supper, famously painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The performance ensemble included drag queens, a transgender model and a naked singer who was stylized to resemble the Greek god Dionysus. Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps spoke about it on Sunday.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said it was a “mistake” for Democrats to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu giving an address to Congress. “I believe it was, and I’ve expressed that view,” he said when asked on CBS’s “Face the Nation” whether it was a mistake for Democrats to support the visit. “But the reality is, obviously, he came. So for those of us who thought it was a mistake to have him here, we expressed our views by not participating.”

After weeks of quiet, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is watching a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean. Located east of the Lesser Antilles, this disturbance is expected to interact with an approaching tropical wave during the next several days, according to the NHC. There is a medium chance that the disturbance will develop, but the odds have been increasing over the weekend. “Environmental conditions are forecast to become conducive for some development in a day or two, and a tropical depression could form around midweek while the system is near or over the northern Leeward Islands, Greater Antilles or...

DENVER (KDVR) — On Tuesday, visitors at Yellowstone National Park fled when a hydrothermal explosion occurred a few miles north of the famous Old Faithful geyser. No one was injured, but the event destroyed a nearby boardwalk and prompted officials to close the Biscuit Basin area of the park for the rest of the year. As alarming as the video and subsequent damage seemed, the phenomenon is a normal, common occurrence at Yellowstone, happening at least once each year. Officials with the U.S. Geological Survey told Nexstar hydrothermal explosions like the one that occurred this week are “not a sign...

BEIJING (AP) – Italy and China signed a three-year action plan on Sunday to implement past agreements and experiment with new forms of cooperation, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on an official visit to the Chinese capital. Meloni is trying to reset relations with China as fears of a trade war with the European Union are interwoven with continued interest in attracting Chinese investment in auto manufacturing and other sectors.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said it was an “honor” to be floated as Vice President Harris’s running mate while dodging questions about whether he has received vetting materials. “Well, I’m not speaking on anything personal on this. I think being mentioned is certainly an honor,” Walz told CNN’s Jake Tapper when asked if he had received vetting materials to be the vice presidential candidate.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) warned Sunday that rising enthusiasm for Vice President Harris among Democrats should worry the Trump campaign, urging the former president to focus on policy over personal attacks. Sununu, a moderate who previously backed Nikki Haley’s primary campaign against former President Trump, told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz on “This Week” that the rise of Harris changes the race. “This is the honeymoon period,” Sununu said of the race. “The media is fawning. Everyone’s excited. It’s a whole new race. That’s all very true. And that’s going to last for about 30 days.” The governor predicted...

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that former President Donald Trump picking Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) as his running mate was “the best things he ever did for Democrats.” According to the New York Democrat, Trump could drop Vance from the GOP ticket.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that as president, Kamala Harris will work with Congress to “create a pathway to citizenship.” Anchor Jake Tapper said, “President Biden charged Vice President Harris with addressing the root causes of mass migration at the border by going to those Central American countries. She’s consistently defended his handling of the border crisis. I don’t need to tell you voters overwhelmingly disapprove of how the Biden-Harris administration has handled the border by giving the nomination to one of the leaders of the border effort. So aren’t democrats doubling down...

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that former President Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) were “just weird.” Pritzker said, “The electorate is energized. Democrats are ready to go. You’ve seen hundreds of thousands of people signing up to volunteer. Our candidate is the energizer bunny. She’s been everywhere all the time over the last several days, and we’re excited about that to get to see her in the battleground states and all over the country. Her message is one that I think resonates with people. One of those things, of course,...

Governor Wes Moore (D-MD) said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that President Joe Biden deserved better treatment than public calls for him to leave the presidential race. Guest host Martha Raddatz said, “You had been a very strong supporter of Joe Biden staying in the race just a few days after that disastrous debate saying, he is not going to take himself out of the race nor should he. Did your concerns grow as the weeks went on?” Moore said, “I had private conversations with the president. And I’m a big believer that when you care about somebody, you tell...

A video has emerged showing previous comments of Vice President Kamala Harris questioning whether young people should forgo having children due to “climate anxiety.” While speaking at Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pennsylvania, Harris spoke about how during the 2020 presidential election, there was a “record turnout” because younger voters showed up. Harris added how young voters were vocal about how they were “going to direct and decide” the future of our nation, and how they have taken charge of issues such as climate change.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the Supreme Court was “actively undermining our democracy.” According to the Massachusetts Democrat, that required reforms. Warren said, “Yeah, well, I think we’ve got all the Democrats who are ready for meaningful ethics reform to bind the Supreme Court and we’re working on changes to the Supreme Court. It can be term limits, it could be adding the number of justices things we can do without having to have a constitutional amendment. I think what President Biden is doing is think about this moment, here is a...

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi rushed to the scene of Saturday evening’s Hezbollah attack on the Druze Arab town of Majdal Shams to comfort the community and assure them that Israel would respond powerfully. The IDF issued a statement: The Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, arrived last night (Saturday) at the soccer field in Majdal Shams and met with the Head of the Druze community, Shaykh Mowafaq Tarif and representatives of the local authority, the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, MG Ori Gordin and the the Commanding Officer of the...