Free Republic

Gold has gotten a bad rap. Long seen as the investment choice of the cranky and the fearful, the metal yields nothing; as Warren Buffett has said, it just “looks at you.” This year has been especially lackluster for gold. Its price has slumped 8%, to about $1,200 an ounce, and is off more than 35% from its high of $1,900 in 2011. Adding insult to injury, Vanguard will soon rechristen the largest gold-oriented U.S. mutual fund and shift its focus away from the metal. But this out-of-favor asset class now deserves a place in investment portfolios. Compared with stocks...

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has reportedly resigned, per the NYT's Glenn Thrush. Spicer was opposed to the appointment of Anthon Scaramucci as the White House Communications director.

Press Conference today.

If Sessions stays in the job, he should put a timetable on the Mueller investigation, giving it a deadline to yield proof of collusion. If the clock runs out and there is no proof of misconduct by the President Sessions should blow the whistle Swamp draining is not genteel work. And Jeff Sessions, the consummate gentlemen, has not yet displayed the grit required for that work. As Senator Sessions from Alabama, he was a model of decorum, dignity and collegial demeanor in the U.S. Senate. He was, and remains, loyal to his state, to his family, and to his oath...

* Trump has kept his spotlight hot and raised smirks by speculating about a White House run, but now he's scheduling speeches in early primary states * 'A lot of people believe I'm having fun with it, and I enjoy the process,' he said during an Economic Club of Washington event, but 'the country's in serious trouble' * He lashed out at potential opponents including Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz * Couldn't come up with a 'single nice thing' to say about Hillary Clinton and insists Sen. Elizabeth Warren will give her serious competition * Trump has flirted with running...