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

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

The Australian Way of Life

Politicians reach for “our way of life” to justify immigration restrictions—but the phrase may be too vague to bear that weight.

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.

There's Another No Kings Protest This Weekend

Will ICE Change Under Its New Leader?

Markwayne Mullin, the new homeland security secretary, has promised a different approach, but how much change is likely? Our reporter Hamed Aleaziz describes what we know.

Escalateo: Pentagon May Deploy 10,000 Infantry While Iran Stalls

Trump Isn’t Even Trying to Sell This War

Has the salesman in chief gotten rusty?

Europe's Leaders Now Know Trump Was Right on Iran

Iran's failed strike on Diego Garcia exposed the truth: Tehran's long-range ambitions were real all along-and Europe ignored the warning until it was too late.

Secret Service agent assigned to Jill Biden injured in 'negligent discharge' at Philadelphia airport

A U.S. Secret Service agent was injured "following a negligent discharge while handling a service weapon" according to a Secret Service spokesperson.

AAP faces pressure over trans youth care, guiding docs to keep parents in the dark about child's sexual health

A parental rights group accused the AAP of hiding minors' sexual health info from parents and pushing transgender procedures over parental concerns.

Healing Middle-Class Democracy

As we have seen, mutual respect forms an essential foundation for middle-class healing. But respect is not enough. To build on this foundation, we should recall the Introduction's survey of political risks associated with middle-class division as …

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…

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.

Rep. Stutzman to Newsmax: GOP Unity Needed for Reconciliation Fight

Now that the Senate has agreed to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, Republicans must "stick together" to pass a reconciliation bill, Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., told Newsmax on Friday. Appearing on "Wake Up America," Stutzman tol…

The Republican Party Continues Eating Its Own

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

Iran backlash forces Gulf allies toward Washington as regional tensions rise

Saudi Arabia reportedly granted U.S. forces access to King Fahd Air Base for the first time since the Gulf War as Gulf states recalibrate their posture amid escalating Iranian attacks.

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…

Meanwhile, in Sudan

While Iran, Israel, and Gaza have dominated headlines, a bloody power struggle among Sudanese warlords grinds on.

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.

The Biggest News Story Nobody Is Talking About

Obama-appointed judge reverses course, rules voter ID law isn't discriminatory in GOP win

Judge Loretta Biggs, an Obama appointee, ruled North Carolina's voter ID law constitutional after a seven-year court fight, a major Republican win.

D.H.S. Funding Lapse Leads to Longest Partial Shutdown in History

If the shutdown continues after this weekend, it will be longer than any previous shutdown, partial or full.

Thursday's Final Word

Everyone Has Trump’s Phone Number Now

The president’s personal iPhone has been lighting up.

Senate passes bill to reopen much of DHS after Trump moves to pay TSA officers

The House still needs to pass the legislation before President Donald Trump can sign it into law.

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.

Education Dept. to leave headquarters, give building to Energy Department

Abandoning the D.C. headquarters is the Trump administration’s latest and most visible move toward eliminating the Education Department altogether.

Britain's 'Assisted Dying' Bill DOA This Year

GOP Rep. Sam Graves to End Reelection Bid, Exit Congress

Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., the Republican chair of the House Transportation Committee, is ending his reelection campaign and will leave Congress at the end of his current term.

Trump imagines negotiation with Sharpie maker for $5 signature pens

Trump told a lengthy story about negotiating over the price of Sharpie pens. The company says it has no record of any such conversation.

Trump’s move to send ICE to airports fails to break impasse or end long lines

Airport slogs continue to put pressure on lawmakers and the White House, but a deal remains elusive as Senate Democrats hold out for restraints on immigration agents.

Rep. Sam Graves, a Senior House Republican, Will Retire as Midterm Exodus Grows

Representative Sam Graves, the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he would leave Congress after nearly three decades, the latest sign that the G.O.P. is bracing for big losses.

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.

House Faces Decision on Senate DHS Funding Plan Without ICE

The Senate early Friday approved Department of Homeland Security funds to pay Transportation Security Administration agents and most other agencies but not the immigration enforcement operations at the heart of the budget impasse...

Not So Fast, Bill Maher

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

Democrats Face Nightmare Scenario In California Gov Race

Polling shows Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco leading the pack, while eight Democrats split the liberal vote.

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.

Resurgent Inflation Tests Faith in Fed’s Willingness to Tame It

The war in the Middle East risks worsening an inflation problem that the Federal Reserve has struggled for years to subdue.

Rep. Buddy Carter to Newsmax: Dems Playing Politics With DHS Deal

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., on Newsmax Friday lashed out at Democrats after the Senate advanced a bill that could end the ongoing partial government shutdown, saying, "This could have been solved weeks ago."

Letters to the Editor

Friday 20 March – Friday 27 March

Senate Votes to Fund TSA and Most of DHS in Bid to End Partial Shutdown

The bill excludes funding for ICE and Border Patrol but restores it for federal airport security workers. The House could consider the package on Friday.

U.S. uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon

More than 850 Tomahawks have been fired in just four weeks, people familiar with the matter said, alarming some Pentagon officials because the weapon’s supply is limited.

AOC says politicians, especially Democrats, should promise not to accept 'AI money'

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said that politicians, particularly those of her own party, should vow not to accept "AI money."

One Republican Farmer in Wisconsin Is Bitter Over Trump’s Deportations

For 20 years, Tim O’Harrow has asked lawmakers to acknowledge that America’s food supply depends on immigrants. Politics went in the other direction.

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.

NEW: Dems Throw In Towel on Schumer Shutdown II: TSA Boogaloo

House Ethics Panel Holds Rare Public Hearing on Democrat’s Conduct

Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida is charged with stealing $5 million in FEMA money for her campaign.

GOP Rep. Sam Graves' Retirement Pushes House Exits to 36

The news Friday that Missouri Rep. Sam Graves will not seek re-election brings the number of Republican House members leaving office this year to 36 — far more than the 21 Democrats who are leaving...

Rep. Cloud to Newsmax: Dems Trying to 'Run Out Clock' on Trump Term

Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, said Friday on Newsmax's "Wake Up America" that Democrats are deliberately stalling to undermine what he called one of the most productive presidencies in U.S. history. Cloud framed the ongoing gridlock in Washington a…

CNN Political Briefing

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

A Consent Decree for Freedom of Speech

The plaintiffs in Missouri v. Biden have won and received a court order vindicating their free speech rights. The dire predictions after the Supreme Court found insufficient standing to support a preliminary injunction in Murthy v. Missouri have f…

There'll Be an Immediate Recall If GOP Wins CA Gov Race

Once upon a time in California, I went to the Orange County fairgrounds to watch Arnold Schwarzenegger give the signal for a wrecking ball to drop onto a vehicle.

As Trump skips CPAC, MAGA’s rifts over Iran war are on display

At the annual gathering of conservative activists, many express reservations about the war, amid support for Trump.

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.

House Democrat violated ethics rules, panel finds, putting her seat in jeopardy

The Ethics Committee panel cited a years-long inquiry into whether Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick misused covid pandemic money. She has maintained her innocence.

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.

Sheriff in California Seizes More Ballots, Ignoring State Attorney General

Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff and a Republican running for governor, is examining votes from 2025 after unsubstantiated claims of fraud.

FBI probe of 2020 election count in Georgia faces crucial court hearing

A federal judge Friday will consider Fulton County’s request for the return of thousands of ballots seized by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department.

Exclusive: US Nuclear-Arms Expert Urges End to Iran 'Appeasement,' Fight to Finish

Tracking Trump’s Efforts to Reshape Cultural Institutions

Jennifer Schuessler, a culture reporter who writes about intellectual life, is now covering President Trump’s attempts to amend the presentation of American history.

FBI says 'malicious actors' targeted Patel's personal email, Iran-based hacking group claims responsibility

The FBI says “malicious actors" targeted Director Patel’s personal email, adding the information exposed was historical and not government-related.

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.

Learning From Minnesota's Somali Fraud Scandal

Public programs fraud on the scale we see today in Minnesota-and to a lesser degree (so far at least) in other states-indicates a leadership class that has either forgotten or no longer takes seriously the idea that public office is a public trust.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

The ‘Big Black Scar’

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

Rubio to G7: Iran War Likely to Last 'Weeks, Not Months'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 foreign ministers Friday that the war with Iran is expected to continue for another two to four weeks, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the meeting.

Trump Is Breaking Up With Europe

A decade into the Trump era, there are a few rules that should, by now, be common sense for navigating the chaos.

Treating Myths as Science

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

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…

Under Trump, We Need No Kings Protests More Than Ever

Thousands of No Kings events will be fueled by anger over ICE violence, the Epstein files released and a war in Iran. These protests have power

‘I’m Far Angrier’

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

House conservatives rage against Senate DHS shutdown deal

House Freedom Caucus threatened to block the Senate DHS funding deal, demanding full-year ICE and CBP funding plus voter ID requirements in the bill.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

WATCH: Airport travelers reveal what they truly think about ICE helping TSA with massive lines

Travelers at Houston’s George Bush Airport were very grateful for U.S. ICE agents lending TSA a helpful hand, as some said that they had been waiting in line for three to four hours.

Vance says Biden admin 'turned off' anti-fraud protections, debuts new task force with focus on Somali schemes

Vice President JD Vance claims the Biden administration turned off anti-fraud protections, leading the first task force meeting on Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

Kennedy’s Vaccine Agenda Hits Roadblocks, Diminishing His Clout

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine skepticism is posing challenges for the Trump administration. Top health jobs are unfilled, and a court has blocked his vaccine schedule changes.

You Can Still Hum 'Leavin' on a Jet Plane' From Anywhere...But Australia

DHS funding bill appears in danger in House after Senate passage

Lawmakers have felt pressured to make a deal because of lengthy security checkpoint delays at some airports.

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.

Gavin Newsom Then: We Need Chinese EVs in America; Now: Musk and Trump Ceding EV Market to China

'Ship has sailed': This is what Dems won't get in DHS deal after shunning GOP

Senate Democrats claimed a political victory as the Homeland Security shutdown nears its end, but they secured none of the reforms they desired that started the closure in the first place.

'Unsettled: Climate Change's Real Story' Debuts 9 p.m. Sunday

Examining the actual science, economics, and reporting surrounding the widely disputed issue of Earth’s climate is the subject of Newsmax’s original documentary “Unsettled: Climate Change’s Real Story.”

Liberal Mindset in a Nutshell

14-Year-Old Makes Vermont Governor Ballot

Looking back, gubernatorial candidate Dean Roy says his political ambitions started in the eighth grade. And by that he means, last year.After working as a legislative page at the Vermont Statehouse, the 14-year-old freshman at Stowe High School n…

No Learning Please, We're Democrats!

Last July, I wrote a piece asking, in the wake of Democrats' catastrophic defeat in the 2024 election and the obvious need for serious party-wide change, "Is Our Democrats Learning?" At the time, I saw little evidence that Democratic learning was,…

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.

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…

Rep. Tiffany to Newsmax: House Should Amend Senate DHS Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives should amend the Senate bill intended to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., told Newsmax on Friday.

Nearly 1,500 Iranian civilians killed in U.S., Israeli strikes, report says

The findings appear to be the most comprehensive estimates yet of the growing toll of dead and wounded civilians in the month-long war.

More Than 4 Million Children Enrolled in Trump Accounts

The parents of more than 4 million American children have signed up for Trump Accounts while filing their 2025 tax returns, the Washington Examiner reported.

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.

‘No Kings': Politics as Bad Group Therapy

Participants in the rallies accomplish nothing practical but feel heard, validated and affirmed.

Trump Says He Will Sign Order to Pay T.S.A. Agents as Travel Frustrations Grow

President Trump said he would sign an emergency order to pay Transportation Security Administration agents, with an intensifying crisis at airports ahead of a busy travel weekend.

The Edifice Complex

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

Well-Timed Trades on Iran Fuel Suspicion of Leaks

Democrats are crying foul over suspicious trades and bets around notable actions by President Trump, including social media posts that changed the contour of the Iran war and financial markets.

Spanberger takes fire from all sides as Youngkin, Angel parent slams recent controversies

Ex-Gov. Youngkin calls Spanberger's redistricting support a 'blatant lie,' while an Angel Mom challenges her over an illegal immigrant accused of murder.

Parallel Kingdom

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

How the GOP Forgot It Was Conservative

The main theme in much writing on contemporary politics is how ideologically polarized Democrats and Republicans have become. But the truly consequential change is that Republicans have broken with their own past. Under Donald Trump, the party has…

Tracking the Early Vote in Virginia’s Redistricting Referendum

Voters in Virginia will decide on April 21 whether to redraw the state’s congressional map. Turnout is even higher, thus far, than it was in last year’s governor’s election.

Indicted Democrat Rep Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick one step closer to expulsion

A House Ethics panel found Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of 25 violations while the Florida Democrat is facing possible expulsion and federal charges.

Trump Will Issue an Order to Pay TSA Agents Despite Shutdown

SCHUMER SHUTDOWN SALE: 60% Off VIP Memberships!

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.

Trump, Tehran, and the China Calculus

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

Criminal Research

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

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.

Democrats worry bruising Maine primary could cost them a shot at Susan Collins

The Maine seat is considered crucial to Democrats’ longshot hopes of winning control of the Senate in November.

Rep. Jim Jordan to Newsmax: Dems Got Little in DHS Deal

Despite media reports to the contrary, Democrats did not get much of what they wanted in the Senate bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told Newsmax on Friday.