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

Run-Up to U.S.-Iran Talks Signals Hurdles Ahead

Neither Washington nor Tehran wants the peace process to collapse completely, but diplomats say they expect a process full of challenges and distrust.

So...What Is the New, Rational Government of Iran Doing to Its Own Citizens?

A New Air Force One, via Qatar, Nears Its First Presidential Flight

President Trump showed off the new red, white and blue Boeing 747, a gift from Qatar that prompted a storm of criticism from lawmakers, before a flyover on July 4.

Did the Iran War Work?

When Donald Trump signed the MoU with Iran earlier this week, the accepted narrative was that it was a failure of US foreign policy.

Desperate Cuba Announces Free-Market Reforms

Trump says vandals used chemicals to damage newly renovated reflecting pool near Lincoln Memorial

President Trump says vandals damaged the recently renovated reflecting pool near the Lincoln Memorial, saying chemicals were used on the newly installed surface.

Vance slams Israeli reaction to Iran deal as U.S. military lifts blockade

The president defended the agreement, but it has been criticized as a return to the prewar status quo.

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.

Medical Journal Supports Unlimited Migration

Reducing illegal immigration and deporting people who are here without permission are legitimate policies that benefit healthcare systems, among other salutary consequences.

Four Inconvenient Truths About the Conflict in Lebanon

Western political will and good intentions are no match for a complex reality rife with conflicting interests and ideologies.

Oregone Too Soon

Through its many seductions, the Columbia River carries you away.

The Last Canadian Politician I’d Trust to Police the Internet

Marc Miller spread misinformation about unmarked graves and supports the criminal prosecution of residential-school ‘denialists.’ Why would Mark Carney use him to front his new plan for regulating online content?

Top GOP group pumps $37M into fight on key issue dominating midterm races: 'Much more to come'

American Action Network surpasses $37 million in messaging on cost-of-living issues, highlighting conservative policies ahead of the 2026 midterms.

No End in Sight for U.S. Military Mission Along Border With Mexico

The patrols have helped push cartels and smugglers into more remote areas. But analysts have voiced concerns that the border missions will distract from training, drain resources and undermine readiness.

A Tale of Two Settlements

In the 29th instalment of ‘Nations of Canada,’ Greg Koabel describes the birth of Montreal in 1642; and the Indigenous town of Sillery, where a new kind of native-born Christianity took root.

Despite Objections, Pulte Slated to Become Acting DNI Today

Pulte’s appointment may be statutorily infirm, but Congress isn’t likely to take the kind of drastic remedial measures that might induce Trump to back down.

Michael Jackson Biopic Breaks All-Time Record

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael is a reminder that smart people deliver for fans rather than alienate them. Entertainment

WATCH: Tuberville backs Trump’s Iran deal as Democrat blasts ‘surrender’

Lawmakers are split on Trump's Iran peace deal, with some praising nuclear progress while others warn it could give Tehran billions with no enforcement.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Trump says Meloni 'wants to be friends again' after Italy refused to help US amid Iran war

President Donald Trump said Giorgia Meloni did not let the U.S. use Italy's landing strips in its war against Iran and rejected being friends with her.

Trump visits new Air Force One, a luxury gift from Qatar that will soon fly him

The 747 jumbo jet has a new blue, red and gold paint scheme preferred by the president.

Trump’s Iran MOU Piles the Illegal atop the Unconstitutional

The INARA statute that presidents use to flout the Constitution’s treaty clause prohibits the Iran sanctions waivers called for by Trump’s MOU.

Minnesota AG Ellison lashes out when grilled on fraud scandal: 'I’m done talking to you'

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison lashed out when asked about the state's fraud scandal, dismissing the widely cited $8 billion estimate as political.

The Party of the Worker Is Now the Party of the Bureaucrat

The old fight was labour versus capital. The real fight now is between those who create value and those who administer it, and Australia's new budget has picked the wrong side.

Iran Closes Strait Again

How About We Just Play Baseball?

Athletes have every right to reject Pride symbols that—as activists themselves loudly insist—signify an increasingly radicalised set of ‘queer’ political demands.

UK Court: No Trans Women in Female Prisons

The Fantastical Abstract World of the Democratic Socialists

When you ask Darializa Avila Chevalier to make concrete sense of her worldview for anyone who doesn’t subscribe to her outlook, she can’t do it.

Friday's Final Word

Disability Groups Fear RFK Jr.’s New Special Education Role

Alienated by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims about autism, advocates for disabled students are sounding the alarm about the Trump administration's shifting special education programs to his department.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Italy Doesn’t ‘Beg,’ Giorgia Meloni Tells Trump

President Trump said the Italian leader had “begged” him to take a photo together at the Group of 7 summit in France. The remarks come as their once-friendly relationship has frayed.

Happy Juneteenth!

Rather than decrying the deplorable circumstances of Juneteenth’s birth as a national holiday, let’s embrace it and ‘patriotize’ it.

Philadelphia's Krasner Stopped From Freeing Murderer

The justices delivered a stunning rebuke to Philadelphia's progressive prosecutor.

'The Devil’s Triangle' And the Anti-Communist Film Festival

Fighting Is Over, How Will Iran's Government Behave Now?

Now fighting is over, the question is how Iran's government will behave. Early clues point to more authoritarianism and prioritising relations with China

‘A Literal Coverup’: What Is the Kennedy Center Hiding Behind Those Tarps?

The arts center says it pulled President Trump’s name from the building front. But the result remains hidden by tarps, prompting questions and speculation.

Benedict Beckeld on Oikophobia, Islam, and the Crisis of Western Identity | Quillette Cetera Episode 66

Philosopher Benedict Beckeld speaks with Zoe Sankey about oikophobia, the decline of the West, Islam's incompatibility with Western values, and why civilisations at the height of their power sow the seeds of their own undoing.

Perceptions of Weakness

In his panic-stricken effort to disentangle America from the Middle Eastern mess, Trump now appears to be falling into line with Tehran’s wishes.

How AI Can Help Win Wars

Ahead of NASCAR’s Anduril 250 at Naval Air Station North Island, I sat down with Defense Unicorns’ Rob Slaughter to discuss AI, software, and the future of warfare.

Can US Engagement Rescue the United Nations From Irrelevance?

The next UN leader will take office at a time when the international body is experiencing an unprecedented crisis of purpose.

Did China Get Hold of One of ASML's EUV Chip Machines?

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…

Claire's Weekly Letter: Perceptions of Weakness

The Miseducation of American Journalists

Understanding what has gone wrong with journalism in the US requires an understanding of what has gone wrong with the country’s journalism schools.

Double endorsement drama: Trump backs second candidate in red state’s GOP gubernatorial runoff

Trump endorses both Wilson and Evette in South Carolina's GOP gubernatorial runoff, hedging his bets ahead of the high-profile Tuesday contest.

Have We Learned Anything from the Tuskegee Experiment?

Leftist busybodies will trample all over the rights of individuals in order to achieve their utopian vision.

It Sounds as If There's a Turnaround in Military Food Service in the Works

Supreme Court Justices Are Finally Colorblind

A majority dissent from Plessy v. Ferguson 130 years late, and ‘disparate impact' is on the way out.

Vance says 'United States wins either way' as he defends Trump's Iran deal against GOP skeptics

Vice President J.D. Vance defends Trump-Iran memorandum of understanding, pushing back on GOP critics who say the deal gives Tehran economic benefits.

Inside Hegseth’s War on Diversity and Blocked Promotions of Women and Black Officers

A Black admiral fixed one of the Navy’s worst messes. Mr. Hegseth blocked his promotion anyway.

'Toy Story 5' Is a Love Letter to Fathers

From an industry that usually portrays dads as fools or tyrants comes something rare: a portrait of fathers as tender, flawed, frightened, and profoundly human, writes Liel Leibovitz.

Donald Trump's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

The Great Escape: Let Young Workers Out of Social Security

Israel Is Likely to Continue Attacks in Lebanon, U.S. Intelligence Concludes

The new cease-fire between the United States and Iran calls for an end to fighting in Lebanon, but U.S. intelligence officials do not expect Israel to halt its strikes on Hezbollah.

Rape Gangs, Cultural Sensitivity and British Feminism

When a movement born to protect women cannot bring itself to cry out on behalf of children because the perpetrators are too politically inconvenient, it is difficult to avoid the verdict that it is dead.

Magic Medicine?

Here Comes Generation of DSA Big-Bity Mayors

Here comes a generation of DSA big-city mayors.

JD Vance reveals what drew him back to God after seeing Christians had life ‘figured out’

Vice President JD Vance reflects on his faith journey in new book 'Communion,' sharing how Christianity gave him purpose after years of chasing success.

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.

Democrat Voting Laws Are Designed for Manipulation

Democrats want voting that is deliberately designed for post-election manipulation by political insiders to achieve desired outcomes.

Trump says Iran missiles 'aren't the problem' after White House made them central to war rationale

Trump says Iran having missiles may be OK if neighbors have them, a different tone than officials who cited missiles as a reason for Epic Fury.

Giorgia Meloni Unleashes Epic Fury on Trump’s G-7 Antics

The Italian prime minister will not be openly disrespected by the president of the United States.

Obama Center engineer fires back at online critics ripping architecture as 'monstrous insult'

The Obama Presidential Center's structural engineer says boldness was the goal, calling the tower's design an unprecedented architectural statement.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

The American Bar Association Drops Its Diversity Decree

The ABA is retreating from its diversity standards in law school accreditation.

Demining the Strait of Hormuz

Our reporter John Ismay, who served as a Navy explosive ordnance disposal officer and deep-sea diver for eight years, explains why mines in the Strait of Hormuz may outlast the war.

Midterms Shape Up To Favor GOP on the Issues

The two candidates for U.S. Senate in Georgia could hardly be more different, both in their presentations and their policies.

The Enemy Within

Iran is not Saudi Arabia’s biggest problem.

Inside Trump’s Stock Trading Surge

Documents show the president outsourced trading decisions to brokers. But bucking tradition, his assets are not in a blind trust, exposing him to concerns about conflicts.

Obama’s Irrelevance

‘He has taken a complete back seat in an era that his own co-partisans define as a hinge point on the future of the American experiment.’

Claire's Weekly Letter: Spirals of Silence

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…

Abortion Pills Help Men Behave Gravely  

Some updates on men who allegedly attack their unborn children with abortion chemicals.

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 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.

Oh, Yay - Looks Like We're Going to Get Treated to POTATUS on Tape

Talarico says the divide is 'top vs. bottom' — then heads to one of America's richest donor enclaves

Texas Senate nominee James Talarico reportedly attended tech fundraisers in the San Francisco Bay Area despite his anti-corporate campaign rhetoric.

The Supreme Court’s major cases during the 2025-26 term

The Supreme Court has taken up Trump-related cases in its new term, as well as cases dealing with gay and transgender issues and campaigns.

Our Allies Are Wondering Whether Supporting the American War Machine Is Worth It

Is the Iran war an early sign of “superpower suicide"?

Trump’s Reflecting Pool Is Plagued by Multiple Problems, From Green Algae to Broken Pipes

As National Park Service crews try to clean the algae that turned the water bright green, another problem has developed: The “American flag blue” coating is coming off.

Trump’s new Iran deal faces nuclear blind spot over uranium stockpile, experts warn

Nuclear experts warn Trump's Iran framework could leave Tehran with too much control over its uranium stockpile without proper IAEA inspections first.

Arizona Democrat’s Tough Past Fuels Pitch for a Key House Seat

JoAnna Mendoza, a Democrat challenging Representative Juan Ciscomani in a tossup district, is leaning into her painful and unique life story to appeal to voters.