Free Republic

The plight of Afghan allies desperately trying to flee the Taliban is exposing divisions among Republicans, with some pressing the Biden administration to help resettle those people who helped the U.S. military and others stoking nativist fears about an influx of refugees. The rift comes as Republicans have tried to remain unified in their criticism of President Biden’s handling of the messy U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The GOP divide is taking place at both the state and national level. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) was one of the first GOP governors to say his state is “ready and willing”...

Concerns are mounting in Maryland after a male teacher was found posting TikTok videos flaunting what he describes as his pregnancy and breast-implant fetish. Although the teacher has since locked down his social media accounts, the child-safeguarding organization Gays Against Groomers saved one of the clips and reposted it on X, where it has already racked up more than 30,000 views at the time of writing. Reduxx has identified the teacher in the controversial video as James Roman Stilipec, who instructs Grade 9 English at REACH! Partnership School 341 in Baltimore. In the clip shared by Gays Against Groomers, Stilipec...

Kevin Spacey has revealed that he is currently homeless and 'living in hotels' as he admits his financial situation is 'not great'. Just two years ago, the actor was cleared of sexual assault allegations against four men during a UK trial in 2023. He has since struggled to get work and has passionately spoken out about his 'cancellation' in Hollywood. At the time of the allegations he was living in Baltimore, Maryland, where he had been based for 12 years. But in a new interview he has told The Telegraph that he lost his house and is now 'living in...

The rebuilding cost of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge has more than doubled, and has a new expected opening of late 2030. The Key Bridge, which collapsed in March 2024 after being hit by a cargo ship, is now projected to cost $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion to rebuild, up from the previous cost estimate of $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion, CNN reported. The bridge was also originally expected to be completed by 2028. “Preliminary cost and project time estimates were made less than two weeks after the initial crash and before any engineering or design studies were conducted,” Maryland...

The state argues the reversal was unlawful and requests an injunction to block fund diversion and enforce plans approved by Congress. AG Anthony Brown accused the Trump administration of “attempting to unlawfully reprogram and transfer over $1 billion in funds that Congress designated specifically for the Greenbelt project.” The federal lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, requests the court to “stop the unlawful selection of the Reagan Building, prevent the diversion of congressionally appropriated funds and ensure the Trump administration follows the law,” according to Brown. The FBI and General Services Administration released a...

Texas voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment on Tuesday that adds noncitizens to the list of individuals prohibited from voting in state elections, reinforcing that only US citizens are eligible to cast ballots. Proposition 16 passed with over 71 percent support as of Wednesday afternoon. The measure amends the Texas Constitution to explicitly include “persons who are not citizens of the United States” among those barred from voting. The list already includes convicted felons who have not met certain conditions for reinstatement and individuals deemed mentally incompetent by a court. By placing the citizenship requirement directly into the state constitution, the...

Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore on Tuesday launched a redistricting commission to consider whether to redraw the state's congressional lines ahead of next year's midterms, as other states redo their districts. The launch comes the same day that California voters are casting their ballots on whether the Golden State should participate in the redistricting movement. The resolution would redraw House districts to secure a greater Democratic advantage as retaliation for similar Republican efforts in states like Texas. The commission will be led by Maryland Democratic Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and will hold public hearings, solicit feedback and make recommendations to the...

Maryland State Senator Dalya Attar has been indicted after allegedly filming two of her rivals in bed together in an attempt to silence them. The bombshell indictment, filed on October 23, alleged that Attar, 35, planted tracking and recording devices to catch her two critics in the act. Attar then threatened to release the footage of the two 'in bed' unless they met her demands not to speak out against her publicly, prosecutors said. She is facing eight federal charges of extortion and conspiracy related to the alleged plot, which prosecutors said occurred in the run-up to the 2020 and...

State Senate president rejects midcycle changes to congressional map as ‘too risky’Gov. Wes Moore (D) hinted that he may move ahead with plans to redraw the state’s eight congressional districts, and to call a possible special session, despite opposition from a key lawmaker. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), in a letter to Senate Democrats Tuesday, said he opposed mid-cycle redistricting, which he called “too risky” for Democrats who could end up losing a seat in their efforts to redraw congressional districts to gain one. Ferguson said that redistricting in the middle of a decade “twists rules for potential short-term...

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has been pressuring states to redistrict their maps to give the Democrats more seats. Maryland and Illinois won’t comply. Illinois Out of all the states, Jeffries targeted Illinois? Really? The Democrats outnumber the Republicans 14 to 3. The new map would make it 15-2. I guess one is better than nothing for these people. Also, Illinois is beyond corrupt, so it’s probably the party’s best bet. Jeffries met with the representatives “whose districts could be redrawn.” Blacks hold those four districts. Yes, it’s all about race. God forbid we make it about population size. Oh,...

Just felt a massive (for us) shake through the house and way outside, heard continuous rumbling noise almost like a distant explosion. Like an aircraft jet engine nearby taking off. Anyone here with news?

Maryland Governor Wes Moore strongly hinted today that he is ready to call a special session of the General Assembly to redraw the state congressional districts. That move would flip Maryland’s lone Republican seat in Congress, currently held by Representative Andy Harris, to a Democrat. At an appearance at a food pantry in Bowie today, 7News pushed the governor for an answer to redistricting. Yesterday, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called for redistricting in a series of social media posts. “I hate gerrymandering. I hate it as a concept. I hate that it happens. But also you know what I hate?...

Furloughed federal workers in Maryland stood in a food bank line Tuesday as the government shutdown continues and families try to figure out how to put food on the table. The Capital Area Food Bank began free food distributions for federal workers and contractors this week in Hyattsville. With an hour to go before food was handed out, a long line of people waited for help.

As Republicans across the country pursue new congressional maps to boost their party ahead of next year's midterm elections, Democrats are ramping up pressure on states where they can respond. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has held discussions with members of the Maryland delegation and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore in recent weeks about possible mid-decade redistricting efforts, according to a source with knowledge of the conversations. The source also said Jeffries spoke with members of the Illinois delegation about drawing new district lines, as Politico first reported. Maryland has just one Republican, Rep. Andy Harris, in its eight-member House...

Conservative activist Cam Higby was attacked outside Washington’s Union Station this week while attempting to engage in peaceful political discussions. The incident comes as Higby launches his “Fearless Tour,” an effort he says that is inspired by the late Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated while engaging in similar dialogue. In the viral clip, a woman is first seen kneeling beside Higby, reaching for his MAGA hat. As Higby repeats, “Stop, stop, stop,” the woman, identified as Taylor Forte, grew more aggressive, standing up and trying to rip the hat from his head before knocking him over in his chair. Higby...

C3 @C_3C_3 Adam Schiff is next… Mortgage applications with a Primary Residence in Maryland and also California.

The Senate Democrats’ campaign arm is planning a two-day getaway at a five-star resort in the heart of California’s wine country in early October — at the same time the country may be in the midst of a government shutdown — according to an invitation obtained by Politico’s “Playbook.” The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is hosting its Napa Retreat from Oct. 13-14 at Hotel Yountville in Napa County, Politico reported Saturday. Democratic New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who has chaired the DSCC since January, circulated an invitation to the event which lists her, Democratic Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and...

Ian Andre Roberts is currently registered to vote in Maryland. When he registered in 2017, he reportedly had been working in St. Louis for years. There’s no indication from his resumes that he’s lived in Baltimore since he registered to vote there.

Nicholas Roske, 26, is from Simi Valley, California. A LinkedIn page in the name of Nicholas Roske of Simi Valley says that he worked as an office manager at a pest control company. A criminal complaint accuses Roske of “attempts to kidnap or murder, or threatens to assault, kidnap or murder a United States Judge, to wit: a current Justice of the United States Supreme Court.” It outlines a number of items he’s accused of bringing with him to Kavanaugh’s neighborhood, including duct tape, zip ties, and a pistol. The suspect also goes by the names Nicholas Roske and Nick...

Wild video released by the Prince George’s County Police Department shows what officers describe as "illegal car takeovers" that have been causing chaos in Maryland. The aerial footage captures dozens of people standing within feet of cars spinning wildly at high speeds in places like shopping center parking lots. The video landed amid an ongoing political battle over crime in Maryland. Gov. Wes Moore has invited President Donald Trump to take part in a "safety walk" in Baltimore to highlight crime-reduction efforts. Trump, meanwhile, has criticized Moore, accusing him of failing in public safety and posted on Truth Social in...