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

Justice Dept. Tries to Rebuke Federal Judges for Speaking to The Times

Judge Patrick J. Schiltz had warned that the administration’s actions “created a grave threat to the rule of law.” The attorney general accused him of “obvious bias.”

Tuesday's Final Word

Judge Orders New Rollout of Mamdani's Pied-A-Terre Tax

Troy Jackson apologizes for comments on Jewish Mainers’ views of Gaza war

The Senate nominee’s bid to unseat incumbent Susan Collins (R) is critical to Democrats’ hopes for reclaiming control of the chamber.

Feeble Excuses for Keeping Syllabi Secret

Should public universities allow individuals to see what they are teaching?

'I Ran Toward the Cockpit': The Dad Who Stopped a Hijacking

Yaniv Hayoun was on a flight from Dubai to Israel with his family when one of the co-pilots stabbed the other and sent the plane into a nosedive. He told The Free Press what happened next.

It's Time for Madonna To Put It Away

I grew up in the age of MTV music videos, and Madonna was a role model for my generation. She seemed brave and fearless. That is, until age came knocking. That's what finally scared Madonna. In attempting to cling to her past, she has revealed her…

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Trump’s nominee to be nation’s top doctor clears key hurdle in Senate committee

Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News contributor, is the third person the president has nominated to be surgeon general in his second term.

Follow the Money: Fetterman Getting More Republican?

Senate blocks measure requiring report on Israeli violence in West Bank

Nearly all Senate Democrats voted to require the State Department to report on Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.

Possible 9/11-Style Suicide Hijacking Attempt Against Dubai Flight Carrying Israelis

It appears to have been an attempted terrorist attack, but it’s early and details are still sketchy.

Kyle MacLachlan on Watching the New 'Dune'

In the latest episode of GQ's weekly interview series 'One More Question,' the 'Twin Peaks' and 'Fallout' star talks to Zach Baron about typecasting, ambition, the ups and downs of his long friendship with David Lynch, and new 'Dune' versus old 'D…

Good News for Republicans in Minnesota!

The last three polls in the Minnesota U.S. Senate race between Democrat Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya are all close.

Other People's Children

Nikole Hannah-Jones put racial solidarity ahead of her daughter’s education. Her daughter—and plenty of black parents—saw the mistake more clearly than she did.

Even With the Reopening of the Strait, the Political Fallout Will Remain

Lesbian Fragility, Then and Now

The tragicomic obsession with disability and disease on display at the Last Ditch bar isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s been part of militant lesbian culture since the Cold War.

No More Drugstore Head Shots: Passport Applications Go Digital

The process of getting a first U.S. passport will go fully online next year, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, so if your picture is bad, it’ll be your fault.

Vance's Senate Takeover Plan Has a Big Flaw

For much of 2026, Donald Trump has intermittently demanded that the Senate enact the SAVE America Act despite being told repeatedly by Majority Leader John Thune that he cannot muster the votes to do as the president wishes. This dead end so vexed…

Talarico Confirms: My Positions on Transgender Issues Have Not Changed a Bit

Legal Immigrants Lose Medicaid Coverage Under Trump’s Bill

Many immigrants without green cards will no longer be eligible for the health insurance program for low-income people.

The Trouble with Chinamaxxers

Gen Z calls it Chinamaxxing. But the West's new infatuation with China is less a triumph of Communist Party soft power than a symptom of our own decline.

What's Happening With the Cornell 7 Case?

Kids Should Not Be Trapped in Failing Schools

What happens when an antiracist journalist enrolls her child in a failing New York City public school? Answer: A frustrated teenager feels betrayed by her mother's decision to give her a subpar education out of a vague loyalty to progressive ideals.

The Hyde Amendment Turns 50

The issue of taxpayer-funded abortion will soon become increasingly salient.

'Drug-dealing' network shielded by blue states targeted in SCOTUS challenge

Louisiana Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill filed two lawsuits targeting blue-state shield laws and the online abortion pill pipeline.

An Open Letter to Scott Alexander

The dangers of AI are real, but doomerism may be counterproductive.

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.

Does Trump Have a Point About Interest Rates?

On Sept. 16, the Federal Reserve increased its target short-term interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point, which is the usual increment when the central bank makes such decisions.

In Today's News: Gulf Oil Exports 'Fully Recover to 2025 Levels'

Congress Set to Leave Washington for the Midterms With No A.I. Progress

Senate Democrats blocked a measure that would encourage, but not require, states to protect consumers from power rate hikes tied to data center growth, and had no limits on A.I. use or deployment.

Americans Want Populist Policies That Defy Traditional Labels

Broad support for caps on prescription drug prices and strong border security.

Maybe the Justices Don’t Want to Rule on Climate Lawsuits?

In Suncor v. Boulder County, the Court faces an uncomfortable choice of legal bases on which to block state-level emissions suits.

U.S. ends health aid to Zimbabwe after ‘America First’ deal is spurned

The African nation refused to make an agreement with the Trump administration, which has sought to slash foreign assistance and impose new terms on recipients.

Secret weapon or ‘slopaganda’? How AI is revolutionizing campaign advertising.

The advancing technology offers campaigns the tools to make compelling, lifelike ads. That’s leading even seasoned political observers to take note.

Trump acknowledges bind he faces on immigration policies

The president spoke at a Hispanic Heritage Month event as Latino voters abandon him.

Kinzinger Bet on His Own Pardon! Under Investigation for Insider Trading.

Life vs. Death, States Edition

Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama are suing New York, California, and Massachusetts over abortion-pill ‘shield laws.’

Maine Democrat who rejects special interests previously ran PAC that courted them

Troy Jackson is challenging Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a pivotal contest that has been dominated by campaign finance issues.

Coming to the U.N.: ‘Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature’

‘Nature rights’ is quickly becoming a matter of left-wing dogma.

Ad spending in midterm races crosses $1.5 billion

The figure marks an increase of $317 million from last week, according to a Post analysis of data from AdImpact.

Unearthed clip exposes the Talarico comment that triggered backlash from parents

James Talarico, the Democratic Texas U.S. Senate candidate, dismissed parents' concerns about pornography in schools as a "conspiracy theory" at a 2022 hearing.

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.

Judge Questions Secrecy Around Trump Administration’s Memo on Boat Strikes

The judge also ordered the Justice Department to privately show the court the contested document, which blesses the disputed killings at sea.

E.E.O.C. Sues Harvard for Data on Diversity in Hiring Practices

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit asking a judge to compel the university to provide information on hiring practices that the agency said discriminated against white men.

Iran Regime’s PSA: Nepo Babytollah Wants You to Vote Democrat!

GOP lawmaker’s fraud crusade takes dramatic turn as scandal engulfs his own career

Utah State Rep. Trevor Lee, a Republican who championed anti-fraud bills and praised Nick Shirley, now faces mortgage fraud charges himself.

Civilian Tenure Out at Military Service Academies

ROAF founder Doug Truax says the new directive will address a structural problem allowing civilian academic norms to dilute the military's core mission.

Tour Company Sues to Undo Trump’s Nonresident Fees at National Parks

An Arizona guide service challenged rules that force foreigners to pay a $100 surcharge to visit 11 national parks, saying that only Congress can change pricing.

Genocide and Its Jurors

In 1967, left-wing intellectuals accused America of genocide in Vietnam—they were wrong then, and they’re wrong again now.

From Atmosphere to Empire

U2 reconsidered at fifty.

Trump DOJ investigating Dem group in Texas after viral undercover video sparks massive uproar

A viral undercover video showing a Texas Majority PAC employee describing a "Paid Relational Program" has now triggered a DOJ investigation.

Can you trust the polls?

How to read all these midterm polls.

Even Democrats Oppose Foreigners Tilting the Census

Americans overwhelmingly believe congressional seats should be distributed solely based on the number of U.S. citizens in each state.

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…

AI Doom Is Not Cybersecurity

An OpenAI agent’s breach of a Medicare portal shows that the real danger from AI is a mundane one—and the labs’ fixation on a coming machine god is making it worse.

British PM Suspects Iran Played a Part in Plot to Attack Air Base

Andy Burnham’s comments appear to confirm those of President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio, but so far there are no charges.

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.

Explosive sleeper issue could fuel midterm shakeups, top Republican predicts: ‘You’re gonna see surprises’

Tom Emmer says fraud is the top issue driving Minnesota voters to the polls and predicts Republican "surprises" in several midterm elections.

Execution of Tennessee woman blocked by federal court with hours to spare

Christa Pike was scheduled to die Wednesday morning, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit intervened.

Banning the ICEV Ban?

The EU Commission has proposed watering the ban down, although not by much.

Shades of 9/11: FlyDubai Pilot Attempts Hijacking, Mass Destruction

Trump Pentagon launches competition for America's next great military base

The winning state for the base site will be selected through a merit-based competition based on land, housing, schools, community support and regulatory cooperation.

Legal Analysts: Climate Case Could 'Rewrite' Economy

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on Monday that could "rewrite" the future of American energy production, legal analysts said.

DOJ files complaint against Minn. judges for criticizing immigration surge

Several judges spoke to the New York Times about their concerns around the immigration crackdown. One judge Wednesday defended his decision to speak publicly as “well within the ethical rules.”

Hiroshima: A Hinge Point for Humanity

Kiyoshi Tanimoto’s extraordinary testimony about the Hiroshima attack and its aftermath has been published by his daughter some forty years after his death.

Republican glee erupts as White House boasts sharp decline in immigration from Muslim-majority nations

A White House graph shows a 96% drop in legal immigration from Muslim-majority nations since 2024, but the Cato researcher behind it pushed back.

Somewhere, It’ll Always Be September 12

This ought to serve as a reminder that there is nothing new under the sun.

A Huge Gap Between Fastest- and Slowest-Building Cities

The Soviet Union famously churned out tens of thousands of new apartment buildings in the 1960s, '70s, and '80s - some assembled in as little as 12 days - together comprising tens of millions of individual apartments. Such speed is not unique to c…

Democrats Block Stock-Trading Bill, Denying the G.O.P. a Pre-Midterm Win

A Republican measure to limit, but not bar, congressional stock trading faltered in the Senate as Democrats thwarted a G.O.P. bid to show progress on an issue that has rankled voters.

The Naivety of Well-Meaning Christian Leaders

The Church of England and the failures of interfaith politics.

Dems kill Republican's chances of lowering Americans' electricity bills in key election flashpoint

Senate Democrats blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill aimed at making AI data centers bear rising electricity costs that Jon Husted championed.

Secret phone record seizure sparks personal lawsuit from GOP senator

Marsha Blackburn's lawsuit targets Jack Smith personally, arguing the special counsel was never lawfully appointed and violated her constitutional rights.

Some Strange Updates on the RAF Fairford Story

Calder Sculpture ‘Mountains and Clouds’ Is Restored in Senate Office

The effort to reunite two halves of Alexander Calder’s monumental “Mountains and Clouds” hit many snags, until donors and legislators from both parties stepped in.

Trauma and Terror

If you’re not already familiar with the casus belli that ignited the Gaza war, watching the fifth season of ‘Fauda’ will be good for you, but it will also be bad for you.

Blanche announces charges against 10 permanent residents accused of Minnesota voter fraud

Attorney General Todd Blanche announced indictments of 10 lawful permanent residents accused of noncitizen voting in Minnesota elections since 2022.

Canada’s Unmarked-Graves Social Panic (2021–26): A Primer for Foreign Scholars

In a recent speech to American academics, a Quillette editor explained how Canadians convinced themselves that 215 child corpses had been discovered in an old apple orchard.

History Uprooted

A new exhibition at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg peddles PLO myths about Israel’s war for independence in 1948.

Hegseth touts his shake-up of military leadership in address to troops

Wednesday’s event in Quantico, Virginia, occurs a year to the day after the defense secretary gave a highly partisan lecture to the military’s generals and admirals.

Clues to Why a Breakthrough Pancreatic Cancer Drug Eventually Stops Working

Researchers are asking why patients, like former Senator Ben Sasse, inevitably develop resistance to the drug daraxonrasib.

CNN Political Briefing

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

GOP challenger tears into Dem's 'moderate' image: 'Votes with the squad 90% of the time'

Scott Singer, GOP candidate in FL-25, denounces Democrat incumbent Rep. Jared Moskowitz's voting record, alliance with "the squad," and calls into question his support for Israel.

Trump’s Voluntary A.I. Policing Echoes What Biden Did. But Is It Enough Today?

President Trump’s plan to let A.I. companies police themselves comes amid mounting examples that they are failing to put safeguards on the technology.

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 Iowa's New Steel Mill Means for the Midwest

On Monday, President Donald Trump announced from the Oval Office that Mesabi Metallics will build a $15 billion steel mill in eastern Iowa. It will reportedly be the largest steel plant in American history, and in the president's own words, this s…

Trump DOJ Voices No Objection to Another Long Postponement of Comey Trial

If prosecutors really believed Comey had threatened to kill the president, would they agree to postpone the trial for eight months while he’s free on bail?

Kristi Noem Files for Divorce From Bryon Noem After 34 Years of Marriage

Ms. Noem, a former homeland security secretary and governor of South Dakota, filed court papers there seeking to end her marriage to Bryon Noem, an insurance salesman.

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.

Narrative™ Control in Action: Fly Dubai Example

Another Flight 93, Averted

Here’s to the passengers of FZ1073, who have provided us with something more than a grateful headline during dark times.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Schumer tanks popular insider trading ban in Dem effort to derail Republican's agenda ahead of midterms

Senate Democrats blocked a GOP bill combining a stock trading ban with voter ID requirements, with Chuck Schumer calling it "trickery" and "skullduggery."