Free Republic

A detransitioner revealed that as a teenager he was encouraged to keep using puberty blockers by a pediatric urologist who was later arrested for possessing child pornography. In a declaration submitted in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) on Wednesday, Jonni Skinner recounts the time Dr. Bryan Sack told him that hormone therapy was not to blame for his reddening urine. The detransitioner went on to note that years later, in February, “Dr. Sack was arraigned on six felony charges related to possession of ‘child sexually abusive material.'” Skinner maintains that...

CNN senior data correspondent Harry Enten reported on Friday on what he called one of the most “stunning” trends he’s “seen in covering politics over the last 15, 16 years” – the rise of democratic socialists inside the Democratic Party. Anchor John Berman kicked off the segment, asking, “So when we talk about democratic socialists, how are they viewed inside the Democratic Party?” Enten replied, “Yeah, you know, you mention New York, you mentioned Vermont, obviously, there’s the D.C. mayor. We’ve seen it in Pennsylvania as well. The Democratic Socialists seem to be doing considerably better than they used to...

Pastor Jeffery Campbell has deep ties to Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. He was raised in the South Side neighborhood, and has served as pastor at Woodlawn Baptist Church for 22 years. And for the past decade, he’s attempted to protect its residents from displacement and gentrification. He’s seen rising rents, residents squeezed by university development and life becoming more unaffordable. Now, there’s a new challenge: the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center – part of a 19-acre, $850m campus – that has transformed life in the neighborhood, as well as the adjacent South Shore and Hyde Park, long before this...

ToplinePresident Donald Trump claimed Iran backed out of talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland, and warned they were "FINISHED" and would "get no money" out of the newly signed deal with the U.S.—as the agreement appears fragile less than 48 hours after it was signed.Key FactsTrump said "we'll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!" referring to the 60-day period after the agreement was signed overnight Wednesday to negotiate outstanding issues, including the future of Iran's nuclear program.The deal included a commitment from the U.S. to lift sanctions on Iran and unfreeze Iranian assets in...

NASHVILLE, TN — While commemorating the film's 20th anniversary, former Vice President Al Gore explained that while An Inconvenient Truth did not prove to be accurate, it did make him incredibly rich. Gore, who wrote and starred in the Oscar-winning documentary, was happy to sit down for an interview with ABC News' Ginger Zee this week to discuss how successful the film was at building his wealth. "I think the film was a great success, actually," Gore said, speaking of the film's numerous failed predictions. "For me, that is. It may not have been true in any way, but...

Is it goodbye Air Force One, hello Qatar Force One? White House officials bade farewell on Thursday to one of the two jets that have been used to transport US presidents for more than 30 years. The goodbye messages fueled speculation that a Boeing 747 controversially gifted to President Donald Trump by the Gulf emirate of Qatar is now due to enter service. "'Well done, good and faithful servant. 'The Last Ride,'" Trump's communications director Steven Cheung said in a post on X with a picture of the iconic white and blue jet after returning from the G7 summit in...

The Department of War is reportedly seeking $80 billion to cover costs associated with the Iran conflict and other unrelated expenses, according to The Wall Street Journal.Deputy War Secretary Stephen Feinberg has told lawmakers in recent phone calls that the Pentagon needs additional funding to sustain military operations tied to the conflict with Iran and cover other expenses, people familiar with the discussions told the Journal. Congress has been pressing the Trump administration for a comprehensive accounting of the war's costs since the conflict began Feb. 28. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern about the depletion of U.S. munitions...

I hesitated to make this post. I've been watching along the sidelines the past 2.5 months, waiting to see what happens to this website. Free Republic relies on donations to keep itself operational, but, more and more, it looks like this quarterly donation period will not reach its goal. My question then is, "then what?" Let's face it, financial times are hard. People are not able to donate as they once did. In addition, many of the old guard have passed on to their rewards. And there are other reasons, to be sure. At the end of the day, I...

THE BREAKDOWN: U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Dave McCormick have requested an FCC investigation into security risks linked to Chinese-manufactured health wearables and fitness trackers. The lawmakers warn that Chinese cybersecurity laws could allow Beijing to access sensitive biometric data collected from American consumers, especially senior citizens. The FCC has been asked to brief the Senate Aging Committee and consider banning these devices from the U.S. market by July 15, 2026. Two U.S. senators are pushing federal regulators to investigate whether popular fitness trackers, smartwatches, and medical devices are leaking sensitive health data to the Chinese government. Senate Aging Committee...

A three-year-old boy was critically injured by at least one crocodile after being tossed into a reptile pit at a British zoo by a stranger with learning difficulties – who has already been released from police custody, it was revealed today. The 30-year-old suspect from Norfolk, who did not know the victim, was arrested at the Old Hurst animal park in Cambridgeshire on suspicion of attempted murder. But less than 24 hours after the attack, he was released on bail until September 18 after being assessed as ‘not fit for interview’ by detectives, police said. The attacker is believed to...

Cardinal Ruini’s testament reveals ‘unease’ over the Francis pontificateThe late Italian cardinal praised Francis' ‘evangelizing zeal,’ but admitted his ‘struggle to understand’ policies he believed risked reopening ‘wounds’ left by Vatican II.Cardinal Camillo Ruini expressed “unease” over the “direction” of the Catholic Church during the reign of Pope Francis, a newly published “spiritual testament” published after his death reveals.On June 18, Italian blog Messa in Latino published the full text of Ruini’s testament, following his death the previous day at the age of 95. Within it, the cardinal expresses gratitude to God for all those who accompanied his formation and...

England fans found a uniquely American way to celebrate a distinctly English World Cup moment after the 4-2 win over Croatia. The victory gave Thomas Tuchel’s side exactly the start they wanted in Group L, but it was a banner in the crowd that caught the most attention. It brought together Donald Trump, Bobby Moore, and 1966 in a single image. It was not subtle, and it was not meant to be. England fans hold up Donald Trump banner after Croatia winThe banner reworked one of the most famous photos in English soccer history, but with a twist. Instead of...

Soot-choked “black rain" has fallen across multiple districts of Moscow after Ukraine launched its largest-ever drone assault against the Russian capital, scoring a direct hit on a vital energy facility. Close to 200 long-range strike drones targeted the metropolis early on Thursday, overwhelming local air defences and setting the strategic Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya ablaze. As thick columns of dark smoke billowed thousands of feet into the air, residents in the southeastern suburbs and surrounding towns, including Balashikha and Lyubertsy, reported a fine, oily drizzle that coated vehicles, streets, and clothing in a dark, toxic residue. The multi-directional aerial...

@DNIGabbard Today, on my final day as Director of National Intelligence, I’m releasing never-before-seen communications and documents exposing how Dr. Fauci provided millions in US taxpayer dollars to fund dangerous gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab, worked with politicized elements within the Intelligence Community to suppress the truth about his actions and hide the virus’ lab-leak origins, and lied to Congress while under oath in 2024. It’s time you know the truth

California’s powers-that-be have steered more than a half-billion dollars of other people’s money to their favorite charities and causes since 2011, and way more than half of that haul came at the behest of Gov. Gavin Newsom. That includes millions donated to nonprofits tied to Newsom’s wife, which may have something to do with the federal investigation into Newsom and first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. These donations often come from businesses and people hoping to influence elected leaders, steer public policy, demonstrate their stellar citizenship to the masses, or perhaps a bit of all three. While state law sets caps...

[Translated from Hebrew by Twitter.] For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn! With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit. All of Lebanon must burn. Our supreme duty is to protect the citizens of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF, and this commitment takes precedence over every other consideration. I told the Prime Minister, even in our private meetings: For every tear of an Israeli...

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a crackdown on open-air drug dealing Wednesday, declaring the city will "no longer tolerate" public drug sales, public drug use and the sale of stolen goods in two neighborhoods that residents and business owners say have been plagued by crime and disorder for years. "We will no longer tolerate open-air drug sale and use and vending stolen goods," Wilson said in a press release Wednesday. "We are expanding police personnel in the area to engage directly with individuals participating in these activities, explain that the behavior is no longer tolerated and help ensure that the...

The three Colorado Republicans running for governor defended their qualifications, described their visions for the state and traded jabs over each other’s character at an often contentious televised debate that routinely veered into unusual territory Tuesday night in Denver. The 60-minute debate at the University of Denver, sponsored by 9News, The Denver Gazette and Colorado Politics, featured state Rep. Scott Bottoms, state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer and missionary leader Victor Marx. It stands to be the only primary debate to include Marx, a first-time candidate and the race’s fundraising leader, who has declined to participate in the GOP’s other gubernatorial debates,...

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reminds service members that they may return to active duty after an instance of Absence Without Leave (AWOL) by August 30, 2025, and be exempt from criminal liability. The easiest way is to submit a report through the Army+ app. The algorithm remains unchanged. The service member submits a report, which takes approximately five minutes to complete. The Main Directorate of the Military Law Enforcement Service (Military Police) receives the submission and verifies the data provided. The service member must report in person within 24 hours to the Military Police (MP) station chosen when...

The Italian government closed ranks on Friday to slam U.S. President Donald Trump over his claim that Premier Giorgia Meloni had “begged” for a photo with him during the recent G7 summit, a pushback that suggested the longtime U.S. ally had had enough of Trump’s boasting. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani abruptly cancelled a planned trip to the United States this weekend, calling Trump’s claims “serious and offensive” toward Meloni and all of Italy. Meloni for her part posted a video calling Trump’s claims “completely fabricated” and expressing astonishment that he would invent such things about an ally. She concluded:...