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

On CPAC’s Main Stage, Fissures in the Party Trump Remade

The Conservative Political Action Conference typically seeks to establish orthodoxy with its roster of speakers. This year, organizers created space for dissent, highlighting ongoing schisms in the MAGA movement.

Letters to the Editor

Friday 20 March – Friday 27 March

Drinking Raw Milk Is Risky. Should People Be Able to Buy It Anyway?

Several states are considering bills that would expand access to unpasteurized milk. MAHA supporters say consumers should have the right to choose.

‘I’m Far Angrier’

Can Cory Booker, once the candidate of love, run for president and stay true to who he is?

Treating Myths as Science

Indigenous “Ways of Knowing” have no place in British Columbia’s school science curriculum.

Kimmitt to Newsmax: US Casualties in Iran Conflict Unavoidable

Casualties are an unavoidable reality as U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict expands, retired Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told Newsmax after reports that more than two dozen American troops were wounded in a recent Iranian strike on an air base…

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.

Everyone Has Trump’s Phone Number Now

The president’s personal iPhone has been lighting up.

Israel Shifts Missile Defense Strategy to Conserve Stocks

Israel has begun rationing its most advanced missile interceptors amid sustained Iranian barrages, shifting to upgraded versions of lower-tier systems in some cases and allowing certain incoming threats to proceed if they appear headed for open ar…

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.

JD Vance on UFOs: 'I'm Obsessed'

Vice President JD Vance said he is obsessed with unidentified flying objects and plans to review the government's most highly classified files on them before leaving office, while describing the phenomena as demonic rather than extraterrestrial.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

NASA races to build moon base as US challenges China in new space race

NASA races to build a $20 billion lunar base as China and Russia advance moon ambitions, with experts warning China holds the advantage in space.

Trump, Tehran, and the China Calculus

The CCP will certainly take advantage should Iran turn into a major distraction for the US.

African nation calls for Ilhan Omar to be extradited after Vance's fraud claim

The Republic of Somaliland has called for Rep. Ilhan Omar's extradition after Vice President JD Vance claimed she committed immigration fraud, an accusation Omar has denied.

Don't Count Ballots After Election Day

Iran’s Hidden War Against the West: Emily Schrader

Emily Schrader joins Pamela Paresky to explain how Iran’s regime works, why reform has failed, and what may come next.

MAGA’s eruption has so far kept Trump from endorsing in key Senate race

President Donald Trump seemed set to endorse Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Republican primary runoff. But strong opposition from MAGA activists forestalled that.

ICE agents may remain at airports even after TSA agents get paid

As the partial shutdown drags on, border czar Tom Homan says the decision will depend in part on whether TSA agents “come back to work.”

There Are Now Over 50,000 American Troops in the Mideast

The arrival of 2,500 Marines and another 2,500 sailors is keeping the number of American troops in the region at roughly 10,000 more than usual.

Not So Fast, Bill Maher

The comedian was set to receive the Twain Prize before a sudden reversal of course.

Kaela Berg, a Flight Attendant, Runs for Congress One Layover at a Time

Kaela Berg is part of a crop of working-class candidates that Democrats hope can help the party win back blue-collar voters.

Tracking who Trump is appointing to fill key administration roles

Follow President Trump’s progress filling over 800 positions, among about 1,300 that require Senate confirmation, in this tracker from The Washington Post and the Partnership for Public Service.

MAPPED: Where gas prices are rising the fastest from the Iran conflict

Gasoline, diesel and jet fuel prices have jumped as the conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran squeezes oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Lankford Open to Limited US Boots on the Ground in Iran Conflict

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., did not rule out supporting the deployment of U.S. ground troops into Iran, conditioning any such backing on clear objectives and the ability to complete the mission without a prolonged occupation.

Religious Broadcasters, ZOA File Amicus Briefs to Halt Nexstar Merger

Two organizations, the National Religious Broadcasters and the Zionist Organization of America, have filed amicus curiae briefs supporting Newsmax and other petitioners seeking to block the FCC's approval of Nexstar's acquisition of TEGNA broadcas…

Useful Lefty Idiots Want To Turn U.S. Into Commie Cuba

Podcaster Hasan Piker visited Cuba and claimed people were partying despite daily rolling blackouts, while staying in a five-star, generator-powered hotel.

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…

Criminal Research

European jurists should not seek to arbitrate controversial matters best settled by science.

Client Tails Wag the U.S. Dog

Most American allies are security dependents that bring big risks and few benefits.

SCHUMER SHUTDOWN SALE: 60% Off VIP Memberships!

Judge agrees to dismiss charges against officers tied to Breonna Taylor raid

Attorneys for Taylor’s family sharply denounced the Trump administration’s push to drop the charges.

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…

House GOP passes its own funding bill, rejecting Senate version, as shutdown drags on

Senate Democrats have said the plan is “dead on arrival” in the upper chamber.

Getting Away With It

The case of Bao Phuc Cao—released without a conviction after secretly filming over 100 women in public toilets—reveals that Melbourne’s judiciary is drastically out of step with the public understanding of the purpose of criminal justice.

Supreme Court prepares to review Trump executive order on birthright citizenship

The Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship, a case that could reinterpret the 14th Amendment for millions.

Iranian Sleeper Cell Concerns Grow After Border Intercepts

U.S. officials have expressed mounting concern over the potential for Iranian "sleeper cells" on American soil following the interception of about 1,500 Iranian nationals at the southern border during the prior administration.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Bob Costas: The IOC Ban of Trans Women is Common Sense

The Economists Who Got It Right

Tyler Robinson Killed Charlie Kirk part 2

F.B.I. Said to Dig Up Old Investigative Files on Democratic Lawmaker

The urgent instructions at the Trump administration’s behest to gather and relay the files on Representative Eric Swalwell have alarmed some career law enforcement officials.

New pro-AI group backed by Trump allies plans $100M midterm spending push

AI is emerging as a key political battleground as a new $100M pro-industry group enters the 2026 midterms to back deregulation and counter stricter rules.

AI Is Not About To Become Sentient

Most of today’s “artificial intelligence” is better described as artificial autocomplete than artificial mind.

Republicans Can Win on Health Care Affordability

DHS shutdown putting Americans at risk as World Cup security prep ‘significantly behind’: Sen Fetterman

Sen. John Fetterman urges an end to the weeks-long DHS shutdown, warning that TSA staffing losses threaten airport security ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Jeffries declines to break with indicted Democrat after ethics panel's guilty verdict

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was found guilty of over two dozen ethics violations, but Democratic leaders have so far withheld condemnation.

Is Iran a Political Problem for Trump? Tell Me How Long the War Lasts.

Historically, quagmire abroad and high prices at home are the ingredients of a failed presidency.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

The First Post-Ideological Bedouin State

Why the misunderstood sovereign UAE thrives, and why ideologues—from the Islamic Republic to the Muslim Brotherhood—are invested in its demise.

Kash Patel’s push against Democratic lawmaker raises concerns within FBI

FBI Director Kash Patel is pushing to post documents related to a Democratic lawmaker who has not been accused of wrongdoing, raising alarms within the Bureau.

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.

A Downturn in Las Vegas Could Signal Tough Times for the Nation

The high rollers may still be crowding the tables, but high prices and pinched discretionary incomes are driving a sharp drop-off in visitors to Las Vegas as Nevada’s governor runs for re-election.

Kristi Noem Is Gone. Now Mass Deportations Can Really Begin.

DHS has a new leader and a big pot of money to deliver on Trump’s campaign promise.

Kristi Noem Bought 11 Warehouses to Use as ICE Jails. Now What?

DHS’s next leader will inherit a fast-moving $38 billion plan for industrial-scale immigrant detention.

The Left Comes for a Flailing Gavin Newsom

California Gov. Gavin Newsom changes his position depending on his audience. The far Left is starting to come after him for it.

From the Green New Deal to Supporting the Ayatollah

The Innovation Trap

The central risk of AI is not that machines will become malevolent. It is that human incentive structures, amplified by scalable technology, outrun our ability to govern them.

Cruz refuses to take sides between Cornyn, Paxton in high-stakes GOP Senate clash

Sen. Ted Cruz says he is staying neutral in the Texas GOP Senate runoff, citing close ties to both John Cornyn and Ken Paxton as friends and allies.

Newsom's Homophobic Dig Isn't Clever. It's Trump-Like Cruelty

If California Gov. Gavin Newsom's goal is to become liberal America's least likable Democrat, he's doing a bang-up job.

Pittsburgh Public Schools Earns Poor Marks for NFL Draft Closure

JD Vance says he was 'obsessed' with UFOs, believes aliens are actually 'demons'

Talking to conservative commentator Benny Johnson about the topic of UFOs, Vice President JD Vance noted that he believes aliens are actually demons.

Elliott Abrams to Newsmax: Trump Moves Could Press Iran to Negotiate

Any military options President Donald Trump would take against Iran would carry risks, but his moves would also increase pressure on Tehran to negotiate, Elliott Abrams, a former U.S. special representative for Iran and Venezuela, told Newsmax on …

Exclusive 'Interview': Gavin Newsom on His Possible Presidential Launch

Sen Mazie Hirono trolled for admitting Trump not 'a king,' and 'never has been'

Sen. Mazie Hirono's No Kings post backfired as Republicans like Chip Roy and Mike Lee mocked her for seemingly undermining the anti-Trump rallies.

Trump ratchets up attacks on NATO, says U.S. no longer needs alliance

President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. might move away from its commitment to defend NATO allies, criticizing them for not supporting the war in Iran.

Vance Wins CPAC Straw Poll, but Rubio Gains Steam Among MAGA Faithful

Conference organizers presented the poll results as a rebuttal to narratives that Republicans were split over the Iran war and support for Israel.

Ayalon to Newsmax: Israel Can Handle Houthi Threats

Israel is facing a manageable threat from Houthi missile activity while keeping its focus on Iran's nuclear capabilities and broader regional risks, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Danny Ayalon told Newsmax on Sunday.

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.

A Serious Senate Debate About an Unserious Bill

The most pressing question about the SAVE America Act is not whether it’s going to pass, but why President Trump and his allies are so determined to see the Senate put up a bill that’s doomed to fail.

Republicans can fund ICE for an entire decade without a single Dem vote: Sen Cruz

Sen. Ted Cruz says Republicans can fund ICE for a decade using reconciliation, bypassing Democrats who he claims will never again vote to fund the agency.

Shannon, McCaughey to Newsmax: Conservative Values Key in Races

T.W. Shannon and Betsy McCaughey, both of whom have worked as hosts on Newsmax, discussed their political campaigns on Sunday, stressing their work to encourage conservative values in their states.

Pentagon prepares for weeks of ground operations in Iran

If President Trump approves the plans, such an effort would mark a new phase of the war that could be significantly more dangerous to U.S. troops than the first four weeks.

He took Pelosi’s lectern on Jan. 6. Now he’s running for office.

Adam Johnson has rarely voted and embraces his role as clown prince of Jan. 6. Floridians will decide whether a man who tried to upend democracy can help lead one.

Why the Iran War May Force Countries to Rely Less on Natural Gas

The U.S. and other exporters are poised for a windfall, but disruptions to Persian Gulf supplies are also pushing gas-buying countries to consider alternatives like coal, solar and nuclear energy.

Claims at heart of FBI’s 2020 Georgia election probe have ‘no basis in reality,’ witness says

The testimony emerged as officials in Fulton County urged a federal judge to order the return of more than 650 boxes of materials seized by agents in January.

At least 10 U.S. troops wounded in Iranian attack on Saudi air base

The strike on Prince Sultan Air Base also damaged at least two Air Force refueling aircraft and underscored that despite weeks of strikes, Iran still poses a threat.

Empathetic Immigration Policies Put America at Great Risk

Brandon Shah should still be alive, a husband to his wife, a father to his child, and a mentor to his students.

At CPAC, Republicans Close Ranks Behind Trump on Iran war

Republicans at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference largely rallied behind U.S. strikes on Iran on Thursday, backing President Donald Trump on an issue that has dented his wider approval ratings and could jeopardize the party's pros…

Jet fuel spikes as airlines warn supplies could run dry within weeks

U.S. jet fuel prices jumped from $2.17 to $4.57 per gallon in weeks, prompting airline cuts and raising concerns over shortages and higher fares.

The Republican Party Continues Eating Its Own

What one lawmaker’s defection from the GOP says about the state of politics

Piligrims On the Journey: Palm Sunday Reflection

5 Takeaways From the ‘No Kings’ Rallies as the Midterms Heat Up

The war in Iran was a galvanizing force, but plenty of protesters focused on President Trump’s immigration crackdown. Senate candidates in several key races joined the crowds.

Wild Ultimatums and ‘Bombing Our Little Hearts Out’: A Portrait of Trump at War

President Trump has vacillated between boasting about U.S. military superiority and deep frustration that his war of choice is not always having the desired effects.

The Manosphere Turns on Trump

How many times can a coalition crack before it shatters?

Friday's Final Word

The Edifice Complex

Monuments don’t create legacy; they merely memorialise it.

No Kings Is Impressive. It's Not Enough

Why Minneapolis activism is a stronger model than No Kings protests.

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.

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.

Donald Trump Is Nothing Like Robert Mueller

The absurdity of a man who avoided Vietnam due to “bone spurs” dancing on the grave of a decorated combat veteran

Parallel Kingdom

Nick Cave’s beautiful and tragic music brings redemptive catharsis to a grief-stricken city.

As Trump feels pressure to end war, allies fear what Iran may do next

The oil price rose to $110 per barrel on Friday, as Iran has demonstrated it can inflict significant damage on the world’s economy, even while outgunned. That creates a dilemma for President Trump.

Saturday's Final Word

The Many Roots of Our Suffering: Reflections on Robert Trivers (1943–2026)

The contributions of Robert Trivers belong in the special category of ideas that are obvious once they are explained, yet eluded great minds for ages; simple enough to be stated in a few words, yet with implications that have busied scientists for…

Morris to Newsmax: Schumer, Dems' Protests 'Endanger Travelers'

Dick Morris on Saturday accused Chuck Schumer and other Democrats of allowing protests to disrupt airports and endanger travelers, calling it a sign of misplaced priorities amid immigration and funding battles.

A 79-Year-Old Freshman Senator?

Janet Mills does not have a dicey Reddit history or a recently covered-over Nazi tattoo. But her candidacy is haunted by Joe Biden’s 2024 debacle.

The ‘Big Black Scar’

Trump is blowing up national-park land in Arizona to wall off one of the border’s last wild places.

Fred Fleitz to Newsmax: Iran Ground Invasion Not Likely

The deployment of U.S. forces to the Middle East provides leverage in ongoing negotiations with Iran, but a ground invasion is unlikely, as Americans oppose such action, according to former Trump national security chief of staff Fred Fleitz on Sun…

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…

A Challenge for ‘No Kings’ Protests, the Third Time Around

Organizers want this to be the largest protest yet. But is hitting a number enough to deliver an effective political movement?

The Murder of Sheridan Gorman & the Stifling of Chicago

By John Kass Sunday March 29 The worst sound in the world comes from the throat of a father or mother of a child killed by an illegal protected by powerful politicians as the news media begins to edge away from them, ignoring their child and their…

High Stakes, and a Low Bar, For Markwayne Mullin at DHS

Trump’s nominee has one big thing going for him: He’s not Kristi Noem.