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

Anthony Fauci Was the 'Big Head' of Covid Response

Until now, the deceitful health bureaucrat's reputation has remained intact despite damning revelations about his attempted cover-up of the origins of COVID-19, suspected involvement in outsourcing dangerous research on bat viruses to China and mi…

Communism - It's Back

They're baaack. "They" being communists, or for the academics, Marxists.

Sunday Smiles

Claire's Weekly Letter: Hormuz and Homer

Debt-ridden Democrats tap a surprising asset as collateral for $15M loan

The Democratic National Committee used its headquarters as collateral for a record $15 million off-year loan as it carries $18.5 million in debt against the RNC's huge war chest.

A Week Ago Sunday, Downtown Tucson Had a Mass Shooting

Trump critic Massie joins Democrats in unprecedented bid to sue White House over Iran war

Thomas Massie accused President Trump and Secretary Hegseth of violating the War Powers Resolution, joining Democrats in a resolution to sue over the Iran war.

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.

The First Socialist Governor . . .

Some historical details about socialist governors.

America's Big Cities Are Rapidly Losing Kids

The number of children is falling across the U.S., but the decline is especially pronounced in big metros

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.

Polling Pennsylvania: ‘No' to Wealth Caps, ‘Yes' to Taxing Rich

In the latest installment of RealClear Opinion Research's continuing exploration of Pennsylvania public opinion, we partnered again with Emerson Polling to survey 2,000 residents of the Keystone State. This battery focused on inequality and taxati…

Biden's Hur interview tapes could now go public after his attorneys wave white flag

Joe Biden's attorneys dropped their case blocking audio recordings from Robert Hur's classified documents probe, clearing way for congressional access.

Now We're All Victims of Trump's Wars

New tariffs, gas price rises, the deaths of thousands, insecurity ... We're living at the whim of one capricious, vain, easily bored man and his gang of stooges

McConnell out of hospital, still not 'medically cleared' to return to Senate

Mitch McConnell continues rehabilitation with multiple daily physical therapy sessions after his June fall, but childhood polio complicates his mobility.

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.

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…

Trump Hears 'Affordability,' Fears Accountability

President Trump looks very much like a man without a plan to improve the economy, or end the war in Iran, or to do just about anything else.

Pause in Iran Bombing Campaign Due to Advice From Military Commanders

The Grift at the Gate

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

Trump Gutted the Kennedy Center. A Tour Guide Wants You to See It Anyway.

In a dogged demonstration of love for a Washington institution, Sandy Weiswasser is among a few dozen volunteers still showing dwindling visitors a hollowed-out building.

Can a Progressive Win in a Purple State? Abdul El-Sayed Wants to Find Out.

Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary is a critical front in the fight between Democrats’ progressive and moderate flanks and a preview of the 2028 presidential primary.

Beware the Coming Gusher of 'Charitable Giving'

I want to start today with a warning about "charitable giving" and end with a primer on wealth inequality. The two are closely related, as I'll explain.

Omer Bartov: What Went Wrong?

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

DSA Co-Chair: You're Darned Right We'll Order the Code Red on America!

Contempt for America's Middle

Recently, in between his attacks on critics of the present Israeli government, Ben Shapiro has been taking whacks at J D Vance. On an episode of the Joe Rogan podcast, Shapiro complained that Vance does not believe in "the free market." It seems t…

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.

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.

The Tobacco Wars

How Australia's war on tobacco backfired.

The Sturdy Diversity of North Carolina

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

What 2 Years of Soul-Searching Has Taught Dems

I worked on Joe Biden's campaign in 2020. I believed then, and still believe, in the version of this party that shows up, does the unglamorous work and governs like it actually matters more than it performs. That's the party that passed the Afford…

PEN America’s (Latest) Meltdown

‘In recent years . . . [PEN] has more often stood at the intersection of political infighting and bad publicity.’

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…

Deadly U.S. boat strikes have failed to curb cocaine supply, Pentagon and DEA officials say

The president says Operation Southern Spear has virtually ended drug trafficking by sea. Pentagon and DEA analysts have concluded otherwise.

Blood, Progress, and Amnesia

There is real value in Noah Rothman's century-spanning chronicle of left-wing terror, but it falls short in analysis.

Berlin Pride Attack: Organizers Worry About Islamophobia, Blame White Men

Scalise warns 'Bolshevik revolution' taking over Dem Party after socialist primary wins

Scalise warns of a "Bolshevik revolution" inside the Democrat Party as DSA-backed candidates defeat incumbent progressives in recent primaries.

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

Make IPOs Great Again: SEC Chairman Paul Atkins on Ending Regulation by Enforcement

Atkins argues that vibrant capital markets are essential to American prosperity.

Trump admin targets woke schools accused of hiding students' gender transitions from parents

Linda McMahon says the Education Department and DOJ are taking action against two school districts accused of hiding students' gender transitions.

Pentagon Changes How It Reports Casualties in Iran War

The changes separated the casualty numbers into two separate web pages, potentially making it more difficult to tally the war’s full toll.

Democrats Need To Postpone Their Civil War

There is no story line in American politics more beloved than Democrats in Disarray.

McConnell Extends Senate Leave, Will Miss State Picnic

A new statement said the senator was not “medically cleared” to leave a rehabilitation facility and would miss a Kentucky political event.

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.

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.

Own a Piece of National Review History for Just Under $4 Million

An extraordinary opportunity.

Why Trump is suddenly threatening Iran's last untouched nuclear site

Trump threatens to strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility, but military experts disagree over whether bunker busters can reach its chambers.

The Modern Mythology of AI

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

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.

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

Too Dumb to Check: Did Maine Dems Anoint an Ineligible Jackson to Replace Platner?

Congress Budgeted Billions for Big Transit Projects. Trump Isn’t Spending It.

“It’s hard to look at the last year and see anything other than a deliberate slowdown of these grants.”

Why Restarting a Nuclear Power Plant Can Be Much Harder Than Expected

The first U.S. attempt at reopening a shuttered reactor has been held back by run-down equipment and a lack of planning.

In Washington, Netanyahu Faces a Delicate Balancing Act

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is set to meet President Trump on Tuesday, with one eye on Iran and another on the coming elections back home.

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.

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.

Trump demands Thune keep Senate in session until SAVE America Act passes

Trump demands John Thune cancel Senate recess until the SAVE America Act passes, renewing his call to terminate the filibuster for GOP priorities.

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.

NY assemblyman calls for DOJ to investigate Mamdani, protect Jewish New Yorkers after stabbing attacks

Assemblyman Michael Novakhov calls on the DOJ to open a civil rights investigation into Mayor Zohran Mamdani after Upper West Side stabbings.

Stop Twisting Sophie Cunningham’s Words

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

PEN America Has Lost Its Way

The organization has dissipated its resources and credibility in the interest of left-wing solidarity.

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.

The Republicans in Congress Who Enable Socialists

GOP lawmakers can't agree on spending reform, so they keep funding the tax-eating nonprofits.

The ‘Sex Recession’ is Real

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to Debra Soh, author of ‘Sextinction: The Decline of Sex and the Future of Intimacy,’ about neuroscience, hypergamy, elephant seals, politicised sex research, the perils of polyamory, and the sex-repellent…

'Shame on you': Sherrill knew voter-roll bombshell was coming when she called Trump a liar, DOJ official says

Harmeet Dhillon says Gov. Mikie Sherrill knew about New Jersey's voter roll bombshell before she accused Trump of lying about noncitizen voting.

Trump Got NATO to Rearm. Now to Continue the Momentum . . .

A new assessment chronicles NATO’s remilitarization, renewed deterrence posture against Russia, and value for American power projection.

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.

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.

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

DSA Assault on Prisons Is Rooted in Third World-ist Lust for Barbarism

Quelle Surprise: Berlin Terror Perp Killed; Known Wolf With Long Track Record

CNN Political Briefing

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

Department of Education Moves Away from ‘Disparate Impact’

In education, disparate-impact regulations were some of the most egregious of the Obama-Biden era.

DSA Plan: Abolish ICE, Borders, Prisons & Senate

Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Megan Romer discusses the DSA's place in the Democratic Party, responds to concerns about the organization's policy platform, explains why the U.S. Senate is an "anachronistic institution" and should be re…

Jeffries Kicks Off Midterm Sprint With Economic Pitch

Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the New York Democrat and minority leader, focused relentlessly on affordability in a swing district.

Police vetted dubious allegation only after Buttigieg was separated from children

The Michigan attorney general’s office is investigating how the accusation that prompted the ex-Cabinet secretary's separation from his 4-year-old twins was handled.

Senators reject Trump’s call to make Canada pay for wildfire smoke: ‘Ridiculous’

Republican and Democratic senators reject Trump's call for Canada to pay damages over wildfire smoke, with one calling for better forest management.

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.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Will Fauci Fall Finally?

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

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.

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.

Exposed Fauci diary shows he estimated COVID-19 death rate to be much lower than what he told Congress

Anthony Fauci's private diary reveals he estimated COVID-19's case fatality rate at 0.2-0.3% but weeks later told Congress it was around 1%.