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

NY Times Faces Discrimination Lawsuit Brought by White Employee

'You're Bailing?!' Ken Griffin Confirms 'Miami Nice'

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.

After defying Trump, a Republican lawmaker hangs on by a thread

Republicans in Indiana’s Senate tested voters’ tolerance for defying the president. Most lost in primaries amid a wave of threats, campaign cash and popular backlash.

Suspect in National Mall Shooting Expressed Hostility Toward White House, Authorities Say

Michael Marx, a 45-year-old Texan, is accused of shooting at Secret Service agents by the Washington Monument on Monday.

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 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.

Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Telehealth Abortion Ban

This Supreme Court action, called an administrative stay, will allow for telehealth abortions to temporarily continue.

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.

FAFO: Carjacker Dead After Armed TX Father Defends Family

Keir Starmer Should Have Looked in the Harbor Before Signing Those Ukraine Loan Papers

White House correspondents’ dinner suspect indicted on 4 felony charges

A grand jury charged Cole Tomas Allen with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, assaulting a Secret Service officer with a shotgun and other offenses.

GOP offers $1B for White House security, sparking dispute over ballroom

Senate Republicans maintain their budget reconciliation proposal would authorize security construction, but not Trump’s ballroom. The White House disagrees.

We’re Seeing Both Failure and Progress on Student Loans

The program is currently an exorbitant handout, but last year’s reforms promise some repayment to taxpayers.

Governor Ron DeSantis and the Free State of Florida

How Florida transformed from a razor-thin swing state into one of the fastest-growing and most politically distinct states in the country.

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…

Will Gas Prices Become a National Obsession?

High gas prices in substantial parts of the country by August would be a disaster for Republicans.

The Emerging Female Wage Premium

Young women are now outearning young men; this structural shift has consequences that extend well beyond wages.

Vance Campaigns in Iowa as G.O.P. Fears Rise Ahead of Midterms

The vice president acknowledged economic headwinds, including rising energy and fertilizer costs. “We got a little — a little blip in the Middle East,” he said, referring to the war in Iran.

Trump-backed Vivek Ramaswamy wins Ohio GOP gubernatorial primary, will face Democrat Amy Acton

Vivek Ramaswamy secures the 2026 Ohio Republican gubernatorial nomination, defeating Casey Putsch to advance to the general election for governor.

John Fetterman Isn’t a Republican

He’s a Democrat. He’s just an eccentric one.

“Too Much Science in the Curriculum”

Tragicomic scenes from reparations-based medicine.

Trump flexes muscle in Indiana: GOP incumbents fall in primary showdowns

Early results come in as Trump's endorsements in Indiana's Republican primary challenge eight state senators who blocked redistricting efforts.

Falling Birth Rates Don't Have To Be a Crisis

The latest round of US birth data, released earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show the general fertility rate has dropped to a new record low of 53.1 per 1,000 females between 15 and 44 - a 23 percent decrease s…

How the Weak Prevail

From ISIS to the IRGC, how groups with sacred commitments outlast adversaries with far greater firepower.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Trump teaches students his iconic dance during White House fitness event

President Trump taught students his iconic 'Trump dance' on the White House South Lawn during an event promoting the Presidential Fitness Test program.

JD Vance makes his Iowa debut as he campaigns for GOP congressman

The state will play a key role if the vice president decides to run for president in 2028, and other potential GOP candidates have visited in recent months.

Sob Story? I'm Not Crying

Publishers sue Meta, claiming it violated copyrights in training AI with their books

The plaintiffs allege that Meta CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg “personally authorized and actively encouraged” copyright infringement.

GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards faces ethics probe over conduct toward female aides

A spokesman for the North Carolina congressman said he welcomes a chance to refute the allegations.

Nixon Was Right

After all these years, the Communist Party is still handcuffed to its American rival, and it is unable to break free.

Arctic Power

The New York Times has a wonderful feature on an American experiment in training troops for battle in the extremes of the Arctic.

'Right Wing' Antisemites Are Leaving the Republicans and Openly Allying With Liberals

Trump marks Cinco de Mayo with ‘NICE’ post, echoing past viral taco bowl moment

President Trump marks Cinco de Mayo with a "NICE" graphic on Truth Social, playing on ICE branding and continuing his history of viral holiday messaging.

Iran war amplifies divisions within both parties over U.S.-Israel ties

On the campaign trail and elsewhere, the alliance has gone from a bipartisan consensus to a subject of fierce debate among Republicans and Democrats alike.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Man Accused of Attacking White House Correspondents Dinner Indicted on Four Charges

A grand jury approved a fourth count against Cole Tomas Allen, who prosecutors say wounded a federal officer while attempting to kill President Trump.

5 Takeaways From the California Gubernatorial Debate

Seven candidates sparred in the first nationally televised debate in the 2026 California governor’s race. Many tried to launch attacks in a last-ditch effort to gain ground on their opponents.

ICE deports illegal immigrant convicted of attempting to kill newborn after blue state prison release

DHS confirms deportation of illegal immigrant woman convicted of attempting to murder her newborn on Long Island after serving eight years in prison.

Trump and the Pro-Life Movement's 'Problem'

Trump's rift with the pro-life movement dates back to before

Met Gala Captures the Moral Emptiness of Celebrity

In 2026, the Met Gala is better referred to as the Met-a Gala: the supreme exhibition of celebrity and the unique form of mimetic unreality it produces. In that sense, it can be approached and criticised not just as a fashion exhibition, but as a …

Trump's Foolish Push To Impeach Hakeem Jeffries

The president has no idea that members of Congress can't be impeached. It's emblematic of the profound ignorance that continues to undermine his presidency.

Trump-backed crypto firm accuses billionaire investor of smear campaign, vows to 'correct the record' in court

World Liberty Financial, started by the Trump family, is accusing Justin Sun of waging a smear campaign to tank a crypto product he was betting against.

An Obligation To Prevent Crime, Take Public Safety Seriously

Bleeding heart liberals should be really upset about murder

For All the EU and USAID Machinations to Install It, Romanian Government Collapses

Trump Posts Meme of Top Democrats in Sombreros

The fake image of Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York was similar to a post from September that was widely denounced as racist.

Bernie Sanders’ anti-Netflix crusade hits the skids after filings expose awkward twist

Bernie Sanders' campaign paid for a Netflix subscription with donor money despite the senator's repeated criticism of the streaming service, records show.

Drone Dominance Isn't the Vital Lesson of Ukraine

Manpower is still the most critical battlefield resource in a war.

Does It Make Sense for John Fetterman to Flip Parties?

The Pennsylvania Democratic senator votes against Trump’s positions about three-quarters of the time.

Tuesday's Final Word

Reading Orwell in the Age of AI

Prescient about the possibility of machine-generated writing, George Orwell’s life and work offer a deeper warning about the LLM era.

Ramaswamy advances in Ohio, and other takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries

Primaries in Indiana and Ohio reinforced President Donald Trump’s power in the GOP and set the stakes for several top-tier midterm races.

Syllabus Transparency Is Important — Which States Require It?

The James G. Martin Center has just released a report on the 50 states with respect to syllabus transparency.

Secret Service Officer's Embarrassing Arrest Spurs Scrutiny

A Secret Service Uniformed Division officer was arrested early Monday for allegedly masturbating naked on the sixth floor of the DoubleTree hotel near the Miami airport.

CA Justice: Man Gets One Year for Killing Jewish Protester

Announcing Our 2026 Buckley Prize Honorees

In the coming weeks, we will share more about our honorees and this year’s celebration.

U.S. Allows Venezuela to Begin Debt Restructuring Process

Venezuela must repay $60 billion in defaulted bonds as it looks to stabilize its economy.

'Lead Children' Holds an Extra Layer of Interest for Conservative Viewers

DC police officials face termination after federal probe uncovers alleged manipulated crime data by department

Several high-ranking D.C. police officials face termination amid a federal probe alleging leaders manipulated crime data to appear much safer.

House Democrats’ Primary Endorsements Divide the Party

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s intervention in contested primaries in critical House races has highlighted deep divides over the party’s tactics and its future.

U.S. Military Strikes Boat in Eastern Pacific, Killing 3

The attack was the second in two days, and the latest in an ongoing campaign against people the United States says are engaged in drug smuggling at sea.

Meet the Free Speech Warrior of the Trump Admin

Sarah Rogers is known for keeping America's allies in check. She has little patience for European censors who stifle free expression.

The Torching of Los Angeles Was Anti-Capitalist Vigilantism

The accused Pacific Palisades arsonist was reportedly inspired by the violent mobs of 2020 and the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

CNN Political Briefing

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

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 Look Inside the Case That Enshrined Political Power for Billionaires

After Watergate, Congress tried to curtail the role of money in politics. But a pivotal Supreme Court case nipped it in the bud. Years later, new details are emerging on how wealthy Americans were conferred with a “right to spend” on elections.

A Tax Break for Foreigners and Trial Lawyers

America's one-of-a-kind tort system generates many perverse incentives, but this one takes the cake: Foreign investors receive special tax treatment for financing lawsuits against American companies. Congress should close the loophole that lets Ru…

From Zionist to Hamas Apologist

The extraordinary career of Oxford historian Avi Shlaim.

Activist who gave out fliers with Stephen Miller’s address won’t face charges

A prosecutor cited “insufficient evidence” of an intent to harass the White House aide by distributing leaflets in his Northern Virginia neighborhood.

The Next Starship Flight Test is One Week Away

One of the Biggest Fraud Scandals Hiding in Plain Sight

Just before the Department of Government Efficiency closed its doors, it made a quiet move that may end up as its most lasting impact on the federal deficit. DOGE published a massive trove of data in February that, for the first time, lets the pub…

The Anti-Communist Film Festival Invite List: Hasan Piker

Takeaways From Indiana Primary Elections 2026: Trump Gets Payback 

The president helped unseat most of the state lawmakers he targeted after they rebuffed his call to draw new House maps to help Republicans.

Trump and Rubio Insist Iran War Is Over, Even as Missiles Fly During Cease-Fire

The White House is turning to rhetorical leaps as President Trump tries to put the biggest political crisis of his presidency behind him.

British Columbia’s UNDRIP Fiasco

By enacting the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into provincial law, B.C. effectively handed veto power over policy-making to First Nations lobbyists.

F.A.A. Employee Charged With Threatening to Kill Trump

The employee, Dean DelleChiaie of Nashua, N.H., was accused of emailing the White House about his plans to kill the president, after using his work computer to conduct related searches.

The Wooing of John Fetterman

‘I wouldn’t try to bring him into the fold. I’d try to turn him into an institutionalist who can be relied upon not to break the Constitution when his team gets back into power.’

Radical Lessons in Solidarity and Resistance

The son of Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers has written a perceptive, fascinating, and rather sad book about his lonely life as the child of violent revolutionaries.

Cursed Generation: Good Luck to the New Grads

Every generation has it tough, but some are more burdened than others. Consider the millions of newly minted college graduates entering a labor market that has rarely looked so forbidding, all of them milling about in that unsettling moment when t…

Minnesota lawmakers fail at trying to get Omar to testify about alleged fraud, GOP leader talks next steps

Minnesota committee chair says more options exist after a subpoena vote targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar over the MEALS Act fraud scandal failed Tuesday.

Democrats see opening on abortion as Supreme Court returns it to spotlight

A legal dispute that could imperil access to the abortion pill mifepristone adds urgency to an issue that had moved to the back burner in Democratic politics. 

Trump lashes out at Pope Leo again ahead of Rubio trip to Rome

The criticism of the pontiff’s stance on Iran highlighted what Vatican officials have described as an unprecedented low in relations with the United States.

Why Israel Can’t Live With a Nuclear Iran: Gadi Taub

Gadi Taub discusses Israel’s war aims, Iran’s nuclear threat, the legacy of Oslo, and how postmodern ideas have shaped Western foreign policy.

Claire's Weekly Letter: How the Weak Prevail

EU admits it ‘didn’t have control’ on migration as bloc rushes crackdown ahead of new rules

The European Union is tightening migration controls with a new asylum pact set for June, aiming to accelerate deportations and screen arrivals at external borders.

Is Fighting Antisemitism a Waste of Time?

Jonathan Kay speaks with New York Times columnist Bret Stephens, who encourages Jews to focus on bolstering their community instead of lecturing bigots who can’t be reasoned with.

Why Did Spirit Fail? Too Many Passengers Hated Flying It

Spirit was doomed to fail because of mismanagement, deep financial problems, and - crucially - its reputation for poor customer service. The spike in jet fuel prices during the war just accelerated Spirit's inevitable demise.

AOC-backed $25 minimum wage plan sounds great — but at what cost?

A proposal to more than triple the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour sparks debate over inflation risks, job losses and small business impacts.

A Good Sign: Alberta Makes Legal Euthanasia Harder to Access

This is the first time that any jurisdiction has passed a significant statutory pullback from assisted suicide or euthanasia after it became legal.

Sherrod Brown secures Ohio Dem nomination, faces GOP's Husted in key battle for Senate majority

The Associated Press reports former Sen. Sherrod Brown won Ohio's 2026 Democratic Senate nomination to challenge appointed GOP Sen. John Husted.

I Watched the Infamous Sarah Silverman Blackface Sitcom Episode. It Was Hilarious

What you realise by the times the credits roll is that it isn’t just Sarah’s clueless character who’s the butt of the joke, but self-satisfied white progressives more generally.

In a first, FDA authorizes fruit-flavored vapes for adults

The move marks a shift after the FDA for years worked aggressively to regulate flavored vapes. The move came after President Donald Trump reportedly pressed the FDA commissioner to authorize the products.