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

Straight to Jail, Jack Smith, Straight to Jail

Suing Joe Biden Helped Fuel Ken Paxton's Rise

As attorney general, Paxton threw unprecedented resources into stopping Biden's agenda. That record is his sword and shield as he runs for U.S. Senate.

Powerful LGBTQ+ group's endorsements could tank vulnerable Dems over radical youth trans agenda

The Human Rights Campaign endorsed 29 candidates in battleground districts for 2026, raising questions about alignment with the group's stances.

Gary Stevenson Is Wrong About Wealth Inequality

Gary Stevenson says Britain's wealth inequality is spiralling out of control. The data says otherwise—and Channel 4 never thought to check.

China & the New Era of Critical Minerals Diplomacy

Beijing's export controls on rare earths and other niche metals are distorting markets and fuelling resource nationalism

Senate faces 'come-to-Jesus' moment on Trump's election priority under GOP's new plan

Republicans aim to pass election integrity measures through budget reconciliation by offering states grant funding to enforce voter ID requirements.

House G.O.P. Releases Budget to Unlock $95 Billion for Iran War and SAVE Act

The plan faces a rocky path amid Republican divisions and would pave the way for votes months before the midterm elections to fund a war that polls show is deeply unpopular.

3 Things Dems Have To Do if They Actually Want To Win

Even now, according to a new survey by the left-leaning group Data for Progress, the Democratic Party has a net negative rating of minus 29 percentage points among swing voters, worse than the minus 25 for the Republican Party. Democrats seeking t…

Wind Farms, Drones and Defense

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…

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Clayton Confirmation Hearing for DNI: Take Two

This should be a lay-up confirmation, but the president and his minions could make it more interesting than it should be.

Do Michigan Democrats Want Populism or Pragmatism?

The state's Senate primary pits progressive Abdul El-Sayed against the more traditional Rep. Haley Stevens.

The Frenzied Sprint Among Maine Dems To Replace Platner

County party chairs inundated with calls. An endless stream of Google sign-up forms and spreadsheets. And a disgraced former nominee looming over it all, haunting the party's hopes

Jay Clayton Faces Tough Questions in Hearing Over 2020 Election

His nomination to lead the U.S. intelligence community comes as the White House pushes to use declassified intelligence to show concerns about election security.

Maine Socialists Try Again - With Predictable Results

You'd think Democrats could do better - but as the Platner debacle demonstrated, judging character is not this party's strong suit.

'Green' California Port Fee Raises Costs for All of America

California has a green rule that is raising the costs of goods on store shelves all across America. Most Americans have never heard of it, and that's the point.

Dresses with Pockets and Kaitlyn Kiepert

Kaitlyn has been an asset for the editorial team this summer, especially because of the historical perspective she brings to her coverage of current events.

Jack Smith thrust back into spotlight at Blanche hearing over exposed senators’ messages

Sen. John Kennedy demanded answers on whether Jack Smith read his emails and shared them with Attorney General Garland during the confirmation hearing.

2028 Dem hopefuls torched over webinars teaching illegal immigrants how to 'defy' ICE

Markwayne Mullin blasts Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom for hosting webinars and sharing resources he says help illegal immigrants defy ICE.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Here’s the latest.

Mahmoud Khalil Files a Lawsuit Alleging Conspiracy Against Him

Trump Pressures ICE to Resume Traffic Stops After They Were Halted Over Fatal Shootings

Immigration and Customs Enforcement had ordered its officers to halt most vehicle stops across the country after they shot two people over the past week.

The Pacific's True Rogue State

Beijing just launched a nuclear-capable missile into the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone and called it routine. It was not.

Charleston Charming

The sweltering city borrows from history to put on a show.

Is the Socialist Moment Already Over?

Canadian woman accused of slapping Trump-supporting teen turned over to ICE

Kaitlyn E. Tracey, a Canadian national, allegedly slapped a teen wearing Trump-branded clothing at Point Pleasant Beach before being turned over to ICE.

The Long Road to Medical ‘Miracles’

How decades of invisible science produced two cancer breakthroughs.

Trump’s Labor strike force deploys to New York to weed out staggering $2 million per day in fraud

New York drains nearly $2 million a day in unemployment fraud, prompting an unprecedented DOL strike team deployment with embedded special agents.

Hilarious: Ro Khanna's Stunt Not Enough for Pro-Hamas Crowd

Hirono ripped for 'deranged' opening confirmation hearing question to Blanche: 'What a joke'

Mazie Hirono opened Todd Blanche's attorney general confirmation hearing with her routine sexual harassment questions, drawing swift backlash.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Charlie Is My Darling

Claudia Verhoeven’s new book is a valuable contribution to the crowded library of Mansonia.

Will the Trump Administration’s Accreditation Changes Matter?

Moves are being made in the right direction, but will they be implemented so as to improve accreditation?

Strong Opinions

When critics start issuing dictates, they end up excluding broad swathes of art and culture as well as whole areas of human experience.

First Nations Chief, Podcast Pundit, Indigenous Gadfly

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Aaron Pete, Chief of the Chawathil First Nation, about reserve governance, residential schools, ‘unmarked graves,’ and intra-Indigenous politics.

My Memory of Lindsey Graham

His candor and fairness is why he’s getting praise even from his ideological foes.

Are Newsom's Hopes Fading for Dem Nomination in 2028?

Gavin Newsom is, as usual, indulging in a public relations blitzkrieg. But some suspect he may be losing his grip on his real ambition: a move to the White House. Recent polling suggests that Governor Brylcreem is losing ground to California's oth…

Senator Presses for Scrutiny of Blanche’s Role in Spiking Clemency Inquiry

During his confirmation hearing, the acting attorney general refused to discuss the termination of an investigation into a commutation issued by President Trump.

Escalateo: US Steps Up Pace of Attacks As Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Production

What to Know About Todd Blanche’s Order Granting Trump Immunity From I.R.S. Audits

Acting attorney general Todd Blanche’s decision to grant President Trump protection from I.R.S. audits was a central issue in his confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

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…

Todd Blanche says 'no closed investigations' in Epstein case, vows DOJ will pursue new suspects

Todd Blanche told senators the Justice Department will prosecute anyone linked to Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation if new evidence emerges.

A single Republican no vote could sink Blanche’s nomination. Tillis and Cornyn have had doubts.

Lindsey Graham’s sister picked to serve the rest of his Senate term

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) announced his selection of Darline Graham Nordone to serve into January. She is expected to be sworn in Tuesday.

Why the Left Hates the Medicine That Made Me a Mom

The media has called my fertility treatment right-wing quackery. A year after my daughter's birth, it still won't give restorative reproductive medicine a fair hearing, writes Madeleine Kearns.

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.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Soccer, Sartre, and the Sixties

Darline Graham Nordone has little political history beyond praising her brother

Darline Graham Nordone, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s younger sister, received the backing of President Donald Trump and Sen. Tim Scott to serve out the remainder of her brother’s term.

Why Soccer Is Boring

How the beautiful game convinced the world that boredom is sophistication.

Treasury to Begin Minting $1 Gold Trump Coin Featuring President’s Face

Critics question whether the coins are legal and argue that President Trump is using the currency to celebrate himself.

Ukraine Moves on to Russian Tankers in the Black Sea

Reshaping the Middle East

Reconsidering Israel’s wars in 1956, 1982, and 2026.

Biden Will Release Memoir Just After the November Midterms

The former president announced that the book, “Promise Me, America,” will come out on Nov. 17, and will cover the tumultuous events of his presidency as well as his re-election bid.

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 Rise and Fall of Graham Platner

Is this the far left's #MeToo moment?

These Democrat-led states have turned vaping into a pricey habit

Minnesota and Washington impose the nation's highest vape tax at $17.90 per product, while some states add just $0.36 to the same item.

J.K. Rowling's Center for Women Threatens to Sue Amnesty International

'A big effing deal': Graham's final mission moves forward after his death

Hours before Lindsey Graham's death, the White House backed his Russia sanctions package. Now a bipartisan Senate group has unveiled the sweeping bill.

Tuesday's Final Word

Birthrates and Immigration

If the problem we’re focusing on is the gap between stated and achieved desires for family size, more immigration can’t possibly be the solution.

The Odyssey Is Going to Be a Smash

Christopher Nolan’s name alone drives people to the movie theaters.

How a Hidden Songbook Survived the Holocaust

The extraordinary story of how a fragile Holocaust songbook, hidden for decades in a Sydney cupboard, came back to the world.

What I Found After Leaving D.C.

I started my first Saturday in my new hometown in rural Tennessee on a mission to explore it and take in all of the small-town charm. But first - coffee. What I came to find was that the town had no Starbucks, no Target, no long list of well-known…

Elon Musk Funds Vivek Ramaswamy’s Bid for Ohio Governor Despite Their DOGE Clashes

Elon Musk gave $5 million to back Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign for Ohio governor, seemingly moving past tensions around the effort to downsize the federal work force.

No, Justice Amy Coney Barrett Most Definitely Should Not Resign from the U.S. Supreme Court

We have lost our minds. Everything is not politics.

Congress Cannot Rearrange the Cosmos

Congress cannot create more daylight.

Generation Trapped: Why Young Australians Have Given Up Hope

Parnell Palme McGuinness on the six distinct "tribes" of young Australians she uncovered—and why personal agency, not income, is the strongest predictor of happiness.

Stopping the Stops Stop: Trump Reverses DHS Order

Black Voters Keep Putting the Brakes on the Socialist Revolution

Time and again, black voters have proven to be more pragmatic than their progressive white counterparts by prioritizing electability over ideology.

Budget Consequences of Graham's Sudden Departure

Trump's effort to use budget reconciliation for his scheme to take over elections now becomes even more of a stretch.

Shootings Put ICE Back in the News

Tuesday on the RealClearPolitics podcast, Carl Cannon, Tom Bevan, and Andrew Walworth break down another deadly shooting of a civilian by ICE, and what to expect from confirmation hearings for Todd Blanche for attorney general and Jay Clayton for …

Senator Mark Kelly Amasses Nearly $25 Million Campaign War Chest

The Arizona Democrat said he had raised and given away $10 million to fellow members of his party and committees as he mulls a presidential run in 2028.

You Can’t Turn a Shredder Into a Printing Press by Feeding It More Paper

Social and financial incentives in the society are hostile to human reproduction.

Key House Democrats voice support for amendment to cancel Israel defense funding

The announcements reflect a growing disconnect between the Democratic establishment, with its long-standing support for the U.S. ally, and the party’s left wing.

Hungarian Parliament Abolishes Elected Opposition

The new government of Hungary, led by Péter Magyar, used its constitution-shaping majority today to abolish the office of president.

The Rhetoric About AI Data Centers Is Ridiculous

Blanche’s Family Ties to Gun Industry Are Likely to Raise Questions

Democrats and gun control advocates are concerned that his comments about Check-Mate Industries, a company led by his mother-in-law that manufactures magazines, reveal a conflict of interest.

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.

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.

AOC offers rare praise to late Sen Graham for backing AI porn bill now stalled in House

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the late Sen. Lindsey Graham instrumental in passing the DEFIANCE Act targeting nonconsensual AI deepfake porn.

WATCH: Byron Donalds brushes off GOP debate demands as rivals lag far behind in polls

Byron Donalds says his GOP rivals remain in single digits as he holds roughly 50% in polls, defending his refusal to debate before Florida's primary.

Entitlement by a Thousand (Video) Cuts: Biden Inc Announces New Lecture Book