Free Republic

Incumbent Russian leader Vladimir Putin has confirmed he will run in the national presidential elections of 2024, state news agency Tass reported, according to a Google translation. Russians will head to the polls on March 17, with Putin’s current powers set to expire on May 7. Putin, 71, has run Russia for roughly 24 years, alternatively serving as prime minister and president since 1999. Securing another presidential mandate in 2024 would see him remain at the helm of Russian politics until at least 2030. Russian state news outlet Ria Novosti reported that Putin was on Friday awarding a medal to...

Russia is in the midst of a historic population decline as it continues to grapple with low birth rates, high emigration, staggering health statistics and a deadly war in Ukraine. The growing crisis has been described by some as a "silent war" against its own human capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin has listed Russia’s declining population as a matter of national security, but his recent war in Ukraine has not only led to hundreds of thousands of additional deaths among fighting-age men but has pushed a mass exodus among Russia's younger populations. Western defense officials have estimated that as many...

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was paid nearly $128 million over the past two years through his salary, bonuses and other benefits, according to The New York Times. That figure, per the report, was discussed at the league-wide owners meeting in New York earlier this week. About 90% of Goodell’s pay over the past two years came from bonuses alone, four sources told The New York Times — which was so large “because he had helped secure such favorable labor and media deals.” Specifically, Goodell was paid $63,900,050 each year — which totals up to $127.8 million. That, per The New...

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) responded to allegations that he flew to Cancun, Mexico, in the midst of record cold temperatures and snowfall in Texas—which has been besieged by power outages over the past several days.Cruz appeared to confirm that he went to Cancun, saying that “with school canceled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends. Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon.”“My staff and I are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in...