Smash The Bubble

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

more info

Today's Headlines

Love and Theft

Luc Besson’s romantic adaptation of the Dracula story owes an unacknowledged debt to Eiko Ishioka, the visionary designer of Francis Cord Coppola’s 1992 classic.

What Australia Can Learn from Israel’s Assimilation Success

The Bondi massacre is a warning that Australia’s failure to demand integration from recent immigrants may be leading it down a dark path. Israel shows that multiculturalism can work, but only in a nation with a strong sense of identity.

Judge Napolitano to Newsmax: Trump Frustration Led to Bondi Exit as AG

Pam Bondi's lack of progress in pursuing President Donald Trump's political adversaries likely was "the final straw" for the president before naming a new U.S. attorney general, retired New Jersey Superior Court Judge Andrew Napolitano told Newsma…

UPDATED: Iran Shoots Down F-15; Iran Offering Reward for Pilots; One Rescued?

Podcast #331: The Ayatollahs’ Assassins

Iona Italia talks to Roya Hakakian about her book ‘Assassins of the Turquoise Palace’ and the past and present crimes of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Top Hegseth Aide Accused of Spreading Fake Story to Catch Leakers

War Secretary Pete Hegseth's top aide is facing scrutiny after allegedly spreading a story about sneaking out in disguise with the Pentagon chief, a claim reportedly viewed by insiders as false and possibly part of an effort to root out leaks.

China Hacked FBI Surveillance Network

Doomscrolling into Adulthood

Reflections on the crisis of meaning afflicting not only Gen Z but all of us who are too online.

Good Information Is Hard To Find

Barack Obama pinpointed a central conflict in American politics back in 2004 while talking with a group of Google executives, "Many people - they're just misinformed," he said. "They just don't have enough information, or they're not professionals…

How Trump came to re-endorse a Republican congressman he had just ditched

House leaders and lobbyists rallied around Rep. Jeff Hurd (Colorado) after Trump, angry about Hurd’s vote against tariffs, withdrew support for his reelection.

Georgia Lawmakers End Session Without Fixing a Threat to Its Midterm Elections

The state legislature failed to push back a deadline that requires Georgia to get rid of its current voting system and find a new one — all before November.

WH Releases Trump's Budget With Major Increase in Defense Spending

President Donald Trump is asking Congress to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillion, the largest such request in decades and the latest signal of the president's emphasis on U.S. military investments. The 2027 plans for the Pentagon were confirme…

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.

CNN Political Briefing

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

DHS preps deportation of alleged MS-13 gang member wanted for pastor's murder in El Salvador

An alleged MS-13 gang member from El Salvador who is accused of murdered a pastor and was released into the U.S. in 2016 is now in ICE custody, DHS says.

Trump: 'Fraud Czar' Vance to Focus on Blue State Fraud

President Donald Trump on Friday called Vice President JD Vance the country's "fraud czar," whose focus on states led by "crooked Democrat politicians" has begun with "raids" in Los Angeles, California.

Boom! US Adds 178,000 Jobs In March

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 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.

Rep. Barry Moore to Newsmax: Bondi Fell Short on Epstein Files as DOJ Faces Reset

Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., said Friday on Newsmax that former Attorney General Pam Bondi "missed" opportunities on the Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting that frustration over the records helped drive President Donald Trump's decision to remove her …

Public Anger Is Rising

Even TMZ is channeling the national discontent.

Big Tech Reverting to Old Ways?

Meta clamps down on a documentary criticizing Meta. Is old-school digital censorship returning?

Massive DC Sewage Spill Caused by Environmental Review That Dragged on for Years

Has King Charles Become a Muslim? It Seemed a Ridiculous Rumor, But...

Demand Justice Warns Trump Could Fill Two More SCOTUS Vacancies

Poll shows mixed signs for Democratic push to gain seats in Congress

A slight majority of Virginia voters supports giving Democrats a temporary edge in congressional maps, but opponents are more motivated in new Post-Schar School poll.

VP Vance to meet with Viktor Orbán in Hungary days ahead of foreign nation's elections

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to head to Hungary and meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as the foreign leader runs for re-election.

Hegseth Allows Troops to Carry Personal Firearms at Military Bases

Many shootings at military bases have involved troops bringing guns they purchased onto base grounds and opening fire on fellow service members.

Democrat AGs Sue Trump Over Mail-in Voting Order

A coalition of Democrat state attorneys general announced on Friday they are filing a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's new executive order tightening rules on mail-in voting.

Hegseth forces out Army’s top general, two other senior officers

Gen. Randy George’s ouster is the latest clash between the Pentagon chief and the service’s senior leadership, and comes during the war in Iran.

What to Know About the ‘Massive’ Military Bunker Beneath Trump’s Ballroom

President Trump has been talking about the emergency facility beneath what was once the East Wing, details of which are usually kept secret, as he tries to justify his renovation.

Who's Ready For Flintstonistan?

GOP targets transgender animal testing in defund demand to NIH

Republican lawmakers push to ban funding for transgender animal experiments in the 2027 Appropriations bill after NIH granted new research funds.

Thursday's Final Word

Trump Says Opening the Strait of Hormuz ‘Should Be Easy.’ Will It?

President Trump is asking U.S. allies to “go to” the Strait of Hormuz “and just take it.” Eric Schmitt, our national security correspondent, explains how difficult it would be to clear the strait by force.

Not So Fast, Bill Maher

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

Hegseth’s War on America’s Military

Someone needs to explain the Pentagon purges to the American people.

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.

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

Celebrity chef lashes out at Trump for changing the 'rules' the same year as America 250

Chef José Andrés joined protesters outside the Supreme Court as Trump attended arguments on birthright citizenship in a historic appearance at the High Court Wednesday.

Court tosses sentence for former clerk in scheme tied to 2020 election 

The Colorado appeals court ordered a new sentence for Tina Peters, a former county elections official convicted for her efforts to boost Trump’s false claims.

The Disgrace of Tariq Ramadan

The Islamist grandson of Hasan al-Banna convinced many Western liberals that he was a moderate because he promised to bridge a divide many feared could not be crossed.

Hospice Had 97% Survival Rate, Accused of Medicare Fraud

The FBI arrested a married couple Thursday accused of fraudulently billing Medicare for $7.45 million while running a hospice with a survival rate reported to be more than 97% after five years. They were the first in a series of arrests planned Th…

Trump proposes $10B fund for D.C. construction, beautification projects

The planned Presidential Capital Stewardship Program would help renovate parks and infrastructure, as Trump works to remake a city he has derided as “dirty.”

1 rescued after U.S. fighter jet crash in Iran; search ongoing for crew member

It’s the first known loss of an American aircraft inside Iranian territory since the war began a month ago.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

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.

What B-52 bombers bring to Iran fight — and what it means for the war now

The U.S. is now flying B-52 bombers over Iran, a dramatic operational shift signaling air superiority after weeks of strikes degraded its defenses.

Trump eyes next attorney general as key GOP senator signals potential roadblock

President Donald Trump's firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi sets up another Senate confirmation battle, with Sen. Thom Tillis , R-N.C., drawing a firm line on Jan. 6.

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…

House members still want Bondi to testify about Epstein files despite ouster

Several Democrats and at least one Republican on the House Oversight Committee say Pam Bondi must appear for sworn testimony regardless of her employment status.

US pilot rescued from downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran, search for second crew member ongoing

An F-15 fighter jet went down in Iran and one of the pilots has been rescued, a source told Fox News, while a search is ongoing for the second crew member.

Treating Myths as Science

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

Reeling from war in the Middle East, Trump reaches for a reset

The president is in a precarious political moment seven months before the midterm elections, facing some of his lowest approval ratings and presiding over an unpopular war.

One Rescued From U.S. Jet Shot Down in Iran, U.S. Officials Say

The fate of the plane’s crew was unclear, as American officials scrambled to mount a search and rescue operation.

'Liberation Day,' One Year Later

Trump's tariffs didn't spur economic growth but did encourage trade between spurned U.S. partners.

Francesca Albanese and the Perversion of Academia

Three Flemish universities are about to convey the sanction of university-recognised expertise to a deeply dishonest and fraudulent individual.

Case for Trump's Tariffs Looks Strong a Year On

Economists' lurid forecasts of disaster have not been realised

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

How Democrats Are Embracing Dark Money

The left is creating new, obscure nonprofits to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into politics and advocacy.

Hardware Is Back

"Software is eating the world," digital-tech pioneer Marc Andreessen proclaimed 15 years ago. American industries might once have been built out of steel, concrete and oil. But now, he wrote, digitally based companies like Amazon, Facebook and Goo…

Rep. Carter to Newsmax: Bondi 'Did a Great Job,' Trump Has Right to Fire

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., told Newsmax on Friday that President Donald Trump was within his authority to fire Attorney General Pam Bondi while praising her record advancing the administration’s agenda.

Pam Bondi Wanted a Graceful Exit. But Trump Wanted Her Gone.

Pam Bondi had a feeling her days as attorney general were numbered. But she didn’t expect President Trump to drop the curtain quite so soon.

The Manosphere Turns on Trump

How many times can a coalition crack before it shatters?

Iran’s Future Won’t Be Crowned — It Will Be Won

Orion Spacecraft Headed to the Moon After a Day of Troubleshooting

State top cop moves to crush alleged DHS records restriction as county denies ICE-out

Montana AG tells Gallatin County its refusal to recognize ICE as a criminal justice agency is legally wrong, warning 'Montana is not California.'

Trump’s Purge May Be Just Beginning

After Pam Bondi’s ouster, other top administration officials could be in jeopardy.

Sea Change: Hegseth Announces Bases Will No Longer Be Gun Free Zones

Too Weird to Check: Trump Canned Bondi Over ... Swalwell?

Wealthy Donors Are Hiding Political Money in Secretive Nonprofits

Using philanthropy for campaign donations is illegal. But an exception for some nonprofits has allowed Democratic billionaires like Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg to remain anonymous when they want to play politics.

How Gender Medicine Set Itself Up for Disaster

At a closed-door meeting in 2021, ACLU attorney Chase Strangio declared, If we take away these health care options, kids are going to die.

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.

Trump cabinet shakeup expands after Noem exit, Bondi firing — who’s under pressure next?

After ousting Noem and Bondi, Trump may target more cabinet members ahead of crucial midterm elections where slim GOP majorities are at stake.

Trump Admin Signals Clarity on Church Speech

The Trump administration announced Friday that it will "provide additional clarity and guidance" to religious organizations after a federal judge's decision this week to dismiss a case seeking to overturn the 70-year-old ban on political activity …

Trump Admin Mulls Expanding Chinese Tech Gear Crackdown

The Federal Communications Commission on Friday proposed to ban the import of Chinese equipment from a group of manufacturers after previously barring approvals of new models in 2022, the latest move by Washington to crack down on Chinese-made ele…

Faith Among Youth Surges, Providing a Missing Anchor

Throughout the country, young people are turning out and going to church. Pittsburgh has been the scene of that revival.

Holocaust survivor, 86, priced out of NYC says Mamdani skipped scheduled housing meeting

An 86-year-old Holocaust survivor says NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani failed to follow through on a promised housing meeting as costs soar.

Hegseth Fires Army Chief Amid Battle With Its Leaders

Senior Army officers reacted with anger and frustration to news of Gen. Randy George’s dismissal, characterizing it as the latest blow to the service.

The Tragicomic Death Throes of Canada’s (Former) Workers’ Party

The New Democratic Party, which once championed the country’s unions, is now in the hands of a radicalised anti-Israel activist who wants to nationalise grocery sales and shut down oil production.

Apocalypse ’92

A new account of the 1992 siege at Ruby Ridge attempts to straighten out the record and place the story in a broader political and theological context.

AI Is Not About To Become Sentient

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

Roots of Trump's One Good Education Reform

An unheralded provision in the "big beautiful" tax act creates a beachhead for quality control in higher education that both parties have worked towards for three-quarters of a century. Will it survive?

The Axis of Renewal

Israel and the United States have already done much to dismantle the Axis of Resistance, but the broader network supported by Iran remains most active in Western Europe.

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.

Trump’s Cozy Transportation Secretary

Sean Duffy is partnering with the industries he regulates in new ways.

Black Caucus scholarships discriminate based on race, lawsuit alleges

The lawsuit, filed by an anti-affirmative action group, is part of a broader movement to dismantle programs meant to remedy the effects of past discrimination.

Dem fundraising giant ActBlue rocked by allegations it misled Congress about foreign donations

A new report is alleging ActBlue, the dominant fundraising platform for the left, may have misled Congress about its vetting process when accepting donations.

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…

Someday in Tehran

The heartbreak of hoping for a democratic Iran

Report: US Expelled Iranian Diplomat Last Year

The United States last December expelled Iran's deputy ambassador to the United Nations over national security concerns, Axios reported. The diplomat, Saadat Aghajani, was asked to leave the country under "Section 13 Procedures," ...

Tucker Carlson on Why Trump Betrayed His Supporters

After five weeks of muddled messaging, President Donald Trump finally addressed the nation on Wednesday night to make the case for his war on Iran. That message was...still muddled. He did not articulate a clear exit plan from the conflict, fobbed…

Bondi Firing Delivers Fresh Tumult for DOJ

President Donald Trump's decision to remove Pam Bondi as attorney general delivers a new disruption to an already embattled US Justice Department as it works to advance the administration's policy goals and sometimes controversial prosecutions.

Maybe Trump Should Not Have Given This Speech

His address raised more questions than it answered about the war in Iran.

ICE Arrests the Head of Wisconsin’s Largest Islamic Group

Officials detained Salah Sarsour, the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, saying he had been convicted of crimes by Israel and had lied on a green card application in the 1990s.

Trump Requests $1.5 Trillion for Military Spending

The huge proposed increase would be partly offset by steep cuts to domestic programs, some of which the Trump administration describes as wasteful.

No Good Way Out

Trump has options to end the war with Iran, but they all come with serious liabilities.

Judge Upholds Block on Subpoenas to Fed's Powell, Teeing up Likely Appeal

The subpoenas, issued by Washington, D.C.'s top federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, a stalwart Trump ally, sought information about cost overruns in renovations at the Fed's headquarters and Powell's testimony to Congress last year about the project.

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…

Liberal Group Warns That Trump Could Have Two More Supreme Court Picks

Demand Justice plans to tie Republicans running for Senate this year to a possible fight to fill vacancies that could emerge on the Supreme Court.

WATCH: House Democrat gets unexpected response when he asks constituents about voter ID requirements

Rep. Shomari Figures ignited online criticism after remarks at a town hall on voter ID seemed to undercut Democratic opposition to photo ID rules.

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.

The Intellectual Right Is Mad at the Mess It’s Made

Conservatives are criticizing influencers for going too far.

Trump ousts Pam Bondi as attorney general

The president had repeatedly expressed frustration with Bondi’s pace — and limited success — in overseeing efforts to target his rivals.

Panel led by Trump allies approves White House ballroom amid legal battle

The vote by the National Capital Planning Commission on Thursday marked the final procedural hurdle for President Donald Trump’s plans.

Trump Pushes Plan to Privatize Airport Screening

President Donald Trump on Friday proposed to begin the process of privatizing airport security operations handled by the Transportation Security Administration, the federal agency created after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Trump requests record-breaking budget of $1.5 trillion for Pentagon

The budget proposes a 44 percent increase in defense spending, and Trump’s request comes as Congress grapples with the ballooning costs of the war in Iran.

Iran Endgame: Decisive Victory in Weeks, Not Years

Trump's Iran strategy aims for swift, decisive victory-crushing nuclear ambitions and ending the war in weeks, not years, without risking American boots on the ground.