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ATHENSUS President Donald Trump wants to withdraw 20,000 troops from Europe, Italian media reported on Wednesday.Trump plans to cut the US troop presence in Europe by about 20%, or 20,000 troops, as part of a review of Washington's commitment to protecting Europe, the state-run ANSA news agency, citing a European diplomatic source."Furthermore, for those who remain, he would like a financial contribution from European countries because these soldiers are a deterrent, and the costs cannot be borne only by American taxpayers," the source was quoted as saying by the media outlet.

President-elect Donald Trump reissued support for House Speaker Mike Johnson’s attempt on Friday to remain Speaker of the House. Trump appears steadfast that Johnson is the person to lead House Republicans in at least the first two years of his second administration. Not all House Republicans are impressed with Johnson, who tried in December to pass a huge spending bill filled with pork. A much smaller bill became law with Democrat support after Trump pressured Johnson to reduce its size. Previously, Johnson most notably rushed through a reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) with few revisions or measures...

“We must reclaim many more historic lands, restore historical equity... Finland, the Baltic States, everything's ours. Let's take Alaska too”. These are phrases thrown around by propagandist polemicists, but which we should nevertheless pay attention to. Russia 1 is considered the official voice of the Kremlin and its master. For her part, a few weeks ago Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Director and Spokeswoman for Information and Press, didn't hesitate to comment on the provocative statements made by Russia 1's propagandists: “So you haven't played Risk? People at Russia 1 certainly have, and they're keeping up the good humor...

A sprawling investigation into the online fundraising platform ActBlue has expanded into 19 states, as attorneys general across the country press the company on its security practices and whether Democrats might be using the platform to cheat on election donations. An investigation that began with a few states and a House committee has now spread across nearly half the country as chief state investigators are endeavoring to determine whether Democrats have used the ActBlue to launder foreign money or craft donations in people’s names without their permission, a practice known as "straw donations." In a letter sent last week to...

Republican Arizona Senate hopeful Kari Lake defeated former Pinal County sheriff Mark Lamb on Tuesday night, to secure the Republican nomination in that battleground state's primaries.Lake will face Democratic nominee Rep. Ruben Gallego in November.“Congratulations to Kari Lake on her commanding victory in tonight’s primary,” National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines said. “Arizonans must unite to defeat Ruben Gallego, one of the most radical Democrats in the country.”Ruben Gallego will work with Kamala Harris to abolish ICE, defund the police, and pass more reckless spending that will drive prices up. Kari Lake will work with President Trump to secure...

VIDEOIt was January 29, 2023, the first morning at sea of our Celebrity Apex cruise to the Eastern Caribbean with the Steve Kane Radio Show group and I was digging in to my beloved smoked salmon in the Ocean View Café. Suddenly my wife's eyes widened dramatically and her mouth dropped open in astonishment as she looked past my shoulder. I turned to look and what I saw was easily the most BRILLIANT rainbow I have ever seen. Yes, I also saw a rainbow during our Celebrity Equinox cruise to the Southern Caribbean back in September but this latest rainbow...

My daughter’s story is no longer novel. Stories like it are occurring in your state, your town, and perhaps even on your street. Gender dysphoria—the incongruence between the mind and the body—moves stealthily and quickly to invade girls and boys alike. But this isn’t a cautionary tale. It’s a warning. My daughter was an ultrafeminine girl since birth. She insisted that her room be painted pink, and she refused to wear anything but dresses until third grade. She avoided her older brother’s toys and sports, choosing tea sets and Shopkins, a series of tiny, collectible toys. Her favorite activity was...

I'm considering buying a new pick-up. Why new? Because it will most likely be the last vehicle I'll ever buy and I want it to last. So, I was looking at Ford F150s last night and my jaw dropped. One of the trucks was priced at $66,000!! For crying out-loud! $66K?? The one I liked the best was priced at $49,000! I'm in real estate and you can buy property cheaper! I thought perhaps some of the more experienced, wiser freepers could answer this question: Just how much does it actually cost to manufacture/produce one of these? (Or any other...

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made a push for a big stimulus package during her conversation with CNBC’s Sara Eisen on Thursday. CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” crew discuss VIDEO to Money Printers Linky

New Year's Day is approaching, which means we need to have a little talk about Hoppin' John. A savory blend of rice and black-eyed peas, it's served alongside collard greens as the traditional New Year's Day meal in the South and, increasingly, in other parts of the country. Eating those two dishes will ensure prosperity in the new year, and the collards represent greenbacks and the black-eyed peas coins. Or so they say. For a long time, if offered a plate of collards and Hoppin' John on New Years, I would have been inclined to say, "keep the change," for...

Last summer I posted about my prostate cancer predicament. Opted for radical prostatectomy (robotic) and found a good surgeon in the North Dallas/Irving area. Three month follow up PSA: 0.04, just below “undetectable” Six month follow up PSA: >0.02, lower limit of “undetectable” Praise God! I was really having a hard year because of this. Now almost completely continent, and “It” is coming back :) Thanks to FReepers who’ve been praying and counseling me on this trial.

This post is to ask for prayers for a very serious surgery I am scheduled to have this next Wednesday. It is a 4 to 7 hour long gastrectomy to remove my stomach with its related stage three cancerous tumor, now dead from chemo. I was diagnosed with stage 3 stomach cancer in July. The current “best practices” calls for four component FLOT chemotherapy, scan for lack of spread, gastrectomy if the patient can endure it, then a follow-up second four rounds of chemo. I have been undergoing cardiac evaluation the last week to see if I have a strong...

How deeply does Google penetrate both your internet life and your real life? Maybe you've been considering ditching Google search for Duck Duck Go, or trading in Google Chrome for a privacy-respecting browser like Brave? Perhaps you want to separate yourself from Gmail and Google Maps? Those are all worthwhile endeavors, but what happens when you actively block all of your devices from even pinging Google's servers? Apparently, nothing short of nightmare fuel. Gizmodo's Kashmir Hill recently accepted a monumental challenge: blocking tech giants from her everyday life due to privacy concerns and sheer curiosity. But she took the challenge...

A Chinese airline is reportedly pressing charges against a passenger who threw coins at a plane engine ahead of a recent flight for "good luck." The man’s actions allegedly caused roughly $21,000 in damages and delayed travel plans for 160-plus passengers, who were forced to wait until the following day to fly out.

As that rarest of species in Manhattan – a single female and therapist who supports the policies of Donald Trump – I am routinely informed by my dates and peers that, in addition to my common, domestic lifestyle, I am "destroying the world." Finding someone whom I can share my life with is a priority, and I am on a mainstream dating site. After a favorable email exchange with a divorced guy, things moved to a phone conversation. He asked what I do. I said I am a therapist. We talked about our mutual interest in running, and I said...

Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz said Thursday if the University of California, Berkeley doesn’t change its guidelines for campus speakers, he will take them to court. There is an eight-week delay for speakers the school deems “high profile,” but Dershowitz claimed on “Fox and Friends” they get around this rule by issuing a department invite to certain speakers. “So we have the eight week barrier. Whereas anti-Israel speakers don’t have the eight-week barrier, and I’m going to sue Berkeley if they don’t allow me to speak. They may make me wait eight weeks and allow anti-Israel speakers to come within...

Wow - Now experts are calling #Harvey a once in 500 year flood! We have an all out effort going, and going well!

I didn't think you could win the nomination. I was wrong.I didn't think you could beat the Clinton machine. I was wrong again.I still disagree with some of your ideas, but - I'm ready to give you the benefit of the doubt, and I hope and pray that you will do a great job for our country.EPoC

Chairman of the Benghazi Select Committee Trey Gowdy says the results of the Committee will be "eye-opening" and "surprising." Appearing on the Hugh Hewitt Show on Monday, Hewitt asked Gowdy, "Do you believe the question has been asked and answered adequately, yet, as to whether or not assets were proximate and available that night to come to the assistance to the people under attack in Benghazi?" "Hugh, I will tell you this. When we issue our report, and hopefully, it is coming sooner rather than later, I think that part of our investigation is going to be the most eye-opening,...

Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is seeking to take control of his struggling presidential campaign, saying in an interview that his drop in the polls is the fault of his advisers and that he plans to shake up his staff in the coming days. Carson, sitting alone Wednesday in the basement of his Maryland house, said that no one's job is safe. He complained about budgetary management in a campaign that has spent millions and called some of his top staffers overpaid and ineffective in broadcasting his message. "I'm looking at every aspect of the campaign right now. Everything is...