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

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…

'Big Question' from CBS News: Why Did Dems Keep Defending Der Oysterführer? PLUS: Pullout?

Talarico Teams With O'Rourke to Woo Drag Queens

Harvard Medical Talks about its DEI Problem

In all likelihood, the activists will keep right on as they have, perhaps more covertly.

9 possible candidates who could replace Platner on Maine’s ballot

Will Democrats choose another progressive nominee or distance themselves from Graham Platner’s wing of the party amid his scandals?

The Smithsonian Hates American History

The White House has published a report detailing the way the Smithsonian has attempted to change perceptions of American history.

Trump Wants a Birthright Citizenship Do-Over, Won't Get One

The president's online rant said he intends to ask for an immediate rehearing. He should keep his expectations low.

Democrats seek a way forward amid finger-pointing in Maine

Leaders of the Maine Democratic Party are still working toward a process to replace Graham Platner, without angering his supporters.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

The Greatest Tradition of All

Apart from the Declaration and Constitution, there is perhaps no more essentially American document than Thomas Paine’s revolutionary pamphlet ‘Common Sense.’

The U.S. and Iran Are Fighting Again. Is the Cease-Fire Over?

Eric Schmitt, a New York Times National Security correspondent, analyzes recent skirmishes between the U.S. and Iran and whether they threaten ongoing negotiations for a peace deal.

The AI Cheating Tsunami Hits the Ivy League

Colleges need to recognize this as an existential threat as well as a branding opportunity.

Mamdani Official Set Meeting With Iranian Ambassador to UN

Iran Buries Khamenei, Vows to Kill Trump

Journalistic Negligence in Defense of the Violent Left

Mainstream media prefer the myth that left-wing violence is a figment of the Republican imagination, and they hope you do too.

Trump’s proposed triumphal arch clears another key hurdle

The National Capital Planning Commission, led by the president’s allies, voted to advance the project near Arlington Cemetery, tabling a height question for later.

Maine Democrats don’t seem eager for an endorsement from Graham Platner

The Post asked would-be replacement candidates whether they wanted the support of Platner, under fire over a sexual assault allegation. Four responded, in the negative.

What ‘Democratic Socialists’ Believe

America’s hard left has a long tradition of concealing its extremism.

Sens. Fetterman (D) and McCormick (R) form rare bipartisan fundraising committee

The unusual cross-party fundraising committee comes amid speculation that Republicans are courting John Fetterman, who has said he has no plans to switch parties.

First Nations Chief, Podcast Pundit, Indigenous Gadfly

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Aaron Pete, Chief of the Chawathil First Nation, about reserve governance, residential schools, ‘unmarked graves,’ and intra-Indigenous politics.

Open Mind on Nolan’s The Odyssey

Can we just wait and see?

Why Soccer Is Boring

How the beautiful game convinced the world that boredom is sophistication.

How a Hidden Songbook Survived the Holocaust

The extraordinary story of how a fragile Holocaust songbook, hidden for decades in a Sydney cupboard, came back to the world.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Celebrating 250 Years of America

NEW: Rubio and DHS Deported Child Molester Walz Tried to Keep In US

Immigration Enforcement Is Slashing Violent Crime

Americans shouldn't blindly accept crime statistics, but they need to understand what the different numbers actually measure.

Bombing Iran Didn’t Work for Trump. Neither Did a Tentative Cease-Fire. Is There a Plan C?

The administration appears to be reverting to an all-stick, no-carrot approach. But it has yet to answer why it believes economic warfare and bombing will yield a different result this time.

Why Some Women in Maine Are Mourning the End of Graham Platner’s Campaign

They believe the accuser, but they also grieve the demise of a campaign that promised that politics could be different — and they blame those who failed to find a less flawed candidate.

Charlie Is My Darling

Claudia Verhoeven’s new book is a valuable contribution to the crowded library of Mansonia.

A Follow-Up on a Sour Not-So-Green Clean Up in Sweetwater

Two Days of U.S. Strikes in Iran Signal a Sharp Escalation

U.S. forces hit more than 170 targets, including air defense systems, drone and missile storage sites, and military speedboats.

Trump administration expands 'Product of USA' label as push for American-raised beef grows

New companies from California to Illinois adopt the voluntary "Product of USA" meat label as Secretary Brooke Rollins touts benefits for ranchers.

X Marks the Spot: Americans Suddenly Notice Companies Gaming H1B Visas

Facing The Anti-Ballistic Missile Gap

There are, theoretically, alternatives to the Patriots, but they either don’t measure up or Ukraine doesn’t have access to them.

The Mask That Made Me

Thirty years as a high-functioning neurodivergent project manager.

The Smithsonian’s Leadership Must Go

A new White House report exposes radical political activists’ takeover of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

The Iran the Funeral Cameras Don't Show

For decades, Tehran has used mass spectacles to project strength. Khamenei's funeral reveals how much of that strength is actually performance.

Follow the Money: Dems' Real Maine Kampf Awaits

Trump Says He Won’t Sign Housing Bill, in Protest Over Stalled Voting Measure

The president did not say he would veto the housing legislation, so it would still become law unless he does. But his pronouncement reflects a growing rift between him and Senate Republicans.

Will Platner Destroy the Maine Democratic Party on the Way Out the Door?

Marine vet Victor Marx narrowly notches victory in Colorado GOP gubernatorial primary

Marine veteran Victor Marx edged out Colorado state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, winning the state's Republican gubernatorial primary contest.

The NGO Industrial Complex: Gerald Steinberg on How Human Rights Became a Racket | Quillette Cetera Episode 67

NGO Monitor founder Gerald Steinberg on how Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, and the UN's "civil society" experiment were hijacked — and why journalists still buy it.

Trump says he's Iran's 'No. 1' target as renewed conflict raises assassination fears

Trump repeatedly called himself Iran's "No. 1" assassination target at the NATO summit as a mysterious Air Force One aircraft switch raised alarms.

War's Back On: What Are the Implications?

What are the implications for our new endless war in the Middle East?

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.

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 Air Force One Lacks Defensive Countermeasures of Previous Model, Officials Say

Experts said the lack of such capabilities poses a potential risk when the president travels overseas. The White House defended the aircraft’s safety.

Are Democrats Really Moving Left?

The big debate raging among Democrats this year is whether the renewed energy being exhibited by the progressive wing of the party reflects an ideological development or something else. Unsurprisingly, there are many voices suggesting a long-await…

CNN Political Briefing

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

Hegseth steps in to ‘fix’ situation after Apache pilots suspended for ‘Salute from the Shores’ flyover

Video shows eight Apache helicopters flying low over a South Carolina beach before pilots were suspended, prompting Pete Hegseth to intervene.

WATCH: Trump's Energy chief reveals what escalating Iran tensions could mean for gas prices

Chris Wright says the U.S. military, not good behavior from Iran, ensures oil still flows through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions.

The Menace of a Respectable Hatred

What remains of a person, an institution, or a civilisation that dishonours itself when Jews and Israel become the targets of hatred and violence?

Medicare's New Approach to Halting Fraud Paying Off

Last year, we wrote in the Los Angeles Times that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was done chasing criminals after we'd already handed them money. We said we were building something different - a prevention-first operation that woul…

Palm Beach Airport in Florida Is Renamed for Trump

The name change, approved earlier this year, took effect on Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration said. New signage with President Trump’s name is expected roll out in the coming weeks.

Top Senate Democratic PAC Stockpiles Record Sum, as Money Chase Heats Up

Senate Majority PAC says it entered July with $126 million, a new midyear high, after raising $147 million with an affiliated nonprofit from April through June. But can it keep pace with the G.O.P.?

Mamdani's wife co-hosts luxe Muslim retreat casting Virgin Mary as ‘Palestinian woman’ under occupation

Rama Duwaji is set to host a sold-out Islamic women's retreat in Corsica framing the Virgin Mary as a "Palestinian woman" under occupation.

Day Four of Tyler Robinson's Preliminary Hearing

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.

What We Learned From Platner's Dropout Video

Platner vowed to always be honest. But the more that voters learned about his authentic self, the more they might have wondered if he could just zip it.

CEO under fire for mass layoffs amid foreign worker hiring spree now appointed to Fed's task force on jobs

Asha Sharma was appointed to a Federal Reserve task force on productivity and jobs just days after XBOX announced 1,600 layoffs amid H-1B visa scrutiny.

Candace Owens' Lies About Kirk Assassination Fall Apart

@RealCandaceO @AndrewKolvet Hello Mrs. Owens,You told millions of people that Tyler Robinson

It Turns Out the New Qatari-Donated Air Force One Isn’t Completely Secure

Go figure, it turns out the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One isn’t as perfectly safe and secure as the administration insisted it was.

What Would My Father Say to America?

Like many of my fellow Americans, I have spent much of this year contemplating the meaning of America's 250th birthday. I have participated in fantastic events to mark this momentous occasion, and I have read dozens of reflections on America that …

How Terrorist Groups Are Using A.I. to Gain an Edge in Battle

A.I. chatbots are not just a propaganda tool for violent extremists but are aiding in bomb construction and attack planning, new research finds.

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…

Democratic Party fissures are shaping Michigan’s crucial Senate primary

The race is the next, and perhaps biggest, battle between the Democrats’ warring factions.

Upside-down American flag at Minnesota Somali celebration sparks community chaos: 'Unfathomable'

Video shows an American flag flying upside down at a Somali Independence Day event in St. Cloud, Minn., sparking outrage and skepticism.

Is The West Becoming 'Post Literate?'

Marco Rubio steps in after Tim Walz pardoned illegal alien child rapist before deportation

Marco Rubio says an illegal alien child rapist pardoned by Tim Walz and Minnesota's Board of Pardons has been removed from the United States.

Millions in Dem ad money vanished from Platner race days before rape allegation doomed Senate bid

Democratic leadership pulled over $6.2 million in Maine ads about a week before a rape allegation surfaced against Graham Platner, raising questions.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

An Aging Assassin Was Caught by ICE. Will the U.S. Deport Him?

He helped plot a car bombing in Washington that killed two people in 1976. Fifty years later, old government secrets could decide his fate.

Why Australia's New Capital Gains Tax Is the Best Tax Policy for Crushing the Economy

Fund manager Derek Francis tells Claire Lehmann that Treasury's modelling of Australia's new capital gains tax contains a basic error — one that could push tax rates on shares as high as 70 percent.

After Greenland bluster, Trump surprises NATO allies with praise

The president embraced the alliance in a meeting Wednesday, extolling member nations’ defense spending and saying nothing about the Danish territory, officials said.

The Long Road to Medical ‘Miracles’

How decades of invisible science produced two cancer breakthroughs.

DOJ accuses Maryland of 'active and deliberate effort' to prevent deportations of illegal immigrants: lawsuit

The DOJ lawsuit targets Maryland's Community Trust Act, arguing the sanctuary law violates the supremacy clause by blocking ICE detainers and deportations.

Man accused of killing Charlie Kirk wished ‘he hadn’t done it,’ roommate says

Prosecutors laid out their case against Tyler James Robinson on Day 4 of the preliminary hearing in Utah.

Thursday's Final Word

Platner Was a Mistake. Democrats Won't Learn From It

Democrats had every chance to back out on Graham Platner before it was too late. Now he holds all the cards - and they can't win Maine without them.

‘Death by Organ Donation’ Pushed in the New England Journal of Medicine

Once patients can be lawfully killed, treating them as so many organ farms follows logically.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship: Today and the Road Ahead

I want to start by saying four words that Israelis don't hear often anymore: I understand your cynicism.

What an Eighth Grader Taught Me About Status

Comparing yourself to others locks you into a contest you can never win and makes other people’s wins feel like your defeats.

Democrats Can’t Wipe Away the Platner Stain That Easily

In the failed attempt to defend Platner’s many lapses in judgment, Democrats smeared blue-collar workers and veterans and exposed their hypocrisy toward women.

Second Circuit Rejects Trump Motion to Delay Paying Carroll $5M Judgment

An appeal to the Supreme Court for more delay would be futile.

Trump Administration Fires Members of Independent Election Group

The firings and a resignation render the Election Assistance Commission useless. The moves come as President Trump seeks to impose control over how ballots will be counted in the midterms.

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.

Mamdani official's planned meeting with Iran envoy shut down by State Department

A Mamdani administration official planned to meet Iran's U.N. ambassador before the State Department intervened and canceled the diplomatic encounter.

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Reconsider Birthright Citizenship Ruling

Don’t hold your breath.

How American Socialism Changed, and Stormed the Democratic Party

The movement was better at critiquing the system than reshaping it. But it has never had this much mainstream political power.