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

Spencer Pratt's runner-up edge over Democrat Raman down to 1%, few thousand ballots

Spencer Pratt's lead over Nithya Raman in the L.A. mayoral race has slimmed to just 1% as late ballot counting continues days after election day.

Knicks fans warn Trump to expect hostile reception at NBA Finals game

Some Knicks fans say the president is not welcome at Madison Square Garden.

Saturday's Final Word

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

The State of Freedom Conservatism

At a White House press conference in May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked, "What's your hope for America at a time such as this?" Rubio responded:

Trial of Bay Area Pro-Life Activist Ends in Mistrial

The jury leaned heavily toward acquittal.

On Not Believing Platner

It’s a strange race to jettison moral standards for.

Israel launches strikes on Iran after Tehran fires barrage of missiles

The exchange, after Tehran’s first such strike on Israel in two months, threatened to further complicate efforts to broker a peace deal aimed at ending the war.

LA Voting Debacle Reflects a Democracy in Crisis

Half of America is watching LA count its votes with a sense of deja vu.

Open Hiding

Jewish testimonies before Australia's Royal Commission paint a portrait of a culture already transformed—one in which Jewishness has become a professional and social liability

Russia Is Losing Its War, and Congress Should Help Finish the Job

The West has a limited window of opportunity to persuade the Kremlin that victory in Ukraine is unattainable.

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.

Reporter's Notebook: Tlaib forces rare House procedure after Republican accuses her of defending terrorists

Rep. Max Miller was sanctioned after attacking Rep. Rashida Tlaib during a Lebanon war powers debate, triggering the rare 'words taken down' process.

U.S. attorney’s office in California announces probe into elections

The Los Angeles U.S. attorney's office said it has launched an investigation into election fraud in California's elections.

Raman overtakes Spencer Pratt in razor-thin race, AP count shows, but race remains uncalled

Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman has overtaken Spencer Pratt in the latest AP vote count, leading by more than 3,000 votes in the race.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Antifragility in Ukraine

Four years into the full-scale invasion, Ukraine bears little resemblance to the country Russia expected to defeat in a matter of days.

Why Trump picked Bill Pulte to lead US intelligence as critics question his qualifications

Trump picks FHFA Director Bill Pulte as acting intelligence chief, drawing criticism from lawmakers who say he lacks national security experience.

The Associated Press Asks: Aren’t We All Scott Pelley?

The AP wants readers to see themselves in Scott Pelley. That’s a harder sell than it sounds.

Trump on Israel and Iran: ‘I Call All the Shots’

Trump declared of Israel and Iran, ‘I call the shots. I call all the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn’t call the shots.’

Hilton, Becerra lead in California’s governor primary. See live results here.

Latest California governor primary results as Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra and Republicans Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton vie for nominations to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Trump? Not Pro-Life? Surely You Jest!  

One wonders if there were actually pro-life advocates who fully believed Donald Trump was ever a convert to their cause.

Democrats Can't Escape the Bidens and Their Drama

You could almost feel sorry for Joe Biden when he crashed his wife Jill's debut book talk in New York last week.

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.

Noncitizens on voter rolls in Democrat-run state exposed as RNC chair pledges secure elections

Noncitizens were found on New Jersey voter rolls for years, with some voting in prior elections, according to RNC and NJGOP documents.

Trump pardons former GOP congressman convicted of insider trading

President Donald Trump issued a full pardon for Steve Buyer, a former Indiana Republican congressman who was convicted of insider trading in 2023.

Former Biden official Deb Haaland wins New Mexico primary for governor

Haaland could make history as the first female Native American governor if she’s elected.

Platner and 'New Wave Left' Detest Western Exceptionalism

Graham Platner would have been dismissed as unacceptable in the Democratic party just a decade ago.

Sunday Smiles

Nithya Raman Overtakes Spencer Pratt in Race for L.A. Mayor

Nithya Raman pulled into second place in the race to see who will face Mayor Karen Bass in November. There are more votes to be counted.

Lawsuit Aims to Stop U.F.C. Fights at White House on Trump’s Birthday

A federal lawsuit said the event, set for June 14, was unlawfully planned and designed to benefit Mr. Trump and his allies.

Ukraine Wants to Help Us with Drones, but We Won’t Take It

Ukraine wants the U.S. to sign a major drone production agreement, but there’s some unexplained foot-dragging.

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…

Hegseth Criticizes Europe Over Migration ‘Invasion’ in D-Day Speech

The remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reflect many of the Trump administration’s previous assertions on immigrants in Europe, which overlap with the language of European far-right political parties.

Vance, State Department Blast Two-Tier Justice System in UK, and Labour Is Incensed

Richard Dawkins and the Claude Delusion

What is consciousness for?

Hypocritical GOP Tries To Shame Talarico for His Faith

Republicans are fixating on Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico's faith. They should worry about what it says about their own relationship to religion and Christianity.

Maine GOP hopeful vying for Trump endorsement previously ran birthing clinics catering to migrant women

Jonathan Bush, GOP candidate for Maine governor, marketed his birthing clinic to immigrant women with Spanish-language ads, according to his own book.

Passing the Tests: Sunday Reflection

The Mainechurian Candidate

Graham Platner, running for U.S. Senate, was recruited by Washington’s coziest insider progressive networking politicos.

How the Drive to Find a Conspiracy Against Trump Rocked the Justice Dept.

The push to investigate what the president’s allies saw as a “deep state” cabal intent on taking him down set off cascading crises, ended careers and undercut the department’s credibility with judges.

RFK Jr. Appears Disengaged on Many Health Department Matters Beyond Vaccines

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has demonstrated little interest in managing his sprawling department as he focuses on food and vaccine policies, according to colleagues.

Walz administration ignored fraud warnings as billions vanished, House oversight report alleges

House Oversight Committee report alleges Gov. Tim Walz turned a blind eye to billions in fraud in Minnesota's social services programs for years.

The Iran War is Forcing Energy-Importing Countries to Turn Inward

The Iran war is pushing countries to prioritize domestic energy in order to protect themselves from volatile oil and natural gas markets.

GOP firebrand lashes out at reporter over Massie allegation: ‘F--- you, first of all!’

Rep. Boebert cursed out a reporter when asked about allegations of a sexual relationship between her and Rep. Massie raised by his alleged ex.

Trump Says Iran Has Made a ‘Big’ Nuclear Promise. It Isn’t New.

President Trump’s boasts of securing a commitment from Iranian leaders not to develop a nuclear weapon have puzzled nuclear experts who note that Tehran has made that pledge for more than 50 years.

Platner calls Fetterman ‘a--hole’ at town hall as Democratic feud heats up

Graham Platner calls Sen. John Fetterman "an a--hole" at a Maine town hall days before the Democratic Senate primary election against rivals.

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.

It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To

The most consequential weakness of philosopher and journalist Kathleen Stock’s new polemic against assisted dying is its failure to engage with the empirical record.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says the Democratic Party 'lost its focus on working people'

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, says the Democratic Party 'has lost its focus on working people'

Worst Case Scenario for Los Angeles

Knowing LA as I do, I didn't dare hope that a guy like Spencer Pratt actually had a chance of winning and becoming Mayor. But I must admit, I let my guard down, and I began to care about how the race turned out. Well, now we know.

Democrats Finally Show Up to the Class War

In its more than two centuries of existence, the Democratic Party has, from time to time, demonstrated that it knows how to do politics. This may be one of those moments.

Liberals Without Teeth

British liberals exclude reactionary cranks like Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur because they don’t have the stomach for a fight.

The Emotional Displacement of Losing a Part of Your Community

Preventing Canada’s Next Unmarked-Graves-Style Social Panic

Journalists should resolve to treat their Indigenous sources as real-life human beings—as opposed to mystic savants who channel sacred and unfalsifiable ‘knowings’

TDS Watch: The 'Convicted Felon' Argument

What Would Make Platner Voters Abandon Him?

Young Voters Falling for Socialist Myths

Beleaguered in DC, Platner Enters His Comfort Zone

Platner's supporters entered the Friday rally through a phalanx of cameramen asking what they thought of their candidate now. They were a little tense when the candidate started talking about his scandals. But many later insisted that all of it wa…

A Baseless Attack on Friedrich Hayek’s Intellectual Legacy

Author Quinn Slobodian has won acclaim for his attempt to link the famed Austrian economist to right-wing extremists. But his arguments collapse under scrutiny.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Antifragility in Ukraine

Pastor's Open Letter to James Talarico Says It All

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico's list of biblical absurdities continues to grow.

Lists, Damn Lists, and Critical Correctness

Love them or hate them, lists are now firmly established—along with cats and porn—among the apex predators of the modern internet.

Democrats in Congress Grapple With Concerns Over Platner Allegations

Representative Ro Khanna said that he believed the account of a woman who accused Graham Platner of physically threatening behavior, and urged his campaign not to criticize her.

How We Know That Los Angeles Vote Was Rigged

Trump Defends Compensation Fund and Iran War in ‘Meet the Press’ Interview

In a lengthy interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the president again vowed that gas prices would go down when the war in Iran ends.

The Case Against State-Sanctioned Euthanasia

Podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Kathleen Stock about her new book, ‘Do Not Go Gentle’—in which she argues that governments should be denied any institutional role in facilitating the death of their citizens.

Can the Senate Save College Sports?

For the sake of the traditions America loves most — no more punting on this issue.

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.

The Irony of Graham Platner's Campaign

Trump Looms Over Pivotal Republican Senate Runoff in Georgia

The president has not yet endorsed Representative Mike Collins or Derek Dooley, a former football coach, in the race to challenge the Democratic senator, Jon Ossoff.

In Maine, Supporters of Graham Platner Continue to Back His Senate Campaign, With ‘Trepidation’

Many Democrats are sticking by their presumptive Senate nominee Graham Platner. But some have soured, and others are anxious about how recent revelations could affect a close race.

Pope Leo Should Have More Faith in Markets

Pope Leo gets AI’s humanity question right but its economics wrong.

5 Takeaways From Scott Pelley’s Interview With The New York Times

Mr. Pelley, who was at CBS News for 37 years, including as a White House correspondent and a “60 Minutes” correspondent, spoke in his first extended interview since he was fired.

Peter Singer Criticizes Pope Leo’s Encyclical for Embracing Human Exceptionalism

The utilitarian bioethicist contends that being human is irrelevant to determining moral value. What counts are capacities and the ability to suffer.

Charlie Kirk’s killing convinced Vances to try for a fourth child, JD Vance says

The vice president writes that he had urged his wife, Usha Vance, to have another child for years, but she had said she was “done.”

MAHA Moms Who Helped Elect Trump Out of Patience

As Republicans fight to hold Congress, they shouldn't count on the women who helped elect Trump in 2024, MAHA activists say.

Graham Platner & the Rise of White-Male Identity Politics

Platner's rocket to stardom reflects something ugly that's developed, not only on the right but the left as well. As of Wednesday morning this week, even after his sexting scandal broke, I knew two things about Maine Senate candidate Graham Platne…

The Murder of Henry Nowak and the Politics of Certainty

This case shows how quickly tragedy becomes raw material for those who seek to exploit it.

WATCH: Mace says Trump's endorsement hasn't sealed SC gubernatorial race: ‘It’s a dog fight’

Rep. Nancy Mace says Trump's endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette hasn't resonated with grassroots Republicans in South Carolina's GOP primary.

Top Trump artificial intelligence adviser to leave the White House

Sriram Krishnan, who has been central to the administration’s AI efforts, will probably continue to play an active role in its approach to the technology.

Ceasefirin' Still Ceasefirin': Israel Strikes Iran After Ballistic Missile Attacks

Florida and Texas are battling for new residents — DeSantis thinks he found an advantage

Gov. Ron DeSantis backs a constitutional amendment to expand Florida's homestead exemption to $250,000, potentially saving homeowners billions in taxes.

Higher Education Should Become More Family-Friendly

After all, the fewer births, the fewer students in the future.

Trump walks out of ‘Meet the Press’ interview when challenged over false claims

When pressed by host Kristen Welker, the president cited no evidence for claims about Jan. 6 and elections he said were “rigged.”

Why Centrists Can't Win the Dem Presidential Primary

The liberal wing of the party is now the majority wing

"They Hate Australia": The Activists Behind the Gaza Flotilla and the Radical Left's Antizionist Turn | Quillette Cetera Ep. 65

Hava Mendelle — army veteran, nurse, and co-founder of Minority Impact — speaks with Zoe Sankey about antisemitism in Australia, the red-green alliance, October 7th, and why she left the activist left behind.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

CBS News' Shakeup and the Future of the Mainstream Press

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…