Free Republic

Former President Donald Trump has been banned from talking — or posting — about certain evidence uncovered in the Manhattan District Attorney’s “hush money” criminal case. Justice Juan Merchan handed down the ruling Thursday during a Manhattan Supreme Court hearing after prosecutors sought a protective order to restrict Trump, 76, from publicly revealing any evidence handed over to his legal team as the case unfolds. The judge — who insisted he was not imposing a “gag order” — said Trump was prohibited from talking about evidence specifically obtained by the DA’s Office and turned over to the defense to prepare...

The Obama administration told CNSNews.com Thursday that it is currently in the process of procuring solar panels to place on the White House roof but it cannot discuss the progress on the project because of "sensitivities." “The solar installations on the residence will be part of a Department of Energy project to demonstrate American solar energy technology and know-how,” DOE Spokeswoman Jen Stutsman told CNSNews.com in an e-mail. “The project will show that American solar technology is available, reliable, and ready to install in homes throughout the country.”

Can anyone tell me why suddenly race is the hot topic of national discourse? According to Gallup polling of last week, the issues most on the minds of Americans are the economy and jobs followed by dissatisfaction with all aspects of government. I didn’t notice racism on the list anywhere. The NAACP says it was “snookered” by Fox News on the Shirley Sherrod story. I say we’ve all been snookered by the NAACP. The NAACP has shown that those who have written this organization off as irrelevant are wrong. It demonstrated this past week that if it so chooses it...

PARIS - European leaders are considering their own economic sanctions against Iran over its refusal to forgo parts of its nuclear program, France's foreign minister said Sunday, indicating that U.N.-imposed penalties have not been effective. Bernard Kouchner, speaking on RTL radio, also warned that the international community should be prepared for the possibility of war in the event that Iran obtains atomic weapons. The U.S., its European allies and other world powers suspect Iranian authorities of seeking nuclear weapons, although Tehran insists its atomic activities are aimed only at producing energy. Negotiations and two sets of U.N. Security Council sanctions...

WASHINGTON – Confronted with the likelihood that Gov. Gray Davis will face a recall election, California's congressional Democrats are talking about uniting behind an alternative candidate on the recall ballot. They are contemplating trying to enlist a prominent Democrat who could keep fellow Democrats with gubernatorial ambitions from running by promising to serve only the rest of Davis' term and not run for a full term in 2006. Though big-name Democrats say they won't be candidates to replace Davis, lawmakers at a meeting last week with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said she expressed concern about the...