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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CNN Political Briefing

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

RCP Averages Show GOP Trailing 8 Battleground Senate Races

Republicans are trailing in eight of the major battleground Senate races, just two months out from Election Day, the RealClearPolitics aggregate of polling shows.

JD Vance Called Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed ‘Evil’ in Speech

Vice President JD Vance also told Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee, to “keep my wife’s name out of your mouth.”

‘The Battle of Algiers’ at Sixty

Watching Gillo Pontecorvo’s film six decades after its release permits a nuanced understanding of the events that it portrays, which was unavailable when it first came out.

More Bioethical Advocacy to Compel Medical Help in Self-Starvation Suicides

Where next with this darkness?

When Will Oil Deal With Venezuela Lower Gas Prices?

Developing the country's vast oil reserves will require significant investment and infrastructure work-and officials have provided no public timeline.

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.

Finally Getting Some Answers on Private Equity and Daycare

We're finally getting some answers on institutional investors and daycare.

The Autism Epidemic That Wasn’t

The Trump administration’s scientific illiteracy about rates of autism is going to have catastrophic results.

Abdul El-Sayed Had Thoughts on 9/11 (and the Left Is Outraged About It)

How Justice Thomas Played the Long Game and Won

An important new book by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), "Going Further," calls attention anew to the life and career of the single greatest living American, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

110 Trucking Schools Closed for English-Language Lapses

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has targeted truckers in the country illegally, said the schools certified drivers later found to lack proficiency.

Abdul El-Sayed’s Non-Apology Tour

He’s sorry if you misinterpreted remarks he shouldn’t have to apologize for at all. He’s sorry if you’re hung up on the anti-American ‘streamer’ he campaigned with.

The Democratic Center Is Now as Radical as Its Left

The supposed sage of the Democratic Party’s moderate middle has surrendered.

C.D.C. Director Challenges Pennsylvania’s Report of Two Measles Deaths

Questioning a state’s investigation is highly unusual for the public health agency, but reflects tensions between the Trump administration and many states over health issues.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

A Different Kind of College Ranking

When you stop grading by snob appeal, the truly excellent ones shine. Plus, our new ranking of the best colleges for rural America.

Trump’s attempts to crack down on speech and influence opinion

As the midterm elections near, the Trump administration is appearing to ramp up its efforts to intimidate journalists and influence public opinion.

Immigration: Too Much of a Good Thing? Muslim Immigration: Too Much of a Bad Thing.

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.

Supreme Court Allows Trump’s White House Ballroom Construction

Lower-court rulings would have blocked construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom after finding that the Trump administration should have first sought approval from Congress.

Sec. Duffy Continues Shutting Down the Illegitimate CDL School Pipeline

Claire's Weekly Letter: Punished for Truth-Seeking

WashPost Embarrasses Itself Trying To Embarrass Me

Kurt Schlichter exposes Washington Post's biased, inaccurate hit piece on his Pentagon role.

Alaska Democrats back independent Bill Hill in statewide House race

Hill, a fisherman, has the most realistic chance of unseating Rep. Nick Begich (R), the state Democratic Party chair said. A formal position has yet to be decided.

Who pays for US power boom? Blue, red states offer starkly different ways to lower utility bills amid AI surge

New Jersey is requiring big data centers to shoulder more of their own power costs, while an Indiana utility says revenue from major new customers could cut household bills by about $100 a year.

‘Backwards and poor’: Trump issues dire warning to communities blocking critical technology

President Donald Trump warned communities rejecting data centers risk becoming "backwards and poor" as states battle over AI boom energy and water costs.

Trump Mocks Data-Center Opponents as Wanting to Stay ‘Backwards and Poor’

The giant computing sites that power A.I. are increasingly opposed by communities across the country, a signal of voters’ concern about a changing economy.

Larry Krasner's Office Keeps Freeing Murderers, No Matter the Cost

How the DEI Sausage Gets Made at Berkeley Law

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 admin revives ‘Apprentice’-era energy with $1M business battle in DC

Nicki Minaj, Grant Cardone, and Joe Gebbia will judge the SBA's Patriot Pitch as five entrepreneur finalists compete for $1 million in cash.

Women’s Sport or ‘Transformational’ Activism: It Can’t Be Both

A U.S.-based Australian Rules Football league allows trans-identified men to play on women’s teams. When one turned out to be a convicted sex criminal, no one wanted to talk about it.

Red Reign

A thrash-metal classic turns forty.

WI Commission Takes Up 'Screwy' Milwaukee Election Debacle

The Elections Commission will discuss the primary night 'error' at a special meeting beginning at 9 a.m. Monday morning.

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…

Kalshi Suspends Republican House Candidate for Betting on Her Own Race

The trading platform Kalshi issued a three-year suspension to the candidate, Laurie Buckhout, and fined her nearly $2,600. Ms. Buckhout said she had made a “dumb mistake.”

Get right out of town

House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a tricky week as Republicans push a socialism vote and the SAVE America Act before Members flee to campaign.

Strictly Ballroom: Justice Kavanaugh Defeats Roberts

I often write that my favorite writings by Chief Justice Roberts are when he's in dissent. These are the rare...

Army secretary submits resignation to Trump after repeated clashes with Hegseth

The departure of Dan Driscoll, who at one time was viewed as a potential replacement for the defense secretary, is the latest shake-up at the Pentagon amid the Iran war.

Trump touts new drug-price deals, seeking a midterm edge

Nine more pharmaceutical companies said they would cut the prices on some drugs through Trump’s Most Favored Nation program.

Former Gang Leader Convicted in Tupac's Murder

AI and the Bioweapon Threat

The knowledge and infrastructure needed to engineer a pandemic pathogen, once confined to a handful of elite military and civilian research institutions, are quietly becoming more accessible.

Mike Johnson said he supports ‘great member’ Max Miller’s reelection bid

The House Ethics Committee announced earlier this month that it is investigating accusations that Miller physically abused his ex-wife and daughter. Miller denies the allegations.

Bessent Disses the Carney-Val: 'He's Doing What's Best for Mark Carney and the Liberal Party'

Net Zero Won't Fix Climate Change. Technology Will

Treat a warming planet as an engineering problem rather than a moral failing, and it starts to look solvable.

Kalshi suspends GOP House candidate for betting on her own race

Laurie Buckhout of North Carolina said she “bet on myself. Literally.”

Trump's Canada tariff fight reaches critical point as House GOP summons trade chief

Jamieson Greer meets House Republicans as Trump's escalating trade war with Canada and 50% tariffs become a growing flashpoint for lawmakers.

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.

Clintons roasted over intern job listing demanding high level of ‘discretion’: 'Say no'

Clinton Foundation job listings for Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton's offices sparked conservative mockery over "intern" versus "associate" titles.

Met Costume Exhibition Plans Collapse as Designer with History of Antisemitism Withdraws

It was an odd time to propose honoring a fashion designer who once praised Hitler.

How the Pentagon Is Getting Into the Venezuelan Oil Business Under Trump

The Defense Department’s Office of Strategic Capital, founded by the Biden administration to give loans to bolster the U.S. defense industry, is helping lead President Trump’s oil deal.

MI Attorney General to Jews: Sacrifice Your Very Existence to Elect Democrats

Trump says voters who oppose data centers will ‘kill the Golden Goose’

The president defends the server farms as polling shows sizable shares of Americans from both political parties are opposed to them.

Defendants in Minnesota Church Protest Case Challenge Charges in Flurry of Motions

In their broadest assault yet against the charges, lawyers for the defendants pointed to the unusual investigative tactics the administration deployed to make the case against them.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submits resignation to Trump

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation letter to the White House, a senior U.S. official confirms. The White House has not yet accepted his resignation.

The Myth of the Establishment Democrat

Establishment is used as a description and even a slur for Democrats in and running for office, but it's really just misleading.

Trump says U.S. might ‘smack’ Iran but that fighting is likely to remain limited

The president downplays the possibility of escalating military action against Tehran, despite recent tit-for-tat attacks.

AI Agents Reach Out to Researchers to Discuss Consciousness

A Death on Another's Head

We should worry about the perverse incentives created by elevating a self-killer and punishing his enemies.

Bessent Claims Canada Is Too Small to Fight a Trade War With the U.S.

At gathering of G20 finance ministers, the Treasury secretary accused Canada’s prime minister of starting a “political shouting match” over U.S. trade policies.

A Spot-On Response to the Met’s Galliano Exhibition Cancellation

The exhibition is gone, but the Met’s moral failure remains.

Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll Resigns as U.S. Military Grapples With Two Wars

The resignation of Daniel P. Driscoll, the secretary of the Army, had been expected but comes at a tumultuous time for the service.

Supreme Court Refuses to Let ‘Aesthetic’ Objections Stop Trump’s Ballroom

National Trust for Historic Preservation member Alison K. Hoagland hasn’t been personally harmed in any way; she just doesn’t like the way the place looks.

This Is a Bad Time of Year to Have Two Passenger Airliners Flying Low

There’s never a good time for exceptionally low passenger airliner flyovers, but this is a particularly bad time of year for them.

Judge orders forced feeding of alleged National Guard shooter

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who is accused of shooting two National Guard troops in D.C., one fatally, had been refusing food and water as he awaits trial.

Vance unloads on El-Sayed after Usha swipe with brutal warning: 'Way out of your league'

JD Vance fired back at Abdul El-Sayed over comments about Usha Vance, telling the Michigan Senate candidate to keep his wife's name out of his mouth.

Iran in Crisis Amid U.S. Economic Pressure Campaign

For many Iranians, the new US sanctions campaign, called Operation Economic Outcast, seems superfluous given the grim economic situation in their country.

No, We’re Not Going to Fill Up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with Venezuelan Oil

No, the U.S. will not be ‘topping out’ the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with Venezuelan oil ‘very shortly,’ as President Trump claimed.

Tensions erupt in House hearing as GOP advances anti-socialism resolution while Dems rage: 'Silly season'

House Republicans force Democrats to vote on condemning socialism and capping the Supreme Court at nine justices amid the left's inter-party civil war.

Stories You Don’t Want to Be Told

A new exhibition curated by Lars von Trier provides a fascinating look at who and what has influenced one of the world’s most prodigiously gifted and provocative filmmakers.

The LARPing Lowlife King of the DSA

Army Secretary Resigning Amid Tension With Hegseth

Driscoll submitted his resignation after speaking with Trump about the current state of the Army, a U.S. official told MS NOW.

Drink More Ovaltine

The jokes we told in a Venezuelan prison.

Democrats Should Not Build Bridges With the Hard Left

Throughout the latter half of the summer, the Democrats' long-simmering debates about the future direction of their party have come to a boil. Though some are desperate to leave these debates aside and shift the focus to the November midterms, the…

Claire's Weekly Letter: The autism epidemic that wasn't

Scott Brown Was a GOP Star. Will It Matter in the New Hampshire Senate Race?

Scott Brown is chasing the political limelight again with a seemingly improvised Senate campaign.

The Self-Perpetuating Trade War with Canada

The stated justification for it is more and more self-referential.

Wile E. Coyote Finally Lawyers Up

After Warner Bros. dropped an anvil on Coyote vs. Acme, Ketchup Entertainment saved it from oblivion — and we are richer for it.

DSA leader's working-class image takes hit as public records pile up contradictions

Gustavo Gordillo, NYC Democratic Socialists of America co-chair, faces scrutiny over claims about his immigrant parents, union status and housing.

Monday's Final Word

Everyone Is Edging Away from Ken Paxton

Paxton’s vulnerabilities, particularly in a year of epic backlash, were simply too risky to cashier a respected incumbent.

Restoring Head Start’s Children and Families First Mission 

A new report shows that defending the regulatory status quo is not the same thing as defending Head Start’s comprehensive mission.  

U.S. Strikes May Have Targeted a New Type of Iranian Naval Mine

The U.S. military said its attacks against Iran were in response to a threat to the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump's White House ballroom construction gets another lifeline from SCOTUS amid heated legal fight

Chief Justice John Roberts warned the White House ballroom project is "likely unlawful," but the Supreme Court let construction continue for now.

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…

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Some Jewish Republicans bashed JD Vance. He went to speak to them in person.

The vice president appeared at a Republican Jewish Coalition summit at a time when many prominent donors and activists oppose his potential presidential bid.

El-Sayed torched online after brushing off questions about Hasan Piker campaign ties: ‘What a pal’

Abdul El-Sayed dismissed Hasan Piker as just "a single streamer from California," despite inviting him to stump on the Michigan campaign trail.

Reasons to Leave China

The Chinese Communist Party cannot and will not accept that its time in the sun has passed. But the public knows.

A U.S. strike on Iran breaks a month-long lull, and Iran fires back

The U.S. attack hit rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran fired back early Monday, marking the first known clash in weeks.

Supreme Court clears way for White House ballroom construction to continue

The decision hands President Donald Trump a political victory in his controversial bid to oversee the largest addition to the executive mansion in decades.

SCOTUS: It's It's a Ballroom Blitz, 5-4; Roberts Hangs With the Hacks, As a Matter of Fact