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

Today in Democrats Behaving Badly

If only someone had told them that this sort of thing was frowned upon.

Do Medicines Cost More Because of the Middlemen?

In this episode RealClearHealth Editor, Jerry Rogers talks with Hannah Anderson, Senior Director of Healthy America Policy at the America First Policy Instit...

Medical Conscience Is Under Assault at Home and Abroad

This is one of the most important but underappreciated civil rights issues of our time.

Trump embraces Xi as a peer, testing a new approach to China

The presidents praised their relationship over tea and viewed America’s founding documents, with few apparent breakthroughs on the issues dividing their countries.

Texas voters have plenty to say about whether Lone Star State could turn blue

Texas voters at the State Fair of Texas reveal how inflation and economic frustration are shaping the Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton races this fall.

Trump claims stunning casualty numbers in Russia-Ukraine war

Trump claims 25,000 people died last month in the Ukraine-Russia war and reveals he pushed Volodomyr Zelenskyy to settle with Vladimir Putin.

Why High Schools Are the Linchpin

Our schools are weakest in their joints-those points where students pass from one school to the next. Students can pass every high school class and still find themselves in remedial classes once they get to college. Many earn credits at community …

TV Networks to Resume Trump Coverage, Even as White House Excludes CNN

The White House TV pool went dark this past week amid a standoff between CNN and the president. Network leaders, however, believe an indefinite suspension may be untenable.

Al Gore's Inconvenient Lies

This Texas crooner could help Democrats win Congress, one quinceañera at a time

Bobby Pulido would be the only member of Congress with a Latin Grammy to his name. That comes with its upsides and downsides.

Democrats now have easier paths to flipping the Senate. Here are races to watch.

The goal of keeping Democratic Senate seats and flipping four GOP seats once felt like a long shot. Now it's feasible.

From Atmosphere to Empire

U2 reconsidered at fifty.

Claire's Weekly Letter: A Dish in the Sink

A man leaves a dish in the sink. By the end of the night he has been accused of gaslighting, told he lacks emotional intelligence, and sent to sleep on the sofa. Our first feature this week comes from Steve Salerno asks a hard question: has a prof…

Trump's Greenland Agreement Is the 'Art of the Deal' in Action

White House has not acted on RFK Jr.’s push for proof ultra-processed foods are safe

A draft letter obtained by The Post shows Kennedy’s favorable response to a petition that food experts said could lead to significant changes for the industry.

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.

An Open Letter to Scott Alexander

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

Trump’s War With Iran Drags Down Republicans in Midterm Elections

As their midterm picture darkens, and gas and diesel prices soar, some Republicans who backed the war for months are now changing their tune.

The Naivety of Well-Meaning Christian Leaders

The Church of England and the failures of interfaith politics.

White House Claim of Finding $250 Billion in Fraud Uses Questionable Numbers

The ledger used by a task force created by President Trump is difficult to verify and includes cases that were identified and went to trial during the Biden administration.

'Fauda' Tells the World the Truth

In an era when facts lose out to narratives, can a drama about an Israeli counterterror unit change people's minds about the Jewish state?

Nicki Minaj urges young Americans to 'vote red' in 2026 midterms while doubling down on Trump support

Nicki Minaj urged young Americans to "vote red" in midterm elections and revealed why she's made it her mission to support President Donald Trump.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Leon Black Is Not Very Interesting

Unfortunately, author William Cohan thinks the ousted Apollo co-founder is fascinating enough to quote him at length, while neglecting the impact of private equity predators.

Why the Republicans Started Panicking This Week

When the national average price of gas is nearly $4.50 a gallon, the president’s party should expect to get crushed in midterm elections.

Cuba Under Siege

Trump's fuel blockade shows that U.S. imperialism is a policy of extortion and cruelty.

Jury in Trayon White Sr. bribery trial says it can’t reach verdict

White was charged with accepting $35,000 from a D.C. government contractor in exchange for agreeing to pressure D.C. officials to renew contracts that his companies had obtained for violence-interruption services.

Macron's Parting Gift to the United Nations

The French president's resolve seems to have rubbed off on the leaders of other 'middle powers', says Steve Bloomfield, the former international editor of the Observer

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 Promotes Criticism of Republican Who Broke With Him on Immigration

The president amplified negative social media comments about Representative María Elvira Salazar of Florida, a move that drew a rebuke from at least one Republican.

How Communism Kills Kindness

In 1974, Simon Leys published 'Chinese Shadows' under a pseudonym to protect himself from pro-Maoist intellectuals. The book describes habits of mind that are now alive and well in America.

How Much Has the Green New Deal Cost America?

The Green New Deal was never about saving the planet from climate change - it was built to exert total government control over the economy.

Soaring diesel prices are clobbering Trump’s MAGA faithful, exposing rifts

Pain at the pump for rural Republicans is shifting the political map.

Two More Russian Refineries Shut Down Operations After Drone Strikes

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

BREAKING: British Police Foil Terrorist Attack at RAF Fairford This Morning UPDATE

Iran ‘miscalculating’ by betting on midterms after 3-hour talks, Trump officials warn

President Donald Trump says Iran is waiting on midterm elections to cut a deal, but Marco Rubio warns Tehran misreads U.S. presidential powers.

Bear Hug

There are two kinds of people in the world: people who love The Bear and people who hate The Bear.

Sacrificing Human Thriving on the Altar of Environmentalist Earth Religion

An op-ed in the New York Times proselytizes for nature animism.

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…

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.

Democrats' Road Back to the Working Class

New research offers Democrats a roadmap back to voters they have lost.

Trump's home county hits pause on data centers over environment and electric bill concerns

Palm Beach County passed a one-year moratorium on data centers amid concerns over environmental impact, noise pollution and rising electric bills.

Millionaires Are Who You Think They Are

‘These are the real rich in America.’

Ground Broken on a Rust Belt Powerhouse: Shippingport's Data Hub Rises in the Age of AI Anxiety

Massive ICE sweep fuels GOP push to lock Trump immigration crackdown into law

Hoosier Sen. Jim Banks says a five-day ICE operation netting 426 arrests in Indiana proves why Trump's mass deportation agenda must become law.

Supreme Court Allows Trump DHS to Share Social Security Data with Elections Officials

Today’s 6–3 decision involved an especially tortured effort at reading federal law in a way that would restrain Donald Trump, and the Court’s conservative majority rejected it.

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.

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.

A Trump 2024 Campaign Ad Returns, Now Brought to You by the Government

The ad, which ethics experts said could violate federal law, shows Mr. Trump vowing to “expel the warmongers” from the government and fight the “deep state,” even as he wages a war with Iran.

Australia Is Sick: Misha Saul on What Went Wrong

Investor Misha Saul joins Claire Lehmann to discuss Australia’s declining productivity, immigration policy, and the political choices shaping the country’s future.

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.

Sunday Smiles

My Father and the Anti-Communist Film Festival

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.

In Knoxville, cheers for Trump — and some quiet doubts

The president, booed at other big sporting events this year, drew mostly cheers at Neyland Stadium. In the parking lots, some of his own voters had misgivings.

Get in the Boat and Fish: Sunday Reflection

John Fetterman accidentally calls himself a 'lifelong Republican' at Texas Tribune Festival

John Fetterman accidentally called himself a "lifelong Republican" at the Texas Tribune Festival, sparking laughs before clarifying his Democratic ties.

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.

Trump's Greenland obsession isn’t random. Here’s what’s at stake

Greenland's untapped rare earth minerals, oil and gas reserves could reshape U.S. energy security as Trump's Denmark deal expands military presence.

Trump heads to Texas-Tennessee football game as midterm rallies slide

Trump will attend the Tennessee-Texas college football game on Saturday and the President’s Cup golf tournament on Sunday.

Michigan man doxxed after exposing his city's booming Islamic surge takes defiant stand: 'Not gonna stop'

Justin Tye told Fox News Digital he won't back down after being doxxed for speaking out about mosques and Muslim immigrants in Warren, Michigan.

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.

Lawmakers slam Trump’s move to cancel $810M in funding approved by Congress

The White House announced plans to cancel funding for refugee services and other domestic programs. Lawmakers say it infringes on their spending authority.

Why Trust Democrats on Fuel Prices or Healthcare?

The left craves high gas prices.

Free Trade Is Ancient Wisdom

Even Plato knew that economic specialization makes everyone better off.

Trump reaffirms ICE arrest policy after confusing guidance sparks alarm among agents

Trump told officials that anyone in the country illegally remains "on the table" for arrest and deportation after internal ICE guidance caused confusion.

Supreme Court blocks Missouri congressional map favoring GOP for third time

The ruling ends a complicated legal fight that has injected uncertainty into November’s midterm elections in the state.

Fact-Checking Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force

Vice President JD Vance claimed that the White House anti-fraud task force found $250 billion of fraud. Our reporter Linda Qiu explains why that claim is exaggerated.

Rahm Emanuel, Eyeing 2028, Makes His 2026 Play

The longtime Democratic insider has emerged as a behind-the-scenes force in his party’s push to win back Congress. After that, he’ll think about the next presidential race.

‘She’s One of Us’: Mary Peltola’s Bumpy Rise to Political Power

Ms. Peltola, the Democratic Senate candidate in Alaska, has complicated politics: She is pro-gun, pro-oil and pro-gas — but also pro-environment and especially pro-fish.

Trump's Tirade Over Press Ban Reveals Achilles' Heel

All Trump really demonstrated is that he badly needs their attention.

Some Good News in the Midst of All the Wave Election Talk

Men who allegedly targeted Trump’s UFC fight converged online. Most never met.

Prosecutors say the plan was coordinated between men in at least six states, taking shape in mere weeks ahead of the June 14 event at the White House.

VoteVets Spends Millions to Elect Democrats, Shaping Midterms

The organization, founded in 2006 to back Democratic veterans opposing the Iraq war, is pouring huge sums into this year’s elections amid intense voter antipathy for another conflict in the Middle East.

The U.S.-China Tectonic Plates Have Shifted

In rolling out the red carpet for China's Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump underscored how rapidly the balance of power in the relationship has shifted.

On the NYT’s Top 100 TV Shows of the 21st Century

It’s still, of course, a mostly bad list. In addition to harvesting clicks, the ranking does lots of other predictable ideological work.

Trump Bans Media from the White House -- This Is Why He's Angry

Un-Gifted and Talented

A 7-Day Standoff That Said So Much About Trump and the Media

An abrupt decree, a network boycott, a legal intervention and an uneasy détente: This was no typical battle between a president and his press corps.

Who’s Responsible for Texas?

We still have over a month to see how it plays out, and ‘Vote for the crook: It’s important’ has been a winning message before.

Trump Rejects Iran’s Cease-Fire Proposal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

The president said the deal was not “acceptable” and demurred on whether he would restart military strikes after the midterm elections.

I, Victim

Pascal Bruckner’s book about victimhood culture invites us to choose liberation, and to move from resentment to a secular kind of grace.

Trump’s Foreign Relations Faux Pas

‘On a long enough timeline, the results of these individual faux pas can really add up to a substantive difference in the U.S.’s strategic position in the world.’

Another Reason Austin Is Booming? Abundant Housing

The city lets builders build.

Irish PM rejects antisemitism concerns in Ireland amid dramatic vote over boycotting Israel game

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin rejected antisemitism claims as Ireland's soccer players held a dramatic last-minute vote on playing against Israel.

SCOTUS detention fight could unleash dangerous criminal migrants onto US streets, experts warns

A Supreme Court battle over bond hearings for detained noncitizens with criminal records could make it harder for ICE to keep detainees locked up.

CNN Political Briefing

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

A past FBI inquiry complicates Susan Collins’s campaign message in Maine

News of a probe involving political contributions and federal contracts has some in a shipyard town raising questions about her influence.

Washington Taxed Its Millionaires. Now the Rich Want It Repealed.

Washington State voters will get a chance to accept or reject the 9.9 percent income tax on millionaires approved by the Legislature, which broke the state’s taboo against levying income taxes.

Target the Jihadists, but Stay True to the US Constitution

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.