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

Tuesday's Final Word

Rubio to pitch foreign policy credentials to Senate as he vies to become America's top diplomat

Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to face questions from his colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at his confirmation hearing for secretary of state Wednesday.

A Perfectly Charming Chinese Girl

Against long odds and in the face of exclusionary casting, Anna May Wong bequeathed us an extraordinary cinematic legacy.

Joni Ernst Says She Will Vote to Confirm Pete Hegseth

The Iowa Republican’s decision dramatically increases the likelihood that Mr. Hegseth will have enough votes to be confirmed as President-elect Donald J. Trump’s defense secretary.

Judge Cannon Comes to Trump’s Aid, Again

The president-elect would rather Jack Smith’s report never sees the light of day. Luckily for him, he has an ally.

Russell Vought Poised to Expand Power of White House Budget Office

If confirmed, Mr. Vought will be at the center of President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to upend the federal bureaucracy.

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…

Axios: Trump Builds $500M War Chest

Donald Trump being prevented from running again reportedly hasn't stopped the president-elect from stockpiling a large amount of money from donations.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

The Prosecutor Who Would Never Admit What He Was Doing

The country knew what Jack Smith was trying to accomplish, and a winning margin of the voters put an end to it on Election Day.

Memorial Daze

Notions of injury or exclusion are often based on shifting cultural sensitivities and political pressures, rather than on any permanent, universal measure of good and evil.

The Army of God Comes Out of the Shadows

Tens of millions of American Christians are embracing a charismatic movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation, which seeks to destroy the secular state.

Senate Democrats Fail To Rattle Hegseth

A decade of live television sharpened Pete Hegseth so much so that even Senate Democrats acknowledged his ability to mobilize the talking point during a confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee, marking another battle in an ongoing…

New GOP bill seeks to hold private universities to same tax standard as corporations: 'On notice'

Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas is introducing legislation to raise taxes on private university endowment profits to be in line with the corporate tax rate.

Trump's AG Pick Pam Bondi to Face US Senate Questions

Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, will face a Senate panel on Wednesday where Democrats are expected to question her about the president-elect's comments on using the Justice Department against political opponents. Bondi, 59, se…

This Is Not Late-Stage Capitalism

Automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics are set to redefine the relationship between labour, capital, and production.

Texas Online Porn Age-Verification Law Goes to Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is set Wednesday to hear a challenge on free speech grounds to a Texas law that requires pornographic websites to verify the age of users in a case testing the legality of state efforts to keep minors from viewing such material o…

We Need Hegseth, Gabbard & Rubio To Strengthen U.S.

Please answer one simple question. Which of the following does the United States currently possess? (A) An adequate intelligence service. (B) An adequate diplomatic corps. (C) An adequate military. (D) None of the above.

Should You Be Prepping for Trump?

Some liberals are stocking up on and freeze-drying food—and say that others should be too.

In opening remarks, Rubio plans robust defense of ‘America First’ policy

Noem's DHS Confirmation Hearing Postponed to Friday

The Senate confirmation hearing for Department of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem was postponed two days over a delay in the South Dakota governor's FBI background check, according to reports.

For Pete's Sake - Can Anything Shame These Democratic Senators?

Podcast #267: The Tragedy of California’s Wildfires

Jonathan Kay speaks with University of Southern California scholar William Deverell about what he calls the ‘new fire regime in the American West.’

A rundown of today’s confirmation hearings

President Biden releases farewell letter, says it’s been ‘privilege of my life to serve this nation'

President Biden released a farewell letter Wednesday, saying that “It has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years."

Three Hard Truths About California’s Fire Crisis

Climate change makes fires more dangerous. Government competence matters. And preventing catastrophic fires requires expensive, unpopular measures.

Hmmm: MSNBC Prez Out Just Before MSNBC's Prez Leaves

Goodbye & Good Riddance: Biden Can't Leave Fast Enough

Joe Biden will undoubtedly paint a picture of a successful tenure as president. But I won't be fooled - and neither should other Americans.

DeSantis orders flags at full-staff for Trump's inauguration despite 30-day mourning period for Jimmy Carter

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags at state buildings to be at full-staff for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 despite a 30-day mourning for former President Jimmy Carter.

Caroline Wiles, daughter of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has...

House Oversight report says telework is 'wasting billions' in taxpayer cash ahead of 1st hearing

FIRST ON FOX: The House Oversight Committee found that prolonged pandemic-era telework has been “detrimental" to government agencies and new employee training.

Agitprop at the AHA

If the American Historical Association formally adopts a resolution accusing Israel of “scholasticide,” it could destroy the organisation’s reputation for serious scholarship.

Portland, Ore., Mayor Mandates Employees Work In Person

The new Democrat mayor of Portland, Oregon, is requiring hundreds of non-union city employees to begin working in person full-time starting this spring.

Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn eyes gubernatorial bid: report

Sen. Marsha Blackburn reportedly told people that she will likely mount a gubernatorial bid.

Trump Advisers Concede Ukraine Peace Deal Is Months Away

Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump now concede the Ukraine war will take months or even longer to resolve, a sharp reality check on his biggest foreign policy promise to strike a peace deal on his first day in the White House.

Biden Promised to Turn Page on Trump, Only to Turn It Over to Him

Joe Biden wanted to "restore the soul" of the country and prove Donald Trump was only a footnote in the American story, not its next chapter. It failed, like his presidency and his Afghanistan withdrawal and the foreign policy disasters that led t…

Trump’s Energy pick rejects link between climate change and wildfires

Trump attorney general nominee Pam Bondi to testify before Judiciary Committee

Trump's attorney general pick, Pam Bondi, to face questioning from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

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.

Pete Hegseth’s Confirmation Hearing

In a hearing that stretched more than four hours, Democrats pressed Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for defense secretary, on numerous allegations of misconduct, his views about women in combat and his ability to lead the depa…

In written responses to questions from the Senate, Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney...

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.

Live updates: Senate to hold confirmation hearings for Trump picks including Pam Bondi, Marco Rubio

The Senate is accelerating the confirmation process Wednesday for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet choices, scheduling half a dozen hearings.

Keeping BDS Out of Academia: A Canadian Case Study

Recordings from a recent Brock University faculty union meeting illustrate the tactics that anti-Israel activists use to co-opt ostensibly neutral academic institutions.

Showdown in South Korea

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Karen Bass Is a 'Joke' - and It's Racist NOT To Say So

The epic incompetence of LA Mayor Karen Bass is plain a€” and if we want an equal society, that means equality of blame, as well as of praise.

Md. Gov. Moore: I'll Work With Trump

Maryland Democrat Gov. Wes Moore signaled Tuesday that he was willing to move out of lockstep with the Democrat establishment and work with President-elect Donald Trump."I'm not the leader of the resistance," Moore told CNN's Jake Tapper. "I'm the…

Analysis: Some key questions remain as Biden says farewell

In written answers to questions from the Senate, Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney...

Biden's 'Sneaky' & 'Dirty' Plot To Slow Down Trump on Day 1

President Joe Biden enacted a series of roadblocks to Donald Trump's agenda to slow down the president-elect in his first days in the White House, despite his public promise to cooperate.

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.

Drop the Outrage Over Trump’s Foreign-Policy Bluster

The way to deal with the bombast is by turning it against a leader who leads a movement that is actually deeply divided.

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.

N.J. will stockpile abortion pills, governor says before Trump inauguration

Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said his state will begin stockpiling mifepristone “in light of the anti-choice policies supported by” Republican majorities in Congress.

In Pursuing Canal, Trump Could Push Panama Closer to China

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s threat to take back the Panama Canal may be posturing, but it could dampen the Panamanian government’s wish to broaden relations with the United States, analysts say.

Nearly Half of Trans Women Held in Federal Women's Prisons Are Sex Offenders

Biden to Bid Farewell in Oval Office Address Before Trump Takes Office

President Joe Biden will cap his half-century political career Wednesday with a final Oval Office speech, hoping to cement a legacy that has been overshadowed by Democrats' failure to stop Donald Trump from returning to the White House.

Syrian Torture, Then and Now

The atrocities committed by the Assad regime were no secret—but they were met with Western inaction.

Mexico's Immigration Chief Accused of Lying to His Own Government, Corruption

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…

Stop the (North Carolina) Steal

The Democratic incumbent got more votes. Now the Republican challenger is trying to throw out tens of thousands of them.

5 Takeaways from Hochul’s State of the State Address

Child care, housing costs and public safety were the New York governor’s top issues as she outlined her policy plans for the year and for a re-election fight in 2026.

Biden Races to Cement His Legacy Through a Series of Actions

The president has issued policy decisions in a number of areas in the final days of his term, including environmental justice, prison reform and immigration.

Why ‘Late Regime’ Presidencies Fail

The coalition collapse that doomed Biden follows a grim precedent set by another Democratic leader: Jimmy Carter.

Pete Hegseth Declines to Answer

At Tuesday’s confirmation hearing, the defense-secretary nominee looked like a man who understood that the fix was in.

Experts sound alarm on Biden's offshore drilling ban having reverse effect on environment: 'Disgraceful'

Experts who spoke to Fox News Digital warned that President Biden's ban on offshore drilling could do more harm than good to the environment and human rights.

Senate GOP Eyes Reforms to Key Disaster Insurance Program

Republican lawmakers are exploring reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to better support disaster victims, including those affected by California's wildfires, The Hill reported.

Democrats In Minnesota Have Gone Insane and Insurrection-y

Biden to Deliver Farewell Address, Capping a 5-Decade Political Career

The president has sought to portray his administration as transformative, but his speech on Wednesday night comes amid a backdrop in which he is not leaving on his own terms.

Rep. Jordan to Newsmax: Shame Vance Couldn't Tour VP Home

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told Newsmax on Tuesday it was "poor form" for Vice President Kamala Harris not to extend the customary invitation to the family of Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and his family to tour their future home - the Naval Obser…

How Many Democrats Voted to Protect Female Athletes? Two. Just Two.

Transportation Hearing Will Focus on Aviation Safety and Infrastructure

Sean Duffy, a Fox News host and former Wisconsin congressmen, would oversee a sprawling Transportation Department that oversees aviation, rail and transit.

These Bizarre Theories About the L.A. Wildfires Endanger Everyone

Societies that scapegoat foreign powers for domestic problems erode their ability to solve those problems.

Jack Smith’s Accountability Effort Ends With More Freedom for Trump

The Justice Department now enters a second Trump administration with less authority to pursue a president than it has had in half a century.

The Particular Horror of the Los Angeles Wildfires

Southern California is no stranger to fires. But the dreadful blazes that began yesterday are potentially transformative.

Trump Doesn’t Believe Anything. That’s Why He Wins.

Transactionalism is Trump’s secret weapon.

How 'Anti-Racist' Policing Let Grooming Gangs Run Riot

The 1999 Macpherson report made police forces terrified of accusations of racism.

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…

President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday he will nominate Keith Sonderling as the next deputy labor secretary....

The Tyranny of Fragility

How Alexis de Tocqueville foretold the rise of victimhood culture.

Welcome to the Tech Bros Inauguration Derby

Zuckerberg, Musk and Bezos are falling over themselves to suck up to the incoming president. And he's just as keen to let them, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

US Wind Pulls a Sopranos Move: 'Nice Little County You Have There - Be a Shame...'

John Ratcliffe Is Expected to Lay Out a Vision for a More Aggressive C.I.A.

Donald Trump’s pick for the agency’s director seems likely to win some Democratic support for this nomination, but how much is unclear.

Dem senator who bashed Hegseth's qualifications stands by DOD sec who oversaw botched Afghan withdrawal

Sen. Blumenthal grilled SecDef nominee Pete Hegseth on his qualifications despite reaffirming current support for the job SecDef Lloyd Austin has done.

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.

The Intellectual Rationalization for Annexing Greenland

Donald Trump’s defenders have little choice but to cast his trolling as a clever geopolitical stratagem.

Inflation heats up again, with prices weighing on Americans as Trump takes office

Here is the latest.

Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, will be asked if she can stand up to Donald Trump, who has made it clear that he wants the government’s top lawyer to execute his commands.

My Experience Working With Justin Trudeau: Quillette Cetera Episode 43

Zoe interviews her colleague Jonathan Kay, who once ghostwrote for Trudeau, about his time working with the Canadian soon-to-be ex-Prime Minister.

Florida proposal would bar illegal migrants in the US from attending some colleges

A Florida state lawmaker has introduced a bill to ban illegal migrants from being admitted to public colleges and universities with an acceptance rate under 85%.

Trump Naming Ross Worthington Head Speechwriter

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to name Ross Worthington as his head speechwriter at the White House, three people with knowledge of the situation told Politico.

Trump Energy Sec pick to share American 'energy dominance' vision at confirmation hearing: 'Agent for change'

Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright, Trump's energy secretary nominee, is to outline his vision for American "energy dominance" at Senate confirmation hearing.

Will Biden Pardon IRS Employee Who Leaked Trump's Tax Returns?

The Solzhenitsyn Test

Lying is a prerequisite for securing a Trump appointment.

Rubio Is in Spotlight on Second Big Day of Cabinet Hearings

Senator Marco Rubio, who is nominated for secretary of state, has a long history of personal and policy differences with President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump’s threat to place conditions on fire aid outrages Democrats

Withholding natural disaster aid to force policy changes is unusual and would mark a major escalation in Republicans’ feuds with blue states.

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.

Tennessee AG optimistic about SCOTUS case after 'radical gender ideology' reversal in lower court

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, optimistic after a Kentucky court ruling reversing Biden's Title IX, eyes potential success in his Supreme Court gender case.

Must Watch: Mazie Hirono's Day-Drinking Questioning of Hegseth

The (First) Conquest of Quebec

In the 24th instalment of ‘Nations of Canada,’ Greg Koabel describes how British adventurers briefly seized Quebec and Acadia following the Anglo-French War of 1627–29.

The Top 10 Dumbest Things Said By Democrats...On Tuesday

How Santa Ana Winds Are Fuelling the Deadly fires in LA

It’s very hard to extinguish a fire under these conditions.

CNN Political Briefing

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