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

Charlie Is My Darling

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

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.

Dark Cloud Over Home Sales--and BlackRock Is Involved

A new climate-related metric advanced by a company linked to private equity firms is quietly subverting the U.S. housing market, a new report claims.

Cory Doctorow Is Making Peace With AI

Cory Doctorow is hip to the manic circular financing behind AI but isn't freaked out about it being an existential threat.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Europe, Flexing Muscle in Ukraine, Is Still on Sidelines in Iran

In a show of collective strength, President Emmanuel Macron of France hosted European allies at the annual Bastille Day parade in Paris. Yet Europe is still a hostage to America’s foreign policy.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Soccer, Sartre, and the Sixties

Meet the Democrats gunning to replace Graham Platner in a crucial Senate showdown

Eight Democrats filed to replace Graham Platner as Maine's Senate nominee, but his grassroots network warns support won't automatically transfer.

CNBC: Red States Are Hellholes

Trump reveals when US military will leave Iraq after 23-year mission

President Donald Trump says Iran has been "very much destabilized," arguing Iraq no longer needs U.S. military presence as the coalition mission nears its end.

Darline Graham Nordone has little political history beyond praising her brother

Darline Graham Nordone, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s younger sister, received the backing of President Donald Trump and Sen. Tim Scott to serve out the remainder of her brother’s term.

Working Class Getting Hosed by the Victim Class Politics of the Hosepipe Bans

Savannah, Kept in Amber

The Georgia town has kept its bloody and beautiful history on the surface.

Lindsey Graham died of aortic dissection, preliminary medical report says

Graham died hours after returning from a trip to Ukraine. Trump said he spoke with the senator Saturday evening and that “could’ve been his last call.”

Lindsey Graham’s sister picked to serve the rest of his Senate term

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) announced his selection of Darline Graham Nordone to serve into January. She is expected to be sworn in Tuesday.

Med school deans come up empty in tense hearing when asked point blank if men can have babies: 'Ridiculous'

Rep. Mary Miller pressed UCLA and UCSF medical school leaders on whether non-biological women can have babies, but neither gave a direct yes or no answer.

Israel Is Being Vindicated as Gaza Propaganda Exposed

Trump’s Canceled Plan to Charge a Toll in the Strait of Hormuz: What to Know

A day after President Trump announced a hefty 20 percent fee on cargo through the waterway, he reversed his decision.

CNN Political Briefing

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

‘I Am Frustrated’: Emails Show Blanche’s Role in Trump’s Retribution Campaign

The cooperation of Todd Blanche will be a flashpoint in his confirmation hearing to be attorney general on Wednesday.

Monday's Final Word

Trump Paid $2 Million by South Korean Company Facing Trade Investigation

The payment illustrates the minefield Mr. Trump has created by maintaining personal financial ties with foreign businesses while he is in office.

Security threats led the Supreme Court to shut its front doors 16 years ago.

Democrats Don't Believe in Democracy

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.

Red State, Blue Governor: It Could Happen in Iowa. Would It Matter?

Democrats have real hope for candidates for governor in red states like Iowa and Ohio, but if Republicans seize supermajorities in the legislatures, their power would be limited.

Senator Lindsey Graham, Patriot

We’ve lost a great American who labored until the end to promote national security and pressure our enemies by spreading freedom and shoring up our alliances.

Birmingham, Still the Magic City

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is simply something special here.

Ro Khanna’s Lame Attention Grab

‘If he wants to be the guy who doesn’t like Israel, then just be that guy. Don’t play two-bit tricks on the assumption that we can’t see what you’re doing.’

Trump Decrees Illegal Toll on Hormuz Strait Transit

A constitutional violation in the service of a foolish, provocative policy.

Teen Takeovers Are Not a Mystery

A widening divide between jurisdictions willing to enforce basic norms and those that are not.

DOJ charges 3 Russians in alleged $63M cybercrime scheme targeting Americans

Three Russian nationals allegedly ran bulletproof hosting firms that powered ransomware, malware and phishing attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure.

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.

Will Candidate Quality Be an 'X Factor' in November Elections?

Harmeet Dhillon on the Midterm Warpath

Threats against the justices have been rising precipitously.

Illness, Death and Primaries Change Face of GOP Senate

Lawmakers who guided Republicans for many years will no longer be on Capitol Hill. There's a really big change coming, no matter who wins in November.

Can Democrats Win Rural Voters Turning Away From Trump? It’s a Tough Sell.

House candidates like Beth Macy, author of “Dopesick,” have crafted messages based on lifetimes in rural regions. But messages need an audience, and many minds are closed to the party.

Two More Refineries Hit and Revenge on the Russian Coast Guard

Maine's Hybrid Nomination Can Harness Energy

The process to replace Graham Platner on the November ballot is an organizing opportunity.

The ICC Deserves ‘Dismantling’

The ICC, an arm of the United Nations, benefited from the Biden administration’s reflexive deference to international talk shops.

Can American Economics Change?

A business school professor and storied investor says it now has to prioritize the national interest. That's a start, but nowhere near enough.

Amy Coney Barrett recalls heartbreaking question from 12-year-old son over bulletproof vest

Amy Coney Barrett told Congress her children have seen things no child should, revealing how threats intensified after the leaked Dobbs decision.

Airstrikes on Iran Continue

In Rare Testimony, Supreme Court Justices Will Ask Congress for Security Funds

Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett, the first justices to appear before lawmakers since 2019, are requesting millions of dollars to address security concerns amid rising threats.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Strong Opinions

When critics start issuing dictates, they end up excluding broad swathes of art and culture as well as whole areas of human experience.

Too 2020 to Check: Did Big Tech Bury Platner's Scandals?

We Don’t Need a Moral Pretext to Enjoy Mansion Porn

The Journal has perfected this entirely unnecessary bait and switch.

Lindsey Graham’s Finest Moment

Graham’s defense of Brett Kavanaugh came against powerful cultural currents that are easy to forget.

Gary Stevenson Is Wrong About Wealth Inequality

Gary Stevenson says Britain's wealth inequality is spiralling out of control. The data says otherwise—and Channel 4 never thought to check.

Senate Dems draw rare line against must-pass Pentagon bill

Chuck Schumer led Senate Democrats in blocking the NDAA over the unauthorized Iran war, calling the defense bill a "permission slip" for recklessness.

The Humiliation of Prince Harry

He's been crusading against the press for years, but last week he suffered a brutal, humiliating defeat.

The Rise and Fall of Graham Platner

Is this the far left's #MeToo moment?

You Can't Negotiate With Iran

With the reimposition of the American naval blockade against Iran, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Washington and Tehran seems dead. Its demise reveals the Islamic Republic for what it has always been: an aggressive, terroristic powe…

Lindsey Graham's sister carries on late senator's work, becoming South Carolina's first female senator

Darline Graham became the first female senator from the Palmetto State after Trump recommended her to finish her late brother's term in office.

After Lindsey Graham's death, sister joins long list of relatives who replaced late family members in Congress

From Julia Letlow to Adelita Grijalva, family succession in Congress has a long history that now includes Lindsey Graham's sister in the Senate.

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.

Pat Oliphant, prizewinning giant of political cartooning, dies at 90

The Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist skewered presidents from Johnson to Trump, reaching a vast audience through syndication.

Justice Kagan Tells House Panel That ‘Threats Have Come Very Close’

In her prepared remarks, Justice Elena Kagan said the Supreme Court Police estimated a 38 percent increase in threats this year.

Johnson scores win as conservative rebels end House floor blockade over voter ID bill

House conservatives blocked legislation to pressure Senate action on the SAVE America Act, but Speaker Mike Johnson proposed a deal to end the standoff.

Roberts' Risks: Justices Aren't Policymakers or Historians

The Supreme Court held that the president could fire a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, who was protected under the authorizing statute.

Trump's AG nominee racks up massive support ahead of confirmation hearing: 'Real results'

Todd Blanche's Senate confirmation hearing draws support from 670,000 sworn officers, 300 angel families, and 100 bipartisan DOJ officials..

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.

Is Iran Trump’s ‘Forever War?’

A definitive resolution to this conflict — one way or the other — is still in the cards.

Generation Trapped: Why Young Australians Have Given Up Hope

Parnell Palme McGuinness on the six distinct "tribes" of young Australians she uncovered—and why personal agency, not income, is the strongest predictor of happiness.

Illegal alien ‘pirate’ who hijacked plane to US freed by Clinton-appointed judge

A Cuban airplane hijacker convicted of aircraft piracy faces release in Florida after a judge cited the Zadvydas ruling on ICE detention limits.

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…

Reshaping the Middle East

Reconsidering Israel’s wars in 1956, 1982, and 2026.

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.

Trump says Lindsey Graham's heart condition was 'almost undetectable,' questions FBI's role in probe

Trump says Lindsey Graham's aortic dissection was "almost undetectable," noting that back pain may have been a warning sign of the condition.

Why Soccer Is Boring

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

Trump Confronts the Iranian Threat by Copying Them

America is going to war to replace Iran’s assault on the global order with a shakedown of its own.

Graham Finally Had Exactly What He Wanted

He got the war with Iran he'd pursued for years, and something he wanted even more.

Why Supreme Court Justices Are Asking for More Security

Supreme Court justices are asking lawmakers on Capitol Hill to increase their 2027 budget, with most of the additional funding earmarked for security. Ann E. Marimow, a New York Times reporter, explains why the justices say these measures are nece…

Can Pakistan Bring U.S. and Iran Back to Talks?

Islamabad is still urging dialogue, but analysts say it has few tools to halt the latest round of US-Iran escalation.

Bipartisan Call for Federal Oversight over Hospice Assisted Suicides

For too long, assisted suicide has been viewed by the public with little skepticism and repeatedly boosted and normalized in the media.

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 Last Interesting Man in Washington

As much as he was a political animal who gloried in the fray, Lindsey Graham also had a core.

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…

The Global Balance Has Shifted in Our Favor

America's allies are stronger, its rivals weaker, and the global balance has shifted.

'Surprise'? Inflation Falls in June As Hormuz Crisis Eased

Here’s the latest.

Free Beacon: Michigan Dem Father-in-Law Linked to Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas

The Long Road to Medical ‘Miracles’

How decades of invisible science produced two cancer breakthroughs.