Free Republic

In politics and business, access is power. It opens doors, builds alliances, and can forge lasting partnerships. But what happens when access leads not to loyalty, but to arrogance? The recent fallout between Elon Musk and Donald Trump provides a cautionary tale about the dangers of misplaced trust and the consequences when respect is thrown aside. Access to the highest levels of government or industry isn’t given lightly. It reflects not just personal favor but a deep responsibility—the trust to represent and uphold certain values and relationships. However, when that access is abused or taken for granted, it can quickly...

Over 40 people were arrested during immigration raids and search warrant executions on Friday in downtown Los Angeles, California, amid standoffs with leftist protesters and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Federal agents served four search warrants and nearly two dozen people were detained outside a Home Depot near MacArthur Park, NBC Los Angeles reported on Friday. The agents also went to two office locations of Ambience Apparel in the downtown area. In addition, Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe of the Homeland Security Investigations said 44 individuals were “administratively” arrested and another person was arrested for obstruction. “U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli...

Donald Trump warned Elon Musk on Saturday that he faces “very serious consequences” if he funds Democratic candidates following the pair’s epic public bust-up this week. The warning, delivered in an interview with NBC News scheduled to broadcast on Sunday, follows days of feuding and threats after Musk called Republicans’ budget legislation an “abomination”. Trump told interviewer Kristen Welker his relationship with the tech mogul was over and warned Musk against choosing to fund Democrats after spending close to $300m in support of Trump’s re-election last year. “If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump told...

A planned exchange of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war failed to take place on Saturday, with Moscow accusing Kyiv of postponing the swap at the last minute, something Ukrainian officials dismissed as “dirty games” from the Kremlin. Russia said Ukraine unexpectedly postponed a transfer involving prisoners of war and the bodies of dead soldiers, leaving more than 1,200 frozen Ukrainian bodies waiting in refrigerated trucks at an exchange point with no one to collect them. Ukraine rejected Russia’s account of the events, saying that the two sides had agreed to exchange seriously wounded and young troops on Saturday but...

Sgt. Aaron Cox, 24, of Mabank, Texas, died Thursday near Camp Croft, Hungary, during preparations for the upcoming Exercise Saber Guardian 25. The Army said Cox died as a result of wounds from a vehicle accident, but didn't provide further details. Cox joined the Army in 2021, and this was his second deployment. He previously deployed to Poland in 2022. He was an Infantryman assigned to the "Strike" 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). "The loss of Sgt. Cox is a tragedy for all of us on the Strike team," said, Col. Duke Reim, commander, 2MBCT,...

Musk: It's more than has been accomplished in any administration before, ever. This could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country. Trump: The vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you. We want to thank you very much.

Elon Musk’s blowup with President Trump may have doomed Washington’s most potent partnership, but the billionaire’s signature cost-cutting project has become deeply embedded in Mr. Trump’s administration and could be there to stay.At the Department of Energy, for example, a former member of the Department of Government Efficiency is now serving as the chief of staff.At the Interior Department, DOGE members have been converted into federal employees and embedded into the agency, said a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation. And at the Environmental Protection Agency, where a spokeswoman said...

A dangerous new coronavirus discovered in China could spark the next pandemic, scientists warn. American researchers say the new HKU5-CoV-2 virus is just one 'small' mutation away from being able to infect and cause outbreaks in humans. The discovery is causing alarm because the pathogen is closely related to MERS, a highly lethal virus that kills up to a third of those it infects. Adding to the controversy is the fact HKU5 was first documented in bats by researchers from the Chinese lab where Covid is feared to have leaked from. For the latest study, a team from Washington State...

Donald Trump has frequently poured scorn on those who served in the US military. Even though he avoided serving after obtaining a note from a friendly doctor who said he had bone spurs, he famously mocked late Republican John McCain, the 2008 presidential candidate and a prisoner-of-war, saying he preferred people who did not get captured. He would later stun his chief of staff, former Marine General John Kelly, during a visit to France for the centennial anniversary of the end of the First World War, when he allegedly claimed those who gave their lives were “suckers” and “losers”. Now,...

Anti-ICE rioters are now THROWING ROCKS at federal agents and their vehicles in Los Angeles There is visible damage. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. This is all happening before noon. Tonight will be BAD. DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD!

Several massive immigration sweeps reported throughout Los Angeles.

European nations are increasingly optimistic that they can support Ukraine financially and militarily against Russia even if President Trump decides to wash his hands of the conflict, as he often threatens, and instead focuses on normalizing relations with Moscow. But even with their best efforts, the Europeans cannot replace all of what the United States provides Ukraine — most important, real-time intelligence about Russian forces, incoming missiles and how and where to target the enemy. Ukraine’s ability to fight effectively relies largely on that American intelligence. “The Ukrainians don’t want this to be cut off no matter what,” said Camille...

A huge blaze has erupted at an oil refinery in a Russian town that was hit by Ukrainian drones earlier this year. Footage shows a fire raging at the industrial site in Kstovo, around 500 miles from the front lines in eastern Ukraine. A thick column of black smoke poured from the plant, reportedly the Lukoil oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA) said Saturday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend” that the recent Los Angeles ICE raids were “shameful,” adding that all immigrants in the country illegally deserve due process.” Co-host Jonathan Capehart asked, “What was your reaction to the ice raids in Los Angeles?” Garcia said, “I mean obviously we’re not just devastated, but I think a lot of us in California especially, are incredibly concerned. about what’s happening in our home state. But across the country what we’re seeing is really not actions that are trying to target folks that are not actually doing anything illegal or that...

Over the years, Israel has requested the chance to become the F-22 Raptor’s sole foreign operator. While the F-35 Lightning II fighter is often considered to be the best of its kind in service today, another American-made fifth-generation jet, the F-22 Raptor, may have surpassed it. The older F-22 Raptor features all the latest and greatest features. The platform’s unmatched stealth, impressive speed, and sophisticated avionics and sensors makes the F-22 arguably the most coveted fighter series across the globe. Israel is perhaps the Raptor’s biggest fan. Surrounded by hostile adversaries and currently embroiled in a multi-front war against Iran,...

Leaving the port of Darwin in Chinese hands would bestow on Beijing a golden opportunity to make mischief for Australia and its allies. Hooroo, China! Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is evidently making good on an election campaign pledge to reclaim the Port of Darwin, a harbor in Australia’s Northern Territory, from Chinese control. The Chinese firm Landbridge has operated the port since 2015 under a 99-year lease. Last week the American private-equity firm Cerberus voiced interest in leasing the port from Canberra. Albanese cited national security grounds for breaking the lease. Why Darwin Matters.. Why does Chinese control over...

President Trump warned Saturday that his former ally Elon Musk will face “very serious consequences” if he starts bankrolling Democratic candidates for office after their nasty public split over a Republican spending bill working its way through Congress. “If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump told NBC News’ Kristin Welker in an interview. “He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” the president added. “Is there anything else you just want people to know about the status,” Welker asked. “No, not at all. We’re doing great,” Trump replied. “The bill is great....

A twice-convicted drunken driver pleaded guilty Friday, June 6 to murder for an alcohol-fueled crash that killed two people on the 5 Freeway in Irvine in 2021. Jorge ErastoCruz, 37, of Lake Forest, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and a count of DUI with a blood-alcohol level at 0.08% or higher causing injury, all felonies. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended or revoked license due to DUI. ...

For a second night in a row, Russian Federation forces pounded military targets in Kiev, Kharkov and many other Ukrainian cities, in what many see as retaliation for the Ukrainian terrorist attacks on civilian trains in Bryansk and Kursk, and – of course – for the drone raid on Russian strategic airfields.Russian military Telegram channel Military Chronicle has put forward a thought-provoking theory that the ‘retaliation’ will take the form of a prolonged series of missile and drone raids over the next days.“Russia’s missile strike on the night of June 5-6, 2025, according to the latest information, was not a...

Five members of the Proud Boys are suing the U.S. government and certain employees in the FBI and Department of Justice for $100 million over their Jan. 6 prosecutions. Enrique Tarrio, Zachary Rehl, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs and Dominic Pezzola allege in the lawsuit the FBI and DOJ violated their constitutional rights... ... the men claim "egregious and systemic abuse of the legal system and the United States Constitution to punish and oppress political allies of President Trump, by any and all means necessary, legal, or illegal. "Through the use of evidence tampering, witness intimidation, violations of attorney-client privilege, and...