All aboard! Trump should greenlight the Freedom Train



America has long celebrated its greatest moments by train.

In 1915, a steam locomotive carried the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to San Francisco and back, drawing enormous crowds. In 1947, the Freedom Train crisscrossed the country with priceless artifacts of American history. Then came the biggest triumph: the Bicentennial American Freedom Train of 1976, which drew more than 50,000 people at each of its 138 stops.

The train would take the quarter-millennial celebration directly to the people — right where it belongs.

On the cusp of the nation’s 250th birthday, it’s time to bring that tradition back. The red, white, and blue steam train should roll again — celebrating America’s founding and bringing history to Main Streets across the land.

The original idea came from John Wayne. That alone might have been enough for Kamala Harris to oppose it, had she been elected president. Add in the train’s cinematic clouds of smoke, its role in commemorating the westward settlement, and its unapologetic embrace of American greatness, and it’s hard to imagine today’s progressive leaders welcoming it.

But President Trump would. He’s restoring the spirit Wayne loved: American strength, love of country, masculine virtue. Trump has already pledged to include a statue of the Duke in his proposed National Garden of American Heroes. If he also allows the new train to display the federal artifacts its predecessors carried — the original Constitution, the Louisiana Purchase document, Lincoln’s hat, Ruth’s bat — then the American Freedom Train can run again in 2026.

The artifacts are key. If the administration releases them, the biggest remaining challenge will be time.

In 1976, the train took 15 months to organize. Today, in a country where builders are building again, that timeline can be compressed. But it will take at least a year to prepare the train — to build display cars, ready the steam engine, transport and secure the artifacts, and tackle the logistics of a 48-state journey.

The clock is ticking. A decision now could kick off the celebration by next July 4.

The Bicentennial Freedom Train didn’t just appear for a few fireworks in early July. It helped stretch the nation’s celebration over nearly two years — from the April 1975 anniversary of Lexington and Concord to a final stop in Miami on New Year’s Eve 1976.

A Quarter-Millennial Freedom Train would do the same. It would extend the celebration beyond Independence Day and tie together local and national events like nothing else. That was exactly the intention in 1976. John Warner, head of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, called the train “the most visible” element of the celebration — one that helped “sew together” diverse festivities across the country.

Once again, the train would showcase cherished artifacts: Paul Revere’s saddlebags, Washington’s personal copy of the Constitution, JFK’s handwritten inaugural address, even lunar rocks and Olympic memorabilia from the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”

RELATED: John Wayne’s epic ‘Freedom Train’ could save America’s 250th birthday

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Private citizens would lead the effort, just as they did before. The American Freedom Train Foundation includes veterans of the original Bicentennial train. They know how to plan and execute a coast-to-coast expedition. They just need modest federal support — and access to the artifacts — to bring it to life.

Army veteran and Nashville artist Tim Maggart sings that the Freedom Train is “as American as a line drive.” And that’s exactly what it would be: a rolling, photogenic, crowd-pleasing tribute to our nation. Day after day, the locomotive would thunder past landmarks, through cities and farmlands, beneath America’s spacious skies. And at every stop, Americans would cheer.

The train would symbolize both American power and American pride. It would carry our founding history from coast to coast, just as it once did. And it would take the quarter-millennial celebration directly to the people — right where it belongs.

Groundbreaking discovery of 1,800-year-old amulet found on skeleton could rewrite early Christian history



In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists have unearthed a 1,800-year-old silver amulet that could rewrite early Christian history.

An ancient silver amulet was discovered in a grave near Frankfurt, Germany.

'The "Frankfurt Inscription" is a scientific sensation.'

Crews conducted an excavation at an ancient cemetery in what was once the Roman city of Nida at an archaeological site outside of Frankfurt in 2018.

The city of Nida was an "administrative, economic, and religious center in the hinterland of the Upper Germanic Limes and, until its abandonment around 270-275 AD, was a major center of the Roman Empire," according to ArtDependence Magazine.

The 3rd-century Roman grave in the Heilmannstraße area contained 127 graves. Experts estimate that the burial ground dated between 230 and 270 AD.

Archaeology News Online Magazine reported that archaeologists unearthed the skeleton of a man aged 35-45 years. Around the skeleton were grave goods such as an incense burner and a jug made of baked clay.

Slightly below the skeleton's chin was a small silver amulet, also known as a phylactery. The amulet was likely worn with a ribbon around the neck.

Tine Rassalle — an archaeologist and researcher of Jewish and Christian history — told Live Science that the purpose of these amulets "was to protect or heal their owners from a range of misfortunes, such as illnesses, bodily aches, infertility, or even demonic forces."

Rassalle added, "In an era without advanced medical knowledge, such items were vital sources of comfort and security for you and your loved ones."

The cylindrical amulet measures just 1.4 inches long and contains a wafer-thin sheet of silver foil that is rolled up tightly. Inside the meticulously preserved amulet were 18 lines of text written in Latin.

Researchers analyzed the "Frankfurt Silver Inscription" and believe it could rewrite early Christian history.

Professor Markus Scholz from Frankfurt’s Goethe University — an archaeologist and expert on Latin inscriptions — finally deciphered the 18 lines of the Frankfurt Silver Inscription.

"Sometimes it took weeks, even months, until I had the next idea," Scholz explained. "I called in experts from the history of theology, among others, and we approached the text together bit by bit and ultimately deciphered it."

Scholz noted, "Normally, such inscriptions on amulets were written in Greek or Hebrew."

The inscription mentions Saint Titus, a student of the apostle Paul. It also shares the invocation "holy, holy, holy," which was not actually known in the Christian liturgy until around the 4th century AD. The inscription also mentions the phrase “bend your knees," which is a quote from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

(In the name?) of St. Titus.
Holy, holy, holy!
In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God!
The lord of the world
resists to the best of his [ability?]
all seizures(?)/setbacks(?).
The God(?) grants well-being
Admission.
This rescue device(?) protects
the person who
surrenders to the will
of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
since before Jesus Christ
bend all knees: the heavenly ones,
the earthly and
the subterranean, and every tongue
confess (to Jesus Christ).

The rare amulet holds religious significance because it provides the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity spreading north of the Alps. Previously, there was no archaeological proof that Christianity had spread north of the Alps until after the 4th century AD.

Mike Josef, Frankfurt’s mayor, said in a statement, "The ‘Frankfurt Inscription’ is a scientific sensation. As a result, the history of Christianity in Frankfurt and far beyond will have to be turned back by around 50 to 100 years. The first Christian find north of the Alps comes from our city. We can be proud of this, especially now, so close to Christmas."

Goethe University pointed out:

It is unusual that there is no reference in the inscription to any other faith besides Christianity. Normally, up until the 5th century, a mixture of different faiths can always be expected in precious metal amulets of this type. Often elements from Judaism or pagan influences can still be found. However, neither Yahweh, the almighty God of Judaism, nor the archangels Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, or Suriel are mentioned in this amulet, nor are the forefathers of Israel such as Isaac or Jacob. And no pagan elements such as demons either. The amulet is purely Christian.

The wafer-thin silver foil was too brittle and fragile to simply roll it out due to being 1,800 years old.

In May, researchers utilized a state-of-the-art computer tomograph at the Leibniz Center for Archaeology to scan it at a high resolution and create a 3D model.

Dr. Ivan Calandra of the Leibniz Center for Archaeology spotlighted the difficulties of transcribing the ancient amulet: “The challenge in analyzing the artifact was that the silver sheet was not only rolled but, after approximately 1,800 years, was also creased and compressed. Using the CT scanner, we were able to scan it in very high resolution and create a 3D model.”

According to Popular Mechanics, the owner of the amulet was brave to be a Christian during the 3rd century because Roman emperor Nero punished Christians with death or forced them to fight in the Colosseum.

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Archaeologists unearth world's oldest wooden structure, 'extraordinary' discovery said to be 476,000 years old



Archaeologists discovered the world's oldest wooden structure, said to be almost half a million years old.

A team of archaeologists unearthed a simple wood structure along a riverbank in Africa. At the dig site, researchers found two bush willow tree logs that appeared to have been manipulated by ancient humans approximately 476,000 years ago. The archaeology discovery makes it older than homo sapiens – believed to have emerged around 300,000 years ago.

Scientists believe that the high water levels from the nearby Kalambo Falls and fine sediment encased the structure to help preserve the wood.

The study of the oldest wooden structure was published in the journal Nature, and declared that archaeologists had discovered "the earliest evidence for structural use of wood in the archaeological record."

According to CNN, "The wood pieces were too old to be directly dated using radiocarbon techniques. Instead, the team used a technique called luminescence dating, which involved measuring the natural radioactivity in minerals in the fine sediment that encased the wood to figure out when it was last exposed to sunlight."

Scientists have determined that ancient humans used stone tools to make notches in the wood to create an interlocking structure. The notches allowed the logs to have to interlock at a right angle.

"It didn't look particularly exciting. But when you look closely and you remove the sand around it, you can see where one sits on top of the other is a notch," said Larry Barham – professor of archaeology at the University of Liverpool.

"This thing was an intended component. It was, in a sense, engineered," Barham said.

"The finds show an unexpected early diversity of forms and the capacity to shape tree trunks into large combined structures," Barham added. "These new data not only extend the age range of woodworking in Africa, but expand our understanding of the technical cognition of early hominins."

Barham told Reuters, "The framework could have supported a walkway or platform raised above the seasonally wet surroundings. A platform could have multiple purposes, including storage of firewood, tools, food and as a foundation on which to place a hut."

“That the wood has remained in place and intact for half a million years is extraordinary. And it gives us this real insight, this window into this time period," said Professor Geoff Duller – coauthor of the study.

Duller noted, "Colleagues have made modern replicas of the stone tools that we see and worked woods of similar density, and we can see that the shaping of these marks is identical. So that’s what makes us really confident (that) this is not a natural process — it has been done intentionally using stone tools."

Architectural Digest reported, "The team’s recovery of additional wooden tools at the site (dated between 390,000 and 324,000 years old) further suggests that the area around this 772 foot waterfall was a popular spot for prehistoric humans."

Scientists had previously believed that humans were nomadic hunters and gatherers during the Stone Age. However, this discovery shows that early humans may have set up a more permanent living situation.

Meanwhile, the earliest known wood artifact is a 780,000-year-old fragment of polished plank found at the site of Gesher Benot Ya’aqov in Israel.

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What 'Oppenheimer' DIDN'T TELL YOU about the atomic bomb attacks



Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" is a box office hit.

The film depicts J. Robert Oppenheimer’s internal struggles with creating the atomic bomb. While he knew its creation could bring about the end of World War II, he also knew it could bring about the destruction of the world.

However, what the film doesn’t do is what Glenn Beck just did: bring to life what really happened during the atomic bomb attacks.

Glenn reads an original letter — which he just acquired for his museum — penned by the copilot of the Enola Gay to his parents.

“We are loaded. The bomb is now alive. It’s a disturbing and funny feeling, knowing it’s right in back of you,” he writes.

“There in front of our eyes was it,” the letter continues, “without a doubt, the greatest explosion man has ever witnessed.”

“I am certain the entire crew felt this experience was more than any human had ever thought possible. It just seems impossible to comprehend. Just how many did we kill?” the copilot added.

The letter isn’t all Glenn has in his possession.

“Because Oppenheimer saw what could be done,” Glenn explains, “and all of the scientists involved knew the destructive power, they made Truman a deal. You can only drop this if you warn the people.”

Glenn has also acquired leaflets that the U.S. distributed to the Japanese people who were in danger from the atomic bomb.

“They say you’re not our enemies, we’re picking these ten cities, and in the next ten days we will drop a bomb of more destructive power than is imaginable,” Glenn says.

According to Glenn, 70 million of these leaflets were dropped.

“Nobody had ever done that ever, in the history of the world.”


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What 'Oppenheimer' DOESN'T TELL YOU
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What 'Oppenheimer' DOESN'T TELL YOU

Archaeologists unearth giant prehistoric hand axes, scientists baffled as to why 300,000-year-old tools are so large



Archaeologists recently unearthed giant prehistoric hand axes in England. Scientists are bewildered at the sheer size of the 300,000-year-old tools and are not positive how humans from the Ice Age used the giant hand axes.

Researchers from University College London discovered the giant hand axes in Ice Age sediments in an ancient river channel in the Medway Valley in southeastern England. The hand axes were found among 800 artifacts buried on a hillside in Frindsbury, Kent. The artifacts were found in the excavation site at Manor Farm that began in 2021. The ancient artifacts are believed to be from the Middle Pleistocene age.

The giant hand axes were crafted from flint stone and measure more than a foot long from tip to butt, plus have very thick bases. Scientists are baffled as to how prehistoric humans were able to use the large stone tools.

"We describe these tools as 'giants' when they are over 22cm long and we have two in this size range," senior archaeologist Letty Ingrey of the University College London Institute of Archeology said in a press release. Ingrey said one of the hand axes is the "longest ever found in Britain."

"These hand axes are so big it’s difficult to imagine how they could have been easily held and used," Ingrey added. "Perhaps they fulfilled a less practical or more symbolic function than other tools, a clear demonstration of strength and skill."

"Generally we think of hand axes as cutting tools like large knives with strong and sharp edges that would have been brilliant for butchering animals and cutting up meat," Ingrey continued. "We're just not sure if the size of this one meant it had another function or was used in a different way. 'Giant' hand axes like the one we found are real outliers, and it's no accident it was made this size. Whoever made it went to a lot of effort, firstly to find a piece of good quality flint big enough to make a tool of this size and then to carefully flake it and shape its long and finely worked tip."

Ingrey explained, "We think the artifacts date from an interglacial (warm period) between about 330,000 and 300,000 years ago. We have no human fossil evidence from the site, so no direct evidence of who was making it. However, we do know that Britain was populated at this time by early Neanderthal people, but there also could have been other archaic human species around."

At the time, the Medway Valley would have been a prime hunting ground for prehistoric humans, likely stocked with red deer, wild horses, as well as now-extinct straight-tusked elephants and lions.

Ingrey admitted, "Right now, we aren't sure why such large tools were being made or which species of early human were making them. This site offers a chance to answer these exciting questions."

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Trove of 1,000-year-old Viking coins discovered by young girl who was metal detecting near fortress in Denmark



Nearly 300 silver coins believed to be more than 1,000 years old were discovered near a Viking fortress in northwestern Denmark. The trove was unearthed by a young girl who was metal detecting in a cornfield last fall.

There were two treasure sites buried approximately 150 feet from each other near the Fyrkat Viking fortress in the town of Hobro in Denmark. The trove contained over 300 items, including Danish, German, and Arab coins.

\u201cYoung metal detectorist discovers 1,000-year-old Viking coins in Denmark https://t.co/wgly0kl70A\u201d
— CTV News (@CTV News) 1682198120

There were also decorated silver balls and cut-up silver jewelry, including large ring pins.

Fox News reported, "The pins were used by men at the top of society in Viking Age Ireland and neighboring islands. The museum said jewelry of this size and quality had been worn by bishops and kings, likely originating from a raiding expedition."

The Danish coins are called cross coins, which date back to the reign of King Harald Blåtand, or Harald Bluetooth in English. Blåtand allegedly created the cross coins in connection with his Christianization of the Danes. The cross coins were in circulation until Blåtand lost power to his son Svend Tveskæg in the mid-980s.

The North Jutland Museum said, "The treasures can, among other things, on the basis of coins minted under Harald Blåtand, be dated to the 980s - the same period when he built Fyrkat not far away."

"The two silver treasures in themselves represent an absolutely fantastic story, but to find them buried in a settlement just eight kilometers from Harald Bluetooth's Viking castle Fyrkat is incredibly exciting," North Jutland Museum archaeologist and curator Torben Trier Christiansen said in a statement.

"Perhaps the castles were not given up entirely voluntarily, and perhaps it happened in connection with the final showdown between Harald Blåtand and his son Svend Tveskæg. The Bramslev treasures were apparently buried around the same time or shortly after the castles were abandoned, and if there have been disturbances at Fyrkat, it makes good sense that the local magnate here at Bramslev has chosen to hide his valuables out of the way," Christiansen said.

The Museum of the Viking Age noted, "The Vikings believed that things they placed in the ground or in water would be found by the gods. So perhaps treasures were offerings to the gods. Gold and silver treasures were very valuable, so those who offered them must have some serious problems they needed the gods’ help to solve."

Archeologists will continue to excavate the area around the Viking fortress in hopes of finding more buried treasure.

The found artifacts will be on display this summer at the Aalborg Historical Museum.

The girl who made the discovery will receive financial compensation for the valuable artifacts, but the amount has yet to be been made public.

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FACT CHECK: Does This Image Show A 4,000-Year-Old Egyptian Necklace?

The necklace was created in modern times
Correcting Myths of History: What You Aren't Taught in School | Glenn Beck | POLITICS | Rubin Report
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Correcting Myths of History: What You Aren't Taught in School | Glenn Beck | POLITICS | Rubin Report