Smash The Bubble

News and opinion from both the left and the right, mixed together so you can break out of your filter bubble.

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Today's Headlines

146 illegal immigrant truck drivers arrested in Indiana crackdown, as Noem says, 'Your days are numbered'

Federal and state officials arrested 223 illegal immigrants, including 146 semi-truck drivers, in Indiana during a national crackdown on unlicensed truckers.

Terror’s Intelligence Apparatus

Netanel Flamer’s book about Hamas’s intelligence war on Israel could be read with equal interest by members of Western security forces, and by members of the very groups against which they struggle.

Calif. Senators Urge DOJ to Withdraw Election Monitors

California's Democratic senators are demanding the U.S. Justice Department immediately cancel plans to send federal election observers to the state for its statewide election next week.

Harvard Students Weep at Being Told They’re Expected to Learn

The kids are absolutely losing their marbles over the realization that they might have to, you know, study in school.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

Go beyond the soundbites and get to know some of the most interesting players in politics.

Making Fiction Boring

The ideological capture of college writing programs has ushered in an age of didactic, anodyne, and tedious books.

Washington Post: This Democratic Shutdown Has Gone on Long Enough (Post Readers Are Furious!)

Senator, advocates demand explanation on asbestos risks from East Wing

Asbestos, which can pose serious health risks when exposed during demolition, was frequently used in projects at the time of the East Wing’s construction.

All Blowed Up: 'MAGA Should Ask Themselves What If Pres AOC Wants to Do What She Wants to Do'

US Orders Non-emergency Employees to Leave Mali Due to Safety Risks

The U.S. State Department on Thursday ordered non-emergency employees and their family members to leave Mali due to safety risks, as the government there comes under increasing pressure from al-Qaida-linked insurgents, who are imposing a fuel bloc…

VA Dems reject resolution condemning political violence while House speaker cuts off Jay Jones references

Virginia Democrats reject GOP attempts to condemn political violence during redistricting special session, voting 21-17 along party lines to block amendment.

Margins of Error

Look closely at almost anything and you'll find data—lots of it. But what are those numbers really saying about who we are and what we believe? Harry Enten is on a mission to find out.

DHS Sec. Noem: 'Operation Midway Blitz' Pulling Illegal Drivers off Roads

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday praised her agency's ongoing immigration enforcement actions during a press conference in Gary, Indiana, where she announced new arrests under "Operation Midway Blitz" and...

WATCH: Ex-Biden spin doctor makes stunning admission after touting his sharpness for years

A former Biden spokesperson admitted to Congress that he had only met with the aging president between a few times in over two years despite claiming he was sharp "every single day."

Trump wanted one gift in Asia he didn’t get: A visit with Kim Jong Un

The North Korean leader has grown closer to Moscow since he and Trump met in 2019 and did not respond to the U.S. president’s public push for a meeting.

ISS and Glass Lewis Are To Blame for Woke Corporate America

"All-In Podcast" host David Sacks asks someone to look into Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis, the two largest proxy advisory firms that tell institutional investors how to vote their shares of public companies.

R.F.K. Jr. Adviser Calley Means Has Left the White House

Mr. Means quietly departed his federal role about a month ago. His sister has been nominated for surgeon general.

How Kyrsten Sinema's decision makes Democrats' 2024 Senate map tighter

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema decided to shake up the political world on Friday by becoming an independent. The former Democrat is still caucusing with the party in the Senate, so the Democratic caucus still has 51 members. Now, instead of 49 Democr…

Why Trump’s Boat Killings Would Be Hard to Prosecute

Even if critics who call President Trump’s boat attacks “murder” are right as a matter of law, it would not be easy to get the matter into a court.

What Palantir Does

Ross Douthat’s fascinating interview with Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar is worth your time.

The fine print of the Respect for Marriage Act

Let's start with the positive: Republicans and Democrats are coming together to protect same-sex marriage from the Supreme Court.

The Central Dichotomy

An appreciation of Richard Herzinger (1957–2025).

The Liberal Case against Human Rights

The philosophy that underpins the European Convention on Human Rights is undemocratic, illiberal, and incoherent.

Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair, and What Will They Do?

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent has a shortlist of five candidates vying to replace Jay Powell

Quillette Podcast #308: Machetes in Melbourne

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to criminal justice researcher Andrew Bushnell about the many causes of the recent surge in crime in Melbourne.

Sen. Britt Meets With Schumer as Shutdown Drags On

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said she spoke with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., twice this week as the government shutdown hits 30 days.

J. B. Pritzker’s Dark Visions

Twenty-seven minutes with the latest governor Donald Trump wants arrested

How States Are Preparing for a Freeze in SNAP Food Assistance

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program will run out of money on Saturday. Some governors are shifting state money to cover part of the shortfall, bolster food pantries or both.

State University Trustees — Better to Elect or Appoint?

There’s not much difference. What’s most important is to find potential trustees who are willing to do battle with entrenched administrators and faculty.

Building Citizens

Demonstrating a vision both aesthetic and political, Thomas Jefferson envisioned the US Capitol as "the first temple dedicated to the sovereignty of the people; embellishing with Athenian taste the course of a nation looking far beyond the range o…

Rahm Emanuel … For President?

He’d like you to keep an open mind.

A Cautionary Solar Tale

Back in the late 1970s there was a popular wine commercial with the film director Orson Welles reminding us that "some things can't be rushed," and concluding with what became a famous catchphrase: "We will sell no wine before its time."

Trump directs Pentagon to test nuclear weapons for first time since 1992

The president said he wanted testing to occur “on an equal basis” with Russia and China. The Kremlin condemned the move, and there was no indication of when tests might take place.

He Studied Why Some Female Birds Look Like Males

Jay Falk explored a fundamental question: How do genes give rise to different bodies? But without funding, “there’s not really a future here.”

The Missing President

Trump has been busy with everything but the government shutdown.

Exclusive: Virginia GOP’s Gov Nominee Winsome Earle-Sears Finalizes Closing Campaign Ad Pitch

‘When radicals wanted men in girls’ locker rooms, Spanberger was so wrong, she wrote the bill.’

What’s Andrew Cuomo’s Plan to Help New York City Renters?

Andrew Cuomo says he’ll make rent-stabilization more fair if he is mayor, but his plan could make finding an apartment in New York City even more difficult.

The notable legal clouds that continue to hang over Donald Trump

All eyes are on former President Donald Trump, who has launched another White House bid.

Thune, GOP reject pushing 'rifle-shot' government funding bills during shutdown

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., argued that the best way to ensure Americans don't go without food benefits and that federal workers are paid is to reopen the government.

Podcast #307: From Cult Child to Chess Wunderkind

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Danny Rensch about his astounding journey from the ‘Church of Immortal Consciousness’ to the role of Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

The Ultimate Townhall Media Experience Has Arrived

Trump Cuts Refugee Admissions and Prioritizes White South Africans

In a major shift from the Biden administration’s policy, the United States will accept up to 7,500 refugees this fiscal year, down from 125,000.

Donald Trump’s Plan to Subvert the Midterms Is Already Under Way

Our election system is reaching a breaking point.

Meet the woman steering Biden's bipartisan winning streak on Capitol Hill

The Biden administration managed to rack up a long list of major legislative wins in its first two years despite facing one of the most closely-divided Congresses in history. From bipartisan action on infrastructure, gun safety and same-sex marria…

Spanberger, Agent Double-O-Trans

Abigail Spanberger, former member of Congress and candidate for governor of Virginia, has kept rather quiet about her career in the Central Intelligence Agency. As people should know, that could have something to do with her mixed signals on trans…

King Charles Strips Brother Andrew of His Titles, Home

Britain's King Charles III has moved to strip his younger brother Andrew of his titles and honors, and force him out of his home, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday, over his ties with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump Teaches Canada What It Means to be a U.S. Ally Now

The president’s attacks on long-standing friends are changing the balance of global power.

The Middle East Will Not Improve

Decades of free riding has meant that many Middle East countries lack the skills and institutions necessary to maintain and build upon the favourable circumstances in which they now find themselves.

Food banks brace as people face federal aid stoppage: ‘We cannot meet the gap’

Already strained by federal funding cuts earlier in the year and a surge in demand from furloughed federal workers, food banks face a fresh wave of need as SNAP benefits end Saturday.

Judge Skeptical Over Trump Administration Decision to Suspend Food Stamps

The arguments at times appeared to frustrate the judge, who promised to rule soon on a suit filed by roughly two dozen states seeking to ensure people don’t go hungry as a result of a budgetary dispute.

Fareed explains why AI's massive energy demands are straining the power grid, but also why AI could enable big breakthroughs in sustainability and clean energy.

Democrats Are in a Bad Position, and Shutdown Has Not Helped

We've got a situation here where Republicans, with the shutdown, are actually rallying their base, but it's also something that's not hurting them with the voters in the middle. If anything, it's helping them with folks in the middle.

WH Sets Annual Limit for Refugees Entering US at 7,500

The Trump administration is restricting the number of refugees it admits annually into the country to 7,500, and they will mostly be white South Africans, a dramatic drop after the United States previously allowed in hundreds of thousands of peopl…

CNN Political Briefing

The political news you need to know, in 10 minutes or less. Hosted by David Chalian.

Americans blame Trump and GOP more than Democrats for shutdown, poll finds

Independents hold Trump and Republicans responsible for the shutdown by a 2-to-1 margin, according to a poll conducted by The Washington Post, ABC News and Ipsos.

Judge says she’ll likely order Trump administration to send SNAP funds to states

The move could keep food assistance flowing despite the federal government shutdown.

Most Americans oppose East Wing demolition for Trump ballroom, poll finds

Fifty-six percent say they oppose President Donald Trump’s decision to tear down part of the White House to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom building.

Is private funding of Trump’s ballroom legal? I answered your questions.

Chief political correspondent Karen Tumulty chats with readers every other Thursday at noon Eastern time.

Democrats Setting Themselves Up to Cave Twice in Two Weeks on the Same C.R.

Appetite for Destruction

Trump and the art of the demolition, from Bonwit Teller to the White House.

Forecast for Democrat Renewal: Cloudy With Chance of Rain

There seems to be general agreement that Democrats need to radically transform their party image. The second election of Donald Trump and the subsequent failure of the party to gain favor in voters' eyes even as many of Trump's actions are notably…

The Biden Pardons Scandal Isn’t Going Away

The most damning revelation in the Comer committee report concerns the lie that the blanket pardon was of ‘nonviolent’ offenders.

The Lies About Immigrant Raids and 'Peaceful Protests' Are Outrageous

Are the Democrats Fixable?

A new report from Democrats has a lot of insights, but seems to miss the party’s biggest challenges.

Rep. Jason Smith to Newsmax: Fetterman's Plea to Reopen Govt Commendable

The House Ways and Means Committee chair, Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., on Newsmax Thursday morning sharply criticized Democrat leaders for using the ongoing government shutdown as leverage.

What Trump Could Learn From Ulysses S. Grant

The last American crisis over civilian-military relations ended with a general’s historic choice.

Arlington Schools Waited Months to Implement Protocols to Keep Sex Offenders Out of Women’s Bathrooms. Why?

And the Virginia school district continues to assure community members that it remains dedicated to its ‘inclusive’ gender policies.

Owned by the Audience

Online audiences have become increasingly radicalised by predatory algorithms pushing conspiratorial, schizophrenic narratives and content creators are rewarded for feeding into them.

The Fed Folds, Partly

That the government shutdown has hit the flow of official data only complicates matters further.

Resurfaced video shows Mamdani urging end to New York funding of Israeli ‘settler crimes’

Religion has become a defining issue in the New York City mayoral race as Jewish New Yorkers reject Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani's positions on Israel and war in Gaza.

Ryan Routh Seeks Move to State With Assisted Suicide

The man found guilty of plotting to kill President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago golf course last fall has asked a federal judge to move him to a state that permits assisted suicide, The Hill reported Thursday.

Federal Judge Challenges SNAP Suspension Proposal

A federal judge in Boston on Thursday challenged the Trump administration's argument that SNAP benefits could be suspended for the first time in the food aid program's history because of the government shutdown.

4 GOP Senators Vote With Dems to Repeal Trump Tariffs

Senate Democrats, joined by four Republican senators, approved a resolution Thursday to repeal President Donald Trump's global tariffs.

Little Word of a TikTok Deal Out of Trump-Xi Meeting

Neither President Trump nor Chinese officials indicated any new developments for the popular video app. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously suggested they could “consummate” transfer of control from its Chinese owner.

Soybean Farmers Find Relief in U.S. Trade Truce With China

President Trump said China would end its boycott and resume buying millions of tons of American soybeans.

This gay Republican could make history. He’d like to talk about something else.

Virginia’s John Reid could become the country’s first openly gay Republican elected to statewide office. Attacks from within his party have made his sexuality an issue, he says.

Hegseth works out with US troops in Malaysia as War Department vows 'we will be fit, not fat'

War Secretary Pete Hegseth works out with troops in Malaysia one month after implementing rigorous physical requirements for combat personnel.

The Corruption of the Sciences Is Devastating Our Disciplines

BREAKING: Trump, Xi Reach 'Trade Truce'; Reduced Tariffs, Rare-Earth Concessions

Microsoft Lied About NewsGuard, Kept Censoring

Microsoft misled Sen. Cruz about cutting ties with NewsGuard, continuing censorship via LinkedIn and CCP partnerships.

Trump cuts tariffs on China after ‘truly great’ meeting with Xi

China’s leader agreed to delay restrictions on rare earth minerals for a year and buy more soybeans, Trump said after a meeting designed to calm trade tensions.

Russia Says It Didn’t Test Nuclear Weapons, but Would if the U.S. Did

Dmitri S. Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, told Russian news agencies that recent drone and missile tests were not nuclear weapons tests.

CBS Starting to Stand for C(you!) B(ye!) S(o long!)

In the wake of the Republican National Convention earlier this month, Fareed speaks with historian Niall Ferguson about how and why the modern-day GOP has changed since the Reagan era of the 1980s.

Republicans fight Newsom's $88M redistricting 'power grab' as Prop 50 battle heats up

House Republican leadership spends $13 million opposing Gov. Gavin Newsom's California redistricting measure Proposition 50 ahead of Nov. 4 vote.

How Newsom has capitalized on anger with Trump in California ballot fight

The strategy has fueled a stark fundraising advantage and polling lead that Democrats hope will help deliver a concrete rebuttal to the president’s redistricting agenda.

Rep. Van Duyne to Newsmax: Dems' Demands 'Holding Government Hostage'

Democrats are "holding the government hostage" with their spending demands and refusal to compromise on budget priorities, Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, told Newsmax on Thursday.

President for Life

Donald Trump is trying to amass the powers of a king.

Graham Platner and the Rush to Judgment

I've got a dim view of online discourse, and decided long ago to opt out of it. Arguing about our problems online strikes me as philosophically similar to (and about as likely to succeed as) homeopathy. You don't fix a car by repeatedly slamming i…

Axios: US Finalizing Fantasy Gaza Peacekeeping League While Hamas Reneges

Trump’s fire fades on Russia as he pulls troops, avoids pressing Xi on oil

Trump's Ukraine policy shifts from strong support to softer stance in recent weeks, reversing tough UN summit rhetoric as Russia war continues.

Democrats Condemn Trump Officials for Boat Strike Secrecy

Senator Mark Warner said the administration’s decision to hold a Republicans-only briefing on the campaign was “corrosive to our democracy.”

Top Trump Officials Are Moving Onto Military Bases

Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem, and others have taken over homes that until recently housed senior officers.

What Progressives Keep Getting Wrong

Graham Platner is the perfect embodiment of the left’s strategy for returning to power. This is a problem.

We Could End This Shutdown in About 20 Minutes If Democrats Played Ball

We could solve the threat of an interruption in SNAP benefits if four more Senate Dems would just agree to end the filibuster of the continuing resolution.

Pravda Ignores Arctic Frost Story

Supreme Court Orders More Briefing on Trump Bid to Deploy National Guard in Chicago

The justices delve into what it means for the president to say he needs the Guard because ‘regular forces’ are inadequate.

SCHUMER SHUTDOWN SALE: Don't Miss Out Before the Dems Cave!

Everything you need to know about Biden's student loan forgiveness program

President Joe Biden's federal student loan forgiveness program, which promises to deliver up to $20,000 of debt relief for millions of borrowers, is on hold indefinitely as legal challenges work their way through the courts.

The Most Wonderful Journalistic Disaster of the Year

Will the real Bill de Blasio please stand up? On second thought . . .

Vice President Kamala Harris, a former US senator from California who previously served as the state's attorney general, could be the first Black woman and Asian American to lead a major party ticket after receiving President Joe Biden's support t…

House Republicans divided over Obamacare as GOP eyes fix after shutdown

Speaker Mike Johnson is eyeing a healthcare package as GOP factions feud over how to handle expiring Obamacare credits after the shutdown.

Inside the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s War-Zone Aid Operation

An in-depth interview with Chapin Fay of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation on delivering aid in a war zone—and why their unconventional model has drawn both praise and criticism.

Trump Is Sleepwalking Into Political Disaster

A health-care battle tarnished the president’s first term. Here he goes again.

My Quest to Find the East Wing Rubble

An entire part of the White House can’t just disappear.

The Funniest Story of the Day

Fighting for the ‘Very Best Cause’

Your generosity keeps NR in the ring — so please, if you can, consider contributing to our mission.

Vance pleads for 'five reasonable Democrats' to step up, end government 'hostage' situation amid aviation woes

The government shutdown continues to impact the aviation industry as air traffic controllers miss paychecks and Vice President JD Vance seeks Democratic support.

‘California Is Allowed to Hit Back’

Democrats are ready to match the GOP’s gerrymandering ruthlessness. Will voters go along?

GOP blasts Jay Jones over disputed $500K claim, points to record of deception

Virginia Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones faces Republican criticism over his disputed $500,000 fundraising claim following his debate performance.

Thaw in Shutdown Talks Raises Senators' Hopes for a Deal

The unmistakable shift in the dynamics, after 29 days, stems from more than a dozen Semafor sources in both parties.

Trump and Xi Ease Off the Trade War, but New Nuclear Threat Brings a Chill

The two leaders reached an agreement on fentanyl, some tariffs and rare earths, at least for a year. But even as the global trade picture cleared a little, Mr. Trump spurred new worries about nuclear proliferation.

Report on Biden's Autopen Paints a Grim Picture

When the White House included a gilt-framed image of an autopen in the new Presidential Walk of Fame installed outside the West Wing last month, it was more than just another epic troll by President Trump of his predecessor.

Quinnipiac N.J. Poll: Sherrill Widens Lead Over Ciattarelli

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., has widened her lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey's gubernatorial race as Election Day approaches, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

Fox News Politics Newsletter: 2025 Election Day survival guide

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content.

A decade of dramatic GOP change since Paul Ryan became speaker

Ten years after Ryan’s ascension, there’s little of the former speaker’s traditional conservatism remaining in today’s House Republican caucus.

A Perfect Storm

How Muslim and Christian antisemitism have converged with anti-Israel sentiment—some of it justified—to fuel the Free Palestine protests across the West.

How To Solve Gaza's Hamas Problem

Disarming the group will require Arab and Muslim forces-and strong American leadership.

A Self-Created Tyrant

In a new biography of Stalin, William Nester does his best to locate a human being within the monster, but those efforts eventually run aground.