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

Saturday's Final Word (Update)

The New York Times Is Wrong About the Birth Rate

The Times says a boom of older mothers is coming to reverse low fertility, but the math is against them.

U.S. Military Strikes a Boat in the Caribbean, Killing 3

The latest attack raised the death toll to at least 180 in the campaign by the United States against people it accuses of smuggling drugs at sea.

Syrian Billionaires Needed a Favor in Washington. They Invoked the Trump Name.

The attempt by the Khayyats to influence foreign policy while discussions are underway about potential Trump family deals is an increasingly common feature of the president’s second term.

KitKat, Gatorade or granola bars? What’s banned under new SNAP rules is mixed.

Many GOP states are enacting soda and candy bans for food stamp purchases amid MAHA’s healthy food efforts. Some retailers and SNAP users find the new rules complicated.

Connecting On the Journey of Faith: Sunday Reflection

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.

Rep. Cloud to Newsmax: Reject 'False Choice' Between Security, Civil Liberties on FISA

Lawmakers must reject a "false choice" between national security and Americans' civil liberties as Congress debates the future of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), Rep. Michael Cloud said Monday on Newsmax.

Supreme Court justices turn children’s books into big paydays

The trend is fueled by their status as political celebrities in a deeply divided country.

The Iran War: An Explainer

A selection of essays and interviews in Quillette examining how and why Iran and the West are at war, and what is likely to happen next.

Vance Heads to New Talks With Iran. At Stake: Peace and His Own Standing.

The vice president is again center stage, after abruptly leaving the first round of high-level Iranian peace talks without an agreement.

The President Is Coming to the White House Correspondent’s Dinner

A president who relishes attacking the news media is set to break his boycott of an event celebrating the news media. What could go wrong?

The FBI Director Is MIA

Kash Patel has alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.

Trump renews bridge, power plant threat against Iran in push for deal, mocks 'tough guy' IRGC

President Donald Trump mocks Iran for claiming a Strait of Hormuz blockade already in place and warns of devastating strikes if Tehran rejects a deal with the U.S.

Democrat in key race defended guns after mass shooting and insulted Kaepernick

Bob Brooks, a firefighter who appeals to the White working class, engaged with right-wing content. His endorsers in the Pennsylvania House race stand by him.

After Supreme Court blow, Trump admin launches $166B tariff refund portal

The Trump administration launched a new system to refund $166 billion in tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down the levies as unlawful this year.

Hey Tucker: Christianity and Islam Have a Long and Very Bitter History

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

US military announces another deadly strike against 'narco-terrorists'

The United States struck a vessel that was participating in "narco-trafficking operations," killing three men in the attack, according to SOUTHCOM.

The Conciliator

Why did Gretchen Whitmer go soft on Trump?

The Implosion of Eric Swalwell: What Was He Thinking?

Hasan Piker Is the Enemy

If liberals wish to forge an alliance of convenience with a socialist and apologist for jihadist violence, they will be betraying the very values they profess to uphold.

The Battle for the Strait

After the failure of ceasefire talks in Islamabad, the United States remains at war with Iran and Trump’s priority is to liberate the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping.

Psychedelic Shares Surge as Trump Speeds FDA Reviews

Shares of psychedelic drug developers rose in premarket trading on Monday after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing health regulators to speed up reviews of psychedelic drugs and boosted federal research funding.Shares of A…

Trump Voters Are Over It

A shocking number of the president’s supporters have turned against him.

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…

It’s Not Just Iran. Trump Is Flailing on Multiple Fronts.

The president is on a losing streak, and even some of his aides are dismayed by his choices.

Rep. Sessions to Newsmax: Dems Intentionally Stalling Legislation

Democrats are intentionally stalling legislative progress as lawmakers remain deadlocked over key measures in the House, Rep. Pete Sessions said Monday on Newsmax.

Liberal Justices Ignored Death Threats Against Colleagues

Liberal justices stalled the release of the Dobbs ruling for weeks, putting the justices' lives at increased risk, a new report reveals.

Mamdani Vows to Oppose ICE at NYC Polling Places

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would do everything in his power to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from being deployed at polling places in his city, in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

Trump officials push Theodore Roosevelt for Pro Football Hall of Fame

“I think we’re going to see Theodore Roosevelt inducted,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said at an event on Thursday.

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…

Michigan Refuses Trump Admin Demand for 2024 Election Ballots

Michigan officials on Sunday pushed back on a Department of Justice demand for Detroit-area ballots and other materials related to the 2024 election, accusing the Trump administration of trying to cast doubt on the integrity of U.S. ‌elections.

With Trump Novices, Can the U.S. Win the ‘Art Olympics’?

After the State Department overhauled the process for choosing an artist for the Venice Biennale, it gave control to a woman who previously owned a pet food store.

An Oligarchy of Old People

How elderly Americans amassed disproportionate wealth and power

CNN Political Briefing

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

Sunday Smiles

The UN’s Historically Selective Denunciation of Human Bondage

The transatlantic slave trade was a monstrous crime against humanity. Yet it represented just one example of an ancient evil that spanned many civilisations.

IRGC Closes Strait Again, Calls Iran's Foreign Minister an 'Idiot,' Fires on Oil Tankers

Rep. Randy Fine to Newsmax: Senate Must Fund DHS 'ASAP'

The U.S. Senate needs to send the House a bill that fully funds the Department of Homeland Security "ASAP," Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., told Newsmax on Monday.

What I Learned About Billionaires at Jeff Bezos’s Private Retreat

For the richest men on Earth, everything is free and nothing matters.

Dems Target Senate Majority in Midterms

With mainstream media outlets reporting that U.S. Senate races have become very competitive less than seven months before the midterms, Democrats believe they have a real possibility of winning a majority in the chamber. Democrats face a steep cli…

Postliberalism After Hungary

Orbán’s defeat should scare the hell out of populist authoritarians.

The Truth About Rising Measles Cases - From a Physician

Dr. Cory Franklin is not anti-vax, but he thinks health bureaucracies owe Americans (and Canadians) the truth about who is really getting sick. I agree.

Fed Nominee Warsh Prepares for Monetary Policy Road Test Before Senate Panel

Former ‌Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh faces a mark-to-market moment in a Senate hearing on Tuesday when lawmakers will likely press the Fed chief nominee to flesh out his monetary policy and economic ideas and calls for fundamental change.

Tariff Refund System to Launch After Supreme Court Ruling

A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump imposed without the constitutional authority to do so is scheduled to launch Monday.

What Did You Think Decolonisation Meant?

Decolonisation theory operates as a rigid, Manichaean ideology that neatly divides the world into evil perpetrators and innocent victims.

It's No Mystery, Spanberger Lied About Everything

She was, after all, trained to lie by the CIA.

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.

Kash Patel and Sen. David McCormick Team Up to Fight Fentanyl in Pennsylvania

Jared Kushner’s Mysterious Role in the Trump Administration

Is the president’s son-in-law carrying out the public’s business or pursuing his own private interests?

Don't Kid Yourself - No Easy Iran Fix

Trump's war with Iran is not popular - and that's no surprise. Critics of the war are correct about one very important thing: It is messy.The Strait of Hormuz remains dangerous. Oil markets are volatile. The risk of escalation has not disappeared.…

GOP Has a Massive MAHA Opportunity in 2026

The MAHA movement gives Republicans a chance to win suburban moms in 2026 midterms by focusing on food quality, screen time and health transparency.

Report: NSA Taps Anthropic AI Amid War Dept Risk Warning

The National Security Agency is using Anthropic's artificial intelligence tool despite a formal War Department supply-chain risk warning against the company, Axios reported Sunday.

The Final Frontier

Like the old Wild West, the Moon offers the prospect of resources to exploit and land to settle. Artemis II's successful mission is just the beginning.

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.

Russian Beauty Influencer Warns Putin: 'People Will Get Tired of Being Afraid'

The Problem With Hasan Piker’s Einstein Story

People scrutinizing influencers for their views should also hold them to account for their facts.

Iran War's Lessons for a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

Key Points and Summary: Hoover Institution Fellow Eyck Freymann, who also serves as a Non-Resident Research Fellow at the U.S. Naval War College's China Maritime Studies Institute, has published a new book titled Defending Taiwan warning that the …

Muslim Southerners Face a Fresh Wave of Hateful Political Rhetoric

Some Muslim voters were once drawn to Republican positions on family values and individual liberty, but as Southern politicians stoke anti-Islamic sentiment, many feel threatened.

Catholic Charities 'Scandal' Is Object Lesson on How Coordinated Propaganda Campaigns Work

Rubio targets Nicaraguan official over alleged torture tied to 'brutal' Ortega regime

Marco Rubio says the U.S. is sanctioning a senior Nicaraguan official over alleged human rights violations tied to the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship.

NRCC reporting record $47.1 million quarter, record $28.1 million raised in March

Republicans report a record $47.1 million first quarter haul, with the NRCC saying it outraised Democrats for five straight quarters before midterms.

Hungary Just Ousted the Unoustable

Viktor Orbán had support from Moscow and Washington, but not from his own people.

Hilton: California Race About 'Change,' Not Trump Ratings

President Donald Trump's low approval ratings in California will not determine the outcome of the state's closely watched governor's race, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton told The Hill on Sunday.

Little Kids, Big Government

Harry Keyishian, Lead Plaintiff in Academic Freedom Case, Dies at 93

He was one of five University of Buffalo faculty members fired for not signing loyalty oaths. In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor.

‘All the President’s Men’ at 50: Times Journalists Look Back

New York Times staff members shared why they regard the 1976 film as one of the best movies about their profession.

Democrats Eye a Broader Battlefield to Capture Congress in November

Weighed down by President Trump’s approval ratings, some Republican incumbents are struggling to raise money while Democrats look for targets like a Tennessee seat south of Nashville.

DOJ demands Detroit-area 2024 ballots, escalating election scrutiny

DOJ official Harmeet K. Dhillon wrote that she is seeking ballots to investigate election law compliance. Democratic state officials call the request baseless.

Move 37 and the Coming Mindhack

What happens when human manipulation arrives at its Claude Mythos moment?

Trump’s fixation on White House ballroom is increasing, Post analysis finds

The president has publicly highlighted his ballroom project on roughly a third of the days this year.

U.S. Installs a Trump Loyalist to Lead ‘Grand Conspiracy’ Case Into Trump Foes

A former lawyer for President Trump’s campaign, Joseph diGenova, is said to be planning to split time between Miami and Fort Pierce, where a grand jury overseen by a Trump-favored judge sits.

The Professor and the Pariah

How a brilliant mind fell for bad history and worse people.

The Tragedy of Murdered Indigenous Women is Real. So How Did Activists Turn It Into a Punch Line?

Leah Gazan’s use of the absurd term ‘MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+’ to describe female Indigenous homicide victims is a case study in progressive linguistic self-sabotage.

Uncertainty reigns at DOJ in the aftermath of Bondi’s departure

Acting attorney general Todd Blanche has moved quickly to put his stamp on the department, but other Trump loyalists also appear to be vying for leading roles.

J.D. Vance's Approval Turns Red, Can He Reverse It By 2028?

Despite drop, vice president's favorability remains rock-solid with base GOP voters.

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.

Lutheran minister and House candidate under fire after recounting her part in satanist couple's wedding

Democratic candidate Sarah Trone Garriott faced criticism after a resurfaced video showed her recounting a role in a satanist couple's church wedding.

History Is Running Backwards

Why reactionaries are taking over the world

Vance says he's 'grateful' for Pope Leo's statement on not wanting public debate with Trump

Vice President JD Vance welcomes Pope Leo XIV's effort to de-escalate tensions with Trump after days of public clash between the White House and Vatican.

Obama, Mamdani sing ‘Wheels on the Bus’ with Bronx kids during first joint appearance: video

Barack Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani sang and read with children at a Bronx childcare center during their first in-person meeting on Saturday.

Trump orders more access to psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin and ibogaine

The president is directing federal agencies to boost research into the drugs and support clinical trials, moves championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Trump ally diGenova tapped to lead DOJ probe into Brennan over Russia probe origins

The DOJ reportedly taps former Trump attorney Joe diGenova to oversee a probe into ex-CIA Director John Brennan and Trump-Russia investigation origins.

California regulators kill charity fireworks for America’s 250th, sparking outrage

A Long Beach businessman claims the California Coastal Commission denied his fireworks permit despite years of spotless environmental studies and reports.

The Worst Supreme Court Justice Ever

His attack on progressivism last week was the last straw

Why a Democratic Senate, Once Unthinkable, Is a Real Possibility

Helped by a favorable national environment and strong candidate recruitment, Democrats are tied or ahead in four Republican-held seats, polls show.

Iran's Last Chance To Avoid Finding Out What's Behind Door Number B-2

California’s Blue Armageddon

One of the most liberal states in the country can’t find a Democrat to lead it.

The Wrong Man

In Iran, Donald Trump is showing us what a populist war looks like.

All the Worst People Are Defending Hezbollah

DOJ demands 865K Detroit ballots, threatening possible legal action

Michigan and the Trump DOJ clash over a demand for 865,000 ballots from Wayne County, with state officials calling the request baseless and political.

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…

Energy Chief: Gas Prices Could Stay Above $3 per Gallon Until Next Year

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday ‌he believes gas prices have peaked but predicted that they may stay above $3 per gallon until next year.

How Big Pharma (Successfully) Targeted Women

Two waves of addiction were prescribed by doctors and egged on by pharmaceutical marketing - orchestrated by the Sackler family - that insisted it was safe and a great idea.

Viktor Orbán Could Actually Lose

The Hungarian leader faces an energized opposition—and questions about whether he would accept defeat.

GOP Senate hopeful Michele Tafoya accuses Walz, Ellison of ignoring Minnesota fraud scheme

GOP Senate candidate Michele Tafoya targets Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison over an alleged $9 billion fraud scandal in her Minnesota Senate bid.

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.

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.

Infinite Ingenuity: Andy Weir’s Optimistic Vision in ‘Project Hail Mary’

The new film 'Project Hail Mary' based on Andy Weir's bestselling novel, celebrates scientific problem-solving on a cosmic scale. There are striking parallels with David Deutsch's radical optimism.

What a candidate’s old Facebook posts tell us about this moment for Democrats

The Washington Post’s essential guide to power and influence in D.C.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Potential 2028 Democrats Audition in Michigan,With a Focus on Trump

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky spoke at a gathering of party insiders in Detroit, fueling presidential speculation.

How Virginia Dems Drew a Map To All But Lock Out the GOP

The plan dramatically reworks entire sections of the state, slicing up deep blue districts in the Washington, DC, suburbs and around Richmond, and creates a new district running along the Blue Ridge Mountains that connects liberal cities.