Free Republic

From a Renaissance fresco, “Take Rome as your example if you wish to rule a thousand years; follow the common good, and not selfish ends; and give just counsel like these men.” America isn’t the first country to suffer secular effects from shunning its religious foundation. I was at first surprised to learn that a decline in Roman religious observance played a leading role in Rome’s corruption and fall. In 715 BC, the Roman senate appointed Numa to succeed Rome’s founder, Romulus. He turned to religion to tame a fierce people and bring about civilized society. Perhaps not until the...

1:36 VIDEO AT LINK.............. https://x.com/i/status/1924973995696296323 4 bullets!...............

The U.S. Federal Reserve just pulled off something stealthy — over four days last week, without fanfare, the Fed vacuumed up $43.6 billion in U.S. Treasurys. That’s $8.8 billion in long-dated 30-year bonds on May 8 alone, plus another $34.8 billion earlier in the week. Not exactly small change. Quietly returning to the quantitative-easing trough isn’t standard Fed housekeeping — it’s like a bank robber returning to the scene because he forgot his car keys. Let’s talk straight: This isn’t tightening. It’s stealth easing. It’s monetary policy on tiptoes. Some traders have begun to notice, and smart investors should too....

The U.S. Federal Reserve just pulled off something stealthy — over four days last week, without fanfare, the Fed vacuumed up $43.6 billion in U.S. Treasurys. That’s $8.8 billion in long-dated 30-year bonds on May 8 alone, plus another $34.8 billion earlier in the week. Not exactly small change…. … Commodity traders, in particular, have a nose for monetary sleight-of-hand. Gold GC00, the ultimate financial cynic’s metal, has risen sharply since early 2024. Gold doesn’t believe in politicians, central bankers or economists — even the Ivy League types who wave their hands and promise stability. It believes numbers. But this...

The U.S. Federal Reserve just pulled off something stealthy — over four days last week, without fanfare, the Fed vacuumed up $43.6 billion in U.S. Treasurys. That’s $8.8 billion in long-dated 30-year bonds on May 8 alone, plus another $34.8 billion earlier in the week. Not exactly small change. Quietly returning to the quantitative-easing trough isn’t standard Fed housekeeping — it’s like a bank robber returning to the scene because he forgot his car keys.

The world is on the brink of a climate apocalypse—one caused not by gradual greenhouse emissions but by a sudden exchange of nuclear weapons, a possibility made more salient by the current conflict between India and Pakistan. While the long-term effects of emissions are uncertain, we know that a nuclear war would result in an immediate nuclear winter. When we think about nuclear apocalypse, we tend to think of the immediate effects: thermonuclear explosions that incinerate cities and vaporize populations. But the worst consequences unfold long after the weapons have detonated. A major thermonuclear exchange would shroud the atmosphere in...

Starfish Prime was a high-altitude nuclear test conducted on July 9, 1962 as part of a group of tests collectively known as Operation Fishbowl. While Starfish Prime was not the first high-altitude test, it was the largest nuclear test ever conducted by the United States in space. The test led to the discovery and understanding of the nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effect and a mapping of seasonal mixing rates of tropical and polar air masses. Key Takeaways: Starfish Prime Starfish Prime was a high-altitude nuclear test conducted by the United States on July 9, 1962. It was part of Operation...

This July, leaders from across the globe will converge on Rio de Janeiro for what may be the most consequential BRICS summit to date. The stakes are high and the implications global. What was once a modest economic club of emerging nations has transformed into a powerful bloc capable of redefining global power structures. And with a growing list of countries formally applying to join BRICS–and even more expressing interest–it’s clear the world is no longer content to revolve around Washington, Brussels, or London.

Ships of Britain's massive Royal Navy, the largest in the world, inflicted great damage on American ports, property, and vessels during the years of the Revolution (1775–1783). Perhaps none of those ships wreaked more havoc than HMS Phoenix, and it accomplished its devious work not with a cannon but with a printing press. The bodies from the battle on Boston's Bunker Hill were buried just days earlier when the Second Continental Congress authorized the printing of paper money (see "The Times That Tried Men's Economic Souls"). What began with a modest batch of six million in continental dollars turned into...

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are seemingly at odds amid a U.S. truce with Houthis in Yemen and the President seeking to peacefully negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran without plunging the United States into another endless war. According to Axios, Trump met with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in private on Thursday to discuss upcoming nuclear talks with Iran and Israel’s Gaza campaign. Dremer also met with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates on...

U.S. banks will have a much harder time manipulating gold prices in the futures markets when Basel III regulations start applying to them on July 1, London metals trader Andrew Maguire says in this week's edition of Kinesis Money's "Live from the Vault" program. Pricing power in the gold market has already shifted from the New York Commodities Exchange to Asia, Maguire says, and will shift even more after July. Even now, Maguire says, China has been using smashes in the futures market to acquire as much physical gold as is available. The program is 45 minutes long and can...

Many, from Elliot Wave experts to the dollar-hugging faithful, are asking if we are now reaching a moment of “peak gold”? The evidence, and answer, is: No. Our Currency, Our Problem Gold has made massive price moves in 2025, touching $3500 just days ago and finally making headlines in a politicized world, media and financial system that has otherwise deliberately attempted to ignore and downplay gold for decades. But can we really blame those silly little “experts” with political incapacities for honesty? After all, rising gold is proof positive that a debt-soaked nation is in deep trouble, as its currency...

The BRICS+ coalition is finalizing their plans for a financial system independent of the U.S. dollar.These plans will become clear during their scheduled summit this July in Rio de Janeiro, which people have nicknamed the “Rio Reset.”5-6 July 2025This move represents what may be the most significant challenge to U.S. financial dominance since the 1944 Bretton Woods Agreement established the dollar as the world’s reserve currency.What Is the Rio Reset?The Rio Reset marks the culmination of a decade-long effort by BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). These nations, now joined by Iran, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and...

In a nutshell Vegan diets support muscle protein synthesis at the same rate as omnivorous diets when protein intake is matched (1.1-1.2g per kg of body weight). How you distribute protein throughout the day (evenly across meals vs. mostly at dinner) doesn’t significantly impact muscle growth. Vegan dieters reported higher energy levels and less fatigue, while omnivorous dieters reported greater meal satisfaction. ******************************************************************* CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Forget what you’ve heard at the gym about needing chicken breasts and steaks to build muscle. Science just delivered a win for plant-based eaters everywhere. Researchers found that vegan diets support muscle growth just...

The BRICS group of nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has long aimed to challenge Western-controlled financial systems and reduce the world’s reliance on the US dollar. Now, that mission is getting an unexpected push, thanks to new tariff policies introduced by US President Donald Trump. BRICS Bloc Gains Momentum Amid US Trade Setbacks Trump has declared what he calls “Liberation Day,” a move that marks one of the biggest protectionist trade shifts since the 1930s. These new tariffs target both enemies and allies, and are expected to slow trade, increase prices in the US, and put brakes on global...

China's Zhurong rover has collected data that suggests that Mars may have had oceans and beaches millions of years ago. Scientists have made an extraordinary revelation regarding Mars, suggesting that the planet may have previously harbored optimal conditions for life. Space exploration leaders, such as billionaire Elon Musk, envision Mars as a prime location for humanity's next outpost in the cosmos due to its relatively close proximity and Earth-like qualities. Despite this, Mars currently presents harsh conditions with sub-zero temperatures, a thin atmosphere composed predominantly of carbon dioxide, and scant oxygen—posing challenges for human habitation as we know it.

According to the Bible, Noah's Ark saved humanity and all the animals from certain annihilation during an ancient flood. Now, 5,000 years after those floodwaters supposedly receded, scientists claim to have discovered the location of the famous boat. An international team of researchers claims that a boat-shaped mound 18 miles (30km) south of Mount Ararat in Turkey is actually the fossilised remains of a wooden vessel. The Durupinar Formation is a 163-metre (538ft) geological structure made of a type of iron ore called limonite. It has long captivated researchers due to the fact that its shape and structure almost match...

A former Chicago mobster who claims to have killed President John F Kennedy says that President Donald Trump's plan to release the files tied to the assassination will only yield more 'lies'. James Files, 83, claims he fired the bullet that killed Kennedy on November 22, 1963 from behind a fence on the grassy knoll overlooking Dealey Plaza in Dallas. He says the other shot that struck Kennedy was fired by his boss, Charles 'Chuckie' Nicoletti, who was hiding out in the book depository - the same place Lee Harvey Oswald is believed to have been at the time of...

BREAKING: Senator Rand Paul calls for auditing Fort Knox to make sure the 4,580 tons of US gold is there. @RandPaul Nope. Let’s do it.

The US gold reserves - last "audited" in 1974 - remain shrouded in secrecy. Elon Musk's recent query sheds light on decades of opacity. Let's delve in. The 1974 “show audit” inspected only 6% of Fort Knox’s gold. Politicians and journalists held bars but none were assayed, tested for purity, or matched to serial numbers. Foreign gold stored there added confusion. Critics call it a “pep rally,” not proof. US gold is valued at $388B unrealized value at Fort Knox alone. The Treasury’s statutory rate—unchanged since 1973—ignores today’s ~$2,633/oz market price, masking trillions in potential national wealth.