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

What Fauci's Diary Reveals About Washington

Meeting your heroes can be demoralizing. Reading more than 1,000 pages of their personal diary can be worse. Or, alternatively, totally riveting, at least in that rubbernecking-at-a-car-crash kind of way-the car crash, in this case, being one of t…

The Rise of Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons

In the 30th instalment of ‘Nations of Canada,’ Greg Koabel describes the expanding Jesuit presence of the late 1630s—and the increasingly bitter opposition it provoked among France’s local Indigenous allies.

How the Pro-Trump Media Ecosystem Is Splintering Ahead of the Midterms

Once united in support of President Trump, right-wing influencers are embroiled in feuds and losing viewers, creating a problem for Republicans in the midterm elections.

Missteps Mount in Justice Dept.’s Case Against Minnesota Anti-ICE Protesters

The problems plaguing the case have not only hurt the government’s chances, lawyers say, but have also undermined the bonds of trust that prosecutors have traditionally enjoyed in court.

Seattle Police Chief Who Was Out of Town a Lot Now Likely Out of a Job, Too

Shocking percentage of Democrats identify as 'democratic socialists' according to new poll: 'Toxic policies'

A CNN poll finds 34% of Democrats now identify as democratic socialists, with DSA-backed candidates winning races in New York City and Seattle.

Men Without Meaning

Men are quietly leaving the workforce—not for lack of jobs, but for lack of purpose.

Biting the Hand

Artists increasingly insist that their work and their politics are indivisible. They should not be surprised when the institutions that fund them agree.

People Are Scared of AI for the Wrong Reasons

Preference Cascade: Schengen Is Dying, Is the EU Next on the Chopping Block?

Trump says he ended their careers. Now these GOP lame ducks are defying him.

GOP Sens. John Cornyn (Texas) and Thom Tillis (North Carolina) are blocking Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general.

Ireland's Antisemitism Crisis with Rachel Moiselle | Quillette Cetera Episode 68

Activist Rachel Moiselle on why a country with 3,000 Jews obsesses over Israel, how antizionism became a faith, and the cost of speaking out.

NYC’s Dangerous Devolution

‘The idea of government-run grocery stores is so insane.’

Is the Pro-Palestine Movement Israel’s Unlikely Ally?

By framing terrorism and armed struggle as legitimate resistance, the pro-Palestine movement has unwittingly strengthened Israel’s case that withdrawal and concessions carry unacceptable risks.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

WATCH: Fauci walks away when pressed on Fifth Amendment, pandemic regrets

Anthony Fauci walked away from questions about pleading the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during Rand Paul's Senate hearing on gain-of-function research.

Jack Smith's Senate phone records probe turns to Verizon's handling of subpoenas

Sen. Chuck Grassley and 15 senators demand Verizon explain why it failed to disclose Jack Smith's Arctic Frost subpoena for congressional phone records.

Trump to Appeal Judge’s Ruling Denouncing I.R.S. Lawsuit as Exercise in Self-Dealing

It was the latest sign that the president was doubling down on his fight for aspects of a deal that brings him vast benefits, even though they have jeopardized the confirmation of his pick for attorney general.

Inside the lavish lifestyle of ultra-wealthy Dem endorsed by top Bernie Sanders group

Eric Jones reports up to $86 million in assets and an $8 million salary while campaigning against corporate influence in California's 4th district race.

The ‘Sex Recession’ is Real

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to Debra Soh, author of ‘Sextinction: The Decline of Sex and the Future of Intimacy,’ about neuroscience, hypergamy, elephant seals, politicised sex research, the perils of polyamory, and the sex-repellent…

Fauci Unmasks Himself

It wasn't good for Anthony Fauci or anybody else that he took the Fifth at his Senate hearing this week. That plus his diary may well have been a reputation-destroying event.

Todd Blanche’s Loyalty to Trump Is Putting His Attorney General Confirmation at Risk

Todd Blanche’s approach has collided with the jury-of-two reality in the Senate that has, thus far, kept him from the prize he covets: the stability and status conferred by a Senate confirmation.

When Academics Deny Reality

Let’s abandon the destructive notions about equality and benefit from the fact that people are not equal in ability.

Texas Opie Is a Rhinestone Rental Cowboy

Europe Turns on Pedro Sánchez as Invasion of Spain Kicks Into Overdrive

95 Days and Counting

With less than 100 days until Election Day, time is running out for Republicans, and their prospects for keeping control of the House are still poor.

Ukraine’s Strike on Iranian Ship Shows How Two Wars Could Spiral

Iran sent military aid to Russia for its war against Ukraine. Now the question is whether that conflict and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran are converging.

Plug-In Solar Panels Are Starting to Sprout in U.S. Backyards

Ten U.S. states have legalized systems that can be plugged into standard wall outlets. The technology typically does not require permits or electricians.

Trump rejects Iran blame for Minnesota cyberattack, points finger at 'corrupt' political foe

Trump dismissed claims that Iranian hackers targeted Minnesota water systems, instead blaming the state's governor for what he called gross incompetence.

Volodymir Zelensky, Fire Your Foreign Minister Now

Francesca Hong: A Conversion without a Conversion Narrative

Francesca Hong insists she can’t defund police as governor but never says whether she’s abandoned those views.

AI Could End Up Too Cheap To Control

The AI industry's investors and critics don't agree on much. But many in each camp share at least one basic conviction: America's top labs are about to make a killing.

State Dept. to Release 250,000 More Trump Passports With His Portrait

An additional 250,000 commemorative passports, featuring a portrait of President Trump and intended to honor the nation’s 250th anniversary, will be made available at in-person events.

Swimming to Sánchez

Spain’s latest migrant surge suggests that when governments advertise amnesties and create loopholes, people respond accordingly.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

More Wildberries Logistics Hubs Burning (and a Rare Miss)

Trump’s claims of election interference in doubt after release of declassified intelligence

Declassified evidence points to Beijing seeking personal data for espionage, not election interference.

Democrats Are Jamming Themselves in Michigan’s Seventh District

Democrats may be on the verge of frittering away one of the most winnable House seats up for election this year.

Why JD Vance Generates So Much Heat

Vance occupies an indispensable position for the future of his faction in ways that nobody else does for other factions of the party.

Trump blasts Spain migrant surge as 'catastrophe,' warns US could face worse if Democrats regain power

President Donald Trump said during a Cabinet meeting that similar scenes of migrants flooding into Spain could play out in the U.S. if Democrats gain power.

Spain, Europe Looking Like a Dystopian Horror Novel

Anyone who has seen footage of migrants storming the Spanish enclave of Ceuta knows what will come next.

El Campamento de los Santos?

Will Europe’s (and America’s) elite heed the warning of The Camp of the Saints, or treat it as an instruction manual? Stay tuned.

Dems Should Quit Battling, Martin Is Staying at DNC

Voters care about the affordability crisis - not internal DNC politics.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson names Andre Sayles as interim police chief after Barnes resignation

Deputy Chief Andre Sayles takes over as interim Seattle police chief after Shon Barnes' resignation following the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting.

The next abortion battle is over Kansas’s highest court

Voters will decide whether to replace a nearly 70-year-old appointment system with direct elections that could reshape the state Supreme Court for decades.

Trump Blames Minnesota, Not Iran, for Cyberattack, Despite Initial Investigation

President Trump claimed without evidence that Minnesota’s Democratic government was “behind” a cyberattack on the state’s own water systems. Investigators believe Iran is likely responsible.

It Only Took Six Years to Open a Fast Food Restaurant in San Francisco

Critics Say Historic Sites Are Endangered by Trump-Aligned Panel’s Plan

Proponents say the changes to the federal preservation rules are necessary, but critics argue they are alarming and would help expedite the president’s redesign of Washington.

Trump Fixes Biden's Mess on Medicare Drug Premiums

Trump ends a costly Biden-era Medicare Part D subsidy after 2026. Here's what it really means for your prescription drug premiums-separating facts from election-year scare tactics.

G.O.P. Kills Bid to Expand I.V.F. Access in the Military

In a notable shift, Republican senators voted unanimously against a proposal to expand the military’s coverage of fertility treatments.

The German Auto Industry, a Pillar of the National Psyche, Is Trembling

The country’s iconic carmakers are struggling with tariffs, the growth of electric vehicles and intense competition from Chinese companies.

Critics rage at rogue red-state senators for blocking Todd Blanche after backing Biden's pick

John Cornyn and Thom Tillis face fierce Republican backlash for blocking Todd Blanche's confirmation after both voted to confirm Merrick Garland.

A Beautiful Odyssey, Made Dreary By Remorse

Christopher Nolan’s creation is a big movie in every technical sense. But inside, it is diminished and faded: heroes who aren’t allowed to be heroes and gods who aren’t allowed to be gods.

America's Place in Syria's Restoration

President Trump announced his decision to remove Syria's name from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism earlier this month. Secretary of State Mark Rubio called the move a "historic step" that "opens new possibilities for economic opportunity a…

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.

Inflation Is Not Just an Energy Problem

Even excluding fuel costs, inflation is still too high.

Tom Siebel on Education, Reinvention, AI Revolution

Tom Siebel, founder and CEO of C3 AI, joins Condoleezza Rice for a wide-ranging conversation on innovation, resilience, and the enduring promise of the American experiment. Siebel recounts how his time as a history student at the University of Ill…

Sex Differences Above the Neck

The evidence for innate sex differences has been accumulating for decades. Steve Stewart-Williams's new book is a welcome inventory.

Thursday's Final Word

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.

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…

Real Tragedy Is That Fauci Is a Bad Scientist

Think Robert Oppenheimer, if Robert Oppenheimer had built a bomb that didn't work.

Smithsonian America 250 exhibit features 3x more liberal items than conservative ones

The Smithsonian's America 250th anniversary exhibit features nearly two dozen items for liberal causes but just seven representing conservatism.

New York Issues Nuns Temporary Religious-Liberty Relief as Legal Assisted-Suicide Regulations Go Live 

Thanks be to God the great man, Kevin ‘Seamus’ Hasson, started the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

Fauci faces lifetime ban from federal government work under new bill following explosive hearing

Rep. Rich McCormick's bill could ban Anthony Fauci from federal employment after he invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times before Rand Paul.

Capturing the ‘Odyssey’

Homer’s epic provides a window on to a strange, paradoxical, fascinating, beautiful, and terrifying world that is at once familiar and unfamiliar. 

Petition to Ban Hunting and Fishing in Oregon Fails to Make the Ballot

Self-defense and veterinary care would have been the only remaining exceptions to animal-cruelty restrictions.

The Cornyn-Tillis Losers' Revenge Tour Continues

Musk Re-Entering Politics. It Might Not Go as He Hopes

The tech tycoon has a lot of money - but he also comes with baggage.

Blood, Progress, and Amnesia

There is real value in Noah Rothman's century-spanning chronicle of left-wing terror, but it falls short in analysis.

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.

Ex-'Squad' member fights for comeback as socialist wing ramps up war on Dem establishment

Cori Bush's latest campaign ad accuses Wesley Bell of jetting off to Israel with AIPAC instead of helping St. Louis recover from a devastating tornado.

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.

Trump Renews JFK's War Against Subversion

It's time to follow President John F. Kennedy's lead and uproot domestic subversion in America once and for all.

Democrat Campaign for Governor in WI Becomes a Clown Show

Mamdani says New York doesn’t have authority to arrest Netanyahu, urges feds to act

The mayor had said the city might enforce a warrant against the Israeli leader, drawing Democratic criticism. On Tuesday, he urged the U.S. government to do so.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Hormuz and Homer

Internet erupts over report that Platner's replacement in key Senate race fathered children with second cousin

Troy Jackson, who replaced Graham Platner on the Maine ballot, fathered two children with his second cousin, sparking fierce social media reaction.

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 We Know About Dr. Fauci Pleading the Fifth in Senate Hearing on Covid Origins

In a three-hour Senate hearing this week, Dr. Fauci invoked his constitutional right to stay silent, leaving people confused about many of the issues raised.

Adults Are Responsible for How They Use AI

Conservatives are accustomed to arguing that the instruments of harm are not responsible for harm. This principle extends to AI tools as well.

Emily Wilson’s 'Odyssey' Review and the Snowflake Entertainment Press

The Grift at the Gate

The Grift Industrial Complex targeted Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey—and got buried.

What Exactly Is the ‘Common Good’?

Despite recurrent invocations of the phrase in some corners of the right, it’s not really that useful as a political theory.

CNN Political Briefing

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