Free Republic

The man at the heart of a high-stakes mix-up that rippled through global political journalism in the final days of the New York mayoral campaign was neither “falsely claiming” to be former Mayor Bill de Blasio — as the Times of London suggested — nor, as The New York Times wrote, a “de Blasio impersonator.” He is, instead, a 59-year-old Long Island wine importer named Bill DeBlasio, who merely responded to an email from a journalist seeking his views on Democrat Zohran Mamdani’s policies. “I’m Bill DeBlasio. I’ve always been Bill DeBlasio,” DeBlasio said in an interview conducted Wednesday evening...

In one of America’s most popular novels, seven-year-old Scout has been reading “ever since she was born.” She and her father read the newspapers together every evening. Late in the summer, she realized she would be starting school in a week. “I never looked forward more to anything in my life. Hours of wintertime had found me in the treehouse, looking over at the schoolyard, spying on the children there. ... I longed to join them.” But everything changed by lunchtime! Scout’s older brother Jem asked how she was getting along on her first day of school. “I told him....

The only upside to living through this dark time is it pushes us to rethink and perhaps totally remake things we once thought immutable. Like the Democratic party. In case you hadn’t noticed, the current Democratic party is dysfunctional, if not dead. Better dysfunctional than a fascist cult like the Trump Republican party. But if there were ever a time when America needed a strong, vibrant Democratic party, it’s now. And we don’t have one. The brightest light in the Democratic party is Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old member of the New York state assembly who has a good chance of...

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Gov. JB Pritzker's (D-Ill) claim that crime is down in his state and the City of Chicago is based largely on reclassifying felonies to misdemeanors. The Governor boasted "this essentially cost-free method of improving our safety record is something we should have thought of doing a long time ago. Prosecutors have always had the authority to decide whether to reduce the cost of prosecuting offenders by offering them a deal to plead to a misdemeanor and get a lesser sentence or probation rather than being tried for a felony. We also save on incarceration expenses with the lighter sentences." US...

VIDEOThe famous Dom Luis bridge in Porto over the Douro River felt like a magical experience while we were walking on it. Built in 1886, the arched bridge has two levels. The lower level for vehicular traffic and the upper level, where we were, is for light rail and pedestrian traffic. The elements of the lighting from a perfect sunset, the music in the distance from a festival, electric train cars gliding past us, the variety of people, both locals and tourists, including the eccentric English Fox hunters, all blended to create that magical unforgettable ambiance. I hope this video...

VIDEOMichael Franzese is like a walking encyclopedia of the Mob so naturally when the NBA betting scandal broke, I checked out his video channel for inside information on this since he has been there, done that. Although Franzese usually comes across as a very friendly guy, while describing how he used to convince players to shave points on games, his inner scary Mob boss came out. There is no better source of information than his channel on this scandal so watch Michael give the detailed information on sports betting and Mob involvement at the link below.Ex Mobster Breaks Down NBA...

Candidate for the Democrat nomination for US Senator from Maine Graham Platner's Nazi SS tattoo has stirred up some controversy. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), who has endorsed Platner, urged voters "to not fall victim to those who would unfairly judge this solid fighter for socialism. Remember, Nazi is short for National Socialist German Workers' Party. While Hitler took a wrong turn when he reneged on his deal with Stalin to carve up the smaller nations of eastern Europe between them during World War II, his previous program of socialist investment in German factories helped rescue the country from the Great...

In California, US Rep. Robert Garcia announced that "the House Democrats on the Oversight Committee are establishing a 'Master ICE Tracker' that will help our Antifa street fighters locate where immigrants are being arrested and allow them to intervene and prevent the deportation of the folks invited into our country by former President Biden." Apple and Facebook have removed similar ICE trackers from their platforms lest they be held liable for damages in any violent confrontations enabled by their ICE trackers. Garcia explained his strategy, saying "with the government shutdown there is no money to pay the ICE agents that...

U.S. — In light of the NBA's recent gambling scandal, WNBA players assured federal agents that they don't miss easy layups to throw games, they just suck at basketball. Suspicion had arisen regarding the effort of WNBA players, with many people leveling accusations at them for trying to intentionally lose games as part of an alleged nationwide illegal gambling operation. A group of players met with FBI agents Thursday afternoon to vehemently deny such rumors, clarifying that they were just all really awful basketball players. "I know it seems like a scam, but we're all just really, really bad at...

NEW YORK, NY — Thursday's arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, former NBA player Damon Jones, and 28 other individuals were brought to you by DraftKings, the NBA said in a statement. "This completely unsanctioned and clearly illegal activity is sponsored by DraftKings," the NBA said in a statement. "Use promo code MAFIA25 to receive $300 in bonus bets when you sign up for a new account." Select NBA officials, along with members of the New York Mafia, reportedly participated in an illegal gambling ring in which they rigged poker games and...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid an ongoing government shutdown, members of the U.S. Congress reassured the American public on Thursday that the paychecks of the U.S. Congress would not be affected. "A government shutdown can be a stressful time for everyone," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "But rest assured, we're still collecting our paychecks." Senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle were quick to inform their constituents that Congress would still receive its pay despite the government shutdown. "I know WIC, EBT, housing assistance, disaster assistance, and federal student aid disbursements have all been delayed, but please don't...

U.S. — According to sources, the next "No Kings" protest is expected to end no later than 4 p.m. so that everyone in attendance can get home in time for Matlock. The "No Kings" movement, which is primarily comprised of elderly caucasian men and women, is reportedly focused on resisting what they perceive as increasingly authoritarian moves by President Donald Trump at any cost — well, any cost but Matlock. "I want to watch Matlock!" said Andy Wilson, a boomer. "What's the point of saving American democracy if we lose Matlock?" Matlock, currently in its 30th year of syndication, is...

Now that Trump has gotten the surviving Israeli hostages released and IDF troops withdrawn from Gaza, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken is complaining that he and former President Biden "are not getting a fair share of the credit for this achievement. We exerted continuous pressure on Israel for more than a year asking them to end the war by withdrawing from Gaza. Now after Trump spent a mere week on the problem Israel has withdrawn, the war is over, and the hostages have been released. Where is our Nobel Peace Prize?" Trump asserted that "the Biden-Blinken strategy was a...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump has declared the White House a no-go zone for ICE raids until construction is completed on the new ballroom. Trump assured all the construction workers on site that everything would be cool so long as they were working on the ballroom, but he couldn't make any promises after that. "We're going to put just a little hold on the ICE raids until the ballroom is done," said Trump. "I told Tom Homan, I said Tom, you're doing great work, I love what you're doing out there. You can go nuts in Chicago or New York,...

This idiotic statement was made by CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour. "The hostages were a key bargaining chip of Hamas in the peace negotiations," she said. "So, I'm sure they were better fed and cared for than the average inhabitant of Gaza. None of them had to worry about whether aid would get through to them. On the other hand, the latest data released by the Palestinian Ministry of Health says Israel's military killed 67,173 killed Gazans, including 20,179 children." On October 7, 2023 Hamas took 251 hostages. This week they released the 20 who survived captivity. This amounts to a...

VIDEOMallory McMorrow, a Democrat politician who is running for the U.S. Senate from Michigan, put on her Sherlock Holmes cap and ASKED No Kings protestors if they were getting paid. Surprise! Surprise! They all DENIED it. Case closed! How can they possibly be paid if they all deny it? Don't laugh because McMorrow believes you are STUPID enough to fall for this "proof."Hey OJ! Did you kill your wife? No? Okay, that proves he was innocent!You know who else would deny she was being paid if you asked her? The last No Kings protestor in this video. However, she pretty...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Trump administration officials announced on Monday that renovations on the White House Throne Room have been completed. According to sources, the new throne room had undergone extensive remodeling to reflect President Donald Trump's increased monarchic power and bring greater honor and prestige to his historic reign over the nation. "It is now truly fitting for a king," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported. "The White House Throne Room has been retrofitted with golden accents, a diamond encrusted gold throne, and a mural depicting President Trump on a horse rampaging through a peaceful protest." Though most Americans were unaware,...

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson cited the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to support her contention that "gerrymandering congressional districts to ensure that there are more majority Black districts is constitutional. Mental ability statistics show that, as a race, Blacks have a lower IQ than any other race. The only way they can be fairly represented in Congress is if they can have districts where their mental disability is out-weighed by greater numbers of Black voters." Chief Justice John Roberts said "I have long held that the only way to end racial discrimination is to stop using race as...

In a bizarre display of intergenerational opportunism, Medicare Supplemental Insurance salesman Jerry Jenkins has been raking in the dough by targeting the unlikeliest of demographics: Baby Boomers participating in the No Kings Day protests against Trump's alleged authoritarianism. Yes, you read that right-Boomers, armed with inflatable unicorns and "America Has No Kings" signs, are storming the streets, and Jenkins is right behind them, clipboard in hand. "I mean, who better to sell to than people already primed to trust the government?" Jenkins mused, adjusting his plaid suit. "They're like, 'We need to protect democracy-oh, and also my Medicare benefits!' I'm...