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

The Still, Small Voice of the Creator: Sunday Reflection

AI Cannot Give Writers Something to Say

A Democratic Socialist Seeks New Voters in an Unlikely Place: Fox News

Gustavo Gordillo, a leader of the New York D.S.A., wants to reach new voters. But in interviews with conservative media, the backlash can be sharp.

The Tip of the Iceberg

The Jason Arday fiasco is a reminder why academia has developed a reputation for cowardice, careerism, and conformism in recent years.

A twist in the race for Lindsey Graham’s seat: No clear Trump-aligned candidate

The president backs Graham’s sister, but each contender in South Carolina’s Senate primary has found themselves out of step with him in some way, and a runoff is likely.

Who Really Speaks for the Working Class?

Mike Rowe calls out the Democratic leaders who are flirting with the ‘really bad idea’ of socialism.

The Machines That Keep America Alive Are Failing

U.S. electricity demand surged 7% since 2020, but two decades of disinvestment hollowed out the workforce and supply chain needed to meet it.

Five Lessons Learned From the Fauci Fiasco

Chuck Grassley Announces the Death of His Beloved Vacuum, Beth

Senator Chuck Grassley mourned his decades-long cleaning companion, writing on social media: “GOOD BYE BETH. U hv been a real workhorse.”

CNN Political Briefing

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

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.

Hogg to Schumer: Get Out of Our 'Big Tent' and Take Moderates With You

Scientists Used AI to Create Viruses: Are We Guarding Against Dangers?

Political leaders, here and around the world, need to grapple with tech’s acute challenge to the human future.

Capturing the ‘Odyssey’

Homer’s epic provides a window on to a strange, paradoxical, fascinating, beautiful, and terrifying world that is at once familiar and unfamiliar. 

Iran War Turning Into Trump's Own Groundhog Day

The US president's profound ignorance of his enemy has led to an impotent cycle of empty threats, analysts say

Obama and Abdul El-Sayed Discuss Unity After Michigan Senate Primary

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s call with the former president comes as he tries to win over wary Democrats in Michigan’s high-stakes Senate race.

Nicola Sturgeon Loses Another Round to JK Rowling

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…

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.

Trump doubles down on reflecting pool vandalism allegations, cites new witness account

Trump shared court documents on Truth Social showing a National Park Service employee alleged David Hearn "violently" ripped at the Reflecting Pool.

Climate Crisis

The Passion of Bess McNeill

Lars von Trier’s harrowing but resplendent story of suffering and grace turns thirty this year.

Don’t Eliminate the Filibuster, But . . .

This is not the same minority protection the Senate had for most of its history.

Moderate Democrat in Hawaii Easily Defeats Progressive House Challenger

Representative Ed Case beat Jarrett Keohokalole, a younger progressive, in a race that centered on questions of generational change and the state’s skyrocketing cost of living.

Young conservatives reveal what’s top of mind as GOP, Democrats battle for 'hopeless' Gen Z voters

Conservative students say inflation and housing costs drive peers toward democratic socialism as both parties battle for Capitol Hill this November.

Next Senator From SC Will Not Be Like Lindsey Graham

Different in this way: the next senator will not share the fixation on foreign policy, and especially on military conflict, that marked Lindsey Graham's 24 years in the Senate.

A Democrat Sounds the Alarm on Christian Nationalism in Congress

Representative Jared Huffman of California, the only self-declared “humanist” in Congress, writes in a new book that the separation of church and state is in grave danger.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Glimmers of Hope in Higher Ed

Civics programs are on the rise.

Those Who Tell You 'AI Is Changing Everything' Are Lying

It has become impossible to tell managers mesmerised by artificial intelligence that the tools are not, in fact, helpful. So employees just play along with the fiction to keep their jobs, writes our tech columnist

The Meaning of Haley Stevens' Defeat

Until Democratic moderates stand up for their beliefs against the party's radicals, they will keep losing.

Senate narrowly approves Todd Blanche as AG, capping tough confirmation fight

The early-morning 50-49 vote grants President Donald Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer a full stint as the head of the Justice Department, which has been rocked by vacancies and controversies.

What Is the Point of Anthropology?

How a discipline lost interest in the people it was founded to understand.

Three Ancient Ways of War

In a new book, Robert O’Connell situates the battlefield tactics of ancient Greek hoplites within the grand sweep of bronze-age military history.

AOC documents egg-freezing journey, takes aim at Trump admin over women's reproductive choices

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed she is freezing her eggs in Instagram videos, saying the decision empowers her while blaming the Trump administration.

Tucker Carlson Could Derail GOP in 2028

A third-party bid by the disaffected MAGA podcaster would be difficult - and beneficial to Democrats

Unintended Consequences on the Filibuster

What Senate leadership intended in the 1970s and what actually resulted don’t match up.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she’s freezing her eggs

The Democratic congresswoman, 36, said she made the decision to undergo the fertility procedure to “feel more in control of my life.”

Burnham Confirms Fears of UK's Accelerating Decline

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham's claim that all of Britain's issues stem from Thatcherism highlights his failure to understand the country's recent historical successes and challenges.

Voters Won't Like the Right's Response to '$20 Burrito' Debate

A year and a half into Trump's second term, what should they tell voters increasingly unhappy about rising inflation and sluggish job growth?

Billy Bunter and the Man from Animal Farm

A look back at the 20th century’s most entertaining literary spat—one of the few such encounters that Orwell emphatically lost.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Cowardice at Cambridge

RNC chair says Talarico's GOP crossover hopes are a 'pipe dream': 'Nobody is going to follow him'

Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters called Democratic Senate canddiate James Talarico's Republican coalition claims a "pipe dream."

EXCLUSIVE: Talarico caught on tape giggling about his church housing illegal immigrants set for deportation

James Talarico bragged his church housed an undocumented family facing ICE deportation, saying Christianity is "just another word for causing trouble."

DSA Stands for Freeloaders – Hold Onto Your Wallets

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.

Joe Biden’s cancer has spread, Hunter Biden says

In a BBC interview, Hunter Biden also acknowledged that the pardon he received from his father was “not fair” or good for the country.

How Pittsburgh Became the Early Alarm Bell for the DSA's Rise

'Leftists Hate Fun': Skateboarder Taylor Silverman and Rejecting the Culture of Complaint

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…

'Outsider' House primary winner sets sights on flipping longtime GOP seat back from Dems: 'Ready for a change'

Terri DeBoer says Rep. Hillary Scholten's voting record contradicts her moderate image, citing votes on girls sports and the SAVE America Act.

Max Miller, Republican Accused of Abuse, Won’t Drop Out, Spokeswoman Says

Mr. Miller, who has faced pressure from fellow Republicans to end his campaign and avoid endangering a solidly red seat in Ohio, will stay in the race, his spokeswoman said.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Why a murder trial is beginning nearly 30 years after Tupac Shakur’s death

For decades, no one was arrested in Shakur’s 1996 killing. Then an ex-gang leader, Duane "Keffe D" Davis, started talking.

Surprises and scandals scramble the battle for Congress

Unexpected primary results have complicated both parties’ paths to control of the House and Senate.

Biden-world veteran issues stark warning about Abdul El-Sayed as he crosses party lines

Michael LaRosa invoked his best friend's mother, who died jumping from the World Trade Center on 9/11, in his sharp rebuke of Abdul El-Sayed.

Hunter Biden Says His Father’s Cancer Is Worsening

In an interview with the BBC, Mr. Biden said that former President Joseph R. ⁠Biden Jr.’s prostate cancer had spread into his bones and was causing pain.

Politicising the Humanities: Sociology as Case Study

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with University of Hawaii professor Ashley Rubin, co-author of the recently published ‘Special Commission Report on the State of Scholarship in the Humanities and the Humanistic Social Sciences’

The Gods of the Grid

A mostly forgotten movie of 2010 illuminates fundamental issues of artificial intelligence today.

The Good and the Bad of the Common Good

Blanche as AG faces pressure from Trump, skeptical courts, low staff morale

As Todd Blanche officially takes over at the helm, the challenges for the Justice Department have been stacking up.

What Do We Want Congress to Do?

Before deciding whether to change the filibuster, we should decide what we actually want Congress to do.

The Class Struggle in Your Wallet

A new book about the meaning of money argues for how to use finance to create a more equitable economy.

Crémieux on Fertility Collapse, Ozempic, IQ & Pit Bulls | Quillette Cetera Episode 69

Why a Victorian obscenity trial tanked the birth rate, what the wellness industry gets wrong, and the case for choosing your baby's genes — with the internet's most data-obsessed anon.

Michigan, El-Sayed and a Reckoning for the Democrats

Its leftwing insurgency was no longer confined to deep blue coastal cities; it had breached the walls of a critical midwestern swing state.

Trump Names Will Scharf as White House Counsel

The president said Mr. Scharf, a deeply conservative lawyer and the current staff secretary, would replace David Warrington in early September.

Understanding the Founders Through Their Books

What drove the Founders was ‘the accumulated experience of past ages.’

Group urges Democrats to woo moderate voters with populist policies

A progressive group says messages that target the wealthy and large corporations appeal to a majority of Americans who see the economy as fundamentally rigged.

Dark Artist

Frank Miller’s valuable new memoir explores the creative life of one of America’s most gifted writers and artists.

Michigan Senate Candidate, a Former Trump Critic, Shifts Toward Election Skepticism

Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee, has suggested that further scrutiny of the 2020 election was warranted and that voting irregularities sank his first Senate bid two years ago.

Socialists rising in Colorado? Send in the Marines, GOP nominee says

Victor Marx and retired Marine Col. George Markert form an all-Marine ticket they say can combat what Marx calls the rise of communism in Colorado.

The Lancet: Wildfires the Latest ‘Health Emergency’

The plan here could not be more obvious: Treat fires as a public health emergency and justify increasingly coercive regulation of individual freedom.

Window closes for Ohio GOP to replace Rep. Max Miller on the ballot

The Republican congressman, who denies claims of domestic abuse, has resisted growing calls to drop his bid for a third term.

Scott Presler Warns GOP Senators on SAVE America Act

Early Vote Action founder Scott Presler criticized Senate Republicans over the SAVE America Act and urged conservatives to pressure lawmakers.

Mary Eberstadt’s Upcoming Novel, The Washington Zoo

I have it on good authority — which should not be a surprise to anyone who knows the author — that this is not a thinly veiled tell-all.

After bitter primary, El-Sayed faces daunting task of unifying Democrats

Before going up against Republican Mike Rogers in November, Abdul El-Sayed must heal the wounds from his fierce race against Rep. Haley Stevens.

IN CHARTS: A visual breakdown of the Smithsonian's billion-dollar taxpayer-funded budget

Trump's proposed Smithsonian budget drops below $1 billion for the first time since 2020 after years of climbing federal appropriations under Biden.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Truths About Men and Women

Sunday Smiles

Voters want fighters. But where is the limit?

For years — really ever since the political rise of President Donald Trump — voters have told pollsters and reporters that they want to elect so-called fighters. This trend has also led to more candidates who attempt to shake off true political sc…

Vice President Vance says migrant communities show 'clear pattern' in federal fraud as investigations widen

JD Vance reveals $230 billion in fraud uncovered since Trump took office and explains why recouping stolen federal funds remains a major challenge.

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.

Biting the Hand

Artists increasingly insist that their work and their politics are indivisible. They should not be surprised when the institutions that fund them agree.

Inside the Left’s Playbook for Winning Elections

Progressives are being outspent and are receiving little support from the Democratic Party. Their tactics show a different way to succeed.

The Lonely Crew at the Kennedy Center Will Miss Its…Mice

Employees say the performing arts center’s quirky-looking mice have an exotic back story. Do they?

Bernie Sanders demands Democrats ban super PACs from primaries, blasts AIPAC, ‘corrupt system’

Sanders is urging Democratic leaders to ban super PACs from party primaries, citing concerns about outside spending and influence.

The Allegedly Awful Jobs Report

Our sense of what counts as a bad or good jobs report hasn’t kept up with population trends.

Trump Crypto Took $100 Million From a Businessman With Red Flags

The curious case of Guren “Bobby” Zhou shows the ease with which investors with shady backgrounds and unknown motivations can funnel money to the president.

Trump picks longtime aide Will Scharf as new top White House lawyer

The White House staff secretary replaces David Warrington, who is leaving for the private sector.

The Democratic Party Is Being Hijacked

I serve in Congress. Abdul El-Sayed's victory this week is only the latest evidence that my party is being overrun by antisemitism. We know where this leads, writes Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

Don’t Blame the Iran War for the Awful Jobs Report

Anemic job growth under Trump began around the spring of 2025, coinciding with the start of the president’s trade war with nearly every nation on earth.

Max Miller locked in as Republican nominee after Ohio ballot deadline passes without withdrawal

Ohio Republicans now have no path to replace Max Miller after the ballot deadline passed despite domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife.