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

The Trouble with Chinamaxxers

Gen Z calls it Chinamaxxing. But the West's new infatuation with China is less a triumph of Communist Party soft power than a symptom of our own decline.

Reporter's Notebook: Democrats face an impeachment tractor beam that could derail their affordability message

Like the Millenium Falcon caught in a tractor beam, Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats face an impeachment pull they may not be able to escape.

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.

New Jersey Lt Gov Dale Caldwell resigns after sexual harassment investigation

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned after an investigation substantiated sexual harassment and ethics violations, Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced Friday.

Saudis have not ruled out developing nuclear weapons, U.S. intelligence assesses

The sobering outlook has compounded concerns from some U.S. lawmakers about President Donald Trump’s agreement to assist the kingdom with establishing a civilian nuclear program.

On the NYT’s Top 100 TV Shows of the 21st Century

It’s still, of course, a mostly bad list. In addition to harvesting clicks, the ranking does lots of other predictable ideological work.

Let’s Stop Obsessing Over ‘Prestige’ Colleges and Universities

They’re not as special as we’re made to think.

Government can use Social Security data to identify noncitizen voters, Supreme Court rules

President Donald Trump wants to let states use a federal database that includes voters’ personal information to check for noncitizens on voter rolls.

We Could All Be Wrong About the Midterms

This election season will likely have more surprises than most.

Cambridge: Forget That Investigation Into Hiring Arday...

Federal illegal voting arrest becomes latest flashpoint in Sherrill's battles with Trump administration

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill faces new pressure after ICE and the FBI arrested a Senegalese national accused of voting illegally since 2018.

AI Doom Is Not Cybersecurity

An OpenAI agent’s breach of a Medicare portal shows that the real danger from AI is a mundane one—and the labs’ fixation on a coming machine god is making it worse.

As Singham faces federal probe, wife marches in anti-Israel protest led by groups he funded

Jodie Evans, wife of tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham, marched alongside People's Forum activists in a four-hour anti-Israel protest through Manhattan.

Hillary Clinton Explains AI Dangers, and I Am Persuaded Now

Supreme Court Allows Use of Trump Administration’s Expansive Database for Voter Screening

Critics of a citizenship database built by the Trump administration have raised alarms about privacy and improper voter purges.

Teachers Unions and Failing Schools Go Hand in Hand

Nikole Hannah-Jones sent her daughter to a failing public school despite being a multimillionaire to make a point: That she's not a hypocrite who sends her children to private school like other sch...

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

The Inverted Moral Universe of Asylum Policies Summed Up in One Small Boat

A Big Blow's a' Comin' and Folks Behavin' Badly

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…

After Tough Primaries, Democrats in Key States Feel Unified, New Polls Find

A majority of Democrats in Maine and Michigan said the primary process strengthened their party heading into November.

Top Reason Why a Blue Wave Is Probably Coming

When Americans have less money in their pocket, the party in power usually pays a steep political price.

Sacrificing Human Thriving on the Altar of Environmentalist Earth Religion

An op-ed in the New York Times proselytizes for nature animism.

Shouldn't Immigrants Support Themselves?

With the U.S. $40 trillion in debt, asking immigrants to support themselves is reasonable. Progressive states and cities are suing anyway.

Claire's Weekly Letter: A Dish in the Sink

A man leaves a dish in the sink. By the end of the night he has been accused of gaslighting, told he lacks emotional intelligence, and sent to sleep on the sofa. Our first feature this week comes from Steve Salerno asks a hard question: has a prof…

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

'Squad' Democrat slammed by Trump admin for most 'radical' plan targeting ICE yet

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin fires back at Rep. Delia Ramirez's radical bill to abolish ICE, CBP, and dismantle the Department of Homeland Security.

Nikole Hannah-Jones Is a Good Mom With Bad Theory

Low-income Black urban schools don't need more educated parents. They need discipline, accountable teachers and an end to ideology that excuses chaos.

Xi praises US state visit 'perfection' as Trump calls meetings 'very productive'

President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. and China have "made great strides" after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House.

China’s Xi Snubs a Troubled U.N. for Trump, Drowning Out Its Big Week

The U.S.-China summit offered a sharp contrast with the action at the faltering United Nations in a gridlocked New York.

Here’s How Trump Is Building a National Citizenship Database to Check Voters

The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to deploy a system that merges personal data from across the government. Questions remain about its reliability.

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.

WATCH: DHS issues stark warning after 300 ‘hostile’ cartel drones detected at southern border

The Department of Homeland Security warned cartels their drones are failing as 378 were detected at the southern border in just over one month.

From Atmosphere to Empire

U2 reconsidered at fifty.

Stop the Idiotic Pandering

Supreme Court Sides With Trump Administration on Screening Voters

Hasan Piker May Not Matter Much in Michigan Race

To hear a lot of the chatter about the pivotal U.S. Senate race in Michigan this year, you'd think the election was more or less a referendum on Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.

Jury in Trayon White Sr. bribery trial says it can’t reach verdict

White was charged with accepting $35,000 from a D.C. government contractor in exchange for agreeing to pressure D.C. officials to renew contracts that his companies had obtained for violence-interruption services.

This Is Who the Protesters Are

Celebrities, activists, and politicians blocking roads outside the U.N. made it obvious: they’re on the side of Iran’s brutal theocrats.

De Gaulle Cinema

Two feature-length films based on Julian Jackson’s astonishing biography of Charles de Gaulle have been produced in France.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Here’s the latest.

Trump and Xi Wrestle With the Laws of Nature

Survival depends on adaptation. For the U.S. and China, that may include cooperation.

New Jersey lieutenant governor resigns after report finds harassment, ethics violations

An investigation found that Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell sexually harassed a woman and violated state ethics rules. He denied allegations of misconduct, and Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Caldwell had stepped down on Friday.

Why the Republicans Started Panicking This Week

When the national average price of gas is nearly $4.50 a gallon, the president’s party should expect to get crushed in midterm elections.

British Tories Promising a Benefits Crackdown, Outraged Wails (Not Wales) to Follow

Genocide and Its Jurors

In 1967, left-wing intellectuals accused America of genocide in Vietnam—they were wrong then, and they’re wrong again now.

Everything About the Herridge Contempt Case Stinks

Everything related to the current case regarding Catherine Herridge's reporting is suspect.

History Uprooted

A new exhibition at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg peddles PLO myths about Israel’s war for independence in 1948.

Trump to usher in ‘golden age’ of American tech with DC bash showcasing powerful new tool

Trump and JD Vance will unveil America.gov, a new AI tool designed to be a one-stop shop for navigating federal government services.

Xi and Jimmy Lai 

There had better be some real pressure happening behind the scenes.

Republican senators are starting to break from Trump in noticeable ways

And what else happened this week in the Trump administration.

Leftist protester disrupts Climate Week event by ranting against US military

Code Pink disrupted a Nature Conservancy event at NYC Climate Week, demanding the group address the Pentagon's carbon footprint and military pollution.

Free Trade Is Ancient Wisdom

Even Plato knew that economic specialization makes everyone better off.

For Trump and Xi, a warm farewell and unfinished business

The presidents praised their relationship over tea and viewed America’s founding documents, with few apparent breakthroughs on the issues dividing their countries.

Canada Dreaming

Our northern neighbor's turn toward Europe is psychologically rewarding but fundamentally flawed.

Watch What They Do Instead of Listening to What They Say

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.

Bracing for Midterm Losses, Republicans in Congress Try a Pre-election Pivot

After nearly two years of allowing President Trump to set their agenda, G.O.P. senators are grasping for some quick action on cost-of-living measures they can show voters before November.

The Problem With 'Marrying Up'

After 19 years as a professional matchmaker-including a hit Netflix show-I've learned that successful women aren't struggling to find good men. They're struggling to recognize what makes a man good.

So What Are Democrats Supposed To Do About Schools?

Nikole Hannah-Jones' attempt to live her values backfired. But what's the alternative?

The Problem With Potemkin Democrat Candidates

They have gone treasure-hunting in unions, churches and timberlands for a candidate untainted by the Democratic Party brand. But their search for a unicorn inevitably comes with strings attached.

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.

Beleaguered Lesbian Bar Hits Potential Jackpot

In an era of unfolding partisan tragedies, it helps to pause and celebrate the mordant comedies as well.

At State Dinner for China’s Leader, Melania Trump Wears the Pants

And possibly makes history while doing so.

Australia Is Sick: Misha Saul on What Went Wrong

Investor Misha Saul joins Claire Lehmann to discuss Australia’s declining productivity, immigration policy, and the political choices shaping the country’s future.

Xi’s 100K invitation to America’s youth sets off alarm bells over what could follow them home

Chinese President Xi Jinping's plan to bring 100,000 young Americans to China sparked fears of communist propaganda and potential hostage scenarios.

Banning the Horseless Carriage

Bernie Sanders wants to outlaw artificial superintelligence. The risks he points to are real—but the answer to a powerful new technology is regulation, not prohibition, and China has no intention of pausing.

Anthropic’s Blacklisting by the Pentagon Was Legal, Federal Judges Rule

The Pentagon had “ample support for its conclusion” that the A.I. company’s products could pose a national security risk, according to a Washington appeals court.

Hiroshima: A Hinge Point for Humanity

Kiyoshi Tanimoto’s extraordinary testimony about the Hiroshima attack and its aftermath has been published by his daughter some forty years after his death.

Here are the midterm polls that caught our eye this week.

Another round of interesting midterm polls this week find an electorate dissatisfied with President Donald Trump and mostly souring on Republicans in marquee races.

China’s Truce With Trump Buys It Valuable Time

Easing tensions with Washington gives Beijing room to tackle economic troubles at home while reducing its vulnerability to American pressure.

Unearthed: El-Sayed called for repealing law that made sex without disclosing HIV status a felony

Abdul El-Sayed once called Michigan's HIV criminalization law "hateful" and "discriminatory," a stance now under scrutiny in his Senate race.

Trump to campaign in deep-red states as GOP plays defense

The president is expected to hold rallies in Oklahoma and Alabama next week.

Trump Loses Selzer Case, Wins in His Heart

It remains a supreme irony that the president most pursued by his enemies via lawfare has become infamous as its most enthusiastic practitioner.

McWhorter: There Is No 'National Crisis' of Lynchings

Today in Democrats Behaving Badly

If only someone had told them that this sort of thing was frowned upon.

Trump’s newest rebranding project: The technology formerly known as AI

He’s trying to label the technology as “superintelligence” and says he pitched the term to Xi Jinping.

Trump scores Supreme Court win in election integrity fight as states gain new voter roll tool

An order issued Friday by the Supreme Court temporarily allows the Trump administration to move forward with a mass voter verification system.

Not Long Ago, Trump Accused China of Election Meddling. Today, ‘Great Friendship.’

President Trump softened much of his stance toward China as he prepared to host its leader. But his disregard of a topic that has consumed him — the 2020 election — was particularly stark.

Supreme Court Allows Trump DHS to Share Social Security Data with Elections Officials

Today’s 6–3 decision involved an especially tortured effort at reading federal law in a way that would restrain Donald Trump, and the Court’s conservative majority rejected it.

Carney-Val Continues: 'I Had Plans Prepared for Syrupean Elbows Up in Case Trump Attacked'

What does Trump want with the U.N.?

The president has been critical of the organization, but the prestige it holds provides an opportunity to literally speak on the world stage.

Bipartisan group of senators urge Trump to disinvite Putin from G-20

Top senators on the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees argue the invitation legitimizes the Russian assault on Ukraine.

A Visit to a Russian Supermarket Shows Inflation at Work

California Braces for Another Hurricane

Pentagon quietly adds dozens to tally of troops wounded amid Iran war

With the addition of 29 U.S. sailors and eight Marines, the total number of personnel wounded since the start of hostilities has risen to 861, a Pentagon database shows.

I, Victim

Pascal Bruckner’s book about victimhood culture invites us to choose liberation, and to move from resentment to a secular kind of grace.

The Naivety of Well-Meaning Christian Leaders

The Church of England and the failures of interfaith politics.

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 Plans to Visit Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama

The president announced plans to rally in deep-red states as his party makes a push for close races in battleground states.

Myths and Illusions of the Digital Age

The digital revolution is not remaking the world as the industrial one did.

CNN and CBS Resume White House Coverage After Standoff

Crews from CBS and CNN covered two events on Friday with President Trump and the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping.