Free Republic

A 4th of July weekend celebration turned into a fiery nightmare when fireworks went screaming into the stands at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles — sending panicked fans scrambling for cover. Just minutes after Angel City FC defeated the Orlando Pride 2-0, the club’s Independence Day weekend pyrotechnics display went haywire. Instead of launching into the sky, multiple mortars allegedly fired sideways across the field and toward packed seating sections. “The end is actually the worst. I saw several flames go into the crowd. It was terrifying!” one shaken Reddit user wrote. Another fan said the experience was still haunting...

Nearly a dozen members of the wealthy Soros family collectively poured more than $1.6 million to Congressional candidates’ midterm campaigns so far, The Post has learned. The donations suggest the clan’s grip on American politics extends even beyond patriarch George Soros and his son Alex, who took control of his father’s $25 billion empire ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Topping the list of the other members of the clan was George’s son from his first marriage, Jonathan Soros and his wife Jennifer Allan Soros, who together donated $380,000 to House and Senate races all over the country. Jonathan, 55,...

He’s still AWOL. Iran’s “probably gay” and badly disfigured new supreme leader has reportedly been barred from showing up at his own father’s funeral. Mojtaba Khamenei asked to perform rites over his father Ali Khamenei’s dead body, when the late ayatollah is set to be buried in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9 wrapping up the dayslong state funeral. But security officials told him no deal, according to two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps who spoke to the New York Times. Khamenei’s security team reportedly believes Israel would try to assassinate him if he shows his face...

Hundreds of masked white supremacists descended on the nation’s capital, proudly waving Confederate flags during the 250th Independence Day celebration. The demonstrators were seen wearing hats emblazoned with the logo for the Patriot Front — a white nationalist group founded by Thomas Rousseau after the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, according to George Washington University’s Program on Extremism. Counterprotester Heather Heyer was infamously killed at that rally when a madman plowed into her and several others. Members of the group were snapped riding the DC Metro Saturday. In one shot, a black woman sitting on the train...

The next time an ambitious adventurer gets trapped in a flooded cave, the person coming to their rescue might not be a human at all. It might be a mind-controlled, diving-suit-wearing cockroach. Sorry, entomophobes. These cyborgs are already being used in search-and-rescue operations and pipeline inspections, but so far those efforts have been limited to dry land. That’s changing. Researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore 3D-printed a flexible diving suit that roaches wear like a backpack. A chemical oxygen generator inside of it creates oxygen when the bug swims underwater and pumps it through tubes connected to the spiracles...

The Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest marked the United States' 250th birthday with chomp and circumstance Saturday with a pair of defending champions reigning again on Coney Island. Record holder Joey Chestnut took down 66 hot dogs to claim the Mustard Belt for the 18th time, and Miki Sudo downed 38.75 hot dogs for her record 12th victory. "I knew I was going to be able to get the win," Chestnut said, adding, "I've got so much room left." Chestnut beat out 13 competitors who came from around the country and world, trekking from the Czech Republic, Australia and...

A Malaysian man held a ghost wedding with a standee of his late fiancee who died before they could marry. The man, who goes by John Muaythai John on Facebook, posted videos of the ceremony on Sunday (June 28), five days after his livestreamer fiancee, SaKira Saw, died unexpectedly. In Chinese culture, a ghost marriage is one where either or both parties are deceased. It is a form of bereavement, and is done in the belief that the couple will be married in the spiritual realm. John and Saw had been planning to get married in November this year, according...

The July 4th 1776 Declaration of Independence wasn't the first important Declaration that Jefferson was involved in. A year earlier, July 6th 1775, the Second Continental Congress had him write what amounts to a Declaration of War, which somehow never gets any attention.

Explanation: On July 4th, 1997, using its own array of fireworks, a parachute, and a cocoon of airbags, the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft bounced like a giant beach ball at least 15 times before it came to rest on the surface of Mars at 10:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time. After its then novel airbag-assisted landing sequence was completed, Pathfinder transmitted this color mosaic to mission operators on Earth. In the scene from another world, the Mars Sojourner robot rover is visible in the foreground, crouched on top of the unfolded Pathfinder. About the size of a large house cat, the six-wheeled,...

Short 1:25 AI video of what the July 4 250th celebration in DC would have looked like under President Kammy.

SPARKS AND STRIPES! Battleship Texas helped celebrate America's 250th birthday on July 3, 2026, with a drone show, fireworks, and multiple 14-inch gun salutes. The Battleship is currently undergoing restoration before moving to her new location across the harbor, where she will have a visitor center and welcome visitors on board.

Streamer Sneako declares “New York is an Islamic state” / “This is the Islamic Republic of New Yorkistan” “Islam will be in every household. Inshallah, the whole world will become Muslim.” How do we coexist with this?

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. -- Okaloosa County is reapplying for permits required to sink the SS United States.The county said they are reapplying for the permitting area where the SS United States will be deployed. This results in the original permit being modified.The historic ocean liner is set to become the world's largest artificial reef. The only thing standing in the way now is final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers."There's people that want to come from all over Europe, Australia, Asia all different locations wanting to hit it," says Mason Ousley, the manager at Dive Pros.>>>The ocean liner...

Imagine a woman driving across state lines alone at night, fearful that her car might break down and leave her vulnerable. Or picture a truck driver hauling valuable cargo across the country. In states such as California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon – five of the ten states that refuse to recognize concealed handgun permits from other states – these travelers can find themselves defenseless. Nine states also either deny non-residents permits altogether or make them extremely difficult to obtain. Last week, President Trump again called for passage of national concealed carry reciprocity. The legislation would allow anyone...

President Donald Trump's plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appears to be working, as transits show the strongest signs yet of returning to normal operations. Commercial shipping is steadily increasing under the 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire, easing fears of prolonged global oil supply disruptions and driving crude prices lower. New maritime data shows vessel traffic through the strategic waterway has more than quadrupled over the past week as shipping companies cautiously resume voyages through the Persian Gulf. According to maritime intelligence platform Signal, the number of traceable daily voyages entering and leaving the Gulf increased from just one or two...

The real story of the Declaration of Independence - the secret conversation between Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOOQfGWt8Hc

Extra special feature: Kate Smith leading the singing of "God Bless America." Dean Martin & Kate Smith - America Medley & Show Ending [video- with Barbara Eden, Mickey Rooney & Norm Crosby]

Video at link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pZ1brENIjw

In this video, The Electric Viking details Tesla's record-breaking Q2 2026 performance. Despite broader market skepticism, Tesla delivered 480,126 vehicles in the second quarter of 2026, marking a significant 25% year-over-year increase and crushing Wall Street's consensus estimates by roughly 74,000 units (0:13-0:28). Key takeaways from the report: Strong Rebound: This quarter marks Tesla's strongest second quarter ever and the first year-over-year growth following two straight years of decline (0:36-0:47). Production vs. Deliveries: Tesla delivered 480,126 vehicles while producing 451,758, indicating that they successfully cleared out excess inventory (0:51-1:03). Model Mix: Deliveries were heavily dominated by the Model Y and...

Young Washington is a 2026 American epic historical war drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Jon Erwin. It is based on the early life of the Founding Father and first president of the United States, George Washington and focuses on his experiences and command in the French and Indian War between 1753 and 1755. William Franklyn-Miller stars as the titular character, alongside Mary-Louise Parker, Kelsey Grammer, Andy Serkis and Ben Kingsley.The film premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 13, 2026, and was released in the United States by Angel Studios on July 3, 2026. The film received mixed...