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

'Free Palestine' Firebomber Sentenced to Life in Prison

Illegal trucker cases fuel GOP push to crack down on CDL mills as Dems largely silent

Pennsylvania Republicans pressure Democrats over bills cracking down on illegal immigrant truckers and CDL mills amid highway safety concerns statewide.

The Exquisite Timing of Trump's Indiana Revenge Campaign

When Donald Trump furiously ordered his minions to find and fund primary challenges to seven Indiana Republican state senators who refused to conduct a mid-decade gerrymander that he demanded late last year, it looked like just the typical act of …

Local, National Press Got It Wrong Again in Indiana Races

Local and national outlets predicted that Indiana's GOP primaries would be a defeat for Donald Trump. The experts got it wrong, and it's worth exploring why.

Trump pledged to free Jimmy Lai. Now U.S. lawmakers want action at China summit.

The president previously committed to helping the 78-year-old Lai, a symbol of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement who has been imprisoned since 2020.

As Marcomentum sweeps the internet, Rubio, White House swear off 2028 talk

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has won over some former critics while Vice President JD Vance struggles with Trump’s shadow.

Left-wing local leader torched after griping about American flags, pushing ‘more relatable’ replacement

A Lynnwood, Washington, councilwoman said a pride flag is more relatable than an American flag and suggested changes to a local park's flag display.

Control of the U.S. Senate Now a Toss-Up

For months, polling and prediction markets have forecast that Democrats will retake the House, but that Republicans will retain control of the Senate. However, recently, the prediction markets have moved toward the Senate being a toss-up. The late…

How the Weak Prevail

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

Trump surprises famously low-profile power player with tribute as she steps out for rare public appearance

Trump praises Susie Wiles as the best chief of staff ever in a surprise message at the Independent Women's Forum gala honoring her as Woman of Valor.

What Straight Women Want

A new book by Phoebe Maltz Bovy argues that most accounts of female heterosexuality minimise and even theorise away its central feature: women’s sexual desire for men.

Federal workers had their annual award show. Many were too afraid to show up.

A year after the U.S. DOGE Service dramatically slashed the civil service, government workers are still spooked about getting on the Trump administration’s bad side.

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.

Anti-woke Vivek Ramaswamy confronts racism in his run for Ohio governor

Vivek Ramaswamy built a political brand casting racism as an obsession of Democrats. As a Republican running for Ohio governor, he’s facing racism on the right.

FIRST ON FOX: Top Republicans take abortion pill fight to Supreme Court, citing coercion and safety risks

Republican lawmakers file Supreme Court brief alleging loosened mifepristone rules enabled coercion, backing Louisiana's fight to restore safeguards.

A Covid-Era Bombshell Coming?

Thursday, May 7th on RealClearPolitics - Joined by Dana Perino, FOX Anchor and Author of Purple State:00:00 Rand Paul's Quest for Revenge on Fauci 7:46 Obama...

AOC: 'You Can't Earn a Billion Dollars'

Not a Headline for a Success

The Saudi position, and increasingly that of Qatar, is that they are no longer interested in following our lead regarding Iran.

Trump says ceasefire is intact after U.S. and Iran exchange fire

The burst of violence cast fresh doubt on efforts by Washington and Tehran to reach a negotiated settlement that would end hostilities.

The Emerging Female Wage Premium

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

Undeterred by polls and courts, Trump pushes ballroom, honors donors

Amid the war with Iran, surging gas prices and backlash to his immigration policies, the president continues to dedicate extensive time to his signature project.

Israel’s Creation: The Ultimate ‘Decolonisation’ Project

Jews have had a continuous indigenous presence in the Levant for more than 3,000 years—despite enduring settler-colonial occupations by Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, and Turks.

Swing-district Republican breaks with Trump, pushes limits on Iran war

Rep. Tom Barrett, facing a tough re-election fight, introduced a resolution setting strict limits and a July deadline on the U.S. war with Iran.

Fetterman Says He Has ‘No Plans’ to Leave the Democratic Party

In an opinion piece in The Washington Post, the Pennsylvania senator wrote that while he was “at odds” with the party’s approach to some issues, his values had not changed.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Is Trump Chickening Out on Iran? UPDATE: Project Freedom Back On?

Does Western Civilisation Exist? James Kierstead on Ancient Greece, Christianity, and the West | Quillette Cetera Ep. 63

Does “the West” actually exist — or is it merely a modern political myth?

No Place for Children

The murder of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby by repeat offender Jefferson Lewis has exposed the failures of Australia’s criminal justice system and Indigenous child protection policy. What will it take to make change?

State Department Will Revoke Passports of Parents Who Owe Child Support

The Trump administration is moving to more strictly enforce a 1996 law that gives the State Department the authority to revoke passports over unpaid child support.

Vineyard Wind Lawsuit Spinning Away

Trump Reversed Hormuz Plan After Saudis Denied Airspace Access

Saudi Arabia’s refusal of support suggests that President Trump’s unpredictable approach to Iran has strained ties with one of his closest allies in the Middle East.

Aides cite friendly meeting as Rubio aims to mend U.S. ties with Pope Leo

Relations between the United States and the Vatican are at a low point over President Donald Trump’s attacks on Leo, who is a leading critic of the war in Iran.

Rahm Emanuel and the Real Crony Capitalists

From inside his glass house, Emanuel's stone-throwing is intended to deflect from the fact that politics has been a major profit center for him and other Democrats.

NYT Photographer Gets Pulitzer for Hoax Photo

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.

Everyone Is Still Spending

American consumers may be expecting hard economic times. So far, though, there’s little belt-tightening in evidence.

Congress Should Authorize Military Force Against Iran

No matter what one thinks about how we got here and Trump’s equivocations about the war, the nation cannot tolerate Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Future of Ron DeSantis’ controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' ICE holding facility revealed

Florida's Alligator Alcatraz ICE holding facility will shut down as permanent detention sites open, with the state citing massive operational costs.

Karoline Leavitt announces birth of baby girl and will take maternity leave

Viviana was born May 1, making Leavitt the first White House press secretary to give birth while in the job. She has not yet set a date to return to work.

Sen. Cassidy Made Bad Decision Trying To Sabotage MAHA

President Trump and HHS Secretary Kennedy criticize Senator Bill Cassidy as they put forward a new candidate to serve as Surgeon General.

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.

Playing Gad

Gad Saad’s new book tackles an interesting topic. Unfortunately, the author’s narcissistic ramblings make it almost impossible to read.

5 Ways the Iran Standoff Could End

Despite the US and Iran exchanging fire and new missile attacks aimed at the United Arab Emirates this week, the Trump administration maintains that the ceasefire that began in early April is still in effect. Iran's attacks on commercial and US Na…

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.

Stop Pretending Hospitals Are 'Nonprofits'

These are massive businesses - frequently chains - that pay executives richly and depend on huge government spending and subsidies to survive. We need to start treating them that way.

U.S. and Iran Trade Strikes as Tensions in Strait of Hormuz Rise

The escalating attacks raise the threat that the cease-fire could break down.

U.S. to Review Mexican Consulates After Right-Wing Claims Against Them

The State Department said it would review all Mexican consulates in the United States, following claims in conservative media that the consulates interfere in politics.

When States Meddle in College Sports Markets, Taxpayers Lose

Some states are now intervening in this market to ‘help’ their big sports schools attract top talent. The taxpayers will foot the bill.

Tennessee passes new congressional map likely to flip final Dem seat as protests erupt inside Capitol

Tennessee's new congressional map targets the 9th District in Memphis, drawing protests from Democrats and raising legal challenges over voter rights.

In Praise of Crazy Visionaries

R.I.P., Ted Turner.

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…

Judge rules DOGE’s cuts to humanities grants were unconstitutional

A federal judge said more than $100 million in cuts to NEH grants were discriminatory, ruling in a case that revealed the inner workings of DOGE.

Tennessee lawmakers approve new House map to eliminate Democratic-held seat

Republicans in the state could hold a 9-0 advantage in the U.S. House with their new map, after the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act last week.

Will Senate GOP Get the Message? Pass the SAVE Act

Hopefully senators starring in the failure theater production of 'debating' the SAVE America Act heard Indiana's message loud and clear.

Rubio's Rock Star White House Briefing

From DJ'ing a wedding on the weekend to manning the White House press podium, from velvet-gloved diplomacy in Europe to juggling the roles of secretary of state and NSA director, Marco Rubio is the...

Thursday's Final Word

Merz: One Year as German Chancellor

Restraint by Default

The GOP is preparing to tear itself apart over foreign policy heading into 2028.

Obama's Russiagate Coup Attempt Haunts Nation

Mollie Hemingway told FBN's Stuart "Varney & Co." that President Obama's recent comments about "rule of law" and the Republican Party are "reprehensible" coming from him.

Eugenics and Self-Abomination

It has to be confronted in the arena of values, not of science.

BREAKING: US Forces Fire on Hormuz Targets; Fox: 'Not Ceasefire Breach'; UPDATE: 'Swarms of Fast Boats'?

U.S. intelligence says Iran can outlast Trump’s Hormuz blockade for months

A confidential intelligence community assessment delivered to the White House also finds that Iran retains a substantial missile and drone arsenal.

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.

The Last Straight Woman

Senior Writer and Podcast Producer Iona Italia talks to writer Phoebe Maltz Bovy about her latest book: 'The Last Straight Woman: On Desiring Men.'

Ed Miliband for PM!

Hakeem's Folly: TN Legislature (Noisily) Passes Redistricted Map. Mississippi's Next. UPDATE: Lee Signs

Dems’ Data Center Freak-Out

‘These sorts of moral panics, when they capture the imagination, are quite difficult to dispel.’

Trump takes motorcade into Reflecting Pool, blasts past ‘$38M disaster’ fix under Obama

Trump reveals he chose "American Flag Blue" as the new color for the Reflecting Pool's surface during a National Mall restoration inspection Thursday.

California mom rips Newsom-backed 'diversion program' that appears to benefit her son's killer

California laws allow vehicular manslaughter charges to be dismissed and erased, prompting victims' families to lash out at Gov, Newsom and push for legislative reform.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Louisiana Asks Supreme Court to Halt Abortion Pill Access by Mail

The request comes after a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a Food and Drug Administration regulation that has greatly expanded access to the abortion pill mifepristone.

Honesty at Last

I was waiting for something like this.

Kamala Harris Wants the DNC to Release Its 2024 Election ‘Autopsy’

That the DNC kept the autopsy under wraps so far suggests they will probably be able to withstand pressure to release it between now and the midterm elections.

Viral Marco Rubio clip on his vision for America sparks more 2028 speculation

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's hopeful vision for America at a White House briefing sparks growing speculation about a possible 2028 presidential bid.

Bipartisan lawmakers want to strip Big Tech's legal immunity that can shield social media companies

Bipartisan lawmakers say Section 230 can no longer shield Big Tech from liability as social media drives addiction and harms children nationwide.

Trump's Revenge in Indiana Could Come With a Cost

By ousting state senators who voted against his redistricting push, Trump achieves nothing but soothing his wounded pride.

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.

I Got to Watch Some of That LA Mayoral Debate Last Night

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Trump praises Susie Wiles’ cancer fight in surprise gala video: ‘Winning it decisively’

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles disclosed her cancer diagnosis at a gala where Trump praised her courage, toughness and decisive recovery.

The Market for a New Pandemic

The mainstream outlets covering hantavirus like a tragedy rather than a disaster are getting the story right. But there will always be a market for doomerism.

Appeals Court Looks Unlikely to Allow Hegseth to Punish Mark Kelly for Video

A three-judge panel in Washington heard arguments in the lawsuit aimed at stopping the Pentagon from disciplining Senator Mark Kelly for a video warning about illegal military orders.

Rubio Meets Meloni as U.S.-Italy Relations Strained and Trump’s Attacks on Pope

Secretary of State Marco Rubio flew to Rome this week after an unexpected spat between President Trump and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, once one of the president’s best friends in Europe.

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…

What's Going On with the Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak?

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.

Democrats see Senate control within reach — but some big hurdles remain

The political terrain remains forbidding, but the president’s crumbling approval ratings and the Iran war’s weight on the economy offer the party an opening.

Claire's Weekly Letter: How the Weak Prevail

U.S. Strikes Iranian Targets; Iran Says It Returned Fire

The exchange was the latest twist in a week of mixed signals in the region and tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, as President Trump searches for an off-ramp in the war that he started.

Special Counsel to Investigate Trump Administration Lawyer for Possible Misconduct

Federal judges in Rhode Island ordered an investigation into a lawyer who withheld information about a migrant’s international criminal charges. Now, D.H.S. says it can’t find the migrant.

As Stockpiles Fall, U.S. Sells More Missiles Worth $17 Billion to Gulf Nations

The United States and its partners have burned through an enormous amount of air defense missiles in the Iran war, and production is slow.

Millions for a Paint Job? Trump Wants the Eisenhower Building Painted White.

The project would transform the granite exterior of the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which dates to the 1800s.

Ford’s Hail Mary

If American consumer preference is anything to judge by, not many expect the current fuel prices to become entrenched.