Free Republic

It may not be the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, but when historians write the definitive story of the first half of the 21st century in the U.S., a single weekend in the spring of 2011 may well go down as the era's hinge point—a 48-hour period that set into motion a string of events still unraveling now, 14 years later. That weekend, President Barack Obama authorized the mission to kill Osama bin Laden and kept it secret from the world as he delivered a cutting speech that brought down the house at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. What no...

Representative Ro Khanna (D‑CA) has announced plans to force a vote in the House of Representatives demanding the full, unredacted release of all documents related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Khanna said he will introduce an amendment this week that would require the House Speaker to bring the measure to a roll-call vote, putting every member of Congress on the record.

Democratic mayoral primary winner and state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is leading the pack of candidates to potentially govern New York City in a new poll released Wednesday.

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville predicted Democrats would pick up 40 seats in the 2026 midterms after the GOP-led House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" this week.

Taking to social media after the bill passed, Ocasio-Cortez expressed concerns with what the bill now means in terms of funding for ICE. "I don't think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ICE," the New York lawmaker posted on Bluesky. "This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA, & others combined." Cortez concluded, "It is setting up to make what's happening now look like child's play. And people are disappearing." "People are going to die. Livelihoods gone. All to feed a corrupt kleptocracy....

Zohran Mamdani is the firm favorite to win the 2025 New York mayoral race after he declared victory over Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, according to the betting website Polymarket. As of 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Mamdani had a 73.6 percent chance of winning the election in November. He was followed by incumbent Mayor Eric Adams on 19.4 percent, and Cuomo on 4.9 percent. Newsweek contacted Mamdani, Cuomo and Adams for comment outside of regular workings hours.

Grok @grok · 25m The news of Chuck Schumer's hospitalization on June 25, 2025, is confirmed by credible sources like Newsweek and X posts from reporters. He was treated for dehydration after feeling lightheaded at the Senate gym and has returned to work. Public reactions vary

The 50501 movement, along with other activist groups, are organizing "No More War" protests across the country on Sunday following the United States' strike on Iran last night. Newsweek has reached out to 50501 via email for comment on Sunday. **SNIP** The 50501 movement stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one movement. According to posts shared on Instagram pages affiliated with the various 50501 factions and other political and activist groups, including a post on Answer coalition's website, there will be "No More War" protests in the following states and cities today. •Asheville, North Carolina •Baltimore •Cincinnati, Ohio •Columbus, Ohio...

What’s another starving BS artist? Cynthia Nixon’s daughter Seph Mozes, who identifies as a man, is going on a hunger strike for Gaza — but really for attention. “He and five of his compatriots are doing a hunger strike in Chicago … ,” a proud Nixon told Newsweek, adding that her 28-year-old child has no “illusions that he’s going to end the war, but I think he wants to do everything he can.” To earn a merit badge in the art of self-congratulations, apparently. Maybe Nixon’s offspring had the misfortune of seeing the actress in bed with Rosie O”Donnell in...

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former Republican governor of California, has waded into the immigration debate during a forthright appearance on The View, with his remarks going viral across social media platforms..

Salami issued a stark statement, saying any act of aggression against Iran would result in a "tough, decisive and devastating reaction." He also said that Tehran takes full responsibility for its actions and will "overtly" acknowledge them when necessary. "If we attack anywhere or support anybody, we will unequivocally announce it," Salami said. However, he said that Iran does not dictate the policies of the Yemeni Houthi movement, which he stated make their own strategic decisions. His comments came after President Donald Trump threatened Iran, warning against support for Yemen's government and militant groups. Iran's Supreme Leader framed the strikes...

President Donald Trump said Senator Rand Paul remains invited to the White House picnic, after the Kentucky Republican said he and his family had been disinvited over his opposition to the "Great Big Beautiful Bill." "Of course Senator Rand Paul and his beautiful wife and family are invited to the BIG White House Party tonight," Trump posted to Truth Social on Thursday morning. "He's the toughest vote in the history of the U.S. Senate, but why wouldn't he be? "Besides, it gives me more time to get his Vote on the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill, one of the greatest and...

President Donald Trump has notched a significant victory over Democrats, with polling showing him outperforming his rivals on one of the most contentious issues: immigration. On the broader question of trust, Republicans now lead Democrats on immigration by 6 points in CBS and CNN polling and 19 in the latest Ipsos survey. Why It Matters It comes after Trump sent 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in response to reported violence against law enforcement, specifically ICE agents carrying out deportation raids in the city.

Elon Musk has warned "if the massive deficit spending continues," there will be no money for Social Security, health care or defense, as he continues opposition to President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." The tech billionaire and former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) made the comment about Trump's spending package on his Truth Social website in the early hours of June 4. Newsweek contacted Musk for comment via the SpaceX and Tesla press offices outside of regular office hours on Wednesday. Why It Matters The House narrowly passed Trump's budget package on May 22 in a 215-214...

Residents living across a huge area spanning three states have been warned of dangerous air pollution levels on Tuesday. Swathes of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin are all affected by poor air quality, with an area around Minneapolis covered by one of the most severe warnings. Smoke from wildfires, combined with the current weather conditions, have contributed to the pollution. Why It Matters Health officials warn that vulnerable populations — such as children, older adults and individuals with existing respiratory issues — face heightened risks during periods of poor air quality. Even healthy members of the general public may experience health...

"I am horrified by last night's horrific attack in Boulder. My heart is with the victims and our Jewish communities across the country. Antisemitism is on the rise here at home, and we have a moral responsibility to confront and stop it everywhere it exists," she posted. Other members of the "Squad," a coalition of progressive House Democrats, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, had not issued a statement about the attack in Boulder as of 11:30 a.m. Newsweek reached out to spokespersons for Ocasio-Cortez, Omar and Tlaib for comment via email.

Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said the Supreme Court is allowing the government "to do what it wants" in a scathing dissent, after justices allowed the Trump administration to strip temporary legal protections from hundreds of thousands of immigrants. Supreme Court justices lifted a lower-court order that kept humanitarian parole protections in place for more than 500,000 migrants from four countries: Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The court has also allowed the administration to revoke temporary legal status from about 350,000 Venezuelan migrants in another case. Jackson said the decision "allows the government to do what it wants to do...

Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky said Thursday night that the United States should stop all military aid to Israel, citing mounting civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. Newsweek reached out to Massie's office via email Thursday for comment.

Seattle's police union has hit out at city officials after mass arrests took place in a park when counter-protesters gathered to demonstrate against a rally being held there. The Seattle Police Officers Guild said it welcomed a mayoral review of the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department's decision to allow the rally to be held in Cal Anderson Park on Saturday. "What we are struggling to understand is, why was this park chosen and authorized, especially when this park is commonly known as the heart of ANTIFA land," the police union said in a statement on Sunday. The park and surrounding...

Attorney General Pam Bondi's links to Qatar are under scrutiny again following reports that President Donald Trump will be gifted a luxury plane from the Qatari government. Bondi worked as a foreign lobbyist for the nation of Qatar, earning $115,000 a month in the role which she held in 2020 and in the run up to the World Cup in 2022. In this role, she lobbied Congress on behalf of Qatari interests. She also worked in a separate lobbying position for the Washington, D.C.-based firm Ballard Partners, where she also lobbied on behalf of Qatari interests and several conglomerates including...