Free Republic

I’m not sure if Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) wanted the speakership, but he turned out to be the right person for the job. Speaker Johnson continues to impress by passing numerous pieces of legislation with razor-thin majorities. The man gets things done. He’s a closer.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Tuesday that Republicans would “welcome” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) into their conference if he decides to leave the Democratic Party over growing hostility to Isreal among progressive Democrats. “Yes, we would welcome him,” Thune said when asked whether Republicans would roll out the red carpet for Fetterman if he ever decides to leave the Democratic Party. Thune said he’s had “conversations” with the maverick Democratic senator — as have several other GOP colleagues – about a potential party switch. “I have had conversations with him in the past as have many of my...

If it wasn't already clear, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) made it very clear this week that he doesn't intend to have the Senate take up Republican legislative priorities - not the SAVE America Act, and not keeping the government open.

@cspan @LeaderJohnThune on the defense budget, crypto bill and Russia sanctions: "None of those things get done if the Democrats continue their posture of trying to block even getting on legislation."

A giant Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton sold for $50.1 million at an auction in New York on Tuesday, marking a new record price for a dinosaur fossil. The T. rex, nicknamed Gus, is a towering figure, standing at 12.5 feet fall and roughly 38 feet long, according to Sotheby's, the auction house that hosted the historic bid. Composed of 183 different bones, in addition to dozens of rare rib specimens that aren't included in technical bone counts, the assembled fossil is among the largest and most complete T. rex skeletons ever discovered, the auction house said. Gus was auctioned off as...

As we reported, Sen Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been hospitalized for about three weeks. That's prompted some speculation on his condition and conspiracy theories, particularly from those on the left. But some of those conspiracies took a hit when people like CNN commentator and Salem Media host Scott Jennings reported he had a conversation with McConnell, as did multiple other Republican politicians, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Rep. Thomas Massie (KY-04). But when CNN covered that story, they made a rather big and hilarious mistake, showing why we can never trust the media. Here they are reporting...

An incoming solar eruption could trigger visible northern lights across parts of the northern United States, offering millions a chance to witness one of nature's most spectacular nighttime displays. A cloud of charged particles launched by the Sun is expected to reach Earth overnight, creating conditions that could produce visible auroras across parts of the northern United States. According to NOAA, the incoming solar event may generate a G1 to G2 geomagnetic storm, giving skywatchers in as many as 19 states a chance to witness the Northern Lights if weather and space conditions align. While no widespread outbreak is expected,...

The South Dakota Republican Party on Friday voted down a measure to censure Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) after the Senate failed to advance the SAVE America Act. After passing the Resolutions Committee of the South Dakota GOP, the censure was overwhelmingly voted down, with opponents saying the measure would only help Democrats. Thune currently lacks the 60 votes needed to pass the voter ID bill, which would strengthen documentation requirements for people registering to vote in order to ensure they are U.S. citizens. President Donald Trump has demanded the bill’s passage, and many conservatives believe it should be...

ransomnote: Sergeant at Arms Matt Bruner is shown on the left, wearing a cowboy hat in the clip below.https://x.com/Rashid971x/status/2070549837674631218 🇦🇪 Rashid Al Mansoori راشد المنصوري@Rashid971x🚨 Here is the exact sequence of what happened in Rapid City in 12 hours..June 25.. Scott Presler shows up to a South Dakota GOP event with a ticket in hand..Thune's team had already printed a poster with his face on it to make sure he couldn't get in..Sergeant at Arms Matt Bruner met him at the door.. said "get the hell outta here"..Presler pulled out his phone.. stayed calm.. recorded everything.. posted it..and here's what...

W.H.Grampa @WHGrampa0 🚨 BREAKING: Former staffer of John Thune CLAIMS the Senate leadership is “GLEEFULLY” BLOCKING Trump’s nominees — sparking MASSIVE political firestorm. The ex-aide alleges Thune is INTENTIONALLY SLOW-WALKING or BLOCKING PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS, fueling accusations of a DEEP GOP INTERNAL POWER STRUGGLE and behind-the-scenes resistance. He also points to alleged coordination tensions involving Chuck Schumer — escalating the already explosive Senate battlefield over confirmations and control. ⚠️ THIS IS NOW A FULL-BLOWN WASHINGTON WAR OVER NOMINATIONS, POWER, AND PARTY CONTROL. Deep division. High stakes. ZERO TRUST. What happens next COULD SHAPE THE ENTIRE AGENDA. W.H.G

@ScottPresler They will NOT allow me into — as a ticketed individual — the South Dakota Republican Party dinner w/ Senate Majority Leader Thune.

If you aren’t blowing up Thune’s phone lines you ain’t a patriot!!

PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – After 14 incumbent South Dakota lawmakers lost their seats in the 2024 Republican primary, 16 lost on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office. The 2024 shakeup was described as “an earthquake” by Spearfish Rep. Scott Odenbach, a Republican incumbent who won his own primary that year and was elevated to majority leader of the House of Representatives with support from the newcomers. In the 2026 primary, those former newcomers made up the majority of the ousted incumbents. snip Several of the lawmakers who lost their seats in the 2024...

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Legislature’s ranks will look different in 2027. At least 13 Republican incumbents lost primary elections on Tuesday night, and several others were locked in tight battles as vote counting proceeded into early Wednesday morning. At least six of the contests would qualify for recounts if requested by candidates. As of 2:45 a.m., final results hadn’t been posted on the Secretary of State website for districts 2, 9, 10, 11 and 14, each of which includes parts of Minnehaha County.

The battle for control of Congress is on. Republicans hope to maintain and expand their narrow majorities in the fall for the second half of President Donald Trump’s term, while Democrats will aim to win over voters frustrated with Trump on the economy and other issues. States results at link..................

If you live in these states, GO VOTE!

Federal income tax experts tell POLITICO money from the DOJ's Judgment Fund, which the new $1.8 billion program is drawing on, is generally taxable.President Donald Trump isn’t supposed to directly profit from the dismissal of his lawsuit against the IRS.And yet, he could still owe taxes on the money going to set up a central feature of that deal — the $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”Some tax practitioners say the way that the fund, which Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced May 18, is structured likely makes it an income tax liability for the president, potentially costing hundreds of millions of...

John Thune’s daughter, Brittany Thune-Lindberg, worked for the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers PAC, which donated to multiple anti-Trump radical Democrats from February 2013 to June 2021. Elected Democrats who received donations from the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers PAC during Brittany Thune-Lindberg’s tenure include Nancy Pelosi, Mikie Sherrill, Hakeem Jeffries, Jamie Raskin, Jon Tester, Katherine Clark, and Sherrod Brown.

Thune spoke directly with Paxton following Tuesday's runoff victory, marking the first reported contact between the two men since the bitter primary contest ended. A person familiar with the conversation described the call as PRODUCTIVE. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, told reporters she was "supremely disappointed" by Trump's endorsement of Paxton over Cornyn.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has the right instinct on the Department of Justice's new $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund.The idea behind the fund deserves a fair hearing; Americans who were targeted by abusive federal power should have some path toward relief, especially after years of lectures from the same political class pretending government weaponization only exists when Democrats campaign on it.Still, a good idea turns rotten fast once Washington gets control of the checkbook.President Donald Trump's administration created the fund as part of a settlement connected to Trump's lawsuit over the leak of his tax records. The agreement gives Trump and...