Free Republic

Democrat lawmakers have been rallying behind a simple slogan in opposition to DOGE (the “Department of Government Efficiency”): “Nobody elected Elon.” The slogan might be convincing if the irony behind the statement weren’t so apparent.Much of the consternation surrounding DOGE has been due to Elon Musk’s involvement in downsizing federal bureaucracies such as USAID. But if this criticism (that nobody elected Elon) were applied to all bureaucrats, all the agencies Musk is targeting would be closed already.Unlike most federal bureaucrats, Elon campaigned alongside Trump and was a known part of the package. In this sense, he’s probably closer to being...

A recent incident at a USA Fencing tournament has sparked outrage after a female fencer was disqualified for taking a knee in protest of competing against a transgender athlete. The incident, which took place at the University of Maryland on March 30 during the USA Fencing-sanctioned regional tournament “The Cherry Blossom – D1A/VET ROC,” was captured in a viral video posted by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, or ICONS. In the video, fencer Stephanie Turner can be seen taking a knee instead of competing against Redmond Sullivan, a transgender athlete who switched from the men’s fencing team to the...

Video Testimony At Link

U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, made remarks during a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday that have ignited a debate about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Crockett recounted her experience being hired as a public defender despite having no prior criminal defense experience. She stated that she told her prospective boss, “Listen, you should hire me,” and when asked why, replied, “Because I’m Black.” Crockett explained that she believed her presence would allow her to establish a level of rapport and understanding with certain clients that her colleagues might not be able to achieve. Her boss ultimately...

It is not known which officials will have their jobs terminated. Tresident Donald Trump has reportedly fired six National Security Council staffers over concerns about their loyalty to the administration. The purported firings were reported Thursday by The New York Times, on information the newspaper said came from sources who said Trump loyalist Laura Loomer is behind the ousters. They said Loomer, who has worked as a journalist, presented the president with research at a meeting Wednesday about which staffers she found to be disloyal to him. The names of the staffers who were reportedly fired have not been made...

Sen. Rand Paul has a reputation for forcing his GOP colleagues to take tough votes, and he’s already got a zinger in mind as the Senate prepares for another all-night “vote-a-rama” on Friday.Before Senate Republicans can adopt their revamped budget framework, the Kentucky Republican plans to offer just one amendment: a proposal to substantially shrink the GOP’s current plan to raise the debt limit by $5 trillion under the party-line package they’re trying to clear this year to cut taxes, boost military budgets, ramp up border security spending and more. Instead, Paul’s amendment would allow Republicans to clear a $500...

Nike stock is plunging on Thursday, the day after President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs that will end the nation’s decades-long free trade policy. “NKE was last seen 11.3% lower at $57.62, as investors digest the long-term impact of rising supply chain costs on the company’s margins,” Schaeffer’s Investment Research reports. “The stock is set to snap a three-day win streak, extending its late-March post-earnings bear gap and hitting its lowest level since November 2017. Nike stock now carries a 23.5% year-to-date deficit.” On Wednesday evening, Trump announced reciprocal tariffs — adding a 34 percent tariff on China, a 46...

Some Black businesses in L.A. that benefited from a wave of racial reckoning in 2020 are struggling today. Black Image Center in Mid-City is the latest of several Black small businesses to close in Greater Los Angeles. Black businesses are often viewed as being more than just businesses. They are considered to be extensions of the community. Tucked away on a quiet part of La Cienega Avenue in the Culver City Arts District, Black Image Center feels reminiscent of a collegiate Black student center. On a recent Tuesday, five people were gathered for the center’s daily community co-working series. Laughter...

(Reuters) - Contemplating smoking your way out of the tariff gloom? Think again. Sweeping tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday are set to increase prices of cannabis products in the country, as many firms rely on Asia for manufacturing. The latest levies will stack up on any duties imposed earlier on countries like China, Canada, Mexico and the EU. Items such as tins, vape hardware and specialized glass remain difficult to source domestically, and companies remain largely dependent on Asia particularly China, analysts and executives said.

A federal appeals court halted a federal judge’s order to reinstate fired Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) workers. In February, Elon Musk’s DOGE team entered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters – and staffers were “mad as hell.” Earlier this year President Trump began cleaning house after he fired Rohit Chopra, the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Rohit Chopra was a toxic Biden holdover who previously threatened banks that refused to give credit lines and loans to illegal aliens. Last week US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson barred the Trump Administration from firing CFPB workers without cause. “Defendants...

Russia said Thursday that any attacks on its ally Iran would be unacceptable and illegal, warning of irreversible consequences if the U.S. were to bomb the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned President Trump’s threat to bomb Iran if a deal on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program is not reached, reiterating its support for Iran’s program.“The use of military force by Iran’s opponents in the context of the settlement is illegal and unacceptable,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. “Threats from outside to bomb Iran’s nuclear infrastructure facilities will inevitably lead to an irreversible global catastrophe....

President Trump upended the international trading system on Wednesday with a blunt package of global tariffs, making the case that the United States faces a dire economic emergency as a result of trade imbalances with countries across the globe.It’s a sentiment that Mr. Trump has expressed for decades, one that helped propel him to the presidency amid anger over lost manufacturing jobs and widening trade deficits. While the United States has the largest and strongest economy in the world, Mr. Trump — and many of his supporters — have long held the view that America has been ripped off by...

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On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced his much-anticipated reciprocal tariffs on more than 180 countries designed to reset global trade and return manufacturing to the United States. While many financial experts have reacted with skepticism, Rep. Dan Meuser told Newsmax on Thursday that the tariffs were necessary as the world markets "needed a reckoning. We needed a correction, and President Trump is bringing it." He spoke about unfair trade. "Look, we've been treated unfairly. Free trade has become synonymous with unfair trade. And President Trump is creating a fair playing field, a more level playing field when it comes to...

Video of the moment the failed car bomb exploded at the main square in Amsterdam, Netherlands.A car is on fire after a small explosion. The police believe it’s a deliberate attack. It’s the same location where 5 people were stabbed a few days ago.

Ford Motor Company on Wednesday announced its “handshake deal for America,” offering every American employee pricing on most of their automobiles. “In times like these, talk is cheap. At Ford, we believe in action. For 121 years, we’ve put our money where our mouth is, assembling vehicles that Americans rely on and supporting American jobs. Today, I’m proud to announce a new U.S. initiative that’s more than just a promotion – it’s a handshake deal with every American,” Rob Kaffl, the general manager for marketing, sales, and service at Ford, announced. “We call it Ford Motor Company: From America, For...

Trade should work for America, not rule it Ideological free trade has failed. It’s time America puts its citizens first, just like every other serious country on Earth.This week, Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, announced his organization’s support for President Trump’s trade policy. That includes backing Trump’s use of tariff threats to secure better trade deals with foreign nations.The announcement reflects a broader shift underway at Heritage. Once a pillar of the conservative establishment, the think tank has moved toward a more populist, "America First" approach that challenges the traditional Republican consensus on trade.Predictably, critics from the...

President Donald Trump has fired several members of his National Security Council team. DailyMail.com confirmed an Axios report released Thursday morning. The dismissals come after National Security Advisor Michael Waltz accidentally added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat where top administration officials were discussing an attack on the Houthis in Yemen. Trump has publicly supported Waltz, a former Florida congressman, in the aftermath of Signalgate, despite some White House insiders labeling him a 'f***ing idiot.' However The New York Times reported Thursday morning that far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer visited the Oval Office on Wednesday and pressed...

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that it is a “fallacy” to think tariffs will help the country’s economy as President Trump gears up to impose massive reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners. Paul, who has spoken out against tariffs previously, joined The Hill’s “Rising” on Wednesday, where he discussed his disagreement with tariffs, calling them “a tax.” “On tariffs, I think it’s just economically — it’s a fallacy to think that it’ll help the country,” the Kentucky senator said. “Tariffs are a tax, and if you tax trade or if you tax anything, you’ll get less of it.”

---Down 7.35% as I post this--- Eight key OPEC+ producers on Thuesday agreed to raise combined crude oil output by 411,000 barrels per day, speeding up the pace of their scheduled hikes and pushing down oil prices...The group was widely expected to implement an increase of just under 140,000 barrels per day next month.