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

Do We Have the Will (or Desire) to Prevent Biotechnological Anarchy?

Western society has little stomach for limiting rogue actors, as we saw back in the 90s with Jack Kevorkian’s illegal assisted suicide campaign.

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…

NYC landlord pleads for help as '9-year-squatter' continues to drain him dry in court saga: 'Twilight Zone'

A Brooklyn landlord claims a nearly decade-long legal battle over rent stabilization has drained his finances while his tenant remains in the unit.

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’

It’s a brief pause so the court can hear challenges to the administration’s plan on an expedited schedule. The legal objections face tough sledding.

James Comey '86 47' seashell case prosecutor suddenly steps down, assistant US attorney steps in

A new court filing reveals the lead prosecutor in the James Comey "86 47" seashell case has been replaced ahead of the scheduled October trial.

Indulging Extremism Is a Bad Sign for Ukraine

It means that the ultranationalists have growing power over Zelensky, who in his previous political incarnation wouldn’t have dared gestures like these.

Blue states pitch 100 percent tax on Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization’ payouts

“If you storm the Capitol and you take from this slush fund, too bad, we’re taking it,” one New York lawmaker said.

CNN Political Briefing

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

One southern city you've never heard of is growing faster than anywhere else in America

Once a quiet ranching town north of Dallas, Celina, Texas, is now America's fastest-growing city as families seek cheaper housing and more space.

Anti-Zionism as Redemptive Racism

Contemporary anti-Zionism encodes a totalising worldview that blends the tributaries of Nazi, communist, and Islamist anti-Zionism into a single stream.

Canada’s Newspaper of Record Asks: ‘What If They Ultimately Find Nothing?’

Five years after it helped promote a nationwide social panic over ‘unmarked graves,’ the Globe & Mail admits those graves might not actually exist—while also suggesting that it doesn’t really matter anyway.

Trump flips script on left, maneuvers to use foreign influence law against the them

Trump aims to use FARA and other legal tools against alleged foreign influence on the left after years of probes targeting his allies, experts say.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Secrets and Lies

Never Neverland, Andrew Hammel — The new Michael Jackson biopic and the campaign to whitewash the King of Pop’s reputation. Also New * What Is the Euro-Med...

The Mob’s Candidate

Mayor Mamdani has thrown his support behind DSA activist Darializa Avila Chevalier, who helped organize anti-Israel protests at Columbia University.

Why the Attacks on Graham Platner Don't Work

The evidence of past affairs is the latest of many scandals. Yet none have stuck because his troubles strike many as relatable.

Fourth US drug boat strike in a week kills more 'narco-terrorists'

After three other vessel strikes last week, U.S. Southern Command reported that another strike that left three "narco-terrorists" dead

Trump warns judge against sacrificing national security by blocking White House ballroom, drone base

Trump calls out Judge Richard Leon over a lawsuit blocking the White House ballroom and rooftop drone base, saying it puts national security at risk.

Left-wing streamer blasts New Jersey governor over state police response at ICE facility protests

Marxist commentator Hasan Piker blasted New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, accusing her of working alongside the Trump administration on immigration.

Advice for Ken Paxton

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

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.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz Learns the Cost of Racial Identity Politics

Newark New Jersey Is a War Zone

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Who's Leading the Wide Open Dem 2028 Field?

No candidate has jumped in, but governors, senators and former contenders are already shaping the race.

Trump Hits the Stalemate Phase of His Interventions in Gaza, Ukraine and Now Iran

In Ukraine, Gaza and now Iran, President Trump’s early declarations of easy wins have given way to harsh reality.

Trump’s doctor says he is in ‘excellent health’ after latest checkup

While the president’s medical report says he remains fit to serve, independent physicians have raised questions about the recurrent bruises on his hands and swelling in his legs.

'Ceasefire' Update: US, Iran Trade Attacks As Trump Mulls MOU ... And 'Chirping' Critics

Dems To Put GOP on Hot Seat With Trump's $1.8B Fund

Bills, amendments and investigations are all in the works, as Democrats vow to block Trump's settlement deal.

Lists, Damn Lists, and Critical Correctness

Love them or hate them, lists are now firmly established—along with cats and porn—among the apex predators of the modern internet.

Why I Still Stand With the 1 Percent

Fifteen years ago, during the political convulsion known as "Occupy Wall Street," I wrote a column for the Daily Inter Lake declaring: "Don't be afraid to say it: ‘We are the 1 percent.'"

Ex-F.B.I. Officials Form New Group to Help Agents Grapple With Patel’s Changes

The F.B.I. Support Network offers legal, mental health and job search services to current agency employees. Its founders say the work force is incredibly strained under Kash Patel.

NBC Host to Dr. Jill: Come On, Ma'am

BREAKING: Iran Declares End to Talks, Expands War to Red Sea

Are Texans Ready for Talarico’s Kind of Christianity?

Jim Rigby, a pastor who rarely uses the word “God,” is a key to understanding the Senate candidate trying to pull off something unusual in Texas.

Hasan Piker says UK has barred him, trashes 'unbelievable...power' of pro-Israel groups

Hasan Piker faces a turbulent week after a Treasury subpoena over his Cuba trip, heckling at a Newark protest and a reported UK travel ban.​

Sunday Smiles

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.

Britain Bans Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur From Entering and They Suddenly Discover It's Unfair

Could Talarico’s Religious Approach Win Texas?

James Talarico, the Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Texas, has connected his political positions to his Christian faith. Our religion reporter Ruth Graham discusses how his perspective differs from the politically conservative Christianity dom…

God So Loved the World: Sunday Reflection

Never Neverland

The new Michael Jackson biopic and the campaign to whitewash the King of Pop’s reputation.

A Paralympic Champion and an Eagle Scout Give Democrats Hope in Deep-Red Iowa

Tuesday’s Senate primary features two candidates with compelling personal stories. Both have stressed their independence.

Timeline: Where and When Trump Has Involved the U.S. Military in International Conflicts

The United States has been involved in many military operations around the world since President Trump returned to office.

So Sorry, It’s Not ‘Your’ NHS, Gents

The U.K. has no national prostate-cancer-screening program, a bizarre state of affairs given how common the disease is.

Trump Administration Sees Striking Exodus of Legal Talent

The departure of more than 10,000 federal lawyers has left some agencies without sufficient staff and has boosted the ranks of state attorneys general offices and advocacy groups.

They Voted for Trump. Here’s How They Feel About High Gas Prices.

With the midterm elections five months away, many Americans who backed President Trump are wrestling with pain at the pump and the war in Iran.

The Enhanced Games: How to Take Drugs and Still Lose to High Schoolers

It's hard to convey to a non-track person how slow this meet was. Even for people past their prime.

Australia's Broken Justice System: Andrew Bushnell | Quillette Cetera Ep. 64

From the murder of a five-year-old Aboriginal girl to Melbourne's tobacco wars, Andrew Bushnell joins Zoe Sankey to examine the human cost of Australia's broken justice system.

The bizarre race to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom

Its unusual primary system, combined with scandal and a low-profile field, have made this year’s race harder to predict.

Who’s leading the wide-open 2028 Democratic presidential field?

The early field is still wide open.

It's a Fight to the Finish in L.A.'s Wild Mayoral Primary

An embattled mayor. A brainy democratic socialist. A reality TV star who has been a staple on TMZ.

To Live and Die on Camera in Karen Bass's LA

Assuaging the Graham Platner Guilt Complex

Having spent a decade condemning the GOP for subordinating their integrity to political pragmatism, Democrats are signing themselves up for the same torment.

As Democrats Worry About Senate Race, Platner Attacks Reports About Sexual Messages

Graham Platner, whose contest in Maine is a key to Democrats’ hopes of winning the Senate, sought to discredit reports that he had exchanged sexual messages with women outside his marriage.

Platner Is a Creep. How Long Will Dems Defend Him?

Their defense of this creepy character reveals how much control the far left has over the party.

DOJ's Anti-Weaponization Fund Has Precedent & Purpose

The rollout of the DOJ's "Anti-Weaponization Fund" may have been botched, but the fund remains a good idea, and the hysteria from Democrats like the hypocritical Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and allied media is absurd.

FDA delays cost Americans trillions and slow lifesaving drugs, new report says

A new report estimates speeding up FDA drug approvals by one year could generate over $10 trillion in economic value from faster medical innovation.

Things Are Looking Good at George Mason

I think it’s time for the Department of Justice to come back to the table and give GMU a clean bill of health.

The Anti-Communist Film Festival: 'Stalin’s Apostles'

Trump in Perilous Polling Territory as Midterms Approach

Mired in a persistent cost of living crisis and an unpopular war with Iran, President Trump reached a perilous milestone last week, registering an approval rating of 34% in a top-tier poll - a record low less than halfway through his second term.

Treacherous Men

A fabulous new history of the Cambridge Five by Antonia Senior provides the definitive account of Britain’s most famous traitors.

The Impending Republican Collapse

Republicans are on the verge of collapse, and it's mostly President Donald Trump dragging them down. The midterm elections look bleak.

China’s Climate (Counting) Change

Data released by Beijing relating to China’s economy are well known for their lack of clarity and, often enough, lack of existence.

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.

The Autopsy of the Democrat Disaster of 2026

An incisive critique of the Democrat Party's 2026 midterm campaign failures and candidate choices.

China Aims A.I. at Predicting Who Could Pose a Political Risk

New research examines how a Chinese company struggled to develop its predictive surveillance technology while U.S. restrictions were in place.

Letters to the Editor

May 30 2026

Maine Democrat With Nazi Tattoo Spends Final Days of Viability In His Bunker

Trump Is Dominating GOP Primary Elections. Does That Mean Victory in the Midterms?

Come November, the Republican Party will need the support of voters outside of President Trump’s base, many of whom are deeply dissatisfied with the economy and the Iran war.

Jill Biden Has a Few More Lies to Tell You

Jill Biden says she’s never, ever seen any signs of cognitive decline in her husband.

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.

Talarico Won't Be Able To Rebrand His Progressive Politics

A barbecue photo and a Texas flag shirt won't erase years of public statements that could prove difficult to explain to Texas voters.

Why Epstein, But Not Jackson?

We judge sex crimes according to archetype, not evidence.

How California's Fight for Gov Became a Hot Mess for Dems

It has been a long, strange trip-and a bit of headache for Democrats-leading up to Tuesday's gubernatorial primary to choose a successor to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

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…

GOP's primed for primary season payback on Trump's most ambitious, controversial policy

Senate Democrats plan to kill Trump's $2 billion anti-weaponization fund as GOP dissent grows and a reconciliation vote-a-rama approaches this week.

How California’s New Congressional Map Is Reshaping Tuesday’s Primaries

The state now has just four congressional districts considered safe for Republicans, and four seen as competitive. The rest of its 52 members of Congress are all but certain to be Democrats.

Thoughts on the Hacks Dramatic Series Finale

It’s a dramatic and compelling presentation of the personal and societal stakes involved in assisted suicide.

Congress barrels toward deadline pile-up as GOP divisions threaten Trump agenda

Congress returns to unfinished business as Republican divisions over budget reconciliation threaten to delay FISA, defense bills and other priorities.

The Wild West of the Online Abortion Pill Business 

A conversation with Dr. Ingrid Skop on abortion pills sold online, cross-border distribution, and the growing regulatory challenges.

Pratt 'could be the guy' LA needs to 'disrupt' institutional chaos plaguing city: Beach volleyball legend

Beach volleyball legend Christopher 'Sinjin' Smith endorses Spencer Pratt's Los Angeles mayoral campaign, calling him a disrupter who resonates with frustrated residents.

Judge Bars Trustees from Adding Trump’s Name to Kennedy Center

The judge determined that Congress had named the center in JFK’s honor and hence that only Congress can change the name.

Spanberger’s veto spree turns many in her own party against her

The Virginia governor is being attacked from all sides for actions she considers moderate, including 31 vetoes of bills from the Democratic-led legislature.

Manosfear

Theroux’s documentary on the Manosphere tells half the story—the loudly accessible, politically convenient half.

Homeric Heresies

Outrage over a black Helen of Troy misunderstands the long Western tradition of radically reinventing classical myths.

Why the favorite for California governor has divided his Biden-era colleagues

Xavier Becerra led President Joe Biden’s health agency during the pandemic but kept a low profile. He has risen to lead in polls ahead of California’s gubernatorial primary.