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

Swalwell staffers stand with accusers as Manhattan DA confirms investigation

The California Democratic gubernatorial candidate is facing growing pressure to withdraw from the race after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.

Early audition for 2028 hopefuls focuses on civil rights issues

Democratic speakers were pressed to address voting rights, affirmative action and other issues at the Rev. Al Sharpton’s four-day conference.

Trump blasts Spanberger ahead of Virginia meetings, says state faces tax base exodus like New York, California

President Donald Trump blasted Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger over taxes, warning her policies could drive people and companies out as with New York and California.

ICE detains relatives of 1979 Iran hostage crisis figure after Rubio revokes their legal status

Secretary of State Rubio says he revoked green cards for family members linked to a 1979 Iran hostage crisis spokeswoman known as "Screaming Mary."

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…

Takeaways From the First Big Gathering of Potential 2028 Democratic Candidates

The National Action Network convention showcased similarities and some differences in a wide-open field of possible contenders.

Morris to Newsmax: Questions Emerge Over Vance's 2028 Plans

Political commentator Dick Morris said Saturday that security concerns and U.S. pressure are shaping Iran's approach to ongoing negotiations, arguing that Tehran is struggling to find officials willing to participate.

Social media erupts after Harris introduces 'mob boss' accent to attack Trump: 'Total cringe'

Kamala Harris impersonated Donald Trump as a mob boss while criticizing his foreign policy at a National Action Network event, sparking online backlash.

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.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Swalwell: 'Allegations Are Flat False,' Apologizes to Wife Amid Political Fallout

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is forcefully denying sexual misconduct allegations while apologizing to his family for what he described as past "mistakes in judgment," as scrutiny intensifies during his run for California governor.

As Election Looms, Will Alito Retire, Giving Trump a New Supreme Court Pick?

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. is the subject of intense speculation about whether he will retire in the coming months and give President Trump a fourth nominee.

Trump’s Purge May Be Just Beginning

After Pam Bondi’s ouster, other top administration officials could be in jeopardy.

Maybe Trump Should Not Have Given This Speech

His address raised more questions than it answered about the war in Iran.

Podcast #332: The Historical Case for Israel

In a new book, US District Court Judge Roy Altman traces Jews’ indigenous presence in the holy land over the last 3,231 years.

Russia seizes control of US-linked firm as it pushes for renewed ties with Washington

Pennsylvania-linked manufacturer CANPACK says Russia seized control of its $700 million business under a Kremlin decree signed by President Putin.

House Republican plans motion to oust Swalwell from Congress amid sexual assault allegations

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna filed a motion to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell from Congress in response to accusations of sexual assault from at least four former female staffers in his office.

How To Stop Iran From Winning the War

As talks between the U.S. and Iran begin this Saturday, the top priority is clear: The Strait of Hormuz must reopen, but not on Iran's terms, write Niall Ferguson, Richard Haass, and Philip Zelikow.

Will War in Iran Kick Off a High-Seas Toll Binge?

Forty-six years ago, I told an editor of The New Republic that I'd like my first article for this publication to be about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Saturday's Final Word

Powerful surveillance program faces obstacles as renewal deadline looms

A recent classified court ruling on the bulk data collection of Section 702 raised concerns about the government’s use of the intelligence tool on Americans.

Why Does the American Press Push Iranian Propaganda?

The press is at it again. Iran has the upper hand now. Iran will collect billions in tolls. Trump is backed into a corner. Iran has once again won and they will be even tougher now

Only Prosecutions Can End DOJ Weaponization

By 'ending weaponization,' the media mean Trump's DOJ should do nothing about years of Democrat lawfare, until Democrats can do it again.

Manhattan DA Opens Investigation Into Eric Swalwell After Sexual Assault Allegations

The Manhattan district attorney’s office is examining a claim that Representative Eric Swalwell, a candidate for governor in California, assaulted a woman in New York City in 2024.

Judges Fired After Blocking Deportations of Pro-Palestinian Students

The immigration judges’ abrupt dismissals marked the latest efforts by the Trump administration to reshape the country’s immigration courts.

André Gide versus George Orwell: Two Paths to Truth

More than a century after it was first published, ‘If It Die’—Gide’s shockingly candid account of his childhood and sexual awakening—remains a gripping read.

Eric Swalwell accused of paying nanny with campaign funds while she lacked work authorization

Two complaints allege Rep. Eric Swalwell violated immigration and employment laws to keep his nanny in the U.S. using campaign funds as payment.

U.S. Moves to Deport Son of Prominent Figure in Iranian Revolution

Federal agents arrested a man whose mother served as a spokeswoman for the Islamist embassy captors during the hostage crisis that began in 1979.

Faith Among Young People Surges, Providing a Missing Anchor

Navy Warships Cross Strait of Hormuz to Clear Mines, U.S. Says

Iran denied that the American destroyers had entered the strait, as negotiations for an extended cease-fire continued in Islamabad.

The MAGA Intellectual Who Prophesied a Queen Melania

An ally of J. D. Vance who has dabbled in monarchism is now working for Viktor Orbán.

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.

Viktor Orbán Could Actually Lose

The Hungarian leader faces an energized opposition—and questions about whether he would accept defeat.

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…

AI and the Wiki Wars

The Wikipedia knowledge monopoly is not ready for the Grokipedia threat.

Two Metro workers shot and killed in murder-suicide, police say

Metro General Manager Randy Clarke said the incident did not happen on Metro property. The shooting is being investigated as “domestic related,” D.C. police said.

Trump Approves Disaster Aid for 7 States; More Await Decisions

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…

Foreign Power, Local Politics

Where local collaboration is absent, foreign intervention imposes enormous costs or simply stalls. Where it exists, intervention can succeed with surprising velocity.

NASA's Stevens to Newsmax: Artemis II 'a Flawless Mission'

NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens told Newsmax on Friday that the successful Artemis II mission, which ended with the Orion capsule splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, was one of the most remarkable experiences of her time with the space agency.

NEW: US Navy Warships Cross Strait of Hormuz For First Time; UPDATE: Mine Clearing Begins

Greene Predicts GOP 'Slaughter' in Midterms Amid Trump Break

Former GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is warning that Republicans are headed for a "slaughter" in the 2026 midterms, predicting the party will lose the House and possibly the Senate, in a candid interview with Politico published Saturday.

Trump’s Cozy Transportation Secretary

Sean Duffy is partnering with the industries he regulates in new ways.

CNN Political Briefing

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

CNN: Three More Women Describe Sexual Misconduct by Rep. Swalwell

L'Affaire Swalwell Is Objectively Hilarious

Tucker to Newsmax: Feel Sorry for 'Slave' Trump Amid Feud

Tucker Carlson escalated his feud with President Donald Trump on Friday, a day after Trump lashed out at several prominent right-leaning commentators, including Carlson, who have criticized the conflict with Iran.

Vance: No Deal – And That’s Bad News For Iran; Update: Vance Exits ASAP

1979 Is the Year That Explains Donald Trump

And pretty much all of the 1980s do too.

Communism’s Obsolescence

The structural case for why collectivist systems fail.

How Austin's Drop in Rents Explains Housing in America

Here is one narrative violation in the usual drumbeat of doom that we're used to hearing about housing in America: The rent, in many cities across the US, is getting cheaper.

Eric Swalwell, California governor candidate, accused of sexual assault by ex-staffer

Supporters of Rep. Eric Swalwell’s campaign withdrew support, including two congressmen who chaired his campaign and two senators who endorsed his bid. Swalwell denied the allegations.

Hegseth’s War on America’s Military

Someone needs to explain the Pentagon purges to the American people.

Vance Faces a Test in Pakistan

Friday, April 10th on RealClearPolitics - Joined by RCP Contributor Lanny Davis

We Get To Dream--Why Artemis II Matters

The astronauts of Artemis II have captured our collective imagination. Four astronauts broke the barrier between Earth and space and over 10 days they have traveled farther from the Earth than any human beings have ever gone, and now they're comin…

Rep. Fine to Newsmax: No Amnesty for Illegal Aliens

Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., told Newsmax on Friday that members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus are united in rejecting any legislation that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens, calling such proposals unacceptable and harmful to Americans.

A Costly Misconception

Now that glyphosate has become a national-security issue, it’s time to revisit the source of misinformation about this controversial herbicide.

To Meet a Chatbot

An English professor burns the midnight oil talking to Microsoft Copilot about Shakespeare, Dickinson, Hawthorne, and a play he’s been working on—and comes away deeply impressed by its literary insights.

Swalwell calls sexual misconduct allegations 'flat out false,' says he will fight them 'with everything'

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said the recent sexual assault accusations toward him are "absolutely false" amid his bid for governor of California.

Trump officials unveil designs for president’s controversial 250-foot arch

Military veterans have sued to halt the project, saying it would alter key views of Arlington National Cemetery.

New England Considers the Nuclear Option

The region's governors acknowledge the limits of ‘renewable' energy.

The State That Could Decide Trump’s Gerrymandering War

Democrats want Virginians to aggressively gerrymander the state.

Trump backs Hilton ahead of California GOP vote, testing Bianco’s grip on party endorsement

California Republicans vote this Sunday to endorse a candidate for governor after Trump backed Steve Hilton over rival Sheriff Chad Bianco last week.

Kempel and Kimmitt to Newsmax: 'Tactical Aim Achieved' In Iran but Strategy Falls Short

On Newsmax's "America Right Now," former IDF Special Operations Commander Doron Kempel and retired U.S. Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt offered sharply different assessments of the U.S. campaign against Iran, Kempel arguing the "tactical aim has been achi…

Podcast #333: The Search for Truth

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to Michael Shermer, the author of a number of works on critical thinking, epistemology, and ethics, about his new book, 'Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still Matters.'

Top White House officials encouraged potential Bondi replacement to make case to Trump for AG job: Sources

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made his pitch to President Trump just hours after Pam Bondi was dismissed on why he should be the next AG, sources told Fox News Digital.

Eliot Engel, a prominent voice on foreign affairs in the House, dies at 79

The New York Democrat helped lead the first impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. He served for 16 terms before losing his reelection bid in 2020.

Eric Swalwell and the Brett Kavanaugh Karma Train

Sexual Assault Claims Rock Swalwell's Bid for Calif. Governor

The gubernatorial campaign of Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., has been rocked by allegations he sexually assaulted a former staffer.

British General Admits That It Can't Deploy a Division Abroad

The $97 Million Utah Warehouse ICE Bought for $145 Million

Trump wants industrial-size immigration jails, and money is no obstacle.

Friday's Final Word

Mapping where the redistricting fight stands and where it’s headed

As Trump pushes for a more Republican-friendly House map, more than half a dozen states are potential targets for mid-decade tweaks to congressional boundaries.

Show Me the Money – The Trump Tax Cuts Benefit the Middle Class

USPS Is Running Out of Money. Here’s How It Could Affect Your Mail.

Despite numerous attempts to reform the Postal Service, the agency’s business model has not changed significantly since 1970. Officials are proposing to decrease service and increase prices.

Letters to the Editor

27 March – 3 April 2026

Rewrite Immigration Laws to Favor Educated, Skilled Newcomers Who Won't Burden Taxpayers

Vance, who wasn’t keen on Iran war, now tasked with trying to end it

The weekend’s peace talks in Islamabad mark Vance’s highest-profile assignment as vice president, with concomitant political risk.

Mahmoud Khalil One Step Closer to a Ticket Outta Here

Swalwell Bombshell Upends His Bid for California Governor

California Rep. Eric Swalwell saw his gubernatorial hopes evaporate within hours Friday after a former staffer accused him of sexual assault, and several prominent Democratic lawmakers and two powerful unions reacted by yanking their endorsements.

In 1990, a bipartisan Congress passed historic bills. Then it cracked apart.

36 years ago, a Republican president and Democratic lawmakers produced monumental laws. Now, a broken Congress has enabled Trump to undo key parts of that legacy.

U.S. Intelligence Shows China Taking a More Active Role in Iran War

China may have shipped missiles to Iran, and Beijing is allowing some companies to sell Tehran supplies that can be used in military production, American officials said.

The Intellectual Right Is Mad at the Mess It’s Made

Conservatives are criticizing influencers for going too far.

Postal Service, Under Pressure, Now Faces Trump’s Mail Ballot Order

President Trump’s executive order, which has been challenged as unconstitutional, would limit the Postal Service to sending only the ballots of voters deemed eligible.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Artemis II and Why It's Worth Shooting for the Moon

The Artemis II mission splashdown capped an exploration defined by the jaw-dropping Earthset photo and Reid Wiseman's Carroll Crater.

Trump, sounding like Biden, says he deserves more credit

America’s last two presidents have spent years as political foils. Both feel the American public does not give them enough credit.

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.

She Testified About Being Raped. Then ICE Showed Up.

Immigration officers are making arrests in sensitive locations, including family court.

On Iran Outcome, Nobody Knows Anything--Yet

Assume a can opener. It's a joke with its own Wikipedia page, one economists tell on economists, about being stuck on a deserted island with a can of food and no way open it.

Rep. Luna Filing Motion to Expel Swalwell Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Texas, says she is filing a motion to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who has been accused of sexual assault by a former staffer.

Trump adversary running for Senate borrows his filibuster playbook

Maine Gov. Janet Mills' Senate platform includes filibuster reform that mirrors President Donald Trump and conservatives' own push for a talking filibuster in the Republican-led Senate.

Rubio Revokes Iranians' Green Cards, ICE Takes Custody

Federal agents this week arrested three Iranian nationals after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their lawful permanent resident status, according to a State Department press release issued Saturday.

Trump Was Watching a U.F.C. Fight in Miami While Iran Talks Collapsed

On his way to Florida, President Trump said it did not matter to him if a deal with Iran was reached or not: “We win, regardless,” he said.

Swalwell ripped for changing his tune on how sexual assault victims 'deserve to be heard'

Rep. Eric Swalwell's calls for lawmakers to hear out women raising allegations against Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh are clashing with cease and desist letters.

Pelosi: Swalwell Should Exit Calif. Governor's Race

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joined a growing number of Democrats Friday in calling for Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., to drop out of California's gubernatorial race amid allegations he sexually assaulted a former staffer.

Federal judges say White House ballroom construction can continue, for now

President Donald Trump has claimed that halting the project poses a risk to national security and threatens him.

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.

J. D. Vance Is Definitely Against Foreign Election Interference

The vice president accused the European Union of meddling—as he stumped for Viktor Orbán.

Appeals Court Allows Work on Trump’s Ballroom Project for Now, but Seeks Clarity on Scope

A three-judge panel allowed construction on the ballroom to proceed until April 17, but asked a lower court to untangle the details of the president’s plans.

An Important Moment for Telling America's Story

The President's House Site exhibit is being redesigned with new signage to educate Americans about a key historical site-not to advance a woke agenda.

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.

Vance says US-Iran talks end without deal after 21 hours of negotiations

Vice President JD Vance says U.S.-Iran talks ended without a deal after Iran refused American terms, calling the outcome bad news for Iran more than the United States.

Addressing the Academic Skew

Higher education needs intellectual—not political—conservatives.

Rohmer at Camelot

Éric Rohmer’s Perceval le Gallois (1978) vividly recreates the imaginative world in which the people of the Middle Ages lived inside their heads.

What Now? Vance Leaves Iran Talks Without a Deal.

The lack of a breakthrough after 21 hours of negotiations leaves the Trump administration facing several unpalatable options.

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.

The IOC Is Protecting Female Athletics. Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport Isn’t Happy About It

On his Facebook page, Adam van Koeverden accused the IOC’s defenders of channelling ‘stupid conservative pseudo fantasies.’