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

Letters to the Editor

27 March – 3 April 2026

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.

DOJ accuses Biden administration of weaponizing abortion access law

A long-awaited report from the Justice Department’s “Weaponization Working Group” alleges misuse of the Face Act. But the evidence is limited, and the Trump administration has itself been criticized for misusing law enforcement.

Erika Kirk Misses Event in Georgia After Threats

Appeals court again blocks contempt inquiry into deportation flights

Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg of D.C. has clashed with the Trump administration over dozens of Venezuelan migrants’ removals to a prison in El Salvador.

McFarland to Newsmax: Blockade Could Cripple Iran

KT McFarland told Newsmax on Tuesday that the Trump administration's blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz is already proving decisive, calling the strategy 100% effective in cutting off the regime's economic lifelines.

The Tragedy of Murdered Indigenous Women is Real. So How Did Activists Turn It Into a Punch Line?

Leah Gazan’s use of the absurd term ‘MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+’ to describe female Indigenous homicide victims is a case study in progressive linguistic self-sabotage.

Pope vs. President Is a Fight Everyone Loses

President Trump and Pope Leo are in a war of words right now -- when they should be allies, not enemies.

The Final Frontier

Like the old Wild West, the Moon offers the prospect of resources to exploit and land to settle. Artemis II's successful mission is just the beginning.

Speaker Johnson: Advised Trump to Delete 'Healing' Post

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Tuesday he advised President Donald Trump to delete an artificial intelligence-generated image posted on Truth Social depicting the president placing a healing hand on a prone man's head.

U.S. Eyes Second Round of In-Person Talks With Iran

Marathon talks that failed to produce a breakthrough between the United States and Iran were not the final word in negotiations, officials in the US and the region said Monday, as the contours of the two sides' disagreement - primarily over Tehran…

Ships Exit Gulf From Iran Despite US Blockade: Tracker

At least three ships sailing from Iranian ports crossed the Hormuz Strait despite a US military blockade, but some vessels taking the route later turned back, maritime tracking data indicated Tuesday.They were among at least seven Iran-linked vess…

Vance praises Trump, while subtly differentiating himself at Georgia event

At a gathering of conservative college students, the vice president expressed respect for Pope Leo XIV and empathized with concerns about high costs of living

DOJ Files Suit Against Connecticut Over Sanctuary Policies

The Department of Justice is suing Connecticut and the city of New Haven over policies that give sanctuary to unauthorized immigrants, arguing the measures interfere with federal immigration enforcement.

White House favors Erica Schwartz, former deputy surgeon general, to lead CDC

Schwartz would be Trump’s third nominee to lead the agency. The administration is also said to be looking at three other people to serve in senior roles supporting her.

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 Conciliator

Why did Gretchen Whitmer go soft on Trump?

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.

J. D. Vance Is Definitely Against Foreign Election Interference

The vice president accused the European Union of meddling—as he stumped for Viktor Orbán.

Trump Out-Gangstered the Islamic Republic of Iran

Big Energy Shift From Enemies' Pockets and Into Ours

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Docs show migrant accused of killing Loyola student was flagged as flight risk before release

A Venezuelan migrant accused of fatally shooting Loyola student Sheridan Gorman was flagged as a flight risk before being released at the border in 2023.

Clay Fuller Sworn In to Take House Seat Formerly Held by MTG

Rep. Clay Fuller, R-Ga., was sworn into office Tuesday after winning a special election to take the congressional seat formerly held by Marjorie Taylor Greene.

‘He should go’: Senate Dems turned on Swalwell ahead of resignation announcement

Rep. Eric Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress after facing sexual misconduct allegations and mounting pressure from Senate Democrats.

Trump swings for moon with nuclear reactor plans as China, Russia team up in space race

The Trump administration released a memo detailing plans for a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 to advance U.S. space exploration and defense.

Rep. Buddy Carter to Newsmax: Trump's Impeachments Should Be Expunged

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., told Newsmax on Monday that the impeachments of President Donald Trump should be expunged from the record.

Hegseth’s War on America’s Military

Someone needs to explain the Pentagon purges to the American people.

Trump Ensuring All the Strategic Sea Lines of Communications Are Controlled by United States

Why have so few people been kicked out of Congress?

The Washington Post’s essential guide to power and influence in D.C.

Appeals Court Ends Contempt Inquiry Into Trump Administration’s Deportation Flights

A federal judge’s nearly yearlong effort to investigate whether the Trump administration had violated his order had become a point of contention in the president’s battles with the courts.

AI and the Wiki Wars

The Wikipedia knowledge monopoly is not ready for the Grokipedia threat.

Rubio Hosts Israel and Lebanon for Rare Meeting Shadowed by U.S.-Iran War

The gathering ended with encouraging words, even as Israel continued to refuse to halt its military campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Fired Fannie Mae workers can’t sue Bill Pulte for defamation, a judge rules

A federal judge said President Trump’s federal housing director cannot be held liable in court under a decades-old law.

She Testified About Being Raped. Then ICE Showed Up.

Immigration officers are making arrests in sensitive locations, including family court.

Building an America First Development Strategy

The core of such a policy is advancing entrepreneurial capitalism as the basis for a new world order.

Dem fundraising giant in the hot seat as GOP lawmakers demand answers over dodged subpoena

House Republicans probe ActBlue over alleged illegal foreign donations, claiming the Democratic fundraising group obstructed their subpoenas.

Harris 2028? Democrat Operatives and Donors Hope Not

Why would we do the same thing all over again? says one.

What Swalwell’s exit means for Democrats in California’s governor race

Billionaire Tom Steyer and ex-congresswoman Katie Porter stand to benefit the most in a Democratic field with no clear front-runner, several strategists said.

Irish Government Survives to Ignore Its Citizens Another Day

'Intrusive': DC Appeals Court Slaps Down President Boasberg – Again

Democrats Turned on Swalwell Because He Was in the Way

Democrats aren't holding Swalwell accountable. They're removing an obstacle that potentially threatens their power in California.

CENTCOM: 24 Hours And All's Well On the Blockade Front (Updated)

Will Europe's Only Ally in the Middle East Turn Out to Be Iran?

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.

House Passes Air Safety Bill, Setting Up Clash with Senate

Senate leaders say key provisions fall short of what is necessary to prevent aircraft from midair collisions.

Trump DOJ fires prosecutors tied to FACE Act cases after report alleges bias and misconduct

The Trump administration fired four DOJ prosecutors tied to FACE Act cases against pro-life activists, alleging the law was weaponized under Biden.

Ex-Pence aide Olivia Troye plans to run for Congress in Virginia as a Democrat

She joins other former Republicans and Trump administration officials running for office as critics of the president. The district would open up if voters approve a new map.

House Approves Aviation Safety Bill After Deadly D.C. Midair Crash

An aviation safety bill to address lessons from last year’s midair collision of a jet with an Army helicopter near the nation’s capital was approved by the House on Tuesday, but key senators and the families of the victims say the bill still needs…

51 Percent of Americans Think Trump’s Military Action in Iran Has Not Been Worthwhile

A survey from Ipsos and Reuters, released on Tuesday, found few Americans — 24 percent — think the war in Iran has been worth the costs and benefits.

Foreign Power, Local Politics

Where local collaboration is absent, foreign intervention imposes enormous costs or simply stalls. Where it exists, intervention can succeed with surprising velocity.

How Iran Won the Meme Wars

While Donald Trump panders to MAGA, Iranian satire is reaching a global audience.

Addressing the Academic Skew

Higher education needs intellectual—not political—conservatives.

Viktor Orbán Could Actually Lose

The Hungarian leader faces an energized opposition—and questions about whether he would accept defeat.

They Knew Ukraine Impeachment Was a Hoax, Lied for Years

In 2019, during the peak hysteria of the Ukraine whistleblower impeachment hoax, I exclusively reported for The Federalist that the Intelligence Community Inspector General secretly gutted internal whistleblower rules requiring firsthand evidence …

House avoids unprecedented four-member expulsion week as Swalwell and Gonzales resign instead

Two House members resigned amid scandals, but potential expulsions of Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills raise parity and political math concerns.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Dismantling California's Empire of Fraud

California's massive "empire of fraud" is finally getting the attention of the national media and the federal government.

1979 Is the Year That Explains Donald Trump

And pretty much all of the 1980s do too.

CNN Political Briefing

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

A Certain Demographic Is Overrepresented in German 2025 Rape Statistics

The MAGA Intellectual Who Prophesied a Queen Melania

An ally of J. D. Vance who has dabbled in monarchism is now working for Viktor Orbán.

JD Vance Heckled In Antiwar Protest at Turning Point USA Event

Vice President JD Vance appeared to express sympathy with critics of the war with Iran: “I recognize that young voters do not love the policy we have in the Middle East, OK. I understand.”

Spanberger's 'unconstitutional' push to redefine presidential elections makes voters 'NULL AND VOID': critics

Virginia joins the national popular vote compact as Gov. Spanberger signs bill awarding electoral votes to the national popular vote winner.

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.

Prosecutors Make Surprise Visit to Fed as Pirro Defends Investigation

The Justice Department’s criminal inquiry into the Federal Reserve threatens to delay the confirmation of the next chair.

The State That Could Decide Trump’s Gerrymandering War

Democrats want Virginians to aggressively gerrymander the state.

ICE lodges detainer for illegal migrant charged with strangling wife and dumping body near Oklahoma highway

An illegal migrant in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, is charged with murder for allegedly strangling his wife. DHS and ICE have lodged a detainer request.

Another Woman Accuses Swalwell of Raping and Choking Her

How a Times Reporter Has Covered a Turbulent Period in Latin America

Frances Robles, an international correspondent for The New York Times, has reported on the region for more than 25 years.

Hungary Just Ousted the Unoustable

Viktor Orbán had support from Moscow and Washington, but not from his own people.

Sen. Johnson to Newsmax: Trump Must 'Finish the Job' in Iran

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told Newsmax on Tuesday that President Donald Trump must stay the course in Iran and "finish the job," warning that anything less would leave the threat of a nuclear-armed regime intact.

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…

Yes, Assimilation Is Good

Building a unified American culture isn't about bullying people; it's about living together in peace.

'He Was a Fattish Man With the Paralyzing Stupidity of a Potato'

Trump’s Blockade Risks Upending an Emerging Détente With China

In a thinly veiled critique of the war in Iran, China’s leader said the world could not risk reverting “to the law of the jungle.”

DOJ sues Connecticut, New Haven over sanctuary policies: 'Open defiance'

The DOJ has filed a lawsuit against Connecticut and its city of New Haven, arguing that their sanctuary policies interfere with federal immigration enforcement.

Vance Says Pope Leo Should Be More Careful When Talking About Theology

The vice president, who is Catholic, took issue with Pope Leo XIV’s statement that disciples of Christ are “never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”

André Gide versus George Orwell: Two Paths to Truth

More than a century after it was first published, ‘If It Die’—Gide’s shockingly candid account of his childhood and sexual awakening—remains a gripping read.

Trump says Iran talks may resume this week, but opposes enrichment compromise

The lead U.S. negotiator, Vice President JD Vance, has sought a moratorium on uranium enrichment of at least 20 years. Tehran’s offer would last up to five.

DOJ moves to undo Jan. 6 rioters’ convictions for seditious conspiracy

President Donald Trump last year commuted the prison sentences of 12 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

An Oligarchy of Old People

How elderly Americans amassed disproportionate wealth and power

Pope Leo Squandering Moral Authority

If the morally-confused Pope Leo XIV continues to assume the role of a partisan podcaster, he will very quickly lose his moral authority. Politics

The Battle for the Strait

After the failure of ceasefire talks in Islamabad, the United States remains at war with Iran and Trump’s priority is to liberate the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping.

Woman accuses Eric Swalwell of rape in 2018, reports it to authorities

Her attorney said at a news conference that she will not present evidence to the media.

Move 37 and the Coming Mindhack

What happens when human manipulation arrives at its Claude Mythos moment?

Biden awkwardly pulls trustee into spotlight and calls him ‘Barack’ at portrait unveiling

Former President Joe Biden appeared to mistake a man for Barack Obama during a speech at Syracuse, where his portrait was unveiled at the law school.

Erika Kirk cancels University of Georgia TPUSA event appearance over 'serious threats'

A Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia proceeded despite heightened security concerns after Erika Kirk withdrew due serious threats against her.

Justice Dept. Moves to Vacate Jan. 6 Convictions for Far-Right Extremists

Defending the convictions would likely have required administration officials to assert that far-right groups were acting on behalf of President Trump on Jan. 6, 2021.

The $97 Million Utah Warehouse ICE Bought for $145 Million

Trump wants industrial-size immigration jails, and money is no obstacle.

Trump’s Purge May Be Just Beginning

After Pam Bondi’s ouster, other top administration officials could be in jeopardy.

The Faltering War Economy

Trump's war craters the economy in multiple ways, even if it somehow ends soon.

Pentagon Says It Attacked Another Boat in the Pacific, Killing 4

It was the second strike in two days, in a campaign against those the United States accuses of drug smuggling.

Germany’s Cozy Catastrophe

The German state has been generous to its beneficiaries—but that largesse is becoming increasingly unsustainable.

A Costly Misconception

Now that glyphosate has become a national-security issue, it’s time to revisit the source of misinformation about this controversial herbicide.

Tuesday’s Final Word

Podcast #333: The Search for Truth

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to Michael Shermer, the author of a number of works on critical thinking, epistemology, and ethics, about his new book, 'Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still Matters.'

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.

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…

Former Swalwell ally says longtime friendship with him 'clouded my judgement' as rumors swirled in DC

Sen. Ruben Gallego says his friendship with Eric Swalwell clouded his judgment amid sexual assault allegations against the former congressman.

Gov. DeSantis: Florida Will Pass Redistricting in Coming Weeks

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he expects the legislature to pass new congressional maps in the next couple of weeks.

U.S. blockade has turned back six merchant ships leaving Strait of Hormuz

More than a dozen American warships positioned in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea are acting as a “net,” officials said. None of the encounters has required escalation.

Why Does the Media Keep Missing These Huge, Career-Ending Stories?

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…

US Prosecutors Make Surprise Visit to Federal Reserve Office

Prosecutors from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office made a surprise visit on Tuesday to the Federal Reserve's headquarters renovation project, as the Trump administration continues its pressure campaign against the central bank.

Meet the Iranian Propagandist Who Manages Iran's Social Media. He's Based in California

Retired Vice Adm. Harward to Newsmax: Iran Blockade 'Brilliant Strategy'

Retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward told Newsmax on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is a "brilliant strategy" that pressures Iran while avoiding direct military damage.

Gallego Dismissed Rumors of a ‘Flirty’ Swalwell, Highlighting a Culture of Silence

The admission by Senator Ruben Gallego that he had heard, but disbelieved, rumors about Eric Swalwell and women showed the attitude on Capitol Hill toward men accused of behaving badly.

Erika Kirk Withdraws From TPUSA Event With Vance Amid Threats

Erika Kirk, widow of slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk, withdrew on Tuesday from a Turning Point USA event featuring Vice President JD Vance due to threats on her life, the vice president said.