Free Republic

Last year, sensitive information concerning numerous South Korean intelligence agents has been leaked, casting a shadow over the Korea Defense Intelligence Command (KDIC) work in China and Russia. This incident prompted the KDIC to recall undercover agents based overseas back home, which put South Korean intelligence activities at risk. Moreover, the leak caused discontent in Washington and Tokyo because it came at a time when the country was expanding military intelligence sharing with the United States and Japan to confront North Korea and China. Have any actions been taken since then to repair the damage and restore the functioning of...

ATLAS — Europe, the EU & Russian Frozen Assets: Short-Sighted or Necessary? Reports are circulating that European Union leaders are moving toward using an estimated $300 billion in frozen Russian assets—held in European banks—to support Ukraine’s war effort. Whether this involves direct seizure of the principal or only using interest generated from those assets, the implications are serious and long-reaching.Why This Matters Beyond Russia One of the core pillars of the global financial system is that assets held in foreign nations—especially central bank reserves—are protected under international law. If the EU breaks that precedent, it sends a message to every...

U.S. Military Action Against Drug-Smuggling Vessels: Context, History, and Political ReactionBy GPT-5Recent U.S. military strikes against vessels engaged in drug smuggling have generated intense debate. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described crews of these high-speed boats as “narco-terrorists,” releasing video of the strikes and noting that President Trump ordered the operations. The reported death toll from these operations is over 30 people since September 2025. Critics argue that these actions target civilians and may violate international norms. Historical context, operational reality, and political perspective provide a broader understanding of these events.Military vs. Law EnforcementIt is important to distinguish law enforcement from...

```html Presidential Modifications to the White House: A Historical TraditionBy GPT-5From its ashes after the War of 1812 to the present day, the White House has never been a static monument. It is a living institution—regularly reshaped to meet the needs, tastes, and legacies of the presidents who have resided in it. The outrage expressed today over new additions ignores more than two centuries of precedent.Reconstruction After the Burning of 1814When British troops set fire to the White House during the War of 1812, it was almost completely destroyed. President James Madison and, later, James Monroe oversaw its reconstruction. This...

How Progressives Were Able to Rule the Western Nations: Good Intentions, Bad ResultsBy The HermitThe story of the West in the last hundred years is not one of a secret cabal or a single mastermind. It is the story of an idea — progressive ideology — that promised to perfect society through reason, science, and planning. It appealed to the best intentions of reformers, philanthropists, teachers, and politicians. Yet, like many noble experiments, it has produced results far different from what its advocates hoped. What began as a movement to uplift and modernize has ended by weakening the civic and...

FeatureTilly Norwood and the Illusion of RealityHollywood fears job losses from AI actors. But the greater threat may be to truth itself.By The HermitNot long ago, a new name appeared in Hollywood chatter: Tilly Norwood. She looks the part of a rising young actress, the kind casting directors might call “a natural.” But Tilly is no actress at all. She is an AI-generated creation — a digital performer assembled from algorithms, capable of smiling, speaking, and captivating an audience without ever setting foot on a soundstage.Tilly is part of a new wave of “synthetic talent.” AI agencies now maintain rosters...

💳 From Pay-and-Own to Pay-to-Access: How the American Household Became a Subscription MachineBy The Hermit Note: This essay is meant to offer a broad overview of how the American household has shifted from a pay-and-own economy in the 1950s to today’s subscription-based model. It does not attempt to cover every detail, variation, or socioeconomic factor, but instead highlights general trends and practical ideas for those interested in rethinking their relationship with modern expenses. In the 1950s, the average American family budget was straightforward, built on the principle of paying once and owning for life. Whether it was a television, a...

The High Cost of Easy Credit: How Consumer Debt Distorted the EconomyIn the past five decades, the expansion of consumer credit has transformed the American economy. What began in the 1970s as a convenient financial tool has become a fundamental pillar of daily life for most households. Credit cards, followed by newer lending models like "Buy Now, Pay Later," have fueled consumption, enabled lifestyle inflation, and propped up economic growth. But beneath the surface lies a troubling reality: easy credit has created a disconnect between buyers and sellers, distorted real demand, inflated prices, and built a fragile foundation of debt.In...

Whatever Happened to Just Going Out for Family Fun? Now that I’m retired, with more time behind me than ahead, I find myself looking back a lot more than forward. I’ve been reflecting on the changes I’ve seen — not just in the world at large, but right here at home, in the way families like mine spend time together. When I was young, family fun meant something simple. Back in the 1950s, when money was tight for most folks, we didn’t need expensive outings to enjoy ourselves. A picnic at the park, a day at the beach, just a...

🇺🇸 Before the Collapse: Why We Must Rein in Unsecured Debt — NowBy The HermitThere’s a quiet crisis unfolding beneath the surface of the U.S. economy: over a trillion dollars in credit card debt, the majority of it unsecured, with no collateral, no real oversight, and no meaningful limits. It’s not just a number — it’s a ticking time bomb.It may not look like 1929 — but in structure, in risk, and in who will bear the fallout, it feels dangerously familiar.📉 We've Seen This Movie BeforeIn the 1920s, Americans were allowed to buy stocks on margin — putting down...

📘 The Student Loan System: A Rigged GameHow U.S. Higher Education Became a Wealth Transfer from the Poor and Middle Class to the EliteExecutive Summary The American student loan system has evolved into a mechanism of upward wealth transfer, extracting income and opportunity from working- and middle-class students while enriching elite universities, financial institutions, and loan servicers. By removing bankruptcy protections, allowing unchecked tuition increases, and obscuring the risks and returns of educational debt, policymakers and institutions have created a rigged system — one that fails to serve students, the economy, or the public interest. 1. Origins of the Crisis:...

China, Taiwan, and the Illusion of InvasionPosted: September 17, 2025As tensions between China and Taiwan continue to make headlines, it's worth stepping back to ask a more fundamental question: Is China actually capable of invading Taiwan? Or is the threat more bark than bite? After a detailed analysis of military capability, geography, politics, and historical precedent, the answer becomes clearer than what mainstream headlines may suggest.1. The Military Reality: Capability vs. IntentionWhile China has made significant investments in its military, a full-scale invasion of Taiwan would be among the most complex operations in modern history—possibly more difficult than the D-Day...

The Great Experiment and How It Ends: A Return to Nature, Purpose, and PartnershipIn the last several decades, Western society has launched what could be called a Great Experiment: a full-scale reengineering of the human relationship structure that has served civilization for thousands of years. The traditional roles of men and women have been dismantled, the institution of marriage devalued, and the idea of long-term partnership often treated as optional, or even regressive.This experiment was built on the promise of personal freedom: that women could have it all—career, independence, and family—on their own terms, and that men could be liberated...

The Permanent Record: From Empty Threat to Everyday Reality When I was a student back in the 1950s, we used to joke about the phrase “That’s going on your permanent record.” It was a hollow threat from teachers, something said when a kid stepped out of line — broke a rule, said something smart-alecky, or handed in an assignment late. We all laughed quietly to ourselves, because we knew there was no such thing. There was no record, and certainly nothing “permanent.” Today, that joke is no longer funny — because it has come true. We now live in a...

The Hidden Plan and the Power of Symbols — How the Elite’s Vision Meets the People’s Resistance For decades, a vision has quietly shaped much of the Western world’s political landscape — a vision crafted and advanced by an elite group of powerful individuals. These men, often embedded within influential institutions and organizations promoting bold agendas to end poverty, combat climate change, and build a “better” future, are not villains in secret bunkers but public figures united by shared beliefs. They believe sincerely that they are guiding humanity toward a necessary transformation, one that demands sacrifice and a reordering of...

A real bombshell blockbuster. ☺

Freepers, I asked the gentleman who's selling (or brokering) the domain name DJT.com what they want for it he said $100k or best offer. A lot of money but really pertinent with November in mind. The question is should we have a whip round and crowd purchase this name? Is that even possible/legal, etc? I don't know but it's a nice name with the Election on the horizon. If not us getting our hands on it the Trump campaign perhaps should! 😂

Dear President Trump... If you didn't know before, you know now. The Deep State will do everything, including assassination, to prevent you from assuming your rightful role as President of the United States. In 2020, They committed massive voter fraud, cancelling the counting and removing Republican observers in five swing states, during which Biden 'miraculously' got a huge ballot boost. Then the Gaslight Media proceeded to declare every assertion that the fraud existed as 'false, disproven, debunked, and discredited'....in fact, they clearly went to Roget's Thesaurus to deploy every synonym they could find. Then they judge-shopped to ensure valid evidence...

2024 Presidential Election Odds and Electoral VotesBased on recent polling data and the number of electoral votes for each state, here is an updated analysis of the 2024 Presidential Election, including the electoral votes and the total number of electoral college votes each candidate is likely to have based on the current odds.Electoral Votes and Odds by StateAlabama (9 EV): Trump 70%, Biden 30%Alaska (3 EV): Trump 65%, Biden 35%Arizona (11 EV): Trump 48%, Biden 42%[1]Arkansas (6 EV): Trump 65%, Biden 35%California (54 EV): Biden 65%, Trump 35%Colorado (10 EV): Biden 55%, Trump 45%Connecticut (7 EV): Biden 60%, Trump 40%Delaware...

Watching the debate, I kept wondering why Biden kept looking to his left so much of the time tonight I thought the cameras were reversed and Trump was on his left. The more I watched, I realized his blank stare to the left became more curious. Was Dr Jill stage left feeding him signals ala a third base coach? Or was it just a vacant stare not knowing where he was?