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

Combat veteran nearly killed by Taliban fires back at Platner’s deleted online attack: ‘You’re a coward’

U.S. Army veteran Ted Daniels rips Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner over a resurfaced post about his near-fatal Taliban combat encounter.

Texas runoff roiled by shadowy spending and a call to imprison ‘American Zionists’

Incendiary comments by a House candidate in Texas prompted condemnation from her fellow Democrats, who accused Republicans of propping her up.

Pressure from Silicon Valley helped block Trump’s expected order on AI

Industry leaders warned in last-minute calls to the president that the proposed safety vetting system could inhibit development of the pivotal technology.

Brexit Is Not the Cause of Britain's Woes

James Piereson on European economic troubles.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Hmmm: House GOP Punts War Powers Vote to June

Teacher in a Tutu

Bragging about my PhD to general indifference during the second-most humiliating day of my life.

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.

Kingdom Come

A new book about Stephen King’s early novels will only appeal to hardcore fans, but its very existence is a reminder of its subject’s incalculable cultural impact.

Texas Dem: Hey, I Didn't Say I Wanted All 'Zionists' In Camps - And the DCCC Is Out to Get Me; UPDATE

Decline Is a Choice, and Democrats Are Making It

Thursday's Final Word

Trump to Deploy 5,000 Troops to Poland, Surprising the Pentagon

Defense Department officials had abruptly canceled the deployments of thousands of troops there just last week.

Our Scientific Infrastructure Is Rotting From Within

Campus Intellectuals Prefer the Iranian Mullahs to America

The academic left turned on Azar Nafisi for criticizing Iran’s regime.

Abortion Pills Kill. Do We Care?

Mail is private — it makes it easier to pretend that we don’t know what’s going on.

Inside Colbert's Success

Stephen Colbert's cancellation was political. But the brilliance of his shows also belonged to the writers, producers, and staff.

How Do You Teach Students Who Can’t Concentrate?

Our education system has been undermined in numerous ways and among them is that many students have very poor attention spans.

Trump-appointed federal judge rules against admin on Maine voter roll data

Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit against Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows over the state's refusal to turn over voter data to the government.

Is Russia Losing the War in Ukraine?

What Is the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor?

Creating NGOs that misuse the language of human rights is an effective strategy for advancing terrorist goals.

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.

Dems Don't Need a '24 Autopsy To Have a Successful '26

Complaints among Democratic activists and influencers over the DNC's decision to abort its 2024 "autopsy report" was based on a craving for two things: (1) a clear "who done it" assessment of blame for Kamala Harris's loss to Donald Trump, and (2)…

EXCLUSIVE: Tulsi Gabbard resigns from Trump Cabinet

Tulsi Gabbard notified President Trump she is resigning as DNI, citing her husband Abraham's diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.

Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Director of National Intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard had a difficult tenure in the Trump administration and was seldom seen in the room when the president made important national-security moves.

Why AI Is Not About to Go Feral

Worries about AI doom rarely take Darwinian evolution seriously. A new paper argues we should—but we are still further from that scenario than its authors suggest.

Ex-DOJ Prosecutor Accused of Stealing, Hiding Files

Former DOJ prosecutor Carmen Mercedes Lineberger is indicted for allegedly concealing Jack Smith's sealed report in files labeled as cake recipes.

‘Glaciers Are More Than Human Beings’

Ice has no consciousness. It can’t reciprocate with people in any manner whatsoever. Glaciers have no ‘agency.’

ESG in the Data Center

Where climatists are, the ESG/stakeholder capitalism complex and those who flourish within it, will not be far behind.

China Is Ready for the Next War. America Is Not.

What radar and jet propulsion were to World War Two, robotics and artificial intelligence will be to the next war between great powers.

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.

In ‘Ask E. Jean,’ a Trump Adversary Examines Her Decision to Speak Out

E. Jean Carroll won two court cases against him, but it took decades for her to come forward. The film is at its best on the reasons for her hesitance.

CNN Political Briefing

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

5 Notable Moments From Candace Owens’s Warm Interview With Hunter Biden

In a nearly two-hour conversation, Mr. Biden discussed his addiction to drugs and alcohol, and Ms. Owens apologized for her past remarks about him.

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.

Trump Crusades Against His Own Party's Incumbents

Trump's actions produce some short-run gains for his personalist brand of politics, but as the fall election approaches, they portend a divided and disabled Republican Party against energized and progressive Democrats.

European Suicidal Empathy Continues Apace

As China tensions loom, US temporarily pauses Taiwan weapons sales due to Iran war, acting Navy secretary says

The U.S. temporarily paused weapons sales to Taiwan to ensure munitions are ready for potential Iran escalation, acting Navy Secretary Cao testified.

Living Dying with Barney Frank

God rest the soul of Barney Frank. You don’t have to endorse his politics or his lifestyle to appreciate the wisdom in his living to the end.  

Supreme Court dismisses death penalty case on people with mental disabilities

The majority dismissed on procedural grounds the case of Joseph Clifton Smith, whose mental faculties skirt the threshold for being spared the death penalty.

Trump’s allies are already lining up to apply to his $1.8 billion fund

Jan. 6 rioters, George Santos, Mark McCloskey and Rod Blagojevich: A wide range of figures are eyeing the president’s new settlement fund.

The Unfinished Shambles of a DNC Autopsy Is Finally Released

It reads like a half-drafted thesis assembled at the last second for a book the Democratic Party never finished reading all the way to the end.

House Dems Wonder: What Is a Women's Museum ... Without Men? UPDATE

DNC chair under pressure again after flipping on releasing autopsy

DNC Chair Ken Martin faces calls to resign after releasing a widely criticized 2024 election autopsy report that omits mention of Gaza and Biden's age.

Elderly San Diego Trump Supporter Beaten Nearly to Death, Motive Unclear

Voters Rejected Harris and Biden's Bad Ideas

A new DNC report blames messaging and campaign strategy for 2024 while avoiding the Biden, Harris policies voters rejected.

Lutnick Donated $5 Million to House Republicans Before Epstein Testimony

Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, made the donation after agreeing to an interview with lawmakers about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

An Ivy League University Looks Inward

Podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Yale Law School professor Sarath Sanga, co-author of a new ⁠report⁠ explaining why the American public is losing trust in the country’s colleges and universities.

Warsh Takes Charge of Fed Facing Rising Inflation Threat

The economic backdrop that Kevin M. Warsh inherits as chair of the Federal Reserve does not call for the interest rate cuts that President Trump wants.

What's Coming for Cuba?

Thursday, May 21st on RealClearPolitics - Joined by Reason Magazine's Robert Bailey

Trump administration orders green card applicants to leave the US, apply from their home countries

The Trump administration's USCIS announces noncitizens seeking green cards must leave the U.S. and apply through consular processing abroad.

Trump champions bid to nix clock changes by adopting permanent daylight saving time

President Donald Trump is speaking out in support of a congressional push to make daylight saving time permanent, an effort that is actually bipartisan.

Stephen Colbert Represented the Worst of the Left

Gore Vidal remarked during the George W. Bush years that comedians such as Jon Stewart had become leading political figures because the Left lacked powerful alternative voices. The idea that late-night clowns could represent American liberalism st…

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…

DC's Mamdani Leads Recent Mayoral Poll

Taiwan in the Balance

Donald Trump seems to have given up on Taiwan’s long-term future.

Letters to the Editor

May 23 2026

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Martin Short, Drawn to God’s Light?

In interviews, Martin Short has been discussing the terrible losses of his life.

Women’s Museum Bill Sinks Amid Dispute Over Trump and Trans Issues

The legislation to build a Smithsonian museum to honor women became contentious after it was amended to say the museum could only recognize “biological” females.

Partisan Mud Fight, or Focus on the Midterms? Redistricting Divides Democrats.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia urged her fellow Democrats, including the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, to stop talking about drawing new congressional lines for partisan advantage.

Mamdani's Wall Street courtship sparks criticism of anti-billionaire agenda

NYC Mayor Mamdani meets with Jamie Dimon and David Solomon as Wall Street grows uneasy over his calls for higher taxes on the wealthy in New York City.

Trump to ease rule on climate super pollutants, says move will cut costs

Industry trade groups reject the administration's claims, saying the rollback of the Biden-era regulations would actually drive up prices.

A Man for All Seasons

Susan Owens’s handsome new monograph reconsiders the life and career of the English landscape painter John Constable.

House Republicans rip into Senate for delaying immigration reconciliation package: 'I'm very frustrated'

House Republicans slammed the Senate GOP for kicking the can down the road on voting on a package pertaining to ICE and Border Patrol funding.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Dangerous Losers

Grab Your Financial Stake in America’s Decline While You Can

If crypto is a vehicle for criminals to sell pieces of the U.S. to its enemies, you’d think the stewards of American interests would take a firmer line against it.

U.S. bears brunt of Israel’s missile defense, Pentagon assessments show

Amid hostilities with Iran, the American military expended far more advanced interceptors to protect Israel than Israeli forces did, according to Defense Department data.

DNC's 2024 Autopsy Is Out, and the Pile-On Has Begun

Democrats' long-awaited autopsy of the 2024 election backfired almost immediately after it was released on Thursday.

From Babylon to Eurovision

My nephew's schoolmate sang at Eurovision last week. Here is what the people who booed him don't understand.

The Ballad of East and West

In a fascinating new book, historian Anthony Bale vividly reconstructs the brutal, fantastical, and sometimes deeply religious experiences of medieval travellers across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Trump doubles down on $1.8 billion 'slush fund' that killed his agenda, spurred Republican rebellion

Trump defends his DOJ anti-weaponization fund on Truth Social, saying he gave up a fortune to deliver justice for victims of Biden-era lawfare.

Fact-Checking the Trump Administration’s Inaccurate Claims About the $1.8 Billion Fund

The president, vice president and acting attorney general have offered a series of inaccurate claims to defend an unusual fund announced this week.

What happened under Trump this week

It was a busy one.

U.S. Needs Gulf Allies for the Best Iran Endgame

Washington's regional partners are aligned on removing the Iranian threat and building a viable security architecture.

Wasserman Schultz Will Run in Majority-Black District in South Florida

Republicans drew the former D.N.C. chairwoman out of her district. Her decision to run in Florida’s 20th Congressional District, however, has stoked tensions with Black Democrats.

Learning from a Great Man: Bob Woodson, R.I.P.

Thanks be to God for Bob Woodson.

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…

Dem senators deflect questions on Platner's scandal-plagued campaign: 'Not following that race closely'

Most Democratic senators say they aren't focused on Maine's Senate race amid scrutiny of candidate Graham Platner's resurfaced controversial comments.

Poll Suggests a Possible Path Forward for Democrats

The divisions are clear, but there’s more common ground than one might expect within the coalition, a Times/Siena poll shows.

Trump's Iran Endgame Is Surrender

He seems to hope to slip away without Americans noticing the magnitude of this defeat.

Kyle Busch, R.I.P.

Two-time NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Busch passed away yesterday at the age of 41.

Don Lemon: I'm a Victim of Failed White Men, Just like Stephen Colbert

Poll shows voter confidence in economy plummeting to a nearly 4-year low

Concerns about rising costs are a problem for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections as Trump struggles to deliver on affordability pledges.

The Deaths Never Stop

Pray for the grace to be grateful.

Dem candidate who called for imprisoning 'Zionists' blames her own party, media for backlash

Democratic House candidate Maureen Galindo blames journalists for allegedly mischaracterizing her comments about imprisoning "American Zionists."

MA Sanctuary Law Advancing in Legislature

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.

In a Rarity, Republicans Stand Up to Trump

President Trump faced a wall of opposition from Senate G.O.P. lawmakers, in part over his plan to create a $1.8 billion fund to reward his allies.

Trump demands Senate fire parliamentarian who ruled against ballroom funding plan

The demand comes as Senate Republican leaders wrestle with whether to include money for the controversial project in a bill that funds immigration agencies.

We've Been Very Disappointed With NATO

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday criticized NATO for not being of assistance in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Rubio is heading to a meeting with the alliance's foreign ministers in Sweden.