Free Republic

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has indicated that the country is open to discussing possible NATO membership in response to growing international instability and Russia’s increasingly aggressive foreign policy. In an interview with Die Welt, Meinl-Reisinger said that Austria cannot rely solely on its traditional neutrality for protection. She emphasised that in today’s uncertain global security environment, the country’s safety depends on both investments in national defense and strong international partnerships, Caliber.Az reports.

In the fourth century BCE, Plato wrote about the legend of Atlantis. The general belief is that he was the very first person to write about it. This has led many to claim that Plato invented the story. However, is it possible that the Bible makes reference to the story of Atlantis, too? The Minoan Theory of Atlantis One common theory about the origin of Atlantis is that it comes from distorted accounts of the Minoan civilization. This was a Bronze Age naval civilization centered on Crete. The Minoans had control over several other islands, and they also had colonies...

As Covid cases begin to rise this summer, many may be wondering: What are my risks, and is it time to get another vaccine? As of July 15, Covid cases were growing or likely growing in 27 states including Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of positive Covid tests have also been increasing in recent weeks, the CDC says, specifically in the southern region of the country. N.B.1.8.1 is the current dominant variant in the United States, accounting for 43% of all new Covid cases, according to the CDC. It’s...

A combination of budget constraints, strategic realignment, and the evolution of warfare in the decades since the A-10’s debut has contributed to the aircraft’s retirement. After four decades of service, the renowned A-10 Warthog is finally slated for full retirement. After years of indecision, the US Air Force now plans to retire the A-10 fleet before the end of FY2026. The last A-10 is expected to make its last flight before October 2026, a sad day in aviation that will mark the end of an aircraft that aviation enthusiasts and ground troops alike have adored for a generation. The A-10...

Under the statute 18 USC Ch. 115: TREASON, SEDITION, AND SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES there are 10 sections, each a separate category of crimes, that are all considered permutations of treason. 2381. Treason. 2382. Misprision of treason. 2383. Rebellion or insurrection. 2384. SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY. 2385. Advocating overthrow of Government. 2386. Registration of certain organizations. 2387. Activities affecting armed forces generally. 2388. Activities affecting armed forces during war. 2389. Recruiting for service against United States. 2390. Enlistment to serve against United States.

Homer’s Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus’ attempt to return home from Troy to Ithaca. Historians agree that Troy was in northwest Anatolia, while Ithaca was off Western Greece. However, a popular theory among some researchers today is that the Odyssey is actually set in the Baltic Sea around Scandinavia. What is the supposed evidence for this, and does it stand up to scrutiny? Why might the Odyssey be set in Scandinavia? The basic reason for this theory is that, according to some researchers, there are many details in the Iliad and the Odyssey which do not correspond to the...

With the federal EV incentive set to expire at the end of September, Ford is urging its dealers to prepare for a rush of buyers. Ford warns dealers of upcoming EV rush Like most automakers, Ford is preparing for a shakeup under the Trump Administration. After the “One Big Beautiful Bill” was signed into law on July 4, the $7,500 and $4,000 tax credit for new and used EVs will no longer be available after September 30. In a memo sent to dealers this week, Ford warned, “demand is expected to increase as the deadline approaches for eligible vehicles.” The...

President Donald Trump made an announcement Monday aligning him more firmly with Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion than ever before. The US will send weapons to Ukraine through NATO, the president said during a meeting in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Trump also laid out a new deadline for Russia — threatening trade consequences, including secondary sanctions, if a peace deal isn’t reached in 50 days. Even before the weapons announcement, which the president had telegraphed last week, the hawks were celebrating. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina previewed the announcement Sunday as a “turning...

-A study in the European Journal of Nutrition found that adults 55 and older who drank two to four (European-sized) cups of coffee daily were less likely to become frail over time. -Antioxidants, polyphenols, and bioactive compounds in coffee help reduce inflammation, maintain muscle mass, and improve metabolic health — all of which contribute to preventing age-related frailty. -The study also found that decaffeinated coffee was associated with a lower risk of frailty, suggesting that non-caffeine components are key; however, adding excessive sugar or heavily sweetened syrups to coffee can cancel out these health benefits. Most people start their mornings...

Conversations with the Master Forecaster This book is unlike anything you’ve read before. It’s not another theory — it’s a documented track record of how Martin saw what no one else did: ✅ Sovereign debt implosions ✅ War cycles and geopolitical shifts ✅ The coming collapse of trust in governments ✅ The timeline to 2032 — and what it means for you Written by longtime interviewer Kerry Lutz, this book is based on over a decade of never-before-published insights, straight from Martin’s most powerful moments on air. Whether you’re an investor, thinker, or someone simply seeking truth in an age...

Can the usual suspects please knock it off on Independence Day?

Pat Buchanan took no prisoners. The now-retired columnist and former presidential candidate, who is still among us, had an aim to defend America's superiority. And if his political nemeses got their feelings hurt during his riddling, tough. Sound familiar? Sure. Patrick J. Buchanan was Donald Trump before the president’s rocket ride to the White House. America First. Keep countries from screwing us on trade. Speak English. Build the wall. Stop the invading hordes from defacing our country’s mighty culture. Those were Buchanan staples before he quit writing and commenting on TV a couple of years ago. Now if he’s up...

As some Republicans mull adding conditions to federal relief aid for California, which has been devastated by wildfires in Los Angeles County, critics have pointed out that the state already pays more than it receives in federal taxes.

This video includes A.I.-generated segments based on excerpts from Dr. Thomas Sowell’s books and interviews, applied to modern events. Every effort is made to remain true to Dr. Sowell’s original intent, context, and message. It’s our version of asking: What Would Sowell Say? (WWSS) about the issues of our time. Our goal is to bring Dr. Sowell’s timeless insights to a new generation—not as distant history, but as enduring truth.

Friday on CNN’s “The Situation Room,” chief political correspondent Dana Bash detailed her morning phone conversation with President Donald Trump. Co-host Wolf Blitzer asked, “You had a chance to speak with the president this morning. How did that go?” Bash said, “Well, look, the headline in our conversation about Elon Musk is that the president says that he has no plans to speak with Musk, and he said that he thinks that Musk has got a problem. So the reason why that is the question right now is maybe, perhaps very obvious but behind the scenes, the push is on...

Three days on, and Ukraine is still digesting the full implications of Operation Spider's Web, Sunday's massive assault on Russia's strategic aviation. On Wednesday, the agency which orchestrated the attack, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), released additional, vivid footage of the attacks in progress, as well as tantalising glimpses into how the whole complex operation was conducted. Satellite images that have emerged since Sunday, showing the wrecked outlines of planes sitting on the tarmac at the Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo and Belaya airbases, also help tell the story of the operation's unprecedented success. For Ukrainian observers, the whole operation, a...

Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) said Monday on CNN’s “News Central” that officers with the Department of Homeland Security had no right to enter his congressional office and briefly detained a staff member. Co-host Kate Bolduan said, “Last week, federal officers with DHS were seen going into your district office in New York. They handcuffed and detained one of your aides for a period of time.” She asked, “What is your view of what happened?” Nadler said, “Well, my view is what happened is outrageous. My first concern was for the safety of of my staff member, and I didn’t say...

(AFP) — Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Germany along with Ukraine’s other key Western backers had lifted range restrictions on weapons they send to Kyiv to fight against Russia. Merz, who took office early this month, also vowed that “we will do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine, including militarily”, in close coordination with other supporters. “There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine — neither by the British nor by the French nor by us nor by the Americans,” he said. “This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by...

Friday, in a clip that aired on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said President Donald Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Big” was unacceptable in its current form, as passed by the House of Representatives. Johnson told a reporter on Capitol Hill, “I couldn’t care less if he’s upset. I’m concerned about my children, my grandchildren, and the fact that we are stealing from them. We are stealing from our children and grandchildren. $37 trillion in debt, and we’re going to add to it as Republicans? That is unacceptable.” He added, “And that’s why there’s no way I’m going to...

AP — Russia and Ukraine have no direct peace talks scheduled, the Kremlin said Thursday, nearly a week after their first face-to-face session since shortly after Moscow’s invasion in 2022 and days after U.S. President Donald Trump said they would start ceasefire negotiations “immediately.” “There is no concrete agreement about the next meetings,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “They are yet to be agreed upon.” During two hours of talks in Istanbul on May 16, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, in what would be their biggest such swap. Apart from that step, the...