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

Obama's Race-Hustling Eulogy at a Race Hustler's Funeral

High Stakes, and a Low Bar, For Markwayne Mullin at DHS

Trump’s nominee has one big thing going for him: He’s not Kristi Noem.

Pentagon identifies 6 US airmen killed in refueling tanker crash in Iraq after midair collision

The War Department confirmed the identifies of the six U.S. airmen who were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a mission.

Trump Says Talks With Cuba Ongoing, Action Possible After Iran

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States could soon reach a deal with Cuba or take other action, signaling that developments in the long-strained relationship may come quickly.

Manchin blasts Cornyn for abandoning stance he once backed: 'Deeply disappointing'

Former Sen. Joe Manchin accused John Cornyn of abandoning his long-standing support for the filibuster for political convenience, calling the reversal "deeply disappointing."

Dershowitz to Newsmax: Congress Should Investigate Epstein Death

Alan Dershowitz said Sunday on Newsmax that Congress should fully investigate the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death and make all related records public, warning that the case could remain a mystery without transparency.

Trump says U.S. struck Kharg Island, core of Iran’s oil economy

The strikes destroyed more than 90 military targets, including missile facilities, but preserved oil infrastructure, U.S. Central Command said Saturday.

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…

Push for GOP voting law has many switching sides on filibuster issue

Some Republicans, just like Democrats in 2022, are eager to change the Senate’s rules in an effort to pass a national election law.

Iran War Jolts Vance & Rubio's Jockeying for 2028

The U.S. attack on Iran has rocked the 2028 Vance-Rubio ticket favored by President Trump's MAGA following and predicted by polls and political analysts.

The Republican Who Wants to Banish His Own Constituents

Representative Andy Ogles wrote on Monday that “Muslims don’t belong in American society.” He represents thousands of them in Congress.

Oil Prices May Not Fall Soon, U.S. Energy Secretary Says

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for oil shipments, remained unsafe for tankers. Iran has been firing projectiles and laying mines.

Trump-backed Potomac sewage cleanup complete after massive spill ahead of summer America250 celebrations

Potomac River sewage spill repairs have been completed after President Donald Trump approved a federal disaster declaration allowing FEMA assistance.

Admiral: US Expected Iran to Target Hormuz Strait

The United States was not unprepared for Tehran's attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz, retired Adm. Kevin Donegan told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.

Light Of – And In – the World: Sunday Reflection

Can Fetterman Save the Democratic Party From Itself?

Pennsylvania's maverick senator John Fetterman gains bipartisan support while challenging his Democratic Party on key issues from Israel to funding.

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.

Appointee wants to replace White House columns with the ones Trump prefers

The head of a federal arts commission is proposing the more ornate Corinthian style for the nearly 200-year-old columns at the building’s front entrance.

CBS: US Intel Showed Even Khamenei Thought Nepo Babytollah Was Incompetent

GOP, fearing tough fight for Texas Senate seat, paints Democrat as radical

Talarico, who is looking to flip Texas blue in his quest for the U.S. Senate, says the attacks from Republicans are a distraction from real issues.

Hearts of Darkness

Laura K. Field’s smart new book takes a critical look at MAGA’s Ivy League intellectuals.

US, China Weigh Trade Deals Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials were due to conclude talks in Paris on Monday, with potential areas of agreement in agriculture, critical minerals, and managed trade that could be taken up by President Donald Trump...

For the Love Of the Game, For the Love Of Country

String of attacks connected to naturalized citizens raises national security questions

Four alleged terror attacks connected naturalized U.S. citizens in March expose critical security gaps in America, a security expert warned on Fox News.

Rising gas prices from Iran conflict put GOP on defense after previous Biden attacks

Gas prices have surged 50 cents per gallon amid Trump's Iran conflict, putting Republicans in the same position they previously criticized Biden for during his presidency.

How a Marine Unit in the Middle East Could Open New Phase of Iran War

The unit’s arrival in the coming days will give the Pentagon the ability to quickly launch raids.

WSJ: Trump to Announce Ship Escort Coalition in Hormuz

The Trump administration is preparing to announce that several countries have agreed to form a naval coalition to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane threatened by Iran's recent actions, The Wall…

Judge Rules Lawmaker Must Be Allowed to Join Kennedy Center Board Meeting

A judge ordered that Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat, be given access to documents and have the chance to oppose changes to the center at next week’s board meeting.

I Recognize the Look on Liam Ramos’s Face

The 5-year-old was briefly held at Dilley, where families are sent after ICE roundups.

Tracking who Trump is appointing to fill key administration roles

Follow President Trump’s progress filling over 800 positions, among about 1,300 that require Senate confirmation, in this tracker from The Washington Post and the Partnership for Public Service.

Pete Hegseth’s Moral Unseriousness

The defense secretary appears unable to approach matters of life and death with even the slightest bit of reverence or humility.

Saturday's Final Word

Trump Wages War on Iran His Own Way

"Mr President," said a reporter. "You've said the war is ‘very complete' but your defence secretary says, ‘This is just the beginning'. So which is it?" Donald Trump's eyes darted left and right then down. "Well, I think you co…

No, Mayor Mamdani, First Lady of NYC Is Not a Private Role

If you're First Lady of New York City, you don't get to be a private person - no matter what Mayor Mamdani says.

Fareed explains why AI's massive energy demands are straining the power grid, but also why AI could enable big breakthroughs in sustainability and clean energy.

Washington Post: Republicans Are Seizing on Talarico's Past Statements

Everyone Has Trump’s Phone Number Now

The president’s personal iPhone has been lighting up.

The Soft Disinformation Contagion

How we learned to reason poorly with accurate data.

Vice President Kamala Harris, a former US senator from California who previously served as the state's attorney general, could be the first Black woman and Asian American to lead a major party ticket after receiving President Joe Biden's support t…

In the wake of the Republican National Convention earlier this month, Fareed speaks with historian Niall Ferguson about how and why the modern-day GOP has changed since the Reagan era of the 1980s.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Airline CEOs torch lawmakers for turning air travel into a ‘political football’

Airline leaders warned the DHS shutdown left TSA workers unpaid and travelers facing long lines as spring travel demand surged and pressure mounted on the aviation system.

Obama Presidential Center wants 100 unpaid volunteers while Valerie Jarrett makes $740K

The Obama Presidential Center seeks 100 unpaid volunteers as the $850 million Chicago facility prepares to open in June, promising $3.1 billion economic impact for South Side.

Federal Power Grabs on Elections Are Not About Fraud

Fans of the musical "Hamilton" know three things about the nation's first Treasury secretary because of Lin-Manuel Miranda's brilliance. First, that Alexander Hamilton cheated on his wife, Eliza. Second, he was killed by the vice president, Aaron …

Virginia Democrats dig in on DHS funding line despite ISIS-linked shooting at ODU, illegal immigrant murder

Virginia Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine oppose DHS funding without reforms despite a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University involving a suspect with ISIS links.

Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s Homeland Security Pick, Got Wealthier Stock Trading in Congress

Markwayne Mullin’s financial dealings take on new importance as the Senate considers his nomination to lead an agency whose budget has vastly expanded.

Hassett: US Has 'What We Need' on Funding for Iran War

The Trump administration has "what we need" when it comes to funding for the conflict in Iran, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

Latino voters are 'no longer sleeping,' Univision president warns GOP, Dems

Televisa Univision president calls Latino voters a "sleeping giant that is no longer sleeping," urging parties to revamp their approach for 2026.

New guard of GOP women says Democrats can't ‘pigeonhole’ female voters as they target key House races

A wave of female Republican candidates is working to turn the tables on Democrats' claim to be the party of women and secure strategic victories to help the GOP retain its majority.

Blue-State Suicide

Why Did Trump Officials Award $2 Million to a Small Art School in Queens?

The National Endowment for the Humanities seldom gave seven-figure grants. Now big awards flow to handpicked projects, including an institution with three full-time employees.

Letters to the Editor

Friday 6 March – Friday 13 March

In Illinois, Clashes Over AIPAC Erupt As House Campaign Closes

In a Democratic primary, accusations are flying that allies of a hard-line pro-Israel group are trying to divide progressives, exploiting a broader rift in the party.

A Police Report About a House Candidate Surprised the White House

A woman’s allegations of rape against a Republican House candidate have put Trump in a bind.

A Paradoxical War

The American debate about the campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Ayalon to Newsmax: Iran Regime in 'Total Disarray'

Iran's leadership appears increasingly unstable as fighting with Israel intensifies and questions persist about the status of the country's top leadership, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Danny Ayalon said Sunday on Newsmax.

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.

Illinois Senate primary pits crypto-backed candidate against Pritzker’s pick

The Democratic contest highlights divisions over crypto regulation and billionaire influence in politics, as the industry spends millions in a battle with the governor.

The Republican Party Continues Eating Its Own

What one lawmaker’s defection from the GOP says about the state of politics

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.

Trump urges world to help open Strait of Hormuz; U.S. Embassy in Baghdad hit

The Pentagon identified the six service members who were killed when a U.S. refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq while supporting operations in Iran.

Spanberger a Leftist Wolf Dressed as a Centrist Sheep

What you see with Abigail Spanberger is not what you get. It is also not what you were led to believe when she was trawling for votes all over Virginia.

Made in Moscow

The foreign origins of Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson’s antisemitism.

The Pete Hegseth Exception

Nearly a year after a national-security scandal erupted on my iPhone, no one in the Trump administration has faced consequences.

‘We Need to Do McCarthyism to the Tenth Power’

Conservative influencers are pushing for a return to the dark days of 1950s inquisitions.

Why Europe Still Misreads America

Why Germans fear American religion, and what this reveals about Europe.

Iran War Could Strain US-Israel Partnership

With Americans far less supportive than Israelis, the Iran war could strain the US-Israel partnership.

‘Baghdad Bob' Had Nothing on CNN

Alas, time marches on. I am old enough to remember the laugh-out-loud fairy tales spun by "Baghdad Bob" during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Did Tucker Carlson Just Get Caught Giving the Iranian Regime Intelligence?

Sunday Smiles

Fund-raising Email Features Trump at Ritual for Soldiers Killed in Iran War

The email from the group Never Surrender seeks donations for President Trump from those who want access to “private national security briefings” from him.

Pravda and the Democrats Are Lying: Operation Epic Fury Strategy Is Brilliant; UPDATE: Iran Opens Strait

Dan Schueftan on Gaza, Iran & the Future of Israel

Israel faces not a solvable conflict but a permanent condition—one requiring deterrence, “violent maintenance,” and historic patience—while confronting both regional enemies and a cultural battle in the West.

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…

Poll Finds Allies Cooling on US, Eyeing China

European and Canadian respondents in a new Politico-Public First poll said they are increasingly open to closer ties with China as confidence in the United States weakens under President Donald Trump, a finding that points to a fresh strain inside…

Post-Boomer GOP Is Coming. 2028 Will Define It

The Republican Party is experiencing a transitional period that feels less like upheaval and more like evolution. The household names that have dominated Washington for years are stepping aside, committee gavels are changing hands, and leadership …

Entering War’s Third Week, Trump Faces Stark Choices

As the conflict with Iran expands and intensifies, President Trump’s options — to fight on, or to move toward declaring victory and pulling back — both carry deeply problematic consequences.

Trump Administration Turns to Migrant Workers to Help Farm Labor Shortage

As the president’s immigration policies squeeze an already tight supply of farm labor, the Trump administration is making it cheaper to hire foreign farmworkers.

Podcast #328: The Extraordinary Exploits of Agent Zo

Iona Italia talks to historian Clare Mulley about her biography of Polish war heroine Elżbieta Zawacka, aka Agent Zo.

Trump is eager to declare victory, but a battered Iran still has cards to play

The U.S. and Israel crippled Iranian forces in two weeks of war, but Tehran’s ability to disrupt oil flows and its uranium stockpile complicate the push to end it.

In Texas, an Unyielding Gun Culture Jumps Off YouTube and Into Politics

Brandon Herrera, a Republican candidate for Congress, built a large online fan base as a “guntuber.”

Britain’s Half-Measures on Iran

As Iranian agents surveil London’s Jewish communities and IRGC-backed plots multiply, Britain’s failure to proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps endangers UK citizens.

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.

Arizona Is Now at the Center of Election Investigations

Both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are probing the results of the 2020 election in Arizona.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Trump Isn’t Even Trying to Sell This War

Has the salesman in chief gotten rusty?

Trump Proposes New White House Visitor Screening Center

The facility would replace trailers and tents the Secret Service uses to screen visitors to the White House. It would be the latest presidential building project.

A New World Order in the Making

An interview with Dr Shmuel Bar.

DOJ Was Right on Live Nation. Blue State AGs Should Follow

Almost two years ago, I was down in New Orleans for my family's annual Jazz Fest pilgrimage, surrounded by tens of thousands of other live music fans. Although we had been a number of times in the past, 2024 was a special year because The Rolling …

Sen. Fetterman Faults Dems on Iran and DHS

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Sunday that Democrats should support U.S. strikes on Iran if they believe Tehran must be prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon, citing former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 remark calling Iran the nation's …

Holt to Newsmax: US Should Move to Secure Iran's Kharg Island

The United States could secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz by targeting key Iranian military positions on Kharg Island while avoiding damage to the country's oil infrastructure, retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt said Sunday on New…

What Is Victory in Operation Epic Fury?

The Reading Wars

Top California librarian questioned about missing $650K tied to Dolly Parton child literacy program

California’s state librarian faces scrutiny after lawmakers said about $650,000 connected to a Dolly Parton Imagination Library literacy program cannot be accounted for.

Ex-Dem senator admits to affair with former bodyguard in explosive court filing: 'Romantic and Intimate'

Sinema, the former Arizona senator, outlined details of the affair in a new court filing seeking to dismiss an 'alienation of affection' lawsuit filed by her bodyguard's estranged wife.

FCC Chair: Broadcast Licenses Aren't a 'Property Right'

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr doubled down on his warning that broadcast licenses could be revoked amid President Donald Trump's criticism of media coverage of the war in Iran, CBS News reported Sunday.

Kennedy Center Board to Vote Monday on Trump’s Proposed Closure

The planned vote to close the center for renovations was listed on an agenda circulated to the center’s board of trustees on Sunday, less than a day before the meeting.

Opposing Trump Isn't a Global Strategy

Here's my first draft of a national-security agenda for Democrats seeking the White House in 2028.

Why Minnesota Matters More Than Iran for America's Future

The last year has been one of the most depressing of my nearly 50 years as a journalist.

Why Trump Changed His Mind on Kristi Noem

Congressional questions about contracts, ads, and extramarital sex ended her tenure.

On Truth and Beauty

Why art and science serve different ends.

Why Populism is Rising in Australia: Immigration and One Nation Surge

Australia has long been considered politically stable compared with Europe and the United States. But according to political scientist Eric Kaufmann, that period of “Australian exceptionalism” may be coming to an end.

Amb. Waltz: US Delivered 'Dominant Victory' Over Iran

The United States has delivered a "dominant victory" over Iran militarily, economically, and diplomatically, even as fighting continues and tensions remain high in the Persian Gulf, Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday.