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

Trump to Name Vance Head of Fraud Task Force

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Monday tasking Vice President JD Vance with overseeing an initiative aimed at investigating fraud across the U.S., reports the New York Post.

Another Billionaire Leaves California to Avoid the Wealth Tax

A 79-Year-Old Freshman Senator?

Janet Mills does not have a dicey Reddit history or a recently covered-over Nazi tattoo. But her candidacy is haunted by Joe Biden’s 2024 debacle.

With Iran War, Trump Risks Stepping on Gains From His Own Tax Cuts

President Trump’s war in Iran has raised some costs just as many Americans are starting to see savings from last year’s tax cuts.

Blue-State Suicide

Angel mom whose 13-year-old son was executed by illegal gang member urges incoming DHS chief to act

A California mother whose 13-year-old son was executed by an illegal alien gang member, shared a message to incoming Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

String of attacks connected to naturalized citizens raises national security questions

Four alleged terror attacks connected naturalized U.S. citizens in March expose critical security gaps in America, a security expert warned on Fox News.

Susie Wiles, Trump’s White House Chief of Staff, Has Breast Cancer

Ms. Wiles said that the disease was caught in its early stages and that she would remain in her role.

Trump sold young voters on his vision. Many are having buyer’s remorse.

They were a key part of the coalition that powered the president’s comeback, and their frustrations signal vulnerability for Republicans ahead of the midterms.

Blue state proposal targets Trump-era ICE hires, banning them from joining local police forces

Rhode Island Democrats propose banning police from hiring Trump-era ICE agents, escalating state pushback against federal immigration enforcement.

A Paradoxical War

The American debate about the campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

Trump’s Threat to Delay Summit With Xi Casts New Shadow Over China Relations

President Trump warned that he could postpone a meeting set to begin in just over two weeks if China refuses to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Is James Talarico Really a Christian X-Ray?

David French's praise for a progressive Christian candidate reveals a deeper problem in modern moral thinking: feelings and intentions now outweigh doctrine, truth, and the consequences of policy.

Quartz Countertop Makers Want Immunity Against Legal Claims from Sick Stone Cutters

Workers are filing lawsuits against the countertop industry as cases of silicosis, a deadly lung disease, rise.

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.

The Marxist Wing of the Democratic Party

Democrats' refusal to fund the Department of Homeland Security has exceeded any hypothesis of good faith. It is an unpatriotic attack on America's frontline of defense during a time of war and potential Iranian sleeper cells, and an inexcusable bu…

Stable Rules and Standards Build Trust

As mayor of Farmville, Virginia, my focus is primarily on local issues. It involves paving streets, supporting our police and fire departments, helping small businesses grow, and working with colleagues to move our town forward. When people stop m…

We Have Reached End-Stage Polarization

Does anyone think a healthy nation with a healthy political culture would elect a man like Donald Trump not once, but twice?

In Illinois, Krishnamoorthi’s Indian American Heritage Shapes Bid

On Tuesday, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi is looking to take a major step toward becoming only the second Indian American elected to the Senate.

On Truth and Beauty

Why art and science serve different ends.

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…

Border Patrol's Bovino to Retire After 3-Decade Career

Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent and CBP Operations Commander Greg Bovino will retire at the end of March, concluding a nearly 30-year career with the agency.

Trump: Some Countries Not Enthusiastic About Helping Unblock Hormuz Strait

President Donald Trump on Monday repeated his call to nations to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, and complained that some were not very enthusiastic about providing help to Washington. Trump wants nations to help police the strait after Iran re…

U.S. Military Trajectory in Iran Is Relatively Positive

The war in Iran is currently in a phase in which the military trajectory is relatively positive: the United States is steadily destroying Iran's ability to use its most essential tool in the war - drone and missile attacks - which in turn underpin…

Letters to the Editor

Friday 6 March – Friday 13 March

As states scrap for congressional seats, Virginia could tip the scales

The party’s well-funded canvassing and advertising campaign for a referendum that could add four blue seats to Congress has Republicans scrambling to respond.

The Horror: Texas Now Requires Professional, Trade Licensees to Prove One Thing First

Trump's Mass Detention Campaign

Even with Kristi Noem gone, the Administration's immigration agenda shows no signs of flagging-in fact, it is leading toward a new humanitarian and legal crisis.

The Republican Party Continues Eating Its Own

What one lawmaker’s defection from the GOP says about the state of politics

Thune Faces GOP Pressure to Advance SAVE America Act in Senate

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is facing mounting pressure from President Donald Trump and House Republicans to advance the SAVE America Act, an election bill that has drawn unified opposition from Senate Democrats.

In Tense Meeting, Dr. Oz Pressed Medical Societies on Trans Care for Teens

Most groups defended their support for medical intervention. But the Society for Plastic Surgeons broke with the consensus.

Worry About Islamism, Not 'Islamophobia'

A Police Report About a House Candidate Surprised the White House

A woman’s allegations of rape against a Republican House candidate have put Trump in a bind.

A New World Order in the Making

An interview with Dr Shmuel Bar.

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…

I Recognize the Look on Liam Ramos’s Face

The 5-year-old was briefly held at Dilley, where families are sent after ICE roundups.

The Missing Definition of Victory in Iran

As the fighting with Iran enters its third week, President Trump declares victory - but the White House has yet to define what winning means.

What Happens Now to Kristi Noem’s Warehouse Jails?

DHS’s next leader will inherit a fast-moving $38 billion plan for industrial-scale immigrant detention.

US 'locked and loaded' to destroy Iran’s 'crown jewel' 'if we want,' Trump warns

President Donald Trump says the United States is prepared to destroy Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub but so far has chosen not to do so.

Britain’s Half-Measures on Iran

As Iranian agents surveil London’s Jewish communities and IRGC-backed plots multiply, Britain’s failure to proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps endangers UK citizens.

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.

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…

Rand Paul floats possible 2028 run, pushes back on Trump-era protectionism

Sen. Rand Paul considers 2028 presidential run, saying he'll decide after 2026 midterms while advocating for free market policies in Trump-dominated Republican Party.

Illinois Senate primary pits crypto-backed candidate against Pritzker’s pick

The Democratic contest highlights divisions over crypto regulation and billionaire influence in politics, as the industry spends millions in a battle with the governor.

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.

WH chief of staff Susie Wiles diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, prognosis 'excellent,' Trump says

President Donald Trump issued a Truth Social post on Monday announcing that his White House chief of staff Susie Wiles had received an early stage breast cancer diagnosis.

Jim Crow 2.0: SAVE America Act Is a Poll Tax, Plain & Simple

Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and MAGA Republicans in and out of Congress are putting on a full court press to get Senate Majority Leader John Thune to blow up the Senate's filibuster rule to jam through their SAVE America Act, which they regularly tal…

Please Come to Boston...or Anywhere in Massachusetts, Okay?

Sunday Smiles

Gen. Clark to Newsmax: US Troops May Secure Strait of Hormuz

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark said Monday on Newsmax's "Wake Up America" that President Donald Trump could ultimately decide to send U.S. troops into Iran - not for an invasion, but to help secure American shipping and naval forces in the Strait of Ho…

Trump wants Judge Boasberg removed from cases after series of rulings

President Donald Trump blasted Judge James Boasberg and asserted that he should be yanked off of cases related to his administration.

CNN Political Briefing

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

The Reading Wars

Arizona Is Now at the Center of Election Investigations

Both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are probing the results of the 2020 election in Arizona.

Sen. Mike Lee: SAVE America Act Vote Will Expose Opposition

The planned vote on the SAVE America Act will show who's "fighting for secure elections and who fears them," Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee told Breitbart.

Rep. Buddy Carter to Newsmax: NATO Allies Must Help US in Iran

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., said Monday that U.S. allies, especially NATO partners, need to help immediately in the widening war in Iran, arguing member countries should join efforts now to secure the Strait of Hormuz instead of waiting until after …

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.

CBS: US Intel Showed Even Khamenei Thought Nepo Babytollah Was Incompetent

Why Populism is Rising in Australia: Immigration and One Nation Surge

Australia has long been considered politically stable compared with Europe and the United States. But according to political scientist Eric Kaufmann, that period of “Australian exceptionalism” may be coming to an end.

Trump urges world to help open Strait of Hormuz; U.S. Embassy in Baghdad hit

The Pentagon identified the six service members who were killed when a U.S. refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq while supporting operations in Iran.

Trump is eager to declare victory, but a battered Iran still has cards to play

The U.S. and Israel crippled Iranian forces in two weeks of war, but Tehran’s ability to disrupt oil flows and its uranium stockpile complicate the push to end it.

The Soft Disinformation Contagion

How we learned to reason poorly with accurate data.

What Is Victory in Operation Epic Fury?

Trump-aligned law group urges Jim Jordan to probe 'nationwide pattern' of blue-state ‘lawfare’

A Trump-aligned legal group claims Democratic-run states are filing frivolous lawsuits to block the president's agenda without proof of injury.

Justice Department asks Judge Boasberg to reconsider order quashing Powell subpoenas

The Justice Department sent a motion for reconsideration to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg regarding his order to stop a subpoena of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Young Voters Helped Elect Trump. Some Have Regrets Over War

Joshua Byers was hopeful when he voted for Donald Trump in 2024. The 26-year-old document clerk believed the former and future president when he said he would lower prices and improve the lives of the working class.

Hawaii Dem reveals why she stayed seated during Trump's viral SOTU moment about prioritizing Americans

Hawaii Democrat Jill Tokuda explained why she refused to stand during Trump's State of the Union challenge at a town hall event, when asked about the moment by a voter.

Trump: Susie Wiles Has Early-Stage Breast Cancer

President Donald Trump said Monday that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and will begin treatment while continuing her duties at the White House.

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.

Made in Moscow

The foreign origins of Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson’s antisemitism.

The Pete Hegseth Exception

Nearly a year after a national-security scandal erupted on my iPhone, no one in the Trump administration has faced consequences.

Why Republicans are Changing Course on Immigration

What did Speaker Mike Johnson mean when he talked about a “course correction” in the Trump administration’s deportation approach? Our White House correspondent Zolan Kanno-Youngs analyzes how the message around deportation is changing.

Paul Ehrlich Was Right? So Says the Media

Axios: Trump Mulls Kharg Island Seizure; 'Hormuz Coalition'

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Pentagon Pursues Lasers to Stop Iran's Attack Drones

The U.S. is examining laser weapon systems as a way to counter Iranian drone attacks and protect U.S. and allied forces in the Middle East, as the conflict places increasing strain on existing missile defenses.

Appointee wants to replace White House columns with the ones Trump prefers

The head of a federal arts commission is proposing the more ornate Corinthian style for the nearly 200-year-old columns at the building’s front entrance.

Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, has breast cancer, Trump says

The president’s longtime confidante plans to continue working while receiving treatment. Her prognosis is “beyond excellent,” Trump said.

A 79-Year-Old Freshman Senator?

Janet Mills is sharp, but her candidacy is haunted by Joe Biden's 2024 debacle.

Trump Isn’t Even Trying to Sell This War

Has the salesman in chief gotten rusty?

Force Dems To Filibuster the SAVE America Act

I rarely find myself disagreeing with The Wall Street Journal's editorial page, which is reliably conservative most of the time.

The Republican Who Wants to Banish His Own Constituents

Representative Andy Ogles wrote on Monday that “Muslims don’t belong in American society.” He represents thousands of them in Congress.

Trump Blames 'Crazed Democrats' for Unpaid TSA Agents

President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out again at Democrats for Transportation Security Administration officers continuing to be unpaid during the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump’s Effort to Target Rivals Stall as Judges Cut Short Basic Investigative Steps

A ruling Friday that derailed an investigation into the Federal Reserve chair at an exceptionally early stage showed the limits of President Trump’s campaign of legal retribution.

Conservative Groups Push Trump to Ramp Up Deportations

Major conservative groups are pressing the Trump administration to intensify deportation efforts against migrants in the United States, reports the Daily Caller. The push comes as the White House recently told Republicans...

Why Did Trump Officials Award $2 Million to a Small Art School in Queens?

The National Endowment for the Humanities seldom gave seven-figure grants. Now big awards flow to handpicked projects, including an institution with three full-time employees.

We Live in Opposite World

Podcast #328: The Extraordinary Exploits of Agent Zo

Iona Italia talks to historian Clare Mulley about her biography of Polish war heroine Elżbieta Zawacka, aka Agent Zo.

Why Europe Still Misreads America

Why Germans fear American religion, and what this reveals about Europe.

Trump Defends Need for Kennedy Center Renovation Project

Ahead of a vote on whether to close the center for two years of construction, the president criticized its previous financial management and physical condition.

High Stakes, and a Low Bar, For Markwayne Mullin at DHS

Trump’s nominee has one big thing going for him: He’s not Kristi Noem.

Dan Schueftan on Gaza, Iran & the Future of Israel

Israel faces not a solvable conflict but a permanent condition—one requiring deterrence, “violent maintenance,” and historic patience—while confronting both regional enemies and a cultural battle in the West.

‘We Need to Do McCarthyism to the Tenth Power’

Conservative influencers are pushing for a return to the dark days of 1950s inquisitions.

Republican Officials Fuel Vitriol Against Muslims and Islamic School in Alabama

A local campaign against the small school reflects growing Islamophobia in conservative enclaves in America and among G.O.P. officials.

Trump Searching for Iran War Endgame

After two weeks of war with Iran, the Trump administration is being forced to temper its expectations of a swift end to the conflict, with U.S. intelligence and defense officials expressing doubt it can achieve the overthrow of Iran's government a…

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.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Everyone Has Trump’s Phone Number Now

The president’s personal iPhone has been lighting up.

Hearts of Darkness

Laura K. Field’s smart new book takes a critical look at MAGA’s Ivy League intellectuals.

Pew: Trump Shrank Federal Workforce by 10%

The federal workforce shrank by a little more than 10% during the first year of President Donald Trump's second term in the White House, according to the Pew Research Center.

Tracking who Trump is appointing to fill key administration roles

Follow President Trump’s progress filling over 800 positions, among about 1,300 that require Senate confirmation, in this tracker from The Washington Post and the Partnership for Public Service.

Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration’s Third-Country Deportations, for Now

The administration’s policy of deporting people to South Sudan, Rwanda and other distant countries has been a striking attempt to create uncertainty for immigrants.

Google Gemini declares only GOP senators violate hate speech policy, zero Democrats, author claims

Author Wynton Hall claims that Gemini characterized several Republican senators' rhetoric as hate speech, but did not find anything objectionable from Democrats.

Dem candidate's unearthed 'winter Texan' comment could haunt campaign

Bobby Pulido is facing scrutiny over the amount of time he spends in Mexico as the Latin Grammy winner pursues Texas' 15th Congressional District seat against Rep. Monica De La Cruz.