Free Republic

Butter is having a moment. No longer just a bit player in baking or a back-of-fridge standby, it’s taking center stage — whipped into sculptural boards, swirled into pastas, slathered generously on crusty bread. And yet, most of us still toss the same familiar yellow box into our grocery carts week after week. What actually makes a butter “better,” and which store-bought slabs are worth the splurge? To find out, we talked to chefs, cheesemongers and cookbook authors obsessed with butter — not just for the flavor, but for the science and soul behind it. We asked about butter for...

California used to be a place where you could get ahead. Work hard, save up, buy your first home, and build a life. That path is disappearing. A generation ago, buying your first home was something many Californians could imagine doing in their 20s. Today, the median first-time homebuyer is 40. Today, first-time buyers are being shut out of the market entirely. The homes that do get built are too big, too expensive, and completely out of reach for young, middle-class families. Starter homes, the foundation of a healthy housing market, have almost vanished. That’s not just a housing issue....

The ceasefire in the Gulf is four weeks old and showing its age. The US and Iran's determination to keep the pressure on each other has put it in serious jeopardy. This is a dangerous moment. The ceasefire opened up a chance for diplomacy that looked for a short time as if it might make progress. Americans and Iranians faced each other across a conference table in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, but came away empty-handed. The Pakistanis are trying to revive the process, without much success so far. Both America and Iran want to have a deal. But they have different...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Elizabeth Warren was seen riding into town Monday morning bearing the scalp of her defeated enemy, Spirit Airlines. The senator from Massachusetts previously opposed a merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, arguing that Spirit Airlines "made mockery of Great Spirit" and only its defeat would "bring'em return of buffalo." "Me no make'em deal with palefaces," Warren said at the time. "Call for anti-trust. Me anti-trust white man." At the time, others argued in favor of the merger, saying it would save thousands of jobs and enable the two budget airlines to join forces against the...

India wants to fence the border with Bangladesh badly – even if it takes venomous snakes or crocodiles. Analysts and activists have expressed alarm at the prospect of dangerous animals such as crocodiles being used to deter refugees and migrants. “This would be hilarious if it weren’t sinister and dangerous,” said Angshuman Choudhury, a researcher with a focus on northeastern and eastern Indian border states. “It’s absurd, right?”

Listen to those like leftist podcaster Hasan Piker and former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan, who openly support Hamas, and they’ll tell you that while they support the destruction of Israel, they want to assure Jews in the Diaspora that they have nothing to fear from them. Or, at least, not as long as they don’t support Israel. They are adamant in asserting that anti-Zionism—a movement that denies rights to Jews that no one would think to deny to any other group or people—is not the same thing as antisemitism. Indeed, like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, they are proud...

**McCormick (especially Mayonesa con Jugo de Limón) dominates the Mexican mayonnaise market, holding roughly 70% share.** It is the clear #1 due to its creamy texture, distinctive lime flavor (popular for elotes, tortas, and other Mexican dishes), and widespread availability. It has long been a household staple. Here are the **top 5 mayonnaise brands in Mexico**, based on market dominance, popularity/sales (e.g., Amazon bestsellers), consumer mentions, and quality evaluations from Profeco (Mexico's consumer protection agency): 1. **McCormick** (Mayonesa con Jugo de Limón) The undisputed leader and most popular brand. It stands out for its lime-infused flavor that Mexicans prefer over...

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This is absolutely mind blowing! When Karin Bass was in Ghana as Los Angeles burned, the deputy mayor she left in charge was at home on house arrest. For phoning in a bomb threat. We are indeed governed by criminals. From @spencerpratt on @joerogan

When it comes to storing food, many of us follow the practices our parents and grandparents used. Who cares about reading the package instructions when Grandma left her butter in the butter bell all day, every day, right? So, maybe your butter's home is on the counter in a dish. Or if not on the counter at all times, perhaps you leave your butter sitting out overnight to soften before baking. But, should you leave butter sitting out, unrefrigerated? And, if so, how long can it be on the counter before it becomes unsafe to eat? We asked the experts...

MS Now host and activist Al Sharpton condemned Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday for doing an impersonation of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. Amid an ongoing redistricting battle, there has been another feud about political rhetoric and tone. Just days before an apparent assassination attempt on President Donald Trump's life, Jeffries warned DeSantis against redrawing the state’s congressional map, declaring, "We are in an era of maximum warfare. Everywhere, all the time." He has also challenged Republicans with similar rhetoric, declaring, "Our message to Florida Republicans is, ‘F around and find out.’" During a news conference amid the...

Democrat Mayor of Aurora, Illinois, is driving around DOXING ICE agents and sharing their live locations. This elected official is actively protecting foreign m*rderers, r*pists, and p*dophiles He needs to resign IMMEDIATELY Disgusting

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — In a touching tribute to one of America's most formative chapters in air travel, dozens of emotional passengers gathered at the gate to board the final scheduled flight of Spirit Airlines, preparing themselves for one last, glorious, no-holds-barred midair brawl. Witnesses described a reverent atmosphere at the terminal, as longtime customers embraced, wiped away tears, and quietly slipped brass knuckles on before boarding began. "We wanted to honor the legacy," said gate agent Melissa Rios, who was seen handing out commemorative mouthguards at the check-in counter. "One last time, we all want to feel that electric...

The luxury MV Hondius cruise ship at the center of a deadly suspected hantavirus outbreak has been refused permission to dock in the West African island nation of Cape Verde, officials said Monday. Roughly 150 people are currently trapped on the Dutch cruise liner off the African coast after three passengers died and others became seriously sick with symptoms. The ship, which was on a weekslong polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica, had requested help from local health authorities on Sunday following the latest death. So far, no one has yet been allowed to disembark, the company operating the cruise...

@Nigel_Farage If you vote Reform you will not have an illegal migrant deportation facility in your area. We will hold migrants awaiting deportation in constituencies that vote Green instead. You get what you vote for.

Fauxcahontas got her wish. Elitist ghoul Elizabeth Warren has long held a grudge against people who earn their money. The multimillionaire senior senator from Massachusetts has a net worth of several million dollars but likes to pretend that she's down with the struggle like us regular folk. Yeah... no. Like all wealthy leftists, Warren has little care for those of us who work for a living. She also has a frothing hatred for corporations that earn money and provide jobs. This is from my HotAir colleague David Strom: My wife and I were regular flyers on Spirit, and we actually...

You know what's ironic? All the Canadians who didn't have kids to keep the environment pristine are now importing workers from countries where garbage is dumped directly into rivers. Coquitlam, British Columbia: Indian immigrant washes clothes in the river, using harmful detergents. Locals shout out to him that the detergent will affect the salmon and other wildlife. Woman 1: We don't put soap in the river! There's salmon. There's all sorts of fish. This is a protected area! Please no laundry detergent in this area! Woman 2: You're poisoning the fish! We're calling the police! Woman 1: We don't do...

POTUS announced yesterday, to great fanfare that the US would begin escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.It was to begin on Monday.The daylight hours of Monday have passed in the Persian Gulf.Has anyone heard of a ship being escorted through? I can't find anything.

U.S. Central Command (Centcom) on Monday dismissed a claim from Iranian state media that a U.S. warship was hit by Iranian missiles. “CLAIM: Iranian state media claims that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hit a U.S. warship with two missiles,” Centcom said in a post on the social platform X early Monday morning. “TRUTH: No U.S. Navy ships have been struck. U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports,” Centcom added, referencing an effort announced by President Trump on Sunday to free up ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Tasnim news agency, in...

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