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

T.S.A. Workers Brace for Another Shutdown They Didn’t Cause

As Congress leaves town without funding their department, airport security officers wonder, “How many more times am I going to be able to do this?”

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.

Transfer of ISIS suspects concludes as Trump pursues Syria exit

President Trump aims to end the military mission there despite concerns about Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s ability to prevent a resurgence of the group.

Collins boosts Republican voter ID effort, but won’t scrap filibuster

While Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, supports the SAVE America Act, she won't buck the Senate filibuster, which will prove a key barrier in the legislation's survival in the Senate.

The Epstein Emails Show How the Powerful Talk About Race

The files reveal the disgraced financier’s interest in “race science.”

The Real Greenspan Lesson for Warsh on Inflation

Those calling for the Fed to cut rates should look again at the relationship between prices and productivity growth

American Liberalism and Illiberalism

Americans who may have ferocious disagreements about the size of government, foreign policy, and a wide range of other issues must find a way to unite around their shared commitment to the liberal idea.

Three Federal Officers Injured in Los Angeles Protests, D.H.S. Says

One Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer was injured after being hit in the head with a rock, and two Federal Protective Services officers were also injured, the department said.

Trump trounces Biden energy records in just months as admin celebrates 1 year of 'historic gains': data

White House marks National Energy Dominance Council anniversary with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum touting energy production gains and lower gas prices under Trump administration.

Strange Delight

Radley Metzger’s 1975 hardcore adaptation of a celebrated literary hoax is a vast improvement on the cynical source material.

Rep. Malliotakis to Newsmax: DHS Funding Lapse 'Absolutely Shameful'

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said on Newsmax Saturday that the funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security is "absolutely shameful" and "very irresponsible," arguing that the standoff risks core security and emergency functions after…

Guten Tag, Mutti: Double Strike Witching Hour in Germany

How Jeff Bezos Broke The Washington Post

The paper of record for the nation’s capital cut a third of its staff this week. It didn’t have to be like this.

The Battle for the New Media Megaphone

When Democrats try to compete in New Media from the deep pockets of their liberal donor base, the effect is cringe. Their latest attempt is no exception.

Conservative firebrand launches ‘TruckSafe Tipline’ to report illegal drivers amid spike in highway deaths

Amid heightened concern over highway deaths involving illegal drivers, Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., is launching a “TruckSafe Tipline" for truckers to share concerns about illegals on roads.

Why This Shutdown Is Different

Now come negotiations over the administration’s immigration crackdown.

Republicans see a big opportunity in crowded Democratic primaries

In several states and swing districts, House Democrats have nomination contests that could prove harmful.

Judge Orders ICE to Let Clergy Give Communion to Detained Migrants on Ash Wednesday

A Catholic nonprofit and several clergy said immigration authorities had unlawfully blocked its members for months from providing pastoral care at an ICE facility in Broadview, Ill.

Dick Morris to Newsmax: Trump Needs to Push 'Positive Economic Message'

Appearing on Newsmax’s "Saturday Report," presidential adviser Dick Morris dismissed recent polling suggesting voters believe that former President Biden outperformed President Trump on the economy, calling the numbers dubious and politically moti…

Judge Orders U.S. to Facilitate Return of College Student Who Was Deported in Error

A federal prosecutor said last month that ICE had made a “mistake” in deporting Any Lucia López Belloza, a college freshman in Massachusetts, to Honduras.

Dow 50,000: A Supply-Side Miracle

Conservative Women Find a New Way to Talk About ICE

When can an influencer opt out of the news cycle?

How Not to Develop a Country

The idea that we should redistribute wealth by fiat from prosperous to low-income and stagnating countries remains popular even though it is profoundly misguided. 

Here's how the DHS shutdown could impact the lives of everyday Americans

A government shutdown hit the Department of Homeland Security, affecting TSA airport security, FEMA disaster relief, and immigration services nationwide.

Self-Defeating “Sustainability”

The sustainable agriculture movement’s ideological opposition to biotechnology undermines genuine environmental progress and food security.

Podcast #324: Guests of the Nation

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to writer Lionel Shriver about her new novel, A Better Life, which tackles the theme of immigration.

Friday's Final Word

'It's absurd': DHS shutdown bears down on US as lawmakers jet off to Europe

Senators and members of the House headed to the Munich Security Conference without first securing a deal to fund DHS. Their colleagues aren't happy with the decision.

Cuban American Members of Congress Ask Trump to Indict Raul Castro

ICE officers face criminal probe for alleged 'untruthful statements' under oath about Minneapolis shooting

Two ICE officers face a criminal investigation after allegedly making "untruthful statement" under oath about a Minneapolis shooting involving Venezuelans.

Missing the Story Between the Lines

Along with myself, scores of downtown workers were faced with a choice: Risk sliding on the ice-covered sidewalks or find themselves shoe-deep in poop.

Annals of AWFL Excess: If It's ICEy, Burn It Down MORE

Podcast #323: British Columbia’s Radical Political Landscape

Politician Dallas Brodie explains why her province continues to promote dubious social-justice policies and myths—including the false claim that 215 dead Indigenous children were discovered four years ago in ‘unmarked graves.’

Fetterman slams Democrats' 'Jim Crow 2.0' voter ID rhetoric as party unity fractures

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., breaks with Senate Democrats on voter ID legislation, rejecting the "Jim Crow 2.0" characterization of the SAVE Act.

‘The Trust Has Been Absolutely Destroyed’

Some state election officials say they no longer trust their federal partners.

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.

Trumponomics Is Working

Despite Trumponomics, here and there you will find little pockets of nervous anti-Trump pols planning for their big comeback

Samizdat Prize a Defense of Free-Speech Courage

There is a shared idea behind all prize programs, and here it is: We get the world we praise.

Trump Touts Dip in Mortgage Rates Vs. Biden

President Donald Trump early Saturday highlighted lower mortgage rates under his term compared with former President Joe Biden.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

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…

Ocasio-Cortez, Rubio to offer dueling visions of world order in Munich

German Chancellor Frederich Merz kicked off the conference on Friday saying the rules-based international order “no longer exists,” in a new era of “big power politics.”

Betsy Brantner Smith to Newsmax: Guthrie Case Back to Square One

Betsy Brantner Smith said Saturday that investigators appear to be "back to square one" in the disappearance case of Nancy Guthrie after a chaotic night of law enforcement activity in Tucson ended with no one in custody.

DHS Enters a Shutdown--Sort Of

There's a funding lapse at DHS. But some agencies still have plenty of money, which should come in handy because there's no end in sight for this shutdown.

Trump Says Regime Change Would Be the ‘Best Thing’ for Iran

The president has been steadily building up U.S. military forces in the Middle East and threatening another strike on the country if the government does not abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Harris Sold Email List to D.N.C., Then Paid Off 2024 Debts

The national party, which is nearly $100 million behind its G.O.P. counterpart, bought the list for $6.5 million.

The Murder of The Washington Post

Today’s layoffs are the latest attempt to kill what makes the paper special.

Faith, Not Foul-Mouthed Scolds, Shined at the Grammys

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…

Much of DHS runs out of money after ICE negotiations falter

Democrats refused to fund the department without new restrictions on federal immigrations agents.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: Friday 6 February – Friday 13 February

Shakespeare in Love and Grief

It appears that people now find comfort in the idea that the life of even the greatest of writers is no more satisfying than their own.

Casey Wasserman Selling Agency After Epstein Docs Revelations

Hollywood talent agent Casey Wasserman, whose clients include stars such as Chappell Roan, Ed Sheeran, and Kendrick Lamar, said Friday he will sell his talent and marketing agency after his suggestive emails with Ghislaine Maxwell, the girlfriend …

Watching a True Crime Story in Real Time

As the search for the "Today" host's mother Nancy continues, the audience shares in her raw and public anguish

Lots of Leads and Some Progress on the Guthrie Case

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: Friday 30 January — February 6, 2026

CNN Political Briefing

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

Trump tells soldiers to vote GOP in campaign-style rally at Fort Bragg

Army policy prohibits partisan displays, and most service members refrained from cheering.

Mamdani Gets First Test, Results Have Been Mixed

Six weeks into his tenure, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been confronted with controversies both grave and frivolous. He wisely stood by a top appointee who was facing down a media circus for tweets that were more than a half-decade old. He grappled wi…

Rubio steps into Munich spotlight as Trump leans on him to carry Vance’s populist message abroad

Marco Rubio attends Munich Security Conference following Vice President JD Vance's controversial 2025 speech that stunned European leaders and criticized democratic values.

Democrats in Illinois Senate Primary Debate How to Combat Trump’s ICE

An upcoming Senate primary contest in Illinois, which is likely to pick the state’s next senator, has centered on Democrats’ future approach to federal immigration policy.

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.

Fraud Nation

England’s Founding Father

How a 10th-century warrior-statesman forged a unified England and why his legacy still matters in our identity-obsessed day.   

Inside the Debacle That Led to the Closure of El Paso’s Airspace

The F.A.A., citing “a grave risk of fatalities” from a new technology being used on the Mexican border, got caught in a stalemate with the Pentagon, which deemed the weapon “necessary.”

Blagojevich to Newsmax: Graham's Sanctuary City Bill 'Long Overdue'

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Saturday praised Sen. Lindsey Graham's proposed legislation to abolish sanctuary cities, calling the effort "long overdue" and urging swift passage of the bill.

The Arrogance of Migrants Is Something to Behold

Golfers sue Trump administration over public course takeover in D.C.

Some area golfers say the president’s ambitions for East Potomac Golf Links could put low-cost entry points to the game out of reach.

The Second Death of Charlie Kirk

The activist’s assassination unleashed anti-Semitism that is pulling the Trump coalition apart.

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.

Chad Wolf to Newsmax: Democrats 'Picked the Wrong Fight' With ICE Funding

Former acting DHS secretary Chad Wolf said on Newsmax Saturday that Democrats "picked the wrong fight" by pushing to limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement while other Department of Homeland Security missions could be disrupted.

Kristi Noem’s Audience of One

The DHS secretary is suddenly talking about more than just mass deportations.

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…

New U.S. Boat Strike Kills 3 in the Caribbean

The attacks since early November had specifically targeted suspected drug smuggling boats in the Pacific Ocean.

Va. Supreme Court paves way for Democrats to add four seats in Congress

The Supreme Court of Virginia has said the April 21 redistricting referendum can go forward even as it hears the appeal of a lower court’s ruling against it.

Cal State prof warns scrapping SAT in name of ‘inclusivity’ is leaving students unprepared

California professor warns scrapping standardized testing for "inclusivity" harms students, leaving them unprepared for college coursework and struggling.

‘Not American Enough’

Trump’s immigration crackdown has Latinos wondering if they belong in his America.

Why We Still Love the Bomb

Stanley Kubrick’s comic masterpiece ‘Dr Strangelove’ remains a potent allegory for our times.   

Are Democrats Finally Getting Tough on Crime?

San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system this week announced positive results from enhanced efforts to combat fare evasion.

Behold the Violence Inherent in the System

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.

ICE After Minneapolis

Trump’s team wants a reset on its mass-deportation goals, not a retreat.

Trump Calls Dinner With Maher a Waste of Time

President Donald Trump on Saturday publicly criticized HBO host Bill Maher, calling a private White House dinner with him "a total waste of time" and lambasting Maher’s subsequent television commentary.

Rubio says U.S., Europe ‘belong together,’ despite rifts over Trump policies

While some saw the remarks as reassuring, key European leaders renewed calls for more independence from the U.S. amid tensions over issues like Greenland and Ukraine.

Tracking who Trump is appointing to fill key administration roles

Follow President Trump’s progress filling over 800 positions, among about 1,300 that require Senate confirmation, in this tracker from The Washington Post and the Partnership for Public Service.

Trump Files Final Plans for White House Ballroom

The president is seeking quick approval despite legal challenges and backlash over his demolition of the East Wing.

CBS News: A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Border ... Again

Breaking the Code of Silence on Gender Medicine

It was obvious that gender transitions for minors were a bad idea. Why did it take so long for medical associations to say so?

Venezuela Frees 17 Political Prisoners, Opposition Movement Says

Venezuela on Saturday freed 17 political prisoners, the human rights committee of opposition movement Vente Venezuela said in a post on X.

We Cannot Have Elections With No Voter ID Any Longer

We cannot let the Democrats get away with NO VOTER I.D. any longer. These are horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS. They have all sorts of reasons why it shouldn't be passed, and then boldly laugh in the backrooms after their ridiculous presentations. …

Walid Phares to Newsmax: Trump Running '2-Track Strategy' on Iran

Former Trump foreign policy adviser and author Walid Phares told Newsmax on Saturday that Iran faces a choice between coming to the table and risking harsher consequences as President Trump moves forward with a "two-track strategy" of diplomacy wi…

Why Are More Congress Members Retiring or Not Seeking Re-election in 2026?

For many senators and House members, the job isn’t what it used to be.

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.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Schumer's 'E. coli' burger photo resurfaces after another Dem's grilling skills get torched: 'What is that?'

Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger is being mocked for a photo of her grilling, with many on social media expressing alarm and disgust over the meat over the fire.

White House, RFK Jr. shake up health leadership after controversies

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s health department is undergoing a major leadership overhaul. 

Federal Agents Suspended Amid Claims They Lied to Investigators

What Mamdani Doesn’t Know About Tenants

Fixing New York’s affordable housing isn’t as simple as going after bad landlords.

New images of White House ballroom show clearest look yet at Trump project

The planned 90,000-square-foot project would represent the most significant change to the White House grounds in decades and is advancing even as it is challenged in court and questioned on Capitol Hill.

In Munich, Europe Says It Is ‘De-risking’ From the U.S. Amid Trump’s Unpredictability

In Munich, European leaders were also talking about “de-risking” from the United States, citing President Trump’s unpredictability.

DOJ’s targeting of Trump critics ramps up with attempt to indict lawmakers

The effort to indict six Democratic lawmakers marks the first time DOJ has attempted to classify critical speech from prominent Trump detractors as a crime.

Chuck Todd to Newsmax: 'Timing Is Everything' for Midterms

Chuck Todd said Saturday that the fate of the midterm elections may hinge less on raw economic data and more on whether voters actually feel improvement in their daily lives by late spring.

Israeli FM Saar to Join Trump's First Board of Peace Meeting Thursday

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will attend U.S. President Donald Trump's first formal Board of Peace meeting on February 19, two Israeli officials said on Saturday.

The Left Getting Meaner Is All Part of the Plan

In January, Florida Rep. Randy Fine made a typically bigoted post on X about his colleague in the House of Representatives, Ilhan Omar.

Capitalism’s Paradox

Why prosperity breeds guilt, how status incentives reward critique, and what happens when function is replaced by moral performance.

'Fiction': House Republican campaign chair dismisses Democrats’ expanding GOP target map

House GOP campaign chair scoffs at Democrats' move to expand their midterm battleground map to 44 House districts in this year's battle for the House majority

Government shutdown hits DHS after Democrats blow up bipartisan funding deal over immigration uproar

DHS is in a partial shutdown after Congress failed to reach an agreement on immigration issues in time for its self-imposed deadline.

The Democrats Aren’t Built for This

They say they want to save democracy. First they’ll need to get out of their own way.