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

Both the New and the Old: Sunday Reflection

Trump Right To Recognize Collapse of Trust in US Elections

President Trump is right to recognize the collapse of confidence surrounding American elections. It's time to make amends.

'An Insolent American Sadist': Sly Stallone and the Anti-Communist Film Festival

To track down government leakers, Trump supports pursuing journalists

Hours before addressing the White House press corps, the president endorsed using subpoenas against reporters in national security leak investigations.

Saturday's Final Word

Sunday Smiles

Dems Just Lost the Narrative on Voter Fraud

The recent illegal immigrant voters debacle in New Jersey proves new measures to prevent voter fraud are needed.

Tariffs: Out with the Old, in with the New

Congress? Anyone there?

Ireland's Antisemitism Crisis with Rachel Moiselle | Quillette Cetera Episode 68

Activist Rachel Moiselle on why a country with 3,000 Jews obsesses over Israel, how antizionism became a faith, and the cost of speaking out.

Trump Seems Trapped by Iran War, Even as He Wields the World’s Biggest Hammer

A president who thought there were no limits to his power has discovered several, leaving him more frustrated and erratic.

Senate Candidate Josh Turek Handcycles the Iowa Campaign Trail

State Representative Josh Turek, the Democrat running to flip Iowa’s open Senate seat, cycled with his hands at an Iowa biking event that took place between two cities nearly 60 miles apart.

LA's Surging Homeless Count Is Trouble for Bass

Karen Bass is in deep trouble. Her reelection bid was already shaky, thanks to lingering public outrage over the Palisades Fire.

EXCLUSIVE: Legal group tells NYPD cops they can contact ICE directly despite blue city's sanctuary rules

America First Legal's guide tells NYPD officers they can contact ICE directly despite New York City sanctuary city policies under Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Federal appeals court rejects Trump bid to enforce mail ballot order ahead of midterm elections

A federal appeals court blocked Trump's executive order on mail-in voting rules in 23 states, potentially sending the fight to the Supreme Court.

Republicans see ‘scary’ lack of enthusiasm among core voters ahead of midterms

Pollsters and GOP groups are raising the alarm about an unmotivated base in an election year that would be tough no matter what, given the president’s low approval.

Trump Makes a Mockery of the WHCD

Donald Trump ranted for more than an hour at the Friday event about the journalists and politicians who've been critical of his presidency, or have at some point disagreed with him.

War or Peace

Inside the Rushed Effort to Get Trump His New Air Force One

A New York Times investigation found that President Trump’s push to speed delivery of the aircraft led to ballooning costs and trade-offs in safety features.

Who Let the Noncitizens onto New Jersey’s Voter Rolls?

This investigation isn’t over just because Sherrill wants her preferred answer to be taken as the end of the story.

Beware the Flamboyant Candidates With No Experience

The Sturdy Diversity of North Carolina

The state produces everything you might want, with exquisite craftsmanship.

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…

Maine Democrats Made Right Choice With Troy Jackson

Jackson isn't a charismatic outsider, but he might be just the right person to get Democrats past the finish line.

How a Housing Bill Trump Spurned Became Law

Despite partisan differences, intraparty feuds and the president’s lack of interest, Congress delivered the first major housing bill in a generation.

Friday's Final Word

China’s influence machine: Federal records expose Beijing’s push to sway America

DOJ records reveal China's government spent nearly $80 million on influence operations targeting media, lobbying and policy in the United States.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Wars of Choice

Criminal Referral of Jack Smith Is 100% Justified

Jim Jordan referred Jack Smith to the Department of Justice after his deposition allegedly omitted how he obtained congressional text messages.

From Celebration to Escalation: How Trump’s Iran Cease-Fire Collapsed

The U.S. deal with Iran signed in June initially appeared to be a success. It didn’t take long to fall apart.

Oh Good, Bombing Iran Some More?

Supporters of bombing swear they don’t want ground troops but that they are committed to the end of the regime. One may have to give way to the other.

The Real Bernie Sanders Always Stands Up for What’s Wrong

Bernie’s blindness has a long history.

The Grift at the Gate

The Grift Industrial Complex targeted Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey—and got buried.

Trump's War Critics Discuss Everything -- Except the Point

Michigan Courts: Chimpanzees Not ‘Persons,’ but One Justice Dissents

We can protect animals from wrongful treatment without wrongfully redefining animals as legal persons ‘who’ are morally equivalent to humans.

My Visit to the Data Center

Dems' 'Working Class' Candidates Are an Elite Con

Data on Zohran Mamdani, Graham Platner and Abdul El-Sayed show their 'working class' base is really Democrats' most educated, highest-income voters.

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.

Stop Twisting Sophie Cunningham’s Words

‘She didn’t lay down any crazy vitriol.’

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.

American Dream: Trump, McCormick and Dimon Unveil a Massive Manufacturing Push in Pennsylvania

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.

The Modern Mythology of AI

LLMs are incredibly useful, even astonishing. But they aren’t “thinking” about anything.

Democrats pick new Senate candidate in Maine in aftermath of Platner debacle

Troy Jackson won his party's nomination by commandeering the progressive movement that fueled Graham Platner's rise. He will face off against GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November.

This red state is strengthening its grip as America's next economic heavyweight

IRS migration data reveal over $5 billion in wealth flowing into Texas as Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin fuel the state's population boom.

Why Not Combine Liberal Arts and Occupational Education?

Some schools are moving toward a hybrid model.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Trump swings back toward diplomacy in escalating war with Iran

After threatening a “massive attack,” the president said his envoys were talking with Tehran but left open the possibility of a sharp military escalation.

Court checks Pritzker as Trump administration scores another immigration win

A federal judge ruled Illinois laws providing in-state tuition and financial aid to illegal immigrants are unconstitutional, dealing a blow to JB Pritzker.

Everyday Revolutionary War heroes take center stage in Trump's 'Spirit of '76' exhibit

The Caesar Rodney statue and 22 other installations at Freedom Plaza honor common, everyday Revolutionary War heroes as part of America's 250th anniversary under President Trump.

The Oldest Tradition in Art

Christopher Nolan's Odyssey, shot entirely on IMAX cameras, is the newest chapter in an old story: technological innovation creating new forms of art.

Terror in Berlin as Member of the Religion of Peace Slams Van Into Pride Festival

WATCH: Democrats blast Trump Saudi nuclear deal as GOP touts regional alliance

Democrats warn the Saudi Arabia nuclear deal could spark a Middle East arms race, while Republicans stress the need for regional partnership.

Trump Holds Off on Major War Escalation Against Iran as Advisers Raise Concerns

Among the worries is that expanded hostilities could dangerously drain the diminished stockpile of air defense munitions in the Middle East.

Mainstream Bioethics Does Not Represent Mainstream Beliefs

The last thing the world needs is to depend on views approved by the bioethics establishment.

Maine Democrats crown Troy Jackson as Platner replacement as fresh scrutiny clouds Senate reset

Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former state Senate president, now faces Susan Collins in Maine's Senate race ranked a toss-up.

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…

An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon

Before he was picked to lead the Navy, Adm. Daryl Caudle found ways to signal his support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s anti-diversity goals.

Troy Jackson Picked to Replace Platner as Democratic Nominee in Maine Senate Race

Mr. Jackson, a progressive former State Senate president, clinched the nomination at a hastily arranged state party convention.

The Most Irresponsibly Stupid Column of the Year

A USA Today column on the WNBA’s Caitlin Clark — who for no earthly reason is hated by sportswriters — is stridently deranged.

The Tobacco Wars

How Australia's war on tobacco backfired.

They See Dead People

Following on false claims that 215 child corpses were discovered in western Canada, a First Nations chief claims that Indigenous people can communicate with departed spirits.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Trump Is Pushing Nuclear Energy, Including Saudi Deal. His Family and Supporters Could Benefit.

In some cases, no direct line can be drawn from the president’s domestic nuclear agenda to his family or close allies. But they have overlapping business ties that could position them for gains.

Democrats Reset the Maine Senate Race. Now Comes the Tricky Part.

Troy Jackson is replacing Graham Platner, but Republicans are seeking to tie them together as a remade race kicks off with high stakes.

Why Young Republicans Like Nixon

'I think that his historical record is enjoying a bit of a renaissance, but I think deservedly so,' J.D. Vance says about Richard Nixon

Claire's Weekly Letter: Hormuz and Homer

I Chaired Canada's Human Rights Tribunal. Here's What I Saw.

During my time chairing the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, I sometimes felt like the agent of a state-funded extortion ring.

Media's Anti-Trump Bias On Full Display at WHCD Redo

The president came, he saw, he joked, he insulted and talked too long. And yet, Donald Trump's presence was the major reason why the White House Correspondents' dinner was such a smashing success....

Questions for Tom Rosenstiel and the Students at the Philip Merrill School of Journalism

Appeals Court Upholds Blocks on Trump Order Restricting Mail Voting

The ruling on Saturday was the latest rebuke to President Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting. The government says it may take the case to the Supreme Court.

Biden judge blocking Ethiopian deportations despite SCOTUS ruling clashed with ICE before

Back-to-back rulings in Massachusetts blocked TPS terminations for Ethiopia and South Sudan, sparking fierce debate over lower court authority.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, January 2020: ‘Now We Know the Market Was Not the Source, It Was the Amplifier’

By January 2020, Fauci had already concluded that the wet market was not the source of Covid-19.

Maybe Don’t Believe the Polls?

Political polls drive not only coverage but also donations and voter behavior. So, it matters if they’re wrong.

Fauci's newly released COVID diaries reveal bizarre fixation on fame as pandemic deaths mounted

Anthony Fauci's private diary entries reveal he called himself the most famous person in the country while documenting rising COVID-19 death tolls.

The Patriarchal Mind Virus

By dismissing the importance of biological sex, Robin Dembroff earned predictable acclaim from fellow scholars. But as a work of philosophy, ‘Real Men on Top’ is unconvincing and deeply flawed.

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.

Inside the Phone-Throwing Drama at the Troubled, Broke Democratic Party

The Democrats should be well positioned to make gains in this year’s midterms. But inside party headquarters, every week brings paranoia, worries about money and, on occasion, emotional eruptions.

Trump's SAVE America Act stalls as McConnell's absence complicates Senate path

Sen. Mitch McConnell's extended Senate absence complicates the SAVE America Act's path through budget reconciliation as Republicans scramble for votes.

On the Brink Again

A collapsed ceasefire has pushed America and Iran back towards full-scale war over the Strait of Hormuz. Now Trump must decide whether to finish the job or give Tehran one more chance.

100 day sprint to the midterms kicks off as Republicans and Democrats clash for control across the country

Democrats need just six House seats to reclaim the gavel as Fox News polling shows them hitting their highest generic ballot number since 1996.

Omer Bartov: What Went Wrong?

A distinguished historian of the Holocaust views Israel through the wrong prism.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day